Oh yeah- I keep forgetting bout this cause it's so obvious to me. But formalities must be met: Naruto does not belong to me- only Shizuru does. Blah blah, making no money, ect. You get the picture ^_~ moving on.
Everyone made it back to the Village without further incident. The next morning, Kakashi took me to the KIA stone. Silently promising Naru and Shota that I'd return with flowers, I left Kakashi to his silent thoughts of his friend, Obito.
"No time like the present. Time to get back in the game," I said and made my way to the Hokage's office slowly, feeling my way along and with the help of a new tapping stick and plenty of directions from friendly villagers.
"Check me out, Hokage! I'm back and ready for action!" I announced as I walked into his office. Wow. I'm starting to get as loud as Naruto. The Hokage blinked.
"And you are?" I cringed as a young man ran in after me.
"Honorable Lord Hokage! I'm so sorry. She just barged in and-"
"That's alright, Iruka-sensei. Do you know her?"
"I'm still here, you know," I said acidly. Kakashi telling me that everyone had forgotten about me (his doing) was one thing. Them actually not having the foggiest- it started to get under my skin.
"No sir, I don't. I'm sorry, miss..."
"Shizuru of the Kiuchi clan, daughter of Yukimi and Elwi." Hokage stroked his beard.
"It's alright, Iruka-sensei. I'm fine." Iruka knew a dismissal when he heard one and left, albeit hesitantly.
"Now, miss Kuichi..." He didn't seem to know what to say or do. After all, as far as the Village was concerned, Yukimi and Elwi didn't have any kids. How could the man that insisted I give up being a ninja, my very life, forget about me so thoroughly? Unless...unless Kakashi used his Sharingan on him. He can do almost anything with that eye.
"I was a ninja here. When I was 16- one year after the nine-tailed fox was sealed- I was permanently blinded in battle and you sent me away on a little...vacation to collect myself and get used to my disability. Then you told me it might be best for me if I gave up being a ninja. Does that ring a bell, perhaps?" I asked. My tone the entire time was calm and light, as if discussing something innocent like the weather or a village sport with a shopkeeper.
"I'm sorry, but no, it doesn't." I frowned ever so slightly.
"Usually the subconscious remembers things no matter what. I should just have to say a key word or phrase or something and the subconscious will link everything together for the conscious mind. If only I knew that trigger word…" I thought aloud. "Or maybe I could shove all your chakra around unitl the shock of it jogs your memory?" I half wondered, half threatened aloud. It was an empty threat I used on older people all the time, especially the Hokage. I could just barely feel the chakra bend around the old man as things shifted in his mind.
"Please, don't. One time was more than enough." It was my turn to blink in bewilderment.
"Well what to ya know," I muttered. He shook his head.
"So what are you doing back here?" I felt for the chair I knew was close by and turned it backward. Straddling it, I and faced him with a sweet smile.
"I want to be a jonin."
"I'm sorry, come again?"
"I want to be a jonin. Or a Tokujo. I'm not picky. If you want me to be a Tokujo first and then get the all-around training, I will. Maybe ANBU later on." I heard the Hokage resettle in his chair.
"Really? And what would you specialize in? A Tokubetsu jonin is a specialist in one field. Not to mention a jonin has to master at least 2 elemental styles." I smiled again and rested my chin on a hand.
"You know very well my specialty is chakra manipulation. I can do almost anything with th-"
"So be a medical ninja." I waved a hand dismissively, ignoring the pain in my chest that came with the suggestion.
"Bor-ing! And as for elemental styles, I've got water and fire down pat." He regarded me silently for a moment, which is kind of annoying sometimes, since I can't see his facial expressions.
"Two opposites?" he finally asked.
"I was bored. We ARE the Land of Fire and water matches my personality better, don't you think?" He sighed.
"Very well. I'll give you your jonin exam. Best to get it over with sooner rather than later. Will tomorrow be acceptable? Good. Now let me explain to you what you will do..."
Kakashi's POV
Kakashi had just finished handing in his last report of the day and talking about Naruto's progress with Iruka, who was helping out that afternoon, when he asked, "By the way. Do you know that crazy lady who's with the Hokage now? She's got blank eyes, is rather short, and has long purple hair. She claims to be part of the Kiuchi clan, but there's no record of her." The jonin winced.
"Don't let her hear you calling her 'short.' She's touchy about it."
"So you do know her. I was beginning to think she wasn't right in the head, barging in the way she did." Kakahsi sighed.
"Sometimes I question her sanity too, but that's just the way she is. How long has she been in there?" he asked. His young friend thought for a moment.
"An hour or so. Why?" That's an awfully long time for just saying 'I'm back.' I hope nothing's wrong.
"No reason, Iruka. I-" The door opened and Shizuru walked out, thrilled.
"Oh good, you're here. He wants to talk to you, Kishi-kun," she informed Kakashi with a sweet smile. Iruka snorted while the other four jonin in the room either looked bewildered (who would talk to the Copy Cat so informally?) or tried to hide smiles. He walked by, stoic as usual, and slapped the back of her head.
"Stay put, Runt," Kakashi told her and closed the doors behind him before she could retaliate.
