Kapitel 28: Genin Test(1)
The misty morning air hung low over Training Ground 51 as Team 25 assembled at the appointed hour of 5 am. Renjiro arrived promptly, his eyes sharpened with focus.
Aiko, with her silver hair glinting in the dim light, soon arrived and took a place next to him, ready for whatever challenge awaited. Hiro arrived last, grumbling to himself about waking up even before Dawn.
'Guess it is safe to say that Hiro is not a morning person,' Renjiro remarked.
They stood there patiently waiting for their Sensei, Senju Riku, to arrive. But soon enough, the mood turned to one of annoyance as it had been more than an hour after the agreed time and Riku had yet to arrive.
"He's probably caught up with some last-minute preparations," Aiko suggested optimistically, though her eyes betrayed the hint of annoyance in them.
Hiro muttered, "Preparations or not, we're here on time. We could be doing something productive."
Finally, three hours later, Riku Senju arrived with an easygoing smile, seemingly unfazed by his lack of punctuality.
"Ah, good morning, my young Shinobi! Sorry for the delay. I hope you guys had a good morning and just arrived," he declared.
"Good morning Sensei, we arrived here at 5 in the morning as you instructed," Hiro stated.
"Oh, you did? I only arrived now since you guys complained yesterday," Riku said. Hiro's eyes twitched.
"Now, to the order of the day, I want everyone to introduce themselves and their dreams."
'I call bullshit, He clearly knew we'd be there by 5 in the morning.'Renjiro surmised after seeing Riku disregard his lack of punctuality.
Seeing none of the boys speaking up, Aiko decided to take the initiative,
"My name is Nakamura Aiko. My dream is to become strong enough to protect those dear to me and to ensure that the mistakes of the past."
Like Renjiro, Aiko was also a victim of war. She became an orphan due to the previous shinobi war (second). Her parents were merchants who became collateral damage during the war.
Although she lost her parents at a tender age, barely even having a recollection of them, the tough life in the orphanage pushed her to become a shinobi. She wanted to be strong enough to make the world a better place for others like her.
"My name is Hatake Hiro and I want to become strong enough to be the head of my clan." Hiro closely followed.
Hiro hailed from a single-parent home. His father, a fellow shinobi, died while his mother was still pregnant with him. Hence kids at the academy and in the clan kept making fun of him because of this. This led to an inherent need to prove them wrong and being the clan head was the only way he saw to achieve this.
'Clan head? Yeah right. Maybe if Kakashi dies before he signs up for the academy.' Renjiro remarked. He only saw Hiro's aspiration as a pipe dream after all.
"My name is Uzumaki Renjiro and I just want to survive." Renjiro boldly declared.
His statement caught the rest of the group unaware since it was unconventional.
'Aah, This must be the Kid that the Hokage talked about. I guess witnessing his whole life falling apart with the fall of Uzushio traumatized him.' Riku concluded upon hearing Renjiro's statement.
Renjiro was telling the truth. Knowing what was to come in this world he had to try his best to survive. The threat of the third shinobi war, nine-tails rampage and even the Uchiha clan massacre always gloomly hanged on him.
He might not be a part of the clan, but the fact that he has a Sharingan puts him in danger by association.
Renjiro just wanted to be strong enough to retire, maybe open up a shop, and live peacefully. Was that too much to ask?
"Great! Good to see young Shinobi having great Aspirations," Riku said with his gaze briefly falling on Renjiro.
"But," Riku said ominously, "You first have to prove that you are worthy enough to work under me. So I am going to give you guys a test."
'I thought I was done with tests after I graduated from the academy.' Hiro thought.
Aiko was visibly surprised as she kept exchanging glances with Renjiro and Hiro. Renjiro had expected this even though it was widely speculated that the test Kakashi gave his team was only because it was some sort of tradition to a group of Shinobi.
'Please be the Bell test, please be the Bell test, Please be the Bell test.' Renjiro hoped it would be the bell test as that would make his work easier as he would only have to convince the other two to work as a team.
Riku took a scroll from his pocket and unfurled it. He then went on to retrieve three similar rocks from it. Upon closer examination, Renjiro found out that they were made from the same material as the small object Sato had given him during his Senser Training.
'A storage scroll. I wonder how they work. And also do those stones work the same as the one Sato gave me?'
Holding up the three stones, Riku declared,
"Your mission is simple: survive for twenty-four hours in this training ground while protecting these stones. If you fail, it's back to the academy for you."
Renjiro, Aiko, and Hiro exchanged glances, uncertainty flickering in their eyes. The challenge seemed straightforward, but the devil was in the details.
"Now, here's the twist," Riku continued a glint of mischief in his eyes. "I'll be coming after your stones periodically, but to make it interesting, I'll limit myself to using only academy jutsus. Consider it a handicap for me, and an opportunity for you to showcase your skills."
'I knew it! It could not be that easy. And that's a stupid handicap, he's a jounin so we would never be able to win against him. This is Child Abuse!!' Renjiro ranted after hearing the premise of the test.
The team processed the information, realizing that they not only had to survive in the wilderness but also defend their stones against their Jounin sensei's attacks.
