Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Chapter Two- Pass or Fail: A Mad Dash for the Bells
Kiyoshi took a deep breath. It was finally his turn to go. He had waited for that day since he had first been admitted to the Ninja Academy a few years back. Everything he had been waiting for, everything he had desperately trained for, all culminated into that particular moment. If he failed, it meant he failed as a ninja and would be forced to repeat at least another year of the training. But if he passed…
Kiyoshi stepped forward and took a deep breath. He glanced around the room, first gazing at the various teachers who were placed around the space. Among them, Iruka Umino sat at a long table to the right of the Sixth Hokage. With a clipboard in hand, Iruka had the final say on whoever passed. He had possessed that very position within the Leaf Village for years, even before the time Kiyoshi's father was a Genin.
Iruka wore the typical outfit of a Konoha shinobi, and, therefore, most of his outfit resembled that of Kakashi's or Shikamaru's. Unlike the others, however, Iruka actually wore his headband correctly, placing it horizontally across his forehead just a few inches above his eyes. His hair, which was long and dark, was tied in an upward ponytail that frayed out towards the backside. Sometime in his childhood, Iruka had gained a scar that ran along the bridge of his nose. Many students, including Kiyoshi, would constantly pester the middle-aged man about the acquisition of such a wound, but he would often just laugh and tell them that it was a story for another time.
Kiyoshi could feel his arms shaking, but he couldn't understand quite why. He had performed this technique perfectly countless times over. Even the night before during their altercation with Shikawa and Inoki, Kiyoshi had managed to create two perfect replications of himself. He knew he possessed the skills to pass this final test, but still he couldn't help but to fret.
The boy stepped onto the raised platform and stared timidly down at the many faces glaring back at him. Kakashi. Iruka. Guy. They were the only ones that mattered. He couldn't let his Hokage, his teacher, and his idol down. That was why he was so frightened, so worried he would fail at this crucial moment. He wanted to run away and cry. He hated this pressure put onto him.
Guy raised his right hand, giving the nervous child a concealed thumbs up and a nod in a last ditched attempt to give him a bit of encouragement. Kiyoshi smiled in response, gladdened by the fact there was at least one person who had believed in him. He wouldn't let Guy down.
Kiyoshi took another deep breath and closed his eyes just to regain his composure. The necessary hand seals flashed in his brain and he performed them accordingly. Ram. Snake. Tiger! When Kiyoshi had finally opened his eyes, standing beside him were two intangible copies of his own body. When he waved, they waved. When he moved, the clones would shift their legs to mimic Kiyoshi perfectly.
"Pass," Iruka smiled, giving the child a congratulatory nod. "Is everyone in agreement?"
Guy was the first to nod, immediately jumping to his feet. His right fist trembled and his lip quivered as Guy resisted all urges to spout off some encouraging phrases of youth. Just as the two were about to engage in a "manly hug of approval," Kakashi placed his left hand on the shoulder of his confidant. Guy took the cue and sat, completely quelling any urges that he might've had.
"Not just yet," Kakashi said skeptically, standing to his feet. Kakashi slowly trudged around the long table and made his way to Kiyoshi and the two clones. The Rokudaime extended his hand, easily slipping his fingers through the apparitions. In a puff of smoke, they were destroyed, leaving Kiyoshi standing on the small raised platform all by his lonesome. "Again, but make one this time. Perfectly distribute your chakra."
Kiyoshi took a deep breath and made the appropriate hand seal. Unlike the Clone Technique, the Shadow Clone Jutsu had its very own hand seal. The pointer and middle fingers of the right hand were placed parallel to the ground, whilst the same two fingers on the other hand were placed perpendicular to the other two. He closed his eye, trying desperately to picture separating his chakra into two separate entities. He knew this wouldn't change things, but he liked to believe that imagining the process would help.
A clone formed just out of Kiyoshi's reach. Just like before, the copy mirrored Kiyoshi's movement down to the tiniest flinch or twitch. Again, Kakashi outstretched his hand, attempting to take hold of the clone standing in front of him. And, just like before, Kakashi's hand slipped through the intangible clone. He could see the look of disappointment in the eyes of the Genin as the clone dissipated in a puff of smoke.
"It's alright," the Hokage said honestly, putting a hand on the boy's head. He moved back to the table and took a headband that Guy had been holding in his hands. Unlike all of the other headbands, this particular forehead protector was red, almost maroon in color. Kiyoshi had only seen two ninja wear headbands of that particular shade. "Here."
Kiyoshi gripped the headband tightly in his hand. Like before, his hand quivered with joy and excitement. The newly appointed Genin could no longer hold in his joy and apparently neither could Guy. The Noble Green Beast leapt over the table, dashing past Kakashi, and met Kiyoshi with a heartfelt embrace.
"G-Guy-sensei!" Kiyoshi cried, overjoyed by his acceptance as a ninja.
"So?" Katsu asked, her eyes wide open in anticipation. "Did you pass? What squad are you on?"
Kiyoshi didn't have to say anything in response. His smile said it all. Coupled with the red forehead protector clasped tightly in his right hand, Katsu already knew that her teammate had successfully passed their final exam. He had planned to sow the headband into his jacket so that he wouldn't lose track of it. He saw that Katsu had already tied her own headband around her left thigh.
