A/N: Hello to any new readers and to those who've read my stuff before nice to see you again :) This will be a series of one-shots about Kushina and Sakumo, that can be read either separately or as a prequel of some kind to my other story Chasing a Legend. Enjoy!
Tales of a Long Suffering Sensei
1. A New Career
Rumours were utterly bizarre things that Sakumo had never managed to get his head around. As someone who had become a living legend by the age of eighteen, gossips and strange tales about his adventures followed him wherever he went.
If the rumours were true then Sakumo had killed an entire platoon of Kiri ninja by the time he was ten, at thirteen had saved a town in Snow Country from a strange mythical beast and had also slaughtered a warlord in the south of Fire Country. Apparently he had also killed a group of assassins with only a gardening trowel. Fast career climbing hadn't helped things either. After holding the title as ANBU Captain at seventeen, things had started to blow hideously out of proportion.
That was the problem with being modest. The more you toned down your achievements, the more gossiping villagers would twist them. If you wouldn't boast about your adventures, there would always be a friend who would. Jiraiya loved nothing more than to stand on tables in pubs and re-enact Sakumo's exploits, just to embarrass his friend.
So as Sakumo stood outside the Hokage's office, he couldn't help but think that a teaching post would be a welcome break. He needed a change of pace. ANBU had… Changed him.
Sakumo shuddered slightly and blotted the sound of screaming from his mind. He ran a tired hand down his face and rubbed the comforting fabric of his mask against his chin. When was the last time he had managed to have a dreamless night?
Sakumo shook his head, knowing it was best not to dwell on such things. He pulled out a crumpled letter from his flak jacket pocket and began to re-read the letter he had received that morning:
12th July 756
Dear Hatake Sakumo,
It is of my greatest pleasure to inform you that after careful selection, you have been chosen for the post as jonin instructor.
Teaching is one of the most highly rewarding careers and you will have the responsibility as a role model for future generations.* As a jonin instructor you will provide your genin team with inspiration, insight and wisdom as an experienced ninja. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to not only help a younger generation grow but it is also greatly beneficial for personal development.*
On the 15th July you are invited to attend a meeting at 5pm in the Hokage's Office, in which you will be briefed in detail on the lifestyle of as a sensei and you will be given the profiles of your students.*
Congratulations on your new career!
Yours sincerely,
Sarutobi Hiruzen, Third Hokage
*= Please note that jonin instructors hold sole responsibility for their team at all times. This means that you will be held responsible for any injury, mental trauma or death that may occur.
*= Those who do not wish to be jonin instructors must file their cases to the medical corps immediately and must be prepared to undergo extensive physical and psychological evaluation.
*= This meeting is MANDATORY. Those who do not attend must answer to the Hokage. Decisions of genin teams are final and no negotiations will be held.
Finishing the letter, he folded and slipped it back into his pocket with a rueful smile. Then again, it wasn't like he had a choice about being a genin instructor. Mind you, with any luck, Sakumo's team would fail and he would be able to return to the sedate jonin lifestyle he had been having for the past year.
Suddenly the door of the Hokage's office was flung open.
"You seem awfully cheery," Sakumo observed as Jiraiya bounded out.
"My team is definitely a cert for a passing," Jiraiya grinned as he waved his new students' files in front of Sakumo's face.
It didn't particularly surprise Sakumo that Jiraiya had been given a team that was guaranteed to pass. After all, Jiraiya was the Hokage's student.
Jiraiya flipped open one file and read, "Namikaze Minato. One of his academy instructors called him a 'once in a generation genius'."
Jiraiya then showed Sakumo a photo of a boy who was so sweet looking that he could be mistaken for a girl. "Could probably do with some manning up though by the looks of things," Jiraiya admitted as he flipped the file shut.
Sakumo chuckled and said, "I hope you don't taint him."
"Sakumo, Sakumo. Is that what you really think of me?" Jiraiya held a hand to his heart in mock injury.
"That you're a pervert who would taint a ten year old boy?" Sakumo raised an eyebrow. "Then yes, that's what I think of you."
"And this is why you don't have a girlfriend," Jiraiya snorted. "Because you're a horrible, cynical bastard."
"That I am," Sakumo nodded as Jiraiya laughed.
