The 150 Sendai Chapter 1, a naruto fanfic

150 Sendai no Jin

The hour of the Engineers of Konohagukure

And the days of the

Hokage no Tatsunjin

Yoshida Mizuno

Scribe of Konoha

FOREWORDS

"Our homes, our hearts are under attack my children. We will have to be stubborn today, we will have to be strong today, We will have to face death today. Keep your axes and hammers close, guard your brother's and sister's backs and let's give these wretches hell!"

Tatsunjin Kushino Kurabayashi

It was a time of great need in our village. Our 3rd Hokage dead, the enemy within our gates, the hated criminal Orochimaru and his henchmen on the verge of their victory…or so they thought. So many foolishly thinking they could so easily overwhelm our village with their numbers.

Two things that day they didn't count upon. Our elite Jonin and Tatsunjin. Of Tatsunjin I will speak, Tatsunjin Hokage the 7th and his 150 Sendai. Master builders and Master warriors. At our most desperate hour, when Konohagukure needed a strong leader to step into the void and hold our defense, Tatsunjin stood.

The Sendai are not known as warriors as they are renown for being masterful creators of mortar, wood and brick and yet it was Tatsunjin who molded them to fight as well with the hatchet and the rule as a ninja would fight with Kunai and Shurikan when the odds demanded it.

This is his story and their story. From that day of decision in the Battle of Konohakure to the day a pair of loving hands removed a heavy burden from the chaffed and sore fingers of an exhausted servant of our people.

Yoshida Mizuno

The 150 of the

konbattochi-mugi jutsusha no ninpou

Tatsunjin

Kurabayashi Kushino 38

Ich-sunjin

"First"

Jonin Haruto Katashi 25

Ich-Company Ni-Jin

"The fighting Tigers"

Chunin Kenji Masaru 22

Ni-Company Ni-Jin

"The Iron Dragons"

Chunin Megumi Akane 22

Ich-Company Ni-Jin

"The fighting Tigers"

(Last, first, age, skill)

