~Soutarou POV, Scene Continues~
The man then took the trio to the top of the building and said, "This should do… Allow me to introduce myself, I am Hayama Shirakumo, Elite Jonin of Konohagakure and the Jonin Leader of Team One. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'd like to begin today by just having everyone introduce themselves, give a little background on themselves, what their likes and dislikes are and tell the others what ninjutsu or specialties they know."
The trio looked at each other, before everything just went silent and Soutarou sighed realizing he'd have to go first and so he started, "It's a pleasure to make all of your acquaintances… I'm Soutarou Morita, I just turned nine years old. I like a lot of things, but the things I like the most are without doubt sleep and food. I don't particularly dislike anything… As for goals… I wish to become an excellent shinobi and protect our village to the best of my ability."
"As for my specialities, I know a bit of Medical Ninjutsu, a bit of wind style jutsu, a bit of lightning style jutsu, a bit of earth style, a bit of Genjutsu, but I specialize in water style jutsu, Taijutsu, Kenjutsu, and the Konoha Body Flicker. As for specific styles I specialize in the Leaf-Willow and Leaf-Style Swordsmanship while for Taijutsu I practice the Strong Fist style and the Senju Taijutsu."
The group went silent after hearing Soutarou specialties with Yugao opening her mouth and then closing it rapidly as if debating saying something, while Hikaru nodded his head fervently and even stared at Soutarou as if revering his god. Hayama-sensei on the other hand paused for a split second, before nodding in understanding as he'd read Soutarou's profile already at this point and knew everything he'd said was true and that he'd even understated his capabilities a bit.
Realizing it might be hard to find the courage to go after that Hayama-sensei cleared his throat and said, "Very impressive Soutarou-kun, Yugao-san how about you go next? Don't feel pressured by Soutarou, he is the very same Soutarou Morita that saved our village from the aftermath of the Nine Tails Attack."
Yugao mustered up some courage and finally spoke saying, "H-hello it's my pleasure to meet all of you. I'll be in your care. I'm Yugao Uzuki and I'm thirteen years old. I like quiet places, training, anything that helps me improve, and above all I love swordsmanship. I don't really like loud people… or those who look down on their teammates. My goal is to become a kunoichi that others can rely on and to bring honor to Konohagakure."
"As for my specialties… I'm most confident in my Kenjutsu and my Genjutsu. I also have fairly good chakra control, and I've also learned the basic body flicker jutsu to proficiency and I've also learned some wind style and water style jutsu."
Hayama nodded and cheerfully commented, "Most impressive Yugao-san and last, but not least, Hikaru-kun, if you'd please."
Hikaru lightly bowed and said, "It's my greatest honor to be in the company of such a talented squad and be teammates with you. I'll be in your care! I am Hikaru Hyuga, I'm nine years old. I don't particularly like anything, however I respect Soutarou-san the most and hope to see the day he becomes either the fifth or sixth hokage! As for dislikes, I abhor those who claim Soutarou-san is a faker and I particularly dislike those who look down on others."
"As for my specialties I mainly practice the Gentle Fist, though I have learned healing jutsu at the behest of Soutarou-san, and intend to learn Water Style and Earth Style just to compliment my close combat ability as per Soutarou-san's suggestions. I also specialize in the Gentle Fist Air Palm and am able to use shadow clones to dismantle traps using Air Palms. Additionally, I am a capable sensor with my Byakugan being able to see up to a half a mile radius around me."
Hayama-sensei nodded and clapped his hands happily and said, "Wonderful… By technicality the three of you are still not genin, even you Yugao who've already had a Jonin instructor. Before you officially become a genin… You must pass a test of sorts. So I'd like to ask… Are the three of you ready?"
Soutarou looked at his two teammates and looked at them for confirmation before nodding. Hayama smiled and said, "Good. Meet me at training ground three in thirty minutes."
And Hayama flickered away at that… Soutarou immediately said, "You guys heard that right? He's going to test us, in fact it's likely going to be a teamwork exercise meaning we have to work together no matter what."
Yugao nodded and calmly said, "Yes. That's the way it was on my last team as well. Before that we'll need to decide on a team leader."
Soutarou nodded and said, "Well Yugao, is it fine if I call you that? Are you up for it?"
Yugao, in surprise, raised an eyebrow and said, "No… I'd prefer if someone else is team leader, but I'm most surprised you offered Soutarou-san. I had assumed you were a rather bossy controlling person."
Soutarou dismissively waved his hand and said, "No, no if anything I'm a laid back and relaxed person… I only get uptight when there are lives on the line and people start panicking.. Panic leads to poor decisions and so I made the decisive move way back then and ever since that people always assume that. I can assure I'll always hear my teammates out. Also just call me Soutarou. We'll probably be together for a long time, plus I hate formalities so drop the san part, please don't be like Hikaru who keeps the san part forever. On that note Hikaru got any ideas?"
