Disclaimer: Naruto is property of Masashi Kishimoto, not me. However, Kosu and Hiro are mine. Warning, possible themes of a dark, violent or suggestive nature and use of mature language as the story progresses… They're ninja after all.
Chapter 4
The Blacklist
They were whispering.
Again.
Kosu kept her gaze fixed forwards to the front of the class, ignoring her classmates and their glares as they walked passed her. It was the end of the day and for all but her it meant they were finished at the academy until tomorrow. The door slid shut behind the final child.
"Let's have a look." Daiki-sensei said. He stood in front of Kosu's desk with his tanned arms crossed.
She clenched her teeth and slowly removed the ice compress she'd been applying to her temple. It felt like she had a second head with how large the swelling was. In its centre there was an oozing laceration running almost parallel to her hairline. Although it was only oozing when he looked at it, the substantial stain of red down the side of her face and matted into her hair was evidence enough that that wasn't always the case. Kosu winced as she blinked and quickly opted to keep her right eye closed. Without even seeing her reflection she knew that there was a dark bruise forming on almost the entire right upper quarter of her face.
Daiki sighed and motioned for Kosu to apply the compress once more. Ebisu really went for him with that kick.
"You're not particularly liked are you?" He said.
Daiki-sensei had noticed since his run in with Genma that Kosuke had been blacklisted by the other boys and by default also the girls. That was three weeks ago and it was only getting worse, not that Kosu helped matters.
Daiki desperately wanted to stop it, to encourage the children to embrace Kosu as a comrade and friend. But he hadn't, he couldn't. His orders were to prepare Kosu, and the constant defeats served as good practise and a solid reminder that he was still weak and in need of improvement.
Had it been any other student he would have had to have intervened. But this was Kosuke.
"I don't care if they like me." She replied dryly. "They're idiots."
"They all out perform you in every test." He raised an eyebrow. Kosu was quite solidly set at the bottom of the class rankings.
"That's not-" She stopped, reconsidered her words. "They are smarter, and stronger." They were, plain and simple. She knew she could never beat them in a straight up fight, nor out-perform them on a written exam. "But they are ignorant and naïve." She lowered the ice compress from her face and stared at him with eyes too old for her face.
And those people don't survive.
Kosu eventually looked down, exhaling softly. She and Hiro were safer away from those who were just going to get themselves killed. Let them sink their ships on their own, she sure as hell wasn't going to drown with them.
"So sensei, should we get started?" Kosu asked after a thick silence passed between the pair.
"Yeah. We're going to work on your chakra, again." He announced.
Kosu nodded, standing from the desk and mentally preparing herself for a gruelling training session. At the end of which she would feel on the inside like she looked on the outside and Daiki would undoubtedly be wound up beyond belief.
Whilst her taijutsu was still terrible it was at least showing evidence of improvement. Unfortunately, this wasn't true for her chakra and control thereof. Rather unexplainably, she was on the same skill level as Might Gai - a child who was proven to not be chakra sensitive.
Kosu was so much like him in fact that Daiki had retested her with the small crystal. Once again the crystal glowed, she was definitely chakra sensitive.
So what the hell was the issue?
X
Sakumo watched with a weary gaze as his son pushed a grain of rice around his plate. The same grain of rice he'd been contemplating for the last three minutes. Kakashi's mask was around his neck and the pout of his lips was all too obvious. The last time Sakumo had seen his son this pensive he'd been blindsided by a question on the complexities of animal summons – Kakashi had been doing a bit of light reading apparently. So with that in mind Sakumo Hatake placed his chopsticks down and turned in his seat to his son. It was time to address the pensive frown that had been on Kakashi's face for the last few weeks.
"What's got you thinking so hard?" Sakumo asked. Kakashi met the warm gaze of his father and exhaled slowly.
"A boy in my class." He replied.
"Oh?" Sakumo tilted his head slightly. What's Obito said now?
"He's late joining the class." Kakashi began. "And is rather pathetic. He's very small, smaller than me," Kakashi, being the youngest in his class by a couple of years, was used to being the smallest in the classroom. "He's not very strong either or good at manipulating chakra."
Kakashi's frown deepened as he replayed the moment Kosuke had thrown the dirt into Genma's eyes. At the time Kakashi's eyes had widened and a crashing realisation of Daiki-sensei's 'no sharps' rule had washed over him. Needless to say Kakashi had demonstrated the same awareness of his environment to Daiki-sensei in their afternoon classes and received the praise from his peers at working it out. But it was a hollow achievement. Kakashi was used to being the best. He was always first. And yet this skeleton of a boy figured out the meaning behind the meaning before he did. How?
