The following month Team 4 spent all their time training. Tsuneo had put an emphasis on taijutsu in the teams' training sessions, building up his students' speed, strength, agility, and stamina. Today, a month after becoming genins, the team would finally start doing missions. Though excited, the team also knew what were in for. D-Rank missions. The lowest of the low. Missions that included farming, babysitting, finding lost pets, and shopping for other people to name a few.
"OK everyone, as I know you three have probably guessed, we will be doing D-Rank missions for a while. Most of the other genin graduates this year have started doing the occasional C-Rank, but because I took the time to improve your skills, you're a bit behind," Tsuneo stated and the three genins nodding in both acceptance and understanding. "I took the liberty of picking up our mission prior to our meeting. Today we have to do some gardening in the medicinal greenhouses."
Takeo sighed. "Remind me again why they allow such unnecessary tasks to become missions?"
"Money, experience, that sort of thing," Miyako stated and Tsuneo nodded in agreement to her assessment.
"Now then, if we get this done early enough, we may be able to get another mission before the day is out, understand?" Tsuneo questioned and the genins nodded before following their sensei to the medicinal greenhouses, where herbs and plants used to make medicines for the local hospitals and doctor clinics were grown.
The three walked in and were greeted by an older lady. "You must be the genin team they sent me. I know this isn't what you had planned in becoming ninja but thank you for helping with this. Let me get you all set up." With that said, the lady showed them the location of the gear and tools they would need and which plants they were to work with. She then left them to their own devices as she went to work in another part of the greenhouse.
As they worked, they joked and talked about random stuff, finding that they enjoyed looking after the important plants. It was just after twelve-thirty when they were finished, and they reported to the Hokage who gave them the rest of the day off as there were no other missions available.
Tsuneo led the team back to their training field and stood in front of them with a frown. "I had hoped to do another mission, but alas that fell through. So today I decided we should learn your chakra natures," Tsuneo stated and held up three pieces of paper. "This is chakra paper, you put your chakra into it and it will tell you what chakra elemental nature you have out of lightning, wind, water, earth, and fire. As you can probably guess, in the Land of Fire, fire is the most common chakra nature type with the wind release being the rarest."
"Sensei, how will we know what chakra nature is what?" Hisoka questioned as he took a piece of paper from Tsuneo, followed by his two teammates.
"The paper reacts differently depending on the nature type of chakra. For wind it slashes in half, for lightning it crinkles, for fire it burns, for water it gets soaked, and for earth it crumbles. My natural nature type is fire release, though I have also trained in the lightning release as well. Just because your nature type is one type, doesn't mean you can't learn another, it's just easier to learn elemental jutsu based on your chakra type," Tsuneo explained before gesturing to Hisoka. "Why don't you go first?"
"OK, Tsuneo-sensei," the Uchiha stated before focusing his chakra into the piece of paper, watching in amazement as it burst into flames. "I shouldn't be surprised; my clan is known for having fire chakra type after all."
"Wait, so genetics play a part in your chakra nature?" Takeo questioned and Tsuneo nodded.
"That's right, it's almost guaranteed that if both your parents have lightning chakra type, you would have it too. Now then, why don't you show us your nature type, Takeo?"
Taking a deep breath as if he were about to go underwater, Takeo focused on the piece of paper, and, though he expected something to happen, he still jumped and dropped the piece of paper when it went up into flames. "Well... I guess I have the fire too," Takeo stated as he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly whilst Miyako giggled and Hisoka laughed.
"OK, now for Miyako-chan," Tsuneo stated, trying not to show the amused smile that was threatening to come across his face.
Miyako bit her lip nervously as she forced her chakra to her fingertips and into the paper. She half-expected the paper to burst into flames too but was disappointed when it slashed in half. Miyako sighed as she watched some of the paper floats towards the ground. "Wind."
"Oh! That's so cool, Miyako! You have a rare chakra nature!" Hisoka exclaimed in excitement.
"Yeah, but finding a teacher is going to be a pain," Miyako replied with a groan and Tsuneo chuckled.
"Well, you won't have to worry about that for a while. Before I even let you three think about learning elemental jutsus, we must improve your chakra control," Tsuneo stated and the three watched as he walked up to a tree and pat the trunk. "There are two things I want you three to master before we learn new jutsu, and those two things are walking up a tree vertically and walking on water. Both of these things aren't easy, but they are the best ways to learn chakra control. They are also two of the most common things you will ever use in battle and on missions."
