Summary: Their Genin are all insane, but Shisui loves them all the same.
"Again. Hinata, pick up your left arm, you're leaving yourself open." Shisui says from the sidelines, Kiba by his side as the other two spar.
"Shino, kick higher and put more strength behind it."
The two give breathless nods and start again. They've been here since dawn. Shisui hadn't given them a meeting place since he hadn't had a chance to see which training grounds were booked so he'd picked them up at their houses.
Tsume had been up and waiting with Kiba. She'd grinned wildly at him as Kuromaru eventually stumbled out to join them looking very tired and very exasperated at Tsume's enthusiasm.
She'd ruffled Shisui's curls, given him a fully packed lunch that 'Hana had made with care' because 'he can't look after himself so it's fallen on their shoulders to do that for him.'
The Inuzuka compound has become just as much a home to him as the Uchiha compound and he finds it's something he wouldn't change for the world.
Tsume had told him he needed to come to dinner. If not, she'd be upset and probably beat him up the next time she saw him. He'd learnt that was Inuzuka speak for 'I'm worried about you so you better come over so I can fuss over you'.
Kiba looks up at him, nursing a small bruise on his cheekbone from Shino's punch. Their fight had been good, and it was good for Kiba and Akamaru to be able to work together under different circumstances and good for Shino to go against two.
"Mum says she's gonna make the one that you like," Kiba says, a grin sliding onto his face. "Hana misses you as well, she reckons you don't come around enough. Don't tell her I told you, she'll beat me up for sure."
Shisui's learnt that means a wrestling match on the kitchen floor, usually ending in Tsume or another Inuzuka coming in and complaining about 'kids these days' with no heat in it.
Shisui hums in agreement, "then she'd beat me up for good measure."
Akamaru barks in solemn acknowledgement from his position tucked into the front of Kiba's jacket, and Kiba gives him a fond scratch behind the ears.
Shisui pats Kiba on the head and approaches Shino and Hinata as they stop, with Hinata having pinned Shino on the ground.
Shisui had declared this day 'taijutsu day' and vigorously fought down the urge to ask Gai to help with training. Just because Shisui liked training with him didn't mean many others did. And maybe it was a little cruel to inflict Gai onto his unsuspecting Genin.
Their taijutsu is good. Not great. Hinata's obviously better than the other two and Kiba's not that far behind her, considering their clan jutsus focus heavily on taijutsu techniques. Shino will show his true colours when Shisui gets them started on ninjutsu, but for now, it's taijutsu he needs to work on.
"Good, Hinata nice job, your movements are smooth and succinct. You still need to work on picking up your left side but you're improving." He pats Hinata on the shoulder and grins at her tiny smile. He reaches past and offers a hand to Shino. He's panting, hair pressed down by sweat and sticking up in others.
He grasps Shisui's hand and dusts himself off.
"Shino, taijutsu isn't something you're good at. Hinata will likely be the best taijutsu specialist between all of you with Kiba not far behind. Ninjutsu is something you'll be really good at but you're still improving. Getting your taijutsu an acceptable level is vital, then we can focus on honing your ninjutsu."
Shino nods and Shisui wouldn't be surprised if he was already aware of that.
Shisui beckons Kiba over to the three of them.
"Chuunin exams are a few months away and it's my job to make sure you're as prepared for that as you possibly can be." He pats Shino on the head and snorts as he gives him a confused look.
"I may be a little biased since you guys are my Genin, but I think you can do it."
Hinata's whole body lights up and she smiles at him, teeth flashing and cheeks blushed over with red like it's the greatest compliment she's received. Shisui can just see Shino's grin from under the cloth.
"Shisui-sensei is right," Shino says, "We will succeed. Why? Because we are confident in our abilities as a team."
Shisui laughs and takes himself off-guard by how happy he sounds. Maybe the Sandaime was right, these kids really are good for him.
