Chapter ten
Saying Goodbye
Nobu woke at a quarter past four. He had promised himself the night before, that today would be the day he was going to prove Shikamaru-Sensei wrong, today he would be on time. He quickly pulled on his burgundy shirt and matching pants. He then reached for his burgundy trench coat, branded with the clans black pyramid symbol. He went to the mirror and slicked his brown hair out of the way of his reddish brown eye's. He looked good, or at least he thought so. He grabbed for the black box in front of him.. Opening it, he pulled out a burgundy forehead protector, placing it over his right shoulder.
This headband had been made especially for him by his father as a gift for his graduation from the academy. Other then the abnormal color of the material, it also had two button hole cut into both ends. Quickly he slid the corresponding buttons on the front and back of his coat into these holes. He checked the clock, it had taken him fifteen minutes to get ready. He only had an hour left to get to the gates and meet up with the rest. Pulling on his coat, he ran out he the door.
He exited his house through a back door that opened into a beautiful garden full of lily's. He stopped and knelt down. Pulling out a kunai form his pouch, he cut off one pink and one white bloom from the nearest plants. Bringing them to his face, he took in as much of the scent as his lungs would let him. The smell engulfed him in some of his happiest memories, ones he hated to let go, but today there wasn't time for a second whiff, he had to hurry.
Any other day it would have taken him thirty minutes to reach the still dark cemetery, but this time he did it in twenty. He walked down the long pathway until he reached a pair of matching tomb stone's, one a bit smaller then the other. He sat down on the wet grass, taking a moment to read both of them. The first, and larger of the two, was carved with the name, Manami Kuroswa. Right under the name were the words 'Beautiful Wife and Loving Mother'. The small marker only had a name, Arata Kuroswa. Both bared the same date of death.
Slowly he placed the pink flower in front of the marker labeled Manami. The white one he then put on the other. He bowed his head in silence for a moment, then began to speak softly.
"Ok, so I thought I'd let you both know I won't be back to visit for a while. I'm going to Suna today. Shikamaru-Sensei entered my squad into the exam and it's being held there. So, maybe I'll come back to you a chunin."
He now looked toward the larger grave. "Hey Mom, you don't know how much I wish you were here right now. There is this girl I like, but I don't even think she realizes how much she means to me. I've tried talking to her, but the word's just get stuck in my throat. Plus, every other guy I know is trying to be with her. I really could use your advice right now."
"You know what she'd tell you, don't you?" A voice said from behind him. Nobu turned around to see his father.
"How long have you been standing there?" He asked his father.
"Long enough to know you feel bad about leaving and that you have your first crush." His father replied, then he continued.
"Don't worry about leaving her, she loved you, and nothing would stop her from being there for such an important day. Not even death!" He walked up to the graves and placed his hand on Nobu's shoulder.
"And the issue with the girl. She would tell you to let her know. You are handsome and strong, but you still have your weaknesses, and all of that is what attracts a girl. If you tell her how you feel and she replies negatively, she's just not the right girl. Now don't you have somewhere to be?"
"Yeah, I guess your right. Well, I'll see you all soon." And he ran off for the village gates.
"I can't believe my eye's!" Shouted Shika as Nobu approached. "Your here before the rest of the team!"
Nobu looked around, Kiba and his team where there, but neither of the girls were anywhere to be seen.
"Cool, I am! Guess you should give me some kind of reward huh?" He said, putting his hand out to his Sensei.
"How about you just be happy with my approval and shock?" Shika asked.
"And I'll add that to mine!" Kiba chimed in.
"I could say something real smart right now, but I think I'll just take what I can get." He said smiling. "So where are the girls?"
Suddenly he felt hands on his shoulders, "BOO!" He jumped. He turned his head and felt the warmth of embarrassment flush over his face.
"Good going," He thought to himself, "If you didn't seem like a complete wuss to her before, you sure do now!" But the feeling left as Miyako ran toward Kiba.
"Wow, that was smooth." Haruka said, smirking as she walked by him.
"Kiba-Sensei can I hold Kimika while we walk?" Miyako had become quite close to both of Kiba's dogs in the last year.
"Of course you can, but you two girl's won't be walking, you'll be riding on Akamaru's back during our trip."
"Yeah!" Miyako shrilled, but Kiba's three boy's all gave him nasty looks.
"Why do the girls get to ride the big dog?" Ryuu asked in protest. "I thought you were for the equality of gender and all that nonsense, then you go pull a stunt like this!"
"First off, it was my idea." Shika responded. "But it has nothing to do with their gender, it's a strategic move."
"Yeah, you nit wits." Nobu pipped in. "Miyako is our only medical ninja, placing her where it's safe, is just smart. Meanwhile Haruka's jutsu is long range, being on Akamaru's back gives her a preexisting distance. Even a child could have figured that out!" He then walked over and began helping his teammates onto the dogs back.
"Do you realize, that you just figured out my reasoning without even a single hint?" Shika asked Nobu.
"Lets just say, I took some of what you said yesterday to heart, and leave it at that." Nobu replied.
"I'm not sure I can." Laughed Shika, "I think I'm gonna have a heart attack. First, you get here on time, then you figure out my planning, what's next? I mean, if you come up with your own strategy, I may just die of shock!"
"Ha,ha. Very funny. You should have been a comedian instead of a Shinobi." Nobu sneered back at him.
"Well seems were all ready," Kiba broke in, "Shall we go?"
"Yeah, I think we better." Shika replied.
As they walked away from their village, Kiba's team had decided to take to song.
"Here we go off to a far away land
It's hot and nasty and full of sand
We'll pass the chunin, and it will be grand,
Cause we'll kick their asses, just like we planned!"
About the tenth time through, their song had become a bit obnoxious, so Shika decided to try and deter them form singing it any more.
"You know boy's, you really should stop singing that. There maybe other teams from opposing villages out here with us. We don't want to show that Konoha genin carry such bad manners, and your swearing isn't helping."
"You know what?" Nobu said, "Your right! Hey guy's try this instead." And he stared in.
"Her we go off to a far away land
It's hot and nasty and full of sand
We'll pass the chunin, and it will be grand,
Cause we'll kick their butts, just like we planned!"
Soon all the boy's joined in once again, now louder then before. Shika shook his head.
"Thanks Nobu, you really are a big help."
"Your welcome. Oh and how did I do on my little plan to get you back? Maybe next time be careful what you wish for, it may come true! But don't die on me K?."