-1It had to have been years since Hanagakure was destroyed by Orochimaru's recent attack. The onslaught was bloody and horrific as the highly skilled ninja were taken by surprise. The aftermath was even worse, for the entire village had been burned to the ground and nothing was left of it. However, among the ash of the city and deceased bodies of the attackers and the victims, one teenager stood wearing the Hanagakure shinobi headband, Kajukiro Kunazama, of the Kunazama clan had been the only survivor.
Having nowhere else to turn, he went to Konoha, an ally to his home village, in search of a new home. After hearing his story, they gratefully allowed him to become a resident in the Konoha village. Of course, he'd have to start his ninja career all over again; meaning that he had to go through the academy once more.
Iruka, the main tutor, was role calling the names of his latest students, "Mauro, Kenshi?" Iruka asked. "Yeah, yeah. I'm here." A lazy, tired-looking girl replied. Iruka moved on, "Saru, Shinji?" An eager-looking boy replied, "Of course." Iruka chuckled at Shinji's enthusiasm before moving on, "Kunazama, Kajukiro?" There was no response. Again, Iruka asked, "Kunazama, Kajukiro?" Again, there was no response.
Iruka lowered the role call sheet, revealing his frustrated looking eyes and a huge scar gliding across the bridge of his nose. Upon looking toward Kajukiro's usual seat, Iruka discovered that he wasn't there. "Shit! Not again!" Iruka muttered under his breath before giving a sigh and continuing, "And on graduation day too…"
Meanwhile, in a training area hundreds of feet from the academy, Kajukiro was going through his usual course of training. He appeared to be in deep focus as he had his eyes closed and was listening intently on his surroundings. He heard it; a sound in the wind activated his reflexes as he spun around and, seemingly out of nowhere, pulled out an iron kunai knife and threw it in the direction he heard the noise.
Soon, the sound of his knife striking a solid object reached his ears. "Only a tree." He thought to himself before hearing another noise, this time, something heavy moving closer from above. He quickly looked up, only to see a cleverly placed log tied by a vine heading straight toward him.
Reacting quickly, Kajukiro jumped in the air, pulled out a kunai from under his sleeve, spun around in mid-air, and released it. As the kunai headed toward the vine, the sunlight reflected off of a small wire connected to the knife. The Kunai went past the vine, just missing it. Kajukiro quickly threw his hand sideways. As if being controlled by his movements, the Kunai quickly changed direction, and sliced through the vine sideways.
The log fell to the ground and slid a few feet before coming to a stop. Kajukiro landed on the ground, as the kunai he just threw reeled back under his sleeve, and was just about ready to continue when a beeping noise suddenly went off. Kajukiro pulled back his cloak sleeve before pulling back his jacket sleeve underneath it, revealing a watch that was flashing red. "Damn, I'm late!" Kajukiro exclaimed before pulling something with his other hand, and pulling out the knife he threw earlier from the tree. This knife also reeled underneath his sleeve and he dashed over to the academy.
Kajukiro ran through the town, desperately attempting to get to the academy. "Hey, Kajukiro. Want some ramen today?" an old man greeted. Kajukiro continued to run as he turned around and answered, "No time, Academy graduation, 5 minutes late, gotta go!" The old man waved at the hurrying ninja and replied, "Very well, another time then." And headed into the nearby ramen stand.
Finally he spotted the familiar building with the tree in front of it. Not wanting to waste any more time, he pulled out a kunai from under his sleeve and threw it at the branch of the tree. After a direct hit, Kajukiro hopped in the air and let the wire reel him toward the kunai, allowing him to actually fly toward the tree. Once there, Kajukiro grabbed the branch, pried the knife out, and flipped off, falling toward the nearest window.
Meanwhile, inside the classroom, it was as if Iruka was expecting Kajukiro as he told one of his present students to open the window. The student did do, only to be introduced by Kajukiro flying toward him. The kid screamed in terror and ducked just as Kajukiro grabbed onto the window pane and swung into the room and landed right in his seat. "Here." Kajukiro said as if he wasn't late at all and his name just came up on role call.
Iruka sighed and said to Kajukiro, "You're late…again." Kajukiro scratched the back of his head nervously and explained, "Yeah, about that; I was training again and lost track of time. Also, this watch you gave me yesterday must be broken. I swear I set the alarm five minutes back." However, as if Iruka had ignored him, he replied, "I don't get you Kajukiro." Kajukiro just tilted his head in confusion before Iruka continued, "Your grades are perfect, you've mastered every single technique I've taught you on the first go, clearly, by what we've just seen, you time your movements perfectly, and yet you STILL find a way to disappoint me."
