Naruto reimagined: Minato and Kushina raise Naruto

by ShadowofFire93

What if Minato and Kushina didn't die in the Kyubi incident? Minato is presented with a way to save both Naruto and Kushina without sacrificing himself in the process. The events from now on will take a different path.

13. Chapter 13: Team 10

Chapter 13: Team 10

Training Ground Alpha-Zero: Graduation Day

Hiruzen emerged from the ground, and as he did, he said – I was starting to think you would never figure it out – the former Hokage smiled at the genins before him. The three of them were speechless. Shikamaru knew this meant he wouldn't have a moment of peace ever again. The former Hokage wore a black jumpsuit with white lapels and a white silk belt. The genins were still too stunned to say anything – My, my! Did you all lose your tongues? – said the old man as he laughed – I don't think introductions are required, but nonetheless, I'm Hiruzen Sarutobi, and I will be your sensei – the man made a small reverence to his new students. He had a broad smile. Ino stuttered – But … How? Why? – said Ino. Shikamaru had his eyes fixed on the former Hokage – Why, you ask. Well, if I must be honest, I always wanted to train an Ino-Shika-Cho team. Normally, I would've trained your fathers' team. It was my right and obligation as head of the Sarutobi Clan. However, my responsibilities as Hokage got in my way – the man started explaining, and he was quickly interrupted by Ino – But you were Hokage already when you trained the Legendary Sannin. Why was it a problem to train our fathers' team? – Ino wondered. Choji was devouring his chips out of anxiety – a valid question, Ino. Shikamaru, any guess? – said the man as he looked at the young Nara boy. Shikamaru sighed – He might be even lazier than Shikaku back in the day – thought Hiruzen. Shikamaru came down from the stone he was sitting on – Sarutobi, Akimichi, Yamanaka and Nara clans had been allies long before the creation of the hidden villages. If the Sandaime had taken an Ino-Shika-Cho as his team, the other clans could've accused him of favoritism toward our clans – said Shikamaru as he put his hands in his pockets – You have a sharp mind, Shikamaru. That was precisely the case. When I became Hokage, I knew the clans' heads would never tolerate the fact that I trained an Ino-Shika-Cho team. So, I took a team before a new Ino-Shika-Cho team formed in the academy. I decided to train an elite team to prevent any opposition from the clans. I took the three best students from the academy at the time – Choji interrupted this time – The Legendary Sannin – said Choji as he almost choked trying to swallow a bunch of chips – That's correct, Choji. No one could argue I chose my students out of favoritism. Jiraiya came from a family of civilians; Orochimaru was an orphan whose parents had died in a mission a couple of years before his graduation. They didn't come from any clan. Only Tsunade was part of a prominent clan. However, it was just fate or coincidence she was one of the three top graduating genins back then – Ino wowed. She had no idea that Jiraiya-sama came from a civilian family. She wondered if being orphaned was what turned Orochimaru into an evil shinobi. She had heard stories about the creepy man. It was no surprise to her that Tsunade-sama was one of the tops in her class. She looked up to her as a great kunoichi and was her role model, not for her medical ninjutsu but for her overall achievements as a kunoichi.

The former Hokage cleared his throat, and the genins felt a shiver. Choji gulped and stared at the old man. He instantly put his chips away and stood next to Shikamaru and Ino, who had straightened up as soldiers when they felt the Sandaime's subtle chakra burst – As you might've guessed by now, it would be an underestimation If I say your training will be intense and strenuous, to say the least – The smiling old man turned extremely serious all the sudden. The three genins gulped and started to sweat – Shikaku, Inoichi and Choza are well-known, respected and feared among the Five Great Nations. In consequence, the Ino-Shika-Cho, along with your clans' special techniques, have been studied by our enemies for quite some time. Would any of you mind telling me why that is not good for you? – Ino started blushing as the Sandaime praised his father and was shocked when the old man asked that question – What do you mean by that, Sandaime-sama? Why would our fathers' reputation be a bad thing for us? In any case, it should be better since the enemy would fear us the same way – said Choji in a shy manner – First of all, from now on, you'll refer to me as Sarutobi-sensei or Sensei. I'm Hokage no more, so no need to use that title. As for your answer, I want to hear your teammate's thoughts first, if you don't mind – said the old man as he turned to look at Ino. She stuttered as she started speaking – I'm with Choji in this one, Sandai… Sarutobi-sensei. I don't see why this would be bad for us – The old man sighed and turned to look at the lazy Nara boy. Shikamaru just wanted to nap, but from what the old man had said, his nap days were over. He sighed – If the enemy knows our techniques beforehand, this means they know how to counteract and fight us efficiently. Which means it would be more challenging to fight them if they knew our moves – Ino's mouth was wide open. Choji looked disappointed. The old man smirked – You are your father's son, after all. So, I guess you know what that means, right? – said the old man as he stared at Shikamaru. The Nara boy gulped. Before he could say anything, the old man spoke – I will train you in elemental ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, kenjutsu, chakra control, and your own mind. You need to train your mind as much as you train your body – the three genin snarled at the statement. However, they were excited with the idea of learning elemental jutsu, even Shikamaru, although he didn't show it. Hiruzen cleared his throat again to stop the fussing of Choji and Ino – That, of course, doesn't mean we won't train with your clan's techniques. I will make of you the strongest members of your clans – Ino and Choji cheered happily. Shikamaru smirked lightly.

The old man waved his hand, and two clouds of smoke appeared at his sides. When the clouds dispersed, two men were standing next to the Hokage. Standing on their Sensei's right was the ANBU with the monkey mask that gave them the map at the academy; to his left was a jounin, the youngest son of the Sandaime, Asuma Sarutobi. Both ninjas were the same height and taller than the Sandaime. Hiruzen turned his head towards the ANBU and spoke – No need for masks or coats here. Take them off – said Hiruzen, and the ANBU did as he was told. The ANBU wore the distinctive black ops uniform and a black happuri with the Konoha symbol engraved on it. Like his father and brother, he had olive skin. He also had black eyes and short, spiky brown hair, like the Sandaime's face on the Hokage Rock. Ino figured the Sandaime once had hair like that when he was younger. The jounin wore the regular Konoha-jounin attire. He had brown eyes, short black spiky hair, and a beard – These are my sons, Kazan and Asuma. There will be occasions when I won't be able to go on a mission with you, given my position in the Council of Elders. Those will be rare occasions, though. Nonetheless, in those rare events, either of my sons will take my place as your Sensei. Whenever they're not on duty, they'll be present during your training sessions so they can get familiar with you – said the old man – Nice to meet you, kids – said Kazan as he made a small reverence to them. The genins did the same. Kazan's and Asuma's personalities were completely opposite. Asuma just waved at them – Hi there, kiddos. You have no idea what you all got into – said Asuma as he pulled his cigarette pack from his pocket. The old man gave Asuma an evil look, and Asuma put back the pack – Sorry, father, force of habit! – said Asuma nervously. Kazan chuckled. After some introductions, Kazan and Asuma jumped back and sat on some of the huge rocks of the clearing – Very well. We'll start figuring out what weapons suits your individual fighting style – said the old man. Ino and Choji got excited – Amazing! How are we going to do that, Sensei? – asked Ino, overwhelmed with joy. Hiruzen smiled – There are two ways, Ino. The hard way or the painful way – the three genins stepped back, terrified. Choji gulped as he asked – and which way are we doing it? – the Sandaime bit his thumb and performed a series of hand seals – They are so screwed – said Asuma to his elder brother. Kazan laughed in agreement – Ninpo: Kuchiyose no Jutsu! – a seal formed on the ground where Sarutobi-sensei placed his hand, and a cloud of smoke formed.

When the smoke dispersed, an old baboon was standing there. The baboon's fur was light khaki. The fur around his face gave the impression he had an abundant beard and hair. He wore a black suit with mesh armor underneath and a dark brown shawl draped. Tied to his waist, he had black steel haidates with engraved flames. Also, he wore a Konoha headband loose around his neck as a necklace. He was holding a long hammer resting on his right shoulder. With his left hand, he held a long smoking pipe. He had a lazy expression. Ino's first thought was that this baboon would get along with Shikamaru – It's been years since the last time you summoned me, Hiruzen. When was it? – The baboon wondered as he inhaled from his pipe. He then exhaled the smoke at Hiruzen's face and smirked – Oh, yeah! I remember now! – He turned to look at Kazan and Asuma – It was when Asuma-chan became a jounin! – said the old baboon as he looked at the Sarutobi brothers – Oi, Kazan-chan, Asuma-chan. How are your weapons holding? You are keeping them sharpened, I hope – Both shinobis stood and bowed to the old baboon – They're as splendid as ever, Sumisu-sama – said both of them. The baboon nodded in agreement and turned back to Hiruzen. He exhaled more smoke in Hiruzen's face and smirked – This tobacco is soooo good! The best you can find in the Land of Fire, my friend – Hiruzen gritted his teeth – This is torture, Sumisu! You know I can't smoke anymore – said the old man, annoyed. The baboon burst into laughter – That's exactly why it is so funny, my friend – said the baboon as he made the smoking pipe disappear – Why did you summon me? – asked as he looked at the three genin before him – These are my new students, Sumisu. I need to find the right weapon for them, and also, well, you know how it goes – The old baboon turned to face the genins. They stepped back. The baboon had an evil smile on his face – This will be fun – said the baboon as he took his long hammer with both hands. The genins gulped.

