A/N: Yo.
Falling
4
The first time I saw this new body's face, I froze in shock.
This body was not something I was expecting. Perhaps, because of my past life, I expected to be thrown into a boring, simplistic and totally unassuming carcass who was fully capable of blending into the shadows. Heh, no. No. Just... no.
First, I woke, yawning as I did so. Then I had rubbed the sleep from my eyes, looking to where Obito laid, snoring heavily. It was still rather early, dark out. But I had always been an early riser. Slowly, because I was suddenly met with a strong desire to use the restroom, I crawled to the Uchiha and when I was close enough, I nudged him.
His eyes slid open, blinked at me, before he sat up, eyes heavy with sleep, "What is it, Sata-chan?"
"Bathroom," I whispered, face suddenly flaming at having to say the word. I thanked heaven I didn't say anything as childish as 'potty'. Or should I thank hell? Hmm. No, I had my pride.
He blinked once more before nodding as he climbed out of his futon. When he was standing, he offered his hand. Which I took hesitantly before letting him guide me to his bathroom. When we came there, a very short walk, he awkwardly stood there for a brief second before asking, "Do you need me to stay with you?"
I shook my head frantically, flushing with embarrassment, "No."
He nodded once before leaving, yawning as he did so and I was soon left alone.
When I entered the room, I couldn't help was exhale in relief that this place was fairly modern. Sure, there was the weird "squatting" toilet that I had used a few times before when I went abroad in high school. But I was used to that.
Thankfully, there was a sink—or rather a bucket with a hose that hung loosely on a rack above. Two knobs seemed to represent the hot water and cold water. Above this strange bucket sink, was a mirror, slightly smudged and aged with time but a mirror nonetheless.
Quickly, as I couldn't wait much longer, I relieved myself, thanking the stars that this world had such a thing as toilet paper, as there was a half-used roll close by. I then washed my hands and was suddenly hit with a sparking curiosity.
Huuuuh.
I looked around, finding a shoved aside stool as I picked it up only to place it in front of the the sink and mirror. Then I stepped on it, wondering if I'd still be too short.
I wasn't, if I tip-toed.
But then I was not really concerned with height when I looked into those shockingly pretty amber eyes, both slightly different from the other. Green flecks dotted the right, where as a strange symbol was lit a vibrant red in the left. But the amber overpowered these things easily, the color brilliantly shining on a child whose intelligence shone so obviously.
A small, heart shaped face, a smattering of freckles, small lips and nose, and a jaw that was a tad bit angular. It looked kind of like a boy's face, but with a softness that belonged only to girls. The only thing was that this body was underfed, and it was clearly evident in the sunken cheeks and prominent bone structure.
The short black hair looked healthy enough, if not for a few split ends and grease from a lack of washing, but it was fairly untangled even from the night's rest. It was uneven however—one side proving to be longer than the other, leaning awkwardly and framing the face in a slightly unflattering way. But it didn't change one fact.
This body, Miho's body, was someone who would have grown to be elegantly beautiful, stunning even, if she had been given the chance to live.
And that's when it hit.
The guilt.
Here I was, having a second chance at life, and she was dead, long gone. I had stolen what made Miho Saeki, Miho Saeki. And now I was Sata Miyazaki, a body thief.
Not wanting to dwell on what I couldn't change, I turned away, washed my hands and went back to bed.
A Demon's Training
One Week Later
"Obito-nii-san!" I shouted, huffing out in annoyance. This kid was worse than my seven year old sister, always flitting off to somewhere or other. You would think that he'd have a hint of self preservation, yet every morning it was the same thing.
We both—him dragging me along and I reluctantly allowing him to—helped many of the elderly and middle aged folks in the village. Every morning, we would help Hoshira-san, Maharashi-san, Akagaki-san and countless others, if I didn't stop him. We would help with groceries, finding lost items, cleaning, walking the pets, and nearly anything you shouldn't be doing when you had to get to training.
Usually, I didn't complain much. But today was different. Today was my first day—At the Academy.
