Chapter 4

Kimura's room was much more welcoming than it had been when they first came. Now Sekita would even go so far as to call Kimura a good teacher. He was different from Ryota with one of Ryota's lessons you left with a skill learned but after Kimura's sessions, you left with what felt like months of experience after an hour of his lectures.

He sat down waiting for his teacher. Not long after he sat wannabe and Ishikawa would join him. When Kimura lazily walked in all eyes became fixated on him. He took his position in front of a tall lectern.

The snake-like man spoke "You should already know I'm not one to teach techniques. Any run-of-the-mill academy teacher can do that. What I give you", He paused taking glee in our anticipation, "is the experience you need to go far in the rest of your shinobi techniques".

This was the normal speech Kimura had given thousands of times. He knew the first thing on the young shinobi's mind was jutsu, and if it was up to them they'd be training ninjutsu all day long. Unfortunately for them, Kimura was in charge and he hadn't even mentioned the word ninjutsu let alone teach it. Many of his students had a running joke that he couldn't do ninjutsu.

He reached in his pockets and took out three slips, "These slips will allow you to get into the mountain ranges. Today you'll practice defending an objective from constant ambush".

It was now that the three students remembered when they'd been taught to ambush during the first year. Back then they'd fought three third years. It was now that they realized that they'd be facing first years.

Any thoughts of ease were erased after they remembered how the sheer numbers of their class brought down their older adversaries. Compared to most of the other classes theirs was small. A large Iwa deployment that year meant an especially low number of births in the year group.

Tentatively the trio got up from their seats and left the academy while coming up with a ruff strategic plan. The consensus was that Watanabe's large arsenal of ninjutsu would be utilized at long range while he and Ishikawa would engage in close-range combat once they got close enough to the objective.

Even in the most dangerous and crucial missions, a semi-cohesive plan was all that most shinobi got. The number of independent variables in any given situation meant that a straightforward linear plan was everything but useful. Shinobi are expected to know every tactic in the book. They internalized them, took the good, left the bad, and through their strength, they ensured that their plan went how it was supposed to.

The trio of students was gaining the last factor in their goals of becoming competent shinobi. He hadn't given them a single technique throughout their training with Kimura, but they had improved. They couldn't exactly explain what they'd improved upon but compared to their former selves.

The improvement had shown itself in the classes. It could be debated that the increased difficulty had simply revealed the gap between them and the rest of the class but each of them believed that if another student in the top half had been placed under Kimura's tutelage instead of theirs their position within the class would have been understood.

Their classrooms would always be competitive their relatively small class size of three hundred was still large enough to have several hungry individuals. This competitiveness made Iwa strong. It was not difficult for one to lose their position in Iwa. At the end of the day, Iwa's size meant you could be replaced quickly.

It happened to Ryota, It was hard to believe the humble man was once considered to be Iwa's Brightest rising star. Unfortunately for him as good as he was as a shinobi he was a terrible politician. His calloused and blunt nature had made him a lot of enemies in the upper echelons of Iwa.

Just like that, They decided he couldn't be the face of Iwa so he was placed on the back burner for Kitsuchi an inferior Shinobi but being the son of the Third Tsuchikage meant his name had also reached the same amount of notoriety. So he became Jounin commander and when Ryota's career stagnated he was bumped down the hierarchy in place of the next set of rising stars. He faded into irrelevance becoming the third in command in some border town taking the occasional A-rank.

Sekita juggled these thoughts in his head he had begun to question the culture of Iwa. He believed it needed to change. For that change to happen he had to reform the system. In his mind, Iwa Had strayed too far from its core values. It required correction. As childish as it was he believe he was the steady hand that would correct the mistakes he saw.

Ishikawa was having similar thoughts he understood the system was broken. He understood change was necessary. However, Ishikawa believed that the path to change would be achieved legitimately. Through systems already in place, he would become the Tsuchikage and change Iwa. In his mind his once childish dream of becoming the Tsuchikage had now become more than that. As childish as it was He believed he needed to become Tsuchikage.