Squad 1

1. Nozaki, Tai 19 Combat Genin, swords

2. Arakida, Shinji 16 Combat Genin, weapons man (cousin of Iruka Sensei)

3. Satoh, Kinnosuke 16 Combat Genin,explosives (d)

4. Nakadai, Junzo 14 Combat Genin, crossbowman

5. Ogyu, Akira 12 Combat Genin, explosives

Squad 2

1. Isoda, Hachigoro 18 Combat Genin, weapons man

2. Arakida, Akemi 18 Combat Genin, crossbowman (d)

3. Katayanagi, Eiko 16 Combat Genin, swords

4. Deushi, Chomei 14 Combat Genin, explosives

5. Deushi, Izumo 14 Combat Genin, explosives (d)

Squad 3

1. Enoki, Kiyomi 19 Electricians and communications woodsman

2. Urogataya, Toshiko 16 Electricians and communications woodsman (d)

3. Shimaoka, Sotatsu 13 Electricians and communications woodsman (w)

4. Joshuyo, Heiji 13 Electricians and communications woodsman

5. Isoda, Kimie 15 Electricians and communications woodsman (w)

Squad 4

1. Kawabata, Samba 20 Electricians and communications woodsman

2. Joshuyo, Oharu 18 Electricians and communications woodsman

3. Katayanagi, Kimie 15 Electricians and communications woodsman (d)

4. Shintaro, Akemi 13 Electricians and communications woodsman

5. Shimizu, Nahoko 11 Electricians and communications woodsman

Squad 5

1. Yamanoue, Sotatsu 17 Lumbering and clearing (d)

2. Tamuro, Hidetsugu 17 Lumbering and clearing

3. Fujimoto, Tai 16 Lumbering and clearing

4. Katayanagi, Seiichi 14 Lumbering and clearing (w)

5. Narato, Jiro 13 Lumbering and clearing

Squad 6

1. Tamuro, Kinuko 20 Lumbering and clearing

2. Sanjo, Mieko 17 Lumbering and clearing

3. Yamanoue, Junzo 17 Lumbering and clearing(d)

4. Toshishai, Hokusai 15 Lumbering and clearing

5. Satoh, Jiro 14 Lumbering and clearing

Squad 7

1. Akimoto, Kiyo 19 Concrete and Masons (d)

2. Akimoto, Masashi 18 Concrete and Masons (d)

3. Akimoto, Sachiko 16 Concrete and Masons (d)

4. Akimoto, Seiichi 15 Concrete and Masons (d)

5. Akimoto, Iesada 13 Concrete and Masons (d)

Squad 8

1. Funakoshi, Sabe 19 Concrete and Masons

2. Naito, Toshiko 16 Concrete and Masons

3. Shimaoka, Samba 16 Concrete and Masons (w)

4. Akera, Kojuro 13 Concrete and Masons

5. Akera, Sumiko 12 Concrete and Masons (w)

Squad 9

1. Takahashi, Kinnosuke 18 Concrete and Masons

2. Erizawa, Naoko 17 Concrete and Masons

3. Deushi, Hitomi 16 Concrete and Masons (d)

4. Amori, Akira 16 Concrete and Masons

5. Amori, Mitsunari 14 Concrete and Masons (w)

Squad 10

1. Tatsuya, Rintaro 20 Landscapes

2. Takahashi, Tai 18 Landscapes

3. Shintaro, Chomei 18 Landscapes (w)

4. Shimizu, Eiko 17 Landscapes

5. Kawabata, Hitomi 15 Landscapes

Squad 11

1. Nozaki, Mamiko 16 Landscapes

2. Tanizaki, Iesada 16 Landscapes

3. Takizawa, Benjiro 15 Landscapes (w)

4. Arakida, Mieko 15 Landscapes

5. Takahashi, Sumiko 13 Landscapes

Squad 12

1. Joshuyo, Kimie 20 Landscapes

2. Hagino, Kinnosuke 19 Landscapes

3. Akamatsu, Asako 19 Landscapes

4. Nakadai, Kazumi 17 Landscapes (w)

5. Urogataya, Masashi 15 Landscapes

Squad 13

1. Maruya, Mieko 20plumbing and piping

2. Kahaya, Mashai 18 plumbing and piping

3. Hagino, Mamiko 18 plumbing and piping (d)

4. Fukuyama, Heiji 16 plumbing and piping

5. Akera, Sumiko 14 plumbing and piping (w)

Squad 14

1. Eto, Kojuro 19 Tools men

2. Eto, Iesada 19 Tools men

3. Tatsuya, Rintaro 18 Tools men (d)

4. Kawabata, Hyosuke 16 Tools men (d)

5. Kawabata, Rintaro 14 Tools men

Squad 15

1. Mazaki, Nobukazu 18 survey

2. Ohka, Kit 16 survey

3. Gensai, Izumo 16 survey

4. Funakoshi, Heiji 14 survey (d)

5. Mizuno, Akira 12 survey

Ni-Company Ni-Jin

"The Iron Dragons"

(Last, first, age, skill)

