Sharpening a kunai, Toru only looks up when Sasuke calls his name. "You're coming to training, right?" The genin asks, standing close to the door with Naruto next to him.
"You do know I'm not your teacher," Toru says. "Since I'm no longer on the mission with you, I figured you'd continue training solely with Kakashi-san again." A glance at the weapons left to sharpen, and Toru makes a quick decision, (how much does he trust Kakashi to continue teaching like a teacher), picking them all up and placing them in his weapons pouch. He can deal with blunt kunais for now, (if it means making sure everyone learns, then he can deal). Twisting, he picks up his katana, still in its sheathe, and slings it over his back. "However, since I'm not doing anything, I might as well come. Lead on, Sasuke."
Both boys smile at Toru, and Naruto instantly starts chattering away, (and this too is an achievement). They'd returned to Konoha a few days ago, in high spirits, (all ends well – for once; this is one story with multiple happy endings). Kakashi had given the genins the following few days off to write their reports and hand them in. The Uchiha chūnin knows Kakashi hadn't thought that through, (numerous sessions of successful teaching don't necessarily make a teacher) – after all, normally jōnin senseis read over the reports to make sure the new ninjas are including all the necessary information. Iruka and Toru had taken that job for themselves this time round, (they wouldn't be doing it a second time; Iruka almost screamed the first time Toru asked).
Toru didn't plan on picking up that slack a second time. He doubts Kakashi had planned to brush the work off for someone else to take care of, but he had. Something to mention today, then.
"Sakura!" Naruto shouts, breaking away from his chatter. From her place at the meeting point, Sakura smiles and waves. "Hey!"
"Good morning," Sakura greets as the trio get closer. "Sensei still isn't here yet. It was a bit too much to hope that he would be here on time."
"Good morning, Sakura-chan," Toru says calmly. "Now, if Kakashi-san isn't here, there's no point wasting time on him. What could you be doing right now?"
The three genins look considerably chastised at Toru's words, (better to learn now than die later), shifting uncomfortably on the spot. "Consider what you want to work for and how you could make Kakashi-san get here earlier."
"We could prank him," Naruto immediately offers, "that'd get him coming on time."
Takuma barks loudly, and the three genins turn to the ninken. "Some things are simple," Toru says. "Remember to use all your tools and advantages. Sasuke, you've had Takuma for about two years now. You should be better at working together."
(Always work together, but also be able to be strong on your own; an interesting lesson, and a difficult one to fully understand.)
Nodding, Sasuke turns to face the dark brown wolf-dog. "Takuma, can you find Kakashi-sensei for us?" Takuma barks once and sprints off, drifting into the shadows.
"Whilst we wait, consider what you want to work on in training. Immediate plans and future goals. Start warming up while you do so," Toru instructs, as he settles down onto a tree stump, laying out his blunt weapons once more and starting to sharpen them, (always ensure your weapons are sharp because having a blunt weapon might just spell your end).
The three genins start stretching, helping one another as they do so, (teamwork, where once there would have been none). After a few minutes, Naruto says decisively, "I want to work on my combat capabilities. I'm meant to be the one who specialises in ninjutsu on this team, but I don't know much. That's my future goal, but I don't know what to do for immediate plans."
"Chakra control is probably the best idea for you currently," Sakura advises as she switches from stretching to a gentle taijustu kata meant to help warm up. "You've struggled with it previously, so improving it will only help you in the future. I suppose, learning your chakra nature might help as well?"
"Clever thinking, Sakura-chan," Toru says. He checks the blade of the kunai he's currently holding. It's no longer blunt and it isn't chipped either. Putting it away, he glances up at Naruto. "You've got something else to say?"
"Can we request specific types of missions?" Naruto asks. "I'd prefer ones that will help us in our goals. For instance, missions involving normal problems both in-village and out-village, missions that would improve our reputation and goodwill people have towards us, missions that involve some kind of discussions similar to politics."
"We could've had a bridge named after us," Sakura points out, and gives Naruto a smile before he can speak. "However, we all agreed that bridge deserved the name Kaiza more than anything else. Anyway, I'd like to expand my taijutsu and medical knowledge, with the future goal of merging the two together."
