How to be a Ninja 101
Entry 1-And I Return To This and More
Finally, the awaited sequel of 'the Fallen'. I've taken a different path and I'm doing this in journal form. I have not kept up with Naruto past a certain point so for now, I'll go up to what I remember and then either take my own path or get my lazy butt and reread/watch Shippuden or however it's spelled.
Disclaimer is only done in the first chapter. I own NOTHING but some certain twists and my original characters.
When I arrived back to Konoha, nothing felt better than that feeling of being home. Hm, the thought of the word 'home' just makes me feel empty. I've lost it in many ways, but I've also lost the people that were dear to me. Funny on how that works these days. Off topic, but that might happen. It's now a habit to write in a journal after something big happens and having a better memory helps. This first page is worthy of some explanation in some things, so I guess I should start off with a recap of a few things. Time for a timeskip backwards.
Okay, my name is Kage Hikari, but back on Earth, I was formally known as Isabel Fox. Dreams were going on when I was on Earth and well, it was actually because that wasn't my real home. If I explained dimensions, I'd get confused and bored and that's a bad thing. Simply put, no description on the time continuum, all this shit happened and it's too confusing. Anyway, my school was attacked by Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame, killing everyone and my older brother, Dan. Stuff happened and I ended up with Team 7. Some portal thing sucked us up (sorry forgot to add my best friend Geoff, who isdead now) and we were separated. Woo-hoo, go me.
Anyway, I ended up with Team 7 during our Waves mission and stuff happened. I found out about chakra and the works of the ninja world. It seemed so perfect, but I have my flaws. That's for later, so during the mission, I wasn't an official member, I was just there for moral support. More stuff happened that I don't wish to describe and I find myself a shinobi, in the Chuunin Exams. Even more things happened in that when Sasuke got the cursed seal and I found out that I had an angel in me. Imagine my surprise during that. It was even worse when Oto and Suna attacked the village during the 3rd round of the Exams. It pains me to write this since after these events, Sasuke started to grow distant.
Itachi came when we were in the Flame Village and attacked us and the fact that our mission with Idate was mostly done by Naruto, he wanted power again. It hurts that he chose Orochimaru over us, but that's life I guess. When he left to join Orochimaru, I wasn't part of the team to retrieve him. Then, I made it my decision to go and just watch the battle between him and Naruto if I caught up. I did. Everything was for the worst and I thought Naruto had died. I couldn't do anything to stop Sasuke from going because I just couldn't.
That led me to doing what Naruto was doing and left for at least two years. I just spent most of my time in the Flame Village, learning my clan's secrets and jutsus. Surprise surprise, most were Ninjutsu, one of my weakest links. I'm still at it, but I've improved. And now, here I am, writing stuff down in the time that I have to record my events down. I haven't seen Tou-san yet since he's in the hospital, but he sent me this so that I could remember things and start doing reports. Aha, he doesn't trust me enough to do it by myself. (I wouldn't have done it anyway. Too lazy for this kind of thing, but oh well.)
Anyway, back to the real thing. I arrived through the village gates with Kotetsu and Izumo watching it as bored as ever. Just one look of the gates brought memories, but that's not what I needed or wanted. Arrival was sweet and simple. It was also delayed since I had to do some last minute things with Yuki at the Flame Village. No one seemed to care that I arrived, but then again, I dyed my hair full silver. The black was annoying and I might as well try to look like Kakashi. Simply, I look different and I might even act different, I personally don't know.
"Hey, who're you?" Kotetsu demanded standing up from his booth. I looked at him and smiled. He was a fellow Chuunin since I came back and took the exams, and yet he didn't recognize me. Funny on how that worked.
