A/N: This fanfic is a thread on Feral Front, Suzaku Ryuichi, Kiari Ryuichi, Ryko Uchiha Takishita, Zeke (Kazekage) Nokori, Hanako (Kira Nokori) Kazekage, Tasiho (Shinza Nokori) Kazekage, Tsuji Kasamatsu, Saromi Atsumichi, and Yusuke Tomori belong to ~Reverie. I own Rabenda "Rei" Hanzai, Hato Hanzai, Shigure Aki, Haru Akatenshi, Kikyo Shi, Nashi Hanzai, Sei Hanzai, Suiren Hanzai, Izaya Hanzai, Fuyu Aki, Kozui Aki, Orien, Tsubalsa, Saya, and Bururiri Shi. I don't own Naruto or its characters. Please enjoy!
Chapter One: The Beginning
Rei sat in the classroom at the academy, she sat next to her friends Haru and Shigure who were as bored as anyone would be. Iruka was going on about genjutsu, even with Haru and Shigure talking occasionally, Rei was still about to pay attention to what Iruka was saying.
Haru looked over at Rei. "Bored, I guess." He said as she looked at him. She smiled, he knew her very good. Both Rei and Haru looked over at a sleepy Shigure. Rei knew that must have been up all night again. Rei looked over to where the Uchiha of the class sat, she didn't care for Sasuke, considering that he would make her mad. She saw that Sakura was sitting next to him watching him.
Sasuke knew no matter where he sat that the pink haired girl that was next would sit next to him. He tried to ignore her and focus on what Iruka had been talking about. Sasuke had a paper and pencil out ready to take notes when need.
Rei noticed that the seat in front of Haru was empty, she knew Zeke would be late as usual. As if on cue the door opened to the room and Zeke walked in. Iruka stopped talking to see who it was. Once he noticed it was Zeke, he let out a sigh. "Hurry and take your seat, Zeke," Iruka said as Zeke closed the door and slipped into his seat. Iruka continued his lecture.
Haru looked at Zeke. "you're late usual." He said quietly to where Zeke could hear. Haru then turned his attention back to Iruka, knowing that graduation was coming up, he was excited about becoming a ninja and bring pride to his clan.
Rei nodded towards Zeke before she leaned her head against her hands. Rei knew all too well that Zeke would be late, and that it would interrupt Iruka, which made her wonder what he was thinking sometimes.
Shigure looked at Iruka before deciding to lay his head down on his arms, yet again. Within moments he was asleep, which he did often. He knew there was a chance of him getting caught.
Sakura wasn't happy with Zeke coming in late. She thought it would distract her Sasuke-kun from learning and she couldn't have that. Sakura looked at Zeke hoping he would get into trouble.
Zeke looked back at Haru, not paying any attention to Iruka. "I like to take my time getting here, you know that." He said. Zeke had been late pretty much every day since he'd started at the academy. He never had a good excuse when it came to being late. Despite being late, he didn't do terrible on a test or anything he had just been lazy. "Besides it doesn't matter now since we'll be graduating soon."
Sasuke watched Zeke walk into the classroom and thought that he wasn't serious about being a ninja. He was happy it got Sakura to look away from him even if it was for a moment. He thought it was annoying to have her watch him all the time. Sasuke started taking notes when Iruka had changed topics, but then his pencils broke and realized he didn't bring an extra pencil.
Sakura noticed that Sasuke's pencil broke. She picked up hers and handed it to him. "Here Sasuke-kun, use mine." She said softly with a smile. She loved helping Sasuke with anything.
Rei had smiled at Zeke's comment about graduation been around the corner, but that wasn't her main concern. Rei's main concern was her cousin Hato.
Haru looked at Zeke for a moment. "I know, but still," Haru said. "Well at least don't let Iruka know that you're late." He said smiling, holding his hand out to fist bump Zeke.
Shigure had fallen asleep while Iruka was talking. He had stayed up late into the night before training.
"Oh, thanks, Sakura," Sasuke said taking the pencil from Sakura and started writing notes. Even know it was more annoying than anything at least it had been useful now since his pencil had broken.
Zeke chuckled and fist bumped Haru back. "He always knows I'm late, it's impossible to fool him." He said as he remembered back to a time when he tried to fool Iruka. "Remember when I made a clone so it would look like I was on time and he figured it out as soon as he got here?" Zeke said.
Haru smiled and let out a small laugh. "Yeah, there is no tricking Iruka." He said noticing that Shigure had fallen asleep again. "Poor Shigure," Haru said looking at Shigure.
Sakura was happy that Sasuke was using her pencil, but then she had noticed that Zeke and Haru were talking and she thought it would distract Sasuke from learning.
Shigure fell into a deeper sleep to the point where he had started snoring in class. To Shigure, the world was dead since he was asleep.
Zeke grinned at Haru. "I'm going to find a way to trick him one day." He said as he glanced at Shigure and nodded. "Well, the class is boring," Zeke said hearing Rei but flinched when he heard Iruka's voice.
Iruka behind Zeke. "Hey Haru, Zeke you can talk later I need you two paying attention to his." He said. "And Shigure wakes up," Iruka said walking over to Shigure to shake him awake.
Sasuke was trying to ignore Zeke and Haru, but with Shigure snoring it wasn't easy. Sasuke watched as Iruka called them out for and hoped they'd stop for a while since the class was almost over.
Shigure woke as soon as Iruka had started shaking him. "The answer is pie." He blurted out as he shoots out of his seat. He looked at the class blank-eyed as everyone started laughing, while all but Sasuke.
Rei smiled and laughed at the fact that all three of them got caught and not her for once. She looked at Haru, Zeke, and Shigure. "Maybe there is a way to trick Iruka." She thought with a smile on her face.
Haru sat straight up; this had been the ninth time he got caught. He looked at Rei. "How can she get away with this." He thought to himself still looking at Rei.
Sakura watched Iruka happily. "Cha, that's what they get for trying to distract my Sasuke-kun." Her inner voice said happily that her Sasuke can learn now.
Iruka sighed. "Sit down." He said. "And that's wrong and I didn't ask you a question," Iruka said. "Can anyone explain to Shigure about how to tell if you are trapped in a genjutsu?" He glanced around the class his eyes falling on Sakura though he didn't call on her to answer it just yet. He'd been lecturing about that before the interruption.
Zeke just grinned not seeming to mind being caught yet again. He was used to getting in trouble from Iruka for being late, that seems normal. He stayed quiet though not wanted to get into worse trouble. He'd pushed it before and had to stay after school to do chores to make up for it.
Sasuke had stopped taking his notes and looked out the window. He wasn't sure if Iruka was wanting him to answer or if he was at Sakura since she was right next to him.
Sakura looked at Iruka; she hadn't been paying any attention in class while he had been talking. She looked over at Rei hoping that she had the answer.
Rei looked at Shigure, Haru, and Zeke. "Genjutsu is when someone controls a targets' chakra flow, causing them to see false images and tricking them into experiencing physical pain. It can be from eye contact, hand signs, or a special pill that activate after the target is asleep. When a person can use Genjutsu from a far distance, they are deemed dangerous." She said still looking at the three.
Haru looked at Rei, of course, he knew that she would pay attention no matter the distraction. "Come on Rei." He thought.
Shigure went red in the face when Rei had answered Iruka. He also felt guilty about not paying attention in class.
Zeke frowned listening to Rei. He wasn't mad at her, he just hated the fact Iruka called him out and her answering him and the other two had made it worse.
Iruka nodded towards Rei. "Good work, Rei." He said walking back to his desk in the front of the room. "That's correct." He added as he looked at the class. "This is important and will be on the written exam. Now there are a few ways to know if genjutsu is being used on you…" Iruka said going back to his lecture. After a while had passed, he dismissed the class.
"I thought it would never end," Zeke complained pretending to faint onto his desk before collecting his stuff. "Rei thanks for the save earlier." He said he hadn't known the answer himself.
Sasuke was gathering his thing into his bag before he looked at Sakura. "Thanks, Sakura." He said giving her pencil back. He knew he needed to bring a new one of his tomorrow.
Rei looked at Zeke and smiled. "Your welcome, Zeke. But seriously pay attention next time." She said as she gathered her stuff, she was going to make a quick stop to her house before going on her hunt for her cousin.
Haru laughed a bit. "Yeah, you did save us," Haru said looking at her. He knew he would end up paying her back later, even if she didn't like it.
