Chapter Text
The night sky was heavy with smoke and sorrow. Flames flickered across the distant mountains, casting an ominous glow that illuminated the wreckage of what was once the peaceful village of Godai. Unknown enemies had descended suddenly—raiders, assassins, or perhaps forces driven by motives cloaked in secrecy—leaving devastation in their wake.
Within the chaos, a girl no older than fifteen was running, her dark brown hair tangled and streaked with ash. Her grey eyes shone with a fierce mixture of fear and resilience. The torn fabric of her clothes fluttered behind her as she sprinted through collapsing buildings, dodging debris, her every step driven by a desperate hope.
Her name was Shanari Nakano. Her lineage was rare—her Elemental Convergence bloodline, allowing her to control all five elements without hand signs, a gift passed down through her family. For years, she'd been trained to protect her people, guided by her father's old friend and mentor.
That mentor was Sakumo Hatake, a legendary ninja whose reputation stretched across the Hidden Leaf. A hero of countless battles, Sakumo had once been her father's closest friend—and her early teacher. Though he'd always been busy with missions and duty, she had trained under him briefly during her childhood, learning the fundamentals of combat, discipline, and control.
Tonight, he was nowhere in sight, but his teachings echoed in her mind. His voice, calm and unwavering, had often told her: "Power alone isn't enough. You must learn to control it, or it will consume you."
Her trembling voice whispered the name of her mentor as she fled:
"Sakumo..."
Behind her, the enemy was closing in, shouting in their foreign language, blades flashing. She summoned her elemental powers instinctively—water flowing from a nearby stream, flames bursting into existence, winds howling at her command, earth rising to shield her. Chaotic and raw, her powers flickered like a dying flame—her adrenaline her only fuel.
Her mind drifted briefly to her childhood memories—her early training days under Sakumo's watchful eye. She remembered how he had emphasized control, patience, and strength. Though he wasn't here now, his lessons had become part of her blood.
"You must be stronger than this," her mentor's words echoed softly in her mind, tempered with the seriousness that had always characterized him. "Control your power... or it will control you."
Her heart thumped fiercely as she stumbled into the forest beyond her village's outskirts, tears finally spilling down her cheeks. The destruction back home—the screams, the flames—burned into her memories. It was more than loss; it was a desperate need to survive, to carry on, to protect those who couldn't.
She pressed her trembling hand against her chest, clutching her pendant—a family heirloom and talisman that had been with her since childhood. She vowed silently that she would endure, that her pain would not define her.
And somewhere deep inside, a flicker of hope ignited. She was a survivor, a protector in the making. Her time would come again—she just had to hold on, no matter how dark the night.
In the shadows beyond, a young ninja watched cautiously—Kakashi Hatake. Just sixteen, but eyes that knew too much for his age. His gaze lingered on the distant flames, sensing that everything tonight was more than the destruction of a village. It was the beginning of a new chapter—for her, and for himself.