Chapter 10: Graduation
Disclaimer: I do not now nor will I ever own the Naruto series. All rights belong to Masashi Kishimoto and all associated legally.
A/N: Hi! New chapter! Sorry for the extremely long update! The only excuse I can offer is schoolwork and severe procrastination. My sincerest apologies! :(
I found it very hard to sleep that night.
I laid beneath the comforters of my bed, still with anticipation.
The sun would rise the following morning and I would enter the academy a final time to receive my hitai-ate.
Kakashi had completed his mission.
His watchful eye had kept me out of trouble until the day that I would be placed on a three-man squad. Kakashi had "weaned" me off my habit of mischief and even offered some encouraging words along the way.
I smiled in the dark at the thought.
My bedroom was shrouded in the darkness of night, swaying with the soft winds entering through an open window. The moon was carefully placed outside my bedroom window, serene in its stillness.
Upon arriving home that evening, I shed the worn, slightly burnt, crisp clothes from my body that had been blown to bits after my duel with Itazura. After washing up and dressing in newer, cleaner garments, I visited a room within my home that I hadn't for a while.
That room contained my parents' mementos.
Their weapons and scrolls, ANBU uniforms, even an embroidered comb that had once belonged to my mother and a kunai with my father's name engraved were carefully organized in that room.
The room was mostly empty, excluding my parents' belongings and a mantle and fireplace.
When I was smaller and the rights of my home had only just been signed over to me, I explored the house and gardens. This escapade led to the discovery of framed photos of my parents. I remember seeing them for the first time and feeling a sort of heaviness within me.
Some of the photos showed my mother active in household chores; cooking, cleaning, and tending to laundry. Her belly is round and plump in most of the pictures and she seems quite happy and content.
My father was depicted in the photos happily as well. He was mostly seen dressed in his ANBU uniform, joyful smiles gracing his countenance.
Two photos stood out among the rest, though. Those pictures were portraits of Akemi and Kenshin adorned as full-fledged ANBU ninjas. They faced the front, unsmiling and calm.
I lie beneath my covers remembering the pleasant photos and reminiscing about my younger self's actions, having always been curious and easily excitable by anything regarding Konohagakure shinobi.
I shut my eyelids in an attempt to fall asleep, thinking it wise to sleep in preparation of the day ahead of me. Images of Akemi and Kenshin flooded my thought processes and I smiled warmly in anticipation of the challenge before me.
I would fulfill their legacy.
I swore it to myself.
Upon waking up the next morning, I quickly and swiftly readied myself for the day ahead of me, excitement and elation adding vigor to my actions.
I would finally be receiving my hitai-ate and becoming a full-fledged shinobi of the Hidden Leaf.
I exited my home that morning, as the sun was making its first appearance of the day. With urgency, I speedily removed myself from my home, locking the door and gate behind me for safety reasons.
I carried my rucksack on my shoulder, the items shifting audibly with my movements. It contained an assortment of various ninja tools, including several weapons and a small medical kit. I wore my usual attire, along with the new addition of a hip pouch with some basic ninja tools and weapons. I figured preparation was an asset to every successful shinobi.
I noticed the rising sun and realized how early it must've been. In my haste, I hadn't thought about the earliness of my departure beforehand.
I changed my usual course and walked the long way to the academy, hoping to kill a little time.
I walked slowly from the far, remote areas of the village into the central parts.
I drew closer to the academy as I saw residential buildings and family-ran businesses. People were leaving their homes and shopkeepers were opening the doors in the morning sun.
I walked through the loosely populated roads before coming across the river that ran through the Hidden Leaf Village.
The river gleamed and sparkled with the rays of the rising sun and swayed peacefully. I walked upon a hilltop, overlooking the river from above.
I marveled at its beauty for a moment before noticing a figure. A boy sat at the pier alone.
My pace slowed slightly as I recognized the person sitting alone.
Sasuke Uchiha, I thought in realization.
I eyed his still form and watched as he stared intently at the placid water before him. He didn't appear my presence as he faced the water with his back to me. I thought back to the Uchiha and the familial gathering with which I was invited to. I remembered his vigorous and light demeanor and wondered why he'd chosen to isolate himself. I surmised that he'd chosen to seclude himself at the pier and at such an early hour to be away from the people of the village.
I figured that the largely populated town could only serve to remind him of his own loneliness.
"Did you hear about the Uchihas?" A shinobi from the Konoha Military Police Force initiated conversation in astonishment.
I'd overheard the conversation while on a convenient trip to the marketplace one afternoon and decided to eavesdrop upon hearing the Uchiha name.
"Yeah, I heard the entire clan was wiped out except for one," a fellow shinobi responded.
"It was the leader's youngest son, right? I think Sasuke is his name," the former ninja spoke again.
I hid myself behind the large building of a restaurant and listened with tremendous shock at what I was hearing.
