The next day I met Naruto in front of our apartment building. He waved at me, though he was still half asleep. I shot him a kind smile and we made our way out towards the Academy. Naruto led the way, not saying anything. As we made our way there, I realised that the villagers were shooting Naruto glares. I frowned.
So, it's true then. The villagers don't trust Naruto because of the nine-tailed beast inside him.
I let out a small smirk. That can be my advantage. I could turn Naruto against the village or gain his trust that way when it comes time to collect him, the Akatsuki will have no problems. This mission was going to be easier than I thought.
Soon we arrived at the Academy and Naruto led me into a room on the first floor. When we arrived, I saw there was no one else there expect for a man with a scar across his nose. When he saw us, he gave us a smile.
"Naruto, I see you arrived on time today. And you must be Takara, come here so I can explain to you the curriculum," the man stated and Naruto took a seat in the middle of the room. "I'm Umino Iruka, your teacher. You have the core classes which include mathematics, science and geography in the morning, after lunch you have ninja weapon and tool training, Taijutsu, ninjutsu, and Genjutsu. As a female, you will also attend kunoichi classes."
I frowned. "So, because I'm a girl, I have to attend more classes than my male peers?"
Umino-sensei sweat-dropped at my statement. "It teaches you infiltration tactics and ways to blend into other cultures."
"Because males never have to infiltrate anywhere?" I scoffed. "Seems sort of sexist. But whatever, I'll attend without complaint."
Umino-sensei looked at me wearily but nodded, clearing his voice as he turned to face the now full classroom. Everyone's eyes were on me, watching me with curiosity. "Everyone, as you can see, we have a new student joining us from this day on. Takara, why don't you introduce yourself?"
I sighed and turned to face my new classmates, giving them a bow. "My name is Takara. No surname. I am originally from Amegakure. Please take care of me."
"Seeing as you already know Naruto, you can take the seat between him and Sasuke," Umino-sensei stated and I nodded, walking up to a grinning Naruto, pushing past him gently to sit next to him and a boy with raven coloured hair and onyx eyes. A boy that happens to look a lot like Itachi.
Is this his brother that he mentioned?
Sasuke eyed me from the corner of his eyes and I turned back to class as Umino-sensei started the lesson. I could feel the glares of some girls around me when I had sat down, and even as the lesson continued the glares didn't ease up.
So, Sasuke is the class prince?
I remember Ena telling me about the class prince and princess. He said that in some classes there was one or two students admired by the opposite sex to the point that they'd have fangirls (or fanboys) coming after them. It appears that in this class, Sasuke was the prince and the girls currently glaring at me were his fangirls.
After three hours, it was lunch time and I followed Naruto outside to a tree where a swing was situated. We sat down and I started to eat my lunch, giving some to Naruto as he didn't have any with him. Lunch went by peacefully and soon we were back to class. We were focusing on Genjutsu, which was all just theory, and then moved to the more practical classes.
I was surprised with how far behind the graduating class of Konohagakure were compared to the ones of Amegakure but didn't say anything as I shouldn't be able to compare village shinobi academies as – officially – I've never attended one. We were doing Taijutsu sparring matches. The names were drawn out of a hat to make it fair.
Naruto had went up against a boisterous brown-haired boy with a white ninja puppy on his head. Naruto had also lost quite quickly, making me frown. I had thought that hidden villages trained their Jinchūriki to be the most powerful shinobi in the village. And yet, Konohagakure seems to have treated him like a mere civilians' offspring.
"Uchiha Sasuke, you're up against Takara," Umino-sensei called and I frowned.
So, Sasuke was Itachi's younger brother. The one he had spared for whatever reason. Let's see if he's stronger than the rest of the class. After all, I had heard the girls whisper about how he's the best of the graduating class this year and how they felt sorry for me being up against him.
"Do you know the sparring etiquette, Takara?" Umino-sensei questioned and I frowned.
"No," I replied and he nodded.
"Face Sasuke, Takara," Umino-sensei ordered and I did as instructed. "Now you will make the Seal of Confrontation. This represents one half of a seal and means 'I've come to face you in battle.'" Sasuke did the seal and I copied him, Umino-sensei nodding. "Good, now... begin!"
