Train. Eat. Repeat. (A Naruto Fanfic)

Kobaru was aware that training was nothing to be upset about. When he chose his career path, that was the first rule he set for himself. As did a great deal of the experts who came before him.

If a request was difficult, you did it.

If a task was objectively nonsensical, you saw it through to completion.

If the adult responsible for your care bordered psychotic sadism and was in need of their own caretaker. Then you swallowed your tongue and hoped that he died before his training did you in.

Besides receiving instruction akin to a public flogging. Kobaru had also been robbed of his family.

His real body had not seen his humble home since he returned to the reserves and that was already four weeks ago. Instead he had delegated the responsibility to a clone. An unholy copy of himself that was instinctively left behind to bond on his behalf.

Although it was technically him and his parents appeared to treat the clone no different to his true self. He could not suppress the feeling that he was cheating them out of genuine companionship.

For such a soulless trade he placed most of his training into correctly dividing his chakra. An undertaking he had set for himself that he had not yet finished. There was progress made, but even after several hours of pouring himself into chakra manipulation, success was minimal.

Strangely, he appeared to master the Earth Release training exercise. It had taken him all of thirty hours before he was swirling his own mud whirlpools.

Once he figured it out he moved on to the next level of the Nohara Family scroll.

Next was the introductory and one of three Earth Release techniques that the family had documented.

Earth Release: Headhunter Technique

He had never heard of this technique before but was not planning to disappoint or embarrass himself.

The premise seemed simple enough.

One simply manipulated the mud that was directly in contact with them, softening it enough to effectively swim underground.

The user must be careful enough to not displace to much of the muds properties or it could result in the sudden formation of potholes. They needed to ensure that most of the earth went unmoved to maximize surprise.

Luckily the second week of the camp so the groups moved around to start another topic. The stars aligned to ensure that his group was charged with ninjutsu.

After several days of going over the scroll and ensuring that he had correctly followed the instructions noted. He performed the jutsu in front of his peers and thoroughly embarrassed himself.

With the main focus of the jeers being that he was yet to actually accomplish any of the tasks provided.

Thankfully the adherent lack of success proved a healthy distraction from Chusei's weird scenario.

He was informed by his clone that the surge of energy was potent enough to that both his parents felt it. If they did and knew as much about chakra as Kobaru knew about space travel. He found it safe to assume that should be deemed a village wide threat.

Kobaru had expected the animal mask people to make an appearance or at the very least a show of concern from Konoha's sensors.

Yet there was none.

Which, left him with a cocktail of shock and confusion.

Seeing Konoha completely disregard the incident could mean several things, but Kobaru settled on the theory that Nohara-sensei…

In all his grumpiness.

… was covering for them.

It wasn't far-fetch to assume that was the case.

Given that the trio were caught red-handed and Chusei claiming that he was transparent when questioned by the man. A cover-up could be the only realistic reason for why none of them were being interrogated.

He was once followed for a week because he tried and failed to execute a low level clone technique.

It was all unreasonable but he never complained even when he was being defiant. He wasn't going to start when the silence benefitted him more.

Once they completed a full rotation between the main branches of shinobi. The class was evaluated then shuffled once more.

With this group he started with taijutsu, thankfully Nagisa was of to a completely different group. So, at the very least he got to keep his pride.

After light sparing with the group Nohara-sensei gathered them in the shaded clearing once more. This time a clipboard in hand, which could only mean that administration was involved in today's meeting.

Kobaru suspected that the grueling training was a result of them losing numbers. Yet the method of education mixed with the appearance of an actual task sheet, proved there was something else at play.

Nohara-sensei took a cursory scan at the document before throwing glares at his genin.

Their eyes filled with an inappropriate amount of curiosity.

"Alright maggots," he yelled then let out a long nasal sigh, "you've all performed to your strengths the last four weeks and for that congratulations."

Kobaru automatically started clapping in response. He only made it to two before he forced to a stop by everyone's staring.

