Ino Blink of the Eye

Spread - The Power of the Leaf


The team stopped at the gate to the village and waited as Neji caught up.
Shino watched the Hyuuga prodigy move swiftly through the trees, drop down near their location and nod once to his leader. Shino turned to the others.
“No one followed us, so - Sakura, you and Lee, take the Mist Villager to the hospital and have him cared for. Neji, Ino and I will report to the Hokage. We will let her know where you are. Go.” And they made their way through the gate and into the town, separating once they were farther into the streets.

Tsunade sat at the overflowing desk and listened to the report. She nodded and pointed to a Jounin sitting near her door, and spoke. “Genma intercepted the missing Nin on his way back from a mission. We have taken the youth into custody. It worked out all right. But tell me more about the Deep Root village. How did you know that you were in danger?” she asked and Shino began to describe the situation and their discussion, once in the hut.
Ino was listening to the leader of their team and trying to pay attention, but her eyes were drawn to the strange and aloof man across the office. He sat against the wall on a tilted chair, sucking slowly on a twig and watching the room through half lidded eyes. His expression reminded her of Shikamaru, only older, more mature. He never looked her way and she was disappointed not to be able to catch his eye.
Shino was up to the point in the story where she had suggested that they would probably be safer in the woods than in the rickety shack and Sakura had accused her of being spoiled by her soft bed and simply not wanting to rough it. Shino skipped the part about their bickering and continued with his story.
Ino watched Tsunade’s eyes, as she was told of the girl’s use of her Shintenshin no Jutsu to capture the shadow man and hold the elder. The Hokage was impressed. Ino suppressed the urge to gloat and held herself still, when she noticed that the Special Jounin was now looking her way. She smiled in a friendly way and he, well . . . He winked at her!
Ino’s eyes snapped back to the front of the room and she paid attention to the report being made. Ignoring the pervert at the side and preparing to answer any questions the leader of the village might pose for her.
Tsunade seemed satisfied and she released them to go home and rest. Ino followed the group to the door, glancing one last time at the older Shinobi to the side.
Genma watched them leave through disinterested eyes, and even managed a small yawn before they were out of sight. The longhaired blonde got in one last peek and he was tempted to scare her out of the building by blowing her a kiss, but refrained. He was curious about her, and didn’t want to drive her too far out of his reach.
“So, what are your thoughts Genma?” the Hokage asked, leaning back in her chair.
“I still think the kid is looking for an easy way to get into our good graces. But if you did the examination and it wasn’t all lies, then we may have a problem.” The bored looking man slowly rose and walked toward the door, stopping after a few shuffled steps. He turned back halfway and tilted his head. “That team was from the rookie nine?” he asked. Tsunade opened her eyes that she had closed only seconds before, and nodded, smiling at the Jounin. “I don’t remember the blonde.” He said.
“Yamanaka-san wasn’t in the final battle. She did make the preliminaries with Hayate. She fought with Haruna-san.”
“Ahh, the fight that was a draw. And you took the other as your apprentice?” he asked. “Did no one find this one interesting enough to take over her training?”
“She was teamed with Nara-san, and Akimichi-san. Asuma continued with her and Choji after Shikamaru went on to Chuunin training. Her taijutsu’s are weak and her strongest genjutsu requires a firm back up. I haven’t been able to team her with anyone very strong, but she has been training. To hold that jutsu for that long is very impressive.”
Genma nodded staring at the door. ‘Yes, very impressive,’ he thought. “I have to go. My team needs to train a little before it’s too late. We need to work on their social skills. I am taking them out for ramen.” And he ambled out the door.
“Eating ramen, is training?” Tsunade mumbled as he closed the door behind himself. “Now I have heard everything.”
Genma walked down the street outwardly looking his bored self and inwardly thinking over events of the recent past. He wasn’t sure why he had ever agreed to train a genin team, and now he was burdened by the responsibility. He was devoted to his job, though and if Iruka was so impressed by this group as to confront him and beg his help, it was well worth the Special Jounin’s time.
Konohamaru was the grandson of the late Sandaime, son of his friend Asuma and he had proved a fast learner and an able ninja. His shadows, Udon and Moegi had skills of their own and were his greatest assets. True friends who would never desert him, unless he insisted and the situation warranted it. It was a perfect team. Genma had not had to force them to accept the team attitude and could advance on to the more important lessons of the trade.
Besides, when the deal was made, he had finally gotten the Teaching Chuunin to move on and pass into the ranks of Jounin, as he was perfectly capable and had been held back by his love for teaching. Others could fill in the ranks and even now a new teacher, the Chuunin girl Tenten was taking over his classes and motivating the children like no one had ever seen.
Everyone needed to move up and keep the village strong. Stagnant Shinobi were of no use to an established village like the Hidden Leaf.
“Genma-Sensei! We have been waiting forever!” Moegi called as he came into sight. He held his smile behind his lips and waved languidly to them.
“I suppose you finished the job I left for you that long ago?” he asked looking around for the tell tale signs of their deception.
“Aha! You thought we wouldn’t do it, Genma-sensei. I supervised them myself and they finished the job perfectly. Though, why we had to clean out trash cans that will just be refilled with trash, I don’t understand.” Konohamaru said, standing firmly in the street before his leader.
“Because the trash breeds germs and we need to be ever careful of such pestilence. Now as my treat, go clean up and we will go for ramen.” Genma drawled out, and his genin team leapt in the air and disappeared for their homes, to clean off their labors and meet him at the ramen stand. Genma sighed and then allowed one of his rare smiles to fill his face. Children were the hope of the village and Genma was not immune to their antics.


:::Okay, I made a small assumption here. Both the third hokage and Asuma share the same name Sarutobi, and if Konohamaru is the Sandaime's grandson, 2+2= Asuma. Okay????? Not to forget that Konohamaru looks just like his daddy. By the way, Saru - Monkey and Tobi - some kind of builder, so I assume they all call monkeys, (IE The Monkey God - Enko Ou Enma)