Adon—ahem—Minato and the Hokage had carried through on their word, allowing me to start the academy as quickly as possible. And I would be expected to graduate within the next two years. Thus I had to be in school, and certainly not helping people who could have easily been getting the genin to do those things. I had read the book Hatori had given me, I know what I'm talking about. By now, Obito must hold some kind of record on how many D-ranks he'd completed, unofficial or not. I assumed it to be in the thousands.
"Huh!?" Obito called back, him walking farther ahead of me. I loathed these short stubby legs. I decided to run, even if I was still technically recovering from being underfed and shouldn't be doing anything that required energy. But whatever, I don't play by the rules.
"Obito-nii-san, we aren't going that direction," I said stubbornly, thanking the fact that when the Hokage had a genin escort me around the village, the kid had given me directions that strayed away from the market to get to the Academy. The market was our death.
"Eh, why not? I promised Emino-san that I'd help him wit—."
"Obito-nii-san," I interrupted, firmly, "I will not be late on my first day. If you really want to help, I won't stop you but I'll be going on ahead of you."
He studied me, looking thoughtful even as he had his headband covering his missing eye. It was always a bit alarming when I took note of the fact that he still missed his eye. He had managed, probably out of pure luck, to avoid the Uchiha head and clan meetings that required his presence on deciding what to do with Kakashi. I think Minato was a bit of the cause for that however.
Obito's missions always took him out of the clan district as soon as he was summoned.
They were still coming up with a plan of action on how to let Kakashi, who still insisted on being an asshole, keep the eye. I say they, because I had given up on being any help whatsoever. There wasn't much a kid like me could to, after all.
"Okay. Well, then I guess I'll see," Obito paused, as if testing my reaction. I couldn't help the slight pout. It seems he was going to go help Emino-san, even if it meant missing my first day. I was already nervous as it was, stupid. He continued, as if the beat hadn't occurred, "Emino-san later today. I need to support my little sister, right?"
Immediately, the frown fell away, only to be replaced with a grin when I let slip a totally mortifying girlish giggle. The habits of this body were astounding. I flushed, clamping my hand over my mouth.
"Let's get going," Obito chuckled out, and I nodded, hoping for that moment to be burned forever in the past.
However, the smile didn't fade.
A Demon's Training
"Okay class!" a stern, aging old man said gruffly, "this is our newest student, Sata Miyazaki. Please treat her well." He turned to me, "do you want to introduce yourself?"
I nodded, standing taller as I stood at the front of a big room, filled entirely with smirks and smug grins. I could do this. I wouldn't let little children scare me, even if these children were being trained to be killing machines and would probably ruthlessly tear me to shreds if they thought I was weak. But I had practiced this, I was prepared to introduce myself.
"Hello, I am Sata Miyazaki. I prefer a simple 'Sata', with no need for honorifics. I am starting here to become a loyal kunoichi to Konohagakure, and I aim to be helpful to my fellow shinobi and kunoichi. With that said, I will not tolerate any childish pranks happening to me. If it happens, I will find you and I will hurt you."
Seriously. I had read Kushina's backstory in the demon book and hell to the no would I stand to be treated as an outsider in such a way. I had my pride. I gave them all my best glare, which probably just made me look like a frumpy kitten. But the amber eyes were intense so maybe, just maybe I wouldn't be picked on.
"Wonderful," the old man said, "Sata-kun, you may sit in that empty spot next to Inori Yamanaka." A pale slender hand shot up helpfully, and my eyes fell on the sight of a rather pretty girl. She had blonde hair, cut short, and brilliantly beautiful blue eyes. She looked fairly small and dainty. I walked up to her hesitantly, nodding at her as I took my seat. I wasn't used to such beautiful people acknowledging my presence. In the past, I had only been "that one smart nerd" and the pretty people hadn't mixed well with myself. Not for lack of trying.
"Hi," she murmured, nodding toward me demurely, "pleasure to meet you."
I smiled a small smile, "thank you."
And that was that.
"Alright class, firstly, who can tell me what a hand seal is?"
Inori's hand shot up and I saw a few other people roll their eyes at her. Huh.
"Yes, Inori-kun?"
"A hand seal is an array of selected actions that instigate the use of ninjutsu, genjutsu and other secret arts."
