As the week went by swiftly, I was thinking. There's so much to do. I only have 6 months with which to turn them into solid Chunin.
Don't get me wrong. Naruto has the power, if not the skill. Neji can take a Chunin on in taijutsu, but that's it. Yakumo's power has only just stabilised.
I was mentally creating an individual program for each of my Genin. My brother will be the easiest. I intend on working on ninjutsu and strategy with him.
Yakumo I'll work with on her genjutsu and speed. She won't have time on missions to channel her power through art. Then there's Neji.
He'll be the hardest of the three because he's going to be the most stubborn. He'll likely insist on focusing on the Gentle Fist. I won't allow that though. No student of mine is merely going to be above average.
His clan might be problematic as well. I'm unsure how they'd react to him learning ninjutsu. That's of course not even mentioning the more contentious issue.
I do after all intend on teaching the three sealing jutsu. I've been working with my brother on his handwriting for years now. Only the promise of him being able to create his own explosive seals has gotten him to focus on learning.
That shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. There's very few boys in shinobi villages that don't like the idea of blowing things up. As I said though, Neji will be tricky.
Unlike my other two students, he won't be able to practice at home. His clan elders would never allow it. Notwithstanding the fact that Neji is emotionally unstable.
I couldn't trust him to work on his own. Sealing is dangerous. It requires supervision. Not only that, but there's a chance he might try and jump the gun.
For him to reach an adequate level to attemp to remove his seal, will take years. I need to stress the importance of patience on him. Subltety as well.
His seal after all is one of his weaknesses. Emotionally that is. All it would take is someone mentioning it to set him off. Sigh. I really don't make it easy for myself.
I don't regret it though. I genuinely believe there's so much potential in the three of them. One of them's potential being realised came about too late in my opinion.
One never got to realise her potential at all. The final one's abilities plateaued and died young. All these issues need to be addressed.
I've decided that for the first month we won't be taking missions at all. The entire month will be intense training. I intend on working them into the ground.
The second month is when they'll start D rank missions. For that month I intend on only doing a single D rank per day. The rest of the day will then be spent on training. I intend on keeping that pace for 2 months.
None of the three actually require money so it's pointless wasting time on D ranks. The plus of course is that they'll have the time to get stronger. It's only around the fourth month of us as a team that I intend on them taking C ranks.
The fact of the matter is that for a team to be eligible to take part in the Chunin Exams, a certain number of missions must be completed first.
Not only that, it would be foolish to enter a team that has no real combat experience. I won't be pulling any punches.
The following Monday as they arrived at the training field, I had a surprise for them. I'd procured chakra paper. I removed them from a pocket and showed them to my team.
" I want you three to take a look at this. It's chakra paper. They are made from special trees that have been fed chakra. Once you channel chakra through them, they'll reveal what your affinity is. "
" Go on. Don't be shy. Each of you take one and channel your chakra through the paper. " Naruto and Yakumo looked excited, whereas Neji looked sceptical.
Nevertheless, they each took one, and started channeling. The results were slightly surprising. Naruto's paper split right through the middle, Yakumo's caught fire and the biggest surprise came from Neji.
Instead of darkening which would indicate Earth style, his paper crinkled. I couldn't stop my brows from raising. The Hyuuga are traditionally Earth natured. What are the odds that both he and Hinata would buck the trend.
I could see the confusion on their faces so I explained. " When your paper is cut up, wind is your element, when it burns, fire is of course your element. "
" When it darkens and then crumbles, earth is your element, when it gets wet then water is your element. Neji, you however are a surprise. When the paper crinkles, then lightning is your element. "
" Your clan is usually predominantly earth natured. That's why the stances of the Gentle Fist are so rigid. " I could see the furrow on his brow. He looked worried. I reassured him.
" It isn't anything bad Neji. On the contrary. It is the perfect element for fast attacks and indeed speed in general. But anyway. I'm going to create 2 shadow clones. One will go with Naruto, one with Yakumo. Neji you will be with me. "
After I create the clones, the other two move away from Neji and I towards the ends of the training ground.
" There's no need to look apprehensive Neji. Infact, you and I are going to have a long conversation about your goals, and how I'm going to help you achieve them. "
He looks surprised. I give him a wry smile. This conversation we're going to have right now is going to set the tone for our relationship in the future.
