Naruto snarled as he dodged a punch. His teammate Sai was in many ways weird. He was pale, with dark hair and a weird smile. He also had a weird family technique. But he could fight. That's way Kakashi-sensei had him and Naruto spar constantly. Sai also seemed to have a lot of stamina for a genin. Most of the guys in the academy couldn't keep up with Naruto for three hours without getting tired, let alone spar. Naruto growled as he went for a left hook.
Kakashi smiled as his last genin ran up and down the tree trunk infront of him. "Good Sakura. I want it done another hundred times!"
"Kakashi-sensei! I need a break. I can't feel my legs!" The pink-haired young shinobi whined.
"I don't care if you can't move, you will give me a hundred more. You have the lowest reserves here, and if you are ever going to be of use, you need to build that up!" Kakashi referred to the first day of their training three weeks ago.
FLASHBACK
"Team 7 will be under Kakashi Hatake. He is an A-class Jonin of Konoha and known as the Copy-Ninja. This team will consist of Naruto Uzumaki, Sai Hino, and Sakura Haruno. You will meet on the roof." Iruka read from the blue scroll on his desk, making eye contact with each new genin. 'I hope they are ready. From what the rumors are, they are in for hell.'
"Team 8 will be under Kurenai Yühi. She is a jonin who specializes in support and Genjutsu-based assassination. This team will consist of Hinata Hyuuga, Kiba Inuzuka, and Ino will meet in room 13" Confusion ran through the classroom at that announcement. Ino was supposed to be with Shikamaru and Choji right? Just like their fathers. Sensing the confusion, Iruka spoke," Before anyone gets too upset, know that the Sensei will explain the reasons the teams were created, and their purpose."
The room slowly quieted, and Iruka continued telling the young genin their placements. "Team 9 is still in rotation, so Team 10 is under Asuma Sarutobi, an A-class Jonin of Konoha. He is known in certain circles as the Final Smoke, and specializes in Close Frontal Combat. Under him will be Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, and Shino Aburame. You will meet in Room 2"
Slowly Iruka went through the entire roster, placing genin in teams of three while explaining a little bit about their sensei. By lunch time, he finally finished the list and told his charges, "As of now, you are Genin of the Leaf. As of now, you are as much adults as I am. As of now, you fight for everyone in this village. This is your home, and those around you are your comrades. Class, what is rule number 1 of Konoha Shinobi?!"
The class roared," All shinobi are comrades. We never leave each other behind!"
Iruka looked on proudly as his students spoke the most basic lesson of the Will of Fire. 'They will be great. And these Jonin will make sure it happens.' "Dismissed for lunch. I want every team back here in thirty minutes!" Iruka ordered the genin, and started packing up his stuff. He wouldn't be back in this room unless he taught another class. Judging from the scroll he got that morning however, such a thing was not meant to be. He was being ordered to move to the administrative building, and that his teaching assignment was now complete.
The classroom swiftly emptied, leaving only Iruka who finished placing his last items in the satchel he carried to class every morning. He looked around the classroom, and a smile appeared on his face before he grabbed a piece of chalk.'I remember my Academy Instructor doing this.' Slowly he wrote on the board, making sure he wrote exactly what he wanted to say. He stepped back and placed the chalk piece on the desk, and disappeared in a swirl of leaves.
The genin slowly trickled into the room chatting amongst themselves. The desks were slowly filled and one by one, the genin looked at the board to see it covered with a single sentence. Naruto smiled at the phrase, while Sai cocked his head in slight confusion. Sakura and Ino both reread the sentence trying to memorize it while Choji and Kiba both mumbled the sentence over and over as if trying to find its deepest meanings. Hinata and Shino both read the sentence quietly while Shikamaru snorted after reading it once.
"Whatcha problem Shikamaru?" Naruto yelled from across the room.
"Nothing you troublesome blond. I was amused by the sentence. Especially since its placed there every graduation year. Remember our first year? We are placed in this room and there is a single sentence that is on the board as we walk in. Anyone else remember it?" Shikamaru asked the room at large.
"Oh yea, that's right!" Ino thought back fondly. "That was so long ago Shika, I'm surprised you remember that!"
"That was hard to forget Ino. They are the words of the First. 'We are those who endure; we are Shinobi' is also important to each level of the corps. We will be asked to do terrible things Ino for our village and comrades, and we must endure it. We chose this life of hardship, and as a result we must endure every burden that is placed on us. I'd rather just nap but this is reality I suppose." The pineapple haired youth spoke to a captivated room of his peers.