"Ah, I can explain that too--" Kajukiro began before Iruka threw a file at him and said, "Oh really? Explain this then!" Kajukiro opened the filed and observed his attendance records. "Since the day you arrived up to now, you've been five minutes late, every…single…day." Kajukiro's jaw dropped in fear as he knew that his tutor was right, after looking at his attendance records himself and going through his memory.
Kajukiro closed the file and Iruka was staring scoldingly at him as he said, "Well? Come on, we're all waiting to hear your explanations." Kajukiro had a nervous and fearful face for a moment but soon calmed down and explained, "Well, Hanagakure's academy times were always at 8, while Konoha's is at 7:55.
"Basically, now that I live in Konoha, I haven't gotten used to the new time schedule; despite the fact that I've been here for two years now. To resolve this problem, you gave me this watch just yesterday, sensei, and I set it for 7:55 accordingly. Unfortunately, something must have gone wrong because it started going off at 8. Plus, it's not like I didn't have good reasons; I've been training all those times, honing my skills to be the best they can."
The rest of the class appeared satisfied. However, Iruka did not. "That's a common excuse for tardiness, Kajukiro; training. And I've always told people this, if you must train, then train after class." Everyone looked at each other, knowing that Iruka had a point.
Kajukiro, however, had enough stalling and replied, "Whatever; did I graduate or what?" Iruka looked shocked at first but then replied in a regretful tone, "Your tardiness has taken a huge toll on your record, but your grades and skills are flawless. So, I have no choice but to graduate you. However, you came close; if you'd have come through that window just one second later, I'd have no choice but to fail you." Iruka had then pulled out a Konoha headband, the symbol of a graduate ninja, and threw it to Kajukiro. The ninja caught it, despite his shock at how close he came to failing, and the fact that Iruka actually allowed him to graduate. "I have a feeling I'm going to regret this though. But, you've graduated, you're free to go."
Kajukiro got up, bowed, and headed for the door as Iruka informed him, "I start enlisting teams at 7. Oh, and Kajukiro, Don't be late this time." Kajukiro tied the headband on his straw hat, just above his Hanagakure ninja headband before turning to Iruka and replying, "Don't worry, Hanagakure had there team listings at 7 too; I won't be late." With that, Kajukiro tipped his hat to Iruka and left the room.
Kajukiro headed over to the ramen stand where he passed the old man when Shinji and Kenshi suddenly got in his way, staring down at him as if they were planning to fight him. "Can I help you two with something?" Kajukiro asked them both. Kenshi turned to Shinji and asked him, "What are we doing here, Shinji? Why'd you want to butt-into this guy's business?" Shinji just smirked and replied over-confidently, "This guy thinks he's so good, just because he survived the downfall of Hanagakure. I'll show him that he's not so tough." Kenshi sighed and groaned, clearly showing that she had no interest in the matter.
"Just leave him alone, Shinji, the poor guy's been through enough already." Shinji looked appalled at Kenshi and replied, "What do you mean, 'he's been through enough?' He's top ninja here, and I'm telling ya, he doesn't deserve the--" However, Shinji was interrupted as Kajukiro suddenly spoke, "If it's a fight you want, I'd be more than happy to oblige." Kenshi sighed and groaned, "Boys…" However, Shinji was overjoyed and pulled out a few kunai before saying, "Alright! Let's have at it!" However, Kajukiro held up his hand and replied, "Not here, the training grounds."
Shinji lost it and shouted in anger, "Oh, come on! What, afraid we'll beat you in the town?" Kajukiro chuckled before shaking his head and replying, "No, it just wouldn't feel right beating up two kids who're 8 years younger than me in public. That and I feel a forest region gives you two a better chance." Shinji was suddenly confused, "Wait…you want us to win?"
Kajukiro chuckled again before replying, "No, I don't WANT you two to win, I just like to make sparring matches fair. If we're in a forest region, my chance of winning remains the same, while your chance increases to my level. That way, we have an equal level of victory. Being Konoha ninja, you'll be surrounded by plant life, which is what most of your jutsu require anyway. This one thing alone increases your chance of victory. However, you'll be facing against me, and I don't go down easy; I'm capable of fighting my best in any environment, no sweat. So, I take it we have an agreement? I won't fight you anywhere else."
