26 Wood And Leaves

I stared at the two men in front of my team.

One whose expression screams tiredness and boredom, and the other whose brow cocked up into a questioning gaze at our unimpressed looks.

Shikaku-sensei just broke to us when we gathered for our training session that we'd have a co-sensei.

And then Kakashi appeared with a flourish.

Me, Naori, and Ko shared a look.

Sighing in resignation, we turned back to them. """Hai, Sensei."""

"Now," Shikaku-sensei pushed himself up from the tree. "Since we have got the basic structure of our training down, next of course, is jutsus. And for that," he swished out a stack of papers. "We will need to find out your chakra natures. I know that Naori-chan is inclined to fire, and that Kanako-chan is to water and earth, but we'll see if that's the only one's you have." He stated as he hand us all - including Kakashi, a paper each.

"All you need is to run your chakra through them and -" Skikaku-sensei did his as an example for us. "It will show what chakra nature you possess."

As he finished, his piece of paper turned black, caught on fire, and burn into ash as it fall apart and onto the grass.

"As you can see, I have Yin release - as common as any Nara, and fire." He looked towards Kakashi.

Kakashi then showed us his own paper, which crinkled up towards the middle. "I have lightning nature, but that doesn't mean you can't train another nature. Which I'm sure all of you know already, being clan. After all, to be jonin, you have to master at least two natures. This paper just shows you the nature that you have an affinity for."

He then shooed us to proceed with our papers.

Naori started hers first, which of course caught on fire. But not before it turned black.

We all stared at her paper and looked towards Shikaku.

Shikaku-sensei himself looked surprised. As much as a Nara could look surprised. "Huh, since you're a Uchiha, I think Yin release for you meant an affinity and aptitude for genjitsu, and not shadow release."

Ko lifted his paper next, and ran his chakra through it. I stared intently, as it is not everyday you see a Hyuga training or using a jutsu that's not clan based.

Ko's paper became soaked and flopped over.

Water, huh.

Both adults nodded, probably in expectance, since they would obviously know more Hyuga's.

Then all eyes fall on me.

I was about to commence with my paper till a thought ran through my brain.

Oh shit.

I looked up to both Shikaku-sensei and Kakashi with a startled look in my eyes. "Uh ... Is ... Is it allowed? I mean - you know. THAT."

Blink blink. Nudge nudge.

It took seconds for Shikaku-sensei to know what I mean. And Kakashi took a few more to get to the same page.

"Yeah, about that," Shikaku-sensei clarified. "Since you're now genin, you could start openly using and training in that. Hokage-sama cleared it. Your mother as well." He then noticed me nudging my head towards my team. "Naori-chan, Ko-kun." They both straightened up and stood at attention. "What you see and hear next is confidential, and Senju clan related. I'm sure you know the implications. Until further notice, do not expose to anyone what will be revealed to you."

He then looked back at me and nodded.

Spying two of my new friends staring at me questioningly, I wondered if it really was okay.

Not that I don't want to tell them, nor do I not trust them. But, you know. Habits.

And not to say it's a dying bloodline inheritance.

Pulsing chakra to the paper I held, four pair of eyes focused on it.

The white paper turned into an ombre of from a glowing white to a black as dark as the void.

The black part then started crumbling apart, and the white started dripping water.

The remnants that fell off onto the ground and a sproutling popped up with fresh grass around it.

Teheh.

...

Silence ensued.

Faintly, I heard Kakashi murmur that he'd tell the others to keep chakra papers away from me from now on.

•

"Tadaima~!"

I took off my shoes and walked to the kitchen where a tantalizing smell wafted from.

Hmm. Oden? Or Udon?

"Kaa-chan, what's for dinner?"

In the kitchen is Kaa-chan stirring a pot, and without looking back, answered,"Udon, and ginger-beef stir-fry. Go and clean up before dinner, I can smell mud."

"Hai~!"

After making a quick shower and change, I settled down at the table across from Kaa-chan.

Mmmmm~ Delish!

"Oh yeah", I started after I swallowed a mouthful of beef. "Today we got to find out our chakra natures."

"Hm, it's that time now huh?"

"Nn. It's earth and water, and surprisingly both ying and yang too."

*cough* *cough*

Kaa-chan sighed, and placed her chopsticks on the table. "I guess that's why ...", she whispered out while leaning her chin on her palm. "I'll pass you Ojii-san's notes later on, then you can start training. Officially."

"So it was unofficially before ...?", the glare that was sent my way made me change tactics. "Why only now though? I could have started training in Mokuton back when I was still academy age."

"Firstly, I wanted you to learn Iryo Ninjutsu first, not only because that is what I can teach you the best and that it was one of the things that is most useful, but also to train you in chakra control. Secondly, if I had taught you before, you'd probably use it - unintentionally or not, while running around outside of Konaha," I gulped at that. "Also, I'll leave ninja education with your sensei's. I'll just take on the position of beating medical teachings into you."

...

Right.