Obligatory Disclaimer: The series Naruto is owned by Masashi Kishimoto; I only own the OCs, picture, and this story.
Chapter 16: Of Growing Pains and Familiar Faces
The dream begins as it always does.
The woman that stands before me is familiar. She should be, because she is me. Or rather, was me. I'm not entirely sure; I don't really remember. Her dark curly hair isn't in its usual bun, floating like a halo of black smoke around her head. She doesn't have her glasses on, though she should, but she stares at me as though she can see right through me. Because the eyes are wrong. They are pale white and pupil-less.
With the barest hint of amber.
"You've ruined everything."
Her voice is static, dissolving into a hiss that dissipates into the smog that surrounds us. Fissures and cracks split the corners of her mouth as she speaks, the skin cracking and flaking away like glass, the pieces floating up into the air. She's standing at the edge of a cliff side.
"It's all your fault..."
The voice is different now. It's doubled, two voices speaking in tandem. White mist rises around her, two figures appearing at her sides. Their faces are blurred, fading into the fog like part of a watercolor painting.
But the voices.
I recognize the voices, a haze of a memory in the back of my mind.
My voice strains as I call out to them.
"Kaa-chan, tou-chan?"
I question because I'm not sure.
I don't remember their faces.
"You should've never been born."
I try to say something, say anything, but the words choke me as the cliff gives and they tumble down and away from the edge. My limbs don't work and I can only watch as the ground crumbles to where I sit uselessly on my knees. The other me stands unaffected on the empty space, staring at me with eyes that don't belong to her. The crooked grin on her face widens and she lifts a hand, slowly pointing down.
Shaking, my eyes follow. There are bodies in the river, filling up the space like a morbid trash heap. My parents' bodies sit on the top, along with Mei's.
Kenta…
Satomi…
Noburu…
Akane…
Their bodies moved, sluggishly, trying to climb the side of the cliff. Trying to save themselves.
Rin…
Obito…
Minato…
"It's all your fault."
The voice that speaks is different again, and my vision goes blurry as a face appears in front of mine. It's bloody and waterlogged. Two holes that should have been eyes stare back at me.
I'm being choked.
Shisui.
"IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!"
I wake up when my face collides with the wooden floorboards of my room and I groan, rolling over to stare at the ceiling.
That was one way to wake up.
Standing on my step stool in the bathroom, I stared at myself in the mirror, pushing the dream to the back of my mind. I rubbed at the darkness beneath my eyes and lightly coaxed the tenketsu underneath to somewhat rejuvenate the skin as I looked myself over. In the past half year, I had grown a couple of inches which to some would seem not that much but I appreciated them all the same. My hair hung pass my shoulders now though Aunt Mei had cut my bangs so they remained above my eyebrows. I quickly brushed it back into a ponytail so it wouldn't get in the way as I washed my face.
Ever since graduating a few days ago, heck even before graduation, that dream had been terrorizing me nightly. It was quite obviously due to stress; the last few months hadn't exactly been the easiest, though I always knew they wouldn't be. After taking the practice exam, and subsequently denying any attempts at being promoted, with the help of Aunt Mei, my academy days grew more hectic. It was probably the powers that be getting back at me.
Ikeda-sensei had been absolutely delighted though, which had meant more pop quizzes and ridiculous requests not even experienced genin would be able to pull off. Shisui, Noburu, and Akane proved to be a good barrier, pulling the deranged woman's attention away from me. Especially Shisui. She never tried to give him trick questions.
I think she just liked to pick on me.
After freshening up for the day, I returned to my room to find my bed already made, a neatly folded bundle of clothes on top. Even after living with Aunt Mei for nearly two years, I was still amazed- and terrified- by her efficiency. I put on the mesh undergear first, then the long-sleeved black training shirt that I usually wore along with my black leggings. I pulled on my favorite pale lavender yukata last, securing it with a dark purple obi. If I learned anything by being a Hyūga, layers were essential. I fixed the long sleeves, making sure the little bands inserted on the inside weren't twisted as they hung pass my fingertips.
