You sit next to Gai for a long moment as you consider the options he's laid out in front of you. One long moment turns into two, and then several. Before you know it you're watching the sun fully set behind the horizon as you ponder your future.
Being a shinobi, a ninja, is not an easy life. You know that just from watching the anime; you can only guess at what they left out that you'll actually have to live through. Years of training. Enough pain for several lifetimes. You'll shed and cause enough tears to fill bathtubs. And that would just be in a period of quiet. You know how old you are- you won't be a ninja in a period of quiet.
If you were the same person you were before you were hit by a bus, you'd say no. You wouldn't just say no, you'd scream it and run. You would run as fast as you physically could until you got to the walls of Konoha and then you'd keep running. You might not ever stop.
Slowly, you turn your head to look at Gai. The boisterous man is sitting quietly and letting you think. He's carefully not looking at you. Instead he's staring off into the sunset, eyes narrowed as he takes in the last rays of the day. It's not what you would have expected from the Jonin.
And that makes you think. You're not the same person who was hit by a bus five years ago. You have a new Mother, new friends, a new life. And you have a new perspective.
You might not have safety as a ninja, but you'd be able to provide it to others. You might risk death, but you wouldn't be doing it alone. You might cry tears of blood, but someone will be there to help you clean them up.
Yeah. You could deal with that.
"I-" you start, voice froggy from disuse. Gai's eyes snap to you as you clear your throat. "I'll do it."
Gai doesn't respond. He waits patiently for you to continue. So you do. "I'll do it," you repeat, voice getting stronger. "Yeah. I'll join the Academy."
Your phantom mentor's eyes light up. "This is a most wonderful decision you have made, Daisuke-kun! I cannot wait to see what you blossom into! Under the proper guidance and tutelage there is no limit to what you can accomplish!"
He pops up and immediately reaches down to help you to your feet as well. You take it gratefully, ignoring the protest in your muscles. It's only once you've regained your balance that you stop to wonder exactly where you are. You chased Mr. Straw a long way, and you're not sure how far away home is. You told Mother you'd be back late but she'll still worry.
You look up at Gai and ask, and the response is another blinding smile that burns it's way into your retinas. "Worry not my young friend! Your home is only a mile to the east!"
You pause for a second. "Really? We only went a mile?" Sure, it's a long distance to go on such tiny legs- you can't wait for your growth spurt- but you'd have sworn you went at least triple that in your straw chase.
"We did not!" Gai answers, confusing you for a moment. When he sees the look on your face he continues. "Our glorious chase went nearly seven miles! But they were not linear! Indeed, we took a winding path that doubled and redoubled upon itself on many occasions! We are quite close to the location of our first encounter!"
As Gai chatters, he starts steering you in the proper direction with a hand on your shoulder. You stumble briefly but catch yourself. Gai pauses mid-word. "My apologies! I had not realized how weary you must be after a day of well-spent exertion! Would you like me to carry you home?"
You instinctively shake your head. "No thanks… sir?" When he doesn't object to the word, you continue. "But I want to be able to walk there myself."
This time, you're pretty sure the sparkle of his teeth could be seen from orbit. "Your determination humbles and inspires me! After I escort you home, I shall redouble my own training! I will hone my basics, much as you have been doing! I will run two complete circuits of the village without pause, and if I pause for any reason, I will follow it with one thousand strikes to a training dummy, and if-"
Absently, you tune out Gai's promises. You get the sense that you're going to be doing a lot of that. But what he just said does make you remember. One thousand strikes to a training dummy. You never finished your achievement. You're… forty one strikes short.
You shrug to yourself. You'll finish that up in the next few days. No point worrying about it now.
But as you ponder Mr. Straw, you're not paying attention to where you're walking. Your foot catches a tree root and you plunge, falling on your hands and knees on the forest floor. To your slight surprise, Gai doesn't move to catch you even though he's definitely fast enough. He just waits as you pick yourself back up and then continues chattering away as if nothing had happened.
