An Unexpected Friend (Book 1 of the Unexpected Series)

Ch. 11 - Time to Wave Part 2

She didn't know how to remedy it. She wanted to make it stronger, but she didn't know how to. She didn't know any other ice users. Her dad said that the strength of her jutsu corresponded to the amount of chakra she had and her control over her chakra, but she thought she had a good hold on her chakra. Plus, she knew she had a decent amount of chakra; she could feel it inside of her. She sighed and bent her leg so it could hold her arm up. She leaned her cheek against her hand and stared at the remaining ice spears. There were only four more, which wasn't a lot. She wanted to be able to make enough to cover an entire field. The feeling of being watched invaded her and she stiffened.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you," a light voice said from her left. Kokoro swiveled her head and locked eyes with a person around the same age as her. She couldn't identify if they were male or female. They had long black hair and large brown eyes. Their voice was slightly masculine, but still, she couldn't tell. They carried a slightly familiar scent, too. Kokoro couldn't place it, but she felt like she had come across their scent before. Maybe they were a citizen of the village and she had smelled it in passing.

"No worries," Kokoro answered. She didn't feel any danger coming from the person. They looked like a regular citizen.

"Pardon my prying but you seem frustrated," the person said.

"Just a little," Kokoro admitted.

"May I ask why?"

"...I'm having trouble with my jutsu."

"You have a unique jutsu," the person said, referring to the ice spears peeking out of the green grass.

"Yes, you could say that," Kokoro said. "I haven't met anyone with the same jutsu as me. I almost feel like I'm the only one with it."

"You're not the only one."

"What do you mean?" Kokoro asked suspiciously.

"What's wrong with your jutsu?" the person asked. Kokoro narrowed her eyes at the subject change but let it go. She wasn't going to pick a fight with a citizen. It would be unfair of her to do so.

"It's not strong enough and I can't make enough. I've tried countless times but nothing ever changes," Kokoro said while looking down. She picked up a twig, snapped it in half, and threw it back to the ground.

"May I see you do it?"

"Why?"

"I'm curious."

Kokoro sighed and stood up. She brushed her pants off and went through the motions. Before she finished the jutsu, the person stopped her.

"You're forgetting a sign," they informed her. She scoffed and turned her head to the side. She knew she had it right. The few scrolls her dad had on ice release were informative. How could they be wrong when they were in writing?

"What would you know about it?" she asked a bit snootily. They smirked before performing a number of hand signs. They slammed their hand against the ground and ice spears broke through the ground around them. Kokoro stumbled back and accidentally touched one of them. She backed away from it, but stared at it inquisitively when it didn't break. Experimentally, she touched one with the tip of her finger and was amazed when it didn't fall apart. "How did you do that?" she asked excitedly. She looked at the person with stars in her eyes. She rushed up to them and grabbed their hands in hers. They chuckled and smiled at her enthusiasm.

"I'm an ice user myself," they confessed. Kokoro gasped and stepped back from them.

"Are you - I mean, are we....related?" she asked. She bit her lip and waited impatiently for an answer. "Or maybe you're from the same clan as my mom? My dad's side of the family doesn't have a history of ice release, and well, I've never met my mom or her family before."