Jounin Recommendation
The day was sunny, sunbeams shining down onto the two Jounin and one Chuunin as they stood off to the side of a training ground, a hasted conversation between the three of them. Izumi's forehead glistened with sweat as she stood in front of the two people whom she called sensei, panting while peering at them with a flabbergasted expression.
"But wouldn't Sen be a better Jounin than me?" Izumi's brows were furrowed in confusion as she looked at Kushina and Minato.
"Sen needs a little push, but until then, she isn't ready yet. Sen is … too lazy sometimes," Kushina nodded in agreement at Minato's explanation. "Maybe you becoming a Jounin could motivate her."
Could she be a Jounin?
Izumi felt hesitant towards the idea. While becoming a Jounin would be a great honour to her and she felt indescribable excitement rushing through her at the idea, she didn't consider herself to be ready. At the same time she also knew that her sensei was not only much more knowledgeable on the subject than herself, but also wouldn't recommend Izumi without reason. She trusted the woman whole-heartedly.
The brunette took a deep breath, "And what do I have to do to become a Jounin?"
Minato smiled at her encouragingly. "First you need to be recommended by at least one Jounin. You were recommended by two," The blonde pointed to himself and his girlfriend, chuckling a little. "So you musn't worry about that."
Izumi felt the heat rush to her face. "Thank you, senseis."
"Don't thank us yet because that is not all," His features turned grim. "Then you need to show mastery in at least two chakra elements. While you mostly work with yang release, Kushina told me that you excel in both water and earth because of your kekkai genkai. That is your advantage, Izumi."
"What's the bad thing? You don't look all to happy, Minato-sensei."
"You see, Izumi, there is a certain amount of missions you need to complete and all you are missing is one."
The Chuunin tilted her head in confusion, not understanding what the senseis were getting at. "Can't I just do that quickly then?"
Kushina sighed. "One A-Rank mission."
Izumi could feel the heat now rushing from her face, leaving her pale. "An A-Rank mission? That is needed to become a Jounin?"
"I tried getting us an A-Rank mission, but the people at the desk are especially stubborn these days, y'know." Kushina looked at her student apologetically, reaching out to pat her shoulder comfortingly.
"But don't worry, we found a solution," said Minato. "Tomorrow I will be leaving on an A-Rank mission and if you want, you can come with me to complete your missing mission."
She could do this, with Minato-sensei's help, she could. "I would be honoured to, sensei! But what is the mission?"
"We have to exchange very important information with a client. I can tell you more once you have accepted the mission."
"I accept, then."
"Good," Minato offered her a smile. "I have a lot to inform you about, then."
━━━━
After the debrieving Minato offered her, Izumi felt prepared for the mission. The idea of going on an A-ranked mission still sent shivers down her spine, leaving her startled. While Minato-sensei would be the one she got to accompany, something she considered to be lucky for her, the thought mere thought was still hair-rising and the execution of it blood-curling. An A-rank mission … her.
Once Izumi had gone home for the day, her clothes clinging to her body from all the sweat that has formed from the training of Team Eleven, she had broken the news to her parents during dinner. While her father choked on his food in response, eyes widening as he stared at his daughter in shock, unable to comment, her mother had immediately dropped her spoon, the utentsil clammering harshly against the bowl. Wrong moment.
"An A-Rank?" Miho had screeched out. "After what has happened to Obito!"
"Mom, if I want to be Jounin, I have to-" began Izumi in an attempt to calm her mother down, but the mention of the requirement only aggravated the woman further.
"'If you want to be Jounin', dear kami, do you hear yourself, Izumi?" Miho placed her hand onto her forehead and took a deep breath, face set into a scowl. "Shinobi work in these times is dangerous."
Izumi let out a sigh. "I know that, mom-"
"You don't know. The world is cruel, it is harsh!"
"If you would-"
"On an A-rank mission so much could go wrong."
Fuji kept quiet at the mention of the unfortunate circumstances of such mission and instead occupied himself with the tablecloth, pulling at the threads of it nervously.
