So the sun sets on the old generation and rises on the new. But. The Will of Fire must burn on.
Shino Aburame laughed at himself as he put the bundle of perfectly ordered papers into a folder on the edge of the desk. He was alone in the teacher's office trying to file papers before the other senseis entered the building to prepare for the school day.
I always get like this around graduation time. Sentimental. He cracked a smile. Like a old man in a kung-fu movie going on about some special ideal and the like.
"Haahaaa!",the sensei chuckled quietly, hoping that no one would see him during a rare moment of expression.
"HEY! What's wrong with you!? Nobodies here so who are you talkin to Shino?".
The Aburame turned towards the door to see the fiery Anko Mitarashi in the doorway of the office. She was looking at him with concern, a eyebrow sharpley raised and a firmly placed hand on her right hip. While it was true that over the years she had lost the figure Shino recalled from their first meeting during the Chunin Exams Anko definitely hadn't lost an ounce of her bravo or sassiness. Now a teacher at the Academy she was a brutal but yet fun instructor who dealt with all the shinobi-to-be, instructing them in detail about ninjutsu.
"Oh Anko Onee chan I didn't notice you."
Shino pushed his glasses up trying not to show his embarrassment at being caught talking out loud to nothing but himself and air. Anko entered into the shared teacher room and smiled brightly.
"Ah, don't worry kid I ain't blaming ya, no need to get all stiff for nothin. I get all out of sorts during this time of the year as well." She casually strolled over to a window and hopped onto the ledge.
"HAHAHAHAHA! The whole damn shinobi world is goin have to deal with the brats we taught!" The Mitarashi leaned forward, her golden laugh overtook the room. Shino himself almost couldn't hold back a grin, suddenly Anko sat up and jerked towards him.
"HEY! You taught some of your old classmates kids right Shino-chan?"
"Yes."
She addressed him as "chan" because according to her he would always be one of those scared rookies in the crowd from the Exams. Thinking back a wash of memories flooded into Shino's mind. *Everyone groaned when Naruto's stupidity made us take the genin exam again. Sakura was so angry I swore she was about to explode! Of course little Hinata held back a squeal because she thought it was so funny though she only told me that years later. Kiba could be such a jerk back then, he planned to beat Naruto up after school. I have to admit I was worried about being paired up with those two, how foolish of me to have thought, now they are my oldest and dearest friends. I actually wanted someone skilled like Uchiha Sasuke. Shino paused as he remembered the fate of the most talented graduate. Such a pity. But those were good times, simpler ones as well. He allowed the smile to show.
"It's highly ironic, the best and worse case of deja vu."
Anko shrugged, "Whoa! I know I wouldn't want any of my old classmates runts as students, they were lil badasses as kids. And can you believe that punk actually became Hokage, hm I still have his blood on that kunai of mine."
She squinted, leaning towards him as if she were still in her girlhood telling a childish secret.
"Hey..should I show it to Naruto's kids?"
Shino shook his head no. Hinata would never hear the end of it with those two of her's. He moved from behind the desk and leaned against the wall beside Anko.
"They would tease the poor man till his dying breathe."
The Kunoichi jiggled with laughter, this time almost falling off the edge, she was saved by placing a hand on his shoulder.
"DAMN SHINO-CHAN! Your funny as hell do ya know that?"
He could feel himself beginning to blush so he turned to the side.
"Those two can be so different at times. Moments like that make you think they could never be siblings."
Anko nodded in agreement.
Then again, their parents aren't two peas in a pod when it comes to personality either. Some opposites do attract. The Kunoichi interrupted his thoughts with a giggle.
"But then those kids turn around and confuse you and act so alike even a stranger could guess that they were related."
Shino held back a wide eyed smile. One day it's Hinata's personality and then the next it's Naruto's. Anko went on, she wasn't one for silence.
