AN: it's me…and this chapter has doubled in length!
Miyata: …I really didn't plan anything…but I guess that's one way you can interpret Rio…I based it off of real life people, how they would feel if they had to become ninja…sorta…
Thron1484: I did? Thanks! I did want to write a fic with an actual plot…but I'm very flattered by your compliment… (I have this spell check that automatically corrects all of my mistakes…) :P
Invader Nicole: Thanks for your review! I got the idea for this fic because I had a sudden thought of 'hey, how would it be like if a hyuuga had no byakugan?'
Nancy: ah…u get 2 no the uchiha kid's name in this chapter…very uncreative but oh well…and I was thinking…nah I won't tell u
Hitomi No Ryu: see what I mean by uchihas are so popular? Lol…(eats cookies)
Unknown: thank you so much for leaving a review! (my ego is inflated)
Now, without further ado, please enjoy this new chapter of Monster!
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Gami pulled me off my cozy bed at five in the morning.
"Wake up!" he yelled into my face, while I rubbed my eyes sleepily. His voice had steadily gotten louder over the years, I thought. In fact, it was like he was almost—
—screaming in my ear. Actually, he was. My eyes suddenly snapped open, my foggy brain ringing unpleasantly with the aftermath of the verbal abuse. My head slammed against the wall in surprise. Gami backed off, an annoyed, yet amused look on his face.
"You can't afford to be late for the genin team assignment," he told me calmly, as though he hadn't just blown out my eardrums a few moments ago. I clutched my head.
"Nii-san, it's five…"
Gami looked at me. "Didn't they change the meeting time? To five-thirty, didn't they?" He watched as I bolted up, kicked over the covers, and pulled on my sandals in a flurry of haste. I had forgotten entirely. Yesterday I passed the genin exam, and was so excited I hardly paid attention to anything else. Sakura-sensei probably told us. I dragged on my overly-large blue shirt. It was Gami's old one, and, while uncomfortable, still fit. A loose weapon-belt slung over my waist, my shuriken and kunai pouch fastened securely to the side. I grabbed a pair of black shorts and rushed into the bathroom to change. I brushed my teeth in haste, splashed water over my face, and shouted a hurried "Bye!" before grabbing a random onigri and my forehead protector off the kitchen table and speeding towards the Academy as fast as eating breakfast while running would allow. I fastened my ninja symbol over my head as soon as the food was demolished.
I charged into the classroom panting just as Sakura-sensei entered on the other door. Spotting Shiro and Rio, I quickly grabbed the empty seat next to Rio and sat down, uttering a quick apology to the dark-haired girl next to me, who had to lean forward to avoid bumping into me. She smiled in response.
Rio snickered at me, pointing at his chin. "Rice." I rapidly wiped my chin, feeling my cheeks burn up. Some of my classmates were laughing at me. I must have looked ridiculous, running into the room like my pants were on fire with a ball of rice stuck to my face. Shiro even raised an eyebrow in amusement, a great feat for him and a stronger indication of how hilarious I must have been. Just as I was considering tying my headband around my eyes, Sakura-sensei coughed, and saved me further embarrassment.
"I will announce your teams based on the results of you genin exams. The strength of each team will be balanced, and the results can not be protested," she said. The classroom tensed in excitement. I balled my hands into fists.
"Team 5: Akimichi Goku, Nara Shiro, and Uchiha Tameo," Sakura sensei said. The dark-haired girl next to me rose, as well as Shiro. A chubby brunette joined them, and Sakura gave them some information in whispers before waving them off. Shiro looked back at us, tilting his head so his long gold hair fell over his shoulders. He raised two fingers in a goodbye gesture. Rio and I waved. Sakura rolled her eyes at our little 'farewell'.
"The next team will be Team 6," she continued, scanning each of our faces. I looked around, and noticed the other Uchiha who had been sitting besides Uchiha Tameo. His dark hair shaded most of his face. Cold blue eyes peered from under dark bangs, and he sat with his hands folded in front of his face. Strangely, a few friends sat with him. I suppressed a slight shiver. The Uchiha gave off an empty, echoing aura. He was Raiske, the prodigy of the Uchiha and the number one rookie of our year.
"Team 6 will consist of Hyuuga Hotaru, Inuzuka Tsume, and Abruame Tohru," Sakura said, a tiny smile working on the corner of her mouth. One of my white-eyed cousins, a strange boy with a dog, and a girl with a high collar and sunglasses all stood up. The dog-boy seemed a bit dejected. I remembered that Tsume loved to talk. With these teammates it will be virtually impossible. Before he passed, Rio patted his shoulder in sympathy. Tsume and he let out a collective sigh.
Sakura-sensei glanced down at her paper and her green eyes widened slightly. "Team 7: Uchiha Raiske, Uzumaki Rio, and Kenshin Kairiki."
Both Rio and I looked at Raiske. I felt my breath hitch in my throat. Could this really be?
"Rio, you got the worst grade?" I asked incredulously. Rio's mouth opened for a moment, and clamped shut firmly. He looked away. A few others in the room also stared at him. I frowned. Rio seemed uneasy. I took glance at Raiske out of the corner of my eye, and saw him looking at Rio in interest. At least, I thought it was interest; I could never tell with somebody like him.
Rio sighed, strawberry blonde spikes drooping slightly. "Let's go," he told me.
