Konoha Barrier Team
Early in the morning, after Izumi had calmly ate her breakfast with her parents, who had taken it upon themselves to hype her up for her first day at work, her uncle Inoichi rang the doorbell shortly after the sun had risen above the horizon.
"Knock knock." joked the man as soon as Izumi had opened the door to let him into the house. His features were decorated with a confident smirk, one that indicated that he believed his joke to be hilarious.
"I'm here." deadpanned Izumi as she held open the door.
Inoichi frowned at his niece. "You always ruin my joke, little one."
"That's because you have been telling the same one every time you ring the doorbell. You aren't even knocking."
"You are my least favorite niece, do you know that?"
"I'm your only niece."
"Ignore that."
"Accept it, brother, I am the funny sibling." Fuji gently placed his hand on his daughter's shoulder, coming to stand behind her. On his face, he wore a smirk, one directed at the blond Yamanaka.
Inoichi let out a snort. "Dream on, brother," Then the blond man reached out towards Fuji, fists connecting in a fist bump. "Good to see you."
Fuji reciprocated the gesture, smiling at his sibling. "Good to see you too."
“Inoichi, hello!” came a cheerful voice from behind Izumi, one that belonged to a smiling Miho. The woman stepped into the hallway, allowing herself to be visible for her brother-in-law. “It’s good to see you again. I hope you have been well.”
“See, Fuji, that is how you welcome your sibling!” Inoichi took a step into the warm hallway, the yellow walls welcoming him. Then he went on to engulf both his niece and daughter-in-law into a loving embracing, squeezing them tightly.
Miho let out a laugh at his action. “As charming as always.”
“I try.”
The blond man released his family members from his tight embrace before ruffling his niece’s hair, making the girl giggle as she swatted his hand away playfully. In response, he grinned at her.
Fuji shook his head at the action, smiling. “What can we do for you, Inoichi?”
Inoichi turned to face his brother before looking over at his niece again. “I’m here to pick up little Izumi for her apprenticeship.”
“Thank you for organizing this again, brother.”
Inoichi waved Fuji off with a laugh, shaking his head in denial. “No need to thank me, it was all your daughter’s accomplishment. Izumi did not only impress me, but also the elders. The suggestions came from several clans men.”
Izumi could feel herself startle at the revelation, it coming as a complete surprise to her. To hear that the elders of all people not only vetoed the decision, but also were the ones to bring up her apprenticeship left her with her mouth agape. It was not every day that the higher-ups approved from decisions happening within the clan or even suggested promotion of clan members. The fact that they had stood in for her was astonishing.
“That is my expression exactly when they approved of the suggestion,” remarked Inoichi at the sight of the brunette’s face. “I’m sure I must have gaped at them for a few minutes. That was until father yelled at me to get a grip.”
At that, it was Fuji who startled. “Father yelled at you?”
“Yes.”
“I wish I could have seen that.”
“Enough clan members have seen it for me to be mortified enough,” Inoichi barked out a laugh before regaining his composure. “Back to the point: most approved, so we are all set.”
The heads of the three adults all turned towards the youngest family member in the room, expectant expressions residing on their features. Miho gave her daughter an encouraging smile, while Fuji meanwhile held his thumbs up with a mirroring smile.
“I can do this.” replied Izumi. It was no yes or no, but more of a reassuring statement to herself.
Despite the words falling past her lips, half a truth and half a lie, she couldn’t help but wonder if she really could do this. Was she cut out of the right wood in order to be a member of the barrier team, or was the decision one that would end up making her more miserable than anything? Izumi frowned just a little, hoping that no one would notice her change in expression.
━━━━
The Konoha Barrier Team was located in a large chamber with two levels holding the two divisions of it. Several streams of water ran from the upper level of the chamber down to the lower level into a large basin, where all the liquid collected. Above the basin is a sensing barrier shaped like a dome, it was the work field of one of the divisions.
“Here work the members of the Detection Division,” explained Inoichi while he led his niece around the place, pointing with his finger to whatever he described. “Usually this division has three members. Their task is to detect intruders of the barrier surrounding Konoha. This is why we have the little sensing barrier here above the basin, it helps them do their task. Once they do find an intruder, they alert the other division: the Interception Division.,” Inoichi led her to the upper level where a few Shinobi resided in the lounge area. “Their task is it to apprehend said intruder once they are alerted. This will be the division in which you will apprentice. It will help you hone your skills as a Kunoichi.”
A collective shout of “Hello!” came from the several Shinobi from the lounge area. Some of them even waved at Izumi, making her feel welcome.
