Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, I only own my OCs
No internet and full time job.
So, the meeting with the clan elders. I'd like to say it was a fantastic experience and that we all went gallivanting into the sunset. Ha ha, no.
I felt like a specimen, cold eyes watching my every moment with scrutiny. I wouldn't be surprised if they popped my head off the second I did something wrong.
So here's a bit of clarification. Not long after I 'woke up', Jun (Pretty Boy from Hell) walked in, exchanged a few words with Takuma-sensei (He Who Holds the Chill, dudum kish), and then I was escorted by both to another building within the complex (I assume due to the walls I kept seeing) where we entered and now faced with a very sophisticated group of clansmen.
My new guardians stood on either side of me. Jun guided me by the shoulder to where he and Takuma stopped and bowed, I followed suit, eyes downcast.
"Good Afternoon Junpei-sama, I hope we didn't keep you waiting," my father said in the professional tone he addressed us-me the night before. We remained fixed submissively, I could almost hear others in the room make mental notes. The elder seated in the center of the group gave a huff.
"You disturbed my schedule with the arrival of this child, Jun-san, you should know that last minute changes do not bode well with the flow of clan business."
"My Apologies, Junpei-sama." Jun bowed again, the elder continued on.
"What is done is done, you may be seated." Thank God, even with the amount of conditioning I've been able to do at-in the past I didn't think I would be bowing for this long at any point of time. I sat according to what Takuma told me earlier… and this sucked, how the heck am I supposed to sit in this position for extended lengths of time! Internally struggling with stupid concepts as I stared a hole into the floor, determined not to aggravate any of the people who practically controlled my life now.
Scratch that, they owned me at this point.
"Now, girl, look up properly. Let us get a good look at you,"
Nails biting into my palms, I hesitantly looked up, searching for a spot to fix my gaze where I wouldn't be making complete eye contact with any of the council advisors or the head himself. I settled with the knot within the wood above Junpei-sama's head.
Junpei-sama looked as old as Sarutobi at the start of the Naruto series and the similarities didn't end there. The old man was wearing silver-lined pure white robes in comparison to Sarutobi's Hokage robes. However he, in contrast to the illustrious Hokage, gave off the impression of being a stuck-up fancy-pants, with his gray hair mounted in a topknot set with a pin displaying what I assumed was the clan emblem and face drawn down in a frown. Possessing a clean-shaven face, near perfect eyebrows, and jet-black eyes, there was no way he could not be a Yuki. And with how all the others deferred to him, he was obviously the head of this show.
The other 4 elders were either around the same age or younger than Junpei. The 2 women had their hair pinned up traditional style with ornamental snowflake hair pins, the men's hair had their top sections in a braid that was tied up into the stereotypical top knot.
I would try to give you descriptions of them beyond that but one, I was too preoccupied with the knot on the wall, and two, they pretty much looked the same besides light blue robes.
"She certainly looks a great deal like one of ours for a civilian-born bastard." A burst of anger erupted from my chest at his statement. Overthrowing the fear that initially took effect, starting to claw its way up my throat. I stiffened, straining not to twitch at the condescension.
"I thought we came here to be productive Katsuo-dono, not cry over spilt milk," one of the women spoke up, her voice soft yet stern, "As inconvenient the situation is, we need to make the most of it. Jun-san, Takuma-san, what have been your impressions of our newest addition?" I took it as permission to direct my head to look down at the floor again and tried not to cringe.
"The child completed the most basic of the Yuki clan's bloodline exercises on the first try, but has no chakra training at all from what I could tell. She's a quick study on the matter, from what I've seen. Granted, I worry slightly about the transition, but I will see to it that she will do what's best." Wow, Jun reported with no hesitation at all, proceeding as if this was a daily transaction. My view of you just got so much worse. New tag pending on Hellboy.
It must have reflected on my face or my chakra or something, because Takuma just nudged me in the ribs. Probably the latter, my face was practically connecting to the ground like a magnet.
My soon to be teacher cleared his throat, "Besides a little spunk, the child has complied to all commands. She catches on quick. Observant for a child as isolated as this one. Definitely knows how to meditate. She might not know how to actively use chakra, but passively? It's active."
Wait. Wait wait wait a freaking moment. He was actually paying attention? … on second thought, it was way too optimistic of me to assume that Takuma, the trainer of actual children, wouldn't check in on me. Especially since I didn't do anything disruptive. Something that I know normal children don't do. That was stupid.
I was no genius in my old life, logic was my strong suit. But like the blonde I had been, things seemed to fly over my head in situations like this. Mother Trucker.
I took a semi-deep breath, releasing my minor frustrations with myself and continued to be the subject of the conversation. I can be angry later in the shelter of that facsimile of a home, and within the solace of my own mind.
