Ohayo mina-san! Actually, it's Kobanwa, but ohayo is prettier. And I know how to spell it…
Many thanks to Silver-Serval and NoCareChakara for reviewing!
Last chapter was long… this chappie should be a pretty good length, a little less than last chapter…
Kabuto appears to be slightly OOC. I apologize, but as he has changed from the beginning, it works.
Originally, this chapter was "A month to train." And then it was "A month of pain." And then it was "A month to cry." But "A month to learn" seemed best and also, nobody cried in the chapter…except me about the disclaimer...
Disclaimer: Live with it! I don't own Naruto. –tears- I own the OC s and los nombres. Yipee!
Chapter 8: A month to learn…
Setting: Konoha
Time: Day after prelims to the day before the third exam.
Kabuto slowly munched his breakfast as he stared absentmindedly out the window. The night before, he had hung out with Imai and Uotani until he and Uotani were kicked out of the hospital wing. They said their goodbyes to Imai, who was still lording it over them that he had room service, and went to a small restaurant to eat a late dinner. Uotani questioned Kabuto on training plans, and offered his assistance if Kabuto needed it. After eating, the two had wandered around Konoha, neither wanting to return to their room service-less homes. Uotani confided in Kabuto that he didn't want to go home yet because his mother would surely wake up and bother him about the exam. Uotani explained that his mother wanted him to become a ninja so that he could protect Natsumi's honor. Uotani laughed, saying his mother didn't seem to realize that Natsumi was a great kunoichi, and much more spirited than Uotani was. By the time Kabuto had arrived home, the sun was coming up.
Kabuto shoved the half-empty bowl away, stood up, and strolled out the door as he pulled his hair back in its customary ponytail. He had decided he needed air. As he wandered through the market, he caught sight of a flash of blue; it was Kira walking past the fruits stand, carrying a few bags of groceries. As Kabuto made his way over to help her, he noticed that she was walking very stiffly. Shrugging, he figured she'd tell him if it was important. Catching up to the fast-walking girl, he tapped her shoulder and said, "Need any help?"
Kira jumped a bit and looked over her shoulder. Her eyes opened wide for a second, and then she smiled. (A/N or at least what he could see of her face smiled, she's still wearing the veil.) She laughed and responded, "Sure! That would be great! I still need to get a few things, so some extra hands would be very welcome."
Kabuto helped himself to a few bags as Kira told him where else she needed to go. Nodding, he asked, "Why do you need so much food? Are you having guests?"
Kira shook her head. "No. I tend to get really hungry when I train a lot. And Toboe and Jin will probably bombard my apartment for food while they train. They say I have better food taste then their families do. So they grab what I buy and pay me for some things. Usually they don't."
Kabuto paused, and then asked, "What about your family? I've never asked where you're from. Do they visit?"
Kira hesitated and laughed a bit. "No, my family won't visit. I'm from up north, in the mountain area. The family is in a trading clan, so they move around a lot. I haven't seen nor talked to them since I was four. But I am in contact with a friend. She writes as often as she can."
Kabuto asked, "How's your leg?"
Kira looked over at Kabuto, confused. "Huh? What do you mean?"
"Toboe said you hurt your leg yesterday. That you had to get it healed and rest it. How is it?"
"Oh! It's fine. It was just a little sprain. Nothing too big…" Kira scratched the back of her head slightly, and continued walking.
Kabuto nodded. "Is this it?"
Kira replied, "Yeah. I've got everything I need. But…could you help me get it home? I don't think I have enough arms."
Kabuto laughed. "No problem. I think I can handle carrying some groceries. I wasn't planning on training today. I figured I could use a day off and visit Imai a bit."
Kira grinned. (A/N Once again, she's still wearing the veil. It comes off next chapter. I'm not going to write this anymore. Just whenever I write something that involves smiling or frowning or facial expressions, realize that it's with her eyes, okies?) "Thanks a lot. Now I don't have to do two trips. This is much easier."
Kabuto asked Kira where she'd been yesterday because she hadn't been there to pick out her number. She paused, looked up at the sky, and said absent-mindedly, "I was lost on the road of life." At that, she continued walking towards her apartment. Kabuto, shaking his head, followed.
Once the two had arrived at her apartment, Kira began putting the food away. Kabuto sat down at the table and continued their discussion of chakra control and how it was possible to improve it.
