[Chikako POV]
After leaving class, I went to find Hinari.
"Hinari, can we talk?"
Hinari: [Angrily] "What do you want?"
"Just want to have a conversation. Though I'm the one saying this, the offer is actually from Ikki."
Hinari: "Why isn't he making it then?" She started to leave.
"Stop. If he had come, you wouldn't even have this much of a conversation."
She paused.
Hinari: "You have 2 minutes." Hinari said, crossing her arms.
"According to Ikki, he and I are going to be a team after we graduate from the academy. We need a third partner. A sensor or Doujutsu user, specifically someone who can detect enemies from a long distance and also be a main fighter in the team. You fit the criteria."
Hinari: "Why should I join you?"
Chikako knows Hinari is too proud and arrogant. Ikki told him to pursue Hinari by first putting her down.
"I don't know. You are too weak currently."
Hinari: "You say that, yet you can't beat me."
"I am not a Taijutsu specialist. So winning against me isn't a big deal."
Hinari: "I won against Ikki many times."
"Hehehe. He was never serious in those matches. Do You know why Daikoku-sensei stopped him in the last match against you?"
Hinari's ears perked up.
"Heh, if that attack had hit you, you would have been hospitalized for at least a month. If you don't believe me, come with us to Training Ground 10 now. Check if you are strong enough or if you are just afraid."
Hinari: "Who is afraid? Let's go."
[Hokage POV]
After giving the speech today, I was quite happy. Naruto joined the academy. He is quite happy currently. Yes, the villagers are not talking to him, but they are not treating him badly either. The village is quite stable currently. Just one issue: one group of Uchiha is causing problems. But they are just 50 people. Fugaku is working quite hard; the group leader is just a brainless person. Ahhh, what a pain.
I heard a knock. After giving permission, the person entered the office. It was Daikoku.
"What happened, Daikoku?"
Daikoku: "Ikki asked me for something. Actually, it was more of a statement. He asked to be exempted from the practical training done every day. Actually, he and Chikako. And possibly Hinari Hyuga, if she agrees to join their team after graduation."
"What do you mean by joining their team? Teams are made by us based on their strengths so they can complement each other. And about Chikako, for Nara, they always team up with Akimichi and Yamanaka."
Daikoku: "Honestly, sir, Chikako is not a normal Nara anymore, and we don't know their basic strengths anymore. About Ikki, all I know is if he got serious in Kumite, his opponent would be seriously injured. In Chakra control, he is a monster. He doesn't know the water-walking exercise, but I bet he can get used to it in just an hour. And my gut feeling tells me this is just the surface.
Chikako is not a normal Nara. Last year his fighting capability was above average, but after the vacation, I can bet he will be in the top 5. Only Hinari is relatively normal in this group. I don't know why Ikki is forming this group."
"Ikki is a Kenjutsu specialist."
Daikoku was stunned hearing this.
Daikoku: "What!!! If he is this powerful in normal Taijutsu, how powerful will he be in Kenjutsu?"
"That's why we restricted him from using swords in the academy. He might already be nearing high Genin level with swords. And that's just half the news. Ikki and Chikako are learning Kenbunshoku no Haki, an observation technique. They are also not using it during academy time."
Daikoku: "Hehehe, I don't want to be surprised anymore."
"I have stopped observing their training after the last vacation. They both have gotten quite serious with their training."
Daikoku: "Sir, we should allow them to skip the practical part. It's just detrimental for them."
"There's one question, though. Why does Ikki want to team up with Chikako and Hinari?"
Daikoku: "Ikki is the main force in fighting. Hinari, being a Hyuga, would excel at long-distance searches and finding enemies, and of course, her protective Taijutsu. Chikako, being a Nara, would be the main brain of the team. Of course, there's his family's unique jutsus. I don't know how they merge better."
After thinking for a long time, "I can only think of one thing: a protection specialist team."
Daikoku: "But why that kind of team? Protection is not our shinobi's forte, per se."
"One second, Kenbunshoku no Haki. Damn, he is creating a monster hunting team."
Daikoku: "Are you talking about the monsters that started appearing 2 years ago?"
"Yes, but why is Ikki taking this so seriously? The only encounter he had with a monster was that cat monster. Is it because of that that Ikki is taking this seriously? But that was just one occurrence. One second, Shisui must have disclosed that they are going to roam around to find out whether monsters are appearing all over or not. He wants to go after monsters. He must be thinking more powerful monsters are going to appear, so he already started forming his own team."
Daikoku: "Should I allow them to leave?"
"This time, I am going to give Ikki the benefit of the doubt. Let him make a team with Chikako and Hinari Hyuga. But for excluding them from practicals, I am going to test them first. If they pass, I will tell you to exclude them from practicals."
Daikoku: "Okay, sir."
Daikoku left after this.
"Don't get arrogant, Ikki. Dog, call Gai. He should be back from his mission."