Demon: Welcome back to the Orphan Trio.
GoodWriter: I wonder what's going to happen now.
Creeper: If I had to guess, either a bunch of stupid chores for a chapter, or we go straight into the Wave mission.
Demon: Well, you're partially right.
Lexboss: By the way, Creeper. Are you feeling alright?
Creeper: Never better. I guess a little murder spree was all I needed.
Demon: Well, just in case you go apeshit again, I have vials of our blood on standby.
Lexboss: How'd you get my blood?
Demon: I took some when you were sleeping.
GoodWriter: Demon, that's pretty fucked up, even for you.
Demon: Look, I'm trying to keep us all from dying by a homicidal nut… no offense, Creeper.
Creeper: None taken.
Demon: So, would you rather I take some blood to save you later, or let you get splattered over the wall?
Lexboss: Fair enough.
GoodWriter: True.
Creeper: Can we get to the story?
Demon: Right. Enjoy the chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto in any way. Nor do I own Ninja Warrior/Sasuke in any way.
"Talking" – Thinking – Demon/Summoning Speaking/Jutsu – Demon/Summon Thinking
The Orphan Trio, Chapter 11: First C-Rank
Two days later, team 7 was relaxing on a stump in training ground 7, waiting patiently for their ever-tardy sensei. As they guessed, Kakashi would show up about 3 hours late, so the trio arrived at 9:30, giving them a half-hour wait until the Jonin arrived. Toshi was still reading his Konoha history book, while Kurohi and Naruto were reading the next chapter of the Dark user's manga.
Around 10 a.m., Kakashi walked into the training ground, surprisingly not reading his porn book. The trio put away their reading materials, wondering which excuse their sensei would use this time.
"Sorry I'm late, team. I had to stop over and pick some things up." The Jonin stated, reaching into his flak jacket's pocket. Not giving the trio time to make a remark, Kakashi pulled out four strips of white paper, handing one to each of the trio and keeping one himself. The trio looked at their papers in confusion, not knowing what this was about.
Kakashi cleared his throat, getting the Genins' attention. "Normally, I wouldn't do this with fresh Genin, but you three surprised me somewhat during the test. So, today I'm going to test your affinity." Naruto was confused and looked at Kakashi. "What do you mean affinity, Kakashi-sensei?"
Toshi spoke up, answering Naruto's question. "Our affinity is the element or elements we are strongly associated with biologically. Basically, it's the element you are strongest with." Kakashi nodded in agreement. "Very good, Toshi. Now, we will test your affinity with the paper." Seeing they were about to ask, the Jonin decided to explain.
"The paper in your hand is known as chakra paper. It is made from trees grown using chakra. With it, you can determine what elements you have. Observe." To the Genins' surprise, Kakashi's paper crinkled greatly. Kakashi explained. "See, my paper crinkled. This means my affinity is Lightning. The five elements and their reactions are as follows:
"Lightning will cause the paper to crinkle. Water will cause the paper to become wet, Wind splits the paper in half, Fire causes the paper to burn into ashes, and Earth makes the paper crumble to dust. All you have to do is pump a little chakra into the paper, and you'll get your result. Toshi, you're first."
Toshi held up his paper and put some chakra into it. A second later, half of the paper crumbled away while the other half crinkled. Then, the dust flew to the crinkled paper and stuck to the paper. Kakashi wasn't very surprised, nor was Toshi. "As I had guessed, you have a primary affinity for Earth and a slightly weaker affinity to Lightning. The fact the dust attached to the crinkled paper shows the Magnet element as well, as the paper attracted the dust to it." Toshi nodded in understanding before Kurohi held his up.
Kurohi's paper turned a pitch black before burning away. Kakashi eye-smiled at the paper's reaction. "So, clearly you have a Fire affinity, as well as your Dark Kekkei-Genkai. I wasn't sure how the paper would react to that element, though. Very interesting." The Jonin said before turning to Naruto. "Alright, Naruto, your turn."
