Chapter four; Frog and eagle
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
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Kakashi said something mean (BOOO he is a bad boy)
Iruka follows Tanar into the woods were she passes on her mission to some foreign Chakra(energy)
Line- Tiger and Tanar's friend is introduced
Iruka finds out that Tanar is a girl (DUH! We already knew that)
And (Drumroll please) We find out that Tanar has an Alias (Gasp) She is called the Blue Wood Assassin
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Tanar woke up slowly and grudgingly. She always did after taking a nap. Iruka and she had made their weary way back to the school and Iruka had let Tanar take a nap. (This nap happened to have lasted from breakfast until just before lunch) The sun hurt her eyes and she rolled over onto her side away from the light. She had forgotten she had a gaping hole in her side and was now painfully reminded of that fact as she rolled quickly back over to her other side. She came fast to face with the knowing eyes of the Hokage. She yelped and tried to get up and away from this old scary man that she did not know. (First consider that she had not thought that Iruka's bed was nearly in the middle of the room) She tried to scramble away but only managed not to find her back against a wall, but fell heel over head backwards over the other side of the bed. In a tangle of ripped clothes and sheet she fell on her hurt side onto the floor. "Uhh that had to hurt Tanar you'd better watch where you land next time" said the Hokage. She didn't like his tone, the fact that he was an old man prevented her from killing him on the spot. And her throbbing side she added with some resentment. She untangled herself as she considered the fact that this was the villages Hokage. (Although she was not a ninja she was not ignorant of their fighting style, their hierarchy, their dress, their personality, she even boasted to herself that they even had a certain way of picking their noses.) She was pleased with that assumption. She knew that the Hokage was once the best of the best, a man or woman to be respected and feared. She countered her first thoughts by adding her greatest defense, but he still was a ninja.
The Hokage and the assassin sized each other up. Each reading more about one another. The Hokage spoke first "Your clothes are ripped I'll have Iruka show you around the town so you can buy more." He reminded Tanar of a leaf, both sides are a healthy green just one side was a different shade. She liked it. "At least the parts that I need to keep up this disguise are still mostly intact." She said with relief. She reached out and grabbed her bandana and her mask. The Hokage watched as Tanar with practiced hands quickly placed both the bandana and mask on in one fluid movement. He crinkled his eyes in amusment, "No wonder most of the students think you're the greatest teacher ever." She turned around slightly puzzled. He finished "The boys worship you as a teacher and friend and the girls all have crushes on you." She blushed and the mask thankfully hid it. She thought how embarrassing it was. She changed the subject "If you please I'd like to ask that you keep my gender disguise a secret." As a after thought she added a "Sir." The Hokage tilted his head in acceptance and called in Iruka.
The two friends walked out of the academy and Iruka gave her first taste of local Ramen. She did not share his apparent loving obsession for Ramen and politely declined his offer for seconds. She was still on edge and wondered every time a person looked at them if her disguise was working. Thankfully every person just saw them as two guy friends that were catching up on old times. She still felt uncomfortable. The next place that Iruka showed her was the bustling market place. She quickly bought some new clothes and thanks to a friendly old couple changed in a nearby store.
She came out wearing a soft long and flowing dark-brown skirt. It revealed only her feet and it didn't restrict her movement. Her shirt was long-sleeved and was a fitting royal blue that clung to every curve. She had picked the shirt to match her eyes and the effect on Iruka was almost mind boggling. She took her mask and bandana off and her brown hair flowed just past the top of her shoulders. Her hair did not shimmer with brilliance because she never really brushed her hair. But streaks of darker brown gave the impression of wood grain. Iruka did not hang his mouth, but he was sure that Tanar would make a common village boy gape. Tanar was totally ignorant at this time how much she could impact guys. She always tried to befriend them not seduce them. She could not stand having her hair loose and flow around her neck. She asked Iruka if he could braid her hair. When he gave her a blank look she concluded that he didn't know how. She thought that ninjas were so useless; they didn't even learn how to braid. Thankfully the old woman knew how and quickly braided Tanar's hair. She tied a black sash around her waist that held a purse and other items such as weaponry. She did not want anyone finding out that she brought knives with her. She and Iruka began to walk the streets again. He explained the reason for the faces on the rock, though he could not explain how their faces got there engraved in stone.
