Chapter 4: Okarina's test
"Kana!"
"Mmmph…"
"Kana!"
"What is it!" The brown haired girl shouted as she pulled her pillow towards her, yanking her blanket up to her face.
"What's got you so snippy?" Okarina asked as she plopped down next to her sister on the bed. She peeked at Kana's face from between the sheets, and could make out the glare her sister was sending her.
"There's a little thing I like to call sleep. Maybe you should try it sometimes. It's loads of fun so long as it's not interrupted by stupid little sisters and their annoying chatter! Now go away and let me sleep!" Kana pulled the pillow firmly around her head, covering her ears, her eyes shut tight. Okarina wasn't giving up so easily.
"Kana! Wake up, right now! It's important!" the small girl shook her sister. When the only response she received was a grumble, she pulled the pillow and blanket off of Kana swiftly, throwing them to the other end of the room. Kana turned to look at Okarina, her eyes filled with anger.
"What…is…it…?" Kana said through clenched teeth as she sat up on her bed. Okarina looked at her sister and smiled.
"I just came to tell you, I graduate from my training today!" Okarina giggled, jumping up and down in excitement.
"That's all?!" Shouted Kana. "You woke me up this early just to tell me that?!" Suddenly Kana was out of bed, and heading straight for Okarina. She wasn't playing around right now, Okarina could tell, her sisters moves were being ruled by her anger. Any strike aimed at Okarina was a strike meant to hurt.
'Guess I'll just have to keep out of her way, then.' She thought as her sister reached her. A swing came around, meant to hit her in the face, but Okarina dipped down quickly then ran out of her sister's room.
"Sorry to skip out on you sis, but I've got a class to go to!" Okarina giggled and ran down the hall. She could hear Kana's frustrated growl behind her, and knew she'd won.
As she ran towards the kitchen, she nearly crashed head on into her aunt.
"My goodness, what have I told you about running in the house?" her aunt demanded, looking down at Okarina from behind her glasses. "This house is not extra practice ground for that little school of yours."
"But it's not just a school, auntie! Being a ninja is a way of life!" Okarina jumped up and down. "And today I'll be an official ninja! Won't it be great?"
Her aunt sighed. "You know what I think about all this. I really wish you'd give up on these fantasies of becoming a ninja. Just look where it got my sister."
Okarina looked away from her aunt for a moment, her expression blank. Her aunt realized what she'd said too late, and she pulled her niece close.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have mentioned that." Her voice was quiet.
"I-It's ok." Okarina said, looking up at her aunt, a smile on her face. "I know you didn't really mean it." She gently pulled herself out of her aunt's embrace and walked past her and into the kitchen.
"I'm just grabbing an apple, ok, auntie!" Okarina said, grabbing the fruit and taking a large bit.
"Alright, well…just be careful, okay? Make sure you're home in time for lunch this time!" her aunt said. However, Okarina was already out the door before her aunt had finished talking.
Okarina ran full speed towards the school, finishing her apple in record timing and discarding the core in the nearest garbage can. Upon reaching the school, however, she found she was the only one there.
"Hmmm…maybe I left too early…" she wondered as she sat down on the ground, leaning against the wall of the building. She yawned and closed her eyes. What seemed like just a moment later, her eyes opened and she noticed she was now surrounded by other children.
Some of them were looking at her, but most were completely ignoring her existence. She sighed. This was just another day in the village of the sand.
"Hey, leaf girl!" a shout rang out across the school yard, and the murmurs of the other children ceased. Everyone turned to face Okarina's direction.
"Yes?" Okarina asked, quietly. "Do you need something?" A large group of children, most of whom looked a bit older than her, stepped forward, stopping right in front of her.
"Why did you even bother to show up?" demanded the leader of the group, a large girl with spiky brown hair. "You're not even a real member of this village and even if you were, you're too young. You're over two years younger than me and younger than the rest of the class as well."
Okarina looked at the girl, and stood up slowly. She smiled slightly and took a step closer to the girl.
