As the three genin lay there on the soft, green grass, panting while their new sensei looked on with a barely noticeable impressed and admiring look on her normally impassive and controlled face.
In one of their hands - Sakumo's - was held a silver bell, one that was nearly identical to the other two tied onto Koharu. The timer had ran out, yet only one bell had been retrieved, even though they had teamed up together and used even the most underhanded techniques.
Despite all being geniuses in their own rights, especially Akira and Sakumo, you really couldn't expect a six and eight year old to dominate against a seasoned jounin, one that had been taught by the Lord Tobirama himself, could you?
Even other jounin would have struggled. The fact that one of them got a bell at all was a wonder in itself, a testament to their sheer talent and a glimpse into the future, of which all would certainty become a force to be reckoned with.
All had used moves meant to kill, as they knew that if they didn't, even touching one of the bells was impossible against one of Konoha's elite.
Akira even pulled out 'Raihimo', a recent addition to the ninjutsu archives of the village, and he had hoped to keep it a secret until he really needed to. It served its purpose though, as the split second of surprise let her undefended to Sakumo's next attack, which had earned them their first and only bell.
He wished with all his might that teamwork was truly the test this time, as he and his new teammates only got one bell, which would cut their promising future as shinobi short.
Disappointed looks were on Katsuro and Sakumo's faces, evident in their shoulders sagging in defeat and crestfallen expressions, while Akira did his best to fake one as well, though half of it was real. Of course they had thought of the chances of the test actually being a test of wits and courage, or teamwork, but it hurt to think of the consequences if it was a real test.
After they caught their breaths, Koharu stepped forward and asked in a sharp but still somehow soft tone, "What jutsu was that? I've never seen anything like it in the archives before."
And it was not so unprecedented that a disciple of the Hokage had access to those files, but it wasn't her fault, as it had only been a somewhat recent addition.
"Oh, do you mean 'Raihimo'? It's a jutsu I developed with the help of Hokage-sama," he replied, almost saying 'ooji-san' instead of formally addressing the Hokage.
Katsuro eyes widened, before exclaiming out, forgetting all other presences, "Wait- hold on! What are you, six? You made a jutsu at six?"
"Well, if you're being technical, then I was five."
"That just makes it worse!"
"Ahem!" A cough made them turn their heads, seeing Sakumo, who, though shocked and slightly admiring the boy more, was more composed then them.
The sword-wielding shinobi gestured to Koharu, who was waiting for them to finish.
"Sorry, sensei!" But both wondered if they should still call her that, as per the test's rules, they were no longer student and teacher.
"It's impressive how you developed a jutsu at your age. Even more so, as I realise it is most likely a B-rank."
Even Sakumo couldn't keep his calm now. It is to be known a C-rank jutsu is what most average genin and chunin use in combat, a B-rank was considered high for them. Now, someone was telling him a mere six-year-old not only can use one, but even developed it himself. The world was truly full of wonders, and Senju Akira was most definitely one of the biggest.
Katsuro started mumbling about some unheard subjects, probably cursing the world for how unfair it was when god decided on talent distribution. Only when Koharu cleared her throat did he stop.
"I have decided. You all pass the test."
Relief washed over the three, and all visibly untensed at her words, but confusion still lingered.
As if reading their minds, she explained, "The test was never about the bells at the start. It was really about a test of wits, the aspect I value the most in my students.
Needless to say, your teamwork is much better than I expected, despite only having met for a short time. Most would be too arrogant in your places, Sakumo and Katsuro, having a younger teammate and wouldn't listen to them.
But you didn't, and even followed his plans, knowing that they were probably the best you could come up with. That is surely something only people with even little intelligence. Congratulations, you passed the test!"
Akira was grateful that the bell test was just as he suspected, but with slight alterations, with this one being about a test of wits instead of teamwork. It seemed that different Konoha instructors had different values, as expected.
Thankfully his two teammates were not so short-sighted that they couldn't see the underlying message of this test, otherwise it might not have gone so smoothly, and they might have not even gotten a single bell.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Akira finally believed that the surprises would finally end. First it was the entrance exam, after that the increasingly hard school terms, then the weird graduation exam, and now this bell test.
"Now, I shall give you a rest this afternoon, missions will start tomorrow. Meet here at eight o'clock sharp," and with that, she disappeared in a puff of smoke, in the same fashion as she first came in.
'I will have to get used to that,' Akira thought, almost jumping back again on instinct.
"Ahhh~ my muscles are so tired after chasing sensei around. I'm going home to sleep, what about you two?" Ozawa asked curiously, stretching like a cat.
"I'm going to meet up with my sister and friends first, then I'll see what to do after."
"My father should be waiting for me back at the estate. I will probably continue training then."
"Still training? Honestly, Sakumo, you've always been training so much, I wonder if you actually even sleep or eat!"
"Well the clan is small, so each member has to work twice as hard, I guess."
"Just don't overwork yourself, alright? Okay, goodbye!"
"Goodbye!"
.
.
.
Just as he had told Ozawa, Akira went to training field seven, where his friends and twin were probably at. Hopefully they had already ended whatever they were doing, or Akira would have nothing to do at home except training if they weren't.
When he arrived, they were talking and had no sign of ending the exercise, so Akira could only walk back alone to the desolate house of theirs, with both father and mother not at home.
Ever since they entered the academy, the house was increasingly empty. Their beloved grandfather had sadly passed almost a year ago, with their grand-uncle succeeding the Hokage position, neither could visit anymore for different reasons.
Since they both already entered and graduated, their parents took on even more missions than before, as both twins could take care of themselves, whether it was household activities or any other. Thus only their grandmother, Uzumaki Mito was left. The heir of the Uzumaki clan and wife of the First Hokage were only two of her many titles earned through her various exploits during the Warring Periods.
But even she rarely visited anymore, and it was more of them paying her a visit instead. So, Akira was once again, alone in the large house.
It was lonely sometimes, even though his family was alive and well, most of the time, it was just him and Tsunade. Perhaps this would be how Tsunade feel if the timeline was the same as the original. Lonely and desolate. But if there was one thing he could do, it was make sure neither their parents, nor their future little brother wouldn't suffer their original fates. And he was set on making sure that they would never be separated.
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