Silly ninja had no idea what was going on around him. She always thought that was a failing of ninjas. They all had one track minds. One mission to complete at a time. They never considered the other rewards. Then again she didn't think of the consequences. She remembered briefly the night before. She involuntarily placed her hand over her side that contained a hole of flesh. This wound utterly confused her. She had felt that morning the energy enter her body. She only felt pain when it began to feed of her own energy and then pulled itself out of her. The wound Iruka had bandaged while they were in the clearing, the bleeding had quickly stopped and when Line revealed himself to Iruka and Tanar. She was glad to see him. She glanced quickly at Iruka and wondered how he thought of Line's sudden appearance.
Iruka at the time was actually focusing on going to a book store as a surprise for Tanar. He thought it would be a nice surprise for her. Besides he had to find a new book anyway. He had thought of Line though. The tiger had nearly made Iruka wet his pants. And He a higher level ninja was scared of a tiger. A tiger with an odd strip on his side, who happened to appear at an odd time in an odd situation. In fact these several days had been odd. He saw Tanar place her hand over the wound.
She saw Iruka glance at her and quickly put her hand back against her side. He didn't need to see her like this. Iruka surprised her by saying "Did it hurt?" She didn't understand, why did this ninja care, ninjas are taught not to care. "You were there Iruka." She didn't like remembering that morning no more then she had to. She continued walking but began to walk faster. She was confused and a bit resentful. No ninja was worth helping her, much less being friendly. "Not that" he said glancing at her side. She gave him a puzzled look. Iruka bowed his head and scuffled the ground with his boot. Shamefully he asked "When I saw you last night, you didn't have on, your arm guards." Tanar stopped dead in her tracks. That was her hardest secret to keep. Ninja Iruka was asking her to reveal what made her what she is. She was an assassin, a mercenary, a spy. No morals no values no friends. She was a forest that was feared even though all she did was survive. (Remember her name that was given to her by her enemies was the Blue Wood assassin) Iruka was looking earnestly at her. She walked back beside him and she grabbed his arm. "I can't" her voice soft and low and let go of his arm. He in return ran his hand over her arm worried "But the scars." She jerked her hand away.
She wanted to enjoy the rest of the day. She didn't want to dwell on the past. If she had to get rid of Iruka to do it then fine. (But she did not want to hurt him) "You need to be getting back to the school I'll come back later" She said. He was so confused but respected her decision not to tell him, but to send him away. "Go I promise to come back" then she smiled and added "I'll survive being in your school somehow." He couldn't help it. He this was the first time he got to see those lips turn into a smile. He returned the smile "OK See ya." He walked away. She gave out an explosive breath. She sneered at Iruka's back. Ninjas were so easy to manipulate (Not that she was trying to hurt him, just she couldn't stand having someone clawing their way into her personal life)
She saw a little young boy standing on the outskirts of the city. He was no more then around six years old. He was franticly trying to keep his eye on her, but was also watching Iruka fade into the distance. The kid finally stopped and bravely strutted up to Tanar. He came up to her stomach. The blonde hair was a bright yellow and his blue eyes stared up at her. He wore a orange jumpsuit that was to big. She looked down upon him and asked imperiously "Can I help you little kid." He apparently was taken aback by her attention to him. He put his hands on his hips and scrunched up his face witch made the appearance of small whiskers become visible. "My name is not Kid it's Naruto" He was hilarious the way he did that. He reminded her of a little fox trying to intimidate a curious Eagle. She being the Eagle. He then began to explain why he was spying on them. (Tanar had not said anything so Naruto had started talking on his own accord)
He said how he liked ninjas and how he was becoming the next Hokage. He said that to be the best he had to beat every other ninja and he saw how easily she had persuaded Iruka to go back. "I must learn this technique." She was now highly amused. The boy Naruto actually thought she had used ninjitsu on Iruka to get Iruka to do what she wanted. "Well you can really do anything if you have the right looks and manner. Besides guys like you always go for a sexy girl anyway." He scratched his head with his finger pondering "What is sexy?" She nearly burst out laughing. She placed her hand on his head. Solemly she answered "Learn form this Future Hokage, With the right look and pretty body you can charm anyone, thereby if they are charmed by you, you will defeat them." He grinned and said loudly "Alright I'll work on that, Thanks." With a wave and grin he ran off. (Unknowest to her Naruto would take her lesson quit literally inventing the infamous sexy Jutsu) She shook her shoulders and she was totally relaxed. Her shoulders became less tense and she walked with a flowing gait. Then she did one thing that she almost never did. She took out the braid and let her hair loose around her face. She began to hum quietly.
