(Aburame Compound-Present)
Most people might think that a Jonin being assigned a Genin team was randomized, and to a certain extent, they'd be right. Most Genin that came from the civilian population or some smaller clans that made up Konoha would be assigned a senior ninja from whoever was available, with some consideration given toward compatibility of skills, personalities, etc.
At other times, clan history and lineage were the deciding factors for team composition. Kurenai was thus unsurprised to hear from Asuma that he had been placed in charge of this generation's Ino-Shika-Cho, considering the relationship between their families. Was also unsurprised to hear that the Copy-Ninja himself would be mentoring the last Uchiha.
Having just recently become Jonin herself, she was more surprised she had been assigned a team of her own, especially one comprised of her own former teacher's son.
"Seem's like just yesterday I was watching you cheer on Asuma and Raidō. Now the two of you have your own teams. I'm proud, even if it makes me feel old," Shibi said taking a long puff of his cigarette.
Kurenai had never liked the habit, especially when Asuma picked it up as a young man. Now that they were more or less dating officially, she'd have to sooner or later convince her semi-secret lover to moderate the addiction, if not outright quit.
"I have to admit," her teacher added, "I was somewhat surprised you decided to stop by. It's been so long since we've talked, I was beginning to believe I had never really left an impression on you. Ah, but then you all did become Chunin early, didn't you? Congratulations on becoming Jonin by the way. I suppose you've all been busy."
"You make it sound as if we don't see each other at work," Kurenai replied.
"Ah, well, I suppose that's true."
Kurenai sipped at the tea she had been served. Sitting here, with her old teacher, the comforting nostalgia was a far away different atmosphere than the 'hospitality' she had had earlier. "*Siiiiiip*, I didn't come here first, you know?"
"Oh? Then I suppose you saved the best for last, then?" Shibi said, smoke wafting from his nose.
"I visited Tsume. After tomorrow, I'll be placed in charge of both of your sons."
"Kiba?" Shibi said quizzically, "...I suppose that makes sense."
"You know him?"
"He's a friend of Shino and has been here at least once in the past. Other than that, I don't know much beyond the fact that he's Tsume and Han's son."
"Han?" Kurenai asked, unfamiliar with the name.
"Ah, you wouldn't have known him. Her husband."
Right. Kurenai had heard that the Inuzuka head had once been married, or might still be, but that she had run off the father of her children years ago. It was a sensitive enough topic that those in the know never talked about in her presence. Not if they didn't want to risk Kuromaru's bite.
"I've worked a number of missions with the woman. Our skills complement each other, so it doesn't surprise me that the powers that be decided to make a team that specialized in tracking."
Kurenai nodded. It was much the same conclusion that she herself had come to, especially considering the last Genin that would be on her team. "I was at the Hyuga residence earlier."
"Were you? I take it that means that one of theirs will be on your team," he whistled as he took that knowledge in, "Inuzuka nose, Kikaichu, and the Byakugan. They'll be a hell of a unit when they've matured."
"That does seem to be the plan," she said somewhat exasperated. "I had hoped to introduce myself to everyone before I gave them their test, but the way things are going I suppose I'll just have to meet Kiba and Shino tomorrow."
"I'm sorry. If I had known you wanted to meet him, I would have-"
Kurenai waved her teacher off. "There's no need to apologize. This was all on a whim anyway. If he's as hands-off as you were, I doubt he'll will be any trouble."
"..." Shibi's silence was off-putting.
"What?" Kurenai asked, "Why did you suddenly go quiet?"
"It's just," he began, "...while I wouldn't say he's troublesome…My son is… never mind, I'm sure you'll do fine."
"What is it?" Kurenai asked, being somewhat more forceful with her old teacher. "...Tell me!"
"He just has…a bit of a personality."
Kurenai had done some light research on her potential charges. Kiba had very nearly bottomed the class, only saved by the continual examinal failures of the village prankster. Hinata achieved average to high grades, but her earlier meeting with the mousey kunoichi and her father gave Kurenai the impression that she'd have to spend a considerable bit of time building the girl up. It still rankled her….'Superfluous,' the word Hiashi had used to describe his own daughter.
