Ch-9

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I gulped nervously as I looked at the figure in the mirror. Maybe if I was a chunin, I would be ready to weather the storms of war that was on its way to the Leaf. But I wasn't even a Genin, I was a mere academy student. If a war was coming within a year or two, I would probably be safe within the village due to my age, but desperate times often called for desperate measures. If the Leaf was against two great villages, then the Hokage would most likely pump out recruits from the academy and send them as meat shields to the front. After all, there wasn't a strict age minimum in order to become a Genin. If the instructors and the Hokage thought I was ready to fight and die for the village, then I would be sent to the front regardless of my own opinion.

Suddenly, I felt pressed for time. The last year and a half I spent training seemed inadequate and unsatisfactory. If I wanted to survive, and also make sure that my friends survived, then I would need to improve.

I walked out of the bathroom with both of my hands balled into tight fists.

Dan gave me a pat on the back as he looked down at me, "Great work today, Hiroyoshi! Since you had the best henge in the entire class, here's the special prize I mentioned earlier!"

Shikaku and Mikoto awaited silently on the side while I received a colorful pencil case from the blue-haired shinobi. The other students had been excused early for the day, as the exercise had tired many of them out. However, since I won the "competition" in class, I stayed behind to receive my prize from the guest instructor. Shikaku grimaced as I graciously accepted the prize, no doubt a bit sore for being edged out in the contest.

"I probably won't see you for a while, but keep on working hard and get better!" Dan gave me a gentle smile as he ruffled my hair, "You're going to be a great shinobi one day, I can feel it."

As he was walking away, I gripped tightly on his pants, "Wait, Dan-sama!"

The jonin blinked a few times as he glanced at me, "Please, no need to call me "sama." Just call me "san" instead."

"Dan-san," I said, correcting my earlier remark, "I want to ask if you can train me and my friends."

"Well, you have the academy instructors to help train you, or are you asking for more advanced training?" Dan asked, squatting down to match my height.

"My friends and I want to do advanced training since we're already ahead of the others," I swallowed before I continued, hoping he would be sympathetic to what I had to say, "I heard from one of my friends that war might be coming soon and I want to be ready. My parents died due to enemy shinobi and if there's a war, I want to make sure that none of my loved ones die. Like my friends Shikaku and Mikoto."

I could see the wheels turning in Dan's head as he comprehended what I was saying. Meanwhile, my two friends looked both surprised at my sudden request but looked interested at what I was saying. Shikaku gave me a nod of encouragement while Mikoto blushed and looked away.

"I'm sorry," My heart dropped when I heard those words, but Dan wasn't finished, "You're only eight years old, but you're already worrying about the lives of your friends. You're far too young to worry about surviving, but I understand. I was also an orphan from a young age..."

He stopped to wipe his eyes, which had moistened from my words, "I'm an active jonin, but I'll be grounded in the village for some time. I'll help all of you train until I have to go on missions again. If you want to learn anything, just come to me and I'll do my best to teach you. I have to go now, but meet me at training ground fourteen after you finish classes tomorrow."

Dan puffed out of existence and disappeared, leaving only a small cloud of smoke behind. I thanked the heavens that the plan worked out, but my thoughts were interrupted when a person cleared their throat behind me. I came face to face with Mikoto, who was giving me an adoring gaze, "So we're one of your "loved ones" now, huh?"

I crossed my arms and looked at her, "Yes, you two are. And if you don't want to train with me, then you don't need to."

"Are you kidding? We're a team, remember?" Mikoto grinned, "It's a chance to learn more cool stuff too!"

A ghost of a smile appeared on Shikaku's face, "We'll do this together."

I put my arms around their shoulders and began to walk towards the door, "Let's get ready for tomorrow then."