Squad 1

1. Akamatsu, Hyosuke 20 Combat Genin, weapons man

2. Ohka, Yukako 19 Combat Genin, crossbowman (w)

3. Arakida, Hokusai 17 Combat Genin, explosives

4. Uchida, Naoko 17 Combat Genin, crossbowman (d)

5. Uchida, Sachiko 14 Combat Genin, explosives (w)

Squad 2

1. Erizawa, Junzo 18 Combat Genin, weapons man

2. Kahaya, Masashi 18 Combat Genin crossbowman

3. Akimoto, Hachigoro 15 Combat Genin, explosives (w)

4. Nakadai, Hitomi 12 Combat Genin, explosives

5. Nakadai, Akinari 12 Combat Genin, explosives (d)

Squad 3

1. Toyotomi, Kiyo 20 Electricians and communications woodsman

2. Hasekura, Hyosuke 16 Electricians and communications woodsman

3. Osagawa, Kinuko 15 Electricians and communications woodsman (d)

4. Abe, Mieko 12 Electricians and communications woodsman

5. Nozaki, Kojuro 12 Electricians and communications woodsman (w)

Squad 4

1. Takishida, Shozaburo 18 Electricians and communications woodsman

2. Takishida, Sotatsu 16 Electricians and communications woodsman

3. Okamoto, Akinari 16 Electricians and communications woodsman

4. Erizawa, Yukako 14 Electricians and communications woodsman

5. Kushino, Genokoke 15 Electricians and communications woodsman (d) (tatsujin's son)

Squad 5

1. Eto, Shoji 20 Lumbering and clearing

2. Fujimoto, Akira 18 Lumbering and clearing

3. Mazaki, Kiyomi 18 Lumbering and clearing

4. Akamatsu, Kit 16 Lumbering and clearing (d)

5. Takizawa, Rintaro 12 Lumbering and clearing

Squad 6

1. Shiomi, Eiko 19 Lumbering and clearing (w)

2. Shiomi, Kazumi 17 Lumbering and clearing

3. Tatsuya, Seiichi 17 Lumbering and clearing (w)

4. Uchida, Kinnosuke 15 Lumbering and clearing

5. Naito, Kinuko 13 Lumbering and clearing

Squad 7

1. Abe, Asako 19 Concrete and Masons

2. Gensai, Shozaburo 18 Concrete and Masons (d)

3. Nagai, Atasuke 16 Concrete and Masons

4. Deushi, Tamaki 12 Concrete and Masons

5. Ohka, Izumo 12 Concrete and Masons

Squad 8

1. Yamato, Hokusai 22 Concrete and Masons

2. Chiba, Yukako 19 Concrete and Masons

3. Hasekura, Junzo 16 Concrete and Masons (w)

4. Ayabito, Naoko 15 Concrete and Masons

5. Osagawa, Hidetsugu 15 Concrete and Masons

Squad 9

1. Enoki, Akemi 19 Concrete and Masons (w)

2. Uetake, Atasuke 16 Concrete and Masons

3. Chiba, Shoji 16 Concrete and Masons

4. Morishita, Kit 14 Concrete and Masons (w)

5. Toyotomi, Kazumi 12 Concrete and Masons

Squad 10

1. Abe, Toshiko 18 Landscapes

2. Fukuyama, Shozaburo 17 Landscapes

3. Fukuyama, Nahoko 17 Landscapes (w)

4. Hasekura, Akemi 15 Landscapes

5. Ogyu, Benjiro 12 Landscapes (w)

Squad 11

1. Narato, Tamaki 19 Landscapes

2. Takizawa, Risako 18 Landscapes

3. Takizawa, Kiyo 13 Landscapes

4. Akimoto, Akinari 14 Landscapes

5. Ohmae, Mashai 14 Landscapes

Squad 12

1. Shima, Risako 19 Landscapes

2. Tsucgimoto, Oharu 17 Landscapes (w)

3. Toyotomi, Asako 13 Landscapes

4. Morishita, Atasuke 13 Landscapes (w)

5. Morishita, Mitsunari 13 Landscapes

Squad 13

1. Okamoto, Chomei 18 plumbing and piping

2. Okamoto, Samba 17 plumbing and piping

3. Shimaoka, Tamaki 17 plumbing and piping

4. Shimaoka, Yukako 12 plumbing and piping (w)

5. Maruya, Kiyomi 16 plumbing and piping

Squad 14

1. Sanjo, Sachiko 20Battalion Medical Nin (w)

2. Takishida, Hidetsugu 18 Battalion Medical Nin (w)

3. Fujimoto, Kazumi 18 Battalion Medical Nin

4. Yamato, Samba 15 Battalion Medical Nin (d)

5. Yamato, Risako 13 Battalion Medical Nin (d)

Squad 15

1. Uetake, Asako 19 survey

2. Fukuyama, Hachigoro 19 survey

3. Tsucgimoto, Sumiko 16 survey (w)

4. Enoki, Benjiro 17 survey

5. Nakadai, Sotatsu 18 survey (w)

(d) killed in battle (w) wounded

The Principles of the Story….

Kurabayashi Kushino

The first Tatsunjin (Ironman) of the konbattochi-mugi jutsusha no ninpou. 37 Years old and handicapped. His left arm crippled during the great ninja wars as a Genin. He studied architecture under grand master Tadayoshi Okane and developed the school of trades in Konohagukure. Formed the konbattochi-mugi as a fighting construction battalion of trade specialists. Has only one son he adopted, Genkoke-kun. He will lead the village in the absence of its Hokage as Hokage no Tatsunjin until the arrival of Lady Tsunade.

Haruto Katashi

Tatsunjin's loyal "first", the senior battalion Jonin.

Tai Nozake and ich companies 1 and 2

Known in the battalion as "twin knife", she will lead the defense of the Hokage's house and the forbidden scrolls from a determined sound ninja assault.

Ich company Squad 7 "The Akimoto 5

Their sacrifice in defending the path to the bunkers holding the evacuated villagers will bring pain to the grandmother who raised them and immortal glory.

Sanjo, Sachiko

The battalion medic-nin who will risk her life to bring water to the dying and pull others from near death.

Shimaoka, Tamaki

Known as "hole rat" he'll lead a squad of engineers to hunt down Orochimaru's spider holes around Konohakure.

CHAPTER ONE

Prelude to batle

Opening

4am Konohagukure

Day of the anticipated Sasuke/Gaara match

Home of Kurabaiyashi Kushino

"Rise up boy..." The deep voice said as a hand shook the young teen from his sound sleep. "Rise boy! The sun doesn't stop for your dreams." Kushino said as he watched his son slowly sit up and scratch himself…

"Father…you promised I'd work the shop today." Genkoke said as his father threw a fresh khaki over shirt over his son's head.

"That's before I heard you, Akinari and the Yamato twins were plotting to go to the matches. You should tell Akinari to look around before she opens her mouth, then you wouldn't be in the dog house would you?"

Kushino walked into the kitchen and started a short breakfast of sausage, fish sticks and rice while his son slipped into a chair still heavy eyed and moaning from being so meanly rousted. His father stood for a moment behind the bar that separated the oven, sink and fridge and almost laughed at the poor boy's plight. "Now let me guess? In anticipation of your dereliction, you decided you could stay up late…tsk, tsk….boy what am I going to do with you?"

Genkoke smirked. "You'll be a loving father and show pity?"

"I'll give you 3 extra sausages." The man replied as he placed a plate before his son. Genkoke quickly got up and pulled the chair out for his father to sit. "Now I may be gracious enough to allow you to have this affectionate romance with Akinari but when it starts causing trouble with your daily duties I may be forced to reconsider."

"Father, have I ever shown one sign of slacking off?" Genkoki asked as he chewed on a sausage.

"Well…I won't bring up catching you both at the river will I?"

"We fell in!" The boy snorted. "How many times do I have to keep saying that! It was cold and.."

Kushino smirked. "And you both were kissing bare ass to stay warm?"

