Kazeo froze. Only one coherent thought surged through his mind. 'It's really Itachi fu*ing Uchiha.'
His mind began to spiral with questions—ones he didn't have answers to and couldn't find.
But why… why is he our sensei? This wasn't supposed to happen. In the series, he should already be tangled in Danzo's manipulation… preparing for the massacre. So what changed?
Did I cause this? But I haven't done anything significant… I've just been surviving, laying low, doing the training. There hasn't even been a butterfly to flap its wings, let alone cause a storm.
Before he could follow that train of thought deeper, Itachi's voice pulled him back.
"Let's start by getting to know each other," Itachi said. "Tell me your likes, dislikes, hobbies, and dreams. I'll begin.
My name is Uchiha Itachi. I like spending time with my little brother, Sasuke. I don't feel the need to mention what I dislike. My hobby is cooking.
And my dream is to create a world without war."
It was simple, sincere… and carried the kind of weight only someone like Itachi could make sound peaceful and heartbreaking at the same time.
Kazeo stepped forward next, his face unreadable but his tone even. "I'm Tanaka Kazeo. I like to train... and play with cats. I dislike people who kill others for no reason. I don't really have a hobby.
And my dream is to find the person who murdered my grandmother."
On the surface, it was a statement laced with resolve. But beneath it, his mind calculated:
If Hiruzen really saw me break down when Grandma died—as I felt that day—he already knows I'd chase whoever was behind it. No point hiding that. But by saying it outright, maybe I plant the idea that I'm just an emotional, vulnerable kid who tells the truth. That's safer—especially for the day I need to lie.
Itachi gave a small nod, his expression unreadable. "Wanting justice is understandable," he said quietly. "But don't make that your whole reason for living. Because when revenge ends, and there's nothing left to chase… the silence that follows can destroy you. Aim for something greater, Kazeo."
Kazeo nodded. That line… it lingered.
Next was Ren. He straightened up and said with quiet confidence, "I'm Uchiha Ren. I like the book Demon Slayer. I dislike loudmouth kids. My hobby is reading.
And my dream is to become strong and competent—like you, Itachi-sama."
Itachi glanced at him and replied, "From now on, call me sensei."
"Yes, Itachi-sama."
Itachi didn't press the correction. He simply turned his attention to the last one.
"I'm Kurogane Daichi," the boy said, smiling. "I like rice cakes. I hate bullies. My dream is to earn a lot of money and make my father's shop bigger. And my hobby is collecting pretty stones."
Itachi nodded and said, "Well, congratulations on graduating early. But that doesn't mean you're proper Konoha shinobi just yet. You'll spend the next month mostly training—though we'll take on a few missions here and there. If I feel you're not ready after a month… your training will continue."
The announcement drew mixed reactions.
Ren responded immediately, voice firm. "Yes, Itachi-sam—uh, I mean, Itachi-sensei."
Daichi frowned, arms crossed. "But why more training? We already passed the graduation exam! That test was tough. Shouldn't we be going on missions outside the village? Catching criminals? Collecting bounties?"
Kazeo tilted his head slightly, thinking, No bell test? I thought that was how Jonin bonded their teams. Or does he have a different approach?
Itachi, ever calm, replied with the precision of a textbook. "The graduation exam is just the bare minimum. A true shinobi is defined not by what jutsu they know, but by their temperament, judgment, and values. And I'll be the one evaluating that."
Daichi looked like he wanted to argue again, but before he could say a word, Itachi cut in smoothly, "Now that introductions are done—do you want to go on your first mission?"
That sentence changed the mood instantly.
Daichi lit up like a firework. "Are we going outside the village? Let's go! It'll be my first time stepping beyond the gates!"
Ren nodded calmly. "Yes, sensei."
Kazeo hesitated. "…Sure," he said. But inside, something didn't feel right. This is way different than the series. Why does everything feel… off? None of this is following the path I knew. What's even going on anymore?
Before he could untangle his thoughts, Itachi vanished in a flicker of movement. Only his voice remained, drifting back to them like smoke.
"Meet me at the Hokage Tower. I'll have the mission ready."
Ren immediately took off, flickering away like Itachi had. Daichi and Kazeo exchanged a glance before sprinting after him.
By the time they arrived at the tower, Itachi was already waiting outside the gate, a mission scroll in hand.
Without preamble, he began. "Your first mission is a D-Rank: Search and rescue. A merchant's nine-year-old son has gone missing. Last seen near the northwest perimeter of Konoha, close to the forest line. You'll be retrieving him safely. Payment will be divided 40:20:20:20. I take forty percent, and each of you receives twenty."
Ren blinked. "Isn't that near the forest? There are wild animals out there. Will he even be safe by the time we reach him, Itachi-sam—sorry, sensei?"
