Bellicism Arc: Check-In

"I still can't believe Kodai left this morning. They're barely genin and they've been on what? One C-Rank." Inoichi prepped the tea, taking a whiff of the floral aroma before he bobbed his head in satisfaction. He poured two cups, passing one to Shikaku.

Shikaku accepted the cup and could see his own reflection on the liquid as the morning sunlight bounced off of it. "That may be the point. They're excitable and have a limited view of the world. It might do them some good."

"But the chunin exams? Why didn't you recommend any of your students if you think it's such a good idea."

Shikaku exhaled and slumped his shoulders. "Because it would likely feed their egos more than any potential good that would come from it. They're improving, but they're very much still figuring out what kind of shinobi they want to be. From what he's shared, his team seems to have a better grasp in that department on top of unanimously willing to follow his lead."

"That's true. We traded off a training space once and they were so eager to listen to Kodai. Mine are just now getting used to working together. I might reward them with a C-Rank soon. It's been a nice break." Inoichi grabbed an onigiri and bit into it.

"Teaching is a break to you?"

"You know what I mean."

"Oh, but speaking of the chunin exams I've heard the Hatake genius, er, the boy, is taking the chunin exams too. I hear there's a good chance he'll pass."

"Kakashi?"

"That's the name."

"If that's true he'll be breaking another record. Might be hard to lead missions as a chunin though, skills or not." Shikaku knew not to judge by age, but many do. Plus, he couldn't stop a few of his own doubts slip in. Kakashi may have been a prodigy and had taken a lot of mission for experience, but age also wasn't nothing. Kakashi may have been excellent at tasks but he was still growing. He was approaching the age where in a year or two he would start to become more introspective. "Yuina isn't taking it too?"

"The girl? With Orochimaru?" Inoichi wiped a stay piece of rice sticking at the corner of his mouth. "Saw her once at that lab of his. If she spends a lot of time there then maybe she's not ready?"

"I can't imagine Orochimaru hasn't prepared her enough."

"Well, they're twins not clones. She may have learned fast, but she may have hit the ceiling of her accelerated growth." Some things came easier than others. It was only natural.

That didn't sit right with Shikaku. It wasn't that he disagreed with the premise, but it was odd. Yuina and Orochimaru introduced a few new substances to the hospital to manage pain. It wasn't like Orochimaru to give people false credit and therefore Inoichi's supposition that she wasn't ready could stem from a disproportionate workload. However, they are friends with people who semi-regularly work with mission services and at the gate. Inoichi knew as well as him that she met the average mission rates. He wouldn't keep quiet for no reason though so Shikaku didn't push it.

"Thought, I'd find you too here."

"Choza!" Inoichi and Shikaku dropped their things and ran over to their friend who wasn't waddling around with a crutch any longer.

"Thanks you two, but I'm good as new. Choza is a little disappointed that he was hurt on their last mission together before they agreed to take teams, but a year late is better than never. They'd offer to wait with him, but he wouldn't want to inconvenience the admin more than he already had.

"Glad to see you're better," says Shikaku. "Great timing too. You can keep Inoichi here company while I go meet up with my team. I promised them their first C-Rank after all." Shikaku may have told Haruto no to the chunin exams for plenty of reasons but it was about time to give them a little taste of more traditional missions and order.

"You're just giving them a C-Rank because I mentioned considering it," complains Inoichi.

"You're the one who said you're having fun relaxing."

Choza patted Inoichi's shoulder. "You'll get that experience before me at least."

Inoichi's face whitened. Choza was the one to bring up becoming jonin-sensei and now he would be the last to teach.

Shikaku's lip twitched upwards as he lazily waved for those behind him.

He would make it up to Choza later. A celebratory dinner should suffice. It's been too long even for him. He knew taking on students would keep his life busy, but experiencing it was always another manner. He still had a little bit of time before he met up with his team, but his curiosity was perked and he wanted an answer.

He navigated himself to a part of town he didn't often visit. He looked onto the property. The man and girl playing his favourite game a little sloppily. A tanto at each of their side was likely indicative that they finished up sparring or planned to spar afterwards.

"Shikaku." Sakumo waved him their way.

"Sakumo. You know how much I like shogi." He gave a plausible reason for why he was there.

"Do you want to play him?" asked Yuina. "I'm still learning different plays. You'd be better competition."

