Namaki Uzumaki rested her chin in her hand as she gazed at the open box in front of her. To be exact it was a music box, the music spilling out of it while a fox spun around and around in a circle. It was a soft melody and it could even been described as soothing. Namaki just watched the small fox and while her attention was occupied, Sarutobi worked on paperwork. For those few minutes, Namaki didn't think about anything, her mind blank from any thought. The music was something she never heard before and she liked it.
Finally the music stopped and the little fox stopped moving simultaneously with the music. Blinking, the blond sat up and closed the box and pushed it towards the old man." Well that was swell," she said looking at the Third Hokage." So what was so special about showing me a music box?"
Namaki sat in the Hokage's office with the box and a cup of green tea in front of her. She was having her normal tea-time with the old man, the first one since her return back from the Land of Waves, where she and her new team had their first mission protecting the bridge builder, Tazuna.
There simple quest turn out to be an epic adventure where Namaki met new friends as well as lost. Overall, the bridge was completed and the people in the poor village were happy that it was finally done. That was over a month ago now and Namaki was back to her lousy D-rank missions along with Sakura Haruno and the duck-butt of a teammate, Sasuke Uchiha. So it was nice to get away and be able to hang out with the old fart like before.
Tea time was something Namaki and the Third did since she was little and in the academy. They would sit in his office sipping tea, talking. Though to be precise it was usually Namaki venting about how much Sasuke was an asshole and that Iruka-sensei never let her have any fun, or that he made her clean up after herself after one of her pranks. The whole time Sarutobi would listen without commenting and when she was done put in his two cents on the whole things followed up by some advise.
Namaki looked up at the old man who was still working and completely ignoring her. Being ignored was something Namki hated with a passion and just couldn't tolerate.
" HEY! EARTH TO OLD MAN!" That made Sarutobi jump a little in his seat and looked at the preteen. Namaki just looked at him with a grin, a twinkle in her blue eyes. She enjoyed the reaction that she caused and couldn't help but grin in triumph.
" Please, Namaki, keep the volume down," the man sighed. Her pulled his pipe out of his lips and blew out a cloud of smoke.
" So are you going to tell me?" Namaki asked.
" Tell you what?"
The blond rolled her eyes and sighed. She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms." About the box, old man. What's up with the music box?"
Sarutobi blinked at her and puffed on his pipe once more." Is that it?"
" Duh!"
" It's yours," he stated simply.
Namaki blinked, glancing between him and the box. Hers? That thing belonged to her, since when?
" I don't get it."
Sarutobi sighed and adjusted himself in his seat. His gaze rested on Namaki, his pipe still to his mouth." It's a birthday present."
A birthday present? Namaki's birthday had came and gone a long time ago, so who was this a birthday gift? Normally she didn't get anything, besides Iruka-sensei treating her to Ichiraku Ramen and letting her get whatever she wanted. On those nights she would empty Iruka-sensei's wallet unless he was lucky and the old man that worked there said it was on the house. And for the most part it always was, her birthday was a special day, as the man would claim. Though Namaki thought otherwise. Besides those who were nice to her-which was very few and she could count them off her fingers- Namaki had no one. A birthday was a day a person spend their time with their family and friends. She had no one.
" Ah, old man? I'm not sure if you're going senile, but my birthday was months ago," she reminded him. She stared at him as he nodded his head and told her how he was aware that her birthday had already passed.
" I know that Namaki. However I was going through some old stuff when I found this thing here," he lightly patted the top of the music box." When I had gotten to it, it was dirty and damaged. So I took it to a friend of mine who is a skillful blacksmith."
Namaki just looked at him with slight interested though so far the tale was a bit boring. All he had to say was he had it fixed up. It shouldn't had been that hard, it was just a music box. The old man must had read her thoughts or something because he went on.
" That's not just a everyday music box. It's special and it was specially made for you."
Namaki blinked and sat up," Really?"
He nodded," It wasn't easy to fix it, certain parts needed to be shipped from other lands to fix it. It was customarily made just for you."
Now the girl was getting more interested in the simple box by the second. A grin on her face as she picked it up. It wasn't much but the fact that someone took the time to have it specially made for her made her feel important to whoever did it."
