The Boy in the Team
Chapter Thirty-Six
Shinku frowned.
This was starting to worry him.
He walked through the road back home with people gazing at him and whispering. What was going on?
"That's Haruno-san's son, right? Shikku?"
"No, I heard it was Shunku…"
"It's Shinku," a third woman whispered. He could hear them just fine. "Saw him leave the Uchiha compound this morning, I have a friend who has a shop near them and…"
"So he's the mysterious teammate of the Hero?"
"Uchiha-sama must be taking most of the weight of the team…"
"Ohi," a nasal voice called to him, as Shinku's ears perked up. A group of older boys —between fifteen and sixteen— called to him. "You Shinku?"
"No," he replied, blinking his eyes. "My name's Hibachi."
"Oh," one scratched his chin. "Sorry then."
He shrugged, as if it wasn't anything to worry about, and then went his way.
Really, what was he supposed to say to a group of Genin holding their hands over their kunai pouches that had stopped him in the middle of the street? 'Yes, it's me, please let's go in the dark alley so you can hit me'?
"My sister described him pretty well though," another boy muttered.
"Well, wait a moment then, what team are you in brat?" the ringleader asked, gazing at him.
"Team Four, I'm with Kota and Ami."
"I know Kota, he's in team Four," one of the other boys stated.
"There, see? Now scram, kid," the older Genin gestured towards Shinku, who happily obliged and got out of there. He didn't go far.
"Hey you," another voice, this time belonging to an elderly woman, reached him. "You were with Uchiha-sama a few days ago, right?"
"So you are Shinku!" the older boys from behind him hissed.
Shinku dashed ahead.
Leaving behind the market and taking a running start, he jumped on the side of a building and climbed straight up without looking back.
Behind him, he could hear the steps of the older Genin follow him.
There was a flicker and a hand came down for his left arm.
He slammed his right straight through the guts of the boy, who lurched over. He spun, jumping to grip on the boys back and use him as a human shield as a fist came straight for him. The first of the older Genin was out like a light after that.
The remaining four surrounded him afterwards.
"We just wanted to talk," the ringleader stated, "But if this is how you want to play it…"
"Like you weren't planning this from the start," Shinku snarled back. "What was it supposed to do, scare me? Your pitiful display wouldn't scare a mouse!" he hissed, as his own hand went for his pouch…which he didn't have.
He had everything in the flak jacket.
The flak jacket he had left at home.
"The dead last of the academy thinks we aren't scary," the older Genin drawled out. "Maybe being so close to Konoha's prodigies made him stupid. We'll give you a wakeup call then."
The one on the right slammed his fist in Shinku's sides before the boy could do anything. His breathing hitched, coming less as soon another punch slammed into the left side of his face. His head ringed and his sight grew hazy.
"No hits above the face, imbeciles! Don't leave anything visible!"
"You make it sound easy," one of the other snapped.
A kick pushed Shinku on the ground.
"Now listen here, dead last," the ringleader knelt down in front of Shinku. "You're a worthless stand-in, don't get any funny ideas about being worth anything to the rest of the world, because you aren't. You're a sickening horrid bastard, who nobody even wants and if I…"
There was a gurgle.
A kunai stuck straight through the throat of the ringleader.
"Where would you be without me?" Inner-Shinku stated plainly, slicing through the neck of the older Genin and then snarling, as he threw three kunai —one per thug— that struck true. "Really," Inner-Shinku knelt down next to Shinku, "Where?"
"I'm dreaming…right?" Outer-Shinku muttered.
"Of course you are," Inner sighed. "Come on now, time to wake up Shinku. We have a long day ahead of us."
Shinku opened his eyes.
The window of his room was open.
He frowned, before carefully standing up and heading towards it.
The giant snake, holding a bear in its jaws, slithered through the bustling streets without a care for the people it squashed beneath its scales. It didn't care. They were ants, and it was…well, a giant snake.