Naruto put a little chakra into his paper, not knowing what his element would be. To the surprise of everyone, Naruto's paper split in half, and then a small corner of one side burned, but just barely. Naruto was surprised he had two elements, even if one was weak. Kakashi was mostly surprised because Wind is a rare element in Konoha. Moreover, his father had Lightning and his mother had Water.
"Well, this is interesting. Naruto, you surprise me again. Wind is very rare in Konoha. The Fire element is fairly common in the Land of Fire, but I think the reason yours is so weak is because it's from your 'tenant'." Kakashi said, cupping his chin in thought.
"I didn't realize the Kyuubi could affect Naruto's chakra like that." Kurohi said, surprised. Toshi nodded in agreement. Kakashi decided to get things back on track. "Well, either way, Naruto has a small Fire affinity. In some ways, this helps a lot." Getting a confused look from the three, Kakashi mentally sighed. 'We're getting back off track. Oh well.' He thought before responding.
"You see, while people have their own affinity, that does not mean they cannot learn jutsus of other elements. For example, I have my Lightning affinity, but I used a Fireball jutsu on Kurohi during the test. However, there's a little difficulty with this. Using a jutsu of an element other than that of your affinity is more chakra-consuming.
"But, Naruto has a bit of an edge here because he has a small affinity to Fire. Essentially, since he has the affinity, it is a little easier to learn Fire jutsus for him, and the jutsus will not be as chakra-consuming as other elements. However, due to his weak affinity to Fire, it will be a bit more chakra-consuming than his Wind jutsus."
Deciding to finally get things going, Kakashi turned around. "We'll continue discussing this later on. For now, we should go get a mission assignment. Our days will begin with two D-Rank missions, followed by a few hours of training. Once we get things going, we'll move to three D-Ranks each day. So, let's head to the mission hall." The Jonin said while walking off, the trio following him.
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The next three months passed, and as Kakashi had said, the team would go every day doing two D-Ranks followed by three to four hours of training. After their daily assignments, the trio would check on the course and handle some of the day to day business. They had Sundays off, and used those days to relax.
The training wasn't much of a difficulty for them. Kakashi started by teaching them how to stick leaves to themselves with chakra. This was a basic chakra control exercise. The trio wanted to learn how to control their chakra better, Kurohi and Toshi so they don't waste chakra when using jutsus, and Naruto mainly so he can at least learn to break out of Genjutsu.
In addition, Kakashi had gone to the Shinobi Archives and pulled scrolls containing jutsus for each of his students. He found Toshi a D-Rank Lightning jutsu that could help him with Taijutsu and Kurohi the Fireball jutsu. However, the one-eyed Jonin had more trouble in finding a suitable Wind jutsu for Naruto. Like he said, Wind was rare in Konoha. As a result, there were few jutsu scrolls of the Wind element, and almost all of them were more theory than actual techniques. Since Kakashi knew only a couple Wind jutsu, he decided to write the information on one he knew into a scroll and give that to the blonde. In addition, Naruto decided to learn the Fireball jutsu to make use of his Fire affinity.
Unsurprisingly, the trio took to the jutsus with gusto. Every day, the Genin would practice their jutsu after handling the work with the course. Kakashi expected Naruto to get the jutsus down easily with the help of his Shadow Clones, but Naruto refused to use them. The blonde explained that while he knew he could easily learn the jutsu in record time using his clones, he wanted to prove himself by learning the jutsu on his own. Likewise, he agreed to use the clones for jutsu that would be extremely difficult to learn, but only if he had to.
However, Naruto proved himself by learning the jutsu in only two weeks, with Kurohi and Toshi learning their jutsus a week later. While their uses were a bit rough, their Jonin sensei explained that it just took practice to perfect the jutsu, and that they made excellent progress with them. So, needless to say training wasn't too difficult.
Kakashi also made it a point to teach the three Tree Walking. He thought that with the two travelers having some previous training that they'd know it, but he figured a refresher course couldn't hurt. He also knew Naruto was unable to do the exercise. As he expected, Kurohi and Toshi knew the technique very well, but Naruto had no idea that was possible. Naruto managed to walk on the tree after only a few days of attempts, but he wasn't able to master combat on the tree for about a month.