"Have you considered poison to start off with?" Sasuke asks as he shifts from a block to a low kick, (his block is weak; he needs to work on that). "Even if you don't continue with it, it'd give you some knowledge that field medics and battle medics have to deal with occasionally."
"I doubt Kakashi-san or I could help you with poisons," Toru says once Sakura nods. "I'll ask around, though. See if anyone can find anything. Sasuke, your plans?"
"Probably working on genjutsu, since neither Sakura or Naruto have got that covered. Taijutsu would be good, I suppose, but I'd like to expand all my skills instead of specialising. Primarily, though, improve working with Takuma in all aspects."
"Something that Kakashi-san can work on with you," Toru replies. Relatively close by, there's a bark and Takuma stops next to Sasuke. Tilting his head around, (chakra ready and waiting, a seal carefully preserved in his mind, a blade in hand), Toru catches sight of Kakashi Hatake, (he doesn't relax, doesn't let go, but he loosens his hold slowly and that is, in a way, trust).
"Oh?" Kakashi says softly, gazing at the three genins and one ninken who straighten beneath his eye. Young. Malleable. Children. "For now, improve on your stamina. Three laps around Konoha proper, chakra is allowed."
Sasuke shoots Kakashi a venomous look, Naruto fidgets, and Sakura brushes her hair behind her ears. "Go on," Toru says with a shooing gesture, and the three take off, Takuma bounding beside them all. Standing, Toru meets Kakashi's eye evenly. They're about the same height, but it doesn't feel that way, (Toru stands in front of a legend, a prodigy, with nothing but his own skills and lack of legends; it is like a hill before a mountain, except the hill holds a castle and the mountain has nothing but forests).
"Do you have training plans?" Toru asks, sensing that Kakashi isn't willing to breach the silence.
"How long will it take them to complete their current task?" Kakashi asks in lieu of answering.
"They could do it thirty minutes, if they pushed themselves," Toru says. "Probably longer, though. They're not happy. Now, training plans."
"A good ninja can make decisions on the run," Kakashi says, Toru snorts.
"Good thing we're not on the run, then," he says, feeling danger slip down his arms, skimming his fingertips. He breathes in, (and the shinobi in front of him sees a child despite all Toru has proven). "Sasuke needs to learn how to work with Takuma. Naruto needs to learn more ninjutsus and work on his chakra control. Sakura wants to look into poison whilst she continues to work on trying to blend taijutsu with medical jutsus. You're known for working with ninkens, you can get Sasuke started there. Naruto needs another clone jutsu that isn't so chakra intensive, he can't do the Academy one."
"What happens when I work with one genin and get accused of favouritism by the others? What are they doing – lounging around?" Kakashi retorts, a tone of warning in his voice.
(Sometimes you listen to warnings, and sometimes you don't because you can't afford to, sometimes you ignore warnings because there's no point listening to them. Sometimes you throw yourself straight in danger because it's the best path ahead.)
Toru laughs, a huff, soft thing, (something edging between real and fake). Meeting Kakashi's stare with his own, he says, "Good thing I'll be here, then, to keep everyone on track."
"Including me?" Kakashi asks, and something has shifted, (Toru's been proving himself since he survived where almost everyone else died, he's been proving himself for decades that no one remembers anymore; he shouldn't have to keep proving himself, but here he is again).
They're not quite friends, barely acquaintances, teammates in a word, but not close teammates. Trusting but only in terms of Konoha's team trust. Toru bares his teeth at Kakashi, (at the world; he has always been baring his teeth at the world). "What? Feel up to teaching by yourself?"
A shake of his head, and Kakashi laughs, short, sharp, (fake). It's not actual laughter, but this is a starting point. They've both got façades and masks to keep up, (they are ninjas). "I'm a genius and a prodigy, you think I need help teaching?"