Ultimately both understood that there was little chance of change ever occurring if they remained weak. Gaining strength and status was the only option. The mussing of the children trailed off as they reached the mountain ranges.

Sekita POV

After registering with a guard stationed outside the mountain range Kimura sensei took us on a light jog towards our position. It was anything but that perhaps for him a seasoned jounin it was. We practically sprinted for 30 minutes into the position.

Upon our arrival, I took the time to think back on how we planned our ambush. I couldn't count on them waiting for dark like us so there was no time frame besides the hour it would take them to trek here and find us. The first-year group was a bit larger than ours, but they were sent out in groups.

The nearly a thousand-student class would have had no trouble finding an overwhelming without that rule. This was after all a test for them as well. They would be scrutinized for their ability to track us, stealthily set up, and then launch an ambush without us noticing soon enough for us to stop them. If we could capture them before they even had a chance to set up an ambush they'd fail and be removed from the picture.

The game plan was to thin the herd by catching as many as we could. A normal party of students would be between twelve to fifteen. Four to five three-man teams. If we could cut that number in half, I was confident in our ability to take on two or three first years each. They were still green. It'd only been 3 months since they entered the academy.

At this stage, the academy thought of stealth evasion above all else. They made sure you knew you were the lowest of the low when it came to shinobi. They knew any of their seniors could kill them without breaking a sweat. The instructor great pleasure in informing them of their fragility. However, this also meant their only real strength was the number of advantages

Iwa ensured from the moment you entered life as shinobi you knew you were expendable until you were important enough to be valuable. Even still, there were probably hundreds lining up to take your position should you ever slip up. That's how it was for me and that's how it would be for generations if there was never any change.

After leading us to the spot Kimura flickered away leaving the three of us to ourselves. Watanabe, the only one of us whose mind hadn't drifted off the task at hand, was the first to speak up.

"It will probably take the first-year students about an hour to make it here and be and fighting shape" He paused checking for our acknowledgement. "I can sense them once they get about a kilometre out.

"Until then" Ishikawa interjected, "We're better off just resting up". He smiled "Get ready for a long night".

The three of us found a cosy spot and waited for our adversaries. The land on top of the mountain was a baron and there was no real place for us to make any traps that wouldn't be easily spotted. Traps should never be made hoping for someone to fall into them. If they couldn't be forced, then there were better things to do.

Going out and picking the students off also wasn't an option until the initial big ambush was over and the remaining students were scattered across the mountain range otherwise, we ran the risk of being overwhelmed and surrounded.

Watanabe sat in a meditative pose probably trying to sense the students. Leaving Ishikawa to our own devices. The two of us were too eager to rest, so a conversation was sparked.

"Do you think that they'll kill Ryota" There was a slight quiver in his voice. "I mean he's a jounin and a good one at that. They can't afford to lose him" he said trying to convince himself more than me.

"I don't think Iwa cares about that to them he is just as expendable as we are" For a moment an uneasy silence was held between us.

Finally, Ishikawa spoke, "Then it is my responsibility to become Tsuchikage. I will change Iwa". Again, there was silence this time it held a resounding sense of finality.

It was clear that both Ishikawa and I were completely committed to our goals. Out of fear, I decided to not add my goal. My plans were in a sense treasonous. For now, our goals were aligned, and I didn't want to dwell on what would happen when they ceased to be in line.

Ishikawa had much firmer ties to Iwa than I did. As a child, his parents ensured that understood the great philosophy that was the will of stone and feared and respected the great power that the Tsuchikage held. I held that kunai he had given to me years ago I still remembered my promise.

Like most of Iwa, he loved our Kages but, I didn't know what to think. They were great shinobi that had ascended to levels I could only wish to reach.

On the other hand, Iwa had lost every great shinobi war in an increasingly embarrassing fashion, but as it was even their fault it seemed that every time conflicts began between the great shinobi nations Konoha would luck in another legendary shinobi.

