Ⅰ
When I returned to the classroom, I saw my friends sitting in the top right corner. Ino was in the front row, with a seat saved for me. Shikamaru and Chouji were sitting just behind her. As I slid into my seat, Ino leaned in, her eyes sharp with curiosity. "Where have you been?" she whispered.
"Just had a quick chat with someone," I replied.
"With who?" she pressed.
"Sakura."
"Sakura?" She raised her eyebrow. "What did you two talk about?"
"Oh well, weー"
Iruka-sensei had just arrived, accompanied by several Jounins.
"Will tell you this later."
She was still curious but she nodded with a slight frown.
As more Jounins entered the classroom, I was drawn to a familiar figure—a certain family member walking in among them.
It was Uncle Asuma! He was walking casually with his hands in his pocket!
"Hey, Darren. Isn't that your uncle?" Shikamaru asked from behind.
"Umm… Yeah." I replied.
"Why is he here?"
"I... I have no idea." I glanced back at him.
"Do you think maybe… he is our Jounin?"
"No way." I shook my head. "That can't be. There were no cases of a family member serving as a team's Jounin, Shikamaru."
"But isn't it a tradition for a Sarutobi to mentor the next generation of the Ino-Shika-Chou?" Chouji chimed in.
"Well, uh…" I hesitated, searching for the right words.
During the Warring States, there was a Sarutobi called Koroku Sarutobi(猿飛小六). He was known to be the founder of the Ino-Shika-Chou formation.
Before he was known for establishing the iconic group, he had wandered different territories by doing odd jobs to support his family. At that time, the Sarutobi clan wasn't well known compared to Senji or Uchiha. Because of this, Koroku worked tirelessly to make a name for himself and his clan.
One day, while at a market, he heard a ruckus going on. He went to the scene to find out and witnessed a man using the shadow-possession jutsu to apprehend a group of men who had stolen food from the street vendor. The man later on, turned out to be Shikanosuke Nara (奈良鹿之助), Shikamaru's ancestor.
Impressed by his abilities, he approached Shikanosuke to have a drink with him at the nearby bar.
Koroku learned that Shikanosuke was a shinobi like himself. Shikanosuke had also been taking odd jobs to support his clan, much like Koroku. Hearing this, Koroku understood how hard it was to feed the entire family. Doing small odd jobs wasn't sufficient enough to keep the family together. So, he suggested that the two take a job on the battlefield, where the money is more lucrative to earn.
Shikanosuke was reluctant at first. But he also carried the pride of a shinobi. It would be a shame to not use his skills on the battlefield. After all, it is a dream for a shinobi to serve under a powerful lord, hoping their power will be acknowledged.
Agreed with the idea, the two accepted a job to protect a feudal lord's castle in the Hi no Kuni, which would later become home to Konoha.
At the castle, they met Chousuke Akimichi (秋道蝶介). He was a big manー taller and rounder. But he moved swiftly like a butterfly despite his portly appearance. Using his body enlargement ability, he had helped Koroku and Shikanosuke hold off invaders numerous times. The way he delivered his punches and kicks, made the ground shake. It was written down that he had the strength of a thousand men.
Later on, they met Inomori Yamanaka (山中猪盛). He wasn't the type of guy who would go in the front line and fight. He was quiet and calculative. There was a time when the enemy force had almost reached the main gate. Koroku, Shikanosuke, and Chousuke were the only ones standing. Inomori's mind-control ability helped the trio to change the tide of the battle. By delving into the minds of the enemy, he provided the trio with a critical insight into their movements.
After a year of working closely together, Koroku proposed an alliance. Seeing closely how the three's abilities performed on the field, he suggested they should combine their powers to make the attack more effective.
The three members all agreed on the proposal, thus establishing the formation we know to this day as the Ino-Shika-Chou. As for Koroku, he was selected as a leader of the formation, laying the foundation for the Sarutobi role to play a pivotal part in guiding the Ino-Shika-Chou for generations.
