Chapter 7: Leadership Lesson!
On his way to the main classroom Michael wore a new set of clothes as the Tutor to see his pupil's improvement in class. He wore a black hood jack unzipped to show his white dress shirt and black tie, while wearing blue baggy jeans and red shoes. The funny thing about this was that Mochi atop his head wore the same thing.
"I wonder why I have to come here so early?" Michael yawned along with a tired Mochi also. He entered to see the empty classroom like he had expected as he looks around he spots the podium Kiriya Sensei uses and sat on top of it.
"I feel so nostalgic being up here you know Mochi?" Michael said to his pet who simply nods.
"Yeah it feels as though I can come up with great compliments like Kiriya Sensei." Michael chuckled lightly not really the type of person to go really loud and always like to keep to himself.
"I still remember the compliment he gave me when I summoned my first Secret Animal he would say that was Monktastic I still don't see the clever one in that one though." Michael sighed then looked up the college like tables to see at the top one was a sitting Ikaruga sipping tea. After a few seconds of staring Michael quickly jumped from the podium and ran up to the girls desk and said, "How long have you been there?"
"I've been here the whole time Michael-kun." Ikaruga explained still drinking her tea.
"Please don't tell the others about this it's kind of personal to me." Michael dropped down on his knees and put his hands together.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of you just like to talk to your monkey about things, I find it cute." Ikaruga giggled.
"Um thanks." Michael looked up not affected by the compliment.
"And I'm sure if Asuka-san knew she would think the same thing." Once Ikaruga closed her eyes and opened them she saw a dead set Michael holding 3 kunai in his hands.
"If you tell her I'll rip your tongue out." Michael said while in his ninja personality. (I'm calling it this now because saying Lusterless is getting repetitive.)
"I won't." Ikaruga smiled.
"Well good." Michael stood up and put his kunai away while looking the other way, "So why are you here so early?"
"A ninja must always be early to get the upper hand in battle." Ikaruga smiled.
"I see you've memorized Kiriya sensei's old ninja philosophies." Michael scratched his head.
"Yes its vital to remember ever thing your instructor teaches you, don't you?" Ikaruga asks.
"Well not everything I chose to remember the vital ones." Michael explained as Mochi copied every movement he did.
"Why not everything?" Ikaruga asks.
"Because lessons are just lessons as you can make your own ways to be a ninja yourself." Michael explained.
"Then what is one of them then?" Ikaruga asks.
"I can't tell you but I can tell you." Michael smiled, "So there."
"What does that mean?" Ikaruga asked.
"Don't you remember it was what I used the first time I faced you in battle." Michael smiled sitting next to the girl.
"Right you did say that what does it mean?" Ikaruga asked.
"It is what it is, "find a way." Michael explained.
"Find a way?" Ikaruga asks.
"Yes if something you think is hard find a way." Michael explained looking up at the ceiling.
"Michael-kun how do I find my own way?" Ikaruga asks.
"That's your own choice." Michael smiled as the 4 other shinobi entered the classroom.
"Michael-kun." Asuka waved.
"Oh Michael-Senpai!" Hibari waved as Yagyuu simply smiled and nodded.
"Now let's get to the others." Michael stood up from his seat until he saw a happy Katsuragi lunging at Michael with a wide grin.
"Michael-kun!" Katsuragi crashed into the teen and into the wall.
"Ouch." Michael rubbed the back of his head as he looks down to see a flirtatious Katsuragi rubbing against his body.
"Katsuragi-san what are you doing?" Ikaruga gasped standing from her seat.
"Oh Michael-kun you've gotten me in such a compromising pose please don't take me by force!" Katsuragi cooed trying to bring out Michael's inner male out.
"But your the one who pounced me!" Michael blushed while panicking, "Someone please help me!"
"Katsuragi-san please don't do that!" Asuka rushed over to the pair.
"Okay then Asuka-san then I'll do that to you then!" Katsuragi pounced Asuka into the ground.
"No I didn't mean that!" Asuka cried as she tried to pull away from the girl who slowly unbuttoned her shirt. Yagyuu used her umbrella to stop the sight from reaching Hibari's eyes.
"She just doesn't stop." Ikaruga sighed as Michael walked over to the pair of ninja girls and chopped Katsuragi behind the neck pushing her away from consciousness. He caught the girl and carried her in the bridal position.
