Child of the Moon

Team Building Tag

Tsukiko arrived at the location which the Hokage had said the new genin would be waiting. Three girls.

"Hey, Nanami," Tsukiko greeted the dark-haired girl, who'd turned her head the moment Tsukiko had arrived. "Good to see that you've been practicing."

"Of course, Tsukiko-sensei," she said, turning large white eyes to her. Unlike the rest of the Hyuga clan, Nanami's eyes were not truly the result of inherited kekkei-genkai. She was blind. Her long black hair fell straight and smooth, bound with white ribbons at the end, framing a pale face. Her neat and immaculate clothing also indicated her rank as a member of one of the noble clans of the Hidden Leaf.

"What, she's the jonin?" a red-haired girl with cat-like blue eyes demanded, giving Tsukiko an unimpressed look. She was also rather pale, making her red hair stand out all the more.

"Aki, remember what we were taught?" the last girl, a brunette with a warm tanned complexion and bright violet eyes, eyed Tsukiko with a more cautious gaze. "What people appear as, isn't always an indicator of strength."

"Am I too skinny or something?" Tsukiko joked, knowing it was because she had arrived looking like a civilian in her shorts and tank top. The only indication that she was a ninja, was the Leaf headband, tied around her hips.

"Nah, you just don't look so tough, right?" the redhead responded lightly.

Tsukiko gave her an amused look, before leaning on a tree nearby. "Alright, I think we should start this off by introducing ourselves. Your name, likes and dislikes, hobbies, dreams for the future, whatever. Hit me."

The redhead and brunette looked at each other briefly, slightly confused, before the brunette smiled at Tsukiko.

"Why don't you start us off then, sensei?"

A half smile pulled at Tsukiko's lips as she feigned thinking hard.

"Hmm, well my name is Tsukiko," she said. "Likes and dislikes... well I like my little brother, and I dislike people who try to hurt him. Hobbies... hmm that one's tough. Pass. As for my dreams for the future... That one's tough too, so I'll pass again."

"What!? You can't just pass!" the redhead yelled.

Seems she had a temper to match the hair after all.

"Ok, you first then," Tsukiko said.

"Name's Aki Yamada," she said proudly. "I like pretty much all animals, and I dislike people hurting animals or my friends. My hobbies include fighting and eating most foods. My dream is to be able to call somewhere home."

Tsukiko smiled slightly. "Next?"

"I'm Aiyanna Nakamura," the brunette said. "I like to stargaze and just be out in nature. I dislike being underestimated and belittled, or someone underestimating or belittling my friends. My hobby is reading and botany. My dream for the future is to live in peace."

'Big dreams,' Tsukiko thought absently.

"Last but not least..."

"I'm Nanami Hyuga," the last one said. "I like listening to music and dislike people assuming I'm helpless. I don't really have any hobbies, though I suppose listening to music counts as a hobby. My dream for the future is to be able to stand as an equal to my brother as a ninja."

Tsukiko smiled. "Well, now that we're all introduced, I think we should get underway."

"What, straight to work?" Aiyanna frowned. "You don't know if we'd even work well together since Aki and I only met Nanami today."

"I know," Tsukiko said. "But you're all three more advanced than most new genin, so I figured we could get underway with a team building exercise right off the bat, rather than wait around."

"Ok," Aki said. "So what do we do?"

Tsukiko grinned. "We're going to play a game of tag."

"What?" Aki yelled. "We're not kids, right!?"

Tsukiko continued to grin. "Somewhere in the village, I have a shadow clone with a little bell. Find it, and try to get the bell. I guess it's more hide-and-seek than tag, but whoever ends up with the bell will be it. From there, the person with the bell has to find me and give it to me. Be aware that there will be another shadow clone that will try to get the bell from you."

"How will we tell the real you from the shadow clones?" Aiyanna asked.

"Excellent question," Tsukiko said cheerily. "The shadow clones will probably have a bird with them."

"Probably?" Aki questioned.

"Good luck," Tsukiko grinned. "You have until dinner time. Begin!"

At her command, the three girls took off to track down the clone. With one last fond look at the group, she decided to go check up on Naruto.

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Tsukiko watched her team trying to catch her clone, a small smile playing on her lips. It appeared to be getting late, and at that moment, Kakashi happened by.

"Tag?" he said, glancing at the frustrated redhead.

"Seeing how they work together in a situation where they need to catch the enemy without causing harm to innocent bystanders," she answered. "Aki will probably snap first. This is the third attempt to get the bell back to the real me. They haven't figured out that when one of them gets the bell, they should protect that person rather than squabble over it."

"Hmm," Kakashi pulled out his book again and started reading.

"Haven't you read that like... a dozen times already?" Tsukiko asked.

"It's my favorite," he answered dully.

"Closet perv."

Kakashi snorted but otherwise didn't react.

After several more minutes, Tsukiko blinked. It seemed they'd caught on. She leaned forward, watching the girls split up, then Aiyanna claimed the bell. She ran into an alley, the two clones moving to intercept her when three Nanami's shot out the alley. They ran together, a small hound running in front of them.

"Huh, looks like I get to pass them," Tsukiko said, as they ran towards where she was.

"They figured it out in the end, did they?" Kakashi said, closing his book with a snap.

"Looks like."

The three Nanami's skidded to a halt, two of them poofing to return to the exhausted appearances of Aiyanna and Aki.

"Not bad," Tsukiko said as Nanami tossed her the bell. The two clones vanished with a poof. "Looks like you all pass. Get a good rest. We have a mission tomorrow."

"It's not another training exercise, is it?" Aki whined.

"No, it's a genuine genin level mission," Tsukiko answered. "You'll still need to get rest, though."

The three girls all grinned, with Aiyanna throwing her arms around both other girls' necks. "Guys we did it!"

"Let's keep doing our best," Nanami smiled.

"Hell yeah!" Aki said. "Hey, Nanami, wanna join Aiya and I for some food? Our treat, right!"

Nanami smiled and agreed. As they left, Tsukiko could hear them all complimenting each other on their various abilities, and discussing the hobbies that they each had.

"You've got a pretty smooth team, it seems," Kakashi said, watching them leave.

"They've got their issues," Tsukiko said. "Aiyanna can be oblivious to how her actions affect other people, while Aki is hot-tempered. As for Nanami, she's blind and has some confidence issues. But I think they'll be a good team."

"Well, good luck," he said, as he made to leave.

"Kakashi, don't be too late tomorrow, you hear?"

"Hmm."