However, despite the ongoing tradition, I doubted my uncle would be our Jounin. Since I was already part of the team, it would be strange to have two family members joining the same squad.
I am still trying to figure out why I was chosen to be part of Team 10. But I guess it's not the right time to dwell on it to find an answer as our homeroom teacher is about to announce our assigned Jounin.
"L-Let's just wait and see how it goes, shall we?" I replied. I turned my attention to the classroom's platform as I began to focus on the announcement.
"Alright, everyone. It's time to meet your Jounin. These Jounin will be your mentors, guiding your progress as a Genin. Remember to listen to their advice, and learn from their experiences. And also, treat them with respect."
With his message delivered, Iruka-sensei began assigning each squad's Jounin in numerical order.
Ⅱ
"Team 8?" a woman called out. She had striking raven-black hair and two captivating red eyes. Her attire was unique as she dressed in a mesh blouse with one sleeve exposed, while the other arm was wrapped in thick bandages. The upper thighs were also wrapped in the same materials with a thorn-like design. It gave her the air of boldness like a roseーexuding both beauty and danger.
It was Kurenai-sensei, Uncle Asuma's former teammate from his Genin days. I'd met her a few times before when she came to visit us at the Sarutobi compound. Despite her bold appearance, she was kind. There was a time when she used to treat me with some sweets when I was small.
"I'm your Jounin instructor, Yuhi Kurenai. Come with me."
The Genins of Team 8 rose from their seats and followed Kurenai out of the room.
"Umm, Iruka-sensei. You missed Team 7." Sakura asked, raising her hand.
"Your Jounin will be late," Iruka-sensei replied. "You'll have to wait for him to arrive."
Sakura lowered her hand, settling back into her seat.
"Hmm… I wonder who their Jounin would be." I mused softly.
"Well, a Jounin showing up late for this announcement knows how to make an impression. Am I right?" Ino shot a mischievous glance back at him.
Shikamaru noticed it and shook his head. "Very funny, Ino. But you do notice I got here before you." he replied.
"Yeah, yeah. Just this once." Ino retorted.
"Cut me some slack..." he rolled his eyes.
Ino knew how to push Shikamaru's buttons. It always brings me a smile when I see her teasing him.
But then, as I enjoyed seeing the two banter, the long-awaited announcement for Team 10's Jounin had finally been made. Only to make me jump out of my seat.
"Team 10 - Asuma Sarutobi."
"WHAT?!"
My mind raced. I couldn't believe that my uncle would be my Jounin. Out of all the Jounin I see standing on the platform, why him?
I felt the room's air thicken by a second as the silence began to follow. Realizing that my own outburst had caught everyone's attention, a warm wave started to creep my neck.
Feeling embarrassed, I tried to regain my composure. However, when my eyes met my uncle's, I saw him smiling amusingly.
"Hey, Darren," he called out, giving me a small wave. "Looks like I'll be training you even harder now that you're on my team, nephew." His grin widened.
I began to cover my face as I sat down. The stares from my classmates still burned into me as I groaned deeply under my breath. Great job, Darren. Just great…
Ⅲ
As we walked down the corridor, I felt a light tap on my shoulder.
"What's going on?" Ino whispered.
"About what?" I replied.
"Your uncle being our Jounin," her gaze was sharp.
Before I could reply, Shikamaru chimed in. "I kinda figured it'd be him, you knowーwith the whole Ino-Shika-Chou thing. But… having two Sarutobis in the group? It sure is weird."
"Agreed." Chouji nodded.
I sighed, scratching my neck. It is indeed a strange case for today's orientation.
"You don't have to say that out loud." my uncle replied, glancing back at us. "I am also aware of itーhaving your nephew and your uncle on the same team. But it is what it is. There's nothing we can do about it." We all became quiet as we continued to walk.
After a few minutes of walking, we arrived at a small meeting room. Once inside, Uncle Asuma gestured to have a seat. As we settled in, Uncle Asuma sat on the opposite side of the room and pulled out a box of cigarettes, lighting one up with his lighter.