Hiruzen looked at his students. Asuma and Kazan looked like children waiting for a show to start – That can't be good – thought Shimakaru – This is Sumisu, the great smith of the Water Screen Cave – the baboon tilted his head to the genins. They made a reverence to him. They didn't want to upset him – In old times, it was a tradition that every member of the Sarutobi Clan would receive a weapon forged by Sumisu and his smiths when they proved themselves worthy – Hiruzen started explaining but was interrupted – That was back in the days of the Warring States Period. Nowadays, we provide the Sarutobi Clan members with a new weapon as they escalate ranks – said the baboon as he tightened the grip of his hammer. The hammer was absurdly long. But that's not what caught Shikamaru's attention. When the baboon tightened his grip, the hammer's metal handle sparked, and a few flames formed around the baboon's hands – You must be honored that you'll receive a weapon forged by myself. Outside the Sarutobi Clan, only the Legendary Sannin have a weapon forged by us – Choji was amazed – However – said Hiruzen – to know which weapon better suits you, you need to fight with Sumisu. He needs to see your fighting style. Ino's jaw dropped – are you serious? You want us to fight him? – said Ino. Her voice was shaking – I'll let you three fight together against me if that comforts you, girl – said Sumisu, smiling. Choji and Shikamaru gulped – And as you can imagine, we need you three to use taijutsu, which means – we cannot use any jutsu, not even our clan techniques. – said Shikamaru, his voice was also trembling. Sumisu laughed loudly – Correct again, Shikamaru – said Hiruzen – You have ten minutes to prepare for the battle – said Hiruzen. Sumisu turned and looked at him, disappointed – Oh c'mon, Sumisu! At least give them a chance to plan something. You're going to beat them up, anyway – said the old man. His students' eyes went blank, their jaws dropped, and sweat poured down from their foreheads. Sumisu was amused by their reaction – alright, ten minutes, kids. After that, I'll kick your ass – said Sumisu as he rested his hammer on his shoulder again.

NOTE about Sumisu: His hammer is basically the same Totosai (Inuyasha) uses. A really long hammer they use as smiths to forge their weapons. Sumisu = Smith in Japanese.

After ten minutes, Hiruzen and Sumisu approached the genins who had gathered to devise a plan – Time's up – said Hiruzen. Ino, Choji and Shikamaru looked at the old baboon beside their sensei. Ino had to control her legs from shaking. That monkey looked old and frail, but so did Sarutobi-sensei, yet everyone feared the man. Shikamaru was sure they couldn't let their sight deceive them. Ino and Choji looked for Shikamaru's eyes for reassurance; this bothered him. He wasn't a leader. He didn't like the idea of people depending on him. He stood up, and Ino and Choji followed – I guess it doesn't really matter if we're ready – said Shikamaru, resigned – No one likes a know-it-all, kid. But yes, it doesn't matter. You're getting your ass kicked – said Sumisu as he jumped to the center of the clearing. His hammer was still resting on his shoulder. Hiruzen joined his sons at the boulders. The genins walked to the center of the clearing. Shikamaru stood in the middle, flanked by Choji and Ino – I'm not getting any younger, brats. You don't want me to make the first move – said Sumisu. The three genin pulled kunais and shurikens from their pouches. Choji ran to round Sumisu from the left, and Ino did the same from the right. Shikamaru went head-on. The three of them launched their kunais as they advanced. Sumisu smiled and spat senbons from his mouth to block Shikamaru's shurikens. He grabbed his long hammer and spun it around him, blocking Choji's and Ino's shurikens. The three genins continued their attack. Choji got closer first and tried to punch the old monkey. Sumisu blocked Choji's punch with his hand and held Choji's fist tight. – You're mine – said Sumisu as he tightened his grip on Choji's fist. Choji yelled in pain – Choji! – Ino and Shikamaru yelled at the same time. Ino approached from behind – Ino, wait! – Shikamaru yelled, but she didn't listen. She jumped to kick Sumisu on his back. The old monkey smiled. He uncurled his tail and stopped Ino's arm with it. He coiled his tail around Ino's hand and twisted it. Ino fell to her knees. Shikamaru stopped. If he got any closer, he would get trapped or hit by that hammer. Choji tried to punch the monkey with his free hand, but Sumisu lifted him effortlessly from the ground. Choji was hanging in the air, kicking relentlessly, trying to kick Sumisu. Shikamaru pulled another kunai and was about to pierce it on Sumisu's tail to force him to release her – That's low, girl – said Sumisu as he loosened his tail in time for Ino to pierce herself on the arm. She yelled in pain – Ino! – Shikamaru thrust forward – Finally! – said Sumisu. Shikamaru pulled a kunai with a paper tag attached to it as he ran – Is he really going to throw that explosive kunai? Will he take the risk of injuring his comrades? – Sumisu wondered. He saw no hesitation in Shikamaru's eyes. He gritted his teeth as Shikamaru launched the explosive kunai – You stupid boy – said Sumisu as he threw Choji aside. He took his hammer with both hands and made it spin to protect himself, Ino and Choji from the explosion. Shikamaru smirked as he changed his trajectory to the left side of the monkey. Choji stood up as quickly as he could and jumped to attack the monkey. The explosive kunai hit the spinning hammer of Sumisu, but it didn't explode – What the hell? – he smirked – A decoy, huh? – he saw Choji jumping, ready to punch him. He used his tail to raise Ino and use her as a shield. Choji punched Ino's stomach. He jumped back – I'm sorry, Ino! I didn't mean to – Ino was angry. She took Sumisu's tail and bit him as strongly as she could. The monkey roared and uncoiled his tail from Ino's arm. As she fell, she used Sumisu's torso to propel herself and jump away from him, making him lose his balance for a second. Shikamaru came from behind as Ino and Choji regrouped and got away from him. Sumisu wouldn't let Shikamaru get any closer. He turned around, swinging his long hammer. Shikamaru barely managed to dodge by knee sliding. He had passed Sumisu's defense. He was ready to punch him in the stomach, but the monkey smirked. He supported himself on his tail and lifted his body. Shikamaru missed, and as he was passing below Sumisu, the monkey lifted his tail and free-fell, stepping on Shikamaru's back – That was close, boy – said Sumisu as Shikamaru yelled. The old baboon stepped aside from Shikamaru's back and kicked him away. Choji caught him before he crashed to the ground – Are you alright, Shikamaru? – said Choji as Ino joined them. Shikamaru nodded – That old baboon is crazy! – said Ino, outraged. Then she heard laughs and saw Kazan and Asuma enjoying the show. Ino tightened her jaw so much that Choji and Shikamaru could've sworn her teeth would crack.

This time, the baboon took the initiative. He nailed his long hammer to the ground and jumped. He was about to land among the three genins, but they jumped away, dispersing. Choji was the slowest, and Sumisu was too fast. Sumisu's face was only a few centimeters away from Choji's. Choji gulped – scared, fatty? – said the old monkey as he punched Choji in the stomach, pushing him back. However, Choji resisted the punch and retroceded just a few steps. The baboon and the Sarutobi trio were surprised. Choji's head was boiling. He was furious – No one calls me fatty! – said Choji as he charged at the baboon. Sumisu smirked. Choji and Sumisu were engaged in a taijutsu fight – Amazing! – said Ino – He's pushing Sumisu-sama back – Ino was dumbfounded – You're wrong, Ino. He could knock Choji down if he wanted. He's measuring Choji's abilities. However, this is our chance. Let's go! – said Shikamaru as he pulled a kunai and charged at the baboon. Shikamaru knew this wasn't a fight they could win. Sarutobi-sensei wanted to test their fighting abilities. The sooner he was satisfied with the battle, the sooner it would end. Ino did the same and followed. Shikamaru approached Sumisu from his left side as he exchanged blows with Choji. Sumisu saw Shikamaru from the corner of his eye. As Shikamaru got closer, Sumisu caught Shikamaru's hand with his tail; Shikamaru dropped the kunai, caught it with his free hand, and threw it at the baboon. He jumped upward, dodging the kunai. Choji stopped abruptly and looked up. Ino was about to hit Sumisu in the air, but Sumisu blocked the kick with his forearm, pushing Ino away. Shikamaru and Choji ran toward where he was about to land and threw shurikens at him. The monkey pulled a kunai of his own and blocked all the shurikens. As soon as Ino landed, she ran toward him. The baboon just dodged, and as Ino passed him by, he grabbed her long ponytail and pulled her as he spun, throwing Ino toward Choji and Shikamaru, who were on their way to attack him. Ino yelled in pain as she was being pulled from her hair and thrown away. Ino clashed with her teammates. The three of them fell. Sumisu jumped back to where his hammer was nailed and pulled it out – are you alright, Ino? – asked Choji and Shikamaru at the same time – Oi! That's not a way to treat a lady! – said Ino as she stood up – a lady? You are a kunoichi! You'll get even worse in the real world, girl – said Sumisu, and before Ino could reply, Choji charged at Sumisu head-on. Sumisi grabbed his hammer with both hands and as soon as Choji was in range, he swung it, hitting him with an impressive force on his stomach. When the hammer met Choji, a crust of dirt formed around its head, and then a flame sparked. Choji gasped, and his eyes went blank. He was sent away, spinning in the air. He was going to crash into a tree at the edge of the clearing – Choji! – Ino yelled, horrified. Shikamaru was in shock. He couldn't mutter a word. Right before Choji crashed into the tree, Kazan appeared in a cloud of smoke and caught him. Choji had passed out. Ino stood up and ran toward Choji and Kazan when suddenly something pulled her back from her hair. She was lifted by Sumisu harshly and then thrown upward. As she was falling, Sumisu held tight to his hammer, waiting for her to fall and hit her. She screamed out of fear – Shikamaru! Save me! – Shikamaru snapped out of his lethargy and performed a series of hand seals – Kagemane no jutsu! – Shikamaru's shadow changed its form and extended toward Sumisu. The monkey frowned and disappeared. Shikamaru didn't even have time to look for him or try to catch Ino. Shikamaru felt the strike of the hammer on his side – No jutsus allowed, kid – said Sumisu as he landed the strike on Shikamaru's side. The hammer hit was overwhelming, and still, it felt weird. Despite the force of the impact and the pain he felt, he didn't feel any of his ribs breaking. Before he lost consciousness, he noticed the head of the hammer ignited with a wild flame, and then a thin crust of dirt formed. Identical to how it happened with Choji, but in reverse order – Odd – he thought, before passing out. Asuma caught him before he could clash against one of the huge rocks from the clearing. Ino landed on the ground abruptly. She started shaking. She was scared. Sumisu had beaten up her friends badly. They could've died, yet Sarutobi-sensei did nothing to stop him. He's just standing there stoically. Tears started to pour. She grabbed a kunai, and despite her shakiness, she ran toward Sumisu; he smiled. Ino was hit by the hammer on her stomach. A crust of dirt formed on the hammer's head, and then it got wet, turning the dirt into mud. Before she lost consciousness, she felt someone caught her – Well done – said the voice of her sensei.