Was this what the First Tsuchikage had envisioned?

Watanabe's calm voice cut through them "3 shinobi are approaching quickly". Ishikawa and I shot up but were halted by Watanabe's order "There are only three of us" Ishikawa and I paused in realization "We can't afford to send 1 man after a single three-man cell if the class is a thousand strong"

"So, do we just wait for them?" I asked dejectedly, whatever emotions I was feeling after my conversation with Ishikawa were bursting at my seams, wanting to fight or at least take it out, someone.

A curt nod from Watanabe was all I received. Picking up on the dejected atmosphere between Ishikawa and me Watanabe added "Once they are a bit closer we are going to have to intercept them before they find our location"

I honestly doubted that any first-year would be either brave enough or confident in their ability to face us. They were most likely an unlucky bunch sent out to find our location. Unfortunately for them, Watanabe was an excellent sensor even among experienced shinobi.

If they continued on their path to the scout, they'd be the first to fail this assessment. It was decided that I would go and deal with the scouts. Once Watanabe pointed their direction out to me and I was on my way.

It didn't take more than five minutes for me to find some signs of my targets. Oddly the disturbance caused appeared to be greater than that of a single person. Instead, many footprints were spread across the ground. I thought nothing of it in my first year we were taught to make it appear like their a bigger force. The tactic was commonplace; however, this kid would have fooled me if not for Watanabe's sensing the scouts prior.

Even more suspiciously as began to approach the group I could hear the footsteps of a group of more than ten. Perhaps a form of the clone was being used but I started to believe that Watanabe had gotten his reading wrong. While out of character for him it was the one answer I could find either that or they had been able to mask their chakra signatures.

That was the shakiest theory, I couldn't evade Watanabe's senses though some of the shinobi instructors would be revealed after a couple of minutes. I would be incredibly worried if these kids were skilled enough to do that.

Still, he trudged forward on their tail. For another two minutes, I began to come closer to their rear. I was still unnoticed by my target and our am was another forty minutes away at their pace I Decided to attack them from above and began my ascension up the mountain.

Within another minute I was in the position I wished to be in however I did not attack because I did not see the students scout but fourteen. That meant eleven of them were able to trick Watanabe.

Seizing them up, I began to pick off the students to the rear of their formation. I'd gotten through 4 four of them when three shuriken flew right towards me. I paused looking at the ten who remained. They were tense with anticipation, but their numbers had driven away their fear for now.

They confidently charged at me and evaded my kunai. I jumped back not wanting to engage ten opponents at once in taijutsu. No ninjutsu was taught to first years, Iwa hadn't decided if you were worth it yet. So, at the sight of me weaving hand sign the ten halted their charge but only for a moment.

However, that was all I needed as my palm slammed into the ground. In an instant, the solid ground we stood upon became a river of mud. I watched as my charging opponents clumsily slid across the mud.

Before they could regain their footing, I slid towards them similarly using chakra as water walking. I weaved in between them incapacitating each of them until only one remained. This one was skilled enough for us chakra to stand on the mud and answered some of my questions.

On his left shoulder was the distinct symbol of the Mienai Clan. They were famous for being able to not only completely cloak their chakra but also the chakra of other shinobi. Jounin could hide hundreds of shinobi to allow for ambush during all the shinobi wars.

Even the Konoha's byakugan could not see the chakra of a Mienai Clan member. I was shocked that a member of such a prestigious clan would be in an academy on the border.

The boy did not charge at me instead waiting for me to make the first move taking out a single bunted kunai. A small smile formed on my face in remembrance. With speed, he could not hope to match I appeared in front of him.

He jumped back in surprise but when he landed, I was there with him. I caught a sloppy front kick pulling him towards me where he was met with an elbow to the face. Still holding his leg, I drew back for another strike, but he twisted in my grip bringing his other foot to my head.

I tilted my head back to the point where his toes skimmed the tip of my nose. With all four limbs in the air, I let him drop but before he could hit the ground, I kneed him in his stomach.

