All right! Chapter 4 in Demons and Coordinators freshly made from the mind of the author.

Chapter Four: Training and Assignment

The next day, Team Tsukasa met at the training ground waiting for their instructor. It only took a minute to wait for him. He was carrying two bells with him (a common test among ninjas that would truly become genin), and looked at his team.

"All right, for this test, you will try to get these bells with the intention of killing me. Should the person not acquire the bell, and tied to a log, he or she will fail." Mamoru said. "OK, are you ready, then go!"

Naruto hid himself in the snowy bushes, while Amaya went to dive into the icy water, being used to the frigid conditions. Shinosuke went to camouflage in the snow, without being seen.

"This bell test was meant for only the two of us. One of our teammates is bound to fail, unless..." Shinosuke thought for a minute, and then went to Naruto. "This test was meant to divide us. We should get Amaya to go with us, so none of us fail."

"Roger that, Shinosuke. I'll get Amaya." Naruto said. He then proceeded to dive into the icy river as well, and found Amaya gliding along the gentle current. Both genin were wearing masks to cope with the water.

"Shinosuke and I found out what this test is all about." Naruto said.

"Cool, what is it?" Amaya asked.

"Teamwork." Naruto said. "Listen, have you got a plan?"

"Hmm, let's see." Amaya said. She then placed her fingers together (kinda like Shikamaru when he's stuck against Temari), and formulated a strategy for a minute. "Great, here's the plan..."

Seconds later, both soaked genin were going out of the water, chattering. Naruto used a thawing jutsu that allowed him to warm up again, his clothes drying up quickly. Amaya also did a thawing jutsu, and warmed herself up. Shinosuke came up to them, with a worried look.

"What the hell are you two thinking?" Shiosuke whispered. "You guys could have froze with hypothermia."

"Listen, I've got a plan..." Amaya replied. They discussed the plan, and a minute later they went to their battle positions. According to Amaya, Naruto would first ambush Mamoru, while Shinosuke would strike after Naruto drove the sannin into Point B. From there, Shinosuke would pretend to reach for the bell. Amaya would finally do a genjutsu when Mamoru would corner the other two genin at Point C. All was well, but where is Mamoru?

Naruto had already found him, with his eyes closed, and attempted to ambush him, but he sensed his presence first, so the ambush was useless. However, the Naruto that Mamoru faced turned out to be a Kage Bunshin. The real Naruto sprang up from the mound of snow, pouncing on the sannin instructor. He was aware of that, and started to spar. Naruto kept on attacking Mamoru, until Shinosuke appeared out of nowhere, trying to grab for the bell. The sannin grabbed his wrist, and threw him on to the snow, but not before flipping forward to attack as well. Naruto and Shinosuke decided to go on to the defensice, allowing Mamoru to attack them simultaneously. When they reached Point C, Amaya covered the other three men into a genjutsu, and reached for the bell. Mamoru quickly realize that it was a genjutsu, and released it, only to discover that the three genin were nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Shinosuke and Amaya pounced out of nowhere, ready to grab the bells, but the sannin quickly dodged to another spot, only to realize that Naruto had knocked the bells out of his waist, and was caught by Shinosuke, and Amaya.

"Well done, you three. You realized that this test was meant to put you all at odds, and you figured out that it was meant for teamwork. Good job." Mamoru said. "As for the rest of the day, I'll be doing some chakra control training with you guys, and in a week, we'll start on ninjutsu. We'll also do taijutsu training tomorrow, and genjutsu training the day after tomorrow. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Mamoru-sensei!" the three genin replied.

Meanwhile in the PLANTS, Yzak Joule was relieved that he was allowed to keep his rank after being prosecuted by the War Crimes Trial. It was because of Gilbert Durandal, that he and Dearka were spared from being shot. However, the blond man was demoted for his defection back in the first war. And so, he was in debt to the new Chairman. Yzak had already formed his own team, made of veterans from the first war. He was assigned to a Salsh ZAKU that fitted his melee combat. But what Durandal had in store for the two former Le Creuset Team soldiers, it would be even better than to wait for a certain Ultimate Coordinator to drop dead. He was going to assign the Joule team to a new ship that was being built in Armory One. Durandal felt the Yzak would be the perfect man to pilot the machine that might have become Kira Yamato's, if he knew more about himself. As a byproduct of the Ultimate Coordinator project, Yzak had a spatial awareness that was dormant, until when he turned 18. Now, at the age of 19, he has yet to unlock the dormant force that would rival his former nemesis, the one that gave him a blemish. At Armory One, the Joule team was undergoing an orientation with the new suits, when the purple coat Defense committee people came up to them.

"Commander Joule, you and Ensign Elsman are to report to the Chairman immediately. He is just in a shuttle up in space." the Purple Coat said.

A minute later, the two men had arrived at the shuttle, facing Durandal.

"Welcome, Commander Joule, and you too, Ensign Elsman." Durandal said. "You may be wondering why I called for you two here. Rest assured, you are not in trouble."

"Mr. Chairman, is it about our new machines?" Dearka said.

"No, Ensign. It's about how I can get your team to influence the potential future pilots of the new ship that is being built in Armory One." Durandal replied.

"The Minerva, right?" Yzak asked.

"That's the one. And by the way, I seem to have come across two blueprints that were made into the original Freedom and Justice Gundams. Maybe if you could dig up more dirt on those machines, then I can guarantee that we can build a newer version of the originals." Durandal said. "You two would be piloting it of course, unless should Athrun Zala return, he'll be assigned to pilot the new Justice."

"Yes, Mr. Chairman." Yzak said.

"However, I'm also appointing you, as well as Commander Hahnenfuss as members of FAITH. As Elsman can't qualify, seeing as you're a Green Coat." the Chairman said. "No offense, but after all, Greens can't qualify for FAITH."

