Note: I don't own Naruto

Chapter 3

After the short spar with Koharu, Ayaka quietly returned to their family's shop to patch up small injuries she received from the last fight. Their gap in skills is wide and seeing she got her butt kicked quite fast.

"I need to focus more on chakra control and I have to learn various taijutsus or else it will be hard for me to catch up with everyone."

After applying ointments and cleaning few cuts in her arms, she quickly put away the kit in the closet before sneaking back to her room to avoid confrontation with her brothers. She didn't want questions in where she received those wounds she got and it would hard for her to convince her brothers. She can't blame them for being concerned.

She thought of using arm sleeves to cover them.

"I have so much to learn… Noting the fight I had with Koharu…there is a big difference. I haven't mastered my family craft and I know some simple jutsus but I can't control my chakra usage. To simply put…my abilities is just nothing."

Ayaka slumps her head down to her desk and wailed mentally. She could end up dragging her team down and be the first to left behind. She didn't want that so decided to ask someone who could teach her. She decided to ask another training regimen from Academy in her spare time and she's going to do it first thing in the morning.

She felt a little bad skipping work at the shop but it won't harm to let her do it once in a while.

Ayaka pulled out her notes from her backpack to review again the hand signs for weaving jutsus and remember again the basics for the genins.

"Pulling an all-nighter eh…it's like I'm cramming for tests. Work hard Ayaka! You'll get your chance to beat Koharu again."

Her brother Shuuichi heard her musings while eavesdropping. He smiled at his sister's determination to be stronger. It is nice to know that Ayaka works hard and starting good in Academy however it made him worried that she is spending less time with them.

Few minutes' later she asked Masaomi to check up on Ayaka, he gawked when his brother said that she fell asleep on her desk.

He just left Ayaka to work on her study!

Morning later…

Ayaka returned again to the usual spot in the training field. She made sure to work up on her offensive jutsu line ups before weaving hand seals. Feeling confident on her capability to handle such cool jutsus she grinned and readied her hands.

"Koharu would never know what hit her…" She faced the training dummy and marked it in her sights. Securing her feet on the ground and made sure she is in good distance away from the target. She started to mold chakras in her hands and formed her chain of combos.

"Here I go! First I have to keep the enemy busy! Bunshin no Jutsu!"

Her jutsu formed two clones and dashed towards the training dummy with their own set of weapons. One holds a summoning scroll for weapons and one with kunais ready for close range. Ayaka quickly formed seals for the intended jutsu and soon her clones will disappear once she stops supplying chakra for their materialization.

"Father taught me one of the fire jutsus that he uses…let's see if I can make it bigger than before!"

As Ayaka released her clones and disappeared in a puff of smoke. She jumped in the air to pull the jutsu to test on the dummy. "Katon! Goukakyuu no Jutsu!"

Her chest heaved as she spews fire with the guide of her hand towards the target and watched it incinerated as the fire engulfed it. She was amazed that she can pull a fire ball jutsu larger than her brothers.

"Right then next…another jutsu! I'm so cool!" Ayaka jumps in confidence and felt good. She couldn't contain her excitement and goes to do another round of jutsu that she studied last night.

"Next eat this! Kat- What the-?!" She pumps her hands together to perform another jutsu when she heard a groan behind her back. The voice seemed distant when she heard it.

Ayaka swore she was alone and looked behind her.

There is no one except her.

"Ouch! What the hell are you doing?! Wake up!"

Ayaka noticed her body feels light and shocked to see her whole body swallowed in the puddle of water.

"Wake up Ayaka! You are sleeping over your breakfast!" the owner of the voice sounded annoyed and a hand shaking her shoulders forcing her to wake up.

The green haired girl opened her eyes and waits for it to see clearly on the scenario in front of her. Spilled water in the table and ruined food in the plate. Her fist over Masaomi's face while her other hand holds a pair chopsticks.

"Quit sleeping and hurry over to report to Hokage's office!" The older brother flicked his finger causing his sister to yelp in pain. "Seriously Ayaka this is the thanks I get after all the work I did?! Good thing I opened the scroll that the birdie brought over. Look! You are summoned to the Hokage building for something! Don't screw this and get moving! And by the way that punch hurts!"

"Ow! Stop flicking my forehead and I get it!" Ayaka wiped way the small pieces of food off her face with the cloth. Masaomi began doing series of flicking until Ayaka backed away from her chair and sprinted to other side of the table.

"Masaomi-nii…fine! I'll go! Just stop flicking!" Ayaka took few big bites and swallowed it down to finish her breakfast before making mad dash out of kitchen. She went back upstairs in hurry to change her soaked shirt.

