Shimura Yuta arrived at the designated meeting point, a deep sense of bewilderment settling over him.
He wasn't alone. Two others were already waiting, and to his surprise, he recognized one of them.
It was Sarutobi Osamu. The boy's father had been a good friend of Yuta's own, Shimura Hiroshi, and had visited their home a few times after Hiroshi's passing.
The second person was a girl whose distinctive attire marked her as a member of the reclusive Kurama Clan.
'How peculiar,' Yuta thought.
Though he was something of a homebody, Yuta knew the Kurama Clansmen were a rare sight. They had maintained a low profile ever since joining Konoha, their numbers mysteriously dwindling over the years. He never expected to see one here.
The Kurama were famed throughout the shinobi world for their unique Kekkei Genkai: five-sense manipulation.
It was a form of genjutsu so powerful it could blur the very line between reality and illusion, rivaling even the famed ocular techniques of the Uchiha.
Yet, this power came at a cost. It was notoriously difficult to awaken, demanding a level of chakra control so precise it could physically cripple the user, leaving their body frail and weakened from the strain.
He wondered if the girl standing before him had been burdened with such a gift.
"Yuta!" a voice cut into his thoughts. Sarutobi Osamu leaned in close, his face alight with excitement. "I heard our new sensei is the famous Hokage's Assistant, Lord Danzō! Since you're both from the Shimura Clan, you must know all about him, right?"
To be honest, Yuta and Osamu weren't close; they'd only met a handful of times. But Osamu, it seemed, was the familiar type.
'Our sensei?'
Yuta glanced at the trio they formed: two boys, one girl. A standard genin team.
The arrangement felt bizarre. Danzō taking him on as a student was strange enough, but him acting as a jōnin sensei for a full squad?
The idea of the stern Danzō playing babysitter was almost laughable.
The corner of Yuta's mouth twitched.
'No, Danzō would never be a babysitter. He'd be a distant supervisor at best, appearing only occasionally to loom over them, perhaps deciding to teach a technique or two if he was in a good mood.'
"I regret to say I don't know him well," Yuta replied, his tone even. "But I advise you to be prepared. If you don't meet his standards, he won't hesitate to send you back to the Academy to repeat the year."
A sharp hiss escaped Osamu's lips. The Kurama girl, who had been quietly observing, also glanced over, her interest piqued.
'So handsome!' Kurama Meyuri couldn't help the thought that sprang to her mind.
Yuta, of course, remained oblivious.
Just then, Danzō himself approached, his expression dark and sullen. His mood was foul.
His original plan had been simple: to inform Hiruzen Sarutobi that he, too, had taken a disciple, and to propose a wager between their students. But Hiruzen, that cunning old monkey, had insisted on saddling him with two more, forming a proper three-person team.
Danzō's rebuttal had died in his throat when Hiruzen cut him off with a dismissive, "I am the Hokage; this matter is settled."
'Damn him! The one most fit to wear the hat is me!'
His simmering resentment only calmed when his gaze fell upon Yuta.
'Just you wait, Hiruzen. My student will surpass all your precious proteges.'
Danzō took a deep breath and came to a halt before the three genin.
His tall frame cast an imposing pressure. Sarutobi Osamu, who had been about to whisper something to Yuta fell silent and dropped his gaze.
Danzō's eyes swept over them, lingering for a moment on Yuta before he spoke, his voice stern and commanding.
"Starting today, I will be your jōnin sensei. Do not celebrate prematurely. If you fail to meet my standards, I will not hesitate to expel you." He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "Now, introduce yourselves."
He considered the exercise frivolous, but a fleeting memory of his own teacher, Tobirama, conducting a similar ritual forced a shred of patience upon him.
Danzō pointed a finger first at Osamu, who jerked his head up, almost shouting in his eagerness.
"My name is Sarutobi Osamu! I like ramen, I hate bugs, and my dream is to become an excellent shinobi like Lord Third Hokage!"
Danzō listened, his face an impassive mask. He offered no praise, no criticism. His gaze simply shifted to the girl.
"My name is Kurama Meyuri," she said, her voice quieter but firm. "I like to study genjutsu, I hate foolish people, and my dream is to bring the Kurama Clan to its former glory."
Her introduction carried a certain pride, a hint of the Uchiha's intensity.
'So... are all genjutsu specialists like this?' Yuta mused.
Finally, Danzō's eyes settled on him. Yuta met his gaze for a moment before sighing softly.
"My name is Shimura Yuta. I like many things, so I won't list them. I also dislike many things too. As for my dream..." He paused, his words simple and stark. "It's to become stronger, and then to survive."
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