17: Team 7

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~Konoha, Year 33~

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Ryoichi returned to Konoha after meeting Mirai again and reported back his mission completion.

The receptionist was quite happy to see Ryoichi and wanted to initiate a conversation but an Anbu appeared behind and summoned him to Hokage's office.

Ryoichi excused himself from the receptionist and Shunhinned after the Anbu.

After a few minutes, he reached the Hokage building and walked into the office where he saw Tobirama talking with a young Hiruzen with Tsunade and Orochimaru…? standing beside him. Ryoichi didn't see Jiraya with them and thought he probably failed to graduate early, well that didn't surprise Ryoichi much, he's not a genius like his future teammates after all.

But It will not be for long since Ryoichi knew the Sannins graduated the same year, Jiraya's probably fuming right now and dying to take the exam again, and since it is the Waring time he'd pass.

"Hokage-sama" Ryoichi greeted with a small bow.

"You're here…" Tobirama acknowledged him and then motioned towards the other occupants.

"This is team 7"

"Hello I'm Sarutobi Hiruzen and they are Tsunade and Orochimaru, It's nice to meet you." Hiruzen greeted with a warm smile, but Ryoichi ignored him and focused on Tobirama.

"You!!!" Tsunade shouted at Ryoichi's rudeness and tried to punch him only to be stopped by Orochimaru.

"Wait a minute… Ryoichi is that you!"

'Of course, she would recognise me with my half-broken mask…' Ryoichi thought but still didn't acknowledge the trio's presence which further irked Tsunade.

"I'mma kill this bitch!" Tsunade escaped from Orochimaru's grasp and tried to attack again, but a cold voice stopped her.

"Tsunade..."

"Sorry Granduncle!" Tsunade immediately apologised. She was really scared of Tobirama since he was the only one who never spoiled her and punished her for her mistakes. Even her pitiful cries didn't affect him.

"Now, the reason I called you here is simple. Team 7 is missing a member to become a full-fledged Jonin squad, and since you also don't have a proper team, I recommended you to Team 7.

"Recommended me?" Ryoichi shook his head at those words before continuing.

"It should be them who should be recommended to me, not the other way around after all becoming a part of Jonin's squad means coming under the tutelage of the said Jonin. And you know my strength… I have no interest in becoming the student of someone weaker or equal to me."

"What did you say!" It was Hiruzen who questioned Ryoichi, feeling quite offended at his words. He tried to speak more but a glare from Tobirama stopped him.

"I get where you're coming from but even if he doesn't look like much he's still my student and I just don't take anyone as my student."

"Sensei…" Hiruzen muttered, feeling both moved and aggrieved at Tobirama's word.

"Even then I'm not interested Hokage-sama, and I'm already a part of Oni-san's squad."

"You're not. you're only a reserve member since his squad is full and you declined Fox's invitation."

"But I still have to decline Hokage Sama's request," Ryoichi spoke politely while ignoring Tsuande's burning gaze. As the saying goes if looks could kill Ryoichi would be killed for the number of seconds he breathed in this room.

Suddenly the room got humid as a terrifying Chakra pressure broke free and fell on everyone's shoulder. Hiruzen hurriedly mobilised his Chakra and protected his students.

"And what if it isn't a request?" Tobirama questioned, his chilling voice drilling into Ryoichi's bones, but… Ryoichi didn't weaver and replied in his usual tone.

"Then I would join team 7…"

Tobirama stared at Ryoichi for a few seconds, scanning his every detail before the pressure lifted as Tobirama dismissed him.

"You can go back."

"Thank you Hokage-sama then I'll take my leave." Ryoichi's head bowed slightly as he proceeded to leave but Hiruzen's voice stopped him.

"Wait! Sensei since he looks down on my students why don't we have him fight them."

Ryoichi and Tobirama both looked at Hiruzen like he was the biggest piece of crap. Both their heads had the same thought- Didn't he saw Ryoichi completely stand the Chakra pressure that he had to protect his students from?

Noticing their stares Hiruzen corrected himself "Ahem! I mean Him vs me and my students, if he manages to knock even one of my students despite me protecting them, I'll admit I'm not good enough."

"Not interested…"

Ryoichi declined flatly causing Hiruzen to mutter a confused "Why"

"I don't need your admittance nor do I have anything to prove. Your whole praposal is a waste of time for me."

"Then what would it take for you to accept the spar?"

"I don't know why you are so desperate, but if you want me to accept this unreasonable challenge… bet something."

"Bet something…? You mean you want me to pay you in case you win…"

"Yeah, if I have to fight for your self-satisfaction, you better give me something to satisfy as well."

