Us three genin stood in the middle of the training field as we waited patiently for Tsukiko sensei to attack. The mist was as thick as a winter quilt and chalk full of her chakra, but I managed to pinpoint her signature. She currently was near Maya-nee, most likely discussing a game plan to take us back down a peg or three.

'Sorry you two, I don't even know your names and I've already earned you two a beat down. Wait, why haven't gotten their names yet?'

"Since we are waiting on getting wrecked, you mind telling me your names. Your best and worse ninja art would be nice too. Maybe get a halfway decent plan together in it isn't a total beatdown." I finished lamely, hoping that the two other kids would play ball at least a little.

The dull looking boy spoke first. Taro Kai. I'm good a ninja weapons, mostly kunai and shuriken. Decent every where else but taijutsu."

I nodded, filing away the information quickly as our blond hair kunoichi introduced herself next.

"Kaori Ose. Genjutsu and Taijutsu are my specialty. I'm weakest in kenjutsu."

'So those two play off each other's weakness and I'm to pick up the slack and elevate the lethality of the team. I can work with this.'

"Alright," I spoke, a plan forming in my head. "I'm Seiji. Not trying to sound cocky but I have no real weakness other than my size and genjutsu since I have none in my repertoire. I specialize in sensing and taijutsu mostly, but I am confident in all aspects in terms of my ability verses my peers."

I took a pause to let them absorb the info I threw out at them, feeling the boy scoff and the girl's chakra flicker in disbelief at my introduction. "Now," I started to go through hands signs quickly as I casted our opening move. "The downside of the hiding in the mist technique is that it can only be cast by one person or it messes with the casters ability to navigate through their own mist. That being said..." Ninja art: Hidden Mist Jutsu. The thick mist billowed from my mouth as I covered a large enough area that we could set up without giving away too much of our plan.

"Kai-san attach some ninja wire to us about ten feet in length and start setting up trip wire with kunai all around of us. You got roughly three minutes most likely before they start attacking. Ose-san, when one or both of them get close enough, I will tap your elbow and I need you to start spamming as many area wide genjutsu as you can, layer them if you know how. Don't worry about hitting me and Kai-san. As soon as I feel the chakra being molded ill disrupt our system so we don't get caught."

They must have agreed with the plan since I heard no argument from the two. Taro started getting to work quickly, setting a square trap around the three of us. Kaori quickly molded her chakra, holding in firing position so she could launch it as soon as I gave the command.

It seemed like an eternity before Tsukiko's chakra started moving our way, Maya-nee opting to stay where she was at. I wasn't sure if she was planning to let her younger sister engage first or was just going to keep playing captured so I decided to lower my range to within twenty feet of our little circle to get maximum accuracy. Tsukiko came into range of us at a reasonable pace, my mist jutsu slowing her down a bit. I silently timed it in my head before turning my head at my female teammate, placing a hand on the dull looking boy.

"Now!"

In quick session a burst of three genjutsu hit us like a crashing wave. Keeping me and our teammate dispelled was harder than I would like to have admitted but it seemed to get the job done as I felt Tsukiko stumble a step and a half before the trap.

I quickly ran through hand signs and put both fist up to my mouth like a makeshift tube to use my only wind jutsu to clear a path to the moon haired kunoichi. Wind Style: Dragons Breath Jutsu. A concentrated cone of air cleared the mist directly ahead of us as the now wind dazed and confused Jonin seemed to be completely caught off guard. Wanting to press the advantage I threw two Kunai at our sensei as I ran forward keeping her eyes up and away from the tripping hazard less than a half step away now.

"Attack where you can, I'll keep her occupied." I yelled as I saw the devilish woman go to get into a taijutsu stance, a confident smirk on her face.

That didn't last long, for when she slid her right foot forward it snagged on the wire, causing a sudden momentum stoppage. She nearly fell forward as I caught the unbalanced kunoichi square in the jaw with a jumping knee strike and knocking her back a few steps. Continuing my momentum, I flipped backwards and landed atop the ninja wire.

Using that as a spring, I launched myself like a missile and tackled the teenage ninja who hadn't quite gotten her bearings back yet. I didn't weigh enough to really spear through her like I wanted too but I was able to get her to stumble and fall backwards.

