Chapter 5: The Test

The morning air settles over training ground 5 in cold, brisk winds. The morning sun has not risen yet, Yakubo arrives well before seven a.m.

He stands in the open clearing of the training ground, taking in his surroundings. Training posts line the edge, stray tools litter the ground, and one of the main rivers runs nearby.

Yakubo has shown up early, currently, it is six o’clock, an hour before the set time. He arrived early, believing that there was a hidden object.

He was wrong, no one is here. He had assumed incorrectly. Now, with no one else here, he has nothing to do but wait.

Yakubo turns, attempting to find the nearest tree that will support him properly. As soon as he finds the proper one, he jumps atop the lowest branch.

He presses his foot down to test the branch's strength. When it does not bend or give way, he sits down.

His back leans against the tree, legs crossed over one another as he lays on the branch. With nothing else to do, Yakubo closes his eyes and begins to drift off.

As time passes for Yakubo, another person eventually arrives at the training ground. Satsuki is the second one to show up, coming just a couple of minutes after Yakubo.

She scans the training ground for anyone, securing the perimeter. When she does not find anyone, she does the same as Yakubo.

Satsuki sits down, leaning against a tree, the same one that Yakubo is currently in above her. She had not seen him, she didn’t think to look up.

Now would be the perfect time for Satsuki to train, but instead she waits. She needs to conserve her energy for the upcoming test.

So the pair sit there both against the same tree, one not knowing the other is there.

The minutes tick by in silence, the only sounds are the calls of morning birds in the distance. The sun begins to rise in the east, it is peaceful.

Then a sound comes from the bridge crossing the river to get to the training ground. Loud, frantic shouts and heavy footsteps echo.

The sounds are coming from Kaneto. He rushes over as fast as he can, trying to beat the deadline.

“I made it!” He announces to the empty training ground, standing, breathing heavily, his legs slightly shaky.

“How do you do everything so loudly?” Satsuki scowls from her spot, leaning against the tree. Her eyes open to glare at the panting Kaneto.

“I do not!” Kaneto defensively counters, his hand pressing against the trunk of a tree for balance. “And it doesn’t matter because I made it on time.” He says as if he should get some type of reward for it.

Satsuki only scoffs, not answering him. She turns her head, looking for any sign of Genki or Yakubo, their absent sensei and teammate.

“Hey! Where’s the weird one and sensei?” Kaneto asks as he straightens up, finally having caught his breath.

“I don’t know.” Satsuki murmurs, rising to her feet slowly. It's past the seven a.m. deadline, and neither of them is here.

After a few more seconds of Kaneto catching his breath and Satsuki scanning the area, he finally speaks again.

“Man, I had the biggest breakfast. I ate enough in case this runs long.” Kaneto pats his stomach.

Satsuki is pointedly ignoring him like always, her eyes still searching. “He better not take two hours this time,” Satsuki grumbles to herself, shifting back against the tree to brood properly.

“If he does take two hours again I’ll-“ Kaneto starts before another voice cuts him off.

“You’ll do what now?” Genki asks him suddenly from behind Kaneto, leaning down to his level.

“AHHH!!” Kaneto lets out a high-pitched scream, jumping back in fear at the sudden appearance of Genki.

There is a moment of tense silence as Kaneto catches his breath, hand on his chest, and Satsuki glares at Genki.

“Where were you?” Satsuki glares at Genki this is the second time he’s been late, albeit this time only a few minutes.

“Mhmm, my apologies, princess. I was stuck in a predicament.” Genki drawls, watching as her face sours even more.

“What…predicament?” She scowls even more than before at being called princess.

“Well, you see, I had two left socks. I can’t leave the house with two left socks on. So I had to find the right one.”

Silence comes over the two preteens as they both stare at the grown man.

“A right sock,” Satsuki says, her voice tight, her eyes twitching with building anger.

“Hmm.” Genki hums in acknowledgment before clapping his hands together. “Alright, let’s begin,” he says, stepping back.

“Umm, how are we supposed to start with the weird guy not here?” Kaneto asks, finally catching his breath after the jump scare.

“I am here,” Yakubo says, landing right behind Kaneto coming down from the branch.

“AHHH!!” Kaneto lets out another scream from being jump-scared again. Flinching back, he hits Satsuki, who doesn’t even flinch at the added weight.

Satsuki slowly pushes Kaneto off her as he stumbles slightly, trying to catch his breath.

“You were up there this whole time?” Satsuki asks calmly. Yakubo nods once in confirmation, and Satsuki takes a deep, sharp breath to calm herself.

“Great, we are all here and ready to start.” Genki’s eyes crinkle as he smiles.

“Prepare yourself. For your test is…” Genki pauses, reaching a hand into his pocket to retrieve something.