Shisui looks up into the sky, noting the position of the sun and looks back down at his Genin. They're all covered in dirt, sweat and have tears on their clothing. There's still a good few hours left of daylight. Might as well make the most of it and plus, they better get used to the feeling of tiredness. It's only going to get worse.
"Alright, next is Hinata and Kiba. Kiba, put some more thought into your punches. No random swings, or tomorrow I'll have you run 12 laps around the village rather than the 10 you're already all doing." Shisui says, smiling and he kicks a stone into the air and catches it, pretending not to notice the looks of horror his Genin are sending him.
Kiba's stamina is something he's really looking forward to seeing how far he can push. The Inuzuka are known for their ability to run and run and run, and Shisui doubts Kiba will be an exception.
Hinata and Kiba step out into the little open field readying their defensive stances.
Hinata's taijutsu is impressive even now and Shisui spent all of the previous night brainstorming how he can make her even better. Without a doubt, he'll rope Gai in somehow. The Genin that looks freakishly like Gai himself would be a great person to pit her against to test her as well.
For a moment he considers pairing her up with Neji who's also in Gai's team but… the Hyuuga are active competitors with the Uchiha in who can cause the most drama, have the most issues and be the most stuck up about it.
He doesn't want to have to deal with the Hyuugas. Not with Hiashi so set in his idea that Hinata isn't suited to become clan head that ended with her getting disinherited.
The Uchiha are no better really, and Shisui has always been thankful that he's not in Itachi's shoes. But Itachi is a prodigy, absorbing jutsu and every piece of information like a sponge and is able to use it just as effectively on the battlefield.
People have called Shisui a genius before, but those people know nothing of the hours and hours he put behind everything to get where he is now.
(Actually, no one beyond Itachi acknowledged Shisui's hard work at all, seeing nothing beyond the prodigy Uchiha.
Nobody ever looked passed the shinobi and saw Shisui's cracks, nobody saw him struggling until he nearly killed himself.
No one asked if he was okay until it was far too late.
He's never told anyone that at the time, a part of him had wanted to die. And it wasn't as little as it should have been.
Shisui doesn't hate the village but he hates that no one cared until Shisui had been pushed to the edge as close as he had.)
He can sympathise with Hinata, and there's a part of him that wants her to exceed beyond all their expectations just out of spite so Hiashi can regret his life choices.
Kiba blocks a particularly hard hit that sends him stumbling backwards and Hinata takes advantage of it, ducking down and sweeping her leg out to trip Kiba over.
It works awfully well, and Kiba falls on his back. Akamaru whines, nudging him with his nose. Kiba lets out a tired sigh and pulls himself off the ground.
Hinata pants and wipes the sweat building on her forehead, "You're-you're getting better, Kiba," she says quietly.
Kiba's eyes widen and for a moment he stares at her, open-mouthed and shocked. He recovers and smiles widely at her, bouncing on his heels. "Thanks, Hinata! If we keep training, me and Shino will finally be able to win a spar against you!"
Hinata blushes again but this is good for her. Her self-esteem had taken a beating, but Kiba and Shino are probably just the people to bump it back up again. Hinata needs support, and this team will definitely be the one to do it.
"One more time you two. Kiba, good block but you weren't prepared for it. Hinata that was good, you're covering your left more, keep at it." Shisui tugs at the cloth covering the right side of his face and shuffles Shino over to his left side so he can see Shino and the fight easier.
"My dad thinks that Tsume-san invites you around too much and that you should definitely come over next week," Shino says. He doesn't take his eyes away from the fight, but Shisui's known him for a while and fails to hold back his snort of amusement. He covers his mouth with his hand and it takes an awfully long moment for his giggles to subside.
That is honestly the most Aburame thing he has ever heard.
This is why he likes the Inuzuka and the Aburame. The biggest dramas they seem to have is who's being the better adoptive parent.
"Torune likes you," Shino continues. And that… is a surprise.
Despite being the catalyst for Danzou's organisation to finally fall to pieces there weren't many Root members Shisui had actually interacted with.