I looked at the textbook in my hand, one that had been given to me along with a few other supplies when I had been to the principal's office. Her words had been straight out of the textbook. I studied the girl even more closely. She reminded me of myself in the past. The overachiever who hated not knowing. I myself had taken to memorizing whole entire books just for the sake of being acknowledged as the top of my class. I wasn't the valedictorian for nothing. Although it probably had a bit to do with my temper...
"Excellent, Inori-kun, now class, what is a kekkei genkai?"
My hand shot up like lightning. Huh? Shit. God freaking damnit. Habits die pretty hard, don't they?
"Yes, Sata-kun?"
"Uh...a technique limited to inheritance by blood. A bloodline limit."
"Great," the old man cracked a smile, "can you name the clans with known kekkei genkai in Konoha?"
I didn't know. Shit.
Ugh, which ones!? Seems I was going to have to study even more tonight.
"Uchiha, er, Hyuuga, and...I don't know the others."
My new teacher thankfully took pity on me.
"Passable."
I exhaled in relief.
I didn't catch the particularly nasty glare Inori Yamanaka had sent me.
A Demon's Training
"Now, see here, Sata-kun," the old teacher was saying to me as I gazed at my classmates. They were all practicing throwing kunai, most of them failing horribly, and others (clan kids, I assume) were doing great for their young ages and sizes. Their motions were fluent and gracefully fierce. Their techniques slightly differed from each other, probably shifting as clan teachings were different, but the accuracy was no different.
"Yes?"
"Since you've been put on a rush order, we'll be doing something different with you. You'll be learning taijutsu and weapons with the upperclassmen."
I frowned, "Oh..."
"Follow me."
I did so as the old man led me away from my class's training ground and to another, one that was larger in size and with far more equipment. While I stayed a few meters behind, my teacher went up to a burly looking man. They spoke exchanging words that were probably about me and then the old man nodded towards me, jumping away with a surprising speed when he made his departure. The burly man came forward.
"I'm Jun Takesawa, I'll be your instructor for taijutsu and weapons."
I bowed politely, "Nice to meet you, I am Sata Miyazaki."
"Well Sata-kun, as you're just beginning here, I'll be getting one of my better students to run through a few katas with you, and teach you the basics of weaponry."
I bobbed my head in understanding as Jun turned away to call for a certain alarming name, "Itachi Uchiha, come forward, I have a task for you!"
Wait. No. No. No.
Just.
No.
Why me? Why was I the one stuck with a genius, clan destroying monster? I mean, sure, the kid was under orders to do so and he was a man of peace, yada yada ya. But still. He killed his entire clan in a single night. That's a whole lot of scary! Or, at least, in the future he would. I mean, he was supposed to be apart of the Akatsuki, after all. That practically marked him as dangerous to unassuming girls who knew the future thanks to a book given by a demon.
Besides, I was also trying to avoid the main house.
A rather cute boy stepped forward, black silky hair being ruffled by the wind. Somehow, he managed to look completely epic as he continued to step closer. He stopped a few inches from Jun and I, looking up with a questioning expression.
"Itachi-kun, I'll need you to give this girl a walkthrough on all she'll need to do to get up to speed with your class."
The Uchiha gave a brief nod, solemn eyes looking to me in question as Jun stepped away to help with some kid that almost poked his eye out with a kunai.
"Name?"
"S-Sata Miyazaki!"
"Miyazaki-san, follow."
"Yes, U-Uchiha-san," I winced inwardly as I thought of how awkward I sounded then. But it was neither here nor there. I was just terrified for my well being.
After an hour, I soon realized something enormous. Itachi did not care for me. When I would get hurt—because, let's face it, I'm pretty clumsy—he would only say the word 'again'.
But it was never said with contempt or annoyance. He merely saw that I was well enough to continue and wanted me to try the kata again. Somehow, this set me at ease. I was used to people being indifferent to me. This was familiar ground, comfortable ground.
So when he told me to start again, his expression as stoic as ever, I found myself grinning and pushing myself to perform the twists and turns that the kata required of me. It was a rather 'monkey-see-monkey-do' kind of situation. He'd show me what it looked like, walk through the steps briefly, and watch me perform.
The only thing I did not like, as prepared as I should have been for it, was the infuriating fact that Itachi Uchiha was the most elegant boy I'd ever been around. When I attempted to do the things he'd do, my actions came out sloppy and gross. His movements, all of them, were filled with purpose and meaning, his eyes mirroring the emotion in a solemn expression.
