Naruto: Fate System

Not long after, under the recommendation of Kaori, Sara became a teacher at a school in Ame.

Although she verbally expressed strong resistance, her actions betrayed her true feelings. It didn't take long for her to adapt fully to life in the Land of Rain.

Shin only learned about this news later. He'd been too focused on other matters to notice this small but significant change in their community.

By contrast, it seemed the rest of the Akatsuki members were a step ahead in finding out. Word spread quickly through their ranks about the princess who chose to teach their children.

That day, after Tanaka completed his routine work and returned home, rainwater still dripping from his cloak, he was greeted with an excited tackle from his little sister as soon as he stepped through the door.

"Brother, a new teacher came to our school today! She introduced herself as a princess! We all think she's amazing~"

Tanaka gently set his sister down from his embrace, patted her head fondly, and asked, "Really? What did this princess teach you?"

The simple act of ruffling her hair brought back memories of countless rainy nights spent protecting her.

Still brimming with excitement, his sister eagerly replied, "She taught us flower arrangement, which she said is a skill exclusive to the royal courts of the Land of Wind!" She mimicked the movements Sara had shown them, her small hands moving through the air as if arranging invisible blooms.

"She also taught us how to identify different minerals and sands. The teacher said her homeland is far, far away in the desert, and you need an airship to reach it."

With that, she twirled around in delight, spreading her arms like a joyful little butterfly.

"Brother, I've decided on a dream today!"

"What dream?" Tanaka found himself leaning forward, drawn in by her enthusiasm.

"When I grow up, I want to become an engineer!" She stood tall, proud, as if already seeing herself in that role.

"What does an engineer do?" Tanaka, who had only ever been a ninja, was clueless.

"Engineers are like magical creators of machinery! The airships that can fly over deserts are their masterpieces!" She spun around again, this time pretending to soar through clouds. "They build things that make the impossible possible!"

"When I grow up, I want to become a great engineer too and build big, fast airships. Then I'll visit Teacher Sara's homeland for sure. I heard it has this amazing energy source called the Ryūmyaku—it's incredible!"

Though Tanaka didn't fully understand, he smiled warmly and indulged her excitement. The sight of her happiness made his heart ache with a bittersweet joy.

"All right, all right. You can be whatever you want when you grow up."

Shortly after, when they sat down at their modest dinner table, steam rising from their simple meal, they clasped their hands together and said in unison, "Itadakimasu."

The siblings exchanged a smile again.

As he picked up his chopsticks, Tanaka suddenly felt compelled to ask, "Do you like our life now?"

Without hesitation, his sister nodded vigorously, rice bowl clutched in her small hands. "I love it! I really, really love it!"

For a moment, Tanaka's vision blurred.

In that fleeting instant, he finally understood the meaning of his battles. He understood everything Shin had said before.

His thoughts drifted back to the day several years ago when Yahiko approached him to join Akatsuki. The rain had been particularly harsh that day, as if the sky itself was mourning their fate.

At the time, he had just fled a chaotic battlefield with his sister. Their parents were dead, and they had nothing to their names. The sound of explosions still echoed in his ears, mixing with his sister's terrified whimpers as they ran through the mud.

That night, he and his sister clasped their hands together and said, "Itadakimasu," as they pitifully shared a moldy, dirty bun.

The gesture was more ritual than necessity—there was barely enough to share.

Midway through eating, his sister suddenly began crying, her eyes red as she asked, "Why is life so hard for us? What did we do wrong?" Her small shoulders shook with sobs that seemed too big for her tiny frame.

It was that question that solidified his resolve to follow Yahiko and join Akatsuki, hoping to change everything.

But years passed, and although he deeply respected and admired Yahiko, he still couldn't answer that question his sister had asked back then.

They were still wandering, still struggling to survive day by day. Each mission brought more promises of change, but their reality remained stubbornly the same.

Until a few months ago, when Shin rose to power like a comet, seizing leadership of Akatsuki in one swift move.

For years, the organization had seen little progress, but within those few months, it was as if someone had slammed down the accelerator. Everything began to change rapidly.

The markets filled with food, the streets became safer, and hope started to bloom like flowers after rain.

At first, Tanaka felt uncomfortable with these changes and found it hard to accept Shin's ruthless methods. Each decisive action, each cold calculation made him question their path.

For quite some time, his body was in Shin's camp, but his heart remained with Yahiko. The idealist in him clung to dreams of peaceful revolution, even as reality demanded harsher methods.

Even now, many around him still thought he didn't understand their new leader. But he understood Shin's words more profoundly than anyone else. He understood because he saw the results every day in his sister's smile, in the warmth of their home, in the peace of their dinner table.