"For those exact reasons, yes," Toru replies. "Kakashi-san, you're a genius and a prodigy, taught in wartime, a soldier first and a child second. You're now going to be in charge of teaching three genins, kids really, who aren't like you in pretty much every possible way. They're not going to understand things straight away, and you're going to have explain things repeatedly, teach something over and over. Do you truly think you can do that alone?"
"I'm a jōnin and I have been for years," Kakashi responds, narrowing his one eye.
"Good for you," Toru replies, and feels chakra flickering at his fingertips, available to him if he just so much as wills it, (danger, even if no one notices). "We can set up a basic schedule which all of them can carry out – general fitness, exercising chakra reserves, and that kind of thing. It can," Toru smiles, "start with laps around Konoha proper."
"I'll get Naruto-kun started on the Shadow Clone Technique," Kakashi decides. "Sakura-chan's learning will be your responsibility, as I can help her create a style, but iryō ninjutsu is something I don't have any speciality with. Sasuke-kun and Takuma will work with me after I've taught Naruto-kun the basics. You'll have to work with the other two genins whilst I do general ninken training."
Toru nods, answering just as Takuma bounds into the training ground, tongue hanging out of his mouth as he pants. "Let's get started then."
"None of you kids have a whetstone or a water stone kit?" Kakashi looks over at Toru, who has been checking the blade of his katana for the last few minutes, (it's due for a sharpening).
"Academy taught them but they generally didn't have their own kits. Really, I was waiting for them to consider the fact they needed their own sharpening kits, although it's a lot less important with kunais and shurikens than other bladed weapons," Toru responds. Sheathing his katana, he stands up, (maybe he can have the katana properly sharpened). "I'm going to take my katana to a togishi I know; they can get kits from there as well. You going to come, Kakashi-san?"
The jōnin visibly hesitates, and maybe if Toru was someone else, he'd turn his back and either let the older man stay behind or catch up. But Toru is no one but who he is, and so waits, patient, for Kakashi to make a decision, (Toru can see how turning his back will be refusing the jōnin, can see how easily it will allow Kakashi to fall behind, fall out of his grasp so he can no longer reach out).
"Where do you normally go?" He eventually asks, and maybe it's Kakashi's ploy to find another location to buy objects and so forth, but it's Kakashi asking about them, (about his team, about Toru), in a way.
(This is a start.)
"It's a blacksmith, actually, but they have a ninja supplies store next to them that they co-own. They're closer towards the outskirts of Konoha, fairly out of the way. I know one of the people who work there, so I get a bit of a discount," Toru explains. This time he turns away, Kakashi a half pace behind him, but following. Smirking, he looks at the genins and Takuma, none of which could keep up if he bothered to properly run. "Let's see how well Sasuke and Takuma have picked up training," he says, tossing the words over his shoulder, even as he leaps forward, form blurring. Kakashi is a quick step behind him, keeping up with ease.
The rooftops take them the first bit of the way, and they easily blend in amongst the other ninjas who leap roofs at a rapid pace. However, soon enough, Toru is slipping down from the roofs and onto the street level. Kakashi follows, landing silently. There's no one around and there are no shops here either, but; well, they're on the outskirts of Konoha, no one would be on the roofs here – not if they wish to blend in.
Still, Toru has been coming here for some time, (he's come here as Toru and as Ryuu and walked these streets with Naruto and Sasuke and Souma and Sora and alone and with Kakumau; he's walked these streets and they know his footsteps, trust in his people, and that is power, of a kind), so the empty street doesn't bother him, (an empty street never bothers him unless it shouldn't be empty – don't dismiss the warnings easily, note them down). It's easy to traverse the last bit of distance to the blacksmith, a few twists and turns down the central streets, (the side streets and alleys aren't open to Kakashi; they are open to Ryuu and those who live by the streets), and then he's standing outside the blacksmith.
Opening the door, Toru immediately calls out, "Hello," loud in the shop's silence. There are weapons of all sorts on the walls, and an open door leads to the connected ninja supplies store. Despite both stores being small and relatively isolated, their wares are clearly well-made.
Kakashi's surprise is hard to see but it brings a satisfied smile to Toru's face. He turns away from the older ninja, slipping down a thin isle towards the counter at the back of the room. "Uchiha-san, hello," Akiko greets brightly. "What can I do for you?"
