Naruto: reborn as an Uzumaki

Kana walked back into the living room, her kimono loosely draped over her frame, still feeling a faint warmth on her face from her.... moment in the bath. She glanced around, noticing the quietness of the house. Kenshin and Akane were nowhere in sight.

"Where are the kids?" Kana asked, turning her attention to Yukari, who was seated comfortably on the couch, engrossed in the novel she had been reading earlier.

Yukari glanced up with a gentle smile. "They had some errands to run. It seemed urgent."

Kana raised an eyebrow, her tone light but suspicious. "They're not sneaking off because their... activities are restricted, are they?"

Yukari chuckled softly, shaking her head. "I doubt it, Kana-sama. Kenshin-sama mentioned needing to open a bank account. It's not a bad idea, especially since carrying cash—even in a storage scroll—can be inconvenient. Besides, having it in a bank might keep him from spending it frivolously."

Kana let out a small laugh. "Well, let's hope that's true. And what about Akane-chan?"

"She had something important to do as well," Yukari replied, her tone implying it wasn't necessary to elaborate further.

Kana nodded, settling onto the couch beside Yukari. "Good, I suppose. At least they're being responsible. So," she said, leaning back and resting her arm on the couch's edge, "what's that novel about? You seemed pretty into it earlier."

Yukari smiled warmly, holding up the book. "It's about a wandering healer who becomes involved in the lives of a small, war-torn village. It's a touching story, though a bit tragic."

"Tragic, huh?" Kana mused, leaning her head back with a faint sigh. "I guess I can handle a little tragedy today. Mind telling me more about it?"

Yukari nodded, beginning to explain the plot as Kana listened, enjoying the peaceful moment with her closest friend.

Meanwhile, Kenshin had just arrived at the branch of the Bank of the Land of Fire, which was conveniently located next to the Hokage's office.

The large building stood tall with polished glass windows and the insignia of the Land of Fire emblazoned on the entrance. He glanced up at the clock above the entrance, noting it was already 4:30 PM. He had just half an hour before the bank would close for the day.

Reaching into his pouch, he touched the storage scroll containing his briefcase with all his savings. It included the 1.5 million ryo he'd managed to save up over time and the 5 million he'd received from Konan.

He stepped inside the bank, scanning the spacious lobby before heading to the front desk, where a middle-aged woman in a crisp uniform was seated.

With a warm smile, Kenshin approached the desk. "Excuse me, I'd like to open a bank account."

The woman glanced up from her paperwork, studying him for a moment. "Of course," she replied with a polite smile. "May I have your name and age?"

"Kenshin Uzumaki," he answered. "I'm 15 years old."

The woman raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Are you a shinobi? Your name sounds familiar."

"Yes, I am," Kenshin replied, nodding. "A Genin, to be specific. I'm originally from the Hidden Rain but my mom and I have been here in the Leaf for about a month and a half. My father was an Uchiha."

Her expression shifted slightly, though she remained professional. She nodded and asked, "Could you please provide your ninja registration number?"

Kenshin recited the number without hesitation. The woman scribbled it down and excused herself, heading to the back to cross-check his information with the bank's database. Kenshin waited patiently, tapping his fingers lightly against the desk, observing the other customers and employees in the bank.

After a few minutes, the woman returned, her demeanor warmer and more assured. "Thank you for waiting, Kenshin-san. Your information has been confirmed. I'll explain the types of accounts we offer."

"First, Standard Savings Account. A basic account for personal savings. You can deposit funds anytime but withdraw only twice a week.

Second, Shinobi Mission Account. Designed specifically for shinobi, this account will automatically receive mission payments directly from the Hokage's office. It will eliminate the need to deposit payments manually and comes with a ledger book and a chequebook for convenience.

Lastly, Emergency Funds Account. A high-security account for funds set aside for emergencies. Access to this account is restricted and requires special authorization, providing financial stability in case of unfortunate events, which is a high possibly in your line of work.