After she got fully changed she ran down and picked up her things before heading out. She bid her brothers goodbye after quickly closing the door.

"She started to become a klutz Shuu-nii…I'm worried about her performance in tackling missions. Her taijutsus below average, zero talent in genjutsu and she hasn't fully mastered our family jutsus. I even heard her muttering about doing a perfect Goukakyu no Jutsu in her sleep. She can't even do the same caliber as ours…"

Masaomi sighed as he grabbed the broom to start sweeping outside their shop.

"I think she's doing fine Masaomi…we have to open our shop now and start working. Don't worry about Ayaka…I believe she'll get by on her own pace." Shuuichi smiled to dismiss his younger brother anxiety about Ayaka's lack of skills. He can't blame Masaomi for being forward about Ayaka's incapability. Deep inside he's really worried that his sister.

"Let's hope she doesn't get into trouble."

The main road towards the village center made Ayaka wince as she watched the people trek in every directions. Stores flocked by patrons and customers haggling for low prices. Dango and tea shops are busy and full. She wondered why people filled the streets in such a normal day and she can barely walk around.

Ayaka would be really late if she doesn't get moving. Who knows if the Hokage tolerates late comers…

She spotted an alley with a good space for her to jump up to the edge of the roof. Ayaka muttered an excuse to the two people in front of her and shimmied to side towards the spotted alley. The green haired girl took few big breaths as prepared to propel in the air.

As she made to the rooftop, her legs began to sprint and gradually gains speed as she jumps to other rooftops. She thought to herself that why she hadn't did this earlier and has to push around the crowd.

"I guess I can make in time…" She grinned when the Hokage's office is fair distance away from her. Ayaka made a note to get back at Masaomi for being mean to her. "I'm gonna have him pay for abusing my forehead!" The genin performed one last jump before landing towards the front gate of the office. The girl landed crouched down and stood in front of the office guards. The small genin nodded a greeting before entering to ascend towards the top floor of the building.

Ayaka felt her body twitched in pain as she walked like nothing happened.

"That landing hurt…Oww…I should have practiced proper landing…what a goof I am…" She painfully smiled as she passes by other shinobis inside. She muttered an apology when bumped onto something hard.

"Watch it kiddo! Keep your eyes peeled at all times." An old man's voice popped in her ears.

"I'm sorry sir! It's my fault…" Ayaka apologetically bowed many times to offended old man.

"It's fine as long as you mean it. This is the second time I've been pushed inside this building…that brat earlier didn't even bother to apologize!" the old man turned away and cursed as he left her dumbfounded in place.

"I said sorry didn't I? Oh well…I have to hurry…aaandd-" Ayaka blinked few times before going back to her real objective.

Genki 's face lit up as he saw Ayaka arrived.

"-made it!"

"Good morning…Ayaka. You are just on time! Glad to know that you received the message I sent for you. I see you got know the members of the team 4. Now follow me inside to the Hokage's office to endorse you officially to the team leader." Ayaka followed along Genki's side to listen to his words and descriptions of the man he started to introduce to her and somehow the team leader is a man noted in high regard. Genki turned the door knob and opened the door.

Ayaka took the cue to walk inside the office and faced the person sitting behind the wide desk. The person greeted her with jovial voice and it seemed enthusiastic to see her again. The team 4 members were already inside and waiting in front of Hokage's desk.

"Hello there! It's been a while since we last talked Ayaka!" Hashirama stood from his seat to greet the green haired girl to shake her hands. Ayaka returned the smiled gave by the Hokage before he returned to his seat.

The Hokage is still cheerful as ever.

"I called you here because I will be sending your team to escort a merchant back to his home town. All the genin teams are busy their missions and you are the ones left." Hashirama turned his gaze towards Ayaka as he sensed slight tension coming from her. He knew that this will be her first mission outside the village. "Don't worry Ayaka I'm sure you can do it!"

"T-thank you Hokage-sama." Ayaka bowed slightly and started to fidget fingers behind her back.

"Reporting for duty." The door opened to reveal a man donning a blue armor with happuri style forehead protector. Ayaka eyes widened and began to scream mentally inside her head as she watched the familiar man entered the office.

"You sure took your time here Tobirama! Your team is eager to go on a mission with you. There will be a temporary addition to your team and I would like to introduce Ayaka Katsuragi. She will be on your team for the time being until her official team assignment is made." Hashirama passed a mission scroll in order for Tobirama to read the details.

"It's the Oji-san! T-t-that m-eans…he is the…leader of team 4?!" her heart thumped as he closed their distance. She started become a sweating mess!

"So your name is Ayaka…" his voice made Ayaka flinch in her place.