He'd met Torune before, and seeing the psychological effects of Danzou's training play out in front of him in a boy only a few years older than Shino made Shisui feel like losing his eye was worth it if it meant that kids like Torune were freed.
He'd hoped that Torune liked him, and Shino wouldn't lie about something like that. So huh, that's made his day even better.
"What's Shibi-san going to cook to lure me in?" he asks because that's what both Tsume and Shibi do as though Shisui won't come otherwise.
Shino ponders for a moment and Shisui can practically hear the gears turning. Shino probably already knows, but he's taken to doing this lately as if to humour him.
Shino is smart and is definitely going to be the brains of these three. Kiba is smart, but it's more of a people smart. He's brilliant at the practical aspects and picks up on how people are feeling immediately. Hinata is smart in her own way. She's very aware of her surroundings and able to pick things up quickly.
"Hmm, Oden probably," Shino says.
Shisui grins because Shibi is a wonderful human being and he can't work out why anyone wouldn't love the Aburame. "Tell him I'll be there."
This team won't be anything flashy like Team 7 will inevitably end up. Sasuke's got a lot of potential for lots of crazy jutsus that Shisui has no doubt will be over the top and far too flashy. Naruto is the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki and with that kind of chakra, well, he wonders how strong Naruto will become.
He doesn't know anything about the civilian – Sakura Haruno – but putting someone with no possibility of becoming on par with Sasuke and Naruto would be frankly a rookie mistake and not to mention a stupid move.
Team 8 will be the team that people probably forget about. But, it's the people that are often overlooked are the ones that are the most important in keeping Konoha afloat.
The fight is going well, and Kiba seems to be thinking rather than throwing his fists and just hoping for the best. Hinata is keeping the upper hand, but at least Kiba is definitely performing better.
It seems Kiba's main problem is jumping in and not thinking which is fine but only up to a point. Shisui doesn't want to beat the trait out of him, but if he can get Kiba to be able to apply the 'think first, act second' mentality for missions stuck in his head, it could save his life.
Shisui knows plenty of Shinobi who think everything through on the battlefield and then impulsively buy three kilograms of bananas on a whim, even if they aren't a big fan of bananas. Aoba. He's thinking about Aoba.
Kiba gets in a solid punch on Hinata's shoulder that's enough to knock her slightly off balance, but unlike Kiba in the previous spar, she keeps her footing and reels round to kick him. Kiba dodges to the side, blocks Hinata's punch and copies what she'd done before, not losing his balance.
He's getting there slowly, but he's getting there.
The fight ends a moment later with Hinata dodging Akamaru's bite and Kiba's kick and pining Kiba down with her foot and Akamaru with her hand.
It was Hiashi's own mistake to disinherit Hinata. She's under Shisui's wing now. And he plans to make Hiashi regret that and, any other life choices he can snag on the way… but Hinata doesn't need to know that yet. Shisui will make it happen in due time though. He doesn't have flee-on-site warrants in eight different countries on him for no particular reason.
Hinata holds out a hand that Kiba grasps it thankfully. They walk over to Shisui, even dirtier and more exhausted than before.
"For the next week, we're going to focus on clan jutsus, since I know all of you have already started on that and so we need to get those ones perfected."
Shisui sits down on the grass and the kids follow suit. "Hinata we'll be training your eyes and working on the gentle fist and its specifications."
She nods, blushing and slightly embarrassed but she's determined all the same.
"Shino, we'll be working on polishing up insect clones and perfecting the Insect jamming technique then we'll work on more offensive jutsus." Shino nods and shuffles his hands into his pockets, ducking his head as he yawns. Shisui pokes his cheek because Shino is adorable and Shisui has zero self-control.
He gives him a look that Shisui translates as 'vaguely offended', brow creased in confusion and equal parts of unwanted amusement.
"Kiba," Shisui faces him, and Akamaru barks from Kiba's head. "I want to work on boosting your chakra reserves so then you can use Passing Fang and then of course Fang Passing Fang without the reliance of soldier pills."
Kiba hums in recognition and pats Akamaru's fur as he whines.