You stare at his back for a long second before trudging after him. It's not like you were expecting him to help you up again, but-
"Root," Gai says absently, pointing down. You instinctively glance where he's pointing and see that your feet were about to snag another root. You step over it and offer him your thanks. "No thanks necessary my young friend! It is my privilege to help you grow!"
Huh.
Unless you're completely misreading Gai here, he's trying to tell you something. He's saying that he won't stop you from making mistakes- like tripping. And he won't shield you from the consequences of those mistakes- like the grass stains on your knees and palms. But he will help you avoid those mistakes in the future- like that second root.
"...and if I cannot convince two people to be my sparring partner for the evening, then I will split trees into planks to aid in construction with nothing but my hands for.."
...or you could just be reading entirely too much into Maito Gai. You're not sure. Either way works.
You navigate your way through the forest floor without tripping over any more roots, and Gai's subject material slowly starts to change. Instead of his own training plans, or the training plans he has for you, he starts talking more about the Academy. More specifically, what will have to be done to get into the Academy.
"The majority of it is simple paperwork- which, despite what a great deal of my colleagues think, is nothing to fear! And yours shall be simpler than most of theirs still! It shall take but a single form: the declaration of intent. It signifies that you desire to serve as a Shinobi of Konohagakure. It is one page and requires your signature and parental consent. I will assist you with that this very evening!"
You nod. Makes sense. "Alright. So if we get that filled out, when will I start at the Academy? And how long will I be in it before I graduate?"
"The Academy runs for seven years," Gai explains, volume dropping to something that's almost conversational. "During which you will be trained in the basics of all things that a Shinobi must know. It runs year round, with breaks for holidays and a small sabbatical mid summer! Each term begins in March, after the Equinox. So you have but a few short months before you embark on this next chapter!"
He's not wrong. It may not feel like it due to Konoha's more mild climate, but it's January now. Only two months before your training starts in earnest.
The two of you chat as you emerge from the woods and hit the dirt roads of the village once again. The topics meander around for awhile, ranging from what you should expect at the Academy to how Gai will fix up the damage he caused to Mr. Straw- and he will fix that. But eventually, as you near your home, you come back to your day in the forest. And there's a nagging question you want answered.
"Um, sir?" you ask. "I understood most of the lessons I was supposed to pick up from the tests back there, but there was one I wasn't sure about."
"Please! Ask away! Asking questions is the only way to have knowledge fill your mind!"
"...sure. But yeah. The only one I'm not sure of is the last test."
"The bird? That was a simple test of your accuracy and your determination! I-"
"No, not the bird. I wasn't sure about the very last test. The one where we sparred."
"Oh?"
"Yes sir. I mean, what the point of having me run through the same moves and counters so many times? Shouldn't I be working on different things so that I don't fall back on the same routine in an actual fight?"
"A most excellent insight! And indeed you would be correct in most cases. Relying on the same techniques and routines is a sure way to lose an important battle at an inopportune moment, and we will doubtlessly be training that in the future! But that test was not to evaluate your reflexes or the strength of your arm! It was to evaluate your critical thinking and your pattern recognition. And.."
"And what, sir?"
"And it was a lesson as well as a test. It was to teach you perhaps the most important lesson you shall ever learn from me! It was to teach you…"
Gai reaches down and ruffles your already messed hair. "It was to teach you that there is always a way to win. No matter how hopeless the task seems, how challenging the road before you looks, how dangerous the opponent who stands before you is, there is always a way to overcome it."
Your mentor stops you from moving forward and meets your eyes steadily. "Remember, Daisuke-kun. The battle is only truly lost if you despair and surrender. As long as you do not do that, you can overcome any obstacle!"
You offer Gai a shaky smile. "Thanks. I'll keep that in mind, sir."
"Please do! And please call me Gai-sensei! You may not be my apprentice on paper, but even if I never teach you another thing again, I have aided in your tutelage in some small way! It would be a privilege for you to call me your teacher."
"Um, sure Gai-Sensei."
...is… is he crying? He's crying. And it doesn't look like he's going to stop any time soon.
Thankfully, he does stop, right when you get home. You push the door open and immediately meet your Mother's concerned eyes. She's sitting at the kitchen table, eyes trained on the doorway with a steaming cup of something in her hands. Behind her, Tokei is leaning against the wall in his customary position. Before either can say anything, you speak up. "I found Mr. Straw!" you call. "And you would not believe the day I've had."
