Sasuke,
I hope you're doing well.
It's only been a week since I arrived but I already feel like I've learned a lot. The old lady who is my superior has put me on a tough training regime, but deep down she's a kind old thing. Her name is Akii, I think you would like her – she makes lovely food, lots with tomatoes so you'd love it. I wish you could visit, I miss you already.
How is the academy going? Have you learned anything cool since I left? I feel like I've been gone forever already!
Are you looking after yourself OK at home? I hope you've started unpacking those boxes of stuff at last, if they're still there when I get back I'll make you suffer!
Please write soon!
Rinn x
~X~
Rinn,
It's so great to hear from you. I've been looking out for a letter from you and am pleased that you've arrived safely. Your sensei sounds great, tell me more about your training?
I haven't been back to the academy yet.
I miss you terribly.
I hope you can come back soon.
Your Snapdragon x
~X~
Snapdragon,
I hope you're OK, from your last letter you didn't sound like yourself. It's unlike you to miss out on your studies. Please go back to the academy, I hate to think of you sitting in the house by yourself day in day out. You have such talent, please don't let it go to waste.
Akii-sensei has told me that I shouldn't tell you much about my training from now on. She's worried our letters might fall into the wrong hands and that could put the village at risk. I promise I'll tell you everything when I finally come home, but all I can say for now is that it is still going very well, I am progressing quickly and am capable of things I never thought possible.
I was hoping to find out about my parents, Akii-sensei definitely knows something I think, but she is such a secretive woman.
It really is beautiful up in the mountains, I wish you could see it.
Write soon!
Starfish x
~X~
Starfish,
Sorry it has taken me longer to write. I went back to the academy like you said, and am trying my best to train as hard as I can, so have been really busy. I look forward to hearing about what you've been up to when you come back, because you're doing so well, maybe they will let you leave sooner?
I've unpacked everything now like you said, and I'm trying to keep your house as nice as I can too so that it's ready for when you come home. I hope you don't mind but I stay there some nights, it helps.
Will you draw me a picture of what you can see up in the mountains? You were always so good at drawing, and then I can imagine where you are which will make it seem like you're not so far away.
Still missing you.
Your Snapdragon x
~ X ~
Snapdragon,
I'm so glad you've gone back to the academy. Don't worry about taking longer to write, I understand how difficult it can be to find the time whilst training.
Although I'm progressing well, it's only been a few months since I left so I don't think I'll be able to come back for a while. Akii-sensei says there are many sides to my power, and I have to become a master of all of them before she will release me back to the Leaf.
How is your fire justu coming along? That was always my favourite.
I hope you're OK and have made some more friends at the academy. The little blonde boy who lived a few doors down from us always seemed nice.
I've drawn you something, it's not very good but I hope it's OK. We move camp quite a bit so I could send you something from each stop if you'd like?
Starfish x
~ X ~
Starfish,
I would love it if you sent me some more drawings, the last one was great.
Beginning to find it difficult here without you. Nobody knows me like you do. I think people are avoiding me on purpose because of what happened to my family.
Please come back soon.
Your Snapdragon x
~ X ~
Snapdragon,
I know it's hard but please stay positive – I'm beginning to worry about you.
I'm sorry if I've been distant recently, but training has been gruelling and all I've managed to do besides train is eat and sleep. I promise I'll try harder though, I'll write to you every month in future to check on how you are (and send you a lovely view from the mountains of course!).
I hope you've made some more friends now you've had some time. Another two children my age have joined us, both with their own individual powers which are very different to mine. They seem nice, I hope they can become my friends.
If the other kids are being horrible, just show them the Sasuke I know and I'm sure they would love to be your friend. Sometimes you have to extend your friendship to others, if they are too caught up in their thoughts to risk it themselves.
Keep your chin up,
Starfish x
~ X ~
Starfish,
Love your pictures as usual.
Glad you've found some new friends.
Don't forget me.
Snapdragon x
~ X ~
Snapdragon,
Is everything OK? Your last letter was quite short, I hope everything is all right. I still worry about you.
I have been put in a squad with the two boys that are here, and we are already working on our formations and battle technique, although our individual training is kept separate. My teammates are called Shichiro and Tatsuo, one of them reminds me of you actually – he's very grumpy and very good at fighting!
We are moving closer to the waterfall for our next base, I've heard it's very beautiful so I'll be sure to send you some sketches of it.
How is your training going, have you made it to Genin yet? Are you still living in the same place?
Miss you,
Starfish x
~ X ~
Snapdragon,
Sorry to pester you again, but it's been a few months since I last heard from you. Have you been getting my drawings? Are you OK?
Please write soon.
Starfish x
~ X ~
Sasuke,
It's been another month now and I'm starting to get really worried about you.
Has something happened?
Are you coping all right?
Please reply as soon as you can.
Rinn x
~ X ~
Sasuke,
Have I done something to upset you? Please write back. I need to know you're OK.
Rinn
~ X ~
Sasuke,
Word from the village says that you're doing well, so I can only assume there is another reason as to why you are not replying to my letters.
It has been a year and a half since I left now, so I understand that we might have outgrown each other. I hope that when my training is finished that we can still be friends, but for now I think that there is little point in me sending letters to someone that does not wish to receive them.
The last thing I want to be to you is a nuisance, Sasuke.
Your friend,
Rinn
~ X ~
Dear Sasuke,
I know it might seem strange receiving a letter from me after all of these years. In truth, there's part of me that doesn't even know why I'm writing this, but nothing ventured nothing gained right?
Akii-sensei is happy that I have completed my training at last, and myself and my squad will be returning to the Leaf to compete in the upcoming Chunnin exams.
All going to plan, I should be leaving today!
I know things between us have been tricky since I left, but I would love to see you when I get back. I have really missed you, but I understand if you don't want to see me. We are different people now, not the little kids that used to play together years ago.
I hope to see you soon.
Best wishes,
Firinne