When Rain Falls: Chapter 1 - The Start of Everything...
Disclaimer: Everything, other than my own characters, belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.
AN: I do intend to follow the plot line of Naruto, but I will have my deviations as well. I'm hoping to avoid situations that result in quoting chapters or episodes as that isn't very fun to read. You all, hopefully, know what happens during certain arcs and I won't have to quote them directly. Now, that doesn't mean there won't be moments that do inspire quotations, like the Chunin Exam has certain scenes that everyone is in, thus quoting announcements or such might happen.
I grew up with Naruto and I used to write fanfic all the time for it, but I had the issue of making Mary-Sue's . Each character in the series has moments of perfection and it's hard to maintain that standard while also keeping the OCs at their own levels. I do appreciate reviews that make polite note of such instances because I don't want perfect little folks. My characters are optimistic, for the most part, so hopefully I translate that well away from perfection.
I do appreciate reviews, of course, but not flames. I can't write to please everyone and I am well aware of that, but flaming something just because it's not to your liking isn't fair to author. If you have suggestions, tell me! I'll consider things that are suggested because there's always the chance that I'm missing a great opportunity to do something and with how massive the Naruto Universe is it can be easy to miss things.
Well, that long winded note is over, I hope you enjoy! I do like to keep the first chapter short so folks can get a feel for the characters, future chapters WILL be longer!
The sun beat down on the group of four. Their journey had been lengthy, but the younger three were eager to see what was awaiting them at their destination.
"Ne, Toko-sensei?"
"Yes, Kaori?" Toko asks with a tinge of frustration, already knowing the question.
Kaori pressed her forefingers together with a pout, "No need to get grumpy. I just wanted to know if we're almost there?"
"Just as I told you ten minutes ago, yes, we're almost there," Toko sighed and shook her head before looking back at her three genin, "Takumi, you've been quiet this whole trip. Don't you have any questions?"
Takumi perked his head up from his book, "Not really. It's not like you know our competition or the field. I don't think there's much to ask about that I haven't already learned from books and scrolls."
"Takumi, you could relax a little," a white haired girl chipped in. Her arms stretched above her as she rolls her head from side to side releasing a series of little cracks.
"The Chunin Exams aren't easy, Kotone. Takumi has the right approach. At least he's thinking ahead to the competition. You'll all be in there without me to guide you, you know," Toko chastised her student.
"But you've been preparing us for this, haven't you Toko-sensei?" Kotone smiled as she folded her arms behind her back, the long plum colored sleeves falling back over her arms and covering her hands.
Toko nodded, "I may have prepared you, but if I've prepared you enough is another matter. There are a number of teams from Amegakure attending this year. Keep in mind that you've got Kaori on your team, and she's only a recently graduated genin. With her being younger than you two she'll become a tar—"
"Why did we get selected to go even though I'm new, Sensei?" Kaori interrupted, ignoring her sensei's statement about her age. Their journey to attend the Chunin Exams in Konoha came after Kaori had barely been on the team for a few months. Due to the sudden expectation that they'd be there, the three had to rapidly improve their teamwork in order to not treat Kaori as a handicap.
Kotone grinned and pat Kaori's head, "We get to go because of your potential! You've been doing so well on missions that we got permission to participate!"
Kotone moved her hand before Kaori could swat it away. Takumi chuckled at the behavior, but shared Kotone's sentiment towards Kaori. They were three years older than Kaori, meaning they had a responsibility to watch over her. Her newness was something to keep an eye on. He cleared his throat before adding, "And it appears a Konoha has extended the invitation to it's own genin rookies. Though it's uncertain if they will be signed up by their senseis."
"Oh, Toko-sensei!" Kotone sped up in order to walk next to her teacher, "Do you know anyone from Konoha?"
"Do I know anyone? I don't exactly make friends with ninja from other villages, Kotone."
"You don't make friends in general, Toko-sensei," the mumble was faint but merited a swat to the back of the head.
"I have met some of their jonin in the past, but it was often a quick meeting without exchanging names. Why do you ask?"