Shinku finally, utterly, woke up with a gasp. The window closed, it was early morning, and he felt the need to retch. Covered in sweat, he dashed for the bathroom and then washed his face.
"Are these the nightmares?" he muttered, gasping for air.
"Don't ask me," he murmured back. "I'm you."
"Thanks for the help," Shinku said. "It felt so…"
"Real? Yeah, it probably will be. I mean…we are lucky we didn't spend much time inside Konoha. Heck, catching Tora was the only mission we had up until now. Nobody knew we were teammates with the Hokage's daughter and the Uchiha's clan heir but now…now they will know."
"I don't think they're going to attack me like in a cheap b-rank movie," Shinku mumbled. "That was just a dream…"
"Probably they won't," his inner-self stated, "But we can't be sure now, can we?"
"Let's train the Shunshin…"
"I agree, wholeheartedly."
It was early morning, and Shinku's feet carried him all the way to training ground seven. The three wooden poles stood there unscathed and untouched. His head went 'thunk' lightly against his own, before he gingerly touched the handle of the Kirigakure kunai.
Its blade curve, it eerily glinted. He chuckled as he wielded it, gripping tightly onto the handle as he neared the weapon to the pole. The edge was sharp —routinely sharpened to the point where it shone of light by itself. His eyes reflected off the edge of it.
He placed it back into its strap, before turning and then looking forward. He'd train the Shunshin. He could do it.
If he became fast enough, people wouldn't be able to catch him.
Kakashi arrived next. He arrived early on purpose.
The reason was that if he arrived late, then the Icha-Icha specialty store had received the order from the Hokage not to sell him anything.
He technically had been grounded to only D-ranks for the duration of the entire month before the beginning of the Chuunin exams —and he couldn't actually teach the team. He had practically become the paid bodyguard. Teaching had passed over to Yugao.
On one side, it was nice not having to worry about what to teach to the children.
On the other, he actually felt slightly wounded they believed him so petty he actually wouldn't teach them properly if asked.
Second time was always the charm, right?
He hid among the branches, watching his weakest student try to go through the Shunshin motions. Humming, he waited until the boy was just about to try again, and then he descended straight away.
Shinku ended up barrelling against a leg, which sent him to crash on the ground and roll as his eyes widened.
"Yoh," Kakashi said plainly, "Careful with your footing."
Shinku coughed as he stood up, dusting away the dirt from the front of the flak jacket.
"Gah, you…you did that on purpose."
"Yes," Kakashi admitted. The man then shrugged. "You should learn how to use the Shunshin laterally and diagonally, rather than using it to simply go forward. You can use the body flicker to go backwards too…which can be a life saviour when you're stuck in a narrow corridor and the newbie of the team just primed an explosive tag."
Shinku looked at him warily.
"Furthermore, the basic Techniques can be used in combination. Flickering and leaving behind a Kawarimi for example, or leaving a Henge in the spot you flickered away from is an excellent misdirection."
Kakashi gazed at him with his single eye.
"We need to do something about your reflexes, eye coordination and more…but we don't have that time."
"I…Yes?"
"Technically speaking, I'm forbidden from teaching any of you without the strict supervision of Uzuki-san, who will take over as Jounin-sensei of this team for a while…as I repent and do humiliating extra D-ranks like cleaning the sewer system."
The man rolled his only visible eye.
"On the other hand, I find your will to improve refreshing," Kakashi chuckled. "So…have you thought about my offer?"
"I…I want to survive the Chuunin exams," Shinku whispered.
"Uhm…why stop there?" Kakashi asked. "There's nothing actually stopping you from becoming a Jounin. Uzuki-san isn't from a known clan or particularly renowned as a prodigy, and neither was Gai. Heck, the majority of Jounin aren't from clans to begin with."
"But there are many more Chuunin and Genin," Shinku muttered back, "And the missions are…"
"You're scared?" Kakashi asked, inclining his head to the side. "Of hard missions? Of dying?"
