บท 29: Chapter 29
Even though Tsunade had informed Hiruzen about Kazuki's poison immunity, Hiruzen wanted to make sure that there would be no complications later on. Therefore, he had asked Tsunade to oversee and perform a few tests to ensure that the Rinkaichu would not be an issue for the new team.
"Come now, Gai-sensei, can you stop calling me that? I really am not directly related to Kakashi-senpai," Kazuki politely greeted Torune, who was standing in a corner. He knew that Gai had decided on his nickname, so there was no changing it for now. As a few more people walked into the training ground, Itachi, accompanied by Tsunade and Kakashi, were the new arrivals.
Gai warmly greeted Tsunade and started teasing Kakashi, suggesting he was there because he was worried about his brother. Both Kazuki and Kakashi couldn't help but roll their eyes at him.
"Kid, come here; let's carry on with the tests. Don't worry about harming little Kazuki; he can handle himself. And you should know about me, right? So go on." Tsunade subtly encouraged Torune in her own way. Gai and Itachi were curiously watching to see if Kazuki was truly immune to the Rinkaichu poison.
Torune removed his glove and extended his arm with hesitation. However, Kazuki simply shook his hand without any hesitation whatsoever. Torune instinctively wanted to retract his arm, but he couldn't, as he felt that his hand was gripped by a vice-like grip.
Tsunade and the rest keenly observed the process that unfolded. There was no visible reaction or discomfort on Kazuki's end. As seconds passed, Torune calmed down, as the Rinkaichu were literally trying to avoid Kazuki's arm like a plague.
"So that's how it is. Your Kekkei Genkai literally corrodes and devours any Rinkaichu that tries to poison you. No wonder you are immune to most poisons; the poisons are simply being corroded and devoured by your blood. Kazuki, can you consciously control this?" Tsunade, with her medical expertise, quickly noted the reason for Kazuki's immunity and questioned him curiously for additional details.
"Yes, Master, I can consciously control it. Even if someone in my team is poisoned, I can use my Kekkei Genkai to corrode and devour the affected part. With Iryo Ninjutsu, I can simultaneously heal them, so the others in the team don't have to worry about the Rinkaichu," Kazuki shared his confidence in handling Torune's special trait. With practical proof of his claim, Torune was relieved, and he believed that he could also have a team that would not be harmed by him. Just as he was thinking about Kazuki's claim about treating others who were affected by Rinkaichu, Gai stepped up, extending his arm.
"Alright, little one, let's see your claim in action. Give it a shot at me!" he encouraged, showcasing his trust in Kazuki's abilities. Kazuki looked at Gai with a slight smirk, understanding that Gai was testing his skills to the limit so as to put Torune's worries to rest. After a brief hesitation, Torune paced his finger on Gai's arm, and the moment their skin came into contact, the Rinkaichu started spreading on Gai's arm.
As Torune retrieved his finger, Kazuki stepped up and placed his hand on Gai's arm, and with a controlled release of his Kekkei Genkai, he targeted the specific area where Torune's rinkaichu had been introduced. In a matter of moments, the corrosive and devouring effect of Kazuki's blood neutralised the rinkaichu without causing any harm to Gai.
Gai, though unaffected, couldn't help but feel a bit impressed. "Not bad, Chibi Kakashi! You really have a unique set of skills there. This team is shaping up to be quite interesting."
Tsunade nodded approvingly, satisfied with the results. "Well done, Kazuki. It seems your abilities will indeed be an asset to the team. Now, let's proceed with the rest of the introductions."
As the testing continued, Tsunade explained the roles of each team member. Gai, being the Jonin leader, was responsible for the overall guidance and strategy. Itachi, as the team's prodigy, was designated the role of tactical support, utilising his exceptional intellect and Sharingan abilities. Torune, with his unique Aburame techniques, would play a crucial role in information gathering and tracking.
Kazuki, with his intellect and versatile skill set, was positioned as the team's frontline fighter and medical support. Tsunade stressed the importance of teamwork and cooperation, emphasising that each member's strengths would contribute to the success of the team.
The meeting continued with Gai sharing his enthusiasm for intense training sessions to build camaraderie and enhance teamwork. Despite the initial teasing and Gai's eccentric personality, the atmosphere was lively, and the newly formed team began to take shape.
After the tests, Tsunade and Kakashi left to let the team bond. As the others departed, Gai turned to the three kids with a broad smile, and Kazuki couldn't help but have a bad premonition, having already come prepared. Gai began talking about their special squad, and as per the Hokage's instructions, the special squad would only deal with missions of B rank and above. Initially, Gai had hesitated about subjecting kids to such a harsh life immediately, as the youngest in the team was barely six years old. However, after the Hokage shared information about the little one's true prowess, Gai had to agree that subjecting them to low-level tasks at such a crucial time, where war was looming, would be a waste.
"Kids, I know we just got together today, but the village is stretched thin with the Leaf Shinobi being deployed to the Iwa and Kumo borders. Hokage-sama has personally assured me of your levels, and I believe him. We have been assigned to a mission. Don't worry, little ones; it's okay to make mistakes. Don't worry; I am here. I will fix things if something goes wrong," Gai enthusiastically shared his thoughts with the new team.
"Well, now that we are a team, as your Sensei, I need to take care of you guys. So, as my first contribution to making you cherish your youth, we need to get you comfortable training clothes. So here you go."