"That was quick..." Hokage muttered to himself. "I won't keep you long. Just keep an eye on Shizuru. She wants to become a jonin. I told her I'd monitor her test personally. What do you think? You know her best," he said.
"I see nothing wrong with it. She's capable. And I'll watch her," the jonin said evenly. The Hokage chuckled.
"I'm sure you will. Of course, forgetting someone so thoroughly… never mind. Send her back in, will you? There's something I forgot."
Shizuru's POV
Kakashi came out of Hokage's office and told me to go in.
"Sir?" I asked uncertainly; I had been in there only moments ago. Perhaps he changed his mind?
"I was thinking that perhaps it would be for the better if you didn't go by your clan name. Start fresh, you know." It unnerves him that he couldn't remember. It probably will others if they remember as well. A fresh start sounds nice, I suppose.
"What did you have in mind?" He thought for a moment.
"Imamura has a nice sound to it. And there are none other in the village so there would be no ties." I nodded.
"That's fine. Shizuru Imamura- jonin," I said in a narrator type voice. Hokage chuckled.
"Not yet, you're not. That's all. I'll have it fixed with your new paperwork, seeing as your old ones have mysteriously vanished. And your picture will be taken after your exam." I nodded and left. Kakashi was waiting for me.
"A jonin, huh? You don't waste time. Come on. You can stay at my place again. If you want to, that is." I smiled and looked away to hide my face.
"That'd be nice," I told the empty space to my left.
"I'm over here," he told me.
"I know." I offered an arm so he could lead me. Knowing I had used my Rykugan the whole day before and was tired, he took my arm and linked it with his. The sound of cloth rustling then paper moving told me that he had taken his book out.
"Pervert," I muttered to him.
"Runt," he replied easily. I kicked my leg back and to the side so it hit his butt.
"I don't have to walk you, you know."
"Then don't," I said and pulled away and forgetting to use my new walking stick. It had been so long since I used one, I kept forgetting about it.
"Four steps," he warned, just in time so I wouldn't trip down them. Sighing in defeat, I held out my arm again. He took the time to turn the page in his book then took my arm again.
I woke the next morning and slipped out of Kakashi's bed, tripping on the sleeping roll he used. In a rare case of gentlemanly behavior, he insisted on me having the bed, but only a fair game of janken would settle it- he won so he made the choice. I made the bed and put the sleeping roll away. Using as little chakra in my eyes as possible, I left. After, I left to buy some flowers. Once I paid the girl at the shop- Ino, if memory served- I took the lilies to the KIA stone. Kakashi was there, but neither of us spoke. He still does this every morning? I don't see how he does it. This is only my second time in who knows how long to visit them and I almost can't take it. He and Obito were so close...I wonder what he thinks about when he's here. Oh no! I'm supposed be taking my exam. Though leaving calmly and quietly, I sprinted the rest of the way through town until I rammed into someone hard, toppling the both of us to the ground.
"I'm sorry. I should have watched out," the young man said. His voice was glossy and warm and I liked it.
"No, it was my fault. I shouldn't have been running," I apologized as he helped me up.
"Oh. No, you shouldn't have," he said quietly. I sighed. He had noticed my eyes- he knew I was blind. "Oh, crap. My cards," he mumbled.
"Here, I'll help," I insisted and helped to pick them up. "This is an awful lot for a deck of playing cards," I commented.
"They aren't playing cards. They are my ninja info cards. I'm Kabuto, by the way."
"Oops. Sorry. Name's Shizuru. These are cool. Oh! Here's Sasuke's card. And Kurenai-sensei too. How nifty." Kabuto stopped moving.
"You...you can read them? But they're chakra encoded!"
"Well, I'm special. I've gotta go. Nice meeting you. Bye!" I said, handing him the last of the cards and went on my way, careful not to run into anyone else. It wasn't until I was just outside the Academy when I realized that Kabuto had deliberately stepped in front of me. He wanted me to run into him. No doubt to get a chance to read me for info. I guess I just supplied him with at least the start of a new card- mine. Bravo, Kabuto. Very well played. I couldn't help but like the young man more for his gumption. Then I realized that I just supplied an unknown ninja with vital information about myself and mentally kicked myself for it. Of course they are chakra encoded- I can't read anything else. Idiot. Ah well. Time to step up. But hey, what will come will come…good thing he's on our side.
"So you want to try for jonin?" Hokage asked.
"Yep, yep. What now?" I asked happily. The old man sighed.
"Going from chunin to jonin is more of a promotion and the exam a formality. You have to demonstrate your mastery of two different elemental jutsus, as I told you yesterday. I think Anko will be a good opponent."
"Anko?" I repeated.
"Don't expect me to go easy on you, maggot," the wonderfully petite and drill sergeant harsh Anko told me.
"I wouldn't dream of it," I reassured her and worked my fingers in the proper jutsu.
"Rykugan!" I activated it just in time- Anko came at me furiously. It was all I could do just to block. High block, low block, jump, middle block, low block.
"You'll need more than that to be a jonin!" I looked around- she made 6 clones, all evenly distributed in chakra. I could tell which one was her though, which was a good thing. I didn't want to kill the hyper ninja, after all. I jumped back, fashioning my fingers in the proper manner.