Sasuke charged towards me, aiming a sweeping kick to my feet. I jumped over his initial attack, dodging the punch he aimed straight after and made my way towards him. I aimed an open-handed hit to his stomach, which he deflected and I dodged out of the way as he tried to kick me in the chest.
I made my way to the very edge of the training circle, putting distance between Sasuke and I as I tried to think of a way to get to him. He frowned before moving forward and aiming an uppercut towards my face. I blocked the punch, grabbing his wrist and pulling him forward before reaching my leg up towards his face, my foot connecting with his face and sending him flying to the ground.
Before he could recover, I jumped on him, flipping him over so he was on his stomach, locking his wrists behind his back with my legs keeping his pinned to the ground. Both of us were panting (me faking it) as the class fell silent and stared in surprise.
"Ah, good job, Takara. You win," Umino-sensei stated and I got off Sasuke.
Sasuke stood up, looking at me with renewed interest as Umino-sensei spoke.
"Now you have to make the Seal of Reconciliation. This acknowledges that you two are still comrades," Umino-sensei explained and Sasuke showed me the seal. I put my fingers in his and we nodded as Umino-sensei called out for the last two students to practice their sparring.
After classes were done for the day, I made my way to the bookstore closest to my apartment. I browsed the books, looking for something to read before frowning, finding nothing that interested me. I sighed, contemplating if I should just go and find a place to train when a book on poisons and antidotes caught my attention.
I picked it up and read the description on the back, flipping through it and reading a couple of passages here and there before nodding and making my way to shop clerk. I paid for the book before making my way to the market where I got the ingredients for making fried rice before making my way towards my apartment.
"Takara-san."
I frowned, turning to face Sasuke who was leaning against a building, watching me with dark eyes. "Sasuke-san," I acknowledged. "Can I help you?"
He stepped forward and gestured for me to follow him.
I followed him through the village and to a training ground. He turned and faced me, hands covering his chest as he frowned at me.
"You were holding back in our spar. Why?" he questioned and I looked at him in surprise.
"You picked up on that? Even Umino-sensei didn't pick up on that," I stated.
"'Umino-sensei?' We just call him Iruka-sensei," Sasuke stated and I frowned but nodded, making note of that little titbit of information. "So, why did you hold back?"
I bit my lip, turning away. "I don't want to become a shinobi just yet. I want a chance to be around others my own age, and I was scared that if I showed off my real strength in today's sparring, I would get unneeded attention. Surely you can understand that?"
Sasuke grunted and I turned to face him. "I want to spar you, without you holding back."
"Not tonight. I have to prepare dinner, but tomorrow? After it, we can have dinner if you want," I offered and Sasuke stiffened, but nodded stiffly. "Then tomorrow."
I turned and left the training field, making my way back to my apartment where I put the ingredients for dinner away. I sat on the couch in the living room, lying down as I pulled out my poison and antidote book and started reading. Before I knew it, it was time for me to cook dinner and I quickly made and ate dinner before doing the homework given to me by Iruka-sensei before having a shower and relaxing in the bath.
After relaxing in the bath for a half-hour, I went to bed, contemplating what the next day would bring.
The next day, straight after class, Sasuke and I made our way to the training grounds. Once there we made the Seal of Confrontation and then started the spar. This time I didn't hold back in my Taijutsu attacks. We had agreed beforehand to only use Taijutsu. I moved quickly, hitting as hard as I could, making things for Sasuke difficult as he tried his best to get on the offence.
I wouldn't let him and kept up barrage of hits, kicks, elbows, and knees. Soon I had pinned to the ground in the same position as yesterday. This time, I really was panting and I crawled off Sasuke. We made the Seal of Reconciliation before collapsing onto the ground.
"You're strong," Sasuke gasped out, acknowledging my strength compared to his.
"I learnt from the same man. He trained me until I collapsed on a daily basis," I explained and Sasuke grunted in response. "What's your favourite food?"
"Onigiri, with tomatoes and okaka. But I'll eat anything as long as it isn't sweet or natto," Sasuke stated and I gave him a smile.
