Small Steps
A sleepy kunoichi—nicknamed the Narcoleptic Ninja—has big dreams. Wanting to save her teammates Obito, Kakashi, as well as her sensei and his love, the sleepy kunoichi will have to work hard to see her dream come true. Reborn!OC
academy akemi-chan: rising
years til nine tails: 8 years, 6 months
akemi: 9 years, 11 months
location: hidden leaf village (spring)
Nishi-sensei drums her fingers on her chin as she hovers nearby.
Every time I pause between a throw... or massage aching hands, I sneak a glance at her gaze. It's too distracted to be analyzing me. But she barely blinks which is just as bad.
"Sleepy."
Internally, I exhale in relief. "Sensei?"
"Let's learn a new weapon."
Truthfully, I'm exhausted but I'm not dumb enough to discourage Nishi-sensei. "...yes, Sensei."
Nishi-sensei walks to a shelf, grabbing something sounding like heavy metal scraping against wood. She returns, eager, energetic. "In lieu of long range weapons," she introduces warmly, "I present to you the chain-sickle."
It looks lackluster: the chain-sickle is quite literally a chained sickle with a weight on the opposite end. The weight is pretty heavy compared to the sickle.
"Good, huh?" Nishi-sensei looks over the weapon fondly. "It's pretty versatile. The sickle makes for a great ranged blade while the weight can be used to grab things and bring them to you. But using the weight is a bit advanced, so don't get impatient. This sickle in particular is double bladed, so you can preform a number of fatalities on a person."
I look at the weapon warily.
"Don't give me that look. This weapon is made to bring others down to your power. You can use the weight to break fingers or toes, to disarm. Once your opponent is weakened, use the sickle to kill or force surrender. It's good for someone as green as you."
Nishi-sensei teaches me how to spin the chain and use it to catch things. The trick is to get enough motion to make the weight keep spinning in a circle, chaining whatever it has in its grasps. Then we work on recovering from failed wraps, because ninety percent of the weapon's use comes from being to grab onto things.
"I heard that Hanzou would also add chakra to his chain to make sure it stuck," Nishi-sensei mentions. "When you're a Jounin with that kind of capability, consider doing that for extra reassurance."
There are other ways to use the weight in a fight. Though its function is grabbing and anyone who would fight me would expect that, the weight is a heavy, flying projectile at the end of the day.
Nishi-sensei teaches me how to throw the weight at a target as if it were a kunai. Fast enough and surprising enough, the ninja will be hit. Too slow and the ninja may catch it. When that happens, it's safe to throw an kunai with an explosive tag or some other large distraction to convince the ninja to let go. Ideally, it'd be best to not loose the weapon.
If I hook the chain around the sickle and spin the weight, it becomes a shield and a long ranged projectile.
"It's a good weapon," Nishi-sensei tells me, "so long as your opponent doesn't grab it. Move quickly and be surprising."
My hands are aching whenever I write notes in the Academy or practice sewing my clothes to hide special weapons in Kunoichi Class that week.
In that July, the end of the first semester is in three weeks. The almost lazy Academy days come to an end.
small steps chapter 6 | rising
"How am I supposed to remember things from April?" Obito rants. "Do you know how long I've been in here? My months are getting mixed up!"
Our class walks through the halls following behind Kachime-sensei. The three of us had just finished the lunch I brought (after all, Sayaka said friends do random acts of kindness like that), so we didn't need to group up for our afternoon lessons.
"Semester finals are always so stressful," Rin tells me, smiling nervously. "When we get back from summer break, class rankings start."
Obito's eyes are shining under the orange tint of his goggles. "I'm usually at the end, but not this year! I've been working hard on my Fireball Technique, you know!"
Rin nods. "It looks very cool now!"
Obito's face flushes. "R-Right!"
I open the door that leads to the outside target practice grounds for the two of them. "So... everyone will be asking for Kachime-sensei's help..."
"Yup, it's best to ask him in the beginning so you don't have to worry about it," says Rin.
Speaking of our teacher, Kachime-sensei tells us all to crowd around the smallest target practice area. Jutting from the ground at the average height of an adult are eight cylindrical poles. A black and white target is painted with the same area of an average adult's face.
Something fun to do... as opposed to swimming, climbing, and hiking lessons we've had for a month.
For this lesson, we'll have to hit seven targets with four shuriken and three with kunai. The closer to the center, the better the score.
"I've been working hard on this," Rin tells me. "Medical ninja have to be able to flee, so being able to throw good is a must. Anko's been helping me so much."
"Anko...?" If I'm correct... that's definitely the troublemaker Anko Mitarashi from our Kunoichi Class. She does anything possible to drive our teacher Hanabira mad even though she enjoys the class. It's probably to punish her for being such a harsh grader.
"Anko's always been good!" Obito leans a bit futher than Rin does so I can see him too. "She says it's fun killing bugs and throwing stuff at stray animals, so she'll work hard to be on the mark."
"...what kind of hobby...?" I mumble.
"That's only a part of her. Anko is very kind once you know her," Rin says.
"Can't relate! She's always picking on me, you know," Obito pouts. "She's prolly only nice because you're nice to everyone."
"Obito's the really nice one. Because he became my first friend," Rin teases.
Obito turns away, missing the happy smile on Rin's face. "D-... Don't you friendship takes two people? You were kind enough to be my first friend, so..."
What a crush...
Considering how wacky Obito is, maybe Rin just couldn't image Obito having a crush on her? As of right now, it just looks like he gets flustered easily. It all fits in perfectly with his passionate and mercurial emotions.
But once we settle down, I watch our classmates throw. Some are very good and some could use a little work. Obito's throw starts well until he throws the kunai... which kinda missed all the targets and nearly hit Kachime-sensei.