"What, just because I dyed my hair doesn't mean you have to be thick-headed," I stated with a smile. It was funny to see him just stare at me with amazement at my transformation. Mischief still dances in my pale blue eyes, but they also look a bit more mature I guess. My face still lights up, but you can see faint lines of work and maturity peeking through at random moments. Next up would be my body structure. When I came here, I wasn't too skinny or too fat, but now, my broad shoulders showed and my stance told people different things besides me words. This was an improvement really, but I miss my younger self that I kept a picture. Yeah, I know, it's weird, but hey.
"Haha, why, it's our Hikari," Izumo said, elbowing Kotetsu. "You missed a mission you know."
I raised an eyebrow. With all the talk I've heard from Yuki and her near panic, I'm personally not surprised. "So I've been told," I laughed. Walking away, I waved casually. "Well, might as well check in with Tsunade-san and announce my graceful presence."
Chuckling reached my ears and I shook my head. At least I still have my mouth and few good insults up my sleeve. Maybe I should tone it down since I'm a higher rank now but no one does that stuff anymore. Writing this with the freshness in my mind, I felt happy to be back. That doesn't even begin how I felt at being back in Konoha. With my short traveling trips and taking a mission every now and again, home always longed for me. Now, I even found my definition of a home and I feel absolutely elated. Even though some people are out and new are in, it still feels like home. The room I'm in smells funny… Off topic again.
My trip to the tower wasn't eventful, but I did meet up with people that missed me. Shikamaru and Chouji were around and I stopped by and said hi. Chouji became more muscle instead of fat, but I didn't make the comment. All I can say is that I'm very proud of him and that his hair is awesome. His teammate is just the same old Shikamaru really. It just shows on his face and I pushed him, earning a 'troublesome girl' from him. That earned him a laugh and it felt like old times. Ino was nearby too and I greeted her stiffly. Not that we were enemies or anything, but we never got onto good terms. Now though, we seem to be getting along. She even commented on my hair which was a big surprise. (okay not really I mean, it's freakin' silver now)
After I talked to them a little bit more, I started off to the tower again. Most people didn't recognize me due to my hair and style. Ah, forget to mention my clothing. Geez, that's the only detail I always leave out. Okay then, instead of the shirt and jeans, (yeah, now that I look back, those things suck) I wear pants like other ninja, but they have deep pockets and straps that help hold some other ninja pouches that'll need sooner or later. My shirt is a hoodie with a net shirt underneath it (but you can't see it). I have an arm warmer and a fingerless glove on my left hand. It's a bit uncommon, but I learned that's how the Kage Clan dressed. Might as well stick to the attire my clan wore.
So, people basically looked at me like I was crazy. Attention is something I really hate, but at least alert the village that I'm here or something. Unless they wanted me to set fire to the village, this was the simplest thing I could think of.
The tower arrived before my eyes and I examined it with no curiosity. Seeing is so many times, it got very old quickly. Shouldering my pack, I walked through the doors before stopping abruptly. This was a boring entrance. Instead, I walked backwards and jumped onto the eaves of the building before landing near the window of the office. It was only occupied by Tsunade-san, Shizune, and Tonton at the moment. Shrugging, I knocked on the glass and crouched down with a smile on my face. Going through the front door was pain and they were papers strewn everywhere so that wouldn't help my case.
They turned and I have a casual wave. My right arm has permanent burns from Hetori and my other forms of it, but it works and the clothing is fire proof. (you have to love those clan secrets) Tsunade sighed and shook her head before opening the window. "You're late," she stated, "a week late, might I add."
Stepping into the office, I stretched and walked to the front of her desk. "I ran into some trouble in the Flame Village and nearly died of suffocation, courtesy of Yuki," I explained with a shrug. "Some last minute training also got in the way, so excuse my prolonged return."
Tsunade shook her head and I just shrugged at her. Not my fault that I needed perfecting on my Ninjutsu. …Okay maybe it was my fault, but don't look at me, I was born with the lack of experience of this crap. "You missed the mission and you barely came for another one," she said irritation very evident in her voice. As if I couldn't tell that I missed a mission from everyone nagging on me.