Shigure looked at the three. "I can't believe that I fell asleep again." He said shaking his head. "But thanks for the information on the lecture Rei," Shigure said with a smile on his face.
Sakura looked at Sasuke. "You're welcome Sasuke-kun." She said taking her pencil back and gathered her thing and walked out of the classroom happily.
"Well, it's boring," Zeke said. "I study before the tests, but why listen to that stuff more than I have to." He retorted putting his bag over his shoulder. "How come you fell asleep?" Zeke asked Shigure. He knew there had to be a reason why he been tired. "Oh, do you guys want to come over and practice throwing kunai with me now?" It wasn't always what he did, but most of the time after school that's what he went and did. Not practicing ninjutsu or studying, but just throwing kunai.
Sasuke followed Sakura out of the classroom and headed home.
Shigure looked over at Zeke. "I stayed up all night training again. My father is strict with me about my training." He admitted. The Aki Clan was upheld to strict standards, and Shigure tried to find any way to get out of it. Shigure also nodded a yes to Zeke's suggestion.
Rei looked at Shigure after she makes sure Sasuke had left the classroom. "Shigure you should be grateful, you have a family that cares about you." She said. Rei rarely would bring up what happened to her clan, then she turned to Zeke. "Sure, it would be fun." She said.
Haru looked at Rei. "Shigure training shouldn't be that hard?" Haru asked. Haru's training wasn't hard, then again, he wasn't in the main household. "Zeke, you come up with fun things." He said.
Sakura left the academy and decided to head home and study.
Zeke looked at Shigure. "That's rough." He said. "He should be easier on you than having you stay up all night." Zeke started heading out of the classroom. "And great I have the targets all set up at my house." He said leading them to his house. "Well I have to come up with fun things, it's boring otherwise. And yeah at your family does. Mine do but they can't really help me much." Zeke's parents weren't ninja at least as far as he had known. They haven't helped him with ninja training and just said they couldn't. They had come from outside of the village before they had Zeke. They hadn't wanted him to learn to be a ninja but were happy just to be in the village. They had initially discouraged Zeke from going to the academy but eventually relented and let him go. They have never told Zeke any more about where they'd come from than that.
Shigure followed Zeke to his house. "Yeah, well, being the next heir to the clan isn't easy." He said. Shigure knew that his father wasn't going to let him skip his training. "By the way, I can't stay long unless I want to stay up all night again." He said.
Rei wasn't too far behind Zeke." Shigure at least you have your clan." She said thinking back to when her clan was killed. "All I have is my father, grandfather, and cousin," Rei said.
Haru was behind all three of them. "Unless both of my cousins died, I won't even be close to being an heir." He said walking at a slower speed.
"Being an heir sounds like too much work," Zeke said. "I just have my parents and they aren't even shinobi. They can't even do any jutsu." His house wasn't too far so they got there quickly. He led them into the backyard where he always had the targets set up. Somewhere on poles and others were hanging from trees and a few on the ground. He wouldn't admit it but he did find it hard to improve when he didn't really have help. Though his tardiness and goofing off in class would say otherwise, when he was alone he did try to train to keep up with the others.
Rei stopped once she was in the backyard. "My father and grandfather are shinobis, but my grandfather spends more time training with me than my father," Rei said. "Also unlike the rest of you, I'm held to higher standards. Other than school, everyone expects me to live up to my family name, and I'm not talking about my clan." She said trying to make Shigure feel at ease. "Plus my cousin and I are the last of the Hanzias," Rei said with a gloomy look on her face.
Shigure looked at Rei; she had told them not long after they first met what happened to her clan, how jealousy can destroy even and anything in its path. "Rei, thanks, but it's still your choice on what you do with your life." He said. Shigure remembered the first time he met Rei, she was a shy little thing, but he quickly made her feel at ease.
Haru looked at the two. "Rei, please don't make me cry again." He said looking at her. The first time Rei told him what happened he had cried, he felt sorry for her. With her living up to the expectations of the village wasn't easy, even for the Hokage.
Zeke had opened a basket that had a lot of kunai in it. He grabbed a few and handed them to the others. He kept the basket here so he didn't have to retrieve them every time to keep practicing. He kept a few for himself after he finished passing them out. "I'd trade you, my parents don't even want me to be a shinobi. I think it's cool you have family that is shinobi. you might be the last but it makes you special." Him he didn't really have anything special as far as he knew. "Do you think they would mind helping me train some time with you?" he asked. "I don't get help here except at school." He turned and threw a kunai at a hanging target. The target swung back from the impact but he'd hit the center of it.
Rei looked at Zeke. "Sure, I don't think he'll mind any." She said taking the kunais. Rei smiled at that thought of Zeke training with them.
Haru grabbed the kunais; he knew that he didn't have a good hand and eye coloration. "Rei, don't get brutal during training." He said.
Shigure took the kunais and looked at one of the targets on a pole. "Hey, Zeke did you make all of these?" He asked pleased by how good they were.
Zeke grinned. "Really! Thanks," he said sounding pretty excited. It wasn't often if ever that he got a chance to practice more. Usually, all he did was practice throwing kunai which was why he was so good at it. Jutsu stuff and combat practice he wasn't near as good at due to lack of practice. "When?" he asked Rei. He tossed another Kunai followed by a second one. The second one hit the first making it fall and hit a target on the ground the other hitting a target on a pole. Both hit the target but neither was close to the center. Zeke frowned realizing he'd not hit where he had wanted to. "Yeah I did make these, my dad helped," he said.
Rei smiled. "I train with him tomorrow if he's not busy with work, being the Hokage and all." She said. "If he's busy then we can mess my father's house up till he agrees to train with us," Rei said with a smile.
Haru looked at Rei, then a target hanging from a tree. He threw a kunai at the target and missed the target and hit the tree instead. "Come on." He said.
Shigure aimed for the on the middle pole and hit just a little to the left of the center of the target. "Haru how did you miss the marker?" He asked.
Zeke nodded. "Your family is so cool," he said. "All of yours." He always felt like he was boring in comparison. He chuckled. "I'll go home with you after school then but won't he get mad if we mess up the house?" He glanced at Haru and Shigure when they tossed their Kunai. "It takes practice at the hanging ones, they are harder, especially if it gets a little windy."
"Yeah, but it gets him to train, but apparently I'm setting a bad example for Konohamaru," Rei said with a smile. "He'll be over it after the training though." She said looking at Haru.
"Yeah, also I have a bad hand to eye coloration," Haru said looking at the kunai that he threw. "Shigure, you have training on this, I haven't." He said.
Shigure smiled. "Yeah, you're going to get better because you are going to train with me." He said looking at Haru. "Hey, Zeke tries to throw three of one at once and try to hit three different targets," Shigure said.
Zeke laughed. "Well if it works I'll help make a mess," he said. "Seems like a good example if you are just trying to get him to train you." He glanced over at Shigure and grinned. "Easy," he said. He only had one left in his hand so he got two more from the basket. He adjusted them in his hand then threw them all at once. Two of them hit different hanging targets, both of those were almost bullseyes, the last one hit a pole target dead center. He always had an easier time with accuracy on the pole ones than the others.
Rei smiled at the three; she had five kunais in her hand. "That's too easy." She said throwing all five, hitting three hanging targets dead center, then two pole targets dead center. "Try that." She said.
Haru looked at Rei, "How?" He asked. Haru knew Rei did like to show up around certain people. "Showing off again," Haru remarked.
Shigure smiled. "Nice Rei." He said knowing that she would do that. "What do you think Zeke?" He asked Zeke.
Zeke looked impressed. "Well she just made my look like nothing," he said. "How did you get that good?" he asked looking at Rei. "Whenever I through five I get lucky if they all hit the target let alone center." Of course, Zeke had been just practicing on his own without anyone to help him, Rei probably had training that he didn't.
Rei smiled at them. "If making a mess doesn't work, then it comes down to a kunai fight." She said with a grin. Rei and her father Asuma weren't on great terms when it came to training.
Shigure looked at the sky to tell what time it was. "I'm going to have to leave." He said he had training with his old man.
Haru glared at Rei how about ten kunais." He said with a grin. He knew that Rei would take his offer.
Zeke chuckled. "Well if we need to do that tomorrow I can help a little tho you are way better at Kunai than me," he said. He glanced at Shigure. "Oh okay see you tomorrow in school," he said though probably all of them knew that Zeke would once again be late. "Ten?" he asked. "She seriously can do ten?!" He had been somewhat confident in his own skills but Rei showing him up like this made him realize how amateur his skills really were. It was nothing compared to real shinobi let alone someone who had training from the Hokage himself.