"What a tragic event!"
The other ninja nodded in agreement.
By then, I'd come to a complete halt, unable to take my eyes off of the Uchiha survivor. I held great sympathy for Sasuke because I never thought he would be plagued with the same loneliness I had always known.
I offered my final silent condolences and continued towards the academy.
I entered the academy just as the sun took its place in the sky.
The students and teachers were beginning to fill the classrooms and halls as I arrived and a resonating hum of chatter filled the air.
I passed various rooms before drawing near to Iruka-sensei's classroom. It was a classroom that I formerly called my own, at a time when I was one of Iruka-sensei's students. I would not be joining my former classmates today but instead I would be joining the group of graduating students.
I walked further down the hall before finding the graduating room. I prepared to open the door, placing a hand on the knob and turning.
I entered placidly to a room overrun with students of all ages and calibers. I entered the classroom without being noticed, as the rest of the graduating class was engaged in various activities. Some socialized with friends and others frantically studied ninja protocol books in an obvious attempt to quell their anxiety for the days ahead of them. All wore their new hitai-ates.
I wondered why I had not been given one and if I should check with Iruka-sensei later to see if I had missed something.
I quickly found a place to sit, hurrying to a seat close to the door, not bothering to attempt to socialize or introduce myself to the other graduates.
I waited for a while and the minutes ticked by.
Suddenly, the door opened slightly. My head jerked up towards the sound of the swinging door. The door swung open to reveal Itazura's arrogant form. He wore a cocky smirk.
His wild, fiery orange hair swayed as he set his pace and walked to my seat. I rose to meet him.
"Bet you didn't expect to see me here," his grin widened.
The most noticeable thing about Itazura was not his boastful demeanor but his forehead. On his forehead he wore a gleaming, new hitai-ate and I surmised he had chosen to wear it at this particular time just to taunt me.
"What are you doing here, Itazura?" I questioned, sincerely curious.
He chuckled.
"I'm graduating today," he said with triumph.
My eyes widened as genuine shock came over.
Sensing my surprise, he went on.
"Yeah, Iruka-sensei recommended me to the Hokage for promotion on account of my good grades and my recent "improved behavior"," he gestured quotations around the words "improved behavior ".
He laughed at my obvious shock and speechlessness.
"Guess you're not the only one Iruka-sensei sees something in, huh?" he shot over his shoulder as he walked past me towards a seat of his own.
I sat back in my seat and faced the front, feeling slightly defeated. I thought over my history with Itazura. In all of our competing with one another for dominance and superiority, we'd never truly surpassed one another in terms of skill. If one of us would succeed in surpassing the other in one subject or another, the other would quickly surpass the other in another subject, leading both of us in a circle. We were almost equally matched, a thought I was loathed to admit to myself. The early graduation was the one thing I could use to truly affirm my superiority. I could think that Iruka-sensei singled me out as a prospective shinobi with considerably more potential to recommend me for early departure from the academy. I knew that those thoughts and assumptions were created in vain and that there was something that I could no longer deny.
Itazura might be my equal. How sad.
I had to do away with my thoughts of Itazura after a while because before long, one of the teachers arrived with a list of each squad and its members. He wore the standard chuunin attire and his hitai-ate on his forhead. He called the squad numbers, its members, and squad leaders. In threes, students departed from the classroom with their jounin superiors.
As Itazura's name was called, I heard him remove himself from his seat and made his way out the door. As he passed my desk, he threw me one last mischievous smirk over his shoulder to reestablish his perceived superiority. I watched him walk away out the door with two other nameless graduates.
The teacher quickly announced each squad until there were almost no more graduating students left. As he called the last teams, I began to become suspicious that I hadn't been placed on a three-man squad.
The teacher finished the list of squads, leaving only myself sitting at a desk and him standing at a podium at the front of the class. We were left in silence without the loud voices of the other graduates.
He turned to leave the classroom and walked towards the door, making solid footsteps.
I sat, stunned.
I stood up from my seat and hurried to him.
"Haven't I been placed on a team?" I asked, bewildered. He turned back to the informational list in his hands.
"Hmm, what's your name?" he asked me, staring at the piece of paper.
"Eiichi"
He searched the list with his eyes for a brief moment before turning to me.
"Sorry but no. Your name doesn't appear on this list." he said matter-of-factly. "Check with your graduating teacher. They should know something about it."
With that final word, he turned and walked through the doorway, leaving me confused and astonished.
I stood frozen, trying to make sense of the situation before me. Had I not been placed on a squad? There couldn't have been a mistake. Something was obviously wrong.
As the teacher was walking passed the doorway, he brushed against Iruka-sensei walking in the opposite direction. The two colleagues smiled at each other and the teacher departed.
Iruka-sensei entered the classroom with a pleasant expression on his face, though he seemed slightly surprised to see me.