"I'm aware-"
"You are not," Miho had slammed her hands down onto the dinner table making the dinner on it fly up into the air, only to land there again without anything spilling. "You are a child, Yamanaka Izumi. We are in times of war and you are a child. I have every right as your mother to be concered about you. You are our only child, you are the most important thing to me. I am worried for good reason."
"Mom," Izumi slowly scooted closer to her mother. "I never said you are worried for no reason. I just need to go onto this mission-"
"Konoha has enough Jounin."
"Well, I also want to be a Jounin."
"Why?"
"Why?" asked Izumi incredulously. "I have worked hard for this for the last years. I have met every requirement all for one! By being a Jounin I can take some work off of your hands and support the family!"
Miho sucked in a breath. "Support the family?"
"Izumi," interrupted Fuji, gently nudging his daughter away from her mother. "Out, now. Give your mother a moment." He stood up shakily onto his legs, gripping the edge of the table for support.
"Dad-"
Wordlessly Fuji gave his daughter a pointed look, beckoning her to follow him out of the dining room into the living room. Once they had arrived there, he leaned against the doorframe for support, leg twitching while he stood.
"You have to understand your mother, munchkin," Fuji let out a sigh as he looked down at his daughter, attempting to muster up a smile. "After what happened with me and then her cousin Tsunade, she hasn't been the same."
Izumi knew the story of what her unfortunate great-cousin Senju Tsunade had gone through, the pain and suffering the woman had endured before, during and after the times of war. As a medical ninja she had surpassed all those before her, rising up in ranks to become the best. Only to then lose the man whom she had loved the most, unable to save him despite being the best. Miho had sworn that after that day the woman had changed, grief and sorrow haunting her youthful features. Izumi couldn't help but wonder whether her mother had also described herself and not only her cousin.
"I know, dad," Izumi refused to meet his gaze, looking downwards instead. "I understand her point of view and what she means, but this mission is so important to me. I have to do this."
"Just be careful, munchkin. I'll talk to your mother."
The brunette smiled up at her father. "Thank you, I'll always be careful."
"I don't want you to go through what I went through." On his face Fuji wore a far-away look as though remembering something, most likely the incident causing his current state. Then he reached out and ruffled his daughter's hair affectionately before he limped away, most likely to talk to his wife.
Izumi also hoped to not have history repeat itself in her family.
━━━━
After her father had talked to her mother, including a lot of yelling from the latter, Izumi had been granted the permission to accompany Minato on his A-rank mission. It was how she found herself rushing through the vast trees of the forests around Konoha, with the man named the Yellow Flash by her side. Before the mission he had told her that he was scheduled to fight near the front lines by now, against Iwagakure Izumi assumed, but was ordered to complete one last mission before returning to his post. He had also further explained to her what their mission was about and the importance of it.
Before she had left she had also seen the silver-haired boy she cared for, who had come to see her off. Uncharacteristically of him he had given her a short hug, telling her to be careful before hurrying away, probably to prepare for his own mission. The sentiment had made her heart feel as though any moment it would burst.
"Izumi," The man stopped her all of a sudden, coming to rest beside her on a tree branch. He held his arm out in front of her, effectively keepong her from continuing. "Twelve o'clock, enemy nin. Can you tell me how many?"
The brunette focused on her surrounding, allowing her sensory abilities to tune in with them. She had trained them with her uncle and father previously, both men teaching her things she had not known. As told by her sensei, a distance in front of her were several unfamiliar chalra signatures, seven of them. "Seven."
Minato nodded. "Exactly. Now, how do we progress?"
"We try to find a way to avoid the conflict. If that isn't possible, we need a strategy to fight and win."
In his next question Minato hesitated for a moment, focusing on the chakra signature to determin if they were making any moves towards them. They weren't. "Can you find a way around?"
"Their left flank is uncovered. They are all huddled in one group, so if we make it around one, we will make it around all."
"Good. Let's do that then," Minato gave her a curt nod, looking proud. "Are you ready?"
"Yes, sensei."
Minato began to move to a branch to the left of them to then make his way forward in a pace slower than usual to allow his companion to keep up. He was the Yellow Flash after all, speed was his most known attribute. After almost each jump he peeked to the side, checking on the brunette beside him.