Haru looked at Zeke. "She can probably do more than that, but she limits herself sometimes." He said. Haru knew what Rei was thinking. "Don't, no you can't do that again." He said to her. "The last time you got caught," Haru said.
Rei looked at both of them. "Haru, I'll do what I need to do." She was referring to the fact that she was going leave the village for the night to look for Hato and be back for class and hopefully not get caught again.
Shigure left Zeke's house and started walking home. He knew Rei's plan for the night and that she would get caught by her grandfather most likely.
Zeke looked confused his mind still thinking of how Rei could do 10 kunai at once. "Huh, do what again?" he asked.
Rei looked at Zeke. "I was thinking of leaving the village for the night to hunt down Hato." She started. "But the last time I did that I got caught by the Hokage, and I was told not to do it again. But I have to." Rei finished thinking about what happened only four short years ago. "I have to for my mother." She said sliding down on her knees. "If it weren't for jealousy, my clan would be here today," Rei said with tears in her eyes.
Haru looked at her. He knew Rei was strong, but the thought of what happened to her clan broke her heart. "Rei you know there's more out there than your cousin, right?" He asked he knew that there were rogue ninjas out there that wouldn't care about anything.
Zeke wasn't sure what to do when he realized she was crying. What did you do when girls cried? He wasn't sure how to cheer her up but he'd try. "How do you know Hato is even close by?" he asked. "It is dangerous my parents won't tell me where they were before coming here just said I shouldn't ask or ever go too far from the village. But...if you go I'm going to follow. It's not your fault that happened to your clan."
Rei looked at Zeke. "I don't know if he's close, but it shouldn't be hard to find since we both have purple eyes." She started. "He's four years older than me. And he was supposed to be the next heir, but my grandfather Jison chose me and told his nephew Hitojichi, Hato's father wasn't happy and killed the clan, but my grandfather protected me to the very end." Rei said. "Haru I know, but I'm not scared of any rogue ninjas, they would be going up against my Totarudakunesu." She said.
Haru looked at her; he knew that once she had set her mind, there was no changing it. "Well I'm coming too, and I'll stop by Shigure's later and see if he wants to come." He said sitting next to her.
Shigure reached his house, which was near the hospital.
Zeke nodded. He had only heard a little of what happened to that clan. He'd been young when it happened and his parents hadn't really talked about it. "How did Haru survive then? Are you sure he did?" He didn't want to be mean but he really didn't know that much about it. "I can sneak out when it gets dark," he said. He knew his parents would stop him if they found out so he had to pretend to go to bed before leaving. "I don't want my parents telling your grandfather and getting us in trouble if they find me gone."
Rei nodded. "His father sent off, outside of the village." She said. "Plus I've seen him once in a while." She said looking at Zeke and Haru. "Let's meet at the first clearing in the forest outside the main gate." She said.
Haru nodded. "Hopefully we don't get caught or run into any rogue ninjas." He said. He knew this was important to Rei. "Are you going to be able to get past your dad, Rei?" Haru asked her.
Zeke now looked more excited than worried. Sure they weren't supposed to do it but some how that made him want to do it more. He nodded at what Rei said. "We'll find him then even if it takes a while," he said. "Rogue ninjas have to sleep too they might not even be around," he pointed out. Clearly not worried and well probably not well informed about them. "Yeah, how will you get past him?"
Rei smiled. "Once I go into my room at night, he thinks I go to bed, and he never checks up, so it will be easy." She said standing up and grabbing fifth teen kunais and throwing them at the targets and the all.
"Showing off again." He said ready to help his friends with anything. "So we will meet in the first clearing outside the main gate." He said, "Hopefully Shigure can go." Haru said.
Shigure walked into his house and was greeted by his mother who was unusual. "Mom where's dad, he usually greets me." He said. "Your father is off on a mission." She said to him.
Zeke looked at the targets stunned then grabbed Rei's hands so she'd turn towards him. "You have to teach me that!" he said. She'd temporarily distracted him from what they were going to do sneaking out.
Rei's smiled grew. "Just start with one and move on from there and keep trying even if you miss." She said turning to face Zeke.
Haru looked at the two knowing Rei could probably end up winning a fight with weapons instead of fist or jutsus. He smiled at her as she talked to Zeke.
Shigure smiled that met he didn't have to train. "I'll be later tonight or tomorrow after school." He said to his mother as she nodded, so he left and headed back to Zeke's house.
Zeke let go of her hands and picked up four kunai. "I can do three so I should do four then?" he asked. He tried to position them in his hand so he could toss them all but wasn't sure how to hold four in a way he could toss it.
Rei smiled. "Go ahead." She said watching Zeke amused by his spirit. "At least you have to spirit to become better." She said sitting near the fence.
Haru grabbed six kunais. "Let's see what I can do." He said throwing the kunais and only one hit of the targets. "At least one hit it," he said.
Shigure popped his head through the gate. "Guess who's back." He said watching Haru and Zeke. "Rei are you teaching to throw more kunais at once." He said to her.
Zeke waved seeing Shigure come back and turned back in time to see most of Haru's kunai miss. He glanced at Rei and held his Kunai at the ready. "Well I have a lot to prove and I have to catch up to you guys, I have to either train on my own or at school or I fall behind," he said. "That's why I'm always late." He eyed the targets and tossed the four kunai, two of them hit center the other two were closer to the edge of the target but he hadn't missed the targets. He frowned though he had wanted to hit closer to the center.
Rei smiled. "Guilty as charged." She said as she looked at Shigure. "Zeke asked for help, so I said yes, Haru just tried to copy," Rei said.
Haru's grin grew. "Yeah, well I need to get better." He said looking at Shigure. "Oh, Shigure do you want to come with us tonight, with Rei on one of her hunts?" Haru asked Shigure.
Shigure's smiled grew. "Of course. What kind of friend would I be if I didn't help" He said as he walked into the back yard. He looked at Rei, "At least you're not showing off." Shigure said.
"She already did show off," Zeke said picking up more Kunai and practicing four at a time. After his third attempt he got three of them center and the fourth one was not too far away from the center. "Rei you see that!" he said happily.
Rei smiled. "You got it down Zeke." She said looking at Zeke. Rei was happy that she would have all three of them back her up in case something happens tonight.
Haru sat down by the fence. "I'm taking a break, Zeke." He said. Haru looked at Rei and Shigure.
Shigure sat next to Haru, "But at least it's a nice day today." He said.
"Thanks," Zeke said. "One day I'm going to be able to throw more than you!" Though he wasn't sure how he'd handle so many he wanted to try. "A break already?" he asked. He was surprised they were taking one. He went and collected all the kunai that had been thrown and put them back in the basket before continuing to throw them. He kept it at four since he couldn't consistently hit near the center yet. He didn't want to add more until he got it close to perfect.
Haru and Shigure smiled at Zeke. "Yeah," Haru said looking at Zeke and Rei. Rei loved being around her friends; she liked being around her dad when he wasn't off on missions all the time, or he wouldn't train Rei.
Zeke tossed a few more, it was slow but he was getting better. When he added a fifth kunai his aim got a lot worse since he wasn't used to it. He stopped after a throw when he heard his mother calling him for dinner. "I think I'd better go." He said. "I'll see you guys tonight after dark."
"See ya." All three said at the same time before leaving. Haru and Shigure walked with Rei until they reached a ramen shop.
"Well, Rei it was fun while lasted and I know I'll see in a while," Haru said looking at the two. Shigure smiled.
"Yeah, well see ya." He said. Haru and Shigure went their way as Rei headed towards her father's house.
After it got dark and his parents thought he was asleep, Zeke got up and positioned pillows and a blanket to make it look like he was still there before slipping out the window. He hoped he wasn't the last one there or worse they left without him, they wouldn't right? He stopped in the yard to fill up his kunai pouch with the ones used to practice then started out of town. The streets were pretty empty so it wasn't hard to slip out and get to the spot they'd planned to meet. He didn't see anyone there yet thought, maybe they'd left already without him? No, they wouldn't maybe they were just hiding or late.
Once Shigure got home, his mother has had dinner ready. "I was about to send someone to get you." She said happily that her son was home. "I guess I have my timing down." He said with a smiled.