Shinku awkwardly nodded.
"Don't be;" Kakashi shrugged. "You know…missions aren't really all that difficult," the man sighed. "High level ones, I mean. You just have to do a proper job. Infiltrate the house, kill the target and then leave. Quick, clean…a Genin can do it too. They're left to Jounin because it requires a certain skill and paranoia to check for traps. There's no 'undo' button. The guy has a kunai launcher in a corner of the room and it nicks your vein, Jounin or not you're going to bleed out fast."
"I'm the dead last," Shinku stated plainly, "I…"
"You aren't."
"Uh?"
"You aren't," Kakashi remarked dryly. "You haven't been for a while. Of the rest of your class, you were the one who improved the most."
"B-But the tradition…"
"The tradition is just that, a tradition," Kakashi hummed. "Just like the Hokage's word is absolute and final."
Shinku's eyes widened for a fraction, before he exhaled a breath he didn't even know he had held. "S-So…I'm not…the dead last?"
"Well, you're probably the second-last or the third-last," Kakashi chuckled, "But no, you weren't the dead-last. Still, do consider the others failed on purpose, which lowered the bar of graduation…which practically means you wouldn't have passed if they hadn't tried failing," Kakashi suddenly turned thoughtful. "Yeah, actually speaking, you're probably even worse than the dead-last."
Shinku's shoulders dropped.
"Ah…right," he chuckled. "Suppose being dead last would have been…an improvement."
"Try to change the direction you retain chakra from being emitted," Kakashi said, changing the argument unexpectedly. "If you do that mid-dash, you can change the point of landing. Some need to actually land their foot on the ground as they make the change —which is how many shinobi battle and the reason high-speed clashes end with only showers of sparks."
"Why are you…"
"You know, the dead last of the class many decades ago was one Hiruzen Sarutobi. The very last of the next generation's class was Jiraiya, who is now known as the sage of porn," Kakashi hummed, "Guess who else was dead last?"
"T-The Yondaime?"
"No," Kakashi deadpanned, "He was a prodigy, just like me. You see…being prodigies or dead-lasts…means nothing." Kakashi shrugged. "Hands down, if the God of Shinobi were still alive now, he'd kick the asses of everyone else, Doujutsu or not, prodigy or not…And he wasn't a prodigy. You should read his history."
"I'm not Hiruzen Sarutobi," Shinku mumbled.
"Well, even the Sandaime wasn't 'The Kami' of shinobi at first," Kakashi deadpanned. "This is something I learned by myself, Shinku-kun," he brought a hand over the boy's shoulder. "We do not need to fit in our fathers' shoes to make their same strides… we need to learn to walk with our own, so that we may go further…"
Kakashi then gripped him by the other shoulder and whispered. "And if you dare leave my little sister and her Uke-brother to face an ass-licking fan boy or fan girl because you're too scared to go on missions with them, I will find you, no matter where you hide…and you won't like it when I do."
"So I'm just the comfortable spot filler?" Shinku snarled.
"Exactly!" Kakashi clapped his shoulders. "But you know, even the mighty sage of porn was considered spot filler between Orochimaru and Tsunade."
"I can't understand if you're trying to help me or you're just messing with me."
"A bit of both," Kakashi nodded. "Still, I might be bored during D-ranks in the afternoon all alone…and I do believe teaching others the skills to survive is useful."
Shinku blinked. "You want me to do your D-ranks."
"Yep," Kakashi nodded. "You can even keep the spare change."
Shinku clenched his fists. "You'll help me afterwards?"
"My invaluable suggestions will be at your dispo—"
Yugao's hand shot for Kakashi's ear, gripping him tightly. "Bad! Bad Hatake!"
"Ouch, ouch, hey!"
"You're all right?" Yugao asked then, eying him worriedly. "Really, have you no shame Hatake-san!? Trying to force your punishment on someone else! The Hokage will know of this!"
