The next morning I wake up to an alarm going off at 6 a.m. I stumble around to shut it off and get my bearings, remembering that I was now in Konoha. I am always used to Masao waking me up with his annoying knocking. I sigh and remember that I also have my first day of training. I stretch and go through my boxes rummaging to find my ninja gear and outfit. I get dressed and strap on my 3 pouches. I brush my hair and braid it. I was in the middle of making sure all of my weapons were clean and my ninja tool pouches were stocked when I hear a knock at my door.
I open it to find Sakura holding a note and a paper sack. She was already ready for the day. "Good morning, Kane, I hope you slept well." She said politely though I could tell this was awkward for her.
"As well as you can in a new area. Thank you. Please, come in. Am I late getting ready?" I say, now worried.
"No, actually I'm early because I got summoned by Lady Tsunade. I did bring breakfast just simple sweet rice balls with some fruit. I hope you like it."
"Oh, thank you. Yes please sit. May I ask what Lady Tsunade wanted?"
"It was actually about you. She gave me some more information on you and she would like me to judge you on your medical skills today, also we have to meet her before we go to training with Kakashi Sensei." She explained while unpacking our breakfast.
"Oh well that is fine, I do only know basic medical Jutsu nothing special," I said grabbing a sweet rice ball.
We eat in peaceful silence and when finish I gather the trash and throw it in the bin. I then grab my Tessens and strap them to me where they go; my big Gunpai on my back, two small Tessen on my hips and one small Tessen and a Gusen on my thighs.
"I haven't seen a Tessen that big since I met Temari of the Sand. Though I've never seen small ones like those before."
"I don't know a Temari of the Sand, but would love to meet a fellow Tessenjutsu user. These small Tessen are my attacking weapons. I guess you will see them in use today during training if Sensei wishes to see all of my skills."
"That is true. Shall we go see what Lady Tsunade wants."
"Yes, let's," I say walking out the door with her and locking it. I put my keys in my front pouch and head into town with her, it was now around 7:30. The town was just waking up and shops were just opening for business. It was quite peaceful and different than I was used to.
We got to the Hokage's office and Sakura knocked on her door. The same "Come in." Rang like it did yesterday. Sakura and I walk in.
"You wished to see me Lady Tsunade," I say smiling. She looked at me and blinked almost like she didn't recognize me. I guess she expected me to be in a kimono.
"Yes, Shinokane. I realized late last night that I did not give you a copy of the contract and that I also forgot to give you your ninja headband. Here is yours." She says handing me a folder of papers and a leaf headband. I nod and stare at it for a second before I grab the items.
"Is that all ma'am?" I ask.
"Yes there is also a village map there and if Sakura filled you in on your medical test, that will be all, I can't wait to see your results from Kakashi and Sakura."
"Thank you, Lady Tsunade," I say with a small bow and turn to leave with Sakura.
"Training ground 7 is this way," Sakura says. We go through the village a bit when we hear someone call for Sakura. We turn around to see a blond girl in a purple outfit running towards us.
"Oh, Hi Ino," Sakura answers her.
"Hi, so I heard you got the Hyohaku-sha Princess on your team now. You must be her." She says smiling at me. She was definitely nervous.
"Yes I am Shinokane, but please just call me Kane," I say smiling. Her eyes dart to my smile and I see the confusion on her face for a second. No people we don't have fangs...
"Nice to meet you, Kane. So the group is all wanting to meet you and we were wondering if you were free this afternoon for dinner? We were thinking of gathering up at field 9 and having a barbeque. If of course, you're ok with that." Ino says still nervous.
"Oh that sounds fun, it's better than dragging you all across the village to meet everyone," Sakura says to me.
"Umm… sure sounds fun, should I bring anything?" I ask, not knowing how these functions are run.
"Just yourself. Can't wait to see you there, I'm going to go tell the others and help set up." Ino says and runs off.
I shake my head and look at Sakura who is doing the same thing. "Well, that should be fun," I say.
"Should be, hardly any of the others believe in rumors." She says.
I am lead through the village where the buildings become more spread out and to an area where there is a bunch of trees and open fields. Sakura comes to a stop next to a huge open field and sits down next to a tree.