Haru was walking when a tall, slim male walked to Haru. "You're late again, Haru." He said. Haru looked at the figure. "Kia, so what, I was hanging around with Rei, Shigure, and Zeke. Father won't mind." He said walking past Kia. "Your father might not, but Grandfather does," Kai said rushing him along.
Rei went into her room and locked the door. She knew that her dad wouldn't check up on her until after school the next. She walked over to her window and opened it looking out of it to make sure that no one was outside.
After checking to make sure they weren't hiding on him. He carved a few targets into trees and started practicing throwing the kunai again while he waited for the others.
What Kia didn't know is the Haru he was talking to was a shadow clone Haru created to get out of going home. Haru raced to their meeting place. As he got closer, he saw Zeke. "Hey man, training again," Haru said.
Shigure finished dinner and told his mom that he was heading to bed, but he sneaked out of the house and headed towards Rei's house to walk with her.
Rei climbed out of the window, closing it quietly so Asuma wouldn't know. Once she got away from her house, she saw Shigure. "Ready to go?" She asked as he nodded and they walked towards their meeting place.
Zeke smiled spotting Haru. "Yes," he said. "I have to get good enough to beat Rei so I have to practice any chance I get. You haven't seen the others have you?"
"Knowing Shigure he went by Rei's house," Haru said smiling. He knew Rei and Shigure will be there soon.
Rei and Shigure left the village and walked towards their spot. "Hey, Zeke! Haru." Rei said looking at the two. "Good all of us are here," Shigure said.
Zeke nodded and threw a few more Kunai. He turned through hearing the other two and smiled. "Hey," he said. "You guys managed to slip away," he said going to collect the kunai he'd thrown which at this point was all of them he'd brought.
Rei smiled. "Even if my dad does check up on me, my door is locked with the key to my room in it." She said.
Haru looked at him. "A shadow clone of me is heading home." He said. Haru was happy to be away from Kai.
Shigure looked at the others. "My father is off on a mission and my mom doesn't worry too much." He said.
Little ways away was Hato. He stayed near the Leaf to keep an eye on Rei and to plot what he was going to do.
"Smart move," Zeke said. His own simple method seemed so lame now compared to what most of them had done to hide the fact they were gone. "Wait you know how to do shadow clones, no fair," he complained. considering they wouldn't teach that at the school he had no way of learning that one.
Rei smiled and looked at Haru. "You do that when you don't want to train." She said. She knew the clone wouldn't last all night.
Shigure leaned against a tree. "I'm just happy my father is gone on a mission right now." He said happily.
Haru grinned. "Well, part of my training was learning how to do a shadow clone," Haru said.
Hato stopped walking when he sensed four others near by. A grin on his face grew, he figured it was little kids from the Leaf playing around.
Zeke nodded. "Lucky," he said. "I wish mine did. All I get from my parents is chores. I only learn jutsu stuff at school and Aruka won't teach me anything too advanced." When he had to stay after school as punishment for staying late he usually tried to get Aruka to teach him more jutsu but he wouldn't let him try anything they didn't learn in school for the most part. "Should we get looking for your cousin?" he asked retrieving his kunai.
Rei nodded. "Yeah." She said heading into the forest. She figured she would start where she left off and got caught. "We'll need to be careful." She said. Haru and Shigure followed behind her.
"Why are we near where you got caught?" Haru asked as Rei nodded with a smiled.
Hato waited he knew that they were getting closer. "Well, it looks like some parents just don't keep an eye on their kids to well." He said to himself.
"Seems a good a place as any to start," Zeke said looking around as he followed Rei into the forest.
Rei stopped. "Do y'all sense that?" She asked knowing that there was someone ahead of them. Haru and Shigure stopped behind her. "Yeah," Haru said as Shigure nodded.
Hato smiled as he sensed four people heading his way.
Zeke stopped and glanced around when she said that. Then tried to sense what she was talking about, he wasn't as good as the others yet when it came to things like this but after she'd said it he thought he detected something. "I think so," he said. "Is it him? Or someone else?" He hoped it wasn't someone from the village to get them in trouble.
"Yeah it's him, and by our luck, he knows we are here." She said knowing Hato very good. Shigure and Haru looked at her. They could guess that he was a rogue ninja.
Hato started heading towards them.
Zeke wasn't entirely convinced yet but feeling whoever it was moving closer he pulled out three kunai. Being out here at night was a bit creepy and put him on edge.
Rei looked back at the three behind her. "No matter what, never look him in the eyes." She warned them. She knew that he would be able to take their senses, but so could she. Haru and Shigure nodded they knew her clan's kekkie genkie, but Hato didn't know theirs. Hato kept walking and stopped when he saw the four of them.
"How did I know you would come." He said laughing.
Zeke nodded but when he spotted a figure he couldn't help but look at him. His grip tightened on his kunai before he looked away remembering what Rei had said. He knew a little of the other's kekkie genkie and had to presume Hato had one if she'd said not to look in his eyes. That was another thing that separated his skill and theirs, as far as he knew he didn't have one.
Rei looked at Hato, noticing that his kekkie genkie was not active. "Hato," Rei said. Hato watched his cousin with interest.
"How's my little Rabenda doing?" Hato asked mocking her. Haru and Shigure watched Hato ready to attack when Rei said so.
"This guy seems like a bit of a jerk," Zeke whispered to Shigure who he was closest too.
"You know only mother and grandfather were allowed to call me Rabenda," Rei said looking at him. Hato watched for a moment.
"It looks like, Rabenda is in a bad mood." He said mocking her again. Shigure nodded in agreement to Zeke. Haru watched Zeke and Shigure.
Zeke frowned he wanted to speak up and defend Rei with how Hato was treating her so far. But he wasn't sure if Rei would want him to get involved or potentially mess things up.
Haru and Shigure looked at Zeke. "Zeke are you thinking of helping Rei." Haru whisper to Zeke. Haru was ready to beat the crap of Hato.
"Hato, I'm only in a bad mood when you are around," Rei said as Hato smiled grew. "Well, if grandfather didn't change his mind about a halfling been the heir to the clan, then maybe the clan would be today," Hato said.
Zeke nodded hearing Haru but on that last comment, Hato said he couldn't do something. He knew that upset Rei as it was. The fact that he wasn't supposed to look at Hato got completely forgotten in his anger. He glared at him and stepped up next to Rei. "That isn't Rei's fault! Leave the clan stuff out of this. Do you have any idea how hard she's been looking for you! And all you do is mock her!"
Hato looked at Zeke. "It is her fault. She mustn't tell the real reason the clan was killed." He said looking at Rei. Haru and Shigure looked at Rei, all she told them was the jealousy killed her clan.
Zeke glanced at Rei. "Then what is the reason?" He asked.
Rei knew there is no escaping the fact that the Blood Tails caused this. "Well," Rei started glaring at Hato. "It's important role in my clan. My grandmother before me had it, and it was passed down when it came to the end of her life." She said. "It's a protector, pretty much," Rei said looking at Hato. Haru and Shigure looked at each other. "Wait I thought that the Blood Tails was a myth," Shigure said.
"That doesn't seem so bad, what are Blood Tails?" Zeke asked. One problem with his parents being from outside the village and not shinobi is that he didn't know much of this kind of stuff.
Hato got bored and wouldn't attack Rei with others around. "Next time you come looking for me come alone." Hato began to say as he started walking off. "It's no fun with big groups." He said disappearing off into the night. Rei looked at Zeke. "I'll tell everything tomorrow after class." She said. Haru and Shigure looked at Rie and Zeke, as they were surrounded with shinobi from the Hidden Leaf. Rei looked at Haru. "You just had to do a shadow clone." She said as the Hokage walked forward.
Zeke nodded at her though he wanted to know sooner. He backed up into Rei when he realized they were surrounded. "We're so dead," he groaned. "I'm blaming Haru." He looked more worried about this than he had about Hato. He'd gone a bit pale. For him getting caught by doing something like this well, he wasn't sure how his parents would react. He wanted to run but knew they'd be able to catch him.
Rei looked sternly at the Third Hokage. "You shouldn't be out here this far, Rabenda." The Third Hokage said. Rei looked at all of the surround shinobi and saw Iruka. " Of course. " She thought to herself. The Hokage looked at all four of them. Haru looked at Zeke. "How did you know we were out here?" Shigure asked wondering how he knew. "For one, Asuma came to me as soon as find Rabenda missing. and your grandfather as well Haru." The Hokage said with a smile. "Why is Iruka-sensei here?" Haru asked.
