"Speaking"
'Thinking'
(Authors thoughts)
★★★★ ★★★★
Ken had gone straight to his house, freshened up and met Might Gai as the man was going to treat him for his graduation at Yakiniku Q.
They find a seat and order their meat.
Meanwhile Ken finds himself excited at the thought of taking taking missions from tommorow.
"I'm proud of you my dear student, You have taken an important step towards achieving your goal"Might Gai warmly beckons to ken.
"But let me remind you that the path forward is ine frought with danger".Gai reminds him somberly.
"I understand sensei, I'll always move around with caution"replies ken.
"Good, You now have three choices on how to start your fieldwork. One,Do an apprenticeship under a shinobi most likely a jonin, Two, Join the Genin corps. Three, Get together with a three man cell under a joinin's guidance". Gai proposes.
"There are advantages and disadvantages to all three ways"
"Should you choose to become a jonins apprentice you would have to follow them along there missions and the amount of time you get to yourself will be low, but in return the jonin will pass along to you most of his skills except for clan jutsus".
"If you join the genin corps you will have much more freedom to move around, but you will recieve no guidance from anybody and will have to learn every skill you wish to learn by yourself".
"As for the third option, Normally people dont get to choose to join a three man cell unless the hokage nominates them under a jonin as the ones nominated are typically genius genins, but I can recommend you to the hokage in your favour".
Gai reveals the pros and cons of the three options while looking at ken who was furrowing his brows while in deep thought.
Ken thinks for a few moments and finalises his decision.
"I would like to be your apprentice Gai Sensei".
Gai hums thoughtfully and asks, "You do know that I'm a taijutsu specialist and do not have anything to teach you in regards to ninjutsu?"
"I know sensei but being your apprentice is the best option for me, You know my fighting style and my habits very well and I'm sort of like a mini you in regards to taijutsu,I don't even know if I'm gonna be good at ninjutsu and even if I have talent for it, Learning taijutsu on your lonesome is much harder, I would be an Idiot if I go around looking for another jonin to be my sensei with konohas best taijutsu master right in front of me". Ken honestly conveys his intent to Gai.
'I havent learned the Eight gates from you so how can I let you go my dear Gai'
(A/N:Keikaku intensifies)
Might Gai laughs heartily and gives ken a pat on the back, "Good,So from now on you are officialy my disciple".
"I will be under your care sensei", replies an excited ken.
So began ken's life as a genin under Might Gai's tutelage.
The Next day:
Ken and Might Gai approached the hokage's office and went straight to his room.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was sifting through paperwork while internally cursing the civilian council for being a bunch of lazy asses, When Might Gai along with Ken entered his office.
Hiruzen sat up straight seeing who it was, put on a grandfatherly smile and said:
"Gai, What can I do for you and who is this fine young man you brought along".
"Hokage-sama, This here is Soichiro Ken a genin who I have taken in as a student and wish to have him take up tutelage under me as my apprentice".
Hiruzen thoughtfully strokes his beard,
"And pray tell what talents young ken have that has interested someone like you,Taking in an apprentice is no laughing matter Gai".
Gai replies,"He is talented in Taijutsu and iryojutsu as well, He's also passionate about training and may be the next blue beast of konoha".
"Hmm,Be that as it may an apprenticeship is quite the serious matter".
Hiruzen looks at ken and asks;"kid, Do you want to learn under him.Being his apprentice means getting thrust into the messy waters of Konoha's politics,People may try to manipulate you to get to Gai".
Ken meanwhile internally compares the old man to the one shown in the anime and finds him quite the same.
'Hmm, I wonder if he's genuinely worried about me or just manipulating me to waver and chicken out'
Ken outwardly shows a resolute facade and replies, "I'm willing hokage-sama, As long as I'm strong enough no one will bother me"
Hiruzen quiets down and finally replies, "If so then I approve, You may file his name under an application for apprenticeship"
Ken and Gai both lightly bow to hiruzen while thanking him and exit his office.
Hiruzen Pov:
"Who wouldve thought that the kid would go from a mere Genin to elite chunin level in a measly five months"
'It was a good decision to keep him hidden away from prying eyes, The kid may end up surprising me by being konohas next S rank'.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff from his smoking pipe and remembered the day as he was spying.. Cough.. monitoring konoha grounds when he chanced upon ken unlocking his chakra.
His instincts told him to keep an eye on him and so he did. The results did not dissapoint him as he found a diamond in the rough.
As fate would have it the kid encountered Gai who took a liking to him and started teaching him and now five months later the kid has reached the level of an elite chunin.
"I wanted him to lay low for a while till he becomes a jonin and offer him a position in the anbu, Oh well learning under Gai is a good alternative too". Says hiruzen to himself as he leans back and gets to his job.
"Damn paperwork, I'll take the kyuubi anytime of the day rather than deal with this".
To be continued.....
ALTERNATE TITLE:MEETING WITH SARUTOBI HIRUZEN.
★★★★ ★★★★