The lounge area itself looked more than mere comfortable, with a huge couch placed in the middle of it. It was decorated with several kinds of pillows, all in various colors laying on it, spread with no discernible pattern. The Shinobi sat there in relaxed positions, not a single muscle taut or tensed. Their comfort was obvious from the sight of their serene smiles and easy-going postures.
Inoichi let out a chuckle at the sight of them. Then he gently placed his arm around the shoulder of his niece, beginning to lead her to the lower level again.
Down there now stood someone familiar to Izumi: a boy with blond hair, forest green eyes and thick black glasses sitting atop his nose who also wore a smug grin once he saw her come down the stairs. His reaction confused Izumi, but she did her best to smile back out of politeness. Who he was though, she could not recognize.
“You won’t be the only one apprenticing,” began Inoichi to explain, his gaze focused on the boy. “Yamanaka Daisuke will also be apprenticing with you.”
Now Izumi at least knew why the boy appeared so familiar to her, he was a kin of her clan. While she was not related to him, they shared a clan and surname. The combination of blond hair and green eyes should have given it away, they were common traits in her clan after all, often represented by various members such as her uncle. Yet she hadn’t recognized him, a boy with whom she spent some time during her childhood, one she had not remembered all too fondly from their various meetings. To put it quite harshly: Izumi had always despised him.
“Long time no see, huh?” Daisuke grinned at her with his smug look, one that made her want to look away immediately.
“Daisuke.” She greeted without a hint of the bitterness she felt in her tone. It had not been long enough, in her opinion.
Now that he had been re-introduced to him, Izumi was able to identify his features from the ones etched into her memories. He had always worn thick-rimmed glasses, usually a hideous shade of green that somehow matched his eyes. Daisuke was the tallest of the children and towered above her during the clan meetings. Every time they were forced to spare together during the trainings, he had knocked her down with some cheap trick such as hitting her knees, only to laugh at her later. Her only luck was that he was three years older than her, making it impossible for them to end up on a team together. Until now, that was.
“I hope you are more stable on your feet these days, Izumi. Wouldn’t want you to fall during an apprehension, eh?” Even his voice was something she despised, the mocking tone of it ringing in her ears.
“Daisuke,” Inoichi scolded. “Stop it.”
Daisuke let out an annoyed sound, but stopped at request. “I apologize, Inoichi-sama.” To emphasize his point, he even bowed down.
“Refrain from being hostile towards your colleagues in the future.”
“I will.” The boy was lying through his teeth for sure.
Inoichi sent him a pointed look. “Good. Now, both of you will join the Interception Division as apprentices under Katsuhi and Orinari, whom I will introduce you to later. They will be like your senseis here and will train and later evaluate you. When they deem you fit, you have the chance to be promoted to a permanent member of the Barrier Team. Understood?”
“Understood.” echoed the two Yamanaka apprentices back.
“You will have almost the same tasks as the other members of the Barrier Team have, they will be watered down just a little as both of you neither fully fledged members nor are you experienced. We want to avoid you getting hurt unnecessarily.”
The point seemed plausible to Izumi, it made a lot of sense for their tasks to be reduced at first. It would be a straight-up lie if she told her uncle now that the fact angered her deeply and left her disappointed with her apprenticeship. More so, she was glad about the slow start, not wanting to jump into a fight first chance. It was something she would rather avoid than seek.
“So we won’t fight intruders?” asked Daisuke, reaction a complete opposite to hers. His lips were curled into a disappointed scowl, eyes set with determination.
“No, you won’t. And you will actively avoid that, Daisuke. I don’t want either of you run into danger unless it is absolutely necessary. You hear me?”
Izumi nodded in understanding.
Daisuke on the other hand continued to scowl. “But-”
Inoichi held up a finger, effectively silencing the other blond. “There is no ‘but’. Only if necessary, otherwise no. This job can be very dangerous, which is why apprenticeships are rare here. It doesn’t have to be dangerous, so you don’t have to go and put yourself in danger you cannot handle. Should an experienced member be around, then you will let them handle the situation unless they give you permission to intervene, am I clear?”
Izumi nodded yet again, smiling wryly. “Crystal clear.”
Daisuke meanwhile did not reply, only letting out a sound of resignation.
“Daisuke?”
“Clear, Inoichi-sama.” grumbled the blond, his blooming annoyance obvious.
“Good,” In a dramatic fashion, Inoichi extended his arms widely. “With that, I welcome you to the Konoha Barrier Team.”