"Welcome back to Konoha, Miss Hitoshiku". The Third Hokage of the Leaf Village sat at his desk, smiling at me softly. I managed to muster up a half-smile. "Now, I know going from Jōnin to Genin will be a rather…..shocking experience however the Chūnin Exams are coming very soon". I nodded, my brown hair floating around my face.
I'd screwed myself over again. I always did it. Always. With out a doubt. I managed to SCREW MYSELF OVER. It was part of my natural nature, I supposed. I couldn't accept perfection.
"Will I be paired with a team then ?", I hummed out. "But of course Aiko. I have it right here, you will be paired with Team One, with their Jōnin Kakas-" I cut him off with a gasp. "Kakashi Hatake ? Really? I did a mission with him once!" .
Hokage-sama grinned with a wise eye at me. "Yes, Kakashi Hatake. His team are all around your age, thirteen and Genin. Kakashi already knows about you being…." Sarutobi searched for the word.
He was too kind.
"Being demoted", I finished with a smile. Sarutobi smiled sadly. He knew how unfair my demotion was but I couldn't care less. You know? It was one of those things that was out of my hands. Didn't matter how much skill I had, the Mizukage didn't like me. I had been sent there for a mission and because I had merely refused to sleep with him – BAM. DEMOTION.
It was that or war. The Mizukage had made that clear. He wanted me demoted. Damn bastard. Why would I put Konoha at risk for my rank ? It wasn't worth it. I wasn't worth it. Simple enough. "I figured since you have experience with Kakashi, he will use you like an assistant. You'll be his equal". I grinned. Kakashi and I had always been very competitive. I was so young, he envied that in me.
Well, he envied the fact that I had become a Jōnin nine months before my 13th birthday, three after my 12th birthday. Kakashi was thirteen when he reached Jōnin level. I don't know why this was so infuriating to Kakashi, but it was. It was pissing the shit out of him. Or it used to. Now he was cooler about it.
"He has one female and two males. You'll be his second female. The female is Sakura Haruno. She's a very smart girl, however her ninjutsu and such are lacking. Try to improve that with her. Naruto Uzumaki… you already know the deal with him. He's a very dedicated ninja, but needs to work his actual skills. But he does have good work skills. And lastly, Sasuke Uchiha". Sarutobi bit his lip. "Watch this one carefully. He's bad at teamwork, preferring to do things on his own. Even if you have to break his confidence by beating him". I grinned. Sarutobi and I made small talk until Kakashi arrived.
"Sorry I'm late. I got lost on the path of – " my new sensei began but I stopped me with a hand. "You're just on time". I could see his lips form a smile beneath the mask. My emerald eyes shined back at him. "Off we go ?" I questioned. He nodded. I bid goodbye to the Hokage and we transported. I sighed as Kakashi brought up a lame excuse. Both Sakura and Naruto objected to this, knowing it was a lie.
Shouldn't they be used to it?, I thought, my eyebrow raising in surprise. They immediately took notice of me, my legs swinging off the beam. The sound of the water calmed me, but I wasn't very nervous to begin with. "This is your new team mate!" Kakashi introduced me happily.
I knew it was only because he was in charge of me now.
"Team mate?", Sakura asked. She eyed me curiously. "Yes, she's officially apart of Team One. She was recently…uhm, demoted". This make Sasuke perk up. The Uchiha seemed to mock me with his eyes. "HI! I'M NARUTO UZUMAKI! I'M THE NEXT HOKAGE! BELIEVE IT!". This made me grin softly. "Please to make your acquaintance, future Hokage-sama". He seemed surprised I believed in him.
"Sakura Haruno", the pink haired girl introduced cutely. I smiled back at her, before moving my gaze to the Uchiha. I knew all of them already, but they didn't need to know…yet. "Sasuke Uchiha…". I nodded after a moment. "Kakashi –sensei, can she introduce herself? Like we had to when we first met you?".
