LEARNING TO FLY

Chapter Six

WHEN SHION WAS YOUNGER, SHE THOUGHT SHE WOULD BECOME A SHINOBI and then everything wrong in her life would fix itself as if brought together by magic. She thought that all Shinobi were good and true and not at all capable of evil actions. Orochimaru was a monster. That was not something Shion ever thought she could feel about somebody, and she never could have guessed she would feel this way a couple days prior.

Only three days ago, the mission was not so different from a standard D-rank. It had Misaki and Hikaru babbling like teenagers on a camping trip, Hikaru complaining about his feet hurting, Misaki telling him he should have worn flats, and Tsukasa telling them both to shut the hell up.

The main difference was there were two more people in the party. Itachi Uchiha, much to Misaki's delight, and a woman by the name of Anko Mitarashi, who actually freaked Shion out a bit. Tsukasa said she was there because Anko was a skillful tracker, but Hikaru joked that he'd rather wander about lost since she was so creepy.

It was one of the only things Shion and Hikaru both agreed upon.

"So, Itachi," Misaki said, sitting down next to where Itachi currently sharpened his blade.

Tsukasa's eye swept upon the both of them and she grimaced as if she was personally embarrassed by Misaki's attempt at flirting. Tsukasa was about to stand and walk away, but Hikaru cornered her.

"I was thinking sensei," Hikaru commented and Shion watched the display of attempted flirting from both her teammates with a sketch pad in her hand. She began to draw Hikaru getting punched in the eye by their one-eyed sensei. "We should have a one on one training session. Just you, me, and Taijutsu. I assure you, Tsukasa-sensei, I've been working on my evading tactics. I can dodge anything now."

Tsukasa nodded her head, before she stood up with pursed lips. In moments she punched Hikaru in the same eye that Shion drew in her picture. Hikaru collapsed to the ground. "Dodge that." She walked over Hikaru's slumped over body with a shrug. "Are you sure you've been practicing? I was giving out all the signals that I was about to punch you."

"Ow," Hikaru muttered, as he clutched his eye while Shion showed him her sketch of him getting punched.

"I was thinking of having it framed, titled 'Things Hikaru Hyūga cannot do: dodge or flirt'," Shion told him and he grimaced.

"Shut up, Shion," he muttered as Misaki rushed from Hikaru's side and began to heal his eye.

"Where did I go wrong, Misaki?" Hikaru asked and she sighed.

"For starters, she's older than you and our sensei," Misaki told him and he sighed.

"I should just practice flirting on Shion then," Hikaru said, causing Shion to snort at the ridiculous statement.

"Just watch. We will both get our love interests. Itachi is slowly falling for my advances," Misaki said, ignoring Itachi's sigh from behind her.

"Don't think they realize you two can hear them," Shion chimed their way with a grin.

"Gotta admire how they don't care," Tsukasa muttered, turning towards Itachi. "Where's Anko? How long does it take to collect firewood?"

"She's probably not going to come back with any, so I will go find it," Itachi announced, causing Misaki to stand.

"I could go too," she said, watching the deadpan of Itachi's face.

"Oh my God," Tsukasa muttered, turning around to go back over her mission reports.

"I really can go alone. It's not a two man job," Itachi told her, turning around to walk away.

"Luckily I'm a woman," Misaki said, rushing to catch up to him before Tsukasa grabbed her by the collar of her shirt and shoved her back.

"This is a mission. Not a date," Tsukasa told her.

"Why were you pushing to go with him?" Shion asked, and Misaki frowned as if Shion just missed so grand point.

"Think about it Shion. Itachi, all alone in the woods," Misaki said, causing Shion's brows to furrow.

"You are starting to sound like a rapist, Misaki," said Shion.

Tsukasa glanced up, her brows furrowed from the documents. "Can you three shut up and actually take in account certain things three Jounin do during missions."

"That's so boring, sensei. All you three do is sit there being boring. I want to fight," Shion complained, as she plopped down on her sleeping bag and watched Tsukasa's temper flare.

"Look again. Everything we have done is for the mission. Itachi has helped me make fourteen different battle strategies should we run into an encounter. We have gone over prior mission reports and intel documents over and over until we can recite it. He has triple checked his weapons to make sure they are up to standard."

