A Clichéd but Necessary Ritual

Somewhere in Konoha Forest, near a stream, Hatake Sakumo looked at the three youngsters before him. His expression was as undisturbed as an ancient well, but his feelings were complicated. He could still clearly remember the scene when the Hokage had summoned him to discuss this matter over a month ago.

It had been a sunny morning. He had been called to the Hokage's office, where the Third sat behind his desk. The room was wreathed in clouds of smoke, and the Third was nothing more than a hazy silhouette.

"Sakumo, you know I've always had great faith in you."

When your boss said that to you, it meant he had a job for you. The job was bound to be difficult, and you had to do it well. If you failed, he would offer you up as a sacrifice to heaven.

And if you dared refuse, heh heh—

Though immensely strong, Hatake Sakumo had always been keenly aware of his place outside the village's inner circle.

"Please give me your orders, Lord Hokage."

"Good, Sakumo. I knew I could count on you." The Third sounded satisfied. "My boy is graduating soon. He's not as much of a genius as Kakashi, but he's still quite outstanding. He just needs a suitable instructor."

Hearing that, Hatake Sakumo had a rough idea of what was going on and relaxed somewhat. Given his strength and standing, being an instructor was a bit of a waste of his talents, but was looking after the boss's kid a question of whether the job was beneath him? It was a sign of trust.

Before Sakumo could speak, the Third continued, "The Yuhi family's daughter is graduating soon too. He came to see me about her."

Sakumo relaxed even further. Why had his own Kakashi been able to get Minato Namikaze as his instructor? Wasn't it because he had come to see the Third?

Minato Namikaze might not have been particularly well known yet, but his teacher was Jiraiya, one of the Sannin. And who was Jiraiya's teacher? None other than the Third, sitting right there.

Go back another step, and the Third's teacher was the Second.

See the pattern? Konoha's Hokage passed the position from teacher to disciple!

Someone who hadn't come up through that line wanted to be Hokage? Where did these stray cats and dogs come from? Go play somewhere else.

"Rest assured, Lord Hokage. Though I rarely lead teams of Genin, I'll do my best."

"I know your strength, and I'm familiar with your experience. But there's another boy this time who needs your particular attention." The Hokage took a deep drag on his pipe and continued.

"Ichite Ki's nephew, Nishu Tamagawa. He's graduating too. I'm planning to entrust all three youngsters to you."

"Please rest assured, Lord Hokage."

"Sakumo, don't underestimate Tamaki. I originally planned to have Jiraiya be his instructor."

"Is Nishu Tamagawa a genius?" Sakumo could hardly believe it. He hoped to get more information about Tamaki from the Third.

"A genius?" The Third took a drag on his pipe. "For the past two years, there have been rumors that Konoha Hospital has a secret self-healing technique called Life Return. You know about it, don't you?"

"Yes. I heard Special Jōnin Ichite Ki was in charge of the technique." That was also why Sakumo had committed Ichite Ki's name to memory.

"The technique is real. Tamaki created it."

"What!?"

Sakumo could barely control his expression. He had assumed the Third would say that Tamaki had mastered the technique well and was an outstanding medical-nin. He had found it strange that Ichite Ki hadn't arranged for Tamaki to enter Konoha Hospital early, as he had with his own daughter. But that was another family's private business, so he wouldn't pay it too much attention.

But a Ninja Academy student creating his own Medical Ninjutsu? That made no sense at all!

"Sakumo, Tamaki is a genius, an undisputed genius."

"Lord Hokage, forgive my loss of composure." Sakumo composed his expression. "Then why not have him enter Konoha Hospital directly? Surely that would be a better place for him to put his talents to use."

"As I said, Tamaki is a genius. He's proficient in Earth Release and Water Release, and he's learned the Eight Gates Released Formation."

"The Eight Gates Released Formation!"

"So don't think of Tamaki as a pure medical-nin. Whether it's me, Ki, or Tamaki himself, we all intend to cultivate a second Tsunade."

For a moment, Sakumo was deeply shaken.

Now, Sakumo felt nothing but immense pressure.

Lord Hokage, what virtue or ability do I have to cultivate another Lady Tsunade?

Sakumo howled at the heavens in his heart. He had later learned that after Jiraiya refused to return to the village to be an instructor, the Third's first choice had been Minato Namikaze. No wonder his expression had been so complicated when Sakumo went to ask the Third to let Kakashi follow Minato Namikaze.

Did I dig my own pit to fall into? -_-

Though I'm more famous than Minato Namikaze, more experienced than Minato Namikaze, and apparently stronger than Minato Namikaze, but...

All right, I really do seem quite suited to replacing Minato Namikaze.

"Is this Jonin really White Fang? Why does he keep spacing out?"

Kurenai glanced at Asuma, who had leaned over to whisper to her, but didn't answer. She focused her attention and continued watching Sakumo.

Swish—

Thump—

Sakumo appeared behind Asuma in an instant and gave him a fashionable little bump on the head—the raised kind. It was hard to say how much force Sakumo had used, but judging by how Asuma crouched down clutching his head, it probably hurt quite a bit.

So this is White Fang's speed? I couldn't see him at all. He and Uncle Duy are completely different types.

Duy specializes in direct, forceful attacks with tremendous fanfare, though hearing him coming doesn't help anyway. White Fang's speed is the silent infiltration type; you have no idea where the next attack will come from.