The two shared a high five and a soft smile. Each of them possessed an envelope with specific instructions incased within. With any luck, they would be assigned the same sensei, but that was a long shot. There were sixteen other newly appointed Genin each in squads of three. They didn't like how the odds were sort of stacked against them. However, they were young and still full of so much hope. They just had to wait for Choya; the three promised they would open their envelopes together.
Choya was an Akamichi who had been in Kiyoshi's class at the academy. For the longest time, they had been inseparable friends, but lately they had started to drift apart. Choya was about the same size as Kiyoshi, maybe just slightly taller. He wore a red, short-sleeved shirt that seemed to be a little too large for him and a white scarf - even in the hottest of weather. Similar to his father, Choji Akamichi, there were faint red spiral marks on his cheeks. His hairstyle was also modeled after his father's, being slightly long and spikey in appearance.
"Twelve," Kiyoshi said timidly, worried that his friends would be given another assignment.
"Twelve!" Katsu said almost immediately afterwards, overjoyed by their assignments. Also placed inside the envelope was a small piece of parchment, instructing the duo to meet their sensei, Shikamaru Nara, on the top of the Hokage Mansion in a few hours.
Choya didn't say his number at first. When he opened his envelope, Choya just hung his head, unable to make the words form in his mouth. Unlike the others, a large, red number four loomed in place of where the two should've been. It was disappointing to the trio to say the least, but Kiyoshi was just secretly satisfied knowing that he and Katsu were still on the same team.
"Where is he?" Kiyoshi frowned, stretching his arms to the sky. They had been waiting atop the Hokage Mansion for about an hour or so anticipating their sensei and teammate to arrive. The sun was starting to set and the orange glow from the sky lit up all of Konoha. It was a view Katsu had watched countless times before with Kakashi, but, for Kiyoshi, it was a completely new and wonderful experience.
The door to the roof creaked, creating a noise that caused both Genin to jump slightly. They had been so captivated by the scenery; the duo had completely forgotten the world around them. When they turned to find the source of the disruptive noise, they saw a young boy standing just a few meters away.
He was taller, at least taller than Kiyoshi, and had long blonde hair that wrapped around the side of his face. The boy wore long, black pants that stopped halfway down his calf. Underneath, Katsu could see bandages were tied around his lower legs and feet for support. On his right leg there were two pouches, one for kunai and shuriken and another for a small dagger. The other leg possessed another pouch for what Kiyoshi assumed was for smoke bombs. His high collared jacket, which was also black but with blue trim, had a different symbol on each arm. On the right, the typical spiral symbol worn by most Leaf shinobi, and, on the left, the Hyuga flame Hinata wore when she was young. His arms, like his legs, were tied up with bandages to protect his joints. The boy also had two katana strapped securely to his backside. Perhaps his most distinguishing feature was his white, soulless eyes.
"Yo," he said calmly, raising a single hand.
"Good now that we're all here," a voice said from above. Kiyoshi swung his head just in time to see the wind pick up and swirl a few stray leaves. Within mere moments, the wind intensified, forcing the Genin to shield their eyes. "Sorry I'm late, I was momentarily detained."
Kiyoshi knew he had heard the name Shikamaru countless times in school, but he hadn't managed to put two-and-two together the previous day. He had been the one to catch Kiyoshi after their attempt to "borrow" the Scroll of Seals went terribly awry. The thin, tall Jonin with the spiky ponytail was regarded far and wide as one of the best shinobi the Hidden Leaf Village had to offer. Praised for his incredibly high IQ, Shikamaru was one of the candidates considered to fill the position of the Sixth Hokage. However, he rejected the nomination and was quoted in saying that the job was "too troublesome," and noted that Kakashi would make a much better addition to the esteemed rank of Hokage.
"Alright..." he continued, taking a good look at the children. "We should probably all get to know each other, introduce ourselves- that kind of thing.
"Well, what should we say?" Katsu asked, braving the tense silence.
"We could share our hobbies, our likes, our dislikes, our dreams... ya' know, things like that. Any volunteers?" Shikamaru asked, raising a single eyebrow in hopes that one of his wards would be adventurous enough to share themselves with the rest of the team. Of course, they didn't. "Alright, you on the right. You can go first."
"I'm Katsu Uchiha. I like Kakashi-sensei and the cold side of the pillow. As for my hobbies... well I like to draw."
"And your dream?" Shikimaru inquired, leaning back slightly. At her age, her father, Susuke Uchiha, had been completely driven by hate and revenge. Shikamaru didn't want to have a student whose soul motivation was that of vengeful indignation.
"To restore honor to the Uchiha Clan, and if that doesn't work, I plan to marry Kakashi-sensei," she responded.
Shikamaru couldn't help but smile. While her dreams weren't as luxurious as becoming Hokage or a powerful ninja, it was better than a life dedicated to the eradication of the Hidden Leaf Village or worse...
"And you?" Shikamaru remarked, turning his head to the next student.
"My name is Kiyoshi Lee. I like onigiri and spending time with my friends. My hobbies include writing, sampling different kinds of onigiri, and training my Taijutsu. My dream is to become a splendid ninja like Guy-sensei!"