"We have another mission?" I asked in slight disbelief. Personally, I had hoped that I would spend some time in the village and visit some friends and family in the area. Give some sympathy; I wasn't back so many days that I could have some time to chat.
My Hokage nodded and took her seat, her eyes glaring at me slightly. I held her gaze lightly, not bothering to intensify or hold back. "When Sakura was fighting an Akatsuki member, Sasori of the Red Sand, he told her that he was going to rendezvous with a spy he placed with Orochimaru," she explained. Nodding my head, I understood all the way. The years I spent away, I also worked on my mind, courtesy of some shinobi in the Flame Village. She had raised an eyebrow. "You seem to get the seriousness for once, but you don't know who's on your team."
"Isn't it me, Naruto, Sakura, and Tou-san?" I asked in surprise. Even if he was gone, we were still a four-man team. It was the standard of a team, but I'm actually the fifth person. Not that it's a bad thing, but one of us always had to lay really low on missions.
Tsunade shook her head at me. "Kakashi is in the hospital due to using his Sharingan eye on another Akatsuki member," she explained. "We also didn't know when you were coming back so we'll be adding a new team leader for now and another member. You guys are still Team Kakashi though."
"How many more days?" I asked with my normal tilt of my head, "Till the mission starts I mean."
"The team will meet tomorrow morning here and then after that, you five will head off," she answered. "Best make up your lost time and do some visiting with your mother and little brother."
At that sentence, my eyes lit up and I nearly forgot to say anything. Never mind that, I did forget since I ran out the door and slamming it behind me. If you asked me, my dear Hokage was shaking her head at my antics and smiling slightly.
The streets were crowded as I headed for Kakashi's apartment, assuming he still lived there. Nothing was really running in my mind and except that I had a little brother now. Not my blood really, but it was still a little brother. Since I wasn't paying any attention, I crashed into someone and landed flat on my back. It was a nice flip, if only I landed on my feet. "Ow," I said flatly, looking up at the sky and clouds. It was a crash landing alright. Looking to the side, I saw someone else lying beside me. "Sorry about that, I'm usually graceful on my feet."
The person got up and I recognized her immediately. Not many people had pink hair and emerald eyes like Haruno Sakura. She glared at me and I looked back with smiling eyes. She wouldn't recognize me since Shikamaru didn't and he's the smart one. "Apology accepted, but who are you?" she demanded, picking me up by the hood of my shirt.
"Must people always judge me just because I dyed my hair?" I asked, meeting her height with my feet flat on the ground. "It's very annoying you know. A nice 'welcome back' would be better."
It took her a minute or two to let me go. As a habit, I brushed off myself where she touched me before brushing off my back. "Hikari?" she questioned as I finished brushing my dirty self off. Geez, the dirt sure is clingy now.
"The one and only," I said while clapping loudly. People stopped and looked at me before moving on like nothing happened. "Took you long enough."
Before I knew it, I was in a bone crushing hug and wanted to choke badly enough to spit out last year's dinner. Not that it would still be in my stomach, but that's just my bad example of a metaphor of sorts. Anyway, I would have returned the hug, but my thoughts were set on how violent and how strong she had become. Caring as she is, I think we have another Tsunade on our hands. This one is just in the form of my teammate. "It's so good to see you again," she said, finally letting me go.
"I'd reply to that and say the same thing, but I can't," I wheezed, pounding my chest for air. Hey, it actually works. (It just hurts. …Oh yeah, I just rhymed!)
Sakura glared at me again and shook her head before examining me and my slightly small body. I have grown during the two years and I'm happy about that. Finally, she spoke after she was done looking at me. "You've grown," she said with a smile. Such a bipolar attitude.
"Yeah, we all have," I responded with a smile. In turn, I looked her over and raised an eyebrow. "Now, that's an improvement," I added, indicating her outfit which suited her better than the Genin one she wore before. Guess out styles have changed since two years ago.