It wasn't like Sakumo couldn't get a girlfriend. He was, after all, the White Fang. He had women literally throwing themselves at him so he could pick up one anytime he liked. When he talked to anyone of the opposite sex they would always dissolve into a pile of giggling gloop. In fact there were only two women his age that he could talk to. One was Tsunade but then she had her boyfriend Dan who she had been dating since the age of sixteen. The other… Well let's just say she still held Sakumo with the same haughty disdain that she had given him on the first day of academy.
"Anyway I'm off to observe my new students," Jiraiya said. "Usual place at the usual time?"
"Sure," Sakumo nodded. No doubt when they met at their favourite pub, The Dancing Leaf, Jiraiya would launch into a fantastically embellished tale about his new students. Not that Sakumo minded. Jiraiya did tell the best stories even if most of the time they were hideously exaggerated.
With a jaunty wave Jiraiya strode off and Sakumo headed into the Hokage's office.
"Ah Sakumo," the Third smiled as he shuffled some papers.
"Hokage-sama," Sakumo nodded.
"Are you looking forward to your career as a teacher?" The Hokage asked and amusement flashed in his eyes.
It would be a lie to say yes but anything was better than ANBU. So Sakumo decided to remain silent.
"The year that has just graduated is one of the most talented we have ever had," the Third continued. "At least four teams should make it, which is why I want the very best teaching this year."
"I see," was all Sakumo could say. Just because he was very good at killing people, it didn't necessarily mean that he would be a good sensei.
"There are some very… Precocious children in the year," the Third said. "We have the latest Ino-Shika-Cho team. The Hyuga twins, perhaps the most talented children the Hyuga clan have ever had. The heirs of the Aburame and Inuzuka clans… Oh and of course, Namikaze Minato."
"The once in a generation genius?" Sakumo said.
"I would say once every five generations," the Third laughed. "I'm afraid to say that the boy has achieved the best academy score since… Well since academy has been set up."
"Huh," Sakumo, who had been the current record holder, raised an eyebrow.
"But here are your students' files," the Hokage said, indicating three files in front of him. Sakumo couldn't help but notice that one was extremely bulky.
"Sit," the Third commanded and Sakumo pulled up a chair.
Sakumo's interest piqued as he glanced at the files. Who were his students? It would be interesting if he were the sensei of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio or even tutoring the tracking team. Tracking was, after all, his speciality.
"Joji," the Third handed Sakumo the first file.
Sakumo flipped it open to see the photo of a rather plain looking boy, with an instantly forgettable face.
"Extraordinary marksmanship and good taijutsu skills," Sakumo read. "Rather timid attitude…"
"His academy instructors have said that he has potential to be a talented weapons expert," the Third nodded. "So that would be right up your street."
Sakumo gave a modest shrug and looked on with interest as the Third handed him the next file. As soon as Sakumo opened the file he recognised the child to be a Hyuga.
"Hyuga Hizashi," the Hokage said. "The younger of the Hyuga twins who is of equal skill to his brother. He is also the heir of the branch house."
Immediately alarm bells went of in Sakumo's head. To have fate like that and to spend your time watching your brother have a better life… It must be torture.
"He's a troubled young man," the Third admitted. "However as you were a child prodigy once I'm hoping that you will be able to relate to him."
"Right…" Sakumo said, feeling incredibly sceptical. How could he honestly relate to someone who was destined to serve their twin? Sakumo didn't even have any siblings.
Finally the Hokage lifted up the largest file and gave it to Sakumo. "This child," he sighed. "She's… She will be your most difficult student by far."
And Hyuga Hizashi won't be? Sakumo thought incredulously. What kind of issues does this kid have?
Sakumo opened the file to see a girl with a tangled mane of crimson hair and the biggest scowl he had ever seen.
"Uzumaki Kushina," the Third nodded and Sakumo could feel the Hokage carefully watching him.
Uzumaki… Sakumo gripped the file. This girl must be one of the Whirlpool refugees that had sought shelter after the destruction of Uzushigakure.
"I felt that due to your… Experience and… Nature, that you be the person to help Kushina," the Hokage said. "She's a wonderful girl who will no doubt be a talented kunoichi. However at the moment she just needs the right guidance and someone who can understand what she's had to go through."
