"What do you think of me huh?! No, I am not testing you."
"You are my friend right? So I am telling you to call me Sato."
Sato exclaimed with a hurt look.
Karui nervously looked at Sato for any signs of a test, not finding any she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Then her eyes lit up all of a sudden, as if understanding what Sato was telling her.
She hastily got up and clumsily got on one knee.
"Sato sama, I will be your strongest blade, thanks for giving me a chance!"
Sato was speechless, no, he was not trying to recruit her as a sidekick at all.
He was just making a friend because he happened to know her from the series.
Just when Sato was about to clarify the misunderstanding, he paused.
'Wait a second, this does not seem like a bad idea, she has a lot of potential.'
'If I have to join a team sooner of later, why not make one of my own.'
Sato rubbed his chin, he knew his talent was average.
So why not make a safety net for himself until he becomes strong.
How about building a team dedicated to him alone.
'If I am so mediocre, I can have strong people protect me until I am ready.'
'All I need is another member, a teacher and I will have my personal four man squad.'
Sato frowned while he thought of his plan's feasibility, this might just work until he gains enough strength to protect himself.
Meanwhile Karui nervously waited for an answer.
"I will be frank Karui, I was not trying to recruit you just now."
"Still, I do think you have potential, so recruiting you isn't out of the question."
Sato said to an excited Karui, but he remained patient.
Recruitment in ninja world isn't a temporary thing, it's a permanent lifelong choice.
Many Noble Kids do it from the start, it's why Konohamuru had a boy and a girl his age around him at all times.
They were chosen by the Third Hokage as the his future manpower, so to speak.
His lifelong bodyguards.
"You do understand what recruitment means right?"
"I will give you resources and a stable life, while you will protect me with your own life."
"When it comes down to it, you will be my closest friend and my strongest shield."
This is a give and take relationship that has been in the ninja world for ages, even anbu was built upon this very concept.
Hokage's personal army, his personal ninja squad doing the missions no one else can, taking orders from him alone.
Every noble clan does this one way or the other, Neji himself was supposed to be Hinata's personal protector.
That was very foundation of the side and main branch system of Hyuga clan.
'When it comes down to it, these men and women are there to sacrifice themselves so the noble can survive.'
But in return they get to live a life they could have never achieved themselves.
From the best training to a stable home, everything will be provided by the clan.
Building a bond between the clan and them so they don't hesitate to sacrifice themselves when the time comes.
"I understand! Sato sama."
Karui exclaimed then her slowly face softened.
"I, I am just another girl in the institution, I don't even know if I have ninja talent.."
"I don't know if I am good enough, it's why I look upto Master Killer B."
"I always tell myself that I can do it, just like he did."
Karui said with her eyes glittering.
"I might never get the chance to become a Ninja, only the best from the institution get a chance to become one."
"It's just a silly dream of mine.."
"But I really want to become a good ninja and make my parents proud."
"Please give me chance to be your shield Sato sama, I will definitely not disappoint your trust."
Sato listened with full attention, he didn't know there was so much going on in her mind.
It seems Karui hasn't started her training in the institution, that's why she wasn't sure if she can get selected from the many kids.
She didn't know the future but Sato did, she not only would be selected, she would also become a student of killer B, completing her dream.
But now she had another path before her, a path which gave guaranteed results, she didn't have to take a chance in the institution.
She can 100% become a ninja by joining Sato, making her parents proud.
Her choice was a clearly thought out and logical one.
"Very well."
"Karui, from now on you shall be my sidekick."
"We will become the strongest duo in the world! They would tremble from our name alone!"
"Hahaha!"
Sato laughed loudly as Karui watched with wide eyes.
She didn't know her boss had such a big dream.
She was nervous and unsure if she could keep up with him.
"Heh, let's go Karui, pack your things."
"Yes, Sato sama!"
If Sato could hear Karui's thoughts right now he would laugh out loud again.
Karui might think she would have trouble keeping up with him but it was the opposite.
She was a talented ninja, while he was just a bum attempting to become one.
If anyone was going to have trouble keeping up it was going to be him.
Her potential was why he recruited her after all, nobody was stupid enough to get a bodyguard weaker than them.
"Karui."
"You see that mountain peak? That is my home, meet me there in five minutes."
Sato pointed towards the mountain peak farthest to the north.
Karui nodded and then quickly made her way back to the institution.
She did it.
She finally got out of the institution and somehow managed to join Yugito Nii sama's brother.
That was Yugito Nii!
She was someone Killer B himself looks upto.
"I heard she is very cold, I hope she doesn't kick me out."
Karui thought nervously, she has heard Yugito Nii sama was cold and never takes students.
This was why she never even considered her as a future sensei option before.
But now, all she can do is pray she won't be kicked out and return to the institution.
That would almost definitely end her Ninja career before it can even begin.
Nobody would teach a girl someone like Yugito Nii rejected right away.
This was a do or die situation for Karui.
Meanwhile Sato, who didn't know the situation was that serious because of Yugito's prestige, made his way back happily.
"Sister should be back by now."
Thought Sato while walking up the mountain.
But he instantly paused the second he saw a blue fire cat running around the place.
"That is Matatabi, the two tails, what is she doing here?"
Sato was taken aback, he wasn't sure why two tails was running around the mountain peak.
Was this was a case of Yugito Nii losing control?
Or was that her training?
Sato didn't know, he only knew that he should get the hell away from here now.
If by any chance that was an out of control tailed beast he would be instantly dead.
He needed to run, immediately.
'Shit, if I can see her then she can see me.'
'I gotta move slowly.'
Sato crouched down on the ground and started to ever so slowly make his way down.
But it seems two tails wasn't a predator cat for nothing, her head instantly turned towards the moving thing.
The thing being Sato.
"..."
Four eyes looked at each other, Sato stared at the two tails and two tails stared back.
'Shit'
Advanced chapters ahead on patréon
www.patréon.com/ImagineMaker