Game of the Year: A Naruto Quest

With Yui looking so disconsolate and Ino practically begging you to say something with her eyes, there's only one thing you can really say to respond. "And so what?" you ask.

Yui freezes in place. Whatever she expected you to say, it wasn't that? "E-excuse me?" she stammers out, some small measure of her well-developed manners returning. "What was that?"

"So what?" you repeat. You drop down so that you're sitting right in front of her, meeting her eyes. "So what if you're just really good at one thing? The fact is, Yui, that you're okay at a lot of things, but you're great at that one thing. And from what I can tell, Shinobi are all about being great at just one thing at first."

You gesture towards the curtain that separates Yui's cell from the rest of the temple and, by proxy, at the rest of Konoha. "Honestly, look at our class. Look at who made the cut. Chouji is okay at several things, but he's only really shown skill in his family jutsu. Sakura is very good at many things, but she shines when it comes to theoretical knowledge. Kiba's skilled with tracking and Taijutsu but the rest of his skills are rough at best. Your skill level is not unusual here."

"Then why?!" Yui asks, voice rising and tone becoming near shrill. Her eyes are wide and almost panicked as she stares at you. "Then why did I fail?! Why don't I get to be a ninja anymore?"

You can only shrug at that. "My best guess? It was just… just bad luck. Maybe your Sensei didn't really understand your potential. Or maybe your teammates didn't let you shine as you can. But out of all of us, you're one of the best suited to becoming a Shinobi. Don't give up. Please."

Surprise passes over Yui's face. "Give up?" she mutters. "I… that means there's something else I can try?"

At her side, Ino nods emphatically. "Yeah! There's plenty of things that people who don't get onto one of the squads can do! There's the Genin Corps, or… hey, you've got great control! You could probably get started as a Medic! If you don't want that, you could even try again with the next class and get onto a squad that way!"

"Or," you add, "You could find another sensei on your own. Special Jounin are always looking for talent to pass their skills on to, and because they don't qualify for a squad they don't get the chance." Gods know you've heard enough rants from Aunt Anko to know that. "If you can prove yourself to one of them, you can get apprenticed to them, and you'll advance another way."

"The point is," Ino continues. "That you're not done! They haven't beaten you yet! You can't give up. There's plenty of other ways you can do this. And if you need help, let us know. We'll help you every step of the way if you need it."

You reach out and finally put your hand on Yui's shoulder, adding the comfort of your physical presence to your words. "Every step," you echo. "We've come this far together. We're not going to let you twist on your own now."

For a long moment, the three of you sit there in silence.

It's finally broken when Yui lashes out with the speed of the skilled shinobi that's she's trained to be. Before you can fully register it, you're tucked under one arm, and Ino under the other. Yui has you both trapped in a tight grip that's part headlock, part hug. Tears trickle down Yui's face as her emotions overwhelm her. "I can still do this!" she burbles out between sobs. "Thanks so much guys! I... " Anything else she was going to say is swallowed up by her tears of relief and release.

You sit frozen in her grip for as long as you can. This hug doesn't seem to be for you after all. Yui needs this, needs the physical closeness of her friends more than anything else. Limply, you reach up and pat her on the back. It's all you can do.

You can feel the exact moment that Yui realizes what she's doing. She stops sobbing in an instant and sits in frozen shock. Then she's suddenly released you and is standing on the other side of her cell, leaving you and Ino leaning against a pillow she substituted for. She scrubs at her face with rapid gestures before turning back to you. Her polite smile is back in place and the only sign of the emotional release she's just been through is a slight puffiness around the eyes.

"My apologies for my outburst," she says, bowing low to you and then to Ino. "It was most unbecoming of me. Truly, I am sorry that you had to see me in such a state."

You have to chuckle as you hop back to your feet. Somehow, it's reassuring to know that no matter what happens, Yui will still be Yui. "Think nothing of it," you answer. "We are at your service in anyway that you require."

For some reason, Yui's cheeks blush red and her eyes dart between you and Ino. But she masters her emotions quickly and forces the blood back. "And serve admirably you have," she answers. "I… appreciate your coming today."

Ino groans as she gets up, and you bite back a chuckle. She never could tolerate your battles of politeness with Yui very well. She doesn't protest it like she normally does. Maybe she can see that Yui needs routine and familiarity right now. Instead she says, "You're our friend. Of course we came to see you!"

The three of you talk for another few moments. Yui asks you more questions about Special Jounin and how they judge apprentices and asks Ino about the positions at the hospital. In the end, the three of you decide that the best thing she can do is talk to Iruka-sensei before deciding anything. But the one thing you know when you leave the temple is that Yui isn't giving up being a ninja, not for anything.

Sooner than you'd like, your time is up. "I need to meet my team," you say with a glance towards the front door, trying to guess what time it is from the shadows coming from outside. "I'll see you later, alright?"

