Chapter 21
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I was completely against becoming a kenjutsu teacher within the academy, I didn't have the patience for it. Akako was ruthless as a teacher because of the same reason, she would teach a concept and then beat me till I got it through my head or she knocked me out whichever came first. I knew I would be the same way, so I had one stipulation to my tenure as a sensei here.
"I will pick my students through a vetting process," I said blankly. "Otherwise I will not teach anyone the way of the sword," the headmaster raised an eyebrow in objection so I continued with my reasoning. "I will not waste my time on people with subpar resolve, kenjutsu is a life-long craft. One that takes extreme discipline to even gain proficiency in let alone master, I refuse to teach down to the lowest common denominator for quantity. It's either you allow me to create quality swordsmen or I walk, got better things to do than babysit a bunch of brats,"
"Yuudai!" Aoi shouted. I didn't even glance in her direction my eyes stayed locked on the headmaster. It was his move he was the one who was asking me to teach and I gave him my price, either way, it's my win.
"Fine I'll allow it, but the safety of the students of the must be preserved to an extent nothing dangerous," he said with a stern look, which I returned with equal intensity.
"I'll keep it within reason no promises, we are making shinobi after all," I said. Aoi eyes were darting between the headmaster and myself trying to gauge what would happen next.
"Well then I see no reason for us to continue this discussion I'll see you both tomorrow and let you know your schedules," he said and waved his hand at us. We both bowed slightly and walked out. Once the door shut I ducked and a blast of air past over me, I knew she would try.
"Don't dodge it you ingrate!" came Aoi's angry voice as she stomped her foot.
"And get hit upside the head? Thanks but I'll pass,"
"I can't believe how disrespectful you were, you do realize that the headmaster is a member of the Kamizuru clan?!"
I scoffed at the mention of them. The head ruling clan of Iwagakure, what of them? they haven't contributed anything to the war effort except getting their asses handed to them by Konoha's Aburame clan. In my mind, they were just another main house clan who has allowed affluence to slowly corrupt them and turn them into lazy, entitled elites. War and conflict are used as a distraction by elites throughout history but if you pay attention it also exposes their weakness especially in a warrior society. I can see the cracks in their omnipotent armor, and it's only a matter of time before a fatal weakness would appear and I secretly promised myself that when that time came if it did I would be my mother's sword and strike right at that weakness.
"Isn't it obvious that I don't care about things like that Aoi? I care about ability and what results you can produce I judge people based on the way I am judged by others, simple things like status are nothing more than a superficial way society tries to separate and divide people based on birthright. The battlefield cares nothing of silly things like status, you of all people should understand this,"
Aoi huffed in opposition. "You're going to get yourself killed thinking like that,"
"Same to you," I shot back. We exited the academy and began to make our way to the center of the village. We walked in relative silence which was comfortable for me but I could see the discomfort in Aoi's body language. "So, what are you doing home? Other than being dragged into babysitting duty," I asked.
"It's not babysitting, and I was placed on leave for a while," she said while staring straight ahead.
"I see, I see so you got in trouble with Akako-taicho," I said with a smirk. The pain quickly filled my side and I choked on a breath as Aoi dug her elbow into my rib cage. "Guess I was right?" I said through my gritted teeth.
"Shut your fucking mouth Yuudai," Aoi said. "Or I'll shut it for you,"
"Don't threaten me with a good time," I said with a defiant smirk still plastered on my face. Aoi looked at with a really nasty expression on her face.
"I'm warning you for the last time Yuudai, knock it off,"
Killjoy can't laugh at your problems? So uptight. I gave in to her demands wanting to avoid an all-out fight in public which would have gotten us both in hot water with our respective superiors, Hisako had been in a pissy mood since the raid so the last thing I wanted to do was put myself in her crosshairs.
"Thought we were friends, guess not close friends, huh?" I said.
