章 186: 185-Fresh Meat
Renjiro made his way through the corridors of the Konoha Military Force base. Upon reaching the room he was in when the ANBU appeared, Renjiro was greeted by another shinobi waiting for him.
"Uzumaki Renjiro?" the shinobi asked, his voice carrying the weight of formality.
"Yes, that's me," Renjiro responded.
The shinobi nodded in acknowledgement. "Iwata-san left word for you. Since you were unavailable, the meeting room for your squad has been randomly chosen, as well as your new squad members."
Renjiro raised an eyebrow in surprise. "I see. And here I was, looking forward to personally choosing them," he said, a hint of disappointment in his voice. However, he quickly shrugged it off.
'It's not like me choosing them personally would have changed something. Fujioka did not get to choose me and look at how that turned out.' Renjiro thought.
The shinobi continued, "You will have five squad members instead of the usual four."
Renjiro tilted his head slightly, puzzled. "Five? Why the change? I thought I was to get four members."
He paused, thinking. 'But five is not a big number. It was the same number Fujioka had when I joined his squad.'
The shinobi nodded. "The decision was made to balance out the skill sets within the team."
'Or maybe they just wanted to give me more work.' Renjiro couldn't help but think. While indeed five was not a huge number, Renjiro had to guide these five shinobi in the new ways of the force. He was also going to be responsible for them, some that Renjiro did not particularly enjoy but had to do.
Renjiro sighed, accepting the situation. "Understood. Which room has been allocated as our meeting point?"
The shinobi's eyes softened as if he understood the significance of what he was about to say. "Room B12."
A smile crept onto Renjiro's face. 'B12,' he thought, the memories flooding back.
It was the same room he had used when he was under Fujioka. The room had witnessed countless strategies being formed, plans being discussed, and bonds being forged. It felt almost poetic to be returning there, now as a squad leader himself.
'At least they got one thing right.' he thought.
"Thank you," Renjiro said, nodding once more. "Are the members already there?"
The shinobi nodded. "Yes, they are waiting for you. Iwata-san made sure everything was in order."
Renjiro gave a final nod of appreciation and made his way toward the designated room. As he walked, he couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and apprehension.
Leading a squad was a significant responsibility, and the fact that he hadn't personally chosen his members added an element of unpredictability. Still, he trusted in the process and in the abilities of his new team.
Five shinobi sat in a room, their expressions ranging from curious to anxious. The room was spacious and well-lit, with a large wooden table at its centre, surrounded by six chairs.
Two of the five shinobi, a young girl and a teenage boy, had been engaged in a quiet conversation.
"I wonder who our squad leader is going to be," the kunoichi mused, her voice carrying a hint of excitement. "I hope they're someone experienced."
The boy shrugged, a smirk playing on his lips. "As long as they're not a hardass, I'm fine with whoever. Though, I've heard some rumours about a certain Uzumaki who's been making waves lately."
The young girl raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Uzumaki? As in... the clan with all the sealing jutsus the one that was attacked a couple of years ago?"
As Renjiro approached Room B12, he could hear faint murmurs from inside. He paused for a moment outside the door, taking a deep breath to steady himself. With a firm push, he slid the door open and stepped inside.
Before the conversation between the two could continue, Renjiro stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. The room fell silent as the five shinobi turned their full attention to him.
As Renjiro stood before his new squad members, he took a moment to observe them carefully, noting their postures, expressions, and the subtle cues that revealed their personalities.
He couldn't help but think to himself, 'Ah, fresh meat.'
"Good afternoon, everyone," he began, his voice steady and confident, setting the tone for the encounter. "I'm Uzumaki Renjiro, and I will be your new squad leader."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a hand shot up. It belonged to Uchiha Kudo, a burly and athletic young boy with spiky black hair that fell in a wave pattern over his forehead protector. His sharp, intelligent eyes, paired with his pale complexion and dark attire, gave him an imposing presence.
"Are you perhaps related to the Uzumaki clan?" he asked, curiosity evident in his voice.
Before Renjiro could respond, another voice cut in. It was Akira, a young, athletic kunoichi with brown hair and piercing black eyes that seemed to scrutinize Renjiro with every glance.
Her sleek, customized black jumpsuit, adorned with red accents, highlighted her swift and silent movements. A blue headband with the Leaf Village symbol proudly wrapped around her forehead.
"Can't you tell from his hair?" she interjected.
Renjiro chuckled softly and nodded, acknowledging the observation. It wasn't uncommon for him to encounter such reactions. With his striking red hair and the distinctive Sharingan of the Uchiha, he often found himself caught between two worlds.
Outsiders frequently assumed he was an Uchiha, while the Uchiha themselves identified him with the Uzumaki.
'Is this the duality of man?' Renjiro mused internally. Despite these mixed perceptions, Renjiro never felt the need to clarify his heritage, it was pointless to argue against what people chose to see.
"Alright," Renjiro continued, bringing the conversation back on track. "I'd like each of you to introduce yourselves and tell me your specialities."
Kudo was the first to speak. "I'm Uchiha Kudo," he announced, standing with a confident posture. "My speciality is Ninjutsu, particularly Water and Wind Nature jutsus."
Renjiro nodded, impressed.
Next, Uchiha Tora stepped forward. He was a lean, athletic boy with black eyes that mirrored the night sky and a sharp jawline. His raven hair was cropped short, and he wore a black jumpsuit under a green flak jacket.
"I'm Tora. My speciality is Taijutsu and swordsmanship," he stated, his voice calm but with an underlying intensity.
'Huh, I'd like to see how experienced he is with them,' Renjiro thought, intrigued by Tora's mention of swords.
The next to speak was Uchiha Miki. She was petite yet fiery. Her raven hair was tied back in a sleek ponytail that swayed with her movements. She wore the traditional black and navy blue garb of the Uchiha clan, adorned with the clan's emblem on her back. Her forehead protector was worn proudly on her head.
"I'm Miki," she said with a firm voice. "My speciality is also Ninjutsu."
Uchiha Akira followed, "I'm Akira. My specialities are Ninjutsu and Taijutsu," she declared. Her confidence was palpable, matching her poised appearance.
Finally, Uchiha Shoda introduced himself. He was a lean boy with sharp, angular features and jet-black hair. His piercing black eyes seemed to reflect a fiery spirit within. He wore the standard Uchiha black outfit with blue accents, and his forearms were wrapped in bandages.
"I'm Shoda and my speciality is Taijutsu," he said simply, his tone steady and serious.
As Renjiro listened to each introduction, he couldn't help but note the age difference between himself and his new squad members.
'They're all older than me,' he thought, recalling the files he had read on his way to the room.
The oldest among them were Shoda and Akira, both fourteen. Miki and Tora were thirteen, while Kudo was twelve, just a few months older than Renjiro himself.
For most of his life after the Academy, Renjiro had been surrounded either by his age mates or by far older shinobi who respected him for his skills. Now, he found himself in a unique dynamic. As the youngest yet the leader, he knew he had to solidify his position quickly.
"It seems that we are all experienced," Renjiro began, his tone neutral but with a hint of challenge. "Why don't we move this to the training ground to demonstrate our skills?" He proposed, earning curious looks from the group.
The six of them made their way to the training ground, a wide-open space surrounded by tall trees. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the area, adding a dramatic flair to the setting.
As they arrived, Renjiro turned to face his squad, a smirk playing on his lips. "Come at me, all of you!" he declared.
=====
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