Shota stood in the middle of the underground training ground with his arms crossed. His black ANBU gear felt comfortable now, like a second skin.
A full year had passed since he first put on the mask. Twelve months of missions, poison lessons, midnight runs, and exactly twenty minutes of sacred nap time every single day.
The two Anbu Commanders, Spider and Earthworm had not stopped training him during this time.
And Shota himself despite his laid back attitude trained at any free time he got outside of the compulsory 20 minutes nap that he promised himself everyday.
Anyone who dared wake him during those twenty minutes met a very angry, very grumpy, and very dangerous little assassin.
One chūnin had once poked him with a stick at minute eighteen. The poor man still flinched whenever he saw a pillow.
Today was special.
Spider stood ten metres away, spinning a kunai on his finger. Both wore full gear, masks and all.
Shota was excited and so was spider. They were going to have a friendly spar between them. Spider was excited to see the progress of his student while Shota could not wait to kick the butt of his sensei.
They turned together and bowed toward the viewing platform.
The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, stood there in his Kage robes. Earthworm stood beside him, arms folded, looking like a proud uncle.
Rasa had come to watch. He wanted to see how his youngest ANBU had grown. Shota felt a small flutter in his chest. The Kazekage caring about him was nice, even if it also felt like being a bug under a magnifying glass.
Shota thought,'It is probably why he showed up. To show that he cares about my progress. This would make me loyal to them. It kinda works too.'
Spider's voice came out amused through his mask. "Let's see how much you have improved, little raven."
Shota tilted his head. "Only if you promise not to cry when I win, sensei."
Spider laughed. "Rules are simple. No using your dojutsu. We go all out. The Kazekage will stop us himself if we try to kill each other by accident."
Shota put a hand on his chest in fake shock. "No Erasure? Are you scared, sensei? Afraid that it would not be much of a fight if I use it."
Earthworm muttered loud enough for the Kazekage to hear. "Spider definitely taught the brat some of his bad habits like how to talk trash. He used to be quiet and sleepy. Now he never shuts up."
Rasa's lips twitched in a tiny smile. "He will need that mouth soon. The elders are circling like hungry vultures. They smell an S-rank in the making. The elders are going to jump to him with offers soon."
Earthworm glanced at the Kazekage. "Are you not worried one of them will steal him, Sir? An S-rank loyal to a single faction would change everything. And the kid is not going to be a simple S rank with that ability of his."
Rasa watched Shota stretch lazily. "Spider knows people better than anyone. He told me exactly what the boy would do if someone comes up to him with a offer."
Earthworm raised an eyebrow. "And?"
Rasa's voice stayed calm. "Spider says, and I quote, 'The brat is shameless. He will take every gift the elders offer, every jutsu scroll, every rare weapon, every favour, and then he will yawn and walk away. Politics is too much work for someone who schedules daily naps.'"
Earthworm chuckled. "Sounds about right."
Rasa continued. ""And it's not like I have not prepared an offer for him. Something that would have him stay in the Anbu or be a jonin directly under me. One he cannot refuse.
"But Lord Kazekage then why have not you given him the offer already?" Earthworm asked
"Because according to spider he would refuse right now. Besides, I can wait. Let the elders show their cards first. Then I play mine. And we learn which elders want too much power."
Earthworm nodded slowly.
Down on the training floor, Spider finished stretching. "We both know that with your Erasure I would lose in three seconds. Maybe two. Today we test everything else. Your speed. Your brain. Your new toys."
Shota rubbed the back of his neck, cheeks red under the mask from the unexpected praise. "Fine, fine. But when I win, remember I was holding back my strongest move."
Spider sighed dramatically. "I liked you better when you were too lazy to talk."
Shota grinned behind his mask. "And I liked you better when you didn't try to poison me every morning. We all make sacrifices."
Spider pointed a finger. "Keep talking, brat. I'm going to enjoy wiping that smirk off your face."
Shota put his hands behind his head. "Sure, sure. Just try not to trip over your own webs, old man."
Spider groaned. "Twenty minutes of nap time made him brave."
Earthworm lifted a kunai high above his head. "Ready!"
Both fighters dropped into stance.
Spider's fingers twitched, ready to weave his chakra threads.
Shota's hand rested lightly on the white binding cloth wrapped around his waist, fingers itching to make it dance.
Earthworm let the kunai fall.
It rang against the stone floor.
Both of them exploded into action.
---------Author Notes--------
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