With that, Riku gave the stones to the three, each member of Team 15 assigned to protect one. With that, Riku vanished in a blur, leaving Team 15 exchanging glances once more. The trio found themselves debating the most effective strategy to protect their stones.
Renjiro spoke first. "We should stick together as a team. Our strength lies in numbers, and facing Riku individually might not be as effective as combining our skills."
Hiro, considering the possibilities, shook her head. "I disagree. If we split up, we can cover more ground and anticipate Riku's attacks from different angles. It's about maximizing our chances of success."
Aiko chimed in, "Agreed. Renjiro, facing Riku head-on might play into his strengths. We need to survive, teaming up together will only make it easier for Riku-sensei to get all the stones in one swoop."
Renjiro frowned, he recognized the importance of adaptability but was still hesitant to abandon the concept of teamwork. "We can cover more ground as a team, and my Sharingan can detect Riku's movements. Defending as one unit would be easier."
Aiko placed a hand on Renjiro's shoulder, "Renjiro, we're not dismissing the importance of teamwork. But in this situation, splitting up gives us a tactical advantage."
Hiro added, "Our goal is to protect the stones and pass the test. Let's use our strengths strategically. We still haven't had a lot of experience fighting as a team, so it may be counter-productive."
'Have they forgotten the fact that he can use clones? Splitting up would just make it easier for him to pick us apart one by one.'
Renjiro sighed, realizing trying to change their minds would be a lost cause.
"Fine, let's give it a try."
Satisfied with the plan, they both dispersed in three different directions hoping that they would pass Riku's test.
'I'm the best sensor out of all of us. I want to see how they think they'll survive this. I just hope I was right with teamwork being the objective.'
As Team 25 engaged in their heated debate over the optimal strategy, Riku Senju, at a considerable distance away, found a secluded spot on the training ground to enact his next move.
Riku's chakra surged, and with precise hand signs, he channelled his chakra. With a final, powerful slam of his hands into the ground, a shockwave reverberated through the ground, and a colossal cloud of smoke erupted.
The smoke billowed and swirled, taking on a myriad of shapes before settling into a form. As the mist began to clear, a silhouette appeared.
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Kapitel 29: Genin Test (2)
The smoke billowed and swirled, taking on a myriad of shapes before settling into a form. As the mist began to clear, silhouettes appeared.
As the misty training ground slowly unveiled the scene, a pack of wolves materialized from the dissipating smoke summoned by Riku's jutsu. The ethereal mist clung to the majestic creatures, emphasizing their otherworldly presence.
The wolves stood in a formation, their fur a mix of shades blending seamlessly with the mist. Their eyes, gleaming with intelligence and an instinctual ferocity, surveyed the surroundings as if they were attuned to the very essence of the misty wilderness.
The alpha wolf, slightly larger than the others, bore markings that seemed to shimmer in the diffused light. Its eyes locked onto Riku, a silent acknowledgement of their shared purpose. The rest of the pack, arranged in a disciplined manner, awaited the command from their summoner.
"Okami," Riku began, "I need your pack to help me out with something."
"What is it Riku?" Okami, the alpha wolf asked.
"I got new genins, so it is the usual test. Just test them a little bit."
"For how long?"
"Half a day. But give them breaks in between."
Okami, with a dignified nod, acknowledged Riku's command. He released a low, almost imperceptible, growl to his pack who were eager for the challenge.
Riku observed the wolves with a sense of satisfaction. He had summoned not just a challenge for Team 15 but an ally that would help him test their teamwork, strategy, and adaptability.
As the pack of wolves left, Riku wondered,
"What to do next? I'll leave Okama and his pack to have some fun."
Riku decided to leave the training ground temporarily. As he disappeared, he contemplated the unfolding scenario. It was going to be a long day for his genins.
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The first six hours in Training Ground 51 were a relentless gauntlet for the team. The forested landscape had transformed into a battleground where the summoned pack of wolves orchestrated a relentless series of assaults.
Each of the three genins found themselves constantly on the move, defending their stones against the cunning predators.
'What are they? As far as I know, they shouldn't be animals in Konoha's training grounds, let alone Wolves!' Renjiro thought as he had three wolves hot on his tail.
'The only possible explanation is there might be from the Inuzuka Clan that Riku commissioned for their torture, or they might be Riku's summons. Knowing the Inuzuka clan, the latter is probably the case.'
Renjiro stopped and turned to face the wolves chasing them, he made the Tiger hand sign and performed the great fireball jutsu. Immediately he released the flaming ball, Renjiro followed it up with the rat sign and the air around the fireball began to burst amplifying the exploding aftermath.
'I need to distract them again.'
Renjiro made five clones from the clone jutsu. The clones all scattered in different directions.
This was what Renjiro had been doing the last couple of hours. When they first decided to split up, Renjiro diminished his chakra signature, hoping that Riku would not find him.
Unfortunately for him, the wolves who had started attacking found him with the help of their keen sense of smell. They immediately began attacking Renjiro.
