A/N Here ya go folks, enjoy and I give thanks to my good friend and Co-writer Psudocode Samurai, look him up if you're looking for a good read. He's better a writer than I.
Right on cue most of the other jounin sensei arrived, through various means. Some came through walking through the door, others appeared in similar manners to him, arriving by shun-shin. When the elite saw him in full battle armor, and looking very strong in his old age, they couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. However, it was replaced swiftly with seriousness, Asuma Sarutobi, his son was the first to ask the question most had been about to query themselves, "Hokage-sama, are we under attack or something?" The old monkey hadn't been seen in his old armor for ages, so it was a pretty good assumption that could have been made.
However when the Hokage's eyes flicked over to the ninja's under his control, they saw mirth in his eyes. "No I am simply here to pick up my team just as you are." He replied smoothly.
Once again he enjoyed the shocked looks that were too quickly covered up, still he had only told a few of his plans, simply because it amused him to see people gaping like a fish. "I see" Asuma was slow to respond. It was not wise to question what the Hokage did for anyone, even him. Shrugging he let the subject drop, there was no point in trying to ascertain the third's plans. Throughout all of history there was not one person, Shinobi or otherwise, that had been able to outsmart the veteran of two extremely violent, long, and bloody wars.
Once everyone had recovered from the shock of their leader things quickly proceeded as normal, the teams leaving with their new sensei. Team ten was no different, Tenten would range emotionally from as giddy as a five year old discovering candy for the first time, to complete and utter disbelief. She even pinched herself, repeatedly. Naruto was acting, as always, the carefree, confident teen he was, shifting from proclaiming his awesomeness to the skies to snickering caused by whatever he was thinking about. Of which Sarutobi had no doubt was the blonde's latest prank, for only pranks left that mischievous smirk on his face. Shikamaru, however, seemed a bit sad. 'Man if I'm going to be the student of the third Hokage there will be absolutely no chance mom will let me slack. Oh no she's probably going to be infinitely more troublesome, why couldn't the Hokage pick someone else, like Sasuke? Yeah that's what everyone would have expected, so why did he pick us three. Not only that, but isn't Tenten already a gennin, why put her with two fresh out of the academy students? Especially when we're the two WORST in the class grade wise?' The more he thought about it, the gloomier he became.
Partly because of how troublesome this whole ninja business was going to be now that he was the thirds student, and partly because he only received more questions with no answers to any of them. Nothing he thought of made sense, which perturbed him greatly. Sarutobi chuckled inwardly at the Nara's emotional state; he had a fair guess as to what the boy was thinking. However, if he thought trying to figure out his plans was going to be easy, the boy was in for a nasty surprise. The old monkey guarded his secrets and plans zealously.
The aged leader led them to a thickly forested training ground, one of his favorites as well as being a good play ground for his monkey summons. The tree's here were separated enough to give the entire forest a golden orange glow in the sunset that took the Hokage's breath away. A small babbling creek ran down through the left most point working its way through the designated area and running out into a lake on another training ground adjacent to the one he was in.
When they arrived at a small, hidden, camp where hollowed out trunks of large trees served as sleeping quarters. Quite spacious ones at that, turning to his team he smiled warmly at them. "Welcome to my old training ground, this is where my teammates and I learned from the first. And here is where you shall take your first steps into the real world of the Ninja." Sarutobi lectured, "First things first, we should get to know each other a little better." With an amused grin he unrolled a scroll; a small poof of smoke later and a bamboo tea-pot with four matching cups were before them. "What better way to do that than morning tea to get ready for the day. This is how we shall spend each morning, the sharing of breakfast and discussing not only the day's agenda but whatever else may be on your mind."
As he poured the already steaming tea into each cup he continued speaking, "This is my own personal recipe, try it before you complain." He stated with a pointed look to the blonde team member, who was currently grinning sheepishly while scratching the back of his head. "Now, introductions are in order, so I shall start. As you know I was trained by the first and the second Hokage's. My dream was to master every Jutsu I could learn and, having accomplished that, my new dream is to see all three of you become legendary Ninja. My hobbies include shogi, learning, and teaching. It would be wrong for me to say I dislike war, when in truth I utterly abhor it." He shared about himself. To set an example for the newly minted Gennin, "Tenten since you've already been through this process you're up next."
