Chapter 39: Chapter 36: Genin Team.
Author Note: Nothing of importance, just enjoy the chapter, and if you have any questions, make sure to comment!
And like always, remember if you want to read up to 13-15 chapters ahead go to https://www.patreón.com/cornbringer
I'm currently updating the novel 2-8 chapters a day in patreeeeon. On chapter 47 so far, though by the end of today it will be chapter 49-51.
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Enjoy you sexy bastards.
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[Third Person POV.]
The very next day after their graduation exam, Takeshi and Itachi walked through the gates of the academy to receive their headbands, a milestone in the life of many shinobi that had come much sooner for them than anyone else.
The teacher, a middle-aged man named Mr. Hagumoto, greeted them with a mix of pride and disbelief. "I still can't believe you two decided to take the graduation exam after just four months," he said, shaking his head. "You've set quite the precedent."
Mr. Hagumoto handed each of them a headband with the Konoha symbol etched into the metal plate. "Congratulations, Takeshi, Itachi," he said, his voice filled with genuine pride. "You've both done exceptionally well. Wear these with honor."
Takeshi took the headband, feeling its solid weight in his hands as a faint smile dawned on his face. Itachi, beside him, did the same. They both tied their headbands around their foreheads, the symbol of Konoha gleaming under the classroom lights.
"Now, you'll need to wait on the top floor, classroom B, for your assigned Jonin instructor," Mr. Hagumoto continued. "They will be here shortly to meet you."
Takeshi and Itachi nodded in unison, thanking Mr. Hagumoto before making their way up the stairs.
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[Arata Takeshi - POV]
I had to say I was quite excited about the possibilities that lay ahead of me now that I had graduated from the academy.
The jump from an academy student to a genin was massive in terms of learning. Even if by some reason our Jonin instructor sucked, which I doubted considering we were considered geniuses by the village, and giving us a bad instructor would be a misuse of resources. But even if that was the case, as Genins, the level of authorization we now had in the ninja archives provided a ton of knowledge that was just waiting to be used.
As we climbed the stairs, my mind drifted to the eventual assignments we'd receive.
On that note… I couldn't help but wonder what kind of test our Jonin instructor would put us through. I vaguely remember Kakashi doing the bell test for his team in the series, but I knew for a fact that wasn't the norm. Each Jonin instructor had their own individual test, personally tailored to assess the strengths and weaknesses of their students based on their own skills and experience.
Meaning, each Jonin had a very different test. And so, a faint thrill of anticipation bubbled within me as we reached the top of the stairs.
I couldn't feel anyone outside the academy students and teachers, meaning we would most likely have to wait, but a guy could get excited even without much to go by, couldn't I?
The wooden floorboards creaked under our weight as we walked down the long, silent hallway. Sunlight slanted in from the windows, casting elongated shadows against the shoji walls. Itachi was quiet beside me, his eyes unreadable, but I could sense a faint shimmer of anticipation radiating from him.
"Are you excited?" I asked.
Itachi glanced at me, the corners of his mouth curving into a faint smile. "A bit," he admitted, his gaze returning to the path before us. "Though not as much as you."
I nodded in agreement. He was right, I was more excited about this step than him. I wanted to become stronger, and there was only so much Teresa could offer me before I needed actual shinobi guidance. That's exactly why Jonin instructors existed: to provide that guidance.
Eventually, we reached the end of the hallway, and I slid the door open, finding an empty classroom. Which was to be expected, seeing we had graduated outside the expected timeframe for any class, meaning that even the kids that were supposed to graduate this year were months away from doing so.
"So, we wait?" Itachi mused aloud.
I nodded, taking one of the many empty seats. As I did so, I felt a large chakra signature arrive in the vicinity, followed by a familiar chakra signature.
"No..." I muttered, recognizing who this familiar chakra belonged to.
"What?" Itachi looked at me, his eyebrows raised in question.
I held up a hand, tilting my head slightly as if listening to something far away. The familiar chakra not only lingered but grew stronger, more potent, and a grim sense of understanding washed over me.
"Our Jonin instructor," I said finally, meeting Itachi's gaze. "Is Shisui's sensei."
This meant the worst possible outcome… having to deal with Shisui's unlimited energy 24/7. I might need to buy some headache pills to avoid permanent damage.
