An Average Guy In A Shinobi World - Chapter 41

Coming home from such a long day, Rei went straight for a relaxing hot bath, afterwards he spent time with his family to have a sumptuous dinner. Rei told the story of how he passed that final hurdle to become a genin to his family, looking proud of his achievement.

Rei’s mother Fuyuki was casually nodding at her son’s story, attentively listening to every detail and made some comments about how dangerous jonins are. Meanwhile Rei’s sister, Shizuku was surprised that there was a fire user in his team. Shizuku surprisingly ended up saying that she won’t lose against that big sister in fire release that she hasn’t met yet.

Rei was surprised by his little sister’s behavior but still encouraged her. Rei wonders how exactly that sister of his is going to do that since Ayaka is a Sarutobi, which is a clan that specializes in fire techniques. Mokichi on the other hand; told Rei to treasure his teammates since they will be the one who’s going to have his back. Even in the future when the team disassembled it will be important for Rei and the members to still keep in touch.

Rei gave a nod because he knows the importance of comrades but he still feels frustrated, since he has no idea what to do next to get stronger except for two things. Which are enhancing his chakra control and strengthening his body. So, Rei decided to ask his father.

Rei: What do you think I should do to get stronger, Dad? -he asked looking serious.

Mokichi: Aren’t you strong enough for your age? -he replied with a smile.

Rei: I want to be stronger… -he said flatly

Mokichi: You need to have a reason to become strong, Rei. A power that exist for no reason has no purpose… it might just end up as a burden for you or worse it might be used for the wrong reasons.

Rei: I don’t want the day to come when I realize I lack strength to either save someone or prevent something from happening. -he said a little bit dramatic.

Mokichi: That’s a good point then you’ll need a weapon to act on it… I guess it is time to teach you my trump card.

Rei: But how? I’ll start taking D-rank missions tomorrow.

Mokichi: You can always learn it slowly, whenever you are home… I’ll teach you. -he said with a smile and looking proud of his son’s maturity.

The night quickly passed by and Rei’s first day of taking missions finally arrived. Since Rei’s team is definitely only taking up D-missions for a while, he decided not to pack up like he is going to war. But Rei still brought kunais, shurikens, and wires.

Rei wears three-fourth black pants and a black pair of sandal regularly worn by shinobis, since he still can’t wear a flak jacket that is usually worn by chunins and above. Rei decided to replace the flak jacket with a gray jacket with black trimmings that has pockets inside to hold scrolls, inside is a mesh guard like those chainmail but especially design for ninjas. Plus, the training bracer his Master Chen gave him in his left arm. Rei quickly said his goodbyes to his sister and mother, and quickly dashed out excited about this new phase of his life. Rei is still a little paranoid though.

Upon arriving in front of the academy, Rei saw Ayaka wearing something different from yesterday. Ayaka now wears a black jacket with no sleeves that has pockets for scrolls to be stored, a blue blouse underneath, a white pants that is three quarters long compared to normal, and that ninja sandals everyone likes to wear in a color of black.

While Keiji wears a Brown jacket with his sleeves folded in three quarters, worn underneath is a white shirt and mesh guard, Dark blue pants in three-quarter length, and those undying ninja sandals in black. The two looked quite annoyed that Rei arrived late resulting into Rei smiling at them awkwardly.

Ayaka: You were leading us in battle yesterday like a leader, but now you arrived late. -She said while shaking her head looking disappointed.

Seiji: Yeap, that’s a minus point for you… I guess I have a chance to be leader now! -He said looking confident and ending it with a huge laugh.

Ayaka: Say that again once you learn a basic nature transformation. -said while looking at Seiji like he is a weakling.

Rei: Sorry everyone, I thought you wouldn’t come this early. -said while scratching his cheek with his finger.

Hayama: Come on let’s go to the mission’s desk. -still looking serious.

Rei: Teacher, why do you always looked so serious? -confused at his teacher’s serious face.

Meanwhile when Ayaka and Seiji heard Rei’s question, they felt like he just opened the “Pandora’s box” it looked like Rei just asked a taboo question. The two were panicking on how to cover up this mess, thinking on how their teammate could be so skilled in learning two basic nature transformation but be so dumb on social relations.

Hayama: It looks like I’m too stiff right… Don’t let it bother you guys this is just me. -said with a lighter tone than usual.