The three genins woke up around half an hour later. Kazan was a medic shinobi and had healed his wounds, which, despite what it looked like, were not severe at all. They saw the Sarutobi trio and Sumisu standing before them when they woke. Sumisu had his hammer resting on his shoulder and was smoking again. At the sight of him, Ino and Choji got scared and retroceded – Oh, you've finally woken up! – said Sarutobi-sensei, smiling at them. Ino's forehead vein was pulsing intensely. She was furious. She stood up and pointed at the former Hokage – How could you let him beat us up like that? We could've died – Ino dropped a few tears. Hiruzen's expression softened – My dear child. Your life was never in danger – said the old man as he placed his hand on Ino's head and rubbed her hair. Sumisu rolled his hammer and aimed to hit Kazan. A gust of wind emerged from the hammer's head, and before it hit Kazan, it pushed him back. He let himself be carried away by the gust and landed without effort on the ground – I used my Futon style to soften the impact of my hammer as soon as it touched you. The shock that you felt was just a jutsu of mine. The shockwave was strong enough to cause you a little pain, but most importantly, it made you pass out – explained the old baboon – So, that was it. I knew there was something odd when he hit me – thought Shikamaru – Now that you mention it, I didn't feel a strong metal impact when you hit me – said Choji, rubbing his belly where Sumisu had hit him – The hammer did touch you, just for a fraction of a second, though. We needed to figure out your chakra nature – said Sumisu as he rested the hammer on his shoulder again – our chakra nature? – asked Ino. Their sensei smiled – As I told you earlier, you'll learn elemental jutsu. Learning your chakra natures is vital for that – the old man was interrupted – and how's our chakra nature related to getting hit by a huge hammer – asked Ino, annoyed. The Sarutobi trio and Sumisu laughed – That hammer – said Shikamaru – is made of a special metal, isn't it? – Sumisu looked at Shikamaru – so you noticed, kid. Impressive – said the baboon as he held the hammer again and hit Asuma with it without using his futon technique. The Jounin could've dodged but let the blow strike in. The head of the hammer ignited in flames, and then a whirl of wind increased the fire. As soon as the hammer lost contact with Asuma, the flame perished – Asuma-chan has two chakra affinities: Katon and Futon – said Sumisu – Amazing! – said Ino and Choji – So, Sumisu-sama, what are our chakra affinities? – questioned Choji – You and I have Katon and Doton – said Shikamaru. Choji looked at him, puzzled. Before he could ask anything, the former Hokage laughed – Your mind is even sharper than your father's, Shikamaru. When did you notice it? – asked the old man. Shikamaru yawned – The first time Sumisu-sama grabbed his hammer, a wild flame formed in the handle around his hand. That caught my attention. Then, when he hit Choji, a crust of dirt and a flame formed in the hammer, the same as when he hit me. I passed out right after that, so I didn't get to see what happened with Ino – said Shikamaru as he cleansed a tear that formed in his eye after he yawned – Shikamaru, you are amazing! – said Choji as he pulled a bag of chips from his pouch and started eating. The Nara boy said nothing – So, sensei! What's my nature? – asked Ino excitedly – You have Doton and Suiton – said the old man and Ino exclaimed happily – Take that, you two! I'm the only one with Suiton! – I'm afraid you stand mistaken, girl – said Sumisu as he prepared his hammer again to hit the former Hokage – Don't you dare! – said the former Hokage to Sumisu as his eyes went wide open – You ruin all the fun, Hiruzen – said Sumisu as he nailed his hammer on the ground and exhaled a cloud of smoke from his pipe on Hiruzen's face.

The old man pulled a piece of paper from his pouch – First of all, you must know that you three are lucky. Most shinobis are born with only one chakra nature. However, let me be clear: it doesn't mean you can't learn jutsus from the other elements; they'll just be more challenging to perform and require more chakra. On the other hand, any jutsu you learn from your chakra nature will come easy to you and even with less chakra, it would be stronger and more potent – said the old man. The three genins listened to him intently – Kazan also has Katon and Doton – said the old man as Kazan gave Choji and Shikamaru a thumb up – This is a chakra paper. It is made of a particular tree. It can also detect the chakra nature – when he said that, the faces of his genin became angry – so, you're telling us we could've just used that paper? – said the three at the same time. The Sarutobi trio and Sumisu laughed out loud – Indeed, but where is the fun in that? Besides, we still needed to figure out your weapons, and for that, fighting Sumisu was the only way – said the old man. The old man explained how the paper worked and how to identify the different natures. He then funneled his chakra into the paper. A fifth of the paper ignited, another fifth got wet, another fifth turned into dirt, another one wrinkled, and the last one split. The three genins' jaws dropped. The old man smiled – Show off! – said both of his sons simultaneously – You have all natures? – asked Shikamaru – I thought that was impossible – said Shikamaru. The old man tossed the paper away – There have been very few shinobis in history with an affinity to the five chakra natures. Currently, I'm the only one alive, as far as I know, of course. My two predecessors, the Shodaime Hokage Hashirama Senju-sama, the Nidaime Hokage Tobirama Senju-sama, my father, Sasuke Sarutobi, and … – the former Hokage hesitated for a second – and Madara Uchiha, one of the founders of the village, they all possessed the five chakra natures like me – the three genins were shocked. Sarutobi-sensei is amazing. Yet, what caught Ino's attention was his father's name. Was Sasuke named after Sensei's father? She needed to find out. On the other hand, Madara Uchiha's name intrigued Shikamaru. Sensei said he was one of the founders. He didn't remember his name being mentioned in any history class in the academy. They always said that Hashirama-sama and the head of the Uchiha clan at the time had founded the village, yet they never mentioned his name in class. He wondered why. Also, Sarutobi-sensei hesitated for a second and seemed uncomfortable saying the name. He needed to investigate more about that man.

Sumisu approached the genins – You three did well today. I can't wait to see how you progress. Until next time – said the old baboon and was promptly interrupted by Ino before he left – wait! What about our weapons? You promised! – the baboon smiled – I'll have them ready in a week – said the baboon as he broke the summoning and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Ino smiled triumphantly. She couldn't wait to rub on Sakura's face that her sensei was no other than the Sandaime Hokage and that she would get a weapon from the Monkeys.

The former Hokage cleared his throat, and the three genins looked at him – Normally, I would've tested your teamwork first with the bells test and waited for this test a couple of weeks into your training. However, being an Ino-Shika-Cho trio, I found it unnecessary. So, moving on, could any of you tell me your weaknesses? – asked the old man as he played with his goatee and stared at Shikamaru. Ino and Choji did the same and looked at their teammate. Shikamaru made an annoying face and sighed, but before he could speak, the old man began – That just right there is one of your weaknesses, Ino and Choji. You lean too much on Shikamaru. It is evident that he has the skills of a leader, even if he doesn't like it – pointed out the old man as Shikamaru made an annoyed sound – However, at some point in your careers, you three will be split and lead your own teams. How can you long to lead if you only know how to follow – Ino and Choji felt embarrassed and ashamed. They lowered their heads – Hey, do not feel ashamed of that. You just graduated today. It is my job as your teacher to tell you the crude reality, but most importantly, to give you the tools to overcome your flaws and achieve your full potential – Ino and Choji cheered up, kind of – Ino, did you notice something during your fight against Sumisu that gave you problems? – questioned the old man. Ino liked being the center of attention, but right now, she felt like she was in the spotlight and being pointed at. She tried to say something, but nothing came to her mind. Instinctively, she started combing her ponytail nervously – You have beautiful long hair, Ino – said the old man. Ino cheered up – Thank you, sens…. Ohhh, I see – said Ino as she realized what her sensei meant. She looked at her long blond ponytail. She had been caught twice easily by Sumisu by her hair. The old baboon had even used it to spin her around. For a moment, she thought she was losing her hair – My hair makes me an easy target – the old man nodded – but sensei, many shinobis have long hair like I do. My father himself has a long ponytail! Tsunade-sama has long hair, too! – said Ino. She didn't like where this was going. She didn't want to cut her hair – Indeed – said the old man – however, they are experienced shinobis, unlike you. Eventually, you'll get to the point where your hair won't threaten your safety, until then – before he could continue. He saw Ino pulling a kunai from her pouch. She had resigned. There was no way sensei would let her keep her long hair. She was about to cut her ponytail when her sensei stopped her hand – I never said you needed to cut it, girl. Tell me, do you know who Koharu Utatane is? – asked the old man as he let go of her hand. Ino lowered her kunai and thought for a moment. Then the name clicked in her mind – Yeah! She is one of the members of the Council of Elders and our instructor at the academy for tracking and survival, along with Akita Inuzuka-sensei – the old man nodded – so? – the man said, waiting for Ino to figure it out herself. She smiled and picked up from the ground one of the senbons Sumisu had thrown at them and tied her hair in a twin bun with it by using it as a pin. The old man smiled – Ready! – said Ino enthusiastically.