The relationship between Genkoke and his "father" had been growing tighter since the day the Master Builder had brought the child home as a babe after his parents were killed from an avalanche at the base of Mount Kogawa. The child himself should have been dead had Kushino not been cutting trees that morning and seen the small hamlet wiped off the map.

Kushino wasn't the fatherly type or so some thought when they told him he'd have to quit his profession for the constant attentions demanded by village tradition to raise a strong child. Who would have thought that this stocky one-armed stubborn man with a patience track less than a foot long could foster a screaming fussy toddler into a hard working, pole climbing line handler?

Genkoke finished his breakfast, quickly cleaned the dishes and followed his father out the front door. "If we finish fast enough Father, we can still make the Sasuke Uchiha / Garra of the Sand Village match this afternoon."

"You're eager to rush work are you not? Don't think because you don't have any splicing and spooling on this one that I'll spare you Genkoke. However…I might be persuaded if you and a few of your friends put some skill into motivation?"

"Genkoke-kun!" Came a shout from behind that caused Kushino to smirk. It was Akinari Okamoto the black haired "love interest" of Genkoke who kept a respectable distance from her object of affection and his smirking father…

"Good morning Tatsunjin-Sensei!" She said bowing slightly.

"Akinari? Are you going to keep your mind on your work today or do I have to have some genin stand by to get you out of your harness when your mind slips?"

"Father!" Genkoke snorted. "Don't mind him Akinari, he still hasn't found an attachment yet and he's just jealous."

"I'll jealous you." Kushino snorted. "Today you can work the road cutting while Akinari sets the telegraph lines, that should keep the kissing bandit from stealing our efficiency."

Genkoke snorted roughly.

The home of Are (Ah-Ray) Akimoto

Are Akimoto (68 years) was a small rounded old teacher who was one of three facilitators at the pre-school where youngsters started to learn the way towards the profession of Shinobi or early education towards the foundation of village life. Her primary profession as of late however was the care of her grandchildren. Their parents had both been Shinobi, their mother had barely been hours out of birthing the last one before she left from the hospital and died fighting the invasion of the deadly Kitsune Kyuubi. Her husband had managed to get their daughter into the hands of the eldest, Kiyo, before he too was killed.

The five had been inseparable in everything, including flunking out of the Genin academy for they seemed to have a gift for defying teachers and practical jokes. Are wondered if their parents weren't thinking if the fork in the road wasn't a bit under repair. But the five of them found their life's calling…in concrete?

Kiyo, the brown haired girl, always loved mud. She didn't come home from play unless she tracked a ton of it through the door much to the screaming of Grandmother. Concrete was just mud that got hard so it fit perfectly. The rest of them followed her because she was the boss and she could fight as her brothers Masashi and Seiichi found out in all sorts of hard ways. Masashi was a year younger than her but that didn't matter, she killed him all the time.

Young Iesada was spoiled, spoiled to insult by Grandmother, she couldn't do wrong even when she got caught. She held the record for academy expulsion…a week. The final blow? Running the head master's spare panties up the flag pole. In public Grandmother defended her to the death…in private she made her regret every attempt to sit down….but them she'd spoil her more!

As always the old woman stood by the door as each of them came out to grab their bento box lunches. She stopped Seiichi short and felt his face. "Darling, you're still a little warm."

"Grandmother please…I've been in bed for a week." The boy snorted.

"If you keep doddling him Granma he'll get used to it and he'll start making excuses." Masashi warned.

"No more than you do!" Seiichi snorted back. "I'll be careful." He said kissing his grandmother's cheek. The five siblings went on like everyone else who passed by the house on their way to assembly, all the talk was about the day's 2nd martial round in the Chunin exam competition. Kiyo served as the blocker against the small crowd of Sendai standing in front of Tai Takahashi's house throwing Ryo coins into a bag and signing their names to a checker sheet of gambling squares…

"Don't even." She warned. "Stupid idiots throwing away their earnings on gambling, there's better ways to spend Ryo."

Samba Yamato tossed in a 500 Ryo coin. "I'll take Gaara of the Sand Village in 15 minutes!"

"What the hell?! Betting against our own vill? And a gifted clan member at that, what a loser!" Jiro Saito snorted. "A thousand Ryo on Sasuke! 500 to cover the loser here!"

Samba scoffed. "Didn't you hear what Gaara did to Lee in the first round? I'll bet you he snaps that Uchiha kid's legs in half and doesn't even move a finger nail."

"Bah! Sasuke's under the teaching of Kakashi, the great Jonin, that sand monkey's going to pay for what he did. Besides I got an inside scoop Sasuke's got a new ass kicking Jutsu to boot."

Tai Nozaki, a small short black haired Genin known as twin knives, threw a 500 into another bag. "Neiji Hyuuga over Naruto Uzamaki in 20 minutes."

"I picked 5." Toshiko Urogataya said with raised brows. "Do you think neiji wants to waste his time with such a loud-mouthed upstart?"