Rei nods and quickly walked towards the mission desk while the other two looked like a calamity was just averted. Meanwhile Ayaka and Seiji are arguing about how to stop this teammate of theirs from making insensitive questions.

Despite Rei’s mental age that’s supposed to be aware of the atmosphere, Rei sorts of just didn’t care about it now since it is much better to have an understanding of things. So, Rei quickly eliminates things that could get in the way like a misunderstanding of attitude.

Meanwhile Hayama felt a burden lifted off from his shoulder since he really is usually the quiet type. Handling such young kids is too troublesome his partner might’ve done a much better job, but he doesn’t have a choice now. Now at the mission’s desk about to take their first missions.

Iruka: Well if it isn’t Rei, who graduated despite a lot of miss classes. -he said with a smile on his face.

Rei: eerrmmm, I’m not going to do that anymore teacher Iruka. -he said a little bit embarrass of Iruka’s chiding in front of his teammates.

Iruka: You better keep that in mind, Rei. -he said in a strict tone.

Ayaka: So, you were a problem kid at school? -she said with a grin.

Seiji: tsk, how were you a problem kid with all those skills. -said with a tone of confusion.

Iruka: He could’ve graduated earlier but he sorts of became a “slacker”. -said while laughing.

Rei: I trained secretly… I didn’t really slack I just lost track of time -trying to cover up his shameful past of skipping classes with poor excuses.

Iruka: Never mind that Rei, so what it’ll be Hayama… D-rank missions?

Hiruzen: D-rank, I think that’ll be better as well since everyone needs to grow step-by-step.

Hayama: Yes, it would be D-rank.

Seiji: Come on… I think we could do a C-rank. -said with a disappointed tone.

Rei: I’m fine with D-ranks all my life you know… Besides Seiji, I don’t want to be the one getting the bad end of the deal when something crazy outside happens. -said while looking a bit irritated since Seiji still lacks skills to defend himself well in front of opponents aside from thugs and low-tier genins.

Hayama: Relax Rei, I’ll be with you guys if that happens.

Hiruzen: hhmmnnn, that’s right Rei don’t worry. Aside from that aren’t you going to greet your granduncle, Ayaka?

Surprised by the third Hokage’s sudden remarked the other three members of team almost had their eyes pop out of their sockets. But it was only natural that Ayaka would be somehow related to the Third Hokage, since she is part of the Sarutobi clan.

On the other, though Rei is assured of their jonin leader’s strength, he is quite concern about the abilities of his teammates. So, he plans to train with them after finishing up this mission. Rei could only hope that their jonin leader would have the time to help them out since he couldn’t he needs to improve as well, besides a new ninjutsu is waiting for him at home.

Moving on the D-rank mission they got was just something almost every average genin does once in a while. Cleaning a warehouse, repainting it, and ridding it of its pests like mice and insects is probably one of the genins of the hidden leaf does at least once in their lives.

Aside from the genius graduates who are tasked with really good missions at first chance, but even with two ten-year-old who is supposed to be early graduates of the academy the team wasn’t able to get an amazing mission. When the team arrived in front of the warehouse they were going to clean, the size of it alone astounded the kids which already made them calculate just how long should they work on the warehouse.

Ayaka: this place looks huge. -she exclaimed with her mouth a little open.

Rei: Wonder how long it’ll take to clean and repaint. – said with a face already looking exhausted

Seiji: Ayaka, do you think there’ll be pests like mice the size of a dog over there? -he said teasingly.

Ayaka: Shut up! I’ll be sure to toss you in there!

Hayama: Come on now let’s start cleaning, you guys could play around later when we start training.

Thankfully the place wasn’t set up with traps, a hidden base of some cult or organization but that was what Rei was getting ready for. Since you’ll never know when things would suddenly go crazy with this kind of author… I mean the world. After going back and confirming that their mission was finished perfectly the group went to the training grounds to brush up their skills.

Hayama: Okay, the three of you would really need to train before we take C-rank missions to prepare for the worst outcome and worst luck.

Seiji: I like training but don’t you think we are strong enough, teacher? -asked a little bit confused since he is confident with their strength because of their recent fight with their teacher.

Ayaka: Seriously, the hidden leaf hospital would purchase that brain of yours to learn what kind of things are making you this stupid. -she said a little bit tactless, since she has to put in sharp words for this stupid teammate of theirs to understand.

Seiji: I’m the oldest among us three, how could I be stupid… Besides why would hidden leaf buy my brain? – he said looking clueless.