Additionally, you could arrange for a set percentage of your mission payments to be automatically transferred to this account upon deposit into either of the other accounts."

The woman smiled as she concluded, "You're free to choose any of these accounts or even all three, depending on your needs." She handed Kenshin a form to fill out, waiting patiently for his decision.

Kenshin nodded thoughtfully as the clerk explained the options, considering the practicality of a Shinobi Mission Account. After a moment, he smiled and said, "I'll go with the Shinobi Mission Account."

The clerk nodded approvingly and handed him a form. "Please fill this out, Kenshin-san. Let me know if you need assistance."

Kenshin took the form and carefully filled in his details. Once completed, he handed it back to her. She examined it quickly, ensuring everything was in order, before processing it further.

After a few minutes, she returned with a small stack of items: an account number written on an official slip, a personal seal for transactions, a compact ledger book, and a chequebook.

"Here you are," she said, placing the items in front of him. "This is your account number. The seal will be required for any transactions. The ledger book is for keeping track of your finances, and the chequebook will allow you to make direct payments.

Remember, the Bank of Fire has branches in every town in the Land of Fire, so you can withdraw money from any of them. To activate your account, you'll need to make a minimum deposit of 10,000 ryo. If you're unable to do so right now, we can provide an advance, which will be deducted from your next mission payment."

Kenshin nodded with a small smile. "I'll deposit right now."

He reached for his storage scroll, carefully unsealing it and retrieving the briefcase containing his funds. Placing it on the counter, he unlatched it and said, "There's 6.5 million ryo in here. I'd like to deposit all of it."

The clerk's eyes widened slightly, her composure faltering for just a moment before she regained her professionalism. It was uncommon for Genin to have this much money on hand, as genin-level missions usually don't pay that much. Even in a team, a Genin usually doesn't get much more than half a million during the most high profile missions.

"That's quite a sum," she remarked, glancing at him with a curious smile. "Been pretty busy, have we? Done a lot of high-ranking missions lately?"

Kenshin gave a small shrug, smiling faintly. "Well… yeah. Something like that."

The clerk raised an eyebrow, but she didn't press further. Instead, she began meticulously counting the money. Once she confirmed the total amount, she nodded and took the briefcase away to complete the deposit process.

After a few more minutes, she returned and said, "Your account is now active, Kenshin-san. You can start using it immediately. Thank you for choosing the Bank of Fire."

Standing up, she gave him a slight bow. "Good luck on your future missions."

Kenshin returned the bow respectfully. "Thank you." He pocketed the ledger book and chequebook before leaving the bank with a satisfied smile.

Meanwhile, Akane had just reached Tenten's weapon shop. The welcoming chime of the door announced her arrival as she stepped inside. At the counter, Tenten's mother looked up, her face lighting up when she saw Akane.

"Oh, Akane-chan! Welcome!" she greeted warmly. "Tenten's in the forging area. She's heat-treating that katana you commissioned."

Akane smiled. "Thank you," she replied, bowing slightly before making her way to the forge.

The room was filled with the sharp tang of hot metal and the rhythmic sound of hammering. Akane spotted Tenten working on a blade, her focus unwavering.

She wore protective goggles and a sleeveless top that clung to her due to sweat, giving her a truly professional appearance.

Akane's eyes shifted to the tempering oven, where a katana rested. She immediately assumed it was hers, though she didn't interrupt, instead watching as Tenten hammered the blade she was working on with precise strikes.

"Tenten," Akane finally called out, stepping closer.

There was no response. Tenten seemed completely absorbed in her work.

After a few more strikes, Tenten muttered, "Too cold," and placed the blade back in the forge. She turned to grab something but bumped directly into Akane, stumbling back.

Quickly, Akane grabbed her hand, steadying her. "Careful," Akane said with a soft smile.

Tenten blinked, startled. "Akane?! When did you get here?"

"I've been here a while," Akane replied, amused. "You were so focused you didn't notice me."

Tenten wiped her brow, her cheeks flushed slightly, though it was hard to tell if it was from embarrassment or the heat of the forge.