"I understand," Sakumo nodded. Inwardly he sighed. Just when he had been hoping to find an escape from his ANBU days, he now had to teach a living reminder of them.
"I know that I can trust you for this job, Sakumo," the Third told him. "It is vital that you guide Kushina in the right direction."
Sakumo raised an eyebrow. "What's so important about this girl?" He asked.
The Third sighed and gave Kushina's file a remorseful glance. Finally the Hokage cleared his throat and said, "Uzumaki Kushina is the jinchuriki of the Nine-Tailed Fox."
If there was one thing that Kushina liked to do, it was to spit. There was something fascinating about a large globule of saliva fall from a great height. Three points if you hit someone's shoulder. Five points if you managed to hit a head. Thirty points if you were lucky enough to get a member of the Uchiha police force. One hundred points if you by some miracle hit the Hokage.
Yet… It had turned into something more than just a game. Kushina would find herself teetering on the very edge of tall buildings: arms flung outwards, with her hair streaming backwards as a bloodied tattered reminder of Whirlpool. With practised ease she would spit in one smooth arc and hit her target with expert precision. As soon as she hit her target Kushina would always let out a bark of defiant laughter and run before anyone could catch her.
"Oi Uzumaki!" A voice shouted. "Where's your forehead protector?"
Kushina attempted not to let the jeering suck her back into reality. As she sat on the academy swing, Kushina simply decided to scowl very hard at her dirt stained toes.
"She didn't graduate that's why," someone else snickered.
"Who blames them?" Another sneered. "They shouldn't let foreigners like her in."
Kushina's head snapped up. Immediately the group of boys backed away slightly. Despite the fact they outnumbered her, she still had the reputation of being the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero. If there was one important lesson the academy students had learnt, it was never to underestimate Uzumaki Kushina.
"Our grades our double hers," one boy jeered. "We shouldn't be scared of scum like her."
"Go back to Whirlpool… Oh wait you can't, it's gone," another began to guffaw at his own joke and the group collapsed into laughter.
Kushina's hands began to shake and she stood up, allowing her shaggy mane of hair to shroud her face.
"Whirlpool isn't gone," Kushina snarled. "It isn't!"
"Yeah it is!" Another boy yelled back. "Idiot! Your village doesn't exist anymore."
"Good riddance," someone muttered.
Instantly, the miniscule thread of patience inside Kushina snapped. With a battle cry, she launched herself at the gang.
For the boys it was all too much. The image of the swirling red hair, feral eyes and a face contorted with hatred, instilled terror into them.
Worst of all, Kushina was a dirty fighter. Her punches were vicious and she knew exactly which part of the anatomy to hit with her kicks. In a matter of minutes the boys scrambled away, leaving Kushina in a wake of dust.
Kushina spat victoriously at the ground, her chest heaving and her cheek slightly swollen. No one insulted Whirlpool. No one. She didn't care about the statistics people spewed out or the horror stories about the war.
Whirlpool had to exist… If it were gone then where would Kushina call home?
"I hate them," Kushina whispered vehemently as she fought the tidal wave of emotion that threatened to break out. "I hate Konoha. I hate the Hokage. I hate them all."
Suddenly a movement caught her eye and she whirled around to see the class genius, Namikaze Minato move out from behind the tree.
If there was one person Kushina hated more than anyone else in this village, it was Minato. The boy was the definition of perfection. Flawless grades, unimaginable taijutsu and weapon work. To make matters work Minato was sickeningly popular. Everyone wanted to be Minato's friend. Girls simpered over his supposedly good looks. Kushina supposed it was something to do with Konoha girls' tastes in boys because as far as she could see the guy looked even girly than her.
However, this wasn't why Kushina hated Minato. No, it was because the boy was disgustingly kind. The boy always offered to carry old ladies shopping or help the teachers carry any work. He always smiled at Kushina and was the only person who tried to talk to her
Kushina knew that a person like that was too good to be true. The truth was that Namikaze Minato was a fake. He was a suck-up and whenever he tried to help her with her work, Kushina had only found it downright patronising. Why would someone like him talk to her other than to get extra kudos with helping the poor, stupid foreigner?
"What?" Kushina snarled at him as Minato took a step towards her. "What're you looking at?"
