Chapter #3, Part 2

Sokaru Sensei

Mondays. He hated Mondays and everything they meant. Mondays meant getting up early, going to work after another restful weekend of relaxation. This foul day meant going back to see them stare, his coworkers. He knew they talked about him behind his back and he resented their feelings towards him, good or bad. Some thought him useless, a prehistoric relic kept around out of either habit or stubbornness. Others looked at him with pity, dodging his stare when he talked to them. And still more, mostly the ones that had the unfortunate opportunity to see him work, looked at him as a malevolent weapon incapable of mercy of remorse.

But his Monday was special. In light of his long history of servitude and his age, but mostly, he suspected, to get him out of the way, he had been demoted. The scroll had been delivered almost two days ago by a KOZU, an extreme precaution to his attitude he assumed, sending an elite assassin of Yorizaru to deliver a simple message. His superiors considering him dangerous enough to attack a messenger flattered a part of him, the young part he guessed.

So here he was, trudging down a miserable dirt road reading a meaningless book that was so utterly simplistic that he had to reread every paragraph before it sank in.

"An Idiots Guide to Training Genin's; A Step-By-Step Walkthrough on How Not to Die"

Sokaru had flipped through the first chapter, incapable of believing that he had ever been as stupid and weak as the book portrayed Genin's to be. It was impossible for him to have never known such infantile talents; how to create a Shadow Clone was the village's most basic genjutsu technique. Despite it all, he continued reading.

"Your first meeting with the students," began the book," should be friendly and encouraging. It is rare that the individuals will not already know each other, but ask some basic questions to get a general idea of their characters. Once you've established a first-name basis, it is recommended for you to give the children a day before starting training.

As for your first training test, the most suggested and popular idea is called the "Bells Test". By tying two be-"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah" interrupted Sokaru's mind as he stuffed the book back into a pouch," I've heard this all before, but I doubt that these weak little punks will be able to pull their fingers out of their sniveling noses long enough to try!"

Sokaru reached into a second pocket and pulled out two twinkling bells; he had read the first chapter last night as well. He, having not had a decent conversation with someone for the past five years, had had to write down some questions to ask the Genin about themselves. It had taken him most of the night, finally giving up after he had gotten so frustrated that he kicked his cat, Phelis, through the upstairs window.

Sokaru turned a corner after slipping the bells into his pocket and soundlessly trying to recall where he had gotten a cat. But his own thoughts were interrupted again as he was greeted with the sight of three boys standing fifty feet away, all waiting for him. The thin one was wearing mostly white and had a deep red sash wrapped around his waist, while another had a ponytail and a large sword on his back. The last, standing between the two had black-bandaged arms and a black bodysuit.

"Here goes nothing."

Rasha was standing between Genji and Moroku, staring at the forest when an old man turned the corner to their right. The vest of a Jounin was the only sign that told Rasha it was his new instructor. The man appeared to be in his late forties, his short-cropped, brown hair graying around the temples that showed above his headband. Two scars parted his lined, leathery face, one running over his left eye and down to his jaw, the other starting at the left temple and crossing to his right cheek. His cold, green eyes stared through them, calculating. But his most distinguishing feature was not on his aged face.

He was missing his left arm. Rasha tried his hardest not to stare, but it was blatant. The man walked off balanced by his absent limb, his left shoulder higher than his right. His traditional Jounin jumpsuit of black had been sewn together where his left arm should be.

Rasha looked back and forth between Genji and Moroku, blank stares meeting his own. They turned back to gape at the man they knew was their instructor as he took the final few steps to them. Not bothering to stop for their part he growled," Follow me."

Rasha and Genji sidestepped as the man elbowed his way past them and out the gate into the forest. The three shared one bewildered glance behind Sokaru's back before following numbly after him. The old man led them into the giant forest whose massive, moss-covered roots rose out of the ground fifty feet above their heads. Vines and tangles of plants dangled from the canopy above. They trekked together wordlessly for twenty minutes before coming to Clearing Seven.

There were twelve clearings around Yorizaru that had large enough gaps in the canopy of leaves and branches to allow some sunlight through. They were used as training grounds for young ninja squads, like themselves, and had to be booked for a certain time and group. This, unknown to Rasha, was one of the few times Genji and Moroku had ever seen sunlight. This clearing was speckled with sunspots, tiny gaps that sunlight pierced through that danced with the wind. The gap of trees was close to an acre in size with a large stone at one end.

The instructor sat upon a root rising out of the ground like a bench at the edge of the clearing and motioned for the three to sit before him. Once they had all collapsed onto the soft grass they sat waiting. After running a icy green eye over them the old man began," My name is Sokaru. You three will call me Sokaru Sensei, got it?"

Sokaru paused, remembering what the book had said, and tried to crack a smile. The end result was more of a grimace than anything, but at least he had tried. He slipped back into his gloomy demeanor and said," So, tell me something about yourselves; give me your name, a few hobbies, and whatever your goals are."

"You!" he said, pointing at Genji, who flinched at the gesture," Start talking."

"My name is Intarea Genji." He said, his original go-happy attitude returning quickly," I like to work out and play kickball, and I want to be a master swordsman when I grow up!"

Sokaru grunted in response and nodded to Moroku to start. Moroku fiddled with the fabric of his sash as he said in his shy, small voice," My name is Buuyo Moroku. I-I like to…play chess and stuff. I-I want to b-be a great ninja like my uncle."

"All right, next." Ordered Sokaru.

"Yoshin Rasha." Said Rasha, his voice level," I like to read and I am going be a member of KOZU, Hunter Ninja Division."

Sokaru sat in silence thinking sarcastically to himself," So, my team consists of an optimistic clown, a shy mama's boy, and a smooth talker. Perfect."

"Alright, you each have your own, impossible-to-reach goals, as expected." Started Sokaru confidently, but his words stumbled as he decide against what the book had said," I'm supposed to let you fools go for the day and start practice tomorrow, but to hell with that! Your training begins today."

Sokaru noted the curled smile of Rasha as Genji high-fived a weak grinning Moroku. The three wouldn't be so happy by the time this day was over. Sokaru dug into his pouch and pulled out the bells as the three stood with him," You mission is simple; get a bell. Who ever doesn't get a bell gets sent back to the Academy."

This was followed by silence as horror gripped the three.

Sokaru tied the bells to the side that was missing an arm and said," That's right. The one who doesn't get a bell goes back. The other two get to stay and be Genin."

Genji and Moroku glanced at one another with cold eyes.

"Prepare yourselves." Warned Sokaru, the twin bells jingling at his side. The three boys made separate hand signs over their chest and tensed their bodies. Sokaru noted that Rasha had his eyes closed as he raised his one hand above his head holding a timer," You have two hours."

Click

"Begin!"

And there you have it, I couldn't really think of anything quite as brilliant as the bells test, so I reworked it a bit. I promise I won't play the Second Squad off as "gods", trust me. I hope you guys like how it is going so far, and I hope Sokaru will go down as one of the first handicapped Shinobis in a fanfiction!

Thank you for playing along, Rasha