"Hey! It's a baka-no-jutsu specialty!" The other students all giggled as 13 year old Yasahashi Koizuma stood in front of the class after failing the ninjutsu section of her graduation test.

Kaeda, who had been successful in her transformation jutsu, had decided to transform into a stronger, buffer version of Yasahashi to try and cheer her on that day. But, it ended up looking like a weird flex, and made no difference in the end.

After failing her exam, Yasahashi wandered the halls of the academy, lost in frustration and sadness until the sun sank low in the sky. She came out into the school grounds then, spotting a clique of Uchiha kids sparring in the field practicing their special, elite jutsus. An older girl, who probably had just returned from the warfront, was there. Yasa recognized her long dark hair and uppity demeanor. It was the hall monitor. Yasahashi seethed with jealousy.

It overcame her and the angry kid launched herself at the Uchiha girl in a wild taijutsu attack. The older girl dodged easily, though was surprised by Yasahashi's intensity.

"Fight me!" Yasa said, twitching her finger tips while circling the Uchiha girl in the field. The other Uchiha kids looked on, unimpressed.

"Koha-chan, you really going to fight baka-no-jutsu?"

"Just ignore that civilian, Kohaku. Let's go back before it gets dark."

Yasa gritted her teeth, tired of waiting for a formal response from the former hall monitor. She launched at the girl again and the two began to spar lightly. Yasa had fought Kohaku Uchiha on a couple of similar occasions, but had never won. Though, with each time, she felt herself getting closer.

"You're getting faster, Koizuma." The older girl said, confirming Yasahashi's thoughts.

One of Yasa's punches collided with the girl's side and she jumped away to catch herself. The surrounding Uchiha made comments all around, some disappointed in the older girl for letting her defenses down.

Smirking, Yasa advanced again. But, suddenly something changed in Kohaku and it was like Yasahashi never had a chance.

She tasted dewy grass in her mouth. It smelled like sweet clover and disappointment.

The spectators all laughed around them. "Wow. Give up already, baka-no-jutsu."

"Koha-chan, why do you entertain that civilian?"

The sky was growing purple. Yasa sat on her butt and picked the grass from her arms, trying to figure out what had just happened.

The Uchiha gaggle bid farewell to Kohaku, "After you meet your new teammate, come over to my mom's house for a send-off dinner!" one of them waved as they made their way across the field.

Yasa looked up at the Uchiha girl, who's form was growing dark. The girl extended a hand to help her up, but she didn't take it. She was distracted by the eyes, which had changed, They were now a deep red and glowed in the twilight.

Grassy footfalls sounded behind Yashashi.

"Yasa? Is that you? What are you still doing here?" Yasa craned her neck behind her to see the last of the setting sun cast light on the face of Kaeda, She had her backpack slung over her shoulder and there was a hint of apprehension in her eyes. All that joy she had shown after passing the genin test had disappeared after Yasahashi had failed hers.

"Pff, could ask the same of you, Kaeda." Yasa grunted and sat up on the grass in defiance.

The Uchiha girl looked to Kaeda.

"So, you're going to be on my team, then," she said, reaching out her hand to shake, "Kohaku Uchiha."

"Kaeda Morimoto!"

Yasahashi had known Kaeda long enough to know when something was troubling her. She stood finally to look between the two girls. Kaeda looked at her with masked panic.

"Our sensei's going to meet us by the village gates at 11am tomorrow. By the time we reach enemy territory, we'll have the cover of darkness needed to bring us to our post."

"Y-You've fought in the war already?" Kaeda asked.

"Yes." Kohaku looked at Yasa, her red eyes glaring in the light. They went back to black.

Yasahashi finally understood. It was her sharingan. That's how she had been defeated. She pouted.

"And our other teammate?"

Yasahashi clenched her fists by her sides. She could have been their third teammate.

"He's been in the field with Izumi-sensei and has more experience than the both of us. Their… last two teammates were recently killed in action." Kohaku said these things in a factual tone. She seemed oblivious to Kaeda's increasing anxiety. Yasa looked at Kaeda with worry. She wished she could come with her.

If only… Her scuffed hands began to shake at her sides. She stomped between the two kunoichi angrily and began walking off the field.

"W-Wait, Yasahashi!" Kaeda whined. She rushed after her. Kohaku followed.

"I'll walk home with you!" Kaeda said. "I'm not going to see you for a long time, I bet!"

"What about you? Don't you have some Uchiha thing to go do?" Yasa looked sourly at Kohaku, who was trailing behind for some reason.

The older girl shrugged. "I don't feel like going."

The three left the academy grounds into the streets of Konoha. Each had a little money and Kaeda suggested they get ramen and hang out one last time.

The owner of the ramen stand smiled at the trio, "You three going to do a mission together tomorrow morning?" he grinned.

"No, we're being dispatched." Kohaku replied, seriously.

Yasahashi recognized the same hint of sadness in the ramen shop owner's eyes that her father often showed her. She ignored it. Neither Kaeda or Kohaku spoke up to specify that Yasahashi wasn't also going with them in the morning. Just, for that moment while they sat together in the ramen shop, Yasa was able to pretend that just maybe, the three of them could have been a team.


Twice a week, after her shift at the Urban Planning Department, Yasahashi helped at her mother's gym. Though, this week her mother had asked her to come on an extra day at the last minute.

"What gives mom? You know I like Tuesdays off."

The hard-faced older woman, whom from Yasa got her passive demeanor, had been the sole proprietor for 8 years of a small gym that was open to civilians and ninja alike who wished to improve their taijutsu skills.