She used her falling momentum to roll me forward off her. She seemed to have recovered in the split second it took both of us to get to our feet, unfortunately she had to dodge a flurry of kunai al la Taro before she could reengage me. Kaori, following Taro's lead, engaged with a series of quick jabs and a kick that were all blocked before backing away to let me engage again.

I was almost a Tsukiko again when I realized I made one fatal flaw.

I had forgot about Maya-nee, and then promptly was reintroduced to her via hard shoulder block that sent me careening back into the mist. I barely heard Tsukiko say she would handle me as I brought my arms up to block her right hook.

Tsukiko wasn't giving me time to think as she followed up the hook with a round house kick that I ducked under, only to catch her other foot to the chest. I used that momentum to roll into a back handspring. Staying on guard as I tried to distinguish her chakra in the mist, barely catching it in time to block what was going to be a literal kick in the ass, swing her foot back and using my head to catch her chin.

I was a little dazed by the move I forced myself to engage again with a left hook that caught her in the ribs before a straight right elbow hit her hip. I was attempting to follow up with a inside leg kick to her calf but I had left myself open and ended up eating an elbow to the nose, breaking it again.

The water that collected in my eyes made in hard to follow the two jabs that again hit my face before one last chest kick that definitely broke some ribs sent me flying backwards where I laid unceremoniously for I wasn't sure how long. The only thing I could do was admit I was defeated and focus on breathing since that kind of hurt to do that.

The mist eventually lifted as Maya-nee and Tsukiko plopped my two teammates next to by broken body as they looked at me with tired but proud expressions. I could tell we had done more damage than I would have thought possible taking in their torn clothing and the heavy bruises forming in a couple of places on their face.

Tsukiko's hands glowed green as she started working on healing my two healthy looking teammates first before sitting Indian style next me with a terrifying smile. I felt my ribs slowly work themselves into place as Maya-nee gave us her assessment.

"I'm not going to lie," She started, "You all did better than expected. The info on you two," She pointed at the two older kids, "Was that you both didn't like to work with anyone but each other. Honestly, we expected you two to ignore squirt and do your own thing once you managed to regroup." Her golden eyes seemed to pierce the two as I did my best to listen. She then gave a sigh as she took a seat on the ground in front of us. "Instead, you two fell seamlessly in step with Sei- Akagi-san as he then proceeded to lead you all into a very clever and well executed trap. The only question I have is what made you two want to listen to him?"

A beat passed, I assumed the two kids were staring at each other since I could really move myself to see them, before Kaori spoke. "He seemed confident in what he was doing." I heard her speak with conviction. "We each saw him fight you two better than could have. I guess we figured he had the situation under control. Or, at least he did, until you almost killed him." Kaori gave a pointed look at May-nee.

I gave pained laugh from my position on the ground as Maya-nee nodded her head in understanding before speaking to me. "Akagi-san, we were also surprised by you. We figured all the talks of your potential would have gotten to your head and you would have viewed these two as lesser shinobi or a hindrance. You flipped that on us you not only logically and convincingly regrouped your team, you used your knowledge of the weakness of the village jutsu to not only set up a trap for Tsuchan, you learned enough about your teammates to best employ that trap and execute it. Not only that you got your teammates involved in a manner that best suited your team composition. Overall a nine out ten."

I gave a bloody grin towards the sky as I heard Taro speak.

"Amaya-sensei?"

"It's Amaya-nee, remember? And yes Kai-san?"

"Yes, Amaya… -nee. Why did you guys go easy on us but made Akagi-kun look like… that?"

I heard the blue haired kunoichi laugh as replied. "Oh, that's just Tsuchan's way of showing her love her new boy toy."

I could feel the confusion in the other two's chakra as Tsukiko gave a gaff at her older sister. Feeling well enough to speak, I decided that I hated getting healed and joined in.

"Kikochan is just a sadist, but you can't always choose who you give ass seals to."

Healing stopped as a feminine fist found itself impacting my stomach. I struggled to catch my breath as Tsukiko glared down at me as struggled to not laugh in between grunts of pain.

"Call me Kikochan one more time and I will show you a sadist."

I gave out a weak 'Hai' as I laughed through the pain. Tsukiko also continued to work on my ribs, now slightly redder in the face.

Maya-nee eventually recovered from her laughing fit, right about the time my ribs finished healing all they could with medical ninjutsu. I sat up so I could get a better view of everyone as Tsukiko, still red in the face, reset my nose and began healing my nose for the second time today.

