The Training of a Shinobi Part 2 – Conversations

Disclaimer: Naruto and his friends belong to their creator. Tetsuro is my creation.

Tetsuro sat on a stump next to the river flowing through the old training ground, petting a large cat. Hinata, Naruto and Sakura were leaning against each other in a heap, trying to catch their breath. All of their clothes were torn and they were covered in mud and were severely scratched. Naruto was quickly recovering his breath and the scratches were fading quickly. Hinata had lost her coat somewhere, and was breathing deeply like a ninja recovering from a heavy bout of training, while Sakura was gasping for breathe and could barely sit up with the help of her teammates.

“So what went wrong? This was a basic locate and retrieve mission.” Tetsuro asked. “Hinata, you go first.”

“Ano, Sakura and I couldn't keep up with Naruto, and once we got seperated from each other, we had no way to coordinate getting back together.”

“Interesting. Naruto, what do you think?”

“Uhm, what Hinata-chan said, Sensei.” Naruto said.

“Very well, how about you, Sakura?”

Between breaths, Sakura gasped, “Didn't make plan or scout. Just charged in, by ourselves. No regard for others.”

“Exactly, Sakura. You did not act as a team. Ninja do not operate alone. Even if a ninja is operating by himself in the field, he is still supported by other ninja in some manner.” Tetsuro stated. “If you want to the lone hero, go be a Samurai. Anyway, I see I have a lot of work ahead of me. I'll be talking to each of you later today. Be here at sunrise tomorrow. Here's your pay for the mission. You're dismissed for the rest of the day.”

With that Tetsuro disappeared with the cat, leaving a small bag behind on the stump.

Hokage's Office

“So what do you think of your students, Saotome.” Sarutobi asked.

“They in pitful shape for their supposed level of training. Hinata is the best of the lot, but she cripples herself. The other two if put together, barely make a competent academy student, much less a genin. Still, I'll have them ready in time for the graduation exercises. You might want to have someone check out what's happening in the academy, Naruto and Sakura shouldn't have gotten this far with such glaring holes.” Tetsuro answered.

“I have someone checking it out already. The quality of the recent graduates has dropped severally in the last few years, plus the number of genin reaching chunin status has been on a decline as well. Keep me informed of your progress.” Sarutobi said dismissing Tetsuro with a wave.

A couple hours later, Sakura’s Bedroom.

Sakura was brushing her hair, grumbling under her breath, “Stupid sensei, made me mess my chance to talk to Sasuke today. Ino-pig will get him, if I’m not there to stop her. Naruto better not screw this training up for us.”

“You should be more concerned whether or not you’ll pass the training, instead of worrying about what your teammates might do. You say that you want to go out with Uchiha-san, but what do you really know about him?” Tetsuro said from behind Sakura.

“Gah, sensei,” Sakura screamed as she spun to face Tetsuro. “What do you mean, what do I know about Sasuke-kun?”

“Exactly what I asked. Now, tell me, Sakura.” Commanded Tetsuro.

“Yes, sensei. Well, he’s cute, and has the top ranking in our class. He rarely talks in class, that makes him so mysterious. I think he lives in the Uchiha district.” Babbled Sakura.

“Humph, you need to do some information gathering, Sakura. In fact, one week from today, I want a report on all the information you can gather about the Uchiha Clan. I’m leaving you some profiles on some of Uchiha-san's female relatives, and is probably comparing you and the rest of the kunoichi in your class to. I’ve also talked to your mother, and she’s agreed to make sure that you’re eating properly at home. No more diets, I will not have you collasping because you decided to mistreat your body.” Tetsuro said just before he vanished in a whirlwind of leaves.

Sakura opened one of the folders that her sensei left and quickly read the sheet inside. As she finished reading, Sakura collapsed to her knees with a stunned look. “His aunt was an ANBU commander. Iie, is that what Sasuke-kun is looking for in a girlfriend?” She asked herself.

At the same time in Naruto's Apartment

As Naruto fiddled with his stove to keep the gas flowing so he could boil some water for ramen, he suddenly spun around when he felt a presence in the apartment. “Gah, sensei. What are you doing here? You want some ramen?” Naruto blurted out.

