The story is set in a similar universe as the "Main Naruto" universe. Some events in the main Naruto history my be altered to suit the story. If you haven't read the last chapter, do so to understand the story.
Enjoy!
Chapter 4 "Teamwork"
It was the day after squad 9 assembled. Kitahachi got up early because Takasugi told them to meet him in the training grounds outside the gates. Sumio made breakfast in their new home. The smell of bacon and eggs filled the house.
"What's all this for?" said Kitahachi who had just woken out of bed and was rubbing his eyes.
"Well, today is a big day foe you. Today you join your team to train together and improve teamwork. You'll remember this day for the rest of your life"
Kitahachi sat down and ate. When he was finished eating he was met by the sight of Sumio standing in front of him with a large box.
"Here, this is for you. Just a little present" he said with a smile.
Kitahachi opened the box to set of cloths inside.
"Go ahead try them on"
Kitahachi tried them on. It was a sort of short kimono that stopped at the waste like his old training gear. The ends of the arms where cut of as well and around the neck was fur. The cloth was blue with a blue belt to tie everything in at the waste. Under he wore a black vest the same that Sumio wore. He wore a ninja tool holster on his leg. He walked out from his bedroom after getting changed.
"Nice fit. Do you like it?" asked Sumio
"Yea, its fells tight to my body and wont wont weigh me down while doing tie-jutsu" he replied kicking the air in front of him.
"Now you look like a ninja who means business. But, hold on, something missing?" he said pretending he didn't know what it was.
"AHA, of course, your headband" he said taking his hands from behind his back to reveal a hidden leaf headband.
The cloth of the headband was black. Sumio tied the headband around Kitahachi`s head.
"Now you look like a shinobi of the leaf"
"Thank you. Its just what I needed"
Kitahachi went to the training grounds to see the hole team already there.
"Oh, Kitahachi, so nice of you to join us" said Takasugi sarcastically.
"OK, now you're all here we can get started. This will be and exercise to build teamwork. The aim is simple. Touch my headband."
Hori looked at Kitahachi and Eizo wondering was that all they had to do.
Takasugi made some hand signs.
"Ice style, Ice wall jutsu" he said putting his hands to the ground.
Suddenly it became cold. The moisture in the air gathered around Takasugi and began to freeze. There was now 4 walls of ice surrounding Takasugi. Each very high, probably as high as the walls in the stadium.
"Begin!" shouted out Takasugi from the thick ice.
The whole team looked at each other and said nothing. Kitahachi determined to be the first to touch his headband. He applied chakra to his feet and began to climb the wall of ice. Not even 2 feet on the ice when he slipped of. It was obvious that walking up it was not an option.
It was now Hori's turn. She approached the wall and went into a stance, ready for battle. Her hands where covered in chakra that looked like blue flames. Then she struck. But she left to damage to the ice whatsoever. It was now Eizo's turn. Hori got out of the way while Kitahachi got up from the ground. Eizo stood where he was and brought out a kunai with a paper bomb at the end. He through it at the wall of ice and made a hand sign to trigger the explosion. It sent a crack up the wall. But not a second after the wall began to repair itself. Kitahachi was still determined. He stood in-front of the wall and made some hand signs.
"Fire style, Fireball jutsu"
He hoped to melt the wall making an entry to Takasugi. But as the section of the wall began to melt it soon repaired itself making it even thicker.
"Just stop its useless." said Hori.
Kitahachi stopped and listened.
"We need to work together. Its a teamwork exercise remember."
Kitahachi thought to himself, trying to conjure a plan. But suddenly Eizo began to run around the walls in a circle trying to find a week spot. He stopped and pulled a sword from his back. It was a small sword with oddly no guard. it was completely black with no proper handle. It looked more like a black bar that was pointed at he end than a sword. He poured his chakra into it. The sword now had a blue aura around it. He raised it above his head at quickly slashed it down cutting the ice. It was a deep cut but again it repaired itself.
"So much for teamwork Eizo." said Hori sarcastically.
"Shut up" said Eizo in a low tone.
Even though Kitahachi and Hori didn't really know Eizo at all they where both surprised by what he said.
"I didn't go through the academy and become a genin to bossed around by a brat like you. I will bring honour to my family. To do that I cant relay on weaklings like you two."
Kitahachi and Hori looked at him with surprise. Then Kitahachi got angry.
"Weaklings? What makes you so strong" he said angrily.
Kitahachi eyes now started to cloud red. Eizo noticed it but said nothing.
"What gives you the right to talk to us like that. Where are all genin here so who do you try to act like your better than us" he said, his anger rising.
"Pfft, whatever" said Eizo putting his hands in his pockets and looking away.
That annoyed Kitahachi even more.
"Calm down Kitahachi, don't let him get to you" said Hori.
Kitahachi calmed down, and the red mist in his eyes began to fade. Kitahachi looked at the wall and tried to figure out, how to get through it. He knew that once it is damaged, there is only a second or 2 before it repairs. Single attacks weren't good enough to make an entry by themselves.
"OK I got a plan. But we all have to do our part. Understood?" he said emphasising it to Eizo.
Hori nodded, then after a few seconds, Eizo did to.
"Good. Eizo you will attack first with your sword. Then ill use my fireball jutsu. Straight after I stop, Hori you strike with your attack OK"
They stood in a line, one behind each other in the order of their attacks. And without any signal they began. Eizo cut the ice with his chakra infused blade, that sent a crack the whole way up the wall. Then straight after Kitahachi used his fire ball jutsu. Releasing all his breath at once for maximum heat. And finally Hori struck with her hand covered in chakra. There was a hole, they could now see Takasugi, standing in the centre. But the hole wasn't big enough for anyone to go through. With no time to talk, Eizo gave Kitahachi a nod, and Kitahachi automatically knew what he meant. So Eizo struck again, straight after Hori with his sword. This made the hole bigger in height. After that Hori and Eizo jumped out of the way wile Kitahachi used his fireball jutsu. This melted the ice widening the width of the hole. It was now big enough for someone to go through. Hori prepared to go through when, Takasugi gathered his chakra and clapped his hands together, causing the ice to crush together closing the hole. Hori, who was positive that they had failed, looked around to see that Kitahachi wasn't to be seen.
Takasugi stood, surrounded by 4 ice walls, relieved thinking he was able to close the wall in time before anyone got through. But then he heard a voice from behind him.
"To slow" said Kitahachi.
Takasugi turned around in disbelief to see Kitahachi. Kitahachi poked his headband, and Takasugi undid his jutsu. The walls fell, and Eizo and Hori stood with a smirk on their face. They stood side by side, and Kitahachi went over to join them.
"So did we pass?" said Hori with a smile.
"...Yea..." said Takasugi, still in shock of what happened.
"This boy, is amazingly fast. Its unbelievable. I didn't even see him leave from where he was standing when I closed the entry" He thought to himself.
"Well done. You have good teamwork. When you know each others, strengths and weaknesses you will work well as a team. Spend the rest of the day, improving your skills. They next time I see you we will be heading out on our first mission. Good luck" said Takasugi before he left the training grounds. They where pleased with themselves, smiling at each other. Eizo spotted a man looking at him from the entrance to the training field. Eizo left Kitahachi and Hori and approached the man.
"Did I do well father?" said Eizo
"Was it you who touched your senses headband?" said his father with a stern expression.
"No father" said Eizo
"Not good enough. You are a Kurohiko. Bring honour to your family" said his father angrily.
"Yes father" said Eizo with his head down.
Kitahachi spent the rest of the day training alone, in the training grounds. Thinking about the days events.