Then there was Shino, whose grades measured somewhere between the two, but whom some teachers described as, "thuggish." One copy of a note of complaint that had supposedly been written shortly after graduation implied he had threatened fellow graduates and their families, and his number of skipped classes exceeded even Naruto's. Despite this, he scored the highest in Target Practice, and Kenjutsu, or would have if he had shown up for more than the bare necessary examinations.
Surprisingly, there were interesting notations from Taijutsu classes several years ago that said he was barred from sparring with Sasuke Uchiha, the top Academy graduate, citing some fight that had spiraled out of control when they had been younger.
If Kurenai had to describe her old sensei's son, she would have said, 'Talented, but lazy.' or at least 'Unfocused,' going by the impression she garnered from his files. It was clear there was talent, but he had likely never been challenged correctly. Hopefully, that would change after tomorrow.
(Konoha - Konosuba inn - Present)
Money. It was all about that sweet sweet mulla. Some might say Shino's fixation on making as much of it as possible was a bit unbecoming for the heir of such a prestigious clan, but they didn't see the big picture. Not like Shino did. The Ninja world was on a ticking time bomb.
Two years ago Shino picked up a magazine from a simple convenience store. On a whim, he turned to a page in the middle where a story that would change his life took up two pages.
[Totsuba Kisuke says, " Rails are the future!"]
It was a short article about an enterprising young man from the Land of Thunder who was trying to develop a rail system connecting the Land of Thunder's capital with Kumogakure. It touched on logistics, economic prosperity on both the micro and macro level, and all sorts of things other youth would have found terribly boring….but not Shino.
Rather, it was as if he had seen the light. The future was bright, and being a ninja didn't mean being the bulb. He could picture it in his head, a world of tall buildings that….scraped the sky, or something. Rails would give way to all manner of innovations both in weaponry and civilian development.
Would there still be ninja? Sure. But would they be the same then as Shino was today? He didn't think so.
It may not happen now, it may not happen tomorrow, but things would change drastically eventually. The whole world was on the precipice of some sort of…indutro-scientific revolution…and only he and a small number of people could see it.
People like Ereki Kaminaimon, who had been looking for investors in his own locally grown Konoha-based rail company. Shino hadn't missed the chance to advise his father to invest invest invest!
One day, the Fire daimyo would demand less autonomy from his Land's Ninja village….one day. And how was it that a growing influential clan stayed growing and influential?
Money!
Sweet sweet currency 3!, Shino thought with fondness. And I won't stop here…Aburame silk…Teas with little black balls of tapioca!…But first..
"This…This is outrageous!" The innkeeper said, trying and failing to hold in his anger.
"Sir, I assure you, our rates are extremely fair for the services we provide," Shino said flanked by two older clansmen.
"But…but 150,000 Ryo!"
"Sir, please calm down. Your establishment is large and will require me and my men to walk the premises. This one-time fee is much more fair than us charging you an hourly rate. Really, it's not the kind of deal I give to just anyone."
"C-Can't you just wave your fingers and make them go away?!"
"Sir, pest extermination is hardly that simple." It actually was for Shino and his fellows. But cheap bastards deserved no mercy.
"...Fine! But not one roach, ya hear! I'll take this to the Hokage himself if I'm not satisfied. Mark my words!"
"Of course, sir. The Aburame Extermination Company is…the Pest In Town!...Or your money back." Shino said adding a thumbs up.
"Hmph! We'll see if you're the best," the man huffed before waddling off.
Do it you fat fuck. Complain to the Third. I'll give your money back, and make sure so many cockroaches are shoved down your throat, they'll be calling your fat wife; Momma. I'll kill you! I'll fucking-
"You're doing it again, young master." One of his clansmen said.
"Oh…right. I'm ditching. Gyo, make sure that swine pays, neither of you two has to stay longer than an hour. Just make sure you look busy."