I walked to my desk where my equipment waited for me. I wrapped some bandages around my right thigh before strapping my kunai pouch around it. I still didn't understand the need for the bandages, maybe some strange shinobi aesthetic. Shaking my head, I grabbed my other pouches and attached them to the belt I secured around my obi, one with shuriken, scrolls, and wire, and the other with kunai, two packs of senbon, a canteen, and some smoke bombs courtesy of Noburu, as well as a few lock picks. Don't ask me why, but I discovered I had an affinity for breaking into stuff after Noburu locked himself out of his house. But that's another story for a different day.
Sliding several senbon into the insides of my sleeves, I moved back to my bed, grabbing my bag of marbles from my nightstand and stuffed those into a pouch as well. The last thing I needed glinted at me, the crisp light of the morning reflecting off its perfect surface.
My hitai-ate. I stared at myself in its surface, the white eyes staring back, the honey tint even more prominent in the clear light.
I can do this.
After a quick breakfast, at which Aunt Mei had squeezed me tight as she wished me luck, I walked out of the compound. A part of me couldn't believe this was really happening; I had actually graduated from the academy. One part of me felt as though I had cheated because of my reincarnated state, and yet another thought that the academy would take back my forehead protector as though it was a mistake.
But it was real.
Its weight was heavy in my hand as I walked through the streets in my usual route to the academy for the last time. The elders and Hideyoshi had been particularly pleased by my status of youngest graduate from the academy, inching out Kakashi by a mere couple of weeks before my fifth birthday. And by pleased I mean they hadn't completely disregarded my presence as usual when they had looked at my test scores, followed by one of the most uncomfortable dinners I've ever had with Hideyoshi and his sons, as well as their families. It seemed as though I couldn't even chew without fear of the elder criticizing me for it, and the gaze of the twins made every nerve in my body twitch. But Hanae, Hiashi's wife, was very nice to me, smoothing over the tense atmosphere somewhat with lighthearted conversation about my time in the academy. Thankfully, I was able to get through it unscathed and actually become a ninja.
I didn't really know where I wanted to put the hitai-ate. I thought about wearing it for its intended purpose around my forehead but I didn't like the way it sat on my face. It accentuated everything wrong, emphasizing my childish features. These things weren't meant for children my age that much was sure, something I was grateful for even as I took on its burden. I opted for tying around my head like a headband, much like Sakura did in the series. The nice thing about it was that you got to choose what color material you wanted, which was a strange thing to be lenient about the more I thought about it. I had gotten mine in black.
It felt odd not going to class. Sure, I wouldn't miss Ikeda-sensei all too much, but unless we were placed on the same team, I would never have lunch with Noburu, Akane, or Shisui again after this. And we would never sit under our tree and make fun of Noburu, and that made me a little sad.
Who knows what else would change between us after we got our team assignments?
My depressing thoughts halted as something approached me at a worrying speed. A very familiar something. It was a sixth sense, maybe some residual effect of my byakugan, but I could always tell when something was coming towards me, an increased spatial awareness. Though maybe it was just habit.
Noburu, as he always did, reached out to grab me by the back of my collar as he came close. And as I always did, I shrunk to the ground, the boy going over my head unable to stop his momentum. He let out a cry as he crashed and rolled into one of the posts of the gate to the academy.
"How many was that Akane-chan?" I asked over my shoulder as the girl joined us. She sighed, tugging the band that secured her hitai-ate around her neck.
"Twenty to two so far, Junko-chan." She looked down at Noburu with a mixture of amusement and worry. She pulled the boy up by the arm. "You should probably give up at this point, Noburu."
"Never!" he declared, brushing dust off his jacket. He pointed at me.
"One day, I will get even with you. Just wait!"