It seems names are drawn at random, because Anko throws before I throw.
She strides up to point where we all have to stand, grabs four shuriken from out her rear pouch, and throws. Every shuriken make the center dot, though not always directly in the center. The kunai follow a similar path. No other students has had such a high accuracy up until now and the claps prove it.
Anko skips to her seat with a huge smirk.
"She's taught me," Rin mumbles, "but I'm no where near that good."
"It's okay, Rin! I believe in you!" Obito gives her a thumbs up.
Anko really is talented.
Something as basic as accuracy isn't that hard to come by. But by being an Academy student, we have to practice all sorts of things, even studying or training ten hours after we get home. Not too many students care about getting perfect marks in everything. Fewer care about putting enough time and energy into something as inconsequential as accuracy.
So... it's really unnerving to see results as good as mine where it's taken me nearly two years of daily practice versus children who occasionally practiced over three years or more.
(That's probably why only Kachime-sensei picked me; I'm a bit unremarkable.)
That doesn't matter. Just try harder. Be better.
I repeat that mantra until it's my time to throw. Rin and Obito cheer me on before I walk forward. Some people clap (most are polite clappers who clap even for people they don't know) for the girl who doesn't really fit in.
Feeling the shuriken and kunai in my hands is slightly comforting. Knowing I have so many eyes watching is not.
"Whenever you're ready, begin," Kachime-sensei says, purple clipboard decorated with purple shuriken ready for notes.
I inhale and exhale.
The wind is almost non existent. Some poles are farther back than others. I should apply the same amount of force for all weapons so that the closer ones stay stuck and the farther ones will likely remain stuck.
The easiest targets are in front of me, three of seven. The next two are off to the side slightly, so that means different release rates. There's going to be a slight curve on the outer targets, so I can't have the wind messing me up.
I pause until I'm absolutely certain the wind won't restart midway through the throw and launch both weapons at the same time, regretting I can't use chakra to make it easier.
(Ah... I don't think I was supposed to do them simultaneously.)
As soon as they all leave my hands, my body feels so drained I really want to sleep.
I don't, though.
The shuriken and kunai all hit the center of the targets with three kunai directly in the center of the innermost circle and four a bit under the center.
It's not shabby for my first attempt at this. If I practiced a bit more, it'd be way better.
I'm thinking about scheduling time to practice this when Kachime-sensei says loudly, "That's the highest accuracy of this semester so far!"
I hear him, I didn't listen, so I say, "Huh?"
"No one's been that accurate this semester," he says. "Congratulations!"
"Ah... oh... thank you..."
I walk back to Obito and Rin, still dazed. I swear I hear a clap, but Obito is shouting so loudly, "That was super cool! I honestly thought you fell asleep up there!"
Rin giggles. "Hey, hey, why didn't you say you were this good? Could you teach me sometime?"
Me? A teacher?
"...um, okay?"
(If you can get through how slow I am.)
Rin brings up my score again as we walk to Kunoichi Class. "You reminded me so much of Kakashi back then."
Kakashi and me in the same sentence? Have I fallen asleep? I pinch my cheek, much to Rin's amusement.
"Hey, new girl!"
I look over my shoulder, unable to decipher the girly voice.
There are a few classmates in the Ninja Academy that I can look at and feel a massive sense of deja vu. There are some whose faces spark no memory.
She belongs to the former. And I don't just feel deja vu, I instantly realize who this person is.
The first thing I see is spiky, violet hair falling unevenly over her face. Her opaque mesh tank top comes into view, followed by a uniquely shaped necklace. A similar material covers her arms and knees. By her baggy shorts are two balled fists.
She stops at a deliberate moment, just enough to where she's invading the usual distance people make with strangers. I notice it. Rin notices it. We are not friends, so the breech feels too awkward.
"You look like you don't even know me," she says, pale brown pupil-less both mesmerizing and intense.
"A-Ah..." I'm not sure of her intent, so it'd be wise not to tick her off. "You're... Anko Mitarashi..."
She nods once, satisfied. "And you're that sleepyheaded new girl. Didn't expect for you to actually be good at something. But, the thing is, accuracy is my thing. I'm the best thrower in Kachime-sensei's class."
"Oh, er," Rin cuts in, "you two can be the best together! It'll be fun!"
Anko's gaze softens when looking at Rin. It turns harsh as she sizes me up. "We don't have nothing in common, Rin. She looks 'bout as interesting as a funeral."
Sweat falls down my cheek.
(Oh.)
"I—I don't think I am," I say. "It's... I'm biased, but... I learned how to do that in two years, so... before I practiced, I was terrible."
"So? You telling me you're a genius? Like Kakashi?" She shifts her weight to the leg closest to me. Bad sign.
"N-No way. But, look, I can use a sword... and a staff... and some other weapons, too. It only took two years. Isn't that... isn't that cool?"
Think of all the fun things I could do, Anko. Don't kids like that?
Anko narrows her eyes. Her frown changes into a grimace. "Is that the reason Kachime-sensei let you in here? You can do a few fancy tricks inna short time, and that's okay? Well, I been here nearly three years. I can totally kick your butt no sweat."
Wait...
Anko's mad at me?
I look to Rin only to find a confused look on her face. "Akemi, you can do all that? I didn't know! That's really impressive you learned so quickly, too."
"Rin, you should really stay away from her," Anko continues. "I don't like her vibe. She transfers in just because she knows a few things? What kind of a person could learn so much even though she sleeps a bunch?"
This is going downhill so fast.
I think I understand what's happening: kids have a set perspective on things good and bad. Nothing will change. A bad guy on TV is bad even if they get redeemed. So, in her eyes, she's already labeled me as bad and is only filtering things to confirm I'm the bad guy.
