Mastering the Elements - Chapter - 17

Harry had always been a man of many identities, slipping between worlds like a shadow. But for the first time in a long time, he was no longer alone.

He had Mikoto. He had Itachi.

And for the first time, he had something to protect.

Harry sat at the small wooden table in Mikoto’s home, the flickering candlelight casting soft shadows across the room. Tsunade sat across from him, swirling a cup of sake in her hand, her sharp golden eyes locked onto him like a predator studying prey.

"You’re hiding something," Tsunade said bluntly, setting her drink down with a soft clink.

Harry smirked, sipping his own drink. "Everyone hides something, Tsunade."

"Don’t play games with me," she shot back, leaning forward. "I’ve traveled with you, watched you. You don’t move like a civilian, and you sure as hell don’t talk like one. You know things—too many things."

Mikoto, sitting beside Harry, glanced between them. "He’s always been like this," she said softly. "A mystery wrapped in secrets."

Harry chuckled, swirling his drink. "And yet, you still keep me around."

Mikoto’s lips curled into a small smile. "Because I trust you."

Tsunade sighed, rubbing her temples. "I don’t know whether to be annoyed or impressed. But let’s get one thing straight—if you’re in this village, you’re under the Hokage’s watch."

Harry’s expression darkened slightly, though he kept his tone light. "I figured as much."

Tsunade leaned back. "Hiruzen isn’t a fool. He knows you’re not a simple traveler. And Danzo? That bastard is already digging."

Mikoto stiffened at the mention of Danzo.

Harry’s smile faded. "I expected nothing less."

"You don’t seem worried," Tsunade observed.

Harry smirked. "If Danzo makes a move against me, he’ll regret it."

Tsunade studied him for a long moment before chuckling. "You really are something else, aren’t you?"

Harry raised his cup. "I try."

Despite his decision to stay hidden, Harry couldn’t ignore Itachi’s potential.

One evening, he stood in the courtyard behind Mikoto’s home, watching as Itachi practiced with a wooden training dummy. The boy’s movements were precise, his form flawless for someone his age.

"You’re good," Harry said, stepping forward.

Itachi turned, his emerald green eyes meeting Harry’s with quiet curiosity. "I train every day."

Harry nodded. "I can see that. But… do you know why you train?"

Itachi frowned slightly. "To become stronger."

"Why?" Harry pressed.

Itachi hesitated. "To protect."

Harry smiled. "Good answer."

Itachi studied him carefully. "Were you a shinobi?"

Harry chuckled. "Something like that."

"Then will you train me?"

Harry paused, considering his words carefully. "The world is dangerous, Itachi. And strength… is more than just power. It’s knowing when to fight and when not to."

Itachi nodded slowly. "I want to learn."

Harry exhaled. He didn’t want to drag Itachi into the darkness that surrounded the shinobi world. But at the same time, he wanted to prepare his son.

So, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small silver coin.

Itachi raised an eyebrow. "What’s that?"

"A test," Harry said. "Catch."

He flicked the coin toward Itachi. The boy snatched it out of the air instantly, but the moment his fingers closed around it—

Poof!

A cloud of smoke erupted, and suddenly three clones of Harry appeared around Itachi, attacking from different angles.

Itachi’s eyes widened, but he reacted instinctively—dodging one, blocking another, and flipping over the last one with perfect agility.

Harry grinned. "Not bad."

Mikoto, who had been watching from the doorway, smiled softly. "You really are his father."

Harry knew that if the world found out about him, every major village would come hunting him.

They wouldn’t care that he wasn’t a threat. They wouldn’t care that he had no interest in war or politics.

All they would see was a man who had obtained multiple bloodline abilities through unknown means.

And that made him a target.

So he made a decision.

He wouldn’t reveal his true strength.

Not unless he had no choice.

Not unless it was life or death.

Mikoto, sitting beside him later that evening, seemed to sense his thoughts.

"You’re being careful," she observed.

Harry nodded. "I have to be."

She sighed. "I don’t like secrets between us, Harry."

He turned to her, taking her hands in his. "This secret… is to protect us. To protect Itachi."

Mikoto hesitated before nodding. "I trust you."

Harry smiled softly. "That means everything to me."

Meanwhile, deep within the Hokage’s office, Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a long stream of smoke from his pipe, his mind racing.

"Anything to report?" he asked the ANBU standing before him.

The masked shinobi bowed. "No signs of unusual activity. He is… living as an ordinary civilian."

Hiruzen frowned. "And yet, he is not ordinary."

"No, Hokage-sama."

The old man leaned back in his chair. "Continue watching him. But do not engage."

The ANBU nodded and disappeared into the shadows.

As the Hokage gazed out of his window, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Hari Pottaru was far more dangerous than he was letting on.

And if that was true…

Then the entire village would need to be prepared.