"At least it wasn't my fault," Zeke mumbled. "No idea but he's probably going to punish us," he said to Haru. He kept scanning around them trying to see a way to slip away from this. "Don't even try it, Zeke," Iruka said noticing. "You guys already are in a lot of trouble as it is. You know you aren't supposed to leave the village. What did you think you were doing?"
Rei looked at Iruka. "Like it's any of your business," Rei said to Iruka smarting off. The Hokage signed at what Rei did. Haru and Shigure looked at Rei. They knew they were probably in more trouble now. "Great," Haru said. "Way to go," Shigure said.
Iruka sighed and came close to them. "It is now, you broke the rules. If I had to guess you were looking for Hato again. All of your parents are going to be told about this if they don't know already," he said. Zeke paled at that. "I'm going to get kicked out of school," he said. His parents hadn't wanted him to go in the first place they only needed a reason like this to stop allowing him to learn how to be a shinobi forever.
"And what if we were," Rei said. "Like I said it's none of your business." She said almost yelling at him. Haru looked at Iruka. "Why do you care if we were?" He asked. "It's not like we ran into him or any rogue ninjas," Shigure said with a straight face.
Iruka frowned. "You've been warned before Rei about leaving the village. You all broke a rule," he said. "You didn't get hurt this time but you could've if we hadn't found you. If you all keep breaking important rules like this I don't see how I can graduate you four."
Rei glared at Iruka but didn't say anything, because she would end up yelling at him. "Iruka-sensei this is important to her," Haru said as Shigure walked forward and looked at Zeke before looking at Rei. "I said just let your anger out Rei." He said as a smile came across Rei's face.
"If it's important then you should let me or your parents know and we'll help figure it out, you don't just go breaking the rules," Iruka said.
"By the way." Rei started turning to face her grandfather. "How did my father know, if I took all the keys to my room because I locked the door." She said looking him in the eye. The Hokage sighed, he knew Rabenda and Asuma didn't get along most of the time. "Kai Akatenshi told him." He said as Rei looked at Haru. "Sorry, Rei." He said. Shigure looked at Rei. " At least they don't know we ran into Hato. " Shigure thought.
"Come on we need to get you, kids, back to the village," Iruka said ushering them in the right direction. Zeke wasn't saying a word he just looked worried.
"Don't worry, Zeke," Rei whispered to Zeke. "I'll find a way to go after him again." She continued to whisper, so Iruka won't hear. They walked towards the Leaf. Haru and Shigure looked at each other. "Hey Iruka-sensei, are we going to talk about genjutsu again or what?" Haru asked.
Zeke nodded. "He seems like a bit of a jerk but I'm worried I'll get kicked out of school," he whispered back.
"Tomorrow a bit yes, I have to get you guys ready for the exams after all," Iruka said. Though it seemed like lecturing them on following rules might be more important now.
"I don't think they would do that to you." Rei whisper. Rei knew she was in trouble yet again, but it was normal. "Okay, then a quick question, Iruka-sensei. Would the Hanzai's kekkie genkie be categorized as?" Shigure asked catching Rei's attention.
"Not Iruka, my parents," Zeke said. "I hope you're right though." They'd already reached the village and stopped just inside of it.
"Probably genjutsu," Iruka said. "Rei your grandfather will take you home, the rest of you will have someone escort you back home and your parents will be told what happened."
Rei stopped dead in her tracks. "Now what." She said to Iruka. Rei was in a mood to be rebellious. Haru and Shigure looked at each other. Shigure was happy his father wasn't home. "I feel for ya, Rei, Zeke, and Haru," Shigure said.
"You're lucky," Zeke said realizing Shigure had it the easiest with his dad gone.
"Now you go home. It's up to your grandfather with what he wants to do with you," Iruka said.
Rei glared at Iruka again. She didn't like being told what to do by her grandfather or Iruka. "It's up to your grandfather with what he wants to do with you," Rei said mocking Iruka, which she rarely did. The Third Hokage looked at Rei. "Rabenda let's go before you get into more trouble." The Hokage said to Rei as she turned away from Iruka.
Haru and Shigure looked at her and laughed a little bit.
Iruka sighed and didn't say anything, the Hokage could handle it. "Haru I'll take you home," he said leading him away. Two others went to lead Zeke and Shigure home and to make sure they actually got there and didn't sneak off.
Rei followed her grandfather home. She wasn't happy about it, and she would probably mock Iruka for a while.
Haru followed Iruka, he was planning on getting back at Kai. "It looks like dawn isn't far off," Haru said to himself.
Shigure follows the shinobi that took him home, which happens to be Kikyo Shi. "Your parents aren't going to be happy." She said as Shigure smiled.
"You aren't going to use that as an excuse not to come to school tomorrow right?" Iruka asked. Because of them, he'd been up most of the night too.
Rokurou was the one who took Zeke home. "Do you have to tell them?" he almost pleaded. "You did something dangerous they need to know," Rokurou said to him. "They'll get mad at me though!" Zeke protested. "You should've thought about that before you did it then," Rokurou said.
Haru looked at Iruka. "Have I ever been late or fell asleep during class?" He asked Iruka. "And you know Rei might mock for the rest of the week," Haru said.
Rei reached her house with her grandfather behind her. She enters her house leaving the door open for her grandfather. She went straight to her room.
Shigure looked at Kikyo. "My father isn't home; my mom would probably say not to do that again." He said to her. "Then I guess we will have to tell your father when he gets back," Kikyo said as Shigure stopped in his tracks.
Iruka nodded. "That's true you haven't yet," he said. "She probably will, she has a lot of spirits but she needs to learn that mocking me won't change the rules."
Rokurou slowed as they reached Zeke's house. he knocked on the door until he woke up Zeke's parents. His father opened the door surprised to see Zeke. Zeke went right to his room while Rokurou told his parents what happened before leaving.
Haru laughed at the fact Rei will mock in class. "That for sure," Haru said as they reached his house. "Sorry for keeping you up most of the night, really," Haru said.
Rei made sure her door was closed before plopping down on her bed. "Rei, can I came down?" Asuma said at the door. She looked at the door. "Sure, whatever," Rei said as Asuma came.
Shigure was going to be in for it no matter what. Kikyo and Shigure neared his house. "I hope you learned your lesson," Kikyo said. "And maybe I won't tell your father." She said. Shigure looked at her. "I've learned my lesson." He admitted.
"Just don't go breaking the rules again and I'll forgive you for that," Iruka said. He knocked on the door hoping Haru's parents would be up.
"Okay, Iruka sensei," Haru said as his grandfather answered the door. Now he knew he was in trouble. Haru looked at Iruka before going in the house.
Asuma walked into Rei's room closing the door behind him. "Is grandfather still here?" She asked as he nodded. "Yeah, he won't leave until we talked," Asuma said. Rei looked at him. "Talk about what?" She asked.
Kikyo smiled and looked at Shigure. "Fine, I won't tell him." She said as they reached his house and she knocked on the door. Shigure's mother answered the door to see Shigure with Kikyo. Shigure shot past his mother.
Iruka started to explain to Haru's grandfather about him sneaking outside the village and left once he was done telling him about it.
Haru's grandfather looked at Haru after Iruka left. "Since this is the first time breaking that rule, I'll give you are warning, but I'll not be nice next time." He said heading back to his room. Kai stood in the hallway and looked at Haru.
"Hello, Mrs. Aki. Shigure was caught sneaking out of the village with some others. And we figure it would be the best if the parents knew." Kikyo said. Shigure' mother looked at Shigure. "Thank you." His mother said as Kikyo left. Shigure's mother closed the door. "You're just like me when I was your age." She said.
"About training you and giving you more attention," Asuma said looking at Rei. "So instead of you ignoring me and wanting to train, you will?" Rei asked him. Asuma nodded.
Zeke had hurried to his room hoping to avoid his parents but they came into his room after a while. He presumed they'd been talking to each other after Rokurou told them what happened. His mom sat on his bed at the bottom. "Zeke, I don't want you ever doing that again. It's dangerous out there, you have no idea what could happen," she said. Zeke flinched knowing a lecture was coming by his mother's tone. "If you do that again we'll reconsider letting you go that school. For now, we're taking your Kunai away for a week, you'll get them back as long as you don't break any more rules, understand?" Zeke could only nod, he had known it would probably end up like this if they found out. At least they were mostly just warning him not to do it again.