She flipped and turn the box around carelessly, examining every detail of it. She hardly paid attention when the Third gave an apology for not giving it to her sooner. Who cared? She had it now!
" No worries, old man. Better now than never, right?" Namaki didn't even look at him and turn the box upside-down. Her eyes widen and she gasped." Old man! Old man!" She said excitedly. She held the bottom part up for him to see." It haves my name on it! Isn't that cool!?"
Indeed when Sarutobi looked at the box Namaki's name was graved into the word in neat letters. It was slightly faded but it was still eligible to read.
" I wonder who would do that," Namaki said pulling the box back to her and looking at her name again. Her eyes bright and awe and amazement."
" It's simple really." Namaki looked at the Hokage and blink in wonder. He was puffing on his pipe again, a distant look on his face as if he was thinking of something. Finally he look at her and said in a solemnly tone." It was a gift from your parents."
U.Z.U.
Namaki head out not long after to meet up with her team. The music box was securely tucked under her arm. Unlike earlier, she was handling the thing with care now, making sure as to avoid dropping it. She ran down the streets, in a rush to get to the team meeting on time though there wasn't no point to that. Kakashi-sensei was always late no matter what.
The fact that the gift under her arm was from her parents still mind boggled her. She had never knew who her parents were. She didn't even know their names. When she was younger she would constantly ask the old man who her parents were and as always his answer would be the same. He would give her the runaround and tell her how they were honorable ninja and fought barely against the demon fox. That very same fox that was inside of her.
As the years passed, Namaki's reluctance to know about her heritage seem to cease and though she wanted to know about her heritage, her dreams of becoming Hokage and making the whole village eat their own words was her main priority. She was going to prove to them all she wasn't like the monster inside of her. She was Namaki Uzumaki, the next Hokage who was going to surpass the ones before her and hopefully the ones after. Then will she have a chance to gain the village's acceptance.
'Just watch, mom, dad. My face will be on that mountain one day. I'll make you proud!'
Getting herself pumped up, Namaki grinned. She pumped her fist in the air giving a cheer.
" Hell yeah!" She sped up, dodging and weaving around villagers so not to bump into them. More importantly so something happened to her music box.
U.Z.U.
" Namaki, there you are," Sakura said once Namaki arrived at the bridge. Team Seven's meeting spot.
Namaki came to a stop in front of her pink haired teammate and offered a small smile. With her free hand she rubbed the back of her head." Sorry Sakura, I was chatting with the old man and lost track of time."
Sakura sighed and nodded her head," Alright. Besides it's not like your super late like Kakashi-sensei always is."
Namaki grinned followed by a laughed. That was true, their instructor had issues with arriving on time for anything that they did. Exhaling, Namaki went and sat on the railing on the bride they were on. A little ways from her, leaning against the same railing and looking in the distance was Sasuke-duck butt-Uchiha. Just looking at the teme annoyed Namaki. After a moment of glaring, the dark hair boy turn at Namaki and glared back. He made a sucking sound and looking away." Dweeb," he said.
" Jerk," Namaki shot back. Insults was how her and Sasuke greeted each other. They exchanged insults until Sakura got in between them. Already Namaki could hear Sakura sighing behind her.
At first, Namaki and Sakura's relationship had a rocky start. Like every other girl that was "madly in love" with Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura saw the blond as a threat. More so after the incident just a little before the orientation had started for the new Genin. It was always " Sasuke's mine, stay away!' or " Don't even think about pulling anything on Sasuke!"
All Namaki cared about was showing up the bastard and knocking him down a few notches. Finally the blond had enough. She had no interest or intended to chase after the Uchiha. One reason, he was an asshole. Second reason, Sasuke wasn't her type(not like she even had a type). Third, Sasuke was an asshole. Fourth, Namaki had no interest in boys or that thing people called romance. All of that was just too corny and she rather learn how to bash heads in than worry about little things like dates. The whole thought of trying to pick out a cutesy outfit made her shiver.
Besides the point, once Namaki had drilled it into Sakura that she had zero interest in Sasuke, the two got along decently. Namaki would even consider Sakura as her friend.