She saw a bookstore and feeling extremely carefree walked right into the door and turned to the left. She ran into a figure in green and navy. Thankfully she didn't land on her butt. "Excuse me…" She fell flat on her butt anyway. Surprise is not enough Astounded is much better. Arms outstretched toward her wearing his mask and headband was Kakashi. "Pardon me little lady" he spoke in a tone she had not heard from him before. He was playing with her. "My goodness I can't have bumped into you" he said in the same tone. At first Tanar was worried that he would recognize her. "Why?" she asked a little bewildered. He straightened and said in a most charming voice "Your so pretty I'm sure I would have seen your face that would have knocked me over before I could run into you." She wondered if that was supposed to be a pick-up line. He could be so two faced. She was more concerned now about her running into him. He was after all nearly beaten to death. He didn't look injured. If he was good enough to walk to the book store without help then he would be fine. What was he doing out of bed anyway? What was he doing here?
She wondered "You buying a book Kakashi?" He sat heavily down on a chair by a wall. She saw that first sign of his injury. He couldn't stay standing for long. It must have been painful for him to get this far. But she was not going to let him know just who she was. He took a book from the shelf, Come Come Paradise. "I was hoping to buy this book" he said but as he flipped it over to see the price he blanched. The blanch was partially hidden behind his mask and headband, but she had had to study him for three days to make sure he was even breathing. She asked why not and he answered "well because I … look over there." Unfortunately she did and she saw, nothing. She gave him a questioning glance and he put up his hands and as innocently as he could said that a strange boy had just walked out with a dog on his head. He got up and said a courteous goodbye. He walked straighter then usual. His shoulders were tight. Then she looked on the shelf where the Come Come Paradise book was. Of course then book was not there.
She had the sudden urge to bust Kakashi. She couldn't stop imagining her yelling out that he was stealing an adult book. She infact hated that book. (For this part and because some young children might read this let us say it was full of things that only adult males like to indulge in) Then a thought passed through her mind that changed it. "Kakashi," she said "give it to me." His sudden denial of knowing what she meant made her almost laugh, Almost. "Kakashi give me the book and follow me," was her command. Maybe it was because he really wanted to be flirting with her. Maybe it was because he was hurting to much to care. Maybe he thought she knew and would tell. What ever the reason he flipped up his jacket and handed the book to her and followed. She picked up another book about local legends and went to the counter. The middle aged man gave her one long look. Guys suddenly irritated her on how many times a day they thought about girls. She roughly put the books on the counter. "This book for me and the orange book for my brother." She reached into her pockets and pulled out enough to pay for both books. She knew that she was not Kakashi's brother. Kakashi certainly knew that she was not his sister, but the annoying counter man didn't. The counter man quickly gave her change-back and she nearly pulled Kakashi out of the bookstore with her.
"How do you know my name girl" he asked. She ignored the question and instead answered in the most playful manner she could "You owe me ninja" He scratched the back of his head with the book. "I sure do I guess thanks aren't enough." He said. She shook her head and laughed "No but," she gave Kakashi a look. "since I paid for your book you pay for our lunch tomorrow same time same place" He replied "I'm up for it, but who are you" She loved ignoring his questions "Bye then little Copy boy" and she walked off with a quick OK sign.