Lee's son could potentially become a valuable asset to the team. As he stood, the child was apparently useless. While possessing only average Taijutsu and the only jutsu in his arsenal being the Clone Technique, Kiyoshi was a crybaby who cracked under pressure. His only redeemable quality lay in the fact that he was extremely over protective. Perhaps with time, he could become a splendid ninja like his hero... but that was not happening any time soon.
"And finally?" the Jonin shrugged, turning to the last child of the bunch.
"Akira Uzumaki. I like eating ramen. My only real hobby is training, and, as for my dream... I'd rather not talk about it right now."
This was the child Shikamaru was most interested in. From what he understood, Akira possessed an IQ that rivaled his son's genius level intelligence while also utilizing above average Kenjutsu in combat. Like Kiyoshi, his only known jutsu was the Clone Technique, but Shikamaru wouldn't be surprised if the child had a few tricks up his sleeve. God knew that Naruto always did.
"Hmm, well nice to meet you three. My name is Shikamaru Nara. I was the first Genin from my class to be promoted to Chunin, as well as the first to become a Jonin. My only real hobby is playing shogi and making my wife happy. Though, often times that feels more like a job," Shikamaru put his hand to the back of his head and chuckled slightly.
"And your dream?" Kiyoshi asked, his eyes wide with inquiry.
"My dream? I'm not really sure. To be honest, I'm rather happy where I am. I guess, right now at least, I'm hoping that I can help the three of you reach your goals - no matter how farfetched they may be." He looked to Katsu who seemed as though she was in another dimension, deep in thought about Kakashi.
Shikamaru wanted to sit around a bit more to speak with his subordinates for a little longer, but he rationalized that it was time for him to return home. He didn't want to run the risk of growing too attached to these children; of course, they had one final test to take before they officially became Genin. With Shikamaru given the last word on their fate, he didn't want to allow any emotional attachment to interfere with making a logical decision.
"Thank you Shikamaru-sensei," Kiyoshi chimed up to break the awkward silence.
"Don't thank me yet, you're going to hate me in a minute," the Jonin said honestly, looking away from his students. He hesitated on how he should play this entire ordeal. Should he be aloof and sly, or should he level with the children, telling them the truth about the events that were going to transpire. He decided that a bit of both would make things rather interesting. "You see, out of the eighteen students that graduated this morning, only twelve of them will actually be given the rank of Genin. The other six will be sent back to the academy."
"What!?" Katsu shouted, jumping to her feet. "So, we have another exam?"
"Yes," Shikamaru nodded. "With me as your proctor."
He informed them to arrive at the Third Training Ground at precisely at nine the following morning for their true final exam. Should things go well, Kiyoshi, Katsu, and Akira would be appointed Genin and be scheduled for missions in two day's time. However, if they were to fail, another year at the ninja academy awaited them. Before he forgot, Shikamaru warned the trio to skip breakfast before coming to the training ground.
"But... why?" Kiyoshi asked, raising a single eyebrow. He didn't like the prospects of going without food, but he would do so only if it were absolutely necessary. He didn't like breaking rules that adults had set forth.
"You'll throw up," he responded, giving the trio a small shrug.
The morning was unlike that of any other. It was as though even Mother Nature knew the magnitude of the events that were about to take place. There wasn't a single cloud in the sky; the sun shone brightly down on the streets of Konoha. Even the wind was that of relaxing, light breeze that cuddled the faces of whoever was caught in its grasp. It was the perfect day to train.
Kiyoshi's rumbling stomach disrupted the awkward silence that had befallen the three shinobi.
"I'm hungry," Kiyoshi frowned, rubbing his stomach. He took a seat on one of the three practice posts, leaning back to stare at the sky. "And he's almost two hours late."
"You've said that three times now," Akira sighed, putting his face in his hands to let out a long, exaggerated sigh. "Complaining isn't going to make Shikamaru-sensei come any sooner."
"No need to be hurtful," Kiyoshi frowned, looking over to his new teammate.
Kiyoshi felt that Akira was a rather strange individual who was difficult to read. Of course he had seen the boy before; they had been in the same class at the academy since as long as Kiyoshi could recall. However, Akira always blended into the background, never trying to make waves or call attention to himself. He wasn't always like that though. Kiyoshi could distinctly remember the Uzumaki as a rather popular, outgoing individual. Then...nothing. He became distant from his friends, but his grades soared like no other, easily placing him at the top of their class.
"Sorry, I'm a little testy when I don't eat," he shrugged. "Plus, there's this moron who keeps testing my patience."
Katsu stepped up, clenching her fists tightly. She wanted to rebut Akira's comment with a left hook, but Kiyoshi grabbed her teammates arm. It hadn't been the time to be quarrelling amongst themselves. They had to work together as a single unit if they had any hope of passing whatever test Shikamaru had prepared. They had to be in their top form.
Even if Kiyoshi was starving...
They heard their sensei before they saw him. The wind picked up, bringing the leaves on the ground in front of the trio in a sort of cyclone motion. Before long, the lines between leaf and flesh seemed to blur and Shikamaru's body miraculously materialize in front of them with little warning. He gave his soon-to-be subordinates a slight wave and a small smile.
"Sorry I'm late," he shrugged. "I had to pick something up."
Shikamaru reached into his jacket pocket, pulling out two, silver bells. Before any of the children could inquire as to what they were, the Jonin tied them to his pants, cracking his knuckles and neck in anticipation. He asked his students what the time was.
