I do not own Naruto or any associated characters. (Except for my OCs.)
Sensei buys each of us chakra weights. I strap the bands to my wrists and ankles. They're red with a simple seal that allows you to increase or decrease the weight by adding or releasing chakra. I set each of the weights at 5 pounds, planning to increase them at the end of each month.
"Sensei..." Saburo complains. "Do we have to wear these? They're so heavy."
"Yeah, you do. They'll help increase strength and speed. That will be crucial in kenjutsu. And If you don't like the weights, you'll like training even less."
"Really? Why is that Yokuto-Sensei?" Kosuke asks.
"I'm not supposed to tell you this, but it's likely Konoha will be going to war soon." All three of us pale at that. "I'd rather overwork you now if it means you'll have an advantage on the battlefield. As such, we'll be training from six to four each day. We'll train in set blocks. We'll start with stretching and endurance training for an hour, taijutsu for two hours, teamwork and strategy for thirty minutes, ninjutsu and genjutsu for two hours, then stealth and tracking for an hour. After that we'll break for lunch. After lunch you guys can work on whatever you want to. Medical ninjutsu, kenjutsu, or developing your own taijutsu style, it doesn't matter. At the end of each day, we'll have a free for all spar. We won't be taking any missions until later. Got it?"
"Hai Yakuto-Sensei." We chorus.
Ten hours each day is a lot. I'm dead tired everyday after training. Kosuke-nii just smirks in amusement at my suffering.
Thankfully, we take numerous breaks. Granted, our breaks consist of memorizing important facts and learning theory, but at least it helps counterbalance the energy intensive training.
I work on developing my own taijutsu style during self style relies on flexibility, adgility, critical hits, and redirecting your opponents blows. It's very fluid, making it hard to distinguish one move from the next. At some point, I'll want to incorporate some sort of weapon into the style.
I also learn how to use chakra strings. It takes a bit to coax my chakra into long thin threads, but I get there. It does wonders for my chakra control. I'm not planning on using them for puppetry or anything, but they're really convenient and veristle. I can use them to retrieve a disarmed weapon or to grab a snack from the kitchen.
I learn to water walk as well. Both Saburo and Hisao can already do it, but it doesn't take me long to catch up. My Chakra control is decent enough and I already know treewalking.
With me developing my own stuff and Hisao practicing medical ninjutsu at the hospital, Saburo monopolizes Sensei's time. They have kenjutsu spars, and Yokuto-Sensei is surprisingly good with a tanto. I suspect that Sensei used to be a member of ANBU. Tantos are standard ANBU equipment. Not to mention, most Inuzaka stick with taijutsu and their clan techniques instead of branching out into other disciplines like kenjutsu.
About three weeks after graduation, we go on our first D-ranked mission. It's the capture Tora mission, and I swear that Tora is either a nin Cat or, ignoring the fact that Chakra beasts can't have children, the child of the Nibi. There is no way that Tora is a normal house cat. If I was any slower dodging her claws, she would have scratched my left eye out.
It takes us 5 hours to catch Tora, and in the end, all three of us are covered in scratches, dirt, and twigs.
I hold Tora out in front of me, keeping her at arm's length. Both Saburo and Hisao stare warily at her. "That cat is a demon." Saburo shudders. "I think I'll have nightmares. Why did you have us take that mission Sensei? Why?"
Sensei smirks. "That way I can threaten you with taking the Tora mission again if you complain about D-Ranks."
My jaw drops. That's definitely a slytherin move right there. "Sensei." I whine. "Would you really make your poor genin suffer through that again? You're an Inuzuka, you know exactly how evil cats can be."
Sensei smiles sheepishly. "Ahh, no comment."
We pass Tora over to Madame Shikoku who squeezes the poor cat half to death. I'd feel bad for Tora, but the little demon deserves to suffer.
"Taking another D-ranked mission?" The Hokage asks. He definitely looks younger than in the anime. His hair has fewer grey streaks and his face isn't as wrinkly. The Hokage tries to be there as genin teams take their first missions. He's the village leader so it looks nice if he personally gives each team their mission.
"Hai Hokage-Sama. What missions are available?"
The Hokage ruffles through a stack of papers. "We have dog walking, baby sitting, and picking up trash."
"We'll take the mission to pick up trash Hokage-Sama." Yokuto-Sensei says after a minute of contemplation.
We leave the Hokage's office, and Sensei quickly skims through the scroll. "We're picking up trash in one of the rivers. I expect each of you to make use of waterwalking when needed."
"Got it." I hum in acknowledgment.
It's quiet for a minute or two before Saburo speaks up. "Heyyy Hisao-Senpai, Aka-Chan, we should compete to see who can pick up the most trash. I bet I'd win."