I afterall, do want to help him. Teach him. Guide him. I can only do that if he's willing though. If he's willing to look beyond the narrow confines of his clan and their dogma, and eventually to break free of them.
" Neji, you have incredible potential, but it's hamstrung by a number of factors. The main ones being your clan. Another being your attitude. I'm going to ask you a question. The answer will determine how your training is to take place for the rest of the time that you are my student. "
" Do you wish to be strong? I have no doubt that what the Academy teachers say about you are true. That you are a genius. I have no doubt, that despite you being from the branch house of the Hyuuga, you will be able to master higher forms of the Gentle Fist without even being taught. "
" I have no doubt as well, that you could be the first of the current generation of Genin to reach Jounin. But then what? Not too long after that, your strength will plateau. "
" Your clan's signature taijutsu is indeed powerful, but despite what your Clan Elders have drilled into your head, it is not the most powerful taijutsu form there is. "
" Within this village, there's a Jounin, my former sensei infact, that possesses a taijutsu form who's power is incredible. Going all out, using a forbidden jutsu which compliments his form, he's able to achieve a level of power tens of times greater than the five kage. "
" You see the point I'm trying to make don't you? No member of your clan has ever been a S rank shinobi. That's because of your clan's rigid adherence to tradition. "
" The team you are currently part of was hand picked by me. We, and I'm including myself in this, are the most powerful shinobi of our generation. Afterall there's no doubting my power, when you consider that I'm a year younger than you, yet am a Jounin. "
" You have a choice to make. Likely the hardest of your life so far. Do you wish to be a Hyuuga, or do you wish to be Neji. I will break your bones, your will, the very limits of your body and when I'm through with you, not even you will be able to recognise yourself. "
" I offer you the chance to climb out of the vast shadow cast by your clan. I offer you the chance to be great as no Hyuuga has ever been before. I offer you the chance to be acknowledged by everyone for your own achievements and not the lingering, pervasive reputation of your clan. "
" What do you say to that Neji? " As I'm speaking I'm watching his expression. It changes throughout my speech. First scepticism. Then amazement. Then wariness, shock, anger, fear. Finally contemplation.
I don't rush him though. He has to come to his own conclusions. Make his own choices. Live his own best life. Even at this very moment, I'm not completely sure what he's reaction will be.
The birds are chirping and in the background I can hear my clones speaking to Naruto and Yakumo. I say nothing though. I don't want to interrupt the flow of Neji's thought. After a few minutes though I can see his face smoothing out, and finally he says...
" I must admit sensei, part of me is sceptical. Has been ever since I found out who my sensei was going to be. I was dismayed when I found out it was you. "
" An eleven year old girl. A year younger than me. Still, I can't deny the fact that you are strong. Far more so than I am. Afterall you are a Jounin, whereas I am not. "
" Your rank is a testament to your skill, I acknowledge that. What you say about me and my clan is true as well...I want to argue with what you say so badly, but I cannot refute the facts you stated. "
" I have thought on what you said. It was harder to come to this conclusion that I could possibly have imagined. I've made up my mind though. "
" I do want to be strong. Stronger than any Hyuuga has ever been before. So strong, that nobody can say my success is due to my clan or heritage. I choose to be Neji, as you say. "
My eyebrows arch as he gives his little speech. At the end I smile though. " Very well Neji, find a few leaves and let us begin your lightning elemental training.
With clone 1 and Naruto
" Alright Naruto, we'll now begin learning a B rank jutsu. It's called the Wind Style Drilling Air Bullet. You take a deep breath infused with wind natured chakra, slam a hand into your stomach to release it, and exhale a powerful conical shaped mass of wind that can destroy trees and boulders and yes, probably pulp people as well. "
" If you manage to complete the jutsu in a week, I'll teach you an A rank area effect jutsu. Now don't get me wrong. The Drilling Air Bullet won't be the only thing you'll be working on. "
" You'll also begin making storage seals. So make 10 clones maximum and have them working on the jutsu. I'll show you the hand signs. Then you and I will move towards the other side of the clearing and start with sealing. Do you have any questions? "
After he indicated excitedly that he didn't, I showed him the hand signs for the jutsu. He then created the clones and they spaced out to begin working on it.
" Now remember, I said you can only use 10 clones, but if any of them pop then you can replace them okay? Good now let's go. "
That being said, we move to the other side of the clearing and I remove the supplies the original me gave so that Naruto and I can begin.