"Good thing they have that best friend of theirs to keep them on planet earth. "
He nodded in agreement. Even though Shino was far from being an expert on romance he was glad Sakura had ceased with her childhood infatuation with the Uchiha. She had done well for herself since then, even getting married to another medical-nin. If you had continued I wouldn't have such a perfect student in my class. Shino pictured Sakura's eldest child resolving a conflict between the Uzumaki siblings and he smiled as he imagined what the twelve year old Sakura's reaction would be after learning that she did not marry the Uchiha. The world works in strange but yet wise ways, sometimes one person's childhood dreams comes true but yet life denies their friends the one desire of their youth. But some are worth dreaming into adulthood while others are not.
"Sakura's son is very consistent. He has qualities from both of his parents. But I would say he's a little more like his father when he was around his age" Shino said, filling in the silence.
Anko smiled, perhaps recalling a fond memory, "That's for sure. Sakura was sure as hell not as composed as her brat is when she was twelve. I don't know her husband that well and definitely didn't know him as a preeten."
Shino continued, "He has Sakura's book smarts for sure"
"One of the whizzes kids I know", Anko replied.
"Ya'll were somethin during the exams! Damn! I know my class was worse!"
Shino chuckled,"Really Anko Onee chan it isn't that bad. I see a bite of their parents in all of them, even the parents I don't know so well."
Again a silence engulfed the room as neither of them spoke, Shino's mind drifted to the Chunin Exams once more. We were all so young and immature, Kiba trying to act tough despite being terrified, he opted for having an attitude instead of being honest. Adorable Hinata only worrying about Naruto and not even caring about the task at hand. And of course there was me. I was so closed still, keeping to myself. Meeting Gaara was the most memorable experience, I can't believe he is the Kazekage now, who would have thought. The memory of his legs almost giving out when he saw Gaara kill the shinobi from the Rain Village flashed before him.
"All of our shinobi careers could have ended as simple genin. In fact looking back there were plenty of times that could have happened."
Anko shook her head fervently, " Got that right Shino-chan".
Suddenly the shinobi's mind stood still, a forbidden thought curled around it, one that he repeatedly suppressed during this time of the year. The Aburame turned towards Anko, the pleading look in Shino's eyes hidden by his sunglasses.
"We."
He paused. She faced him, her eyes giving away that she knew what he was going to say. Shino swallowed slowly, pondering if he should even continue to speak his thoughts aloud. The seasoned chunin placed his hands together and looked towards the ground.
"We trained them enough for the life of the shinobi? To handle the consuming valley of pain and struggle it can be?"
Once more a quietness filled the room, a daunting remainder to Shino of the weight of his question. The depth. The unknown. The paniced and the tangled. Even the naturally upbeat Kunoichi knelt before its load. Anko. Please tell me yes. If any of my students die..I wouldn't be able to be buried knowing that it was because of my ill-fated guidance. I can't imagine how Guy-sensei felt looking at his student who had ended his journey among the living while he himself still traveled on.
"Shino-chan...we've done all we can."
Shino quickly spun towards Anko, flaring his nostrils, it took all his self-control not to explode upon her. NO! Don't tell me that. Tell me that my teachings will be enough to survive! Tell me my teachings will help them to live on despite the death of a comrade! Tell me my teachings will lead them to the right path in life! Tell me my teachings will be the cornerstone for a better tomorrow! Tell me.
Anko looked up at the ceiling, a smile dared to spread across her face despite the seriousness of the question.
"From now on whatever happens to them in the shinobi world will be on their own necks". She stopped and then smiled yet again, seemingly realizing something that he hadn't already. Shino couldn't stand it any longer, what was it that she knew?
"WHAT! What is it Onne chan? Tell me, what can I do?!" I beg you.
She leaped off the ledge, her gaze cheerfully rested on him. Shino frowned, still smiling huh? he thought in disgust. Not everything is a slit matter, despite what you may think.
"All I, you, or any of us can do now is continue."
Shino cringed,"Continue?... Doing what?"
Anko brightened from ear to ear and threw her hands up, "Continue to light the flame. Stronger and Brighter."
