A Scaly Glitch in Time
“--And since we recommended it to the Hokage, he’s willing to make an exception but just this time.”
“...”
“I hope you realise how lucky you are. Not everyone gets the opportunity...” Her words faded as his gaze slid to the floor, tracing the spidery cracks etched there. Mitarashi Kimiko, his current homeroom Chunin instructor, walked with purposeful strides, her sandaled feet echoing faint clicks against the surface as his own silent footfalls followed a few paces behind her. They paused in front of a door, only for Mitarashi sensei to pull it open and practically yank him inside.
“If you’re lucky, you might even-- oi, Namikaze.”
And Minato hadn’t been paying attention. Blue hues blinked before flickering to the agitated orbs of one Mitarashi sensei who was staring at him with folded arms and an exasperated pinch of her brows.
Whoops.
“Hai, sensei.”
Mitarashi sensei gave a short nod in turn, “Like I said...this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, don’t ruin it.” Her voice was stern, but her gaze had softened [And Minato would forever be thankful that people found it hard to stay angry with him - especially his instructors]. The Chunin’s hand clapped on his shoulder in what was supposedly a comforting gesture before she took her leave, the door clicking shut behind her. The Namikaze stared at the empty room before blond brows furrowed, contemplative.
Jōnin sensei, ka? As exciting as the thought was, Minato couldn’t help but fidget a little as tan digits tapped a staccato against a clothed arm. He was hailed as a genius, one born every decade and was rumoured to be on track to breaking the Sandaime’s own record at the Ninja Academy. In fact, he wasn’t even supposed to get a Jōnin sensei until he graduated properly; but apparently his seemingly stellar grades had been reason enough to get him acquainted, at least.
As such, he was not...prone to failure, neither did he know the taste of disappointment. ‘Jōnin’ represented the highest rungs of the ladder, second only to the esteemed Hokage himself; who was the highest seat of government.
He wasn’t nervous, per se, more like...slightly terrified.
@serpentumvectum