Gyo would be taking over most of the Extermination operations after today. For now, Shino had to get ready for tomorrow.
(Academy - The next day, mid-morning)
The next 2-3 days following graduation from Konoha Academy were usually reserved for finishing up paperwork as well as team building. The first day post-graduation was when former students got a photo for and received their official Ninja licenses.
The day after that was an orientation at the academy in which predetermined teams of three were announced, leaving the rest of the day for the new comrades to familiarize themselves with each other and begin building a rapport.
On the third day, that is to say, today, they would formally be introduced to their Jonin instructor.
Hinata still remembered the previous day, when the teams had been announced. Several girls around the class had shot her and Ino consoling glances and gestures of good luck believing they would need it. Kiba, Shino, Shikamaru, and Choji were four of what people referred to as the Five Fools of Konaha Academy, along with Naruto.
The caricature of these five goofballs, either skipping class, sleeping, or otherwise going their own way was so strong in the minds of her fellow graduates that many were surprised they had actually walked out of the academy with headbands. In fact, there had been a rumor after graduation that Naruto had failed to pass his examination. Thankfully this had been unfounded, and she had been relieved to see her…the person she admired so much, show up for orientation the next day.
She would have been happier to have been placed on a team with him, but fate had not been her ally. Instead, she had been paired with, well, Shino and Kiba. That wasn't to say she didn't like either of her new teammates. She just…didn't really know them.
Even yesterday, when they might have had lunch together, or simply spent a few hours talking about what they expected from each other going forward in their careers, each, including herself, had simply opted to do the bare minimum of niceties and then go their separate ways.
At least she had already met their instructor, who had seemed kind enough.
Kurenai-Sensei had shown up at the Hyuga compound requesting a meeting with her would-be student and father. It hadn't gone well. Not only had her father spoken of her dismissively, she had not even had the courage to introduce herself properly to Ms. Yuhi. The only thing that Hinata remembered vividly was that as she escorted the Jonin out, the senior Kunoichi had tenderly wiped a tear from her eye, only asking her to return the handkerchief on the morrow when they would all meet for the first time as a team.
She was nice, Hinata thought to herself. If only…If only I could have stuck up for myself like you…Naruto.
"Hello, Hinata. It's good to see you again." Kurenai's mature voice said next to her.
Hinata almost jumped out of her chair as Ms. Yuhi appeared seated to her right.
"M-M-Ms. K-Kurenai Y-Yuhi, I-I mean, Ma'am!" Hinata squeaked, jumping from her chair and bowing 90 degrees. "I-I didn't, I mean it's nice to, I-I mean-"
"It's all right, girl," Kurenai said comfortingly, "I didn't really come here to talk. I just came to tell you that your team's test has already begun. Whether you all become shinobis or not, will hinge on whether you can find me."
"B-But I don't, I-I mean what do you-"
"You have until the end of tomorrow. Good luck."
"But I. Ms. Yuhi, I don't know what you-" Hinata didn't finish speaking as Kurenai began to fade away into thin air, her body breaking into hundreds of flower peddles. "But…Sensei…I don't know what…" What you mean, she finished in her mind.
"Oi, Hinata?" Shino's stern voice called out. Snapping her from her thoughts.
"Who the Hell are you talking to?!" Kiba finished.
"Arf!" Akamaru barked, backing up his master.
She stared down at her teammates. Then she felt her face heat up and fell to the floor.
Honestly, I wasn't sure how I wanted their test to go until I tried to speed through this today. I think this will take two more chapters. Then they go on their first of maybe two core missions before we begin the Chunin exams.
If you see any glaring grammatical mistakes, please point them out, and I'll be happy to address them when I have the time.
Please read, review, and leave a like.
Also. Are the time and location prompts at the beginning of each perspective confusing for people? I've been told by some that it can be confusing reading one perspective to the next and that a sort of key or explanation would be appreciated. If it's a big enough issue, I'll address this.