"I do…" Tai replied as she adjusted the straps on her sword sheathes. "Why spare the idiot? A gifted fighter should enforce a little lesson on him. Besides that stupid creep bumped me yesterday and didn't apologize, just gave me a stupid grin. I want Neiji to wipe his face in the dirt."

Kushino and Genkoke showed up at the assembly as other members of the Sendai began their morning exercise routines. "Good morning Kurabayashi Sensei!" Said Haruto Katashi as he handed Kushino a roster list. Katashi, a slim brown haired Jonin with eloquent facial features, was the Sendai's "first" or second in command to Tatsunjin. He handled the majority of the in field direction for the two companies while Kushino handled the architectural and planning admin matters.

"Good morning First. Looks like the weather's going to be good again."

"Yes Sensei. If we're fortunate and it holds two more days we should get a lot done…provided no one sneaks off as runners to report today's matches. Looks like the odds makers are favoring the Sand Village champion."

Kushino smirked. "If I could get him to work for me I'd favor him too. It would make road laying less troublesome."

Two Chunin came walking up carrying book bags filled with documents, plans and survey tools. Kenji Maseru, a short but stocky bull-headed cousin of Choji's, was the leader of 1st company while his head butting rival Megume Akane, A red haired woman who always wore reflective glasses even in the dark, was the leader of 2nd Company.

Both of them were in constant rivalry and with them their respective Companies. Who could build bridges faster, cut more trees, put up buildings faster, build a better Zen garden? Nothing wrong with the bitter contests for the work never suffered from it…though it sure played hell on the roster. Between them, beds full of cuts, bruises and broken bones were expected.

"Ok." Kushino said calmly as he pulled out his master map of the hidden village and the surrounding topography. "Today's task is to finish the bridge work, clear out half a mile of the northern road and half a mile of the southern road before 2pm. We do that and we'll be on time to give the companies that week long vacation I promised at the end of this job. Please keep the minds on the task, I understand some are a little upset at missing the Chunin exams but when the Hokage gives me a task, everything else is trivial."

Kushino looked over the assembled Sendai. They all wore the same uniforms, thick black nin-neeks with iron caps to protect fragile toes. Black denum pants, large khaki over shirts, khaki caps with sun flaps on the tails, backpacks and side tool bags, mallots, hatchets, saws, axes and hanging from their belts the small Kubakai tommohawk, both woodsman tool and combat weapon. Add to these swords, kunai, shuriken, hand blades and weapons of combat. Though many were school flunkies they were all hand to hand combat trained taijutsu mid to upper level specialists.

Kushino went down the column from back to front picking on certain members for their appearence, asking about who their favorite was for the fighting matches, checking their tools for rust and unkempt condition, a vile sin in his eyes, and making eyes between his son and his ever present object of affection. He then worked his useless left arm with his right to keep it in place during the march before getting to the front…

"konbattochi-mugi jutsusha no ninpou! Utay!"

The Sendai came to attention with their flags coming forth from their case covers….

The lead standard, Gray background, green leaf village symbol with the Sendai name in white.

1st Company, Ni-Jin fighting tigers, Red background, white tiger.

2nd Company Ich-Jin Iron Dragons, Blue background, Gold Dragon.

"A-CHOOOSAY……EEKAI!"

The column moved forward at the slow march, each left foot stamping the ground till a cloud of dust wafted around the legs and spread out behind the battalion with the morning wind. The most forward squads, carrying taiko drums, bugles and chimes kept their silence until the sprawling line started to move under the main gates of the village then they started making a loud thundering noise, their drum banging marking the route step with each left fall. Then the bugles and chimes joined in and the whole column sang the battalion working song as they marched up the main road away from the village…

The Martial song of the Sendai Battalion

(Taken from the old German Army ballad "Panzerled")

"ARISE, ARISE, ARISE AT THE BREAK OF DAWN!"

(musical flourish)

"ARISE, ARISE, THE DAY WILL BE HOT AND LONG!"

(musical flourish)

"WITH AX…..IN HAND….WE'LL WORK TO SHAPE THE LAND!"

(musical flourish)

"THE FAITH…OF THE VILLAGE….WE HOLD IN OUR MIGHTY HANDS!"

(musical flourish)

"WE'LL CUT THE STURDY TIMBER"

"WE'LL SHAPE THE COLD STEEL"

"AND SHAKE THE MOUNTAINS HARD WITH OUR MIGHTY THUNDER!"

"AND WITH OUR GUIDING MASTER AND HIS WISDOM AS OUR LIGHT!"

"THE LEAF WILL REMAIN MIGHTY AND SECURE FOREVER!"

"WE'LL CUT THE STUDY TIMBER"

"WE'LL SHAPE THE COLD STEEL"

"AND SHAKE THE MOUNTAINS HARD WITH OUR MIGHTY THUNDER!"

"AND WITH OUR GUIDING MASTER AND HIS WISDOM AS OUR LIGHT!"

"THE LEAF WILL REMAIN MIGHTY AND SECURE FOREVER!"

REFRAIN

"OH WE ARE THE SENDAI……CHILDREN OF KONOHA!"

