I updated! Finally! Yeah this chapters not much to brag about, I suppose I'm just trying to paint a written portrait before I get too into the story. Well enjoy, as always any feed back or help is greatly appreciated. Oh! And any information about weapons is probably not true, but info I've stolen (most likely highly inaccurately) from movies!
Feeling lazy was not something Katumi liked. She had completed around a third of the paperwork and for the last few hours had flopped on her sofa, absorbing crap from the television. She had eaten her way through at least half of the food she had bought and comforted herself by thinking that her cheeks were finally looking a little fuller, even though she'd only been home for a day or so.
Stretching up onto her feet she whistled on the spot, 'I don't actually believe it. I've been home for barely 24 hours and I'm already becoming bored. What's wrong with me - I should be having an absolute blast.' Determined to entertain herself and banish the boredom she strolled down her corridor in search of something to do. She saw that the place needed cleaning but decided (without much difficulty) to do it another time. She hated dirt, but hated cleaning more.
Stopping at a built-in airing cupboard at the bottom of corridor she stopped and felt a smile rising at the corners of her mouth. Carefully she unlocked the wooden door with a key from underneath the door frame and peeled the creaky hinge to one side. Dusty but intact in the storage cupboard, sat proudly, were her labelled weapons.
'1rst Shelf - Shuriken, Kunai, other small items.
2nd Shelf - Explosives and Scrolls.
3rd Shelf - Ceremonial weapons and medicines.
Top shelf-'
Katumi gingerly reached for the top shelf on her tip toes. Feeling around in the dusty, cobwebbed space she eventually clasped a long shaft wrapped up in a white cloth. The bundle easily weighed a solid 10 Kg and stretched out to roughly a metre and a half. Her muscles felt the strain as she slowly lowered it to the floor. Perching next to it, she unwrapped the dusty cloth gently and her eyes gleamed as she pulled the white calico from the treasure.
Feeling the hilt she was overcome with joy. It had been so long since she had used her old friend. Very few shinobi's wielded the Saber well and those that did, rarely had a weapon so fine as The Silver Kiyo. It had been her father's. It was rescued from his corpse on the battlefield by one of his teammates the day he died.
It gleamed like new, as for some reason the weapon never seemed to age nor rust. It had been through many battles and bit countless men's flesh but it's polished metal still shone brightly and showed no reference to the blood, fire and anguish that it had met. It was not adorned with any jewels or stones but was embellished at the top of the hilt where the blacksmith had imprinted a delicate blossom design, beautiful but deadly. Running her hand down the smooth metal she caught her finger on it's razor edge.
Ripping some of the calico she wrapped it tightly around the cut and picked up The Kiyo. She strapped it to her back with a specially crafted sheath, her father's broad shoulders had worn the leather straps to a soft suppleness but their difference in size made the bundle less stable and it wobbled against her back. She set off to the training fields in the afternoon sun - it was about time she practised.
When she arrived at the fields she saw some kids and their Sensei training, from a distance it looked like...Gai? Perhaps. Moving to the opposite edge of the field she found some space next to a stream. Putting the sheath on the ground a few metres away, she stretched carefully, not wanting to unnecessarily strain her muscles.
Adjusting her grip on the long stretch of metal she tested the weight with a few turns. 'I've missed you. I bet after so long, I can barely wield you properly. I used to be able to flit you around like you weighed nothing. It seems I'll have to put in a little more effort nowadays.'
Getting a little more comfortable with the length and weight she practiced some very basic swings and patterns, and revelled in the smooth glide that The Silver Kiyo cut through the air.
Turning her body with the saber she put slightly more effort into her swings. The trick to wielding the saber swiftly was knowing how to use the momentum of one move to the next. So thinking several moves ahead was a huge key to a successful execution - and in battle it was crucial for survival when fighting with the large, and very often awkward, blade.
Even now her arms were aching slightly and the tension in her muscles throbbed when relaxed. Now more comfortable with the weapon she adjusted her stance and sent a small, but steady supply of chakra to her arms and hands.
She felt the energy flow into her muscles and felt stronger, renewed and more versatile. To become an expert of such a difficult weapon, chakra became a huge part. Without spending a good few years on perfecting chakra control, using the saber as a practical weapon in battle becomes an impossible.
Becoming more enthusiastic with each twist and turn she put more energy into her attacks.
The Saber was undeniably a graceful art and Katumi had learned well from her father, who was somewhat of an expert in the skill. Although not her weapon of choice in a battle, it was defiantly her favourite, and about the only skill she excelled in.
The higher in skill you became the more impressive the moves you could master but the real talent in it came from using the weapon swiftly and manipulating the swing. A combination of both helped her leap a few metres above a nearby tree and spinning down headfirst with the weapon's glittering point, bite the trunk all the way through to the ground.
