The following day was a Wednesday, aka a kunoichi class day until further notice. I briefly replay my memories of what kunoichi class was like in my head. I remember flower picking? Ya that's all I remember, so either the story didn't tell all the important parts of the class or it was the most stupid class in existence.
Yesterday had been good enough, after school I had been assigned homework. I chose to do another run around the clan compounds for good measure after regaining enough stamina in the afternoon. I wasn't even really sure how fast I recover stamina. I mean was there a formula or something? It just kept changing the amount of stamina I had and it was hard to tell… either way after the run I had gone to the library and checked a new history book out, a new a book on geography, and a book about biology. I had already read through the animal book increasing my level in zoological knowledge to level 10. Hazuki was very helpful with that. She knew where all the books were and if I told her what I wanted she could find just the right book.
I got to class a little more prepared for the morning work out of laps, exercises, taijutsu, and shurikenjutsu. It was like a repeat of yesterday which both bored and reassured me. Bored because well with no variations, this was going to get old fast, but reassured me because it would allow me to upgrade my skills quickly through continual use. I think fan-fictions called it grinding skills? Ya, that seems right. By the end of the morning I had reaped a small reward.
Body conditioning Profiency level has risen X1
Running proficiency level has risen X2
Taijutsu Proficiency level has risen X2
Standard Leaf Taijutusu Proficiency Level has risen X3
Shurikenjutsu Proficiency Level has risen X2
Kunai Proficiency level has risen X1
Shuriken Proficiency level has risen X2
You have gained 1 STR
You have gained 1 VIT
Like I said small. (Wink) I think the only reason I didn't in my still childish mind quit or whine like so many others was because of these notifications egging me on. When lunch came I felt happy and proud. I sat in the shade of a tree waving at Ami who was talking with her friends. I ate quickly and meditated. I then spent most of the afternoon, meditating in class and reading my books.
Reading proficiency level has risen X2
Meditating proficiency level has risen X1
You have gained 1 INT
We went over lots of stuff in that short afternoon. Math, which was the start of more advanced calculations, well advanced for six year olds… we were beginning multiplication. We also did a history lecture, which was the intro to our first unit, the first great shinobi war. Then we reviewed of the shinobi rules of conduct which are HORRIBLE. I mean seriously the rules seem to forget that shinobi are human?!
Still the day ended and I felt fine, happy to go home finish my homework and start to find a way to practice my throwing weapons outside of class. Then I remembered it was kunoichi class and visibly slumped over as I mumbled about the unfairness of my gender as I sauntered down the hall.
First year kunoichi class was held in a classroom on the first floor of the academy. As all the boys went running to see their parents, making my heart clench slightly remembering the faces of my own parents in this life and the general feel of my parents in the last life. I may have been almost grown up in my last life but in this life I was a little girl, a little girl who would love to have someone waiting for them at home other than another lonely little girl.
All the girls gathered around the room sitting on a large carpet that was dark red and soft to the touch. Suzume-sensie stood in front of a chalk board as the girls gossips looking a mix of annoyed and yet hesitant to stop the conversations.
"Alright, pay attention now." She finally steps in and the class quiets listening to the teacher in front of them. "Welcome to your first kunoichj class." She told us and we all smiled, most of us, I didn't give a reaction. "Now today we will review what being a kunoichi means and how it differs form the general shinobi trade…" she began to say and I decided to tune her out. The class was just about the worst class EVER. Fun fact, before teaching sex-Ed they teach subduction techniques to six year olds.
Those two hours might have been the longest I have ever experienced in either lives and it took every ounce of self control I had not to scream how stupid it was to be in this class. We were going to graduate preteens, did they expect to send preteens on these kinds of missions?
For a good half hour we were to walk around the room balancing a book on our head like in some kind of cheesy movie and we're GRADED on it. When we were finally released we were given additional homework, a one page paper a historical kunoichi of our choosing and how they employed the skills we were taught in kunoichi class. Skills like walking with a book on your head.
I did my other homework ignoring the kunoichi class work and collapsed for the night after cooking.
Cooking Proficiency level has risen X2
The week flew by without me even realizing it to be honest, the days a routine of getting up and going to the academy, heading to the library, then returning home. An almost robotic way of living as I watched my skills grow.
It was suddenly then interrupted by something I felt I had almost forgotten existed. The weekend.