"THE MASTERS OF AX AND SCRALL."

"WE WILL BUILD TO THE SKY!"

"AND WHEN WE PASS AWAY AND DIE, OUR LABOR WILL STAND FOREVER!"

"OH WE ARE THE MASTER ENGINEERS OF KONOHA!"

The battalion was in zeal mode, every face awaken to the work at hand, every hand fisted, every foot stomping the dirt below till anyone could hear or feel the whole column in passing. They went through the martial tune 3 times before settling down to a drum only timed stepping march.

Ich company

Squad 2

1. Erizawa, Junzo 18 Combat Genin, weapons man

2. Kahaya, Masashi 18 Combat Genin crossbowman

3. Akimoto, Hachigoro 15 Combat Genin, explosives

4. Nakadai, Hitomi 12 Combat Genin, explosives

5. Nakadai, Akinari 12 Combat Genin, explosives

"What are you doing Hachigoro?" Junzo Erizawa asked as he watched Hachigoro whittle away at a block of wood as he marched. How he didn't fall out of step was a wonder.

"I'm carving something for my coming baby brother or sister. My Mom's due to give birth any day now."

"So what do you think? A brother?" Hitomi Nakadai asked.

"I'm leaning towards a little sister." Hachigoro said smiling. "I told father that's what I want. I think it would be more fun."

"So later in life you can play champion? Always want to protect someone, such a dreamer." Akinari chirped. "You could have protected me from that falling tree you know, then I wouldn't be here but moving towards Chunin."

Hitomi looked at her brother. "Bah! You'd be lucky to be mercifully bitch slapped by Mistress Anko."

"I'll have you know she thinks highly of my skills." Akinari snorted.

Ich Company

Squad 3

1. Enoki, Kiyomi 19 Electricians and communications woodsman

2. Urogataya, Toshiko 16 Electricians and communications woodsman

3. Shimaoka, Sotatsu 13 Electricians and communications woodsman

4. Joshuyo, Heiji 13 Electricians and communications woodsman

5. Isoda, Kimie 15 Electricians and communications woodsman

"Sotatsu, cut it out!" Kimie snapped as she held the angry boy's arm. "Chunin Master Masaru will kick your face in!

"I don't care! Toshiko owes me a new jacket!" The boy snarled.

"It wasn't my fault it got ripped!" Toshiko replied sternly. "You started that stupid shoving match and it got caught on the wire in the shop, shit you're such a little punk."

The boy broke Kimie's hold and tackled Toshiko to the ground, breaking up the column as they went at it till Masaru arrived and broke them apart. "What the hell is wrong with the two of you?!"

"The bitch ripped my favorite jacket!" Sotatsu screamed. He got a quick slap in the face and the fight was on again.

Masaru kicked Sotatsu in the back of a leg and dragged him up to the front with Toshiko behind him. "Sorry Tatsunjin, these two have a little tiff going."

Kushino snarled. "Time is precious. Do you think the two of you shouldn't pay recompense if we're able to finish early and some of your brothers and sisters miss even a minute of the exam matches because of you?"

Sotatsu screamed. "But she ripped my jacket Sensei!"

"Enough! The both of you will run around the column over and over when we get to work and the same when we go home and you will do it till you keel over tired, is that clear?"

Toshiko snarled. "Tatsunjin Sensei! He called me a bitch!"

"Is this so?" Kushino snapped.

"Yes sir. She made me so angry." The boy replied frowning.

"Intollerable." Kushino said angrily. "You will atone. Your pay for this week will be cut in half. Apologize at once."

The boy nodded and bowed to Toshiko. "I'm sorry for offending you."

She said nothing back as the boy began running around the column. "As for you Toshiko. You understand I don't tolerate fights, which is why you're being punished. Carry on."

The column continued forth.

Squad 12

Ni-Company

1. Shima, Risako 19 Landscapes

2. Tsucgimoto, Oharu 17 Landscapes

3. Toyotomi, Asako 13 Landscapes

4. Morishita, Atasuke 13 Landscapes

5. Morishita, Mitsunari 13 Landscapes

"I have two of a kind."

"Three Daimyo"

"I'm out"

"Strait flush!"

"YOU SUCK!" Atasuke snorted as she took the cards and shuffled on the march.

Squad 6

Ni-Company

1. Shiomi, Eiko 19 Lumbering and clearing

2. Shiomi, Kazumi 17 Lumbering and clearing

3. Tatsuya, Seiichi 17 Lumbering and clearing

4. Uchida, Kinnosuke 15 Lumbering and clearing

5. Naito, Kinuko 13 Lumbering and clearing

Kazumi held the piece of origami paper out between her hands and watched her older sister slowly let gravity work her ax through the center. "See...told you I have a better system for sharpening than you."

"But that doesn't beat good temper." Kazumi said as she ran her hand along the side of her favorite ax. "Makoto here was forged for me by Master Irazuni, no blade sword or otherwise has failed to retain its edge better than his work. I haven't had to get my ax re-worked yet in what?...300 complete cuts? 1500 full swings and still keen."