Minato faltered and he just stared at her, his blue eyes full of sadness. That was the worst part. It was the fact that Minato was downright weird. He constantly stared at her and despite being kind to her; he would never stop the bullying. All he would ever do was watch and stare.
"You find it funny don't you?" Kushina was beginning to get hysterical now. "You think it's hilarious to watch the Whirlpooler get bullied, don't you?"
Minato opened his mouth then closed it again. The emotion that had built up after receiving her exam results exploded. Fury caused Kushina's limbs to shake and her eyes began to water from the sheer tiredness she felt.
Everything was so unfair. Why did she have to graduate? Kushina had done her best to sabotage her exams so she would fail. She didn't want to be a Kunoichi of Konoha. She was already a genin of Whirlpool.
Kushina was so desperate to go home that the very thought of the beautiful isle caused her throat to tighten.
It was bad enough graduating but she also had to watch her fellow academy students be greeted by their parents. Watching mothers hug their children and fathers grin with pride caused Kushina to retch. She couldn't recall the last time someone had been proud of her. Kushina most definitely couldn't remember the last time someone had shown her a sign of affection.
With a scream she launched her self at Minato. Minato didn't even blink. He simply stood and stared at her with those bottomless eyes of his. Those blue irises… They were so calming, so understanding that Kushina found herself slowing down until she eventually stopped with her fist centimetres away from Minato's nose.
Neither moved as both children stared at each other. Finally Kushina lowered her arm. Minato offered her a slow, tentative smile.
Instantly, Kushina's hackles were raised. That one shred of humanity; she couldn't take it. If she accepted Minato's kindness… Then her entire defences would shatter.
Kushina spat and watched the well-aimed globule of saliva dribble down Minato's cheek.
"Uzumaki!" A voice roared. One of the academy senseis stormed over. "Just because you scraped yourself to graduation doesn't mean bullying is acceptable."
Thoroughly used to being blamed as the bully and never the victim, Kushina scowled, "I'm a graduated genin now. You don't have any right to tell me off now."
"As a chunin I do and I will," the man grabbed her roughly by the collar, giving her a vigorous shake as if she were a disobedient pet. "Don't get big headed. Minato here has achieved the best grade in history, you'll never be at his level."
Kushina batted the chunin's hand away. "I. Don't. Care," She snarled and stalked away.
Kushina pushed past parents, furiously rubbing her eyes. All around her she heard buzzing whispers.
"That's the Uzumaki girl."
"Complete animal, did you hear what she did to a group of girls last Tuesday?"
"Probably didn't graduate."
"Did you see what she was doing to Namikaze Minato? Poor boy…"
"The boy is a once in a generation genius."
"Best academy score ever! He even beat the White Fang!"
Kushina didn't know who the White Fang was, nor did she care. Instead she let out a furious shriek causing scandalised parents to move out of the way as she raced out of the academy playground.
What she hadn't noticed was the mysterious figure sitting high up in a tree that had witnessed the entire scene. Nor had she seen the concerned, watchful gaze of the Hokage. But perhaps the most vital thing Kushina had missed was that she hadn't been the only orphan who had graduated.
Namikaze Minato had stood alone at his own graduation; parentless, with an aching, fake smile plastered on his face.
"I'm going to die," Ten-year-old Joji moaned with his head in his hands. "I'm in a team with one of the Hyuga twins and Habanero. I am so going to die."
Kushina gave Joji a disgusted look and continued to vandalise the desk she as sitting at with a kunai. It was just her luck to be stuck with the class wimp Joji and one of the stuck up Hyuga twins.
She glanced at Hizashi who was sitting in front of her in the classroom and gave the back of his head a scowl.
Team 6. Like she ever wanted to be a team. As far as Kushina was concerned, she was better off alone.
The graduated genin sat in their classroom, eagerly awaiting the arrival of their new instructors. There was an excited buzz in the air so contagious that even Kushina glanced up from her desk to watch some of the instructors walk in to pick up their new teams.
"No way!" She suddenly heard the idiot Inoichi from a few rows away yell. "That isn't him… Is it?"
"Definitely is," Choza nodded.
"Wow… I can't believe I'm seeing him in person," Kushina heard Joji whisper in an awed tone.
Thoroughly infuriated and wondering who could possibly be that wonderful, Kushina glanced over to see two men stroll into the room.