"Sorry about that," she said, glancing at the tempering oven. "It's almost ready. Just a little longer."

Akane smiled warmly. "Take your time. It looks like you've been putting a lot of care into it."

Tenten nodded, leaning back slightly as she adjusted her goggles. "This has definitely been my most challenging project," she said, pulling up a stool for Akane. The two sat side by side in front of the anvil, watching the forge and the tempering oven.

Akane glanced at Tenten, who began to explain. "The process for forging chakra metal is… weird," she started.

"I had to cut the original blade into four equal parts. Then, I added a fifth piece of similar size in the middle and forge welded it all together. But here's the kicker—for each piece being forge welded, it needs an additional five hours of heating. The first forge weld alone took 25 hours of heating."

Akane raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Why not just blast the forge and heat it faster?" she asked curiously.

Tenten shook her head, a faint smile on her lips. "It's not that simple. Chakra metal has an extremely specific temperature range that needs to be maintained. Get it too hot or too cold, and it's ruined. Plus, during hammering, the temperature needs to stay just right. Or else it shatters. It's maddening."

As she spoke, Tenten pulled off her goggles, revealing dark circles under her eyes and a weariness that hadn't been obvious before. Akane's expression softened as she placed a hand on Tenten's shoulder. "You've really pushed yourself for this," she said gently.

Tenten gave a tired chuckle and nodded. "Yeah, but it's worth it. After the first forge weld, I finally took a break and got some sleep. But when I came back, I had to heat it all over again. That time, I folded the metal, which reduced the heating time to about ten hours per fold. I did five folds in total, which brought the layers to 160."

She paused, glancing at the tempering oven. "Now it's almost done. It's been tempering for about eight hours, and in another hour, I'll take it out and start sharpening. By tomorrow, it'll be ready."

Akane nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Thank you, Tenten. I'm really looking forward to seeing Kenshin's reaction."

Tenten chuckled, running a hand through her damp hair. "Oh, he's going to love it. That katana's going to have one sexy pattern—160 layers. It'll be razor sharp too, but it'll need regular maintenance. Nothing too demanding, just stropping once a week and daily cleaning. If he uses it a lot, he can bring it here, and I'll sharpen it. Free of cost."

Akane's smile widened. "You're really the best, Tenten."

Tenten smirked, a spark of pride in her eyes despite her fatigue. "Don't forget it," she teased, turning her attention back to the forge.

She glanced at Akane as she wiped her brow. "If you're not busy, you could stick around for an hour. You'll get to see the finished katana when I do the acid dip," she said with a small smile.

Akane nodded. "Sure. Mind if I use your sharpening station in the meantime?"

Tenten waved a hand. "Go ahead. Make yourself at home," she replied, pulling her goggles back over her eyes and slipping on a pair of gloves.

Akane stepped aside as Tenten approached the anvil. With practiced ease, Tenten pulled the heated blade from the forge, its bright orange glow lighting up the room. "Move over," she told Akane, who quickly grabbed the stools and made space.

Tenten set the blade down, the clinking sound resonating in the room, and began hammering on it with rhythmic precision. Her lean arms swung the heavy hammer with ease, each strike shaping the hot metal into a fine blade.

Meanwhile, Akane walked to the sharpening station, unsheathing her katana and attaching it to the magnetized rig.

Ever since Kenshin had chipped his katana, he'd been borrowing hers, using it in missions. The edge had dulled over time, and Akane figured this was the perfect chance to bring it back to its original sharpness.

The forge was filled with the sounds of metal striking metal and the occasional grind of the sharpening stone as Akane worked meticulously. An hour passed, and Akane finished sharpening her blade, running a finger lightly along the edge to confirm its razor-sharp finish.

On the other side of the room, Tenten had shaped the blade she was working on, setting it aside with satisfaction. Akane noted its design—a ninjato. "For a shinobi in the village?" Akane asked, gesturing toward the blade.

Tenten nodded. "Yeah, it's a custom order. I'll get to grinding it later."