I hold both my palms up. "Er... it's a misunderstanding. I'm trying to say... I'm here for a reason. And I could teach you. You... you could be better."
"Be better? You tryna say something, new girl?" Anko shouts and huffs. "I don't like people who underestimate me. So what if I'm not top kunoichi? I don't need to be the top to beat you up!"
"Wait! We shouldn't fight, you two!" Rin pleads.
I nod eagerly. The last thing I want is to get beat up.
Anko smirks. "Fine, Rin. I'll just beat our genius girl another way. Later!"
With that cheery goodbye, Anko walks off.
"...wrong words?" I say to Rin, who just exhales.
small steps chapter 6 | rising
The three of us spend the week before the first semester finals studying. The test is both written and practical, so that only means more things so study for. With help from Sayaka and Nishi-sensei, I feel slightly less unprepared.
If I do well, I'll have a good class rank. Then Nishi-sensei will be proud.
But I have to beat kids who spent three years doing this kind of thing.
So far all my grades are As. Low As, but still As. The highest and rarest grade is S, which I only get in classes involving weapons. Averaging all the grades, I'm making a high A.
Nishi-sensei told me I might have a shot at first place but if I screw up this heavily weighed exam, it's all over.
"Good luck," Rin says, trading out her kimono tunic for a black shirt and simple shorts.
I nod, trembling slightly.
After a day full of testing, summer break begins.
Instead of resting, I'm forced to study and train for long hours, only occasionally joining Obito and Rin for fun times for an hour or two.
When late September hits, we're back in the Academy with warm clothes and eagerness to read the rankings now posted on the wall.
Obito, Rin, and I read the board once the commotion is gone.
Obito is the first to find his name. "Dead last again? What the heeeeck?"
"But isn't your average now a low C instead of a D? You're getting much better," Rin says, only kind of consoling him.
"I bet you're number one again," the Uchiha pouts—
Rin? Number one?
The name next to number one for kunoichi is
definitely Rin Nohara.
"I was sure Kurenai's S in genjutsu would totally beat me," Rin sighs.
"Rin Nohara... Kurenai Yuuhi... ah, Akemi's got third place! Congratulations!"
Rin claps along. "Congratulations!"
...it seems I have some ways to go.
"Rin's... so smart," I say.
"Ah, not really... Academics have always been my thing. I have to spend a buuunch of time working on Body Techniques and fitness, though... My grades could be better."
"Rin is perfect," Obito blushes. "Don't worry about better grades."
Rin laughs. "Obito, I need them so I can be a medical ninja. Oh! I have to go congratulate Kurenai and Anko! And Anko's fourth! It's kinda weird not seeing her in third, you know..."
"Eh?" I say.
I look over to Anko's seat. Of course she's sitting there, giving me a death glare.
To her, I came in and ended up being better than her in only one semester.
There's probably no fixing the rage the feels.
small steps chapter 6 | rising
Rin doesn't show up for class today. Obito doesn't find me for lunch, so I do the work and find him. As he bites into his fish, I'm just now getting comfortable and smelling the contents of my lunch box before me.
"Oh, sup, Akemi," he says and stuffs his mouth even more.
"Hey..."
As food enters my filling tummy, I look over to tell Obito I want to sleep. Obito is watching Rin's empty seat, food held by chopsticks lingering near his mouth.
...he hasn't said anything. Normally, it'd be so, so difficult to shut him up.
The once relaxing silence becomes stifling and cold.
How... how does Rin do this? Usually... a question. Something boring and plain. Something related to the Academy.
"Ah... er... hey."
Obito looks over, a bit startled.
I continue after adjusting my position in the chair, "...did you buy any... ninja important things? Like... ninja pouches... thigh holsters... ninja backpacks...?"
"Oh," Obito tells me, full of energy, "that's what we did earlier!"
"...earlier?" I tilt my head thoughtfully. I know I was training with Nishi-sensei yesterday... and the day before that...
"Erm, well, sometimes I get bored at home. So I like to walk to Rin's house and get her to hang out. Thing was, Kurenai had the money to go shopping, so Rin and I joined her! Kurenai is so riiich!"
"Ah..."
My stomach isn't greedy for food anymore.
Here I am... struggling to make time so I can hang out with them, not counting training and being home before night. And with long Academy days and weekends are busy playing catch up, I can't remember the last time we seriously met up after school.
Friends make everything funner, Sayaka told me. Can you really call anyone a friend if you've done anything more than talking? You have to bond!
I guess doing academic things together isn't enough. I wasn't even invited to join at least once...
My heart trembles.
"Do you... hang out every day... with Rin?" I try to keep my voice steady... even though my hands are sweaty no matter how many times I wipe them on my sweater.
Obito laughs sheepishly. "Don't make fun of me! It's so boring being alone! And Rin doesn't mind. Sometimes we go out and do things, or we stay in and eat or study together. Rin even knows when I'm gonna be bored 'cause sometimes she'll invite me to places first!"
His happy grin is practically scolding the bitter feelings growing within me.
I'm never invited. I've never even heard of Rin's offers...
"...could I join sometime," I ask under my breath.
"Huh? Um... I guess so? But the things we do means you can't really sleep and stuff. And... maybe not studying together, you seem like a boring tutor. So... I mean, what would you like to do?"
Aha.
I'm never invited because I never take the initiative. It's too much to hope for a socially adept person to take me under their wing and do all the work for me. Then again... maybe it's me. Maybe I'm a dull person. It's not like I understand how to communicate with people this young.
"Actually..." I breath in. Out. "What's... your favorite place to eat?"