Saturday came at last and I had no plans other than going to get this weeks groceries and maybe playing the flute a little. I got up early, but later than I usually do, Ami had mercifully remembered to turn of the alarm. Grabbing my bag I headed to the Akimichi compound the path practically memorized from my daily runs. Maybe if I edited my route I could weave into the Akimichi compound and see if there are any sales? That sounds like a good idea to me. The sky was cloudy threatening light rain, the sun hidden making all the usually vibrant food colours slightly more dull as I arrived at Yataka's stand.
"Hey, Chibi." Yataka said a little more subdued then usual. He usually is ready to talk my ear off but maybe it was the weather. "How's the academy going?" He asked and I wanted to scream that for a ninja school it was really very boring but knew that would be taken the wrong way.
"Good. Have a report I need to do for kunoichi class though. Any suggestions on famous kunoichi?" I ask curiously as I grab some onions because you can never have enough of those and some string beans, chickpeas and peppers. Yataka even has the eggs he promised us. That's very exciting.
"Well there is always lady Tsunade." Yataka says and I hand him the owed money. We should just have enough money to squeeze by this month, if we are careful maybe even a little something to squirrel away if only a hundred ryo or so.
"Ya, I suppose." I respond. I guess Lady Tsunade is the go to, even from my limited interactions with my peers she seems to be a role model for every young kunoichi.
"Well I'll see you later Chibi." He tells me messing up my hair and I frown. Why do older kids and adults feel they can just do that? Did I do that to my brothers? Oh… right I did and they hated it. This is karma.
After heading back to the house and quickly dropping off the food I head to the library, resigning myself to write about Tsunade. I mean she isn't a bad ninja, she is pretty awesome being able to level a mountain, still I had hoped for something a little more original. As I walk in I instantly go to Hazuki to avoid the long process of finding the right book. She seems to have a sixth sense for finding books after all.
"Let me guess kunoichi class?" Hazuki says just as I open my mouth and I blink. That was… unexpected. "Do you have any ideas on who to write about?"
"I've been recommended lady Tsunade." I tell her honestly and she furrows her brows. "Is there something wrong with her?" I ask and she softens her gaze from a glare to a curious patient look.
"No, nothing wrong, I just think there are more kunoichi then just Tsunade." Hazuki says motioning me to sit down as she takes out five small black books. I recognize them and my eyes widen.
"Are these?…" I begin to say and she smirks, her greying brown hair being pushed back. She wears it down today clipped back with an intricate array of bobby pins.
"Bingo books. Old ones." She says and takes a seat next to me. "They become public record after three years. This one is from the founding of the villages, these three from the different wars, and this one is the latest issue that is public. You can't check them out but it should give you some ideas." She tells me and I nod dumbly and start to read. While I do so I go over the skill I had increased over the past week.
Body Conditioning Proficiency Level 10
The overall conditioning of your body. Increases rate at which your STR, AGI, and DEX increase by 1% per level. Increases value of VIT stamina by 1 point every 10 levels. Current ability 110% training speed, VIT value 21 stamina.
This I am very happy with because it increase the value of each of my VIT and the rate at which I earn physical stat points. I open the first book, the most recent one. I know I can't do a report on most of these newer entries but it's still nice to look. My eyes spy a familiar face, Chiyo of Suna, puppet master, poison mistress, low level seal master, medical ninja. Rank A. Wanted in every major village accept Konoha and a few minor ones too. She's Sasori's grandmother. Has Sasori left Suna yet? I think so… I flip the page and look at another upgraded skill.
Cooking Proficiency Level 14
Ability to cook food using different tools and ingredients. Taste improves per level, nutritional bonus 0.1% per level. Current nutritional bonus 1.4%.
I am very pleased with this because eating good food really makes so much of a difference and my food is finally palatable. I move into the next kunoichi in an older book from the last war. Pakura of the scorch release. She's dead now but had been an S rank wanted kunoichi. She was famed for her Kekkei genkai something that hadn't been seen in generations, being able to turn human skin into leather with her heat that some say can melt steel. She was wanted in every single major nation and many smaller ones too: this book must be form before we were allies with Suna because we are listed as well. In Kumo her bounty was three times higher alive though, I shudder a little. Not a fan of Kumo, or at least the last Raikage of Kumo. I can still remeber the tension during the Hyuga incident, I hadn't realized why it was tense until later but I remember Kanpu and Keiri being terrified, and muttering about possible war. I find another kunoichi and another skill.
Eavesdropping Proficiency Level 3
Ability to listen in on others conversations without them knowing you are listening. Range 0.1m per level, 100% accuracy. -10% accuracy per additional 0.1m. Current ability range 0.3m.