The meaning of battle? Isn't it exactly this? he thought, watching his sister happily eat her meal.

The simple sight was worth more than a thousand philosophical debates.

There was no need for brainwashing with phrases like the Will of Rain or the Will of Akatsuki, nor for esoteric talk about leaves dancing in the wind. Those pretty words meant nothing compared to his sister's dream of becoming an engineer.

When true beauty was right before one's eyes, anyone could naturally understand the meaning of battle.

The proof was right here, in this moment, in this simple dinner shared between siblings who no longer had to wonder if tomorrow's meal would come.

For Tanaka, the meaning of his battle was to protect all of this hard-earned happiness—to protect his sister's newly found dream.

Because his sister had said she loved their life now, loved it very, very much. Her small hands clutched her chopsticks tightly as she spoke of her future plans.

So, even if it cost him his life, he was determined to defend everything here: the dignity and beauty of the Land of Rain and, above all, the will of their leader, Shin.

Towards the end of their dinner, gathering his courage, he suddenly spoke in a soft voice. "Nana, if I have to go far away soon, can you take care of yourself?"

His sister, who had been happily eating, froze mid-bite when she heard this.

She knew what her brother's profession was. She knew he had long since joined that organization. So, being an understanding child, she didn't make a fuss. Instead, she simply murmured a quiet "Mm."

I must be strong for brother. He needs this.

But despite her efforts, her lowered eyes glistened with unshed tears, though she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

Tanaka felt a pang of sadness at the sight.

Then, in the next moment, his sister said, lifting her head, "Brother, go ahead. Just make sure to protect Shin, okay? He's the great hero of the Land of Rain!"

Tanaka, who had been feeling emotional, suddenly found himself inexplicably irritated. Even at home, he's all she talks about now.

For the first time, he felt a strange sense of jealousy mixed into his admiration for Shin. The food in his mouth seemed to lose its taste.

This peculiar feeling made him both annoyed and amused at himself. What kind of jonin gets jealous of his leader over his little sister's admiration?

---

The next morning, Tanaka donned his full set of gear. He strapped on his ninja tools methodically, checking each pouch twice, and slung his sword over his back before heading to Akatsuki's council chamber.

As soon as he walked in, someone greeted him with a surprised tone. "Tanaka? I didn't expect to see you here! This recruitment wasn't mandatory. What's the deal? The big sister-con didn't want to stay home with his little sister?"

Tanaka snorted and raised a middle finger at the speaker—a gesture they'd all picked up from Shin, now wildly popular within Akatsuki.

"Don't forget, I'm a jonin now! Even if this call wasn't mandatory, I wouldn't trust an important mission like this to you rookies." He adjusted his sword strap, a small smirk playing on his face.

"Who are you calling a rookie?!" The other ninja bristled, jumping to his feet. "You only got lucky and were promoted before the fight with Hanzō. If I'd had that timing, I'd definitely be a jonin by now too!"

"Tch." Tanaka cast a disdainful sidelong glance at him.

The familiar banter felt good—like family squabbling before a big event. Since they were familiar with each other, there was no need to hold back the banter. The other ninjas around them watched with amused expressions, some nodding in agreement with one side or the other.

"This time, we're up against Konoha, the First Ninja Village. A chunin who only knows how to talk big should reconsider their place." He deliberately emphasized chunin.

The provocation worked perfectly, making the other ninja jump up in frustration, his gear rattling. "Don't act so smug! Now that Akatsuki has opened up the jutsu reserves, it won't take long for me to catch up to you. When I take the jonin exam, I'll make sure to challenge you directly!"

Tanaka rolled his eyes. "I'll be waiting to crush you!"

Seeing that the two were about to start bickering, other Akatsuki members nearby prepared to intervene.

Just then, the council chamber doors swung open with a creak. The chatter died instantly as sunlight flooded the room.

Shin strode in, backlit by the bright sunlight, a satisfied smile on his face. His figure cast a long shadow across the chamber floor, and every ninja present straightened instinctively.

This is why we follow him. He carries himself like someone who knows exactly where he's leading us.

"I've said before, this recruitment wasn't mandatory. But I'm delighted, because I still see almost every familiar face here."

"This tells me that you've all found your own reasons to fight, haven't you?"

At that moment, including Tanaka, every Akatsuki ninja present responded in unison, their voices merging into a single powerful declaration:

"For a beautiful tomorrow!"

Tanaka didn't know the reasons others had, but at least for himself, he truly believed and resonated with those words from the depths of his heart. For Nana's smile. For her dreams. For all the children who can finally think beyond survival.

This was his reason to fight!

"Good!" Shin said, stepping to the forefront of the group. He gestured, and a massive map unfurled before them.

"Now then, let's review the battle plan for this assault on Kusa."

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