After graduation, we were told to take a week as a break before we truly became shinobi.
I took advantage of that time to master my new jutsu, the shadow clone jutsu or you might call the kage bunshin no jutsu. A jutsu that allows the user to create a clone of themself that would be sustained by the chakra they gave to that clone.
The number of clones I could feasibly sustain in combat was two and that's stretching it. Even with my monstrous chakra pool for my age separating. I found that there was the bare minimum of chakra needed and currently, I require a quarter of my chakra to sustain a clone and that would only leave the clones capable of performing multiple of the most rudimentary jutsu. You also wouldn't be able to regenerate the lost chakra; you'd have to wait for the clone to dissipate or cancel it before you could even do that.
While that was depressing to know combat wasn't the only use of the jutsu. I might have forgotten to tell you the reason why the shadow clone jutsu is so useful but even if I already had, a recap wouldn't hurt. It's because of the ability to be able to retain the memories of the created clone.
Maybe at first, that doesn't sound too impressive but let me jog your memory a bit. Have you watched Naruto? If you did you might recall how Naruto learned sage mode in under a week with the use of his clones and if that doesn't convince you let me tell you about the time when Naruto learned to cut a waterfall with his wind nature alone with the help a few dozen clones in two days!
Now with the hype over and you suitably enlightened you should know where I am getting at. Shadow clones have more use than just combat and that's what I am doing with two shadow clones at my hideout.
With my chakra only at a third, I was performing the physical exercise as you're unable to improve that with clones alone. And as so that's how my week went me exercising as my clones slaves away in the hideout.
The deadline for the school break had ended for us who passed to become genins. Inside a fairly scarce classroom only I and two others reside. A boy and a girl.
I recognized the male from my class. He was the person Kaiton talked about being a medical-nin and the other I didn't recognize from my class.
Crossing my fingers I prayed. Please don't be a chunin, please don't be a chunin. An elite churning is fine, maybe a tokubetsu if you're so inclined Hogoromo.
Yugakure is a minor village only strong when compared to other minor villages however if you were to sum up the number of shinobis they have it wouldn't even breach the one thousandth mark and most of those shinobis are either genins or chunins. With the number of jonins not numbering more than twenty.
Having those precious jonins babysit some snot-nose brats is far-fetched. They just can't squander their shinobi like Konoha does. A more common occurrence would be for the team leader of a genin team to be an experienced chunin or in the worst case a recently promoted chunin.
His apprehension could be explained by this and also the fact that something wrong will happen when you first venture out for your first mission. An example would be Zabuza for Naruto.
With trepidation, he watched the door for his new sensei but as time passed that worry changed to boredom as the new instructor proved to be late.
Shifting his head, Tadao looked at Kojika on his right. “Psst Hey.”
Breaking out of his haze of sketching Kojika closed the book he was reading and turned his head. “What is it?”
“So I haven't introduced myself yet. I am Tadao. We were in the same class and I specialize in fuinjutsu and ninjutsu,'' I said, reaching a hand out in a greeting.
“Uh- Nice to meet you, I am Kojika. My specialty is medical ninjutsu.” grabbing my hand we shook. Turning to his right, Kojika introduced himself to the kunoichi in the room.
“Hello, I am Kojika. I am a medical-nin what's your name?”
Surprised, the girl paused before opening her mouth. “Hi, my name is Nao. I do tracking and trap work.”
Not beat later I made myself known and we continued to talk for a moment until we reached an impasse where the atmosphere got too awkward to continue.
Our team leader finally showed himself.
Nao was the first to sense him informing us of his presence. Not long after the notification we could hear the sound of footsteps.
He was a heavy-set man who could be mistaken for one of the Akimichi by his sheer bulk; he looked like the type to do sumo wrestling as a hobby. But his speed belied his size as he moved with the dexterity of someone much smaller.
This bear life figure was our soon-to-be sensei and from his gray flak jacket and dark blue headband that mixed well with his dark hair told me he was at least a chunin but not a jonin as they wore a more iron gray flak jacket.
He gazed at us with his dark black eyes, his lips on a flat line before it opened revealing pearly white teeth. “I am Atsui Taeru. I have served as shinobi under Yugakure for close to two decades. I've gone through hundreds of missions and now I am here to teach you how to be a ninja of Yugakure. My favorite meal is pork belly.”
He let the sink in the atmosphere eying us for any reaction. “You all have already clearly talked among yourselves; however it's only customary that you introduce yourselves.”
In a sequence from left to right, we introduced ourselves with our names, specializations, and tidbits about us.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Nodding his head His mane of black moved with him. “We won't be taking missions, rather we're going to work on your teamwork and any skills you're lacking in. I’ve reserved a training ground so follow me.”
Finally, when we arrived at a part of the forest scared of trees he began. “Your mission is to move me from this circle.” as he spoke he drew a two-meter diameter circle that encased him. “The goal of this mission is for me to gauge your teamwork and to better learn what I'll be working with.
His chakra flared as he spoke, coating his body with a blueish aura before bellowing. “You may now begin!”
We stared at each other in bafflement but not long after we moved.
I created a water clone as a probe sending him to our stationary sensei. The clone reaches him without impediment as they meet each other's gazes and the clone pushes him or at least attempts as however much it tried he didn't budge.