Kakashi chuckled nervously. "There's no need to bring sensei in everything, Uzuki-san…"
"Kakashi-Nii! Wait," Naruko arrived in a flicker, Sasuke just behind her while Fu flew her way down. "You're here early? No, that's not possible," she narrowed her eyes. "He's got to be a spy!"
"Hey now, that's not…"
"He was forbidden from carrying Icha-Icha," Yugao mused over, gripping the handle of her katana.
"Traitor," Kakashi muttered, his lone eye narrowing on Naruko. "You said you wouldn't tell."
"I lied," Naruko stuck her tongue out. "Shin-chan, you're all right?"
Shinku just nodded.
"And isn't he supposed to have a meeting with the T&I department this morning anyway?" Sasuke said, his eyes gazing at the silver-haired Jounin with something akin to satisfaction.
"Now that's a bit unf—"
"Hatake-san, you can leave the team in trustworthy hands," Yugao said crisply. "Head over to the T&I department."
"But there's Anko over there!"
"My condolences… now go."
With a pout, Kakashi flickered away.
Yugao turned to stare at her team. Fu was standing close to Shinku, while on the other side Sasuke and Naruko were both sporting wide and nearly symmetrical feral grins. She didn't like it one bit, but…
"The Yondaime's punishment on Hatake-san has already been decided. There is no need to insert your own personal vendetta," she said softly.
"B-But he hurt Shin-chan!" Naruko exclaimed, "And Shin-chan is, like, the mascot! You don't hurt the mascot!"
"I'm a mascot?" Shinku mouthed out.
Fu giggled.
"The Chuunin exams will begin in a month," Yugao stated plainly, once all four of her Genin were in front of her. "They are risky and life-threatening, thus I need to see where each of you stands in the shinobi specialties of Taijutsu, Genjutsu and Ninjutsu. Afterwards, I will check your Shurikenjutsu and Kenjutsu."
She gazed at them all.
"Who wants to go first?"
It was…professional.
Shinku ended up face-first on the ground during his turn, but he did manage a Henge, a Bunshin and a Kawarimi nearly flawlessly —at least, that was his own personal opinion. He even made a Shunshin. He nearly fell down on the ground from chakra exhaustion once more, but he had done well. He said so himself.
Suddenly, he found himself trapped inside a tree. It was becoming hard to breathe as the branches and the roots tightened all around him. He coughed, screaming from the pain of his cracked ribs when…
Inner-Shinku gripped at his shoulders and pulled him out.
Shinku spluttered, coughing as he wheezed on the ground. "Ah…ah…"
"You successfully countered the Hell-Viewing technique," Yugao stated. "Very well. Take a rest now."
Shinku's back laid against a tree while he watched Sasuke go next —Naruko had gone first. His breathing was even, but his gaze soon diverted to his hands. He could feel the sweat roll off his forehead. He knew this was preposterous.
Who ever heard of having a split personality bring you out of a Genjutsu? It was…it was impossible. Sure, the Hell Viewing technique of Yugao-sensei was nothing when compared to Kakashi-sensei's ones with his sharingan. They…they tasted bland.
They didn't have much, they weren't extremely detailed and…and they probably fell apart on their own after a short while. He was used to stronger illusions. Just like with training, he was used to life or death. His heart didn't drum in his chest hard as he watched Yugao professionally deal with Sasuke's Taijutsu, which flowed way better than his would ever even do.
He had to correct his statement even as he watched Sasuke go through more than three different Ninjutsu that weren't in the academy's three —all of which, he did flawlessly. He didn't even fall for the Genjutsu for a single moment, emerging from it unscathed and bored.
Sasuke had a style, he supposed. He was the calm and collected shinobi who was flawless in everything he did. Naruko too had a style: she bull rushed through things, tearing them apart if they blocked her way rather than try to walk around them.
