"Congratulations Tobio-kun!" Hiruzen said to the young man in front of him accompanied by his former anbu commander, Hatake Kakashi.
"Thanks, Jiji." That got him a odd look from the rest in the room. Kakashi leaned in his ear and said.
"Tobio, that Jiji is the Hokage. please show some respect and don't call him that." although it was but a whisper, the silence in the room was enough for everyone to hear it.
"Oh right, sorry old habits. hehehe." Tobio blurted out. Well they can't really blame him since he spent some times with the old man along with naruto. Although Hiruzen didn't teach him anything personally, he was still an elder figure for him and Naruto.
"That's quite alright Kakashi. Now why don't we go directly to your team's first D rank mission? Although you have accepted him as your first Genin, we really can't name you as a team with number since there's only two of you. Normally we'd find replacement but Kakashi seem to reject the idea. So for now, you'll go with Team Kakashi."
with all that wrapped up, before Tobio could say he goes fishing sometimes with the old man. They immediately accepted a D rank mission of cutting weeds from a farm.
Tobio was made to do it alone unlike with the team 7 who had three genin in it. Meanwhile Kakashi was doing the usual hobby of laying down somewhere near and reading his favourite book.
Afternoon
"So, are you really going to train me?" Tobio asked.
"Yes."
"And how are you going to do that?"
"By improving your basic skills. Your foundation is already good based on our little spar but not good enough in my eyes." As kakashi said this he kept his book inside his pouch.
"We're going to hone your Taijutsu in 1 month until it is to my satisfaction. Until then I won't train you in anything else."
And that started Tobio's training if it can be called one. If you ask him, his sensei was probably just letting his frustration go for being defeated by a Genin. First month was Taijutsu and even extended half a month's time since he needed some time to recuperate from the beat- i mean training.
What triggered Kakashi to teach him seriously, unlike the Jonin's action in Canon where he didn't do a proper job and only focused on Sasuke, no one knows. Not even Tobio himself as he was still dumbfounded when he shared it to Kurama, who was even more surprised by this.
On the third month's time. Kakashi decided to teach him the basic chakra control such as tree climbing and water walking. Leaf sticking exercises were only done in the academy. But to Kakashi's surprise, Tobio already knew how to. So with that gone in the way, Kakashi then trained his basic ninjutsu so that Tobio can cast them faster.
The training was satisfactory for kakashi within one month's time. But 3 months has passed since then. There were some days that Tobio was free and only did D rank missions all day long that he finished 41 D rank missions alone. Kakashi was there to supervise him but of course focused more on his porn. It could've been more had it not been for day offs, recuperating and a whole day dedicated training. And also, 41 is a lot of number but D rank are basically just chores.
MISSION ASSIGNMENT DESK
1st day of the 4th month
"So Kakashi and Tobio-kun. You finally want to receive a C rank mission?"
"Yes, Hokage Jiji." Kakashi nodded but the rest of the people still stared at Tobio's nick name for the Hokage. Tobio started calling him that since the 1st week they were taking a D rank missions.
"Well I have just the mission for you two. This is an escort mission for a family of merchants. They are from the Hidden Sand Village and will return tomorrow. There are only four of them. Further details are in this document. what do you think Kakashi?"
"It's good. It will be a good experience for him since I plan upgrade his training."
"Hooh, 3 months and you're already upgrading his training?" Hiruzen inquired.
"He's proven himself enough for it." This earned the attention of everyone in the room. Kakashi was never one to give compliments.
"Then, is he a genius or just that good?" asked one of the Chunin sitting besides the Hokage.
"You do know I'm just right here and could hear all of you talking about me right?" Tobio asked and the others chuckled.
"He's not what his grades in the academy show him to be but I can't call him a genius. He's also not that good and definitely not the best." Tobio could only frown at his sensei's comment.
"But he's definitely better than his peers. There are 5 more months 'till the next chunin exam, I'm sure he will pass as one." shocked expression were shown by the audience in the room and a smile from the Hokage.
A few moments later
Front Gate
The merchant family of 4 was already waiting in the front gate of Konoha along with Kakashi, and surprisingly Tobio was late for half an hour.
"Dad why aren't we leaving yet?"
"We still need to wait for one more escort bodyguard."
"Isn't that guy and the rest of our men enough?"
"Well, the last one we're waiting for is his student."
Not a second more and Tobio came directly in front of the Father and Son merchants.
"Sorry I'm a bit late. I saw an old woman with a heavy luggage, so I had to step in and help."
"It's nice to be of help to elderly people. But know your priorities more. You could've asked someone else in the vicinity to assist instead." The father merchant lectured.
"Understand. It won't happen again." Tobio replied. While Kakashi didn't bother saving his Genin at all.
"Good. Let's get going so we can arrive at the destination at the earliest."
From Konoha to Suna it takes about 3 days by foot if you were a shinobi. But if you were on a pace the same as the merchant that Tobio and Kakashi were escorting, it would take about 5 days to 1 week at best. Especially if said merchant have a carriage being pulled by horses.
The journey was eventful. Some ordinary bandits showed up on their 3rd day which was a good training for Tobio.
"Stop for a moment Mr. Client."
"Call me Robert, Kakashi-san. What is it?"
"There are 20 bandits up ahead. I want Tobio to take care of it. No help is necessary no matter what you see."
