'Sorry, I've got to go. My new sensei should be here any minute now.'
'Alright hun. Talk to you later. Bye bye, Tio.'
The laptop was clicked shut on the young boy's lap, though a soft smile lingered on his face as he sat atop the Ninja Academy's roof. It was a boy no older than twelve, with smooth, medium-length black hair. Dark eyes stared at the closed computer for a moment, before he moved it off his lap and put it aside. He ran his hands down his lap, smoothing out the simple white kimono. The forehead protector he now brandished just underneath his hairline felt a little weird at the moment, but he supposed that he'd get used to it. It meant that Tio was a ninja now. He actually graduated. He never thought that he would, considering his...
Footsteps caught his attention, eyes shifted toward the stairwell. Who would his sensei be? The ninja that would teach him and shape him for the rest of his life. Sasuke-sensei was a great help getting him into the Academy, but he would not be taking teams this year. So it would have to be a stranger. But a Jonin nonetheless. He had to respect that. The footsteps were getting louder, the individual drawing closer. He drew in a breath, awaiting the one who'd teach him everything he needed to know.
The one who stepped up looked nothing like a Jonin. He seemed to be the same age as Tio, but a lot more distracting. The first thing that caught his attention was the bushel of dark orange hair that stuck out in all directions on his head, seemingly as disorderly as the boy. He definitely wasn't dressed like a ninja. He wore a deep blue T-shirt and a plain beige vest over it. His shorts reached just past his knees, and matched the vest in color and plainness. But to be fair, his shirt did have an odd symbol, presumably his clan's sign. It featured the shape of a small brown bowl with a thin wisp of smoke emitting from it. The smoke traveled up a bit like a snake, then curled at the top. He didn't even see a forehead protector anywhere on this kid. Tio narrowed his eyes, a brow raised. The distracting bow offered the same expression, and they both stared at each other for a few awkward moments. Finally, Tio just had to break the silence.
"Er... Sensei?" He asked cautiously.
"...Nope." The boy shrugged and put his hands in his pockets casually. "I'm here to meet a sensei though, and I can assume that it's not you."
Tio shook his head. "Then we must be on the same team. I'm..."
"Tio Yamitsuki." The distracting boy finished.
His eyes widened a bit. Was that a genjutsu? A... mind reader? "...Y-yeah. ...How did you...?"
"Your name was called when they assigned teams during class. I knew the other one, so it wasn't hard." He explained easily, which made Tio feel a bit foolish. He was too easily impressed sometimes. "Well if you're interested to know," He continued "My name's Ryan Hatsuen."
"Good to meet you, Ryan-san." He leaned back in his seat a bit relieved. There have been some geniuses that have reached the Jounin level at around their age. But he certainly wouldn't want to be taught by one...
"Tio, a pleasure." He gave him a friendly nod, then walked across the rooftop and dropped down a few seats away from Tio. He slouched so far Tio thought he might fall off the seat, and closed his eyes.
"Why haven't I ever seen you in any of the classes, Tio? We're both going to the same school, so I figure we'd cross paths at some point."
Tio shifted in his seat uncomfortably, eyes shifted down to the floor. He was silent for a moment, then spoke. "Well... I couldn't go to any of the normal classes. I'm sort of a special case." That opened Ryan's eyes. He turned his head and looked at the boy with furrowed brows.
"Special case? ...You don't look all that special... what? Do you make things vanish by just thinking about it or something?"
"...No." He frowned disapprovingly. "I'm not dangerous."
"Then why were you hidden away?"
"...I..." But he never got to finish that statement. Neither had heard the footsteps, but a tall man with flowing brown hair had stepped into the roof. It quieted them both. The tall man came closer, his strange eyes on the children. These eyes... were pale silver, nearly white. The man himself had a calm demeanor however, wearing his forehead protector at the usual place, and brandished a black kimono tied with a white sash. He stopped a few feet in front of them, and simply stared. He stared, as if summing up their worth right at that very moment. The silence was thick on that rooftop, the children far too mystified to say anything, and the elegant-looking man far too busy analyzing them to even consider speaking. They stared at him, he stared at them. It seemed like thins were going smoothly until the man put on a smile.
"Well. Good thing all three of you are here on time." The man finally spoke. His voice was soft as silk, and he spoke as formal as he dressed. This did not seem to impress Ryan at all, he merely blinked.
"Eh? Three? What are you talking about?" The distracting boy replied a bit frustrated. The man's empty eyes moved off of them, and looked back into what he assumed was the town. The two boys turned their heads simultaneously. Ryan let out a loud, startled shout and fell clean out of his seat. Tio simply gasped and grew wide-eyed.
Sitting on the railing barely a foot behind them was someone else. For how long he'd been sitting there, he couldn't say. The boy was dressed the part. He wore an attire similar to that of an ANBU member. A dark blue body suit, reinforced by a thick ANBU-issue pierce-resistant vest. His belt held three different bags on it. Two equipment bags on the back, and a rather enigmatic pouch at the front. He also had a kunai pouch tied to each of his legs instead of the standard one, and a stuffy-looking black scarf wrapped tightly around his neck that concealed the lower part of his face. His raven-black hair was tied in a ponytail that swayed hypnotically in the gentle breeze.
"Damnit Matt, you scary bastard!" Ryan suddenly shouted from the floor, fuming as he sprung back to his feet and glared at the mysterious boy. "Didn't I tell you to wear a damn bell or something!"
"..."
"Matthew Keisotsu." The elegant man spoke out sternly.
"Yes?" Finally spoke the well-prepared boy, turning his head slightly.
"Ryan Hatsuen."
"Eh? Yeah?" He muttered, turning to face the man, obviously still upset.
"Tio Yamitsuki."
"Ah...Yes?" He took another sharp breath as he did before, sure about his assumption now. He tried to straighten himself as well as he could.
"Congratulations on graduating from the Ninja Academy. You are now Genin. Welcome to Team 4. I am your Jonin guide, Neji Hyuga." The man smiled at last.
"...Hyuga." Matthew muttered barely audible, turning his head to look forward again.
"So you're the one? Nice. You look pretty bad-ass. I was afraid we'd get a wimpy, bookish Jonin." Ryan grinned, taking a seat again.
"Neji-sensei." Tio said quietly to himself first, then a self-assured smile dawned on his expression. "Neji-sensei, It's great to meet you!"
Neji looked the three over again, crossing his arms. "It is a pleasure meeting you, my first Genin team. I swear on my life that I will help you become whatever it is that you strive for. And I also swear, that not one of you will lose you life while I still draw breath. That is my duty and responsibility as your team leader."
Ryan waved him off a little, still grinning. "Hey, relax, relax. I don't want my shinobi experience to be a rigid one. Loosen up and lets have a good time with it. If anything goes wrong, I've got my own escape devices so you can have that much less to worry about."
"...Are we going to train anytime today?" Matthew interjected, a trace of impatience leaking through his usually monotone voice.
"Neji-sensei..." He blinked a few times at him. What a brave ninja. They got lucky, to get someone with that much honor. And he's from the famed Hyuga clan as well. Byakugan... Despite his own handicap, he already felt safe in this Jonin's capable hands. He knew that things would turn out alright.
End Chapter 1