Fu went last, and even though she was cheerful and bubbly most of the time, her eyes narrowed and her face became cold as soon as Yugao-sensei gave the start. He had thought Naruko to be fast. He had been wrong. Fu wasn't only fast, but fully able to use the Bijuu within her to enhance her speed, her power, her abilities.
Her Ninjutsu was comprised only of Bug techniques, but she was truly a monster to fear anyway.
Shinku was in a team of strong people, of prodigies. That…that distinct separation would never cease. Even if he grew strong, stronger than a chuunin, he would never reach their level. He didn't actually want to reach their level —it was just a petty jealous thought he squashed away— but he wondered all the same…
How did it feel, to be so powerful?
How did it feel to have the power to slice a mountain in half, or to conjure a chakra warrior capable of levelling down a city block? How did it feel to be a prodigy?
They don't have to fear for their lives. Isn't that what Kakashi said? They have a back-up. Your back-up is me.
You mean I get the split personality who is worth less than zero?
I get you out of nightmares, you know. That and Genjutsu.
How?
Uhm…Well, I'm working on the same knowledge you have. Genjutsu is using chakra to control the brain of the enemy. Chakra is in every cell of the human body, and technically you and I are the same person. I am…'Kai' I suppose. Genjutsu is also Yin release, and…uhm…maybe I am actually a self-created Genjutsu by you, which counters the others? I don't know. Ask your fractured mind how she managed to cope.
So what, I Jutsu-ed you into existence?
Probably. Everyone needs a friend now and then, imaginary or not. Add chakra to the mix and a broken psyche and bam. Nice to meet you.
Wonderful.
"How did I do?" Fu asked, holding her arms behind her back, carefully pushing her body down to gaze at Shinku's thoughtful expression. The boy blinked, returning to reality.
"Ah…You were…good?"
Fu smiled, before plopping down next to him.
"What were you thinking about?" she asked, poking his cheek.
"N-Nothing," he stammered out. "Just…thinking."
Elsewhere, in the Hokage tower, Minato Namikaze blinked.
"What?"
"You heard me the first time, 'ttebane!" Kushina huffed. "Mikoto-chan said she was keeping an eye out, and that poor boy was a nervous wreck!"
"He was having breakfast with the Hokage and the Chief of the police," Minato countered softly. "I would have been nervous too."
"Naruko complained it's not the first time she tries to look around for his parents, but she has never seen them," Kushina stated plainly. "They talk through post-its! How strange is that, uh!?"
"This still doesn't demonstrate anything, Kushina," Minato remarked. "And shouldn't you be making your suspicions known to, you know, Fugaku? I'm the Hokage, I'm not the social services of Konoha…"
"That boy saved our daughter! I'm not going to just…watch from afar if someone's hurting him 'ttebane!"
"I understand," Minato sighed. "We do owe him," the Yondaime closed his eyes for a moment. "Very well, I'll ask Fugaku to check…"
"Mikoto-chan's taking care of that side," Kushina smiled.
At the same time, in the Uchiha's police station, Fugaku closed his eyes and exhaled. "Really? First Sasuke and now even you?"
"Come on dear, you know I'm rarely wrong," Mikoto smiled.
"You could just make your suspicions known to Tabichi, the one in charge of the social services a few floors below…"
"But you're easier to get to," Mikoto remarked. "And then what would they do? Make a round? Come on…big chief of the police that you are…"
"You aren't simply going to drop it, are you?" Fugaku asked warily.
"Nope," Mikoto smiled. Fugaku…caved in.
His wife's smile was terrifying.
On the other side of town, Ino frowned. She had tried the day before to speak with Ami, but her mother had gently ushered her away. The mission had gone wrong somewhere or something, because the girl hadn't talked at all —and had returned as white as a sheet, believing her mother.
Changing her target of gossip from Haruno to the reason for the failed mission, this time she managed to corner Hibachi —another member of Team Four— by patiently waiting for him outside his house.