He flipped in the air landing on his back with a rather loud thud. I looked down at him with a smile and said "Almost" biting back a laugh much to his annoyance. It didn't matter as immediately after a stomp to the face left him unconscious with a broken nose. I slumped against a tree

My mission finished I began to head back.

When I returned to our camp was met with only Watanabe standing in the clearing. I raised an eyebrow wordlessly asking the question of where Ishikawa had gone.

Watanabe answered, "Ishikawa went to deal with another group of scouts, but what took you so long it was only three first years it's been an hour since you left".?

I explained to him my run-in with the boy from the Menai clan and the unexpected numbers of the group I had intercepted. Watanabe seemed visibly agitated by the possibility that a group of individuals could remain completely undetected to him or anyone for that matter.

"Strange seeing a member of such a prestigious clan out here?" I asked. It had briefly crossed my mind during the battle but now could fully appreciate the strangeness of it. The academy in the capital was far superior to the ones on the border and that kid was a cut above his peers.

The voice of Watanabe took me from my thoughts "I heard from my parents that the Jounin replacing our previous third in command was an unlucky Menai clan member". Watanabe did not hide the disdain in his voice when speaking about Ryota. He like many others blamed Ryota for the embarrassing position Iwa had been placed into.

Ryota had taken the blame for the failed mission, not the spies who had caused it. That still irked me it was decided that better for the citizens to think it was incompetence rather than to create mistrust between each other. The spy was yet to be found. The spy had gotten away unscathed.

Watanabe was the perfect shinobi. He was without a doubt skilled, unmatched by his peer, but more importantly, he loved his village greatly and hated all that seek to harm it. Undoubtedly, he would follow the orders of this village to death without a second thought.

He like many others simply believed what they were told, so they despised the man who had almost jeopardised their way of life. Konoha had learned of spies within its walls. All were being hunted down now unaware of themselves being discovered

I watched with interest as a dishevelled Ishikawa returned. Through haggard breath, he managed to get out "A bit more than three". He slumped on a tree took a deep breath and shook his head chuckling to himself.

"Seem Mister Mienai has twins," I said jokingly to Watanabe. Turning to Ishikawa, "How many"?

"Fucking Forty-two" he replied

That number caught me off guard. When we were in their place three years ago were limited to squads of 15 randomly assembled and sent out in increments. Our prior knowledge was now useless.

Watanabe's eyes widened for a second before calling out to us, "Everybody off the ground." Before launching himself into the air. Ishikawa and I followed. Right where we stood the earth exploded. Jagged rocks shot out in different directions.

Falling back down avoiding the rocks we stood still for just a second before the earth shook again. As we each tried to regain our footing a team of fourteen emerged from the ground. Immediately, I came to two conclusions. The first was that these guys were a serious cut above what I faced previously.

"Fucking Triplets!" Ishikawa exclaimed in a tone of disbelief. My second conclusion was mirrored in Ishikawa's more colourful words.

Watanabe readied himself pulling out two kunai. I did the same. Ishikawa threw some shuriken at the group but none moved. As the shuriken approached, we watched as they went right through them. They were not fooled. Ishikawa's variation on the basic clone jutsu did not fool them.

That would make this more difficult if they just scattered it would have been a simple process. Now I approached them wearily watching them looking for the weak link. I zeroed in on her and in an instant, Ishikawa vanished before appearing behind them doing the tricks, they all jumped back in fear however in the air they were met with Watanabe sending them back to the ground with a variety of strikes in an impressive display of speed. When they landed the solid ground, we stood upon became mud.

However, unlike their classmates, they feared a little better they regained their footing rather quickly. When Ishikawa glided across the mud with a speed that was nearly impossible to keep track of with my own eyes and grace gained from years of sparing against me. The more intuitive students were able to form a crude understanding of the technique used standing on the mud using chakra.

It seemed however that they still lacked the control to completely replicate it. Those who were not so intuitive were quickly dispatched by Watanabe and Ishikawa. Those that remained trudged forward towards me. They figure incapacitating me would stop the mud.