With clone 2 and Yakumo
Yakumo looks excited. Almost as much as Naruto. I guess they all are eager to learn new things. After we've come to a stop, I turn and look directly at her.
" Yakumo, as you know, my skill with genjutsu is pretty much nonexistent. Thankfully your uncle Unkai and your clan have the talent. "
" You are therefore to train slightly lighter than your two teamates. After all, exhaustion clouds the mind and you need your full mental faculties in order to realise your potential in genjutsu. "
" What you and I will work on is your physical conditioning and your ninjutsu. Now as you know, I applied a resistance seal to your body. "
" That is only on the first level though. I will now increase it to the second level, after which you will then run 5 laps around the training ground to warm up. "
" When you return, we will work on you learning the body flicker technique. Generally speaking, it is a Chunin level technique, however as you possess the best chakra control of your team, but paradoxically are the slowest, this technique will even the odds. "
" I won't lie to you Yakumo, I have big plans for this team. I will not allow any slacking off or quitting. I want you to put in all the effort you are capable of and then exceed even that. "
" Your clan itself has a lot of hopes for your future. I know you want to make them proud. Therefore only the very best will do. Do you have any questions? "
" Yes I do sensei. Do you really think I can become strong? Without my Ido kekkei genkai I don't think I'll be much help to our team. "
I shake my head. " That is where you are wrong Yakumo, you have more potential than you realise. In fact there's a reason I'm teaching you ninjutsu that has nothing to do with broadening your skill repertoire. "
" You actually have considerable reserves for a kunoichi. In fact you have more chakra than Neji. Genjutsu as you know, requires fine control. "
" Now usually, when one has larger reserves, chakra control becomes harder to attain, fortunately your Ido negates the need for it. Skill at genjutsu is literally in your blood. "
" As you know, your abilities are able to physically affect people, ordinary genjutsu is all mental. Your powers however, at the moment can only be channeled through art or drawings. "
" Naturally, in a fight you won't have time to draw. That is a problem that sealing masters face as well. The solution to that is of course premade seals. "
" That is what you're going to work on with Unkai and sometimes with me. You will have premade drawings or paintings that you will keep sealed on your person. "
" When the time comes, you'll simply unseal it, call upon the power of your Ido, then infuse the painting or drawing with your chakra and thus activate a genjutsu. "
" I will while you're a Genin, only teach you two C rank fire jutsu. The phoenix flower, which is among my favourites and the fire ball jutsu. You're probably wondering why only two. "
" The fact of the matter is that ninjutsu will initially only be a supplementary technique for you. As your reserves grow however, more will be taught. "
" Yakumo, you have a unique gift. Unlike the Gentle Fist, which I'll be slightly weaning your team mate Neji of, your genjutsu is way more versatile and useful. "
" The end goal here, is that when you're a Jounin, you can simply wrest control of other genjutsu enemy shinobi try to cast. Yes. I'm including those used by way of the Sharingan. "
" With the decline of your clan, their clan had been acknowledged as the village's premier genjutsu experts. With your Ido that's obviously not the case. "
" In any case, I have laid out my expectations for you, it's now up to you to meet them. Now, watch my hands very carefully. I'll show you the signs for the body flicker jutsu. If you should manage to get it down in a week, I shall reward you. "
I then demonstrate the handsigns as she watches eagerly. She looks determined. I wouldn't be surprised if she does get this jutsu down in a week. I smirk.
Over the course of the day as Naruto and Yakumo work on their skills with my clones, I oversee Neji's attempts at nature transformation. To be honest I'm not exactly sure how it's done so I decided to create a new way for him to do it.
Basically what he had to do was create sparks between his fingers. I told him to focus his chakra in his hand and try and ' spark ' it, till he starts to see results.
The funny thing is, by the end of the days training, despite my vague instructions he actually managed to do it. How you may ask? One word. Byakugan.
Him being able to see his chakra is obviously a boon to his training. I was prepared to have to go ask the Hokage for the proper training method but I'm glad I didn't have to.
For the rest of the week I intend on letting him try and build the intensity of the sparks until lighting arcs between his fingers.
All in all the rest of the day passes by quickly. Soon enough I dismiss all them to head home and do their own thing.
With a cheering Naruto leading the way they all leave. Huh. Maybe I'm not such a bad teacher after all hahaha...