Unlike what I was used to from Kakashi, Genma was on time. Even before me he had reached the training ground. Relaxed he leaned against a tree and looked towards me.
„That's where your friend Naruto got into quite a bit of trouble huh?" So, he had heard it too. Of course, he had. After all, the smearing was not hard to miss. I just nodded and the brown haired one pushed himself off the tree.
„Well, I did tell you in advance about teaching you a new jutsu regarding your Kekkei Genkai. But first, I'm going to teach you another one. It's the jutsu of shadow clones. Ever heard of it?"
I nodded.
„That's something before. I'm sure you know that you need to be able to have full control of your chakra to do this. Because the more doubles you can create." Silently I listened, albeit slightly impatiently, eager to try the exercise myself.
„Jutsu of shadow doubles." Out of nowhere, three clones of himself appeared next to Genma. Fascinated, I looked at the clones. As my sensei nodded at me, I began to concentrate my chakra as well, trying to call the rules into my head and placing my fingers together.
„Jutsu of shadow clones."
Breathing strained, I sat on the grass. Genma stood next to it, his arms crossed in front of his chest. „That was pretty good, but still not enough. Take a short break and then try again. Because first you have to learn how to use this jutsu before you couple it with your Kekkei Genkai." I nodded and wiped my sweaty hands on my pants before facing my sensei again. Once again, I concentrated my chakra, felt it flow through my body, and began to gather it.
„Jutsu of shadow clones," I said, and five copies of myself appeared in front of and behind me. Genma nodded. "Five of them. Good."
I ventured a brief smile.
„Now, attack me. Try not to let me catch you, though."
Directly, he didn't look at me. So, he didn't know where I was. A grin crept onto my lips. I could use that to my advantage.
I quickly conjured up another double and tried to make my body invisible at the same time.
Genma still thought that I was among those shadow clones, but that was not the case. I looked to the right, to the place where the clone was supposed to be. But it was not so. Confused, I stared at the place, but I could feel its chakra for sure...
Was he invisible? That was not possible ... or was it?
If that were really the case, I could use it as an advantage.
Silently I let the shadow clones attack. All except the invisible one. Cautiously, I crept closer to my sensei and directed the clone to Genma as well. The latter finally focused on him and attacked him.
My other shadow doubles had already fizzled out.
„Don't try to hide yourself Tora. I know you are facing me. Behind me is the invisible clone." I bristled, so he had been aiming for it all along and unconsciously I had applied the desired jutsu. But he was mistaken. Because through the many hours of training, he was used to me attacking from the front and not from behind. I could now take advantage of this.
Simultaneously with the invisible shadow clone, I ran towards my sensei, dived under his fist and made a lunging scissor movement with my right leg. My sensei staggered. In a flash, the doppelganger jumped into his back and took him off his feet.
Delighted, I watched him fall to the ground. But all at once his body dissolved, revealing the jutsu of exchange. Uh-oh. That would have been too good to be true.
A presence formed behind my back and I heard a metallic sound. I quickly dropped to the ground and dodged the hurtling kunai. Without using my hands, I jumped up and turned to face my opponent.
In the movement I had fetched a kunai from my pocket. It clashed with his. Genmas eyes betrayed highest concentration, he could not see me, only my chakra was perceptible for him.
He parried each of my attacks, but I noticed how he had to concentrate more and more, because my movements became faster and faster. But also, I was not allowed to slacken. Because every blow had to be chosen with care and consideration. I was also not allowed to neglect my cover.
I faked a blow with my left hand and finally managed to distract him with it. Quickly, the left was advanced with the kunai. Unnaturally fast my sensei reacted and blocked the blow. Nevertheless, I managed to graze his upper arm with the weapon. The cloth gave way and blood came out of the wound.
Genma jumped back a few steps and raised his hand.
„The fight is over. Well done Tora."
Suspiciously, I eyed him. Was this a trap? My double, whom I had kept out of the last fight, stood next to me. But Genma stayed where he was, a strange smile on his lips. Then he nodded.
Then everything happened very quickly.
My clone raised his kunai and blocked the strike that should have hit me. Startled, I looked around. It wasn't Genma standing behind me, but Sensei Kakashi.
„Not a bad idea to leave the clone behind. In a situation like that, he would have saved your life," he said.
I nodded but had to admit to myself that I actually could have used this one much earlier. But good. I would certainly do much better next time.
„I'm here to tell you that I can't continue to take over your training."
Shocked, I looked at him. Why not? Somehow, I had really taken a liking to his training. And also, Kakashi had become more sympathetic to me from time to time. Even if I could sometimes be upset for hours because of him. For example, because of his lunacy. But every person had his corners and edges.
„You'll find out the reason after the exams."
There. Again. Also, a point with which I could go to the ceiling in the case of Kakashi. First, he made you curious and then ... then he put you off until later.
„Too bad," was all I said.
The gray-haired Jonin smirked under his mask.
„I'm sure you'll learn a lot at Genma, too. And when I have time, I'll watch your training, too."
I could only nod. I couldn't think of anything else to say with that statement.
„Since your final exam is tomorrow, we wish you good luck, of course. The way you've been developing over the past few months, Genma and I are sure you'll pass it."
The final exam! Damn. I had totally forgotten about that, I had to practice some more jutsus.
All of a sudden, I was really in a hurry to get home, and fast.
Genma frowned.
„Don't tell me you forgot."
It was already dark when I ventured out onto the street again. The afternoon I had virtually entrenched myself in my apartment to practice for the final exam. Now and then my thoughts had slid to Naruto. Actually, we had wanted to go to dinner together tonight to take away each other's excitement before the exam. But he had not stirred the whole day with me. Actually, he should have been finished long ago.
