The next morning, I got up early, when the clouds where still a light gray, and the sky was a light shade of indigo blue. I swung myself out of bed without hesitation.
To me, my morning rituals seemed to take less time then usual. I guessed that it was because I couldn't contain my unusual bursts of energy for today's orientation, and that this was the way I was going to burn them off.
I tied my forehead protector back on. All at once, I felt a great surge of pride wash over me.
This is my day! My day to show what I've got in store for my new team! I won't waste it! I promise, Latios.
When I reached the park, I noticed that I was a little ahead of time. I sat down in a cross-legged fashion. I felt my body relax and my aura's power begin to glow.
Sasuke arrived only a few minuets after me. He dipped his head curtly at me. "Morning," I replied quietly. I began to ponder within my mind.
Sasuke had never acting like this in the academy. Was I getting to him? Or was this his true nature? Doesn't matter now. As long as he's giving his all as my apprentice, that all I care about… but I'd still like to know more about the Uchiha clan. But perhaps, those answers were the kind that I'd have to discover for myself.
"I think I should warn you early on. This mentoring session isn't going to be very active. For now, well's just have to get you used to calming yourself down at any given moment, because you'll have to be pretty relaxed when you begin to sense aura," I started.
"Okay, then..."
"First," I was feeling a bit uneasy about teaching the best rookie of the year. And Sasuke was always so relaxed at any given moment, as though he'd done it countless times. I didn't understand why this made me tick a bit.
"Okay then, the first thing you should do is to think of something or time that relaxes you," I said quietly. I was wondering of what Sasuke would put forth, because I had never seen him look really happy or relieved…ever.
"I don't have any times when I was really happy or relaxed out of those that I can remember. I never had a happy time in my life."
"Really? I can see a few things that might fall into the category. Let me show you," I offered.
Sasuke nodded quietly.
I looked deep through his memories, and found the one that I believed would fit the category well. It looked as though Sasuke was no older then seven.
Sasuke was standing on the same dock that we'd met on yesterday. Another man stood behind him, he looked slightly similar. Was that his father? His back was turned to Sasuke and the crest on his back was completely visible. I heard him mutter, "that's my boy," to Sasuke, who smiled brightly.
I could feel Sasuke's aura calm and his body relax. I was relieved. During my time at the academy I had never seen him looked actually happy or relaxed ever.
That's good. I think that Sasuke's going to turn into a fine guardian of the aura. So long as he can keep focused, I have high hopes for him.
"Very good Sasuke. You're relaxed and your mind is clear," I said quietly. "Now the next step can take a while. I want you to meditate and try and build up your aura's power and focus. Try using different hand signs. The one that works the best for you often correspond with your aura's color and energy. For you, your aura's color is a cool sky blue. If I were you, I'd try the tiger sign first."
"Fine," Sasuke replied in his normal cold manner. He sat cross-legged, made the tiger sign at the center of his chest, bowed his head, and closed his eyes.
I watched Sasuke carefully. I could also feel the power of his aura growing steadily stronger. The progress was slow but unmistakable. I thought back to the days when I had recently started trying to build my aura's power. It had taken much more time them this. Was Sasuke a prodigy at this, as well as being a shinobi?
"How am I doing so far?" he muttered to me.
"Very well, considering that you just started today," I replied. I paused, and then continued. "It took me ages to get the hang of it."
Sasuke said nothing, but returned to meditating.
I looked up to see the sun was peaking over the mountain with the carvings of the previous Hokage, and the air was beginning to warm up as the morning mist vanished. I could feel the morning growing warmer. It felt magnificent!
"It's getting late, we should probably go," I suggested to Sasuke. I didn't wish to leave the park when the morning air felt so good just to go and sit in a classroom. But, I also really desired to see who was on my squad.
"Okay," Sasuke agreed quietly. I could detect some rebellion within his voice. It's only natural to have the desire to stay here longer.
Sasuke and me were the first two students to the classroom. I took a seat by the window, while Sasuke sat in the row below me. We sat in silence.
I gazed out the window. The sky had turned from its former pale blossom-pink color to a sweet misty blue color. The small wisps of clouds seemed to make the image I was viewing that much more beautiful.
Soon, the other graduating genin filed into the room. I instantly picked Hinata out from the back of the group that was filing in. She was wearing her headband around her neck.
"I…I hope we get into the same group together," whispered Hinata, sitting down beside me.
"Yeah, me too."
Hinata, Sasuke, and me—that doesn't seem like a very balanced team, so I don't think that we'll be put together…
Twenty minuets later, Naruto filed into the room, and sat down in the row with Sasuke. But didn't say or look at him. I noticed that he was also wearing a leaf shinobi headband, though it did look a little beaten and worn. I noticed some of the threads on the fabric had come unraveled, giving the headband a very worn look to it.
I wonder what happened to his headband. I turned to Hinata and nudged her gently. "Hey, Naruto graduated too," I whispered.
"I'm glad," whispered Hinata, almost silently, blushing.