"Are you sure? He's just a kid and there are 20 of them like you said. Are you fairly certain he can take care of it?"
"We'll find out. Tobio, This will be part of your training. As a shinobi, you must get used to killing another individual or in this case a lot of people. If you succeed in killing them all, we will proceed with the next step of your training."
"Yes, Sensei." Tobio acknowledge the command and went ahead of the group.
As soon as the bandits saw a kid heading towards their direction, they were baffled. How did the target know they were waiting there? And more importantly why did they send a kid to them? Are the targets underestimating them?
The leader urged his men to follow him and confront the brat. 20 bandits, fully grown men in a bandit attire some doesn't even have upper clothes on. They were all holding either a knife or sword. Some spears and at least two were holding arrows.
"Are you lost kid?" the leader initiated. But Tobio's hands were already done weaving handseals. This was part of Kakashi's training. To be able to weave hand seals in a blink of an eye is an asset to a ninja. And the crowd in front of him were only ordinary humans. Naturally, they couldn't follow the speed of his hand seals.
"Reverse Flash Bang Jutsu" Tobio muttered.
Using the senses of sight, hearing, and touch. Tobio suppressed the bandits with total darkness, total silence, and total loss of the sense of touch in a flash. That was good enough for Tobio to kill them as fast as he could before they can recover. And if they can recover, they wouldn't know how to break the genjutsu.
The merchant family and their personal guards along with Kakashi watched it all unfold. How the leader of the bandits and his men casually went near Tobio. How they started panicking next while Tobio pulled out a Kunai and started killing them efficiently. The bandits weren't even able to put up a fight.
The merchants and their personal guards shuddered at Tobio's acts. While Kakashi was already reading his porn while laying down on top of the carriage. He only observed the part where Tobio went in, activated his genjutsu and killed the first bandit. After that he didn't have to continue watching the rest of the bandits being slaughtered without even a fight.
A few moments later Tobio went back to the rest of the party with no blood stains to his person. But as if sick immediately bent over to the side and started puking out what he's eaten.
A few pukes later
"Sensei, All the bandits are dead. We can continue with the journey now, right?"
"Hmn." Was Kakashi response, clearly more focused on his book.
"Alright Mr. Client. Let's go!" Tobio cheerily said to Robert.
"Yes sir. Men let's continue the journey." Robert said obviously panicked. His Son was already inside the carriage hiding away from Tobio.
"Sir!" Replied their personal guards as they started their journey once more.
Only 1 more attack happened after that. It was on the 5th day when they are already in the Dessert. Surprisingly Kakashi closed his book for it.
"Stop for a moment." Kakashi instructed the Robert as he lifted his headband a bit.
"Yes, Kakashi-san. Men! Stop!" Robert responded and commanded his personal guards. It was for moments like these that Robert has asked Konoha's help. If it was just the ordinary bandits awhile ago, his personal guards would have been enough. But the opponents at this point of time were not ordinary bandits.
"There are 5 shinobis hiding ahead. I could smell them through those rocks. And based on the chakra they have. One is Chunin while the rest are Genin." Kakashi instructed Tobio as he hid his sharingan again.
"Okay, so how do you want us to deal with this?"
"I could've done the same thing if they were all Genin. Unfortunately, you're not yet suited to face a Chunin ninja. So, I want you to stay here as I face the chunin and some of them. While the remaining Genins will probably attack our clients, so I want you to stay and protect them."
"Copy that." Tobio answered and placed himself on top of the carriage to gain vantage point so he can watch from all directions.
Kakashi went ahead of them with a sunshin. The 5 ninjas hiding from a distance were unable to prepare for Kakashi's arrival as he already had one of them killed with kunai to the throat. After seeing one of their comrades killed just like that, some started panicking.
"Calm yourselves if you don't want to die. One of you stay beside me and help face this opponent. The rest go and loot the targets!" Simple command from the Chunin but effective. The rest of the Genin stopped panicking and obeyed the command immediately. These groups were clearly deserters from Suna based on the scratched forehead protector each of them had on.
Kakashi didn't even bother stopping the two Genin passed by as he simply focused on the enemy in front of him. With an emotionless face though covered by a mask, Kakashi butchered the remaining enemy. What else could be explained when a Special Jonin faced off against a Chunin and Genin deserters?
Back at the merchants
A few minutes after Kakashi left
Tobio could see two ninjas running towards them with weapons on. Knowing that there won't be any more enemies from the other directions he immediately said to the merchant.
"Have your men encircle the carriage. Should another enemy show up send me signal for help. I will confront them in just a few distance." Robert didn't waste time and immediately did as instructed. While Tobio went ahead and faced the enemy. His hands were already weaving the necessary seals to deploy the same Genjutsu.
As soon as the enemy was withing range they readied their kunai and shurikens aimed at him but failed to launch it. That was because the Genjutsu was already in effect. But unlike the ordinary bandits, these guys were trained in the shinobi arts.
"Kai!" one of them chanted as his senses of sight, hearing and touch came back to him only to find his companion with a few kunai to his chest. This prompted him to be vigilance and sure enough some kunai manage to hit his body, but he was able to evade the rest.
"You- "was the only words that left his mouth as the kunai on his body exploded along with the other kunai he evaded. Tobio as someone still weak made sure to utilize every tool he has on him.
End of chapter 6