"Bring it on Saburo-kun." I smirk.
Sensei grins. "You guys are having a contest then? I doubt any of you can beat me."
"An old man like you could never beat us." I sass.
"Old? I guess I can't help you pick up trash then. I might strain my back or pull a muscle." Yokuto-Sensei quips. He tends to be serious during training, but on D-Ranks and outside of training, he's always willing to crack jokes.
As we reach the river, Sensei hands us each a trash bag and all three of us run out onto the water. I create several chakra strings, using them to pull trash out from the water.
Saburo jolts in surprise, falling into the water when he sees the chakra strings. Sputtering he coughs out "Gah, Aka-chan, that's cheating."
I raise an eyebrow. "Hisao-kun is using chakra strings too."
Saburo glares accusingly at the older boy. "Hisao-senpai, how could you?"
"Ah, fairly easily. I have good chakra control."
"Gahh, you know that's not what I mean." Saburo pouts.
Hisao's lips twitch upwards slightly at the response; it's the beginnings of a smirk. He's pretty shy, but after being around us for a few weeks he's more confident, even cracking the occasional joke.
We have the river cleaned up in no time. Hisao and I gather more trash than Saburo, but that's to be expected. Chakra strings definitely made it easier.
"Okay kids. I'll hand in the mission report to Hokage-Sama. Meet me at training ground 11 for sparring. I perk up at that. Free for all spars are definitely my favorite part of training. We can use any techniques we want, and whoever gets the most hits in by the end of thirty minutes wins. It's super fun.
Sensei is already at the training field when we arrive. We all form the seal of confrontation, and the fight begins.
As I'm still trying to develop my own fighting style, most of my moves are standard Uchiha ones: genjutsu, basic fire ninjutsu, interceptor style taijutsu. I prefer not to use kunai and shuriken, but I'm a decent shot.
I jump backwards, throwing kunai at both Hisao and Saburo. Saburo reflects them with his tanto while Hisao vanishes in a shunsin. I roll out of the way as he reappears behind me, narrowly dodging a chakra scalpel. With a small genjutsu, I make myself appear to be slightly more to the right than I actually am. I attack Hisao, ducking under his blows, and just barely scratching him with a thrown kunai. "Kai!" He breaks the genjutsu. Saburo manages to hit Hisao when he's in the midst of breaking my genjutsu.
I spit a great fireball jutsu at Saburo, throwing several shuriken to the right and left of him. He dodges the fire ball, but doesn't notice the shurikens until it's too late.
Hisao and Saburo double team me, each getting several strikes in before Hisao launches a sneak attack at Saburo, resulting in me and him working together instead.
We switch alliances on whim, backstabbing each other in order to win. I'd say it's bad for teamwork, but it's actually quite the opposite: it helps us learn to operate in pairs instead of a group of three, teaches us to fight two opponents at once, and teaches us to watch our back.
Eventually Yakuto-sensei calls time. "Right, good job everyone. Aka-chan, your genjutsu is coming along nicely. Hisao-kun, good use of chakra-scalpels in stealth attacks. Saburo-kun, you had some really well timed sword strikes. Well fought, all of you." We grin, high-fiving.
"So who won Sensei?" Saburo eagerly asks.
"It was pretty close, but Hisao-kun ended up winning."
I grin, playfully elbowing Hisao. "Good job."
"Thanks." He smiles shyly.
We go on several more D-ranks, training intermittently, but eventually Sensei allows us to take a C-rank mission.
"Yes! No more boring old D-ranks." Saburo whoops in delight at the news.
I snicker. "Ahh Saburo-kun just because Sensei is letting us do C-ranks doesn't mean we'll stop taking D-ranks."
His eyes widened in horror. "What?!"
"Aka-chan is right" Sensei laughs. "You'll only stop doing D-ranks when you make chunin."
"No…" Saburo slumps in defeat.
"You could always hire another genin team to do the D-rank that you were hired to do, but that would mean you wouldn't get mission pay." Hisao comments.
"Ahh! Great idea Senpai."
"You do realize he was joking, don't you?" I ask.
"Whatever." Saburo chuckles sheepishly before cheering happily. "We're going on a C-rank! What's our mission Sensei?"
"We're escorting a merchant to Haru no Machi, a large city on the outskirts of the land of fire. It should only take a week. Make sure to pack clothes, rations, weaponry, and a bed roll. We'll meet at seven by the gates. Got it?" We all nod in agreement. "Good. You guys can head home for the day."
"Really?!" Saburo questions, lighting up in delight. "We get half the day off?"
"That's what I said. Now leave before I change my mind."
"You got it Sensei!" He quickly scampers off, Hisao and I following.