The boy wasn't at all in a good shape, his eyes with deep purple rings and his expression haunted. She hadn't even recognized him at first.
"Hi," Ino said, smiling. "I'm Ino, Ami's friend…I'm very worried about her…she hasn't left her house since coming back and…"
"It's…" Hibachi croaked out, before closing his eyes sharply. "It's not a surprise…"
"Did something bad happen to her?" Ino's eyes widened. They did tell the students at the academy about the risks of being captured and all…she brought a hand to her mouth, it couldn't be…
"No," Ino exhaled in relief at hearing that, "B-But…we saw something…horrible," Hibachi hiccupped, before shaking his head strongly. "I don't want to talk about that." The boy turned sharply to leave.
"Wait!" Ino's hand shot forth to grab his wrist. "What happened!?"
"A monster," Hibachi muttered. "A…demon," he exhaled.
"A demon? Do you mean…was Team Seven there too? Is this about Naruko? Did she do something?"
"No," Hibachi shook his head, "Not Namikaze-san…the boy. The boy in the team…Haruno…he…" Hibachi brought a hand to his throat, covered by a white bandage. "He was smiling while he did it," the boy shook his head. "He…we had to…we failed our mission, but team Seven passed theirs and…urgh…I can't say more."
He broke free, and escaped back inside his house looking green. Ino frowned, before deciding that enough was enough.
She knew where Team Seven trained —Sasuke-kun's fan club knew— and albeit the training grounds had been deserted for quite a while, now that the team was back in Konoha it would soon be filled with onlookers. She'd come to the end of it…no matter what.
Haruno Shinku took another shot at the marked round circle. It was close to the bull's eye, although it wasn't properly at the centre —the centre had a red dot to aim for. He clicked his tongue, before throwing the shuriken one at the time. They all landed on the trunk, half out of the circle and half inside. It was an improvement.
Really, it was.
Then it was the others' turns. Five seconds, and Naruko had hit with everything she had thrown near the centre. Three seconds, and Sasuke had only bull's eyes. Ten seconds, and Fu had done just as well as Naruko.
He had taken a minute.
"Anyone here is interested in Kenjutsu?" Yugao asked in the end. When nobody answered back, she shrugged. "Very well then," she exhaled. "I saw enough."
She brought a hand to the base of her nose, closing her eyes, as she seemed to be thinking of the right words to use.
"We have a month," she muttered. "Unless you wish to wait for the next time the exam comes in Konoha?"
"Uh?" Naruko inclined her head to the side. "Why? We're awesome! We're all going to pass on the first try, 'ttebayo!"
"Dobe," Sasuke hissed, but the single word was enough.
He was still the dead last of the class. It didn't matter if he could kill an old man in cold blood, or climb a tree. He was still the dead last.
"You all have solid bases in Ninjutsu," that surprised him. He had expected to be called out on that, since he didn't have any skill beyond the basic ones. "You all managed to counter the Genjutsu fast enough to be passable," it was starting to shape up nicely. So maybe he wasn't really the dead last?
"However, Shinku-kun…the state of your Taijutsu and Shurikenjutsu is plain horrible," Yugao sighed. "We'll have to work on that, and you'll have to train as hard as you can in this month, but I'm sure you can do it."
He swallowed nervously before nodding.
"That said, we will all have to train hard. The Chuunin exams are important not only because they mark your possible promotion to Chuunin, but also because they allow villages to show off their best and brightest. You will need to know various things in order to become a Chuunin, because it is not just a matter of prowess in battle…but also of this," she tapped the side of her head. "Without a sound mind and a sound body, there is no shinobi."
So we're screwed. Hurray!
Kizashi Haruno was taking out the new batch of bread from the oven, when he heard the door of the shop open. He turned and looked in surprise at an Uchiha police officer entering the shop with the usual calm and coldness of their clan's trademark ice-face.
"Officer-san," Kizashi smiled. "What can I do for you?"