Hiruzen then turned to look at Choji. The boy gulped – Choji, you have incredible physical strength for a boy your age. However, it wasn't until Sumisu called you fa… – the old man stopped as Shikamaru signaled him not to say the word. The old man cleared his throat again – As I was saying, you didn't show your real strength until you were insulted. You should be able to fight the way you did all the time, Choji. Not to mention that you are a danger to your teammates – Choji's eyes went wide open – Me? A threat to Shikamaru and Ino, why? – Choji stuttered – You are short-fused and easy to provoke. You acted entirely out of impulse and charged at Sumisu blindly more than twice. In a real battle, you could've got yourself and your friends killed. Behavior like that can take a mission to a massive failure. Words are a powerful thing, Choji; they can hurt or heal, but they have only as much power over yourself as you give them – said the old man as he rubbed Choji's hair – You have a kind heart, Choji, never change that! The world would be a better place to live if everyone were a little more like you. I just want you to learn to temper yourself. Not let your emotions control you – Choji blushed with his sensei's statement. He then faced Shikamaru – well? – said the old man. Shikamaru sighed – Where to begin? Hmm, let me see, oh yes, I lack physical strength and endurance. I have no interest in anything. I suck in short-distance combat, and my chakra reserves are the lowest among the three of us – Hiruzen smiled – You missed the most important one – said the old man. The three genins were puzzled. Shikamaru covered everything well, they thought – You care too much for your comrades – said the old man with a broad smile – Although, I wouldn't call that a weakness. After you saw what Sumisu did to Choji and what he was about to do to Ino, you defied my orders deliberately. You broke the rule and used your Kagemane no Jutsu because you wanted to protect her. You all will eventually be in a situation where you must choose between fulfilling your mission or saving your comrades. There will be some people, like an old war hawk I know, who would tell you that fulfilling the mission is more important; others will say the lives of your comrades are more important. I can't tell you which one is correct or wrong because both are wrong and right at the same time. It will be up to you to decide what to do when you find yourselves in that dire situation. I can only tell you this: trust your instinct – the old Hokage said. The three genins seemed confused. The old man waved his hand. Kazan and Asuma jumped away and sat on the branch of a tree at the edge of the clearing. The old man burst his chakra. The genins felt how the air around them got heavy. The pressure they felt was astounding – The training begins! – said the old man.

******* NOTE: Back in Chapter 9 the weapons for Choji and Shikamaru were revealed. Choji has a bo staff, and Shikamaru has two tanto swords, However, for Shikamaru I'll change the type of sword he uses. He'll have two wakizashi swords instead. In the Feudal Japan, a swordsman would normally carry three swords: a katana, the longest one, a tanto, the shortest one, and a wakizashi, right in the middle in length. Ino's weapon wasn't revealed in chapter 9, but it will be in this chapter. Remember that Ino's attire changed a little bit, she has her right arm covered in with a long sleeve, while her left arm is sleeveless, i.e., similar to Kurotsuchi.

Konoha Main Gate: A few months later

Team 10 was standing at the village's main entrance. Ino lamented she didn't have enough time to speak with Hinata and Team 7 in the Missions Assignment Room. Choji was too busy devouring his chips to notice the stern look from their sensei. On the other hand, Shikamaru didn't let anything skip his eyes; Sarutobi-sensei looked upset ever since he read the mission report. The council mentioned they needed to capture a traitor; this bothered Shikamaru. That meant they would have to fight a comrade from Konoha. Hiruzen gritted his teeth – So, which way shall we go, sensei? – asked Shikamaru. Hiruzen turned to look at his disciples. They have grown and progressed a lot in the last few months – we head northeast – said the old man without any further explanation and jumped to start their journey. Team 10 followed. It had been a while since Team 10 left the village, and the three genins noticed their sensei's odd behavior. The old man loved talking and telling stories of the past and experiences, yet he hadn't said a word during the entire trip so far – oi, sensei. Who are we looking for? – Ino asked, hoping to get some clarity. The old man stayed quiet – sensei? – asked Choji this time. The old man seemed to cast away a thought as he replied – ohh, yeah. We're hunting down a former academy sensei of yours – said the old man as he continued jumping among the branches in the dense forest. Sarutobi-sensei's statement shocked the genins – an instructor from the academy? Who? Why? – asked Ino. Hiruzen pulled out the mission details scroll from his jumpsuit and handed it to Ino – Mizuki-sensei? Why would he kill his teammates? – Choji and Shikamaru were aghast as they heard Ino. Choji almost crashed against a branch due to his distraction – sensei? – asked the three genins – A few years ago, Mizuki took his first mission as captain soon after becoming a Chunin. He completed the mission. However, he was the only survivor. He came back alone and gave a plausible explanation of the events that led their comrades to die. Nonetheless, a black ops team was sent to recover their bodies. When they found them, the black ops confirmed the cause of death for two of them. However, – the old man frowned and burst his chakra instinctively – when they found the third body, the black ops determined the cause of death didn't match Mizuki's explanation – Ino interrupted her sensei – he couldn't've, could he? He was always so nice to everyone – Hiruzen sighed – That's what most people thought. Both councils had reservations about the events since the autopsy was inconclusive. Besides, Iruka and Suzume vouched for him. The Yondaime decided to remove Mizuki from the military force and make him an instructor where we could keep an eye on him closely – he took a deep breath and looked at the endless forest before him – He performed splendidly as an instructor and eventually, the council decided there was no need to keep him under surveillance anymore. After this year's graduation, your graduation, he asked to be reinstated to the military force. He asked for a second chance – Shikamaru interrupted – so, did the council allow him to rejoin the force? – Hiruzen nodded – we all agreed he had proven not to be a threat. He'd been performing really well until this happened – he gritted his teeth and sped up. The genins did the same. The three of them were trying to get in all the information.

It took a while before the genins decided to speak again. Unknown to them, they had just passed through the outer barrier of Konoha, which was known to very few shinobis within the village. Shikamaru had been thinking about the implications of Mizuki's betrayal – Oi, sensei. The council mentioned that Mizuki-sensei might be heading to Kumogakure. How bad can things get if he leaks information to Kumo? – asked the Nara boy. Ino and Choji stared at their teammate in awe as if realizing how bad things could get – Mizuki had no access to delicate information. However, he knows the village, its hidden access routes, protocols, and how we operate and organize. On top of that, he has spent the last years getting to know the leaves that will grow to protect Konoha. The fact that he decided to betray the village at this precise moment – the old man noticed the confusion in his student's eyes. Even Shikamaru – Normally, genins will go undetected by the other nations until they become Chunin. The Chunin exams are the place where every village introduces their new generation of shinobis. After that moment, many of these genins will get targets on their backs. If an enemy nation deems one of these genins a potential threat for the future, they might do everything in their power to eliminate them before they can achieve their full potential. It's been years since we had such an outstanding generation of genins – said the old man as he gave his students a proud smile. They smiled back as their sensei continued – Your class is indeed unique. Not only by yours, and your classmates' potential, but also because there are many clans' heirs among you – The three looked at each other. Ino started naming his classmates to remember how many heirs there were in her class – The three of us are heirs of our clans: Kiba, Shino, Hinata and Naruto. I hadn't noticed! – Choji was still confused – but what about Sasuke? Isn't he an heir, too? – Ino knuckled Choji's head – are you serious? Sasuke-kun has an older brother! He is always talking about how strong he is! – Choji rubbed his head – you didn't need to strike me! – said Choji, making his sensei laugh out loud – indeed, Sasuke-kun is not an heir of his clan. However, the Sharingan, like the Byakugan, are coveted among the other five great nations. One, particularly, has tried over decades to get ahold of these two dojutsus. Do you have any guess as to which one it is? – asked the old man – Kumogakure – said the three of them simultaneously. The old man nodded – Mizuki's most valuable intel might not be of military force or infiltration but about you and your classmates. What do you think would happen if seven of the most prominent clans' heirs of Konoha were captured or killed while they're still genins, and their identities were supposed to be unknown to the other villages? Wars have broken out for less – said the old man in a more serious tone – Choji gulped and stuttered as he spoke – do you really think the other nations will be interested in us? I mean, we don't have a Sharingan or a Byakugan – the old man stopped abruptly atop a tree branch. His students did the same. Hiruzen turned to face his students – Choza is one of the commanders of Konoha's armies. His division was one of the most successful divisions in the last war. Inoichi heads the Intelligence Division of Konoha, and Shikaku is the Jounin Commander and Chief Strategist. I assure you, Choji, you don't need to have such a kekkei genkai to have a target on your back – the Akimichi boy seemed to cheer up, although he got a little more scared, too, knowing that he would be a target for the other nations. Ino smiled proudly – not to mention that we're being trained by no other than the Sandaime Hokage-sama! – said Ino cheerfully. Shikamaru smirked, and Choji gave a loud cry of agreement. The old man chuckled.

Team 10 continued their trip northeast towards the border with the Land of Hot Water. They had been running the whole day nonstop. It was already dark, close to midnight. Hiruzen looked at his students and knew they needed a break. He landed on the grass, and his students landed behind him. Breathing heavily – We rest here for a few hours. We can't rest for long. Mizuki has the advantage, and we need to catch him before he gets into Kumogakure's territory – said the old man. His disciples straightened up – We don't need to rest, sensei! We can keep going! – said Ino enthusiastically. For once, even Shikamaru agreed. One thing was fighting enemies, but he couldn't tolerate the idea of a traitor. Even less knowing that if Mizuki-sensei got away, his classmates' lives would be in danger – we can do it, sensei! – said Choji – the old man gave them a proud smile and talked – No, we need to rest. You are no good for battle if your body is exhausted. A couple of hours won't harm. We'll speed up after we rest – and a second later, the three genins dropped to the ground to rest. Their legs were numb after running for hours. After a few minutes of relaxation, Choji and Shikamaru gathered some pieces of wood and started a bonfire. After dinner – You three get some sleep. I'll keep watch – said Sarutobi-sensei – Nonsense, sensei! One of us will take the first watch! You need to rest – said Ino, and the old man raised an eyebrow – huh? Are you implying I'm too old? – Ino started sweating – Of course not, sensei! I'm just saying that … - the old man burst into laughter and performed a series of hand seals – Ninpo: Kuchiyose no Jutsu! – three small Japanese macaques appeared before him. The three macaques wore only a green vest and Konoha's headband. The three macaques revered the former Hokage – Hiruzen-sama; how can we assist you? – asked one of them. Team 10 had gotten used to knowing all kinds of monkeys since Sarutobi-sensei would often summon various breeds of monkeys for their training. They had learned to respect and fear those monkeys. They were brutal and ruthless and seemed to enjoy their suffering during the training sessions like Sumisu. These three were new for them – Ino, Choji, Shikamaru, these are Mizaru (see no evil), Kikazaru (hear no evil) and Iwazaru (speak no evil) – said the old man as the three little macaques made a reverence to them - My team and I are in the demanding pursuit of a traitor. We need a couple of hours of rest before resuming our hunt. Stay alert while we rest, please – said the old man. The three macaques nodded – You can count on us, Hiruzen-sama – said the macaques as they jumped into the trees and got out of sight – Well, I guess we can all get some rest – said the old man as he sat down next to a tree and reclined on it. Shikamaru and the others lay on the grass and went to sleep.