"Of course!" Yui chirps. "Take care, and remember that it's in poor form to stab one's teammates at a meeting."

You chuckle. "I'm aware. Besides, that's what sparring is for."

Ino decides to hang out with Yui for a little bit longer, so you say your farewells and head out into the late morning sun. Pumping chakra into your legs you dart through the crowds, weaving your way out of the civilian areas and heading for Training Ground 23.

You make it there with time to spare; around ten minutes by your reckoning. You're not the first there however. Kiba's already in front of the bench, sitting on the ground and playing some kind of game with Akamaru. As you watch he claps and raises an open hand. The small dog smacks it with a paw and then does a similar motion, jamming both of his paws together before raising one up for a slap from Kiba. Interesting. Some kind of reflex training? Maybe a way for the two to get more in sync?

They don't notice you as you walk into the training ground, but Kurenai-sensei does. Your teacher is perched on the bench with her legs folded beneath her. She raises a hand in greeting. "Good morning Daisuke-kun," she says. "And thank you for your promptness."

You nod at her. "Good morning Sensei," you answer- before pausing and throwing out a Kai. Just in case. Sensei just waved at you, which can be used to start a Genjutsu. And you've had enough of Kurenai-sensei's Genjutsu for a while.

At your pulse of chakra, Kurenai-sensei chuckles. "No need for that," she says. "Training has not yet begun for the day. And even if it had, we've not yet reached the stage where you'll need to be wary of my every motion. We shall get there in time though. I'm certain of it."

...is that good? You're not sure if that's good. In lieu of answering you nod at her again and drop to a seat, pulling out your blade as you do. It's still in good shape from it's weekly oiling and polishing, and it may never have lost its edge in your life, but there could always be a first time.

Five minutes pass, then ten. It's fifteen minutes later- five after your scheduled meeting time- that Mariko sprints into the training ground at top speed. "Sorry!" she yells out before she's even come to a stop. "Sorry! I had something that I had to take care of that went long. I'm really sorry!"

To your surprise, Kurenai-sensei doesn't chastise her or even demand to know what was so important that Mariko's late for her first day as an official shinobi. All she does is nod and rise to her feet. "Now that we've all arrived," she says, drawing Kiba's attention away from his training. "Allow me to explain our routine."

"Today we are getting a late start on account of your experiences last night," she begins. "On a normal day, we will meet here at eight in the morning. There will be training in the morning, then a break for lunch, and then further training in the afternoon. When I'm confident in your skills we will begin taking missions in lieu of one of the training sessions. Are there any questions?"

"Hey, we're ready now!" Kiba protests. "Me and Akamaru could go do whatever mission you wanted anytime! We don't need to wait!"

Mariko sighs but nods. "Fur boy is right. We're mission ready right now. We just need to prove it! And the best way to prove it is by taking a mission!"

Kurenai-sensei's lips quirk into a small smile. "And you, Daisuke-kun?" she asks. "Do you think that Team Eleven is ready for a mission right this instant?"

You think for a moment. "I-"

"Come on! We've already decided!" Mariko argues. "I say we're ready! Kiba says we're ready! That's two-"

"Arf!"

"-that's three votes to Daisuke's one! Let's go get a mission!"

Something flashes in Kurenai-sensei's ruby eyes. She sits back and gives Mariko a long look. "Is that what you think, Mariko-chan?" she muses. "That this is some sort of democracy, where your demands are more valid because they're spoken by more voices than others? Is that how you think being a ninja works?"

Mariko has to sense she's on dangerous ground. Her mouth snaps shut and she shakes her head. "No, sensei."

"Good," Kurenai-sensei practically purrs. "Because this is not a democracy. You are shinobi. I am your commander. You will do as I say, when I say it, and not a moment sooner. Is that clear?"

The bane of your existence nods. "Yes, sensei."

Your teacher doesn't spare Mariko another word. Instead she turns her focus back to you. "Now, Daisuke-kun. I believe I asked you a question. Do you also think that Team Eleven is mission capable right now?"

As much as you enjoy seeing Mariko get shut down, you don't let it show on your face. You don't need more of a problem with her. Instead you shrug. "Does it truly matter what I say?" you ask. "You've made it clear that you have your plans and we shall be following them."

Kurenai-sensei acknowledges your words with a nod. "True. But I'm a fair woman. I'm willing to listen to argument if it's phrased correctly. And if you agree with Mariko and Kiba- and Akamaru- than perhaps I'm truly underestimating you. If you agree, we shall head to the Tower right now and get you your first mission with no further training whatsoever."

...this sounds like a trap.

Almost on cue, a fanfare blares in your ear, and two windows pop up in the corner of your eye.


...of course.

Looks like you've got two new quests. You can only accept one of them. Which one do you take?
[] Into the Lion's Maw
[] To Know Oneself