"How about we have onigiri for dinner tonight then? I know it's not really a dinner food, but I'm too tired to cook anything to strenuous," I suggested and Sasuke grunted again.
After a few minutes of recovering we got up and made our way to the market where I got the ingredients for onigiri – including tomatoes, okaka, nori, and some pre-cooked pork tempura – before making our way to my apartment. I led Sasuke into my apartment and together we made dinner before sitting down and eating.
While eating I learnt more about him. Such as his past time was training and taking walks. I offered for us to do our homework together and Sasuke agreed before leaving for the night. I did my usual routine before heading off to bed. Excited for another day at the Academy and the fact that I may have just made another friend.
The next week I worked hard at the Academy, regularly sparring with Sasuke after class and having dinner and lunch with Naruto. I was finishing up my homework that Sunday, before going on to read my book that I bought the other day. I was four chapters in when there was a knock on the door. I sighed, marking my page before walking over and opening the door to see an ANBU there.
"Hokage-sama wishes to speak with you," the ANBU stated and I nodded turning to put my shoes on before following the ANBU through the village.
I got some looks from the villagers and shinobi that we passed, but no one approached as we entered the Hokage building, walking up to his office. The ANBU knocked on the door before entering. The Hokage was seated behind a desk covered in paperwork and I winced. Another reason not to be a village leader.
"Thank you for meeting me at such short notice, Takara," the Hokage greeted and the ANBU stood by the door that was now closed.
I made my way to the Hokage, giving him a smile. "Hokage-sama, how are you?"
"I'm doing well, thank you, Takara. But I must ask, how are you settling in? I heard you're getting along with both Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke."
I nodded in agreement to his words. Smiling softly at the thought of the two twelve-year olds. "I'm settling in well. I'm enjoying Iruka-sensei's classes and am keeping busy by training with Sasuke after class and reading a book on poisons and antidotes."
"Oh? Do you have an interest in poisons?"
I nodded. "And medical ninjutsu. But I've never had the chance to learn it. I hope maybe one day I could get the chance to learn it."
"Maybe you could help out at the hospital in your spare time? I can write a letter of recommendation for it if you wish," the Third offered and my eyes widened in surprise. "It could also be a way for you to earn some extra money."
"I would like the opportunity very much, Hokage-sama," I replied with a deep bow.
"Good. Now, my ANBU have gotten back to me that you are stronger than Sasuke – who is currently our strongest Academy student and suspect that you could hold your own with even an experienced genin. Do you wish to take the graduation exam early?"
"With all due respect, Hokage-sama, I wish to remain in the Academy. I was trained vigorously by the masked man, and never had time for others my own age. I feel like I'm lacking in social skills and think it would be better in the long run for me to remain with my peers," I replied and the Hokage seemed surprised at my assessment.
"If that is what you want to do. I won't force you to graduate early, that's not the way of the village," the Third responded and I bowed my head in gratitude as he wrote something on a piece of paper, grabbing a seal and sealing it before handing it to me. "This is my letter of recommendation to the hospital. You can take it now or later, it's your choice. Good luck. And don't forget to come to me whenever you need to talk."
"Thank you, Hokage-sama," I replied with a bow, taking the letter and leaving the office.
The ANBU disappeared, though I could still sense him following me as I made my way to the hospital. Once I arrived, I asked to speak to the head medic. I gave them my letter and the opened it, reading it before nodding.
"Do you wish to start now?" she offered and I nodded.
"That would be wonderful, sensei," I replied and she gave me a kind smile.
"I'm Fujikura Rini, the head medic of Konohagakure hospital. Follow me," she gestured for me to follow her and I followed her quick pace to an office. Once in there she grabbed a book and handed it to me. "The basics of first aid. This is where you'll begin. Once you've read this book, we'll do the practical for a few weeks. Depending on how quickly you learn, we may get to harder stuff in a month or so."
I took the book from her and bowed. "Thank you, Fujikura-sensei. I will do my best."
She gave me a smile before waving me off and I returned home, opening the book and begin reading. I wanted to become at least decent at medical ninjutsu by the time I graduated from the Academy. And this was the best way to do it.