Chapter 10

Since that day my schedule has been pretty well filled with Kakashi's training, my workouts, training with Aphrodite, D-rank missions, along with memorizing scrolls. I haven't really paid attention to anything else. Reaching my arms above my head in a stretch as I walk through the village before fingering the ninja headband on my forehead. Reminding me that Sakura has been trying to tell me to tie my hair back so it wasn't hiding my leaf symbol but... I couldn't really imagine wearing my hair any other way anymore. Yet, to shut her up I decided today I would braid my bangs back into a ring around my head to keep my hair out of my eyes. She seemed quite happy with it.

In fact, she's been talking to me more since she had found out I was willing to fail just so the three of them could pass. I guess that could be seen as a good thing. But.. I prefer her scared of me. Fear kept her away from me at least and she wouldn't annoy me so much talking to me. Gramp seemed happy about how the team was coming along and how I've been acting within it. He told me he got me a gift to commend my efforts which is why I am walking through the village at this moment instead of training. Whatever he got me, was at the weapons shop and he had decided to send me there to fetch it. Odd, wouldn't people want to give you the gift themselves? Then again, nothing about the old man is normal.

Walking into the weapon's shop I sort of just stare at the merchant until he notices me. "Ah, what can I do for you today miss?" He questions nicely only resulting in me crossing my arms.

"Gramp… I mean the Third Hokage. Sent me here to pick up a gift he got for me."

"Gramp? Oh yeah, you must be Kira. When he was in here he couldn't stop talking about you as if you were his granddaughter or something." He smiles gently. "Hang on, your package is in the back. I'll retrieve it for you."

Finally sighing when he goes into the back I look around the shop. It is actually about time for me to restock on some of my ninja gear so why not hit two birds with one stone, right? Coming up to a pair of chakra blades I felt my eyes widen. They look like Asuma's in the anime so wouldn't that mean they are meant for wind-based chakra? They look so cool! "Here you are." The merchant says drawing my attention and causing me to look at him.

"While I look at my present could you fill up a box full of Kunai, shuriken, tripwire, ninja wire, rope, paper bombs, A storage scroll, and smoke bombs? Oh and put it on the thirds tab for me. Thanks a bunch!" I giggle when he didn't question me. He said it himself though, I am like the third's granddaughter. I then wait for him to walk away before opening my gift.

Gasping at what I saw I couldn't help myself but quickly pull the blades out and slice them through the air a few times, getting a feel for them. (By the way, they look like the ones in the picture of the outfit.) They are light, strong, and slick. They feel like they cut through the air itself without any resistance. "I so can't wait to train with these!" I found myself squealing only being answered by the merchant chuckling.

"Glad you like them." He comments as he sets the box he had been filling down and retrieves the blade sheathes from the other box. "Here put them on see how they feel." He coerced making me put the blades down long enough to attach the sheathes to my lower back. They feel kind of awkward but probably because I wasn't used to them yet. Retrieving the blades again I slide them into their sheathes with a smile.

"Will take some getting used to but I like them."

"That's good, now. Here is the box you requested. Since you didn't give me numbers of how many of each item you wanted I just sort of filled you up. I was guessing you were just stocking up anyway right?"

"Yeah, you can never be too careful with how many tools you have at your disposal so it's best to be fully stocked at all times."

"That's true. I hope you have a great day and please come again."

"Yeah, sure. You too" I call back as I take the box and leave the store. It's certainly time for training. Since Aphro is on a mission with her team I guess I'll train with my blades so I can get more used to them. Shrugging I look up at the blue sky as I walk towards my usual training grounds. Come to find out when you use a training ground enough other teams just seem to avoid it as if that is now, your training grounds. Not once since Aphro and I were five and started using that particular ground multiple times every day has someone just walked in and asked us if we were almost done. Anymore no one even bothers to ask, they just leave us alone.

*

After having set back and watched the other three chase after a stupid cat I sigh as we walk back to the Hokage mansion to turn in our mission report, oh and of course that cat. Seriously, a cat mission? We are ninja not… animal catchers. "Kira. I would like it if next time you actually participate with the rest of the team." Kakashi says causing me to glare at him.

