Naruto: Aokiji Yuki

16 Three Years

Hidden Mist Village.

Rokkō Training Ground.

"You both shouldn't have a problem with Aokiji being the leader?"

Daikichi looked at Mei and Ichiro standing before him after tasting a crushing defeat by the hands of Aokiji.

"We were completely defeated; I accept him as leader."

Mei spoke first, admitting her clear defeat and looking at Aokiji with a fighting spirit that burned even brighter than before.

"I don't have a problem either."

Ichiro also agreed, but his face still had some shock from the earlier battle.

He and Mei were trained by one of the Clan's best, but they were defeated by an orphan who had never had any training before.

He, like Mei, had previously assumed that Aokiji was the weakest of the three.

But now he realizes how mistaken he was, and a new goal has emerged in his thoughts.

*I need to surpass him if I want to make my Clan the strongest and know the truth*

Ichiro had the same look in his eyes as Mei when he looked at Aokiji.

"Aokiji, I'll leave the rest to you now, but please be cautious."

Whoosh…

Daikichi walked away after handing Aokiji the mission scroll.

"Now, since you two have accepted me as leader, there are some regulations that you must follow."

"First and foremost, always refer to me as Captain "Kuzan"; it will be my code name."

"Second, you have no right to refuse my order  in the mission; my orders are the final words."

"Third, if we ever get into a bind, don't even consider of killing your friend; we'll quit the mission right away."

"The mission is significantly less important to me than your life."

"I hope you understand because if you ever breach the third rule, I'll kill you with my own hands."

Aokiji gave them a harsh look, since he would never accept the murdering of his own friends.

"I understand, Captain Kuzan!!"

When Mei and Ichiro saw the steely glare in his eyes, they felt as if they were being stared at by a fierce beast, and they nodded in agreement.

*What's the deal with this guy?*

Ichiro was sweating profusely on his brow because Aokiji's look terrified him.

Those were not the eyes of a child; only someone who had slain his entire life could have such a look.

*I think I've underestimated him once more*

Mei thought, because even her father didn't have those terrifying eyes.

"All right, get ready, we're leaving in an hour."

*It appears like my method is working*

When Aokiji saw the meek Mei and Ichiro, he realized it was right to demonstrate them the difference in strength.

These arrogant children born into big clans comprehend only strength, and changing them with words is significantly more difficult.

*Mist's 15th year* (Fifteen years since the foundation of Mist Village)

Team Aokiji began to carry out missions, with Daikichi occasionally accompanying them and doing countless dangerous tasks, yet the passage of time never stopped.

Three years had passed since Aokiji was appointed squad leader, and their squad was well-known throughout the village.

Everyone knows that Daikichi has three monster students that would never fail to finish a mission and have already accomplished three A rank missions while being 9 years old.
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The village of Hidden Mist.

*The 18th Year of Mist*

Center for Mission Assignment.

"Here is the mission report, Lord 2nd."

A young boy with silver hair, perhaps 9 years old, delivered the mission scroll to Gengetsu, who was sitting in front.

He was around 1:5m tall for his age and wore a green Kimono with a dark green high neck underneath.

Behind the silver hair kid stood a young girl, perhaps approximately 9 years old, with long grey hair reaching her back and an indifferent expression on her cute face.

A youngster her age stood next her, with somewhat longer teeth, black hair, and a sword with a black scabbard slung over his waist.

"Haha!! Daikichi, that bastard got lucky; he sure got some students"

Gengetsu laughed after reading the mission report, and the task was done flawlessly once more.

He wished he hadn't given these three to Daikichi and should've trained them himself.

But it wasn't such a horrible bargain either, because his old friend had transformed after meeting these kids.

" Please excuse us, Lord 2nd."

Aokiji collected their remuneration and left with Mei and Ichiro.

"You two must be exhausted after so many missions; go home and rest for a few days."

Aokiji distributed the remunerations equally and advised them to take a few days off.

"I'm good, Captain Kuzan; I'm ready for another mission."

Mei refused to rest since she needed to get to task because she wouldn't be able to train calmly with that cheap father back home.

"Don't rush, Mei; I know you want to get stronger, but be patient; it's not like you're weak; you've grown so much in these three years."

Aokiji tried to persuade this mission maniac, all she think about is becoming stronger.

"But I'm still a long way from you."

Said Mei, and after a small bow to Aokiji, she went, knowing there was no use in talking any longer.

"Captain Kuzan, please!"

Ichiro also bowed before departing, leaving Aokiji alone.

*Sigh* "There is still a long way to go."

Aokiji sighed, knowing that more time was needed to change them.

After three years together, Ichiro and Mei are no longer as chilly as they once were, and regular conversation is possible.

But Aokiji can sense that something is preventing them from entirely changing, something that shaped the current them and continues to effect even now.

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