"My clock," lamented Kakashi.
"We'll buy you a new one," said Naruto.
"It was chakra-resistant too," lamented Kakashi.
"I'm sure we can find you a good one," said Naruto.
"Very expensive," continued to lament Kakashi.
"Don't push it on a genin salary," said Naruto.
"Right then, well, I'm a little conflicted. Technically you didn't show much teamwork at all," confessed Kakashi.
"Well, we kind of DID work as a team a few times on our own, but since things kinda happened - it gets kinda hard on things nearby if we cooperate too much. Uhm, Sasuke? That paper flying overhead? It's looking at us."
Sasuke's head whipped up. A moment later beams the color of fresh blood struck the paper doll and it didn't so much ignite as simply go straight to vapor.
"There's a chakra connection..." said Naruto. "Gone now. Couldn't trace it fast enough."
"I think maybe I ought to have a quick talk with the Hokage," said Kakashi.
"You've failed them?" asked the Hokage, taking in the shredded flak vest and various signs that made Kakashi look as if he'd been ambushed by a group of jonin-level enemy nin.
"Hokage-sama, with all due respect. What the hell are they teaching Academy students nowadays?"
"There was that little Event yesterday," said the Hokage. The ability to insert capital letters into everyday speech for emphasis was but one of many skills a Hokage had to develop. "That Event had a month and a half pass for four of my newly graduated genin. Three of whom are your would-be students. They have demonstrated exceptional promise."
"I planned on failing them. They did not display much in the way of teamwork," said Kakashi.
"That is your choice," said the Hokage with a nod. "However, I would elect to not place them back in the Academy. I would much rather see such... talents trained and put to use for our village."
"He was serious about ANBU apprenticeships?" asked Kakashi.
"You joined ANBU at quite an early age yourself," noted the Hokage.
"You're serious," said Kakashi.
"If they went back to the Academy, I would have to worry about two of them sparring and the shockwaves reducing the building to splinters," noted the Hokage. "ANBU apprenticeship means that each of the three would essentially be trained in a career track they are psychologically well-suited for. Sasuke can be fast-tracked to assassination and combat. Sakura has expressed interest in using her talents in healing to use, though apparently Sasuke has better talents in that regard he is less interested in pursuing that at present. Naruto is raring to go as a heroic style ninja so having him be a bodyguard to highly placed individuals would suit him well."
Kakashi was silent for a moment. "I can't honestly see those three doing weed-pulling and fence-painting."
"Of course not," admitted the Hokage. "As a genin team you could probably have them clear seven or eight D-Rank missions a day, especially with Naruto's use of kage bunshin, and then start C-Ranks by the end of the week. Eventually get up to A and S Rank missions."
"Ah," said Kakashi.
BLAM!
"That's why we're not using training posts," said Sasuke to the ANBU as the post twirled off into the distance. "We're going to have to leave the village to do any serious training."
"I see," said Owl.
Yahiko's body turned towards the merchants. "You have trespassed on the territory of God. You shall be punished accordingly."
The children in the back of the wagon whimpered as their mother pulled them close.
The merchant in the front of the wagon gawped for a moment. "But we're traders! It's rice flour! Rice flour!"
"That matters not," said Pein, raising a hand and prepared to reduce the trespassers to ruin.
whipwhipwhipwhipwhip KA-THUUUUM!
The merchant blinked as a large wooden post had come out of the sky and flattened the strange ninja who'd been in front of them.
"Akito. Turn this wagon around now and get us OUT of here!"
"Yes m'love," agreed the merchant. Whatever was going on, he was just grateful for the chance for continued survival.
"So, Team 7," said Ox, the ANBU looking them over. "Kakashi Hatake failed you yesterday due to the lack of teamwork. The Hokage has decided to use rotating ANBU for your sensei for the first two months, then move on to individual training and fast-tracking for specialized missions using your talents."
"Do we have to wear masks like that?" asked Naruto.