He had received multiple reports about Hari Pottaru's activities since his arrival in Konoha, but what concerned him more was the fact that Tsunade Senju had been frequently visiting him and Mikoto.

Hiruzen had known Tsunade long enough to understand that she would never willingly return to Konoha unless something extremely important had drawn her back.

And he now knew exactly what that was.

Itachi… no, Itachi Pottaru has awakened Wood Release—the bloodline of Hashirama Senju.

That was the key. That was why Tsunade had returned.

And if Tsunade was training both Itachi and his mysterious father, then Hiruzen needed to understand why.

With a slow exhale of smoke, he gestured for one of his ANBU guards.

“Summon Tsunade Senju to my office,” Hiruzen ordered. “Tell her I wish to discuss the matter of Itachi Uchiha and his training.”

The ANBU bowed and disappeared into the shadows.

Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers on the desk.

Tsunade arrived an hour later, pushing open the office doors with a casual air, as if she hadn’t been summoned by the leader of the village.

“You wanted to see me, old man?” she said, arms crossed as she stood in front of the Hokage’s desk.

Hiruzen regarded her carefully, puffing on his pipe before speaking.

“You’ve been spending quite a bit of time with the Pottaru family,” he noted.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow. “Is that a problem?”

Hiruzen exhaled. “That depends on what exactly you’ve been doing there.”

Tsunade smirked. “Oh, nothing much. Just training the first person in decades to awaken my grandfather’s bloodline.”

Hiruzen’s eyes narrowed. “That’s precisely why I called you here.”

Tsunade took a seat across from him, her smirk fading. “Look, Sensei, I came back because I heard about Itachi. I never expected to stay, but he’s a genius, and his potential with Wood Release is incredible. If anyone is going to teach him how to use it properly, it should be me.”

Hiruzen nodded, but his next words were more calculated. “And what of his father?”

Tsunade’s gaze flickered slightly, but she kept her expression neutral. “What about him?”

“You’re training him as well,” Hiruzen observed. “Why?”

Tsunade leaned back in her chair, stretching her arms. “Yep. We made a deal while traveling to Konoha. I teach him my healing techniques, and in return, he teaches me his.”

Hiruzen inhaled deeply, puffing out a ring of smoke. “You… made a trade?”

Tsunade smirked. “I thought it’d be fun. But let me tell you, old man… I didn’t expect to actually learn anything new.”

Hiruzen’s eyes narrowed. “You mean to say… he actually has medical knowledge that surpasses yours?”

Tsunade’s smirk faded slightly, replaced with something more contemplative. “I wouldn’t say surpass, but…” she rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “I have never seen some of his methods before. They’re not chakra-based like ours, but they work. And some of them… work better than medical ninjutsu.”

Hiruzen stiffened. Tsunade Senju, Konoha’s greatest healer, admitting that someone else’s healing methods were effective? That was unheard of.

“So, he’s a healer?” Hiruzen asked, trying to probe further.

“Oh, he’s the best,” Tsunade said with a grin. “I’ve never known that so many injuries and conditions could be healed using his methods. I saw him cure things that even I have difficulty with.”

Hiruzen exhaled slowly, his mind racing. If what she was saying was true, then Hari Pottaru wasn’t just an unknown factor—he was a potential asset.

He leaned forward. “Tsunade… there are shinobi in this village who have lost their careers due to injuries. If Hari Pottaru is as skilled as you say, would he be willing to help them?”

Tsunade’s smirk returned. “Oh? So now you want his help?”

Hiruzen sighed. “I’m not a fool. If he possesses unique healing abilities, then Konoha should benefit from them. We have many shinobi who could be useful to the village again if they were healed.”

Tsunade shrugged. “I’ll try to convince him. But he’s not someone who does things for free.”

Hiruzen chuckled. “Neither are you.”

Tsunade laughed. “That’s why I like him.”

Hiruzen nodded, a rare smile forming on his lips. “Very well. See if he’s willing to help. And Tsunade… keep an eye on him. I want to know what else he’s capable of.”

Tsunade waved a hand dismissively. “Yeah, yeah. I got it, old man.”

As she left the office, Hiruzen sat back in his chair, his pipe smoldering in his hand.


The Pottaru household had become a strange yet comforting haven in the heart of Konoha. In the outside world, political tension between clans simmered beneath the surface, and the ever-present danger of war loomed like an oncoming storm. But within the walls of Mikoto’s home, there was laughter, warmth, and the simple joys of a family coming together.

For the first time in his life, Harry wasn’t wandering alone.

He had Mikoto, the woman who had unknowingly changed his path.

He had Itachi, his son, whose brilliance both amazed and worried him.

And he had Naruto, the ball of energy who never stopped nagging him for training.

It was an odd little family, but it was his.

Since Itachi is a Chunin, Harry had forbidden him from going on missions unprepared.

