Tutelage
3 years later, Shika Ninja Clan Compound, Morotsuka, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan…
Urenna (Later known as Master Raven)
Age: Almost 16 years old.
Height: 168 centimeters (Still growing)
Weight: 49 kilograms (Still growing)
Current Ninja Rank: Genin
Santi (Later known as Raven)
Age: 7 years old
Height: 117 centimeters
Weight: 21 kilograms
Current Ninja Rank: Chunin
Hide Umezu (Also known as Crow)
Age: almost 47 years old
Height: 175 centimeters
Weight: 82 kilograms
Current Rank: Kage (Headmaster of his clan)
Omani Tusboi
Age: 45 years old
Height: 167 centimeters
Weight: 60 kilograms (lost a few pounds)
Current Rank: Jonin
Unknown Baby (Later known as Condor)
Age: Just an infant at the moment
Some time went by since Urenna's first ever mission alongside her master for ninja training. During that time, Urenna continued to train as hard as ever, improving her martial arts, disguises, and stealth infiltration. Her test into the jonin level of ninjitsu arts was coming up very soon, but before that it was almost time for little Santi to begin his chunin exam.
Santi began his training earlier than Urenna did when she got started right at the age of seven years old. Santi, now seven himself at this time, was getting prepared for his chunin exam already. Master Crow once again left for another mission in the Congo region which was getting under fire due to guerilla warfare much like in Urenna's homeland over 9 years ago. It would be up to her to train Santi for the remaining days ahead of his chunin exam. Of course Omani was still teaching at her job, so she could not be there every day at the compound. For today, Urenna would have Santi perform a track course exercise of speed runs. Then he would spar with the older kunoichi by the temple.
The boy was rather sore from the previous day of training and he was not as spunky because of it. Urenna had to be firm with Santi and commanded him to get started on his trial runs. Santi's biggest obstacle ahead of him was a 7 foot wall that he would have to double jump over and then run over the creek for about 200 feet after he finishes gliding through the tree branches.
Urenna: "Okay. It's a new day! Santi! Santi? Are you alright?"
Santi (Yawning): "Urenna I'm still sleepy and sore."
Urenna: "Did you not go to bed last night like I told you too?"
Santi: "I woke up in the middle of the night. Had to pee."
Urenna: "Because you drank too much fruit punch. I told you about that!"
Santi: "But I like it a lot."
Urenna: "Look, I know you are just a kid, but you should know that we don't live normal lives. As ninja we owe it to our clan and master to excel in our customs and skill. That includes resting properly and not over eating or drinking!"
Santi: "Sorry."
Urenna: "Good. Now if you don't have to use to restroom again then we must get started on your trial course. Get in the start position and I will blow the whistle."
Santi: "Ok, ok! I'm going!" (Darts off)
The young boy dashed for the start position on the up the small hill to begin his trial run. Urenna followed him once she could get a good view of the first part of the track. With a whistle and stopwatch in her pounch, Urenna took both of them out and got herself ready to give the signal.
Urenna: "On your mark! Get set! Goooo!" (Blows whistle.)
Santi took off as fast as he could. The little boy hopped on branch to branch in the first leg of the trial run. Urenna made sure to keep up with Santi so that he would not fall off and injure himself. He was doing really well despite complaining about soreness earlier. Then Santi jumped down from about 80 feet down out of the tress and landed softly on the grass. From there, he had to hop down another 50 feet at the trail heading for the large obstacle course wall.
Urenna (Observes): "Now for the double wall jump."
Santi paused for a brief moment, looking at the big wall before him. Now serious, Santi raced to the wall and jumped as high as his skinny legs could make him go up. After planting his left loot into the wall surface, he quickly bounced up another 3 feet until he reached out with both hands and grabbed the very top of the wall. Holding on very tightly, Santi gathered himself and climbed over the wall. Landing back on the ground, Santi caught his breath again and raced back into the woods.
