The next two days zipped by fast.
I stood in front of Lasy Tsunade, ready to receive what I had asked for.
"Here's the list, with name and class rank," She said, handing me a sheet of paper. "I've highlighted the genin who will be under you."
I scan the list of names, and raise an eyebrow. "You're putting Aisa on my team? I mean, no objections, but aren't you worried about personal relations?"
"As far as I'm concerned, there is no legal relationship to you and this boy. And from what I've heard, he'll help in your rehabilitation quite drastically," Tsunade replie, not glancing up from her own papers.
I looked at the other two names highlighted in the list.
Kento Mikuyo; rank 1
Michiko Kuren; rank 2
The first detail that I noticed was the ranking. Aisa was ranked 3rd.
"You gave me the top 3 in intelligence," I stated.
"Yes, well I thought it would work best. I want your team to specialize in infiltration, and those three graduated top of the class in intelligence."
I felt a little comfort in knowing that Aisa was on my team due to his own skill and not just because of who he is and who I am.
"Well, that's something that I can do." I assured. Assassination was my specialty, and infiltration was second nature to an assassin.
"And here is your flak jacket and headband. The flak jacket is not required, though it is highly recommended and most use it on missions. Understand?"
"Yes," I nod, taking the proffered items.
"Then I leave them in your capable hands," Tsunade said. "Dismissed."
"I don't believe you," The red head said, glancing over me. "There's no way someone as young as you is our sensei."
"Judging someone before you even know their name?" I raise an eyebrow. Aisa subtly shook his head at his friend, warning him against challenging me. "Fine."
I push myself off the doorway, ignoring the stares of the genin who's sensei had yet to pick them up. "What are you going to do?" He asked, eyes half closed and clearly conveying his boredom.
"You're used to being one of the smartest people in the room, aren't you?" I smirk, leaning over his desk. He doesn't respond. "Well, in reality, the moment I stepped into this room you got knocked down a peg. Get used to it."
"How long until our real sensei gets here?" He fires back.
I take a step back, pushing my coat out of the way to stick my hand into my pant pocket. "Iruka isn't here to protect you little academy students anymore," a cruel smile spread across my face. "The rules have changed. Fine," I nod, "I'll race you. Team ten, stand up."
Aisa, the purple haired girl, and the red head stood. "Where are we racing?" Aiden asked, always up for a challenge.
"To the top of the Hokage mount," I reply.
The purple haired girl, Minori, raised her hand. "Must we partake in this race?"
"Yes. I'll give you guys a two minute head start. Go."
I say 'go' normally, hoping to catch at least one of them off guard. To my surprise all three jumped away and began the race as soon as the word passed my lips.
I smirked. This was going to be interesting.
I gave everyone who was watching me a close-eyed smile at two minutes. "Peace." I said casually, and to the naked Eye, I then disappeared. All that trailed behind me was the faintest breeze.
I ran with inhuman speed, just what was trained into me. Soon, I perched myself on top of the hokage's mountain, not a sweat broken. Okay, so there may have been a slight sweat, but that doesn't sound as cool.
As far as I knew, only Lee and his sensei could beat me when it came to speed, even when I added my chakra. But then again, I hadn't exactly raced Kakashi or others.
12 minutes and 7 seconds later, the red head made his appearance, dripping sweat, gasping for oxygen.
2 minutes and 27 seconds later,
Aisa followed. He joined with red head, gasping for breath over his knees, unable to speak.
A total of 17 minutes passed before the girl, Michiko, staggered into sight. By this time, both the boys had caught their breaths and were lying flat on their backs, staring at the clouds.
"I... Can't," Michiko coughed out.'
"Yes you can, it's all in the mind." I said, twirling a kunai disinterestedly.
"C'mon Michi!" Aisa yelled. I raised my eyebrow. A nickname, huh?
Aisa scurried up on his feet and ran over to Michiko, carrying three fourths of her weight up the rest of the hill.
"See, you did it!" He smiled brightly.
"Thank you, Aisa-san," Michiko muttered softly, red blossoming on her face.
I smirked. Little Michiko has a crush on Aisa.
"So what if you beat us here, you're fast. That still doesn't mean you're our sensei. Sensei's can't be as young as you. Come on, you're what, two years older than us? Don't you have to be... Skilled?" The red head questioned.
It didn't bother me. I was obviously better than him, and half the jonin in the village.
In a flash, red head was on the ground, my foot pushing his face in the dirt, with his arms being held back by my hands at an awkward angle.
He let out a sharp cry. "And yet you showed up here and raced the others. That shows that, at least subconsciously, you think I'm your sensei and want to impress me. Well, color me unimpressed. Any more questions?" I asked the group. My group.
Blech.