Ayaka and Rei laughed at Seiji’s reply, even their teacher who always looked so calm and serious let out a few snickers.

Hayama: Don’t be too mean towards Seiji. -said in a reprimanding tone.

Rei: Seiji, just think about it… can you beat me or Ayaka in a one on one fight?

Seiji: What makes you think I’m the weakest?! then let’s go fight then! -he said quite agitated from Rei’s question.

Rei looks at their teacher expecting him to interfere and clean up the mess but the man just looked at them waiting for them to sort it out themselves.

Hayama: oh, you guys could go ahead and fight then… don’t kill each other though.

Seiji: Let’s go Rei, I don’t care if you have ninjutsu my kenjutsu is strong enough to deal with them. -he said quite confidently since he saw their jonin leader deal with Rei’s ninjutsu with kenjutsu quite easily the day before.

Rei: Don’t regret this later.

Once the two were set in their position, Seiji still agitated from Rei’s comment attacked with a barrage of shurikens. Rei on the other hand casually responded with his own but he thought of making things quite lively and charged it with lightning nature chakra.

When the shurikens collided the one that was thrown by Seiji was easily cut through or thrown off by Rei’s shurikens, leaving Seiji with no choice but to run from their paths. Looking quite a bit shocked from Rei’s shurikenjutsu he decided to fight him up close and personal.

Since Rei wanted to make a point and crush Seiji’s confidence of being strong with his non-existing strength, he decided to beat him at his own game every time in this fight. So, Rei let Seiji close in and fight him in close combat. Seiji started his attack with two slashes forming an x-shape but Rei simply dodges them easily by body shifting consecutively.

baffled by Rei’s speed, Seiji transformed his weapon into a much larger version to get a wider and longer range, so he slashed horizontally. But before Seiji could even perform his slashing motion, Rei delivered a palm strike on the pommel of his weapon stopping it from moving.

Rei then continued with thrusting his fist from his waist right up through Seiji’s sternum with a punch, sending him upwards and falling down almost fainting from the pain. When Seiji got his bearings again he stood up ready to fight.

Rei: Do you understand now?

Seiji: It is not done yet!

Hayama: that’s enough… Seiji you have to accept you are the weakest among you three, so you could improve.

Seiji: But-

Ayaka: Rei didn’t even use techniques yet, aside from that lightning charged shurikens. Do you think if he unleashed his ninjutsu you’ll survive even a minute against him?

Hayama: Hey, that’s too much…

Seiji: fine, I’ll admit it but… what do I do now?

Rei: Train, so we could trust you with our backs.

Ayaka: that’s right – she said with a smile.

This routine of taking up D-rank missions and training up right after continued for quite some time. Rei dabbled on his two basic nature transformations while training his body to the point of exhaustion. Mokichi started Rei’s training with his trump card water release: water blade technique as well.

Though the ninjutsu is not well known in the canon, its cutting power is attributed to high pressured water capable of slicing and piercing solid rocks with ease. Compared to chidori who destroys it in one big surge of concentrated lightning chakra this one is a much better option if we don’t account the speed boost. When Rei finally mastered the technique due to his high affinity with water, he decided to try to apply high pressured water into some of his techniques.

First on his project was water release: gunshot, since he thought it didn’t really behave like a gun’s bullet. Rei remembered about a Mizukage who uses their finger as a gun, which was somehow cool. But since summoning water with your chakra outside of your body is quite hard he decided to postponed figuring that technique first.

Rei applied high pressured water, high density, and shape transformation to water release: gunshot. The changes were immense though the chakra use is still the same. The technique became quite deadly as long as the opponent is within its effective range. Getting pierced by a water bullet to death is not a problem. Since the velocity provided by the shape transformation that made it behave like a bullet which spins spirally, high pressure, and density increase provides it lethality.

Rei’s teammates didn’t lack in improvement either, Ayaka became more proficient all around but it is much more evident in her fire release. On the other hand, Seiji improved his overall skills and is training in wind nature, tutored by Hayama.

For those who are wondering why I’ve been releasing less lately… the weather is quite bad here recently and getting home on time is becoming harder… Since I could only write on my free times, which I’ve been having less of recently because of the bad weather… I’m still ok with the bad weather if its just that but it affects my travel time home, so yeah… sorry guys hope you understand. I’m never dropping this though… I’ll persevere and write little by little if I have to.