"…Fine! How about I give you an elemental training method for any one element?"

"Make it three and I'll accept and don't try to negotiate." Ryoichi immediately raised the bars to Hiruzen's limit which Hiruzen wanted to deny, but he couldn't because he didn't want the kid to back down, or else he wouldn't be able to show his students how awesome their Sensei is.

'Just you wait brat…'

"Fine, I accept."

Hiruzen accepted with a sour face as Ryoichi and his Team moved to the third training ground. Tobirama didn't join them saying he had better things to do, but Ryoichi knew that he would definitely watch them with his balls.

"you sure you don't want to hide, I heard stealth is your best skill?"

Once they reached the third training ground Hiruzen questioned Ryoichi while stretching his body.

But Ryoichi didn't reply to Hiruzen's question instead he charged towards them and started making hand signs.

Hiruzen recognised the hand signs and quickly warned his students about the incoming Justu.

-FIRE STYLE JUTSU: GREAT FIREBALL!

A giant ball made of fire flew towards Team 7, but since they already knew it coming they dodged easily.

But they made a mistake… due to their battle formation, they couldn't jump in the same direction which created an ample distance between them.

Ryoichi already predicted that and that's why he used enough hand sign so Hiruzen could recognise the Justu and easily dodge it rather than cancelling out with another Jutsu.

Ryoichi didn't waste time and made two Shadow clones. Immediately his Chakra dipped to 25% the reason he hated the Jutsu. Unlike its superior version the MULTI-SHADOW CLONE JUTSU which pumps out more clones with more Chakra, SHADOW CLONE JUTSU takes 50% Chakra every time you create a clone, which means these two clones took 75% of his Chakra, the first one took 50% and the second took 25%.

Ryoichi sent the clones to fight Tsunade and Orochimaru while he approached Hiruzen.

Ryoichi has no delusions that he could defeat Hiruzen or even fight him for that fact, no matter how much he disdains to become Hiruzen's student he can't deny the fact that the future Third Hokage is by no means weak. He's on the brink of becoming a Kage, not a failed quasi-Kage like Kazuya but a real Kage that can decide the flow of a War.

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-Hiruzen's P.O.V-

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I saw the brat's clone going after my students while he charged at me.

*SNORTS* 'As if I let you do it!'

I also formed two clones and send them to help my students, but stopped when I saw the determined look on their faces.

'Shit! If my clones help them to fight the clones of someone their age it will break their spirits.'

That was the last thing I wanted to do, I wanted to help them reach their potential not destroy it. I nearly screamed at the brat, especially when I saw him smirk through his broken mask.

"Ugh!" A groan left my mouth as I dispersed the clones and dodged the upcoming punch.

"You think you can hold me long enough for your-" my speech got interrupted by the brat suddenly disappearing and his clones taking his place with hundreds of-

'Are those Explosion seals…?!'

*BOOOM!!*

I escaped the explosion's range and saw the brat ruthlessly kicking Tsunade way.

'Doesn't this brat remember she's a cute little girl and his childhood friend… well at least Tsuande isn't knocked out - as expected from a Senju.'

I Shunshinned towards the brat as fast as I could and stopped him from knocking Tsunade. And retaliated with an elbow to his stomach causing him *GASP*

I expected him to loose consciousness, but I saw another smirk as he exploded into smoke.

'A Shadow clone! Since when!!!' I shouted internally as I looked towards my other student where I saw him getting knocked by the brat.

Orochimaru of course tried to resist but it was for not, as Ryoichi easily knocked him with a chop.

"If you could knock Orochimaru so easily why did you have to kick Tsunade like that," I questioned him as a little anger seeped in my voice when I saw Tsunade wince while holding her broken arm.

The brat didn't reply to my question instead he started at Tsunade who angrily stared back. Just as I was going to question him again, he spoke.

"For always annoying me during Mito Sensei's lessons."

"You!!!" Tsunade almost lunged at him, but stopped as her legs were also injured.

"I'm leaving now… I hope you deliver the Elemental training methods by tonight." The brat ignored Tsunade's outbursts and Shunshined away after leaving his words.

'Senju Ryoichi I'll remember you…' I promised myself as I helped Tsunade heal her injuries and woke Orochimaru who asked what happened.

After I reminded him what happened, I saw both Orochimaru and Tsunade look down with serious expressions.

I tried to find the words to comfort them, but I didn't have to as I saw the battle intent start to flicker in their bright eyes.

'Yes use it as a fuel to become stronger…'

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[AN: If you want to read more go to my Patr*on/41_Claws. There are 10+ advance unedited chapters on it…]

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