"I've seen shinobi do those things before," Takeo stated. "They use their chakra to stick to the object, correct?"
"Yeah! I had seen some of my older clan mates' practice, sometimes they slip and other times they completely fall," Hisoka added.
"Correct. If you use too much chakra, you will break the tree and be pushed off, too little and you'll slip. Walking on water is even harder, think of that as phase two of your chakra control training. For now, I want you three to get to the top of a tree. How about you each give it a go now?"
The three genin ran up to three different trees and then attempted to climb them using only their feet. Tsuneo leant back on his tree, watching in amusement as two of the three genin failed, though he felt pride when one of them made it to the top easily. "Have you done this before?" Tsuneo questioned Takeo, who was walking back down the tree to the ground.
"No, but in the Academy, the teachers said I had great chakra control," Takeo replied as he reached the ground with a grin. "Does that mean my training is finished?"
"No, we still need to get you practising on water, so you and I will go over to the lake. You two keep practising here," Tsuneo stated looking at his two other students, both of whom seemed to be struggling with the exercise. "Miyako put less chakra into your feet. Hisoka put a little bit more in. I'll be over there with Takeo," Tsuneo stated, gesturing to the lake and his two other students nodded before taking his advice and going back to practice. "Come on, Takeo."
...
Miyako panted as she leant back on the upper-most, sturdiest branch. She had finally made it to the top of the tree, it took two weeks of training in-between missions, but she did it. She looked down and saw Hisoka sleeping on the ground. He had finished that training three days ago but opted to stay with Miyako whenever she decided to train to encourage her to continue.
Miyako smiled as she watched him, her gaze moving from his sleeping form to the setting sun. She knew that from tomorrow she would join Hisoka on walking on water, whilst Takeo was taught by Tsuneo to the Teleportation Jutsu – which he had started to learn a week ago as it took him a week to learn how to properly walk on water.
"You finally made it," a voice stated and Miyako jumped in surprise, her gaze falling down to the branch under her where Itachi sat with a smile. "It took you longer than I thought it would," he added.
"We can't all be prodigies, Itachi-kun," Miyako teased as she moved onto the lower branch, sitting across from him with her legs dangling over the side of the branch.
"Even Hisoka got it quicker than you," Itachi stated with a chuckle, and Miyako pouted.
"Oh, come off it. Besides, I'll master walking on water in only a week!" Miyako explained with a grin, making the Uchiha laugh, and waking Hisoka up.
"What's going on up there?" Hisoka questioned as he rubbed his eyes, looking up into the tree.
"Miyako thinks she can master walking on water in a week," Itachi stated, Hisoka waking up properly at the sound of the Uchiha heir.
"Itachi-san, when did you get here?" Hisoka questioned in surprise as he made his way up to the branch underneath the two.
"A few minutes ago, I watched as Miyako finally made it to the top," Itachi explained and Hisoka's eyes widened as he looked to his friend in excitement.
"Did you really make it?" Hisoka questioned, not believing Itachi's words.
Miyako huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Of course, I made it! And I will master walking on water before you, so watch out!" Miyako exclaimed in determination.
"Yeah right. You're the worst at chakra control out of all of you," another voice stated, appearing on the same branch as Hisoka.
"Oh, come on, Tsuneo-sensei! Have some faith!" Miyako pouted out, making the brown-haired man smirk.
"You are good at strategies, but you have a long way to go before you have proper control over your chakra. Even Hisoka is doing better than you, and I thought he had the least amount of potential," Tsuneo stated.
"What?" Hisoka exclaimed. "Please tell me you're joking!"
"Unfortunately, I'm not. I was disappointed in your test for your lack of skills, for an Uchiha, that is. However, at this rate I think I may have been too quick to judge and had been wrong about your potential at the time," Tsuneo stated before looking up at his favourite student – though he wouldn't tell her that in fear of her gaining a big head -, and the Uchiha heir. "Itachi-san, it has been a while. I heard you made jōnin a while back. Congratulations for that."
"Thank you, Tsuneo-san. Anyway, I best leave you to your students. I'll see you later Miyako, Hisoka," Itachi stated before vanishing from view.