“To steal my prized Sudoku booklet…”

***

The silence in the clearing is tense, the three preteens stare at their sensei. Genki holds the tiny booklet out, the front cover reading ‘1000+puzzles.’

“We have to steal that?” Kaneto asks, confusion twisting his face as he squints his eyes.

“Yes,” Genki answers, twisting the book down, looking at his students. “But there are rules, as with all tests,” he tells them. Kaneto opens his mouth to speak again.

“First!” Genki pushes a finger into Kaneto’s face, stopping him before he can speak, making him jump back. “Only one of you can pass, and it is whoever gets this book,’ he shifts his hand back as Kaneto opens his mouth again.

“Two!” Genki pushes two fingers right into Kaneto's face again. “There are no rules, so come with the intent to kill.” That is it, those are the rules.

“The two of you who do not get the book will fail and be deemed unfit to be Ashinin.” Genki shifts, sliding his hand into his pocket, ignoring Kaneto bristling. “You have until noon to take it from me. Do not be afraid, you pupils, for I have brought this clock to help.” Genki has finally pulled out the clock from behind him.

The clock he holds is a comically large, yet small, grandfather clock. It is about the size of his forearm, and it clicks rhythmically.

“Where did you put that?” Yakubo asks, tilting his head, trying to understand where he fits such a clock.

“I’m surrounded by idiots,” Satsuki mutters under her breath, completely fed up with all three of the boys.

“I’ll tell you where he put it!! He put it up his-“ Kaneto starts but is cut off by the clock hitting the training post.

“The final thing you all must know,” Genki says, having interrupted Kaneto again. “That you will all pass as a team…and fail as a team,” he ominously states.

“Now that the rules are established, let's begin. On three.” Genki starts off turning to face them fully. “Three, two…” he doesn’t get to finish because Yakubo and Satsuki instantly jump away.

The only person who stays is the fuming Kaneto, he has been getting pushed around all morning. Now he has his chance to get at Genki-sensei, and he’s going to take it.

“You’ve been a terrible sensei!” Kaneto yells at him, pointing a finger as his anger gets the better of him.

“Ohh really.” Genki smirks, finding the insult amusing. “And what are you going to do about it, tubby?” he insults Kaneto's weight again.

Kaneto’s hands curl into fists, his anger spiking violently. “I’m not tubby!” Kaneto lets out a war cry and charges at Genki.

Genki doesn’t move from his position, watching Kaneto charge headfirst like a raging bull. Kaneto throws a punch aimed right at his chest, Genki quickly pushes his wrist to the side.

Twisting his hand into a fist, Genki grabs hold of Kaneto’s wrist, flipping him. The momentum from his charge carries him over the air until he lands with a heavy thud against the ground.

“You let your emotions control you.” Genki ridicules him, twisting his arm harder behind his back. “Acting in anger puts you and others at risk.” he gives his arm a sharper push, Genki’s voice is completely calm.

Kaneto groans in pain, but Genki’s grip doesn’t loosen for a second. Then Genki sees something move sharply at the edge of his vision.

A variety of Shuriken come flying directly at Genki, it is a mix of both Bo and Hira shuriken. They hit their mark, right into the side of Genki's neck and head.

Genki’s hand instantly lets go of Kaneto’s wrist as his body falls to the ground next to Kaneto. Blood spills onto the ground, Genki’s left eye dangles from the socket. His head has been split, spilling brain matter onto the training ground floor.

Kaneto’s eyes widen to massive saucers, he scrambles back in panic, looking at the sight. A hand flies to his mouth as his stomach begins to reject his massive breakfast.

He turns his head violently, throwing up from the mix of being flipped and the gore. Kaneto’s eyes are wide with horror and disgust at the scene.

Yakubo lands next to him, looking completely unfazed by the gore, staring down at Genki’s body. Yakubo had been the one to throw the shuriken that have now embedded themselves into Genki’s head.

Yet Yakubo doesn’t go down to retrieve the book. No, his head slowly turns upwards to look towards the training post.

Atop one of the three training posts next to the clock, Genki has his Sudoku booklet open, pencil scribbling away at it. Kaneto’s eyes dart back between Genki on the training post and the one lying right next to him.

After a few more seconds, the one next to Yakubo and Kaneto slowly begins to fade as if it was never there. There isn't a scratch on the real one's body, he is completely untouched.

“I must say you have quite the throw,” Genki tells Yakubo, scribbling more down in his Sudoku booklet. “I didn’t even notice the angle at first,” he praises his ability to throw shuriken even more.

Yakubo doesn’t say anything, he jumps back away, vanishing into the forest again, cutting his losses. Genki doesn’t look up from his puzzle as Kaneto stands up, still trying to shake that brutal scene.

He doesn’t throw in the towel yet, instead, Kaneto charges back at Genki to attempt to steal the booklet again. “I’m going to get that book!” Kaneto shouts, going straight at Genki for the second time.