She glanced at the clock, then walked to the tempering oven. Carefully, she took out the katana Akane had commissioned, setting it on the workbench to cool.

Wiping her forehead again, Tenten stepped out to a mini fridge just outside the forging room and pulled out a cold drink. "Want one?" she called to Akane.

Akane accepted the offer, gratefully taking the cold bottle. The heat inside the forge was intense, and even in the dead of winter, the cool drink was a relief.

As they drank, Tenten began preparing the acid. Once the katana had cooled sufficiently, she cleaned it thoroughly, ensuring there was no residue. Then, with care, she dipped it into the acid, letting it rest for a few minutes before pulling it out.

She wiped the blade, revealing a stunning, intricate pattern. A mix of swirling waves and flowing lines ran along the metal. "Tell me that ain't sexy!" Tenten said, her face lighting up with pride and a touch of relief.

Akane smiled, tilting her head. "It's beautiful. Not sure I'd call it sexy, though."

Tenten laughed, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten. "When you pour your heart into a weapon, you see it differently. Trust me, you wouldn't get it."

She dipped the katana again, repeating the process six times. Each dip made the pattern more pronounced, the layers of folded metal practically shimmering.

Once the process was complete, Tenten set the blade down. "I'll start sharpening it later tonight," she said, stretching. "But first, I need some food. I've been here all day. The festival season is a nightmare for any business."

Akane nodded, holding her katana close. "I appreciate the effort you've put into this, Tenten. Kenshin's going to love it."

Tenten gave a tired but genuine smile. "He better."

Akane stepped out of the shop after thanking Tenten, reminding her to get some proper rest. She made her way to the Uchiha compound, heading straight for her home.

Upon entering, she found Kenshin sitting with Kana and Yukari in the living room. The moment they noticed Akane, Kana greeted her, asking where she had been.

Akane held up her katana with a small smile. "I went to a friend's house to borrow their sharpening rig. A certain someone," she glanced pointedly at Kenshin, "has been borrowing it a lot, so I figured I'd get it sharpened."

She stepped into the living room and took a seat beside Yukari. "What were you all talking about?"

Kenshin spoke up. "I was suggesting that we go somewhere as a family for a few days before the Rinne Festival. We haven't had a chance to make any proper memories together, and I think it's time we do."

Kana chimed in with a nod. "I think it's a wonderful idea. I found out recently that the Hidden Leaf gives genin and chunin some time off before the Rinne Festival. And Hokage-sama granted me leave for the remaining days as well, to celebrate my promotion to jonin."

Akane nodded thoughtfully. "That sounds like a good idea. But planning a trip like this might be tricky. We should talk to Ino's mom. Her family always goes somewhere during the festival, and I doubt they'd mind if we tag along. The more, the merrier, right?

Besides, I've heard Ino's mom is excellent at organizing trips like these. None of us have much experience with that, so it's better to let an expert handle it."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Kenshin grinned. "Alright then, I'll go to the flower shop tomorrow and talk to Ino's mom about it."

Akane offered, "I can come with you."

Kenshin shook his head. "No, you should focus on your training with Kakashi-san. After tomorrow, you probably won't get the chance. Make the most of it. I can handle this. Besides," he smirked, "I'll be in charge of the budget anyway."

Akane narrowed her eyes but then sighed, standing and moving to sit beside Kenshin. "Fair enough," she admitted. Then, she turned to him with a raised eyebrow. "So, when are we heading out for the party?"

Kenshin leaned back casually. "In two hours. You should start getting ready."

Akane blinked, confused. "Why would I need to start getting ready now if we're going out in two hours?"

Kenshin shrugged, a sly smile creeping onto his face.

It took Akane a moment to realize what he meant. Her face flushed with embarrassment. "Oh, you think you're funny, huh?" she said, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Before Kenshin could respond, she channeled a jolt of lightning chakra into him. His body stiffened as electricity coursed through him, and he groaned in defeat.

Kana and Yukari burst into laughter, and even Akane couldn't help but grin.

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