"My sensei always had us just hold the chakra in one place for extended periods of time. It made it more natural to do so." Kabuto brushed bag dust off his shirt. (A/N you guys know the stuff that sticks to your shirt when your holding something for a while right?)
Kira shook her head. "But that only teaches you how to hold it. We learned tree climbing and water walking to show first holding a set amount somewhere, and then releasing a set amount. Well, for us it was snow-walking, or walking on very thin ice, but it's the same concept."
Kabuto glanced over at the girl as she rolled the leftover bags and stored them away. "You mean, you were learning chakra control by the time you were four? Geez…that's amazing…."
Kira blushed a little and shook her head. "I was not supposed to be learning. My parents, um… wanted me to learn with kids my own age." Kira averted her eyes and scratched the back of her head, which Kabuto had picked up to mean that the member of Team Koenma was lying. He'd noticed they all reacted like that when they lied. Kabuto backed off, realizing that that was a touchy subject with Kira. Obviously, she felt she either had to hide her capabilities, or felt that she had let a secret slip.
Switching the subject, Kabuto asked, "So, where are you guys training? Do you have a planned area?"
Kira smiled gratefully. "We're probably just going to move around. Jin gets antsy when we train in one spot for too long. Toboe and I have just grown accustomed to moving at least once a day. It's easier than arguing."
Kabuto nodded. "Well, I'm going to have to excuse myself and visit Imai now. I'm not sure when visiting hours are, so it's better to find out now."
Kira and Kabuto exchanged their goodbyes, and Kabuto left the vicinity.
The next day…
Kabuto was frustrated. He'd searched for almost three hours, and he still hadn't found Team Koenma in the woods. He figured that by training with them or near them, he might find something out. Even though the bouts in the prelims had taught him nothing, Kabuto was still anxious to find some weakness in Team Koenma's façade. He needed information if he was to beat them in the finals.
Finally, he felt familiar chakra. He headed in the direction of the three genin, and once again found them near a water source. From what he could see, all three were doing anything but training. Jin was hanging bare-chested from a tree branch by his knees. He was breathing very deeply, like he was meditating. Toboe, also bare-chested, was pacing like usual along the shore, often turning cartwheels or somersaulting. What annoyed Kabuto the most was Kira. She, still in long sleeves and pants with a veil, was lying in the middle of the river onto of the water. Kabuto realized that she was using the water walking exercise as a let's-lie-down-and-watch-the-clouds exercise. Unfortunately, not one of Team Koenma was actually training like she said they would.
Kabuto walked out into the clearing and said hello to the three lazy shinobi. Toboe immediately ran over and began talking to Kabuto, while Jin still hadn't moved. Kira and turned her head to look at Kabuto and waved a bit, but she remained spread-eagled on the water.
Kabuto interrupted Toboe's rambling to say, "What are you guys doing? I thought the month was for training…not for practicing gymnastics or…or hanging from trees or sunbathing…."
Toboe laughed gleefully. "I'm training! More accurately, I'm strengthening my body. Even though I'm strong already… and Jin isn't just hanging from a branch, he's…um…I have no idea, but Kira is NOT sunbathing. That would be a little hard with so much clothes on, don't you think? She's…um…I believe she's watching the clouds for inspiration!"
Kabuto sweatdropped and repeated, "Inspiration? She's lying on the water watching clouds!"
Kira's voice drifted over to the ruffled two. "For your information, I am doing chakra control. It's like the water walking exercise we talked about, but I have to keep my entire body dry. It's very hard!" She sniffed haughtily, and giggled. "But I am also watching clouds…It's very, well, calming."
Kabuto shook his head. "Your hair is wet. It's underneath the water." And it was. Kira had forgotten to keep her hair out of the water, and it was being pulled out of the braid by the current of the river. Trust me, the long black strands looked really weird doing that…
Kira shrugged. "I had it above water for awhile, but I got hot. So I figured letting it into the water might cool me off a bit."
Toboe laughed. "And we know you wouldn't just change into something a little lighter, right?"
