Second Chapter! Come gather 'round as I screw around with the timeline!
Naruto isn't mine by the way
This chapter dedicated to my lovely Beta Mer-Mer
Necklace
Chapter Two
Strength
Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils.
Hector Berlioz
Hiashi came from noble lineage.
Minato came from the richest family in the fire country.
Shizune came from parents high up in ninja politics.
Anko came from nowhere.
Hiashi was bred for greatness, born lucky, born first, and born brilliant.
Nothing ever concerned him.
Except the brother he was forced to shun.
Minato was spoiled, raised in linens, silks, golds, and all sorts of riches.
He always got everything and everyone.
The problem is that he wanted nothing and no one.
Shizune was told from birth she would be a wonderful politician one day.
There was security in a future that was pre-decided.
There might have been security but not happiness.
Anko was raised by various foster homes and taught to be a housewife.
But, above all she wanted to fight, to be a ninja. But, how could she?
She was nothing, a no one.
Anko walked down the academy corridor, pleased, content.
Dango does that to you.
Especially the ones bought with Namikaze money.
Anko abruptly collided with something cold, knocking the wind out of her and sending her to the floor with a resounding thump.
Anko could only blink as she looked up to see the Legendary Three in the flesh.
The light shone on them as they looked down curiously at the scraggly girl.
Anko did what she would do in any situation like this.
"You're not as cool as they said you were."
Jiraiya did what he would do in any situation like this.
"Yeah? Well, you look like a guy! Flatty!"
Orochimaru snorted quietly at his childishness, Tsunade sent him into a wall.
"Jiraiya, she's only nine!"
"That's no excuse!"
"Yes it is!"
"No it isn't!"
Orochimaru offered her a hand, pulling her up from the ground with ease.
"My apologies, Anko-san," Orochimaru murmured to her "Having the emotional maturity of toddlers is one of their lesser known attributes."
Anko smiled at his effortless and sardonic humor.
"But I suggest you make your way to your class before the exams start."
"Oh, yeah!" Anko cried, remembering why she was there in the first place.
"Thank you!" she bowed towards him as she quickly turned the corner.
And for the second time that day she collided with a ninja.
Anko stumbled back looking up to see an all too familiar Hyuuga.
"Oh, Shi-Shi-chan! I keep on bumping into people! Weird, huh?"
"Forgive me for being in your way, Miss." He muttered, avoiding her eyes.
"Forgive me? Since when were you so nice? I bumped into you!" she exclaimed.
Then she noticed the wrappings neatly circling his head.
"Hey, what's with the bandages on your head? Did the almighty Shi-Shi-chan get hurt?" she laughed.
"Shi…Shi…" he repeated curiously. "Oh, you must mean Hiashi-sama, forgive me, Miss. But, I am not him." He bowed in apology.
"But, you look just like him!"
"He is my twin brother, I am Hyuuga Hizashi." He explained timidly.
"Really!?" she cried happily as she promptly inspected him.
"It is true! You're definitely the cuter one!" She smiled.
Even though she was too young to flirt or realize that she was, Hizashi couldn't help but turn crimson.
"Well, I'm Mitarashi Anko, nice to meet ya!"
"H-hello, Anko-san." Hizashi replied hoping he won't offend her with the familiar honorific.
"Don't be so formal! It's just Anko." She admonished, hitting him playfully. "It's not like we just met!"
"O-okay Anko." Hizashi stuttered, ignoring the fact they did just meet.
"Well, I'll see ya later, Za-Za-chan!" she yelled, running down the corridor yet again.
"See you later, Anko." He replied in a daze.
"Nice of you to join us, Anko-san." Her sensei greeted icily.
"Heh, heh." Anko chuckled nervously "You see, it was completely-"
"Our fault." Orochimaru finished smoothly. "Anko saw us practice summoning techniques and asked a few questions, in case she was tested on it, which she wouldn't of course but Tsunade couldn't resist helping a child out, as is her nature. Am I right, Tsunade?