Nohara-sensei shook his head before muttering to himself.

"Some of you have been preassigned to a few outposts. Five of be at camp twenty seven, two at twelve and two at eight."

The young genin deflated slightly upon the realization that they were heading out to another C-ranked mission. Worst of all there was a higher chance that he would wind up back at Outpost twenty seven.

His train of thought was completely sidelined when his mind caught up with the mathematics of it all. There were fifteen genin left but only nine were assigned to outpost.

Hopefully he would get another escort mission.

Anything was better than sitting around on camp.

"The remaining six will be tasked with an even more important mission," he flipped to the next page and gave it a once over before dropping the clipboard to his side.

"Each of you have been deemed of higher skill by me and my assistants. So, we have nominated you to partake in Kumo's upcoming Chunin festival."

Kobaru being too focused on the words spoken that he did not register what was actually said. Of Nohara-sensei's tone alone he could not tell if what was given should be considered good ne-

His mind came to a halt.

All interpretations of the present sacrificed in fantastical visions of him moving up a rank. Thoughts of himself wearing Konoha's famous green flak jacket.

A crooked smile crept on to his face and he quickly glanced back at Nagisa. Her jaw was slightly hanging but her wide eyes betrayed what was usually an expressionless face. She was in complete contrast to Chusei, who was handing out high fives to anyone in range.

"Who told y'all maggots you could talk," Nohara-sensei said providing each genin a personalized glare, "in case you weren't listening it's room for six of you."

That seemed to bring an air of nervousness back to the group.

He paused to change his posture, "we've spent the last few weeks evaluating based on a several criteria. Not just your skills as shinobi and boy did we struggle to even get you six approved. So don't get it twisted you're all equally trash."

"So! Our pick for the ones we think have a reasonable chance of surviving in Kumo is Snow maggot, Yappy maggot, Carrot maggot, Beige Maggot, Smiley Maggot and Mouse Maggot. Everyone else you leave the village tomorrow at sunrise."

Kobaru froze in place.

For once he was unhappy with the omission of his rude moniker.

His heart and mind raced as he searched himself for answers.

There may have been a change in the way that Nohara-sensei addressed him. As if there were any reserve genin being nominated for an out of village chunin exam, what better candidate than himself.

He could work his way around their taijutsu and proved several times that he had a better understanding of chakra than they did. So there was no obvious reason as to why he would be left out.

Even ignoring himself, Nagisa was also left out of the shortlist.

"Excuse me?" she raised a hand to gain Nohara-sensei's attention.

The jonin quickly dismissed her request by averting his eyes.

"Don't wanna hear it."

She allowed a defeated slump but complied.

Nagisa was, from his opinion, miles ahead of the other genin. So unless there was some unspoken guidelines for Chunin nomination then she should be included with Chusei.

To make matters even worse, the orange haired boy would be in another country without any of his cell members.

"Being genin is all about knowing," Nohara-sensei piped up after allowing disconnected chatter, "knowing the basics in the main branches of shinobi. Knowing how to find clean water. Knowing how to set up camp in unknown territory."

"Chunin is about employing as many of the basics as possible and your ability to work with others. So far, these candidates are the only ones well rounded enough to work with others. That is all."

The silence hung as they each made idle glances at each other. The only ones smiling were the ones selected.

"Many of you are technically aware and maybe even gifted. In some areas more than others, but at chunin this is not a valuable trait. A chunin has faith not only in themselves but also in others. They no when to fight and when to retreat. They are selfless but not stupid."

Kobaru heard little of Nohara-sensei's explanation as he was already trying to mound what was left of his self-esteem. He promised himself before that inferiority was a problem that resided in the past. Yet here it was again making an unwanted appearance.

He was once beaten bloody by an Uchiha child, then immobilized by another half his size. He was made fun of and subconsciously ostracized himself as he chased after those ahead.

How was he not good enough?