Illumination – A Naruto Fantasy

Sailing through the cold, massive valley, they made their way towards the bottom of a hill. After dropping the anchor, Funsui escorted the team off the ship

"Phew! Freezing! I forgot how cold it gets here in this time of year. At least we made without any issues this time" (Tango)

"Ah? What do you mean 'this time'? You got something say about my sailing Tango?" (Funsui)

"Oh I wouldn't dream of commenting on your ability as a ship captain Funsui. Just thinking out loud" (Tango)

"Mhm. Sure" (Funsui)

After seeing the team off the ship, Funsui proceeded to leave

"I hope you haven't forgotten anything because we're not sticking around" (Funsui)

"Gah! S-S-S-SO...COLD!!! You're not staying?" (Tai)

"No. But you are. Have fun" (Funsui)

"Wait...what?" (Suzu)

Funsui replied with smug tone before getting back on the ship and sailing away before they could ask any more questions

Now alone with the group, Tai couldn't help but ask

"Okay...I'm still completely clueless as to what the hell is going on" (Tai)

"Sensei...what did he mean by that?" (Suzu)

"I've already notified your guardians, but we'll be staying here for the next month" (Tango)

"?!" (Tai & Suzu)

"For how long in this freezing place?!" (Rei)

"One whole month! Now, come along! We have a schedule to keep" (Tango)

"..." (Suzu)

"Un...real" (Tai)

{A month?! Crap! I didn't bring any of Mabui's pots for reverse summoning because I thought we were going on a mission! I won't be able to get back to my lab until we return, damn it!} (Rei)

Tango grabbed his bag and starting walking on the steps leading to the top of the hill. The Genin followed in kind, shivering from the low temperature

"...Hey Tai" (Suzu)

"Brrrrr...y-yeah?" (Tai)

"You said your family owns this place?" (Suzu)

"That's right, I've been wanting to ask you about that" (Rei)

"In a matter of speaking, yes. This mountain valley range was one of the many territories given to the Yotsuki Clan after they swore loyalty to first Raikage during Kumogakure's founding" (Tai)

"This valley is located close to a border in the Land of Lightning right?" (Rei)

"Mhm. Because my family has been entrusted with security of all our country's borders for generations, this place is naturally under our control" (Tai)

{You learn something new everyday. But why does this place feel so familiar?} (Rei)

"Hey! Pick up the pace! During this time of year, this place gets DANGEROUSLY cold! We're quite a ways before we make it to the top!" (Tango)

"Yes sir!" (Suzu)

"C-coming!" (Tai)

"Nothing like a little hiking to get the blood moving I guess" (Rei)

The group sped up and after some time, they made there way to the top

In front of them was a wide, flat landscape with more stairs opposite from them, leading to a house. It's back connected to another, taller mountain. The area was surrounded with other mountains possessing similar structures and builds attached to them

"Huff...huff..." (Suzu)

"Haaah...ack...wheeze...!" (Tai)

"Take long, deep breaths. Besides the cold, the air is very thin up here...but that's also why it's a perfect training environment" (Tango)

After the hike, Suzu was breathing heavily while the less fit Tai was gasping for air. Tango and Rei were the only ones who kept their composure

"Welcome to your home for the next month" (Tango)

Tango put down his bag and looked at them with a serious expression

"There's something I need to tell you three...about our team" (Tango)

"W-what is it?" (Tai)

"..." (Rei & Suzu)

"As you know, shinobi squads are usually organized to balance out talents between students and teachers" (Tango)

"Yeah...that's comes standard anywhere. What are you getting at sensei?" (Tai)

"Teams...so in our case..." (Suzu)

"Rei and Tai benefit from your elemental expertise, Suzu. You and Rei benefit from the medical knowledge Tai holds, along with the fact that he's completely memorized all there is to know about the basics. Information that's essential for building a strong foundation. Finally, you and Tai gain advantages from Rei's high-level intelligence, strong Taijutsu, and adept Chakra control. And naturally, all of you benefit from learning to work together as a team" (Tango)

"So that's why..." (Suzu)

"But what about you sensei? You're also apart of 'Team Tango' as well" (Rei)

"Oh! That's right!" (Tai)

"Heh. Again, sharp as a knife Rei" (Tango)

"..." (Tai & Suzu)

"I'm apart of Kumogakure's Intelligence Division, my skills are heavily focused on support, espionage, information gathering, and interrogation. We're not really 'front line' fighters, not to mention my young age..." (Tango)

Tango took a deep breath

"Its why you three, some the academy's most gifted students were assigned to me, one of our village's youngest Jonin. It's all about balance" (Tango)

"You were given exceptional students to make up for your lack of experience" (Tai)

"Oh, make no mistake, I have plenty 'experience'. But my overall strength is average" (Tango)

"Heh! You mean for a Jonin right?" (Rei)

