Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, only my OCs and this story (as well as the cover image).
Chapter 3
"Reality continues to ruin my life."
― Bill Watterson, The Complete Calvin and Hobbes
The civilian school of Kohona was a congregation of bland souls squandering the air and the crumbling remains of my hopes and dreams.
Okay, maybe that was an exaggeration. Perhaps I was not in the greatest of moods, but in all honesty, if you looked at the sand stone walls in the right lighting, the building looked like an overgrown obese cat taking a piss.
You have to see it to understand what I saying.
Otou san was officially in my hit book at the moment. He actually ruffled my hair, and had the audacity to look hurt when I snapped my teeth at him.
...It's just hard, you know? No one understands.
God, I think teen hood came a bit too early this time around.
So despite my shrivelled heart I trudged into the school that I was meant to be 'educated' in until I could do...to be honest, I couldn't see myself doing anything other than fighting. Did I really strike anyone as an accountant? Combat was what I had lived for, and now I was being told that that wasn't an option anymore.
Despite the stereotype of heading straight into the ring after high school, I was a decent student. I only ever skived language classes (boy did that bite me in the ass now). Science and history actually interested me, and even though I could never get a good sound out of a bar chord, I liked to play the guitar, occasionally sing as well.
Of course, they were manly songs, like Rockstar from Nickelback, and the classics of Frankie Laine. Yeah.
I didn't flunk out and just get lucky when someone saw that I could punch straight, it was my choice to have my nose broken for a living.
God how I missed it.
As I stared at the chalk scribbles of my new teacher's name on the class black board, a fierce defiance bubbled in me. Who the hell were they to take away my right to choose? I was a god damn (give a moment for the mental math) 35 year old guy, and even without the extra 6 years in this life, I was old enough to fucking vote, and drink, and become a mormon! No one could tell me shit!
YEAH!
Outside the mind of Tora Kurosawa, her body was sitting straight in her chair as she balanced on the end, several little fingers crossed on her desk. With a sparkling look in her eye, she raised her hand. "Sato-sensei, may I be excused to the bathroom?"
The greying teacher hummed, tapping her pencil against her hip. She eventually fell for the little girls wide eyed, pouting face. "Be quick, Kurosawa kun." She internally melted when Tora's face broke out into an adoring grin and she practically skipped out of the classroom with a gushing thank you. The class watched her go, a young boy sitting at the front certain that she smelt of sunshine and roses as she passed. Must have been all the ramen, her teacher mused.
Outside in the deserted hallway, Tora leaned against the wall gagging. "Never again." She vowed, forcing a burp for good measure. After tightening the straps of her sandals, she ran out the back entrance of the school back towards the ninja academy.
Ignoring the feeling that reminded me of my crumbling morals, I hurried along the streets of Kohona, manic grin in place. Nothing could stop me, nothing would-
Wait, was that dango half price?!
A short while later, I was yet again journeying towards my destiny, mentally noting to not sit on my back pockets until after lunch. The sun seemed to gleam down, lighting up my path. I neared the familiar walls of the academy, and could practically hear the creation of awesomeness buzzing from inside. Nothing would get in my way, nothing would-
With a strangled sound of alarm I hurled myself between two detached stores and circled around, not slowing even as my feet started to skim the thickening grass of the forest. I had almost run into a ninja trainer showing the new class of kiddies around the outside of the academy, most likely for a tour. I grimaced as I stared at the back of the academy's wide walls, chewing my lip. I couldn't just join in with the other kids, I mean, these were nin, surely they would notice a new, unregistered face appearing half way through the day.
That left being a silent observer (until my parents came to their senses of course and realised my destiny). I grinned as I spotted a short tree leaning away from the wall, and the thick branches of another larger one inside hanging within reach. I ran over and launched into the air, scrambling up the tree like a monkey on coke. After glaring at which branch to swing onto the next tree, I slowly crawled along the wide flat top of the wall until I could lean over and enter it. I huffed as I pulled myself up a few more branches that were thicker with more cover, until I was happily crouching in solitude within the academy grounds. Much to my delight, a class was already filing out to begin their first physical session.
Perfect.
I lay in the yellowing grass patch around the back of our home, chest heaving slightly and a thick sense of satisfaction curling around me like a cat. Admittedly it wasn't ideal having to merely watch in that branch all day, unable to mimic the sensei's instruction full out, but the moves were very basic and it took a while for the other young children to grasp even the most simplest of actions. A lot of the class was more about learning rules than anything else. I got rather smug at how ahead of them I already was, even in this strange body.
At the very least it was training for being able to stay incognito for a long time. My legs were horribly cramped after all that crouching.
However if I was going to incorporate martial arts into my own skills, I needed to learn the basics. Once I had regurgitated the moves of the kata and was able to perform them with little error, I went about practicing my own familiar routine, eager to make up for the wasted morning when I could have been training. By the time the sky had turned to shades of magenta dancing within the burning oranges and corals, I was tired, stinking and felt like the King of the World.
My ears flickered against the grass as the sounds of the wind and approaching footsteps reached them.
"Tora-chan! Tora- oh there you are! What are you doing lying in the dirt? Silly girl!" Okaa san scolded. I blearily raised a head to see her a little way outside the back door, hair up and flowery apron at the ready. I waved a lazy hand before dropping my head back down again. The sun sizzled under my eyelids as I sighed contently. "Come inside and get washed up before dinner."
"Sure thing Okaa san." I called back. After who knows how long and satisfied that the sun burn was substantial enough, I got to my feet and made my way inside. I brushed the astray weeds off of my clothes and hair, discarding those without flowers on my way, before joining my mother in the kitchen. I smiled and presented them to her. "Aww, aren't you a sweetie." She cooed, hurrying to find a space for them. "How was your first day?"
I shrugged and tried to pass off the cackle as a light airy chuckle. "Oh, nothing much. Normal day, I suppose."
Okaa san kissed my temple. "What a good daughter you are. Now shoo! Go cleanse yourself or you'll scare away your father's customers."
"Yes Okaa san." I chorused, sprinting upstairs to lock myself in the bathroom before Ayame got the same idea.
And just like that, I was back on track to my future.
Cue explosion in background as Tora walks away.
Ahh I'm so thrilled at the lovely attention you guys are giving this story. Thank you to every one who has followed, favourited and even just read my story. Special mentions to Dulemina, PokemonNarutoLover, Kurotiger, SNicole25, Enbi, Rissa-chan, SasukeXhinataXOC and the 3 guests for your reviews! Extra hugs and kisses for you!
Love,
Renzin xo