"Yeah right!" Eiko snorted. "Just covering up for the fact you have your eyes glued to his son Watanabe."

"I told Horiama, I said, we could both go into business together clearing property. The Hyuuga's pay handsomely for good woodworking and Gui Sensei? You should see the piece of land he just purchased not far from here. You can do wonders with it." Kinnosuke said as he showed a book of figures to Kinuko. "You join in, we go together on equipment and we can make a good profit!"

"Like the koi pond scheme? Oh please..." The girl replied smirking.

"Ok...so we ran into a few mishaps, it was a start!"

At the head of the column, Kushino and his "first" Katashi were reviewing a list of planned projects coming once the current one was over. "This one from Harra Village, two water towers and a new storage facility. I listed it because it will give us an opportunity to test our Company leaders more.,,Sensei?"

Kushino shook his head clear. "Sorry about that I was uh...drifting off."

"Nothing serious I hope?" Katashi asked.

Kushino looked behind him. "No just thinking about Genkoki and how he's getting older. I don't think he'll stay with us once he's 18, never could encourage the independent streak out of him."

"He still seeks your approval though, no doubt about that."

"I just wish he'd stop doing these things so abruptly. One of these days that boy will come through my front door with a wiggling babe in his hands and he won't be a shave after 19. You know how my parents were adamant about teenage romances? It's a wonder I ever left the house without "offending" the Gods."

"Different generation Sensei." Katashi said as he took a sip of water from a canteen. "One thing hasn't changed though...they haven't lost the solid hardiness for work have they?"

"Be very grateful for that "first", we could all be laying around throwing bottle caps into cups when the invaders come to take our heads." Kushino nodded as Sotatsu came running by on another circle around the column. "Better keep your feet high off the dirt Sotatsu or you'll be running to and from the work site on your hands and knees barking like a dog!"

"Yes Master!" The boy complied.

Bridge and road work site

9am

(The Naruto/Neiji Hyuugi fight is 5 minutes old)

"A little to the right Kimie! I can barely hear it!" Meiko Abe said as she moved her hand in the air and listened to the jury rigged speaker hoping to pick up the local radio announcer from the match ring in the village. "A little more...."

"OH! NEIJI HYUUGA JUST LANDED A HARD PALM STRIKE TO NARUTO UZAMAKI!"

"GO NEIJI!" Could be heard from among the companies as they cleared brush and fallen trees from the ever shaping road around them. There were the returns of "KICK THAT HYUUGA'S BUTT NARUTO-KUN!" and at one point a crowd was closing in and screaming at the speaker till Kushino disconnected it.

"You can all scream about it later now back to work or you'll miss the rest of the day's events!"

Ni-Company's clearing

The North roadway

Squad 5

1. Eto, Shoji 20 Lumbering and clearing

2. Fujimoto, Akira 18 Lumbering and clearing

3. Mazaki, Kiyomi 18 Lumbering and clearing

4. Akamatsu, Kit 16 Lumbering and clearing

5. Takizawa, Rintaro 12 Lumbering and clearing

Squad 6

1. Shiomi, Eiko 19 Lumbering and clearing

2. Shiomi, Kazumi 17 Lumbering and clearing

3. Tatsuya, Seiichi 17 Lumbering and clearing

4. Uchida, Kinnosuke 15 Lumbering and clearing

5. Naito, Kinuko 13 Lumbering and clearing

"THWACK! THWACK! THWACK! THWACK! THWACK!...."

"You know…if someone could find a material that would reduce callus on the hands? They'd make a fortune." Seiichi said as he set a wedge into the angled gap in the tree he and Rinatro were working on.

"Yeah…I've tried burlap, sinu, rags…nothing helps. Dipping wounds in salt water isn't fun at all."

"THWACK! THWACK!..."You didn't go to the academy, what made you join the Battalion?" Seiichi asked.

"My mother needed a break." Rintaro replied smiling. "I was always finding Dad's tools and destroying everything."

"CRACK!" "Here it goes! CLEAR THE DROP FALL!"

The tree came crashing down and a gang of four now worked to chop it into blocks.

"So….you asked Hatori and?" Kazumi begged for more gossip. "And….he said?"

"I'm going out with Hinarei." Kit replied frowning. "To be honest? I think he's so Okama, I haven't seen him with a girl once! Not on the streets anyway."

"HOLD IT!" Eiko shouted as she ran to stop young Kinuto Naito from completing a cut. "What are you doing?"

"Uh….cutting down a tree?" The boy replied. Kinuto pointed to the empty space he and another lumberer had chopped. "No wedge insert? We want the tree to fall away from the road and towards the "no zone" not nail someone into the dirt. Keep your mind on things Kinuto?"

"Oh?! Uh….you got one?"

Eiko walked over to a chunk of fallen tree and chopped a block from it. "All over the place just pick one."

Eich-Company

Squad 11

Working North road profiling.

