Gessen Instructor Pt. 3

The loss against Hebijo's elite team weighed on Hajime's mind and he was eager to prove his rival instructor wrong. He motivated himself to push the girls harder and he placed his focus on the first years. They had an information retrieval test; they were given a location they had infiltrate solo and retrieve a scroll inside. Hajime would make sure they passed. In the weeks leading up to the test he spent day and night teaching them new techniques to disguise themselves, to move swiftly and to interrogate guards.

 

He even created games for Minori to play to help build her speed and spend her energy wisely which left him physically exhausted by the evening. Even in his tired state he'd still make time to help Shiki study through a mountain of different texts so she could get to bed early and be rested. His hands on approach left him feeling on the brink of death but the girls appreciated it and so Hajime didn't mind making the sacrifice.

 

Shiki's plan revolved around knowing the location beforehand by digging up information from her vast network of shinobi acquaintances and using her knowledge as the teams technology expert to retrieve important details such as blueprints and layouts of the security systems. When it came time for her test she executed her mission with style. Her bats proved useful when it came time to take down a guard or reach somewhere Shiki couldn't. She walked away with the scroll and without a scratch on her; which was good because she had plans that weekend.

 

Minori on the other hand used her hyperactivity and sense of imagination to get her through the test. No one thought that toys could be so effective yet guards succumbed to tripping on toy cars and were distracted by animal plushies. In some cases the last thing the guards saw was a candy wrapper on the ground and any that didn't fall for Minori's tricks were flattened under pancakes. She left the location looking as though a bomb had gone off but regardless none of the guards could identify her and she had the scroll. She passed with flying colours.

 

Success at last. Hajime was ecstatic over the girls results to the point it looked like he had just passed the test. He formed a circle with Shiki and Minori and they bounced like overjoyed children. It took Yozakura to break them up and as a reward she offered to cook a big meal that night. Hajime was finally able to relax for a while and he kicked back until dinner time rolled around.

 

Unlike other instructors Hajime had taken to eating meals with his students and Yumi and Yozakura would constantly tease him for showing up right as food started cooking. "We were waiting for you to show up" Yozakura teased. It wasn't just her cooking tonight; Shiki was behind the stove too and focused all of her attention on a dish. She wanted to make something for Hajime as a thank you and he was right on time to taste it.

 

She had made cabbage rolls. Hajime took a bite and the flavor got the better of him. "Shiki are you single?" He eyed Shiki hungrily "Because I could get used to this."

 

"Instructor!" Yozakura objected.

 

Shiki raised her arms to form an 'X' in front of her and sputtered her words "I-I wasn't planning on dating anyone until after a I graduated so I don't know if-"

 

"Don't answer him!" Yozakura pulled Shiki aside and brandished a wooden spoon at Hajime "Get out of this kitchen before I smack you!"

 

Hajime backed out of the kitchen and weaved out of the way of smack on his way out "Sorry Shiki I was only teasing!"

 

Yozakura went out of her way to provide a feast and the room went quiet as everyone dug in until they were full at which point a conversation started about Hajime's past. The girls had been curious about his background. "So do you have family?" Yumi asked.

 

"I've been on my own since my parents died." Hajime answered and the girls confided in him about their similar past.

 

"I hope you don't mind me asking but do you know what happened to them?"

 

"I came from a shinobi household and I was told they were killed by a renegade shinobi" Hajime paused "None other than Kurokage."

 

The girls looked in abject horror and stepped away from the table. Murakumo dropped her utensils "I'm not hungry anymore." Yozakura and Shiki nodded to her and each of the girls backed away.

 

Yumi demanded an answer "Did you know about us?"  

 

All five girls kept their eyes locked on Hajime as if they were ready to swoop down and devour him. He could feel an aura around them and he knew they were ready to give their lives. He wasn't willing to harm his own students. "I don't know what this is about but I'm gonna leave."

 

"That would be for the best." Yumi snarls. "You should stay in your room. Hanzou can deal with you."