Naruto : Dragon Jinchuriki

The battlefield was silent now, save for the soft rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds. The smoke had cleared, the earth no longer trembled, and the once blinding lights were gone. What remained was a field of scorched earth, shattered stone, and a deep sense of exhaustion that hung in the air.

Riku stood at the edge of the clearing, his body slack with fatigue, Kokuenryū's scales slowly retracting from his skin. His black wings folded behind him, shimmering faintly in the dimming sunlight. His gaze swept over the group, ensuring everyone was accounted for.

In the center of it all lay Kristian, unconscious but alive. His axe, now dark and silent, rested beside him, and Gristle, his loyal companion, stood protectively over his body. The massive boar snorted softly, nudging Kristian's arm with his tusk as if to wake him.

Nearby, Shiro fluttered down from the sky, reforming from a cloud of magpies into his usual form. He perched on Riku's shoulder, tilting his head curiously at the scene before him. The little bird seemed calmer now, though his feathers were ruffled from the earlier chaos.

"Finally over…" Riku muttered under his breath, running a hand through his messy hair. His body ached from the fight, but he couldn't allow himself to rest yet.

Standing a few steps away, Jiraiya crossed his arms, his face lined with weariness. Despite his exhaustion, his presence was as commanding as ever. His toad summons had long since disappeared, but their work had been instrumental in holding back the chaos.

"Kid," Jiraiya said, his tone softer than usual as he addressed Riku. "Check on him. He fought hard—harder than I expected for someone his age."

Riku nodded, walking over to where Kristian lay. Gristle grunted as Riku approached but stepped aside, seemingly recognizing the boy's intent. Riku crouched beside Kristian, placing a hand on his chest and letting a faint pulse of yang chakra flow through him.

"He's stable," Riku confirmed after a moment. "Just completely drained."

Behind them, Chiyo, Shion, and their mother, the priestess Miroku, stood together. The twins were silent, the events of the day weighing heavily on them. Shion clutched at her sister's arm, her wide eyes darting between the unconscious boy and the battlefield.

"Is… is he going to be okay?" Shion asked timidly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Riku looked over his shoulder and gave her a small nod. "Yeah. He's tougher than he looks."

Chiyo, however, seemed more focused on the larger picture. She glanced at her mother, her expression conflicted. "Mother… this—this was too much. The shrine… the land of demons… is this what we're destined to face?"

Miroku placed a steadying hand on her daughter's shoulder, though her own face was etched with worry. "The darkness will always come for the light," she said, her voice soft but resolute. "But we must remain strong. Today, we've seen that we are not alone in this fight."

As the priestess spoke, Shiro let out a soft chirp, breaking the heavy silence. The small magpie hopped down from Riku's shoulder, fluttering to the ground and pecking at the dirt near Kristian's hand.

"You're not helping, Shiro," Riku muttered, though there was a faint smile on his face.

Jiraiya stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the group. "We'll need to regroup soon. Clean this place up and fortify it, in case there's another attack. But for now…" He glanced at Kristian and then at the others. "You all deserve some rest."

Gristle let out a low grunt, as if in agreement, before settling down beside Kristian. The massive boar's body created a comforting warmth, and his watchful eyes never left the boy.

Riku sighed, leaning back against a nearby rock. "Rest, huh? I don't even remember what that feels like anymore."

"You'll get used to it, kid," Jiraiya said with a chuckle, though his voice was tinged with weariness.

As the group began to settle down, the tension slowly ebbed away. Shion and Chiyo sat close to their mother, their hands clasped together in silent support. Gristle let out a contented huff, his massive form rising and falling with slow breaths. Shiro hopped back onto Riku's shoulder, nuzzling into his neck.

…

…

About 6 hours later,

The group sat around the dimly lit dining hall, the clinking of chopsticks against bowls the only sound for a long while. The weight of the battle earlier in the day hung heavy in the air, but the warm, savory stew cooked by Miroku provided a brief reprieve.

Riku leaned against the wall, eating steadily but with a faraway look in his eyes. Kristian, though pale and tired, sat cross-legged with his bowl in one hand, feeding small scraps of vegetables to Gristle, who had sprawled comfortably by his side. Shiro perched near Riku, pecking at a few grains of rice Miroku had set aside for him.

At the table, Chiyo and Shion sat next to Miroku, while calm, had a sharp eye on the younger girls, who were whispering to each other now and then as they ate.

Jiraiya, sitting cross-legged with a wide grin, sipped at a small cup of sake he'd mysteriously procured, his relaxed demeanor contrasting with the exhaustion of the others. He set his cup down and let out a satisfied sigh. "Not bad, huh? After a day like today, this is exactly what we needed."

Shion, ever-curious, suddenly perked up. Her sharp lavender eyes darted toward Riku, who was silently chewing his food. "Hey, Riku."

Riku looked up from his bowl, blinking in mild confusion. "Yeah?"