Little did she know I'd known Kakashi for a while now. He sent me a questioning look to which I shrugged. "My name is Aiko Hitoshiku. I'm 13", I started. I stared at my feet for a moment. "I like….fighting, training, kunai, dancing, music and eating. I hate very sweet things and overly spiced things. I don't hate much. I'm not a very hateful person" I laughed awkwardly. I knew everyone said they were hateful but I just couldn't be.
Hate consumed your heart and turned you cold.
"My dreams for the future? To have a big family….family is important. And to perfect my dancing". I finally jumped down from the beam. "And to be a strong person. A strong ninja is important but a strong person… yeah". I blushed. "As for hobbies I dance with the local dance studio and put on shows during the festivals. I play many instruments too…..but to be quite honest, I spend most of my time training. I like to train", I finished. "One thing you should know about me…..I will kill you if you mess around too much. I was recently demoted from my position as Jōnin". Kakashi rubbed his neck. He knew I wasn't playing shit games with them.
"And, she was going to be added to ANBU soon. So I wouldn't recommend messing with her". "May I ask Aiko, why were you demoted?". Sakura asked cautiously, obviously trying to be respectful. I smirked. "The Mizukage wanted ….. something from me that he didn't have the right to take, and I refused him. So he insisted I be demoted". Sakura gasped.
She understood. "What did he want ?", Naruto asked, obviously confused. Sakura looked annoyed, but I just shook my head. "Anyway….Aiko is your superior at all times. If she tells you to jump, you jump. If she tells you hide, you hide. She tells you to run, run without looking back. Respect her the way you respect me. Maybe, even more. She made Jōnin at age 12. And Chūnin at 9".
At that Kakashi's last comment, I could feel the Uchiha's eyes boring into me with interest. He wanted to know more. I could tell Sakura did too, but she didn't want to show it. Naruto then burst out, talking about a how he was ready for a real mission.
My introduction to Team One was pretty smooth. Kakashi uttered something about Naruto cooling down. This was just wind to the flames. Naruto then began to stare at Sasuke, he was obviously deep in thought.
I stared down at the water for a moment, having my own little day dream. They all seemed to like me enough. Next thing I knew, Kakashi was flicking me on the forehead. Instinctively I glared at him. "Oi, old man. Watch yourself. I'll pull that mask down quicker than you can say 'sorry'". Kakashi gave me a soft smile.
"It's nice having you around Aiko".
By the end of the day, I healed Naruto twice. The first when he upset one of our clients by pulling out her herbs. I had comforted the woman, and told her I could do a fertilization technique so that the next time the herbs would grow in ten fold. She tipped me generously which I gave back. Knowing I helped was enough. I managed to heal his eye so it was more of a circle and less of the left corner of his face.
The second mission was collecting garbage which went pretty well….until Naruto slipped and fell. Sasuke managed to save him, calling him a 'loser'. I simply rolled my eyes. "Aiko-chan?", Sakura began.
I smiled at her as I chucked a can into my basket. "Yeah?". She blushed for a moment. "You're a strong person….. do you think maybe you can help me train one day ?". I think she knew that she was the weak link.
"Of course! I'll train with you any time you want me too, Sakura-chan", I encouraged with a wide smile. I hoped she would understand that I was willing to help anyone. The next mission was definitely my personal favorite. I got to play with a white Pomeranian. My dog was incredibly sweet, licking my nose and everything.
I loved animals. Naruto choose to take the huge dog, and I didn't bother to stop him. Why should I ? It was his choice. He would have to learn how to take the consequences. Sakura did object though. She said either I or Sasuke should have the large dog to which Naruto objected. I just sighed before grabbing my Pomeranian. Naruto ended up burned – long story. I healed most of his burns.
And then there was a small confrontation between Naruto and Sasuke and yadda yadda. I was becoming so used to their antics. When I saw the bird, I looked at Kakashi. "I'm not invited, am I?". He sighed. "You'll get there. You still are a Jōnin in our eyes..". Then he was back to his book.