With that out of the way, the Jonin decided to teach them Water Walking. Unsurprisingly, Kurohi knew how to do it since he lived in Kiri. However, Toshi and Naruto had no skill with it at first. Unlike the Tree Walking, it took Naruto and Toshi a month and a half mastering the skill. Kakashi was very proud that his Genin each knew the two techniques as well as learning a new jutsu each in under three months. Likewise, the Genin were proud to learn what they did in such a short time.
The part that sucked was the missions. At first, the three Genin did the D-Ranks with no complaint, seeing as how they did more physical work in the past while working on the course. However, it wasn't long before team 7 started noticing the glares directed at Naruto during some of the missions.
Whether it was painting some old guy's fence or pulling weeds for a lazy woman, the clients would always glare at Naruto, occasionally making some rude remark. What pissed them off was the fact they would never call him "demon" to their face. After all, if they did that, they could execute the person for violating the law. However, the civilians were stupid, but not that stupid.
In one particularly infuriating incident, the team started leaving after painting some guy's fence, only to hear grunting noises, causing them to turn around. To their anger, the civilian started ripping out the fence boards Naruto painted, as if the "demon" contaminated them and it would spread to their property. Kakashi had to literally hold Kurohi back from going over there and shoving one of those boards up the man's ass.
However, there was one mission that the trio hated more than the ignorant civilians. Time after time, they'd have to perform this mission, and each time they had to refrain from killing the target. Even Kakashi had his moments, remembering the Hell he went through as a Genin dealing with the same mission.
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"Why can't we just kill this damn thing and say it got run over?" Kurohi complained, carrying a medium-sized cage at arm's length. Inside the cage was their usual target, a cat with a pink bow tied to its ear. The cat was trying to claw at Kurohi, hissing all the while. This cat was named Tora, and it was the pet of the Land of Fire's Daimyo, or Feudal Lord. More specifically, it was the pet of the Daimyo's wife. However, to the Genin of Konoha, the cat was known as Satan's Spawn.
"Like I said the last five times, Kurohi, we cannot kill the cat because it would mean we failed the Daimyo's wife. And if that happened, Konoha could lose favor with the Daimyo and receive fewer missions as a result." Kakashi said, unhappy that what he said was true. Seeing the unhappy and, in the case of Kurohi (who had been the one to grab Tora), scratched faces of his team, the Jonin decided to tell a story about his time dealing with the cat as a Genin.
"You know, this isn't the same Tora that I had to deal with when I was a Genin." Toshi sighed before looking at his sensei. "I honestly would hope so, sensei. You told us before about how you became a Genin at a really young age, and now you're somewhere in your twenties. Furthermore, house cats on average live about seven years or so, with some rare cases being over ten years. So, if this were the same cat, we'd have to contain it as some kind of immortal creature." The Magnet user replied.
Sweat dropping, Kakashi cleared his throat before continuing his story. "Yes, well. Anyway, the Daimyo's wife had another cat, almost a carbon copy of Tora, whom she also named Tora. In fact, I heard her last three cats were all named Tora. Anyway, when I was chasing the cat, it did something that stunned me and my team." Naruto rolled his eyes before turning to the man. "And what, pray tell, did the little fur ball do?" The blonde asked, sounding somewhat disinterested.
Kakashi eye-smiled. "Tora pulled off a jutsu." This got the attention of the Genin, as well as the cat in the cage. Kakashi continued, noticing all eyes on him. "Somehow, Tora had learned the Fireball jutsu and pulled it off fairly well. It wasn't very strong, but it shocked us greatly. It didn't need to use signs or anything. All it needed to do was swish its tail back and forth a couple times. It pissed a number of the Uchiha clan off to learn a cat managed to learn one of their basic jutsus without the need of signs, unlike most of their clan members." The Genin were shocked, and Tora seemed to have a contemplative look in its eyes.