"Mmm... anywhere, really. But I can't pay for food. Grandma won't get paid til... next week, I think?"
"Don't worry... it's on me."
Obito's mouth falls open as his eyes glitter. "You have money? Can Rin join, too? Won't that be like a date for us?" And he chuckles at whatever fantasy he daydreams of.
On Saturday, I don't enter the Leaf with the intent on going to Nishi-sensei's to practice, but to meet up with two special people.
"Heyyyy! You made ittttt!"
My heart warms.
Rin is still sick, but only fights a red, runny nose and sneezing. Obito tells her to order spicy pork to clear her nose (which does as well as send tears pouring from her eyes) as he eats his pork bowl. I push aside all the meat and eat the seasoned veggies and rice in my bowl.
"...never been to Ichiraku's?" I say, making eye contact with Obito who keeps trying to give napkins to an embarrassed Rin. "It's pretty cheap."
"I know, but... it's so popular and when there's a lot of people, I get noticed."
Obito is not smiling or continuing. He shoves meat into his mouth and watches something off in the distance.
Either he's being mocked for being different from most Uchiha, being dead last, or... it's villagers who hate all Uchiha. Not a nice feeling. Which is probably why Obito insisted we buy pork bowls from his favorite elderly chef and eat them on a bench. Away from too many people.
Maybe when he's no longer a scared Academy student... he'll enjoy Ichiraku Ramen.
"You two," Rin begins with her sick voice and giggle. "I'm so happy we're spending time together! Thank you so much for inviting me, Obito!"
"Ah! Well, um... Akemi told me to get you. "
Rin looks at me as if I'm some kind of phenomenon. "Ehhhhh! Akemi you wanted to hang out?"
Awkward, ears burning, I hunch up my shoulders.
"Cuuuute! Akemi is growing out her shell! I'm so proud!"
And when she smiles, it's precious and makes my heart skip a beat.
And when Obito sees her joy, he begins to grin, too. Her eyes are closed, so he shoots me a look with only one meaning: Thanks for making her smile.
small steps chapter 6 | rising
I get my first real break in winter when there's a sudden snowfall.
The path to Nishi-sensei's shop is too iced over for walking.
Since everything is kinda snowy and cold, the Minakura Clan is homebound.
"An-chaaan!"
I deliberately keep my eyes shut.
Sayaka lifts my eyelids open, however. "Are you awake?"
I mumble something.
"Great! I need your help!" She picks me up and marches down the hall. Without any windows, it's dimly lit. Perfect for sleeping. Until she opens a room door and causes sunlight to pour out. "Can you please tell Satoshi animals like the snow?"
I'm not an animals expert?
Sayaka tucks her hands under my armpits and holds me out to view everything.
Sayaka's twin brother Satoshi Minakura barely looks any different from her. Both have short, black hair and eyes. As opposed to her happy greens, Satoshi sticks with dull blues and an overall dull appearance.
Rarely do I ever enter Sayaka's room (I'll never give her the homefield advantage like that) much less her twin brother's, so entering Satoshi's room is a foreign experience. At first, I see Satoshi sitting in his immaculate bed, petting a tabby cat. Around him is a blue and gray colored room, so clean, so flawless it seems an alien came by and fixed it.
And yet, somewhere in this room, Satoshi has dozens of animal pets.
"Look at the messy state she's in," Satoshi says, pointing at me. His cat hops off his lap with the sudden motion. "She just woke up."
"Honestly, Satoshi, she's always just waking up throughout the day." She throws me onto his bed and slides his door shut.
His bed is cozy... smells like it's just been washed... I can sleep like this.
"For crying out loud." Satoshi curses and sits me straight. "Can you tell Sayaka I refuse to let any animal outside this house with this weather?"
"Animals in snow is the cutest thing imaginable!" Sayaka stomps her foot. "I know you have that pig still! So just let it meet snow for the first time!"
"Absolutely not!"
"Isn't snow cold water? Drop your fish in the snow and see them swim!"
"Are you out of your mind?"
I can sleep sitting up like this, even if Satoshi keeps shaking me.
"You're too overprotective!"
"You lack the ability to care for a pet rock!"
Sayaka gasps. "What if... I use my mission money to buy that chinchilla you wanted?"
Satoshi stops shaking me and lets go. I fall back into his fluffy pillows and relax... until he starts tidying the bed underneath me. "Don't be crazy... you've been saving up for your dress when you make Special Jounin."
"I know, but... there's nothing more hilarious in the world than watching animals freak out about snow!"
"I don't want a pet just because you're amused!"
"Satoshiiiii!"
"Get out my room! And take Akemi with you!"
"No, An-chan's your burden, just like her nickname!"
At that, both Satoshi and I wince. He, of all people, will never call me "An-chan", mainly because the nickname is all his fault.
"Akemi," Satoshi pleads, "leave my room."
"But... I want to sleep," I plead back.
"You act like it's difficult for you to go back to sleep," he retorts.
I mumble something and close my eyes.
"Isn't An-chan a great burden? How on earth will you get rid of her without leaving your room and unsupervised animals behind...?"
Satoshi growls. Sayaka giggles.
Then he shouts, "Mother! If you make Akemi rice congee, I'll give you money to go to the hot springs!"
Sayaka breathes in with a painful rasp. "How. Could. You?"
Auntie shouts from somewhere in the house: "Hanae, get the sieve, I gotta wash some rice!"
Sayaka runs away, shouting, "No, Mommy, don't do it!"
Finally, I can sleep...
At least until the smell of my favorite food interrupts my dream. I get out my bed and kind of stumble a bit. If I blink, I can still see my dream.
"Akemi, are you leaving?" Satoshi says to me. I dunno why he's in my room.