Toru places his sheathed katana on the counter in front of her. "Since I'm in-village for a while, I was wondering if I could have my katana sharpened by a professional? I can do the job just fine, but since I'm here, thought I'd go for it. I also expect–"
"Made it!" Naruto shouts loudly. There's a thump, and a yelp, (friends and teammates; Toru couldn't ask anything more for Sasuke's team). "Guys, that hurt!"
"Quiet, Naruto," Sakura hisses.
"I also expect," Toru continues, rolling his eyes, "that the new genins will need some help. They need to buy supplies for sharpening their weapons – kunais and shurikens for the most part."
Moving from behind the counter, Akikko offers Toru a grin, (it's a bit too sharp for a simple civilian, but Akiko isn't a simple civilian anyway). "Sure thing, I'll go help those kids out. Man the counter for me, yeah?" Toru chuckles and agrees to wait by the counter, even though they're both aware no one is likely to come whilst the group of ninjas shop.
"You know the quaintest places, Toru-san," Kakashi says, moving from one isle on silent feet. "Most people remain in central Konoha to gather their supplies and so forth."
"Sometimes smaller places are better," Toru replies. "Less people more often than not." Kakashi hums and doesn't leave, (let him think what he does, Toru knows why he's here and why he doesn't go to the popular stores).
"Perhaps," Kakashi finally decides, "Now, I'm going to check on those genins. Have fun… manning the counter."
Toru watches as the jōnin heads towards the low conversations, and wonders what the other shinobi is thinking. Still, there is no way to know, for now, Toru will leave it be. He wonders if Sasuke wants to continue his kenjutsu training, they haven't worked on it for a while. Naruto learning the Shadow Clone Technique will means he should probably look into what exactly the jutsu is and the details of it. Not to mention, he also needed to grab the scrolls on medical jutsus for Sakura.
They had the time, at least.
(For now, they have time, and even if it's just for now, they still have it.)
"Okay, Naruto, you know the basis for the Shadow Clone Technique in terms of knowledge and the hand seals needed. You're going to clearly feel the chakra drain, so be prepared for that. Now, go ahead," Toru says.
Naruto nods, face screwed up in concentration. He places his hands in the clone hand seal – a hand seal so rarely used that Kakashi had actually had to teach it to him days earlier. "Shadow Clone Technique!" Naruto's chakra clearly flares as he pours chakra into the jutsu, a blue glow outlines him, and then fades. A cloud of smoke, and then there's another Naruto.
"It worked!" Both Naruto and his clone cheer together.
"Take note of your chakra reserves now," Toru says. Naruto nods and closes his eyes, turning his focus inward. "They should be sitting at about half."
"That… feels right," Naruto says slowly. "It feels like I had so much energy I didn't notice and now I'm slightly tired."
"Remember this feeling," Toru advises. "This jutsu divides your chakra evenly between you and your clones. Right now, you each have half of your normal chakra reserves. Now, disperse your clone, Naruto."
Before Naruto can disperse the clone, the clone disperses itself with a wide grin by slapping its own face. Naruto takes a step back, staggering, before catching himself and straightening once more, (and in that single movement, Toru can see Naruto's efforts and training rewarded). "I got the memories from that clone," he says. "Kakashi-sensei didn't mention that!"
"What could a potential downside of having the memories return?"
"Well… if it comes in the middle of a fight, it could distract me. Or, really, if I'm doing anything, they could distract me," Naruto replies.
"You'll also have the experiences that the clone went through," Toru points out. "Pain, anger – any emotion you will feel. If your clone is dispersed through an injury, you'll feel that injury even though you didn't actually personally experience that injury. Now, tell me, what are the advantages of receiving the clone's memories?"
"Well… it means I could potentially work on something more than if I were just doing it by myself. It also means I can experience something from a different perspective, which could help me understand where I'm going wrong. Can the memories overwhelm me?"
