Shiranui Genma...

Code Names

"Be a critic, shit on literature." (written on toilet paper)

Ibiki called up to Aoba to stop and signaled with his hand to stop and have a meeting. They all dropped down the high branches of the trees and adjusted suddenly to have seen the dark ground. Genma looked down at the base of the trees for mushrooms. A strong whistle turned him to the group and he joined them.

"Anko has double dosed on soldier pills and will not be ready to go down into the tunnels in the mountain." Ibiki said. "So we are going to have to split up into two groups of two and one of three. Group one is Gai, and Genma, who will head into northern tunnels, and the next pair is Hayate and Shiro. That will leave the third team, Anko, Aoba and myself. And because Anko has agreed to this, we now have to swear on our way of the ninja to use the nicknames she will provide to us."

Anko walked up to Gai and whispered in his ear.

"My way of the ninja is to train Rock Lee to exceed my level or die trying." Gai said proudly. The group laughed at his life's goal.

"You're still mad that Kakashi was your team's original teacher and failed them again because he thought they were not intended to become ninjas." Anko said. "Especially when he had said that Rock Lee reminded him of you."

"He is a heartless rival," Gai said. "My nickname is Kakashi. I wear to respond to it by my way of the ninja."

Anko then told Genma his nicknamed. He nodded and straightened up to recite his way of the ninja. He rolled his eyes up and looked the green leaves under the early sun.

"My new name now is Blaster Master," Genma stated, "and on my way of the shinobi, or something else, ninja, which is to spend my life in a relaxing job. My last fight was my Chuunin exam. I have my special Jounin rank because of academy ability."

"Shiro, you said that this would be a good person to enlist on this team," Ibiki said.

"I said that Genma would pick the best candidate," Shiro retorted.

"You are dismissed, Gai and Genma," Ibiki said, "keep your microphones on to hear the other code names. Sorry, Kakashi and Blaster Master."

Gai and Genma jumped off and tuned in their head sets.

"They are announcing, Hayate and Aoba, Kakashi." Genma shouted to Gai. They both stopped.

"My name is Kakashi." Gai shook his head.

"Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, how tragic," Genma stated. They headed off again.

Departure

"A journey of ten thousand kilometers begins with one step, and ends with one step. Kindda repetitive doncha think?"

Genma yawned and then took a slip of water from his bottle. It was close to midnight at the gate of the village. A waving hand caught his attention and he removed his headphones and turned his head to Kakashi and Iruka. He nodded and returned to watching an owl in a distant tree up the path away from the village.

"Wake up!" Kakashi told Genma.

"What were you thinking about the mission?" Iruka asked.

"Nothing by and large," Genma said.

"Hayate is the Jounin in the sunglasses?" Kakashi asked.

"No, that is Aoba," Iruka corrected him.

Mountain Side

"Life ain't a bitch, so you gotta make someone your bitch." (Written under the weekly grocery list)

The morning arrived as Gai and Genma reached the northern tunnels. Genma spit out his toothpick that finished the pack and reached down to pluck out a long piece of grass. He pulled it up against his dark blue pants to wipe off the dew before he put it in his mouth. The blade crunched and he spit out the root. He heard a hard scrapping, and looked at Gai who was brushing his teeth.

"What you doing, ah, Kakashi," Genma asked. He removed the toothbrush from his mouth and raised a canister up to his mouth so he could cover his spit.

"Even though we will not be eating until Rain Country," Gai said, "a ninja should wash their face and brush their teeth each morning."

"And I wished to visit the temple every morning," Genma turned to the direction of the temple and prayed with his hands together. "Give us the strength to show mercy to our enemy."

"I could use a stiff one right now," Gai said.

"And help Kakashi to suppress his homosexual urges." Genma added. Gai laughed full heartily.

"True, that modern pervert can only get it from a book," Gai smiled but retracted his happiness to throw his tooth brush at Genma. "I was referring to a drink."

"Riiiight!" Genma laughed. "After you brushed your teeth?"