Genki flips off the training post, beginning to dodge all of Kaneto’s wild strikes. The whole time Genki is dodging, he doesn’t put down the Sudoku puzzle he continues to write in it, filling out the pages.

“Pay attention to me!” Kaneto snaps, swinging his leg at Genki’s head, only for him to duck below it.

“Hmm.” Genki hums in acknowledgment of Kaneto's snapped demand. Genki positions himself with his back to the river and nowhere else to go.

Kaneto, seeing an opportunity, charges at him to try to steal the book. His hands reach out, he's so close to getting the book.

Just as he is about to get it, Genki pulls the rug from under him, shifting to the side. Kaneto, moving too fast, almost falls into the river that is rushing right in front of him.

“Whoa whoa whoa!!” Kaneto flails his arms in a windmill to try and balance himself on the edge. Genki, standing next to him, raises a single hand, slowly curling his finger.

Genki flicks his middle finger right onto the back of Kaneto’s head, giving him just enough force to tip over. Kaneto falls into the river with a loud plop, the rapids covering him as the current takes him away like a big log.

“Well…That’s one of them handled.” Genki mumbles to himself, turning towards the forest. “Now for the other two.” With that, he walks straight toward the forest, hunting his other two students.

***

Deep within the forest, Satsuki has been preparing for a fight. She believes Genki will come to her so that she can prepare better.

With this idea, she sets up traps along the perimeter at a distance. She is deep in the forest, far enough that no one will hear her preparing.

Trees surround her chosen spot in a tight line. They funnel from a single entry point into the area, creating the perfect conditions for trapping.

Now with all her traps set up, she waits hidden in the upper branches of the trees. She lies prone, completely still, watching the entryway to the small pocket.

She hears the sounds of Kaneto’s yelling in the distance, she also hears them go silent not long ago.

Satsuki thinks Genki will be coming around soon, and she's right.

She hears whistling in the distance, coming from the entrance. Genki strolls down the path like he is walking through the park, writing in his booklet.

He doesn’t even seem to care about anything, walking straight. Then he steps directly onto a wire trap, and it goes off.

A sharp, pointed stick swings down, connected to the wire. Genki slowly turns his head, letting the stick lodge into the tree.

The diameter of the stick is about the size of his face, it was going to take his head off.

“My, you children really are getting brutal,” Genki says, leaning against the tree unbothered by the near-death experience.

Satsuki doesn’t reply, she doesn’t even move. Her eyes track his every movement, watching him just standing there.

“You can come down, you know,” Genki calls up towards Satsuki. “My back is killing me. Climbing up there would suck. You know, old people things,” he mumbles with a sigh even though he is twenty.

Satsuki shifts in her spot not to jump down, but to reposition herself. She moves towards a lower branch to open up more space.

Seeing Genki not moving, she throws shuriken at him, aiming to force him to move. Genki jumps away to dodge the shuriken.

Satsuki, having read this, had already prepared and thrown more shuriken at Genki. In the air, Genki is suspended, unable to shift his momentum.

He instantly adapts, twisting his body into a spin and tucking his legs. One hand plants onto the ground to shift his whole weight.

Satsuki lunges, attempting to charge him while he’s off balance, her tanto drawn. Genki, with his hand still on the ground, pushes off not away from Satsuki but towards her.

He pulls a kunai from his leg pouch, blocking her slash with the dull flat piece of metal. They clash in a shower of steel and metal sparks.

Satsuki lands a few feet away from Genki, both landing softly on the grass. Genki turns to face her again, but another tap releases from above.

Satsuki had guided Genki to the perfect spot, one she had set an overhead trap rigged to fall. Now a massive rock comes crashing down right towards Genki’s head.

He darts to the side as Satsuki charges him again, her foot connecting with his forearm holding the book. The force of the kick is enough to shake it out of his hand.

Satsuki reaches for the book suspended in the air with one hand. Genki is forced to grab her wrist to stop her just as her fingers brush the book.

Using the forearm that had blocked the kick, Genki grabs hold of her ankle, flinging her through the air and away from the book. Satsuki flips once before landing gracefully a distance away.

Genki now has his book back, but his eyes track Satsuki with more intent now. He moves the book back behind him, placing it in his back pocket, peeking out at the corners.

Satsuki had gotten close enough to almost steal the book, and now he has put it away to fight her on even ground.

“So the reports weren’t lying,” Genki mutters to himself while watching her. There is a long moment of pause while Satsuki prepares herself.

The pause breaks when she lunges at full speed, meeting him head-on, steel against steel. Metal clashing echoes through the forest as Satsuki’s tanto presses against Genki’s flat kunai.