"Potentially," Toru replies. "I doubt anyone creates that number of clones. However, your chakra reserves may enable you to create such high numbers. Remember, such a thing is dangerous, and you will have less chakra than you're used to as well. But any chakra your clones have left over does return to you. So, tell me now, what do you need to do to train with this jutsu?"
"I need to figure out a way to train so that when I get the memories back, I'm not instantly distracted. You also mentioned that my chakra is distributed, and if I rely on chakra intensive attacks and defences, then having my chakra halved is going to be problematic," Naruto says slowly, working his way through the problem. Toru nods. "The latter I can deal with by training with the jutsu and working on chakra output and chakra control. But the former? I've got no idea how to work around that."
Toru hums, considering the issue. "While I can't say for certain this would work, I'd recommend meditation and trying to keep your mind blank while your clones disperse. They can also be training the jutsu, working with less chakra and thus having a slightly easier time of coming to understand how the jutsu works, while you meditate."
"You went from hating Hatake to actively looking forward to training sessions," Shikamaru says between stretches, glancing over at Team Kakashi. "What changed?"
(He's not quite asking what did you do nor asking what happened on their mission, but he's asking a question that many want to know the answer too.)
"Are you saying you aren't already aware of something Shika?" Sakura asks with a teasing grin.
Ino rolls her eyes. "We didn't bother trying to find out," she replies with a dainty sniff, stifling laughter with twitching lips, (and this isn't training to put on a mask, this is friendly ribbing; they have no need for masks and façades here). "There was no point investigating the lives of our friends. We trusted we'd have the time to ask you now."
"Realistically, it was probably Toru-san's influence," Chōji remarks, (the ones you never expect are the ones who surprise you the most, but that's on you).
Naruto laughs loudly, (surprised and unsurprised). "I mean, you're not wrong, but what makes you think that?"
"He heavily influenced the changes in the Academy years ago," Kiba points out. "He just keeps fighting for both Sasuke and Naruto and a lot of people, really. Is it really surprising that he'd have something to do with Hatake deciding to actually teach?" Akamaru barks. "You don't have to be a genius to figure that out."
Standing upright, Sasuke ruffles Takuma's fur. "We ready to start?" He asks eagerly, (eager to test his skills against opponents who will give as good as they can).
Hinata meets his fierce gaze with her own expression of excitement, (she has come so far from the girl she had once been). "You know it!" She says. "Limitations are no team and only taijutsu – chakra enhancements allowed – right?"
"This is indeed the agreement we made," Shino acknowledges. "Why? Because it is to dangerous to allow ninjutsu and genjutsu whilst we are still largely unexperienced."
The nine genins and two ninkens settle into defensive positions, waiting for someone to start the battle. Surprising everyone, (it's only a surprise if you never expect it), Shikamaru launches into action first, speeding forward with chakra racing through his legs to engage Hinata. Everyone takes a bare second to adjust to Shikamaru's abnormal first move in attacking Hinata, who is one of the best at defence in their group. Half-shocked by the attack, Hinata's defence is underwhelming until she settles into her natural rhythm and easily blocks the Nara's low punch and high kick. As she goes to attack, Shikamaru bends his knees, then jumps up, sending himself flipping backwards, into the air above Sasuke, Ino, and Shino.
Landing easily, Shikamaru barely has time to identify his surroundings when he's defending himself from Takuma, (barely has time still equates to having time, and ninjas make sure that having any time is having enough time). Once again, Shikamaru jumps upward, but this time he goes straight up rather than backwards. Coming down, he kicks out at Takuma, who slinks out of the way, and gives Shikamaru enough time to roll beneath Naruto's kick and come up in position to engage Kiba.
Without Akamaru at his side, Kiba is at a greater disadvantage than many of the other genins. His defence is strong, but his offence is weaker, and Shikamaru attacks with precision. As Kiba goes to kick him, Shikamaru brings his feet off the ground, only for Kiba to abort his original attack and go for a punch that catches Shikamaru in the sternum. Back slamming into the ground, Shikamaru ignores his gasping lungs, working without oxygen, he places his hands behind his head and pushes himself back towards Kiba, legs out in front of him. Rather than going for the kick Kiba clearly expects, Shikamaru twists himself so his legs end up swinging over Kiba's shoulders, throwing the other boy off balance and forcing him onto the ground.