Hikaru simply said, "No, but I am certain that you should be the team leader Soutarou-san. Another thing is I believe you should lead the charge, as we'll likely be pitted against Hayama-sensei."
Soutarou nodded and said, "Alright. I'll lead the charge with my water style, I'll leave close combat to Yugao, and Hikaru keep your eyes on him and use Air Palms to force him into Yugao's strikes. At the same time I'll use the then wet terrain to empower my water style jutsu to deal with whatever comes our way."
"Let's stick with two code words, the first will be blitz and the other will be run. If you hear me say blitz start running away and if you hear me say run away charge ahead."
Yugao and Hikaru nodded before Soutarou said, "Let's keep the plan simple for now because we honestly will have to adapt on the fly, this is one of the stronger elite jonins after all."
Soutarou then said, "Let's go."
Soutarou thought about flickering before he said, "Let's walk, we have time, no need to waste chakra on flickering."
Hikaru raised an eyebrow before Soutarou said, "Hikaru I know you know how much chakra I have, but both of you don't have the same amount. If we're going to work as a team it's important that all of our members are able to function at the same capacity."
Yugao made a mental note, but didn't ask as the group moved in silence jumping from roof top to roof and then from tree to tree until they reached training ground three where Hayama-sensei stood with his arms crossed and his eyes closed.
The moment the trio touched down Hayama's eyes snapped open and he said, "Interesting… You three certainly took a moment to get here. Still the test begins now, you will have until 6:00PM to take these two bells from me. Whoever gets a bell passes and those who don't… Will return to the Ninja Academy and repeat a year."
"Begin!"
Soutarou immediately called out, "Ignore the two bells, commit to teamwork, this is a test to see if we fall apart and turn on each other or work together to get the bells! Stick to the plan! None of us is failing and if I'm wrong I'll go back to the ninja academy because I know they won't be able to keep me there long."
Hikaru and Yugao nodded and Hikaru immediately shot an airpalm at Hayama-sensei who just sidestepped it and let it pass by him. All before Yugao engaged him with Hayama only responding with a single kunai and continuously deflecting the sword that Soutarou had handed her on their way here.
Soutarou on the other hand supercharged a jutsu with immense amounts of his chakra as he finished his hand signs and he sent a pulse of chakra into the ground as a warning to which Hikaru made a handsign that he flashed at Yugao who immediately fell back. As the pair of Yugao and Hikaru got behind Soutarou and Hayama lazily approached the trio, Soutarou spat out a massive flood of water that drowned the entire training ground in a sea of water.
Hayama had to actually react and flicker out of the way and all four students and jonin now stood on water. Soutarou glanced back at Yugao before he confirmed that her chakra control was solid and he immediately said, "Run!"
The group made a fake effort of turning and dashing, before Yugao and Hikaru flanked Hayama-sensei though neither got close enough to grab the bells or do any damage. Which is when Soutarou finally made a shadow clone and changed tactics saying, "Blitz."
The shadow clone rushed Hayama with its sword while Yugao and Hikaru fell back and retreated with Soutarou. All before a massive explosion rang out and Hikaru turned at Soutarou and said, "That was your shadow clone explosion jutsu?"
Soutarou nodded and Yugao paused and said, "You made a jutsu?"
Soutarou shrugged and said, "Don't worry if you want I'll teach you later, for now we're switching strategies I'll go for close combat. Yugao what genjutsu do you know?"
Yugao quickly said, "I know Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing, Demonic Illusion False Surroundings, Demonic Illusion: Double False Surroundings, and Genjutsu Binding."
Soutarou nodded and said, "Hikaru, I want you to use Air Palms when possible, but stay at Yugao's side and tell her exactly when I glance back at you guys. When I glance back I'll be making an opening for you to exploit and we'll get the bells from there. Ideally try to use Demonic Illusion: Double False Surroundings."
Hikaru nodded and immediately activated his Byakugan with bulging veins, all before Yugao began forming handsigns, at the same time Soutarou drew a ninjato from his bracers and activated his chakra coating. Before sensing Hayama-sensei's location and rushing towards him.
Instantly Soutarou let loose a slash of azure chakra at him to which he got a response of a white slash of chakra back. Without handsigns the pair flickered to out maneuver the other with Soutarou taking the position of aggressor attacking recklessly and rapidly. Forcing Hayama to respond…
Despite this Soutarou could feel Hayama wasn't fully committing like he was waiting for some follow up. Feeling a bit surprised, Soutarou spat out three prepared bullets from his mouth.
'Water Style: Water Bullet!'