Satsuki drops low, dodging the swing of Genki's, and goes for a leg sweep to catch him off balance. In response, he reacts, jumping into the air to avoid it, leaving himself suspended.

Already low to the ground, her hand plants itself on the ground as she swings her leg, carrying the momentum up at Genki. Her heel collides with his raised forearm, blocking the axe kick with a sharp crack.

Satsuki isn’t done, her right hand moves, middle finger curling tightly to her palm. Her thumb locks over it, pressing down hard, while her index finger moves directly over top of it.

Her chest begins to puff up with a building energy, her right hand rising to her mouth.

“Kaji: Fireball…Ignition!” Satsuki says, landing centered on the ground, opening her mouth as flames expand rapidly from it. The shape it takes is a ball of fire about the size of Genki’s body, hurling straight at him.

Genki’s blue eyes widen slightly as the attack comes at him. The fireball slams into the trees, ripping through them until it naturally dies out, leaving only simmering embers behind and no sign of Genki.

“I’m impressed. Elemental Keriaku already, as an Ashinin no less.” Genki’s voice comes from behind Satsuki. She whips her head around, ready to move back instantly, until there is a tug at her legs.

A wire pulls her up, tightening around her feet as the counterweight drops from the tree, leaving her suspended in the air. Satsuki dangles there pathetically, her shirt coming down, pooling around her neck, exposing her to the world.

“You hyperfixate. You have forgotten about your own trap.” Genki assesses her, scribbling away at the Sudoku puzzle without even looking at her. Satsuki says nothing at first, not resisting the steel wire to attempt to break free.

“Can you fix my shirt…please.” Satsuki requests, her voice not angry or bitter. She has been outsmarted at her own game, and now she has nothing to do but dangle.

Genki doesn’t even glance up at her, one hand pulling her shirt back to cover her body. He tugs at another small wire wrapped around her torso, it binds her arms to her body and keeps the shirt up.

“Next time, tuck it in or wear an undershirt.” Genki lazily draws, already beginning to walk away from her, continuing his puzzles. “I recommend a compression shirt,” he mumbles, his steps light.

Genki walks away from Satsuki, leaving her hanging there like a Christmas ornament. He is off to find his last student to test, the most important one for the city.

***

Yakubo hides in the trees, staying far from the open clearing. He has retreated here after his ambush had failed against Genki.

He heard and smelled Satsuki’s fireball a few thousand feet west of his position. Realizing he has the tactical advantage, he stays still and hidden in the trees.

Genki is a Taishini, the best of the best. Yakubo knows that they are not meant to win this fight, there is no real chance of defeating Genki in battle.

Yakubo has also deduced the reality of the situation. Kaneto is the Oshinsu son, Satsuki, heir to the Kusanagi clan. If Genki fails them, it would reflect terribly in the political sphere of Ojika.

By this standard, Yakubo does not need to beat Genki. He only has to stall him out until the clock goes off, the moment it does, Yakubo has succeeded.

The sound of crunching leaves comes from someone approaching, Yakubo prepares himself for a fight. He stares at the spot where the sound comes from, but it stops just short of revealing the person.

Behind Yakubo, a tiny whisper of movement happens as Genki looms over him. “You’re not as sneaky-” Genki is cut off by Yakubo's foot slamming into his side with swiftness.

Genki lets out a sharp breath as he slides to a halt on the branch standing across from Yakubo. Yakubo had reacted in a split second to attack him as if on instinct alone.

“Fast.” Genki mumbles, not wasting time putting his Sudoku booklet away in his back pocket. The two stand there across the branch, sizing each other up.

The silence is tense with two fighters ready to go at it. “Why did you really come to Ojika Yakubo?” Genki asks, his voice carrying a rare seriousness to it.

Yakubo doesn't answer at first, only staring, tracking Genki’s still body. “I am not the spy you think I am,” Yakubo tells Genki in a flat tone.

“Kusabue was not safe. I have come for a better life.” Yakubo’s answer is the same as it was when he had first arrived. He has not changed it, and he will not change the truth.

“You show up ready to be an Ashinin. No paperwork, no documents, no formal training on record.” Genki presses the core of the situation, the very essence of which makes Yakubo suspicious.

“What are you running from…Yakubo?” Genki asks, his blue eyes sharp and piercing. Yakubo stays silent, not answering.

For the first time, Yakubo breaks eye contact, turning his head down and looking away. The first emotions he has ever shown flash on his face, a brief second of something like regret before it snaps away.

Yakubo looks back to Genki's face, back to the complete deadpan, he lets the silence breathe for only a second longer. He rushes at Genki with a burst of speed, closing the distance quickly, fist aimed for the chest.

Genki raises his hand to catch Yakubo’s punch, reacting. Yakubo moves his leg to kick Genki right in the knee. His foot lands heavily, but Genki’s leg does not give from the force of the attack.

