Shizukana's P.O.V.
I watched as Naruto and Inari said their goodbyes. We were all packed to head back to Konoha.
We made a Memorial for Zabuza and Haku near the mountain side.
We said our farewells and we left he Land of Waves.
After 4 hours of travelling, we finally reached Konoha's gates. The gate keepers spoke with Sensei and we walked through the busy roads of Konoha.
"Alright, why don't you guys head home and I'll file the report." Sensei said to all of us. He shooed us away by pushing to random directions.
I shrugged and made my way back to my apartment.
As I was walking down the corridor of my building, I noticed that Taka-kun hasn't watered his plants outside.
I knocked on his door three times. The door opened and a disheveled and tired looking Takada opened the door.
When he saw my face, he instantly brightened up but his expression immediately fell back down to a frown.
"You're back?" He asked looking at my face.
"Yeah, just arrived. Sensei told us to get some rest while he reports back to the Hokage." I answered shifting my weight to my left leg.
He chuckled nervously. "So how did it go?" He asked opening his door and letting me in.
"It was unexpected," I said making my way in. My eyes narrowed when the place wasn't clean. Taka-kun wasn't a very tidy person but he never allowed his place to get this messy. "Instead of a C rank, it turned out to be a B rank. I doubt anything will be classified but after Sensei calls us back and tells that its not, then I'll tell you the details."
He walked over to his couch and sat on it letting out a heavy sigh. His books were everywhere and his weapons were scattered all around the house. "What with the mess?" I asked him making him gulp.
"Oh, that's nothing. I couldn't find something, so I had to turn the apartment upside down." He said waving his hands.
I nodded my still suspicious about his weird demeanor. "Alright, I need to rest. I'm gonna head back home." I said moving towards the door.
I felt Taka-kun follow me. I opened the door and let myself out. I turned around to talk to him but he slammed the door shut.
I blinked twice before sighing. He's hiding something. I know it may not be my business but he's scared and I want to help him.
I went back to my apartment. The place was exactly the same as I had left it. I went to my room and laid down my weapons.
I changed into my pajama's and hit the bed. I need sleep.
Few days later...
Unfortunately, we were back to the regular D rank missions. Naruto has been complaining and fighting with Sasuke as usual.
Now, we were waiting for Sensei at the bridge near the training ground.
"Come on. Why is he late? If I knew that I could have brushed my teeth." Naruto complained making me and Sasuke look at him.
"Hehe, sorry." He said with a sheepish smile.
"You do know that Sensei has been coming late since the day we met him so it wouldn't be a surprise if he's late today." I explained to a groaning Naruto.
"Hello, my little Genin." A cheery voice boomed from above us.
Sensei stood on the balcony waving at us.
"You're late." Naruto yelled pointing a finger at Sensei.
"Now, now it's rude to point fingers at people." Sensei said chuckling. "But then, I was late because I was getting you all little gift." Sensei said waving three papers in the air.
"The upcoming Chunin exams. I nominate you three." He said handing us the papers.
Naruto yelled in excitement as he ran and hugged Sensei who stumbled back at the big ray of Sunshine.
I just kept on looking at Sensei. "Are you sure we're ready? I thought teams were supposed to wait a year before they could participate for the Chunin exams."
"They could wait a year, but I think you all are ready." Sensei said with a smile.
Sasuke and Naruto took their papers while I just stared. I heard that Chunin exams are taken in teams. Why isn't he telling us that? Unless it's one of his teamwork exercises.
Nevertheless, I took the paper. "Alright, the first exam starts five days from now at 3 pm. Any questions? Alright bye..." Sensei said puffing away.
Sasuke immediately jumped away while Naruto was busy bouncing in excitement.
I started walking back home. I felt Naruto follow me but I paid no attention.
Until I felt that three chakra figures follow were shadowing us.
I turned to Naruto to find him looking back suspiciously at a square shaped rock. What the hell is this?
I heard a voice from in front of me and Sakura Haruno was waving at me. What? At me?
"Hey, Shizukana. How are you?" She asked me.
"I'm doing fine." I answered unsure if what she wanted.
"So I heard your team passed. Congratulations." She said.
I looked at her clothes. She was wearing a medical skirt and a simple red blouse. "Thank you." I said with a small smile.
"My team didn't pass. But that's okay. I joined the Medical corps. Iruka Sensei said that I have good chakra control and it would help with Medical Ninjutsu." She said with a bright smile.