A couple of hours later, Ino woke up abruptly – sensei! – she yelled. Her sensei was awake, sitting next to the tree – right as she was waking up, the three macaques landed in front of Hiruzen – sensei! – repeated Ino, trying to yell and keeping her voice quiet at the same time. The old man smiled at her – Your sensor abilities are improving, Ino. How many can you detect? – said the old man as he signed the macaques to stay silent – Huh? You know? – Ino realized how stupid her question was. Of course, he knew – I count sixteen, sensei. They're getting closer – The man gave her a proud smile, but before he could say anything, one of the macaques, Iwazaru, spoke – you're good, girl, but you missed some – the macaque was interrupted by Hiruzen's voice – you did well, Ino. To detect these shinobis in your sleep shows how much you've progressed. Iwazaru is right, though. There are five more, jounin level, if I must guess by their chakra level – Ino gulped. Twenty-one enemies were approaching, and Sarutobi-sensei remained so calm – wake Choji and Shikamaru up – she woke them up by punching them hard in their faces – Hey! What's all the matter? I was dreaming I was a cloud – said Shikamaru – Yeah! I was about to eat the most delicious barbecue! – said Choji, drooling – Wise up, you two! We'll get company in a few minutes – as soon as their sensei said that they stood up, and their expression turned serious – Ino told them the situation – twenty-one? Why would such a large enemy force venture into the Land of Fire? They must be desperate – said Choji – or they're here to make sure our traitor makes it safe and sound to Kumo – said Shikamaru. Hiruzen smiled. Nothing passes you, Shikamaru – the old man stood up – you three, hide in the trees. Do not interfere unless I say so, understood? – said the old man. The three macaques nodded and jumped back to the trees. With the darkness of the night and their size, it would be easy for them to stay hidden from the enemy – I will hold them down and let them through by groups so you can fight them – said the old man as he pulled a kunai from his pouch – Oi, sensei! Why don't you just defeat them all yourself? – said Choji. In every mission, Sarutobi-sensei would leave them alone to fight the enemy, most of the time, because as soon as the enemy realized who he was, they surrendered or tried to escape. He would only intervene in situations like this, where the number of enemies was too significant for them to handle alone. So, the old man would hold the enemy's forces and make Team 10 fight them in groups. The old man chuckled – If I fight all your battles, you will not get better, Choji – said the man as he jumped at such a high speed that it was hard to follow. Dozens of kunais were thrown at them, and the old man blocked them all effortlessly– It's useless to hide in the dark. Come forth! – said the old man as he burst his chakra wildly.

A second volley of shurikens and kunais was thrown at Team 10. Hiruzen started performing a series of hand seals but stopped midway as he saw Choji jump in front of him, making his bo staff rotate and use it as a shield deflecting the shurikens. Ino stood beside her sensei and started throwing senbons, knocking down the shurikens and kunais from the left flank. Since the fight with Sumisu, Ino had decided to use senbons instead of shurikens or kunais. She was still training to spit senbons the way Sumisu-sama did. She knew she would achieve it with a few more weeks of training. Shikamaru covered the remaining incoming kunais by swinging both of his wakizashi swords. Shikamaru moved fast, knocking every kunai in his way. Hiruzen stood proudly in the middle of his disciples. The old man pulled a shuriken after his students finished knocking down the enemy's attack – Futon: Shinkujin! (Vacuum blade) – Hiruzen exhaled wind chakra onto the shuriken, which started spinning aggressively. Shikamaru extinguished the bonfire. The dark in the dense forest was pitch. However, Sarutobi-sensei had made them train in the darkness of the caves of the training ground alpha-zero to learn how to fight in situations like this. They focused their chakra into their ears and noses to increase their senses. Hiruzen threw the single shuriken infused in Futon chakra in the direction where he felt the stronger chakra coming from – Ninpo: Shuriken Kagebunshin no jutsu! – The wind-infused shuriken multiplied, and now several wild wind-infused shuriken advanced through the wood, cutting all the trees in their path effortlessly. A few screams of pain were heard as the rest of the enemies were forced to abandon their positions and reveal themselves – eighteen left, so three were caught by sensei's jutsu – thought Ino as she saw all the shinobis surrounding them. Satuobi-sensei made things look easy. The man never wasted a single drop of chakra – What's the meaning of this? – muttered Hiruzen to himself – oi, sensei. Are these the black ops from Kumo? – asked Shikamaru. The shinobis around them wore high-collared flak jackets, white demon-like masks with evil smiles and three prominent horns. Five of them wore cloaks, most likely the five jounin captains of the different teams. Four of these cloaked shinobis wore light grey cloaks, and one of them a completely black one. Hiruzen frowned – No, these are not shinobis from Kumogakure – said the old man. One of the masked men spoke – You were expecting someone else, Hiruzen? – The voice of the black-cloak shinobi was female. Ino noticed that, in fact, the five cloaked shinobis had long hair and had a more stylized figure. In other circumstances she would've been pleased to see more Kunoichis leading a team. However, what bothered her most was that in all their encounters with enemies, no one ever dared to call their sensei by his name. They all feared him. Who were these shinobis? – I've been waiting for you, almighty Sandaime Hokage-dono! – said the leader as she pulled his sword – I'll have your head! – the kunoichi charged at Hiruzen, followed by the entire enemy unit. Hiruzen pulled a new kunai – Don't kill them. We need to interrogate them – said the old man to his team as he jumped and blocked the attack of the masked kunoichi.

Only the moonlight leaking through the treetops illuminated the battlefield. The old man was fighting without any sign of difficulty against fifteen of the masked shinobis. He had let three of them pass through to fight his students and made sure not even one more could pass. More than fighting, the old man seemed to play with them. Even the five cloaked kunoichi seemed frustrated by their failed attempts to land a strike on the old man. Ino knew it wasn't because these kunoichis and shinobis were weak but because her sensei was on a whole different level. Ino had to cast her thoughts away as she dodged the sword of one of these masked shinobis – Oi, Ino! Pull it together! There's no time for distractions! – said Shikamaru, who brandished both of his wakizashis. However, he used a reverse grip on the Wakizashi sword on his left hand. He attacked with his right hand and defended with his left. Ino frowned as she used her right forearm to block her enemy's sword. A metallic clash sound was produced when the sword hit Ino's forearm – An armor? – said the masked kunoichi, surprised. Ino smirked. She pushed the kunoichi back with her forearm and swung it. Her sleeve was pushed up, revealing a leather vambrace with a curved retractile blade attached. The curved blade fully extended as Ino pushed her enemy back. Four long barrels with senbons, two on each side, flanked the blade on the vambrace – I know, know-it-all! – said Ino as she thrust forward, hitting the kunoichi's sword with her blade. Ino pushed, but her enemy didn't seem to struggle – Not bad, kid. But not good enough either – said the kunoichi as she tried to kick Ino from her right side. Ino stopped the kick by holding the kunoichi's leg, and before the kunoichi could react, she pierced her blade into her enemy's stomach. The woman suppressed her scream and swung her sword. Ino curled her blade as she jumped away, making the wound deeper and larger. Blood splattered as the blade was pulled out. A gust of wind disturbed the treetops, allowing more moonlight. Ino's blade shone, revealing the crimson-red liquid dripping. The moonlight reflection illuminated Ino's smirking face. The masked kunoichi dropped to her knee, holding her hand in her wound – You bastard. You intentionally left an opening on your left flank – Ino thrust forward and pierced the kunoichi's shoulder. The kunoichi dropped her sword – and you were foolish enough to take the bait – said Ino. She intended to knock the masked kunoichi out. Sensei said they needed to interrogate them. However, before Ino could do anything else, the woman started to convulse and dropped dead – a cyanide tooth. Damn it! – said Ino, frustrated. As soon as she defeated the kunoichi, Sarutobi-sensei pushed two more her way. She gave her sensei an evil look. The old man just smiled and continued holding up the rest of the enemies.