The shop was deserted so late in the afternoon, but soon the rush of the people returning from the offices would come through the doors and once more, he'd have to deliver fresh bread. It was the trademark of his bakery —and the reason for its success. They baked nearly twenty-four hours a day, delivering fresh bread by the hour so that it always was crispy, rather than letting it become stale during the afternoon.
It did mean that the work was far more than what a normal bakery had to do normally, but it also meant profit and success.
He did need to put money away for his retirement.
"We would like to speak with your son concerning a matter that has come to our attention," the man said dryly. "It concerns the last mission he went on."
"Oh?" Kizashi blinked, "Did something happen?"
The officer looked at him blearily. "You do not know?"
Kizashi made an awkward smile, "I'm busy working, Officer-san. I don't have the time to ask Shinku about his D-ranks."
"I see," silence settled between the two men for a few minutes, with Kizashi growing increasingly anxious.
The fire still crackled in the oven. The smell of fresh bread filled the air.
The Uchiha police officer kept on looking at him with his dark eyes, apparently waiting for something.
"Is…something the matter, Officer?"
"Where can I find your son at this time?"
Kizashi blinked. "Well, as I said before I don't really know. Maybe my wife might know, but she's currently out buying groceries."
"Let me ask you one more question," the Officer said, his right eyebrow rising. "Do you know at least what team your son is in?"
"Oh, yes. He's in Team Seven," Kizashi replied with a small nervous smile. "He said so last time we talked."
"And how far back would that be?"
"Well, two weeks, three…not more than a month," Kizashi remarked. "He wrote to us a note before going off to training camp, and then he was out again for a mission towards Taki…oh, and then to hunt boars in the countryside I think."
The Uchiha Officer looked at him with pity.
It unsettled Kizashi extremely.
Uchiha police officers had many looks, ranging from 'Why are you wasting my time' to 'Stop right there, criminal scum!' but 'pity' was not generally among them.
It really wasn't.
"I'm not a father so I can't relate," the officer said suddenly, unexpectedly lowering his voice to a soft tone. "But if I were you, I would close shop for a few days and spend some time with my son."
"Did something bad happen?"
"Bad?" the Officer's lips curled in distaste, "Do you know of what happened in the forest of Death? Have you heard of the reason the Takigakure Jinchuuriki is in town? Have you any idea of what your son's last mission involved? Do you know how many times your son has been in the hospital?"
Kizashi's eyes widened briefly, as the officer's face now showed the full brunt of the 'Uchiha-I'm angry at you' face.
Then the officer turned and left, closing the door with a bang.
Kizashi looked around seemingly lost for a moment, before staring down at the now lukewarm breads. Maybe he could finish up early for once…and ask what had happened to Mebuki —she had seen Shinku last after all.
Then, he'd confront Shinku too.
Sasuke Uchiha was livid as he returned home. He knew it was a crime to impersonate an officer, but it wasn't like he had abused of the power to ask for personal information. He didn't know what made him angrier however —the fact that the man was genuinely clueless, or the fact that Shinku had lied about what missions he had gone on to.
Right now, at the training grounds, Shinku was training to overcome the level of difference between them —he wouldn't make it in time, but at least he was trying. It made Sasuke snarl, thinking of how much the situation was similar to his own a few years before.
When he trained to become as strong as Itachi and nobody seemed to notice, or when there wasn't a day that went by without people comparing him to Itachi, he had felt angry at the entire world. Shinku had felt resigned. It explained his meekness to the point of it being disgusting. It explained his willingness to follow orders, to keep his gaze down.
Since nobody was going to care anyway, why bother raising your voice?
Sasuke had to admit he was incensed and enraged not only because it was wrong, to treat someone like that…but because he could relate.
Well, that ended now. He wasn't going to let it pass. His chivalric Uchiha blood demanded righteousness.
In the training grounds, as the sun died out, Shinku Haruno breathed in and out deeply.