Aisa and Michiko shook their heads. "What about you, Kento? Or should I prove my skills in more ways?"
He attempted to shake his head under my foot and his words were garbled. "Nerg senthei"
I lifted my foot and Kento rubbed his rock embedded cheek, glaring at me. "Get used to it," I snapped. "Also, you idiot, I'm clearly four years older than you. Imbecile."
He snapped his head to the side, glaring.
"Now, back to the beginning. Yes, blah blah. I'm required to test you, blahhhhh, basically. Fail or pass. If you fail you go back to the academy. Pass, you get to be genin and learn from muah. And for your information? I'm just itching to fail you guys. Less work for me. Capiche? Any questions? No? Good, training grounds tomorrow at 5, don't be late." I said, on a roll.
Hah, it's funny going back to the old days when I had to listen to my very first sensei give me this speech along with my idiotic teammates. I totally outsmarted that test of course.
Back then I was an artist. I painted the picture, exactly how I imagined it. The colors, each stroke of the brush, it was all my will, my manipulation, my careful scheming.
And then the Rising Phoenix took it all away from me. They destroyed all my paintings.
But at this point I accepted that. Because all my paintings led to one true end for me.
Power.
And in the end, the Rising Phoenix gave that to me. Sure, their methods were unorthodox, and I had to fight for my freedom, but I plunged through their hold, with the power they instilled in me.
I hated them for it.
"You don't want us to... Introduce ourselves?" Michiko asked hesitantly.
I looked at her dully. "What's the point of introductions if I fail you tomorrow? You guys can go now," I said, waving off the three genin, just staring at me.
How in hell was this supposed to be rehabilitation?
"Caaashiiiiiillle!"
I sidestepped Aisa's flying body, allowing him to slam into the door I had just walked through. Letting out a breath, I ran my hand through sweaty hair. I'd just gotten back from training, and all I wanted was a glass of milk.
But Aisa was having none of that. "Why didn't you tell me you were gonna be my sensei? This is so awesome! You're going to be the best sensei ever! What's the test tomorrow gonna be like? What are you gonna teach us? Will I be able to move as fast as you? And why didn't you come to my graduation? Why didn't you take me to get new clothes like you promised? Do you-"
I set down my glass of milk loudly, cutting him off. "You should prepare for your test tomorrow, Aisa," I say emotionlessly, exhaustion pulling at my eyelids. "Listen, Aisa, tell Aiden that I went to bed. It's gonna be an early night for me, okay?"
Aisa stared at me, confused. "A-alright, Cashile. Do you want me to bring you dinner?"
I shake my head, already walking away. "No, that won't be necessary."
I could feel Aisa's eyes burning into me as I trudged to the bedroom in silence.
I collapsed on the bed, burying my head into the pillows. It had been a long day. Dealing with the kids was exhausting.
And it was a bad day for me. For my memories of my time with The Rising Phoenix.
I couldn't get comfortable on the bed, and finally ended up dragging a pillow and blanket into the corner. Ever since I'd gotten myself back I'd had a constant, nagging fear of becoming too cold. So despite the warmth of Konoha's sunny season I kept a blanket wrapped around me.
The unforgiving solidity of the ground offered a strange form of comfort and familiarity. Some small part of me was still the Claw of the Phoenix and craved how I had once lived. The order, the simplicity, the a to b logic... It was somehow appealing.
And I hated it.
I heard the door open and Aiden call out a greeting. I forced myself deeper into to the corner of the room, struggling to force the surging memories back.
After some time the door cracked open. Aiden took a moment to spot me in the corner. His soft footsteps came closer, and then he kneeled quietly next to me. I couldn't help but flinch away when he reached a hand out and felt a inexplicable rush of guilt at the flash of hurt on his face.
"Gonna be a bad night?" He asked softly.
"It's gonna be a fucking shitty one," I reply through gritted teeth.
"Did something happen?"
I shake my head. "Just one of those nights," I laugh awkwardly, choking it out.
He sat down next to me. "Are you ever going to tell me everything that happened to you when you were gone?"
I stay silent for several moments, then answer, "Are you ever going to tell me everything you did, everything you sacrificed for your brother?"
His breath catches in his throat before evening out again. "Maybe one day," he finally conceded.
"But not today," I complete. "Exactly."
And then we started talking. At least. Aiden mostly did. He spoke of Aisa and his classes, how excited he was to have me as a sensei, what Aisa thought of his teammates, how his job was going... Anything, really. And surprisingly it helped, the constant murmur of conversation lulling me into a relaxing state of forgetfulness.
"Thank you, Aiden," I whisper quietly while he was in the middle of a sentence.
"Sorry, what?" He asks, smiling down at me. "What did you say?"
"Hm? Nothing," I reassure him. "Don't worry about it."
"It didn't really matter."
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