"Very good kid. We may be able to make actual shinobi out of you yet!" A deep voice spoke from the front of the room.
Every genin looked towards the voice in shock, as seven jonin leaned against the board, the desk or the doorway as if they were always there. The one that spoke was a mountainous man with a small beard and cigarette in his mouth. He wore a pure white sash with the Fire Nation's symbol in red.
"Oh, we got some that have some reflexes. Check out the blond one Kakashi, I think that one is yours." A beautiful woman with dark hair and red eyes spoke to a man with only a single eye uncovered and gravity defying silver hair.
Naruto upon hearing the voice, had pulled a kunai from his pouch and was crouched by his desk.
"Hmmm. He isn't holding the kunai correctly for a defensive position, and the others didn't even react except to look. We have a ton of work to do Kurenai." The cyclopean jonin replied.
"Team Ten, I want you in room two in three minutes." The bearded smoker spoke directly to Shikamaru before disappearing in a puff of smoke.
"Team Eight, room thirteen, same time frame." The brunette said before fading away as if she was a mirage in the desert.
One by one, the sensei each told their teams where to meet and in what amount of time. By threes the genin ran, walked, or in one case crawled out of the door to start their careers. Finally, only one jonin remained, and only three genin were seated.
"Team Seven. Roof. You have two minutes. Go." The silver haired shinobi vanished in a blast of white smoke, and by the time it cleared the three genin were gone.
The three genin rocketed through the doorway at the rooftop. Naruto skidded to a stop as three kunai slammed into the rooftop infront of him "Shit!"
Sai grabbed Sakura who was right beside him, and tossed her to the right as he dove to the left. Naruto ducked, and pulled one of the kunai out from in front of him.
"That was adequate I suppose. You all failed, but at least you aren't dead." The jonin spoke from three meters infront of the genin. "Blondie, what did you fail to do?"
"How the hell should I know!? You just attacked us!" Naruto yelled.
"Pinkie, what did you fail to do?" He ignored the blondes cries and promises of revenge.
"I didn't react sensei. I froze." Sakura mumbled the latter part of her response.
"Correct. Sai, you are the only one that actually reacted correctly. What did Naruto do incorrectly?" Kakashi asked his palest charge.
"Naruto-san didn't warn us of incoming projectiles, or react offensively. He forced us to have to be defensive." Sai spoke in a measured voice as he let the kunai he had in his hand slip back into his pouch.
"Correct. Naruto, when in front you are always on alert. You are the point of the spear, the first response. As such you have to respond. Not just state 'oh shit'. That doesn't help your team mates. That only ends in every single one of you dead. Or worse." The jonin lectured. "Sakura, when in dangerous situations, do not think. React. We will work on getting your reactions down so that in another situation like that, you don't have to think. You react, get distance, place defenses up, and then think. Now, I have read your files, so I know each of you. But I want you to introduce yourselves so that each of you know each other. Tell me what your skills are, and why you think you are here. Pinkie, go."
"I am Sakura Haruno, and I am good at strategy, memorization, and I have good control. I think I am on this team as support." Sakura dutifully answered.
"I am Sai Hino, and I specialize in traps, and my family jutsu. I am here for counter attack." Sai answered the look that Kakashi sent him.
"I'm Naruto Uzumaki. I think I'm good at everything, but Jiji says I am a chakra powerhouse. He says I am primarily frontal assault and reactionary combat!" The loudmouth brat responded to the question.
"Essentially correct. Sakura, your file states that you were great at support based roles during practice. You excel in non-linear combat. Sai, you are great at combating multiple enemies, and are very good at mid to long ranges. Naruto, as you bluntly put it, you are a chakra monster and a stamina freak. You are going to be the sword of the team. If there is a singular enemy that needs eliminated, it will be your place to do so. I am specially equipped to teach you all. I have no specialization. There is not a shinobi art that I am at least proficient in, though I am best at ninjutsu and linear combat. Starting tomorrow and every day following you will meet at training ground 7 for training. Normally, we would test you to see if you are able to be genin, however, some of the sensei have orders to forgo that test. I may or may not be one of them. Prepare for anything. Dismissed." Kakashi disappeared in a poof of white smoke.
The next day, the training from hell began.
FLASHBACK END
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Drip. Drip. Rattle Rattle Rattle. Drip.
