How did things end up like this? One moment I was happily enjoying a lovely lunch with Hoshigaki Kisame himself, and the next moment I was thrown into a fight for my right to survive.
During sparring class, we were made to return to the ghastly gymnasium in order to be pitted against each other. The floor was now marred with flecks of blood from some of the more violent fights that previously occurred. The lights flickered to give a more horrific feel to this place. The air was damp and cold due to the mist as I was panicking internally.
The goal was simple yet brutal. Children were made to fight each other until the instructors saw fit to call a winner. I truly didn't enjoy the competitive behavior that was instilled in us, but I had no choice in the matter.
Perhaps this Hakuryuu boy would let me go with only a few bruises, though the cold and serious stare he was giving me tells me otherwise. The Yuki Clan were known for producing ice cold obedient ninja with beautiful faces and black hair. They also had a Kekkei Genkai in the form of Hyōton, the ice release. I prayed to the Lord and all his mercy that this kid didn't know any jutsu yet, because as far as I was concerned, I didn't want to be subjected to a Thousand Needles of Death.
It was weird, time felt slower in this moment as we both waited for the chunin instructor to shout for us to begin. I had time to steady my breathing, and place my hand in front of me, just above the waist. It was the first position of ballet you see.
Meanwhile the Hakuryuu boy, who was in dark blue-green robes, entered a Front Stance similar to that of Taekwondo.
There was a silent understanding between the two of us. That I was weaker, and he was stronger, but that didn't mean I was going to go down without a fight. Hakuryuu was in for a rude awakening if he thought I was going to make this easy for him.
"BEGIN!" Hakuryuu launches himself at me with surprising speed as the chunin instructor shouts for the match to begin.
'Fuck!' I think this to myself as I bend my back to an extreme angle to dodge. Hakuryuu is surprised by my flexibility but recovers quickly and goes for a spinning leg sweep.
I dodge once more by performing a Back Walkover and attempt to counterattack with a roundhouse Pirouette. Hakuryuu smirks as he blocks with his right arm while leveling himself. Then, in a fit of aerobic genius he spins once more going for yet another leg sweep. I'd forgotten how much the Yuki enjoyed their spin moves. At that moment I realized I'd overcommitted my attack.
"Ugh!" I shout out as I'm tripped. I had to get my back off the floor quickly before Hakuryuu had time to capitalize on my fetal position.
"Yield." He says as he tries to stomp on my chest. What a dick!
"NO YOU!" I shout out as I spin while arching my back. This allowed for my hand and feet to get an advantageous angle as I literally spun myself into standing position. I was a couple of feet away from Hakuryuu now and the boy looked even more surprised thanks to my speedy recovery.
"You're better than I thought Kawakami-san." Hakuryuu says this in a leveled voice with a tone of maturity that doesn't fit a child his age. His compliment/insult surprised more than it should have to the point where I paused.
That was a fatal mistake as Hakuryuu closes the short gap between us to land a punch to my gut.
'SMACK!'
Suddenly I'm on my knees clutching my stomach and I'm close to vomiting the contents of lunch. How in the hell were his punches so painful?! He was eight! Oh god I almost puked and embarrassed myself. I really wanted to give up now, but something primal in me spoke of revenge. Still, I was completely outclassed by this kid and I was in no way shape or form ready to face him yet.
"Do you yield?" Hakuryuu is in front of me now, asking me if I give up. I controlled myself and spoke in a gasped whisper due to the pain in my gut.
"What was that?" Hakuryuu is in front of me now.
"I-I said," I say this as I look Hakuryuu in the eye. "I yield…" I wasn't going to cry, even though I really wanted to win. I was better than that. At least he didn't land a hit on my face.
"Winner, Yuki Hakuryuu." Hakuryuu gave a slightly raised fist in honor of his victory and calmly left the arena. Meanwhile over on the loser's corner, I struggled but still succeeded in picking myself up.
Still, I was appalled by the fact that the instructors didn't bother helping me up. Though the sole female instructor did approach me with a condescending smirk on her bland face.
"Good work there brat. Maybe next time you'll actually manage to land a hit." The repugnant bitch and a few instructors laughed at me after that. My feelings were hurt so of course I wanted to cry, but I wasn't about to let these lowlifes get the better of me. I was going to survive this world no matter the cost.
