Chapter 10
It came as no surprise that Jun was absent the next day. Given her standing with the Kobayashi clan, Kazumi did not expect to see their daughter any time soon. Perhaps it was for the best; she needed time to reflect and consider their perspective. Until then, there was little chance of reconciling with Jun's family. Of all the parents she had dealt with in the past, Jiro and Aiya were her least favorite.
"Sensei?"
"Hm?" Kazumi inhaled sharply and yawned. She hadn't slept well the night before; as a result, it was difficult to focus on her students. "What?"
"You're not even watching," Emiko said. She readied herself for another toe kick; they had been working on the new technique for a few hours.
Many things weighed on her mind. Aside from the Kobayashi incident, Kazumi could not help but wonder what her colleagues were up to. She still hadn't heard from Kurenai and Asuma; neither had offered an explanation concerning their whereabouts two nights ago.
And then there was the issue with Kakashi. On their way back to the village last evening, they had a small argument over teaching practices. Additional training, he felt, was a waste of time; if her kids couldn't function as a team, there was no sense training them at all.
Team 6 had yet to complete their first mission. In fact, they weren't even on the roster. Kakashi's squad, on the other hand, received an assignment that very morning. She felt envious of his progress; he had managed to bring his kids together in a matter of hours. Hers, however, remained largely divided.
"You're doing it again."
"I'm sorry, Emiko-chan," she said, rubbing her eyes. "I didn't get a lot of sleep last night."
"Why not?" she asked. "You always tell us to."
"Yes, well," she began, "do as I say, not as I do." Kazumi sighed and stood up. She should have had a cup of tea before meeting her students. Maybe she would remedy that at lunch time.
"What does that mean?" Hiroshi asked.
"Basically," Emiko whispered, "it means she's a hypocrite."
After a brief pause, Hiroshi chirped, "What's a hypocrite?"
"Okay!" Kazumi clapped her hands together. She wanted to regain their attention before Emiko could elaborate. "Let's see those kicks."
Emiko motioned to Hiroshi. "You go," she said.
He was not one to argue – especially when Emiko was involved. Hiroshi nodded and set his stance. His guard was strong and balanced.
"Good, Hiroshi." Kazumi clasped her hands behind her back. "Listen for the gorei – don't rush. Two counts of eight."
The boy nodded to show that he understood.
"Hai. Ichi, ni, san, shi…"
Hiroshi executed a perfect front kick each time he heard the count. He did not, however, engage his toes. Kazumi stopped after one full count and came to meet him. "You're having trouble with your toe fist," she stated. "Here. Let me show you. Take off your shoes." She unbuckled her boot and placed her bare foot on the ground. "Like this – see how I'm scrunching my toes together?"
"Yeah." Hiroshi tossed his boots into the grass. "Like this?"
"Well…no. You're curling them. You have to press your toes together." Apparently, the concept was more difficult than she had anticipated.
"Why do we have to do this anyway?" Emiko called. She had climbed up a tree and was now lazing along a branch. "Regular kicks work just fine. I don't get it."
Kazumi sighed and crossed her arms. Some things never changed. "The sokusen is a devastating technique – far more than any other kick I have shown you." She gazed into the lush canopy, only to find Emiko playing with a leaf. "Why don't you come down here?"
"Pfft. What for?" Emiko dropped one leaf and plucked another from the branch.
"I need you to hold the target for me."
She had her attention now. The red-headed girl tumbled out of the tree and landed on her feet. Kazumi, meanwhile, went to fetch the target. It was a burlap sack that had been stuffed with hay. Two handholds were stitched into the fabric for convenience.
"Here," she said, tossing it to Emiko. "Hold it steady. Hiroshi, kite kudasai." Kazumi motioned for the boy to join them. "I'll show you how to apply the technique."
Some children were visual learners. Hiroshi, it seemed, fell into that category.