Choji's opponent used a kusarigama, a versatile weapon for a shinobi who can fight easily at short, middle or long-distance. Sarutobi-sensei had told him and his teammates how Hanzo the Salamander, leader of Amegakura, defeated the Legendary Sannin during the Second Great War. Hanzo is, to date, the most prodigious kusarigama user. The masked shinobi threw his kusarigama from a tree to Choji. The darkness made it hard to know where the kusarigama was approaching from. However, the speed of the blade produced a whistle with the wind, and the chains' rattling noise allowed Choji to jump in time to dodge it, and as he did, he used his bo staff to tangle the chains. He landed and pulled with all his strength. He felt the weight of his enemy opposing him – Ninpo: Bubun Baika no Jutsu (partial multi-size technique) – Choji's hands and arms increased in size. Choji pulled again the chain with his bo staff, this time, he felt the weight of the enemy yielding. He continued pulling and tangling the chains until he saw his enemy being pulled. The man landed on the ground and nailed a tanto sword on the ground to resist Choji's pull force – That won't do it! – said Choji as he pulled even stronger with both hands. The man let go of the other end of the chain, and Choji tripped and fell to his back. The man quickly pulled his sword and jumped toward Choji. Choji rolled over to dodge his enemy's sword and stood up. However, the man got ahold of the kusarigama chain again as Choji rolled over – Raiton: Rakurai! (thunderbolt) – the masked man sent an electric pulse through the chains – damn it! – said Choji as he let go of his staff. He knew Raiton was his weakness. However, he took advantage of the situation and ran as fast as he could toward his enemy. The masked man broke his jutsu to defend himself. Choji jumped, and as he fell – Doton: Kengan no jutsu! (fist rock technique) – his right arm encased in rock. The man managed to jump away in time. Choji's rock fist's impact on the ground created a small crater. He would've been out of combat immediately if that had hit him. The man pulled his chain to him, making his kusarigama and Choji's bo come in Choji's direction. Choji saw from the edge of his eye the blade getting closer to him, which was still tangled around his staff. Choji back jumped to dodge the kusarigama blade and as he did, he grabbed his bo staff with both hands. Choji was agile with this staff; he managed to untangle the kusarigama before the man could use his raiton again. Choji held the staff at the level of his stomach – Nikudan Sensha (human bullet tank) – Choji tucked himself into a ball while hugging his staff. He turned into a human ball, and his staff protruded like a wheel axle to his sides. Choji started rolling toward his enemy at high speed. Typically, it would be hard, although not impossible, for Akimichi clan members to change direction easily once they thrust forward as a rolling human ball. However, Choji used his bo staff as a wheel axle, allowing him to move freely as he rolled. Learning to keep balance with the bo staff and using it as a steering device had been challenging but worthwhile. His Nikudan Sensha had improved its efficiency and accuracy – what the hell? – said the man, dumbfounded by such a weird technique. His momentary lethargy cost him greatly. Choji rolled too fast, and by the time the man tried to dodge, it was too late. The man threw at Choji his kusarigama, but Choji's centrifugal force deflected it, and a second later, he was hit by Choji. The impact and the rotating force launched the masked man away, spinning. The masked man hit a tree and passed out. Choji sighed in relief, but it didn't last – No time to relax, Choji – said the old man as he sent two more enemies his way – C'mon sensei! – said Choji, stupefied.

Shikamaru was fighting a kunoichi. He always thought women to be too complicated in life and battle. The kunoichi used a long katana. In the middle of this darkness and with so many shadows due to the treetops and moonlight, it would've been easier for Shikamaru to use his Kagemane no Jutsu. However, he knew he wouldn't hear the end of it if he did it. Sarutobi-sensei had told him he needed to push his strength and abilities by not relying too much on his hidden technique. His special technique had improved considerably in the last few months, yet his sensei had told him only to use it as a last resource. The kunoichi thrust forward, and with impressive strength, she swung her katana. Shikamaru blocked it with his left Wakizashi sword. He resisted the impact and felt the vibration of the impact spread through his arm. He swung his left sword, pushing the kunoichi. His reverse grip gave him an extra impulse to make her lose balance. He then swung his right sword, piercing the kunoichi through her stomach. Shikamaru frowned. A puff of smoke revealed a wood log – substitution jutsu – said the Nara boy. He swung his wakizashi sword to pull it from the log and took a defensive position. He saw Ino and Choji fighting, holding their ground. He smirked. He also saw his sensei humiliating the rest of the enemies. The old man was just dodging; he didn't even try to attack them. Sarutobi-sensei was just stalling the enemy for them. He looked around, looking for his opponent – where did you go? – he whispered. The breeze of the night blew on the treetops, making the moonlight beams dance around the place. He closed his eyes and focused on the noise around him. He could hear Ino clashing her vambrace blade with the enemy's sword. He could listen to Choji tangling the enemy's chains around his staff. The noise of the shinobi cursing at his sensei as he toyed with them. He eliminated those sounds from his mind and focused on the rest. He wasn't a sensor shinobi like Ino, but their intense survival training taught him to rely on his ear and smell. He heard a branch break into the forest to his left a few meters away – There you are! – he said as he nailed his right sword to the ground, pulled a kunai with an explosive tag and threw it away. The kunoichi jumped away to escape from the explosive kunai. However, as she did it, Shikamaru pulled from a string, changing the kunai's trajectory – that's clever, boy – said the kunoichi. She was hit by the kunai, and the explosion caused her body to disappear in a cloud of smoke. Shikamaru gritted his teeth. The kunoichi emerged from the opposite direction the clone had run. She charged at Shikamaru, holding her katana with both hands – But I have some tricks of my own under my sleeve - Shikamaru tried to pull his sword from the soil, but the kunoichi was faster. He blocked the attack with his left sword but had an open defense. The kunoichi side-kicked his ribs. Shikamaru smiled and disappeared into a cloud of smoke, too. Both of his swords fell to the ground – What is this? – said the woman as she felt two hands holding her ankles. She was then pulled down to the ground. Her body was buried up to her shoulders – How? When? – said the woman, shocked as Shikamaru emerged from the ground – From the very beginning. I had my clone wield my real swords so that you wouldn't suspect. I knew you would be confused if you hit my clone and saw it disappear, but not the swords. That was my cue to trap you – said Shikamaru as he formed a hand seal, and his shadow extended in the shape of a hand and strangled the kunoichi until she lost consciousness. He turned to see his sensei and made a lazy, annoyed face as he saw the old man smiling at him and pushing two more enemies his way.

Team 10 continued fighting and defeating the enemies in small groups until only the five cloaked kunoichis were left. Hiruzen jumped and landed in front of his students. The five kunoichis landed in front of him. They were holding swords and breathed heavily. Ino, Shikamaru and Choji prepared to attack, but the old man raised his hand to stop them – These five are beyond your capabilities. I'll handle them – said the old man. The leader, the one with the black cloak, yelled at him – It is you who's dying tonight, Hiruzen! – said the woman. She and the others intended to attack, but the former Hokage burst his chakra so fiercely and emanated such strong killing intent that they stopped. Despite his old age, white hair and short height, the man looked like the worst threat someone could face in their lives – No need to rush, young ladies. First, why don't you tell me how you knew I was coming this way? – asked the old man in a severe tone. Ino, Choji and Shikamaru looked at each other. They'd been wondering the same thing. When these shinobis arrived, they said they'd been waiting for Sarutobi-sensei as if they knew Team 10 was heading that way. That was impossible, though. There was no way. Not even Mizuki-sensei could've known that Team 10 would be assigned to the mission to hunt him down or which way they would go through; this only meant that Mizuki-sensei was not the only traitor in the village; someone had leaked the information to these shinobis. The genins still wondered who they were. Sarutobi-sensei said they were not from Kumogakure, but then, who? – Tell me everything, and I might spare your lives – said Hiruzen as he took one step forward. The five kunoichis tightened the grip of their swords. One of them succumbed to fear; she preferred to die on her own terms than in the hands of Hiruzen. She bit her cyanide tooth and collapsed, convulsing until she died – You coward! – said the leader as she saw her teammate dying. Hiruzen raised his hand, and the three macaques landed on the shoulders of the three genins. The three genins were taken by surprise by that but relaxed. Hiruzen performed a series of hand seals – Ninpo: Sanzaru! (Three Wise Monkeys) – yelled the old man. He formed the Monkey hand seals and yelled – I speak no evil! – after that, Iwazaru, the macaque on Choji's shoulder, started howling loudly. Oddly enough, the loud howl of the monkey didn't disturb or annoy the genins. On the other hand, the four remaining kunoichis felt pain in their ears as they heard the loud howl of the monkey. However, they stayed mute. They looked at each other, confused. They tried to speak, but no words came from their mouths – I see no evil! – Hiruzen yelled again, and Mizaru, the monkey sitting on Shikamaru's shoulder, started howling this time. The four kunoichis fell to their knees. One of them removed her mask. She was a beautiful kunoichi. She moved her hands randomly as if trying to catch the air. Team 10 realized she was blind – I hear no evil! – Hiruzen yelled a third time. Kikazaru, standing on Ino's shoulder, started howling loudly. The four kunoichis covered their ears in pain until they suddenly stopped. It was useless now. The old man approached them and knocked them down. He then looked at his students, who were completely clueless about what had happened – what was all that about, sensei? – asked Ino as Kikazaru started grooming her hair. She didn't like it but knew better than to annoy one of her sensei's monkeys. They all were very temperamental – That's a jutsu of mine. Some members of the Sarutobi Clan can use it, too, though. Iwazaru, Mizaru and Kikazaru use my chakra to create this genjutsu. When using my chakra, each of them has the ability to deprive anyone who listens to the howl of their voice, sight, and ear – Choji interrupted – But, sensei, why weren't we affected by it? – asked Choji as he tried hard to ignore Iwazaru groomed him too. Iwazaru didn't find any fleas or lice but found lots of chips' crumbs – Well, Choji, that's because they're standing on your shoulders. The jutsu didn't affect you because they injected their chakra in you as they cast the jutsu – Hiruzen explained. Choji wowed – Now, Shikamaru, Choji, tie down all the surviving shinobis and make sure to remove the cyanide tooth from all of them. Ino, I need you to dive into the mind of this one – said Hiruzen as he pointed at the enemy's leader.