Genki, still holding Yakubo’s fist, raises his other knee, landing square in Yakubo’s chest and sending him backward. Yakubo flips in the air, hands landing on the branch as he flips again to gather force.

Using the speed he has gathered, Yakubo lands on the end of the branch, kicking down with force to snap it clean off the tree.

Both of them are falling to the ground, and while falling, Yakubo throws his remaining shuriken at Genki. Genki responds by throwing his own, the shuriken hit each other in the air, flashing sparks.

The fight continues on the ground when Genki goes on the offensive for the first time. His legs land loaded on the ground like a spring launching straight at Yakubo.

Yakubo barely has time to duck the punch coming at him as soon as he lands. Genki keeps up the pressure, forcing Yakubo to give up ground with each attack.

When Yakubo runs out of space to keep backing up, pinned by a tree, he changes his strategy. Instead of retreating on the defensive, he jumps at the tree, using it as a pivoting step.

The moment his feet connect to the trunk of the tree, he lunges straight at Genki to meet him head-on. His fist collides with Genki’s chest in a clean hit, but it doesn’t shake him again.

The attack had landed, but Yakubo had given up all leverage in defense. Genki grabs hold of his arm, copying the same move he had done to Kaneto to flip Yakubo.

Yakubo recognizes it, instead of struggling, he leans into the momentum and lands with his feet on the ground. With his arm still bent and his feet on the ground in preparation, Yakubo pulls.

The strength of the pull is enough to catch Genki off guard, swapping the hold onto Genki and sending him over Yakubo. Genki is not thrown off for long, instantly recovering ground in time for Yakubo’s second charge.

This time, instead of letting him push him back, Genki holds his ground. When Yakubo makes it within inches of Genki’s body, he is flipped off balance completely.

Genki's hand shifts to the side, grabbing hold of his arm and pushing him into the ground hard. Yakubo hits the ground with a loud thud as Genki pins his arm behind his back hard enough to break bones.

“I have to hand it to you.” Genki stays completely unfazed by the fight, both in breathing and condition.

“You definitely are better than most Ashinin.” Genki compliments Yakubo, but twists his arm harder the moment Yakubo attempts to break free.

“But that still doesn’t explain who trained you,” he presses even more as Yakubo doesn’t seem to be deterred by the pain of the hold.

“It doesn’t matter.” Yakubo gruffly lets out, the hold taking the slightest effect on him.

“Ohh, but it does. The last thing the country would do is let in the pupil of some big-time crime boss.” Genki states, and he doesn't let up for a single second, pressing Yakubo both physically and verbally.

Yakubo is out of options to stall or get free from Genki’s grasp, so he begins to move his fingers. On the hand being held by Genki, his thumb presses firmly to his palm. The index and ring fingers move underneath the middle finger to cross over on top of the thumb.

Genki has only a split second to react to the movement, letting go of Yakubo’s arm. The moment he lets go, lightning sparks from Yakubo’s body, the reason he had backed off.

The moment of freedom allows Yakubo enough time to reach into one of his leg pouches. Pulling out a handful of smoke bombs, he throws them against the ground.

The smoke covers the area, and Yakubo uses it to retreat into the forest. As the smoke begins to clear, Genki is left standing there, staring at the spot Yakubo was just standing in.

“Problematic,” Genki mutters under his breath, with nothing but the small dying sparks of lightning still coming from the ground.

***

At the edge of the training ground, Kaneto has finally climbed out of the river as it spat him out. Genki had pushed him in, and now the current carried him out of the water.

“Blahh, that water is disgusting.” Kaneto spits water out, scraping his tongue. He is drenched, dripping like a wet noodle.

He shakes himself off with a shiver and glares up the river towards where he was pushed in. He grumbles under his breath as he begins to walk through the forest.

He stomps through the forest, fuming at Genki, vowing to enact his revenge. As he stumbles through, he’s stewing in rage until he finds it.

The glorious scene in front of him makes him freeze in his anger. The thing in front of him is Satsuki, and he sees her exactly as Genki had left her.

Satsuki dangles from the tree, her legs tied together, arms tied to her torso. Kaneto has been trying to beat Satsuki for years, but he always fails.

The silence between them is complete as Kaneto stares in stunned shock. Satsuki keeps her deadpan stare the whole time, watching.

The moment finally cracks as Kaneto loses it. “HAHAHA!” Kaneto bursts into loud, mocking laughter as he sees Satsuki.

Satsuki does not find it amusing, but she doesn’t say anything and just stares at him. Kaneto’s hand presses against a tree, trying to hold himself up as he struggles to stand.

“Ha ha ha real funny.” Satsuki grumbles under her breath, watching as Kaneto starts to roll on the ground, holding his stomach.