"This boy, he's not from here?" Sakumo asked. Kakashi shook his head. Sakumo's mind was instantly filled with the image of the two refugee brothers - in particular the haunted look of the eldest. Kosuke was his name, if Sakumo had heard correctly in the jonin breakroom.
"He doesn't have shinobi parentage either." Kakashi's brow furrowed further. "Yet, he managed to work out the meaning of Daiki-sensei's rule. How can someone as pathetic as him do something like that?"
Sakumo sighed.
"Kakashi, between the academy and, if a child has them shinobi parents, Konoha does it's best to prepare you for your shinobi path." Sakumo began. "But these lessons and skills can be learned through other means. You'll meet more like this boy, Kakashi." Sakumo warned. "You'll encounter those, who despite having nothing that resembles traditional ninja training, will just think like we do."
X
"You're getting good at that Hiro." Kosu smiled at her younger brother.
"I play it a lot." He chuckled.
Kosu had arrived back from the academy the week previously. Hungry, because she was late. Late, because Daiki had ordered her to stay longer than normal. And in pain, because Daiki had paired her against Genma during their afternoon sparring session. It was her turn to be held in a neck threatening choke hold.
And yet all of that disappeared as soon as she saw Hiro's happy face, gushing excitedly about his new flute. An item from Hiriko's past that was apparently of no use to her now that her fingers were succumbing to arthritis. Instead of throwing the instrument away she had gifted it to Hiro.
Kosu was still weary of the older woman's motives behind the gift. But the instrument made Hiro so happy she couldn't bare to take it away from him.
At first he just enjoyed making random sounds with it, excitedly showing off the new noises to anyone who would listen. When he realised that the notes could be put together and made to sound beautiful he began doing that. Spurred on by the fact that Kosu so obviously enjoyed it. He'd work hard each morning, so that when she stopped by during her lunch break to check on him he could show her something new.
Hiro had never felt Kosu smile before – a proper smile anyway. The type of smile that took over someone's entire face. But by playing the flute he could make it happen and he was determined to make his older sibling smile each day. Big brothers were there to protect their little brothers. And little brothers were there to make their big brothers smile.
Kosu had always acknowledged that her brother had an incredible ear. She just never expected it to extend to musical prowess. She was quite glad that it did. It made studying the many scrolls, tomes and books that Daiki piled on her bearable.
Three weeks now and the academic work wasn't letting up. In fact, it was only increasing. There were days her mind felt as beaten as her body. And beaten she was. Her skin was a rainbow of colours from the red-blacks of her cuts and scabs to the extensive range of bruises that mottled her skin. Thank Kami you can't see me Hiro.
The only positive visible change to happen to Kosu was that she was actually gaining mass, admittedly slower than Daiki would like. But muscle growth was muscle growth. Good diet and strict training meant that for the first time in her memory she could no longer see and feel all of her ribs – just most of them. She was still far below the standard of her classmates and probably still below the average height and weight for a civilian her age. But at least she was trending in the right direction.
"Well as much as I love hearing you play. Right now I'd rather see you eating your food." Kosu kept her voice light and gently pushed Hiro's plate towards him across the table.
"Sorry brother." He giggled placing the metal flute carefully on top of his crossed legs and picking up his chopsticks. Kosu shook her head slightly in amusement and turned her attention back to the book in her hand: Shinobi Formations and Tactics Vol. III.
All too soon her lunch break was over and she had to say goodbye to Hiro. She watched fondly for a moment as he left her side and made his way over to Hiriko.
The older woman looked to the door after saying hello to Hiro and gave Kosu a wave, watching the older sibling disappear through the front door. She then turned her full attention to flute wielding child at her feet, overjoyed that once again the orphanage was filled with soft melodic tones.
X
Kosu arrived back at the academy and crept silently over the fence, dropping into the shadows of the large building. Technically, they weren't supposed to leave the academy grounds during their breaks, but Kosu had been doing so since her second day. Daiki was well aware, having followed her the first time she snuck out but had decided to allow the two siblings have lunch together.
Like every other day Kosu walked around the building and into the yard, spying Gai in the centre of the track doing push-ups on his fingers.
"412," He panted and collapsed flat on his face as she walked passed. He's improving quickly. She glanced over her shoulder at him. He was already up onto his hands and starting his first lap.
"Hay Kosuke!" Rin called as soon as she saw the smallest of their class in the yard. Kosuke blinked in surprise – no one talked to her. Ever.
Rin was stood with most of the rest of the class and Kosu didn't miss the way they all glared at her. Kosu grew more confused when Rin all but skipped over to her.
It was in situations like these that Kosu found herself missing the simplicity of the wilderness. Everything out there either wanted to kill you or it didn't care for your existence. It was simple. There was no grey area of confusion.