The human body was made for achievement, I'm well aware. Thanks to dopamine being produced when the mind has a sense of victory, it was an addictive thing that sent humans to begin trying harder. It was also why, when you failed, you got angry. The anger wasn't meant to deter you, however, it was to make you try harder.
I, however, lacked the stamina that would allow me to do so.
By the end of practice, when I was so tired I couldn't move, I was pissed off. Itachi's actions had been too perfect for a perfectionist like me to top. While I lacked movement, I did not lack motivation.
When the classes we switching, me panting roughly, Itachi helped me to my feet, only to say, "Get some rest, you seem to need it."
My face flushed brighter than it had already been. Urgk, stupid know-it-all brat.
Tomorrow I would definitely show him!
Er, if I could move that is.
A Demon's Training
"Hey, Sata-san!" I heard my name called just as I spun, wincing as my muscles throbbed from soreness. I met the gaze of none other than blue orbs that gazed intently at me.
"Yes, Inori-san?"
"Are you aiming to be my rival or something?"
Huh? I gazed at her reproachfully. What kind of—.
"You were trying to show off weren't you? Well let me tell you something—."
"No." I spun on my heel and walked away, intent on making it home—to sleep—before something crazy happened. I had found in the past that it was easier to ignore challenging weirdos who had nothing better to do.
"Oi! Wait up! I'm not finished!"
"Well, I am," I called back to her, sighing. I had actually thought she would be normal, that perhaps I'd be able to obtain a friend much like myself. I should have known to never hope.
"I'll get you tomorrow, idiot!"
"Sure, sure."
A Demon's Training
"So how was school?" Obito asked, grinning at me from across the tiny table that we ate dinner at. It was something I made this time. Obito wasn't a bad cook, but as I practically raised my sisters, I was a master compared to him. So lately, I'd been doing the shopping, cleaning, and cooking. It was what I did to earn my keep, as I couldn't pay Obito with money when I had no way to earn anything.
Tonight I had brought in a western style dish, hamburgers. Obito, for whatever reason, adored hamburgers. It might be because we didn't have to use chopsticks but the dish was becoming something of a tradition. It was time-consuming. Things like ketchup had not been invented, sadly. So I stuck to making handmade sides and the like. But it was all worth it, when Obito's eye lit up and his grin domineered his face.
"It was okay," I groaned out, getting back to the topic at hand, "I'm tired though."
"School work too hard?" he asked and I looked at him curiously.
"If it was," I started, my tone testing, "would you help me?"
"Yeah! But I can't say if you'd get them all right. I, er, wasn't the best student."
I giggled, "No, I don't need help. It's actually pretty easy. I mean, it's just memorizing things. Besides," I paused, looking down at my half-eaten burger in thought, "It's all kind of interesting, don't you think?"
"It is but I was always more interested in the physical side of things," he smiled reassuringly, "You don't have to deal with that though, because you're just starting."
I shook my head, "That's exactly why I'm so exhausted. I started learning taijutsu today. You know, because of my kekkei genkai, I've been put on a rush order."
"Rush order...?"
"I have to graduate within the next two years because I'll be needed in terms of lowering the death rates."
Obito's brow scrunched up in thought, his eye gleaming critically as he spoke, "Are you kidding me? They shouldn't make you do that! You're still just a kid after all."
For whatever reason, his words warmed my heart. I went quiet, looking down at my hands as I tried to contain the giggle I wanted to release. It was just so... nice. It was very nice being looked after, to have someone who'd be willing to help me with school work, to have someone get angry for me.
Obito and I weren't even that close. Sure, we lived together but it was more like we were in separate worlds. Obito had others on his mind, and well I... I was used to being alone. Even Hatori wasn't much company as recently he'd taken to leaving me to go hang out with his master or something. Huh... how curious, I haven't actually seen the brat for a while. About three days now.
Hatori...?
Would you mind not abusing this telepathic link? I have a hard enough time tuning out your nonsensical thoughts, I wouldn't want you talking to me.
Ugh, you're still as stupid as always. Whatever, it wasn't like I was worried about you, stupid, stuuupid.