"I never said that it's just a touchy subject for me right now so lay off,"
"Fine, I'm not the prying type anyways,"
We weaved our way through the center of the village and made a turn that would take us to the open training grounds everyone used, I had no idea why we were heading in this direction well that was until we got there and I saw Mikoto standing at the entrance. I hadn't seen her since the academy and honestly, it could have stayed that way, my body became more rigid with each step prepared to respond to a threat quickly. I didn't trust her at all because she was the hardest for me to read. I knew Keita hated my guts and so did Ryojin even if he wasn't very vocal about it anymore. Mikoto was different she always wore an emotionless face never really reacting to much that happened around her almost as if she was just uninterested in life as a whole.
"Good afternoon Mikoto-sama," Aoi said with a slight bow, I also silently bowed my head just to avoid Aoi's wrath if I didn't do so.
"Good afternoon Aoi, same to you Yuudai. What brings you here?" Mikoto asked with a monotone voice.
"I'm being dragged around by Aoi," I said.
"Don't listen to this fool Mikoto-sama, he came of his own volition," Aoi snapped back. Mikoto looked between the two of us her face never changing.
"I see, well Aoi we should find a good spot to get started," Mikoto said while turning away from us. We walked through the grounds which was being used by others and tried to find a good open space for ourselves, we came upon an area with a giant boulder sitting off in the background and the two girls decided this place would suffice. I decided to excuse myself moved to the top of the boulder and sat down, I rested my face into my palm and watched the two begin to spar. I watched them go after each other at about a 50% effort pulling punches when necessary but hitting hard when one left themselves open. It was obvious Aoi was the better fighter as she would land the majority of the hard blows.
'She's a skilled fighter partner,' Kamiko said within my mind. 'We would have problems going against her head-on for an extended period'
"Who? Aoi?" I asked.
'Yes'
I began to watch Aoi's fighting style a bit more closely. She was a close-range fighter but she was good at creating small openings within that range which is a mixture of skill and raw instinct. Unlike my fighting style which was nothing but pure instinct that was given a bit of structure to work within, Aoi was technically sound no matter how hard Mikoto tried she couldn't make Aoi break her stance. Aoi was forcing Mikoto to fight by her rules, if Mikoto tried to create space Aoi would close it instantly, if she tried to go on the defensive Aoi would pummel her out of it and force an attack, If she tried to go on the offensive then Aoi would simply punish her for every missed attack which would then force Mikoto to retreat only to repeat the cycle over. That was Aoi's fighting style she dictated the flow of combat, she was like a conductor directing her opponents to play her tune which allowed her to always stay one step ahead and that was a powerful thing. Honestly, she was just toying with Mikoto and Mikoto's lack of combat experience kept her from realizing the one way to break out of that vicious cycle. I instantly appeared between the two facing Aoi with Mikoto to my back.
"Mikoto-sama please allow me a chance to demonstrate to you how to break your partner's cycle she's put you in," I said cooly.
"Ara? Yuudai-kun you think you have a shot against me in your current state~?" Aoi said playfully. I pulled out a storage scroll and pushed some chakra through the seal and my bokken appeared in a puff of smoke. I snatched it out of the air and rolled the scroll back tucking it back in my pouch.
"Remember I fought on the front lines for a year as a walking, breathing corpse. At least that's what the doctors told me. Mikoto-sama pay close attention I will show you the art of shifting the flow of battle in your favor." I said as I readied into my stance.
"Fine then how hard are we going?" Aoi asked.
"Real combat speed," I responded. "100%"
A smirk crept on Aoi's face. She disappeared and was in my peripheral in that same instant, my body moved without thought and swung for her neck, she ducked and launched a punch aimed for my stomach, I brought my knee up and knocked her hand off course and brought my hand clutching my bokken down hard aiming for her upper back. She became a blur again and came flying in with a kick that I slipped and then hit her back leg with my shoulder to cause her to lose balance on her landing. I was in her face once she put one foot on the ground and due to my little bump it had to be her front foot which I took advantage of and swung for her midsection. To my surprise, she disappeared and created considerable distance between us. Aoi was looking at me with a frown plastered on her face.