As the nine that remained converged on me, I was met with a barrage of strikes from all directions. Skillfully, I weaved in between them, sending strikes of my own when I could.

They had now pushed be onto solid ground and their speed suddenly increased. They danced around me looking for an opening. Finally, one was found; a front kick to my back sent me tumbling across the ground. Finally, I stopped sprawled out on my stomach.

Slowly I got up however much to my irritation a kick was flying right towards my face while I still was on my knees. I caught the leg violently yanking it from underneath him causing him to fall backwards. A swift punch to the nose puts him unconscious.

I turn back to see the eight that are still standing. At that moment Ishikawa and Watanabe appear behind them. We approach them at a painfully slow pace testing their nerve. One finally breaks jumping from his group and outside of our perimeter. The moment he leaves the semblance of protection that such a large group provided all three of us take care of him before quickly returning to our position.

Again, we begin our slow crawl towards them. Their resolve seems to weaken after seeing their teammate being dealt with increasingly more brutally. I'd been willing to play the other set of kids because only one kid could even stand against me.

The eight that remained had certainly outperformed themselves unfortunately for them we are also overachievers far beyond the average third years at this academy. All three of us had received tutelage from Jounin.

Looking at them it was clear that they had exhausted themselves. Sweat slid across their faces and their shoulders rose through haggard breaths. With a conviction only seen in Iwa shinobi they readied themselves not for once considering fleeing.

The shinobi fought hard but they were not able to match us yet. They all put up a good fight however within the next 5 minutes all the original attackers were out and had been collected by academy teachers.

The night ahead was a long one however no group was as much of a challenge as the previous. Instead, they relied upon increasingly larger groups by dawn they were sending groups in the hundreds.

When the night is finally over, and the sun cracked through the peaks of the mountains Kimura arrived to collect us. When the man looked at our state his face was neither impressed nor unimpressed.

His cold voice regarded us with apathy, "Rest up this evening we head into the city"

After being escorted by Kimura out of the mountains we split up. Watanabe went to his family. Ishikawa went to his grandfather. I went to a place where I thought someone would be.

The Cenotaph had been erected long ago after the First Great Shinobi War many new additions had been laid to rest here since then. The area was empty for me and one man.

Ryota stood atop a hill looking out towards the many graves neatly placed he no doubt knew many placed here. I made my way to his side and for a moment there was a comfortable silence.

"I'm leaving for the city tournament this evening" I broke that silence.

He did not reply still looking forward to the graves.

I didn't know how to continue the conversation so again we slipped into a comfortable silence. Again, the silence was broken this time not by me.

"What lies ahead for you Sekita?" Ryota asked

I thought for a moment. How would Ryota react to my more radical thoughts?

"I want to change Iwa" I spoke my tentativeness apparent in my voice. I paused "So that nothing like this — like you ever happens again" This time speaking with more finality.

"Do you think if I become The Tsuchikage I could do that?" I asked

Ryota remained silent placing a hand on top of my head finally he looked down upon me and though he did not speak his face conveyed his answer. He then looked away again.

I was then caught off guard by the Shinobi that appeared in front of Ryota. He looked at Ryota with barely hidden contempt. Ryota stared back at him impassively.

Finally, the shinobi spoke, "Jounin Noya Ryota your transportation to the capital will arrive at dusk don't be late".

With that, the shinobi left in the same manner as he had appeared. As soon as the shinobi left Ryota slumped down for a second taking his hand off my head before returning to where he was a second ago.

I could not see his face, but I could sense his frustration at the events it only served to fuel mine. He turned back to me seeming to remember that I stood to his right. When he looked at me his anger seemed to fade away for now.

"Why don't we head back to the house? We both have big days ahead of us" Ryota forced a laugh a clear attempt to hide his fear at the things that loomed over his head. We both understood what would happen when He headed off to the capital.

He was as good as dead, and I could do nothing but watch as it happened.