Once the spoon full of blissfully hot congee hits my mouth, I doze off again.
Later that day, the siblings continue arguing.
Mom has earmuffs on as she works on papers. Auntie is loudly sharpening her kunai. I'm trying to get cozy on the couch to sleep again, missing the warmth of food in my tummy.
And then the two of them barrel into the living room.
Mom looks up at the movement and shouts at Auntie, "I think your children need you!"
Auntie covers Mom's mouth. "They're your children when they act like this."
Dang, I can't run to Nishi-sensei in this weather.
"Sayaka is trying to bring snow up into my room and fill my tub with it," Satoshi complains. "It's melting everywhere!"
"It's not my fault he's worried about it being too cold and dry outside, so this is the best of both worlds!"
"How did you... get the snow all the way to his tub?" I say and yawn.
"Hard work, An-chan. Hard work."
"Why are you so desperate to do this?" Satoshi glowers at his sister. "Get a life!"
"My family and friends are my life! Besides, what have you been doing all day? Nothing. Nothing but being a killjoy."
"I am a responsible parent for my animal children!"
"Are you sure? 'Cause it's impossible to have so many animals and have a clean room! Seems to me you give your room more TLC than your pets."
"Enough!"
Auntie grabs their heads and shoves them together, dazing the twins.
"It's the holiday season! So shut up and get along!"
Sayaka is the first to recover. "Any harder, and I would've popped."
Satoshi snaps out of his daze immediately. "What was that?"
Sayaka? shakes her head furiously. "Sorry, I was just confused! Forget—"
Satoshi slashes his kunai across her chest (disobeying the no ninja fighting in the house rule) and Sayaka pops.
"A shadow clone?" Satoshi roars, running back up the stairs.
Auntie sits and continues sharpening kunai. Mom looks over and shouts, "Did they work it out?"
"We'll see soon," Auntie says.
"What? I can't hear you!"
I start to doze until I hear them running down the stairs again. Their steps are kinda heavy...
Am I shaking?
I look at Auntie. Auntie looks at Mom. Mom takes off her earmuffs.
"Oh no."
Shortly after we say that, five dozen animals run through the living room and out the unlocked door. Sayaka runs after them, taking picture after picture. Satoshi comes down much later, half tied up.
"We should run," Mom says softly. "Grandmother... probably heard that."
Auntie grins. "Satoshi gave me money for the hot springs, but I guess we can use it to stay the night in an inn."
Nodding in unison, we flee.
"...that's why I'm late," I conclude.
Kachime-sensei has a thick bead of sweat rolling down his face. "Your cousin... was the reason we got so many animal calls throughout the week?"
I scratch my neck, still sore from scratches. "Sorry..."
I have to wait until lunchtime to see my second to last rank of the year.
"Tied for second place...?"
Rin nods. "You know, the grades you two get are so close. Ss in one subject area and high As the rest. No wonder you tied."
Complex feelings surround my heart. There's this bitterness that all of my hard work seems to be irrelevant. There's this fear of what's on the other side of second place. But if I don't linger on it, the feelings almost vanish.
"...how are you still first, Rin?" I say, not expecting much.
"Ah, um... I make Ss in two things: chakra control and Kunoichi Class. Hanabira-sensei is such a harsh grader, nobody else makes Ss. That must be it."
I see. There aren't many clan children in the class who are also female. It makes sense there aren't any girls who'd work hard in that class. Even Kurenai carries herself in an elegant way not taught to us by Hanabira.
So... to beat Rin... I need three classes where I make Ss in.
"Are you going to take the graduation test?" Obito says to Rin, still grumpy his rank hasn't changed.
"I need one more year of medical training, then I'll take it," she says.
"Well, if Rin doesn't do it, neither will I!"
"Of course... you're still dead last," I say, wondering why he's trying to be so agreeable.
Obito gets defensive and defensive means he shouts without a care in the world. "Hey, I'm getting better! My Fireball Technique actually looks like a Fireball, thank you! And I bought new eye drops that'll awaken my Sharingan faster!"
Throughout the day, I try to find two subjects I can make an S on.
I should be making Ss in history, right? Considering I know both the past and future of this world through my soul. It's just that, I never really study history because of it, so it's easy to make As. If I tried a bit harder, that can be my S.
And... maybe math? It's easy if I have the formulas remembered and I use it often enough. If I worked a bit more instead of giving up, I could make Ss.
I study for the two of the subjects very diligently. I test myself, get others to test me. When I take my last exam of third year, I wait eagerly for the rankings.
Rin gasps. "No way..."
We are tied for first place.
"...dont be mad, Rin," I say. "I know you said... you needed high scores to continue your med ninja training."
"I'm not mad. Obviously, you're very smart. Besides... ranks aren't everything, so it's okay."
Rin smiles but... I feel like she's disappointed. After all, she held that spot for three years. Now some greenie is going to take it away.
"You don't have to be polite... I won't beat you if it hurts."
"Absolutely not! I won't forgive myself if I beat the you who isn't doing her best." Rin giggles. "I guess I'll have to work harder, huh?"
As she leaves to talk to Kurenai, I go over to Obito who grits his teeth at his unchanging rank.
"Hey..." I whisper, "Rin is an angel."
Instantly, he's in his lovey-dovey mode. "Right? She's amazing! The Gods sent down an angel!"
"Yes... I see why you like her."
"I do not!"
The background murmurings of the class silence. I don't have to look hard to know there are eyes on us. In fact, Obito fidgets with his goggles and laughs with a bashful expression. As soon as the tension wanes, he whispers. "Is it obvious...?"
Oh...
He didn't tell me his crush.
My fingers find their way to my hair, just to do something. "Lucky guess..."
