Long ago the Tokugawa Samurai Clan was exiled from the Land of Iron for breaking the strict honor code of the Samurai, the Tokugawa Clan was famous for their Ghost Art Samurai Ninjutsu, a style which Channeled the inner strsngth of ones resolve and their soul in order to unleash devastating attacks.
Their loss proved a boon to The Land of Fire's Hidden Leaf, but during the Third Great Shinobi Wars aftermath they split in two. Most of the Clan went on to become a Clan of nomadic mercenaries.
Eventually the Clan settled in the Land of Wind, but they recently returned to the Hidden Leaf for the last near ten years.
They adapted their Samurai techniques into a unique array of jutsu, which was developed after they witnessed the prowess of Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju, as well as intermarrying with various other clans, such as the Nara, Uchiha, Hatake, and Yamanaka.
Yet they never managed to acquire the traits or Kekkei Genkai of the Clan's beyond the purely physical and cosmetic traits. Oh they increased their vast array of Jutsu to become peerless Swordsmen and Assassin's, specializing in Medical Ninjutsu, Kenjutsu, and Fuinjutsu, but their abilities never quite managed to include the Sharingan.
Now considering that the Nara Marrying only occurred in the last twenty years or so, this would make sense. Since the last time an Uchiha married into the Clanwould have been during the Second Great Ninja War.
Aside from their Skill's as Swordsmen and Assassin's, they are also Konoha's best Armorer's a trade they thrive in due to their Magnet-Style Kekkei Genkai. Most of the Tokugawa Clan inherit the Magnet-Style, the precious few who don't have little chance of amounting to much.
Those who fail to adapt to the unique Chakra of the Magnet-Style become Magnet's themselves, an effectively grotesque magnetic person.
Another trait of the Clan is their rather impressive mastery over Wind and Lightning-Style, in the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars, the Tokugawa Clan would launch their Wind Jutsu at the Sarutobi and Uchiha Clan's Fire-Style Jutsu, thus creating an impromptu Scorch-Style Jutsu.
Nowadays the Tokugawa Clan are one of Konoha's principal Clan's, who stepped up to fill in the void of the Uchiha Clan, since they were the only one's who aside from the sole Uchiha Survivor, had Uchiha Genes and potential to awaken the Sharingan.
The current Tokugawa Clan Head is Hiroki Tokugawa, with his wife Keiko Nara being the Clan Matriarch. Hiroki is among the few Tokugawa Clan members who possessed The Kekkei Genkai of the Tokugawa at true mastery. His wife, Lady Keiko is a member of the Nara Clan, specifically the elder sister to current Head, Shikaku Nara.
Together they have three children, their eldest daughter and child Kuishia, a talented Kunoichi and the only student of Tsunade still in the Hidden Leaf Village.
Kuishia is a Medical-Ninja who specializes in Herbs and antidotes to poison. Specifically Herbs that encourage the body to fight back on it's own. Kuishia inherited from her father the Magnet-Style.
Hiroki and Keiko's Youngest and Second Daughter is Hanami, a young and freshly arrived Academy Student. She inherited her Mother's keen mind as well as her Father's Magnet-Style.
Between Kuisha and Hanami is the Tokugawa Clan's Future Head, Young Ryu Tokugawa. Ryu is unable to Wield Magnet-Style due to lacking one of the composing Chakra Nature's.
(Tokugawa Clan Compound, Central Konoha Clan District, Konohagakure, The Land of Fire, Five Great Shinobi Nations, The Shinobi World)
Ryu Tokugawa was standing before the practice target's, before him sat a stack of Bamboo and Stone...He was practicing. A Tokugawa Swordsman used one of two Sword Forms.
The Willow Form which advocated evasion, misdirection and redirection. Using your enemies on momentum and the environment to quickly and decisively end the fight.
Or.
The Sun Form, a form which advocated Thunderous blows, powerful Sword blocks, and staggering strikes.
The only major problem was determining what Chakra and the ratio of it would serve best. The stand outs were Wind and Lightning, both of which warranted different ratio's and outputs.
Ryu was one of the rare few Genin from a Clan that had a Kekkei Genkai, yet did not have one. His Clan could use Magnet-Style, yet he did not, no he had not inherited it nor a Kekkei Genkai different to his Clan's.