Gai squeeze through the door behind you. "It has been a most wonderful day!" he proclaims. "And it shall only get better, for I now have the pleasure of introducing myself to two of the most important people in my young pupil's life!" He gently puts Mr. Straw down next to the umbrella stand that's currently holding Mother's parasol and Tokei's sword and moves towards them. "I am Maito Gai, and it is wonderous to meet the both of you!"
Mother's mouth moves soundlessly for a long moment. For his part, Tokei seems nonplussed, except for some slightly wider than usual eyes. But eventually Mother's courtly training takes over. "Please, Gai-san, be welcome in my home. May I fetch you something to drink?"
Which is how you wind up sitting at the table between Mother and Gai-sensei, both clutching earthenware mugs of dark tea. "And what brings us the joy of hosting you today?" Mother asks politely.
Gai pauses for a moment, but quickly launches into an explanation. He covers a lot more ground than you thought he would, starting back at when he discovered your desire to punch a dummy and carrying on through today. He phrases it a little differently than you would have though, emphasizing more how you were doing things instead of what you were doing.
Honestly, it's a smart approach. Mother starts off wary, and a little bit hostile to the strange looking man who invited himself into her home. But the more he talks, the more he compliments how well you were doing, and the more Mother seems to relax. With each mention of your 'natural talent', she gets a little bit happier. It's like she's just happy to have someone recognize your greatness.
By the time he produces the declaration, Mother is nodding along with everything Gai says. "It would be a shame to squander such god given gifts!" Gai enthuses. "And as a shinobi, it is my honor to encourage their growth. So upon completion of today's tests, I asked young Daisuke-kun if he would be interested in becoming a member of Konohagakure's ninja forces. And he seemed interested in the possibility."
Mother hesitates for a moment, glancing at you. "Is that even permissible?" she asks. "After all, Daisuke isn't a natural born citizen of the Land of Fire."
Gai waves off her concerns. "Indeed, but he has lived here long enough to be naturalized! And even if he were not, Konoha's shinobi forces encourage talent and desire above all else! It matters not where you were born or how long your family has resided within our walls! It only matters what one can do and how hard they are willing to work!"
"And," he says significantly, looking down at you again. "From what I have seen, Daisuke-kun is willing to work quite hard. Under proper instruction, the heights he can reach know no bounds!"
Mother glances at you as well. You see dozens of emotions in her eyes. There's concern, there's worry, there's fear. But overpowering them all is pride. Pride that you have a path before you to make something of yourself. Pride at your drive, pride at your dedication. Mother may be worried, but she's never looked so proud to be your mother before.
Unconsciously you lean in and clutch her in a tight hug, one she reciprocates instantly. "My Daisuke is meant for great things," Mother says to Gai over the top of your head. "And it seems this is something he's ready and willing to do. I will sign your form."
"Wonderful!" Gai answers. The declaration is in front of you with a thick pencil in moments. "On the line please!"
You and Mother both sign it, and Gai rises from his chair. "I shall deliver this to the Administrative Office immediately!" he declares. "And I shall return on the morrow with a training plan for you follow! Until then, Satomura-san, Daisuke-kun! I bid you a good evening!"
With that final word he leaves, gently closing the door behind him. You barely look up to see him go. You're too busy getting hugged. Mother isn't the most physically demonstrative parent in the world, but she gives the best hugs. You sit in it for a long time before she finally lets it go. She looks down at you with those pride filled eyes and opens her mouth to speak-
Before a heavy thud on the other side of the table interrupts her.
You glance over your shoulder. Tokei has moved from his position near the wall and planted his hands on the kitchen table. "What were you thinking Manami?" he hisses.
Mother puffs up and releases the hug. "I was thinking that this is the best path available to Daisuke!" she responds in kind. "When an opportunity to allow him to advance such as this arrives, one does not turn it down!"