"After that, we'll get onto nature transformations okay? We'll squeeze in endurance and stamina training in between. The next few months are going to be hard, but it's for your benefit in the end." Shisui looks at all of them in turn. Shisui doesn't consider himself a harsh teacher, but he doesn't like to go easy on someone when he can see that there is more they can do.
"Three laps around this training ground, then I'll buy you dinner."
Kiba gives him a look – torn between hatred and gratitude at being forced to run when Shisui's going to give them hell tomorrow but also buying dinner.
He huffs and levers Akamaru off of his head, jumping up and down on the spot as the others join him. "Shisui-sensei drives a hard bargain"
Shisui gives him his best grin. "You say that like you had a choice."
His genin all groan and Shino gives him a particularly sour look. Shisui's a hard teacher, but he knows how nice it is to eat out after pushing yourself all day. And they've been practising taijutsu all day. Shisui's proud of them.
They might hate him tomorrow, but he's pretty sure they won't hate him forever.
There's an obscure place in the heart of Konoha that Shisui knows serves great food. It's popular among veteran shinobi like himself and other seasoned Jounin. It's away from the chaos of civilians and the woman who runs the joint is a force to be reckoned with.
She's a retired shinobi herself, lost a leg during the Third Shinobi War and opened up a restaurant to keep her busy.
She knows all the regulars by name and doesn't mind shinobi fresh from missions coming in dirty, bruised and hungry when they need some food and are too tired to do much else.
Shisui knows she won't mind him dragging in his dirty Genin.
The place isn't fancy. Wooden, worn and small. The only decorations being a few kunai and a katana hanging on the wall but the food is wonderful.
Civilians stay away as well, especially because Anbu can be seen visiting regularly and well, to civilians, Anbu are terrifying.
Kakashi likes this place as well and Shisui had left his Genin to their own devices for a few moments to find him and invite him along as well. Despite living together, their schedules were always too hectic that it was never guaranteed they'd be able to eat together.
Kiba doesn't look phased about the place in the slightest, but Shisui isn't surprised. Tsume or another Inuzuka have probably taken him here before. Hinata is the polar opposite, sticking close to Shisui's side as he approaches the counter and Shino remains stoically indifferent. Shino may feel slightly uncomfortable, but hopefully, Kiba's obvious familiarity and Shisui's calmness will settle them down.
The woman, Kotomi, studies all of them before her eyes fall back to Shisui's.
"Told Tsume you'd get a Genin team," she shakes her head and fishes out menus. "My brother owes me a beer."
"Good evening to you too," Shisui doesn't try to keep the sarcasm out of his voice but Kotomi just grins and reaches over to ruffle Shisui's hair and tug on Kiba's ear.
"You've grown since I last saw you," she says. "Tell your mother to come by sometime soon."
Kiba gives a mock salute, Akamaru barking loudly from his spot in Kiba's jacket. "yes ma'am." Kiba says with far too much energy for someone who's been training all day.
"Don't think I've seen you two before. Call me Kotomi." She leans back from the counter, tucking her greying blond hair behind her ears.
Shisui saves them both the hassle since Hinata looks like she is trying to blend into the ground. "Hinata Hyuuga and Shino Aburame."
Kotomi nods and leans so her forearms are resting on the bench. "You kids be good for Shisui, okay? He needs looking after too."
In hindsight, Shisui's not sure why he didn't expect this. He shakes it off. Kotomi is like that weird, scary but wonderful aunty who's old but will kick your ass.
She has a way with words, drawing in strung up and post-battle tense Jounin too her like she is a calming beacon.
Shino nods seriously. "You don't have to worry, Kotomi-san. We're a good team." Kiba yells an agreement and Hinata nods along furiously.
"Glad I can trust you squirts."
She glances over the menu before handing them to Shisui. "There's a few new ones on there that I think you'll like." She chuckles to herself, recalling some fond memory. "My brother's been excited about this all week but I haven't seen any of the regulars lately so none of my lovelies have been able to try them."