(page break)
The Genin looked on with hidden glee as Tora was hugged near to the point of crushed by the Daimyo's wife. A part of them felt bad for the cat, but another part remembered the hell that cat kept putting them through. After the Daimyo's wife left and team 7 was paid, Sarutobi started looking through a box containing numerous D-Rank mission requests.
"Ok, let's see. They have a babysitting mission, there's painting a villager's new fence, they have…" Sarutobi was interrupted by the sound of a crash and a cry of "Tora, come back!"
"…Catching Tora again." Sarutobi sighed as he made a copy of the completed mission report and wiped it clean for another use.
Kakashi stepped up, clearing his throat. "Actually, Lord Hokage. I believe team 7 is finally ready for a C-Rank mission." The Jonin said, surprising the Hokage and Iruka, who was sitting with Sarutobi to organize the missions. Iruka immediately objected to Kakashi's request.
"Kakashi, it's too early for them to leave the village for a C-Rank. They've only been out of the Academy for about 3 months." Iruka said, looking at the Hokage for agreement. However, he was denied. Sarutobi bridged his fingers before speaking. "Iruka, these Genin have accomplished a number of missions since they started, and they have been training hard since graduating. I'm sure they'll be able to handle a C-Rank." Iruka sighed before standing down. Sarutobi looked through the box for a moment before pulling out a scroll.
"Here we go. This is a simple escort mission. You are to escort a bridge builder back to his home in the Land of Waves. On the way, there is a possibility of bandit activity, so you will need to keep an eye out. Iruka, bring in the client." Sarutobi said as he tossed Kakashi the scroll. Iruka left the room before coming back a moment later with another man. The man wore cut-off jeans, a large V-neck shirt, and sandals. He also carried a jug with him, as well as three other jugs strapped to his back. The smell of alcohol was strong on the man.
The man took one look at the Genin and scoffed. "These three are the ones that are protecting me? A hooded punk, a pirate wannabe, and a blonde pipsqueak? I'd be safer with that damn cat that ran past me escorting me." The man said; a slight slur evident in his speech.
Kakashi saw the angry looks on his Genins' faces, and decided to intervene. "There's no need to worry. Each of my Genin are quite capable of handling any bandits that appear. And if the trouble calls for it, I'll step in as well. I'm a very capable Jonin, so there shouldn't be any problems."
The man grumbled before taking a long swig from the jug. "Alright, fine. Anyway, my name is Tazuna, and I am a highly skilled bridge builder. You will escort me home so I can return to building the bridge that will help the Land of Waves out of its depression. I'm ready to leave when you are." The man said, the slur slightly more pronounced.
Kakashi nodded before turning to the Genin. "Head home and pack for a month on the road. Unless I state otherwise, that will be the protocol for all missions outside of the village. Meet me at the village gates in one hour. We will depart then." Seeing his Genin nod and run home to pack, the Jonin turned to Tazuna. "We'll depart in one hour. If you don't mind, follow me to the gates."
(page break)
Kurohi, Naruto, and Toshi were all finished packing and were getting ready to leave. They each packed enough clothes and food rations to last a month, and had also brought a large tent and three sleeping bags. Naruto, having learned the basics on storage seals during the Academy, had sealed everything into one scroll, which was safely in Toshi's pocket. The trio bid Ami farewell and, after agreeing to bring her back a souvenir from Wave, took off to reach the village gates, ready to start on their first C-Rank mission. As they left, they glanced at the wall where their three bells hung together, showing the unity displayed by the trio.
Lexboss: Ok, chapter 11 is finished.
GoodWriter: Now, things are starting to pick up.
Creeper: About damn time.
Demon: Well, I can't just skip straight to the main parts without having something.
Creeper: So, what's going to happen here?
Demon: You'll have to wait to find out.
Lexboss: Weak.
Demon: I can just stop altogether.
GoodWriter: You'll have a small army against you.
Demon: I only have about ten or so followers. Creeper can easily take them on himself.
Creeper: Dude, I'd be with them.
Demon: (sighs) Fine. Anyway, read and review!
Lexboss: No flames!