A vein pulses in Tokei's forehead. "There was a plan," Tokei snarls. "You agreed to it. Daisuke would attend Hagekko and seek his fortune there! He-"
"What kind of fortune is at Hagekko?!" Mother snarls. "I did not like the plan when you told me about it, and I only agreed to it due to a lack of other options! But now that it's been averted, I am grateful that Daisuke shall not be going there! What kind of life would he be getting with a Hagekko education? The life of a merchant? The life of a road worker or a ditch digger? My son is worth more!"
"It is a good life!" Tokei rebuts. "An honest life. One worth living! And above all, it is a quiet life. One without renown and without fanfare. The life you agreed he would live!"
Something changes in both of their postures. Mother's back stiffens slightly, and Tokei… he doesn't move. But something about the way he's settling his weight sets off alarm bells in your mind. Mother rises from her chair so she can look Tokei in the eye- and pushes you behind her with one hand. A lance of fear pulses in your belly.
Mother's tone changes. "Yes, I did," she breathes, tone too steady to be normal. "I agreed that Daisuke would live a quiet life away from the court of Iron, and bring no renown to his name. But he will still do that! A ninja does not acquire personal glory! No one outside this village will know his name! I am still upholding our end of the bargain! And my son deserves-"
"Your son deserves nothing!" Tokei snarls. "As you well know! What could he deserve?! He is nothing but the bastard stain on my lord's honor that comes from taking a whore as a concubine!"
...what?
The fear fights with anger in your belly. No one fucking talks about your Mother like that! "I-"
Mother absently taps you with one hand. The message is clear: not now.
Tokei continues. "And now you've signed that whoreson into service with the shinobi of Konoha! You know what this means, correct? Now whenever the Daimyo of Fire desires to expand his reach, he will have a ready made puppet already pledged to him! And that… that is something that I cannot allow."
Tokei straightens. And the table flies across the room.
Steel gleams in his hand. A knife, one of the dozens he has secreted throughout the house.
Mother straightens and pushes you further behind her. "No."
Tokei shakes his head. "This must be done now, Manami. Daisuke cannot be a shinobi of Konoha when the blade falls. If that were to happen, war would erupt between Iron and Fire. For the sake of long term peace and prosperity, the deed must be done before that form is registered."
Mother stands stock still for a long moment. Finally, words escape her mouth. "He's a child," she breathes out. "I thought you above attempting to murder a child simply because he might prove 'inconvenient'."
A pained look crosses Tokei's face. "Indeed. This is a most dishonorable action. But it is one that must be done to save my lord. After it is done, I will atone. But that does not change the fact: it must. Be. Done."
Resolves crosses the samurai's face- and Mother pushes you back. "Go!" she hisses.
Tokei moves faster than you've ever seen, knife gleaming terribly in his hand. Mother pushes you back again, harder, sending you stumbling towards the door. She stands between you and Tokei like a wall before a bull. "I will not allow this!" she yells-
And goes flying with the smack of flesh on flesh.
Tokei lowers his hand. "Please remain down," he states, voice cold. "Imagawa-sama would grieve should anything happen to his Lily of the Mountain. But should you continue to hinder my task then I shall be forced to take action."
The way he hefts his knife leaves no doubt in your mind what that action would be.
But Mother doesn't respond to him. Instead, she looks at where you've frozen. "Go!"
The scene freezes- and text begins to scrawl in your ears.
"When you have reached the end of a stage, there will always be a challenge to complete before you clear it! Sometimes it is a challenge of wits or skill, but in most cases you will face an enemy stronger than any you've fought before! This enemy is called a 'Boss'! The boss for stage 'Land of Iron Bastard' Tokei of Iron has appeared!"
"Defeat this boss to complete the tutorial!"
And the world resumes normal speed.
What will you do?
[] If you run, Tokei will take it out on Mother before chasing you. You can't let that happen! You know some Taijutsu! You'll fight him head on!
[] You're the one he wants! Draw Tokei upstairs! There has to be something you can use to defeat him there!
[] Tokei is beyond you. He's a fully trained samurai and you're fucking five! You need to run! You need to run right now and call for help!
[] Write-In (Does *not* need approval, just this once. Let's see what you can think of.)
