Ch241- Team Kirigakure
At the crack of dawn three teams had gathered at the southern port, Team 3 included. Only one Jounin accompanied them and he stared down at all nine of his charges with a single eye that brooked no arguments to words he hadn’t even spoken yet.
“Team Kirigakure is how you shall be addressed, by myself and by the rest of the world that watches.” He passed his hard gaze round each of them. “Understand that you are not representing yourselves alone, your failure casts a shadow on all of us so ensure only to succeed.”
Just about every superior they’d come across echoed the same warnings, heaving the weight of the village’s outward image onto their shoulders and all because they dared to wish to be Chuunin.
“Team Kirigakure will remain a priority regardless of the exam goals, if you’re asked to fight amongst yourselves then you must choose the weakest of you to leave behind. If you’re asked to fight against others then you must sacrifice your own desires for glory and work together to destroy whatever stands against Team Kirigakure.” Ao continued. “Team 5 and Team 8, I hope you understand your roles here.”
Said teams straightened up at the direct attention, chorussing ““Understood yes, sir!””
Zabuza leaned around Utakata for a better view at his…he wasn’t quite sure what to call them and Utakata wouldn’t allow him to use the word ‘deadweight’ despite how fitting it was. He only recognized two out of the six and they had the same face.
Akari and Haruka Karatachi of Team 5 were well prepared for the long journey ahead, backpacks full with equipment and provisions— one for each as he’d overheard them chatting with their elder teammate. He only knew about them thanks to Rina; the twins had served as her subordinates and made significant contributions to the rescue of the Nettou clans, at least Utakata praised them for such.
Zabuza didn’t recognize their elder teammate and he doubted Utakata did either. The man was nearly as old as Ao-taicho himself yet only ranked Genin— a far more pathetic case of rank delay Zabuza had seen. He didn’t look incompetent and he didn’t look eager either, he wore little that signalled what sort of skills he’d have and the same went for the twins. Neither had scabbards and so Kenjutsu at least was ruled out.
Ao grunted, “Well, just in case you’ve forgotten or weren’t listening. Team 5 and 8 are the exam takers, your entire focus, attention and energy should be put towards deciphering the secrets of this exam before it all boils down to a brawl.” He spared a glance at Team 3 quietly waiting. “At the same time, you report to Team 3, they might not be your direct superiors but if you wish to survive long enough to see the final stage it will be in your best interest to obey whatever instructions they give in the moment. Now is that understood!”
““Understood yes, sir!”” the teams chorussed.
“And you, Team 3. Do not believe you are impervious to failure, I will be watching from start to finish. Your role as guardians over your fellows is not a simple or easy task. I expect each and everyone of you to put your best effort towards protecting and ensuring Kirigakure performs brilliantly during these exams. Is that understood!”
““Understood yes, sir!”” Zabuza and his teammates chorussed, Mangetsu’s voice noticeably weaker than his and Utakata’s.
Ao about turned and went on with his duties, walking off to arrange their transportation to the Hidden Sand Village with all three teams tagging not far behind. They took this opportunity to size themselves up, the dynamic had been set but that meant little to Genin who believed their rank was all they needed to stand up on equal footing.
Zabuza felt pinholing stares from the Genin in Team 8 as they trailed behind Ao, the port was hardly bustling this morning, few workers milled about their tasks hauling deliveries and crates of resources. Ao was locked in conversation with a pair, flashing a scroll stamped with the Mizukage’s seal loosened their groggy morning brains.
While they arranged their transport— a simple boat with less than five rooms including the ‘captains’ quarters— Zabuza returned the stare Team 8 had been giving him alongside a snarl, “What? Never seen a Demon before?”
He immediately felt Utakata’s hand slap on his shoulder as two of the three Genins gasped back. “Zabuza…you might want to take it easy on the newbies, this is their first time.”
Basically my first time too. The thought rose unbidden, souring his mood further. Zabuza swallowed the growl that wanted out, realizing Utakata was more right than he liked. He hadn’t bothered to look closely before, but Team 8 was painfully green.
Two of those backing away from Zabuza were barely equipped with anything. They had a backpack that looked too light and weapon holsters with little else but the basic necessities and even then Zabuza doubted their soft, unblemished fingers could wield such weapons with the accurate lethality they were worth.
The third stood out. He carried himself like a shinobi who had spilled blood. The calm sea breeze blew through an unmistakable orange Funato mop of hair. He’d seen some battle experience worth writing about, stood with his scarred arms folded, and a loathing scowl etched across his face. His eyes went well past Zabuza or Utakata, landing squarely on Mangetsu who carried himself like he wanted nothing to do with the mission.
Zabuza couldn’t blame him. Mangetsu was younger than the rest of them, barely scraping into the pre-teen years, and yet somehow this little twerp had been positioned as Team 8’s anchor. Add a fresh clan rivalry to that mess and it was obvious—Team 3 was going to have trouble keeping him in line.
A problem for my fists, Zabuza decided. Whatever pride made that Funato glare so openly would be beaten out of him soon enough.
“Hey!” one of Team 5—Akari—called out, stepping forward with her hand extended as her twin peeled away to speak with Utakata. “My name is—”
“Team Kirigakure!” Ao’s voice cracked across the dock.
He was already perched aboard the boat, its captain swaying beside him, tossing his head back as he drained an entire tin of alcohol in one go. The man hissed violently afterward, shuddering as Ao waved them over.
“It’s time to go,” Ao called. “Say goodbye to the village. For some of you, this may be the last time you see it.”
Zabuza snorted softly.
As genin, perhaps.