"Ack! He is the Senju Tobirama?! He's the younger brother of the Hokage and I accidentally called him Oji-san! I wanna get out!"

Ayaka nodded stiffly and glued her orange eyes down to the floor. She willed not to dare to look at anyone's eyes for the moment. She just kept her ears open to conversations happening in the office while noting few important details in her mind. She stole a quick glance at Tobirama and she was caught looking at him.

She blushed and turned away hoping he won't address what she did.

"Don't move a muscle…just breathe…yeah…don't try to look again…keep your eyes on the ground."

Ayaka felt like chanting a mantra while keeping her ears open for any conversion. Thank god they just let her be as she listened to the Hokage. She heard Sarutobi's excited voice as well as Koharu's annoyed tone. She was asking her fellow teammate to be quiet and let the Hokage finish.

Hashirama called out to one of his assistants. "Wakasa Please go to our client and tell him that his request is accepted. Have him come here to have him endorsed."

"Yes. Hokage-sama…I'll be right back shortly…" Ayaka watched the young assistant left the office in silence. The room fell silent as they waited for Wakasa to show up with the client. In a few moments a pale Wakasa and an irritated old man came inside the room. Ayaka felt sorry about the assistant as he only did the job he was asked.

"Uhhh…you see they are capable…" Wakasa put up his hands in defensive manner as to try to keep the client calm. However the gesture seemed to escalate the man's angry behaviour until Hashirama stepped in and started to explain. As Hashirama started to explain why…it only made the details turn into a long story until Tobirama himself simply explained that his team is the one that can be sent out to meet the deadline that the client wanted.

"Hmph! Now I feel assured that this Tobirama Senju is accompanying me. About this group of runts I don't see them as shinobis…like that monkey brat, glass boy, bun head and the midget green girl …whatcha gonna do when my attackers shows up? Cry?" the old man laughs at the insults he threw towards the group of genins until Sarutobi pointed his arm and dared him.

"I'm gonna make you take that back…how about we show you how capable we are?! Just bring it!" Sarutobi widely smiled but his eyes showed different look. It burns with fury as he locks eyes with the old man.

Ayaka just watched the word brawls between each people in the room. She wondered what will be the ultimate decision in the end.

In the end…the client Ikaruga agreed with no choice as he needed to move as soon as possible. Thanks to him, Ayaka ended rushing back home to pack her things to start the mission and she couldn't get to say a word about it.

At the entrance of Konoha south gate in where the client waits, Ayaka dreaded the silence among the team as they embarked towards the Tea village. The green haired girl stole few glances from her teammates to see their current reactions. Since the client is one closest to her she tried to speak about questions that lingered in her mind but the old man paid no attention to her and it made her awkward.

"The old man is still reluctant and doesn't fully trust our team. Not to mention Tobirama-sensei hasn't talked to me after that squabble in the office. Koharu made me carry on her bags and Hiruzen is still grumpy…I feel I'm out of place."

Her first mission outside the village is felt different from what she expected.

"He didn't ask anything about my capabilities and just let me tag along…I heard team leaders assess their students in order to get to know their strengths. I hope I can handle my own as I haven't experience real fight…Jeez I'm starting to sweat already…"Ayaka shrieked mentally as she looked to left side to see the team leader is walking along side with her and he is pretty close!

"W-when…did he…switch places?! He was walking along with Hiruzen a while ago!"

"Concentrate on your mission Katsuragi and watch where you are going. You stepped on a puddle a moment ago while you are in deep thought. I know this is your first mission outside the village and I advise you to be cautious and keep in mind that we are on a mission."

Ayaka gasped as she trailed her eyes behind her to see her right foot is damp and leaving marks in the dirt before returning her gaze towards to the owner of the voice. She knows the importance of the mission but she can't help it…being tense with man she offended. She mumbled an apology and increased her pace to match up with her fellow genin. Her heart beat increases as she felt her team leader eyes gazing at her back.

"He's definitely scary…bakemono…I can't look straight at him…but I can't act like this. I need to keep it together…there will be a time that I will have to talk to him. What should I do?"

With thoughts and doubts swimming in her mind, she hoped that she can hold out until she finishes her mission and pray that Senju Tobirama doesn't find her uncapable.

Sorry for the late upload! My work is piling up and telling you the truth I can't keep up with it so I'll have to spend more time working!

Gomenasai!

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Note to all: I apologize if my english is not good. I will do my best to correct my mistakes. If you see something wrong please feel free to message me.

Note to the flamers: I do appreciate your time reading my story and I know my character is not perfect as you wanted and portraying Tobirama a little bit OOC. But there's no need to say worse things than necessary. *bows politely

Please look forward to the next update next week as I finish few mistakes!