Urenna (Following him.): "Good work Santi. Now for the creek."
Two minutes into the trial run, Santi was well within range to finish the race on time. All he had to do was run over the water and not sink down in the creek. The boy enters the sand bank of the creek. From there, Santi took another deep breath and then he took off faster than before. Any slow down on the creek will mean his body would surely sink into the water.
Urenna (Watching): "Look at him go! Keep it up Santi! Almost done!"
At high speed, Santi tip topped rapidly above the surface leaving the rest of the creek in an explosion of water particles. Meanwhile, Urenna took a shortcut path that Crow showed her before he left to meet Santi over at the finish line of the Level 3 training grounds. With the timer and whistle ready, Urenna could see Santi dart over at the white line in between the wooden posts. Urenna blew the whistle loudly as Santi pumped the brakes with his little feet. He collapses on his knees as he started to catch his breath. Then he turned his head over to Urenna wondering how well he had raced the course this time around.
Urenna (Looks at the stopwatch): "I gotta say Santi, I think you may have reached your best time! A fine job indeed!"
Santi: "I did?"
Urenna: "Yep."
Santi: "Yes! How fast was I?"
Urenna: "Two minutes and 34 seconds."
Santi: "Aw man! I heard you did two minutes on this course."
Urenna: "Actually my personal best here is one minute and forty seven seconds. That's even better than Omani's personal best by six seconds and only second to Master Crow of course."
Santi: "What was his best time?"
Urenna: "On this course? Like a minute and 10 seconds."
Santi: "Whoa! Master is super fast!"
Urenna: "Uh huh. When you catch your breath come back and meet me at Level 2 so that you can practice your knife throws."
Santi: "Man I need some water."
Urenna: "It's in that cooler over there by the tree." (Points to her left.)
Santi: "Alright!"
When Santi finished drinking water he then hurried over back to Level 2 of the training grounds. For another hour Santi was instructed by Urenna to throw various projectile weapons at the designated targets. Then Santi's final exercise would be to practice ninjitsu with Urenna at the temple, the level 5 portion of the training grounds. First, it was formal moves or katas, then it was weapons training, finally it was sparring time.
Urenna: "Ok. Now it's time for your weekly sparring session. If you can kick me in the head, then we can stop early for today. If not, we will spar for the entire hour."
Santi: "Aw man! An hour? That's too long!"
Urenna: "The day is still young. I could make you run again if you don't cooperate. Now let's begin."
For the entire time they fought, Santi still was not able to land a head attack against the much taller Urenna. By the end of the sparring session, Santi laid on the ground all worn out. He was sore, beaten, and exhausted. Urenna then looked over at the boy and told him that he was well on his way of becoming a chunin ninja.
Urenna: "That's all for today Santi. You really are doing a great job. I'm pleased!"
Santi: "Ugghh…"
Urenna: "You'll have to get used to it. I had to, and I fought Master almost every other day." (Laughs). "I'll help you back up. Come on."
The sun was getting lower as the day continued. Urenna carried the smaller boy, Santi, over her back as her laid there feeling so weary and tired. When they arrived back at the compound, Urenna noticed Omani had arrived since the front door was already opened. Omani must have left work early for today. Urenna greeted the older woman inside the cave.
Urenna: "Omani? You are here early."
Omani: "Hai Urenna-chan! School was in session for half a day today. The children were allowed to leave at 12 o'clock. I'm glad to be honest. It was a lot of work to create their report cards."
Urenna: "I'll say."
Omani (Sees Santi): "From the look of Santi, I'd say you gave him a rough time today." (Giggles.)
Urenna: "Well he needed it. He didn't sleep properly last night, but he still broke his time at the creek today. So I'll cut him some slack."
Omani: "That's sounds wonderful! I'm really proud of our little one!"
Urenna: "Yeah I feel the same way Omani, but I'm ready to get this runt off my back!"
Omani (Laughing): "Oh Urenna."