This skill in time found be incredible, super hearing and all that! Without chakra too! I have to keep practicing it! The next kunoichi I find, well her photo sends a chill down my spine. Ameyuri Ringo, from the bloody mist village. Part of the legendary seven ninja swordsman, and has a habit of killing men she likes. She uses the twin lightning swords kiba. She definitely earned her S rank. Again wanted well… everywhere as well as has personal bounties for individuals instead of villages. She must have really pissed a lot of people off to have so many personal bounties. She's deceased now though.
Flute Proficiency level 19
Ability to play the flute and produce actual music. Ease at which you play increases per level. Increase in sound quality 1% per level. Current sound quality 119%.
Flute playing is my pride and joy what can I say? I really need to do it more. I turn the page again and this time come face to face with one of our own ninja, form the first shinobi world war. Naori Uchiha. She had purple hair like Ami actually, I wonder if she is half Uchiha, Napri not Ami. Not much is mentioned skill wise, except that she was incredibly clever with a fire affinity. She was wanted in most villages too particularly Iwa with the highest bounty. She had a nice A rank. Cool.
Kunai Proficiency Level 6
Ability to throw and use kunai. Kunai range approximately 40m. Speed and strength behind throw increases per level. Accuracy on stationary targets 1% per level. Current ability, throwing accuracy 6%.
This skill is really slow, but very vital, after all if people can do the crazy throwing things like int he anime I want to do it to. It's too cool not to do honestly. I find the next kunoichi again early first shinobi war. Toka Senju, cousin of Tobirama and Hashirama Senju, known for her strong earth jutsus and skill with a katana. She has an A rank and was wanted again in most major villages. Hm… I wonder if I should consider a weapon in the future.
Maintenance Proficiency Level 33
Ability to maintain, clean, and fix up items and/or possessions effectively. Speed and success improves per level. Increase in quality of the item 0.25% per level increase in speed of action 0.5% per level once action is familiar. Current ability, quality increase 8.25%, speed increase 16.5%
This skill again is incredibly useful and applies to so much even just washing dishes or clothes! I smile at it as I find the next kunoichi. I find it in the latest available bingo book, well at least one that I have access to. It's not a name but a description. 'Lady Angel' a woman with paper wings said to be made of paper, S rank, no known affiliation, witnessed intervening in many missions against Iwa, Kumo, and Konoha. I know who that is… Konan. Right she and Nagato… the Akatsuki… well it's something to worry about later.
Meditation Proficiency Level 20
Ability to calm mind, body, and energies to centre oneself. Increases regeneration rate by 1% per level. Increase in overall energies control 1% per level. Chakra cost reduction 0.02% per level. Current capability 120% regeneration rate, 20% overall control, -0.40% chakra cost.
I actually really like meditating. It's gotten less boring and more relaxing. Plus it so useful. I find the next kunoichi Nono Yakushi, the wandering nun, B rank and deceased… I feel a pain in my chest reading about her incredible medical skills and infiltration abilities. I wish I got to meet her.
Painting Proficiency Level 20
Ability to pain what you want in a neat and organized fashion. Your skill improves per level. Speed of painting increases 2% per level. Current ability painting speed increases 40%
Like I thought this skill is very slow to level up considering most of the work was done over the last three years since I started learning to write at age two… well at least my writing is readable. I find the next kunoichi, one that is currently alive, Yugito Nii of Kumo. I have to wonder did they seriously give the two tails jinchuriki the last name 'two'? I guess they aren't planning on keeping her identity secret like we sort of do with Naruto but still can't do any separation between tailed beats and girl? I don't remember much about her but form the page I can see she is S rank in threat level, specializing in fire style and Taijutsu. Definitely not someone to mess with on a whim.
Reading Proficiency Level 34
Ability to read and understand the texts of the standard Naruto team dialect. Ability increases each level. Speed in reading increases 2% per level. Current reading speed increase 68%.
This skill might be my favourite one. I mean if it keeps levelling up at this pace think how many books I could read! Speaking of reading, the next page is about Mei Terumi, aka if I remember right the next Mizukage! A duel bloodline holder of both lava and boil release with long red hair, man she is awesome! Currently only A rank but I bet she'll get to S sooner rather than later, wanted obviously by Kumo and many other villages though not Suna or Konoha. It has to make you wonder though… what exactly makes a Kekkei genkei? How is it different then regular elemental manipulation?
Running Proficiency Level 26
The ability to run quickly and proficiently. Stamina cost decreases with higher levels. Speed increase 1% increase in speed per level while running. Current speed 126%.
