Hello to all the wonderful people out there! Okay, I'm done. I appreciate all reviews, even flames! I need something to roast my marshmallows. I've been sick lately and I absolutely HATE it! Gods, you'd think I'd be used to it by now. But I digress, on with the story!
By the time Risa was almost next to him, the man saw her and waved at her before jogging over.
"You must be Risitka, I'm Iruka. Do you want to begin your lessons now?"
"Risa, not Risitka. Yes I would."
"Okay then Risa, follow me." he walked into the academy, dodging kids on the way, yelling at a few. She followed him to an empty classroom and stood there, unsure of what to do. He smiled at her and motioned for her to sit down. After she was settled he began on an explanation of chakra use and how by proper use you could even walk on water. Risa tried to pay attention, and she failed miserably. She stared out the window until an eraser hit her on the side of her head.
"Pay attention!"
"I'm trying to! I'm just not good at it. Can I walk around while your talking? That usually helps."
Risa could feel his annoyance, but he sighed and nodded. She got up and began to walk around as he continued the lecture.
By the time he was done it was dark out, and she had been hit three more times. She knew the main parts of the lecture and passed the quiz he had given her well enough, so he let her leave and headed back to his place. Risa decided to walk around and get to know where places were. She eventually came to the training grounds, where she found someone still training there.
"Strange, it's fairly late out. Why would someone still be here?"
She decided to not ask and walked away, determined to know where everything was by the night's end.
The sun was rising by the time she got back to her apartment. She quickly unlocked the door and stepped in, hoping to get in unnoticed. She sighed as she sensed someone approaching her, and didn't even react as she was tackled to the ground.
"Hello Naruto."
"Hey Risa, where were you all night? A ninja needs their sleep, dattebayo!"
"Not every ninja. Can you get off me?"
Naruto grumbled but jumped up, "So, what are you doing today?"
"That's my business, not yours."
"Nyah, you're just saying that 'cause you don't have anything to do!"
"Don't you have somewhere to be?"
"Huh? Oh Yeah! I have a mission today! Later Risa!" he raced off. Risa shook her head and entered the apartment. She looked around and noticed that Naruto had left her a meal ticket to Ichiraku's. She shook her head and smiled. She almost wondered if it would be better to just tell him she didn't need to eat for at least two more weeks, maybe he wouldn't mind if she was half demon, after all, he almost was himself, with that chakra.
"I feel like I know that chakra from somewhere, but I know I've never met him before."
Dismissing her thoughts, she grabbed the ticket and headed back out, perhaps someone else would want it. Knowing Naruto, she knew he would insist she keep it for herself, she could always pay him back later after all. She smirked at the thought of paying him back, as if she actually needed and used the ticket herself. She enjoyed the way there was hardly anyone out at this time of the day, it was quieter, and there was no one glaring at her for something she couldn't control. She never did understand why people hated her for being half demon, she had never hurt them, she had never hurt anyone unless they were hurting someone else if she could help it. She bent down quickly and scooped up the cat that was running past, being chased by a girl with blond hair.
"Thanks. She's always running away from my neighbors."
"You're welcome." Risa handed her the cat, which didn't want to let her go.
"I'm sorry! She tore your shirt! Why don't you come to my place and we can fix that. I'm Ino by the way. I've never seen you around here before. Are you new?"
"Yeah, and you really don't have to fix my shirt, I can do it later."
"No way, it's my fault so I'm going to fix it."
"It's not your fault, the cat did it, not you."
"Well, if you really don't want me to fix that's fine, but I should repay you for helping out like that. Would you like something to eat?"
Risa groaned internally, "No, I'm fine."
"Okay. I know! I'll show you around and introduce you to people! Come on, I'll introduce you to my mom first." Ino motioned for her to follow and headed down the street. Risa sighed and followed, hoping that Ino's mother didn't mind half demons. She followed Ino to a flower shop where she was told to wait for a moment while Ino gave the cat back to the neighbor. When she returned she motioned for Risa to enter the shop and followed close behind, calling out that she was back. A woman came out and greeted them, hugging Ino and looking at Risa suspiciously.
"Mom, this is Risa, she's new here." Ino said, pulling away.
"Is that so?" her mom tried to act nice about it, but Risa could smell the disdain coming from her.