"You can't tell her," he says, eyes blacker than normal as he leans in close. "You can't."
I nod, ignoring the urge to lean away. My personal space. I need it. It's too awkward, too tense. "B-But... shouldn't you tell her? Maybe she'll—"
"She likes someone else. Someone you dunno. And if I tell her..." His weary face seems more fitting for an adult, not a child. "I don't want to lose her as a friend."
"...but loving her in secret... isn't much better."
"Yeah. Least she's my friend! And everything won't be all weird!"
"Obito..."
I start to scold him... but what's the point? They're so young... so many years until their deaths. No seven- or eight-year-old needs to worry about romance or do anything to tarnish the idea. Of course... if I save them both, they might just have a good end together.
(If I said anything... I don't want to lose my only friends.)
"She's amazing, Akemi," Obito starts, maybe trying to justify his actions for my "impending" lecture. "I can't stop these feelings. I want to make her happy just like she makes me."
He smiles to himself, a lovey-dovey smile. A smile even softer and precious than Rin's.
"I'll be at your side," I blurt, surprising me, "until your feelings reach Rin."
Obito gawks, stunned.
I tilt my head, feeling my ears burn. Maybe I could convince him to forget that. "...wrong words?"
"No, it's just... I never really hear you speak so clearly and strongly." Obito fidgets with his goggles's strap. "Does... this mean we're best friends now?"
I nod. "Yup, definitely."
Was it not clear before? I guess I'm not good with friends.
But all my best friends in my life... Sayaka (arguably)... Gramma... Dad... Nishi-sensei... oh, there's something they all do in common. Maybe it's just a best friends thing.
"We are best friends," I repeat. "So... let's give each other nicknames."
"Really? Best friends do that?"
I guess we're both really bad at this.
"You're a bit older than me, so how does Akemi-nee sound?"
I repeat it in my head. "Sounds nice. For me... you'll be... um... Obi..."
Obito-nii sounds really strange.
"...tobi..."
If I can't stop him from being a villain, if I call him Tobi, he'd probably change his name to something different.
"...kun," is all I have for a nickname.
"Obitobi-kun," Obito repeats dryly. "That doesn't really make sense. I mean... it sounds nice, but there's no meaning!"
"Ah, um..."
Obito says it sounds nice and I literally cannot think of anything else. That'll be his placeholder nickname until something better comes along.
"Does Rin... have any best friends? Maybe she knows how this works..."
Obito frowns at that. "Rin doesn't have any friends other than me. It's really strange, though. She's so kind and caring. Everyone has nothing but nice things to say about her. But she lacks any real bond with them. Maybe it's because she's so smart and hardworking... she can't really relate to most girls."
"Rin...?"
It's... so familiar from my first few weeks at school. I thought we were friends... we were friendly enough, but there's always this distance. Rarely does Rin hangout with our classmates if it's not group parties or bumping into them in public.
But why is there this distance despite everything?
Is it a clan thing?
Or... is it something one-sided?
For some reason, I begin to picture Sayaka.
"Kurenai and Rin... aren't close friends?" I say.
Obito exhales. "They were close when were first years, but... I dunno. It's not like Kurenai's mean, she just barely hangs out with Rin now."
Could it be... competition?
(Kurenai is sweet as a Jounin, but as a child...?)
"But it doesn't matter 'cause she's got me!" Obito grins cheekily. "And now she's got you too!"
small steps chapter 6 | rising
The second year of Academy is a lot more easy to handle. It's just more of the same. Now with a concrete goal in mind for number one, I work for it with everything I got.
Nishi-sensei still lets me train and occasionally teaches me, as punishment for not being the only number one. It's very motivating in its own way.
I also decide to ask Satoshi for his help, since he spent so much to make my favorite food. Unlike Sayaka, Satoshi is excellent in academics—his favorites at least. Sayaka works better with the practical side of things.
"Sorry that Sayaka... kinda killed... your fish," I say one evening, after looking at his mourning shrine.
Satoshi's expression darkens. "She actually thought fish can swim in snow."
"...now... we're all wiser." I gingerly move in his ultra tidy room, worried to break the harmony.
"Pftt..." He chuckles. "If anything, you're wiser, Akemi. I never expected you to pass the entrance exam let alone tie for top kunoichi."
I look away. "...it's exhausting. The work... the training... if I didn't have friends or you guys... I couldn't do it."
Satoshi's smile is ever so slightly condescending.
"Yup, that's the cost of doing something you're not good at. It's not easy. If you could, you would spend your entire life sleeping because it's easy. But waking up is harder."
I put my chin on his table, exhausted from the sudden weight. "...that's hard, too."
"You know, if you really need some relief, bring your friends over here. We'll be good hosts and hostesses... so long as Sayaka stops eavesdropping!"
From behind the screen door, Sayaka cries, "I was walking by and just happened to hear you!"
"For an hour?"
"It was a long walk!"
Satoshi groans. "She's feeling guilty for what happened."
"Will you... forgive her?"
He smirks. "Oh, I'm mostly over it. It's just funny to make her suffer a bit longer. As soon as I admit I'm not mad any more, it's back to the old Sayaka."
"I don't know which Sayaka I like more," I wonder.
Satoshi nods and looks outside briefly. "Gah, it's getting late! You need to get some rest. Tomorrow is your Shinobi Hand to Hand Combat spar, right? You better up those high marks."
I close my textbook unenthusiastically. "Right..."
Pain? Bruising? Exertion? How can I be excited?
"I'm so excited!" Obito cries as we make a ring outside. "While you two were in your club thing, I would watch the big kids spar. It was intense!"