"Alright," Kazumi said. She removed the other boot and assumed her kamae. "Shomen geri looks like this – a front kick." Kazumi kicked the target with her right leg. Her toes were flexed when they made contact. "It can be used to create space between you and your opponent." A small amount of chakra burst from ball of her foot, causing Emiko to stumble. "Now I have a choice. I can leave…or I can fight." Once Emiko had recovered, Kazumi pointed to a tree at the edge of the meadow. "Let's go over here. I don't want you to hold the target this time."
"Why?" Emiko did as she bade, but not without complaint. "I'll be fine. I just tripped because I wasn't ready."
"It has nothing to do with that, Emiko-chan. You did great," she said. "I'm worried about your safety. When I said that the sokusen was a devastating technique…I meant it."
Hiroshi hung back. "Maybe we shouldn't try it," he suggested. "I mean – what if we're not ready?"
"You'll be fine." Kazumi waited for him to catch up before addressing her students. "Remember: We do not use this technique when we spar. This is for self-defense only. Am I clear?"
Neither child uttered a word. Even Emiko – who was always quick to disagree – seemed wary of the next demonstration.
"Alright. Same thing – I establish my base." Kazumi put her hands up and assumed a sparring stance in front of the bag. "Then I press my toes together." Her toes crunched into place. "See?"
Emiko and Hiroshi nodded. She had their attention.
"Next."
Chakra surged into her toes. As soon as she struck the target, it ruptured and fell limp. Hay danced through the air in the wake of her attack. Had Emiko been holding the bag, she would have sailed across the field.
Both genin recoiled and bumped into each other. To save face, Emiko shoved Hiroshi away. "Jeez, you're a klutz! Watch it!"
Kazumi attended her students immediately. She arrived in time to catch Hiroshi. "What is going on? Were you watching?"
"Y-Yeah, we were," he stammered. Hiroshi stepped away and adjusted his glasses. "That was amazing."
"It was good, I guess." Emiko crossed her arms and shrugged.
"Come on," Kazumi began, "I want to show you something." She led her kids toward the target. Small bits of hay crunched underfoot as they approached. "Look," she said, pointing. There was a sizable hole torn into the fabric.
"Wow," Hiroshi murmured, "that could really hurt someone…"
"Yes, it could," she agreed. "Let's see what's on the other side…" Kazumi moved the burlap sack and tossed it aside. There, pressed into the bark, was the outline of her toe fist. "This is why we only use the sokusen in combat. All it takes is one."
Beep!
Kazumi glanced at her watch. It was 11:30 a.m. – the time when she and her team broke for lunch. Hiroshi and Emiko seemed unfazed; they were still staring at the tree.
"Guys?" she asked, crouching to their level. "What do you think? Are you ready to eat?"
Emiko shook her head. "I didn't bring anything," she replied. "I can keep going."
"That isn't an option." Kazumi sighed and stood up. Emiko rarely – if ever – forgot her lunch. Her mother, Hanami, wouldn't stand for it. "You have to eat something."
"Really," she insisted, "I'm fine."
"Again." Kazumi held firm. "Not an option." She looked in the direction of the Academy and cocked her head. "Let's go. I packed an extra noodle cup. You can have it when we get back."
The girl grumbled and put her hands in her pockets. Hiroshi, on the other hand, fell in line with his teacher. "What did you bring for lunch, Kazumi-sensei?" he asked.
"Me? I like instant ramen, so I brought a cup of that today." She looked over her shoulder to make sure that Emiko was following along. "I think I have some fruit, too. What about you?"
"Mom packed a bento box!" he said excitedly. "I don't know what's in it yet, but she makes the best."
As they headed into town, Kazumi wondered if they would bump into any of the other squads. It would be nice, she thought, to catch up with her colleagues. In addition, she knew that her kids might benefit from time apart. Though it had only been a few days, she could tell that they were tired of each other.
"Race you there!" Hiroshi chirped. "Come on, Emiko-chan!"
The girl gritted her teeth and took off after him. Kazumi, meanwhile, was content to watch. Perhaps they would get along after all.