Sakura-sensei beckoned us. "Meet your sensei this afternoon at three in room 124," she told us.
All three of us walked out the room.
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Shikamaru was really, really, really annoyed. Why did the whole world have to be so troublesome? Truthfully, watching the clouds shift and change shape was more intriguing. He sighed for the fifth time in two minutes. Normally, he would have considered sighing too troublesome, but in this case, it was necessary. He could almost bet that he was the only parent who wasn't worried sick for their child. Even Sasuke had an excited look, which was rare enough. Temari was no exception, her fists clenching and unclenching on her lap. Shikamaru allowed a slow smile to creep onto his face. If Temari was here, things wouldn't be as annoying. The Hokage, Naruto, sat at his desk, filing through papers. He had called the meeting.
"Well," Naruto said, putting down his documents with a cloud of dust, "Most of you probably guessed what I called all of you here for."
"Yeah, well, get to the point," Kiba said. "It's something about our kids, isn't it?"
Shikamaru's eyebrows rose lazily. This could be interesting…
Naruto fidgeted. "Well, I need all of your opinions on this first. Since we are all familiar with each other, I was hoping that the reactions wouldn't be too violent…" he trailed off. "You tell them, Sakura-chan."
Sakura sent Naruto a look that would promise PAIN. "Hokage-sama is preparing to launch a new system of genin missions," she said, the look on her face clearing saying that she disapproved. "The teams may participate in a B or A ranked mission as long as two teams paired up."
A circle of gasps resounded throughout the room. Ino's fingers dug into her husband's arm. Temari pinched Shikamaru sharply. Shino and his wife Yora stiffened even more than they already were. Sakura rolled her eyes. Chouji dropped his chip bag, and his wife, Kita, clasped her hands so tightly together that they turned white. Kiba's facial markings grew redder. Sasuke, growling, was the first to slam his palms on the Hokage's desk.
"What. Is. The. Meaning. Of. This."
Naruto rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry, sorry…I sort of remembered our genin years. Genins are always complaining about how boring the missions were, so this will probably satisfy them."
Sasuke backed off, a frown still evident on his face even though it was clear he was thinking this over very carefully. Shikamaru felt a wave of thoughts hit his mind. Hm…it wouldn't be too bad, because he…
"This is actually a good idea, Hokage-sama," a new voice spoke at the back of the room. Most of its inhabitants slapped their heads. Oh no…
"I, the marvelous green beast of Konoha, hereby exclaim my full support for our youthful offspring and support them on their road to success, by casting my vote for this wonderful new proposal presented by Hokage-sama, and—"
"No offense," Kiba said, "But last time I checked, you didn't have a ki—"
"I am the teacher for team five! Of course I have a say in this!" Lee shouted. His infamous thumbs-up flashed and his Ping! went off. Shikamaru closed his eyes nonchalantly to prevent blindness. He felt a sudden nausea rise in his throat. Shiro was on team 5…his son…his son…
He glanced up. Chouji looked ready to barf up his breakfast, and Kita gently pushed his jaw back into place. Sasuke was a hungry wolf parent whose pups had been eaten in front of his eyes. The room felt like a bomb ticking its way to blowing its top, and a vague thought appeared in Shikamaru's genius mind. He decided to follow that vague thought.
I better leave.
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Inner Rio was rambling again.
WHY is our sensei late! It shouted, its face pouting in a very dad-like manner. I ignored it to the best of my abilities. We have been waiting in this cold, stuffy, stupid room for the past hour and a half. I was ready to kill. Kairiki stood in a corner, asleep on her feet, while Raiske sat in another corner, brooding in that creepy way of his, with his hands folded in front of his face, elbows on his upturned knees. I could understand Kairiki, because corners minimize one's chances of falling, but what's with Raiske? That I-don't-give-shit look pissed me off. Outer Rio frowned at the girly boy, while inner Rio stuck out the finger and gave many comments not suitable for a child's ears.
Damn. That sadistic bastard was looking at me. Inner Rio punched his imaginary face.
"Why are you staring at me?" I asked, glaring.
"I could ask the same of you," he replied in a bored tone, as though I wasn't even enough to shine his shoes. Truly, I was friendly when it comes to most people. But this guy…ugh. My very blood despises him. He was too frickin confident, like he knows what he's gonna do ten years from now. More importantly, he looked like he KNEW what he lives for. I felt a part of my stomach drop in a wave of sour feeling, which instantly transformed into anger. It's not fair that he knew stuff I've tried so hard to comprehend. Shiro was the same, but I knew Shiro. Shiro was good. This RAISKE was hateful. I was jealous, I admitted to myself. Jealous because he wasn't lost, like I was.
I was so unsure on the day of the exam. A part of me kept on telling me to call it quits. I didn't see any glory in being a ninja, and had nothing to protect. The rest of me told me to take the exam, because I would not be able to look at mom and dad's faces if I didn't. Dad was a Hokage, and mom was a great medic-nin and teacher. I had spent seven years in the Academy, and all of it will become nothing if I don't become a ninja. I kept telling myself that, and narrowly squeezed through. When Kairiki put my score into the light this morning, I felt like I had failed so miserably. I became a ninja, but an embarrassment to my family. It was truly one of the worst days of my life.
I really, really, had to figure out my own twisted beliefs.
"This is so troublesome," sighed a voice from the doorway.
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AN: it's kind of obvious now who the teacher is…NOW REVIEW!