"Skill alone isn’t enough," Harry had told him one evening as they sat in the candlelit living room. "You need to be smarter than your enemies. A good shinobi uses his brain before his blade."

Itachi had nodded solemnly, always the quick learner, and so Harry had armed him with tools from beyond the Elemental Nations—powerful, enchanted objects that no shinobi in this world had ever seen.

The first was a Communication Mirror, a smooth silver disk no larger than the palm of a hand. "If you ever find yourself against an enemy you can’t defeat," Harry had explained, "this will let you call for me. No matter where you are."

Itachi had accepted it without hesitation.

The next were Runed Kunai and Shuriken—forged with ancient magic, impossible to dull, and capable of absorbing elemental chakra.

"A normal blade can break," Harry had told him. "These won’t."

Then there was a cloak, its fibers woven with both chakra-absorbing seals and invisibility enchantments. Itachi had only needed a single glance to understand its value.

"It’s more than a disguise," Harry had explained. "It’s protection. It will keep you hidden when you need to be unseen."

Finally, Harry had given him sealing scrolls from another world, filled with everything from emergency rations to small healing potions crafted in his own private workshop.

Itachi had bowed his head in gratitude, then carefully stored each tool away, knowing that his father had given him more than just weapons—he had given him an advantage that no shinobi in this world possessed.

Whenever Itachi left on a mission, Naruto would immediately nag Harry to train him.

The boy would follow him around like a duckling, tugging at his robes and whining loudly enough for Mikoto to laugh from the kitchen.

"Train me, train me, train me!" Naruto demanded one morning, standing in the backyard with his fists on his hips.

Harry, who was sipping his morning tea, gave him an amused look. "You’re persistent, I’ll give you that."

"Come on, old man, I wanna be strong like Itachi-niisan!" Naruto puffed up his chest dramatically.

Harry smirked. "Alright, then let’s start with a test."

Naruto’s eyes lit up. "Yes! What do I gotta do?!"

Harry reached into his pocket, pulling out a small silver coin. He flicked it toward Naruto, who caught it easily.

"That’s it?" Naruto asked, frowning.

Then the coin burst into smoke.

Poof!

Out of nowhere, three clones of Harry attacked simultaneously.

Naruto barely had time to react. He ducked, rolled to the side, and threw himself backward, narrowly avoiding a strike aimed for his legs. He scrambled to his feet, eyes wide as he realized what was happening.

"You tricked me!" Naruto shouted.

Harry chuckled. "Lesson one, Naruto—never trust what you see."

And so Naruto’s training began.

Unlike the standard shinobi training, Harry’s methods were unconventional.

Mind Training – Naruto had to solve puzzles before each lesson. "A warrior who only trains his body is half-prepared for battle," Harry had told him.

Magical Endurance Runs – Harry placed gravity-enhancing bands on Naruto’s arms and legs, forcing him to train at a higher difficulty.

Chakra Control with a Twist – Instead of simple tree climbing, Naruto had to do it while dodging floating spheres controlled by Harry’s magic.

Cooking as Training – "You can’t fight if you don’t know how to take care of yourself," Harry said, making Naruto learn about herbs, poisons, and survival tactics.

At first, Naruto had whined constantly.

"Why do I have to do puzzles?!"

"Why do I have to cook?!"

"Why do I have to run with weights?!"

But slowly, Naruto began to realize something.

The training was working.

He could think faster, move quicker, dodge better. His chakra control, once terrible, had become incredibly sharp.

And when he finally defeated Harry’s wooden clones in a spar, he beamed with pride.

"I did it!" Naruto cheered, pumping his fists into the air.

Harry ruffled his hair. "You’re improving, kid."

Naruto grinned like the sun.

Despite their rigorous training, their home was filled with warmth.

Mikoto always made sure there was hot food waiting for them, and everyone enjoyed Harry’s strange, foreign recipes.

Naruto, as expected, devoured everything and declared Harry’s food better than Ichiraku Ramen—something that caused a full-blown argument between him and the old ramen chef the next time they visited.

"Naruto’s favorite is the spicy ramen with broth infused with magical herbs to keep his stamina high. Itachi loved the grilled meat dish designed for muscle recovery. Mikoto prefer the elegant fruit dessert that relieved stress and fatigue and Tsunade’s favorite (Whenever She Dropped By) was anything with alcohol.

"She smirked at Harry one evening after finishing her drink. "You sure you’re not a bartender instead of a healer?"

Harry chuckled. "I like to experiment."

For the first time in a long time, Harry had something worth protecting.

The warmth of family.

The laughter at the dinner table.

The quiet nights, watching his son train under the moonlight.

It wasn’t perfect. There were dangers ahead, enemies lurking, and secrets yet to be revealed.

But at least for now…

For now, Harry had a home.