Kotone shrugged, "I was just wondering. I don't want you to get bored while we're in there. Who knows, maybe you'll meet some nice village man who will help you settle down-"
Another swat to the head silenced the snow-haired girl. She grumbled as she fell back to walk with her teammates. Takumi grinned from behind the pages of his book, brown strands of hair hanging in his face, while Kaori laughed without control at her teammate's punishment.
"Kotone-chan! Do you think we'll get to meet people from other villages?" Kaori smiled, her eyes brimming with excitement. The potential to make new friends always brightened Kaori's mood.
"Of course we'll meet other teams, but it might be in combat. We're not here to make friends, Kaori," Takumi corrected her.
Kotone nodded in agreement, "It'd be nice if there was a chance to get to know the other teams, but we want to pass first and foremost. Don't forget that Kaori. This test might put us in situations that require us to kill." Kaori nodded, a growing sadness in her cobalt eyes. Kotone appreciates her teammate's innocence, and would rather not fight with other young genin unless necessary. The true goal for all shinobi should be a lasting peace, however naive the principle was.
It isn't long after their talking that they reached the gates. They continued into the village searching for a hotel with a vacancy. Once in their room Kotone plopped down onto a cushion with a loud sigh, "So many teams arriving! I wasn't sure we'd find a room!"
"With the exam being only a week away, it's surprising that we found a room so fast, but it was a bit exhausting after such a long trip," Takumi chimed in, taking a seat next to the table in the center of the room.
"Says the 'patient one'," Kotone flicked Takumi's head before scurrying out the balcony door. She took a deep breath of fresh air before allowing herself to relax. Toko joined her outside shortly and pat her head softly.
"Kaori can handle herself, you know? You and Takumi only need to be worried if she gets hurts or exhausted. She's not had as much experience as you two, but you know how strong she is. Don't worry too much about her."
"Who said I was worried, Toko-sensei?"
"You can't fool me with that sly smile. I know you worry about Kaori every time we go on a mission, but you've trained with her firsthand. You know what she's capable of, and Takumi, too, for that matter. You both worry about her, but she is not the delicate flower she'd have everyone believe. People may target her, and you should help her, but let her defend herself. She has to learn to rely on herself at times...when you and Takumi can't protect her."
"Toko-sensei, you're just as worried aren't you?" Kotone's sage green eyes narrowed at the older woman.
Toko gave a curt nod before leaning her back against the railing and looking towards the room, "Of course I'm worried, but I also know you three are more than capable. Some of the other Ame teams have no place being here, and they might pay dearly for that. You all have the synergy and ability to come out of this."
Kotone grinned, "Thank you, Sensei."
The two returned to the room before Toko left to get them some food. They spent the night in the hotel, just laughing casually about some of the absurd attire of the competition - especially the teams from Amegakure. Toko wasn't sure how it happened, but her team wore some of the more normal-looking outfits out of all the genin from Ame, though too brightly colored for her liking. The night was filled with casual laughter and a relaxing atmosphere.
Sunlight blared through the curtains of the room. Takumi and Kaori glared at Kotone's sleeping form. Her back was turned to the window, her long white tresses resting behind her save for a few strands that had fallen over her face.
"How does she sleep in when it's so bright here?" Kaori asked with drowsiness still on her lips.
Takumi's eyebrow twitched as he resisted the urge to throw water at his blissful teammate. He likely would've if it weren't for the fact that he knew Kotone wouldn't sleep much during the exam. He sighed with a whisper to Kaori, "Kotone has an unnatural ability to feel at home anywhere."
Kotone rolled over and the sun hit her face with a silent, but brutal slap. She immediately brought a hand to cover her eyes, "Kaori? Takumi? What time is it?"
"It's time to get up," Takumi's voice was gruff as he walked away to get ready.
Kotone sighed and stretched, "It's bright here."
Kaori shuffled after Takumi with a slow pace, her mind not fully awake yet either. Kotone let out a yawn of her own before grabbing her clothing and gear.