Somersaulting to a safe distance she landed in a crouch with the weapon balanced, flat across her shoulder blades. She grinned as she watched the defenceless pine creak and then split, both sides of the tree balancing momentarily, before crashing to the ground in a mess of split wood and scattered vegetation. The noise had obviously attracted someone's attention because a familiar voice made her jump as it boomed from above her.
"Now what did that tree ever do to you?"
"Gai! For Kami's sake! Don't do that!" She stood up to greet her friend. When she stood up she was surprised to see three kids stood near to him.
"Who are these guys?"
Gai stood back proudly and grinned with a blindingly white smile.
"I am the Sensei of this Genin team. This is Tenten, a talented scroll Genin." He indicated a pretty young girl with two bunches dressed in a pink outfit.
Next Gai glanced at a serious looking boy with long black hair and familiar blank eyes. 'He must be of the Hyuuga clan...' "This is Neji. An exceptionable Shinobi in the making."
Katumi nodded politely at the two and then met eyes with the third boy. Her eyes widened. She pretty much cried with laughter. Gai and Lee looked at each other in minor confusement. What was so funny about Lee? He was Gai's pride and joy!
In between laughter she slapped Gai on the shoulder, "HAHAHA... Good...Trick...!!"
Gai raised an eyebrow, "Trick?"
Katumi wiped away a stray tear, "Isn't... this... a jutsu?"
"Why on earth would I be a Jutsu? I am Rock Lee, Genin of The Village hidden in the Leaves."
Katumi then noticed that they were both wearing Gai's trademark spandex and cracked up again. Neji and Tenten understood Katumi's amusement but over time had gotten over their teammate's and Sensei's similarities in fashion, and ethic.
Gai suddenly understood. Turning to Lee explained, "Lee, this young lady is obviously delirous from the heat! Haste Lee, fetch her water before she collapses!"
Katumi stopped laughing, and raised an eyebrow at the green Beast and watched with bewilderment as the mini Gai sprinted off faster than she could blink.
"Delirious? Indeed."
Tenten chuckled, "Don't worry Gai-Sensei, I think miss..."
"Mitsuya." Katumi offered her name.
Tenten nodded, "Yes. Miss Mitsuya is alright and does not require any..."
She was stopped in mid-sentence as Katumi felt a blast of freezing water to her face and felt it roll down her body, soaking her from head to toe. As the water slowed to a drip off of her body, her eye twitched as her vision cleared, making out the spandex clad Genin that was looking so pleased with himself, holding an empty bucket.
A vein was throbbing on her head. The others gulped. Gai looked positively white as a sheet.
Katumi managed to choke out, "You've got 3 seconds."
Gai tried to reason with dripping lady, "Come on Katumi, he's just a Genin..."
"3."
"He thought he was doing the right..."
"2."
"Ok Lee, time to RUN!"
"1."
Katumi blurred out of vision in pursuit of the matching idiots.
Kakashi sighed as he and Team 7 strolled back into Konoha, they had just spent the better part of the day hunting for a cat in surrounding forest. However it had been successful and Mr. Tiddles was now happily back with his owner. The Team were tired, but in good spirits, another day was done.
Kakashi however had made the error of being tricked into buying Ramen for the team. He'd gotten out of lunch with them by going to the Memorial for a couple of hours. He surprised when he'd arrived there to see the Kunoichi from the other night...what ever her name was... kneeling in front of the stone. She appeared to be talking aloud, though he decided not to listen in, people deserve their privacy.
Before she'd left, she picked a flower and put it on the base of the stone. A nice gesture. After she'd departed, he himself had jumped from the trees and visited himself. She had looked pretty sad, everyone who visited the stone did, apart from himself.
Not many people went to the site - much too busy with their own lives to give any time to the Shinobi's that had perished for them. However anyone wanting to become a ninja to be worshiped and remembered was a fool's errand. The reality was somewhat disappointing compared to the dream.
He was pulled from his thoughts, by a noisy Naruto, "HEY! KATUMI!"
The orange clad boy bounced up to a rather wet, angry looking young woman.
"You look kind of...wet?"
She glared bloody murder at the blonde Genin, "NEVER! Now where THE HELL is Gai and that Genin clone of his?!"
Naruto scratched his head, "You mean, Lee?"
"I don't care what his name is! What way did the two bakas go?"
Naruto pointed right with a flick of his wrist and after a devilish grin, Katumi made several hand seals before disappearing, no doubt in pursuit of the sensei and student.
Naruto chuckled and scratched his head, "Looks like she's got a bone to pick with them."
"She seemed pretty mad." Sakura observed, and then shivered, "I don't want to ever get on the wrong side of her."
Kakashi walked passed, his nose now buried in one of his beloved books, "I wouldn't recommend it, us Jounin are a... rowdy bunch."
'So, Katumi is her name. Well, at least she doesn't appear upset anymore.'
Thank you for reading – reviews are very useful, even if their a flame or one word. I'll be updating in a day or two. Stay tuned x