She laughed and we started to walk down the market area. "Same goes for you," she said, tugging at my arm warmers. It was a busier day than I anticipated, but then again, it's warmer out so no surprise in the bustle. "So, you've been gone awhile on some errands?" she asked me.
Laughing, I put my hands behind me head. "Not really, just organizing somethings before wandering back," I replied. Sakura sure is easier to talk to than usual. Must be because she changed dramatically. (Not that I'm complaining of course.)
"Hm, I've heard that you've been training hard these past two years," she commented to me. When I laughed, she knew that was yes right away. "You've missed a lot of things you know," she added with a scowl.
"My specialty," I responded with a smile. Ack, all of this talking is annoying, but if you want to be a good writer and that crap, this is what it takes and put everything in detail, including the damned dialogue. Besides, I find myself very entertaining.
"Oh, you were on your way to see Anko-san and Hikaru-kun weren't you?" Sakura asked me with a smile.
My eyes lit up and she laughed, leading me to where they lived. We caught up on somethings and she filled me on the Retrieve Gaara mission that I missed. It was a huge disappointment that I missed the first mission as Team Kakashi, but Sakura wouldn't let me dwell on it. When I filled her in about the Flame Village she nodded and asked how everything was holding up. There was an official ninja system there that took awhile to set up and since the village was on the edge of fire country, permission was granted by Tsunade-san for them to have their own country. Ironically, it was Shadow Country. Fire Country is still the biggest though since the Flame Village has many honorable people in it. So, we now have a country to defend and whatnot. …Good Kami I really need to stop getting off topic! Keep continuing this and this journal will have a boat load of crap soon.
"Y'know, I never thought that you would actually be staying around here," Sakura started. "I'd expect you to be traveling just like Naruto, but you just strayed to Tea Country, Shadow Country, and traveled around randomly. Why?"
"Oh I don't know," I replied with a simple shrug. "Staying closer to home felt much safer and stuff and besides, if I got lost, it might've taken me even longer to have come back home."
My teammate laughed and we finally arrived in front of a small house. Smiling, we both walked to the front door and I had the honor of knocking the door. It took awhile until the door was opened by a little two-year-old toddler with silver hair. He looked up at me with big, dark brown eyes and I smiled kindly. Footsteps made me look up and I saw Anko in bathrobe. "Hikaru, you shouldn't open doors to strangers," she lectured.
"Gee thanks Kaa-san," I said, putting my hands behind my head in a laid-back sort of way. She looked up at me with a fixed glare before softening it and hugging me like there was no tomorrow.
"Hikari, you little maggot," she said, putting me into a headlock, "you really scared me there. Through your little brother here answered the door to a complete stranger. You look a lot like Kakashi now."
"Except for the eyes," I muttered, attempting to get free, my silver hair cascading down. I thought I was going to die being in this embrace.
After a few more seconds, Anko let me go and kneeled down when Hikaru was still looking at me. "This is Hikari, your older sister," she said pushing him towards me. "Go say hi to her."
Laughing silently in my head, I watched as Hikaru looked at him. We had the exact same name meaning; light. It was funny since we are kinda the light in our parent's lives, even though I'm not their kid by blood. We stared at each other for a few minutes until he put his arms up for me to carry him. Finally, I laughed out loud and picked him up. "Hey Otouto," I said with a smile on my face after I calmed down from a short laugh.
"Nee-chan," Hikaru squeaked. Smiling again, I hugged the kid and felt happy. After I played with him for a bit, Anko told me that was the first time Hikaru spoke and I laughed again. Being home again was fun and I loved seeing my younger brother. As I write this in the lonely compound, I wonder, is there a future with the little squirt?
Whoo, this actually took awhile to write. The chapters might actually get longer since this is journal form. Interesting thing really; I can actually write more in this format than first person…
And plus, sorry for the long wait, I got a life