“This is…this is amazing.” Kaneto wheezes out, dying with laughter. The top of the class, Satsuki, has gotten trapped by Genki.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. Would you cut me down already?” Satsuki orders, or at least attempts to order, Kaneto to cut her down.

Kaneto makes no effort to get her down, opting to laugh harder. Satsuki opens her mouth to snap at him more when a sharp whistling comes from the edge of the forest.

A single shuriken comes flying right at the steel wire holding Satsuki in the air. The shuriken cuts right through the wire with a sharp snap, dropping the counterweight.

Satsuki falls from her spot, dangling, and lands gracefully on her feet as the wires around her torso loosen and fall free. Satsuki pulls the wires off around her, looking at where the shuriken had come from.

Kaneto's laughter has slowly stopped as they see the person responsible for throwing the Shuriken. Yakubo had been the one to throw it, walking closer, shaking his left arm off.

Satsuki doesn’t thank Yakubo for cutting her down, she shifts right to Kaneto. In a second, she has bent down, picking him up by the collar, shaking him like a ragdoll.

“You think this is funny?! You think this is some game?!” Satsuki snaps, shaking Kaneto violently. She had been dangling there, and all he did was laugh instead of helping his teammate.

Yakubo doesn’t intervene, nor does he really care about their feud. He watches the perimeter for any sign of Genki.

Eventually, Yakubo has had enough of their bickering and fighting with each other in the middle of this test.

“Do you two always have to fight?” Yakubo is fed up with the bickering. It is the first time he’s had the slightest hint of emotion underneath the deadpan face.

The two of them go silent at Yakubo’s words, both looking at him. Satsuki’s face goes back to the blank deadpan while Kaneto twists in anger.

“Who the hell do you think you're talking to, outsider?!” Kaneto snaps back at Yakubo, anger building more.

Yakubo doesn’t yell back at Kaneto, that would be too easy on the brat. Yakubo’s hand comes out, smacking Kaneto across the face hard enough to leave a red print on it.

“You think you're special?” Yakubo says, completely unfazed by the violence as Kaneto stumbles.

“No one cares who your father is out there. If anything, it just puts a massive target on your back.” Yakubo coldly tells him the truth no one else has.

Yakubo’s hand reaches down, pulling Kaneto by the collar, stopping him from stumbling.

“I just watched you get your ass kicked charging in like an idiot. Then laugh at your teammate because she got beat as well.” Yakubo steps closer, looming over Kaneto.

Satsuki shifts slowly, ready to intervene if Yakubo does anything drastic against Kaneto.

“All three of us failed if you didn’t notice.” Yakubo continues to tear into Kaneto for his piss poor attitude.

“So either we all work together to get the book, or you can cry to daddy later about how it was unfair.” Yakubo lets go of Kaneto, dropping him back to the floor, done with him.

Kaneto stays on the ground for a second in genuine shock at what Yakubo had just done. A hand comes up to his cheek, slowly rubbing it.

Satsuki has been watching silently, she didn’t interrupt or try to stop Yakubo. She agrees with most of what he's saying; Kaneto needs a harsh reality check.

“So how do we do this?” Satsuki asks Yakubo, ignoring Kaneto on the ground. She doesn’t know Yakubo, but she understands strength, and Yakubo is competent.

Yakubo stops in his tracks, slowly turning around to face Satsuki directly. “The three of us need to make a plan,” Yakubo announces in a complete deadpan, as if he hadn’t just slapped the taste out of Kaneto's mouth.

“Obviously.” Satsuki snorts, slightly amused at Yakubo’s literal response. “I mean what plan you got genius?” Satsuki asks Yakubo.

Yakubo pauses, holding eye contact with Satsuki while he thinks of the plan. “Okay,” Yakubo says, shifting closer and crouching down to the ground.

Yakubo begins to draw something in the dirt with a stick. Kaneto, now standing, looks at Satsuki, she gives a small shrug, watching Yakubo draw.

He draws what looks like stick figures in the ground, with names and all. When he steps back after a few minutes, it looks like a bunch of arrows, stick figures, and badly written words.

One of the stick figures reads Genki at the center, another one has idiot written over it right in front of the Genki one.

The other two are hidden in different spots, with the words me and Satsuki spelled Satsuiki with an extra I.

“This is Genki sensei, this is you,” he says, pointing at Kaneto, then at the one that says “idiot.” “Genki will be waiting where we started,” Yakubo tells them.

Yakubo knows Genki will be waiting for them now because he's already tested them. If they want to pass, they have to go after him.

“Hey! I am not-“ Kaneto is cut off by Satsuki, who hits him over the back of the head to shut him up.

“The plan is to have you run right at Genki sensei again.” Yakubo begins drawing an arrow with the stick from idiot to Genki.

“He will think you're just trying to get the book again. When that happens, Satsuki hides in the low bushes waiting.” Yakubo explains, circling Satsuki on the map, her eye twitching as she sees her name spelled wrong.

