Ch. 3: Shisui's test
"I want to bring peace to the ninja world."
Itachi
"My name is Shisui Uchiha."
Hiro and I graduated from the academy at the top of our class.
"Under myself, you will learn advanced aspects of ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu."
Because we were so young, we were given the opportunity to work with a jonin before joining ANBU.
"Let us start with a test, then."
He threw us a short length of rope.
"Tie one end around Itachi's left hand and the other around Hiro's right."
We did so. We then had to stay within 2 feet of each other.
He then dropped a kunai on the ground behind him.
"Try to grab this kunai. I will fight you to defend it. However, you must not untie the rope. Start."
I started toward Shisui, expecting Hiro to flank his other side. However, she instead leapt into the air.
Each pulled the other backwards, and we both fell sprawled to the ground.
Shisui laughed. "So these are the so-called jonin level students Minato has told me so much about. It seems he has misjudged you."
My eyes narrowed. "Hiro, this time I'll go to his right, you to his left. We'll jump over him and grab the kunai. Ready, on my command."
She nodded.
"Go!"
At first, the plan worked excellently. We flanked Shisui and prepared to execute the jump.
"Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!"
A wave of fire erupted from Shisui's mouth.
Oh snap. I pulled Hiro downwards to avoid the jutsu, and pretty soon we were in the grass, just as before.
I spit grass out of my mouth.
"Shisui! How are we supposed to take the kunai when you're using ninjutsu on us?"
"You could easily have countered that with a shield jutsu."
"We can't do hand seals, as you may have noticed!"
He gave us a baleful look.
"Why not? Do you not have two hands that are free? Is that not enough?"
I blinked. He was right. Hiro's left hand and my right hand.
We could have executed the hand seals together.
Shisui sighed and threw us the kunai.
"Do you know now? It is not enough to work together. Teamwork is an illusion. There is no team, only one ninja, with two different aptitudes. The two of you must exist as one person. You must jump to the same conclusions. Only then can a two-man cell such as you function properly."
I looked at Hiro. She was staring at him with a mesmerized look on her face.
"Thank you, Shisui."
He chuckled. "And one more thing. I am your superior, and should be treated as such. You will call me Sensei."
Hiro and I replied at the exact same time, articulation and all. "Yes, Sensei!"