Shion leaned forward slightly, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "Do you have a girlfriend?"

The room froze.

Riku's face turned bright red in an instant, his chopsticks clattering to the floor. "W-What?! Where did that come from?!" he stammered, his voice cracking slightly.

Jiraiya burst into loud, unrestrained laughter, slapping his knee. "Hah! The kid gets straight to the point!"

Chiyo's face flushed deep red, and she immediately turned to Shion. "Shion! This is not the time or the place for that kind of question!" she hissed, her voice equal parts mortified and scolding.

Miroku coughed, her own cheeks tinged with pink, and gave Shion a pointed look. "Shion, behave yourself. That was inappropriate."

Kristian, who had been mid-bite, nearly choked on his food as a laugh escaped him. He coughed a few times, shaking his head. "Didn't see that coming," he muttered, his tone amused.

Shion, unbothered by the backlash, shrugged and smirked. "What? I was just curious! He seems like the type who'd have one, that's all."

"Shion!" Chiyo scolded again, burying her face in her hands.

Riku, still flustered, waved his hands in the air as if trying to physically dispel the conversation. "I—what—no! I don't have a girlfriend! Why would you even ask that?"

Jiraiya leaned forward with a knowing grin. "No need to get so defensive, Riku. It's perfectly natural at your age! I mean, look at you. Those scary white eyes, those dragon-like-wings, and that mysterious lone-wolf vibe. I'm sure the ladies are lining up!"

"Jiraiya-sama!" Miroku interjected sharply, her tone stern but her embarrassment evident.

Kristian, barely able to contain himself, leaned back with a grin. "Yeah, Riku. Lone-wolf dragon guy. Sounds pretty romantic."

Riku buried his face in his hands, groaning audibly. "You're all impossible," he muttered, his voice muffled.

Shiro flapped his wings and let out a series of chirps that sounded suspiciously like laughter, adding insult to injury.

Shion, clearly pleased with the chaos she'd caused, grinned smugly before turning her attention back to her food. "I was just asking," she said innocently, though her smirk betrayed her.

The room gradually settled after a few more moments of Jiraiya's laughter and Miroku's stern reprimands. Riku, still red-faced, kept his head down, determined to focus on his stew and ignore the lingering snickers from Kristian.

As the meal continued, the tension of the day seemed to ease just a bit, replaced by the warmth of shared food, laughter, and, for better or worse, a little teasing.

…

…

That evening,

Riku, Kristian, and Jiraiya sat submerged in the hot water, steam curling around them as the heat worked out the tension in their bodies. The three were silent for a time, each lost in their own thoughts.

Jiraiya broke the silence, letting out a long sigh. "Ahhh, this is the life. A hard day's work, followed by a soak in the springs. You boys better appreciate this; moments like this are rare."

Riku, leaning back against the edge of the spring, let out a hum of agreement. "It's nice," he admitted, though his expression was still distant.

Kristian sat across from them, his arms resting on the edge of the spring. Gristle lay on the rocks nearby, dozing contentedly. Kristian's usual guarded expression was softened by the steam and the quiet, though he was still visibly exhausted.

"Feels weird," Kristian said finally, breaking the quiet.

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "Weird? How so?"

Kristian shrugged. "I mean, after everything earlier... this feels too calm. Like it shouldn't be allowed." He looked down at his hands, his fingers wrinkling from the water. "I don't know. Maybe I'm just not used to... peace."

Riku glanced at him, a flicker of understanding crossing his face. "You've been fighting for a while, haven't you?"

Kristian nodded but didn't elaborate.

Jiraiya, ever the conversationalist, leaned forward slightly. "That's the thing about being a shinobi—or whatever we've all become. You get used to the chaos, the battles, the constant danger. When things quiet down, it feels unnatural. But that's exactly why you have to take these moments when you can."

Kristian looked at him, his expression skeptical. "You really believe that?"

"Of course," Jiraiya said, grinning. "Life's about balance, kid. If all you do is fight, you'll burn out. Trust me, I've been around long enough to see it happen."

Riku nodded slowly. "He's right," he said, his voice quieter. "I've seen people destroy themselves because they couldn't stop fighting. Even when the battle was over, they'd find new ones just to keep going."

Kristian's eyes narrowed slightly, and he leaned forward. "Is that why you fight, Riku? To keep going? Or do you have some... bigger reason?"

Riku hesitated, his gaze dropping to the water. "I fight because... I have to," he said finally. "My clan is gone. My home is gone. All I have left is what I can do to protect the people who are still here." He looked up, meeting Kristian's gaze. "That's enough for me."

Kristian studied him for a moment before leaning back with a sigh. "Guess that's fair," he muttered.

Jiraiya, sensing the shift in mood, leaned back with a grin. "You two are way too serious for kids your age. You're supposed to be thinking about fun things! Girls, food, maybe your next prank..."

Riku flushed slightly and turned away, muttering under his breath, "Not this again..."

