Mentorship - A Team 3 oneshot (Patreon)

A oneshot for our January/February winner Loor! Sorry it took so long for me to get this to you, friend!

“Sensei, where are we going?” Kourubi asked. The teenaged genin didn’t usually have to ask such questions, but Noboru-sensei was being secretive today. 

“You’ll see,” Noboru said, reaching over to pat Kourubi’s head. “We’re almost there.” 

Kourubi shared a displeased look with her teammates, Mai and Ryou. It was rare for sensei to avoid answering questions quite so blatantly. 

“Maybe it’s a surprise or something,” Ryou suggested. “Like a party.”

“Sensei hates surprises, you know that,” Mai reminded him.

“I thought that was just when we surprised him.” 

“I bet it’s some new type of training his boyfriend suggested to him,” Kourubi muttered grumpily. “That guy is always doing something insane.”

Noboru rolled his eyes at his team’s speculations. They crossed into Training Field 17 and he made the announcement.

“We’re here.”

Kourubi and the others rushed up to his side, staring at their ‘surprise’. Maito Gai stood in the middle of the training field with three far younger genin. The Karasuno heir gasped.

“Itty bitties!” she shouted.

“I beg your pardon?!” Neji shouted indignantly.

“Students, this is my beloved Noboru and his team!” Gai announced. “He has offered to lend us his students as mentors to each of you.”

“Mentors?” Tenten repeated. “But why? We already have you, sensei.”

“As much as I appreciate the vote of confidence, Tenten, one can never disregard the viewpoint of youth!” Gai grinned, his teeth flashing in the late-morning sunshine. 

“I, for one, am excited to see what I can learn from my mentor!” Lee said enthusiastically.

“Okay, that one’s Kourubi’s,” Ryou said, shielding his eyes from Lee’s blinding enthusiasm. 

“That’s fine,” Mai agreed. “But that means you get the stuck up Hyuuga.” 

Ryou cursed under his breath, earning him a disapproving side-eye from Noboru-sensei. Mai snorted, sauntering into the training field proper. Kourubi bounded up to her “assigned” student, beaming. 

“I’m Kourubi,” she greeted. “And I think we’re going to have a lot of fun!”

“I am Rock Lee! Please treat me well, Kourubi-senpai!” 

Mai saddled up to Tenten, arms folded across her chest in a way that not-so-subtly showed off the musculature of her arms. “Hey. I’m Mai.”

Tenten stumbled over herself as she stared at her mentor’s biceps. “Arms to meet you -- I mean, nice arms -- AH! Nice to meet you! I’m Tenten.” 

Neji glared at his teammates. “You two are embarrassing.” 

“And I can tell you’re an asshole,” Ryou said, rolling his eyes. “Here’s my first official peice of advice as your mentor kid: learn to love your teammates. Better that they’re your best friends than your worst enemies.” 

Neji huffed, and Ryou rolled his eyes once more, reaching out to ruffle his perfectly maintained hair. “You’ll understand when you’re older.” 

Noboru slid into place next to Gai, smiling as Gai’s warm hand settled on his hip. “This was a terrible idea. But at least it’ll be interesting”