Kenshi looked nervously at Shinji, knowing that he was always willing to go the extra mile. Her fears were realized when he nodded confidently and said, "You got that! Heh and you better prepare to go down hard, because we don't go down easy either." Kajukiro thumbed his hat and replied, "Looking forward to it." before heading off to his house to prepare. Once Kajukiro was out of earshot, Kenshi turned to Shinji, punched his head in, and asked, "Shinji, what's wrong with you? Don't you have ANY common sense? Or does that ego of yours ALWAYS have to get us in trouble?"
Shinji clutched the top of his head in pain as he turned to Kenshi and replied, "Kenshi, relax. Don't forget that your clan's famous for your strength and ability to summon powerful weapons, and my clan's famous for our invulnerability. We've got this sucker on the ropes, and he doesn't even know it." Kenshi turned in anger and huffed. Why she let him drag her into trouble all the time, she had no idea. "Oh, come on, Kenshi. You know we can both take him on. Honestly, you're the only one who's strong enough to actually hurt me; not even Lady Tsunade can deal any damage to me, and believe me, she's tried."
Kenshi knew this; she was much stronger than the Hokage, but never took any pride in it. However, knowing that Shinji wasn't going to give up until she agreed, and that he wasn't going to listen to her attempts to talk sense to him, she sighed and said, "Fine. But all blame goes to you if we get in trouble for this." Shinji nodded and agreed before taking Kenshi with him to the training grounds to wait for Kajukiro.
The interior of Kajukiro's house was a bit small; almost everything was in one room, with the exception of the bathroom. The small space of the house itself was perfect according to Kajukiro's standards. He never liked huge buildings. He sat at the table and thought things over for a bit. Why challenge him now? He spent years of training before this and was top-ninja in the class.
He had brains, speed, and strength; all three qualities necessary for a high-level shinobi. Yes, they were definitely up to something. Or at least Shinji was, Kenshi appeared as if she wanted nothing to do with it. Kajukiro knew they were just kids, but he decided that he wasn't going to go easy on them just because of that. After all, rule number one in Hanagakure was to never underestimate the opponent, no matter what age, gender, or intelligence level they are. His heart gave a jolt of sorrow as his thoughts of Hanagakure reminded him of his old team. Oh, how he wished he'd have been kinder toward Phillip. He shook the memories out of his head before heading out toward the training grounds.
Kenshi and Shinji were waiting in the training grounds. "How much longer do you think he's gonna be?" Kenshi asked. Shinji turned and replied, "Beats me, but we both know he'll be here. That moron'll fall for anything if given the right bait." Kenshi turned to Shinji and asked, "Why do you keep calling him things like moron and idiot? He got perfect scores on everything Iruka threw at him; the guy's a genius, simple as that." Before Shinji could reply, someone grabbed Kenshi from behind and pulled her out of view.
"Kenshi!" Shinji called out in fear as he rushed over to try to save her. However, she had disappeared by the time he got there. "This must be Kajukiro's doing." Shinji muttered. Then, suddenly, a voice that seemed to come from everywhere replied, "Oh please. Are you comparing me with that little weakling? Foolish boy! Kajukiro is nothing compared to me." Suddenly, someone grabbed Shinji from behind and dragged him out of view as well.
Kajukiro finally arrived minutes later. "Alright you two, I'm here. What'd ya say we get this over with?" he announced as he walked through the area. "Guys? Hel--" he began before spotting his two opponents trapped in a web-like pattern of strings, their mouths gagged as they squirmed; their muffled cries for help barely audible. "Oh shit." Kajukiro groaned as he saw their predicament. He looked around, knowing that an enemy was nearby.
Then he heard it; leaves rustling from behind. He slowly began to turn around. He caught a figure moving toward him in his peripheral vision. He pulled out a kunai, spun around, and blocked the attack with it. His opponent looked familiar; however, all Kajukiro could see was his silhouette, and what appeared to be the rim of eye-glasses. "Who are you?" Kajukiro asked the man calmly. Kajukiro was always excellent at keep his composure during battle.
The man laughed and replied, "What don't recognize your own cousin?" Kajukiro's eyes widened in shock as he heard those words. He looked back at Kenshi and Shinji; they were trapped in sticky strings. Of course, now it made sense. Kajukiro's cousin was nicknamed Strings for his ability to manipulate their structure using his chakra.
Strings usually bested Kajukiro in every way, and constantly laughed at his failures. However, Strings died during Hanagakure's downfall; Kajukiro witnessed it himself. There could be only one explanation. "This is Orochimaru's doing, isn't it? There's no other way anyone could take a kunai to the forehead and live." Kajukiro asked, his voice breaking as he held back the tears created by the thought of his cousin being revived for Orochimaru's selfish and evil needs.
