After three hours of pulling roots out of the ground, Mika barely withheld his glare at Aoba, the man's bullshit did in fact stink. "These are not missions, they are a joke. We are trained, albeit barely, killers, thieves and more. This is disgraceful." They were just outside of the mission's office, walking away from it with money in hand. He tried to keep his tone low, but anger won

The man nodded, but there was a low grin on his face. "It is, but they are designed to learn teamwork, connection and to keep you in line while also making an income."

"Why not make Academy students do this, it would be ten times more beneficial?"

Ami and Fuka both nodded, glaring at the dirt on their nice sandals. "We look a mess, can't we have better missions? Something with Sasuke?" Ami whined.

Fuka growled in approval. "She's right, something with Sasuke!"

Mika just rolled his eyes. "Do you two do anything bar suck Sasuke's imaginary dick? He's not even into you two, he has his own goals." Shivering with annoyance, he ignored their huffing. "Can I just go workout? I have things I need to do."

"Actually no, we have training to do today." He offered a shit eating grin. "Today, we learn to walk up trees."

"I can already do that." Mika stopped Fuka and Ami's cheers of awe with his solemn tone. "I can walk on water as well, not that hard actually." He walked over to the nearest building and started to climb it. "Anything else? Like combat training, or well anything of value?"

The man frowned. "How are you so ahead?"

"I taught myself, it was easy."

"How long?"

"Not even two hours collectively."

"""

'Kid's got talent, most medics still would have taken like six or so hours to master it.' He smiled again. "Tell you what, you and I can spar while they work out. I can't give you too much time, I have TI work to get to, but I can help you get your skills up." It irked him a bit as he realized the nature of their team. 'A Dead team, one we see no potential in. They might surprise us, but without the right mentor they will likely drift into obscurity. Not this kid though, he is something else. I will have to challenge him.'

Mika nodded, his eyes seemingly picking up far more than he was letting on. "Fine, I have a lot to get to though as well. If you cannot train us enough, I will train myself."

The boy's dedicated essence startled Aoba quite a bit. "Huh, you really are determined... fair enough. Let's go."

It took them a while to get to Aoba's chosen training grounds, assigned to his team, when he showed the girls how to tree walk. While they went to that, he turned to Mika. "I see a new blade, show me what you got, kid?"

And Mika was there, with grace and speed if not the most skilled moves. The boy sliced, stabbed, jabbed, kicked, punched and more, moving around rhythmically and methodically. Aoba, to his shock, could not read the boy's moves or his mind as he usually could with his opponents. 'That only happens with people who posses potent spiritual energy, or command of their thoughts. Or both... I wonder which he is.' Dodging a slice, Aoba kicked the boy back. Mika just used the motion to roll back onto his feet and switch his grip before throwing a smoke bomb. Aoba laughed, knowing as a sensor he'd be fine...

What he did not expect was the subtle genjutsu layering over his mind. As the smoke faded, he saw all of his friends dead, the village in a crater... a typical fear for himself. It was not enough to stop him, and he easily dispelled it, turing in time to just barely move away from Mika's tanto slicing by his cheek. Grabbing the boy's wrist, he disarmed him with a twist and tossed him away.

Only for the sharp, familiar burn of a paper cut to draw his attention on his cheek.

"First blood... damn kid, you are a lot better than we thought." He muttered. "Huh... I guess I have to-"

"KAW!" They all turned, looking as a hawk flew above them, calling for Aoba.

"Shit, sorry, but I have to go to TI... Mika... keep on your training, you are doing amazingly well. Girls, you need to continue your tree climbing, if you get exhausted stop, do not exert yourself too far... it will be disastrous if you do." He turned to Mika once more, realizing he was the only serious ninja on their team.

And he also realized that if things did not shape up, they would fail the boy entirely... and that would be just plain wrong.

'I'll figure something out... I have an idea as it is.'

Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was a joy to write.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.