"Yeah!" Tsunade chuckled nervously "I love children!"
Jiraiya snorted like a moose.
Tsunade sent him flying into the Ino-Shika-Cho trio.
Ignoring the cries of "…Troublesome." and "My hair!" Anko hurriedly thanked the two Sannin.
Orochimaru nodded, whilst Tsunade opted for a cheerful wink.
"Very well, just get to your desk." Fujiwara-sensei snapped.
"Anko-chan! Anko-chan!" Minato called her over excitedly.
She sat down next him curiously, Minato normally only talked to her outside of the classroom and that was only because her home was the same way as his.
"Why are you so happy?" she asked rather bored, if only to hide her own excitement. Minato had a way of making his emotions contagious.
"Well, unless we are on the same team, we won't see each other that much any more so I got something for you."
He thrust something out at her.
Anko took the object and noticed it was necklace, simple as it may be.
It was just three wooden balls held together be what looked like rope.
"It's not shiny like the ones I gave to Hiashi and Shizune but this one's the best. It's made of plum blossom wood, blessed by some monks I met last week (they're supposed to be important), the rope was made out of bamboo fibers, I craved some stuff in there, the pointy part at the end is supposed to mean strength and I designed it all by myself! (With some help from Inoichi.)" Minato rambled in one breath.
Anko tuned it over in her hands noticing the last ball did in fact have a curved prong and it did smell of plum blossoms.
Anko smiled when she saw the engravings on each ball, a plum blossom, a pine and bamboo.
Ever since she went to the academy she lived alone depending on the government and has never gotten a real present since.
"Thanks Mina-chan." She sniffed "I'll never stop wearing it as long as I live!"
She grinned happily.
He grinned back. "Good Luck."
"You too."
By the end of the day Anko was convinced that her new necklace was magical.
Everything was going her way ever since she put it on.
They were tested on her best subject and she naturally passed with flying colors.
She was picked to be Orochimaru's student. His one and only student.
She smiled.
His one and only.
It had a nice ring to it.
She really couldn't believe she owed it all to Minato.
"That is all. Congratulations on passing." And as formal as she sounded, they knew she meant it. "You may proceed to formally introduce yourself to your new comrades."
"Shall we depart, Anko-san?" Her sensei said smoothly.
"Yeah!" replied Anko enthusiastically.
Anko quickly scanned the classroom one last time, hastily spotting Hiashi with his private Hyuuga teacher, both with apathetic looks on their faces and Shizune looking rather flustered while being confronted with a still irate Tsunade.
"I'm great with kids aren't I?" Tsunade demanded, barely able to keep from shouting.
"Uh… yes?" replied Shizune uncertainly.
"Damn right!" cried Tsunade, happily clapping her new ward on the shoulder. "I like you Shizuka!"
"I-I'm Shizune."
"Yeah, whatever. Take this and get me some sake." Tsunade muttered, handing her several bills.
"This early in the morning!?" Shizune exclaimed.
"Are you questioning, your Sensei, Shizuka?" Tsunade asked gravely.
"My name is-"Shizune sighed. "No ma'am."
Tsunade smiled. "Off you go then!" she chirped.
Minato was in a regular three-man cell but despite the introductions still ongoing in his team he wouldn't stop looking at Anko.
She waved at him quickly before following her sensei.
"Anko!" he cried.
"Yeah?"
It was at that moment he realized he had no idea why he called her other than to make her stay a little bit longer.
"Yeah?" she answered again.
Many possible answers to her question flitted across his mind.
Your teacher is a creep!
You're gonna get eaten!
Do you even like snakes?
Instead he chose to say:
"Good Luck!"
Anko beamed, "Thanks, you too!"
Then she ran out the door to catch up with her teacher.
All inhibitions melted away when she skipped out the door. Minato smiled at how ridiculous he being, I mean really a Sannin of all people?
Impossible.
