Sayuri thought she was excited to join the academy. That was before she was forced to stand in front of a room full of 30 rather disinterested children, as the teacher, Makoto-sensei introduced her as a new student to the class.
The day had started off well enough. Finding herself unable to sleep, Sayuri had woken in the early hours of the morning, and spent a while staring out of the window, seeing the city move in the creeping light. The rain was reduced to a fine drizzle, and the grey of the city was bathed in a golden glow.
"You're up early little one." Sayuri jumped at the voice. How had he gotten in her room without her knowing? She didn't hear the door open.
"I can't sleep," she said, turning her head towards him. Even at this time, he still wore his mask, his dark hair flowing out in layered spikes from behind it.
"Come here," he said, beckoning her.
She stepped towards him, and then stopped right in front of him, looking up at the mask. She wondered how long it would take her to grow that tall. Probably years and years. He crouched down to her level, and Sayuri looked him right in the one visible eye.
The eye looked away. "I got you something."
He produced from his sleeve, a ribbon in emerald green. It was so pretty! Was it for her? Sayuri gave out a squeal of excitement, waving her arms about.
"Shh, turn around." She did as she was told, and she felt him fixing the ribbon in her hair. When he commented "done", she ran to the bathroom to get a look at herself in the mirror.
Using her hands to hoist herself up, she saw a lovely green ribbon in her bright red hair. It matched her eyes, Sayuri thought, before her arms gave way and her feet met the ground again.
Strong arms wrapped around her and she was held up so she could look properly in the mirror. She grinned at her reflection and it smiled back at her.
"I'm done now," she said, and he let her down. "Thank you so much for the present, Tobi-san, I really like it! Can I go have breakfast now?" she added, suddenly feeling hungry.
He nodded, and she ran out of the bathroom and down the stairs, then skipped along the corridor to the kitchen. She was going to the academy, she was going to become a ninja, a really strong one! She skidded into the kitchen, and then turned back towards the door. Where was Tobi?
She walked back out into the corridor to look for him. "Tobi?" she called out, and walked back up the stairs.
She stopped in the middle of the stairwell, seeing Tobi in conversation with Pain. They were talking in low voices, the kind that grown-ups used when they didn't want children to hear, so Sayuri quickly crouched down and hoped they didn't see her.
She caught a snippet of the conversation.
"...why she is here?!" It was Pain's voice, spoken in an angry whisper.
"Are you questioning me?" The voice was dark, and it sent a shiver up her spine. Was that Tobi? It was like the voice her had used last night, when he wanted her to come away from the window.
He spoke again. "Sayuri," She jumped, how did he knew she was there? "Go downstairs to the kitchen and wait for me there." She didn't need to be told twice.
She had been in trouble enough times at school to know what it was like when grown-ups used their mean voice then told you wait somewhere. She had done something wrong again. Pain didn't want her there and now Tobi was upset with her. She found herself crying and tried to wipe away her tears with the sleeve of her pyjamas. Only babies cried.
"Shh, it's okay." Sayuri suddenly found herself crying against a black shirt, and felt a hand stroke the back of her head
He made soothing sounds, but wait, wasn't he going to scold her?
But he had seemed angry with her, and Pain definitely didn't want her here. So she opened her mouth to talk to him. It was better to apologise first, then she wouldn't be punished as much.
"I'm sorry Tobi-san, I know I was a bad girl for waking up early. I won't do it again, I'm really sorry, and I'm sorry I'm annoying Pain-san as well."
There was a pause. "What are you talking about little one?"
I thought you were angry at me, said Sayuri, biting her lip, "You used your scary voice…" She looked at the floor, twisting her body away.
"My scary voice? Well I'll be sure not to use it again."
He took Sayuri's hand and his manner suddenly changed. "Let's go get breakfast!" he yelled, and started whizzing around the kitchen.
Tobi was funny. He said the steps in a sing song voice as he performed the actions, and pretended to almost stop things before catching them an inch from the floor. Sayuri laughed and at the end, she was presented with a plate of golden pancakes, decorated with a smiley face drawn in syrup.
They were delicious. Tobi must be good at everything. Her mother never made her pancakes on a school day. Sayuri paused. She found she had no appetite after all.
"Is Sayuri-chan okay?" Came Tobi's sing-song voice.