Junpei firmly nodded, "In this case it is understandable for the transition to be more difficult. With discipline the attitude will improve over time. I have faith that Jun-san will complete his duty to the clan training the child. Are there any other concerns?"
"Do you expect the child to be ready for the academy, Takuma-san?" The quiet woman again.
"Ideally, I would want at least a year and a half, but as long as she adheres to a strict training schedule she should be passable at the very least. I will do my best to ensure she does not embarrass our clan." Interesting, Takuma did mention that the enlistment program did drop those who did not make the cut. I hadn't come to the logical conclusion that it could apply to clan children as well. Though I'm sure there would most definitely be clan disapproval in not making the cut. Gosh darn politics. But, the council seemed to be satisfied with Takuma's analysis if the soft 'hmms' of approval tell me anything.
Then the other woman spoke up. Her words sounding heavy and downcast, "Jun-san. With your responsibilities to the village, the Yuki cannot afford to have you off of the field. Have you decided who will be with the child when you are not present?" So Hellboy is talented in something other than giving cold shoulders. Good for him.
"After consulting with Takuma-san, we think it is in the child's best interest if Takuma-san stay with me for the time being under a strict regimen to get her ready." Another wave of 'hmms'... not a very exuberant group are they?
"Any other questions?" The clan head inquired. Complete silence, I couldn't help twitching, my fingers lightly drumming against my rapidly numbing legs, "There being none we'll move onto the next subject. The child's new name. Jun-san." … I guess that is important, I don't want to be referred to as -forgive my language- the bastard child for the rest of my life.
"Yes, Junpei-sama?"
"Do you have any ideas as to what her name should be?"
The man hesitated for a moment before looking to the elders, "If it is pleasing to the elders and clan head, I would have permission to name the child, Ayaka."
And for the first time in the conversation, I had an idea of what was going through everyone's minds. The air seemed to still. Even the ever-unflappable Takuma seemed slightly jarred.
"Are you certain Jun-san?" my new guardian nodded once to the old man. After a pause the elder sighed, "If you insist."
There was scritch-scratch of quill upon paper of his recording. A soft thump, the sound of a stamp being pulled off paper, and a book being shut. The sounds of the final verdict marked for the rest of eternity, the official beginning of my existence on parchment.
"Thank you, Junpei-sama." Hellboy bowed to the ground from his position.
"Are there any more questions at this time?" Junpei-sama addressed the council once again. A quick glance round saw a dearth of the mentioned questions, "There being none Jun-san, Takuma-san, and Ayaka-chan are dismissed."
My soul, the base upon which I had built myself up from nothing, recoiled at the sound of the name. It wasn't mine. It didn't feel like mine. It wasn't given out of love or even to try to fit me, it was simply a label. One that stilled the frigid hearts of the elders. Who had it last? Probably someone dead. Perhaps I'll ask them someday when I'm not peeved or enraged at everything pertaining to this. It felt like a yoke I did not want nor ask for.
"Thank you, Junpei-sama." My guardians and I bowed in unison, both put a hand on one of my shoulders and guided me towards the way we came. I feel like livestock, new home, new obligations, a new name in mere minutes. Just like everything else in my life had changed in the last 24 hours. It felt like a slap to the face, how powerless I was, how insignificant.
Exiting the building the way we came, Jun and Takuma brought me back to the house. Upon entering I let out a sigh, releasing some of my pent-up anger. Yet the yawning pit of despair continued to dig itself deeper into my chest. I couldn't imagine what sort of damage it was causing deep inside.
"The day isn't over yet." Takuma gave my shoulder a firm pat. I wanted to shrug it away, heck I wanted to run off, barricade myself in a room and drown in my self pity, anger, yada, yada, yada. But no, I am a grown adult!... in a child's body… I'm not gonna break down!
"Yay, Conditioning, here we come." I replied flatly, mentally cramming my emotions into the pit, beelining towards the-my room to change. Have I mentioned I hate this already? If not, I hate this.
"You got 5 minutes!" I walked a bit faster. Closed the door, quickly changed into one of the gray training attire sets which turned out to be more uncomfortable than the formal attire. I faintly heard the front door close. Exiting my room, trailing down the hallway and into the kitchen area, I looked over to the entryway. It was only Takuma-Sensei.
"Gone again?" I'm not surprised, a bit peeved, but whatever. Not that I can do or say anything about it. Taking a deep sigh I put on the sandals I had been given.
"You'll warm up to each other." I looked up at him, his professional mask set in place. I couldn't tell if he was hiding something. Reading others had never been a skill I was good at, in either lives I guess. Unfortunately, it would be so very helpful in a situation like this one.