Tamaki silently summed up the similarities and differences between the two. Though he knew some things about White Fang, seeing him in person was another matter.

"No whispering." Sakumo maintained his aloof expression, but inwardly he felt a little pleased.

Kid, now that I've taken this instructor job, you've fallen into my hands.

"Tamaki, heal this boy."

"Yes."

After a simple treatment, the four of them, one adult and three children, sat cross-legged on

"All right, since this is our first meeting, let's introduce ourselves, as is customary. Tell us what you like and dislike, your goals as a ninja, or your hobbies and so on."

"Since this is our first meeting, I'll go first. My name is Hatake Sakumo. That's right, I'm also Kakashi's father. I like practicing swordsmanship, and that's also my specialty. I dislike acts of treachery, and my hobby is maintaining my blades. That's all for my introduction. Next, let's start with the boy who was crouching down just now."

Asuma had been called on. Rubbing the bump Sakumo had made by rapping him with a crooked middle finger, which still hadn't gone down completely, he roared inwardly, You're picking on me, aren't you? You're definitely picking on me, aren't you? Do you even know who I am, you bastard? I'm Asuma Sarutobi—the Sarutobi in Hiruzen Sarutobi, you bastard!

"My name is Asuma Sarutobi. I like sausages and shogi, and I dislike asparagus. As for my wish, I want to surpass the Third."

When the airheaded Asuma said he wanted to surpass the Third, his earnestness gave him a certain coolness.

Unfortunately, Kurenai wasn't looking at Asuma. She didn't seem to care. Poor Asuma—Tamaki silently mourned for him in his heart.

Surpass the Third? Kid, I see you in a new light. I'll still pick on you, but from now on I'll pick on you a little less. Just a little, but it should leave you with enough energy to bother a certain Third sitting in the Hokage's office.

"My name is Kurenai Yuhi. I like octopus with wasabi, and I dislike cake. As for hobbies, I like Genjutsu."

Tamaki watched Asuma pull a little notebook from somewhere, jotting things down as he muttered, "Octopus with wasabi, cake, Genjutsu." No wonder you didn't win Kurenai over until you were twenty-five. With your skill at gathering information on the likes of the girl you fancy, you're worse than Big Yellow at the village entrance!

Leaving aside Asuma, who was recording the information, Sakumo and Kurenai both looked at Tamaki.

Kurenai still remembered how, a few days ago, her father had learned she would be on a team with Tamaki and Asuma. That night, he had happily told her that both of them had deep family inheritances, and with White Fang teaching her, although she specialized in Genjutsu, she would never advance more slowly than other ninja.

There was no need to say much about Asuma. As for Tamaki, Kurenai mainly knew that he was skilled in healing and was Asuma's good friend. She wanted to learn more about her teammate too.

"My name is Nishu Tamagawa. I like soda and dislike washing dishes. As for my wish, I'd like to live out my life in peace."

Sakumo nodded inwardly. Each of the three had their own goals and ideas. Though one little Genin had an unrealistic aspiration, the youngsters had passed so far.

"Now that the introductions are over, it's time to begin today's task."

"We have a task already? What are we going to do? Gather intelligence, capture spies, or assassinate ninja from other villages?" Asuma was a little excited, and Kurenai was eager to get started too. It was their first day as ninja, so some excitement was only natural.

"A new Genin team can't take those tasks yet. Do you see these two bells in my hand?"

Sakumo took out two bells and held them up for everyone to see.

Here it comes, here it comes—the classic bell-snatching exercise. The introductions before this were classic too, but it really doesn't feel like becoming a Genin until these two bells come out.

It's like the new students at Hogwarts. They must have had no idea whether the sorting ceremony involved defeating a dragon or killing a troll. They'd never have guessed they only had to sit there and put on a hat.

"Everyone has the same task. Take a bell from me, and you pass."

"Sensei, you said everyone's task, not the team's task. Does that mean each of us has to get a bell?" Kurenai immediately sensed something was wrong.

"Very clever. I have two bells, which means that at most two of you can complete the task. It would be normal if only one person passed, or even if no one did."

"What happens if we don't complete the task?" Kurenai pressed on, while Asuma remained fairly calm.

"You'll be sent back to the Ninja Academy."

"How could that be? We're already registered as ninja of the village."

Asuma could no longer control his expression. After so much trouble, he had finally gotten a teacher who, though he picked on him, was immensely strong. He had also been put on a team with Kurenai. Those two things together should have made him even happier, so why, why had it come to this?

Tamaki: Ah, yes, of course. I don't deserve a name.

"A Jonin instructor has the authority to decide whether you qualify, revoke your ninja status, and send you back to school."

"So that means one of the three of us is bound to be sent back?"

"That's right. It's getting late, so let's not waste any time. The time limit is sunset. Begin."

Ignoring the astonished Kurenai and the dejected Asuma, Tamaki secretly began making Hand Seals while speaking to divert Sakumo's attention. "Sensei, taking the bells isn't really important, is it? What matters is whether we can show our strength and teamwork under pressure."

Sakumo was somewhat surprised. "I didn't expect you to see through it. You—"

"Earth Release: Earth Prison Technique."

Before Sakumo could finish speaking, an earthen prison trapped him.