"Now, remember to exhale when you're receiving a blow," Yugao stated. "It is fundamental not to be caught inhaling, and be sure to twist your body back in the opposite direction of an incoming strike."
Fu was lingering by, while Sasuke and Naruko had left for some reason not specified.
"Another thing is your flinching," Yugao stated plainly. "Averting your gaze from your opponent for even a second is fatal on the battlefield."
"Ah…"
"And then, there's your inability to train with someone else. You're afraid of hurting the other side, and so you actually pull your punches," Yugao finished talking crisply, crossing her arms over her chest. "I cannot really gauge your speed or your power while giving out strikes if you aren't one hundred percent behind a blow when you deliver it," she inclined her head to the side. "A shinobi needs to know when to kill his heart, even during training."
Shinku remained quiet, head low. It was easy to say. To do however, it was very different. It meant risking wounding, hurting, harming. It meant that if by some chance a lucky shot came, someone had to go to the hospital. It meant tears of pain and startled cries, and…
"Fu, come over here," the tanned girl came over with a smile on her face.
"Yes, sensei?"
"Hit that wooden pole with a punch," Yugao pointed to one of the three wooden poles. Fu nodded, before bringing her fist to her side and then letting a light sheen of green chakra cover it. The moment the blow departed, it shattered the pole, leaving behind only smithereens and clouds of wooden shards.
Yugao clapped her hands once. "Very well," the woman took the middle pole, before slamming her own fist with grace. The bark shattered, leaving behind an impression in the wood.
"If you cover your hand with a light sheen of chakra, you won't risk hurting your hands," Yugao explained. "Now why don't you try?"
Shinku stumbled to the last pole, his eyes fixed on the knuckles of his right hand. Well…this wasn't supposed to be difficult. Covering his body with chakra was part of the Shunshin technique, and the hands were the easiest spots to mould chakra inside.
He covered in the light blue sheen of chakra his right hand, and then punched forward closing his eyes. He ground his teeth at the impact, hearing Yugao-sensei's tongue click in dissatisfaction. He opened his eyes blearily, watching as the pole remained perfectly unscathed.
"Well," Yugao sighed. "This is your new exercise. Hit the pole until it cracks."
Yugao-sensei then looked up at the sky, "Well, I have to go and report to the Hokage now, and get someone to replace the pole… it's late enough as it is. Don't overexert yourself," then, she flickered away.
Shinku breathed in deeply, before returning to gaze at the wood pole.
"Hey," Fu chirped, "Aren't you hungry?"
He had a pit of nervousness in his stomach —he wasn't hungry at all.
"No."
Fu blinked, and then shrugged. Shinku ground his teeth as he flung another fist. It didn't scratch the surface.
He threw another.
There was no result.
He threw one more.
Nothing happened.
Fu yawned, before sitting down with her back against the other remaining wooden pole, closing her eyes.
Shinku ground his teeth strongly as he pulled his fist backwards. He slammed it forth with a sickening crack and then yelped, holding on to his bleeding knuckles. "Gah!" he opened and closed his hand repeatedly, breathing in and out deeply. There was blood on the wooden pole now.
It was his blood, but still…
"Are you all right?" Fu asked worriedly, jumping back up and grabbing a hold of his wounded hand. Her hands felt cold to the touch, but as the girl's eyes examined the scrapped knuckles, her face suddenly turned slightly red. "Ah…" she let go of the hand. "Sorry."
"Ah…" he stuttered out. "Fu-san?"
"Y-Yes?" she stammered back.
"W-Would you like…to go and…eat something? Last time…it didn't go well, did it?"
Fu blinked. She smiled then, a warm and happy smile.
"I'd like that, Shinku-kun!"
Shinku inwardly exhaled.
Things were starting to look up.
Author's notes
There was a bit of a pov shift here and there. It's been raining two days and my wrist is killing me…and tomorrow it's Monday so back to University.
Hip-Hip, hurray!