From out of nowhere, Sakura crashes into Shikamaru, knocking him away from Kiba. Grunting, the pair quickly unscramble themselves, Shikamaru engaging someone else in a fight and Sakura finds herself defending Chōji's attacks.
It's a bad matchup for her. Chōji focusses on strength, and has slowly rounded out his offence with an equally strong defence. For Sakura, who focusses on precision, her attacks are easily blocked, (sometimes you don't have strength and you can't just make yourself physically strong, so you turn to other paths and make sure you are still strong). However, she has her own talents, and her defence is based around the idea of not being where the blow lands, and when she can't avoid it, deflect it, (water goes around an object, deflected, remember this Sakura-chan). As a result, Chōji's strength is largely negated. Still, Sakura finds herself faltering soon enough. Thankfully, though, the melee means that as soon as she manages to get some distance from Chōji, there's a fight blocking Chōji from engaging Sakura again, (safe for a brief moment, she can turn her back and fear no following attack).
Twisting, Sakura looks around her. The fights are petering out now, exhausted panting fills the training ground. Takuma and Akamaru are snapping and whirling around one another, out of everyone else's way. Shino and Naruto are on the sidelines, along with Kiba. Sakura joins them.
She watches as Chōji takes Ino out by sweeping her legs out form underneath her and slamming a fist onto the ground, next to her head, (a warning and a reveal in one). However, before he can revel in his achievement, he's twisting and fending Hinata's attacks off. Relatively close by, Shikamaru and Sasuke keep a frantic taijutsu battle. Sakura watches, amused, as Shikamaru slowly leads Sasuke closer and closer to the other pair still fighting. Then, a metre away, Shikamaru darts away, pushing himself to flip over Hinata and Chōji, using them as a shield. However, when the pair turn to attack him instead, he slips around the attacks and defends by forcing them to get in each other's ways.
"He's really stepped up his taijutsu, hasn't he?" Sakura remarks as she watches the four genins keep fighting; Sasuke bowing out after catching a fist to his cheek.
Ino nods. "Yeah, he's been working on it primarily, claiming that he needs to be able to have strong taijutsu so he can use clan jutsus close by. However, he's mainly using their weaknesses against everyone. Going for the unexpected."
"They're stopping now," Shino remarks. "I imagine they are all very tired now. Still, a good spar all round."
The three genins – Shikamaru, Chōji, and Hinata – are congratulated as they rejoin the group. "Meet up for ramen in half an hour?" Sasuke asks, having retrieved Takuma from the wolf-dog's playfight with Akamaru. "We can discuss everything then." Agreeing to the plan, the nine genins head to their respective homes, keen for a good shower.
"Alright Sakura-chan," Toru starts, "What can you tell me about Chakra Scalpel?"
"It's a medical technique that enables a ninja to form a small, sharp blade capable of being used in surgeries. It requires great precision – which explains why Kakashi-sensei had me training with senbon recently and you had me doing more in-depth reading about the human body – and isn't often used offensively. However, it can be used offensively, but a person needs to watch their chakra control and know the human body well to effectively incapacitate their opponent."
"Very good," Toru says, causing Sakura to beam at him. "You've been practicing the seals as well, right? Tiger, horse, rabbit, rat, and dog." The genin nods. "Very well, then let's see how you go. Remember, this time let the chakra flow naturally rather than attempting to control it; only control it if you think you're losing too much chakra."
Sakura moves through the hand seals slowly, each one almost perfect, her practice over the past few days shining through. Less than a second after she finishes the last hand seal in the sequence, blue chakra bursts from her fingertips, flowing around her hand and forming sharp edges.
"That's it," Toru says. "Can you feel the drain on your chakra currently?"
"Yes," Sakura says, "but it isn't a large drain. I could probably hold this for a while."