"You're annoying to fight Yuudai, that last move was dirty," she said.
"I'm only "annoying" because I'm disrupting your flow, you can't do what you want with me," I shot back.
"Oh~, we'll see about that,"
She was gone and this time wasn't like last time it seems she just vanished and my body leaned back as far as possible dodging the roundhouse kick that flashed above me. I quickly twisted my body away from her and brought my bokken up in the knick of time to block a punch, I slipped the hook that followed but saw her leg racing for my side too late and took the hit but I wrapped my arms around it locking it in place and tugged her towards me pulling her off balance and swung my bokken straight down. With cat-like reflexes she kicked it away and then threw dirt into my face forcing me to release her, I quickly blocked most of it with my free hand and spun a kick straight in front of me she ducked and still came for me, I tighten the muscles in my plat leg and launch myself over her. Once I landed I swung my bokken in an upward motion that she slipped and continued to close the distance.
"You're mine!" she yelled. I just smirked. Aoi noticed at the last second but it was too late, my fist connected with her jaw and the sound of her teeth clacking together rang out before I finished with the follow-through. Aoi fell backward but sat up quickly still stunned that I landed my uppercut. She glared at me intensely.
"The hell was that! What kind of swordsman throws punches?!" she yelled while rubbing the pain from her chin. I rested the bokken on my shoulder and smiled.
"This swordsman does," I said. Aoi got up and dusted herself and stomped off towards Mikoto I soon followed. "Did you understand what you saw Mikoto-sama?" I asked. She stared at me blankly before shaking her head horizontally.
"Ok to put it simply, resist your opponent's attacks with your own, never be completely defensive but never be too offensive. A battle can sometimes be almost like a living thing, you have to feel for its pulse search for those openings or create them. Make your attacks predictable but surprising your defense rigid but flexible, its a tight line to walk and I'm not saying it something that will come easily but if you stick with it what I'm telling you will start making sense and it will become easier with time," I explained
"That wasn't a simple explanation," Mikoto said blatantly. "However I think I got the gist of what you are trying to say, so do you mind helping me develop these skills that you and Aoi seem to have mastered,"
"I'll have to humbly decline your request Mikoto-sama, for Aoi is much more suitable teacher for you than I could ever be," I said with a bow. The truth was I didn't want to teach someone who may be a potential enemy later on down the road, the last thing I needed was to be fighting for my life against someone who I helped become a more lethal shinobi.
"I understand, well I do appreciate the demonstration you and Aoi showed me, it's shocking to me how large the skill gap is between myself and you two despite being in the same graduating class," Mikoto said. I raised my head and looked into her eyes and saw a bit of fire within them, her eyebrows were pinched slightly which was the most emotions I have ever seen from the stoic heir's face.
I think I just lit a fire under her.
"Well, if you'll excuse me I must be making my way to the market to shop for dinner tonight,"
"Make enough for me too! I'll be over," Aoi said with excitement.
"Don't just invite yourself over," I said as I turned toward the exit. "But if you insist on coming dinner will be ready around 6 pm don't be late,"
"Yes! Ok, I'll be there," Aoi said with a shout to my back.
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"Sorry for the intrusion," Aoi said as she opened the door and walked in.
"Have a seat in the dining room food's almost ready," I said to her as I tossed the fried rice I was making into the air for a brief second.
"Oh, that looks good. Where you learned to cook like this?" Aoi said looking over my shoulder. I tossed the rice again before reaching over grabbed two eggs and cracked them into the pan. The eggs snapped and popped
"When I was at the earth temple preparing for the best of class tournament, I was placed on kitchen duty so the monks there taught me the ins and outs and I just kept learning on my own after," I said.