"In the near future sense or eternity," I stood up, "a lot of things have happened, my head is playing catch-up, and I honestly don't know what to do or think in this situation." Probably way more frank than I should be. But whatever. He didn't seem to care, or react... fantastic.
"You'll have to roll with it. We need to get going." I complied, following He Who Holds the Chill through the labyrinth that made up the clan compound to our next destination. Probably physical annihilation considering I haven't done any physical conditioning in this body and the current mood of this clan seems to be enforcing the pecking order where I am scum.
This notion was further reinforced when we arrived.
Most, if not all, of the kids there were definitely older than me. Some had equipment such as kunai pouches, shuriken cases, bokken, and almost all of them had bandages wrapped around their fists. But one thing was for sure, all of them had zeroed in on me as soon as we walked into the grounds.
Basically I felt like a poor civilian entering gang territory, just chibi ninja style.
Shark-bait oo-ha-ha
The oldest one there looked to be around 9 or 10, looking down at me condescendingly with each step I took. The rest of the kids followed his lead, besides the one kid around my age who seemed more confused than anything.
"Line-up!" Takuma ordered. I jumped slightly as the children immediately arranged themselves accordingly from what I assume was oldest to youngest, all black haired, black-eyed, varying degrees of adorable, and all very obviously related to myself. "Kids, this is Ayaka. She will be joining our sessions from now on." Complete and total silence, not surprised by that. Takuma tapped me on the shoulder.
"You can stand next to Tarou-chan." He pointed towards the youngest of the pack, a baby-faced kid my age, dressed in the same uniform as me. Granted all the children were wearing them but as I mentioned earlier most of them had their own individual pieces of equipment that distinguished them from each other… and those that didn't could usually be distinguished by their hairstyles.. Back to Baby-Face unlike the others who had some degree of muscle tone, he looked just as new to this as me. Mutely I complied, keeping a reasonable distance between us.
Then started the workout from hell.
Now I know why clan kids in Konoha were generally better than their civilian counterparts, their parents and trainers were probably ruthless like the Master of Death from the Farthest Reaches of Frozen Hell. And yes, I did mutter that under my breath at Takuma, in English, as I tried to keep up with the clan children.
We had started with stretches. Typical, I know, but I'm sad to say that compared to all the kids there, I was the least starchiest rubberband of the bunch. They weren't even hard poses. I was uncoordinated, unconditioned, and of course they all judged me for it.
The traditional running laps for warm-up, I ended behind them by a good 12 to 20 feet within the first couple minutes. I wouldn't say I kept up by any means, but I managed to set a pace that I wouldn't die at. Next up was a combination of push-ups and sit-ups where I was behind by at least a few sets, core burning on top of my already trembling limbs. Clothes drenched in sweat and mud. Heck, even Baby-Face was whoopin' my butt. I won't describe how badly but it could also be described as unfair. Well, everything here is unfair to begin with. So really, it's just the theme of my life. Now and forever.
Then there was the tai-jutsu.
Takuma-Sensei had split us into groups, one with the kids who could actually spar against each other and then us ninja in training babies with taijutsu dummies. At this point Takuma made a water clone, leaving that one to monitor the academy kids while he went over striking points on the dummies with us (mainly me) and the proper striking position.
Takuma had to instruct me step by step for a good half hour before I could get a basic sequence down. I got splinters and pained knuckles for my troubles. Now I know why most of them had bandages, just hitting it the wrong way could send slivers into your hands.
After working like this for maybe two hours, the parents started to show up. They trickled in slowly, silently gathering around the border of the grounds like ghosts. They seemed just as cold as their ice; eyes frigid, piercing, and when looking at me, you could just feel the scornful thoughts brewing.
Thankfully I wouldn't have to endure it for much longer.
"That will be all for today. Dismissed." Takuma said. He immediately took my shoulder and started to lead me away from the others. Unfortunately, there was an obstacle in our path.
"Takuma-san." A man, dressed in what was presumably Kiri shinobi attire, blocked our path. Takuma gave my shoulder a slight squeeze. I took the cue and bowed with him.
"Evening Goro-san, anything I can help you with?" Takuma seemed more careful with his words. Did this man hold a position of power in the clan? Or was this just clan politics garbage.
"Nothing much, just wondering who's this... new child in our midst." I kept my head down, "Not every day a child appears out of nowhere, especially at this age."
"Ayaka is Jun-san's new daughter," Takuma promptly answered, not giving the man any time to ask more questions he charged onward, "The elders have the rest of the details. Now if you excuse me, I need to escort this little one home. Good evening Goro-san." We bowed again and Takuma quickly whisked me away with no other confrontations.