“I came to talk you, Naruto. Thank you for the offer, but I ate earlier.” Tetsuro replied.

“Ahh, ok. What do ya, want to talk about?” Naruto said.

“You've said often that you want to be Hokage. Have you given any thought on how you're going to get there?” inquired Tetsuro.

“How I'm going to there?” asked Naruto with a confused look on his face.

“It's good to have a goal, Naruto, but if you don't know how you are going to reach it you'll never get there. Do you know what is needed to become a genin?” Tetsuro added.

“You have to pass the academy, sensei!” Naruto grumbled.

“And what does that require?” prompted Tetsuro.

“Well, there is the written test which sucks, because I can't read half the kanji. Then we have the sparring, which I do all right in, but Sasuke-teme always does better in, and then we have the jutsu test, which sucks because they always have me do bushins, which I can't do.”

“At least you've paid that much attention. You and your teammates will work on all of these things. Now, while we are doing this training, no pranks. You do not need that kind of attention at this point. I'm also leaving a folder with you. In it is a mission request, I want you to plan how to accomplish the mission with a single genin team. In two weeks, give me your plan.” Tetsuro ordered as he faded from view.

Meanwhile, at the Hyuuga Compound

Hinata was putting away her bath items, when the kunai flew past her head cutting several strands of hair before embedding itself in the wall. With a quick hand sign and a burst of chakra, Hinata activated her bloodline and saw her opponent through the door behind. She ducked, then charged her opponent as a second kunai came through the paper panels in the door. As she broke through the door, she saw that her opponent was the same Cloud-nin that had attempted to kidnap her several years ago.

“You!” Hinata screamed as she started the Hakke Rokujuyon Sho attack, “You will not touch my family again!”

Just as Hinata was about half through the attack, her opponent change appearance to that of her mother and Hinata stopped her attack. Taking advantage of the opening Hinata had created, her opponent sliced opened Hinata's throat.

Gasping out, “Why, Mother?” Hinata fell into darkness.

Hinata suddenly opened her eyes and gasped for air. She looked around and saw that she was in the family infirmary and her new sensei sitting beside her.

“Sensei, the Cloud-nin? Where is he? Where's mother? Why am I alive?” Hinata asked as she looked frantically around her.

“Your mother is with your father. As for the Cloud-nin, he was never here. I put you under a genjutsu to test your skills. You have given me an interesting problem, Hinata-chan. Skillwise, you are ready to graduate from the Academy and serve on a genin team. Mentally, you would probably get you and your team killed, if you had mission outside of Konohagakure. Shinobi do not fight fair, we do not follow rules of war or of honor, it is literally anything-goes in a fight. I've decided to give you tomorrow off. I want you to decide if you still want to be a shinobi, after what I've shown you. Think about if you can you live with doing what is necessary to complete your mission? Can you accept that there will come a time, that you will have to sacrifice your friends, family, lovers, and complete strangers to finish what you have been ordered to do? If you're going to be a shinobi, make sure you are doing it for yourself. Do not let other people make this decision for you? For now, sleep,” said Tetsuro as he tapped several pressure points. With that Hinata fell into a deep sleep.

As Tetsuro walked out of the infirmary, he was stopped by Hiashi.

“What did you do to my daughter, Saotome?”

“I tested my student, Hyuuga-sama. I recommend you and her mother spend some time with her tomorrow. It's not everyday, one is killed by their mother. Now, I need to leave and get ready to train my other students. Good evening.” said Tetsuro as he gave a polite bow, then walked away.

Hiashi watched as Tetsuro made his way out of the Hyuuga compound, then made his way to his eldest daughter's side and sat down next to her. He gently brushed her hair away from her face. “My daughter, I don't know whether to pity you for the trails that will come your way, or be happy that you have a sensei that may be able to teach you what I can not. Know that I'll be proud of you, whatever you do, even if I can not show you.” With that, Hiashi kissed Hinata's forehead, and silently slipped out of the room.