1. Nozaki, Mamiko 16 Landscapes

2. Tanizaki, Iesada 16 Landscapes

3. Takizawa, Benjiro 15 Landscapes

4. Arakida, Mieko 15 Landscapes

5. Takahashi, Sumiko 13 Landscapes

Mamiko and Iesada stood and sat with their plane and level tools carefully studying the ground before them…

"I know we're slow but the contours of good road work can't be quickly rushed." Mamiko said as she went back and forth between Iesada's survey scope and her pumb bob and pedestal set. "See if you don't shape it right, you get water collection which begats erosion, which begats road repair which sucks."

Sumiko leaned into Iesada's ear. "She got turned down last night on her date, she's doing this for spite."

"Smack!" " Who brought you into this?" Mamiko snarled.

"Hey!" Sumiko snorted back. "Can't take a little truth these days can you?"

A runner's voice could suddenly be heard among the work of tools and crews…"NEIJI LOST! NEIJI HYUUGA LOST TO NARUTO UZAMAKI!!"

Tai Nozaki threw her ax to the ground. "DAMN! I JUST LOST 500 RYO!"

The messenger stopped and caught his breath. "They told me Neiji had him dead to rights and then Naruto came up from the ground and nailed Neiji in the chin!"

"There went my pay!" Mitsunari snarled. "Damn I thought the Hyuuga were elite?"

"Leave it to the hyperactive spaz. See I told you there's something in the ramen."

"So who's next?" One Genin asked with a smile.

"Uh….Shikamaru vrs. Tamarei of the Sand. I haven't seen much to know about Tamarei but Shikamaru doesn't look impressive."

Mamiko Hakimo stopped short with a pipe on her shoulder. "Ahhhh….Shikamaru in 20 minutes, he's one of those quiet slacker types you know, they're dangerous as hell."

Squad 14

Battalion Aid Tent

1. Sanjo, Sachiko 20Battalion Medical Nin

2. Takishida, Hidetsugu 18 Battalion Medical Nin

3. Fujimoto, Kazumi 18 Battalion Medical Nin

4. Yamato, Samba 15 Battalion Medical Nin

5. Yamato, Risako 13 Battalion Medical Nin

Risako placed a wet wrap over Yukako's forehead. "What did we say about water again?"

"Ugh…I thought I was fine."

"Yeah….when you stop sweating guess what? Fine turns too messed up." Risako placed a saline bottle on a nearby hanger. "This solution works fast so don't get comfortable." She turned to see a worker entering the tent shaking his hand. "You ever get a splinter under a finger nail?! ETAI! son of a bitch!"

"Could be worse." Hidetsugu said as he looked at the hand. "You could get splinters in the ass and have everyone laugh at you while we pull them out."

"You'd like that wouldn't you?" The boy replied smiling.

"Hey Samba?" Sachiko asked. "Mind going out and telling everyone what water's good for? They're bringing in another dropper, I swear some of these people are as dumb as rocks."

11am

Shikamaru/Tamarei fight ends

"He what?" Oharu Joshiro asked flabbergasted.

"He quit." The messenger replied.

"What the hell for?!" Another worker asked frowning. "Didn't he beat her?"

"Yeah but he raised his hand and just dropped out. I tell you there were some very upset people."

"So….now it's Garra of the Sand against Sasuke Uchiha?" Hokusai Yamato asked gleefully. "Oh that sand ninja is going to get messed up!"

"Problem is….Sasuke hasn't shown up yet. When I left they were still calling him out."

"You don't think he's chicken?" Iesada asked. "I mean that Garra's insane."

"Sasuke Uchiha a chicken! What are you taking? Bah! Sasuke's just buying time to perfect his strategy, I give that sand fool 5 minutes before he gets shot out of the stadium!"

A gong sounded among the Battalion…

"LUNCH TIME BREAK! LUNCH TIME BREAK!"

Noon time

End of Lunch

"WHIRRRRRRRRRRR….." Hokusai gave the grapple a wicked throw and tested the line before starting his climb up. Removing branches was his specialty in the squad, he could hack em free in a minute with his double headed short ax and scurry down the length of the tree before the axes below were done chopping their way to the center. It was dangerous work, a few times he road trees to the ground lucky enough to launch himself free before they crashed. He'd broken his left arm twice, his right leg once and when he was told to stop even by Tatsunjin himself…he didn't.

The 15-year-old made it to the top and whacked off the crown with two swift blows. He paused for a moment to look at the distant mountains and spied Hokage Rock and the tops of the largest buildings in the village. The wind whistled through the trees around him and for the moment he sat with his eyes closed, taking in the warmth of the mid-day sun.

Then something different went through his ears. Something not natural. He looked again at the village and Hokage Rock and realized the un-natural amount of haze and smoke wafting atop the roofs of some buildings. Then a large puff of smoke, a billowing ball of black smoke or soot or something grew above the village…

The muffled sound of what might be gun powder going off flew past his ears and went on into the distance and for the moment, Hokusai was still…

"OY!!!!OY!!!" He screamed to the ground. "TELL TATSUNJIN SENSEI I NEED TO SEE HIM!"

End of chapter 1