Shikaku took her up on her offer, and he sat down while she moved to the side of the board. She was right. The board wasn't in her favour. It didn't matter. A few moves, a quick chance to satiate his curiosity and he would be off.

"Some like to say it's good for tactics. I don't deny it, but I accept any reason that gets more people playing." Shikaku moved a piece. It may be bad but it wasn't unsalvageable. Yuina frowned but watched as he moved the piece. "Do you disagree?"

She looked to Sakumo before looking at the board. "I can see it as a good mental exercise, but I think some people take the comparison to tactics too seriously and literally."

"Oh?" Shikaku watched Sakumo move a piece and Shikaku immediately moved the next piece. "Care to share?"

"It's a game with a set board, pieces, and rules. Players have full view of every piece and every action. How often does someone have that much intel? Everything from the starting positions to abilities are manufactured. Pieces can't leave. There's no potential for backup. None of the pieces have personal techniques."

Shikaku agreed. Some may conflate his interest in games with work, but he didn't. He did like using the game to gauge people's adaptability and foresight on occasion though. Transferrable skills rather than direct comparisons. As Yuina put it, mental exercises.

"I heard your son left for the chunin exams. You must be proud."

Sakumo beams with pride and Yuina continued to sit still. Acceptance. No jealously. No hatred. No joy. She would have had a month or so to process any feelings, but she either pushed her feelings aside or she didn't want to join. He leaned towards the latter.

"You should be proud of your daughter too. I've heard she made medicine that more effectively handles pain than what we had before." She didn't outwardly react if at all.

"Did she now?" Sakumo looked curiously over.

Shikaku could understand not bragging but it is odd that it hadn't come up at all.

"It's thank to Yamanaka Flowers. It was hard to find the flower I wanted."

Yamanaka Flowers? Did Inoichi know? "It's from a flower then?" How much space would need to be dedicated to growing those flowers to ensure they had medication?

"Partly, but the properties can be synthetically manufactured. I made it myself after confirming what was needed." It was said with practiced ease.

She said I not we. She made it herself or was she taking credit? She never expanded too much on any given point. She was much calmer than his students, but that probably wasn't fair. His students still had the new genin jitters.

"I heard Orochimaru negotiated."

Sakumo might have learned the reason for his presence by now, but he kept getting answers so Shikaku didn't care.

It was the first time he got a reaction from her and it was a slouch, and was that a pout?. "The staff didn't appreciate wild claims from a kid. I understand, I guess, but I was giving it to them for free. They could get someone to test and guarantee if they wanted to. Instead I asked Orochimaru to vet it for me because I rather it be available then hold onto it for spite. It can be from anonymous for all it matters."

Too bad Tsunade had left. She would have enjoyed a discussion on such a thing.

Shikaku took Sakumo's king. "Thanks for the game." He stood up and looked at Yuina. "If you don't have anything planned, could you come with me? There's something I'd like your help with."

She blinked and looked to Sakumo again. That's the second time she's looked his way. Neither time did Sakumo give an answer for her or ushered her in a direction under the guise of guidance. That sounded like Sakumo. It's always good to know he was exactly like people described him.

She stood up. "Of course."

They walked through the streets and she kept up at his side even without knowing their destination. Not even a question of what he wanted her to do.

"Sensei!" Haruto waved.

They finally reached his team.

"Who's that with you?" asked Asa.

Shikaku shoved his hands in his pockets. "This is Yuina. She'll be joining us on our mission." Yuina looked at him but didn't complain. He didn't know for certain, but after a year she probably had teamed up with others before.

"What?" Touma joined in.

"Your choice," said Shikaku. "A C-Rank with Yuina tagging along or another day of D-Ranks."

Haruto quieted down as he had really been looking forward to doing anything but D-Ranks and if this is what it took then so be it. It didn't feel good though.

"She's younger than us! Shouldn't she be at the academy."

"We're a team," added Touma. "We don't need anyone else."

Yuina said nothing to defend herself. How tiresome. "She's already graduated and has more experience than the three of you combined. I think the experience would be good for you all, but the choice is still yours. C-Rank or D-Rank?"

Already a genin? Touma didn't want to believe it. "Then so be it. We can do—"

Haruto slammed his hand over Touma's mouth. "We'll take the C-Rank."

"Great. Now up we go." Shikaku gestured to the stairs. Touma and Asa glared but complied.