The Odd Ninja

The trip so far was uneventful, no ambushes, no traps, nothing. We were a few hours ahead of the rest of the Shinobi and supplies. Given we had free movement the job consisted a lot of waiting for the rest to catch up then we moved ahead again checking for traps and such. 

We arrived at the Sana front later that day. 

Jesus this place is bleak, Orochimaru's front was in much better conditions than this. 

The command was stationed quite close to the border, you could see the dunes of the land of wind.

The ambient chakra here was depressing.

Emotions are hard to make out from chakra alone, sure I can tell someone's general mood but nothing specific. Like Guy, he's a difficult person to read from chakra alone while someone like Kakashi whose chakra is typically calm is easy to tell when he's upset. I've also noticed mood can affect how fast one's chakra cycles throughout their body. 

Taking a seat in a tree I took out the Second Hokage's journal and continued to read. I've had to do a lot of research just to understand some of the stuff in here. There was a lot of stuff on barriers like I wanted but there was also a lot more, with the most intriguing being the space time notes, ideas, failures, all of them were fascinating.

There wasn't much I could do but read really, well there was one thing I could do. 

Putting the book to the side I pressed my palm against the tree. Black lines began to form as I slowly created a seal over the course of an hour. It was difficult, one mistake and I'd have to restart. By time I was done, what little sun was left was gone. 

Grabbing a branch I created a little torch before blowing a little fire release to light it. I may not have much elemental Ninjutsu but being able to create fire on demand was useful. Once the touch was good to go and I could see my seal I noticed something to my right. 

"How long have you been there?" I asked 

"About twenty minutes," Minato said, "what's this seal do?"

"Oh, it's my explosive seal."

"A bit complicated for just an explosive seal don't you think?"

"Yeah that's because of some safety features I built into it, but as a result making one takes quite some time, it used to take me hours just to make one."

"What other kind of seals do you have?"

"I only have a few, you've seen the poison absorbing one, I made a mask that filters out poison but it's a one time use thing before i gotta replace the seal. This bomb one and my first seal that makes cups roll on flat surfaces. And… that about it I believe. I am developing a barrier as you know plus I have a few ideas I've been tinkering around with."

As much as I'd like some help with the fragmentation bombs I've been trying to make im not willing to ask for help those are mine alone. 

"Minato, do you plan on taking any more students?"

"I… don't know, I'm not against the idea, I just don't see that working out right now. Kakashi and you are probably the only Genin who could keep up and handle the amount of moving around I have to do. Up until recently I was all over the place moving from battle to battle with Kakashi nearly non-stop in the beginning of the war. Why do you ask?"

"It's just that I worry about Kakashi, mentally more specifically. You may be with him the whole time but he looks up to you and doesn't want you to see him as weak. If he had some peers, someone to share his burden and trauma with I'd feel alot better. Kakashi is never going to say no to you or ask you to slow down Minato. He'll push himself until he collapses, so if you can't take on any more students can you at least slow down every now and then? Have a talk with Kakashi. Reassure him, remind him about the lives he's saving, don't praise him for the lives he's taken. Can you do that for me?"

Minato took a bit to respond, "Yeah I can."

"Thanks,"

"But what about you?"

"What about me?"

"You're in the same situation as Kakashi, a young genius without any teammates, so what about you?"

"You know no one called me a genius until I graduated. Up until then I was just an impressive Academy student, I wasn't labeled a genius because of my accomplishments, I was labeled a genius because my sensei is Orochimaru," I said, completely avoiding Minato's original question.

"Orochimaru is not that good of a Sensei, he often disappears for weeks at a time just to reappear for a day or two then he's gone again. But my status has risen quite high through association alone plus he has quite the library so it's still well worth it."

All sorts of goodies in there.