Laughter came from one of the restaurants and the smell of roasted meat floated over to me. I inhaled it with relish, whereupon my stomach began to growl. What was I supposed to do now? Eating alone would not be fun.
„What are you doing roaming the alleys alone little one? So late at that."
I winced. There was only one person in all of Konoha who called me that. There in the dim light of a streetlamp, leaning against the wall of an old house, stood Kakashi. His headband pulled over his sharingan as always. He looked tired, his eyes were half closed and from his pocket protruded the cover of a book. In rather hesitant steps I walked towards the tall Jonin.
„Naruto actually wanted to do something with me, but I haven't seen him since early this morning."
Helplessly, I shrugged my shoulders.
„Actually, I was going to go get something to eat, but it's dumb to do it alone, well let's see what the fridge has."
„If it helps, I just saw Naruto and Iruka at Ichiraku's eating ramen."
Disappointment ran through me and my shoulders slumped. Why was he going to eat something with Sensei Iruka when he had promised me? I just didn't understand that.
„You don't look very cheerful. You seemed to want to do something else, didn't you?" I nodded slightly. Kakashi seemed to be thinking.
„Hmm. Now that I think about it, you and I could go out for dinner. Genma wanted to come later, too. Maybe like a little team dinner. What do you think?"
Surprised, I looked at him. Was he serious about this? In any case, I was on board.
With shining eyes, I looked around the large restaurant. The individual tables were separated from each other by partitions, so that there could be a kind of privacy between the shinobi. I personally found something like that very practical. There you could be more among themselves and talk about things that were perhaps not intended for all ears.
Kakashi and I sat down at a table at the very end of the restaurant. When the host brought the cards, he gave me a strange look. "She's my student," Kakashi said quickly, and the innkeeper nodded.
„Just surprised to see such a young thing still roaming around here at this hour Kakashi."
The Jonin just nodded.
When the man was gone, the gray-haired one leaned over the table a bit.
„Generally, kids don't show up here in this restaurant either. Not that you're surprised. But it has great food and that's exactly why I took you with me."
I nodded, grateful to him for making me this offer. Even more, I hadn't really felt like spending the evening alone. Sleep was not something I needed much. Through my life as a thief, I had become accustomed to a very light sleep. Even the smallest noise woke me up. Only with nightmares I had mean problems when waking up.
„Sensei Kakashi?" "Hm." "Where is my father, anyway?" Addressed looked at me in surprise. Apparently, he hadn't expected this question at all. "In prison. From time to time, though, he's interrogated by Ibiki. But so far, he's only uttered incoherent sentences, and besides, he said he only wants to talk to a specific person." Confused, I looked at him. „With whom Kakashi?", I asked slightly impatiently. „With ..."
„Well, if it isn't Kakashi Hatake with his student. Nice to see you again," a voice interrupted the sentence I had just started. A little disapprovingly, I looked in the direction from which the statement came. There, next to the table stood Asuma Sarutobi and a young woman I didn't know. Kakashi also seemed a little taken off guard by the sudden appearance of the two.
„Yes likewise," the grey-haired Jonin replied.
„Say. Do you mind if we join you? You look so lost at the big table."
Kakashi nodded briefly, while I showed no emotion. I was a little angry at myself for not asking him sooner and instead letting time pass so much. Asuma and his companion could not know what we had just discussed.
The woman looked at me with a curious look, before she took a seat next to Kakashi and Asuma. She had curly dark brown hair and unusually red eyes. But that didn't make her creepy in the slightest, rather beautiful.
„Well, maybe I should introduce you guys first. Tora, the one next to you is Kurenai. And Kurenai. Tora was my student until recently." The Jonin emphasized the last two words a little more, causing me to look back and forth between the two of them in confusion. Understanding lit up in their red eyes. Friendly, she looked first at me and then back at Kakashi.
„Interesting. And tomorrow is the exam isn't it? Good luck." I smiled gratefully and was also glad at the same time that she didn't elaborate further.
She paused for a moment and turned to me. Firmly she looked at me and smiled slightly.
„You have beautiful eyes. No matter what others think."
Confused, I stammered a thank you. What had that been about? How had she known that I sometimes didn't get along with my looks, or rather the other shinobi?
It was a bit unusual to sit between the big Jonin. But because they also acted relaxed and treated me completely normal, I began to relax. As strange as it might sound. I sat next to them, laughed with them, and ate my food at the same time.
Now and then my look swung curiously to Kakashi. But the Jonin seemed to not want to take off his mask. Was his face probably something like a secret? Did he not want anyone to see it? Maybe he was hiding something... Maybe a big scar or crooked teeth. Then I would understand if he preferred to eat alone without anyone seeing. But somehow that didn't fit to Kakashi. No. There had to be something else behind it. But what? Anticipation arose in me and I rubbed my hands with a grin. Another secret I had resolved to reveal. My life would definitely not be boring.
As the evening progressed, Genma also joined us. The special jonin had briefly paused at the sight of me and cast a stern look in the direction of Kakashi. Finally, the copy ninja had let himself be persuaded that Genma accompanied me back home. This whole action was more than only confusing for me. Had it already become so late or what had annoyed the otherwise so calm Shinobi then. Of course, I understood that this one felt somehow responsible for me... But so much?
I shook my head. Another secret, then, that seemed perhaps even more important than the one about my scars or Kakashi's mask. Something had to do Genma with my family and I would find out.