"What about Anko?" Shion asked and Tsukasa tilted her head.

"Whatever Anko is doing right now, I can assure you it is for the good of the mission," Tsukasa answered just as Anko walked through the thicket of leaves into the clearing where they laid camp.

"Man I had to take a major piss. Did you know there is a hot spring up ahead," Anko said with a yawn as she stretched out her arms over her head.

"Hmm," Shion murmured out as she stared at the Jounin ahead of her. "Can I shadow her, sensei?"

"No. No you cannot," Tsukasa answered back, her monotone coming out in full force as her eyes glazed over documents.

"Still such a stick in the mud, Tsu-Tsu," Anko teased while Shion saw her sensei's fingers dig into the papers before she glanced up.

"I'm cautious. There's a difference." Tsukasa returned with a monotonous retort as she flipped through the pages one last time just as Itachi returned with an arm full of firewood.

"Why do we have to gather firewood? I thought that the mundane chores were for the Genin to perform," Anko said as she watched Itachi plop the wood onto the ground next to the fire.

"You haven't gathered anything this entire journey. I'm about to make you perform every last chore I can think of, you arrogant piece of-" Tsukasa began to snap, but Itachi interrupted.

"That's enough," he said and Tsukasa tilted her head with a sigh, the dark Chakra that had begun to gather around her missing eye retreated until Tsukasa looked as normal as ever.

Tsukasa nodded her head towards Itachi as a sign of gratitude, however, Anko didn't take up the hint and continued her taunt. "Man, I would have packed more tampons if I knew you were going to PMS this much."

Tsukasa stood up, looking ready for a fight before Itachi threw her over his shoulder and took her under the cover of the trees until they both were no longer visible. Shion let out a whistle as she stood up and stretched, setting her sketch pad on the ground.

"So, Anko," Shion said, causing the nonchalant woman in revealing clothes to glance up.

"Hmm? You dropped honorifics rather quickly," Anko said with a raised brow.

"I was wondering about that mark on your neck," Shion said, catching the attention of both Hikaru and Misaki who glanced up to see the mark. Anko was faster than them and she covered it with her jacket.

"What about it?" Anko tossed a piece of wood into the fires, and watched as the flames licked at the outside bark.

"It's a conversation starter," Shion said as she took a step closer so she could sit on the bolder that Tsukasa had dragged near the fire. Her one-eyed sensei would likely be angry to see her spot occupied but Shion didn't mind that. "Also, its kind of weird looking. Is it a sealing Jutsu?"

"Curtesy of Orochimaru." Anko glanced towards the child with a frown. "I was around Tsu-Tsu's age when I received it. Pleased to say it did not do me good in receiving any trust when Orochimaru turned into a traitor and had his trained dog murder a fraction of the Uchiha clan."

"Can you tell me about Orochimaru. I mean, we have learned all about his base and his usual attack points but nothing about him," Shion was oddly serious and Misaki and Hikaru didn't have any way in breaking up the conversation. "Sensei leaves out a lot of those little details."

Anko chuckled, but she didn't sound very humorous. "She's still a kid too, even if she doesn't want people to know. Getting this far and becoming a Jounin sensei is one of the most difficult things to do. She's worked hard. Maybe that's why she's dragging you three on this mission."

"Why is that?" Hikaru asked from next to the fire.

Anko fixed her hair into a pony tail while her bangs swept above her eyes. She took a moment to consider her next words before she glanced at the boy. "Orochimaru's experiments will be a wake up call to the ninja life. You wanted to know what he's like and I will tell you. He isn't necessarily evil. But he's greedy and willing to do whatever it takes to further his goals. He sweeps people aside like bugs." Anko explained, just as Tsukasa and Itachi walked back into the opening of the trees. "What's up Tsu-Tsu? So you didn't need those tampons after all?"

Itachi gave Tsukasa a look but the woman's face had already became monotonous. "I managed. Shion if you don't get off my rock then you will take its place."

Shion had always felt Tsukasa was impressive, but she had never really put much thought into what the woman had to do to get so far in her career when she wasn't even 16 years old. Perhaps she'd get one step closer to understanding the world her father died for under this woman's tutelage.