Tenten, still dumb-founded that she was actually being trained by the third Hokage, started off shakily but gained confidence as she continued, "W-Well, my name is Tenten Kusarigama, and I live at Himura's Ninja gear and weaponry, where I practice forging and train my ninja skills. My dream is to become stronger the Tsunade-sama, but in my own way and style. I dislike stuck up nobles, people who are late and Lee and Gai sensei's disturbing genjutsu hug of death!" She finished with a shiver running up her spine, a haunted look flashing across her face for a fraction of a second.
"Thank you Ten-ten, now Shikamaru was it? Please acquaint yourself to us."
The lazy gennin grunted in response from his reclined position, head staring out the clouds. "Right, my name Shikamaru Nara, my hobbies would be cloud watching and hanging with Choji and, as troublesome as she is, Ino. My dreams, hmmm to fully master the shadows I employ I suppose. Still that might be too troublesome in which case I'll settle for being average. I dislike putting forth effort." The boy elaborated no more and it was clear he wasn't going to.
Seeing he was up Naruto's eyes lit up with excitement. "Jeez Shika, could you get any lazier? Wait. don't answer that it's too troublesome right?" In response shikamaru glared while mumbling about how that was his word and blondes were always more trouble than they were worth. Naruto ignored him completely and continued with his speech.
"I'm Uzumaki Naruto, the future greatest Hokage of the leaf. My hobbies are training, ramen, and training!" He exclaimed loudly, before taking on a slightly ponderous expression, "Though, to be honest, I'm the most bad ass Ninja around." Then in a flash his confident grin was back, "Heh! I'm the greatest at stealth! Not even the Anbu can find me when I'm serious!"
"My dislikes would range from the three minutes it takes for ramen to cook, to bullies! I hate bullies, when I'm a ninja if I run across a bully I'm gonna lay a smack down on his ass!" He said with a mischievous grin.
"Naruto watch your language in front of a lady!" Hiruzen cried.
"Awww who cares old man? Their just words!" Naruto shot back while sticking out his tongue.
"Humph do what you will when I'm not around but in my presence you will watch your tongue. Know this though young one, if you are truly going to be the greatest Hokage you will have to learn how to act in front of dignitaries, nobles, and the other Kage's." He shot back. He saw the light in Naruto's mind click and knew he had sold the boy on the idea of holding his tongue, at least in certain settings. "That is not to say you shouldn't show them who you are as a person, simply try to refrain from using such vulgarity." He continued lecturing getting a groan from the blonde. Chuckling, the Hokage conceded, "Alright alright I will drop the subject. Now first I want to say congratulations to you, Naruto and Shikamaru, for making it thus far. Now most teams would have to go through a trial test to see if they are fit to be Gennin. Based on my observations, however, you two were already ready. Tenten was already a Gennin therefore it would be unfair of her to have to re-do this test."
"In light of these facts we will, instead, be doing D-ranked missions for one month to build teamwork and trust amongst one another. If you learn nothing else from me, I will at the very least have drilled this concept into you whether you hate or love me for it." The grin on the man's face made all three younger ones shiver involuntarily. They sensed that doom would soon be upon them.
"So what will we be learning today Old man?" Naruto asked gleefully.
"It's Sensei to you now Naruto, you're a ninja now and need to show professionalism to the client. Today you shall not be learning anything, I can only learn so much about your skills through files and speculative observation, and in short I need to see what you're capable of. Ergo you both will take turns sparring with Tenten here, a Gennin with a year's worth of experience over you. If you do not mind that is Tenten?" He asked of the girl.
Tenten grinned, "Nah, I don't mind beatin' up on the rookies. So long as you don't mind if I don't take it easy on em'." It seemed that Tenten had finally found herself, or maybe it was the tea that had relaxed her. Let it be said that Hiruzen Sarutobi was no fool when it came to psychology and the human soul.
A chuckle issued from the cantankerous fellow, a chuckle the three would later come to loathe, before retorting, "By all means Tenten show them what you're capable of, but please refrain from using lethal force. It would not do to kill your new teammates, so please take care not to kill them, they are very fragile." He teased.
Naruto fell to the Old monkey's barb, "What was that old man? I'm fragile! Oh hell no! I'm up first Shika and I'm gonna kick bun-girl's ass! No offense Tenten-chan" The blonde cheekily replied.