"Oh~, we could use a cook in the executioner forces mess hall. We currently don't have one so we rarely eat good food after missions,"
"How many times do I have to tell you I'm not interested in joining the executioner forces?"
"I don't see why," Aoi said as she walked away from me. "You're wasting your talent on the general forces Yuudai, you could be a much better shinobi if you would just set aside your pride and see the writing on the wall, you know deep down you were born to be an executioner,"
"Just because I have "talent" doesn't mean I should abandon those without it or look down on them for something they have no control over, I know I'm blessed both in body and mind and I hit the genetic jackpot when it comes to my instincts in a fight. The executioner forces have the best talent in the village they don't need anymore, so I'm going to stay in the general forces and help them because that is where I belong right now," I said as I handed her a bowl full of fried rice. Aoi accepted the bowl and made her way to the dining room. I soon followed with my bowl and sat across from her.
"Itadakimasu," we both said in unison and dug in. I glanced out of the corner of my eye to watch Aoi take her first bite, her face lit up as she began to taste all the flavors I melted together, I was satisfied with that reaction and returned to eating my food.
"How's your recovery been?" Aoi asked after swallowing another bite.
"Slow there are still some internal injuries that are still nagging me, but most of the life or limb-threatening injuries are under control, why?"
"That's good, you need to take better care of yourself Yuudai. Be a shame if you lack of self-care was the reason you got killed,"
I scoffed at the notion, if people couldn't kill me when I was that banged up then there was no way I was going to die unless I got trapped or overwhelmed by sheer numbers and now with Kamiko helping me I've become an even better wave-clearer.
"I'll be fine worry about yourself Aoi after all your missions are way deadlier than mines," I said as I continued to eat my fried rice. She let out a slight huff and possibly called me an asshole under her breath but I was okay with that. I didn't want too many deep connections with people in this world despite my human nature, life here wasn't a guarantee at any given second you could be dead that what this past year of war has taught me. I'm lucky that I survived this long but a lot of my squad members aren't here anymore. Watching them get cut down mercilessly has warped my mind, what's the point of making connections with people that the world was just going to severe later? There is no point. We finished eating our dinner and moved outside to do a bit of stargazing. The air was calm both of us were just enjoying the moment, the moment of still being alive.
"Hey, Yuudai,"
"What's up?"
"Are you nervous about becoming a sensei?"
"No," I answered automatically. "There's no need I was chosen for a reason, I will fulfill the expectations placed upon me,"
"Hmmm, I see. I'm a little nervous, I don't want to harm the next generation. I want to give them the knowledge I wish I had when I was them,"
"Knowledge one can not apply immediately to improve or understand is just a waste," I said.
Aoi kissed her teeth.
"Yuudai why are you so cynical? It's annoying,"
"I have my reasons," I said, hoping she would drop the subject.
Aoi said up and was looking at me with a sharp glare. It was obvious she wasn't trying to let this go and I for the life of me didn't know why this girl was so interested in me of all people. She should have quit trying to be around me a long time ago. She even said she didn't want to be friends when I asked initially.
"I'd love to hear these reasons," she spat. Now her arms were crossed defiantly and her gaze was burning a hole into the side of my face.
"Don't hold your breath then it's gonna be a while before I trust you enough to open up, don't act like we are the best of friends you shot me down when I asked the first time,"
"Are you still holding that against me?! I told you why that was and I felt bad but-"
"You had a goal and didn't want any distractions, I get it, but you are trying to ask your way into my life and thoughts and that's not how I build relationships. I don't trust people or their claimed intentions naturally until their actions show me otherwise and it's done consistently, no offense Aoi but you're keeping your secrets too are you not?"
She was a bit calmer now her eyes were still on me but they had softened a bit.