"Orochimaru is a busy guy, he despises being a Commander and was delighted when he was relieved of the position and could go back to the village. I sought you out for missions because I did not see him taking me on some anytime soon. If Orochimaru can help it he will stay within the village walls in his laboratory training me as his lab assistant. My death would look bad on Orochimaru and he cares alot about his image, so I'll be fine. I also believe Kakashi will be fine under your care but while he may be fine physically it's mentally that I'm worrying about, he lost his father not too long ago and if it wasn't for me he'd be out here fighting and killing it that state of mind."

Minato looked quite conflicted with himself as if he was finally being forced to acknowledge something he's always known but chose to ignore.

"Tell me Minato are you equipped to deal with a five year old who is still grieving their father or were you just going to let him work through it himself while dragging him through warzone after warzone?"

"I…," I did let Minato find his response, cutting him off.

"You'd think the village would take good care of Kakashi given how important of an asset he is but no apparently everyone was going to let a five year old back into the war after a little time off and expect him to endure so you can take some comfort in knowing you aren't alone in the blame. Of course you could also look at it as it is and see how fucked it is that the village really was just going to let Kakashi back into the war in hopes he'd just magically come out the other end fine." I say chuckling.

Minato didn't respond.

"Nothing to say? Come on Minato, surely you're not so full of propaganda that you can't see the cracks, you're no child, you don't have an excuse."

Minato didn't respond.

"Oh well not that it matters all I care is that you look after Kakashi," I say before hopping off the tree. 

…

The next day we were ready to return with the Shinobi going back to the village, which mostly consisted of the injured and those lucky enough to be part of the guard detail. Which did include us but while we were going to remain closer and only have one team ahead making sure the route was clear. 

I wasn't a part of that team but Minato was, my duty was to put my sensor capabilities to work and keep a metaphorical eye on our primiditer.

Other than to inform me of my responsibilities Minato didn't speak to me or really look me in the eye.

Taking a seat on top of one of the wagons I had already familiarized myself with the chakra of my team who should be the only ones near the edges of my senses. Any new signatures were to be assumed hostile. 

The first day was the most dangerous, we were not that far from the frontlines and were a prime target. The majority of Shinobi present were not battle ready, just the guard detail which wasn't as big as the ones I've seen before. 

With my responsibilities covered I let my mind wonder. 

Alright now's as good a time as any, let's see if I can sense Nature Energy, I've been trying to no success which is quite annoying given I did it accidentally. At least I think I did? I kinda ignored what happened in my head. I want to just say it's a coincidence that the had I grabbed the old man's hand with was what turned to stone but I feel like there more going on the- 

Oh shit.

Grabbing the flare right next to me I slam it down onto the roof of the wagon sending a flare high up into the sky singling the rest of my team and hopefully Minato's team.

The rest of the Shinobi immediately noticed it and already knew what it meant. 

"Behind us! Twenty, no twenty-seven foreign chakra signatures, the majority are Chunin level with five Jonin," I yell out informing the guard detail and . the rest of my team who made their way back to us. 

"You!" I yell pointing at a chunin, "go ahead and find Minato and inform him of what's going on!" 

The Chunin looks to one of the Jonin who yells, "Well what are ya waiting for, go!"

The wagons began to speed up as my team moved to intercept with some support from the guard detail. 

This isn't good. We only have fourteen Shinobi present with three of them being Jonin.

"Were outnumbered we need to stall for time," said a one of the Jonin 

They weren't far now.

Pulling my Wakizashi from its sheath I follow closely behind one of the Jonin. 

The first sign of battle was a volley senbon embedding into a fellow leaf Shinobi. 

"Puppet user!" The Jonin shouted as he sent a large wave of fire in return. 

A wooden doll looking thing the size of man that honestly looks kinda like one of those wooden model figures except in place of its hand was some kind of contraption shooting senbon at an alarming rate.

Ducking behind a tree some sebon flew by where I just was.

Setting a C4 seal on the tree I jumped back. 

The Puppet continued to fire getting closer and closer. 

The Shinobi controlling it wasn't too far behind the puppet.

Taking a moment to sense the battle I noticed how spread out everyone was. We were quite Close not too long ago. Did they try to bypass us and had to be intercepted?

