First Mission

mondengel:

I recently learned about the Japanese “first errand” milestone for children.  Basically parents send their young child out on a simple errand (buy groceries for dinner) by themselves.  It’s to build self confidence and trust in the community to help and support them.

I wondered: how would that work in the Naruto-verse?  At first I thought that would only be a civilian thing.  A shinobi clan in the warring era wouldn’t want to foster trust in strangers in their rare children.  Then I thought about it more and:

First mission: where young ninja children are assigned a mission (really an errand) by their clan-head that they need to complete inside clan-grounds.  It would introduce them to the actions of taking and completing a mission while fostering trust in their clan.

And to counteract any trust in helpful strangers this might cause –

First enemy attack: send them out on a “remote” mission well within the clan territory, but out of easy sight of the compound, then a couple of gleeful older siblings or cousins dress up in some captured enemy armor and “attack” a-la the FMA training island.  This would be a good control test of a child’s reaction to an enemy and their ability to escape danger.

I thought it might be too outlandish and idea, but then I remembered – Uchiha.  The Uchiha clan would totally do this even if no other clan would.  Culture clash with a Senju clan that did not do this would be hilarious.

Imagine:

He was halfway back to the newly constructed tower with the latest stack of construction estimates when Tobirama noticed a ripple of movement among the Uchiha on the street ahead.  Pausing, it was a moment before he caught the direction of their gazes and looked down at an Uchiha child.  A shockingly tiny Uchiha child. 

Despite the new peace, the youngest and most vulnerable members of each clan were jealously kept within the safety of their respective clan grounds.  He’d never seen such a young Uchiha.  The boy still had a bit of a toddle to his gait and constantly fiddled with a coin bag as he made his way down the street with an oddly determined look.  Tobirama marveled at the child for moment before turning his attention back to the adults. 

While in the childs range of view, their behavior was normal.  As soon as they were certain he couldn’t see them however, they turned into a flurry of grinning and flailing as they craned to stare after him.  At least five were stalking the child in a manor uncannily like Hashirama when he decided to “spy” on Tobirama.  As he watched, the child turned to look behind him and the Uchiha on the street jolted into casual street poses as the stalkers dove for cover.  Tobirama raised a judgemental eyebrow at the one who hid by slamming his whole head into a bouquet of flowers for sale.

What on earth?

Or perhaps:

“You want me to what?”

Kagami shook the bundle of cloth and armor coaxingly.  “C’mon sensei!  You’ll make a much better Hatake than I will.  And not just for the hair.”

Tobirama pointedly did not reach for the offered Hatake uniform.  “Just to be perfectly clear, you want me to dress up as an enemy ninja and terrorize your nephew in the woods?”

“Yes!” Kagami grinned. “It’ll be fun!”

“I sincerely doubt the boy’s mother, let alone the rest of your clan would agree.”

“Are you kidding?  They’ll love it!” Tobirama ducked a shoulder plate that flew out of the bundle as Kagami flailed.  “Oops. But no – it’s his First Enemy Attack.  The more authentic the better!  Plus it’ll be good inter-clan relationships or something too.”

Tobirama pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.  Was there no end to the uniquely Uchiha bits of madness?  Last week it was writing up divorce papers for the third accidental marriage caused by an obscure wedding ritual that everyone in the Uchiha clan knew, but thought was too obvious to mention.  Now this.

“Kagami.” Tobirama interrupted his student’s next attempt to convince him.  “Explained to me: what exactly is a First Enemy Attack?”