His Chakra Affinity was Wind, but he had another secondary Affinity, a rare thing. but his true power lied within his Lightning-Style or Wind-Style. Ryu was one of the precious few Shinobi to have more than one Chakra Affinity.
Lightning-Style was capable of great feats of speed the current snd preceeding Raikage's being primary examples, but Wind-Style was more fluid and required little if any rigidity.
''Hard at work as usual I see.'' Says Ryu's elder sister, Kuishia.
''Can't seem to get the combination just right.'' Says Ryu as he replaces the cut parts before trying again.
Breathing deeply, in and out...Ryu covers his spine, neck, and arms and legs in a thin layer of Lightning-Style Chakra, while his Fingers, which are wrapped around his Katana's Hilt, flow Wind-Style into the Blade.
Within his mind, Ryu pictures the Wind-Style Chakra grinding against itself, providing a sharper edge and far greater cutting power.
The effect is instantaneous, and as he opens his eyes. Ryu slashes downwards at an angle cutting through Bamboo and Stone with relative ease. The downside is that he is left with slightly fried nerves, no fried isn't the right phrasing. Ryu would say singed is mote accurate, or a glancing burn.
''Now then, need something sis? Shouldn't you be busy with Ibiki?'' Asks Ryu, poking fun at his sisters relationship with the Konoha Scarface.
Kuishia had been the Clan and Villages most prolific ANBU Cat's, but something terrible happened in the last War, Kuishia, - who is ten years Ryu's Senior just snapped, - she forsook her ANBU duties in order to become a healer and elite Medical-Ninja.
Naturally this raised more than a few eyebrows when it was publicly acknowledged that Kuishia and Ibiki were together.
''Mom says its almost time for the Team assignment, so time for you to go to the academy.'' Says Kuishia.
''Alright, let me clean up and change.'' Says Ryu as he wipes sweat from his brow.
Heading inside Ryu walks straight to his room and begins to change. Usually he wears a good with the Tokugawa Clan crest on the back, but as this was his promotion to Genin he opted to wear something different.
The Tokugawa Clan wore one of two types of Shinobi Battle Armor. A heavy, protective, and cumbersome armor, which Sun Users wore. Or they wore a light armor that had minimal protection to allow freedom of movement, and an unrestricted flow of battle.
Ryu favored the latter option
After equipping his Armor and sliding his Katana into its scabbard, he departs.
Ryu reaches into his pocket, pulling out his Shinobi Village Headband, the White Cloth bound plate is slipped into its place atop his shoulder plate.
As Ryu left he mentally considers who would with fit him ideally.
Sasuke Uchiha, Shino Aburame, Hinata Hyūga, and Class Idiot Naruto Uzumaki.
Sasuke and Ryu were the top two students in the entire academy. Sasuke excelled in Ninjutsu, Shurikenjutsu, and Genjutsu. But Ryu surpassed his Ninjutsu skills with his own, while being rather skilled in Kenjutsu, Fuinjutsu, and Taijutsu. Even then, Sasuke held superiority, only just, but enough to matter a lot.
Sasuke was great, he like most of his Clan were unnaturally skilled, Ryu had a similar innate talent, but he worked his ass off even so. Dawn to Dusk, time free was time spent training. But no amount of training seemed to affect the divide between them. His Lack of the Tokugawa Clan Kekkei Genkai also led to his need for superior skills, a Tokugawa without the Kekkei Genkai was seen as little more than Marriage material to bring in fresh abilities. If marrying well was the best someone like him could achieve then the Clan could go Fuck itself. Kekkei Genkai users may be an invaluable resource, but talent is useless unless honed. Ryu's goal in life was to become the World's Strongest Shinobi, he'd do whatever he had to to ensure he was recognized for his superior skills without the Tokugawa Clan's Kekkei Genkai.
Perhaps this was why he had almost zero tolerance for Shinobi or those who sought to become Shinobi, who saw the Career as a means to get a romantic interest, get laid, or attain riches. Such people were often beholden to unbridled and unrestrained verbal beat downs at Ryu's hands.
Of course the two frontrunners for top Rookie of the Year had a lot of fangirls, the most notable fans had a way of making themselves known.