Both had irrepressibly spikey silver hair, however that was where the similarities ended. The first was tall, with a large jovial grin plastered on his face. The second however looked plain weird with a mask obscuring his face.
"Team 4!" Their academy instructor called. "Your sensei is Jiraiya!"
"That's one of the Hokage's pupils," Shikaku muttered. "I heard he's a complete perv… Poor Namikaze."
Kushina's eyes swerved onto Minato who had joined the jovial looking man. Jiraiya flashed Minato a wide smile and ruffled his hair.
"I wonder who the White Fang is teaching?" Choza murmured.
The White Fang? Kushina stared at the man with narrowed eyes.
"Who's the White Fang?" She suddenly voiced. Immediately most of the class spun around in their seats with incredulous faces.
"You haven't heard of the White Fang, Habanero?" Inoichi snickered causing Kushina to glower at him.
"So?" She snorted defensively.
"Idiot," Hizashi sighed.
Just as Kushina was about to leap up and challenge Hizashi to a duel to the death, Shikaku explained, "That man there is the White Fang, a living legend. Top candidate for the Hokage too."
"I heard he took on a fortress with just a dagger," Someone chipped in.
"No it was a pair of chopsticks!" Another person interjected.
Kushina rolled her eyes. And people called her a moron.
"Team 6!" The academy sensei called. "Your sensei is Hatake Sakumo!"
"No way," Inoichi moaned as Kushina dragged herself up. "Habanero gets to be taught by the White Fang?"
"It's not like I want to be," Kushina snarled under her breath causing the poor boy to flinch. She stomped down the steps, trailing behind Joji and Hizashi who were already next to the supposed living legend.
Her new sensei turned and looked down at her, his eyes crinkling into a smile. Kushina was not impressed. The smile just caused her to huff and scowl even more.
With a silent jerk of his head, the White Fang led his new team out of the classroom and into the academy playground.
Joji was in absolute terror. He was constantly glancing from Hizashi to Kushina, then giving an awe struck look at the back of the White Fang's head. Kushina had already decided that the boy was pathetic.
Hizashi was even worse. He just ignored his new teammates and instead stared at the White Fang with curious, pale eyes.
Kushina absolutely refused to get sucked into hero-worshipping this weird looking man, especially since he was a hero of Konoha. Instead she chose to ignore her new sensei's existence.
For almost half an hour they walked in agonising silence. They were right on the outskirts of the village now. Trees surrounded them, so thick that the leaves transformed daylight into a strange filtered glow. The trunks were battle scarred. Hundreds of slashes marred the wood yet the shafts of sunlight gave the scars a mysterious beauty.
Kushina found herself enchanted as she stared at the dust that appeared to sparkle as it drifted from the canopy. So many colours were in the dust. She found herself reaching up to catch a handful, only to find it slip through her fingers. Somehow, in Kushina's mind, if she could catch the stardust then she would be able to return to Whirlpool.
They emerged from the trees into a mossy clearing. Right in the middle was a training scarecrow. Its clothes were askew and it's mouth sewn into a hideous twisted smile. Immediately, Kushina found herself loathing that scarecrow. There was something about it that caused her shudder and reach for her kunai.
"Sit," the White Fang commanded.
The students reluctantly sat down and Sakumo leant against the scarecrow as if it were an old friend.
"Tell me about yourselves," he said. "Joji, you go first."
Joji gulped, terrified that the White Fang actually knew his name. Slowly, he mumbled, "My name is Joji… Um…"
"Likes, dislikes, aspirations, dreams," Sakumo prompted, giving him an encouraging nod.
"Um… I like sesame dumplings… I don't really have many dislikes… Oh and my dream is to open up the best weapons shop in town," he finished lamely.
Sakumo nodded then said, "Hizashi?"
Hizashi sighed and replied in a monotone voice, "My name is Hyuga Hizashi. I have no likes nor do I have any dislikes. My only purpose is to serve the Head Hyuga House."
Sakumo stared at Hizashi for a very long time, then his gaze fell upon Kushina.
Kushina immediately avoided eye contact with him and said, "You already know my name and so do the other two so there's no point in saying it. What do I like? Nothing. I hate everything. My only dream is to become the first female Hokage."