"Well, now that's gone, congratulations for making it to the top Miyako. If you want, I can teach you the principals of walking on water now," Tsuneo offered, and the girl grinned.
"Of course! Will you stay, Hi-kun?" Miyako questioned.
"No, I can't. I promised Mum that I'd get her some stuff for dinner. I should get going. Good luck, Mi-chan," Hisoka stated before walking down the tree and heading back to the main part of the village.
...
Miyako glared from her spot on the shore of the lake in her teams' training ground. It has been two weeks and she has yet to master walking on water. While she can walk on still water and very small waves, any more than that and she falls right in.
One day ago, Hisoka had mastered the skill and was now learning the Teleportation Jutsu, which Takeo had mastered a week ago. Takeo was trying to learn his elemental jutsu – the Fireball Jutsu – with Tsuneo. Meanwhile, Miyako was still stuck with trying to walk on water, and she wasn't all that happy with it.
"Can I give you a suggestion?" a voice stated from behind her, and Miyako spun around to see Itachi standing there with a small smile on his fair-skinned face.
"Don't you have a mission?" Miyako questioned, not wanting him there to see her failure.
"I finished it, Hokage-sama has given me the rest of the day off," Itachi stated as he walked up to the younger girl.
"OK, so what's your suggestion?" Miyako questioned with a tilt of her head, her wet hair falling over her shoulders, dripping water onto her bathing suit as she had learnt from the first time that it was best to practice walking on water in clothes designed to get wet.
"Don't think about it too much," Itachi stated simply, making her look at him in confusion. "You think too much, no matter what it is you're doing. Be it as simple as throwing a kunai or as complicated as walking on water. You want to be perfect, and you're more worried about the theory behind the skill than actually doing the skill."
Miyako frowned. "But I can't just stop thinking."
"Yes, you can. Focus on something other than what you are doing. Your family, memories of childhood, who you're fighting etc." Itachi stated and Miyako frowned again before letting her mind clear and gathering chakra to her feet.
She needed to find something to think about other than the task at hand. Her mind flashed through memories before stopping at one that she treasured the most. It was the last training session with her parents and an hour before her clan's massacre. Out of all her memories, she treasured that one the most.
Miyako opened her narrow, blue eyes before stepping onto the water with a confidence that she shouldn't have. As she walked further to the centre, Itachi used a minor water jutsu to create a large wave, and as the wave reached her she stood on top of the water, not even flinching.
Cheers and claps filled the grounds as the other people in the area had watched the whole thing. Miyako grinned as she realised, she had done it as Itachi created another wave. He created more and more waves and she had no trouble standing on them. She didn't think, she just let instinct take control, and it was a great feeling she hadn't felt before. A feeling of almost complete freedom. With confidence in her ability, she ran to Itachi and tackled him into a hug.
"Itachi-kun, thank you!" Miyako squealed as she pulled back and gave him a kiss on the cheek, making the older Uchiha freeze in surprise.
When Miyako had realised what she had done, her cheeks turned red and she stepped back, looking away from the Uchiha, not having meant to kiss him. "Ah, sorry Itachi-kun, I just got a bit excited."
Itachi gave a small smile. "It's fine, I don't mind."
Miyako looked up at the Uchiha in surprise, her blue eyes meeting his dark gaze. They kept staring at each other, oblivious to the three other males in the area.
Tsuneo leant against a tree as he watched the two, a smirk on his lips. Takeo – on the other hand – was paying no attention to the two but to the younger Uchiha, who was glaring at Itachi with deep anger, maybe even hatred. It was because of Takeo's watchful eyes on his teammate that he was the first to notice the shift in the young Uchiha's eyes are they turned scarlet red with the Sharingan.
"Tsuneo-sensei!" Takeo shouted, drawing his sensei's attention, along with Miyako and Itachi's. All three gazes fell on Takeo in confusion, before following his gaze, all staring in shock as Hisoka – who had yet to notice the change – stared at them in confusion.
"What? Do I have something on my face?" Hisoka questioned, he's anger towards Itachi forgotten for the moment.
"Hi-kun..." Miyako trailed off before a grin covered her face and she tackled her best friend into a hug. "Hi-kun, you have the Sharingan!"
"Huh!?"