Naruto: Snow Cold

The fiery girl stood there in the Raikage's office, incredulous.

"Y-You're kidding, right? You're not really gonna get rid of me, are you, R-Raikage-sama?" Scarlet's voice wavered, her tone laced with disbelief and fear.

Ay didn't respond immediately, looking down at the pyromaniac in front of him with his fierce gaze. The silence stretched, heavy and suffocating, until Scarlet's grin faltered completely.

Her hands curled into fists at her sides, nails digging into her palms as the spark of her usual confidence began to flicker and fade. "I-I mean, sure, I've lost control a few times... but come on, it can't be that bad, right? Right?"

There was a slight pause before Ay responded, "Enough is enough, brat," his voice hard as steel, and his words cut through the air with a chilling finality. Scarlet felt like a lump was forming in her throat, choking the words she had prepared to say. "You've heard me already. I'm banishing you from the village."

The world seemed to stop for a moment, and Scarlet's mind went blank. She did burn two forests or so, but that shouldn't be enough to guarantee an exile, right? She must have misheard him or something.

Ay's voice cut through her spiraling thoughts like a blade, cold and deliberate. "Take a moment to reflect on the damages you've committed, Scarlet. How many injured? How much of the Cloud Village's environment did you destroy?" His tone grew sharper, each word cutting deeper than the last. "Do you not think each time you put on a 'show,' brat? Is there not a single thought formulating in that head of yours?!"

The girl gazed down at the ground, her fiery spirit momentarily doused as she tried to avoid the Raikage's piercing gaze. Silence lingered for a moment, heavy and suffocating, before Ay broke it with a voice that carried both authority and disappointment.

"Do you know why I've allowed your antics so far?" Ay began, his tone measured but cutting. "Because you're a genius. A chaotic, stupid genius, but a genius nonetheless."

He let the words hang in the air for a moment before continuing, his voice hardening. "But a genius means absolutely nothing without control. You've got power, brat. Possibly enough to change the course of a battlefield in the future. But you need discipline, restraint! You can't just burn everything down on a whim!"

Scarlet flinched but didn't look up, her fists trembling at her sides.

"You're one lucky brat. Normally, we would've executed someone like you." Ay's voice was steady, each word sharp enough to cut through steel. "Care to guess why we're letting you walk away instead of burying you here?"

Scarlet swallowed hard, her mind racing. "Because I'm good at manipulating fire...?"

Ay's eyes narrowed, his expression as stern as ever. "That's part of it, brat. But not the main reason." He took a step closer, his presence commanding and intense. "The real reason you're walking away is because we see potential in you. And despite your evident, utter lack of control, that gift of yours... It's something we could use for ourselves."

She hadn't expected that, not at all. Potential, her? All she cared about was about honing her fire to the extreme, and unleash firestorms so magnificent that they could scorch the very sky. The idea that someone saw her as more than just a pyromaniac psycho with a love for destruction felt... surreal.

Scarlet blinked, before questioning, "You... want me to become a weapon for the village?"

"Exactly, brat. Not just a weapon, but a strategic asset. You're not going to be some mindless tool scorching everything like a fool. It's possible for you to be something far greater, if you just learn some discipline."

Scarlet's brow furrowed, her lips pressed into a tight line. That was a first for her, and she couldn't wrap her head around Ay's words. She had always reveled in the sheer freedom that fire provided—wild, uncontrolled and boundless. The thought of being molded into something more, something with restraint... It just didn't seem right to her. Fire is supposed to be free and untamable.

But, something about this brought a sense of excitement. Unleashing her fire on the battlefield, unrestrained, without care for anyone, without hesitation or fear of consequences, that definitely sounded thrilling.

"Don't get too carried away, you nutcase," Ay warned, his voice stern but not without a touch of warning. "Discipline isn't just about holding back. It's about knowing when and where to unleash your power, and why. Without that, you'll burn everything—yourself included."

She knew that, alright. Better than anyone. But, there was just something so exhilarating and intoxicating about the raw, unrefined chaos of fire. The rush of power, the crackle of flames licking the air... The feeling that she could destroy anything in her path if she set her mind to it.

Ay's gaze hardened as he watched Scarlet carefully, his silence heavy in the air. He was waiting for her response, but also testing her.

"I... understand." Scarlet's voice was quieter now. She looked down at her hands, her fingers twitching slightly as she considered the possibilities. The things she could do...! It was such a thrill—of course, surviving out in the wild wouldn't be easy, and getting stronger on her own... It may be doable, considering her general knowledge about the show and fire itself.

But even though she had the edge of reincarnation, of knowledge beyond this world, there was something nagging at her. Her cells were practically buzzing with the excitement of her next steps, and yet—there was a part of her that questioned if she'd be enough on her own.

"Good, you little freak," The Raikage's lips curled into a rare, small smile. "I'll dismiss you with a few warnings."

Scarlet cautiously looked up, meeting his gaze, beads of sweat running down her neck.

"Do not let anyone get a hold of you," Ay said, his tone low and threatening. "Not even our allied villages. If anyone tries to control you, make sure you burn them to the ground. Leave nothing behind—not even ashes."

Her breath hitched, her pulse quickening as his words sank in. She nodded, a dark spark of agreement igniting within her. She would be more than glad to oblige.

"And never step out of line. If you do... I'll personally make sure you regret it, even if I'm not there." Ay continued, his voice colder than before, like a promise of something dreadful.

"Nod if you understand, runt."

Scarlet's heart raced at his words, the threat in his tone clear and chilling. She felt the weight of his warning and the implications behind it; nevertheless, a fire was ignited inside of her. A thrill ran through her veins, and she knew there was only one answer.

She nodded slowly, her gaze unwavering as she met his eyes. This wasn't a punishment for her; it was an opportunity.

"Good. Now get the hell out of my office and start packing your things. You're leaving first thing tomorrow, and you won't come back until you've learned to control yourself. Don't disappoint me, brat."

Scarlet's lips curled into a small, defiant smile, the challenge in Ay's words only fueling her excitement. The fiery soul hadn't been in Kumogakure for long, just a year, but in that short time, she had learned so much. This village had given her the chance to harness fire for the first time, without relying on any materials, and for that, she was grateful, although not completely loyal. She had her own path to follow, one that would eventually ignite her own legacy—one not bound by the village's rules.

"I certainly won't disappoint you, Raikage-sama."

With that, she turned to leave, her steps steady and deliberate.

Scarlet was more than ready to embrace the challenge ahead. Her spirit burned brighter than ever, a mix of defiance and ambition fueling her resolve. Whether it was Kumogakure, its enemies, or the world itself...

She'd reduce it all to ashes, and from the inferno, she'd rise, unshackled and unstoppable.