Kristian smirked. "He's got a point, Riku. You could use some fun in your life."

"I'm fine," Riku said quickly, glaring at them both.

Jiraiya chuckled, stretching his arms above his head. "You'll learn eventually, kid. Life's too short to be serious all the time."

The three fell into a more comfortable silence after that, the tension easing as the heat of the springs soothed their bodies and the quiet of the night settled over them.

Kristian eventually broke the silence again, his voice softer this time. "Thanks," he said, his gaze on the water.

"For what?" Riku asked, looking at him.

Kristian shrugged. "For... I don't know. Just... being here. For not treating me like a problem."

Riku's expression softened, and he gave a small nod. "We're all fighting our own battles," he said simply. "No reason to fight alone."

Jiraiya smiled, watching the exchange with a knowing look. "See? You two might turn out all right after all."

The moon hung high in the sky as the three of them—Riku, Jiraiya, and Kristian—wrapped up their time at the hot springs. The water had done wonders for their sore muscles, and the conversation, filled with lighthearted teasing and laughter, had helped ease the tension from their recent battles.

"Alright, I'm heading out," Riku said, standing to grab his towel. As he stepped out of the steaming water, he absentmindedly adjusted the towel around his waist.

That's when it happened.

Jiraiya, who had been lazily lounging on a rock nearby, froze mid-stretch. His gaze locked onto Riku with a look of utter disbelief. Beside him, Kristian caught the look, raised an eyebrow, and then followed Jiraiya's line of sight.

And immediately, Kristian's expression mirrored Jiraiya's.

"…That's… not possible," Kristian muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Jiraiya coughed, his tone uncharacteristically serious. "Riku… uh…" He trailed off, his hand gesturing vaguely at the younger boy.

"What?" Riku asked, turning around to see why they were acting so weird. His damp hair clung to his face, and his innocent confusion only made the moment more surreal.

Kristian pointed, unable to form words. Jiraiya cleared his throat, trying to maintain composure, but failing spectacularly. "Riku," he began, his voice cracking. "Kid… are you sure you're only eleven?"

Riku blinked, confused. "Yeah? What's that got to do with anything?"

Kristian raised a shaky hand. "Because… that thing," he gestured toward Riku's towel, which had momentarily shifted, revealing far more than they expected, "isn't normal. That's not just big—it's… Monstrous!"

Riku looked down, realized what they were talking about, and immediately pulled his towel tighter around himself, his face going beet red. "What the hell is wrong with you two?! Stop staring!"

Jiraiya buried his face in his hands, muttering, "This isn't just staring—this is a scientific discovery! What is that thing? Some kind of bloodline trait?"

"SHUT UP!" Riku shouted, horrified.

Kristian leaned back against the rocks, shaking his head in disbelief. "And here I was thinking I was the one with problems. But this? This is… unnatural."

Riku grabbed a nearby bucket of water and splashed it at them. "I didn't ask for this, okay?! I didn't even know this was a thing until now! You two are acting like idiots!"

Jiraiya dodged the water with a quick jump, his expression now a mix of amusement and pure terror. "Kid, I've been to a lot of hot springs in my time. A lot. But never in my years have I seen anything like that."

Kristian nodded solemnly. "It's like… it has its own gravitational pull."

"STOP IT!" Riku yelled, his face burning with embarrassment. "You're supposed to be grown-ups! Act like it!"

"Grown-ups?!" Jiraiya cackled, pointing a finger at him. "Kid, that thing could make a grown man cry! You're walking around with a weapon of mass destruction under your towel!"

"IDIOT!" Riku roared, throwing another bucket of water at him.

Kristian, for his part, had sat down on a nearby boulder, trying (and failing) to stifle his laughter. "No wonder you walk around like you own the place," he said, chuckling. "If I had that thing, I'd probably be cocky too."

"I'M NOT COCKY!" Riku shot back. "YOU TWO ARE JUST FREAKS!"

Jiraiya leaned over to Kristian, whispering just loud enough for Riku to hear, "You think that thing has its own chakra reserves?"

Kristian choked on his laughter, doubling over as tears streamed down his face.

From a distance, Shiro and Gristle sat together, watching the scene unfold. Gristle snorted in confusion, while Shiro cocked his head, clearly just as puzzled by the humans' behavior as Riku was.

"I can hear you!" Riku shouted, storming off toward camp with his towel wrapped tightly around him. "You're both the worst! Absolute worst!"

As Riku disappeared into the night, Jiraiya and Kristian finally calmed down, wiping tears from their faces. Jiraiya stretched, shaking his head. "Well… that's something I'll never forget."

Kristian nodded solemnly. "I don't think anyone will."

The two of them sat in silence for a moment before Jiraiya spoke again. "You think it's a dragon related thing?"

Kristian froze. "Don't start."

The two dissolved into laughter again, their voices echoing into the night.

From the distance, Riku's indignant voice shouted, "I SAID I CAN HEAR YOU!"