Wonder why Naruto choose to sit near Sasuke. I, and nearly everyone else in the academy, knew for a fact that Naruto and Sasuke loathed each other. And also that Naruto used a picture of Sasuke for kunai and shuriken target practice at home.
I leaned back in her chair and called out Espeon. I took out a soft, bristle brush, and began to groom Espeon. I'd always enjoyed the sound of Espeon's purring when I groomed her.
I continued to groom Espeon until I heard a violent thundering of two people's feet in the hall outside the classroom. I looked up in time to hear a giant crash. I looked to the sense and saw that Ino Yamanaka and Sakura Haruno barged into the classroom, at the same time. To me, it looked as though they had been racing, and had tried to leap through the small door at the same time.
"GOAL!" they both screamed, and began to breathe very hard.
I knew that Ino and Sakura had been best friends and fierce rivals for ages, and they both disagreed over almost everything these days.
Ino was dressed in her normal purple outfit with her new headband tied around her waist. Her pale golden hair was tied up in her normal high ponytail, which highlighted her pale blue eyes.
Sakura was dressed in her red dress with side vents that was lined with white around the edges as well as white rings on the sleeves, and down by her knees. Her hair, mid-length, cascading down her back, and was a bright pink color like cherry blossoms, which she was named after. Her bangs were tied back with the navy blue headband, which clashed well with her eyes, which were a vivid green.
"I win again, Sakura!" taunted Ino.
"You've got to be kidding, my toe was at least a tenth of an inch ahead of yours!" retorted Sakura, hotly. "Everyone saw it!"
"Oh really? Then why was I the one who entered the room first?" hissed Ino.
But Sakura wasn't listening. She was gazing at Sasuke. But apparently, Naruto thought that she was looking at him, and promptly leapt up to greet her. Only to be knocked aside by Sakura rushing to see Sasuke.
"Umm. Good morning, Sasuke," she whispered, blushing furiously. "Mind if I sit here?"
"Back off, billboard-brow!" yowled Ino to Sakura. "He's mine!"
"I was here first!" protested Sakura, angrily.
"I walked into the classroom before you! Everyone saw!" Ino spat.
"Dream on!" hissed another girl in the class.
"Well if it's like that. I was here before any of you!" spat another girl.
Soon all the girls in the class, besides for Hinata and me, were all bickering over who would sit next to Sasuke. I'd always hated how every girl in the class would debate every morning, afternoon, and nearly ever second of our lives over whom would sit next to Sasuke.
I know Sasuke is a great shinobi, but come on! It was sort of stupid to debate so much over who would sit next to Sasuke for a single morning! And when Iruka-sensei made us get into partners for taijutsu class, he'd always have to pre-assign partners so that the process of picking partners wouldn't take all day.
"Clueless," I heard Sasuke mutter under his breath.
I second that.
"Can't a girl get five minuets of peace and quiet around here?" I muttered irritably.
There was a scuffling sound, and a few footstep sounds. I looked up to see that Naruto had climbed up on the desk and was holding his face about one inch from Sasuke's, and he was wearing an expression of utter disgust at Sasuke.
Sasuke mirrored it with his own signature of scorn and dislike toward Naruto.
"I smell trouble," I muttered quietly to myself.
There was another wave of bickering from the crowd of fan girls that were observing Sasuke and Naruto's skirmish. I sighed. I knew trouble was coming, and I didn't need my aura to sense that trouble.
I sighed. I wished that I had as much guts as Naruto.
"Alright! This great!" spoke a male voice that I didn't recognize.
There was a thump, and then it all went dead silent. I looked up to see something of most irregularity, and began to wish that I hadn't looked.
Naruto and Sasuke had once been about one and a half inches from each other's faces, now they were zero inches from each other and staring at each other with more loathing then could have ever been imagined. They pulled away as soon as they had recovered from the shock of the last second's event, and broke into a fit of coughing and sputtering.
I wasn't sure if I wanted to laugh, get mad or just scream. But the fact lodged itself in the back of my mind that doing any of the above wouldn't help matters at all. One way or another, I had to admit that it had been fairly amusing. Only for a moment though.
"My mouth's gonna rot!" Naruto moaned pathetically.
"Curse you, Naruto!" hissed Sasuke.
"Danger," whispered Naruto, looking toward the group of the fan girls who were wearing expressions of utter disgust and loathing.
I sensed an instant chill in the air. All the auras of the other girls present within the classroom had gone utterly cold.
I felt my muscles tense, and the hairs on the back of my neck lift with anticipation and unease. I turned away, but I was unsuccessful to block the sound of the group of fan girls beating up Naruto.
When I looked again, I saw Naruto all beaten up by all the fan girls in the class, and Naruto appeared exhausted so much, that steam was issuing from his wounds. I could see Hinata watching Naruto with a concerned expression on her face.
Hurry up, Iruka-sensei! I hate it when Sasuke and Naruto start a skirmish. It's scary.