"You'll either have to get shorter or faster," I grinned, walking backward into the gates so he could see my full expression. "You'll probably manage to level the field when you're fifty."
"Shut up shorty," he scoffed, a smile spreading across his face as he went to ruffle my hair as he usually did but was stopped by my forehead protector. The boy himself was wearing his around his forehead. He settled for ruffling my bangs into my eyes as the three of us made our way into the hallways of the academy.
There was a bustle of excitement in the air as we entered our classroom, which was full for once. After the practice exams, some students from the class below and another graduating class were added to ours, including some of the students from Kenta's class and the boy himself. It made sense; I don't think we would've had enough students to form teams with just ours alone.
The boy in question looked up from where he sat with his sister in the front row as we passed, giving me a smile and a small wave which I returned. Satomi spared a glance, but quickly looked away as though bored. After the outburst in my room that day, the girl pretty much did her best to avoid me and acted as though I didn't exist. That was fine though, as along as she was happy I was cool being ignored.
We walked up to our usual seat where Shisui was waiting for us.
"Shisui-kun, are you excited for team assignments?" Akane asked as we all slid in next to him. While the bench normally held three students, we could all fit in perfectly since the Uchiha and I were smaller. He nodded his wild head of hair.
"I wonder if any of us will be placed on a team together." He looked over to me. "You have one of the top scores, and with Noburu-san being near the bottom, it's likely that you or I will be put on a team with him."
Noburu opened his mouth to interject but sighed and hung his head. No matter how much the three of us tried to help his written, technical knowledge scores, the boy couldn't ace a test to save his life. The only thing that helped save his test scores were his physical and field applications, especially after I began helping him come up with ideas for his smoke bombs and exploding tags.
I nodded in agreement. "And Akane-chan is the middle ground between us and a training iryo-nin. She could be placed with any one of us as well."
Not to say that we planned this, but the academy rubric didn't account for every skill and talent a shinobi could possess. After all, at this point they were just trying to produce ninja who could take out a few enemy nin before expiring, as sad as it was. It was frighteningly easy how Shisui and I had figured it out.
But it was what it was.
We didn't have long to wait long before Ikeda-sensei and another chūnin with glasses, Yoshiro Nakano, entered the room.
"Alright brats, settle down," the woman called the room into silence. There was a mixture of excitement and nervousness in the air. Even I was kind of nervous.
"With gaining your hitai-ate, you have all become ninja of Konohagakure," the woman said, eyeing us seriously. There was no smile on her face this time. "And as such, you have become adults in the eyes of the village."
"Also, with earning your hitai-ate, you will now receive a jōnin sensei in order to continue your training and education," the other chūnin continued.
His green eyes scanned the room, not unkindly.
"Please remember all that we've taught you out there on the field, as it could mean life or death."
The room went completely still as the pair began to call the teams.
"Team One, Hyūga Satomi, Uchiha Yasu, and Aburame Kyou. You will meet your sensei on field three." The trio looked at each other before standing and exiting the room.
Names were called one after the other and I only payed attention to the people I knew, butterflies fluttering in my stomach. As expected, Chou and Minoru were placed on Team Three with a Nara named Shiki. Kenta was placed on a team with a civilian kid and an Inuzuka whose twin pups scared the poor boy. The civilian looked nowhere near ready to be out on the field it seemed, but Kenta gave him a reassuring smile as they walked out of the room.
Yoshiro-sensei cast his eyes in our direction briefly as he read off his clipboard.
"Team Five, Uchiha Shisui, Ueda Akane, and Fujioka Noburu." My heart sunk as their eyes turned towards mine. "You will meet your sensei on field six."
The others hesitated. Of course something like this would happen. I was expecting it, considering my luck, but I couldn't let them see me upset. It would ruin the day for them. I mean, it would've been one thing if two of them had been paired together and the last of us had been split between other teams. But they were all together, and I was left alone.
Still, I smiled.
"Go on, you can't leave your sensei waiting," I whispered with a nod towards the door.