Itachi nodded. "He should be. The mission was submitted three minutes ago. Now—"
"Wait," Daichi interrupted, brow furrowed. "Why the pay split? What's the point of getting just twenty percent on a D-Rank?"
Itachi didn't flinch. "That's standard for Konoha teams. If you want a larger cut, become a Chunin faster. And don't interrupt your team leader during official briefings—you can be punished for that."
"…Sorry, sensei."
"Just remember it," Itachi said. "Now let's go. Guide me. Show me what you've actually learned at the Academy."
All three nodded. A second later, Kazeo, Ren, and Itachi flickered toward the northwest edge of the village.
Daichi stood there for a second, wind ruffling his hair. He groaned and muttered, "I really should've learned the Body Flicker."
Then he took off running after them, full speed.
Daichi arrived nearly five minutes later, just as Ren turned with folded arms and said, "Try running faster next time. We shouldn't be wasting Itachi-sensei's time because of you."
Daichi only nodded, catching his breath. When he looked around, he noticed the others were already combing the area. A torn piece of a child's T-shirt lay snagged in a bush nearby, fluttering faintly in the breeze.
They were following a trail of small, uneven footprints and broken twigs. After a few minutes of silent pursuit, a distant scream echoed through the trees.
Kazeo narrowed his eyes. Why would the kid come this deep into the jungle? His heart skipped with a strange mix of tension and excitement. Is this going to be one of those missions that suddenly jumps to A or B-rank? Hah… why am I kind of excited about that?
Since Itachi wasn't interfering in their very first mission, Kazeo thought—being older mentally, he should step in and help the other two. If this really turned into one of those unexpected missions, someone could actually die.
I believe Itachi could handle any enemy… but the thing is I still don't know if he has mastered his Mangekyō Sharingan yet or not. Why risk anyone's life unnecessarily?
He spoke in a low voice, "I think we should move slowly and stay stealthy. If he's this deep in the jungle, there's a chance he's been kidnapped. No normal kid would come this far on his own."
Itachi didn't say anything, but inwardly, he was mildly impressed. 'Calm under pressure and a good head on his shoulders… not bad for his first mission. On top of that genjutsu resistance, he's got potential.'
But before anyone could make a move, Daichi suddenly bolted forward.
"Come on! No one would dare kidnap someone inside Konoha! And if he's screaming, it probably means he's just scared or hurt. Besides, Itachi-sensei's right behind us—what's the worst that could happen?"
"Idiot…" Kazeo muttered under his breath and flickered after him. "Why's he trying to die on the first day?"
Itachi's eyes followed Daichi, thoughtful. 'Not bad at picking up clues… but reckless. He still has a lot to learn.'
Up ahead, Daichi burst through a thick patch of foliage and picked up speed as the wild boar came into view, its tusks lowered and eyes locked on the trembling child five metres away, cornered against a tree.
"You dumb boar! Why are you bullying a kid?! Fight me instead!" Daichi yelled, trying to draw its attention.
The boar paused for the briefest moment, its head turning toward Daichi—then turned back and charged straight at the child.
Panic flashed in Daichi's eyes. Crap... it's not working!
Desperate, he grabbed a kunai from his jacket and hurled it at the boar. It bounced off the creature's thick hide with a dull thud. As it closed the last few meters, Daichi started flinging everything he could find—shuriken, kunai, even a crushed rice cake. But his hands were shaking, his aim becoming more wild. Nothing hit. And the boar didn't stop.
Overwhelmed by situation, Daichi's arms dropped and he froze. No… the kid…!
From the tree line, Itachi's expression shifted slightly—ready to intervene if it came to it. But he didn't move.
He didn't have to.
With a flicker, Kazeo appeared between the boar and the child, wire and kunai in hand. Shit—too close! Panic clawed at his chest. His body moved before his thoughts could catch up. He grabbed the kid, and with no hand seals, vanished in a blur of speed.
They reappeared twenty meters away.
He looked down at the kid, still shivering and soaked in fear, pants wet and face pale. Kazeo dropped to a knee, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You're safe now, kid." he said, voice steady, though his heart was still racing.
On the surface, he looked tense but composed—but inside, he was buzzing. Wait… I did it. I actually flickered without hand seals. Finally!
A small smile tugged at the edge of his mouth before he pushed it down. He glanced at Itachi and a mix of excitement and unease swirled in him. 'Well, it's not like anyone's going to question me. And if they do, I'll just drop Shisui's name. It's not like he didn't teach me the trick to bypass hand signs for the Body Flicker. I'll say he'd been training me for a year or something—that should pass. Besides, the sparring with clones surely worked. I flickered on instinct.'