Tenten grew a very, very dangerous grin. One some male's would recognize as the: I'm-going-to-tear-you-a-new-asshole grin, as fire roared to life in her chocolate brown eyes. "You can most certainly try, but excuse me if I don't make it easy for you, Shorty." She jabbed back standing and walking a little ways from the camp, so as to have more room to fight.
Naruto followed, bristling at her comment. "What the hell did you say? I'm not short I just haven't hit my growth spurt yet!" He shouted shaking his fist at her, his left eye brow a-twitch.
She giggled, "Right and you're like what five foot four?"
"Oh that's it you're eating dirt!" He growled and sprinted forward, shocking the young teen with his speed.
Her eyes stayed on target as Naruto charged her his fist cocked back, he wasn't that stupid was he? Apparently he was, with a quick side step Tenten dodged before whipping out a scroll. Biting her thumb she swiped a small amount of blood on the now unrolled scroll. She was going to teach Naruto that strategy always came first, the hard way. With a poof an solid oak Bo-staff was in her hands as she expertly twirled it around coming to rest with it positioned diagonally going from above her left shoulder to past the right hip in a reverse grip. Sarutobi's eyes gleamed with new joy, 'A new Bo-staff user right under my nose? I hit the jack pot when I picked her!' he thought giddily as he continued to watch the fight progress.
Naruto, after the failed bum rushed, had simply turned around and rushed her once more this time though he leaped in the air before coming down with a falling kick. In his anger it seemed he had lost all sense of common sense, you do not rush an armed opponent, especially a ninja with more experience, training, and skill under their belt. With a quick thrust, Tenten broke Naruto's nose, with a twirl she almost knocked him out with a strike to the temple. Another spin and she jabbed him hard in the stomach right before he hit the ground. The breath left Naruto's mouth as if fleeing from the Shinigami himself. The strength under Tenten's command dragged him through the dirt before she caught his shirt and sent Naruto in the air. There he was held at the brutality of the Bo-staff's long reach and versatility. She kept him suspend with jabs strikes and sweeping attacks for a good minute before she let him fall back to the ground, now a bruised and broken husk.
She walked up with a small grin, "So Shorty, learn anything?"
"Yeah, I was right. You did let your guard down eventually." Naruto chimed, before she had time to react, Naruto's heel smashed into her jaw sending her back a few steps. That was all Naruto needed, his blonde shoulder rocketed into her head sending her stumbling back before he shot her into a tree via a spinning jump kick.
Naruto sent a punch towards her head, but even delirious from the powerful attacks, she had enough instinct left to dodge. With a swift kick to his knee cap he lost his footing, twirling her staff she slammed the end in the back of his head slamming him head first in the dirt. Tenten grinned, a small trickle of blood coming out the side of her lip, "Hey Shorty, I thought I was the one who was supposed to eat dirt. Hokage-sama, I think Naruto here is done, I've banged him pretty good."
There was a muffle from the ground in response. Tenten's eye twitched, "Brat, stay down! Do you not realize that if I were a true enemy you would be at my mercy right now? I could beat you senseless all day! Don't get back up just to get beat around!"
A growl emanated from the blonde as his hands slammed the ground and he pushed himself to standing, albeit with great effort. "NO! I will not give up, I will continue to get back up and continue coming at you with all I have, and I will never stop!" He said through ground teeth. Oh he hurt like hell alright, but the pain was already lessening and he could still put up a fight. Tenten was giving him an odd look; it seemed to be a mix of disbelief and incredulity.
"That is enough Naruto, I have seen enough. Tenten dear please, call me Sensei, or Sarutobi sensei." The Hokage interrupted, striding forward and placing a hand on the blondes shoulder. "Naruto my boy, as brave as you are to continue standing in face of what is before you; you need to learn control and not simply rushing your target. There was no need for you to take such damage."
Naruto's eyes cast downward as he mumbled something inaudibly.
However the Hokage's ears were perceptive and his eyes narrowed in anger. "Naruto, I know that your teachers were unwilling to help, but that is no excuse for raising to an opponent's taunt and foolishly bum rush them. What if she had been an enemy Naruto, with say a katana instead of a Bo-staff? You would have been killed in less than a second, that's not even taking into an account that your teammates would now be at a disadvantage without you because they rely on you just as you will rely on them."