"Eleven," Akira responded, crossing his arms, remembering how Kiyoshi constantly reminded him of the current time.
"Perfect," Shikamaru smiled, pulling another object from his jacket. This time, the battle-hardened Jonin placed a small clock on one of the stumps used for target practice. "Your task is to take these bells from me before noon. Whoever fails goes back to the academy."
"Then we can't lose!" Katsu frowned, taking a step forward.
"Relax, you haven't even heard the worst part. Losers not only go back to the academy, they also go without lunch," Shikamaru laughed.
Kiyoshi felt his stomach growl and his head started to spin. If there was one thing Kiyoshi cared about as much as Katsu, it was food. He didn't like that Shikamaru was holding food over his head and his hunger immediately began to fuel his determination. Kiyoshi was going to show Shikamaru that, even without a full stomach, he was a force to be reckoned with. Then again, there was something that came to his mind.
"But... Sensei there are only two bells," he asked, looking up at his sensei with his large eyes.
"That way, one of you will undoubtedly fail, end up tied to a stump, and sent back to the academy," Shikamaru responded, shrugging his shoulders once more. "Your time starts now."
Shikamaru used the palm of his hand to press down on the clock, watching as the second hand began to move clockwise at a rather furious pace. Before the new sensei could even turn around, he heard the children disperse into the foliage of the surrounding area.
The Third Training Ground was the most commonly used training area of the Hidden Leaf Village, with perhaps the only exception perhaps being the Forty-Fourth Training Ground. It was rather large in size, offering all sorts of terrain, including a small forest and a deep pond. There were plenty of hiding places, and, when they saw their chance, the children did their best to completely conceal themselves.
The Jonin paused for a brief second and closed his eyes, trying to uncover their locations. To the right, he could sense Akira on the top branch of one of the shorter trees in the forest. It took him a moment to locate Katsu who had decided to hide in some bushes to his left. He may not have been able to find her if she didn't move to make herself slightly more comfortable while she lay in wait.
"At least they seem to understand stealth,' Shikamaru pondered to himself. 'Now where is...'
"I'm going to take one of those bells from you Sensei! I'm too hungry to fail!" Kiyoshi said confidently, folding his arms. It was amazing how strong a motivator that hunger truly was. However, Kiyoshi knew he had to get his hands on those bells so that he could stay on Katsu's team. He couldn't risk being sent back to the academy while Akira was placed on a team with Katsu. This could be his only chance to work side-by-side with his best friend.
"We'll see," Shikamaru shrugged, displeased with his subordinates bold actions. "Determination means nothing if you don't have the skill to back up your words."
Shikamaru heard the slight ruffle of leaves that indicated his students were trying to get a better view of the altercations that was about to take place. Akira was curious to witness Kiyoshi's skill level and Katsu was hoping to witness her friend prevail in procuring a bell. Shikamaru had to admit that even he was curious to see the boy's skill level. With his mediocre scores, the Jonin felt that the boy was a dark horse of sorts. For all he knew, Kiyoshi could've been like Naruto, a poor student on paper, but terribly effective in the field.
Kiyoshi felt the sting of his sensei's words and the child rushed forward, pulling his arm back to deliver a powerful punch. He was pretty sure that if he were able to close the gap, Kiyoshi could overpower his sensei with his Taijutsu. Intent for a full frontal assault, Kiyoshi didn't notice the thin trip wire until it was far too late. The pulled string revealed a large pitfall directly under the young shinobi. Without time to react appropriately, Kiyoshi plummeted to the bottom of the hole with an emphatic thud.
"That was... disappointing" Shikamaru sighed, slapping his forehead with the bottom of his palm.
"Come on, fight fair!" Kiyoshi called up from the bottom of the hole. It was going to take the child quite a time to climb out of his prison, taking a large chunk out of the hour he had to procure a bell. It was going to be a rather long climb, but he was sure that once he reached the top he could get his hands on one of those bells. He grabbed into the side of the walls, digging his fingers deep into the side to begin his ascent.
"A ninja must see through deception, and see underneath the underneath. To do this you must be of both sharpened body and mind," the Jonin preached. "That being said, if you manage to get out of there I'll fight you one-on-one. No traps or tricks."
A single kunia shot out from the trees behind Shikamaru. Without ever moving his position, Shikamaru's shadow raised form the ground, catching the projectile in midflight, just inches away from the back of the Jonin's skull. Without even looking, Shikamaru had his shadow toss the kunai directly back from whence it came. The clash of metal indicated that Akira had blocked the attack with another weapon.
'Fast reflexes are always important,' Shikamaru thought, silently smiling to himself. Even if Kiyoshi was a bumbling fool, he felt like Naruto's son held a lot of raw potential. With a little direction, he could become a powerful weapon.
With his position already given away, Akira decided it was best to reveal himself and take his turn against his sensei. The boy leapt out of the tree, pulling out the two Katana sheathed on his backside. Unlike typical Taijutsu, Akira was confident that his Kenjutsu would keep Shikamaru on his guard long enough to procure one of those silver bells.
"Your traps won't work on me Shikamaru-sensei," Akira smiled, the veins around his eyes become more pronounced with an enflamed-like appearance. "My eyes see everything."