Itachi looked at me, then at the door as if considering running away, before he eventually sighed. "I told you we should've waited until he was a Chunin..."
"I thought he had a team," I replied, letting out a sigh. In all honesty, I never expected to be paired with Shisui. He was leagues above us and was about to take the Chunin exam in like... three months.
It made no sense, from a logistics point of view, to put us in his team when said team would be broken after a few months. And despite our status as geniuses, I doubted Konoha would let us take the exam so soon after graduating. At a minimum, they would have us wait a year before taking the Chunin exam.
Unless...
No… There's no way Shisui would've done that, could he?
Could... could it be Shisui retracted his Chunin exam application just to be on a team with us?
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[Best Buddies]
[Uchiha Shisui]
[Third Person POV.]
Uchiha Shisui was practically skipping like a Disney princess as he made his way to the academy with his sensei, grinning from ear to ear. Today was going to be a fantastic day. Why? Well, he had retracted his application for the Chunin exams just to be with his two favorite people in the world: Itachi and Takeshi, who had recently graduated, meaning they were Genins, meaning they could be on his team, meaning the best day of his damn life.
Best buddies for life, he thought to himself, barely containing his excitement. He couldn't help but wonder how long it would take before they realize how much they missed him.
Shisui's sensei, a stern-faced Jonin named Yamato, cast him a sideways glance. "You seem unusually chipper today, Shisui," he remarked, raising an eyebrow. "Is this because I asked the Hokage to have your friends assigned to my team?"
"Oh, sensei, you have no idea," Shisui replied, his grin widening, jumping up and down. "They are going to be in my team! And I can't wait for the opportunity to annoy the hell out of them."
Yamato sighed, shaking his head. "Just remember to take your training seriously, Shisui. Annoying your friends shouldn't be your top priority."
"Of course, sensei," Shisui said, though his mischievous grin suggested otherwise. He could already picture the looks on Itachi's and Takeshi's faces when he walked through that door. When they realized he was their teammate.
As they approached the academy, Shisui's mind drifted back to the moment he decided to retract his Chunin exam application. It had been a tough decision, but ultimately, the chance to spend more time with his friends was too good to pass up. He could always become a Chunin next year.
"Why take the Chunin exam now when I can annoy Itachi and Takeshi for a bit longer?" he had told himself, grinning at the thought. "Besides, they need me. Without my sparkling personality, their lives would be unbearably dull."
Yamato led the way up the stairs, his pace steady and deliberate. Shisui, on the other hand, was practically bouncing with each step, his excitement building with every passing second.
This is going to be great. He thought, picturing their faces—Itachi's stoic expression, trying to hide his annoyance, and Takeshi's calm facade barely masking his frustration. Ah, this is going to be perfect.
They reached the top floor, and Shisui took a deep breath, readying himself for the grand reveal. He couldn't wait to see their reactions. It was going to be priceless.
Yamato opened the door, and there they were—Itachi and Takeshi, sitting by the window, looking out over the village. They turned as the door opened, and Shisui couldn't help but burst into a wide grin.
"Hey, guys!" he called out, waving enthusiastically. "Missed me?"
Itachi's expression remained impassive, but Shisui could see the flicker of annoyance in his eyes. Takeshi, on the other hand, let out a sigh, shaking his head slightly.
"Oh joy, it's you," Takeshi muttered, though Shisui could see the hint of a smile tugging at his lips.
Shisui plopped down next to them, still grinning. "You guys have no idea how much fun we're going to have. I've got so many plans to make your lives interesting."
Itachi raised an eyebrow. "Interesting how?"
Shisui winked. "Oh, you'll see. Just remember, you can't spell 'fun' without 'Shisui.'"
Takeshi rolled his eyes, but the smile was now more evident on his face. "I'm pretty sure that's not how spelling works."
"Details, details," Shisui said, waving a hand dismissively. "The point is, we're going to make the most of this."
Itachi shook his head, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "So, I guess Takeshi was right... you are our teammate."
Shisui leaned back, crossing his arms behind his head. "Yes, and like a terminal disease, you won't get rid of me."
Yamato watched the exchange with a bemused expression, finally understanding why Shisui had been so eager to have Takeshi and Itachi in his team. "Alright, you three," he said, stepping forward. "Let's get down to business."
Weekly Power Status
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