You're stupid, stupid.
Please no. Not this childish crap, moron!
Bleh, whatever. I'm busy so leave me alone.
You leave me alone.
I wasn't sure if I was glad that he didn't reply to that. Somehow, I got quite immature with the fool. I shook my head and looked up to find Obito staring at me curiously.
"It's fine, Obito-nii-san, I agreed to it."
A Demon's Training
"Rin-san, I have a question," I started up, innocently smiling up at the brunette. She turned to me, smiling gently as she did so.
"What is it, Sata-chan?"
I was in the training fields with them for the day, as I didn't have any classes to attend so late in the evening.
Obito, along with Kakashi, were going at it like idiots, totally massacring the trees and shrubbery around. It was entertaining to say the least. But kind of annoying when Obito was trying so earnestly and Kakashi was just being an ass. If I hadn't read about his past, I would have given the boy lip for being so mean to Obito.
Or maybe, I should tell him off, despite that. I didn't need to pity the jackass, after all.
Made me think though.
"Which one do you like more?" I asked, gesturing to the two buffoons.
"Eh...? That's hardly a r-relevant question," Rin said, a slight blush coming to her face.
"Well, I mean... you like Kakashi... don't you?"
"Ah! Shhh! Don't say it so loudly," the brunette jumped forward, clasping her hand to my mouth as her blush brightened. I frowned, my eyes narrowing.
Annoyed, I pushed her hand away, hissing out, "I don't get it. Obito-nii-san is totally waaaay cooler than Bakashi."
She blinked, "Bakashi?"
"Yeah," I pouted, "he's pretty stupid, ya know. Emotionally stunted, I would say."
Rin laughed, probably not taking me seriously, "I don't think he's stupid at all."
I shook my head, "I don't understand. Obito-nii-san is a million times smarter than Bakashi."
Rin giggled, "Your perception of things is a bit off."
I growled, but tired with her stubbornness, I shrugged it off, merely saying, "So can you teach me more about the Mystical Palm?"
Despite her faults, she was good for something at least. Rin was an excellent teacher, and even better, she didn't blink a lash when she found that I knew very little about medical jutsu. Since about three days ago, when I started joining Obito's team in training, I had been learning about medical jutsu and the like.
It was all very complicated. In order to heal, you had to understand the human body, the chakra points, and the control had to be rather precise. Unsurprisingly, Rin hadn't even started on teaching me how to form chakra. We were still on the basics as she taught me about the human body. In her lessons, my understanding of anatomy had come to increase phenomenally. Who would have thunk that the head didn't end with the jaw but instead it was the roof of the mouth?
With all this learning, it kind of made me feel slightly silly for having my past misconceptions.
"Now this pressure point is connected to this chakra valve," Rin droned on, gesturing to her body as well as the diagram of the human body. The picture showed a vast amount of strings, running throughout the entire diagram. It was meant to represent the chakra coils. It was always sort of amazed me, seeing that it all had a system.
"Sata-chan!" Obito's thunderous voice interrupted my thoughts as both Rin and I looked up, "We should head home!"
I stood, grinning for some strange, unknown reason.
"Yes, Obito-nii-san!" I turned to Rin, who had just stood herself, having already collected the many open books we had just spread around us, "See you later, Rin-sensei!"
"Study!" She hollered back but I was always racing on toward Obito. It was always so nice to have someone to walk home with, to eat dinner with... to have a home with.
Obito and I still weren't close enough to be sharing our deep, dark secrets, but it was getting there, I suppose.
"Let's have hamburger," Obito said, as we left the training field and made our way to the Uchiha compound.
"With french fries."
"French fries?" he gave me a curious look.
"You'll see," I winked, then laughed as I ran ahead.
This happiness... I could almost see this life as being real, as if I existed in this place for a reason, a purpose. I could almost feel... like an insider.
But of course, not all things can stay the same for long.
Time had a funny way of changing things, even when you don't want it to.
A Demon's Training - End
Questionnaire;
1) Have you been liking my character portrayals?
2) Who is your favorite character from Naruto in this generation? Mine is Gai, lol. Maybe yours will make more appearances!
3) Thoughts on her relationship with Itachi? ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)