"I understand, Kicho." Dearka said.

"Very well, congratulations to you, Commander Joule." Durandal said as he got out two badges that represent FAITH. Yzak took one, and kept the other for Shiho. After their promotions, the commander of the Joule team went to report to the future crew of the Minerva, with the new captain, Talia Gladys in row.

"Commander Yzak Joule, of the Joule team. Assigned to your command, Captain." Yzak said.

"Well, that isn't a surprise, Commander." Talia said. "You being promoted to FAITH for your record, despite the trial. I assume some of your subordinates are also assinged under our command as well."

"May I ask where's Commander Hahnenfuss?" Yzak asked. "Because she is also promoted to FAITH as well."

"Commander Hahnenfuss is currently aboard the Minerva, supervising the construction of the new hangars. You can give it to her, when she's not busy. Wait, here she comes." Talia replied. "Commander Hahnenfuss, Commander Joule here has something for you."

"Thank you, ma'am." Shiho said. "Commander Joule, what is it?"

"Congratulations, Housenka. The chairman just appointed us to FAITH." Yzak said. "Dearka was sour on that, but he can't get into FAITH, on account of his demotion."

"I see what you mean, Commander." Talia said. "Anyway, this is Arthur Trine, our Deputy Captain."

"An honor to meet you, Commander Joule." Arthur said. "I'm sure that your experience will influence the new pilots."

"Of course, Deputy Captain." Yzak said.

"I heard at the academy that they got a new cadet that has an attitude problem." Shiho said. "From what my friend Lunamaria said, he's really stubborn. I hope that Yzak here would straighten him up."

"That would be our best hope." Talia said.

"I also heard that the Elemental nations are making their own Mobile Suit Corps." Arthur said.

"It's true, Deputy Captain." Yzak replied. "So far, the Land of Ice has been a leader in those things."

"Kinda like Orb, right?" Talia asked. "Except that its military ideology resembles more like ZAFT than Orb."

"Probably because their daimyo is an anti-Alliance man." Yzak said. "According to Chairman Durandal, the PLANTS have made a pact with four of the five major shinobi nations, plus the Land of Ice, which is yet to be recognized."

"I see that. Anyways, welcome to the Minerva, and we hope to have a good time working you, Commander." Talia said, as all officers saluted.

Back in the Land of Ice, Team Tsukasa were in the denser part of the forest, with Mamoru facing the three genin.

"All right. This practice is all about chakra control. In these trees, you three will do tree climbing without using your hands. Like this." Mamoru said, as he climbed up a tree, going as high as he can, and then he scratched the tree with a kunai. "You are to mark the distance that you went. Repeat these steps again, only this time, you are trying to go up higher than your previous mark."

"We got it, sensei." Amaya said.

"All right, start now!" Mamoru said. The tree climbing exercise was proving to be easy for the three genin, with Shinosuke finishing up first, followed by Amaya, and Naruto. It seems that in Hyougakure, the academy emphasises on chakra control from the early start. This gives the ninjas of Hyou greater advantages over other Hidden Villages. When the three genin were finished, Mamoru gathered his team, and led them into the river.

"All right, the next exercise will be the same as the last one, only this time, you are coping with something that moves. Here's a demonstration." Mamoru said as he began walking on the medium current. "Now, you three try."

This time, the water walking exercise was a bit more challenging, and also having to cope with an increasing amount of current flowing through the river. However, Naruto managed to walk across, followed by Amaya, and Shinosuke.

"Good job, you three. Once again, I'm so proud of having to train you all." Mamoru said. "Now, everyone here knows the technique of the Kage Bunshin?"

"Yes, Mamoru-sensei." Naruto said. "I mostly used it to spar when Shinosuke is doing something else."

"Of course I've used it. Many times." Shinosuke said.

"I have use it, as well." Amaya said.

"Good, because for our next training, which will be ninjutsu next week, you will need to use your kage Bunshins, because with Kage Bunshin, you would be able to complete your training that would normally take three years to complete." Mamoru said. "During your ninjutsu training, I will find out what will be your affinity to which elemental jutsu."

"Great. So all we have to do is to produce more chakra to help with this training, right?" Amaya said.

"Of course. But judging by your chakra control, I would like to see how much Kage Bunshins you can create." Mamoru said, as he did some handsigns. "Kage Bunshin No Jutsu!" Soon, there was over a thousand Mamoru clones.

Naruto started first on making his Kage Bunshins, and soon there was over two thousand Narutos. Amaya did the same thing, and there were also two thousand Amayas as well. Shinosuke was the last one to make his Kage bunshins, and probably made around four thousand Kage bunshins. It's no surprise, being the Ultimate ninja, as well as being a Coordinator.

"Well done." Mamoru said. "All right, you three can go, except for Amaya and Naruto."

When Shinosuke left, he then turned to the other two genin.

"Now the reason why I got you guys to remain behind, is because I would have to sign you both up for genetic enhancement, which would mean that you two would become Coordinators like Shinosuke and myself."

"But that would make us targets of Blue Cosmos!" Amaya said.

"Yes, but think of it this way, you are also ninja, and so you can kill those bigots as well." Mamoru said.

"We'll do it!" Naruto said.

"Great. Your enhancement will begin tomorrow." the sannin said, and then he disappeared. Naruto and Amaya also decided to go home.

At this point, it would be Year 72 C.E., and the genin of Team Tsukasa would be 12 years old. The Armory One Incident wouldn't happen until they were 13, and that would be close to Naruto's 13th birthday. (Oct.10) The Chunin Exams would be held in 74 C.E., and the Invasion of Konoha arc in this fic would be at the same time that the planned Operation Angel Down would happen. The ZAFT invasion of Orb wouldn't happen, because the said arc would be the parallel.