Seventh Training Ground.
Naruto sat cross-legged on the grass, arms folded over his chest, scowling. "What the heck—Ayato told us to meet here at one, and he's the one who's late," he grumbled.
Ayato had said to assemble at one in the afternoon.
And now?
It was already two.
Team 7 had been standing around here for a full hour.
"Hmph. If you're so impatient, go home then." Sasuke leaned against a tree with his hands in his pockets and shot Naruto a cold look.
Oddly enough, Sasuke was being patient today. Even if that delayed his training progress, he still understood that Ayato must have an important reason for gathering the whole squad. Ayato didn't summon them for small talk—if he did, he'd rather be drinking and flirting somewhere.
Still—Sasuke respected Ayato. The man had sharp instincts. Who else would have noticed the threat lurking beneath that lake in the Land of Waves and forced the team to jump in as a final chakra-control test, surfacing three hidden enemies at the bottom?
No one but Ayato.
Sakura sat on her heels on the soft grass, prim and obedient, and said, "Ayato said it was important. Let's wait a little longer."
Naruto draped his hands behind his head and jeered, "Pfft. Acting like you're all high and mighty—third place, big deal."
"You'll regret saying that." Sasuke's expression darkened. He needed to prove he was the strongest genin in Team 7.
"Third place and you still brag?" Naruto continued, gloating. He was the first to finish the training Ayato had set earlier, and he'd been crowing about it for a week.
Sasuke's sharingan spun into existence—just as he was about to grab Naruto by the collar—
"Woooo—" a crackling of blue electricity split the air and Ayato appeared before them, as if summoned by the sky itself.
"Even without me around, you three get along just fine, huh?" Ayato munched on a tri-colored dango and glanced over the kids with casual amusement.
Those brats had definitely gotten stronger. Too bad the mission progress was stuck: they still hadn't completed Sakura's Byakugō training. What a pain.
Tsunade was crazier than Mei Terumī—whenever she met Ayato she'd just start swinging. Not that Ayato could blame her; he'd joked one night when she was drunk, and ever since, meetings had involved fists. If anyone had to take responsibility, it was him for saying that one ill-timed sentence.
"Where's the fun in that?" Sakura muttered.
If Ayato hadn't arrived when he did, Sasuke and Naruto would have been at each other's throats for sure. Hardly a harmonious scene.
"First things first: I registered you three for the Chūnin Exams." Ayato produced three application forms with a pompous little flourish. "Normally only one person per squad is allowed, but my reputation's big—so even the Third will give me face. All three of you can apply."
Naruto blinked dumbfounded. "Wha—? But yesterday the jōnin said a team has to have three genin to register. We thought only one of us could try—Ayato, you tricked us!"
Sakura accepted her form with a polite smile. "Ayato, you're amazing. Thank you."
Sasuke scooped up his paper and snorted. "Hmph. As expected of Ayato."
Naruto looked between them, baffled. They were supposed to scold Ayato together—so why were they praising him instead?
Ayato ruffled Sasuke and Sakura's heads with obvious satisfaction. "Good. Know I did this for your own good."
He'd only been joking, but apparently the two of them were playing along. They must be angling for favors.
"S—sensei, do you know what the exams test?" Sakura asked, clutching her form and channeling maximum puppy-dog eagerness. She'd heard from Kurenai that if one teammate failed in a squad, the whole team was immediately eliminated. The first stage was a written test—Sakura trusted her own brains, but what if she messed up?
Ayato waved a hand lazily. "Flattery won't work. I know what the exam covers, but I'm not telling you. Whether you pass or fail, you'll learn something if you try. That's the point."
He leaned forward, voice dropping to a mock-serious tone. "A tip from your teacher: shortcuts exist, but taking a shortcut you don't understand will just teach you how to fail. Money doesn't solve everything, but it changes a lot." He glanced at Sakura's pocket. "If you've saved any, hand it over."
Sakura startled, then sheepishly produced a small pink wallet—the modest pay she'd earned in the Land of Waves. Ayato snatched it and stuffed it into his pocket with a satisfied nod.
"Naruto!" Naruto cried indignantly, pulling out his frog wallet and glaring at his empty pouch. "Hey! That's my savings!"
"You're a genin. I'm an adult—let me keep it safe." Ayato popped Naruto's wallet into his own pocket before the kid could protest.
Sasuke, expression unreadable, murmured, "On credit, then."