“Your job is to push Genki sensei to these bushes. When you do, Satsuki uses the fireball again to force him to move.” Yakubo draws a ball in the dirt like it is a massive fireball.

“Idiot fills the retreating space, while Satsuki fills the other side. That leaves Genki one place to go to, which is by the tree line.” Yakubo draws even more arrows that look like a mess but somehow make sense.

“I will be waiting in those trees. He will be thrown off balance, not expecting teamwork. That’s when I drop on him and take the book from him.” Yakubo crosses Genki’s stick figure off like it’s a hit list.

He looks up at Satsuki and Kaneto, who are both staring at the plan drawn in the dirt with a bunch of scribbles. Satsuki picks up the plan, it is not complicated, but Kaneto is still trying to understand the drawing, mouth slightly open.

“Okay.” Satsuki nods, understanding her role in the plan.

“Wait, hold up a second,” Kaneto says, cutting in, hands raised only to be ignored by both of them.

“Good, then we are ready.” Yakubo agrees with Satsuki, ignoring Kaneto trying to ask questions. In a single jump, Yakubo is already off in the trees to get into position.

“Hey! Wait, I wasn’t done asking questions!” Kaneto yells after Yakubo. He doesn’t get a response back Yakubo is already gone, and Satsuki is walking away to get into her spot.

“Just run at him and be loud. You're good at that.” Satsuki patronizes Kaneto, disappearing into the bushes, leaving him sputtering there with a lot of questions and no one to ask.

***

Yakubo is the first to take his position, perched in a tree overlooking the main clearing of the training ground. Genki sits right there on one of the training posts, his Sudoku booklet in one hand, pencil in the other.

Satsuki arrives at her position second, buried in the low bushes, hidden out of sight. All they're waiting for is Kaneto to do his job and distract Genki sensei.

If there is one thing Kaneto is good at, that is being loud and obnoxious. So when he bursts into the clearing, it is not a silent sneak attack.

“GENKI SENSEI!” Kaneto yells as loud as he can, still dripping wet and fuming from being pushed into the river.

Genki glances up, raising a single eyebrow at Kaneto, finding it intriguing how someone can be so brash.

“I WILL GET THE BOOK!” Kaneto roars, charging him yet again as if he has learned nothing from this whole test. His fist is raised to hit Genki on the training post, who, in response to the charge, only jumps back.

“We really doing this again?” Genki lets out a tired sigh, writing numbers down in his book, not looking up at Kaneto. Kaneto, enraged, begins to swing wildly, trying to land any hit he can.

“You know you're almost out of time, right? You aren’t getting the book in five minutes.” Genki tells Kaneto, unbothered by the wild swings at him.

“TIME LIMITS ARE MADE UP!” Kaneto yells at him, his fist coming into contact with his chest, forcing him a single step back for the first time.

“What does that even mean?” Genki whispers to himself, looking up from his booklet for the first time. That is the exact moment that they needed, Kaneto has successfully pushed Genki into the bushes while also distracting him.

Satsuki’s opportunity has come, and she is not one to waste it. Doing the same hand pattern as earlier on her right hand, she puffs her chest, her hand rising to her mouth.

The flames expand from the bushes, hurling straight at Genki, who had not expected it. Distracted and believing they would never work together, Genki has grown a little lazy.

Satsuki fills the gap he could’ve retreated to on the left, while Kaneto stays in position in front of him, forcing him only one way. Genki is funneled right underneath the trees where Yakubo is perched and waiting.

Yakubo doesn’t drop down immediately, instead, he stays perfectly still, waiting for the right moment.

“So you two can work together,” Genki says, closing the Sudoku booklet with a snap. “I guess I will take these minutes seriously,” he says, moving the book down behind his back to put it in his pocket.

That is when Yakubo strikes, jumping down from the tree and moving fast straight for Genki. Genki’s head snaps up just in time for Yakubo’s sharpened kunai to come inches from his eye.

Genki raises the flat, dull kunai he's been using the whole time to block Yakubo. In doing so, he has to let go of the book to use both hands to stop the force of Yakubo’s attack.

Genki pivots immediately with Yakubo's attack halted, and one hand reaches out to grab the book falling midair. Yakubo can't grab the book, so he twists his whole body and kicks it away before Genki can hold on.

The book sails through the air as Satsuki is the first to react, lunging for it. With Yakubo suspended in the air, Genki kicks him down hard, grabbing hold of his sharpened kunai.

Genki turns the heavy piece of metal onto Satsuki, throwing it directly at her to stop her. Satsuki’s fingers brush the book yet again before the kunai catches her shirt, heavy metal dragging her away from the book.