Gai pulled out three brand new green spandex suits in front of his team with an eager glint in his eyes.
"Gai Sensei, not that I dislike your training clothes, but my current outfit is much more comfortable, and it's much easier to train in," Kazuki pointed out. Gai unconsciously nodded, acknowledging Kazuki's preference, and then turned to the other two members eagerly. Torune understood his new sensei's enthusiasm and quickly followed in his teammates footsteps.
"Gai Sensei, my clothes are custom-made to help with the Rinkaichu, so I think I should stick to my current outfit," Torune explained. Gai realised that what Torune said was reasonable and eagerly turned to his last student.
Itachi had a dumbfounded look, and both his teammates stood aside as if they had no relation to this matter whatsoever.
After the short drama, Gai was not able to convince Itachi, and he had to finally let go of making his students wear the green spandex. Gai then informed the team that they would meet at the village training grounds every day in the early morning hours and asked the team to make the necessary preparations for the upcoming training sessions.
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Fire Country border.
In the midst of a heavy downpour, enveloped by the darkness of the night, a trio of Shinobi took refuge in a cave near the border of the Fire Country. Eagerly anticipating the return of their comrade, Torune reported to their sensei, "He is back, Sensei. He should be here in a minute or so." Torune had strategically deployed numerous bugs to scout the surroundings, ensuring they would be alerted to any potential threats.
Shortly after, Kazuki stealthily entered the cave, skillfully avoiding the traps set up as a precaution. He shed the rain-soaked cloak and, in response to Itachi's inquiry, shared the gathered information. With the Uchiha clan now reintegrating, Itachi carried a lighter burden in this life, devoid of the mystical and emo persona from his previous existence. Even their leader, Gai, awaited Kazuki's report. Originally assigned to eliminate a group of bandits hindering resource transport during wartime, the team, upon initial surveillance, discovered peculiarities that raised concerns shared by Kazuki and Itachi. Trusting their instincts, Gai decided to investigate further rather than launch an outright attack on the bandit camp.
Kazuki confirmed their suspicions, revealing, "Yes, we were right. The bandit camp is merely a decoy; the true base is the nearby town. It's not a haven for ordinary bandits; rather, it appears to be a covert outpost of Kumo. The entire town is under their control, monitoring all individuals entering and exiting. I'm afraid they have hostages, Sensei." Despite having an Aburame on the team, Kazuki's unique Kekkei Genkai made him more suitable for stealth operations, allowing him to approach the enemy base unnoticed. The cover of night further facilitated Kazuki's infiltration.
Gai pondered the information received and swiftly questioned Kazuki, "How many Shinobi are we dealing with, and any insights into their levels, Kazuki? We've been keeping an eye on the bandit camp, and from our observations, there are approximately ten Shinobi led by a Jonin, with the rest comprising Chunin and Genin."
Itachi shared the intelligence gathered during Kazuki's absence, adding, "They also have hostages in the bandit camp. It seems Kumo has taken extensive precautions."
Itachi's mind was already formulating mission strategies.
"Based on their chakra fluctuations, the exact number is sixty-three, including two elite Jonin, eleven regular Jonin, and the rest being Chunin and Genin. So, what are your orders, Sensei?" Kazuki, standing by, reiterated his previous response to Gai's initial question.
Gai, still in thought, considered the implications of the new information. Their original mission, initially classified as a B-class extermination of bandits, now took on a different magnitude with the involvement of Kumo Shinobi and the outpost. It seemed the mission had escalated to at least an A-class challenge.
Although Gai led a trio of formidable Shinobi, he understood the need for caution in the face of a challenging situation. "We will not be launching a head-on strike at the moment. As much as I love it, the situation is not favourable. We might have to fall back or call in reinforcements." Gai, known for his love of direct confrontation, wasn't one to underestimate the gravity of facing close to six dozen Shinobi with just four.
Itachi, displaying foresight, proposed an alternative. "Sensei, we don't necessarily have to fall back. Before starting the mission, I checked the map for nearby Leaf Strongholds. We have a leaf outpost about eighty miles from this location; we should be able to gather at least a dozen or more Shinobi as reinforcements." Gai swiftly formulated a plan, retrieved a scroll to relay the message, and then turned to Torune.
"Torune, have your insects deliver this scroll to the outpost immediately. In the meantime, we can't stand idly by until reinforcements arrive. We need to ensure the completion of our primary mission." Gai handed the scroll to Torune, who summoned a few insects that quickly enveloped the scroll and flew away. While Torune was renowned for his Rinkaichu, being an Aburame meant he could command various other insects.
Kazuki chimed in, suggesting a strategy to weaken the enemy while awaiting reinforcements. "Why don't we soften our targets, Sensei? Our primary objective is to rescue the hostages. However, we need to be cautious, as I've noticed a couple of Kumo Shinobi disguised as hostages. I have a few seal tags from my family; they might come in handy, Sensei." As Kazuki began unpacking various items from his pouch, the others, understanding his intent, retrieved their items.
The multitude of items Kazuki revealed caused the eyes of the three Leaf ninjas to twitch involuntarily. Even Itachi and Torune, known for their calm demeanours, couldn't help but react. "These should be enough for now, Sensei. Let me explain the workings of these specialised tags." Kazuki distributed the items among the team, including the highly coveted medical scrolls and medicines of the Nara clan. In dangerous and unexpected missions, such life-saving means were crucial.
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