I only had the Jonin nearby and he was busy dealing with a Jonin and some chunin.

He's going to die. Then I'll be next unless I can take out this Puppet user and find a way to assist him.

Creating a clone I send it running to the left before setting off the C4 seal. 

With the two distractions I drop to the forest floor and move as quickly as I can without being seen or sensed. 

The Puppet user moved up following my clone. 

Climbing up the tree I suppressed my presence as best as I could and moved slowly but I was about to run out of time as the Puppet closed in on my clone. Once they sees it's not real, catching them off guard will be difficult.

Just as the Puppet plunged a blade right threw my clone I did the same to the Puppet user driving my sword threw her heart before pulling it out. She and her Puppet fell to the forest floor but not before I took her ninja tool pouch. 

Opening it it was full of bunches of sebon probably to refill the Puppet and poison for coating the senbon. Attaching the pouch next to my own pouch I carefully coated my blade before closing the vile and putting it in my new pouch. 

Moving towards the closes battle which was the Jonin form earlier fighting a suna Jonin and two chunin. I was up in a tree above them as he had dropped to the first floor. He was on the defensive but it was clear he was going to lose having to continually deal with the two chunin harassing him with kunai and wind release.

Tipping off the tree I let myself fall right on top of one of the Chunin stabbing him right through the neck. I tried to kill the other but was blown back with wind release sending me flying into a tree quite painfully. 

Rolling to the side I narrowly dodged a wind blade that sliced right through the tree. 

Getting back on my feet I surged forward, dropping my sword as I let loose a constant stream of fire from my mouth. They tried to dodge but I could sense exactly where they were. Pushing more chakra into the jutsus the amount of fire increased completely obscuring my figure. Cutting off the jutsu I surged forward full speed not bothering to hide my presence. Jumping threw my own fire. I tackled him trying to stab him in the neck. He managed to block my right hand but didn't block the left as I dug the Kunai into the side of his neck. 

Breathing heavily, I suddenly felt some pain in my side. Looking down he had stabbed me as well.

"Well shit I hope that's not poisoned."

Keeping the Kunai in stand up and flop back against a tree.

"Ow." 

Pulling off my bag I take out my medical supplies. I don't think it was poisoned, I probably would have noticed by now as I don't can't think of a reason not to use fast acting poison if you're trying to kill your opponent.

With everything ready I pull out the Kunai before bandaging the wound. 

"That should do."

The sound of someone landing nearby catches my attention.

"God dammit," I say looking at Suna Jonin. 

"Your one impressive kid," he says looking down at the body of his comrade.

"So I've been told, don't suppose you'll let me live?" I ask.

"Nope,"he responds, pulling out a kunai. 

"That's unfortunate," I say, letting out a sigh.

Well this sucks.

I watched as the Kunai sailed through the air. Moments from hitting me a hand appeared and caught the kunai. 

Minato gad caught the Kunai before throwing a kunai of his own of which the Suna Shinobi dodged. Minato disappeared right before our eyes, immediately reappearing behind the suna Shinobi grabbing his kunai and killing him.

"Sozo! Are you ok!"

"I'm fine now, bleeding isn't serious, go!" I say.

Minato nods before vanishing. 

I let out another sign.

"I'm too young for this shit," I say chuckling. 

"I just killed three people. That's… something."

Standing up I walked over to my sword picking it up.

Is someone gonna put out this fire after all this is over? 

A little bit further I found the Jonin who was with me dead. 

Reaching into my pack I pull out a body scroll sealing him into it. Taking a seat against a tree I wait.

Eventually Minato comes back and brings me back to the wagons where I Join the injured. 

Of the fourteen Shinobi only three including myself survived. 

The rest of the trip was uneventful. 

Arriving in the village I join the injured in the hospital. Thankfully the kunai didn't penetrate to deep and I was treated rather quickly. Unfortunately I wasn't allowed to go home so I had to stay overnight. 

It wasn't too bad. I still had all my stuff so I just read the Second Hokage's journal.