Sentakushi - In case anyone is wondering, this means "choices." A bit more info on the story:
All of the 'main' characters in this story are somewhat affluent, so they're at a higher standing than other civilians. Also, ninjas are held in higher regard by common people. They need to know manners too because they have to deal with the daimyo and his family and other well-off people. Even though they get hired by this group (and all are 'subjects' of the daimyo), they can be considered equal to them in standing. So don't be surprised if... they court one another. ¬¬
Hopefully this will provide a more thorough explanation and will answer some questions. Thanks reviewers, and more reviews are always welcome!
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They were off. Tenten and Sakura would ride with each other until the crossroad, and from there it would be the parting of ways; Tenten, to Ninja Academy with a hired guide, and Sakura, to Yosoyuki finishing school with one of the Haruno ancillaries, just as Sakura had planned it out.
Earlier that day…
"Tenten! Where are you going?" Sakura ran up to her friend, who happened to be walking to Ichiraku's for some ramen.
"Ichiraku's, why? What is it, Sakura?" Tenten looked quizzically at her.
"Oh, can I join you? Anyway, I've planned out how you're going to get there! To the Ninja Academy! You did realize that you couldn't just go there by yourself, did you?"
Tenten mentally slapped her forehead. Shit, I didn't think of that. Holy crap…Her eyes bugged out and she started panicking. She began to pace back and forth hurriedly.
Sakura raised her eyebrows. At that rate, she'll make a rut in the road in no time. "From your reaction, I'm guessing you just thought of it. Well, don't worry, like I said, I have it all planned out." She nonchalantly resumed the walk to Ichiraku's.
Tenten sighed with relief. Whew, that was a close one. I have to think more carefully about these things. Next time something like this happens, Sakura won't be there to help me.
"Oy, hurry up!" Tenten scanned the path. Sakura was already far down the road. She jogged, hurrying to catch up. "You slow down! And you haven't even told me what your plan is!"
Sakura laughed, eyes sparkling. "I'll tell you at the ramen shop. Race you there!" And with that, she ran off, Tenten at her tail.
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"I'm glad you were here to help me Sakura." Tenten looked at her friend seriously. "Without your help, I might have screwed up a lot of things."
"But now we're departing for our own ways, and we're on our own now." They were left to their own thoughts for a while, each musing to herself, and they rode in silence. All too soon, they came to the crossroads where they would part. If possible, the forest grew even dimmer and quieter. (Quite the dramatic effect.)
"Well, I guess this is—this is it…" Tenten faltered in her speech.
"Yes, it is…Goodbye Tenten. Let's not drag out these farewells any more than we have to. Sayonara, may your training go well and your secret safe." Sakura smiled a sad smile.
"Good luck to you too. Enduring all that lady training… I don't know how you'd stand it." With that, they separated, Tenten and her guide to the left, and Sakura and her servant to the right.
(From here on there will be few, if any, mentions of Sakura until much later.)
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Tenten and her guide made their way slowly through the dense foliage of the Konoha forest. They rode on for a few hours, passing no signs of human habitation, just the endless greenery all around them. Finally, the guide stopped.
"Up ahead. The Ninja Academy. Go straight through the village. You'll come to it soon." He spoke brusquely and to the point. "I will be leaving you here now, and I'll need the pony back." Tenten dismounted and handed over the reins. He nodded and led the horse away. Like a snowman in the middle of summer, all traces of them disappeared, into the trees.
Well, I've got everything I need… I think. I hope. She began her walk to her future residence. Soon a clearing came into her view, then some buildings, and some more, until there were shops and houses all around her. She bit her lip and glanced around. The townsfolk didn't notice her, and if they did, it was only for a brief moment, and then they would go back to their business. Straight through the village. Right. Increasing her pace, she strode on quickly, eventually nearing a long building at the end of the road. With a deep breath, she plunged ahead through the imposing double doors.
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A man was sitting at a desk inside the entrance room, shuffling some papers and filing some folders away. He looked up to see a nervous kid in front of him, holding out registration papers. Taking them, he glanced at the details. Name: Saki Tenrai. Age: 10. Hair: Short, brown. Eyes: Brown. Height: 147 cm (4' 10"). Weight: 32 kg (70.4 lb). There were other minutiae about the hometown, date of birth, and such trivia. He scrolled down to the bottom. It was a special note explaining why the parent couldn't be here to register with the kid. Please allow Tenrai to register in the Ninja Academy. Because of certain circumstances (that shall not be revealed here), I, Saki Hara, and my spouse, Saki Karui, are not able to attend the registration. Please allow Tenrai to go straight ahead with the application. Signed, Saki Hara.
Oh, no wonder the parents weren't with him, he thought. "Oy, Yoru!" An irritated man came out from a side door, scowling.
"What is it, Nomi?" he spat out. "And who's the youngster?" Yoru nodded towards Tenten.
"A new student, so to speak. He needs the standard clothing. Take his measurements and give him the right sized clothing, then send him back here," stated Nomi. As he said this, Tenten, barely stopped herself from gasping aloud. Shit, just when I thought I had gotten through clean, no questions asked, thanks to Sakura's plan, my measurements have to be taken for clothes! What if I have to take off my current clothing and the Yoru person finds out that I'm a girl? But before she could give the matter anymore thought, Yoru had grasped her arm firmly, pulling her into his workroom.
Much to her relief, Yoru's definition of 'measuring' was simply to wrap a measuring tape across her waist and shoulders. As he left to get her clothes, Tenten mused, well, that was simple. I worried for nothing.
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"And this is your room, Tenrai, number 127, where you will be sleeping in for the next few years as your training ensues. A trainee that's been here awhile will be your guide for the next few days, and you will follow him to the mess hall, the classes, and the training grounds. At precisely 6:00 A.M. tomorrow you will meet in the mess hall. From there on you will be given further instructions. As for the rest of today, unpack, and dinner is at 7:00 P.M. Currently the time is 5:00 P.M, so you have two hours to do whatever you want, provided that it will in no way whatsoever degrade or defile Academy property. Oh, and by the way, the clothes issued to you are for outdoor use. You'll learn more about it later. So, any questions?" Nomi took a deep breath after his explanation.
Tenten shook her head emphatically. The last thing she wanted was for him to start another lecture, and she couldn't wait to unpack her things and explore a bit. "No Nomi-san, I have no questions. None at all."
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As she stepped into her room, she took a good look around. Bare white walls on all four sides of the rectangular room stared back at her. Off to the left side was a small dresser with a mirror hanging on the wall above it. Near the far end of the room was a plain bed with a window a foot or so above it. To the right wall was a door leading to a small bathroom, complete with toilet, sink, and shower. There was also a small clock attached. A room with the barest necessities, of course. But it's perfect for me. Almost. Just a few touches needed here and there. She unpacked her own clothes and put them, along with the clothes issued to her, into the dresser. Taking out a small painting of a waterfall in shades of grey, she admired it awhile before hanging it on a nail that was handily provided on a wall. She also extracted her precious porcelain pandas, aesthetically arranging them on her dresser top. Finally, she pulled out a scroll with the kanji テン (ten) written on it, unrolling it and hanging it above the head of her bed. She stepped back viewed the room with a critical eye. Hmm… not girly? Check. Simple? Check. Artistic? Well, I think so. Okay! Time to take a walk around this place before dinner, which is in…She checked the clock, which read 6:30. One hour and thirty minutes. She stepped out the door, wondering what would be in wait for her.