The water fell from a place far out of sight, not that gigantic fox minded. He was curled up rather warmly on a strip of dry land. A single crimson slitted orb peered at the humanoid that slowly moved his hundreds of chains. A massive claw-like nail with portions of a digit still attached was shoved into his stomach. His long blood red hair hung nearly touching the ivory colored addition to his anatomy.
A wet laugh shakes the being's chest he settles in a new position. "You know Kyuubi-sama. These past twelve years, I have learned so much… I learned so much in deed. Each of the Biju are a personification of something aren't they? Hehehe. Even the humans know that. In fact, they know what each personifies oh yes… each is a human fear and attribute. One is madness, two is fear of death, three is drowning, four is natural disaster, five is heat, six is unlikely predators, seven is the urge to fly, eight is strength of mind and body. Oh but nine... nine is unique is it not Kyuubi-sama? Nine is that which even humans don't understand. Hehe but I do. We do. We understand Kyuubi-sama. The humans assume you are rage, malice and anger. But no... no you are much more. Rage, malice and anger are not the beginnings but the results. You are survival, adaption and perseverance. Your chakra tells tales Kyuubi-sama, as I slowly eat it. It tells me wonderful things. Of how you used to be the weakest of your siblings, how you used to have no control. It tells me of when you trained for eons, and clawed your way into being the best. Oh how it tells me you are the best. Your very nature, is to be ever improving. That is where your rage stems isn't Kyuubi-sama? Being pent-up? Unable to imp-"
"Be silent. Until you are spoken to, be silent." The giant fox interrupted the maddened mumblings of the being in front of him.
"But Viscrag is always being spoken to, Kyuubi-sama. Oh yes.. But who said anything about Viscrag talking to you?" The being laughed as the fox responded with a roar.
"Wanna know what else I've learned? I'm not alone in this world." The being laughed heartedly at the silence of the Nine Tailed Fox.
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As Kakashi blocked an overhead kick from Sai, he pondered his students improvements since that first meeting. Naruto was already gaining chakra control, and had thirty clones working on learning basic wind and fire manipulation. Oddly, wind came naturally to the blonde in ways that Kakashi didn't even understand. Kakashi remembered the first time he handed the boy chakra paper.
FLASHBACK
Naruto, Sai, and Sakura were seated around a tree trunk battered and breathing heavily. It was only the third day of training and already they loathed their sensei's existence.
"Good. You all lasted until noon this time. Guess that means I'll introduce something else." Kakashi reached into his pouch and the genin tensed. They relaxed slightly as he pulled out three squares of paper. "Very good! You didn't completely relax. Yes, it is possible to maim or even kill with paper. So it was wise of you to not let your guard down completely. But don't worry, this paper is relatively harmless. It chakra paper. Naruto what is Chakra paper?"
"Isn't that paper that is from those one trees that are constantly fed chakra from something or another?" The whiskered shinobi panted out as he tried to remember a lesson he never actually attended.
"Baka, its paper made from the Miroi tree from the Land of Iron. It's the only tree that regrows a limb after its cut. It does so because of the massive natural chakra rich pool that it has tapped under its roots. It was grown there by Shodaime-sama as a gift to the Samurai nation. They sell it to each village at an equal price." Sakura corrected her teammate.
"Correct Sakura. Now the special property of this paper- "the Sensei began.
"The special property of the paper is that if chakra is pulsed through it, the nature affinity of the chakra is displayed. It will burn, wrinkle, dampen, crumble or be cut if the chakra nature is fire, lightning, water, and wind respectively." Sai cut across their teacher in a voice that could not hid the excitement.
"Sai? Politely, what the hell was that?" Naruto looked at his team mate as if he grew a new head.
"What? The Hino clan are artists by nature. Paper, paint, and such things are what we love, and live for. It just so happens that Chakra paper is a commodity that no one from the clan has ever painted on. Kakashi-sensei- "
"No Sai, your clan is well aware of the Hokage's opinion on using such a resource for your family's teachings." Kakashi glared at his young charge who had the wherewithal to look down ashamed.
"Why can't Sai have a piece to draw on?" Naruto asked both Sai and Kakashi.
"Its theorized that any of my clan's jutsu that would be done on chakra paper would be extremely powerful. Mainly because of the latent chakra amplifications of the paper, it would magnify any technique my family would use. For some of our jutsu, that would be extremely hazardous." Sai replied.
