Bunjiro looked at Yugao and Fumito who were just sitting in the training ground. He asked with a frown on his face, "Shouldn't we discuss more strategies and work on our teamwork?"
Yugao and Fumito just talked about their abilities and asked Bunjiro to do the same. After knowing everyone's abilities, Fumito formed a very basic plan and Yugao agreed without any arguments. Bunjiro wondered, 'What the hell? This is even worse than when we were put in a Genin squad! Aren't they supposed to be experienced Anbu ninjas?'
Fumito shook his head and replied, "We won't be able to improve our teamwork much in 30 minutes. So it's pointless. Just ensure that we don't get in each others' way while fighting and we will be good. After all, our opponent is someone who has just been promoted to Anbu Captain."
Bunjiro wasn't convinced. He said, "But…"
Yugao cut him off and said, "He is right. Captain could have given us more time to prepare to form better teamwork. But we aren't Genins. As an Anbu, we may spontaneously be asked to team up with other Anbu ninjas, or other Anbu teams or even operate solo. So we have to be prepared to form good coordination with any other ninja. Consider this as a part of your training."
Bunjiro thought for a bit and replied, "Alright."
He sat down as well and joined his new teammates. Yugao's mind wandered as she recalled the meeting she had the previous day.
One day ago :
Yugao appeared in the Hokage's office. Only Hiruzen and Shikaku were present in the room. She respectfully asked, "Lord Hokage, what are your orders?"
Hiruzen waited for a few seconds and said, "Yugao, your Anbu Team will be changed. I'm placing you in a different Anbu unit."
Yugao was surprised. Her eyes lit up. She asked, "Am I getting promoted to Anbu Captain, Lord Hokage?"
Hiruzen smiled and said, "No, not yet. We have observed your improvements and you have been performing very well. But it's not yet the time for your promotion."
Yugao became silent. She was confused. She thought, 'Captain Yamato said that I'm ready for the Promotion mission. Why did Lord Hokage say the opposite? And why am I being shifted?'
Hiruzen continued, "This change will be beneficial for you. Your new Captain will be Suzuki Fujin. I believe you will learn a lot from him."
Shikaku handed her a file that contained some basic information regarding Fujin but didn't mention anything about his abilities or mission record. Yugao glanced through the information. A look of surprise appeared behind her mask as Yugao noticed Fujin's age.
Hiruzen explained, "He is quite strong, but is very young. And he tends to go a bit extreme during the missions. While working with him, you will also be responsible to stop him if you feel that he is doing something that will have very adverse implications."
Though Hiruzen was impressed by what Fujin did in his Promotion Mission, neither he nor Shikaku wanted to see him do anything of that scale once again. His actions had almost broken the delicate balance of the ninja world. Hiruzen wanted the current peace to extend for as long as it could.
Yugao was surprised by his words. She asked, "By stopping, do you mean?"
She didn't complete her question. Hiruzen replied, "No, just talk with him. He is very reasonable. He is still your Captain. So you aren't allowed to fight or backstab him."
Yugao sighed in relief. She didn't want to attack her comrade. She nodded and said, "Alright. I'll do my best."
Hiruzen smiled again and said, "If you keep up your good work, I'll allow you to take the Promotion Mission after a year."
Yugao replied with determination in her voice, "Thank you. I won't disappoint you."
She left the office. Shikaku watched her leave with a serious face. Hiruzen hadn't informed him of his plans. He analyzed, 'That's strange. She is strong and experienced enough to be promoted. Yet, she wasn't.'
He recalled the names of the Anbu that would be assigned to Fujin and began analyzing all information. Suddenly, it clicked. He looked at Hiruzen with surprise as he realized, 'I see. Yugao is confirmed to be an Anbu Captain. So is Fumito. As for Bunjiro, Hiruzen said that Fujin had guided him in the academy. With his talent, he should reach the Jounin level as well.'
He asked, "You are planning to increase Fujin's clout?"
Hiruzen wasn't surprised that Shikaku figured it out. It was the main reason why he had called him there. He nodded and replied, "Yes. Though his strength is impressive, his reputation is almost non-existent. He might be more famous in Kumo than in our village. His relationships aren't much either.