The kunai slams into a tree, pinning Satsuki to it and momentarily stunning her. Kaneto is not far behind Satsuki in reaching for the book as well, he lunges only seconds after her.

Genki moves much faster than Kaneto to get to the book. Realizing this, Kaneto knows he will not get the book in time. But he sees Yakubo has already recovered and is moving much faster than he is.

Kaneto decides to change the strategy, not going for the book anymore, but instead for Genki himself.

Genki hadn't anticipated Kaneto would go after him instead of the book. This leads to the two colliding as Kaneto attempts to tackle Genki out of the air.

The moment is suspended Genki’s hand falls just short of the book, giving the smallest wiggle room for Yakubo to swoop in and grab the book.

Yakubo lands holding the Sudoku booklet. Satsuki tears her shirt and gets down from where the kunai pinned her. Kaneto lies dazed on the ground, pancaked by Genki in their collision.

The timing could not have been better, because just a few seconds later the clock on the training post rings. They did it, the three of them managed to get the Sudoku booklet from him.

“We did it?” Kaneto asks, confused, clearly not expecting to have actually gotten the book. He begins to sit up slowly, his head still spinning.

Satsuki lets out a sharp breath in relief. They got the book, Satsuki didn’t think Yakubo’s plan would work.

By some miracle, his plan had worked, and now Yakubo stands holding the book. The silence settles over the training ground as all three Ashinin look towards their sensei.

Genki hasn't spoken yet, but his face is carefully blank as he observes Yakubo.

“The rules were clear.” Genki starts off staring at Yakubo the whole time he speaks. “Yakubo passes. Satsuki and Kaneto, you both…fail,” Genki finishes. His eyes trail towards Kaneto, still on the ground, and Satsuki in her tattered shirt.

Kaneto’s face drops from the hesitant smile that was plastered on his face. For the first time, Satsuki looks small. The face of failure makes her feel insignificant.

Yakubo stares at Genki in silence, wondering what game he is getting at here. Slowly, he looks at his two teammates right there, both still taking the news in different ways.

Then Yakubo does the unexpected, he throws the book right at Genki, returning it. Genki catches it easily, his head tilting slightly.

Satsuki turns her head to glare, anger spiking at why Yakubo would give the book back. Kaneto tilts his head, even more confused about what Yakubo is doing than before.

“Earlier you said only one of us can pass,” Yakubo says, looking Genki in the eyes when he speaks. “But you also said either you will all pass as a team or fail as a team,” he repeats, echoing Genki’s words back to him.

“So you will have to fail me with them.” Yakubo's voice is firm, with unshakable resolve. He will not abandon his teammates, and he will not pass by using them.

Genki stares at Yakubo silently, his head still tilted. What Genki had thought about Yakubo was wrong. Now seeing it happen in real time, Genki smiles, a real smile for the first time.

“Impressive, very impressive.” Genki praises, moving the book back into his pocket.

“In this line of work, you will meet and make many enemies. Enemies that wish to kill, steal, rape, and destroy the very things we dedicate our lives to protect. But an Onmitsu that sells their own comrades out…that is worse than the enemy. That is scum.” Genki tells them, his voice carrying through the clearing.

The three Ashinin do not speak, all three watch their sensei, and all three are impacted by this.

After a long time of silence, sitting in Genki’s words, Kaneto is the first to speak up. “Does that mean we pass?” he hesitantly asks.

“Yes,” Genki answers, turning his head down to Kaneto. “Team 13 is now an official Ashinin squad of Ojika,” Genki tells the three of them.

Satsuki lets out a relieved breath, Kaneto's mouth breaks into a wide smile, and Yakubo just stares like always.

“YESSS!” Kaneto yells, being the first one to break the silence, shooting up from his spot on the ground. “We passed! You hear that! We passed!” Kaneto begins to celebrate the victory.

Satsuki, already fed up with his celebrating, looks at Genki, who gives her a nod in return. She turns away, walking away from the training ground to go home to her clan compound.

Kaneto notices her leaving and pauses his celebration. “Hey! Suki, wait up!” he calls after her, jogging to catch up.

“I was thinking. Since we just officially became Ashinin, if you finally wanted to go get lunch with me?” Kaneto asks her, loud, brash, unafraid.

“No,” Satsuki responds instantly, having expected the question. With the two of them walking away, it leaves Genki standing there with Yakubo in the open clearing.

Yet again, it is just the two of them, Yakubo’s dark violet eyes locked onto Genki’s. “I’m going to go now,” Yakubo says in a deadpan, completely serious tone. Somehow Yakubo manages to make the simplest things awkward without realizing it.

“You do that now,” Genki answers in just as serious a tone. Yakubo stares at him for a bit longer before finally turning away from the training ground.

With that, the trio has somehow managed to pull off the impossible and become an Ashinin squad, and now

…Team 13 is officially in action.