This is another one of my favourite skills, and I am getting noticeably fast. It may not have started as much but 26% faster does show, what will it be like in a year or two I wonder? I turn the page and my eyes widen to the size of saucers. Kushina… Uzumaki… the red hot hobinaro. A rank threat, specializing in seals and taijutsu, known accomplices include the Yellow Flash of…
"Hey!" I yell out undignified and Hazuki raises and eyebrow and I compose myself.
"This one isn't for civilian use, sorry Sayori-chan." Hazuki says in a truly apologetic tone and I frown a little. Geuss I can't do my paper on her huh?
"It's fine, thank you for all your help." I tell Hazuki and she leaves with the book in hand. I continue onto the next one.
Sensing Proficiency Level 24
Ability to sense or detect others based on their energy signature and pick out details about them. To double range and accuracy cost 25-50energy type per minute depending on accuracy wanted. (Available energies to sense- chakra) Range increase per level by 5 m, accuracy and details increase per level and closer to you the person is. Current range 120 m.
Ah yes sensing, my second nature, my way around the world. I wonder what the limit is for my range really? I turn the pages of the books frowning at the lack of powerful kunoichi, then again there aren't even as many female academy students and there are male. Then I find another, Biwako Sarutobi, huh I remember her vaguely from a flashback episode but I don't really KNOW anything about her. Well according to this she was one of the best stealth specialists in Konoha (cough assassination specialist) but was also a former teacher of Lady Tsunade herself when it came to medical ninjutsu. That's right, they never did say where Tsuande learnt her stuff from. It makes sense if Hiruzen was Tsunade's teacher then he could easily set her up to be taught by his wife. Interesting, A rank, deceased unfortunately but was known as the Great Statue. A rather strange nickname but I don't think I'll be researching her… yet that is.
Shuriken Proficiency Level 5
Ability to throw and use shuriken. Shuriken range approximately 15 m. Speed and strength behind throws increases per level. Accuracy on stationary targets 1% per level. Current ability, throwing accuracy 5%.
Again not only is this skill a necessity for shinobi but it is also really cool at higher levels. I look at the next shinobi and my eyes widen once again Honoka Hyuga, A rank threat, wife of Hiashi Hyuga, known for her one touch delayed time death… Kami! Hinata's mom is badass! Is she still alive?! It says she is in the book but the book is older… let's see… Hinata is like four or five years older than Hanabi and she has to be alive to give birth so she was definitely alive a year or two ago… so maybe? I don't know how she dies though, but it would probably improve Hinata's life so much if she were to survive. I'll have to take a closer look at the Hyuga clan when I have a chance.
Shurikenjutsu Proficiency Level 5
Ability to use throwing weapons effectively. Speed in which you can throw weapons and the strength behind the throw increases per level by 0.2%. Increase in speed to level up shurikenjutsu related skills increases 1% per level. Current ability level up speed 105%, weapons speed and strength increase 1%.
Do I really need to explain why this skill is important? I mean I basically already said it. Either way I look at the next kunoichi and find another connection to Tsunade. Her apprentice Shizune Kato. She's ranked B and considering her age when this book was published that is really impressive. But what is it with all the good kunoichi, (save for a few) having medical skills? Do girls have better chakra control or something? Or is it just a sexist thing?
Standard Leaf Taijutsu Proficiency Level 7
The ability to perform taijutsu using the standard leaf taijutsu form. Mastery of the form increases per level. This taijutsu style uses blocking, countering and slashing in its technique and can be performed with or without a weapon such as a short blade. It is an ideal form for beginners though can be highly predictable to high level Taijutsu users or those familiar with the style. Katas currently known 1
I also gained 2 INT, 1 CRE, 1 ACU, 1 DEX, and 1 AGI. Yet even with all that I have a feeling that I will be upgrading my reading skill much more today.
I flip finally through the old bingo books and come face to face with the perfect kunoichi for my report. Mito Uzumaki-Senju. S rank kunoichi of the Konoha and Uzu. Known as one of the best sealing masters since her father Ashina Uzumaki she could manipulate the very gravity of the world around her and made intricate traps with her align jutsu. It doesn't mention her jinchuriki status but that could be for safety or this book was printed before she became one. She is the best kunoichi for my report and a perfect lead to start researching the Uzumaki clan. I am really curious about them and their seals after all.
"Hazuki-san, could you help me find out about this woman?" I ask Hazuki who smiles a devilish smile and nods helping me find the right books. Maybe kunoichi class isn't so bad after all. Though I will not be writing about how important balancing a book on your head is, I think I can write how feminism can be used to make you underestimate. I like that line of thought.