They stared at me, red, blue, and black eyes staring as they rose from their seats. Akane gave my hand a light squeeze as she passed, and I gave one back as she left the row with the boys in tow. The butterflies in my stomach sunk and died as they made it to the door. On the bright side, at least this way, I knew that they would protect each other, and wouldn't be stuck with someone they couldn't trust or couldn't get along with. The trio spared me one last glance at the doorway before they disappeared.
The thought didn't make me feel any better.
I tuned out as more and more students were called out and placed on teams. I wondered if they would just let them all pass because of the war, though it wasn't as if the village could afford to have suitable jōnin taking care of some brats. Maybe those who didn't pass would be sent to the corps. And what would happen to me?
Names were called until I was the only one left. I blinked lazily down at the chūnin who stared back.
"Junko-chan, come down here," Ikeda-sensei called, and I sighed as I rose from my seat and plopped down the steps.
I had my doubts that I would be stuck in the academy, the elders wouldn't allow that, but I sincerely hoped that I wouldn't be stuck with the crazy woman for my genin days. I'd rather go back to being a cadet.
"Yes, Ikeda-sensei?" She looked down at her clipboard before returning her gaze to me.
"Considering the uneven number of graduates and your status, you will not be placed on a team."
I figured as much. My heart sunk even lower into my stomach.
"Okay, sensei." I kept my face neutral as I stared back at her, Yoshiro-sensei looking between the two of us.
"You will meet your jōnin sensei on the bridge near field seven."
I blinked in surprise before nodding stunned. I still get a sensei?
She smiled, one that was neither mean nor malicious.
"Don't die out there kid."
I stared at her for a moment. Yeah, she was a psychopath who liked to torture kids mentally and physically, but Ikeda-sensei wasn't a bad person. She knew what dangers we were going to face on the field. Her methods were crazy but so was the world. I could respect her a little bit for that.
I bowed to her.
"Thank you for everything Ikeda-sensei."
"Yeah, yeah, kiddo." She waved me away, her smile becoming wider. "Now, get out of here before I give you some laps."
I was out the door before she could say another word.
I sat on the bridge's railing as I waited for my sensei, lazily kicking my legs over the edge. I only had a slim idea of who it could be. Given my circumstances, I wouldn't be surprised if it was Hiashi since he was back in the village or maybe even Hizashi. I couldn't think of anyone else that would be available that I knew from the series. An hour passed as I mused over the list of available ninja I remembered.
I wondered if waiting was some part of the jōnin's test as I played with my marbles. When Ikeda-sensei had said that I would meet them here, I didn't think it would take so long. I had long since gotten over my nervousness to boredom. Maybe they were testing my patience and ability to follow instructions? I sighed as I sent the marbles floating around my arm in a spiral pattern.
I had learned about chakra threads from an old book Akane had given to me for my birthday since she knew how much I loved to learn new things. Puppeteers from Suna were the primary users of chakra strings but they were useful for all sorts of things. As I've said many times, chakra was amazing. The chakra strings themselves could be used to activate seals and tags, as well as bind opponents if they were strong enough. Of course, I couldn't do that yet, so I settled for using it to grab things from high counter tops.
I controlled the moment of each marble with tiny threads coming from my fingertips, no thicker than twine. This was much more intensive than just pushing them away with chakra, but it was also much more fun. As I distracted myself by watching the sun catch the glass in wonderful ways, a voice called out to me.
"Junko-chan!" It was a voice I hadn't heard in a while and I turned to see Minato and his team walking down the road towards me.
Relief filled me as I noted everyone present. I hadn't run into them at all during my last months at the academy so I had gotten a little worried, but it was nice to see them in the flesh. Even if it meant Obito might accidentally hurt me again.
I recalled my marbles to my palm and threw my legs over the railing to face them properly.
"Hello Namikaze-san. It's nice to see you again," I said with a smile.
I swore my heart didn't go into palpitations when he smiled back.