"Um thanks Michael-kun." Asuka smiled.
"Your welcome but uhm your buttons are undone." Michael said a little stoic to the girl.
"Huh?" Asuka looks down and quickly buttons her shirt and blushes, "Michael-kun you pervert!"
"What did I do!?" Michael screamed.
'Those two really do seem chummy with each other but for a real ninja I would have expected him to be cold and serious all the time.' Ikaruga explained.
"Okay everyone Kiriya sensei said to meet at the Training grounds once you meet here." Michael smiled.
"But we just walked all the way here and now we have to go back there?" Asuka whined.
"Since I knocked out Katsuragi-san I'll carry her to grounds." Michael smiled.
"But that's not fair Hibari wants to be carried too!" Hibari pouted.
"Sorry but I have to be fair well don't be late or else..." Michael changed into his ninja personality and evilly smile, "You know what I won't ruin the surprise." Michael simply vanished using his ninja like speed.
"We should hurry." Asuka gulped earning a nod from everyone as they made a dash for the training grounds.
Later as everyone arrived in the training grounds all 5 ninja were in their Shinobi transformations surrounded by many training wooden dummies. As Kiriya and Michael watched from near the boulders Kiriya standing with his arms crossed as Michael sat on one of the boulders watching with a serious look.
Ikaruga watched all the training dummies with a keen eye and readied Hien for anything.
"Begin!" Kiriya shouted as the dummies engaged the female ninjas while readying real weapons of their own.
The Shinobi performed actually well against the dummies with no trouble at all. But the actual trouble was that the only one really cutting down the dummies was Ikaruga she seemed to show no mercy towards any of the dummies. Michael watched with a smile seeing the skillfulness of the young woman.
As the exercise ended the girls went to talk for their break since Kiriya-sensei wanted to prepare them for something really special for them.
"Good job today everyone." Ikaruga smiled.
"Yeah but the one who took most of them out was you what a drag!" Ikaruga groaned.
"Your amazing Ikaruga-nee." Asuka praised.
"You were so cool!" Hibari cheered.
"Your much more adapt at this than any of us." Yagyuu smiled.
"Thank you for the compliment everyone." Ikaruga bowed.
"So Asuka there's something I've been meaning to ask." Katsuragi grinned.
"Yes Katsu-nee?" Asuka perked up.
"What type of girls are Michael into?" Katsuragi smiled.
"Oh I don't know actually, I've never thought of a question like that." Asuka rubbed her chin.
"Well then I guess I have to release the tension in him to get it out." Katsuragi made perverted finger gestures.
"Hibari wonders what Michael-Senpai likes in girls?" Hibari wondered not even thinking of what regular guys thought about girls.
"Its nothing you have to worry about." Yagyuu sighed trying to hide a little interest in the matter.
Ikaruga was curious on one thing about her senior and went to a busy Kiriya-sensei to get the answer.
"Kiriya-sensei?" Ikaruga asks.
"Yes Ikaruga?" Kiriya brings out a single green scroll.
"I just wanted to know if Michael-kun has ever been appointed as squad leader?" Ikaruga asks.
"He has and was an exceptional one at that he followed all orders and never showed hesitation in anything he did." Kiriya explained.
"Really then what happened to his squad, It's been bothering me but shouldn't a ninja stay with his squad even if he goes out?" Ikaruga asks.
"Michael may have been a great leader but he still lacked one thing." Kiriya began.
"And what is that?" Ikaruga asks.
"That will be saved for another time your answer lies within him." Kiriya explained as Ikaruga looked at the teen who watched the clouds with Mochi. Suddenly he caught her gaze and turned his eyes to her with a smile and back to the sky.
"Well everyone I have that special surprise." Kiriya called out all the ninja together.
"What do we have today?" Katsuragi asked.
"You all aren't doing anything but Michael is." Kiriya handed the teen the scroll.
"What am I doing?" Michael looked at the scroll then paled up in comparison, "No why should I do this it's just cruel and unusual punishment!?"
"What is it Kiriya Sensei?" Yagyuu asked.
"What Michael holds is a truth scroll created to tell all the secrets of the user without hesitation." Kiriya explained.
"Tell every secret?" the girls then looked from the scroll and back at Michael.