"Why? They didn't need me for this easy task and besides cat scratches are dirty and can get infected easily. I would rather avoid cat scratch fever." I respond as Tora the cat scratches at Naruto's face again. "Speaking of which. I suggest you get those cleaned as soon as you can, Naruto, you don't want them infected."

"I know I know." He whimpered in understanding causing me to smirk. "By the way where did you get those new blades?! They look expensive!"

Shrugging to him I look away. "They were a gift from how well I am doing in the squad. Probably because I haven't killed you guys yet." I smirk at my ending remark and the look on the other three's faces. Yup, going to be hard not to laugh now.

Once we arrived we got to watch the Daimyo squash, Tora. All the while I couldn't help but wonder how the cat couldn't scratch her up as it did to Naruto. I mean it was just as unhappy in her bone-crushing grip that it was in Naruto's arms. Seriously. If I was that cat I wouldn't run away but find a way to kill myself to end the torture. "Stupid cat. That kitty deserves to be squashed" Naruto laughs as he rubs his nose. "No wonder he ran away." Sakura pipes up watching the woman and the cat with a frown.

We were now waiting for our next mission. "Now then, for squad 7's next mission we have several available tasks... Huh? Among them babysitting the chief councilor's three-year-old and helping his wife to do the shopping. Digging up potatoes in the.."

"Nooo!" Naruto yells cutting off Gramp. "I want to go on a real mission!" He hollers as he holds his arms up in an ex. "Something challenging and exciting, not this little kid stuff! Come on old man!"

Sighing I put my right hand on my hip looking at him. "But.. You are technically a little kid.." I mutter. "Mentality wise I bet a five-year-old could beat you." This officially earned me a glare from Naruto and a smirk from Sasuke. "The pipsqueak has a point though Gramp. Can you even call simple everyday tasks that people are just too lazy to do, missions?"

"How dare you!" Iruka who was sitting next to Gramp stands up with his hands on the table glaring at Naruto and myself. "You're just brand new genin with no experience! Like everyone else you start with simple missions to develop your skills and prove yourself!"

"Are you serious?! Babysitting is not a mission it's just a stupid!" And Naruto was punched by Kakashi to shut him up by sending him face-first into the floor. About time too.

"Would you put a lid on it?" Kakashi sighs.

I sigh and put my right hand on my hip meeting Iruka's eyes, his anger seeming to die away as he looks into my expressionless gaze. "You have always wanted me to challenge myself and aspire for greater heights, Iruka Sensei. Now that you're getting what you want, are you going to continue yelling at me as if I shouldn't?" Raising my hand above my head I catch Kakashi's knuckles before he could knock me on the head as he had done with Naruto. Iruka's eyes widen before he sets back down. I guess he couldn't argue with me any longer. "Easy Kakashi, I'll quiet down." I mutter and release his hand.

Now looking past Gramp I look towards the windows. It was a nice day out. I could be out there right now training until I'm completely exhausted if I wasn't stuck in here doing missions. That lazy people want someone else to do it, so they didn't have to do it themselves. Tch. Laziness... Should be a crime in my opinion. Light's dream was to make the Death Note world a better place for people who were kind, hard-working, and honest. I almost forgot what it was like being in a world where the majority of people are nothing like that. "So be it," With a nudge from Kakashi I am pulled out of my thoughts.

"Huh?" I question not realizing until afterward that I had said the exact same thing the others did.

"Since you are so determined... I am going to give you a C-ranked mission. You'll be bodyguards on a journey."

"Really?! YES!" Naruto shouts in triumph. Pft. The Gramp has no backbone with kids. "Who? Who? Are we guarding a princess or some measly councilor?!" Do they even have princesses in this world? Or is Naruto one of those people too hung up on fairytales to know the difference between this world and a book?

"Don't be so impatient." Gramp smiles around his pipe watching Naruto. "I will bring him in now... Send in our visitor!" Before the door even opened I could smell the stench of sake coming from the master bridge builder... Tazuna.