"Tsukasa-sensei," Shion announced, standing up and walking over to her teacher. "I would like to learn Genjutsu."

"Genjutsu from me?" Tsukasa and Itachi shared a look to which he responded with a shake of his head back and forth. "The best man for that job is you, Itachi. I do believe you just said that you finished all your reports and had nothing to do."

"I do believe you just made that up," Itachi said with a sigh, but it was too late and Shion was standing in front of him with misty eyes.

"I would be honored to become your student," she said with a formal bow, causing Tsukasa to snort.

"Oh hell no," Misaki said, standing up, but was held back by Hikaru. "That's not fair. I wanna be trained by Itachi."

"You don't even like Genjutsu, Misaki," Hikaru commented and she sighed.

"It's not about the training, Hikaru, you innocent child," Misaki whispered to him.

"Hikaru and Misaki, I am a proper teacher for you two," Tsukasa said with a one-eyed blink. "I am more than qualified to teach you both medical Ninjutsu and Taijutsu. Please keep in mind, Misaki, that we are here to get stronger, not to flirt."

Misaki's face inflamed red and she glanced down with a small sign of shame.

"Anko, I would like you to scout ahead and get the exact location of this base. I want all the details you can gather," Tsukasa told the woman, and Shion found it weird to see a girl nearly a decade younger give orders.

"Sure. Whatever," Anko said with a shrug and in moments the purple haired woman disappeared.

Itachi was still massaging his temples by the time Shion looked at him again. "I'm a great student. I promise. I really am," Shion informed him and watched as Itachi glanced towards Tsukasa who shrugged and slightly nodded.

Tsukasa didn't audibly agree in fear of inflating the girl's already giant ego. It was enough and Itachi let out a defeated sigh. "She's not wrong," Tsukasa told him with a slow glance towards Shion, careful not to stroke the girl's ego. While lack of punctuality and backtalk were on Shion's list of bad qualities, even Tsukasa had to admit that when it came to learning and most of all, understanding new techniques were Shion's strong suit.

"Have you ever studied Genjutsu?" Itachi asked, removing his hand from his face.

Shion looked slightly sheepish as she glanced down. "Not formally. You see...Taehiro-kun is a master in Genjutsu."

"Taehiro?" Itachi and Tsukasa shared a look and the woman slightly shrugged, but looked slightly embarrassed for her student.

"He's from Tsukasa-sensei's erotic novel," Shion answered with a helpful smile.

Tsukasa closed her eye and took a deep breath.

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"Itachi," Shion whined while she plopped on the ground next to her favorite tree. "How are you not exhausted? My eyes hurt. Genjutsu sucks."

"You get used to it," he told her as he sat down near her. "But you are getting better."

"Do you think I'm too arrogant?" Shion asked and he glanced over to her with an eyebrow raised.

"I think that arrogant facade is a mask. You only use it after someone comments about your age," he said and Shion stood up.

"It used to be so normal for kids my age to be on Genin teams. Everyone looks at me like I'm a child who doesn't know what she's talking about."

Itachi blinked, leaning back against the tree and looking up at her. "That was before the war. Many kids died before ever reaching Chuunin."

"You didn't. Tsukasa-sensei didn't," Shion informed him. "Misaki and Hikaru are always badgering me about my age."

"Are you trying to prove something to them?" Itachi asked and Shion dropped down to her knees so they could be eye level.

"I just want them to know that I can do this. I've read all the books. I've studied. I train everyday until it hurts. So continue teaching me. I promise I'll never be late for any of our training sessions. I'll be your best student." Shion usually didn't beg and let the chips fall wherever they landed in times of strife, but she had a feeling that her way of dealing with training wouldn't fly with Itachi or Tsukasa.

"My little brother would not be happy about me taking up a student," he told her and she blinked, as she remembered Sasuke's beady eyes staring up at her when she broke into Itachi's house to steal his underwear.

"Your little brother is hella clingy," she said and Itachi slightly smiled in a way only an older brother could. "But if he can keep up, I don't see the problem if he joins."