"Why are you all looking at me?" Michael gulped.
"Say it." Katsuragi pulled out the scroll and showed the contents.
"I won't." Michael sighed.
"Okay then Michael-kun could you tell me what this fish is for me." Asuka pulled out a picture of a salmon.
"Okay its um sal-mon." Michael pronounced suddenly a white cloud appeared as a chibi Michael wearing his Shinobi transformation clothes appeared he had a black monkey tail as he stared at the original.
"What why is he here?" Michael then remembered the salmon trick and cried, "You tricked me!"
"I'm sorry Michael-kun but I have a serious question to ask you." Asuka began as the chibi Michael jumped off his head and jumps towards Asuka hugging her breasts.
"So soft!" The chibi cooed.
"What?" Asuka blushed.
"Hey please don't do that." Michael pulled the chibi's tail.
"No I want to stay right here with Asuka forever." the chibi stuck his tongue out at Michael.
"Don't say things like that and get off!" Michael tried prying the chibi off the red faced Asuka.
"No! Nooo!" The chibi cried.
"F-forever?" Asuka mumbled.
"You know when we were kids I always had a dream about you and me being mar-!" Michael pulled the chibi by the tail and threw him into the ground.
"Please don't listen to him." Michael begged.
"G-gotta s-stay c-calm." The chibi pulled himself up while crying.
"Aw don't be mean to him." Katsuragi walked towards Michael and puts his head into her breasts, "Show him love like this and do you love it when I let you do this?"
"Not at all." Michael said in a cool tone.
"WAHOO!" The chibi jumped in the air and cheered.
"I am not happy!" Michael screamed.
"He really does say and express everything the original does." Yagyuu commented as she looks down at the small chibi looking at her, "Can I help you?"
"Your so cool and awesome!" the chibi smiled brightly earning a gasp from Yagyuu, "I mean you act cool and awesome like a true ninja and I find it cool and sex-!" Michael intercepted the chibi again and punt kicks the little twerp into the forest.
"Please don't mind him he has a big mouth." Michael explained as a blushing Yagyuu covered her mouth and nodded.
"Are you okay?" Michael sweatdropped.
"Yay lets play!" The chibi and Hibari ran around each other.
"Please Hibari-san I need my summoning beast back." Michael carried the chibi up as Hibari started to cry not wanting to stop playing with it.
"Hey Hibari-san don't cry." the chibi hopped out of Michael's grasp to Hibari, "I promise to play with you later okay?"
"Really?" Hibari asked.
"I promise since the real me is here I'm sure he'll do it." the chibi smiled.
"Okay." Hibari cheered up.
"Good girl I promise to always play with you." the chibi laughed happily.
"Interesting he seems to be showing Michael's true emotions to everyone else." Ikaruga looked down at the chibi who simply beckons her closer, "Yes?" The chibi whispered into Ikaruga's ears while smiling darkly as the girl's eyes widened.
"Sorry Ikaruga I hope he didn't say anything offensive?" Michael bowed grabbing the chibi brat.
"No its nothing." Ikaruga said to him with a cold tone and a glare as she walks away deeper into the forest.
"What'd you tell her?" Michael asked the chibi.
"..." the chibi grew quiet to Michael as his eyes turned lusterless.
"Huh?" Michael gasped as the girls surrounded them.
"Is this how Michael reacts to himself?" Asuka asks.
"Take this." The chibi gave Michael a curved kunai knife then looked at the following people around him and coldly said, "You know what to do with it do it to them its your purpose."
"N-no." Michael struggled to let go of the weapon as his eyes turned dark.
"Michael what's going on?" Kiriya asked.
"Remember those exact words you needed to follow if you don't then let me tell you kek-kyo-k-" As the chibi was about to finish until Kiriya closed the scroll thus ending the summoning. As the chibi disappeared.
"Michael-kun?" Asuka shook the dark eyed Michael who then returns to normal.
"Huh what happened?" Michael asked.
"Your chibi acted strange and gave you this." Katsuragi handed Michael the kunai.
"Why that?" Michael looked at the weapon in curiosity as Kiriya sensei looked at Michael with a serious face knowing what just happened.