Strings nodded and replied, "That's right. You've gotten much smarter since we've last met, Kajukiro-kun, and your strength…I'm surprised we've managed to keep our blades locked this entire time with neither of us willing to break the hold." Kajukiro looked and saw what he was talking about; they've been holding each other off ever since Strings made his attempt to strike. Kajukiro wiped the tears from his face before turning his attention back to his cousin and promising, "Don't worry, cousin, I'll make sure you rest in piece. It's the least I could do after what Orochimaru's done."
"Thank you, Kajukiro." Strings replied. Kajukiro nodded, and with that, broke the hold, and allowed the real fight to begin. Strings dashed at Kajukiro, but he was ready and flipped over Strings, spun around, and made an attempt to attack. However, Strings quickly blocked the attack from behind. Kajukiro's kunai bounced off of Strings' and Strings spun around and flung it straight at Kajukiro. However, upon making contact with Kajukiro's torso, the kunai simply bounced off. Kajukiro's jacket under his cloak had Kunai knives lined up inside it, giving him armor from most attacks.
Kajukiro took this moment and threw another kunai past Strings, and allowed it to hit a tree. With Strings defenseless, this couldn't fail. Kajukiro released a small thread and flew at his cousin, kunai in hand, and simply replaced the missing kunai from his forehead. Kajukiro removed the wire from that kunai and continued flying toward the tree. As usual, he landed on his feet, and pried the kunai out, keeping his stance on the tree with chakra focus.
Kajukiro looked at Strings, just in time to see him fall again. Just change the area to a burning village, and it would've been complete déjà vu for Kajukiro. Kajukiro could see a smile on Strings' face, as if his cousin was proud to be put to rest by an ever-improving Kajukiro. Kajukiro got off the tree and walked over to Strings. He knelt down and pulled off a red tag on Strings' back before picking him up. "Orochimaru…he will pay for this." Kajukiro muttered as he held his cousin's body I his arms again.
Two screams from behind him revealed that Strings' chakra had died, releasing Shinji and Kenshi from their web-like prison. Shinji stood up and said rudely, "Now that the freak is dead, what do ya say we get on with out sparring match?" However, Kajukiro did not reply and Kenshi, once again, punched Shinji's head in and scolded, "Would you leave him alone already!?"
Kajukiro just stood there, mourning the loss of his cousin once again. "Are you alright, Kajukiro-kun?" Kenshi asked in a sad voice. Kajukiro didn't even move as he replied, "This man saved my life once. It was during the downfall of Hanagakure…he was exhausted and I rushed up to help him. However, a ninja snuck up behind me, but only he noticed him. He pushed me out of the way and took a kunai to the head…death was instantaneous for him. He was a true shinobi; he didn't deserve to be used by Orochimaru in such a cruel way. The dead are meant to rest, not stick around."
Kajukiro turned his head slightly and asked them, "Tell me, Shinji, Kenshi…what are your ninja ways; what do you live for every day as ninja?" Kenshi gave a small grin and replied, "To never fall behind and to be there when my comrades need me most, that is my nindo; my ninja way." Shinji, however, gave a smug grin and answered, "To be the best, that is my nindo; my ninja way." Kajukiro turned back to Strings and replied to Shinji, "That is no ninja way, Shinji. A ninja way is something you live by; it's a promise to yourself. Something you're willing to put your life on the line for. Something you're willing to die for. To become the best is not a ninja way, it is only a goal."
Kajukiro began walking away when Shinji suddenly shouted, "Oh yeah, punk? What's your ninja way then, huh?" Kenshi punched Shinji's head in again and scolded, "Knock it off, you jerk!" However, Kajukiro kept walking as he answered, "My ninja way…before today, I didn't have one." At those words, Shinji gave a harsh grin of victory, thinking that Kajukiro was just a hypocrite, until Kajukiro continued, "But now, I think I'm willing to go back to my old one: To protect this village and all who live here…even at the cost of my own life." These words struck a chord within both Shinji ad Kenshi; Kajukiro, was willing to die for his village, a highly honorable shinobi way. "Who knows…I may be able to hold myself to it this time." Kajukiro finished as he walked out of the training grounds.
"Now that is a true shinobi." Kenshi commented as Kajukiro walked away. Shinji looked down, disappointed in himself; he was just jealous of Kajukiro, while Kajukiro defended both him and Kenshi with his life. Now, the once died fire that once ignited Kajukiro's heart as returned, thanks to a reminder that he still lives for a reason; and that reason was to protect his new home.