"Naturally. The top brass would never assign any ninja lower than the rank of Jonin to watch over a team of Genin. No one, including myself, would accept anything else" (Tango)

"That's reassuring...not that any of us were worried anyway. After the events on Genbu Island, no one doubts your capabilities Tango-sensei" (Suzu)

"Thank you" (Tango)

"Alright, I get that, but where do we go from here?" (Tai)

Tango held his head down for a brief moment before looking at them with a strong expression

"Suzu. Rei. Tai..." (Tango)

"?" (The three Genin)

"From this point forward I promise...I will always do everything in my power to ensure your success. If there's a jutsu you need, I'll get it for you. If there's something you don't understand, I'll explain it to you. If there's a problem you can't overcome alone, I'll work with you. And if my abilities alone aren't enough, I'll get someone else to help you!" (Tango)

"Sensei..." (Tai)

"All I ask is that you give me a chance, and trust in me. Can you all do that?" (Tango)

The trio looked at each other before responding

"You don't have worry about me, I've already made my decision" (Rei)

"Trust is two-way street. Wouldn't be fair to ask for your trust if I didn't give mine" (Tai)

"We're of like minds sensei, there's no need to continue this any further" (Suzu)

Getting their response, Tango smirked a little 

"Great, now let me explain our regimen" (Tango)

Tai had an eager look on his face

"For learning new jutsu!?" (Tai)

"...No" (Tango)

"Huh?" (Tai)

"Like I said, you three are talented when it comes to your jutsu. But still lacking in certain areas...areas that I intend to correct" (Tango)

{I won't deny that} (Rei)

"During our time here, you three will be practicing formations and perfecting your coordination. At the moment, I'm not interested in teaching you any new jutsu. Your overall foundation and teamwork are my main priorities for now" (Tango)

"Yeah...after our previous 'performance'..." (Suzu)

"It makes sense to focus on those aspects" (Rei)

"R-right..." (Tai)

"Indeed. Only when the both of us find your results are satisfactory, then we'll move on to learning new techniques" (Tango)

"Ok...wait? 'The both of us'?" (Tai)

"Is there someone else here sensei?" (Rei)

"Ah! That's right! Before we continue, there's someone I'd like to introduce" (Tango)

Tango turned around and yelled towards the house at the top of the stairs opposite to them

"HEY! WE'RE HERE!" (Tango)

The three looked up to find a man's single figure exiting the house. Strangely enough, he was uttering weird sounds as he made his way down the stairs

"Who is that?" (Suzu)

"I don't...wait...isn't he?!" (Tai)

"Hm?" (Rei)

 

"♪ Yeah, yeah
Ayo, Students, it's time.

Y'all lackin' so much
It's like a crime

Yo teamwork drops low, unlike me and my Brother
But with me here, you'll be jamming like no other

Beyond the walls of those Headbands, life is defined.
I think of Strength, when I'm in a Unraikyō state of mind ♪" (???)

 

"...H-huh?" (Suzu)

"Rapping? Enka? No doubt about it now. This guy is...!" (Tai)

"Oh God...not HIM" (Rei)

[Hahaha! Yes! Finally a character besides you that makes me laugh!]

Rei made a face palm with a deep sigh

"Everyone, allow be to proudly introduce the 'Guardian of Kumogakure',  Jinchūriki of the Eight-Tails, and younger brother of Raikage-sama...Killer B-sama!" (Tango)

"Hold on...'guardian'...is he the one who?!-" (Suzu)

"That's right Suzu. He was the 'reinforcements' we were buying time for during our battle on Genbu Island. As well as the one who rescued you" (Tango)

"Oh! How could I have forgot?!" (Tai)

"What do you mean Tai?" (Suzu)

"I overheard my family talking about Raikage-sama having a Jinchūriki move into Unraikyō after the Third Shinobi World War. Him at the border is a powerful defense, but before that he was usually stationed at-" (Tai)

"Genbu Island. That island has been host to many of our country's Jinchūriki as a place of training and reflection. Both B-sama and Raikage-sama trained there together in their youth many years ago" (Tango)

{No wonder that annoying island and this stupid place felt so familiar} (Rei)

"So he's gonna be teaching us?" (Tai)

"We both are. B-sama will mainly oversee your physical preparation and combat skill. I will be instructing you on your formations and jutsu" (Tango)  

 

"♪ Hope you got the communication
My operation don't like no dirty implication
Run up to the education and get the station

What more could you ask for? The cool Formation?
You complain about the cold.
I gotta love it though - somebody still speaks for the implication ♪" 

"WHHEEEEEEEE!!!!!!" (Killer B)

 

"..." (Tai)

"..." (Suzu)

"Haaaa...."

{This is gonna be one long, f*cking month...} (Rei)

Folding his arms, Tango had a huge smile on his face

 

 

 

 

 

"LET'S GET TO WORK!!!!" (Tango)