Not impressed by the charade, Atsui cut the clone client into two with a slash of his hand. He weaved hand signs of his own which transformed the dirt into the ground into rock clones. “If you're not gonna go all out then maybe they'll persuade you.” With those words spoken the three clones took action swiftly crossing the distance to reach in moments.
Quickly we reacted. Nao with her metal wires and explosive tags impeded one of the clones by bundling it in chakra-reinforced wires. The explosive tags didn't lag too far behind landing on the clone and releasing a deafening explosion.
Atsui remained unfazed as one of his clones was ensnared. Once the smoke had dissipated it revealed the sight of the clone stuffed but still unharmed and a pile of rocks where it was earlier.
Surprised by the substitution Nao continued in her offense, relentlessly manipulating the metal wires like a conductor in an orchestra.
I observed the situation as the other came with unnatural dexterity. Contemplating, I summoned a shadow clone for insurance.
Confident that Nao could handle herself, Tadao ordered his clone to guard the medical-nin as he unexpectedly armed himself with a katana.
Nodding at me Kojika acknowledged the aid brandishing his katana as he lunged at the nearest clone and I was not too far behind flanking the other with a water bullet.
I came with a vicious kick aiming for the extremities. A crunching sound could be heard from the twisted arm however the broken and molded holding foot in a vice-like grip.
Shocked, Tadao did the first thing that came to his mind: launch water jets from his foot like those robots with fire slowing out of their feet. The molded rock held for a moment but inevitably it sprayed water from the hole.
Now freed he retrieved a sledgehammer from his bracers aiming for the chest of the clone. It quickly dodged his attack leaving an afterimage in its wake.
Without any target to strike the hammer impacted the ground creating a small crater. Mind racing he disposed of his hammer for a slender and quicker blade, a rapier to be exact.
Tadao flickered to the direction he sensed the clone to be and launched a flurry of attacks, each attack leaving a black sludge in its wake.
Doing the seal for confirmation the black sludge ignited in flames. I watched as the clone was engulfed with flames waiting for an opening.
Itsbody burning the clone charged at the boy knowing it didn't have much time left it ignored the flames conjuring earth spikes from the dirt and launched at the boy before lunging with an earth-reinforced punch.
Not expecting the change of speed barely dodged the earth spikes and braced himself from the sudden fist near him.
Holding his blade Kojika prepared for a slash which was stopped when it met the hand of the clone that had grabbed in one hand. Caught off guard he took the force of a sucker punch only able to reduce the impact by reinforcing the spot he was hit.
Frustrated, Kojika launched a counterattack of his own, launching several sharp stone pellets.
Unfazed, the clone dodged and blocked the incoming projectiles. Making his way to Kojika through the hail of stone.
Seeing an opportunity Tadao’s clone weaved a lengthy amount seals of a B-rank jutsu. A risky jutsu that drains all the chakra in this body forcing him to dissipate so he had only one chance and so carefully aimed the jutsu and executed it.
From the ground a large serpentine form came rising; it set its draconic eyes on the rock clone and charged, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. Seeing the jutsu take flight the clone dispersed into a cloud of smoke.
Sensing the spike of chakra the shinobi clone turned its eyes at the disturbance, spotting the form of a serpentine water dragon.
Astonished, the rock clone flickered from where it was meters away from its previous location however this wasn't the end as the water serpent continued its chase.
Not the type to let an opportunity go to waste, Kojika charged up a jutsu of his own. Earth Release: Earth Spear
From the ground, a large two-meter spear erupted from the ground covered with dirt and rocks while still having a gleaming edge.
Rapidly the spear charged at the hapless clone as it relieved it was stuck against a rock and a watery place. In the epicenter of these two jutsu, the clone conjured nearby walls from the ground which were summarily pierced by the two jutsus as they met in the middle producing destructive sight.
Panting Kojika slumped to the ground heaving as the feeling of chakra depletion reared its ugly head.
On the other side of the battlefield, Noa struggled with the clone in front of her as it was able to dodge most of her blows only able to inflict minor burns or cuts on it even while she restrained it with ninja wires.
Frustrated, she pulled on her wires with precision obstructing the clone's movements and layering traps in the immediate vicinity.
Taking out a couple more senbon and explosive tags she winced at a week's allowance gone to waste. She resolved herself to make sure to take the clone down if not for her team but for her troubled wallet.
A dangerous glint appearing in her eyes.
Moving quickly she rushed to activate her makeshift traps causing a small explosion next to the clone.
Unfazed, the clone continued on its inevitable march. Although that was just a distraction for her other move.
In the smoke, dozens of metal wires appeared out of thin air constricting the clone’s form.
Visibly slowed, the clone struggled in its binding causing the wires to buckle in resistance.
Allowing the young kunoichi an opening for her sentons and more powerful explosions enhanced by her chakra jutsu, likened to a combination jutsu.
However, the clone didn't stand idly creating rock walls to block the path though it wasn't enough the walls were still pierced.
Having done their jobs the combination attack’s lethality was very much leased only cutting off the arm as the clone tried to maneuver however it was enough injury to cause the clone to dispel.