"Likewise." His eyes drifted to my headband. "I see that you've become a genin. Congratulations."
"Thank you. Oh, and thank you for your assistance a few months ago as well." I had never got the chance to thank the man, especially since I had fallen asleep on him. I was still embarrassed about that.
"It's no problem. Where's the rest of your team?"
At his question, I couldn't help but look down at my hands. It felt kind of shameful not being placed on a team. I knew there was a reason for it but it still stung that I was left all by myself. My sensei hasn't even bother to show up yet.
I looked up into his bright blue eyes. "Unfortunately, due to the uneven number of graduates, I have not been placed on a team."
Both Rin and Obito looked a bit sad at my words, which was surprising. Kakashi's blatant disinterest was not though.
"I am being taught by a jōnin, though they haven't arrived yet," I continued. The others had probably dealt with their jōnin test already. Hopefully they did alright.
A contemplative look passed over the blond's face at my words.
"And they were supposed to meet you here?" he asked. I nodded.
"Yes, about an hour ago," I shrugged, dumping my marbles back into my pouch. "I had thought that maybe this was a part of a test but now I'm certain they've just forgotten."
For a brief moment, what looked to be an expression of realization and exasperation crossed the older man's face before changing into a slightly strained smile. I wondered what he remembered as he returned his gaze to me and spoke.
"I'm sure they haven't forgotten Junko-chan." He glanced over to his team who were still staring at me in various levels of interest.
"Why don't you join my team for the morning?" His offer surprised me and I blinked up at him.
"Are you sure? Is that even allowed?" I asked, tilting my head. He smiled again, even as Kakashi mumbled something under his breath.
"I'm sure it's okay. Your sensei will be able to find you later."
I hesitated in my response, looking over the group. Rin smiled at me, Obito just stared as though trying to figure me out, and Kakashi spared me a minuscule glance before staring disinterestedly at the river below the bridge. I wasn't sure I wanted to be near the troublesome trio but if it meant doing something other than sitting on a bridge for however long it took for my sensei to get here, I'd take it.
"I'll take you up on your offer then. Thank you." I hopped off my seat on the railing, making me lose the height I'd gain. Minato smiled down at me.
"Let's go."
The walk to Team Minato's usual training ground was filled with questions from the trouble magnet known as Obito Uchiha. He knew some things about me from Shisui- who knew that the boy talked about me to other people- and was absolutely tickled when I told him I had beaten Kakashi's academy record. I didn't see the reason why, but let the boy live vicariously through my accomplishments. Rin pulled the conversation to safer waters when it became apparent that the stoic prodigy was becoming visibly annoyed.
Obito would probably regret that later.
Rin was so nice, almost uncomfortably so. It wasn't as though I was unappreciative of her kindness, but it reminded me more and more that someday soon, this kind girl was going to die. She reminded me a bit of Akane, the peacekeeper of her own ragtag team, though the older girl was much more confident than my red-eyed friend.
I wondered how they were doing.
Minato examined us as we stopped near some long posts rising from the ground, the wooden posts I remembered Naruto being tied to in the series during his genin test with Kakashi. Well, with older, post trauma and erotic literature obsessed Kakashi. The one I was acquainted with had only spoke a few words to me and none of them good.
"Since we have a guest with us today, why don't we start with a two on two spar?"
We all glanced at the jōnin before casting looks at each other. When Shisui joined our little group, my friends and I would pair off and spar against each other but I didn't really know how that would work with this cast of characters. I could see myself getting along with Rin the most, but that would mean Kakashi and Obito being paired up. I didn't want to see that disaster while I was in the vicinity.
Spending a few more moments analyzing us, Minato smiled again.
"Junko-chan, why don't you join up with Obito?" A weird choice but I didn't argue. I walked to the boy's side.
"Do you really think this will be alright Minato-sensei? She is just a genin and…" Rin stared at me with concern in her eyes.