Hayama's eyes widened and he flickered away immediately and seemed to be debating whether or not to engage fully. But before he could Soutarou formed two clones again to which Hayama-sensei did the same forcing the two into a three on three before one of Soutarou's clones realized he was losing ground and immediately chose to explode himself to take out Hayama's clone. The other soon followed suit… Leading to again the same stalemate.
Soutarou's eyes flickered around before he formed four handsigns and created a simple lightning jutsu that immediately electrified the entire body of water.
'Lightning Style: Spider Web.'
Hayama sighed and shot into the air as did Soutarou before Soutarou fully glanced back and engaged Hayama mid air all before just as Hayama was about to disengage Soutarou spat out three sharp senbons that were very unlike the Water Bullets he'd just shot out a moment ago in terms of sharpness and speed.
He shot the Heavenly Weeping at him forcing Hayama-sensei to carefully dodge and backpedal, before suddenly Hayama realized he was in a Genjutsu and broke free only to realize there was another layer and by the time he broke out he saw Soutarou had completely closed the distance and his hand firmly around the bells.
Hayama tried to get the bells back, but Soutarou flickered away without handsigns leaving a dozen shadow clones to engage him. Hayama sighed and immediately said, "It's over, no need to continue to tell your main body to come back with the others."
Soutarou's clones shrugged and dispelled themselves before returning with Yugao and Hikaru. Hayama glanced around and said, "Well which of you is returning to the academy?"
Soutarou boldly said, "None of us. We're a team so if you want one of us to go back, then send us all. You already heard what I said Hayama sensei. We know this is a teamwork exercise, but we truly believe in our teamwork and our team. I wouldn't have been able to close the gap to take the bells if Yugao hadn't utilized the gap, or if Hikaru hadn't told her when exactly to cast the genjutsu, not to mention he supercharged her jutsu because the basic healing jutsu he learned included sharing chakra."
"So yes I firmly believe without us working as a team we wouldn't have been able to take the bells."
'Well if this had been a live combat activity… We'd be screwed… That blade this guy was using was dull… Not to mention he could've easily responded to my jutsu with stronger methods and shut me down. Still he wouldn't have been able to completely or rather instantly shut me down. But for him to use a dull blade and push me around, and for him to not use any countering jutsu other than his body flicker and a bit of wind chakra manipulation… It shows how strong he is.'
'Not to mention our aggressive and speed tactic of aiming to finish everything in one move probably had the surprise factor on him too…'
Hayama-sensei sighed deeply and smiled saying, "Ah well it was worth a try… Still, it was very well coordinated. If that genjutsu was even one second off I'd have broken free much faster and caught Soutarou-kun off guard instead. I'm most impressed and as for you Soutarou… I have no words other than if you had a normal Jonin as your instructor… They might have been dead. So perhaps don't use such lethal methods against Konoha shinobi. Especially not Water Style: Heavenly Weeping."
"Not to mention just the fact that you can use that jutsu means you've already finished the third step of water natured transformation. You are genuinely terrifying and I'm so glad Konoha has you. Still for future exercises I know a lot more of the direction we need to work on, but that's for another day… Since you've officially become genin… Let's celebrate. Yakiniku Q all on me."
Yugao raised an eyebrow and said, "Alright then we won't hold back sensei!"
Before Soutarou greedily said, "Let's make sensei penniless tonight! We're eating like Akimichis!
Hikaru nodded and raised a fist in victory. The trio of Yugao, Soutarou, and Hikaru happily chatted with Soutarou buttering up the duo and thanking them for timing everything so perfectly and saying that without them the plan wouldn't have worked. And the reality really was that everything lined up and they stole the bells in one move after testing the waters. Hayama on the other hand just stared at Soutarou in reverence and realization that he might not be a Jonin Leader for long just because of one student….
~Narration POV~
And so, beneath the evening sky of Konohagakure, Team One took its first true step forward.
What had begun as a simple bell test had already revealed the shape of things to come…
Yugao's precision, Hikaru's faith, Hayama's watchful eye, and at the center of it all, Soutarou Morita… The boy who moved far faster than time seemed willing to allow.
Their laughter carried toward Yakiniku Q, light and youthful, but the road opening before them would be anything but simple…
For this was no longer the beginning of a child's ambition… No… It was the beginning of a shinobi's legend.
The tale of Soutarou Morita. The Rise of the Azure Dragon.
Volume One, The Beginning End.
***Author's Note: That's the end of volume one ladies and gentleman! Where will the story take us next? Who knows… All I can tell you is that this genin era will be a string of new original content that'll turn our characters into the people they're destined to be and maybe even beyond what they were destined to originally be. Hope you enjoyed it and I hope you stay around until the end. Happy reading and see you next chapter!
-CloudyRage***