"Right…" Kaori started, "But seriously, why so rough with him?"

Maya-nee got a sad look on her face as she glanced my way. Sighing, I decided to answer for her, directing the question my way so could control the information being put. "My place in the village is predetermined. Maya-nee and Tsukiko-sensei are merely the craftsmen in charge of sharpening me into something dangerous… To do that, the feeling in pain isn't important." I felt anger rising in my chest in the middle of my explanation so I killed my emotions, making me sound ingenuine.

A we all sat in silence as Tsukiko continued to heal my face and the two Genin tried to determine what was truth. Once she was finished healing my nose, she gave a playful tug on it before standing up.

Brushing herself off, Tsukiko decided the awkward silence was enough and spoke. "Right, now that we have squared away the fact that Seiji-kun," Kun? "Will be getting beat senseless while we train, be here tomorrow at noon so we can start training you guys to work on individual and team objectives. Seiji-kun, we expect you to be here at same time as usual. I will try to get you some Fuinjutsu books tonight but no promises that either of us can help you. Kiri hasn't had any proficient seal users in thirty years so you will be on your own mostly."

I nodded as I stood with the rest of my team. I turned and looked at the two kids, a look I really wasn't sure of in their eyes. I decided to head home first, but not before saying goodbyes. "I looked forward to being in your care from now on. Please feel free to use my first name. Honorifics aren't necessary either."

Shaking other their hands as they told me to do the same, I walked from the clearing towards home to check on my mother.

When I arrived home, I found her curled up on our raggedy couch with a blanket wrapped around her body. I could see tears where she must have cried herself to sleep again. 'I wish I could be here more for you Kasan.' I thought bitterly.

I ate the meal she had left for me on the table and started cleaning up the house a little before giving mother a goodnight kiss on the forehead and heading to my room. I stripped down to my drawers and grabbed a change of clothes.

I headed back downstairs for a quick shower, letting the hot water wash away the grime and pain away from the day. When I finished, I through on some clean underwear and pajama pants before brushing my teeth and admiring the large foot sized bruise on my chest. I noticed the slight twinge of pain still in my chest but I chose to ignore it. I was going to head to bed when I noticed my mother was no longer on the couch.

Thinking the worst, I sent my chakra out to feel for her, finding her perched on the roof. Hopping outside quickly and jumping up, I found her staring at the stars, a nostalgic smile on her face. I laid down next to her, curling into the crook of her arm to remind her she was loved in case she wasn't feeling, well, good feelings.

"You worry to much Seiji." She said softly, bringing a hand up to pat my still damp hair. "I just wanted to remind myself of my younger years when I hung out with my cousins in the wild as my uncle told stories of our granddad in his youth."

I listened more intently since I've never heard her talk about her side of the family.

"You know," she said, "I want you to promise me one thing." I nodded my head as she pleaded with her eyes for me just to agree. "One of my cousins is still alive in another village. I want you to seek her out a leave this accursed place once I pass on."

"Pass on?" I questioned.

Mother looked sadly towards the moon again as she spoke. "I was told today that I have cancer. It's progressed to the point of healing. I will be moving on form this wretched world soon. My only regret is I didn't have the strength to save you from this place myself when I was younger."

I felt a lump form in my throat as I hugged the woman tighter, tears brimming in my eyes. I was a momma's boy in my past life, and the affection this woman as showed me made it doubly so in this. I wiped a tear from my eye as I asked her 'how long?'

"Six months, maybe less." I nodded as I buried my head deeper into the crook of her arm.

"I promise Kasan."

I felt her pet my head lovingly again. "Good," she spoke with convection this time. "Now let me ask you a question Seiji-kun."

I looked into her eyes as I waited for her to finish. My own getting as large as saucers as she dropped the biggest name drop, and one I certainly wasn't expecting.

"What do you know about the Senju clan?"

A/N: Thank you guys for the positive reviews. I am not quite set up yet here but I have the next chapter finished and the sixth mostly finished so it shouldn't ruin the flow of chapters, hopefully. Also all the great ideas in the comments are appreciated! Also, for those of you worried about this being a Konoha bukakke, all I have to say is did you expect the events of chapter two based off of what I gave you in one? Just food for thought.