Sasuke had Sakura, and Ryu had Ino, frankly Sasuke and Ryu both shared the sentiment that any Kunoichi who was more interested in getting a boyfriend had no business being a Shinobi, unfortunately Sakura and Ino had the intelligence to keep pace with them.
Ryu's only problem with Sasuke was the proverbial Stick up his ass. But maybe there was more than just an obsessed dick to him?
Nah, probably not.
Ryu could see the Value in having someone like Shino Aburame on missions. His insects would be perfect little infiltrators, scouts, and locators. Furthermore Shino was smart.
Hinata Hyūga was timid aye, but her Byakugan and Clan Taijutsu would be useful. Maybe it was the Nara in him, but Tokugawa, Hyūga, and Uchiha would be truly formidable.
Now then Last and most certainly least, Naruto Uzumaki. Loud, Naive, generally stupid, and an international incident waiting to happen should he ever become Hokage.
But...
Naruto for all his faults would have his uses; insane Chakra, ingenuity on the fly, and an unbending resolve to succeed. Alone they wouldn't amount to much, but Naruto has all that and a desire to help, which warrants a closer examination. Plus he'd be a good Human Shield or sacrifice if required. No, that just wasn't on.
Ryu arrived first and sat at his usual spot, pulling out a Magazine, he releases the Illusion on it and enjoys himself.
Ryu was slightly perverted, and used Genjutsu to sneak in slightly perverse Books disguised as Ninja Tools Magazines, Iruka-Sensei had no idea he was actually reading Icha Icha.
Ryu was soon joined by Sasuke.
''Think we'll get an interesting teammate?'' Asks Ryu.
''Hard to say, Shino is really the only person worth an appraisal.'' Says Sasuke.
''Agreed. Though, Hinata wouldn't be terrible, nor would that blonde idiot Naruto.'' Says Ryu.
Sasuke gives him an 'Are you serious right now look?'
''Tactically speaking, he's a good distraction, and if an enemy tries to impersonate him, we'd easily sniff it out. Assuming we haven't killed him By then.'' Ryu jokes, causing Sasuke to give a lightly amused smile, which is completely gone when the Fan Brigade shows up.
Ryu was laughing his ass off, one of the unimportant's elbowed Naruto in the ass, sending him lips first to Sasuke. He wasn't alone, because much of the male members of the graduates were keeled over laughing so hard as well.
At least they were until the room began to boil over with Murderous Intent, and Fists met Naruto.
One Pummeling of Blonde and Orange later...
It was at this point that Iruka-Sensei showed up in a puff of smoke. Ryu doesn't bother putting down his book, and instead watches with threadbare interest. ''As of today, you are all Ninja's, to get here you faced difficult trials and hardships, but that's nothing, what comes next will be far more difficult. Now you are only first level Genin; low level Ninja's. All the Genin will be grouped into three man teams, with the exception of one. Each squad will be lead by a Jonnin, an elite Ninja.'' Says Iruka-Sensei to everyone's surprise save Ryu, having heard all about it from Kuishia. ''We want each squad to have a fair and equal balance of abilities, so that's how we decide.'' Iruka-Sensei explains. ''Now I'll announce the Squads; Squad 7! Naruto Uzumaki! Sakura Haruno! ...'' Says Iruka-Sensei causing one to shout in happiness and another to almost cry, before their moods are reversed. ''And Ryu Tokugawa and Sasuke Uchiha.'' Says Iruka-Sensei causing both Kitani and Sasuke to exchange confused looks.
''Iruka-Sensei? Your aware that while Naruto has the worst grades in possibly the Academies history, Sakura isn't much better in actual use? In fact to call her more combat useless than Naruto would understate it.'' Ryu says with a raised hand.
He didn't have anything against Sakura personally, but she was doomed to be an utterly and useless piece of deadweight if she didn't change her focus.
''Is that any way to talk to a lady?!'' Demands Sakura.
