Chapter 65

One year ago

"What do you mean you aren't going to train me?" asked Tomo.

"I'm afraid I've had an important mission turn up that I'm urgently required for," replied Kimura.

"B-but I'm your student!" said Tomo.

"And so is Sakaki, but she has found a new teacher to help train her," replied Kimura. "In fact it could help you to have lessons from a different teacher to me." Kimura didn't want to state that that was a major reason for doing this. Yet he also had the mission, something with a deep personal edge to it. He also believed Tomo could benefit from someone else's training.

And with Sakaki away and Osaka still recovering he didn't have a group to teach. Now was the time for his students to learn from others. Of course he would miss having young attractive female ninja around him…and he guessed he would miss them on a personal level as well.

"But I don't know of anyone to ask, and no one seems to like me," whined Tomo despite the fact the village had come to appreciate (and tolerate) her a lot more. "I wouldn't be able to find a teacher."

"You don't have to worry about that," said Kimura.

"You've changed your mind?" asked Tomo.

"Nope. It's just that I've happened to ask someone to take care of you for a while," replied Kimura.

"I see," said Tomo, getting a bit excited. So she wouldn't have to worry about the boring stuff of finding someone! "Wait…it isn't Yukari is it?"

"Oh my no," replied Kimura. "I doubt she'd be willing to do any favours for me."

"So who is this person?" asked Tomo. "A man or a woman? Someone I've met before?" she added.

"Nope," replied Kimura. "I don't think you've ever met him before, but he is one of the more experienced ninja from this village. I've known him for quite a while."

"Is he better then you?" asked Tomo.

The girl was certain that the man had smiled under his mask, but he didn't seem to reply.

"Is that a yes?" asked Tomo.

"No answer," replied Kimura. "You'll be meeting him tomorrow. I hope you enjoy your time with Sen Ito. Just try to remember I'm your teacher though."

"Yukari was my first teacher," said Tomo, electing a tut from the male teacher.

Sen Ito was not as tall as Kimura, standing only a little taller then Tomo. The girl was certain that Sakaki was actually taller then her new teacher. The girl might have grown even taller; she hadn't seen the quiet Sakaki for a few months since she had left to train. Tomo just hoped Sakaki's cleavage hadn't grown even more. She had yet to catch up to what Sakaki had been previously.

"Ah so you must be Tomo Takino," said the man as he emerged from the shadows of his small single storey house. She noticed that he had a large scar etched along the side of his face, the skin a slightly pink colour.

"Kimura has said much about you," said Sen, smiling, the scar turning a near white colour.

"Really? What did he say?" asked Tomo, noticing that both of the man's hands seemed to be wrapped in white bandages. They were slightly stained from everyday life, but seemed surprisingly clean.

"Well he said something about a talented but idiotic student," said Sen, smiling again. The kind smile seemed out of place next to the scar. She found herself wanting to ask about it, but didn't.

"Talented?" asked Tomo completely missing (or possibly ignoring) the idiotic comment.

"Well he commented that he had managed to get quite a talented group. Something about a girl named Sakaki who worked hard, and one called Osaka who also had a surprising level of power. Oh…and you too I guess," replied Sen. "But seriously he's told me a bit about what you've done. Quite impressive I'd say."

"Oh thanks!" said Tomo.

"But anyway, lets go get started," replied Sen.

"Started? Started on what?" asked Tomo.

"The training course I've set up for you," stated Sen. "It's time for a little test. Don't worry though; you won't be getting a mark out of ten or anything like that."

"Well I guess that's ok," replied Tomo. A test without the fear of marks! She paused momentarily. That might be the case- or the man could be lying and he would suddenly surprise her by announcing a score. But she didn't mind she guessed. At least it would keep her mind off various thoughts. Hopefully stop her from thinking about the urge she had felt to rip Osaka apart back in Taki…

"So…then?" asked a huffing Tomo, sprawled in an inelegant manner on the grassy field. Behind her the training course loomed. She guessed it was just her imagination, but she was certain it was alive…and wanted all of her energy.