"Water style- Ice impaling jutsu!" Purposely, I aimed it at the clones, pulling the water from their bodies outward, freezing it at the same time. Razor sharp icicles burst out of the bodies all over, impaling them from the inside, out. Anko gasped. Perfect.
But then she grabbed my ankle using a metal chain.
"Fire style- Dragon fire jutsu!" she shouted. The fire travelled along the length of the chain. I slid my other leg around and across the chain.
"Water style- Water wall jutsu!" The wall had enough force to break the chain as well as protect me. That's enough showing off my water style. While the water receded, I prepared for my next attack. "Fire style- phoenix flower jutsu!" I shouted and for an extra surprise, his shuriken inside the multiple fireballs. Anko dodged all but one, receiving a shuriken in the thigh. I didn't hesitate; I launched myself at her, attacking in simple hand to hand. Anko almost got the better of me when she grabbed my wrists and did a twin snakes technique, but I managed to break away and went to punch her across the face. It was not even a glancing blow, but that was more than I needed. The blow was a distraction. Instead, I pulled a bit of her chakra to me and set it in my next attack- "Fire style- Fireball jutsu!" I exhaled the fireball from my mouth.
"Oh, please. That's a chunin level jutsu," Anko told me and dodged it. But it came around behind her.
"I improved it," I said happily. "It's marked with your chakra. It'll follow you till it hits you." She ran, but the wound to her leg slowed her down. She fell. The fireball was almost on her-
"Enough, Shizuru. You pass," Hokage announced and cancelled my jutsu.
I helped Anko up and fixed up her leg using the mystical palm technique (commonly used by medical-nin).
"How did you do that? And those water jutsus? There's no water in here and you didn't breathe out the water to use. Even the 2 nd Hokage had to spit water from his mouth!" She's as bad as Naruto. If that's possible.
"The human body is made up of 35 liters of water. I used that for my impaling jutsu. Then I used the water in the air, making it heavy enough with my chakra. If it were a bigger attack, I'd probably have to spit out water too," I told her brightly and sat down, suddenly very tired; I hadn't skimped on energy, wanting to pass as much as I did. My world went back to black but I felt loads better. Followed by feeling dumb for running off without my walking stick. Again.
"So why don't you wear blacked out glasses? It's kinda creepy, ya know?" Anko asked as she pulled me to my feet.
"I don't like glasses. And if an enemy thinks I'm less of a threat, then better for me." The two of us left to talk to the Hokage, me trailing my fingers along the walls casually to feel the way.
"Hello, ladies."
"Hey, Kakashi," Anko said. "What's up? Did you enjoy the match?"
"You were watching?" I asked, surprised.
"Of course," he replied mildly. "And yes, I did enjoy it. It was...informative." My jaw dropped.
"You pervy little sneak! You stole our techniques, didn't you?" I demanded. Anko actually growled.
"You don't have any room calling me 'little'," he informed me lazily. I tried to smack him but Anko held me back, telling me that I needed to get the paperwork done.
Kakashi's POV
He waited for Shizuru to come out. It didn't take long- she just had to make a few signatures and take a new photo as her new ID was only valid because the Hokage somehow remembered her. And here I was thinking I repressed his memories quite well. I wonder what she did to reverse it. Shizuru came out, still miffed, or at least, she was pretending to be. She could never cover the flicker of a smile that always lingered. Kakashi offered an arm but she kept walking on her own, trailing her fingers along the wall. It took a minute to realize she wasn't using her kekkei genkai but when he did, he linked arms with her himself.
"And says who I needed your help?" she asked, still pretending.
"I do," he replied and pulled out his book. "Listen, if it's any consolation, I didn't copy your precious Rykugan this time. I only got your versions of your exam attacks." She shrugged, smiling at people who said hello to the pretty 'stranger.'
"We agreed when you joined my team that if you could copy my attacks, you deserved to have them. Knowing HOW to do it and actually DOING it are two entirely different things. So I don't really mind." Kakashi winced. Using the Sharingan eye, he could copy an attack. Her attacks required WAY too much chakra refinement- talent only currently available to her and perhaps a few others. And she knew it.
"I really hate you sometimes," the man muttered.
"Really? That's unfortunate. For you, anyway. I'm only nice to people who like me."
"You're nice to everyone," he said flatly.
"Cause everyone likes me."
"You don't know everyone."
"I take it for granted." He couldn't say anything to that, so he didn't. "Where are we?" she asked.
"Er, I thought we'd take the backroad. Not so much stuff, less people to run into." Shizuru wilted.
"You saw that, huh?" More surprising than not, she didn't question Kakashi about following her- which he probably would have done even if the Hokage hadn't asked him to.
"Perhaps," he told her. Kabuto seemed to be an unpromising genin, having failed the chunin exam 6 times. But something didn't settle right about him... he purposely stepped in front of her after all.
And a special thank you to ShinobiStar, dingdang303, and TheDeathBiscuit for your support! I really appreciate the reviews. Also, thank you everyone who added this story to their favorites- I'll do my best to make ya'll proud.
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