The only one with significant influence that is close to him is Renjiro. Even in the younger generation, the only ones close to him are Hyuga Hoka and Senju Teru. Though they are talented, they won't be anywhere near enough to support him in the future. Compared with Kakashi, he is highly lacking in both aspects."
Shikaku nodded. By giving Fujin three talented subordinates, Hiruzen had set up an easy path for him to gain influence. Yugao and Fumito will remember that Fujin was their captain for some time. As for Bunjiro, he was guided by Fujin from the time he was in the academy. So he would become another one to support him. And since Yugao and Fumito would be promoted very soon, Fujin would be given newer subordinates to increase his influence in the Anbu.
Shikaku asked, "Are you confident that he can become a Hokage?"
Hiruzen shrugged and said, "It's tough to say. But there isn't any harm in helping him. If he lives up to our expectations, then he could compete with Kakashi for my seat in the future. And since neither of them is hungry for political power, it shouldn't create any internal conflict in the village."
Shikaku nodded and said, "I agree. But, increasing his reputation will be a bit problematic. Both the Kumo incident and this mission can't be revealed to the public. We will have to create more opportunities in the future like we did for Kakashi."
Hiruzen replied, "It's fine. He is only 14. Let him stay in the dark and keep accumulating his strength. When the time is right, we can create multiple opportunities for him to gain fame. Even the Anbu Commander post can be handed over to him if need be."
Shikaku nodded. Raising someone's reputation wasn't very difficult for them. Especially if that someone was worthy of that reputation. He discussed the Sunagakure matter with Hiruzen and left the office.
Alone in his office, Hiruzen looked at a scroll lying on his desk. There were many scrolls on his desk at all times, so Shikaku didn't pay any attention to that scroll. Hiruzen thought, 'I was initially planning to give Fujin a couple more months off. Learning Advanced Fuinjutsu is difficult and very time-consuming. But with Shadow Clones, he should be able to do the symbols and the easier seals in 3 months. But...'
Recalling the contents of the scroll, Hiruzen shivered involuntarily. He thought, 'I thought I had hinted it to him quite clearly. But, why did he increase his consumption of Wind Crystals? Did he get the wrong message somehow? Don't tell me he thought that my buying more Wind Crystals from other countries was a message to keep using as many as he wants. Sigh, this kid is too good at giving me headaches.
If I let him be free for another couple of months, Konoha might actually begin running out of Wind Crystals! And that would invite scrutiny from the Council. Though I might be able to handle it, it will bring a lot of unnecessary attention to Fujin and his access to them in the future will be limited heavily. So I can only send him on missions and limit the amount of time he has to spend in the training facilities.'
Present :
Fujin waited for 30 minutes and appeared at the training ground. Yugao, Fumito and Bunjiro got up and got ready. Fujin looked at them and said, "In order to cooperate properly, we need to know where everyone's strengths lie and what everyone's weaknesses are. There won't be any killing or maiming in this fight. But give it your all. You won't stand a chance against me if you hold back."
Though Fumito was a bit skeptical, he planned to give it his all. Yugao and Bunjiro also became serious.
He picked up a stone and tossed it in the air and said, "The fight begins once the stone hits the ground."
Yugao grabbed her sword, Fumito grabbed a few shurikens and Bunjiro held 3 shurikens in each hand.
As soon as the stone hit the ground, Yugao rushed forward with her sword while Bunjiro launched all six shurikens at Fujin. Meanwhile, Fumito stayed back and weaved hand signs to take advantage of any openings Fujin provided.
The six shurikens ripped through the air and hit Fujin's body. Bunjiro's eyes widened. He thought, 'So easy?'
However, he saw the Shurikens passing through his body and Fujin's image dispersed a bit before dissipating completely! He asked, "When did he create a clone?"
Fumito's expression was serious. He said, "That wasn't a clone. It was an afterimage!"
Fumito didn't see Fujin move at all. He closed his eyes and activated his chakra field. All his previous disdain was tossed out of his mind.
Yugao was serious as well. She only saw the general direction of where Fujin had gone. She turned her head to her right and shouted, "Incoming!"