"Also, while Iron sells the paper to each village at an equal price, the price is still high. The tree can only be harvested at certain times, and the paper is not easily made from the harvested limbs. In order to procure enough paper for the Hino clan to perfect clan jutsu using it, the village would go bankrupt swiftly." Kakashi added.
"Not exactly, but price is a factor in the negotiations..." Sai mumbled as he traced circles in the dirt.
"Anyway, back to what the paper is for. You my adorable little genin, are going to pump chakra into the paper so we can understand what your natures are." The sensei of the group smiled at the genin who quickly caught on.
"We're gonna learn jutsu?! YATTA!" Naruto jumped up suddenly energized.
"No, you are going to be learning your affinities. They will shape how you are trained. Each affinity is a part of a person's latent nature. Fire affinities cannot learn via rigid methods. Much as water affinities can't learn without guidance. Each affinity learns differently." Kakashi explained before handing each genin a piece of the paper. "Channel chakra into it, and we will see what you got."
Sakura took a piece of the paper and pushed chakra into it as steadily as possible. Before the watching eye of her sensei, the paper crumbled to dust. 'Good an Earth type. Capable of great defensive and offensive maneuvers.'
Sai plucked a piece from his sensei's waiting hand. Gently caressing the paper with his fingertips, he eased chakra into it. He slowly smiled as the paper curled and became damp. 'Interesting Yin Water. His skill will be in water manipulation.'
Naruto grabbed the final piece and gathered his chakra. "When I unlocked my chakra, I felt free. When I learned my first jutsu, I felt empowered. I know what is about to happen Kakashi-sensei, and I feel so excited!" With that, he let the chakra wisp into the paper.
In a flurry, the paper cut itself multiple times. As the confetti falls, they slowly burn into cinders. 'incredible. A massive wind affinity. He craves freedom like the wind. And will do anything to get it. Hokage-sama will want to know.'
FLASHBACK END
Since that day, he gave Naruto the minimum of instruction, and focused on using the Kage Bushin training technique that Hokage-sama told him to use after informing him of the affinity test. Kakashi grunted as Sakura's fist lightly grazed his spine as he spun way. His eye widened when he heard "Futon: Gale Palm!" The sensei dropped to the ground as forty shurikan split the air where his body once was. Black ropes swiftly wrapped around his limbs, and constricted as if they were snakes. A weight pressed against his back as a kunai lightly touched his throat.
"Yield sensei." Sai stated.
"Very good, you got the first clone." The Kakashi that Sai had pinned exploded into water. "Do it again. I want Sakura to pin this time." The real Kakashi who was leaning against a tree on the side of the field, cracked open a water bottle before flipping through three handsigns. From the water in the bottle another Kakashi rose. 'Soon they will be ready for C ranks. And we will see if this team will survive.'
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Iruka grunted as he drops a pile of scrolls onto the desk. "Here Hokage-sama. We have these to get through by midday!"
"Iruka-kun, take anything from this pile that is not a C-rank or higher and take them to that lazy civilian council. I know for a fact that those haven't been checked over by them yet."
"Yes sir!" He quickly sorted each of the scrolls grabbing 21 D-rank missions. He took those scrolls from the room.
The old man started sorting through the missions, starting with C ranks. 'Hmm. That would be good for Assi's team, they still need to get their first kills. Guy would like this one. Oh, this one is a search mission, looks like Kurenai-chan is getting it. Ah a detective mission, this one would be good for Asuma-kun. What's this?' The old man slowly reread the scroll in front of him. 'Oh wave, that is important. If I remember correctly, Gato recently moved into that area. From the looks of it though, the client is attempting to get an A rank for cheap.' He set the scroll aside as he sorted through the rest of the missions. Luckily there were very few and he finished just as Iruka walked in. "Delivered with instructions Hokage-sama."
"Good Iruka-kun. Take a look at this and tell me your opinion." The eldest Kage in the Elemental Nations tossed the Chunin the wave scroll as he wrote which mission went to which team.
Iruka read through the scroll, a frown creasing his brow. "Hokage-sama, something feels off about this. In the reason for employment, protection detail is stated, but that was the mission parameters. It also doesn't have a set time. But the destination is Wave, who I know have filled out mission requests before. I don't understand."
"Very good. I didn't expect you to even catch something was amiss. You are correct Iruka-kun, Wave has filed requests before, and they were completely accurate at that time. This is a very well disguised attempt to get a squad cheaply. My guess is that Gato who recently moved into the nation, is applying brute pressure."