"What the? A bunch of snot-nosed kids?!" He claims before pulling the bottle up to his mouth and gulping messily more down causing me to wrinkle my nose. Turning away from him I sigh looking at Gramp as if to say.. Seriously? Ignoring the racket of Naruto wanting to beat up on the guy, I yawn.

"I'll meet you at the village gates in an hour. Maybe he'll have sobered up a little bit by then." I say to Kakashi. "Or he better hope he has." I mutter as I walk past Tazuna knocking the bottle out of his hand. "Stupid drunk is going to kill his liver before even getting to where he needs to be." I say loud enough for only Tazuna to hear. Ignoring Kakashi who was trying to speak to me, I walk out of the building. I don't have anything personally against Tazuna. I guess I'm just bored and I had to stir up at least some trouble.

Running through the village, weaving and dodging around the walking villagers in order to avoid running into someone. I revel in the wind blowing through my hair. The soft tendrils mixing with the movements of my scarf. Until I leap up onto the balcony of my apartment. The slight movements of my hair when my feet touch the balcony floor felt like a different world than a moment ago. "What's going on Kira?" Aphrodite questions from behind me causing me to turn. Motioning for her to follow me as I make my way to my room in order to prepare for the upcoming mission.

"It's time. We are leaving for the land of waves in an hour." I speak as I pull the storage scroll from inside the box I had yet to be able to unpack. Retrieving first the kunai from the box and setting it on top of the scroll's markings, before raising my hands in the proper position. Focusing my chakra before going through with the jutsu and placing them into storage.

"Are you worried?" Aphrodite questions as I hear her set on my bed. What's wrong with her lately? She hasn't been hyper or overly happy. Makes me wonder what has happened to her.

"No. I am pretty sure with how hard we've been training I will be fine. Maybe even I can keep Naruto out of trouble."

"Pfft. That's not likely." She giggles behind me making me smile as I continue to store the ninja tools that I had just bought.

"True. He'll do as he wishes no matter what. By the way Aphrodite... What's wrong?" I bite my bottom lip at my own question wondering what her answer would be.

"N. n. nothing! Why would anything be wrong?!" There it is, her hyperactive self… except.

"Then why are you blushing?"

"I. I. I'm not!"

"Aphro, I can hear it in your voice. You, are blushing."

"Oh just shut up!" She wasn't actually getting mad since there wasn't really any anger in her tone. Probably embarrassed. I smirk at this fact.

"What's happened between you and Kiba?" This question however achieved me getting hit in the back of my head with my own pillow. Wow, I've never known Aphro to act like this before. I wonder what has happened. "Alright, I get the hint." I say as I roll up my scroll and pack it away.

"Good!" Turning to her I see her scarlet face as I pull on my travel bag.

"Yup, the message came in loud and clear." I then make kissy faces before running out of the room just as… I think it was my alarm clock that whizzed past where I had been standing and smashed against the wall. Laughing I bolt to the balcony. "Aphro and Kiba sitting in a tree! K. I. S. S. I…." Leaping from the balcony I dodge a punch that could have. No. Would have hit me square in the face. Landing on the street below, I turn in a fit of laughter to see her scarlet face glaring down at me.

*

"Hey, Kira, why is your face so red?!" Naruto questions me as he gets right up in my face at the village gate.

"Oh shut it!" I snap shoving him away from me with a growl. I couldn't tell him that I had just laughed hard enough I had cried because it seems. Even though I had meant it as a joke, that my cousin is finally moving on with her crush. Though her reactions were priceless! I mean really!

"Let me guess, a boy asked you out." Sakura decides to get into my business now that Naruto is butt hurt because I shoved him out of my face.

Sighing I turn away from them. "Do you two really have to be so annoying? No, a boy didn't ask me out. I would have turned them down anyway. No, I am not telling you guys about what goes on in my life outside of the team. So get over it."

"Everyone's here? Then let's head out." Kakashi says as he walks up to the gate with Tazuna beside him, yet another bottle of sake in his drunken grip.