"There's that kid again!"
"Yeah, I can't believe they made this kid into a ninja. What are the academy teachers thinking; I mean he's got…"
"Shhh, we're forbidden talk about that…" *whisper whisper*
Two women were gossiping about a boy walking around town.
"It's that look in their eyes again…"
The boy seemed to notice the two women talking about him, giving him mean looks in his eyes.
"Oh well…"
The boy let them be and continued on walking. He happened to pass by the Ichiraku Ramen Shop, the place where he has been going to when he was a kid. Suddenly, a man called out to the boy: "Hey Tatsumi!
The boy, Tatsumi, turned around and saw the shopkeeper, Teuchi, with her daughter, Ayame, waving and calling out to him to come over. Tatsumi smiled, and headed over to the the pair.
"Where've you been, my boy? You haven't been here for a while." Teuchi asked.
"I've been in a lot of missions lately. There seemed to be no end to them." The boy replied.
"Just like his father it seems." Teuchi said to himself. "I see. Come on over, have a bowl or two, on the house." The old man offered.
"Oh no, I can't do that. I mean I have to pay, since I'm already a ninja." The boy refused.
"No it's okay. You've just been on these missions, and must be tired. Have a bowl to refresh yourself." Teuchi insisted.
"Oh, all right, but I'll pay for my second bowl." Tatsumi caved.
Tatsumi entered the shop and sat down. Teuchi went in , as well, and served up a bowl of Miso Chasu Pork ramen for the boy. Tatsumi ate and talked with the 2 shopkeepers, catching with everything that has happened so far.
"Argh, where is that boy?"
"Keep looking!"
"The village will be in so much trouble if we don't find him!"
The three heard a commotion outside. The ninja of the village seems to be in a hurry looking for someone.
"I wonder what's happening." Teuchi wondered.
"I'm not sure, but I have a hunch." Tatsumi answered. "Iruka-sensei will find him"
"How'd you know?" Ayame asked.
"If I'm right about the guy they're looking for, then Iruka-sensei would be able to handle it. I know he will when it comes to him." Tatsumi said.
"Well, let's hope for the best." Teuchi said.
"Yeah." The two replied.
The night went on just fine. The problem the ninja were worried about seemed to be solved already, just as Tatsumi predicted. After about three bowls, Tatsumi paid and said his goodbyes to the two shopkeepers, then went home.
Earlier that morning:
"Clone jutsu"
"Perfect! Congratulations you graduate. Here's your headband, Amane"
"Thanks Iruka-sensei!" She replied. "Finally, I have caught up with him." She said to herself.
After a few more candidates:
"Clone Jutsu"
"Perfect! You've improved a lot, Ryu. Anyways, you graduate!"
"Thanks Iruka-sensei."
After all the graduation exams, all the graduates met outside with their parents to celebrate the success of the children.
"I'm so proud of you"
"Oh, come on you guys. You're embarrassing me."
"That's my boy. You're already a ninja, just like your pops."
"Hehehe, of course I am."
All of them are happy after happy, but some of them notice one boy who didn't graduate. They gossiped about him for a bit, and then returned to their children to go and celebrate.
"Hey it's that other boy."
"Yeah, imagine if he were to graduate. We would all be screwed if that happened. After all he's…"
"Shhh, we're not supposed to talk about that!"
"Oh yeah"
As everyone was leaving, Tatsumi happened to pass by the Academy after one of his missions on his way home. Iruka spotted him and called out to him. "Tatsumi! Come over here for a sec."
Tatsumi came over and said hi: "Hey Iruka-sensei! How have you been?"
"I'm okay! What about you? How are your missions?"
"I've been better. These missions come one after the other."
"That's all right. Your batch mates have already graduated. Come over for the orientation tomorrow. You'll get your team finally."
"Sure Iruka-sensei. I got to go; I have to go home before I go for another mission"
"Okay. Be safe."
"Sure sensei. Bye!"
He then left and went home.
As Ryu was leaving with his dad, he saw Amane and called out to her: "Hey Amanee! You graduated too!"
"Well of course! What do you expect?" Amane replied. "What about you? I thought you'd flunk this year."
"Well, you shouldn't keep underestimating me" Ryu said to her with a little irritation.
She laughed at him and replied. "Hahahaha lighten up, at least you proved me wrong. Anyway, my parents are waiting for me. They're going to take me for some yakiniku."
"Yeah! Us too! I guess I'll see you in the orientation tomorrow."
"Uh huh. Bye then.
"Bye!"
The two went back to their parents and went on to go and eat some yakiniku. After that, they went home to get ready. They sat on their beds thinking about how they were going to be as ninja.
At Ryu's house: "Hehehe I'm a ninja now! I'm going to be awesome!" Ryu shouted. "I don't know what's going to happen me, but I hope I get stronger."
"I'm soooo excited, but I should go to sleep. I need to be fully energized tomorrow!"
And so he went to bed and lay down, and instantly went to sleep.
At Amane's house: "I don't know. I'm kinda scared about this." Amane said to herself. "Maybe I should go out and calm my nerves.
"Mom I'm going out!" she shouted to her mother
"Don't stay out to late!" her mother replied.
"Okay!" she shouted and headed out
Amane walked around the village, smiling at her classmates she happens to meet along the way. She continued walking until she came across Ichiraku and someone she has been looking up to all her life.
"Bye Uncle Teuchi. Thanks for the yummy ramen!"
"That voice" she said to herself
"I-is that you?"
-TO BE CONTINUED-