Shikamaru had forgotten that Akira was of the main branch of the Hyuga lineage, being the child of Hinata Hyuga. That being the case, what Akira said was completely true. The traps Shikamaru had spent countless hours preparing for the day's exam would be completely and utterly useless against a powerful Kekkei Genkai such as the Byakugan.
Before taking a step forward, Akira used his katana to snap another see through wire that was just in front of him. With no other traps in the immediate vicinity, Akira charged, poised and ready to strike. Once again, Shikamaru didn't even move, using his shadow to clash with the katana. The Jonin kept a stone cold expression while he watched the Genin violently slash his katana as he was repeatedly knocked away. Eventually, Akira was tossed back enough to allow Shikamaru's shadow to go on the offensive. Just like that, the tides changed, and Akira was forced to defend against the shadow's onslaught. One after another, Akira barely managed to use his katana to deflect the powerful blows, until one such attack completely overpowered the young boy, tossing the slim sword to the ground.
Shikamaru saw an opening, and the shinobi finally charged forward, pulling one of his Chakra Blades, a special trench knife worn like brass knuckles, that his sensei, Asuma Sarutobi, had once worn, from a holster on his right leg. Before Akira could recover from the previous blow, Shikamaru threw a Chakra Blade bolstered punch at the Genin, knocking the second of Akira's katana to the grassy floor. Akira tried to dive out of the way of whatever follow up maneuver Shikamaru had planned, but, for reasons he couldn't explain, Akira found his body unresponsive and static. For, with a single flick of his wrist, Shikamaru had tossed one of the trench knives onto Akira's shadow. The blade's special properties allowed for Shikamaru's chakra to paralyze whomever the shadow belonged to. It was a swift way to deal with his students one by one.
Still, Shikamaru felt rather disappointed with Akira's performance. While he did manage to avoid the traps the Jonin had arranged, he only did so because of his Byakugan. If it weren't for the boy's Kekkei Genkai, Shikamaru was sure that Akira would've faired no better than Kiyoshi and he would most likely be trapped in a net somewhere. He was hoping that the remaining child would prove her worth.
"What did you do?" Akira panicked, unable to move any of his limbs.
Shikamaru dismissed his question, turning his attention to the bushes where Katsu had been hiding. It became painfully obvious to the shinobi that her sensei was aware of her position. With a little disappointment that she had been discovered so easily, she fuddled her way through the foliage, revealing herself to her sensei.
"Two down..." Shikamaru smiled letting his words linger in the breeze. He reached into the pouch on his side and drawing a single kunai. He resolved to use the remaining Chakra Blade only if necessary; in case he needed it in a pinch. "Well what are you waiting for? I'm right here."
Katsu was about to take the bait. For, directly in front of her, there was another trip wire attached to a spring-loaded machine prepped to shoot three shuriken. Of course, shuriken may have been too dangerous for Shikamaru to be using on his students. However, he was confident that Katsu could dodge a few projectiles. After all, the team did come heavily recommended by the Hokage himself.
If only Akira hadn't called out to her.
"Don't move!" he shouted rather urgently.
"Traps?" she asked, scanning the ground for any barely visible wires.
"There's a tripwire directly in front of you," Akira responded, trying to nod. His attempts were futile, but it didn't stop him from trying. "And there's four more between you and Shikamaru-sensei."
"Let's try this then," she smiled. The hand seals began flying by furiously, starting with the Rat, then Tiger, Dog, Ox, Rabbit, and finally the Tiger. Katsu leapt high into the air, taking a deep breath before exhaling a fury of fireballs in Shikamaru's direction. "Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"
The Jonin hadn't expected such a powerful attack from a mere Genin, and it caught him almost completely off guard. Shikamaru's shadow rose from the ground, forming a thick black shield that barely managed to deflect the flames. However, even though the attack on the Jonin was unsuccessful, Katsu had managed to spring all four traps between her and her target, including three others that she activated completely by accident. It seemed that Shikamaru had kept them all relatively simple, as all the traps were essentially easily avoidable pitfalls and ropes traps. Only one trap shot any type of projectile from the treetops.
"Clever," Shikamaru smirked, closing his eyes. In truth, Shikamaru was rather aggravated that all of his hard work was for naught. He had spent most of the night rigging those traps for the exam and she had effectively rendered most of them benign in mere moments. He rationalized the entire ordeal was worthwhile in the end however, as he managed to catch at least one of them in a pitfall. "What a drag. Well, at least you started working together."
Katsu rushed forward, delivering a strong roundhouse kick. Shikamaru sidestepped it easily, delivering a punch of his own directly to her stomach. To his surprise, his hand passed through her body and the clone disappeared in a puff of smoke. The Jonin turned just in time to block Katsu's kunai, but the follow up kick came as a bit of a surprise. His reflexes weren't fast enough, but his shadow rose just in time deflect the blow. The shadow grabbed onto Katsu's leg in an attempt to restrain her, but the kunoichi would not be stopped. She twisted her body to throw a punch, but again, Shikamaru used another portion of his shadow to form a long tendril that grabbed onto her arm, completely nullifying the blow. Katsu was about to try once more, but the Jonin used his shadow to throw the child a few yards away. Without a moments rest, Katsu rushed forward, her arm outstretched as she desperately reached for the bells at her sensei's side. Just as her fingers touched the metallic, spherical surface, her forward momentum completely ceased. The Jonin's hands formed the seal of the Rat.