"You do know that those things will kill you." Ino pointed out.
"I was smoking these when I was your age, young lady." My uncle smirked. "Compared to the danger I had faced, a little smoke won't do me harm."
With a quick drag, the room was filled with its pungent scent.
We coughed and waved our hands to clear the smoke from our faces.
"I hate this stench..." Shikamaru groaned.
"You might like it once you start smoking." my uncle chuckled.
"Yeah, right. Like that'll ever happen," Shikamaru scoffed.
"Anyway," my uncle said, taking the cigarette from his mouth. "Let's get on with the introductions. I want to know what you like, what you hate, your hobbies, and your dreams. I'll start. My name is Asuma Sarutobi. Things I like… well, not much. But I like to do Shogi from time to time as a hobby. And my dream… nothing at the moment." He quickly ended.
"That's a bit short." Ino said, "We only got to know what your hobby is."
"Still, it is better than nothing. Now, it's your turn." my uncle gestured to Ino.
She nodded and began her introduction. "I'm Ino Yamanaka. I love fashion and flowers. My hobby is shopping, and my dream is to be a powerful kunoichi of Konoha. As for what I hate…Nothing, I guess." she shrugged.
"Okay, then. Next is—"
"Oh, oh! I know!" She interrupted with a sudden realization. "What I hate the most is losing to Sakura! Yeah, that's the one!".
My uncle chuckled softly and turned his attention to Choji.
"My name is Chouji Akimichi. I love food, particularly yakiniku. The thing I hate most is when people call me fat. I'm just portly. Not fat." He clarified, almost as a warning. "And my dream is to protect my friends."
My uncle then shifted his attention to Shikamaru.
"My name is Shikamaru Nara. My hobby is sleeping. I prefer doing nothing, so you can guess what I hate. And as for my dream… I haven't got one because it's too troublesome to bother with." he yawned at the end.
Intrigued by his easygoing nature, I had a feeling that my uncle might face some challenges to motivate him to do some extra work.
And finally, it was my turn. "My name is Darren Sarutobi. My hobby is parkour, and I have a passion for helping those in need. I hate cruelty, and my dream is… to become a hero."
My friends all looked at me with their eyes flickered in curiosity.
"A hero?" Chouji inquired.
"Yes."
"Why a hero?" Ino pressed.
"It's because I want to be strong enough to save as many people as possible. And…" I took a deep breath. The memories of the shipwreck flooded back as I tried to suppress the guilt that was rising within me. "I don't want anyone else to go through the same pain I did…"
The gravity of my words hung in the air, leaving a palpable silence. I could feel my friends' eyes lingering on me as their curiosity grew. My uncle gracefully shifted the conversation with a warm smile before the heavy silence continued.
"Well, we've got quite the team here. Each with their own dreams," he said, his tone lightening the mood. "Now that we've gotten to know each other, let's talk about our first task for tomorrow morning."
The mention of "task" immediately drew our attention to him.
"What kind of task are we having, Asuma-sensei?" Ino asked.
"It's a task for the four of you to test your capabilities," he replied.
"And what's that task?" I pressed for more details.
A small smile tugged at the corner of my uncle's lips. "A Survival Exercise."
We all exchanged glances, confusion written across our faces.
"What kind of survival exercise?" Ino asked again.
My uncle chuckled, something uncharacteristically playful in his tone.
"What's so funny?" Shikamaru's brow furrowed.
"Well, if I tell you right now, it wouldn't be much of a test, would it?" my uncle smirked, enjoying the suspense.
"Oh, come on, Asuma-sensei! You can't just leave us hanging like that!" Ino raised her voice.
"Patience, Ino." my uncle's chuckle deepened, amused by her reaction. "You'll find out soon enough."
Ino frowned, her cheeks puffing slightly in a pout.
"But, I can tell you one thing about this exercise."
"And… what's that?" Chouji leaned in.
"That the four of you will need to prepare, whatever it takes. Or else…" He paused, letting his words hang in the air. With a serious look, he concluded with this. "…you will all go back to the academy."