Classes ended shortly after the rest of the clan kid matches and oh boy let me tell you about how vicious Kisame and Mei were. Kisame's opponent was left to be a bloody pulp after his opponent called him a freak. Meanwhile Mei's opponent was paralyzed after she hit the kid's spine. They were both fantastic in their own forms of cruelty against children their age. The Bloody Mist truly deserved its reputation.
Once everyone was packed and ready to leave I passed by Kisame to say goodbye.
"Bye Hoshigaki-san~! See you tomorrow!" I say loudly as he walks away from me, not even bothering to turn my way. It was rude, but understandable. He simply knew me as the weird kid that wanted to play with his hair and eat lunch with him. At least he got the message.
By the time I got home dinner and a hot bath were already being prepared. Yuriko, my Mother, was patiently waiting outside the okiya to greet me home. She was wearing a lovely black kimono today with white lotuses painted on to the dress. She was already in full makeup, with her hair done up in the traditional geisha's style.
"Welcome home Tomie-chan" My mother says this to me in greeting as we both enter through the sliding doors of the okiya. Good thing I made it home before the red lanterns were lit, you never know when a sick fetishistic pervert would strike in these streets.
"Thank you Okaa-chan." I say this in a morose tone as we both ventured deeper into the okiya to get to the bathing room.
"How was your first day Tomie-chan?" Matron Hanami would've given me a heart attack if it weren't for the fact that I was used to her appearing out of nowhere.
"I…It didn't go so well." Mother and Matron Hanami both share a worried look before looking at me to continue. We all was
"Well…Most of the training was fine until the sparring matches." I hiss slightly as I reveal the nasty bruise that Hakuryuu left on me. Right above my belly button was a splotchy red and purple bruise, hideous and painful.
"What happened Tomie?" Mother's voice was that of calm fury, not for me, but for those that dare lay a hand on her daughter.
"They put me up against a kid from the Yuki clan, I tried to fight back but in the end…he punched me in the gut and I surrendered." Mother takes my hand and I can feel the shakiness of her palms. She helps me get ready for the bath as she, Matron Hanami, and I all arrive at the entrance to the baths.
"I see…" If it weren't for the fact that the Mizukage himself ordered the enrollment of all children six and above, I'm sure my Mother would've pulled me out of school.
Before Mother could enter the baths with me, Matron Hanami stops her.
"Allow me to take care of Tomie-chan's wound Yuriko-chan, you have a client who will be arriving soon. Please prepare your shamisen in the meantime."
"Of course Hanami-sama." Mother left swiftly after that, though the angered look did not leave her eyes.
Once Mother had left to prepare, Matron Hanami helped me prepare for the bath in quick silence. The bubbles were comforting and the waters were warm but not scalding. The steam also helped to calm me as I entered the wooden tub.
It was then that I witnessed something astonishing, and Matron Hanami performed a few hand signs in slow succession before saying with a comforting voice.
"Suiton: Healing Waters." Suddenly the water and bubbles begin to emit a calming green glow as my bruises and wounds were literally washed away by Matron Hanami's healing tide.
"I knew it." I couldn't help but whisper it out as the relaxing waters healed my bruise away.
"Hm? Knew what my dear?" Matron Hanami asks this of me as she continues to heal my bumps and bruises until they are all gone.
"I knew that you were a ninja" I said this as I met her kind and knowing gaze.
"You were always observant for one so young Tomie-chan." She speaks with knowing clarity as she leaves for a moment only to return with a sponge in hand.
"What was your rank?" I wondered out loud, not knowing that I was speaking until the words left my mouth. Regardless of what I
"Hm?" She questions as if she didn't hear me. I think she just wanted to encourage me not to be shy like a good grandmother would.
"I retired under the rank of chunin my dear." Cogs begin to whirr in my head as she speaks. A plan to survive and all I needed was her approval on the matter. I prayed to the Lord and Void that she would say yes.
"Hanami-sama, could you teach me how to be a better ninja?" I ask this of her with a pleading look.
"And here I thought you'd never ask." She smiled brilliantly at me as she helped wash my long hair. It was a comforting sense of foreboding as I questioned what kind of training I would endure under the tutelage of a retired kunoichi.