"No. It's best if Sasuke is a kid for a bit longer," Itachi said, as he stood up while Shion's neck craned to look at him, her butt planted against her heels as she sat.

"So you will train me officially in Genjutsu?" Shion asked and Itachi shrugged.

"When I have time to spare," he agreed, while he watched as the girl's lips spread into a smile. "But I would like to know something." Shion nodded her head for him to continue. "Why do you want to become a ninja?"

Shion had no family or many friends, so she had never been asked that question. However, that didn't mean she had no answer. "I want to fight all the bad guys and make this world a safer place."

"That's a lot of ambition for a Genin," he said and her lips spread into a wider smile.

"Well, why are you a ninja?" Shion asked, and noticed that Itachi's eyes weren't monotone or boring like she first thought. He was actually very gentle.

"I suppose my motives are just as ambitious as yours," he slightly smiled as he glanced down at her. "I want to be Hokage."

Her lips stretched into a grin. "I'd vote for you in a heartbeat, Itachi. If you become Hokage, then I'll be in Anbu and I will protect you and this village."

"I suppose you have to get much stronger then, now that you have a tangible goal," he said and Shion nodded her head.

"Let's start training again, Itachi-sensei," she said as she jumped to her feet, recharged.

His smile disappeared, "best not call me sensei in front of Tsukasa."

An amused and slightly evil twinkle darted into Shion's eyes.

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"Misaki, Hikaru, Shion." Tsukasa's face was alert when she said their names. It had been nearly an hour since Itachi and Anko had entered the base. Shion itched to go in and see what the fuss was about, but she held down that urge as she glanced towards her sensei. "I need you three to remember all that I taught you. Be swift, calm, and quiet."

Tsukasa moved her hand into a couple swift signs and in moments the earth from underneath their feet had begun to slightly rumble. Before it spread apart from underneath them.

"Earth Tunnel no Jutsu," Tsukasa whispered with a wince as the ground spread apart and a strange killing intent spread over her body. "Go down, follow the tunnel. Be very quiet. You'd be surprised the noise that travels above when you are underground."

"What will you be doing?" Hikaru asked as Shion already began to climb into the opening of Tsukasa's Jutsu.

"Don't be alarmed," Tsukasa's voice was clipped, and her eye darted to the side as a weird sense of foreboding tickled Shion's senses. "Now's the time you go ahead children. Shion," Tsukasa's eye narrowed on the girl just as Hikaru and Misaki crowded down the dirt staircase alongside her. The opening began to close. "Don't tell Itachi about this."

"About what?" Shion asked just as the opening sealed, but she caught the last glance as Tsukasa dodged a well timed attack.

And then the three Genin were surrounded by darkness, but they heard the aftermath of whatever battle rang on ahead. "What about sensei?" Hikaru asked, and although Shion could not see him, she heard the tremble in his voice.

"We're Genin. We can't do anything," Shion answered, feeling the wall as she moved along the path that her sensei had set out for her. "We follow her orders and continue."

"We don't even know where Itachi or Anko are exactly," Misaki told her teammate who had began to walk forward into the darkness.

"Nothing else to do but move forward," Shion answered while her lips quirked into a small smile. She was thankful for the darkness, as it covered the fact that she was afraid.

"Not very helpful, are you Shion?" Hikaru muttered.

"Shut up and walk. Be silent. Remember what Tsukasa-sensei told us," Shion ordered.

"I'm scared," Misaki murmured in the darkness.

"I'll protect you both," Shion promised, and it was perhaps the most cool she ever sounded to her teammates.

Author's Note

I know, no Naruto in this chapter. What am I to do about that? Well, personally I could add him in, but that would ruin the story and Shion's character development so I opted with instead giving her team a mission.

Tsukasa and Itachi's relationship cracks me up, even though they still don't have as much chemistry as Shisui and Tsukasa, but whatever. Things like that grow.

Hikaru and Misaki are lovely, but sometimes kind of annoying. Again, they are all children, going through childish crushes and hormones and idk acne? I'm 21. I don't remember how it was when I was 12. Well, I do remember the Twilight phase so theres that.

Thank you all for reading and constantly inspiring me to write. Thank you very much! ^_^