Phone rings from the Kitchen, Omani answers it while Urenna places the sleepy Santi on the sofa…
Omani: "Hello?"
Crow: "Omani?"
Omani: "Hide?"
Crow: "Hai it's me. Look I have another child in the hovercraft with me. I am almost home. What a crazy week this has been."
Omani: "Really? Oh dear! Do you need any help Hide? I have medicine and I will take the baby in the cave if you cannot do it yourself."
Crow: "I'm about to land in 2 minutes, just keep your distances and wait for me to touchdown alright, arigato."
Omani: "Hai! Hide!"
Hangs up…
Urenna: "What's going on?"
Omani (Rushing for the door): "Hide is almost here and…he has another child."
Urenna: "You serious?"
Omani did not hear that last part as she opened the door to hear the loud noise of the hovercraft descending towards the flat surface of the cliff. By the time the hovercraft landed, Omani was right there to assist Crow who was wounded even though he did not tell Omani. Urenna could see that he had something like a bag or a cloth perhaps deep in his arms. But then Omani grabbed the cloth and out revealed a baby's head.
Omani: "Urenna! Please help Crow! He hurt his leg!"
Urenna: "Nani?"
Urenna went up the cockpit to help Master Crow. By the time they were off the hovercraft, Crow told her that he could manage on his own despite have a bullet wound on his right thigh muscle. Urenna ignored his plea,and kept dragging back Crow into the cave. From inside the cave, Crow explained why he saved the child as he rested on the couch. Omani carefully picked up Santi after placing the baby at Crow's room. She would put Santi to bed in his room.
Urenna: "Master what happened? I mean how did you get shot?"
Crow: "It was crazy out there in Goma. The rebels ambushed the Congo government forces. If the General hadn't called for my help, I don't believe the military would won their battle. Unfortunately, he did not make it. He asked me if he were to die, then I must make haste into the city and find his wife and son. Well, just like with your family, I found her dead in the house. Assassins killed her, but I could hear the baby crying deep under the bedroom closet. He was lucky those men did not find him. As I left, more rebel troops appeared out into the streets. I ran as fast as I could until one of the bullets hit my leg. I'm glad it passed through me or I would not be here right now. I quickly bandaged the wound and took the crying baby safely back on the plane."
Urenna: "Unbelievable. So is everything gonna be okay back at the Congo."
Crow: "I don't think so. Not with the general dead. The war might keep going even with the rebels having a territorial disadvantage."
Urenna: "I see."
Omani (Enters back in.): "Crow. Crow! Let me see your leg."
Crow: "Ok." (Presents his leg to Omani.)
Omani (Looks at the wound): "If this doesn't get sealed properly, you could get an infection. Urenna will you help me gather some towels and hot water. It will get the medical kit out of my car."
Urenna: "Hai Omani."
Omani took some medical classes with a friend who was a doctor right after getting her degree in education. So she was no rookie when it came to doing stitches. She made sure Crow drunk a sedative to suppress the pain while he was getting patched together again. Urenna watched carefully as Omani cleaned out the blood and sowed the wound up completely. By the time the surgery was complete, Crow drifted to sleep himself. Omani wiped the sweat off her head, Urenna came back with a cup of tea.
Urenna: "That was great work Omani."
Omani: "Arigato Urenna." (Drinking the cup)
Urenna: "He told me about the baby. He lost both of his parents. Just like me."
Omani: "I see, so we have another new member of the clan. I wonder what we should name him?"
Urenna: "Uh…I dunno."
Omani: "As long as Hide doesn't complain, allow me to come up with a name."
Urenna: "You will do it? Like what?"
Omani: "I will tell you by tomorrow. You should get some sleep yourself."
Urenna: "Well alright. I am getting sleepy." (Yawns)
Omani: "I will look after Crow here, now you rest."
Urenna (walks off): "Ok, night Omani."
Omani: "Good night."