Later in the Evening
After the strange day Michael decided to walk home alone while stopping the persistence of the girls who wanted to make sure he was okay well the only ones who volunteered were Asuka and Katsuragi as Hibari and Yagyuu walked home together. But the weird thing was that Ikaruga left before the class ended peaking his curiosity.
As he walks past a rest shop he saw Ikaruga sipping green tea by herself. He smiled and approached hoping to get the answer from her.
"Ikaruga-san are you okay?" Michael asked.
"Yes fine now goodbye." Ikaruga said coldly once again.
"Well then if your okay with me sitting here I might stay for a while." Michael smiled sitting next to the girl. After a few minutes the awkward silence grew bigger than they could comprehend.
"So why did you suddenly leave before the lessons were over?" Michael asked.
"There was no reason." Ikaruga sighed.
"It must have been something or you wouldn't be acting like this." Michael smiled, "So come on tell me already." The persisting lasted for a while until Ikaruga got up from her seat and began the walk home as Michael followed not giving up on the conversation.
"Why are you mad?" Michael exclaimed, "Just tell me."
"Fine if you want to tell me then I will.." Ikaruga stopped and lowered her head in rage, "Your summoned form told me everything you thought of me all of them was positive except one."
"Which was the negative comment?" Michael asked.
"You said to me-" Katsuragi began.
Flashback
"Your a great ninja but you'll never amount to be a great leader as you are now so you'd best give up.' the chibi whispered into Ikaruga's ear. The girl gasped not believing what she heard. Did Michael really doubt her even after saying all those nice things about her? It was just like her brother who saw her unworthy of being the family's Hien owner.
Even if it was just a person she had just met she seems to still feel a little hurt from Michael's words then her own brother's.
Present
"I said that?" Michael gasped.
"Of course you did it was your summon and it clearly expressed all your emotions on everyone!" Ikaruga yelled, "You manipulated me into thinking that I could be a leader by getting close!"
"No that's not the reason." Michael sighed.
"Then tell me and explain why you thought that about me then?" Ikaruga growled.
"Ikaruga-san every team needs a leader but you can't be one without the teams consent or respect." Michael began.
"I know that but it still doesn't answer my question?" Ikaruga glared at the shinobi.
"Sometimes there will be doubts in the heart of your members that they think what I told you or can tell you the complete opposite, either way a team leader must know that they can or cannot be trusted in the world of shinobi." Michael explained as Ikaruga listened intently slowly calming down.
"Then tell me how I should overcome this feeling as leader you were one once right?" Ikaruga asked.
"Kiriya sensei told you huh?" Michael sighed, "I can't tell you."
"Why do you still think I'm unworthy of being a better leader than you?" Ikaruga said.
"No its because I was only leader for one mission and my whole team died." Michael groaned.
"...!" Ikaruga gasped.
"We were on a mission to subdue an incoming threat to Japan by attacking the source of of a dangerous extremist group. I was tasked to complete the mission no matter what and once we arrived a their base we began the attack each one of us thought of our lives as nothing but expendable." Michael explained clenching his fist, "Just because they followed me doesn't mean they doubted me a few deaths were followed by not following my exact orders as the last two died by trying to follow me. Once I was the last one left I was able to complete the mission without the burden of anyone holding me back and after that day I never became a squadron leader."
"I'm so sorry." Ikaruga began to tear up.
"No the one to be sorry is me even if I had doubt I should have tried to cleanse it so forgive me." Michael smiled.
"M-Michael-kun." Ikaruga began to cry, "I was so selfish that I forgot to consider your feelings!"
"Don't cry I already explained it was my fault." Michael approached Ikaruga and hugged her, "A leader is someone who is willing to be their comrades protector as they are to him."
"I do believe you'll make a great leader but never forget that in the hearts and brain of people there are always doubts pulling them back." Michael smiled as Ikaruga nods in Michael's embrace becoming more calm as she melted into it.
"Now should I take you home?" Michael asked.
"N-no can we stay like this for a while?" Ikaruga asked.
"Um okay?" Michael shrugged not minding the hug for one bit suddenly feeling he has become a friend Ikaruga can depend on. As Ikaruga saw him as someone closer that became clear to her about their feelings and past.
Next Chapter- Dried Squids, Amusement Parks, and Terror!
Thanks for reading everyone I hoped you enjoyed the chapter! Well anyways I'm out so Peace Out!