"That will start when you go the individual apprenticeship section," said Ox.
"I wondered about that, I'd think those masks cut into the whole peripheral vision thing," commented Naruto.
"In any case, you three, I will be your commander today," said Ox. "No backtalk will be tolerated. If you have valid questions about an assignment - that IS tolerated. We will be going over additional training and rules of conduct after each mission. Today's mission is fence repair. This is a typical D-Rank mission. Such missions are within the village, allow for you to practice basic skills and teamwork, and provide you with greater familiarity with the village itself. Any questions at this time?"
Naruto held up a hand. "Do we get extra points for accomplishing a mission in an awesome fashion?"
"Use of special abilities and jutsu is not prohibited, Uzumaki. Missions are simply 'pass' or 'fail' - if the client indicates above average results at the end of it - it might include a monetary bonus but that is at the discretion of the client. Any other questions?"
"Which fence?" asked Sakura.
"Ah, the end-of-week report on Team 7," said the Hokage, putting a grain distribution paper to the side. "I was waiting for that. How have they been doing?"
Mantis nodded. "Ox started them on tree-climbing at the beginning of the week. Tiger continued that, and by the time Boar had them - they were ready for water-walking."
"Good progress," said the Hokage.
"They would have simply flown but it was pointed out that these were basic chakra control exercises as well as allowing them to keep their flight abilities secret," said Mantis. "That seemed to be the main stumbling block."
"Very well," said the Hokage. "Continue."
"Their missions were done in a professional manner after each mission objective, as well as the reason behind the mission, was explained." Mantis paused before continuing, analyzing things once again in her fashion. "The concept of hidden meanings and objectives was explained to them. Haruno and Uchiha both began working out further possible interpretations behind assignments. Uzumaki seems a bit less able to perceive such concepts in the short term."
"Noted," said the Hokage.
"Suggestions at this point are that Uchiha be put under Rat's direction, for further skill refinement. He needs work on tracking, stealth, and surgical strikes in order to meet his personal objectives and prepare for ANBU assignment." Mantis cocked her head for a moment. "Haruno's interest in medical and support skills do indicate that ANBU assignment should be temporary at best. Personality is not a good fit for assassination missions or high-stress combat. She needs to be broken of her tendency to focus entirely on the Uchiha so splitting the two of them will be required for her further development. I concur with Ram's analysis in that after a period not to exceed two months - Haruno should be placed within the hospital and begin further development of her healing talents."
"Pending further review, agreed," said the Hokage, nodding. "And Naruto?"
"Uzumaki is not recommended for the darker side of ANBU. At all. Ever." Mantis shook her head. "Also - he has a further ability that has been confirmed by Boar."
"Oh?" asked the Hokage. "You noticed?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama," said Mantis, not surprised that her leader already knew about it. "He broadcasts. The more chakra-sensitive around him report feelings of peace and warmth radiating off of him. Small animals begin gathering near him. We've also caught a number of Hyuga watching him, they report that his chakra is..."
"Yes, we've had reports of that," said the Hokage. "Though the descriptions vary, it seems Naruto's 'glow' seems to draw them much as a moth is drawn to a flame."
Mantis considered that before nodding. "Recommendation with Uzumaki currently stands at ANBU missions involving the protection of an area or client would be best. Going after bandits or missing-nin also recommended. As long as the objective is simple and clear-cut. Reports that he is lacking in intelligence are proven false. He is simply very direct and quite physically oriented. He also appears to be the sort who learns things physically as opposed to memorizing details."
"I believe at least one of his Academy instructors would agree," said the Hokage.
Read the comments on this episode
(Posted Tue, 09 Jun 2015 16:15)
Questions? Problems? Suggestions?
Send a mail to addventure@bast-enterprises.de
or use the contact form.
らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
All other series and their characters are © by their respective creators or owners. No claims of ownership of these characters are implied by the authors of this Addventure, or should be inferred.
The Anime Addventure is a non-profit site.