"Woo! Woo!" Koen barked twice, her voice full of excitement. She looked up at Katsumi Kei with new respect burning in her eyes.
The feeling of evolution—it was beyond anything she had imagined.
So powerful. So magical.
She had chosen her master well.
Kei noticed the change. Koen's eyes, once a warm amber, now shimmered with tiny sparks—embers glowing deep within golden pools—a sign of the fire now kindling within her.
"That was only your first evolution," Kei said quietly, eyes calm. "As long as you obey and offer strength and loyalty, more will come. A second, third, fourth... each more powerful than the last."
Koen's heart stirred. Excitement. Yearning. A burning desire for more.
Kei continued: "But strength alone means nothing. You must train. Evolved talents require control. And the stronger you become, the easier it is for me to obtain the materials to evolve you further."
Koen nodded quickly. She understood.
That afternoon, she threw herself into training. Her paws moved faster, her body lighter, sharper.
The fire flowing through her veins wasn't just energy—it was clarity. She could feel how her muscles aligned more smoothly with each movement, how her mind timed every leap and spin just a little more perfectly.
Nearby, Hayate barked his approval, and even Shadow gave a huff of acknowledgment from a tree branch. Koen didn't respond. She was focused—burning to prove herself.
But later that day, after training, she quietly trotted to Kei's side and looked up.
"Woo..." The tone was different this time—uncertain.
Kei, who was reviewing scrolls on Wind Style theory, looked down and raised an eyebrow. "What is it, Koen?"
Koen tilted her head. Then sat. Then lowered it slightly.
She didn't speak—but Kei understood.
"You're wondering why I'm not evolving you again right away."
A small flicker of flame sparked in Koen's whiskers. Not anger. Disappointment.
Kei gently set the scroll down and crouched to Koen's level.
"Listen. I could evolve you again tomorrow. I have the materials. But that would be meaningless if you couldn't control your new strength."
Koen's ears twitched.
"What good is power if you burn out every time you try to use it? What if Hayate, or Shadow, or I needed you—and your power slipped from your grasp at the worst moment?"
Koen's tail lowered. But her eyes rose to meet Kei's.
"Control matters as much as strength. Maybe more."
There was a long pause.
Then Koen straightened.
The fire in her golden eyes steadied.
She let out a small bark and gave a confident nod.
Kei smiled slightly. "Good. Train hard. Earn the next step."
Kei stood and gave them a smile. "Alright, you three. Back to training. Let's see what those new moves look like."
With his summons off for discipline, Kei turned to his next task.
[Evolution Requirement: Flame Heart Stone (1000g)]
A special ore. Useless for weapons, but invaluable for heat. When exposed to chakra flames, it didn't melt—it intensified. Its layered mineral structure made it ideal for long-forging processes and chakra-reactive cores. Most smiths used it as an enhancer for kilns, but Kei saw something more: a perfect match for Koen's next leap.
Tengang's shop was the obvious choice.
Kei made the short walk.
"Uncle Tengang," he greeted.
"Katsumi Kei, you're taller again," Tengang smiled. "What do you need today?"
"A kilo of Flame Heart Stone."
Tengang didn't ask why. He never did. He just went to the forge and returned moments later with a cloth bag.
"Thank you, Uncle," Kei said sincerely.
"You're always welcome."
Back on the streets, Kei tucked the ore away in a storage scroll.
No rush. Koen would train first. Evolve later.
As he walked, something caught his eye.
Three familiar figures: Uchiha Shisui. Uchiha Itachi. And a much younger Uchiha Sasuke.
Sasuke clung to Itachi's hand, glaring at Shisui with resentment.
Kei raised an eyebrow.
A brocon. Clearly.
Shisui caught sight of him, grinned, and walked over.
"Kei. What a coincidence."
"Shisui-senpai," Kei greeted with a nod.
.....
Yo! I know, I know, I'm using the metric system, not imperial.
But listen: I could say 35.274 ounces, or 2.2 pounds, or .00098 tons, but really, its easier for me to write and for you to read if I keep it in metric.
The system will work off multiples of ten for a long time until final power ups become just one thing needed for the 'final' evolution.
Staying consistent on measurements now will help keep the story clean in the long term.