Renjiro utilised his Sharingan to its fullest extent in a bid to form some sort of resistance against the attacks. His every step was calculated, and his eyes darted between the shadows, anticipating the next attack. His kunai and shuriken flew with precision, keeping the wolves at bay.
After some time, Renjiro realised that what he was doing was pointless as the wolves were able to form clones. He could not identify what type of clones they were since he had only been exposed to the normal clone jutsu.
Since fighting was futile, he opted to escape the chase. He would run then when he sensed them approaching, he would use a jutsu and clones to distract them.
It was taking a toll on his chakra reserves because they always found him, so he was always using chakra either through the jutsus or by reinforcing his physical capabilities.
'I wonder how many teams passed this torturous test.'
Elsewhere, Hiro and Aiko were facing the same fate. However, Hiro had the short end of the stick as Aiko used her genjutsu skills to escape the wolves' pursuit.
"I should have listened to Renjiro's plan," Hiro rued.
As the wolves relentlessly pressed their attacks, Hiro began to regret the decision to split up. His movements became defensive, trying to fend off the agile predators without leaving himself vulnerable.
After around eight hours of relentless battles with the summoned pack of wolves, Riku Senju, with a cunning smile, decided it was time to return to the training ground. The forested training ground, now marked by signs of the intense skirmishes, awaited the next phase of the challenge.
As Riku reappeared, he casually unsummoned Okami and his pack, dissolving the presence of the formidable wolves. The absence of the relentless attackers gave the genins a momentary sense of relief.
Riku stretched and then, with a hint of determination in his eyes, he declared, "Time to get serious."
Riku initiated the next phase of his assessment, he wanted to engage each member of the team individually. He made three shadow clones. The shadow clones transformed and took the appearance of the three genins.
'Let's see how good they are.'
=====
'Haaaa!' Renjiro heaved as he finally had a moment of respite as the wolves chasing him disappeared.
'It seems that Riku cancelled the summons. Although it's great for me, he must be planning something.'
Renjiro sat in the lotus position and activated his chakra field before he began his meditation. He had to regain as much chakra as he could before Riku put his plans into place.
After a while, Renjiro's instincts screamed at him and he twisted his body. Right as he did, a kunai grazed his arm. Looking at the direction it came from, lo and behold he saw himself.
"Who are you?"
"You conscious."
'It's definitely Riku.' Renjiro thought as he dodged more kunais heading his way.
After the kunais, the clone to the initiative and attacked Renjiro by launching a kick towards his abdomen. Renjiro evaded it and returned one to the clone.
'Hmm.... It's probably a shadow clone. It probably has more chakra than I do.'
With that, Renjiro activated his Sharingan and the fight ensued with an exchange of attacks.
'What's the point of all this!'
Soon enough, the exchange started becoming annoying for Renjiro. When he activated his Sharingan, he had expected a tough fight since Riku was a jounin. Instead, he got the most annoying thing.
The clone matched all his attacks. It was funny how he was the one with the Sharingan, but it was his movements being read. Even when he resorted to ninjutsu, the clone he was fighting replicated the same jutsus towards him.
'I knew pushing off learning the Sharingan Genjutsu would come to bite me in the ass. Although he is a Senju, at least that would be something that the clone wouldn't copy.'
The only silver lining to this was that His teammates were experiencing the same misfortune. Hiro was also annoyed at how his clone was copying both his taijutsu and bukijutsu skills while Aiko had the worst of it since the genjutsu she was experiencing was more potent than the one she used.
Riku wanted to test the various fields that the genins had prospered in. He also wanted to know how they would react to pressure which was an important metric for their performance on the field.
What annoyed Renjiro and the rest of Team 15, besides the fact that Riku was perfectly fighting them using their preconceived strengths, was that he was doing all this looking like them.
He had used the transformation jutsu to turn to whoever he was fighting against. It was basically like fighting yourself. Which was really frustrating, to the genins that is, Riku was enjoying getting on their nerves.
After what seemed like an eternity, Riku concluded his little 'data collection exercise'. With a satisfied nod, he resummoned Okami and his pack back, releasing Team 15 from the relentless one-on-one engagements to a more constant one.
The wolves, appearing once again on the battlefield, added an additional layer of complexity to the test's final phase.
Renjiro decided it was time to change the tide of the battle. Activating his chakra field, he quickly tracked down his teammates, who were scattered throughout the forested training ground.
After locating them, Renjiro conveyed his plan,
"This is getting us nowhere. We need to work together to fend off these wolves. We've been through enough, and it is getting dark."
After what they had been through the last fifteen hours, plus the fact that it was getting dark, Aiko and Hiro didn't have any other option as their chakra reserves were dwindling.
Without any solder pills or time to meditate, the situation was only bound to get worse.
The trio, now working as a cohesive unit, faced the wolves with synchronized movements and coordinated attacks. It was amazing what being at the end of your ropes could do to someone.
As the team, now working seamlessly together, faced the wolves in a united front, Riku Senju appeared with a satisfied smile. With a wave of his hand, Riku called off the summoned wolves, dispelling them into the training ground.
"You've done well, Team 15," Riku commended, his eyes reflecting pride in the young shinobi. "You've passed the test."
=====
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