– Hai, sensei – said the three of them, but Shikamaru spoke before doing what their sensei asked. Unlike his teammates, Shikamaru didn't seem bothered by Mizaru's grooming – Sensei, who are they? From which village? – The old man softened his expression – These are members of the Prajna Group, from the Land of Woods. We thought the group had been eradicated completely years ago. I was still Hokage back then. The group was annihilated at my command. That was one of my last actions as Hokage – the three gulped. Ino stuttered. She never would've imagined her sensei would order to exterminate an entire shinobi organization – Why, sensei? – the old man sighed. It was as if the weight of all his years suddenly burdened his shoulder. He now looked like an old, tired man – Among the small villages, Takigakure, Amegakure and the Land of Woods have the greatest military force, which, of course, is not comparable with the Five Great Nations. The Prajna Group was initially formed as an elite unit, like Konoha's ANBU and ROOT corps. However, unlike the Five Great Nations' Hidden Village System, they don't have a Kage or leader for their military force. Their shinobis submit to the will of their Daimyo directly. The influence of the Prajna Group over their Daimyo was growing dangerously. They had radical thoughts. They convinced the Daimyo to join the last war, supporting Kumo and Iwa against Konoha. You see, the Diamyo of the Land of Woods, Azusa Madoka-dono, and our Daimyo, Yoshiyuki Madoka-dono, are siblings – What! – the three genins shouted – During the Warring States Period, the Land of Fire and the Land of Woods were one. The Daimyo at the time had two sons. The younger son was jealous because he would never get to rule over an entire country or have an army of his own. Their father split his territory, giving his younger son a small portion of land to rule over, now known as the Land of Woods. Azusa-dono didn't form a hidden village separate from the capital. The shinobis are trained and raised right in the capital, where they can protect him and submit to his will without a military leader other than himself – The three genins listened intently. Choji gulped – The shinobis from the Land of Woods are strong but lack leadership. Azusa-dono was always a spoiled rich child. Eventually, he lost control over his own shinobis. They poisoned his mind by telling him it was his right, not Yoshiyuki's-dono, to rule over the Land of Fire and the Land of Woods. The war was at its peak when the Land of Woods requested a meeting with our Daimyo to offer their support in the war. I was at Uzushiogakure at the time, and against my advice, the Daimyo agreed to meet with his brother without any representative of Konoha. Only the Court of Fire and the Twelve Guardian Ninjas were present – Ino interrupted – did they try to kill the Daimyo? – she had never heard of any of this. She was highly intrigued. The old man denied with his head – Azusa-dono, and his escorts, all members of the Prajna Group, tried to convince the Daimyo to get rid of me, or more precisely, the Hokage. They told him he should be the supreme commander of his military force and that two kings could not rule at the same time. They told him Konoha would overthrow the Capital to seize power in the entire country sooner or later – Ino interrupted again – That's stupid! How could they say that? – Hiruzen laughed – Indeed it is, Ino. Our Daimyo might be lazy and uninterested in basically everything, like someone we know – said the old man as he looked at Shikamaru, who avoided his sensei's gaze – However, he trusts Konoha entirely. They were trying to have Konoha and the Capital fighting each other to invade Konoha. The brothers had a heated discussion, ending with the Land of Woods openly joining Kumo and Iwa in the war. At the war's end, Yamaoko-dono, Azusa's-dono, son, reached her uncle, our Daimyo, asking for help to eradicate the Prajna Group. He said they had his father in a sort of trance and had seized power over the Land of Woods. The Daimyo kept this hidden from his Twelve Guardians since he suspected some of them agreed with the idea of not having "two kings". Even after Iwa, Kumo and Kiri surrendered and accepted the peace treaty, the Land of Woods continued their assault on the Land of Fire. We were tasked to annihilate all the members of the Prajna Group, and so we did. Or at least, we thought we did – said the old man as he looked at the shinobis defeated before him – so, you think some of them survived – asked Choji – well, seeing this, I have no doubt about it. I need to know how they're operating: are they getting more recruits among the regular shinobis of the Land of Woods? Have they already overthrown Azusa-dono, or do they have him under their influence again? But most importantly – Shikamaru interrupted this time – Who is leaking information to them, and how strong their force has grown in the last sixteen years if they were too cocky to attack you, sensei, in the heart of the Land of Fire? – Hiruzen smiled – As sharp as ever, Shikamaru. Now, no time to waste, as soon as we finish here, we need to continue our pursue of Mizuki – said the old man.

After a while, Ino finished digging into the leader's mind. She wasn't as good or fast as her father. She didn't go through all the memories but got what Sarutobi-sensei was looking for now – It is as you thought, sensei. They have no idea who's giving them the information and know nothing about Mizuki-sensei. They got the message about our mission and possible route early yesterday morning. Even before we received the mission, I would dare to guess – The old man didn't seem surprised. Even though he and his team got the mission at a certain time, the Council had already assigned it to them beforehand, which meant that whoever was leaking information to the Land of Woods worked at the Hokage Tower and had access to critical information; this wasn't good – How did they get the message? – asked the old man – A messenger bird, sensei, a hawk – the old man frowned – was it one of Konoha's? – asked the old man – I don't know sensei. All hawks look the same to me – Ino said, ashamed. The old man smiled at her – I would be surprised if you did; it was just a long shot, Ino – said the old man – what about the situation in the Land of Woods? – Ino looked down – I couldn't get through the deeper barrier of his mind. I don't understand why they took so many precautions to protect that information. Still, I know this was just one of many platoons stationed waiting for our team to be assigned to a mission that would lead us North, just close enough for them to intercept us – the old man gritted his teeth – So, they're regaining strength – said the old man to himself – how could they have survived? Jiraiya and Minato led the mission with my ANBU corps, and Tatsuma led the ROOT members sent by Danzo. There was no way they could've escaped with a team like that unless ... – the old man was lost in his thoughts. He remembered that years ago, the Root found out that Madara's trace was stronger in the Land of Woods and the docks of the Land of Hot Waters – Could it be that Madara is behind the resurgence of the Prajna Group? Could he be using the Land of Woods to strike Konoha? Danzo and Tatsuma suspected Madara had a hideout in the Land of Water. Danzo had suggested that Madara could've orchestrated Kiri's betrayal and destruction of Uzushiogakure during the last war. If Madara now had the Land of Water and the Land of Woods under his command, the war to come would be worse than any of the previous three great wars – Hiruzen's mind was working too fast trying to make sense to the situation until his thoughts were interrupted – sensei? Are you alright? – asked Ino. Team 10 had never seen Sarutobi-sensei so worried. The old man faked a smile – Everything is fine, Ino. Gather all of them together – said the old man. Ino, Shikamaru and Choji piled all the dead and alive shinobis together. Hiruzen pulled a blank scroll, ink and a brush. He wrote something on it and placed a seal on it. Hiruzen performed a series of hand seals – Ninpo: Kuchiyose no Jutsu! – the cloud of smoke revealed Hiruzen's main and strongest summoning, the Monkey King Enma. As soon as they saw him, the three macaques jumped before him and bowed. The genins made a reverence, too. They had met Enma before. He was even more ruthless than Sumisu.

The old monkey looked around and immediately noticed the members of the Prajna Group – Sarutobi, these shinobis … – the old man interrupted – I know. Ino read the mind of the group's leader – said the old man as he signaled the kunoichi on the floor and extended his arm with the scroll – Please, Enma. Take all these shinobis to Konoha and give this to the Yondaime. I can only trust you with it – the old monkey was taken aghast. He frowned but said nothing. He knew the genins weren't aware of Madara's situation, and this was without a doubt related to Madara. Only that man could perturb Hiruzen like this. The Monkey King took the scroll and saved it in his vest – I'll give it to Minato myself, Sarutobi – said the old monkey. The old monkey and the old man exchanged intense looks for a while as if they read each other minds. Enma then turned – make sure all of them are touching each other so that I can take them all with the reverse summoning – said Enma. The three macaques touched three shinobis each. Enma made sure to touch the rest of them. The next moment, the monkeys and the shinobis were gone – Oi, sensei! How are they going to take them to Konoha? – said Choji – The summoning jutsu works both ways, Choji. The same way I can summon the monkeys, the monkeys can use a reverse summoning jutsu to summon me to where they are – Choji nodded but was still confused – hmm, sensei, but how does that help? – the old man smiled – Enma can summon Kazan or Asuma and let them know he needs to be summoned to Konoha to deliver all the shinobis you defeated. Then, he only needs to break the reverse summoning, sending Kazan and or Asuma back to Konoha, where they can summon Enma along with all the captured shinobis – said the old man, followed by nods of understanding from Ino and Choji. On the other hand, Shikamaru looked at Sarutobi-sensei as if trying to solve a puzzle. Shikamaru knew something was really bad, but he wouldn't ask. Sensei must have a good reason not to share the information.