She was trapped in his Shadow Possession Jutsu.
Shikamaru dropped his remaining Chakra Blade on Katsu's shadow so he didn't have to utilize any excess chakra to keep the rambunctious kunoichi detained. He figured Kiyoshi would've been just about out of the hole so he didn't need them anymore. He assumed that using the blades in a one-on-one Taijutsu battle put him at an advantage and he didn't want to be accused of being "unfair" again.
"You alright?" he called out to the child. Kiyoshi just barely managed to pull himself over the edge of the hole and the young shinobi scrambled to his feet.
"I'm... starving," he frowned, holding his side to quell the knot in his stomach. The ninja looked to his two paralyzed teammates and his eyes grew rather wide. "What did I miss?"
"Nothing," Shikamaru shrugged, putting up his arms. "Even though Taijutsu isn't really my thing, a promise is a promise. Come on, beat me, and you get lunch."
"Promise?" the child asked, giving Shikamaru a stern look of concern.
"Promise," he responded with a slight nod.
Kiyoshi cracked his knuckles and smiled. The child was confident, perhaps too confident, that he could overpower his sensei. He rushed forward, throwing caution to the wind, and delivered a powerful Leaf Hurricane. Shikamaru, having seen the technique countless times, batted away the first kick with his hand, and used the brief window between the alternating kicks to deliver a punch of his own. The blow was enough to knock the airborne shinobi flat on his backside. Shikamaru recoiled, pulling back his hand with a violent shake. He had felt as though he had just punched a brick wall.
'Kakashi was wrong... this kid is light years behind the other two. Even his taijutsu is pathetic,' Shikamaru frowned, shaking his head in complete disapproval.
Kiyoshi's body disappeared in a puff of white smoke, a log lying in his place. Panicking as he had completely underestimated his opponent's intellect, Shikamaru turned to find Kiyoshi, but a katana slashed towards the Jonin's midsection, forcing the sensei to jump backwards to narrowly avoid the attack. Shikamaru went to counter with an attack of his own, but a fireball careened towards the older shinobi from his right. Like before, Shikamaru's shadow rose, creating a black shield that deflected the flames, allowing the Jonin to use his free hands to draw a kunai from his holster. That was when Shikamaru felt his heart drop.
He had lost sight of Kiyoshi.
"Above!" the missing ninja shouted.
Shikamaru looked up just as Kiyoshi attacked with a downward mid-air kick. Shikamaru used both of his wrists to block the blow as the remaining Genin dove for the bells fastened at his waist side.
The sensei had mixed feelings as to what had just transpired. He was both proud and annoyed that Kiyoshi had been the one to 'break their promise' by utilizing jutsu in there one-on-one Taijutsu only match. He was proud that Kiyoshi had used a bit of trickery and teamwork to try and accomplish their goals. However, Shikamaru was severely agitated that he had allowed Kiyoshi to trick him with such an obvious ploy. Still, ninjas were supposed to see through deception, and, instead of using his shadow to toss the three shinobi back, he felt they deserved their prize.
Katsu and Akira both had a single finger wrapped around the bell when the clock rang.
"Here," Shikamaru said, handing each of his students a boxed lunch. The Jonin's monotone voice made it difficult for his wards to uncover what the shinobi was thinking. They couldn't decide if he was pleased with their performance or completely and utterly underwhelmed.
Kiyoshi didn't care. He was so relieved to see food that he tuned out everything else around him. Shikamaru had really gone all out for his students. Rice, salmon, vegetables, and some other brown thing - Kiyoshi didn't care what it was. He was so starved he shoveled everything into his mouth with his chopsticks. At this juncture, food was his main prerogative.
"Thank you Shikamaru-sensei," Akira frowned, pushing the box aside. He wasn't in the mood to eat and he didn't feel deserving of such an amazing meal. "I'm just not hungry."
"You're kidding?" Shikamaru frowned, having his head. He had spent quite a bit of money purchasing those bento boxes from the finest restaurant in town. While it wasn't too much of an issue, it was enough for Shikamaru to consider it "a drag."
"I guess what he means Shikamaru-sensei," Katsu intervened. "Is that he's lost his appetite, knowing we have to go back to the Academy for another year."
Katsu too placed her box on the concrete slab she and her teammates sat on. Her normally confident demeanor disappeared as she pulled her feet into her chest and stared blankly into the field of grass directly in front of her. Shikamaru smiled, telling both Akira and Katsu to eat up so that they could get their strength back. The duo did what they were told, picking up their bentos and forcing themselves to eat what food Shikamaru had graciously given them.
"Why do you think there was two bells?" Shikamaru finally said, breaking the silence.
"You said so one of us would have to go back to the Academy no matter what," Akira responded, once again pushing his lunch off to the side.
"Not exactly," Shikamaru responded. "I had no intention of breaking up the three of you. I wanted to see if you would work together as a team, even if there was the threat of one of being sent back to the Academy. See, I was going to fail you at first. When Kiyo and Akira began fighting me one-on-one I thought there was no sense of teamwork amongst you three. I started having second thoughts when Akira selflessly told you where my traps were, and I had completely made my decision by the time Kiyoshi sacrificed himself so that you two could each get a bell."