When we returned… home, I finally decided it was safe to speak frankly to my new instructor.
"How in the world am I supposed to catch up to them?" I stood in the entryway covered in mud with Takuma as he closed the door. He glanced passively towards me, no emotion to speak of.
"With training. I don't expect you to catch up overnight, especially given that you've never had any conditioning in the past." Logical way of looking at it, the only way actually. I don't know why I would have expected any other answer. The mild headache starting to fester didn't help either.
"Does that apply to," I wiggled my hands vaguely, arms too dead to exaggerate the movement "this thing as well." His lip twitched. Small victories!
"If you're referring to either chakra or ice release, yes. But you need to work on your control before attempting even a replacement jutsu." Another logical conclusion... blegh.
"Yeah, that." I looked down at my filthy self, "I don't suppose there is someplace to get most of this mud off besides the tub."
"We could-" he opened the door just a crack, pointed at me and then the opening. I nearly fell on my face when all the mud on myself flew off. "do this?" I felt his grin before I even looked up.
"Better." Clean or no, I still felt like I ran a marathon, with obstacles, carrying an elephant. Blegh.
"Hmmm," he looked entertained by my blunt honesty. "Your sleepwear should be on your mat now." he commented, closing the door again and… puppeteering the air? Oh, ninja wire, or chakra strings. Trapping the door, fun, maybe Hellboy will be impaled. Wait, sleepwear? Goodness, my mind is scrambled, not unexpected though. I know through long experience that mindscaping does have that particular delayed side effect, plus the occasional headache. The emotional rollercoaster didn't make things better.
Mentally kicking myself out of La-la zone I went to my room… still feels weird to say it, think it, Gah whatever! Revealing that there was in fact another set of clothes on my mat where there previously were none. I guess I forgot that was a thing. Gingerly picking up the garments, I made my way over to the washroom. I stopped at the threshold.
"Permission to clean up." I said loud enough that it should reach Master Death from He- whatever I had nicknamed him before.
"Do you even know how?" His head popped up down the hall, looking doubtful.
"Yes," From what I know all the anime universes' systems were practically the same when it came to their systems. After all, they were based off of the world I lived in before. If I can't figure this out with twenty-some years of human experience under my belt, I'm an eternal failure to the human race for lack of common sense… or just the human race in general.
Takuma was not reassured in any way shape or form, his eyes narrowed as if he was trying to decipher whether I was lying or not. Which I both was and wasn't at the same time, I didn't want to be watched by any male while showering, dressing, or any activity that breached my comfort zone.
"If you're not out in five minutes-"
"Thanks!" I walked in and closed the door. Letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding, gah the anxiety that comes with being forcefully transplanted. Fun.
It took a little doing, but within a minute I had managed to finagle the system well enough to get myself cleaned off and redressed.
"I'm done, I'm done!" I said, opening the door to reveal I was still in one piece. Put your knives down and step away from your plates! Probably not how the saying goes but still works. He gave me that wry look used by parents and teachers everywhere.
"You didn't know how it worked did you."
I hadn't, but I wasn't going to let him know that.
"I did but hadn't done it myself." At this point I could envision him slapping his forehead in a 'Out of all the children in the world-' moment. It's amazing he managed to keep a straight face.
"Your Father should be back in a half hour with supper."
"Take-out again?"
"I've never seen Jun cook a single thing in his life, get used to it," A fully trained ninja who can't cook at home… or he is extremely bad… you know what, I don't want to know.
"I guess we have that in common." I commented, making my way to the kitchen to sit down at the table. Upon sitting I set my forehead down, letting the rest of my body slump afterwards. Dang my hands felt like pincushions.
"Give me your hands." Takuma was next to me in an instant. In any other functional state I would have jumped to the high heavens, now I just stuck my arms out further than my head as if I was offering them as a sacrifice. "At this point you're gonna hate tomorrow mornings routine."
"As if that wasn't the memo already. OW!" I grumbled, not anticipating the sting. Clenching my teeth together, I slowly looked over to stare at the man next to me.
"Salve for the splinters, you'll thank me tomorrow," Takuma continued to rub the ointment gently into the crevices of my training dummy battle scars. My skin cell neurons felt like firecrackers.
"... then I'll wait till then." I dropped my head back down with an uncomfortably loud thud. Is it bad that it didn't hurt? Probably. Do I particularly care? Not now. I'm not even certain if I can make it to the academy at this rate.
Sure enough Hellboy returned, he and Takuma exchanged a few words over the sketchy takeout (In my mentally numb opinion) before dismissing me for the rest of the night. I don't even remember closing my eyes after my head touched the pillow.
Welcome to the first day of the rest of my life.