Luck appeared to not be on their side as suddenly on a branch in front of them stood a nin of Iwagakure, too deep in Konoha territory. The woman wore a wicked grin on her face as she clicked her tongue at the duo.
"The Yellow Flash," She began, looking at Minato pointedly. "What an honour. Did you know that there is a flee on sight order on you?"
"I'm well aware." Minato scowled at the woman, his focusing on the nearing chakra signatures.
"And you have brought a student, how adorable of you."
The comment aggravated the blond. As fast as his name said, he moved to his student in a flash, coming to stand in front of her. "If you have a problem with me, leave her out of this."
The woman chuckled. "What if I don't want to?"
Several chakra signatures entered the scene, revealing themselves to be four other enemy nin, all from Iwagakure standing before the duo. The two men and two women all wore a similar wicked grin, venom gleaming in their gaze.
"Give us the scroll, now." demanded one of the men loudly.
"Never."
"If you choose so, Yellow Flash of Konoha," The lead woman‘s hand twitched dangerously, fingers curling around a kunai. "Then we will have to take it ourselves."
A kunai flew past Izumi‘s cheek and had it been centimeters closer, it most likely would have drawn blood, resulting in the first wound of the fight. Minato responded quickly by pulling his student closer to his arm before a dizzying sensation surrounded her, Izumi feeling as though her body were being transported in a foreign way. When the sensation faded they stood on the ground below, enemies put behind them. From the distance the duo could hear the irritated shouts their enemies let out.
"Run." Minato sprinted ahead, pulling Izumi along with him until he was sure she was following him closely.
On foot they would not be as fast to retrieve the scroll from their destination at the outskirts of Konoha, yet in the trees they ran the danger of being followed by the enemies again. Izumi could feel their chakra signatures keeping up and coming closer, following persitently. Two others had joined by now, the missing members they had detected previosuly, she presumed. Even when pushed chakra into her feet in order to quicken her steps, she still felt not as fast as she would wish to be. It was then that she stumbled on a rock, falling over.
With her hands Izumi managed to lessen her fall, the limbs taking on a crimson colour from the blood now seeping from the scraps she had just received. Dirt and sticks collected on her skin, pinching it horribly. Her fall also gave her opponents the ability to catch up with the duo.
"Izumi!" Minato called out to her, coming to her side. "Can you stand?"
"Do you trust me, sensei?" She peered up at him, a plan forming in her mind.
The blond nodded, eyes set on the nearing figures of their opponents, face set into a scowl. "Do whatever you plan."
Izumi got up from her position on the ground, mud and dirt clinging to her clothing as though they were second nature. She didn‘t bother brushing them off as it was Mud Release that was a part of her, a kekkei genkai that stained her skin ever since she first used it.
"Mud Release: Bottomless Mud Trap!" The terrain they were in, a muddy forest after an excessive rainfall, was something she was able to use to her advantage. Izumi was able to use the mud on the ground, creating a mud pit into which their enemies could fall. As she had been taught by her mother, above the hole she created a thin layer of hardening mud on which the target could stand on before falling down into it. An escape was not easy either as the hole was lined with hands made out of mud which served to pull the target only deeper, keeping them in there as long as needed. The only way they could save themselves was if they stood on a surface not made of dirt, but Izumi couldn‘t see any.
She followed that jutsu up with another, again using the mud provided. "Mud Release: Mud Clone!" Out of the mud she quickly shaped an identical clone to herself and forced it to lay down on the cover of the hole, ready to trap the target.
Minato pulled Izumi up as soon as she was done, pulling her along with him again. The two of them would stay long enough to only hear the aftermath of the traps she had placed: shouts and yells to get so safety and a woman cursing the name ‚Mud Princess‘. As they made their way to their destination, a small place on the outskirts, the name lingered in her mind for quite a bit.
━━━━
"The Mud Release, who taught you these jutsu?" Minato sat beside the brunette in a booth, both waiting for the food they had just ordered. After using much of her chakra, she needed to replenish it.