At that, Jin climbed down from the tree, nodded at Toboe and together they went running across the water to Kira, pulled her up, and began to say in a singsong voice, "Take it offffff…Take it offff…It's getting hot in here! So take off all your clothes!" Kira struggled to push them off her, but two against one isn't exactly fair. Just as the boys finally got her standing, they went flying backwards. Kira had her hands out, having hit them with chakra to get them off her.
She said grumpily, "I don't want to. I'm perfectly comfortable." Kira crossed her arms, and Kabuto could swear he saw a grin pass through her eyes. She then whined playfully, "You guys know my skin is sensitive. And tan lines are tacky. So there!" Toboe and Jin laughed; at least after they dragged themselves out of the prickly bushes that they'd landed in.
Kabuto continued with his training rant. "I still think you guys should be training. Don't you want to pass?"
Kira cracked. Kabuto felt the change in her chakra as it turned angry. She glared at Kabuto and responded, "Just because you were Orochimaru's second-in-command does not mean you're better than us. So stop spying on us and get a life!"
Kabuto felt himself heat up as anger replaced the shock and hurt he felt. "So you're accusing me of spying now, huh? You don't trust me? Jeez, how many times do I have to tell people?" Kabuto began pacing towards Kira as Toboe and Jin backed away. They didn't want to get in the way of either Kira or Kabuto's anger. "I told Tsunade that Orochimaru abandoned me. Shouldn't her trust be enough proof? Or do I have to have Orochimaru come to tell you?"
Kira took a step back as Kabuto towered over her. "I should have told you before. I have no interest in working for Orochimaru. I've been asked before, Kabuto, and obviously I said no."
Kabuto stopped. "What do you mean, you've been asked? I don't remember him informing me of asking anyone from Konoha with your name."
Kira smirked and said, "Just because you had to be old when he asked you doesn't mean I was. Ask him the next time you see him. Accost any young girls in the last few years? Bribe them with anything? Ask him what he wanted from me, Kabuto. Then maybe you'll see that you're not so special."
Kabuto flinched. How'd she know that he was older when he joined Orochimaru? How'd she know that he felt slightly proud of being one of the youngest to join Orochimaru? Kabuto turned and left the clearing, shaking from his anger and frustration. He didn't see Kira's ashamed face when she realized what she'd said, or Toboe and Jin come over and yell at her for losing her temper. All he saw was the smear of green foliage in front of his eyes as he ran through the forest, trying to put as much distance between himself and the person he realized knew more about him than he knew about himself.
(A/N All together now peeps: Awwwwww…poor Kabuto and his hurt ego…)
Kabuto paced inside his apartment. Still frustrated by the exchange of words between himself and Kira, he had remained inside for the rest of the day, only visiting Imai once for ten minutes. He thought hard on the fight, and considered what was said after he had calmed down. He remembered that Kimimaro had joined at seven, so he rationalized that maybe Kira had some sort of bloodline limit that Orochimaru wanted. Kabuto regretted yelling at her, and felt that he had just taken his anger at being left behind out on her. However, he felt that Kira had no right to accuse him of spying. He wasn't spying for Orochimaru's benefit! Just feeling out his future opponents, that was all…
Kabuto flung himself on his bed and put his arm over his eyes. Somehow, amidst all the turmoil in his mind, he fell asleep.
The next day…
Kabuto slowly ate breakfast, reading a book as he patted down his cereal and then scooped some out to eat. As he was finishing, he heard a soft knock on his door. Sighing, he pushed aside the bowl, placed the book down, and padded his way to the door. When he swung it open, he got the surprise of his life.
(A/N Can anyone guess who it is? I'll give you a few moments… Okay, on with the show…)
Kira stood in the hall, and she turned towards the door as Kabuto opened it. Kabuto stared for a moment, then pushed the door open more and strolled back into the kitchen to continue eating. Hesitating slightly, Kira followed him in and shut the door behind her. As Kabuto slowly spooned cereal into his mouth, he watched as Kira made her way down the hall and sat opposite him at the table. She squirmed uncomfortably for second, and then, taking a deep breath, said, "I'msorryforyellingatyouIshouldn'thavedoneitcanyouforgiveme?"
Kabuto stared for a moment and then responded, "Huh? I didn't understand that…Um, could you say it more slowly?"
(A/N Yes, he really didn't understand what she said, he's not just being mean…)
Kira sighed and said, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said those things to you. I want you to know that I didn't mean it and really regret it. I'm really really really sorry!" She looked imploringly at Kabuto, begging him to forgive her.