"Idiot, I would have told you eventually," she said with a huff. "Fine then since you're going to play that game," Aoi took a deep breath and let it all out, silence followed as she tried to gather her thoughts. "I was suspended indefinitely by Akako-taicho for insubordination,"
I shot up and stared at the girl in disbelief. Aoi is the last person I would expect to defy orders from a superior. Her eyes flicked between my face and the ground a few times before continuing. "It was during the raid we were busy keeping the ANBU from Konoha at bay from the main forces and killing off any reinforcements that were trying to back up the initial push they sent. Everything was going ok up until we started to get flanked, and we took some casualties, of course, I got the call I immediately went into triage procedures until I saw who it was that was injured. There were two one was a senpai from my squad who took me in when I first was assigned and help make my transition a smooth one, he was now on death's door and I was the only one who could save him. That was until I figured out his spine was fractured in ten different places despite that fact I got to work, despite having never repaired a spine nor having prior knowledge I still threw my all into it completely ignoring the other patient." Aoi brought her knees tight to her chest. "Things weren't improving and Akako came over and told me he was a lost cause and that I needed to move on to the next patient, and I refused her. I told her I was close to stabilizing him that I just needed five more minutes. She promptly kicked me square in the chest which brought me out of my little frenzy and asked me, ``What can you do for a corpse? Are you God?`` It was then that I realized that he was dead and probably had been for the past five or ten minutes and it was already too late for the other patient due to my carelessness he would die soon because I never stopped his bleeding,"
The tears started now only for a brief moment before she wiped them away quickly.
"I was sent back to the rear until everything was over. When Akako saw me again she took me to a secluded area away from everyone and she beat me while cursing at me, it was the longest twenty minutes of my life. The only thing I remember her saying over and over again was the word 'murderer'. Once we got back to the village she dragged me to the home of the man I let die and forced me to tell the young woman that answered the door who happened to be pregnant that her husband wasn't coming home because of me."Aoi's body shook as if she was vividly reliving the memories her voice choked as she tried to continue. "She called me everything she could think of, a filthy whore, a murderer, a snake, untrustworthy, and she wished that I would die in some gruesome way simple to atone for my deeds. After I took that verbal tongue lashing I was suspended from the squad indefinitely,"
I look at Aoi who was just staring off into the distance, I didn't know what to tell her I'm sure she loved being in the executioner forces especially because she was selected right out of the academy which has only happened four other times according to my mother, this girl was hiding all this under the surface.
"Ok," I started. "Now what will you do?"
She was quiet for a minute or so before letting out a breath.
"I don't know," she murmured.
"Wrong answer," I said. "You're going to work your ass off and regain your former status. No, you're going to be better than what you were before, and I'm going to be right next to you struggling to better myself," Aoi was staring at me now with eyes wide unbelieving of what she was hearing. I guess after hearing her story I just wanted to support her, I know I've been saying that I'll never be her vice-captain but after what she has just gone through I have a strange feeling that this girl was going to develop into something incredible and I wanted to be right there with front row seats. "I'm not going to let my future captain give up on herself, so what will it be taicho?" I said as I reached my fist out towards her. Aoi's eyes showed the state of shock she was in.
"I thought you would have abandoned me after I told you, I thought-"
"That was your first mistake you thought, I may be a cynical person but it doesn't mean I'm completely heartless I do still have empathy,"
Aoi began to wipe her eyes, before looking me straight in the eye.
"You promise? Do you promise that no matter what you'll always be there? No matter how troublesome I am?"
I shot her a genuine smile and extended my pinky.
"No matter what, as long as I'm breathing I'll always be your ally,"
Just this one time I'll go against my beliefs and trust these human emotions I curse so much. Just so I can support someone who may grow into something beyond expectations, something like a myth. Aoi I'll do something that I have only done once before in both of my lives and place my trust in you.
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A/N: FINALLY! I broke my writer's block. I'm terrible at writing the slice of life stuff but I understand it's needed. So sorry for the long wait hope everyone enjoys their holiday and however you spend it….. Until next time my friends.