"That's good." I said unsure off how to make small talk.
Suddenly a boom was heard from behind me. Smoke filled the area and children appeared form the smoke. They were wearing goggles.
The leader of the group was wearing a scarf, twice the size of his body. Lord thirds grandson.
The three of them happily talked with Naruto until they turned towards me and Sakura.
"Naruto-kun, you sly dog." Konohamaru said wiggling his eyebrows at me and Sakura.
Naruto looked at me and shook his head. "No no, Shizukana-chan is not my girlfriend but Sakura-chan might be." Naruto said with a giggle.
"What?" Sakura said punching Naruto into the wall nearby.
"Boss!" The three children yelled but Naruto stood up and rubbed his head in pain.
"What? She's not Naruto-kun's girlfriend. She an alien with a big forehead." Konohamaru said making me wince.
"What did you say?" Sakura said balling up her fists making Konohamaru and his friends run.
"Watch where you're going, punk." A voice said when Konohamaru accidentally bumped into a boy.
The boy was wearing black and purple clothing. He had purple face markings and he had a weird hat on. On his back he had something wrapped in bandage. What caught my eye was the Sunagakure headband which was in his forehead.
There was a girl behind him wearing a metal plate and a tunic of some sorts. She had a huge paper fan on her back. She had blond hair which was tied in pigtails.
"Hey, I apologize. It was my fault." Sakura said making her way towards me.
"Nah, its the kids fault." He said picking up Konohamaru by the collar. That's where Naruto interfered.
"Hey, let him go or you're gonna get some trouble." Naruto yelled running towards Konohamaru. But before he could reach him, I saw the the shine of Chakra strings on the boys hand making Naruto trip and fall.
Such control over Chakra strings. Puppet Master. I narrowed my eyes.
I was about to interfer when the boy was about to punch Konohamaru in the face. But a rock hit the boy's hand making him drop Konohamaru.
I ran and caught the small boy before he tumbled to the ground.
I pushed back towards Sakura and looked at where the rock came from.
Sasuke was standing on a tree looking like batman.
"Aren't you a long way from home?" Sasuke said crushing a rock in his hand and turning it into dust. I felt squeals from Sakura and the girl who was Konohamaru's friend.
The girl behind the Sunagakure ninja also blushed. I shook my head at them.
"Why you little brat. Come down here so I can show you. I hate brats who think they're cooler than the others." The Suna ninja said taking his wrapped up puppet.
"Are you really taking Karasu into this?" The blond girl asked.
Before he could do anything, a very deep and menacing voice came from the tree Sasuke was standing on.
"Kankuro, stop this."
A boy with red hair and red clothing stood upside down on a branch.
I didn't even sense him and by Sasuke's reaction he didn't too.
"Garaa, I'm sorry but they started it." 'Kankuro' said gulping. The girl behind him also looked afraid.
I scoffed at that.
But with a glare from the newcomer, Kankuro shook his head. "No, it was my fault. I went looking for trouble."
The red haired boy had some sort of gourd behind him. What's with the huge things behind their backs? Couldn't they just put it in a scroll?
'Garaa' turned into sand before appearing next to us. Everyone jumped back while I just took one step back.
"I apologize." He said with no hint of emotion. Kankuro also apologized and they were about to walk away before Sakura had some questions.
"Hey, what are you Suna ninja doing in Konoha without a license?" Sakura asked making the blond answer.
"We do have a license." She said showing her papers. "What have you been living under a rock?"
"Chunin exams." I muttered but she heard me.
"See, at least she knows." She said before turning but was once interrupted by Sasuke who jumped down near us. "What's your name?"
The unnamed blond turned around and blushed. "Me?" She asked pointing at herself.
"No, the one with the gourd." Sasuke said making the red haired boy turn. "Garaa of the Sand."
"What's your name?" He asked Sasuke.
"Uchiha Sasuke." He said with a stoic face.
"And you?" He said looking at me.
"Shizukana Tori." I said.
"I bet you're dying to know my name." Naruto said with excitement.
"I don't care." Garaa said and with that they left.
Sasuke walked away while Sakura followed him. Naruto was pouting and the kids where talking to him.
I sighed and walked back home. Why were they so afraid of that Garaa?
A/N. Hey guys. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Also, the Chunin exams arc started and Shizu met Garaa. What do you think Taka-kun is up to? Comment below. Hope you enjoyed...
Ciao...