Kabuto crunched slowly on the mouthful of cereal. He swallowed loudly. "Sure. I forgive you. I shouldn't have been bugging you to train. It's not my business. Can you forgive me?"
Kira smiled weakly. She quietly said, "Yeah. It's no big deal." Kabuto smiled at her and she exhaled loudly. "Well, thank god for that being over. It felt weird to be mad at you." Kabuto quirked his eyebrow at Kira, asking her to explain. "Well, I'm usually not mad at anyone, and being mad at someone kind of ruins the day. So I figured I should apologize early so neither of our days were ruined." Kabuto nodded in agreement. Kira squirmed again and asked, "Would you mind coming with me to buy flowers for Imai? I feel bad for not getting them yesterday, and I guess it's, um, a reconciliation type thing, so…I was just wondering, you don't have too, um…"
Kabuto laughed at her babbling and answered, "Sure. I'll come. Just wait for me to finish eating, okay? And I kind of need to get dressed." Kira nodded quickly, and sat back, gazing out the window while Kabuto finished his bowl of cereal.
Kabuto and Kira made their way through the market to the flower shop that Kira always went to. "I've know them for a long time, so I guess its just tradition for me to go there. They also looked out for me when I was a kid, so I know the family really well. I haven't seen them for two years or so 'cause we've been away on missions…" As Kira talked about the family, she led the way to the Yamanaka shop.
Once inside, Kira strolled quickly up to the counter and greeted the older woman there. The woman's eyes filled with joy as she screeched, "Kira! Oh my goodness, I haven't seen you in ages! How are you? Are you eating enough? How was the mission? I heard your taking the Chuunin exam! Did you know my baby girl is a Chuunin now? Oh my, how good it is to see you!" As she screeched, she ran around the counter to engulf Kira in a gigantic bear hug, squeezing her so hard that Kabuto thought she might explode.
Kira only laughed and replied happily, "I'm fine! The mission went fine, yeah, I'm taking the Chuunin exam, it's going well. Jin and Toboe are fine too. Yes, I knew Ino was a Chuunin, yes it is good to see you! But kaa-san, I need to buy flowers for a friend. He's in the hospital, could you help me out?"
The woman, kaa-san Kabuto supposed, laughed heartily. "Oh, you don't want an old lady like me helping you out. Let me get Ino, she's in the back. She's gotten very good at arranging flowers! Wait here, deary!" The woman raced into the back of the shop.
Kabuto looked over at Kira and chuckled halfheartedly. "Well, that was some welcome."
Kira laughed slightly and said, "I think she's always been like that…" While Kira waited for Ino, Kabuto strolled into the flower arrangements, looking over the beautiful flowers. Suddenly he heard stomping from the back. As he glanced over the shelves, he saw a blonde, tall girl come running out of the back. When she saw Kira, she stopped, shaking her head slightly as she walked over to the older girl.
"Well, now, isn't this a surprise. Here I'd thought you'd forgot about the Yamanaka family while you were off on your big missions!" Kira turned at the voice and grinned. She walked over to the girl, and hugged her tightly. Kira pushed Ino back slightly as she looked the girl over.
"Damn…you grew up."
Ino looked over Kira in return and said, "Hmph. You haven't grown a bit."
Kira laughed at the slight on her height and responded, "Well, maybe I decided to stay young forever!"
Ino shook her head and said, "So, kaa-san said you wanted flowers for a friend in the hospital. I think we can cook something up to fit that description!" She and Kira walked around the store, picking out flowers and discussing what would work well together. Kabuto realized that Ino was testing Kira slightly; she was seeing how good a kunoichi Kira was, how well she would fit in with ordinary women if she were undercover. Obviously, by the end of the bouquet, Ino had judged Kira competent.
Ino and Kira were chatting when they heard footsteps running outside the shop. Suddenly, a pink-haired girl came running in, sliding to a stop when she reached the counter where Ino was standing. Kabuto slid behind a display; the last thing he needed was Sakura attacking him inside a flower shop. As he eavesdropped, he learned quite a few things.