" Dead last," Sasuke replied.
" Prick!" Namaki called back.
" Idiot."
" Dummy!"
" Useless!"
" Duck butt!"
" Loser!"
"BITCH!"
" Okay, okay you two!" Sakura said getting in between them. During their insult battle, Namaki and Sasuke were facing each other, moving close to each other almost ready to thrown down. She put her hands out pushing them both back." Calm down, no need to fight."
Sasuke stepped back and huffed and turn away from both of them. Namaki did the same muttering how he started it. Sakura just stood there sighing.
" My my, you two sure got a mouth on you."
Startled, the three Genin jumped and turned around. Standing on the railing was Kakashi, giving them all his one-eyed smile." Yo."
" You're late, Kakashi-sensei/ Scarecrow!" Both Sakura and Namaki exclaimed.
Kakashi stared at Namaki with a blunt expression." Really?"
Namaki merely shrugged not really caring." What took you so long?"
" Well I got lost on the path of life," Kakashi stated calmly." So glad you all can make it this afternoon."
" What are we doing here anyways, Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked.
" Are we going on another mission!?" Namaki stated excitedly." Is it a real mission like in the and of Waves?! Are we gonna protect some prince or princess? Or go into enemy territory and steal a secret scroll, or-"
" No, Namaki. We are not going on a mission."
Namaki deflated before throwing her hand up in the air." Then why are you wasting my time for?!"
" Say Namaki, what's with the box?" Namaki looked at Sakura who was pointing at the music box that was still under her arm. With all the excitement, she had forgotten that she was still holding it. With a grin she looked at Sakura and said proudly." It's a late birthday gift from the old man. He said it was from my parents."
" You're parents? Can I see?" Sakura's emerald green eyes were bright with awe as she looked at the box. For a moment Namaki was conflicted on whether to had in over or not. But before she could decide on anything Kakashi interrupted them.
" You can look at it later, Sakura. Right now I would like to make an announcement."
That got Namaki's attention as she looked at her sensei and blinked. He cleared his throat before he spoke.
" I would like to inform you three, that I have declared Team Seven ready to take this year's Chuunin Exams."
Namaki looked at Kakashi in surprise, the corners of her lips lifting and forming a grin." Really?!"
" Really," the masked Jounin nodded.
Namaki cheered, throwing fist punches in the sky, shouting how she was now one step closer to becoming Hokage. She was excited, already she pictured herself raising to the top, owning everyone who would be in the exams. She was going to be so awesome that the old man would announce his retirement early and claim Namaki was the next Hokage then and there. The image was all to clear in her head.
" You need to take the exams first, doofus," Sasuke said, completely killing Namaki's excitement.
She looked at Sasuke with an annoyed expression. " Dude, your a fuckin' buzz kill."
" Language, Namaki," Kakashi said getting on her. He reached into his pouch and provided three pieces of paper." Sasuke is right however as the Chuunin Exams don't start until next week. Now you don't have to take these exams as it's completely up to you. Whatever you decide it won't affect the others," he explained. He handed them both a piece of paper that explained all that they needed to know. From where it would be to what time. Namaki was already itching to sign the paper already.
" If you decide to enter these exams report at the academy next week with these papers. From there the test to see if you're Chuunin material will commence."
" Oh I'm so gonna be there," Namaki said excitedly hardly paying attention to what was being said. She blinked as Kakashi told gave them all how different ninjas from other villages would be entering into their village as they were going to be taking the same test. He also gave a quick insight on how dangerous the exams could be and with that he was gone. Namaki blinked as it was silent.
" Who cares I'm still going, ya know!"
Sakura looked at Namaki. The blond could see the uncertainty and fear in her eyes but she still smiled." I swear, nothing bothers you, huh?"
Namaki just grinned, eyes bright and full of excitement." That's right, ya know!"
A/N: I have returned! Sorry for those who were waiting on the update on The Uzumaki Clan: Rise of the Whirlpool Princess but I just had writers block. But no need to fear I am back with the remake and to start things off I gave out two chapters. So don't be shy! Read, review and tell me what you think of this new story so far. Enjoy and the next chapter should be out soon! :P