Rei, Haru, and Shigure sat in their regular spots. Rei was in a perfect mood. "You're happy," Haru said looking at Rei. "Yeah, well, after what happened last night, my grandfather had a talk with my father, and he's training me now." She said looking at the two before looking to where Zeke sits. Shigure looked at the door as class started.
Sakura sat next to Sasuke again like she did every day.
Iruka looked tired but he was there. He hadn't gotten any sleep after last night and tracking them down. He passed out a written test some of it was about genjutsu and the other was on chakra control and use.
Sasuke had made sure to bring an extra pencil today just in case his broke, though he would bet Sakura would offer hers anyways if it did again. He took the test and started working on it. The test, of course, was easy and he didn't have any problems answering all of the questions. He turned his paper over to the blank side when he was done to wait for the rest of the class to finish.
Zeke who everyone usually expected to be late didn't even show up at his usual late time.
Rei did the test quickly and turned it over and noticed that Zeke didn't show up yet. Haru took his time and finished the test at the same time Shigure did, and they both noticed Zeke wasn't there.
Sakura did her test and finished it and turned it over and the boy to the right of Sakura, which was Naruto was staring at his paper.
Iruka glanced at the door a few times expecting Zeke but he wasn't showing up. "Bring your tests up when you're done," he said noticing most of the class was done with it.
Sasuke smiled a little noticing Naruto's paper was blank, that wasn't really surprising.
Rei got up and took her paper to Iruka glaring at him before she said. "Bring your tests up when you're done." She said mocking Iruka quite enough for him to hear. Haru and Shigure were behind her, they both signed when she mocked Iruka.
Naruto noticed Rei and smile, figuring that she was mad at him.
Sakura stood up to take her test to Iruka, noticing Naruto's. " Cha that idiot. " She thought.
Iruka frowned hearing her and took her paper. "That's enough," he said in a warning tone and taking Haru and Shigure's papers since they were behind her.
Sasuke got up and followed Sakura up to hand in his test. "He's probably going to turn it in the blank," he said having seen Sakura watching Naruto.
Rei glared at Iruka once more before turning. "Oh, we will see." She said to herself, returning to her seat with Haru and Shigure behind her. Sakura walked up to Iruka and handed her test to him. Naruto was seeing that everyone was turning in their test scribbled down random answers and got went up to Iruka to turn his in.
Iruka finished taking the rest of the papers from them and waited for them to get back to their seats before starting his lecture on clone jutsu and the best uses for it. It wasn't long before it was noon and he dismissed them for lunch. Zeke hadn't shown up all morning.
Sasuke got his lunch and headed outside to eat out there on one of the benches.
Rei, Haru, and Shigure headed to the roof. "Haru used a shadow clone and go to Zeke's house and see what's up," Rei whispered to Haru. Haru nodded. Once on the roof, Haru did a shadow clone and left for Zeke's house. Rei and Shigure looked at each other.
Haru reached Zeke's house and knocked on the front door.
Sakura grabbed her lunch and headed outside and sat under a tree not far from Sasuke. Naruto stayed in the classroom making a fool of himself.
Sasuke wasn't surprised to see Sakura choosing to eat outside near him. That was pretty typical she followed him every time.
Zeke's mother, Kira, opened the door. "Hello," she said. "Oh, you're one of Zeke's friends aren't you?"
"Yes, I am," Haru said. "Is he here?" He asked Kira wondering why he didn't show.
Rei walked back in the classroom. "Hey Naruto, quit making a fool of yourself." She said annoyed. Shigure and the shadow clone Haru were behind her.
Naruto looked at Rei. He knew Rei's temper and pushed. "How about you make me." He said.
Sakura eats and watched Sasuke.
Kira looked confused. "No he should be at school," she said.
It was rather annoying to have her watch him. He hadn't finished but he put his lunch away anyways and went to find another spot.
Rei looked at Naruto before pushing him out of her way. Naruto had looked at her before he moved away.
Haru looked at Kira. "But he's not. Do you know of another place he could be?" Haru asked.
Shigure and the clone Haru backed up.
Sakura saw the Sasuke was leaving.
Kira frowned. "Well he'd better not be outside the village again," she said. "Some times he goes to the arena where they do the chunin fights when he is feeling down. I'll look for him you should get to school."
Sasuke didn't see her following but he made a clone anyways of himself sitting on another bench eating. It wouldn't fool her for long but might make her lose him. He headed for the roof.
Haru nodded. "Thank you." He said heading back to school, hoping no knew he left.
Rei left the classroom and decided to head back to the roof for a little bit. Shigure and the Haru clone looked at before looking at Naruto. Once she reached the roof, she headed for a tree and sat under it.
Sakura followed the Sasuke for a bit before realizing it was a clone.
"you're welcome," Kira said and went to go look for Zeke.
Sasuke watched as Rei and the others came onto the roof, at least Sakura wasn't with them. Maybe he'd get some space from her at least until lunch ended. He got out the rest of his lunch to finish it.
Rei looked at Sasuke for a moment; she could never figure out why girls were so attracted to him. She looked at the sky for the rest of lunch.
Clone Haru and Shigure looked each other. "Naruto you know not to push her limits," Haru said as Sakura came back into the classroom. Naruto looked at her and saw no Sasuke.
Knowing he couldn't stay on the roof forever Sasuke waited until the last minute to head back into the classroom. It wasn't often that he had a few moments away from Sakura.
Iruka was back in the classroom looking over some of the tests from that morning. Seeing most of the class back he went to hand them out. He'd graded them during lunch.
Rei left the roof heading back to class. But she decides to wait a bit before walking into the class. Shigure and Clone Haru sat in their spots looking at their test, which Haru passed, and Shigure got 50% on his. Sakura sat in her seat with Naruto next to her. Sakura passed, and Naruto...well failed as usual.
Sasuke wasn't surprised with his test, he'd gotten 100% on it.
"After everyone gets back we'll go over the test. So you can understand why you might have missed a question," Iruka told those that were already there. "For those that didn't miss any you should still listen in, it will be a good recap for the final written exam."
Rei went back to the roof after making a shadow clone to go to the class. She sat under the tree she sat under during lunch. The shadow clone Rei sat in Rei's spot and looked at the test and smiled, of course, she would ace it. Shigure looked at both of them and knew they were clones. " Hopefully, Iruka-sensei doesn't notice. " He thought. Naruto was complaining to himself about the test and Sakura was watching Sasuke. The Real Haru appeared on the roof of the academy with Rei.
Sasuke ignored Sakura for the most part. As they went over the test he answered a few of the questions when Iruka asked if anyone knew what the right answer was.
Iruka didn't seem to notice the shadow clones. At least not yet. He was tired and was focused on Naruto at the moment trying to explain one of the answers to the 5th question.
The Real Haru looked at the Real Rei. "I'm heading to class." He said as she nodded. He headed to the classroom, and once he was outside, his shadow clone raised his hand. Shigure looked at Iruka, annoyed by Naruto. Sakura was also annoyed by Naruto who was still complain about the test.
"Yes, Haru?" Iruka asked noticing him raise his hand. He was somewhat glad for a break in trying to explain the question. Mostly to just Naruto. "Naruto just come see me after class and usually talk about what you missed okay." He didn't want to take up the whole class time on this but he did want to help naruto understand it.
A figure landed on the roof glancing back as though worried about being followed. He seemed surprised to see Rei there and pulled the mask off his face. It was Zeke.
"Can I go to the restroom?" The Clone Haru asked. The real Haru was waiting outside the classroom.
Rei looked at the figure that landed on the roof, and once she saw it was Zeke, she stood up. "Zeke, you had us worried," Rei said looking at him.
Shigure and Sakura looked at Naruto. He had annoyed everyone in the class. Naruto looked at Iruka. "Stupid test." He mumbled under his breath.
"Alright but..." Iruka said. About to say just be quick until he felt Haru's presence outside the classroom. "Haru gets in here," he said.
"Sorry," Zeke sighed. "I just wanted to be alone was all. My parents took away my Kunai and targets. I tried the look in the attic opting I'd find some kunai but ended up finding this." He handed her an old folded paper. It was a wanted poster for a rogue ninja from the village hidden in the sand. It looked like Zeke's mother, Kira, but the name was different. "I'm not sure what to make of it. My parents aren't shinobi at least I don't think so but they did come from outside the village."