"Lessen the chakra flowing to your hands and see what happens," Toru says. Sakura's eyebrows furrow as she does so, and the blue around her hands loses its sharpness and clarity. The scalpels decrease in size. "Continue that and see if you can stop the jutsu that way." Quickly, the technique ends, the chakra disappearing from Sakura's hands.
"Through controlling my chakra, I control the size and the sharpness of the scalpels, right?" Sakura asks.
"And the strength."
"And the strength," Sakura echoes. "Could I practice the jutsu by monitoring and changing my own chakra output? Both when the jutsu is active and when I'm starting the jutsu?"
"You definitely could. To work on sharpness, size, and strength of the jutsu, as well as getting a good idea of how much chakra you need, I recommend working on slicing through certain objects and working your way through them. Start with a piece of wood and go from there. Try things that only need something sharp and try to have a steady cut, straight, not jagged. And remember…"
"Watch my chakra levels," Sakura finishes with a nod. "I got this, Toru-san. Don't worry!"
Toru laughs and ruffles Sakura's hair. "I know you do. Now, I've got a kenjutsu spar lined up for Sasuke, so try on your own for now. Both Kakashi-san and I will help if you ask."
Sakura nods, smiles, (no one calls her baby-faced Sakura anymore, no one scorns her for her pink hair, no one assumes she's a civilian; she is a kunoichi and everyone can see it). "Understood, Toru-san!"
In returning to Konoha, Toru refuses to leave Kakashi alone in his attempts to teach. He helps, advises, and still lets Kakashi really decide what is being taught. Meanwhile, the Rookie Nine continue to train and measure their skills against one another. They have an idea of what the world outside Konoha is like. They all want to survive it. Thus, they train.
I'd like you all to know that it is very difficult to learn about how katanas used to be sharpened when they were often in use. I started with whetstones on Wikipedia and ended up looking at water stones and realising it was much harder to sharpen swords than I realised because there are like two or three levels and there's a certain kind of grit you want the whetstone to have, but that depends on what kind of sharpening you're up to. Katanas, it turned out, generally get sharpened by a tobeshi because otherwise it gets stuffed up. Could I find any information on what, exactly, a togishi is and does? No, not at all. First page google has failed me, and I'm too lazy to actually do some in-depth research that isn't technically needed. Also, I'm very well aware of how likely I am to get sidetracked (I was looking at when pens were invented and ended up learning that the largest ballpoint pen is 5.5m, made in India, and weighs 37.23 kg long; thanks Wikipedia). This chapter has quite a few time skips because, well, they're needed. This chapter (and the next one) are just fillers to get to the next major point in canon (you all know exactly what it is).
Despite the C-rank mission everyone went on, not much has changed. Yes, Kakashi is trying, but he still isn't that great. Toru is willing to keep an eye on things and help out, and - honestly - Kakashi needs it. To be fair on Kakashi, he literally is having this new ANBU and chunin Uchiha suddenly come up to him and tell him he's doing badly. He's going to be defensive. To him, Toru is a kid with some experience but less than Kakashi. Kakashi is better in every way, older, experienced, and knows war, and yeah. It's not true, but Kakashi doesn't know this. So, I think Kakashi has reason to act why he does in regards to Toru.
Akiko makes a second experience. For those who don't remember her, she appeared briefly in Current Strength where she asked for Ryuu's help to get a job. Toru obliged, and here we are, years later.
I'm not going to go into too much detail on the training on the genins, because it's pretty clear - or so I think. Comment and ask questions; I will, of course, answer. I didn't focus much on their actual training, largely because I thought it would be boring to write, and this is pretty much all filler. Also, I did write this chapter and the next in under two days, so, yeah. It's kind of understandable why it's a bit broken, although that's largely because I was dealing with some massive time gaps and still trying to show how the characters were developing their own skills.
We got to see the Rookie Nine coming together to meet up and test out their own skills! It was fun to play around with them, I will admit. Shikamaru is an interesting character because he's so smart, and also because he had to train the most to get his taijutsu up to scratch so it was nearly on par with Chouji's.
Also, just a massive shoutout and thank you to PearlBear who actually motivated me enough to write this filler that ended up getting split into two chapters after it doubled in size for some strange reason.