Ayato nodded like it was the most natural thing. "Good manners. You've got potential."
Sakura frowned. "So really, what is on the exam?"
Ayato tapped his chin. "First round is a written test. Neji, you probably can ace that—Sasuke, you'll just copy from Neji with your sharingan when the proctors aren't looking. Naruto… you should just hand in a blank paper."
"Blank paper? Me?" Naruto stared, horrified.
"Trust me." Ayato grinned. "Blank paper is fine. You'll still pass."
Naruto clung to Ayato like a child begging for mercy. "Ayato-sensei, save me!"
Ayato shrugged, then tossed Naruto a short distance away. "Second round is a scroll contest. You'll be given either a Heaven scroll or an Earth scroll. Steal the other from an opponent and pair them up to pass."
"A battle for intelligence and strategy, huh," Sasuke said with a faint smile. Good—they'd have to fight for scrolls. A perfect chance for him to prove he was the strongest genin.
"Third round is a fight. Don't use your full strength right away—say something to flatter your teacher in front of the crowd, then pull out your best trick at the decisive moment." Ayato's tone was dry as he explained how they should stage their display.
"Meaning…" Sakura started.
"That you'll make the audience think Ayato taught you, so everyone says—'Wow, what an incredible teacher!'" Ayato said, deadpan. "Got it?"
Sakura groaned. She felt like her money had been spent on nonsense. Sasuke, however, looked quietly grateful and coldly said, "Fine. I will perform because you helped me get stronger."
Ayato shrugged. "Is that so? Good."
Then the system pinged.
[Ding—]
[Side Quest Activated: Teach all members of Team 7 the Summoning Jutsu.]
[Deadline: 7 days.]
[Summon type: Any.]
[Reward: Random Gacha Gift Pack.]
Ayato's inner HUD chimed in that pleasant, indifferent female voice.
He paused and thought for a moment. A side quest? Teach them summoning? That was far easier than the previous task. And the reward—another random gacha box—was basically free loot. Last time the gacha spit out a pair of Rinnegan Sharingan; who knew what it might give this time? A Zanpakutō would be cool—stylish and showy.
"Since you appreciate gratitude so much, I'll teach you one move," Ayato said casually.
Team 7 brightened instantly.
"Of course, on credit." Ayato smiled. "I don't forget the small things: genin get a salary, right? I'll collect it. Ten thousand ryo from each of you."
Silence.
Their thank-yous died on their lips at the hearing of Ayato's fee. Being a ninja was chronically poor. Other genin spent their pay on food and new clothes; Team 7 scavenged used kunai and kept patching them up. All their savings would now go into Ayato's "teaching fund."
But when they thought about how much it would cost to hire a top jōnin for real training, Ayato's modest fee didn't seem so bad. He wasn't overcharging, and he was teaching them.
Sasuke was the first to break the silence. "Charge it to me. Teach me the new techniques."
Ayato chuckled. "Impatient brat. Sit down, everyone." He settled on the ground and folded his legs.
Summoning… Ayato had hardly used it himself. Why bother? He could crush most threats without relying on summons. Technically, after awakening certain ocular power, he could have called forth massive things—outbound husks of tailed beasts included—but this lot couldn't summon a thing like that.
"Pick whatever contract you want," Ayato said, vanishing in a flash of stormy blue light.
Three minutes later he reappeared holding a mountain of peculiar scrolls.
"These are summoning contracts. Choose whatever you like and seal it with your blood pact." He tossed the scrolls down.
He'd just been to a classified storage vault and, after briefly incapacitating two Root gatekeepers, liberated every summoning contract in the place.
A menagerie of options lay there: wolves, dogs, hawks, snakes, toads, even slugs—an entire zoo in scroll form. Danzo had hoarded a ridiculous amount of junk.
"Contracts?" Naruto and the others' eyes lit up. They'd seen summons before—powerful, awe-inspiring techniques.
Sasuke frowned. "To bind a summoning beast, it must accept the contract, yes?"
Ayato waved dismissively. "Don't worry. I'll make those beasts accept their contracts."
Summoning beasts refuse? He'd clap them into submission if they dared.
Naruto whooped with excitement. "Ayato-sensei, you're the best!"
Sasuke and Sakura nodded, finally feeling the thrill of a real new technique coming their way.
Ayato glanced at his little pile of scrolls and smiled in satisfaction. Teaching these kids—collecting a little tuition along the way—this was a very agreeable day indeed.
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