Hiruzen noticed Shikamaru's look. The old man examined his disciple intently and smiled – We leave in one hour; use this time to rest – the old man said. Ino protested – Sensei! There's no time to waste! If we rest, we might lose Mizuki-sensei – Ino was determined to stop Mizuki-sensei and find out why he betrayed Konoha. The old man sat on the grass and ordered his students to do the same. Hiruzen formed a seal, and a crystal ball appeared on his lap. Hiruzen placed the crystal ball on the grass before him and his students – what is this, sensei? – The three genins looked at the crystal ball cluelessly. – Ninpo: Tomegane no Jutsu! (telescope technique) – said the old man and the crystal ball turned white. When it cleared, they could see Mizuki-sensei. He was resting at an inn of the Land of Fire – How's that possible? How did you do it, sensei? – I developed this jutsu, although it is not as effective as the original developed by Gamamaru-sama – said the old man as he was promptly interrupted by Choji – Oi, sensei, who is Gamamaru-sama? – the old man smiled – That's a story for another time. With this jutsu, I can see everyone whose chakra I know. Unlike Gamamaru's-sama original jutsu, I have a limited range where my clairvoyance can reach. I can cover a big area, though – said the old man as he laughed loudly. Ino spoke this time – how vast is your range, sensei? – the old man stared at the crystal ball – essentially the size of the Land of Fire, with me as the center of this range – the three genin were surprised. Shikamaru spoke – so, you're telling us we didn't need to track Mizuki-sensei down? All this time, you could've used your crystal ball to find out his location – the old man nodded – and again, that wouldn't've been good for your growth. I'm only using it because the Prajna Group ambush delayed us – said the old man as he concentrated his chakra and extended the view on the crystal ball to the location of Mizuki in the Land of Fire – Interesting – said the old man – what is it, sensei? – Ino asked – Mizuki is not heading to Kumogakure; he's going to the Land of Rice, but why? – said the old man. He didn't understand why he would go to a small country with no hidden village or shinobis. He concentrated on his chakra once more, and the crystal ball image returned to Mizuki. The three genins were surprised they could even listen to what he was saying – By now, Konoha must have sent teams to the Land of Hot Waters! Hahaha! They'll surely think I'm going to Kumogakure. When I get to Otogakure, I'll finally be praised for my skills – said the former instructor. He didn't seem to be in a rush. He was confident Konoha was hunting him down in the wrong direction – Otogakure? Oi, sensei, I've never heard of Otogakure. Where is it? – Ino asked, puzzled. The old man looked at her seriously – I've never heard of Otogakure either, Ino – the old man frowned. This was unprecedented. There is no way their sensei didn't know a village. He was older than the hidden villages themselves. He was one of the last remaining shinobis who lived during the Warring States Period. Choji, on the other hand, was plain blunt and didn't know when to stay quiet and not speak his mind – oi, sensei! If you can use this jutsu to find anyone, why haven't you used it to track Orochimaru? I heard Konoha has been hunting him down since he left the village – the old man was caught with low guard. His expression saddened. Ino punched Choji and covered his mouth. Before Ino could say something, Hiruzen spoke – It is not that I didn't want to, Choji. Let me show you why I can't use it in Orochimaru – said the old man as he focused his chakra, and the crystal ball turned white again. However, it now stayed that way. They couldn't see anything – Right now, I'm trying to track Jiraiya. My jutsu is not infallible. An experienced shinobi, like a Jounin or an ANBU, would notice I'm tracking them. Maybe they wouldn't realize exactly how or from where, but they would feel as if they were being watched. More experienced shinobis could block me from tracking them, especially if they know my jutsu. None of the Sannin can use it, but they know it. They don't like being watched and block my jutsu with their chakra. No matter how hard I tried, I would never be able to track any of the Sannin, including Orochimaru – the old man explained. The three genins were equally surprised by Sarutobi's-sensei jutsu and by the Sannin.

Somewhere in the Land of Fire: Close to the border with the Land of Rice

Mizuki was heading toward the Land of Rice when three figures blocked his way. He stopped suddenly and pulled a kunai when he saw the three genins standing before him – You three? Oh no, if you three are here, that means – Mizuki was stuttering and pouring sweat – You shouldn't worry about me, Mizuki. They're enough to take you down – Mizuki turned around and saw the former old Hokage atop a tree branch. Mizuki gulped – I stand no chance against the Sandaime. I need to escape – Mizuko thought – I have no option. He told me not to use it, but it is my only way out – Mizuki lifted his sleeve, revealing a skull-shaped tattoo on his right forearm – You bastard! So it's him who you're meeting in this so-called Otogakure! – yelled the former Hokage, enraged. Mizuki funneled his chakra to the tattoo. He had no time to waste. The skull changed color and started spreading across Mizuki's arm and body. He began to laugh maniacally. However, the short old man landed before him before he could do anything. The old man was too fast for his age – Gogyo Fuin! (Five Elements Seal) – chakra flames ignited Hiruzen's fingertips. The old man pressed his fingertips against Mizuki's stomach. Hiruzen's fingertips chakra flames burned to ashes Mizuki's flak jacket and jumpsuit around his stomach. Hiruzen's fingertips touched Mizuki's stomach and burned him. He yelled in pain. The marks that started spreading from the skull-shaped tattoo backed away. Five black flame-shaped marks appeared on Muzuki's stomach, along with more fuin marks. Hiruzen then jumped and kicked Mizuki in the head, knocking him down – I'm sorry I took all the fun from you, guys, but this is terrible news – said the old man as he caught a falling unconscious Mizuki. He then landed before his students – Shikamaru, Choji, search through his clothes for anything. Ino, you know what to do – said the old man. Team 10 knew better than to argue and did as Sensei said. Shikamaru found a storage scroll in Mizuki's pocket and handed it to Sarutobi-sensei. Choji found a small book and handed it over to the old man. Hiruzen broke the seal in the storage scroll, revealing piles of documents about Team 7: their academy profiles, the council evaluations on them, and a summary of techniques mastered by each genin. There was also a report about Tenzo. All the information from his time as genin, chunin and jounin. His information as ANBU was missing. Whoever Mizuki's accomplice was didn't have access to the ANBU records. The mokuton secret was safe, the old man hoped. A second pile of documents had a similar report for Team 10. The book Choji found was the record of active shinobis in Konoha, from genin to jounin. The old man burst his chakra aggressively but shut it as he heard Ino speak – Sensei! He's working for – the old man didn't let her finish – I know, he's working for Orochimaru – said the old man. Ino nodded – That's not all, Sensei – Hiruzen, Choji and Shikamaru looked at her – Orochimaru gave him that mark on his forearm the day he killed his teammate all those years ago. He's been sending information about Naruto and Sasuke to Orochimaru since they began the academy. He then started collecting information about Hinata and us after graduation – Choji felt a shiver through his spine. Why would the Snake Sannin be interested in them? Does he want to kill them? Choji wondered – What about his accomplice? – asked Hiruzen – Ino denied with her head – They don't know each other. He never knew whoever gave him the information from the Hokage Tower. Sensei, Otogakure. Mizuki sensei received a snake message from Orochimaru weeks ago. The message directed Mizuki-sensei to flee Konoha and join Otogakure, his new hidden village in the Land of Rice – Choji's jaw dropped. Shikamaru was shocked. Hiruzen frowned. He had figured that much – Sensei, this is good, right? Now that we know, we can strike Otogakure and Orochimaru – the old man denied with his head – Orochimaru wouldn't be so negligent with crucial information. If he didn't kill Mizuki, it is because he expected Mizuki to be captured, which means – Shikamaru spoke – he wanted Konoha to know that he has an entire village to his disposition. The Land of Rice is a neutral village. If Konoha struck Otogakure without provocation, it would give the other great nations an excuse for war. Also, he didn't fear his other spy would be discovered because he was cautious enough to make sure his spies never knew who each other was, and finally, … - Shikamaru stopped and looked to his teammates – He wants Konoha to know he's after Team 7, formed by the Yondaime Hokage and the Counselors children, and Team 10, a.k.a., us – Choji fell on his back. Ino was shaking. To think one of the Legendary Sannin was after her and her friends terrified her.

The old man could see the fear in his disciples. They had a very good reason to be afraid – Don't worry. You're with me, and I'll protect you with my life. Team 10 has Tenzo Senju, who was trained by Jiraiya and Tsunade. They're safe, too – said the old man. Hiruzen knew Team 10 would be sent to the Land of Waves. He needed to inform Minato that Orochimaru was after them to send backups. He performed his summoning jutsu. He hoped Enma hadn't left Konoha yet. When the cloud of smoke vanished, it wasn't Enma who stood there. It was Sumisu – Where is Enma? – asked the old man. Usually, Sumisu would tease Hiruzen and joke around, but he knew things were delicate – Kazan just summoned him to Konoha – said the old monkey as he nailed his long hammer on the ground. Hiruzen told Sumisu what they discovered about Orochimaru and gave him Mizuki – Inform Minato about Orochimaru. He must send an ANBU team to the Land of Waves – what about you? – asked the old monkey. Hiruzen turned to see his disciples – We're going to the Capital. The Daimyo might still be in touch with his nephew. He might give us an insight into the situation in the Land of Woods – Sumisu nodded and disappeared, taking Mizuki with him. Team 10 stood up. They were ready for anything that was to come. Shikamaru knew things were not going well. The Land of Woods, and now the Land of Rice as new enemies of Konoha. The other villages might take advantage of that and start a new war. He gritted his teeth. Now more than ever, he was sure that Sarutobi-sensei didn't decide to train a new team out of caprice or sentimentalism about the Ino-Shika-Cho and the Sarutobi Clan. The old man was born and raised in war. He led Konoha to victory in the three great wars. The old man knew, or at least suspected, that a war was coming. He was so hard on them because he knew that sooner than later, their lives could depend on it.

Notes:

Even though I decided to have Hiruzen as Team 10's sensei, I want them to still bond with Asuma. Hence, Asuma and Kazan are placed as side senseis when Hiruzen is unavailable.

I intended to use a flashback to explain in more detail why the weapons selection for each member of Team 10. However, the chapter was already too long as it is. I'll have this flashback during the Chunin Exams stage.

I know there weren't many fights in this chapter, but I wanted to set the foundation for future conflicts and enemies, like Suien and Takigakure, from the last chapter; now, I'm adding the Land of Woods and the Prajna Group.

In this timeline, since the Root is no longer under Danzo's control but Fugaku's, using Kabuto as a spy wouldn't make much sense since Tsunade was looking for him and thinks he's dead. So, the remaining spy is still something I will keep in the dark until the time comes.

In the canon, Sarutobi was able to find and capture the Edo Tensei Hashirama and Tobirama in the darkness by sniffing and listening to the noise around him. It was only natural to have Hiruzen train in survival techniques in this kind of scenario to his disciples.

Mizuki's story was mostly just so Team 10 could run into the Prajna Group and discover all the events happening around and inside Konoha. That's why the actual "fight" against Mizuki was so short and inconsequential.

Also, I always thought it didn't make sense for Hiruzen to have such a useful technique (telescope jutsu), and not use it to find Orochimaru, so it might be a little vague, but I came up with an explanation for that.