A little part of me was miffed. I knew she was just worried about my safety but I hadn't spent the better half of a year working on my techniques to be cast aside without a thought. I knew I was pretty tiny, still, even after my growth spurt, but I was three and a half feet of kick ass and book knowledge.
I could do this!
I smiled at her. "I will be alright Rin-senpai. I can handle myself just fine."
As long as Obito didn't accidentally burn, maim, or stab me I'd probably get through the spar relatively unscathed. A slight tint of red stained her cheeks and Rin apologized with a sheepish grin on her face. Kakashi didn't seem impressed, but I didn't care about that. Even though he was probably jōnin level already.
That didn't make me nervous or anything.
The Uchiha at my side pointed dramatically at his teammates.
"Sorry Rin, but I won't lose to you guys!" The boy was probably hoping to show off to the girl while gaining a win on the Hatake.
I didn't know how useful I would be on that regard, but I'd do my best.
"Alright you guys, get ready," Minato called and the four of us faced off against each other.
"Begin!"
Author's Notes
Posted/Edited: December 9th, 2016
Minor edits: February 14th, 2017
...
As usual, thanks to everyone who has favorited and followed this story so far.
Reviews
Thanks to starsarebright, Sekai Kun, PrincessRima313, river banking, someonethatreadfanfics, 372259, calcu22, Yamiiro Alice, Judgement of the Arbiter, ShugoYuuki123, AmericanNidiot, MerryKitten, Guest, lizyeh2000, Anseo, Guest, Arenea Nara, k123, Psycho-Jellybean, timijaf, BlackDive WhiteDove, tatewaki2000, Julie, Rookie-Cat, and koneko sawadaa for your lovely feedback on the last chapter. I appreciate it!
-river banking, while instilled traditions like the Caged Bird Seal are going to be hard to change, Junko isn't one to let something like that stand, as difficult as it is going to be, especially after what she saw on her third birthday. But it will probably take its toll on her like all the other things she has to deal with. Luckily, she has some friends to help.
-372259, not a lot of significant Junko and Shisui moments in this one, but there will be more in future chapters. But first, Junko needs to get used to her new life as an active shinobi.
-MerryKitten, I totally agree with you. I mean, rewatching parts of Shippuden for both memory's sake and enjoyment but most of the time, if it isn't needed by Naruto (or about Sasuke) in the series, it's kind of left to the side to be forgotten. But that makes great ideas for fanfiction.
-To Anseo, and anyone who wants to get better at writing:
I mean, I'm not an expert in writing, (I did major in English because I am a huge nerd and love reading, writing, and stories in general, but college never really focused on the fantasy things I love) but I will always recommend for you to just write. I think some people are turned away from it because they don't think they are good enough but the first draft of anything in any media is going to have mistakes, or to put it bluntly, going to suck. On this chapter alone, I have like five drafts, all that have something different about them even if the main idea is the same and I'm still not 100% happy with it. Sometimes I look over the earlier chapters and just cringe at how awkward or clunky some of the sentences are.
Writing is all about revision and editing in my opinion, and style is all about practicing, finding the voice you want to convey to your audience depending on what character you are portraying and trying to stay true to that character. It isn't easy by any means, and improvement isn't instant, but practicing and reading other books or stories that inspire you helps a lot.
On a last note, I think feedback on your own writing is essential so you know what works, what doesn't, and what you can improve on. Even this 'silly' little fanfic I'm writing helps me find my own voice as a writer for my other projects, and you readers help me know if the things I'm trying to get through are effective or not chapter by chapter.
So thank you.
Anyways, I'm glad all of you liked Mei's interlude (even to the point of crying, which was strangely flattering). And like many of you mentioned, Mei was an adult perpetuating the same prejudices of everyone else, though she does comes through in the end. Let's hope she makes good on her promises.
Life can only get more interesting from here on out.
Next time on For A Chance at Happiness
Chapter 17: Of Explosions and Planning