Naruto nodded meekly, sufficiently brow beaten, secretly however he couldn't be happier. Sixteen years of living life alone where people didn't acknowledge you didn't exist and he lived or died based on his people reading skills. Therefore he could tell the old man really cared for him and it was due to his worry for his well being that drove him to the speech. Well who would deny him the right to be overjoyed at the development? "Yes sensei, I will try harder in the future." He said sullenly, disappointed at his failure.
A hand made its way on the top of his hair and ruffled it, the owner being a grinning a Tenten. "Yeah kid, that's what pineapple head and I here for, helping you improve."
"Pineapple head?" Shikamaru asked with a groan.
Naruto chuckled, "Well you were the only one without a nick name, Sensei's is old man-"the boy was interrupted by the Hokage's immediate refusal of that statement. "-Despite if he accepts it or not, Tenten-chan's here is bun girl, I'm Shorty, and your pineapple head!" He had a smile filled with radiance that no dweller of darkness could hope to snuff out.
"Moving right along, It's your turn to face Tenten Pineapple head, that is if you're still up too it." The third cut in, ceasing all conversation for the moment. As happy as he was that the team was getting along so well, he did want to start training the three at some point in the foreseeable future, and to do that he needed them to focus. Tenten gave the man a thumbs an up in response. "Good, let's get started then. Pineapple head get over here and stop delaying the inevitable." He teased right along with the others.
Shikamaru stood grumbling. "Great my first day as a ninja and I get put on a team with a loud mouth blonde, a girl who can kick the shit out of both of us, and the third Hokage calling me Pineapple head. Seriously does Kami hate me or something, did I do something really troublesome in a past life or something?" He asked rhetorically. At the end of his tirade he was in ready position, facing off against Tenten. "Ready whenever you are buns."
Tenten smirked, "I hope you prove more level headed than Naruto, or am I'm gonna give you the same I gave him." He scoffed and she hopped backwards continuously avoiding a shadow creeping closer to her. "Ha! You have got to do better than that!" However when she was suddenly forced to stop she would have fallen over if not for her being completely frozen.
"Kagemane no Jutsu success." Shikimaru said to her left. "Give up; I could kill you right now if I wanted."
Tenten looked shocked, "But how?"
Shikimaru grinned, "Haven't you ever heard of Bunshin? I manipulated my shadow from here all along, that was merely a Bunshin that walked over here, having set it there just before the before fight while you were both distracted reviewing Naruto's fight. From there it was easy to lead you to where I wanted."
Tenten sighed, "I forfeit." She said aloud, she would take her defeat with grace. She'd be damned, However, if he thought he would ever get that lucky with her again. Shikamaru grew nervous at the eyes of steel Tenten was currently boring holes in his retina with.
Sarutobi smiled, "Still you did good, not many get past the Kagemane no Jutsu the first time. I'm sure that in future matches you will be more aware, just as I'm sure Shikamaru realizes that this is probably going to be his easiest victory as all others going to be, as he would put it, way more troublesome. Isn't that correct Pineapple head?" The old man queried.
Said boy sighed and nodded. "Hai, you hit the nail on the head there Hokage-sama. I only won so quickly because you were already slightly worn out from your fight with Naruto, so you weren't as sharp as you could have been, especially after that initial kick. I know firsthand how hard those kicks can be." He shuddered; thinking of some of the fights he had had with Naruto during the academy. "Add in the fact I had prior knowledge of the fight and got to see how you operate from observing your earlier fight and you were already at a disadvantage."
Hiruzen's eyes twinkled with pride at how his students were already handling themselves. Fresh out of the academy and Shikamaru could already beat a Gennin trained by one of the most elite in the village. This team was truly something, he could see a plethora of paths these three could take, but for now they would focus on the basics. Being fast, agile, intelligent, and strong. If they thought all he was going to teach them were jutsu after jutsu, they would be sadly mistaken. They would have to earn them. "We have done enough for today team, already the sun sets, meet at the camp at ten sharp is that understood? I do not accept tardiness." He warned.
With a chorus of hai's the three team-mates left together, intent on getting to know one another a little better. Hiruzen smiled, for the first time in a long time he actually felt good about the future.
A/N Well here is the chapter for you guys i hope you enjoyed. :) who knows what next chapter will bring?