"Where did you go? I was looking for you all lunch." Rin's head tilted to the side. Kosu resisted the urge to point out that Rin was probably exaggerating her search efforts and instead opted to say,
"I was around."
"Oh," Rin blinked.
"Anyway, I need to return this before class." She motioned to the book in her hand and inclined her head as if to say 'goodbye'.
"Bye," Rin mumbled as she watched Kosu walk away. A look of determination claimed her face as she re-joined the rest of her peers. "We should include him more." She announced.
"Why?" Genma frowned, rolling the senbon between his teeth.
"Because, he's new and we should make friends with him." Rin replied as if it was obvious.
"He's not the type of person you want to be around Rin." Obito frowned, agreeing with Genma. Rin scowled, hands on her hips.
She didn't understand why all of the boys in their class had turned on Kosu and tried to exclude him. They forced him to sit in the darkest corner of the class all by himself. They would glare at him whenever he walked passed and ignore him if he spoke to them. And the worst thing, so bad in fact that Rin struggled to watch, was the fact that in any spar against Kosu the other boys seemed to enjoy physically beating him. There wasn't a single day that Kosu wasn't bruised or bloodied. Not once did Daiki-sensei stop it.
"Why? Because he's not one of the best in the class?" She asked, trying to guess the motive behind excluding Kosu. Rin was met by a round of groans and rolled eyes.
"That's not it at all." Obito said.
"And that doesn't make sense, we still include Obito." Kakashi explained.
"Kakashi!" Obito growled.
"Look Rin, just trust us okay?" Genma said. Rin's face softened for a moment but she quickly found her resolve.
"No." She shook her head. "This is wrong. And if you won't befriend him with me, I'll do it by myself."
"Rin-"
"Time for class!" Daiki-sensei called stopping them from arguing any further.
X
Class ended and like always Kosu remained behind. They'd had a day of theory and shuriken practise which meant she was going to be training her taijutsu with Daiki-sensei.
Kosu watched from the classroom window, an eyebrow raised in confusion at the argument occurring between her classmates. Rin, the ever-peaceful-friendly-to-everyone-Rin, was in a heated showdown with Kakashi, Obito and Genma. Daiki noticed his pupil's attention had drifted from listening to him.
"I'm not going to like whatever that is, am I?" He asked with an exasperated sigh, peering over Kosu's shoulder.
"Probably not." Kosu agreed. The argument finished with Rin smacking each of the three boys upside the head and storming off. Kosu's other eyebrow joined the first in surprise.
Daiki failed to hide his low snigger of amusement. The first of many for those boys I'm sure.
"Anyway" He cleared his throat. "As I was saying. You know the routine, let's go." He jerked his head and left, knowing that the little child would follow after him like a puppy.
He started by running her through conditioning drills, desperately trying to get something on those bones. It was off putting how slight the child was.
After that the pair sparred. This was the part where Daiki-sensei didn't pull his punches as much as he did with the other students. Under the firm belief that Kosu wasn't one to let the same trick fool him twice.
His fist made contact with her and sent her sprawling. She coughed and spluttered on the ground as she tried to regain her winded breath, eventually making it to her feet.
Daiki sighed.
"Again."
Kosu came at him this time. He'd told him from the beginning that he would need to "go for him with the intention to kill, if he was going to even stand a chance." Disturbingly, although not surprisingly, Kosu hadn't even hesitated. And whilst his form was terrible it was obvious he knew exactly where he needed to strike in order to kill.
It was a hard kick to her side that wiped her out the next time.
"Again."
A choke hold she couldn't slip out of.
"Again."
And again and again until Kosu was a sweating, panting mess with barely enough strength in her legs to keep herself upright.
Daiki found the uncomfortable twist of his stomach returning as he pushed the child to his limits and all the while Kosu just looked at him, waiting for more. The kid didn't complain once. Kosu didn't utter any sort of sound at all. Daiki watched as the child worked like a dog and he had no doubt in his mind that he would keep going until his body quite literally gave up.
Kosu didn't even realised Daiki hadn't said 'again' until he was in front of her and placing his large hand on her shoulder. Kosu's eyes snapped up to Daiki as she yanked herself from his grasp, stumbling drunkenly backwards.
"Sorry, I wasn't paying attention." She apologised.
Kosu was so tense she wasn't even shaking from fatigue anymore. The child's gaze was on the floor so she missed the sad look that passed over Daiki's usually stoic face.
Daiki sighed. Just how lonely are you Kosu that a gesture of affection scares you?
"Kosu." He waited until the child looked up. "You don't have to stand alone against the world anymore."
Her breath seemed to just stop, halfway between exhaling and inhaling, eyes widening. Nobody helps refugees. She snapped at herself.