Her reply had been designed to infuriate Sakumo. Yet it appeared to do the exact opposite. Instead of scoffing or giving a snide comment, Sakumo's eyes simply crinkled into a smile.
"I wish you good luck then," he told her as both Joji and Hizashi stared at him incredulously.
"Well I guess I better introduce myself," Sakumo said. "My name is Hatake Sakumo. I like reading and training with my summons. I hate cold weather… My dream? My dream is to be a farmer."
"You can't be serious," Hizashi muttered as Joji had a look of the utmost disappointment. The White Fang… Wanted to be a farmer?
Kushina on other hand found herself snorting with laughter.
"Now we have the introductions over and done with," Sakumo said over Kushina's cackling. "We are going to move onto the test."
Immediately, Kushina stopped laughing.
"Test?" Joji asked, his voice going three octaves higher. "I thought we already graduated?"
"It's a preliminary test," Hizashi shrugged. "Most people don't actually get to be ninjas you know… Only about three teams pass a year."
"Exactly," Sakumo nodded.
A wriggling feeling of excitement began to twist in Kushina's stomach. She had another chance. Another chance at failing. If she failed this test then she could escape from Konoha.
"Your test is…" Sakumo paused for a moment as the genin trembled. "To last ten minutes against my friend Kakashi."
Kushina's eyebrows shot up. He wanted them to go against another jonin? The man was insane.
Without another word, Sakumo gave them a grin and a jaunty wave then promptly body flickered away.
"H-he's crazy right?" Joji said as they jumped to their feet. "He can't seriously want us to go against a jonin? Right?"
"I've heard that the jonin instructors set very difficult challenges," Hizashi murmured. They stared around the clearing.
The veins around Hizashi's eyes bulged as he activated his bloodline limit and he gazed around.
"See anything?" Joji asked.
"Wait," Hizashi muttered. "The scarecrow… I can see some chakra… It has a chakra system?"
Suddenly, a flurry shruiken flew towards them and the genin barely dodged them as they backed away.
"Kakashi, he literally meant 'Kakashi'," Joji said incredulously.
In slow, jerking motions the scarecrow leapt down from the post. Straw seeped from its limbs, it's arms flailed wildly around. With creeping horror Team 6 watched as the scarecrow tilted its head to one side, it's mouth widening into a twisted, comical grin.
Before the genin could even comprehend what was happening, the scarecrow attacked. In one clear leap it tore straight towards the genin. Kushina and Hizashi dove out the way but Joji was frozen. Never before had the ten year old envisioned combat to be like this. Academy hadn't taught him to counter-act fear. He found that his limbs were glued. All he could do was watch in horror as the scarecrow raced towards him.
"Move you idiot!" Hizashi shouted. But it was too late. Fear held Joji in a vice as his body trembled.
Suddenly a shriek wrought the air that would have curdled in the hardiest jonin's blood. A crimson streak shot past Hizashi as Uzumaki Kushina launched herself at the scarecrow with a kunai in hand. Kushina had transformed into a feral animal as she stabbed, punched, kicked and even bit the scarecrow's back. The scarecrow flicked her off as if she were nothing more than a fly.
"Rule number one," it gave Joji a sadistic grin. "Fear is a friend, not a foe. Never let it control you." It drew a kunai from the folds of its clothes and in one spinning movement it knocked Joji unconscious with the butt of the weapon.
"Bastard," Kushina snarled and she jabbed a finger at the scarecrow. "Bastard!"
Never in her life had Kushina been this furious. Who did this White Fang think he is? It was pure insanity to give them a challenge like this. Did he want them to fail? The more Kushina thought about it the angrier she became. The White Fang's presumption that they would fail the task caused Kushina's hands to shake with pure rage. Knocking Joji out had been the last straw. The guy was pathetic but he had never bullied Kushina. It had been sadistically cruel to take advantage of his fear like that.
Kushina's rage had become so great that she stopped thinking. Instead, raw instinct took control. Raising her hands up, Kushina clapped her hands into a series of seals then cupped her palms; the air before her twisted and started swirl in a spiral. The scarecrow faltered, tilting its head in mild interest.
"No way…" She heard Hizashi breathe. "Is that? A whirlpool?"
