[Steel Island Settlement, Lands of Water]
"You want to join my team?", Naya asked while titling her head
She had heard of the young genius who had won the title of "strongest academy student" back in the Hidden Village of the Mist. As a shinobi with no affiliation to a clan, she held tremendous respect from those who were similar to her and prevailed against heirs who had everything passed down to them.
"I have heard of you, Takeshi Ryu", she continued, "Did you not see me lose? I have been a chunin for the past four years, yet I am probably one of the weakest"
Takeshi shook his head: "Don't get it wrong, I believe we can make a great team. My ninjutsu skills could provide you with openings to cut enemies down, and since I also know Kenjutsu, I know exactly what type of support you would need"
Naya looked at the 9-years-old boy in front of her, unable to see through him.
'When was the last time someone asked me to join their team?', Naya asked herself
However, unable to take advantage of a kid, she shook her head: "I will be honest, I am not strong enough to protect you on the battlefield"
Takeshi took her hand and looked at her in the eyes: "I don't need to be protected. Believe me, I am a full-fledged shinobi. Please, let me join you on your next mission"
Sighing in defeat, Naya could only accept.
From a distance, a shinobi observed and took notes. His oni-like mask was quite intimidating, yet nobody seemed to take notice of him. He was one of the two ANBUs monitoring the situation. The Island of Steel remained a strategic point for the Hidden Village of the Mist, and its economy. It was a reserve of iron, which was of utmost importance. Though the miners had been evacuated due to the skirmishes, should the war break out entirely, the need for iron would greatly increase, making this island immensely important.
"Come with me", Naya told her new teammate, "I want to show you something"
As they walked down the settlement, they crossed someone.
It was none other than Chunin Sakutsu Hikimore.
"Takeshi! What a good surprise!", he said in an excited voice, "The platoon commander congratulated your performance in the last mission. Continue like that, and I am sure you will become a chunin in no time. You already seem to have reached the strength requirements!"
Takeshi scratched the back of his head. Because of Arya, few people congratulated him openly in the academy. However, on the battlefield, there was no reason to undermine someone's achievements.
It raised Naya's interest too.
"You completed a patrol mission with Takeshi?", Naya asked him directly
"Yes, Naya. Unlike you, he has a lot of talent and already killed three kumogakure shinobi. If it were up to me, I would have made him a chunin already", Sakutsu said
His words did not escape Takeshi. As soon as he mentioned talent, Naya lowered her gaze and bit her lips. It was one of the darkest truths of Naruto. It was unfair. Some were immensely gifted from the start, but the vast majority of shinobi had to work to the bone for the slightest improvement. And despite effort, strength would always come back to how much potential you have.
"You are praising me too much", Takeshi said, "Do you have any news of the battlefield? Skirmishes on the island only seem to increase, and the five kumogakure we encountered did not seem to be scouts. They were too weak for that"
Sakutsu nodded: "Well, I don't know about that. I just know that I have already received a new patrol order in the evening, and that the odds of running into kumogakure scum will only increase in the future. Kid, never underestimate them"
"For sure", Takeshi said while nodding.
After parting ways, Naya showed Takeshi around the settlement and a small tent where shinobi traded spoils of war against money, or techniques. Immediately, Takeshi viewed it as an opportunity to earn reputation. If he came back with some well-known item or technique, the words of him defeating some high-ranked enemy would spread like fire in a forest.
Now that was getting interesting.