An angry sneer replaced the look of shock and Daiki immediately knew he'd made a massive mistake.
Opening his mouth, he went to explain but he never got the chance.
"I'm not ignorant and naïve, sensei." She spoke lowly and quickly left.
"…Shit."
X
"Well, you look like you've had a tough day." Sakumo chuckled as he sat down next to his old team member, clapping Daiki on the shoulder as he did so.
"I warned him years ago that teaching would do this." Inoichi laughed from his seat across from them. His comment earned a withered glare from Daiki and amused smirks from the other two members of their party; Shikaku and Choza. Sakumo shook his head in amusement and took a gulp from his beer.
The five friends were sat around their usual booth in the corner of the bar, far enough away to not to be over heard by anyone, but close enough so as not to stand out.
The group had originally planned to meet up a few weeks previously but Shikaku's spontaneous mission out of the village to investigate the destroyed mines had delayed their get-together. True to Kosuke's report, the mines had been emptied of their ore and the towns had been razed to the ground quite some time ago. There was nothing left but rubble and bone.
"You guys are no bloody help." Daiki huffed and swallowed the remainder of the amber liquid in front of him in a single large gulp. "I'm going to find more amiable company." He announced grumpily and swiftly exited the booth. Daiki clapped Sakumo on his shoulder as a way of saying goodbye and made his way over to the bar.
"But Sakumo just arrived!" Inoichi called, a teasing grin on his face. Daiki ignored him and struck up conversation with a couple of pretty ladies at the bar.
"Leave the man be." Sakumo shook his head. The white fang wagered he knew exactly what had Daiki so worked up.
"I assume you've heard about the little deerstalker?" Choza asked. Sakumo nodded and sighed. Of course that was what was eating at Daiki. The chunin might sound and look like a tough son of a bitch, but the bear of a man was a softie at heart.
Sakumo recalled the first mission outside of the Village their genin squad had been assigned. In fact, it was the very same mission he had gained the wisdom he'd passed to Kakashi the previous evening - about the very same child no less. But, where Sakumo had gained that insight, Daiki had struggled to get passed the suffering enforced on those so young, those who had no choice, those who had to adapt or die.
Those like Kosu.
To longlongnights: Thank you for your review! And I'm so glad you find it more realistic! That's one of the main reasons the plot has darker themes incorporated. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!
To LadyAmazon: She very well maybe in the future, but great kunoichi's aren't made overnight. She's going to have to work her arse off :D I hope you enjoyed the chapter.
To the Guest confused about Kosu's gender: She is female and knows she's a girl. But due to events she feels more protected pretending to be male (for now). I hope that clarifies things?
To Kitca: Yay :D So happy to hear you like Kosu! I hope you continue to enjoy how she is portrayed in this chapter.
To the Guest from 10/1/17: Thank you for seeing potential in what's written so far! I hope you enjoyed this chapter too
To Yoran or something: Thank you for the review and here you go!
To prankster-at-heart: Thank you so much! My writing style is something I'm constantly trying to improve (so constructive criticism is welcome!). And I wanted to break slightly away from the general type of Kakashi/OCs I've seen on here. I hope you continue to enjoy the fic.
To IzzyG1989: Thank you so much! I very much plan on keeping this up, I have plot ideas right through to the main arcs of Naruto and Shippuden O.O I just hope I can keep it up haha.
To dewirusdiana091: Thank you! And here you go X
To LostPrincessHolly: Gah! Thank you so much! So much praise, you're review made my day. I was sat editing chapter 4 when you're review came through and it was just perfect. Anywho, it's an absolute relief that you don't think Kosu is some all-knowing, super strong ninja. Whilst I agree, those are fun to read sometimes, I've worked hard on her character plan to make all of her strengths and weaknesses justified and believable. I hope this chapter continues to show that!
To wyteeth: *happy dance* So much love for Kosu! I mentioned in a review reply above that I actually have The Art of Survival roughly plotted out through the events of Naruto and Shippuden so you'll definitely get to see what type of shinobi and person she becomes! And all of the relations and bonds she forms along the way. There's so much to come :D I hope you liked this chapter.
To the Guest from 11/1/17: Thank you! Such massive praise I hope you continue to enjoy The Art of Survival!
To curlystruggle: Thank you so much, and here is the next chapter! So glad that you like Kosu and Hiro :D And for sure! It's going to be interesting to see everyone's reactions!
To the Guest from 12/1/17: Thank you for your review. I honestly can't stress what a difference they make! I hope you continue to enjoy the plot line and the characters as they develop. And you have no idea how happy it made me to hear that someone is getting attached to them!
XScouselondonerX