"Ino-pig! Guess what! Naruto's back! I met him by the gate with Hinata, Kiba, and Shino! Ino, I couldn't believe it, he actually seems smarter than before. And a lot stronger! He felt Hinata's presence when she was hiding! Didn't even turn around! Though, he didn't recognize Shino…" Sakura paused to catch her breath as Ino stared at her.
"Sakura, you mean Naruto's back? I thought he was apprenticing Jiraiya for three years! It's only been two and a half…Wait here, I'm telling kaa-san I have to go meet him. Be right back!" Ino ran into the back while Sakura brushed her hair off her forehead. Once Sakura realized that Ino had been talking to a customer, she blushed.
Turning to Kira, she stammered, "I-I'm sorry, I was just excited. I should have checked to see if she was free…" Sakura trailed off as Kira laughed a little.
"It's no problem. I was done. And I can pay kaa-san for the flowers. I really don't mind at all."
Sakura nodded and then took off when Ino came tearing out of the back. Kira watched the two kunoichi as they raced down the street. She glanced back at Kabuto. "I take it you know them?" She grinned as Kabuto extracted himself from the display, and walked over to the counter, brushing pollen from his clothes as he went.
"Well, I knew the pink-haired girl. The blonde one I've only seen before once."
Kira grinned, and paid the woman for the flowers. As she and Kabuto walked out of the store, he could hear the woman calling after them. "Come by sometime for dinner! I'll add a little meat to your bones!"
Kira shook her head and said, "She acts like I don't eat. Mothering me and all that…" Kabuto and Kira walked to the hospital, slowing whenever someone came over to Kira to say hello. Kabuto thought that Kira must have been a really adorable kid for so many people to be her surrogate parents. By the time they reached the hospital, it was almost noon. Kabuto told Kira Imai's room number, and led her to it.
Kira slid open the door and talked with Imai for a while as Kabuto waited outside. When Kira was finished, the two bought lunch from a stand and walked to the bridge. Sitting on the edge, they finished up their food and talked about things. Kira looked at the sky and interrupted the conversation by exclaiming, "Oops! I told Toboe and Jin that I'd meet them about an hour ago! I'm sorry, Kabuto! I lost track of time…"
Kabuto grinned up at Kira and said, "It's no big deal! I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
Kira nodded, and ran away so she could find the rest of her team. Kabuto sighed, and looked over the water. He said aloud, "And on with another day…" Then he stood and walked away to find Uotani so he could train a little.
It was the night before the third exam. Kabuto paced around his room. He was nervous, he didn't feel like he'd trained enough, and then he'd remind himself that Tsunade said he was Jonin level, and then he'd think of something he might have forgotten to do, then he'd find he'd already done it. When he heard the knock on his door, he nearly ran to the door. When he flung it open, he found Toboe, Jin, and Kira staring at him like he was mad. He laughed nervously and apologized. They smiled and invited themselves in like they'd done throughout the last month. Jin waltzed into the kitchen and announced, 'I'm hungry!" All four laughed.
Toboe informed Kabuto that he was now a second place for Jin and himself to get good food. Kabuto shook his head and said, "You guys better pay me for what you eat. I don't have mission money like Kira does."
Kira interjected that he also didn't have a job like she did. Kabuto huffed and said that he did have one; he just didn't get paid for it. When the other three stared at him in confusion, he grinned and said, "Babysitting you three." At that, a pillow fight began and Kabuto was hopelessly outnumbered.
Soon, all four genin were passed out on the floor in exhaustion. Well, Kira was curled up in a chair so she could uphold her dignity. The other three had been too tired to do so. With the exam tomorrow, all needed as much reassurance and company as they could get. As they slept, the nearly full moon blazed up above, lighting up the room as the clouds cleared from the sky.
Yay! Mesa done! Libaka es overjoyed! Another really long chapter...next chapter will reveal someone's secret and cause sadness in someone's heart.
The fight happened because I think Kabuto needed to get yelled at by someone who isn't afraid of him. Maybe he'd get that 2-foot pole out of his ass. However, he needed some friend time, so I put that in. I also tried to canon a bit with Naruto's return. I think Hinata, Sakura, Kiba, and Shino were the only one's who met him at the gate, but I'm not sure. Oh well! Oh yeah! The song that Jin and Toboe sing is one that I have no idea who it is by. But the "It's getting hot in here. So take off all your clothes" is not mine.
MWAHs to y'all!