"Not very ladylike," said Sen as Tomo shifted, sprawling her legs in an even less graceful manner.

"I…could hurt…you," said Tomo, still trying to catch her breath.

"With what energy?" asked Sen. "So do you want to hear how I feel about your performance?"

"Yes please," said Tomo. She hadn't gone through all of that just for the fun of it! "I did do well didn't I? My performance I mean…was good…right?"

"Well Tomo some ninja are found to possess great leadership capabilities. Others are tactical geniuses able to plan out their moves in detail both before a mission and when on the move. Some have great control over their jutsu with a wide range of potential attacks. And there are people like you."

"…right," said Tomo. "I did…bad?"

"Well I wouldn't say bad," replied Sen. "After all you did destroy half of the course. It's just that planning ahead doesn't quite seem to be your style."

"Then what is my style?" asked Tomo.

"From what I've observed today and from my discussions with Kimura I would say rushing headfirst into things seems to be your style."

"Oh…that's bad isn't it? I think."

"Well it can be. But you seem to be possessed with great levels of strength and chakra reserves, especially for a girl."

"Wait what?" asked Tomo.

"Plus you seem to have a greater level of healing and less susceptibility to injury," continued Sen, ignoring Tomo's input. "You took a few heavy blows in there and kept going. Technical subtle ninja can be useful, but occasionally a battering ram can be just as useful. Especially if it helps keeps the enemy away from weaker ninja with greater jutsu abilities. Such a thing could both protect those with a weaker constitution and also give them time to perform their attacks."

"I see," replied Tomo. She guessed he wasn't going to explain his comment about girls. She wondered if he knew about what she had inside her, about the powerful being contained within her small body. Don't forget supple, toned beautiful body thought Tomo to herself.

"I've heard that one of your fellow team members is showing some ability with various forms of fire based attacks. With time I bet they could be quite useful attacks from distance."

"Yeah…but I'm Tomo, not Sakaki," replied the confused girl.

"I know, I know. And how's that other girl doing?" asked Sen. "Ayumu Osaka or something like that?"

"Osaka? Oh she's still in the medical place-thingy," replied Tomo, not correcting the name. "She's better then she was recently. However Kimura thinks she might actually come back stronger as she learnt quite a few things over her…erm…week off from sanity."

"I see," replied Sen. "Well hopefully it will go well for her. And who knows, for the time being you might get a new member in your team. But anyway what was I saying. Oh yes that's right, with Sakaki's possible attacks you two could work well together."

"We do," said Tomo in an absent minded manner.

"Yes yes, I see," replied Sen. "But as I was saying you could do well together- in certain missions at least. You up close and personal, keeping them busy with your attacks while Miss Sakaki provides support. Fiery support. Of course you'd need more then just that, but experience is also needed to improve your skills. And there's one other thing."

"Really? What's that? A pay rise for me?" asked Tomo.

"Oh my no," replied Sen. "From speaking with Kimura it's become quite clear that Sakaki doesn't quite possess a killer instinct. Particularly in the fact she doesn't like to kill or even wound people a great deal."

"Well I don't like to hurt people…unless they're jerks," replied Tomo. "And I don't like to kill." Apart from…apart from when it takes over…

"Yes well once again that's some experience may help with. In youth there are very few people willing to kill- and most of those are people who will eventually cross paths with you or your colleagues. Of course a great many missions do not require killing…moreso requiring stealth. Of course, stealth isn't quite your strong point Tomo."

"Is that meant to be an insult?" asked Tomo curiously.

"No Tomo, it's merely an observation," replied Sen. "Have you not admitted numerous times to wishing to be both a great ninja, and possibly a future leader to this village?"

"Well I guess…a few times…every mission," said Tomo.

"Well Kimura has noted that you can be brash and loud with an urge to rush into things," stated Sen.

"Oh really?" asked Tomo, feeling her fist tighten.

"But luckily you do possess a very important trait for the missions ahead of you," said Sen.

"I do?" asked Tomo excitedly. "What is it?" asked the girl.

The man looked down at her as she sat on the grass.

"Courage."