"Oh, Eiichi, just the person was looking for," he smiled at me.
I still stood frozen, looking at him with a perplexed expression. He looked down at me with realization upon seeing this.
"Oh, you must be wondering why you never got one of these, " he chuckled, embarrassed. He bent down to my height, reached into his back pocket and pulled out something made of metal.
My head shifted slightly to see what it was before realization came over me.
He pulled from his pocket a shiny, new hitai-ate and placed it in my hand which I extended.I looked down at the forehead protector with awe.
With this hitai-ate, I was officially a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village.
I clutched the metal with pride, intent on relishing in its prestige for a moment longer before I was take out of my thoughts by Iruka-sensei's voice.
"You're probably wondering why you weren't placed on a three-man squad, too," he said.
I nodded without looking up at him.
"Well, that's just it Eiichi. There's been a change of plans. You won't be placed on a three-man squad. You've been placed on a special task force." he said warmly.
Special task force?, I thought, confused.
"You see Eiichi, I recommended you to the Hokage and so did Kakashi," he said, turning behind him to gesture at Kakashi's still form in the doorway.
I raised my head at hearing Kakashi name.
Kakashi waved lazily at me. I lifted the hand with the hitai-ate, smiled awkwardly, and waved it slightly so as to say "I got it".
Iruka-sensei turned back towards me and I turned to him. He pulled from his jacket pocket a yellow registration form with my name on it for the entry level special task forces. He handed it to me and I read its print.
"Kakashi here will escort to the registration building where you will be instated," he smiled at me once more.
I paused, taking everything in.
"Thank you Iruka-sensei, for everything you've done." I said in gratitude.
"It's been my pleasure, Eiichi. And good luck." he stood again, sending one more pleasant smile my way before leaving the classroom.
I placed the registration form in a pocket before placing the hitai-ate in another pocket, figuring I would find a place for it on my body later. I was, however, stopped by Kakashi.
"You should put it on now. Being a shinobi of the Leaf is a prestigious honor," he said.
I removed it from my pocket, looked at it once again, and tied it securely around my neck. I surprised myself by where I had placed the headband having never designated a place for it. I didn't think I would place it around my neck. I did it almost subconsciously as if I knew it was always meant to be there.
Kakashi sent me a subtle look of approval before turning and taking a few steps toward the door.
I followed him in a hurry, re-positioning my knapsack over my shoulder.
We exited the academy together, me following close behind him. We walked for a while through the village. By then, the villagers were out and about, already well into their days with various activities. The streets were densely populated with people.
I thought occurred to me. Why had Kakashi taken it upon himself to recommend me to the Hokage for a special task force? Special task forces were only suitable for a select few, those who could add something to its diversity of skills. I'd always thought myself a bit unusual compared to my peers but I'd never thought I could be suited for something like this. Did he see something in me that I didn't see myself?
I decided to ask him.
I sprinted to his side from my place behind him. He didn't turn to me, nonchalant as always. Kakashi wore the usual jounin attire, complete with a green vest and other essentials like his own headband and sandals. He had his hands placed in his pockets as he walked. He was exactly how I remembered him.
"Um...Iruka-sensei told me you recommended me to the Hokage…," I began, surprised at my own hesitation and nervousness.
"Hn," he nodded in agreement without turning to look at me.
"You had no reason to recommend me…," I trailed off, hoping he would catch my drift.
"You proved your prowess on the battlefield," he said.
I knew he was referring to our sparring session but I didn't think my performance was notable. I hadn't proved my skill because I had not defeated Kakashi. I hadn't completed the task given to me.
"But I...didn't obtain a bell," I said hesitant and confused. He didn't answer me and I decided to let it go.
By that time, we'd arrived at the registration building of special task force ninja personnel which was large and square, bearing its labeling on a flag hanging on a post.
I stopped walking, Kakashi with me.
I paused for a moment to take in this new experience and all its unexpected twists and turns. I thought about how the day had gone in every way I hadn't expected it to. I had come across Sasuke and given my condolences to the family he'd lost. How I sympathized with him. I had also learned that I had been recommended for a special task force and accepted despite my low rank and lack of credentials. I wondered what this would entail and if it would be anything similar to a typical three-man squad. I remarked, however, that no matter the challenge I would overcome it because each milestone only drew me closer to my dream.
After careful recollection, I resumed my pace and walked steadily up the steps leading to the building, Kakashi resuming his steps as well.
Approaching the door, I placed one hand on the handle and turned, entering a new phase of life as I knew it, Kakashi following behind.
A/N: Sorry for the extremely long wait! What do you guys think of Eiichi? Of Itazura? Of Kakashi? Like the chapter? Let me know! Review! Also, what do you think of Kakashi's decision to recommend Eiichi for a special task force? Why do you think he did it? So, in response to my questions, do leave a review for me to read!