Shisui passes off the menus to the kids and prompts them to go find a table and turns back to Kotomi. "It's been pretty busy lately. I haven't had a chance to speak to many lately either."
Kotomi nods in understanding, her face turning serious. "You look much more lively. I knew some shitty little Genin would bring you out of your shell."
Shisui was suspicious over Tsume and Shibi being heavily involved in Shisui being picked for Jounin-sensei but did Kotomi have a little part in it too?
He dismisses the thought. He hasn't felt this refreshed and alive in a long time. Being with Kakashi helped him immensely, but dating someone doesn't fix all their cracks. It's only been a few days but it's working. Just like the Sandaime, Tsume, Shibi and Kotomi had said.
And plus, it's refreshing to know this scary retired shinobi has his back. It makes everything feel a little lighter on his shoulders.
"I feel better too. Seems you were right although I don't think I should be surprised." He says and grins at her.
Kotomi scoffs good-naturedly at him and taps the Hitai-ate around his forehead. "Your drinks are on the house, brat. Make sure to say hi to Issei before you leave."
He gives her the Anbu salute – a habit the Anbu have taken too since it's the least she deserves for putting up with all their odd behaviour – and she waves him off, mumbling about getting drinks and demanding brats.
Shisui scans the room and spots his little Genin huddled in the corner, Kiba animatedly flailing at Shino who's tense but he can see the slight tremors of laughter he's frantically trying to hold in so Shisui decides not to worry.
Plus, Hinata's smiling now, with Akamaru sitting on her lap attempting to lick her face.
A Chuunin that Shisui doesn't recognise a few tables away grins at the sight. His little Genin aren't annoying anyone then. That's the last thing Shisui wanted to deal with.
Kiba shuffles over to give him more room on the bench and flops himself down on the table.
"I don't think Shino's bugs like me," Kiba says, his eyebrows scrunched up and eyes closed like the world might actually be ending.
"I-I like you Kiba," Hinata says. Akamaru stops holding back and promptly launches himself at Hinata, attacking her in slobbery puppy kisses that Shisui thinks she doesn't mind at all.
Shino sighs and lists back against the bench, his game of trolling Kiba having come to its end.
Kiba's whole body brightens and he smiles the classic Inuzuka smile that gives people a full view of their powerful canines. "Well as long Hinata likes me it's alright." He sends a glare at Shino who shrugs and busies himself with the menu.
Shisui reaches over and flicks Shino on the head and ruffles Kiba's and Hinata's hair.
He shouldn't have worried. This team will turn out fine.
Shisui glances up as the door opens and leans forward in his seat, grinning from ear to ear as Kakashi with his ridiculous hair that Shisui doesn't think he'll ever be able to accept as proper hair and his equally tired and dirty little Genin stumble in behind him.
Kotomi gives him a wave and points him in the direction of Shisui.
Kakashi meanders over and sits down next to Shisui. Sasuke sends Kakashi a light glare and clambers up next to Shino and Hinata along with Sakura. Naruto sits himself next to Kakashi and leans forward on the table to see Kiba and Akamaru.
There's a moment of loud, enthusiastic greetings between the two. Sasuke, seated between Shino and Sakura, lists against the back of the bench as though Kiba and Naruto's loudness is exhausting him.
"Good day?" Kakashi asks and he sneaks his hand into Shisui's.
Shisui squeezes his hand in response and smiles, "Yep. Very productive."
"He's making as run too many laps tomorrow," Kiba says, resting his head in his hands like it's too heavy. Kiba's always had a streak of the dramatics in him and apparently, it likes to come out at times like this.
"Laps, huh?" Kakashi leans his cheek on his hand, popped up on the table and peers at Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura in turn. Sakura's face goes from neutral to horrified, and she looks at Kakashi, betrayal written all over her face.
Sasuke looks like he's trying to become one with the wall, Shino looking at him through tinted sunglasses is obviously intrigued.