"What are you trying to say Shikamaru-sensei?" Akira added; his soulless eyes seemingly lit up.
He didn't want to admit it, but Shikamaru was growing to like the trio. Even Kiyoshi had really surprised him, sacrificing his victory so that Katsu and Akira might pass. It was a selfless act and he wanted to give the boy a bit of praise. However, he felt at the moment his words would've fallen on deaf ears as Kiyoshi was far too busy devouring his lunch.
"You pass," he smiled.
Katsu was the first to celebrate, screaming as she jumped to her feet. Akira tried to hide his joy, but eventually he couldn't contain himself anymore, gaining a wide smile across his face. He was more amazed that they had actually passed with such a pitiful display. He had been almost certain they failed. Kiyoshi didn't respond to the news. Instead he picked up his last piece of salmon and shoveled it into his mouth.
"I take it he didn't get the memo," Akira said, trying to be humorous.
Katsu knelt down in front of her longtime companion and closed Kiyoshi's bento box, forcing him to put it down. She made sure he was staring directly into her eyes when she shared the news so that she might see the look of joy in his eyes once he realized they were to become Genin.
"We passed bonehead," she smiled.
Kiyoshi's eyes lit up and he mumbled something completely inaudible, spraying food out of his mouth.
"Mom!" Kiyoshi called out when he finally opened the door to his parent's apartment.
It was a quant home like most of the apartments in Konoha. Rather than the average one room flats that were common throughout the Leaf Village, Kiyoshi's abode was more akin to that of a house in the more traditional sense of the word. Five rooms in total: two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. There was no real sense of style throughout the apartment. Rock Lee had always been partial to furniture and knickknacks made of bamboo while Sakura preferred her house to be decorated in floral patterns. Perhaps it was a bit egotistical to want the apartment completely decorated in cherry blossoms, but admittedly such floral patters were both rather vibrant a beautiful.
His mother was situated in the kitchen, cooking dinner for her son. Sakura had aged well in the past twenty years, using the same jutsu that her mentor once had to keep her youthful appearance. She wore a pink vest, and a short, light pink skirt with leggings that fell to her mid-thigh. Her hair, which she had grown to fall to her waist, was tied in a similar appearance to that of the previous Hokage, Tsunade.
The team had spent the last few hours back at the training ground just spending time together. Shikamaru stressed that camaraderie was the quickest way to becoming an effective team. Rather than training, Shikamaru just wanted the children to become friends. Skills would come later. Still, Kiyoshi felt like he hadn't learned a thing about Akira and he had already been Katsu's best friend. So, in the end, the entire day just seemed like a waste.
"I hope Shikamaru wasn't too tough on you," Sakura teased from the other room. "Actually, now that I think about it, he was probably too lazy to give a proper test."
"No," Kiyoshi called back before eventually joining his mother in the kitchen. "He gave 'The Bell Test.'"
Sakura was immediately filled with memories of her past. During her test with Kakashi, Sakura had managed to do nothing more than panic and faint on two separate occasions. The exam had ended in a complete failure. Naruto had been tied to a post and she had ended up making a fool of herself. Even Sasuke, who at that time was the superior fighter of the three, failed in comparison to Kakashi. The second iteration of the same test, albeit three years later, was far different however.
"Well did you pass?" Sakura asked, shaking her head.
"Yeah, we have a mission first thing in the morning," Kiyoshi responded, giving his mother a 'nice guy pose.' "Is dad home?"
"Oh, you know your father," Sakura sighed. "He's off on some mission with Tenten. I'm sure he'll be back later tonight... or maybe tomorrow. I'm sure he and Guy-sensei will want to hear all about it."
Kiyoshi smiled at his mother, giving her a hug before exiting the room. Just as he was out of his mother's vision, the newly appointed Genin hung his head and he let out an impressive sigh. His father was never home.
Katsu pushed on the door, trying hopelessly to force it open. After a moment of pushing, Katsu braced herself, charging into the door with her shoulder. Of course, the door sprung open rather easily and Katsu tumbled forward, landing harshly on the wooden flooring. More embarrassed than angry, Katsu pulled her arms out from underneath of her and the kunoichi barely managed to close her front door behind her. Katsu turned on the light to gaze at her empty apartment. It was just a single room with just a bed and a dresser. For the most part, she kept the room rather clean, but, as with all children, it wasn't too uncommon for things to get a bit messy.
Katsu wanted desperately to share her good news with someone. She wanted to shout to a room full of family and friends that she was finally a ninja. Though she knew better. There was no one waiting for her at her home. Her mother had died during childbirth and her father had fled the village years ago. He just left her alone for reasons she didn't know or understand. Thinking about it brought a tear to her eye.
Even though it was early on in the night, Katsu decided it was best to just go to bed. She figured she should rest for she needed all of her strength for the trials of the following day.
"So, did you pass?" a voice from behind asked.
Katsu swiveled around to see the Hokage opening the door to her apartment. Unlike Katsu, Kakashi had no problem entering the abode, but closing the door proved rather difficult so he just left it open. After all, he didn't resolve to stay very long. He was just coming around to check on the Uchiha as he had done many times before after particularly rough days spent at the Academy.