Rel looked at the folded paper. "What, well I can see why they hide it from you." She said. Rei started thinking. "I can look into for you?" She asked.
Haru opened the door as the shadow clone disappeared. He walked down to his seat and sat down. Shigure looked at him as to say "man you got caught," Naruto laughed a bit, and Sakura looked at him. " Cha seriously. " She thought.
Zeke nodded. "I was wondering if your grandfather knew anything about it. I can't just ask my parents. So yes please look into it for me," he said.
"You'll be staying after school to help clean and Rei if she actually shows up," Iruka said.
Sasuke watched them. Why would they try to fool Iruka? They had to do better than that if they wanted to fool him.
The clone Rei disappeared. Haru looked at Shigure. "I don't think she's come back to class," Haru whispered to Shigure. Naruto still laughed a bit, and Sakura turned her attention back to Sasuke.
Rei looked at Zeke. "I'll ask later today, plus I think Iruka-sensei just figured out that I had a shadow clone in class." She said with a smile.
Iruka wasn't surprised when Rei vanished or the clone. "In pairs of two, I want you guys to come up and do a clone jutsu and not shadow clone Haru. This won't be graded this time." He started calling out names in twos for them to come up. As they did he pointed out minor mistakes if he saw them. "Haru and Shigure," he called.
"Thanks," Zeke said. "Wait you tried to trick him? You know how many times I've tried to? He was bound to catch you."
Haru and Shigure got and went down to the front of the classroom and at the same time. "Clone Jutsu." They said at the same time created two clones each, all six glaring at Iruka.
Rei smiled. "Yeah, well, we sent Haru looking for you," Rei said looking at Zeke.
Iruka ignored the fact they were glaring at him. He took a good look at the clones and nodded. With Haru being able to do Shadow Clones he didn't expect any flaws in a regular clone. "Excellent work," he said dismissing them back to their seats. "Sakura and Sasuke," he called next.
Zeke nodded. "Oh sorry to worry you guys. I never saw Haru," he said.
"I think he might of went by your house," Rei said not sure. "We better get to class, or I'll be in more trouble." She said standing up and stretching.
The clones disappeared as Haru and Shigure walked off. Sakura got up and walked to the front of the class. "Clone Jutsu." She said making a clone.
Naruto glared at Haru and Shigure who showed off.
Zeke frowned. "I'd rather not, Iruka will be mad at me for showing up even later," he said.
Sasuke followed her. "Clone Jutsu," he said making once as well. Iruka looked and the clones and nodded. "Perfect," he said. He hadn't expected any thing less than those two. "Naruto and Shikamaru," he said calling the last two.
Rei smile. "I'll see you up here after class then." She said as she was heading to the classroom interrupting Iruka. Sakura headed back to her seat as Rei enter the room. Naruto got to head to the front of the classroom. Haru and Shigure smiled.
Zeke smiled at that and nodded. He took off after she left. If he stayed too long he might get found by someone else. He'd come back later.
"Nice of you to join us," Iruka said. "You'll be staying after class with Haru," he said.
Sasuke watched knowing Naruto was about to make a fool of himself.
"This is such a drag," Shikamaru complained before joining Naruto at the front. "Clone Jutsu," he said making a pretty good replica of himself.
"Clone Jutsu," Naruto said making a crappy clone of himself. Rei looked at Iruka before sitting in her seat. "Is this all y'all been doing," Rei whispered to Haru. Haru nodded, as a smile grew on Rei's face. Sakura laughed at Naruto.
Sasuke couldn't help but smile a bit amused with the poor attempt.
Iruka nodded. "Just keep practicing you'll get it," he said to Naruto. "Settle down everyone," he added trying to quiet the laughter of the class. "You two can go sit down."
Shikamaru wasn't surprised he glanced at the clone and shook his head. He wasn't even sure how you made one that poor. Hearing Iruka he went back to his seat.
Naruto went back to his seat. Sakura stopped laughing, as Haru and Shigure looked at Rei, they knew if Iruka called on her she would show off.
"Rei," Iruka called. She was the last one since she'd come in late.
Rei smiled and walked to the front. Haru and Shigure looked at each other before looking at Rei. "Clone Jutsu." She said creating ten clones. Sakura glared at her. Naruto complained about it. "How's that, Iruka-sensei." All the clones and Rei said together.
Iruka whistled impressed. "Nice work," he said. He didn't see any flaws in any of the clones.
"My training has paid off," Rei said where Iruka, Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto could hear. "All you did Rei, was show off," Sakura retorted. Rei looked at her. "Yeah it's not fair that you train with the Hokage," Naruto said complaining. Rei looked at them as the clone disappeared. "Do you have a problem with that?" Rei asked them. Haru and Shigure kept their mouths shut. "Naruto, you should as well as the rest of us, that she's the granddaughter of the Hokage." Ino butted in.
"Hey settle down," Iruka said. "It doesn't matter who teaches you. You still have to put in the effort to train and work on it. Even the Hokage had to work at it and our best ninja in the village started out like you guys are."
"Seems like a waste of Chakra to me," Sasuke said. Rei was showing off making that many it seemed over the top unnecessary. In a prolonged fight, clones might not be the most helpful.
Rei glared at Sasuke. "Care to say that again, Uchiha," Rei said. Haru and Shigure knew Sasuke was in for it now. All the girls who loved Sasuke, including Sakura and Ino, looked at Rei. "Don't you even try, Rei." Ino and Sakura said together. Naruto smiled at Rei.
Sasuke wasn't surprised at Sakura and Ino speaking up but it wasn't like he needed them too. "I said it's a waste of chakra," he said again taking her challenge.
Rei pulled out a kunai and threw at Sasuke missing on purpose. Making the girls go crazy! "Seriously Rei." Sakura and Ino said. Naruto looked at Rei. Haru and Shigure shook their heads.
Sasuke didn't even flinch when she threw it towards him. He pulled it out of the desk it got stuck into behind him.
"That's enough!" Iruka shouted. "No throwing kunai in here or at each other. I won't have you two starting a fight in here." He frowned glancing at the clock school was about to get out. At least Rei and Haru would be stuck after so hopefully she wouldn't go picking a fight with Sasuke after school. He wanted them to learn but not end up hurting each other.
Rei looked at Iruka before returning to her seat ignoring the other girls. Sakura and Ino glared at her the rest of class. Naruto laughed at Sasuke. Haru and Shigure sighed.
Iruka was a bit surprised she hadn't mocked him like she had been all morning. He went on to explain their homework for that night before dismissing the class with the exception of Rei and Haru. He gave them the task of cleaning the classroom and the board.
Sasuke stopped near Rei on his way out. "This is yours," he said giving her the Kunai she'd thrown at him back.
Rei glared at Sasuke before grabbing the kunai. "Thanks." She said getting up and walking up to the board. Haru started cleaning in the back of the classroom. They worked quickly and finished. Shigure waited on the roof. Haru walked up to Iruka. "So you know, I left at lunch to look for Zeke," Haru said looking at Iruka. Rei finished her part and looked at Iruka. Sakura and Ino followed Sasuke fighting. Naruto went to pull his pranks.
Zeke was a bit late since he didn't want anyone leaving the school to notice him. He waited until most of them had left before getting up to the roof where Shigure was. He still had the mask but it wasn't covering his face just loose around his neck. "Hi," he said.
"You should've told me then," Iruka said. "Instead of trying to trick me. Did you find him though?"
"No," Haru said. "Sorry about tricking you though." He said looking at Rei who was ready to go. Rei looked at Iruka. "I'm finished so may I go?" She asked him.
Shigure looked at Zeke. "Man where were you?" He asked worriedly.
"Thank you two can both go," Iruka said. They had cleaned the classroom pretty good he saw no reason to keep them longer. "Oh and Rei try not to go picking fights okay," he said.
Zeke shrugged. "I was hiding at the arena for a while until my mom showed up. I managed to slip away though and came here and found Rei, she told me to come back after school. So I just hung out at the Ramen shop until you guys got out and came back," he said. "Rei didn't tell you why did she."
"The fact that Rei got onto her, and she tried to pick a fight with Sasuke in the middle of class because she was showing off," Shigure said looking at Zeke. Rei and Haru left the classroom and went up to the roof. "Hey, Zeke," Rei said. Haru looked at Rei than Zeke.