"Maybe they can run together? That's good motivation." Shisui says and spots Kiba squinting down at Kakashi and Shisui's intertwined hands and he sends Shisui a wicked grin, nodding along like he and Kakashi are awkward pre-teens on their first date.
Shisui pokes his tongue out at him. Shisui can make Kiba run laps until his legs give out, so who's the real winner here.
"Sakura's stamina needs work. Sasuke's isn't that great either. I think it will be good for them." He and leans back as Issei, Kotomi's brother, and Kotomi just behind him deliver the food to their table.
There's a brief chorus of thank yous and this time it's Issei ruffling Shisui's hair, leaving him questioning his life choices. Is it something about his hair? Is it something about Shisui himself? Will he ever know?
Sasuke sends him a scolding look over the food, insulted that Kakashi blatantly declared he wasn't good at something. Sasuke needs to be cut down a few notches from the pedestal that training with two of the Uchiha's best had landed him. Or maybe thrown from the pedestal, but Shisui trusts Kakashi to make the right decision.
Hinata's face has gone as red as the Uzushiogakure swirl on the shoulders and back of their Jounin vest, sending awkward not-so-subtle glances at an oblivious Naruto, and Sakura doesn't seem to have even realised Kakashi has just outright said her most serious flaw.
The fangirl. Something they're both inevitably going to have to deal with.
Hinata's source of admiration in Naruto isn't something Shisui wants to discourage, but maybe if he helps boost Hinata's confidence then she'll be able to approach him without looking like she's going to pass out. Or actually passing out.
It's possible that Hinata may have to fight Naruto in the Chuunin exams, and Shisui does not want her too loose simply because she couldn't kick the kid she has a crush on.
Sakura's crush seems slightly more useless, with no offence to her. But rationally speaking the sooner she can look at Sasuke without fawning ridiculously over him the better for her and the rest of her team.
It might be good to pit Sakura and Sasuke against each other in training, then.
Might be good to put Kiba and Naruto against each other too. Kiba and Naruto have a lot of impulsivity between them, and if they want to win, going in head first with not an ounce of thought is only going to end in an unnecessarily messy brawl.
Forcing them both to think might benefit them.
"Running tomorrow then. Team 7 and Team 8 joint practices. Maybe we can join up again for chakra nature practices?" Shisui says, chewing his mouthfuls slowly.
Kakashi nods and gives Shisui a tired look over his food. Right. Sasuke is the only clan kid, it's likely Naruto and Sakura need to cover basics that Sasuke and Team 8 already know.
There's still time before the Chuunin exams, and if Kakashi does need help with anything specific, Shisui isn't going anywhere.
Naruto leans over the table, a pile of noodles clutched between chopsticks. Kiba opens his mouth and leans forward, about to receive Naruto's unspeakably generous offer when Akamaru leaps up onto the table and snags the noodles in his mouth and leaps off just as fast.
There is a moment of horrified silence as Naruto and Kiba stare at each other before the silence explodes into a flurry of flailing arms and the two boy's screeches of horror.
Akamaru leaps onto Sasuke's face, and happily sits on top of his head, watching the chaos unfold with far too much satisfaction.
Sakura and Hinata are both stifling giggles, leaning against each other contently against each other.
Shisui and Kakashi simultaneously lean over trying to quiet down the two boys. Kiba slumps against Shisui like the world has now actually ended and Naruto wipes tears from his eyes as Kakashi pats his head.
Genin are all crazy but, Kakashi's hand is still warm in his own, Hinata is laughing and Shino's shoulders are shaking with suppressed giggles. Kiba's face is bright with humour staring fondly over at Naruto and Shisui feels happy.
He smiles at Kakashi and relishes the forehead kiss Kakashi gives him.
This just might all work out.
I WASN'T GOING TO POST THIS UNTIL ID FINISHED CHPT 5 but it's giving me a bit of trouble so I thought I'd post this one to keep you entertained until I can figure the next chpt out. (forgive me for any errors I will fix them later!)
pls comment I will probably cry from happiness.