"Yeah," Katsu nodded, her voice solemn and monotone. "Starting tomorrow I'm a Genin under Shikamaru-sensei and I can be registered for missions."
"Then why are you sitting here? Shouldn't you be celebrating? No? Well, I'm sure you're hungry. I made miso soup and eggplant if your hungry," Kakashi shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck.
"You know I don't like eggplant," Katsu said, trying to smile. There was something about Kakashi's scatterbrained attitude that made Katsu feel a little better. She still wanted to cry into her pillow, but she didn't feel quite as bad as she had moments before.
"You like dumplings right?" Kakashi said, scratching his forehead. "Well... come on, kid."
It had been years since he had taken care of Katsu. After Sasuke's deflection, Kakashi had practically acted as the girl's father. Now he was more of a mentor, or, perhaps, a concerned landlord. Still, he did often miss caring for the girl. Kakashi had always wanted a child of his own, but didn't find himself capable of committing himself to any long term relationships.
"Where are we going?" the child asked, looking at her hero with her large, trusting eyes.
"The Dango shop," the Rokudaime responded. "I want to hear all about your day."
Akira took the last sip of his fourth bowl of ramen, placing it down on the countertop with a loud thud. He wanted a fifth, but he didn't want to take advantage of Shikamaru's hospitality. However, the Jonin ordered yet another bowl for the child, aware that the he was likely still hungry. It had been almost six hours after they had eaten lunch and Akira could eat ramen like it was going out of style.
"I guess that's the one thing you and Naruto have in common," Shikamaru mused, finishing the last bit of his first bowl of soup.
"From what I hear, it's just about the only thing," Akira shrugged.
Shikamaru knew that to be true. Akira was calculating and reserved- Naruto had been nothing but a loud nuisance for most of his childhood. Of course things changed drastically as he aged, but, when Naruto was Akira's age, the two were nothing alike.
"Well, yeah," Shikamaru sighed. "The guy was always getting in trouble when he was younger. He was the Number One Hyperactive, Knucklehead Ninja. You're not going to start yelling 'believe it' are you?"
"Not likely," came the child's indifferent response.
Shikamaru could only hope that Akira had the same powerful determination to get stronger that Naruto had. Often times, individuals with Akira's personality suffered from complacency. Rather than striving to grow and become stronger, they think that they are already strong enough or they are just merely pleased with where they are. What made Naruto so strong was his drive to protect those around him and to earn respect. Of course, there was one simple way to see if Akira had that same motivation his father had.
"What's your dream?" Shikamaru asked abruptly. The sudden change in tone made Akira place his fifth bowl of ramen down on the counter. He didn't want to answer, but Akira figured his sensei deserved a response.
"Naruto... was strong, wasn't he?" Akira frowned, looking away. Shikamaru didn't have to answer that question, as Akira already knew the answer. He had heard how Naruto had essentially defeated Obito on his own with minimal help from the Shinobi Alliance. He had known of all the great accomplishments Naruto had achieved, and, of course, Akira was aware Naruto was to become the Sixth Hokage before he met an untimely demise. "You see, when people see me, they think of him. I'm always just the 'Son of the Great Naruto Uzumaki.' I hate that. When people see me, I want them to think of Akira Uzumaki. I want people to know me for my own accomplishments, not my father's."
"Wait, let me guess..." Shikamaru began to say before he interrupted by his student. He had a slight premonition of what was going to follow.
"My future dream is to be the greatest Hokage! Then the whole village will stop disrespecting me and start treating me like I'm somebody. Somebody important!" Akira nodded, picking his ramen up once more. He went back to finishing his food, allowing Shikamaru the luxury of a silent chuckle. When he was finished, the Jonin could do no more then shake his head.
'What a drag. You're more like him than you care to know.'
Omake #2:
Katsu: Hello and welcome to- Oi! Why are you here?
Akira: We're a team aren't we? I figured I should help out.
Kiyoshi: Oh, that makes sense. Well this is the studio, the camera is over there, and-oh, there's our cameraman!
Yamato: How's it going?
Akira: Um, alright... anyway, what are we talking about today?
Katsu: Well... we were going to talk about you to be honest. However, I'm thinking that would be a little awkward.
Akira: My apologies.
Kiyoshi: Well, I have an idea. Today's topic is Shikamaru-sensei.
Akira: Shikamaru-sensei is the prodigy from the Nara Clan, known far and wide for his genius and tactical prowess.
Katsu: That's my line... I'm the straight man and Kiyoshi's the funny man.
Kiyoshi: Tactical prowess? Chhh, the guy wasn't that tough. I mean, he had to hide behind all of those traps.
Akira: He was testing our perception. A ninja must see underneath the underneath.
Katsu: Seriously... you're taking all of my lines.
Kiyoshi: Still, if the time hadn't run out, we would've gotten both the bells from him.
Akira: Only because he let us. Tell me, have you ever heard of the bingo book? You have? Well, Shikamaru is listed in the bingo book as an S-ranked ninja. Underneath his name is the phrase, "flee on sight." He's really just that strong.
Katsu: Okay, seriously now? I'm starting to get really angry; stop stealing my lines! Add your own stupid commentary!
Akira: See, the funny story is-
Katsu: That's it! I'm done! Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!