Zeke chuckled. "It looks like I missed out on something good then," he said. He waved hearing Rei as she and Haru joined them. "You really tried to pick a fight? I wish I could've seen it."
"You mean with Sasuke. I threw a kunai at him." Rei said looking at Zeke. Haru looked at Rei. "Yeah don't do that again," Haru said smiling, Shigure laughed. "Zeke does you want to fill them in, or me?" Rei asked Zeke.
Zeke nodded. "I would've liked to see it. Um, I can fill them in," he said. "I found this in our attic when I was trying to find my Kunai my mom took away from me," he said. He unfolded the paper to show them. "I don't know what to think of this. It's for sure my mom though the name is different. If it's true she's a rogue ninja from the sand village. This is what's been bothering me."
"I'll sneak into my grandfather private library, later and look into," Rei said. Shigure looked at him. "I can see why they kept things from you." Shigure as Haru looked at the picture. "My cousin Kai has visited the Sand Village a couple of times, and he'll talk the rogue ninjas," Haru said.
"Thanks," Zeke said. He knew he couldn't just ask them but surely the Hokage had something on it if he did Rei would find it. He nodded. "Yeah, that and the fact they don't want me to be a shinobi. Do you think Kai might have heard of this?" he asked meaning the wanted poster.
"I could ask," Haru said. "If he doesn't get cocky with me." He said looking at Zeke. "Shadow Clone Jutsu," Rei said making a clone. "I'll be back." The Clone Rei said before leaving to the Hokage's Private Library. "We should have answers soon," Rei said looking at Zeke. Shigure looked at the three. "Wait what about the Bingo Book?" Shigure asked.
Naruto who was bored, saw Rei leave and decide to see where she was going.
Zeke nodded. "I hope not if Kai knows anything it would help," he said. He watched as Rei's clone disappeared into the distance. "Thanks, Rei, wait for Bingo Book? What's that?" he asked.
"A book that the Anbu Black Ops carry that has information on any and all rogue shinobis," Rei said looking at Shigure. "You might be on to something Shigure," Rei said. Shigure smiled. "One problem, we can't get a hold of one Rei," Haru said.
Zeke nodded. "That would be really helpful," Zeke said. "Figures my parents didn't tell me about that book either. But yeah how are we supposed to get one? It's not like we'd stand a chance against Anbu Black Ops stealth or by force and I doubt they'd just let us look at it."
Rei looked at the three and smiled. "That's an advance of being the granddaughter of the Hokage." She said reaching into her bag and pulled out a Bingo Book. "I have my ways of getting things," Rei said with a laugh. Haru and Shigure looked at her with a surprised.
Zeke just stared at her like she'd suddenly just changed color or something else hard to believe. "How did you...? when did you get it?" he asked. He'd only told her at lunch but maybe she'd had it longer. "Can I see it?" he asked holding out a hand.
"Sure," Rei said handing it to him. Haru shook his head. "You didn't," Haru said as Rei smiled grew. Haru and Shigure knew that Rei was sneaky.
Zeke took it and sat down to start looking through it. He was going through the pages pretty fast looking for the one that might match the paper he had found. After a little bit, he stopped turning pages and put the folded paper next to the book to check. "Hanako Nokori," he mumbled reading the name that was unfamiliar to him. "It's in here," he said glancing at the others. "It has her listed as a Jounin from the Sand Village. Says she's part of the Kazekage Clan. Last seen 8 years ago." He just stared at the page trying to understand what it meant. He was 12 so that meant he'd been born in the sand village but would've been too young to remember.
Rei looked at Zeke. "Right, that's the family that rules the Sand Village." She said. "They never like the Hanzais and wanted them dead for years," Rei said. Haru and Shigure looked at each other. "At least you know now, Zeke," Haru said.
Zeke nodded it had sounded a little familiar. "I had no idea...does this make me one of that clan then? Am I Leaf Village then or Sand Village?" he asked. Maybe it didn't matter. Either way, he knew he'd never want Rei dead or her clan though the latter had mostly already happened. "There is still so much I don't know about this...is my dad a rogue ninja too? Why did they leave and come here to...hide or what?"
"Check and see if your dad's name is in there," Shigure said. "Hato's name is in there," Rei said looking at the three. Haru looked at her.
"Hato? That's why you have this book isn't it," Zeke said realizing that. He nodded to Shigure and flipped through it looking for his dad. It was only a few pages away. "His name is different too they must have changed their names at some point after becoming a rogue ninja," he said. "I don't even know my parents' real names," he sighed. His dad's picture was labeled as Taisho but no family name. To everyone in the leaf village though he was Shinza. "I want to find out more. If they are in here does that mean the Hokage doesn't know about this?" After all of Anbu Black Ops knew his parents would probably be killed or at least captured.
"That's why I wasn't going to ask my grandfather and was going to sneak into his private library," Rei said. "But yeah that's why I have it." She said with a smile. Haru looked at Zeke. "So how can we find out more information?" Haru asked as Shigure looked at the three quietly.
Zeke nodded. "Well maybe there will be more info on it in his library still," he said. He frowned hearing Haru and trying to figure it out. "I bet my parents won't talk so asking them won't work. So...what about going to the sand village. Maybe the clan there knows something about it."
Rei looked at Zeke. "We could, but that may be a bad idea." She said. "But I'm in," Rei said with a smile as her clone reach the library and quietly looked through it grabbed what was needed and left the building heading back to Zeke, Rei, Shigure, and Haru. Haru looked at Rei. "I can get us through the desert." He said with a smile as Shigure nodded. The clone got back and handed the books to Rei. "What's see if there's any info." She said as the clone disappeared.
"It is a bad idea but I can't think of any other way to find out," Zeke said. "Are you guys sure? I don't want to get you in trouble." They had got caught just looking for hato. He wasn't sure they could make it further without being found missing. Zeke came closer to see what books the clone had brought back.
Rei smiled. "Remember my training is ahead of the class." She said. "Shadow Clone Jutsu." She said making four clones. "Transformation Jutsu." Three of the Rei clones said turning into Haru, Zeke, and Shigure. "As long as there is no extreme force they will last for three weeks." The Real Rei said looking to the three. "Then that's it. We are all going." Haru said looking to Zeke. "I'll get some supplies and meet it at the gate that is at the other end of the village from where we meet the last night." She said disappearing leaving the Clone Rei.
Zeke looked impressed. He walked around his double. It could even fool him. "Thanks, Rei! I'm going to drop him off on my way out," he said. He'd have to put the clone where he might go that his mom would find him. He didn't want her to start looking outside the village. He took the clone's hand and left. He took it to his house and not finding his mom there decided to leave the clone and then after grabbing a few things from his room headed out to meet up with the others.
Haru and Shigure took their clones to their house and quickly got things need and left to meet Rei. The Rei clone went to her house and walked in the front door. "Hi, Father." She said. Asuma gave her a quick wave. "Konohamaru is waiting on you," Asuma said as the clone Rei nodded. Rei sneaked into the Anbu Black Ops building quickly and grabbed what they need and got to their meet spot. She saw the others coming.
Zeke was looking at a map he'd taken from his house. It didn't show where the village was tho. He glanced up seeing Rei and waved. "My map is mostly useless," he said. He could see the other two were close behind him. They'd all been pretty quick.
Rei sat down a big bag full. "Haru knows how to get there so there no problem there." She said reaching into the bag and pulled out for dark gray cloaks. "Here take one." She said handing them to Haru, Shigure, and Zeke. Haru and Shigure put there's on. "You didn't," Haru said but was cut off. "I replaced them," Rei said.
Zeke took one not sure what it was, it seemed ordinary to him but going by Haru's reaction it wasn't. He took one and pulled it on. "What are they?" he asked. "Oh, and you guys have any extra Kunai? My mom took all mine."
"What, Haru!" Rei said. "Oh, by the way, I got this from the Anbu Black Ops building." She said pulling out a bunch of kunais. "Here Zeke." She said handing them to him. Haru looked at her. "You are going to get caught doing that." He said. Shigure looked at the two, the put his cloak on.
"Thanks!" Zeke said taking the kunais. He slipped them into the pouch for them on his right leg. "The Anbu Black Ops again? You have guts Rei," he said. She probably was going to get caught if she kept pulling stuff like that.
"We should be going," Rei said picking up the bag and putting her cloak on. Rei walked out of the gate into the forest which and Haru and Shigure right behind her. "Let's get that information for you, Zeke," Haru said.
Zeke followed them and nodded.