Sakura ran off with Sasuke, leaving a disappointed Naruto and I. Ahead, I could hear Sasuke insulting Sakura. "Don't listen to him Sakura". "Yeah, just forget about Sasuke:" Naruto encouraged. Kakashi was gone just like that. I noticed the fake rocks before Naruto did. The annoying noise was what caught me first. I sighed. "Naruto-kun", I grabbed his attention, motioning to the moving box.
It obviously after him. Which I found quite hilarious.
Whatever was under the box had very low chakra so I figured they were children. No threat to me. Naruto ran around, the box following him quite excitedly. Eventually Naruto stopped and the box failed to stop quick enough – which I suppose gave it away. Konohamaru was under the box with his two little friends. Sakura came over wallowing in a self pit of sadness.
Suddenly Sakura's was Naruto's girlfriend and she was punching him and all this CRAP. My daydreaming was becoming a problem. I walked over. "Naruto, do you need me to heal you again?". As if this was the only way Konohamaru could notice me, he grinned. "AIKO!" . I had babysat Konohamaru on numerous occasions. I treated him like my own son. I blew him a light kiss, to which he responded with a blush. And then Sakura hit him. I growled but I simply held Konohamaru's head as she stomped away. They both – Konohamaru and Naruto, that was - had big bumps already.
Why isn't she harvesting this strength? I thought faintly. Konohamaru's voice brought me back to earth. "DID YOU SEE HOW WIDE HER FOREHEAD WAS?". Shit, shit, shit.
NEVER INSULT A WOMAN'S LOOKS. "Oi! Apologize!" I insisted. However, the small boy decided it would be better to flee. Konohamaru pulled me up and began running. "Watch where you're-" going, I finished in my head. We had bumped into a Sand ninja with purple face paintings. Next to him was a blond girl. She was taller than me, most likely older too. He had picked up the small boy, holding him by the scarf around his neck.
"Put him. Down". My voice was clear and menacing. I glared with eyes that seemingly surprised Sakura. "He is the grandson of the Hokage. Being a Jōnin of this village I will protect him". The asshole in front of me was a Genin, I assumed.
The scum from other villages were leaking in for the exams. I had always hated this time of year. MY eyes analyzed the situation. Immediately I had a plan to get Konohamaru back safely. I had heard Naruto's yelling but something about these guys was throwing me off. "You're annoying…except for you, you're cute". He winked at me and I nearly threw up. In an instant I was behind the jerk, a kunai at his neck. Before I could say anything, Sasuke – who had been up in a tree for at least half of that – hit the bastard with a pebble. I managed to grab his head scarf, jerking his head back to expose a vein. I jumped back the moment he released Konohamaru though, grabbing him before he hit the floor. I had hit the ground first, Konohamaru in between my legs. Faintly, I had been sensing another set of chakra.
A strong one. Very strong. He had blood red hair and apparently intimidated purple face. But I couldn't worry about that right now. "You okay sweetie?" I mumbled to Konohamaru. "Yeah…. My neck hurts..". I checked him carefully to make sure there was no bruising to the trachea. The redhead apologized for purple's antics. "It's…fine", I sighed out.
Sakura began to question them but I couldn't make myself stop her. I wasn't supposed to know this information regarding the exams. Sasuke came down from the tree, eying me for a brief moment before looking towards the Sand Genin. He started to cause trouble, cough, question them. I pushed Konohamaru up from between my legs. When I'd caught him, I'd hurt myself a bit but I focused some extra chakra there to help heal the scrapes and cuts. The next thing I heard was redhead's voice. It was so… hate filled.
"Gaara…of the Desert. I'm curious about you too…who are you?". "I am Sasuke Uchiha", Sasuke smirked confidently. "And you?", Gaara motioned to me. I stood up from my place from the floor.
"Aiko Hitoshiku…pleasure to meet you, Gaara", I replied as sweet as I could muster. "I'd just like to say to purple face…. You hurt that child again and I will murder you. And I've been trained to make it look like an accident". As I spoke these words, I brushed my dress off.
I sighed softly to myself. In a week the Chuunin exams began. In a week I would be forced to relive the Chūnin Exams. In a week….I'd be fighting for not only mine, but my comrades lives.
Something I hadn't done in a while.