Chapter 22: First Day

Yamanaka Ino was up bright and early, the sun barely starting to rise. It was 0530, roughly, and she was already dressed for her first day training to be a medic under the second best medic nin in Konoha. Tsunade was said to be the best, but she didn't take just anyone under her wing. Sakura was lucky enough to have been selected, but if the Hokage said she would benefit from training with Kagome, she would do it.

"Morning, mama." She kissed her mother on the cheek and sat at the table.

"You're up early, Ino." She smiled at her daughter.

"I have to be at Kagome-sensai's clinic by 0600," she told her mother after food was placed in front of her. "Today is my first day and I am hoping to learn a lot." She started to eat. She wasn't sure what to expect today.

"Not the hospital? I thought Tsunade-sama was going to have you train there." Her mother looked confused.

"No. It is a smaller clinic. I'll be in the center of town since it'll be easier for some of the busier citizens to go there then the hospital." Her mother nodded. "I'll be training directly with Kagome. She's supposed to be second only to the Hokage when it comes to medical jutsu. It's a select few, so I feel lucky about this." Her mother nodded and took her plate when she was done. "I'll be back around lunch time," Ino said as she headed out the door.

"I hope this is good for her," she said with a whisper, watching her daughter vanish down the road through the window.

"It will be," Inoichi said from behind his wife, startling her. "Kagome is a great medic and knows what she is doing." He smiled at his wife. "It's not known, but Kagome hand-picked her students. Ino was her first choice."

"Hand-picked?"

"Kagome sees something worthwhile in our daughter." He draped his arm across her shoulders. "She'll be fine." His wife nodded. "Now, I have to start my day." He kissed his wife's forehead and was out the door.

~With Kagome~

She had just unlocked the door to the private clinic when Ino approached, a bag hanging at her side. She looked ready to start her day, so Kagome let her in. She was waiting on three other nin and two civilians that wanted to learn to be a medic. The receptionist would be there in about forty-five minutes. There would also be two nurses showing up soon as well. They were a bit seasoned and they had nothing against her. She had fully vetted them too. There were no complaints against them and they were both knowledgeable and professional. She didn't need there to be any issues here like there were at the hospital.

"Go ahead and claim a locker Ino, then meet me at the reception desk." Ino nodded and headed towards the locker rooms to drop off her stuff. Kagome headed to what was her office and set her stuff down. She had two notebooks with her. She just set them down and approached the filing cabinet. She pulled out a ledger that had a calendar in it. This is where the appointments would be taken down at. She had the records of those that would rather go to the clinic then the hospital. It wasn't many, just some shopkeepers and nin that were too busy for the hospital. She could easily see them here since it was closer to everything. The clans refused to be seen by her, so she didn't bother with that, but she did have Sasuke, Naruto, Kakashi and Keichi's records. Mikoto's was also here since she would be seeing her here after hours.

She moved towards the front and saw Ino there. There were two other people there that looked unsure of themselves. They were older than Ino in appearance. Nothing really all that special about them and they didn't stand out all that much with their brown hair and brown eyes. But if they wanted to learn, she would let them.

"Kagome-sensei." Ino bowed to her once she realized she was there.

"Good morning." She smiled at them. "I am Kagome and I will be the one training you. We are waiting on three more people, then we can get started. Ino, can you show them to the locker room?" The blonde girl nodded and led them down the hall. She watched a pretty woman walk in. Her sandy blond hair and green eyes made her stand out. She was dressed modestly in a kimono type top and capri pants. She pulled a set of glasses out and placed them on her face.

"Good morning. Can I help you with something?" Kagome asked her.

"Good morning." She bowed deeply. "Katsura Mei, reporting for duty." She stayed bowed. Her greeting was loud, the complete opposite of how she looked.

"Mah. Mah. You can straighten up." Kagome approached the woman. "Are you one of my nurses?" She looked the girl over.

"Hai." She scratched her cheek. She was embarrassed after hearing the softer tones of what would be her boss. "Gomen. I'm a bit excited. The hospital wasn't the best environment for me." She looked away from the pretty raven-haired woman, a blush across her cheeks.

"It was the same for me, which was why I requested this clinic." She smiled at the blond woman. "We open in forty-five minutes. Please take a bit of time getting used to the building and selecting a locker. You'll look over any minor injuries and illnesses. If there is something you need help with, let me know. I selected you because I know you have knowledge on what to do."

"Alright." She was more subdued as she walked down the hall, past the woman she knew to be Kagome. Her bag was clutched in her hands. This was a great opportunity for her, even if the hours were not as long as the hospital. It gave her more time to further her training and to gain more knowledge from a woman she knew was only second to the Hokage. She could see this young woman surpassing their Hokage when it came to medicine.

It was fifteen minutes later that the last three people she was training walked in. One looked like they didn't want to be there. She recognized the person to be a Nara. The other two were a Hyuga and an Inuzuka. She was waiting still for the second nurse and the receptionist. This, she knew could be bad, if what she assumed to be true was true. These two would know instantly. She cleared her mind and approached as Ino came out with the other two.

"Ino, can you show these three to the locker room then we will meet in the conference room. I am waiting for the last nurse and the receptionist, then we'll begin." The blonde nodded and she left with the other five. She looked at the time and knew the clinic would be open soon. She sighed and straightened when she saw Keichi run pass the door with his two friends and the puppy. He was grinning broadly and waved to her briefly before he was out of sight. She loved her son a lot. He was her world for the longest time.

"Sorry I'm late," a voice said coming through the door. The woman was slumped forward, trying to catch her breath. "My alarm never went off." She stood. "I'll get to the reception." She moved quickly to the seat and set herself up, looking over the schedule. She was all set.

"When the first patient gets here, put them in room one. Katsura-san will look to them and get me when they are ready." The woman nodded and looked as one more person came in.

"Sorry I am late," The female looked to Kagome. "I got a little lost this morning. I'll familiarize myself with the building quickly." The white haired woman moved quickly down the hall. Kagome sighed. It was a rough start, but she was expecting this. This was opening day for them. She moved back to the conference room and looked at the gathered group.

"You'll be shadowing me during certain hours of the day. At 1600, you will meet back in here and we will have lessons. I want you to take notes and observe during the hours you are with me. Those of you without the use of chakra will learn a different way to diagnose and treat people and will have different lessons. The first few lessons will be the same for all of you. Once those are done I will work with you guys on the other lessons. I want to make you the best medics you can be." She smiled at them. "So Yamanaka, Nara, and you," She pointed to one of the nondescript civilians, "will have mornings, which will start at 0600 and go until noon, maybe sooner, depending on the amount of people we have to see. The rest of you, be back here at noon." They nodded and the others left. It would be a long first day.