''Your no more a Lady than the Akimichi are skinny, Nara are Energetic, or Senju are alive. You are a Kunoichi of the Hidden Leaf, a Shinobi, act like it, or find another life goal, anybody who cares more for their looks, love-life, or a crush is an unneeded distraction, a waste of potential, and irrelevant...no offense Choji, Shikamaru.'' Ryu retorts coldly, before elaborating. ''Sakura, Naruto is a good distraction to use, he's ingenious when put on the spot in a battle, you are a deadweight. You've no specialty, you care more for flirting with a boy who cares more for his last bathroom break than he does your stupid crush, and your only redeeming quality is your high grades. Naruto at least has a grasp of combat.'' Ryu says, being brutally honest, very brutally.
''Ryu! Correctness aside, I will not tolerate such behavior, you will refrain from such a performance in the future.'' Says Iruka.
''No I won't, you don't have the authority for it anymore. You are an Academy Instructor, I answer to a Jonnin now, so unless something changes I don't see why I should not speak truth.'' Says Ryu.
''Regardless, Sakura is your teammate and a fellow Hidden Leaf Shinobi, if you can't accept that then perhaps you require further instruction.'' Says Iruka, fully serious.
Ryu smirks in amusement.
''Oh, I never said anything on not accepting Sakura as a Teammate or Leaf Shinobi, I am merely pointing out that Tactically speaking she's about as useful as a rotting Corpse.'' Ryu says, before he sighs deeply.
''Alright here's how it is, I will only acknowledge her if she can actually contribute something useful. If she doesn't, can't, or won't, then I will lodge a formal complaint against you as a teacher, and her as a Shinobi.'' Says Ryu.
''That hardly seems fair.'' Notes Iruka.
''I know, which is why I am willing to offer up a recommendation for a specialized training course of her choice, don't forget the Clan carries a lot of weight.
''Ryu, meet me outside Lord Hokage's office.'' Says Iruka.
Ryu nods, but looks sharply snd pointedly at Sakura.
Seeking to avoid the immediate issue caused, Iruka clears his throat and begins to announce the Other teams.
'Even I know that was harsh.' Says Sasuke mentally.
Ryu was kicking his heels, bored off his head, Iruka had effectively caused him a slight problem. His position was unstable, unless he was able to make a name for himself, Hanami would be the Clan Heir.
Now Hanami was quite dear to him, but she had a Hyūga's arrogance to her. If she got on his nerves enough, he punished her. Ryu could ill afford this right now, barely a Genin and already in trouble? Not good.
While we're on the subject of Hyūga Arrogance;
Hinata is really the ony Hyūga who isn't a stiff or doesn't have a self-righteous pole up her ass. And he's met her family, Lord Hiashi is by far the worst one with an attitude. Now unlike Hiashi ryu knew he had an Attitude, the key difference being that Ryu's was born out of a necessity, while Hiashi's was from his self-importance.
The Tokugawa Clan had been trying to add a Hyūga to their bloodline for years, Ryu was well aware that an arranged marriage to Hinata or her sister Hanabi would secure his position a fair bit, but it would be a purely political affair, and The Hyūga guarded the Byakugan immensely. Ryu knew this because he'd always been accompanying his Clan when they pressed the matter, but perhaps this in itself was an opportunity, if he were to help Hinata secure her own position, when the time came he could leverage their rapport to secure his future Leadership of the Clan.
But it was a rather moot point unless such an opportunity was presented to him...
...
Ryu left the Academy, not happy in the least, he'd been ordered by Lord Hokage to Do a rotationamong teams, two missions per team. This was a time which he hated the Third. A man trained by the Lord Second Hokage, Should understand his position, but instead refused to acknowledge his concerns. It was simply infuriating, so Ryu had decided that he should go straight to the Tokugawa Clan Forge.
He did have a few errands to run before he could make use of his free time.
The local Weapons shops had put in an order for new Ninja Tools. Now just because the Tokugawa Clan is famed for their Samurai originated Shinobi Battle Armor, doesn't mean that they just do that, more than half of Konoha's Weapons are produced at the Clan Forge.
Ryu of course had another reason to run these errands, but that was unlikely to be a thing much any more.
He was a fully-fledged Shinobi now, his goal was to become the World's Strongest, to one day be recognized as the greatest Konoha Fighter since Hashirama and Madara. Becoming Hokage would be a step towards that, but not the ultimate end goal.
He likely would never have a chance for this any time soon...