He flickered again—this time leaving the kid near Itachi, and called out to Ren, "Oi! Are you here to sightsee?! Help us!" And without waiting, he vanished once more, reappearing behind the boar who was now advancing toward a panicked Daichi.
Ren turned to Itachi, silently asking for permission with a glance. Itachi gave a subtle nod after murmuring, "Interesting."
Ren flickered behind Kazeo, eyes narrowing with focus. 'How did he do that without hand signs? I've only ever seen Itachi-sama and Shisui-sama manage something like that…'
His chest tightened. 'I have to catch up. I won't let some no-name surpass me… or get closer to Itachi-sama than me.'
He gritted his teeth, chakra surging through his arms. "Lightning Style: Lightning Knuckle!"
Sparks danced across his knuckles as he lunged forward, slamming his charged fists into the boar with a crackling blow.
The creature squealed but only staggered, its tough hide diffusing most of the current. Still, the impact turned its attention toward Ren.
The boar snorted, pawed the ground, and charged. Ren immediately leapt back, drawing a kunai and flowing lightning chakra through it, aiming for the creature's eye.
At the same time, Kazeo flickered behind the beast. With precise movements, he looped his wire around its waist and surged wind chakra through it.
As the wire tightened and buzzed, it bit into the boar's flesh.
The creature shrieked and thrashed, surging forward in agony. Ren's kunai, aimed for the eye, instead grazed the boar's forehead as it jerked mid-run.
With both boys pressing from front and back, the boar squealed louder and veered left in panic—away from the child and Daichi, who had finally gotten the boy to calm down.
Ren dashed forward to finish the fight, but a calm voice rang out.
"Stop."
Ren halted mid-stride, breathing hard, fists still crackling with leftover lightning.
"That's enough," Itachi said, his arms crossed. "Our mission was to rescue the child, not kill a boar. We're in its territory—that's why it attacked. Let's not make more noise than we already have. We're done here."
Kazeo exhaled slowly, the tension draining from his shoulders. "But my wire—"
Kazeo nodded, and the team headed back toward the Hokage Tower—Daichi trailing behind, carrying the still-crying kid on his back, his face downcast. He was clearly feeling the weight of having been a liability.
Outside the tower, Itachi stood with the merchant whose child had gone missing.
When the merchant saw the group arrive, he rushed forward. Tears welled in his eyes as he saw his son safe, nestled against Daichi's back.
He bowed deeply, a full ninety degrees. "T-Thank you! Thank you so much!" his voice trembled. "Itachi-sama already told me what happened. If not for you… my son—he might have…"
He trailed off, voice cracking. "He's all I have left. I don't even know what possessed him to wander into the jungle... I can't imagine what I'd have done if I lost him."
He looked up at them, eyes red but sincere. "I know this D-rank mission payment is nothing compared to what you've done. So please—whenever you get the time, visit my shop. It's in the northwest part of Konoha, the store name is Silken Threads. I'll give you twenty—no, fifty percent discount on anything you want!"
Daichi, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, gave a small grin. "It was our duty, sir. You don't need to do all that… but since you're offering, we'll definitely stop by."
The other two just stared at him. 'Wow… He didn't even land a hit and he's out here taking full reward credit.'
The merchant thanked them again with another bow before walking away, who had fallen asleep with his head resting on his father's shoulder.
Once they were out of sight, Itachi turned to his team.
"You all did well," he said simply. "Considering this was your very first mission, and you had zero team coordination, you handled it decently."
He glanced at each of them, tone calm but commanding. "Before tomorrow, I want a written mission report from each of you. Include what you did right, what you did wrong, and what you should've done better. Three separate reports. Understood?"
All three nodded.
"Then meet me tomorrow morning at Training Ground Six. Sharp 7 a.m. Don't eat beforehand. You might throw up."
Without waiting for a reply, Itachi vanished with a flicker. Ren and Daichi turned to head home, but Kazeo stopped them with a raised hand.
"Wait," he said. "Aren't we going to talk about our strengths and abilities? We don't know each other's fighting styles. If sensei's planning to fight us tomorrow, we'll need some kind of plan."
Daichi paused and nodded. "Hmm, you're right. I heard from one of my friends—most teams do that early on."
Ren raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Win? Against Itachi-sama? You two hit your heads or something?"
Kazeo blinked at him. 'What's with this guy? Is he a diehard fanboy or what?' Though, he had to admit… Ren wasn't wrong.
------
Seven in the morning, Team 2 stood in front of Itachi. He took their mission reports, stored them in a scroll to read later, and instructed the genin to follow him. Soon, they arrived near a building that was ominously familiar to every genin who had graduated from the elite class.
Only one thought lingered in Kazeo's mind, 'Why the hell are we in front of the T&I Department? Is it due to me flickering without hand signs?'
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