Yasahashi mostly helped as an advanced sparring partner for those at Chunin level and below. But, during the large weeknight classes, she'd assist her mother in correcting the form of those in class. These classes were not for existing nin, but rather for civilians who wished to better their self defense.

"There's a good reason why I asked you to come tonight," her mother muttered from her spot behind the sparring class.

"Hm?" Yasa looked at the students to see what her cryptic mother saw.

Sure enough, there was something off tonight. It was a new student. He was young: about Naruto's age, and he was way more advanced than the others in class. He slammed his partners to the ground, they didn't even stand a chance. Though polite through all stages of the fight, he didn't seem to realize that the amount of skill he was exercising could be considered overkill.

Yasahashi interjected into his fight, pulling the kid off of an older gentleman whose face was turning red in a headlock.

"Oi, kid. You in the ninja academy or something?" Yashashi asked. "What are you doing here? This class is for civilians." She pulled him aside, handing him a paper cup of water. They watched the rest of the class continue.

The boy had black hair and extremely intense eyes, which he focused down on the ground pressingly.

"I… I am a civilian. And I'd like to take this class please." He said.

Yasa shook her head, "Don't believe you."

"Please, I swear… I'm just a civilian…" There was a sudden sadness in the way he said that last bit.

"If that's the case, you're too good to study here. A kid like you ought to try out to be a ninja." She paused, getting a suspicion, "You ever mold chakra?"

He collapsed his head down in a low bow in front of Yasahashi.

"Please teach me here, sensei!"

Yasa smirked. "We won't. And I'm no sensei, and even if I was, I'm definitely not the kind you need. I said you're too advanced. Wouldn't have anything to teach you. Go to the academy for that."

The boy only repeated his request. "I know you train experienced ninja here too, so my skill level will fit in somewhere, I just know it! Please!"

"Did you give up on being a ninja or something?"

The boy was silent again for a moment. "I cannot become a ninja."

"That's ridiculous. Get out of here."

"They won't let me become a ninja."

"Why's that?"

"Because there is no such thing as a ninja who cannot do ninjutsu. Please, train me in taijutsu, sensei!"

"Nah, no can do. I'm no sensei." Yep. This was the kid that Mizuki and Iruka were telling her about.

"Yasahashi," came her mothers voice from across the room. "Train that boy."

Yasa shifted her weight to one foot and looked at her mother. "What? Okay."

The boy lifted his head in disbelief, "What? You will?!"

Yasahashi groaned internally. Her mom was pushy like this sometimes. But, she knew she was no where near qualified to give this boy the attention he needed. Not to mention, she didin't have the time with her full time job. "I'll train you, but only if you can beat me in a fight. I'm a better match for you than these other folks."

The boy jumped up way faster than Yasahashi expected him to. He was immediately in the fighting stance.

She beat him easily, of course. Yasahashi was as strong as a chunin when it came to taijutsu. Though, he was considerably better at taijutsu than she had ever been at his age. But, again, she reasoned she could not become his sensei. Sure, it was cruel of her to put him through that, but she knew by the look in his eyes that he wasn't going to back down easily.

Yasahashi turned him away one last time and the boy, crestfallen, left the gym. Yasahashi could tell that her mother disapproved when the older woman took a more active roll in the lessons, causing Yasahashi to fall to the sidelines.

When the night was done and everyone was leaving, she found the boy still perched on the edge of the road outside the entrance. Across the street was an area she had helped design, it had a glaring flaw which she didn't want to stare in the face.

"Look, kid, " she said, coming up to him.

"Did you change your mind? Will you be my teacher?" he looked suddenly hopeful again.

She shook her head, "Don't quit the academy,"

"But they-"

"-no matter what they say," she cut him off. "It's not like we're in wartime. They might graduate you as a genin, yet. You should research elite ninjas that excel in taijutsu techniques. Seek one of them out and don't take no for an answer."

"But with that logic, I shouldn't take your no for an answer." Lee said, his eyes lit with determination. Yasahashi smirked. There was that unrelenting attitude that Mizuki was so keen on complaining about.

"I told you, I'm nowhere near qualified to teach you. I'm just a civilian."

"You say that, but you already seem to me as a skilled fighter who without ninjutsu can still hold their own in battle, which I find inspiring!"

Yasahashi sighed, her eyes wandered across the cramped road she had poorly execute. It was barely wide enough for two people to pass abreast.

"Listen kid. I was like you, you know. I can barely mold chakra myself and they wouldn't let me graduate because of that. But, when I see how you move, I think you have a chance. Hold on to that and don't give up."

The boy's wide eyes welled with tears. "You were.. Like me, sensei?"

"I ain't your sensei."

His face grew determined and he smiled confidently, though his eyes still were filled with tears. He bowed to Yasahashi. "I will do as you say, and research elite ninja who specialize in taijutsu and then seek them out!" he bowed.

"Yeesh, yes. Go do that. And, don't come back here pretending like you're good for nothing. Have some respect for yourself."

"I will! Thank you for knocking some sense into me, sensei!"

"Yeesh, enough with the sensei crap,"

"But, are you not a teacher at this gym?"

"Nope, I'm just a civilian with a day job. You, on the other hand, kid, are going to become a ninja."


Beep, beep. Kakashi's Prius here. Kakashi left a weird smelling object in here, I think it's a bag of gym clothes, sorry about the smell. Actually, Gai probably left it. Hey, can you return it to him for me?