"Yeah, I was just going to show her around and introduce her to my friends. I'll be back later!" Ino grabbed Risa and left the shop. Ino led her all around the village, introducing her to Shikamaru, Choji, Tenten, Hinata, Kiba and Akamaru, which was strange to meet since Akamaru barked at her and Kiba gave her strange looks, Shino, Neji, whom Risa found interesting, and finally Lee. Risa recognized him as the boy from last night at the training grounds.
"Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto are on a mission right now, but you can meet them when they come back."
"I've all ready met Naruto. We live in the same apartment building." Ino's eyes widened.
"Really? Wow, hey, maybe I could come visit, we'll be best friends!" (I'm sorry if this is so not Ino, but it fit with the story.)
"Strange, Naruto said something along those same lines."
"Well, anyway, now that you know many of the people, is there anything you would like to do?"
"What time is it?" Risa asked her suddenly, looking up at the sky.
"Um, it's about three-ten I think."
"I have to go, perhaps I'll see you tomorrow Ino, bye!"
As soon as there was no one around, Risa teleported herself back to the academy to meet Iruka. She couldn't believe she was late! She emerged from the trees and was relieved to see Iruka just walking outside to get her. He waved her over and when she got to him, he told her that they were going to do some practical training today. She instantly agreed, thankful to not have to sit around and try to pay attention. Iruka led her to the training hall in the academy, ignoring any glares that were aimed at Risa. Once there, Iruka proceeded to have her try out a variety of jutsus, including genjutsu. After failing miserably at genjutsu, and getting some progress on a few ninjutsu, Iruka decided to try something different. Calling her over he explained how he wanted her to try and control her chakra better, and then took her back outside to the edge of the trees. To help with it, he decided to do what Kakashi did with Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. He made her walk up a tree with only her feet. She did it easily. He then made her walk up with shoes on. She couldn't do that as well. They spent the rest of the day on it.
By the time the sun had set, Risa could still only make it up halfway before falling back down. Iruka told her they would continue tomorrow, and to meet him here at three-fifteen. She watched as he left. She sighed and glared at the trees.
"I suppose there's no chance of you helping me with this."
"Now, now, young one, that would not be very fair, would it?"
"Considering how I wasn't raised as a ninja, it's perfectly fair."
The branches of the tree shook, "No, you will get it, young one. You are not known for giving up, even when everyone else has."
It was quiet now, leaving an aggravated Risa standing there. Eventually she ran off to the training grounds, not caring if someone was there or not. She was going to be able to climb trees with chakra, and she was going to do it before meeting Iruka tomorrow.
She found Lee there again, but this time she didn't leave. Instead, she walked right past him to the trees at the edge. She summoned her chakra and began to climb. After falling for the second time, she sensed Lee behind her.
"Is there something you need?"
"I was just watching this youthful display of commitment! Would you like a training partner?"
"No. I'm fine."
"What is this?! Such unyouthfullness is coming from you. Training by one's self is…" Risa tuned out the rest of his speech, only catching the occasional word like "springtime", "youth", and "commitment". All in all, it was a pointless speech to her. She began to try and climb the tree again. She made it a ways up before losing the control she had, not wanting to fall back down to where Lee was, she instinctively clawed into the tree and flipped up. She landed on top of the tree, wondering what to do now. She wasn't going to go back down until Lee was gone, and besides, she liked it up here. An hour later she watched as Lee left the training grounds, still looking about to find her. Hopping down, she resumed her training. By the time the sun was rising, she had just barely made it to the top of the tree without losing control of her chakra. She smiled at the top, wanting three-fifteen to come sooner.
"You see? We knew you could do it."
"Yeah, it was still irritating though."
"Perhaps. Could you now fix the hole you made?"
Risa smiled impishly and went back down to the middle of the tree where she had begun to fall when Lee was there. She quickly repaired the hole.
"You know, if anyone here saw me talking to trees, they'd most likely think I was crazy."
"Yes, but they also do not even try to speak with us. It is amazing how humans do not speak to spirits often."
"That may be a good thing, not all spirits are nice. Many will attack them."
"You still speak to them."
"It doesn't bother me, I can deflect most of them if they attack."
"Perhaps, but rest now, your day will be busy later, young one. You will need to feed soon as well." The tree stilled and silenced filled the area. Risa rolled her eyes and jumped into the tree again, making sure to be hidden by leaves and branches before settling down to observe the village, and to rest.
Okay! I know this one isn't as long as the other chapters, but you can just deal with it. Review, flame, I don't care. Flames that have no value, as in they don't tell why you don't like the story, will be used for cooking. Ja ne!