"My mom," Izumi replied, turning towards her sensei. "She is really good at using it but hates fighting, so she teaches me instead. But admittedly, most jutsu I learned from scrolls of our family. Like the Bottomless Mud Pit, it is a jutsu I taught myself from a scroll."
"You taught yourself?" asked Minato, his surprise evident.
Izumi nodded hastily. "Uh huh. There are not a lot of people I could ask, after all."
"Many people believe Mud Release to be a myth. Seems like they were wrong." In all his years as a Shinobi, Namikze Minato had heard of the rare kekkei genkai several times, its mere existence believed the be a myth of humankind. For it to exist was a peculiar thought.
"I know. But in our defense, people with kekkei genkai weren‘t always well liked. There are reasons why people like my mum hid it." While Miho had often refused to tell to Izumi how many Mud Release users there had been in their family, she had the slight suspicion that the number barely exceeded a dozen.
"I totally understand," The blond sensei smiled wrily. "The way people with kekkei genkai were often treated was absolutely horrible. It makes sense to hide it. After today, Izumi, you can‘t hide it anymore, you know that?"
The brunette‘s lips twisted into a scowl. "I know. But, sensei, I don‘t think I want to hide it as much, I want to be stonger."
"You have received a moniker now, Izumi," reminded her Minato, almost proudly. "That is quite the feat to be given a name."
"Sometimes I wish people knew me more for my mind abilities." admitted Izumi. Never before had she spoken those words, them almost seeming foreign on her tongue.
Minato tilted his head to look at her. "Why is that?"
"I‘m not the best when using our Hiden jutsu," She explained, fiddling nervously with the bandages now wrapped around her wounds. "I try my best and often fail. I‘m average, that‘s all. Mud Release is more my strength, but I don‘t think that‘s what I want to work with."
Minato let out a noise of understanding, urging the brunette to continue. "What is it that you want to do then?"
"Help people. With my mind techniques I can maybe help. Through Mud Release I can protect, but if I‘m honest, I don‘t really like close fighting."
"You are more of a gentle soul than a figher. But that‘s okay," The man placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, offering her up an encouraging smile. "Once you have made Jounin, which I don‘t doubt you will, you can explore many opportunities. Try things out and find yourself."
Izumi nodded. "I will. I was thinking of maybe joinining a family branch."
"Then do it."
"Really?" She peered up at him, wide-eyed. "You think I can do it?"
"If you want to, you can. Just because Mud Release is your strength, that doesn‘t mean you can‘t be good at other things too. By training you can also hone other abilities."
"I will do that then, sensei. Thank you!" Izumi grinned brightly at his encouragement, throwing her arms around the older man in delight. She embraced him tightly, squishing her face against his shoulder.
Minato let out a loud chuckle at her action, his own arm going to wrap around her shoulder, only pulling her in tighter. Softly he patted her head, careful not to brush any of her injuries.
With crinckled eyes he peered down at her. "I want to be Hokage." His voice was soft, wistful even.
"Then be Hokage, sensei." said Izumi, smiling back at him.
"How about this then: I become Hokage and you join a family branch, alright?"
Izumi pretended to think about the offer for a moment before nodding hastily. "It‘s a deal, sensei."
"Good," He chuckled. "The way up can be lonely, but I can walk it with you."
"That would be nice," Izumi bit her lip, remembering something. "Minato-sensei, will you tell Kushina-sensei about our talk?"
"Do you not want me to?"
"I don‘t mind!" Izumi pulled away from the man slightly to properly look at him. "I was just wondering because I never told her before and I don‘t want her to feel like I‘m afraid to tell her anything."
Minato chuckled yet again. "Don‘t worry about that, Izumi. Kushina would never think that. She will be glad you have found your dreams. You care about her, huh?"
"Yeah, I do. I care about my whole team. And of course Kakashi, and you."
The blond sensei grew sad at the mention of his student. "I‘m glad you do. Everyone needs someone who cares for them after all." He ruffled her hair affectionately as his thoughts were yet again occupied by his team. He just hoped that in his absence, they were alright.