Rin's smile is too shaky for her to be calm. "I'm not really good at this kind of thing... I hope I get an easy opponent... Gods, please hear me."
It seems like the Bunny Gods do hear and bless Obito and Rin with victories. Obito comes back a bit more bruised and in pain than Rin, which makes me nervous.
"Anko Mitarashi versus Akemi Minakura," Kachime-sensei calls, yellow clipboard decorated with bells at the ready.
(Where's my luck? Did I use it all up?)
I face Anko warily. She seems ready to fight, though, chuckling under her breath.
Grades on spars are based on clean techniques or an automatic A for winning the fight. So for someone like me who can't stand spars but needs to stay number one, I can't very well lose.
"Ready? Then... Begin!"
Anko is the kind of person who'd always have the first hit, so it's no surprise to see her dashing to me, fist raised. It's easy to side step. Anko turns as soon as do, unleashing a barrage of left and right punches I have to block and slap away. No hits land. Anko growls and I see her sway her weight to her front leg. A shin kick. She's planning on hitting my leg and crippling me. And as she's wearing boots, it's gonna hurt even more.
Get her away before she hits you—
I slap away both of her hands and shove my own into her chest. With a cough, Anko staggers backwards. Once she's balanced, she jumps at me, gritting her teeth. Her foot is coming towards my face.
I run under her so when she lands, she'll have to turn to see me. As soon as the tip of her boot presses against the ground, I deliver a sharp blow to her back in form of a roundhouse kick.
She staggers but starts her assault anew, undaunted.
Those hits would've left me down—
In the distance I've created, Anko has enough room to push off the ground and kick. Her subsequent attacks start off easy to predict. But after a spin and a reverse kick, I start backing up, too worried to be so close. I lose track of Anko. I lose track of what she's doing. As a result, Anko's foot slams into my chest, sending me a bit airborne as I crash onto the ground.
That... that really hurts. I suck in a breath to prevent my chest from moving too much. Sadly, my basic stance requires much of my chest, which sends sparks of pain through me.
Anko took the time for me to get up to catch her breath. Ready, she dashes to me.
Punch? Kick? I hold my hands up to block.
Anko drives what seems to be an open hand heel punch towards me. I aim to push her wrist away, but... she latches onto my hand.
What are you—
As I struggle to tear her hand off, she hops over me, keeping my hand in place as she lands behind me.
Oh, I see.
Both of my hands are on the opposite side of Anko. Therefore, nothing can stop her from punching my stomach once, twice—each jostling my still sore chest. I'm already wincing as she draws back her fist for another punch. Please not another...
My foot rises and falls on something uneven. Anko cries out, the punch stops. My heel makes contact with the back of her heel and pulls.
Aren't we both falling now?
Pins... end matches, right?
The pain is way too much... this has to end now.
I force Anko's body to turn over and fall on top of it. Smacking onto the ground this inelegantly hurts us both. But like this, her cheek is pressed onto the ground and her other arm is in my grip. I put strain on her elbow and shoulder, almost waiting to see which will break before Anko surrenders.
Anko shouts in frustration, blood spilling from the corner of her mouth.
And I drop onto the concrete, the body in my hands now replaced by a log.
H-How... did she...?
A sudden shadow falls over me. Like an angry god, Anko is there, fist heading for my face. She's raging, she's making mistakes. Her stance is so awkwardly wide, I could fit through it.
Huh.
So I slide under her.
Her punch leaves her falling forwards a bit, leaving enough time for me to stand and cough. I'm still debating how I should use this advantage when the girl glares over her shoulder, eyes bloodshot and burning.
Without the slightest telegraph, she reverse kicks me in the face.
The world turns black with glitters of silver and blue. I can definitely feel my face getting hotter and hotter. Something slippery and liquid replaces my dry skin. When I open my eyes, it's always the same: a fist thrown my way by an angry girl.
We are two very different people in battle. Anko is lively and energetic. Pain doesn't seem to register for she stands back up and fights harder.
I do everything possible to avoid worsening my own pain. I don't have the stamina.
My classmates, my teacher... all are watching me. Expecting. It's mentally exhausting.
Anko is experienced and talented. The only thing holding her back is her temper which makes her clumsy and inefficient. I take advantage of it as best I can. I know I'm getting tired. I know I can't last long.
I need this A, Anko. I'm sorry—
Our stalemate comes to an end with a widely thrown punch. With my everything, I dodge away and skid to a harsh stop facing her back. As Anko careens forward due to the momentum, I can easily swing my arm around her neck, grab my fist just under the back of her head, and squeeze.
"That's it! The spar is over!"
I let her go and pant. Anko is coughing and spins on me violently, eyes bloodshot and burning.
(Can I even stop her? Everything hurts...)
"Stop mocking me! You're just begging for me to beat you up, dopey! Just you wait!" Anko grips my two fingers in hers. The Seal of Reconciliation means nothing. If anything, her fury has grown from this match.
There's no winning...
I sit down next to Rin and Obito, planning on going to the nurse after I nap. (Do chests burn this much?) They both compliment me, but... I wonder if I should have just lost this fight.
This heavy feeling stays with me all day long. On Saturday, I practice Shuriken Techniques to distract me somewhat, even dozing off while I toss. Nishi-sensei jostles me awake before I get too far into dreamland, going, "What's up with you? This is way too quiet, even for your standards."
"Exhaustion," I sigh. Behind her, the shuriken stuck to the target seem so far away. "Nishi-sensei... would you be so kind and... grab the shuriken for me?"
"What? No way... then you'll just call me again to repeat the same thing. I'm not doing that much walking for a girl who tied for first." Nishi-sensei extends her fingers towards the target, staring intently. At once, the weapon fly in reverse to her hand. She gives them to me. "Just be grateful I did that."