The water spun faster and faster until Kushina grinned, "This is how we do it in Whirlpool. Secret Whirlpool arts: Water style: Ocean's torrent!"
The mass of water tore towards the scarecrow instantly obliterating it in seconds. Straw and a fine mist of rain showered down on Kushina and Hizashi.
"Ha!" Kushina yelled. "Ha!"
"Rule number two," a soft voice said in Kushina's ear, causing her to freeze. "Never let your guard down."
Kushina's arms were suddenly ruthlessly snapped to her side. Eyes dilated, Kushina stared down in shock to see ninja wrapped around her torso. With a careless shove, the scarecrow toppled Kushina and she slammed into the ground.
"H-how?" Kushina gasped. She rolled to her side to see a pile of logs. Painful realisation hit her. A replacement. The scarecrow must have used the replacement technique before her attack.
The scarecrow stalked past her and all Kushina could do was helplessly spit at it's feet.
Hizashi swept himself into the Hyuga fighting stance, palms raised. He circled the scarecrow, byakugan twitching as he studied his opponent. The scarecrow smirked at him and without warning attacked.
Hizashi swayed to the side, avoiding the blow and in one clean movement he slammed his palm upwards. His hand connected with the scarecrow's shoulder causing the creature to explode into a puff of smoke.
"A shadow clone?" Hizashi murmured. "Or was the technique dispelled?"
Wasting no time to think further, he leapt forwards to free Kushina. Habanero had her uses and he knew that if the scarecrow was still out there then it made sense to fight it together.
Just as Hizashi was a metre away from Kushina, something latched onto his ankles. Before he could even comprehend what had just happened Hizashi was sucked into the ground until only his head was visible.
"Rule number three," the grating voice of the scarecrow floated above Kushina and Hizashi. "Never rely on your bloodline limit. Even the byakugan cannot see what is underneath the underneath."
The scarecrow vanished, leaving Kushina and Hizashi with the cold sinking realisation. They had failed.
"Three minutes," Sakumo said. He decided to leave the genin to stew for a good half an hour before he had emerged from his hiding place to free Kushina and Hizashi. "Three minutes you lasted against Kakashi."
Kushina, Hizashi and an extremely groggy Joji sat shame facedly as the White Fang paced up and down.
"Well," Sakumo sighed rather dramatically. "I'm afraid… To say… That you've passed!"
The genin stared at him stupidly. Joji stopped shaking and even Hizashi appeared bemused.
"There is definitely room for a improvement… A lot of improvement," Sakumo added. He turned to Joji.
"Joji," he said. "Most ninja are overcome by fear in their first combat. Never, ever let it control you. Fear… It's a cowardly friend. In small doses the adrenaline aids you in battle. Too much and it cripples you. Learn to master it and build you confidence by training."
Joji nodded vigorously, utterly embarrassed that he had been incapacitated within less than a minute of the test.
"Kushina," Sakumo turned to the wild little red head. "What you did was incredibly brave but incredibly stupid. To run blindly like that in the field would be suicide. Put thought into your actions and never go for the obvious attack."
Kushina huffed and all Sakumo could do was hope that some it had sunk into that thick skull of hers. To say the Uzumaki girl had issues was an understatement.
She had broken every academy rule and even had a criminal record. The girl was guilty of vandalism, truancy, bullying, harassment, disturbing the peace. Every one Sakumo could believe, apart from the bullying. After observing the girl for the day he knew that the girl was so isolated that she was withering before his very eyes. No one, it seemed, had noticed. How could you not lash out when your home had been destroyed? Most of the violence Kushina committed appeared to be out of self-defence.
"Hizashi," Sakumo said finally. "The byakugan is indeed a very powerful weapon, however it cannot be relied upon too much. A true genius is one who uses their mind, training as well as natural gifts. Remember that."
"I… I still don't understand why we passed," Joji frowned.
Sakumo rubbed his masked chin thoughtfully. He knew that most of the ninja population on the entire continent would disagree with him, however after seeing so much death in his life, Sakumo had formed an iron code.
"Being a ninja," Sakumo started slowly. "Is not about following the rules. If you do that then you're just a mindless killing machine. No… What I want to teach you is compassion and empathy. If you want to stay human during a war... Those are the things you need. All of you have already demonstrated that you have some by trying to aid each other during the test, which is what I was looking for."