"Why do you think that Hokage-sama?" Iruka wanted to understand the wizened man's reasoning before agreeing or disagreeing with him.
"Gato has had multiple warnings from Mizu about using criminals as workers. Iwa has also warned him about dodging taxes. Suna has even banned his merchandise from two villages for employing thugs instead of workers from the city. If he has recently expanded into Wave, we must assume that his thugs and 'employees' have as well." The Hokage looked deeply into Iruka's eyes. "The real question is do we send a genin team, or do we decline the mission?"
"Why can't we send an ANBU team, charge Wave for the A rank, and everyone is happy?"
"Because they had a reason for requesting a C-rank. It is likely that it was chosen for the financial aspect. Plus, sending an ANBU team would mean each village would see us as Assassinating Gato, not protecting the client. While most of the major villages know exactly what he is, the smaller villages would be crippled without his wares. And while that outcome is not negative, we cannot look like we did it on purpose. That act alone would band each of the smaller villages against Konoha, and the next war could spark quickly."
"So, you think that we should send genin into a potential warzone to stop a larger war from occurring? Because it sounds like Wave is in a state of civil war." Iruka questioned his leader harshly.
"Iruka-kun, let me ask you something. Would you rather Wave be annexed by Kumo? Because they are the next neighbors that they would go to if we decline. A is not an idiot, he will accept the mission, and his shinobi will complete it. Then he will annex the country 'for its own protection' and Wave will welcome it. Then we will have a Kumo territory right on our border. There is a reason why we are allies with Suna Iruka! It's because during the Third War, that front was hell. We lost more shinobi on that front than all the others combined. All because we had no buffer. We cannot afford to turn down this mission, without hell to pay!" By the end Sarutobi was standing and pacing the room. He plucked his pipe from the desk and swiftly packed it. He took a deep drag after lighting it and blew the smoke out of his nose.
'He looks so fierce. Like an old dragon who has seen too much.' "Hokage-sama, you will do anything to keep war from happening again? Even sacrificing three of the next generation?" Iruka gently asked.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked out at the village he had protected longer than its current generation of citizens had been alive. He gazed fondly at the children he could see playing in the parks, the young couples playfully having an early lunch, at the older shop keepers gleefully selling their wares and finally at the shadows that watched over them protectively. "Iruka-kun, If I could save them all, I would. But such a dream is impossible. Call for Kakashi. He is to come alone."
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Fugaku read through three different reports nearly simultaneously, his sharingan eyes flicking from one to the other, memorizing each detail. 'From the coroner's reports, whoever did this had massive physical strength, but also extreme self-control. Inochi saw from the woman's mind agony, and pain. She was alive for most of it. There were twenty places on the walls were the blood was thinner in a rectangular pattern, implying that seals were placed. Judging from the fact that no one heard anything, they were silencing seals. The question is, how the hell did this fucker kill twenty-three people in less than eight hours. The patrols of the region didn't even see anything enter the damn house.'
"Sir, your wife sent your lunch in. You forgot it this morning." A random Uchiha police officer knocked on the door holding a bento box.
"Thanks Ishi. Is patrol 7 in yet?" Fugaku took the box from his subordinate.
"No, sir, they were due over forty minutes ago." The officer replied.
"Shit. Send patrol 3, and alert the ANBU, I have a bad feeling about this." Fugaku darted out the door still caring his lunch.
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Kakashi arrived in the office in a swirl of leaves. "Hokage-sama?"
"Ahh Kakashi-kun, good. Are you the real one or a clone?" The old man didn't look up from the forms he was rapidly going through.
"I am real, I left a shadow clone with the kids. They are improving sir."
"Good. That is excellent. Your team is going to get a C-rank tomorrow. I will warn you however, that it is not a C-rank mission." The Kage looked up finally to look at his former top ANBU captain.
"Hokage-sama, I would like to politely decline on reasons of member preparation." Kakashi met his leader's eyes with his single uncovered one.
"Denied. This mission is vital for the continuation of the peace that Konoha is under. For all intents and purposes consider this an A-rank. You will be tasked to protect a bridge builder, but your actual mission is to eliminate Gato from Wave, and open Wave to negotiations."
"Sir, are you sure that genin can handle this?" Kakashi questioned before agreeing.
"Kakashi, It's not a matter of if they can handle it. They will handle it. Or they will die for their village."
"Understood Hokage-sama"