I can feel how wide my eyes are. "What... what was that?"
"Chakra Strings. You've never heard of them before? Geez..." Holding her hands out, I can see very faint, blue strings pouring from her fingers. "Instead of using chakra to cover the entire surface of your hand to get to stick, concentrate the chakra to form a string. With it being this concentrated, it's easy to extend the chakra further from your body. Naturally, it means you need excellent chakra control, which I think you do. I hope so, with your tiny, crappy reserves."
All those times... I could have just pulled the weapons using strings... instead of walking...
"Amazing, Sensei..." I praise. "I didn't know... you could do so much..."
Nishi-sensei rasps my head. "Don't you underestimate me, just because I hate being a ninja! I've been in the Academy since I was five and became a Chuunin at fifteen. Of course I can do a few things."
"Eh? Then... how old—"
"Either train or get lost," Nishi-sensei orders.
At the beginning of the third semester, I've finally become the only top kunoichi.
Looking at the ranking board, I don't feel very happy. Rin is in second, Kurenai, Anko...
"Congratulations, Akemi," Rin smiles with closed eyes. "Even working my hardest, you still beat me, so know that I gave it my all."
I want to give her a hug. I settle on saying, "I'm sorry. I feel like a burden..."
Rin quickly shakes her head. "You can't feel bad! Didn't you work hard for this? All those times we could hang out because you had to work, it all led up to this, right?"
I huff. "...what a bittersweet victory."
Nothing really seems to change. It bothers me whenever I think about nothing for too long. Rin and Obito still invite me places, talk, eat lunch with me. Rin still helps me out in our Kunoichi Class. I still help her with Shuriken Techniques and sparring.
But why won't this heaviness go away?
Nishi-sensei, though, gives me another requirement: pass the graduation exam.
"You want to graduate?" Rin says, wide eyed with surprise.
"I get that you're older than us, but are you sure we're ready?" Obito folds his arms and puts them behind his head, feigning nonchalance.
"...I think the future Hokage can do this," I say, "and Rin's bound to be a great medical ninja. If we do this... I know we'll all pass. We can be on a team together."
"Oh, we could probably see Kakashi on missions," Rin adds, warming to the idea.
Obito grumbles under his breath. "I don't understand why you focus so much on Kakashidiot. I'm going to be the Hokage here!"
"Hm... I think his ability to endure is amazing," Rin says shyly. "I look up to him as well as you, Obito."
Obito... doesn't really complain.
"Did I hear that right? You three are going to take the test too?" Kurenai's soft voice breaks the silence. "Asuma said he'd try, as the top ninja."
Obito audibly grits his teeth. "No surprise there—isn't he Hokage-sama's son?"
"That sounds like a plan," Rin says. "Like this, we can remain friends once we all pass the test."
Somehow the entire classroom knows of our plans and soon majority of the class is taking it along with us. Instead of taking finals for our last semester, we pay the fee for the test and wait for our turn to take it.
When I enter the testing room, I feel like a vastly different person from the me who took the entrance exam.
"Akemi Minakura, it's nice to meet you."
The Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi stands taller than the three other Academy teachers, three shinobi I don't know the names of. In one of their hands is my file judging by my name and personal information being on the first page.
This isn't the first or last time I'll meet him again. Thankfully... thankfully he has so long to live.
Most of my classmates are already outside, faces bright and happy. A few faces are grim but, nevertheless many people graduate. Even people I wouldn't expect.
Don't get too happy. The Leaf is just trying to build its numbers before the Third Great Shinobi War.
This forehead protector and certificate in my hands hardly feel earned.
Rin already has her forehead protector tied around her head as she jogs to me, saying, "Akemi, have you seen Obito?"
"Ah... congratulations on passing," I say, unnecessarily bowing a bit. "No, um... I just got out."
Rin finally spots the navy blue headband. "Congratulations to you, too! I knew you'd make it!"
"...Obito too," I tell her. "...if he's missing... Kachime-sensei knows where he is, probably."
"Oh, Sensei's a Chuunin, of course! If that's the case, I saw Sensei over here..."
Before long, we find Obito with his own forehead protector, eyes shining with tears. In celebration, we eat at Ichiraku Ramen.
I get home with a full stomach and with the forehead protector being an awkward weight in my hands. I don't even need to say anything, for Sayaka sees it, picks me up, and drops me in front of my family wordlessly.
Satoshi chokes on his drink.
Auntie grins, cheeks turning red.
Gramma smiles big.
Mom stares at it, mouth open.
And home for once is Dad who gazes at the forehead protector and says simply, "Oh, is Akemi in the Academy?"
small steps chapter 6 | rising
Akemi-nee exception: I am not translating this as Big Sis Akemi or Big Sister Akemi.
Obitobi-kun exception: this only personal preference. If it makes sense... I imagine the world to canonically speak Japanese, not English. However, Akemi is translating the Japanese and her Japanese narrative into English. So, everyone does have honorifics Akemi is choosing not to translate. But she doesn't translate Obitobi-kun because she always addresses everyone with -san or nothing, so he's a big exception. I will drop the honorific if people request to do so.
I took a page from reality for Rin's scenario. Knew a girl from secondary school, sweet and adorable. Yet she never had a best friend, just plenty of acquaintances. It was bizarre to see such a kind girl so lonely.
Also, planning to translate Japanese dishes; I feel like if I don't, I'd just have to describe it in detail or force you to search it. Rice congee is called okayu which is basically rice oatmeal, easy to make and pretty plain tasting even with an umeboshi (a bittersweet fruit) and nanakusa (sevendiff herbs) topping. (I forgot their precise English equivalents, haha.)