Sakumo's grey irises crinkled into a smile. Somehow… He found himself wanting to ensure that these children would not make the mistakes he had made when he was younger.
What's with all the eagerness, eh Sakumo? He could almost hear Jiraiya laugh. A grumpy bastard like you actually wanting to teach some brats?
Sakumo almost laughed. He really was soft hearted, just as his sensei had constantly scolded him for.
"We'll meet here tomorrow at 8am for our first mission," Sakumo told them. They continued to stare at him and he sighed, "That means you're dismissed."
Joji smiled at his teammates and scrabbled away. Hizashi soon followed, giving an imperceptible nod to Sakumo as he slipped away into the trees.
"A word before you leave, Kushina," Sakumo suddenly said as the girl picked herself up.
Kushina gave him a wary look, like an animal assessing an unknown danger. She took a step backwards, distancing herself from him and Sakumo noticed that her leg muscles were taut with tension.
"I know you intended to fail the test," Sakumo said softly and his words caused Kushina's eyes to dilate. "That's why I forced you into action. You did the same for the academy exam, in fact you failed it so spectacularly that the Hokage knew it was sabotage."
"You mean I failed and he still let me graduate anyway?" Kushina said incredulously. A hiss escaped her lips and she spun on her heel.
In a flash Sakumo blocked her path. Kushina turquoise irises swirled with wild hatred, not for him but for what he represented. Sakumo knew as a hero of Konoha he symbolised everything Kushina had been fighting against.
"So when did you decide to give up?" Sakumo asked her innocently.
Kushina froze. Her fists began to shake and she snarled, "I haven't given up."
"Doesn't seem that way to me," Sakumo said casually.
"I haven't given up!" Kushina shrieked, her chest heaving with emotion. "I haven't, I haven't! I want to fail so I can go home!"
"This is your home," Sakumo sighed.
Kushina spat at Sakumo's feet and gave him a venomous look. "This," she said in a dangerous tone. "Is not my home. It never will be. Whirlpool is my home!"
She took a step forwards but Sakumo was too fast. Kneeling down so he was level with Kushina, the White Fang placed a hand on her head and ruffled her hair.
"Of course Whirlpool is your home," he said in a soft voice causing Kushina to choke. "But you have to accept Konoha too. We're your allies, friends. To isolate yourself like this… Well no one can survive this way."
Slowly Sakumo stood up and he smiled, "Prove to us, prove to us what a kunoichi of Whirlpool can do. Surely by acting like this you're bringing shame to your home?"
Delicate shafts of sunlight broke out from the leaves, highlighting a myriad of reds in Kushina's hair. Her eyes stopped darting back and forth, and realisation brought a strange calmness upon her.
"My dream," Kushina suddenly said, causing Sakumo to glance down at her. "My dream isn't to be the first female Hokage… I just said that to annoy you."
"I know," Sakumo nodded.
"My dream is to rebuild Whirlpool, that's my dream," Kushina whispered. She began to walk away and this time Sakumo let her. Suddenly just as she was about to disappear into the trees, Kushina called, "Sensei?"
The new title felt heavy and unfamiliar, the sheer responsibility hitting him in the gut like a tonne of bricks. He turned to see Kushina pointing at him. "I don't care if you're supposed to be some kind of living legend," Kushina scowled. "I'm going to prove to you and everyone snot nosed ninja in this village what I can do."
Beneath his mask Sakumo suppressed a grin. Already he found himself liking the girl, despite the fact that it that appeared she never washed.
"I look forward to it," he told her.
Kushina spun, her hair flashing in the light as she vanished into the trees. As soon as Sakumo felt her chakra fade he yawned and rumpled his hair, causing it to resemble more of a birds nest than ever.
"Sensei," he rolled the word in his mouth experimentally. Position of jonin, he could handle. Ambassador of Kumo? Easy. Captain of an ANBU squad? A piece of cake. Sensei? Now that was a challenge.
Sakumo sighed and shoved his hands into his pockets. With a groan he muttered the one, single problem that had been nagging at him all day. "Sensei? … I am far too young to have that kind of title."
A/N: Quick warning, updates will be sporadic for this as CAL will always have fanfic priority. However as this was my first one-shot, let me know what you think ^^ Thanks for reading!