"I'm fine. It's just...Do you know what happens when you die?"
Tobi visibly stiffened.
"I'm sorry, it was a stupid question," Sayuri said quickly.
He took a lock of her hair, twirling it in his fingers. He answered her in his normal voice. "No-one knows, I'm sorry."
It seemed that there were questions that even Tobi couldn't answer. It was no use getting upset on the first day though, so she resolved that today was going to be a great day, and continued eating her pancakes.
"How tall do I have to be to be a shinobi?" She asked between bites.
"Oh I don't know, you maybe have to grow this much?" He gestured with his finger and thumb.
Sayuri decided she would grow tall to be the best ninja she could be. She found herself daydreaming, being on cool missions with Tobi.
A hand snatched a pancake.
"Hey!" she frowned, as he turned his face away and slipped a hand holding a pancake under the mask.
Sayuri pouted, putting a hand round her plate protectively. My pancakes.
She was glad that Tobi wasn't angry with her. He was a good friend.
––
She wanted to make friends in this lesson too.
Sayuri peered around the room curiously. The students in this class, although a couple of years younger than her, were an altogether different sort from the girls at her old school. Children in Ame looked more worn, and rough around the edges.
"Let's all make Sayuri welcome here class," said the teacher, and Sayuri was directed to a seat towards the right side of the class. The boy she sat next to did not say a word to her as the lesson continued, but kept turning and chatting to the boys sat behind him.
As for the class itself, Sayuri found trouble with the lessons from the start. She thought the little bits she has read about ninjutsu would be fine, but she was wrong. There was so many parts to being a ninja she had not considered before. Not only ninjutsu, genjutsu and taijutsu, but physics, anatomy, planning, diet, etc, all things she found very overwhelming that first day. More and more she found that she didn't understand what the teacher was talking about, but was too afraid to raise her hand, or even ask the boy next to her. They would all think she was so stupid.
She did try asking her neighbour for help, but all he did was point at the textbook and say "You talk funny." The practical portion did not fare her any better. Her technique was unpracticed, and sloppy, and her opponents got the better of her easily.
At the end of the school day, she rushed back home with tears in her eyes. She collided with someone in the hallway.
"Watch where you're going," said Pain, staring down at her.
"Sorry, I..I didn't mean to," Sayuri said, her lip quivering.
"Sayuri-chan!" She jumped, where did Tobi come from?
"What are you doing here with Pain-san?" The mask turned from one person to the other.
"Nothing, I bumped into him, but it was an accident, I swear," said Sayuri, looking at the floor.
"You should be more careful next time, Or I might have to rescind my offer of letting you stay here," was Pain's steely response.
Tobi stepped in front of Sayuri, "That's not very nice to Sayuri-chan," he said, and for a moment she felt the same energy she had felt back at her village, or should she be calling it chakra now? Tobi's felt intense and powerful.
Pain locked gazes with Tobi for a few seconds, before saying "Make sure she keeps out of my way." Then he walked off down the corridor.
Tobi turned to face her. "What's wrong Sayuri-chan. Did something happen?"
"I can't do it, Tobi-san. Everything at school was too hard for me, I didn't understand anything!"
"Maybe you just need some more help," He held out his hand, "Come," he said, and she took hold of it.
They went to a training room, where he produced a sword and then held one out to her.
"Give this a try."
Sayuri reckoned that holding a weapon meant she was now like a real ninja, and waved the sword about haphazardly. She imagined she was fighting off a horde of enemies, defending the village and then becoming a hero. Her daydream was cut off by the sharp clang of metal against metal, and a force against her arms. Tobi sat crossed legged on the floor, holding his own sword against hers.
"Are you ready?"
She nodded.
He stood up and Sayuri held her sword expectant for his attack.
"First of all, we need to hold it properly," he said, and moved her fingers to the right position on the handle. Then he showed her the correct stance, and went through a series of simple moves, always correcting her posture. He was a very thorough teacher, and wouldn't let her make one mistake. After a while Sayuri tired and she tried to stifle a yawn.
"Aren't we going to go to do some real training?" Sayuri protested, as he called the session to an end.
"We were doing real training."
"But I want to spar against you," she moaned, rubbing her eyes.
"Maybe next time."
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