"Well, not all of us need 8 years to master basic techniques, Chinatsu-san. In fact, I've been in this class 2 years less than you. How many techniques have you mastered?" she laughed, "Oh right, not many, seeing as how sensei asked me to tutor you…but you never took me up on any of those offers. What, were you too embarrassed to be seen learning from an 11 year old from the leaf village? Is that it?"
Many of the children stared at Okarina then looked back towards Chinatsu. The large girl was turning several shades of red, her hands clasped into fists.
"I'm going to kill you!" Chinatsu screamed, lunging for Okarina.
In a split second, Okarina had already carefully examined each of her possible attacks. If Chinatsu swung with a punch, Okarina would drop to the ground, knocking Chinatsu's legs out from under her. If she attacked with a kick, Okarina was sure enough of her abilities that she could jump over the girl, using her head as a hurdle and knocking her over in the process. However, if Chinatsu were to attack too close, Okarina would have to complete a maneuver she preferred not to go through with early in the morning.
'Of course it just had to be that one didn't it…' Okarina thought as Chinatsu ran towards her, her arms reached out as if to strangle her. Okarina sighed and jumped up in the air, doing a back flip and landing on the roof of the school. She nearly lost her footing but she steadied herself in time to see Chinatsu run straight into the side of the building before realizing Okarina was no longer there.
Okarina smiled wide and burst out laughing.
"Wow, Chinatsu, you're sure gonna make one great ninja! The enemy would never get a chance to hurt you… You'd manage that all on your own!" Her loud laughing was suddenly cut short when a hand came down on her shoulder. She looked up to see the large figure of one of the teachers.
"Miss Miyaga, I would appreciate it if you would refrain from bullying the other students so early in the morning." The man said, pulling Okarina to her feet and pulling her back down off the roof. "Now apologize to Miss Hayashi."
"What if I were to tell you I wasn't the one to start these fights?" Okarina said, looking up at him smiling sweetly.
"You know I've never bought that, so you might as well give up. Miss Hayashi is from a very important family in the Sand Village, you know that."
"And I'm just an orphan from the Leaf Village, huh?" Okarina muttered. "Heh…oh well…"
Okarina slowly reached Chinatsu who was standing there, glaring at her as she held a hand to her bleeding nose. Apparently she'd been running for that wall a lot faster than Okarina had noticed. She had to stifle a giggle.
"Now apologize." The teacher's voice was quiet but stern.
"Yes Kurosawa-sensei…" Okarina mumbled. She then looked at Chinatsu, smiling wide, "I'm so sorry Chinatsu. I never should have been practicing with you so nearby. I never thought you would have hit the wall. I was actually kinda hoping we could practice training together, but I guess I'll have to step aside and let you have an easier partner. It's such a shame though, with over two years between us, I would have thought it would be a fair match. I hope you'll forgive me for being too advanced an opponent for you."
Okarina's smile grew wider as Chinatsu's glare became more intense.
"W-well…everyone get inside. The other teachers are waiting. Your testing begins soon, so I hope you're all prepared." Another teacher said, trying to lighten the obvious tension. The yard became full of life once again as children began talking loudly, pushing to be the first one in the door. The young woman gently held Okarina back as the rest of the class and Kurosawa entered the building.
"Okarina-chan, good luck!" said the young teacher. She pulled out a small coin and placed it into Okarina's hand. "It's from my latest trip to the leaf village. I'm sure it will give you good luck. Remember, once you're a ninja, you'll be able to return there for the chunin exams."
"Thanks Minami-sensei." Okarina said quietly. "You're the only one who really seems to care."
Minami chuckled. "Well, I know what it's like to grow up torn between two countries. No matter how long you live here, your home will always be the place you were born, the place you were accepted. Isn't that right?"
"Yeah." Okarina said, nodding. Suddenly her mouth formed a large smile. "Once I'm home I'll be able to see my friends and brothers again!"
Minami patted Okarina's shoulder and led her towards the door. "But you'll only be able to go if you pass your exams. So again, good luck!"
Okarina turned and hugged Minami. "Thanks sensei!" With that, she turned and ran into the building, ready for any test that awaited her.