"Feel free to sit. Kakashi Sensei is always late." She says relaxing like it is normal. I take off my Gunpai and sit across from her, setting my Gunpai down next to me. Looking around I see a couple of beat-up targets hanging from some trees a small distance away. There is also what looks like used to be training dummies as well. I look down at my lap where I set the papers and my new headband wondering how I should wear it. I tie it to my forehead when I realize I'm not wearing my circlet crown and feel slightly naked. The headband almost helps the feeling go away.
"So tell me about yourself, Shinokane. What's it like being a Princess?" Sakura asks gaining my attention again. I can tell that she's trying to not make sitting with her awkward. I smile at the fact that she is trying to be nice.
"Well in the Hyohaku-sha Clan being a Princess really isn't that special, trust me I have met some, well let's just keep it nice and say, stubborn Princesses. Yes, I am to one day lead my clan as a Queen, but it's definitely tougher than it seems. You have to be fair but just, stern but nice, and sometimes doing things you don't like. I mean it's not all sitting on your butt and ordering people around as some make it out to be. Also, the nice formal kimonos do get annoying. They are not comfortable to sit in all day, and there is hardly ever privacy, Masao my guard is with me 24/7 if I am not changing or using the bathroom. I got privacy only if I locked myself in my carriage house. I also worry that even with all of my "Queen training" that I won't be as great a leader as my mother." I say realizing Sakura is staring at me. Oops, I think I ranted too much. "I'm sorry, I just ranted and rambled on," I say embarrassed.
"No, no, it's fine. I have just never had a Princess be so… honest, I guess. I have only met two and heard of a third. They just all said it's fun and they loved all the shiny, beautiful gowns and kimonos they got." She says laughing.
"Well, like I said to Lady Tsunade. Traveling doesn't leave much for belongings. I only own three formal kimonos and one funeral kimono. Other than that I have my sleepwear and fighting outfit. And my circlet if that counts."
"Wow. Is it bad always traveling?"
"No, I don't mind it but I guess, I'm used to it. I love seeing the world and different landscapes but I guess at times it can get lonely. I've done it my whole life even if I was born here."
"Wait you were born here?"
"Yes then whisked away after I was 3 months old."
"Wow are all of your clan like that?"
"Yup."
"Hmm. So why is it lonely if you don't mind me asking.?"
"Well you see the same people every day, there's hardly anyone new unless we go to a village, but most people ignore us because we're 'vampires,' I say, air quoting the last word.
"Yeah, so I've heard. I'm sorry about my reaction yesterday."
"Oh it's quite alright, I'm used to it honestly. It only bugs me when no one wants to learn the truth."
"I can see why that would bug you. So since we're on the topic, what actually happens when you drink blood?"
"Well for instance if I were to drink a small amount of your blood, I would be able to know your blood type, if you recently had any medicine in your system, if you are healthy, your chemical makeup and other health information."
"Wow, and do you keep that information forever?"
"Yes and no. I can choose to keep the blood in my system which forms a bond between that person and me. Our whole clan has this bond. Most of the time like with blood bags we just turn the blood into chakra for our Jutsu, we can also heal ourselves with it or we can use some blood from ourselves to make a plant grow in a foreign environment."
"Bond?"
"Yes we can tell if one of our clan members dies, or if one is sick; of course we don't actually know what's wrong without performing a medical check-up."
"So interesting, a bond like that must be helpful to your clan"
"Sometimes," I say nodding. "So what about you Sakura? What's being a normal kunoichi like?"
"Well, lately it's just been medical training a lot especially with Naruto and Sasuke gone. I haven't been on a mission for a while." She says her face saddening for a second. Again with this "Sasuke" character. I wonder if he was this third member I was temporarily filling in for.
"What was it like growing up here?"
"Oh I love Konoha, the village people are nice and always welcoming, but don't get the shop keepers mad at you. Haha, the academy was fun but I did get stuck on a team with the annoying Naruto Uzumaki."
"He is our third member correct? Why is he annoying."
"Oh, he's so loud and obnoxious, but he grows on you. In the academy, he was always pulling pranks on the teachers. On our first day as a team, he made an eraser fall on Kakashi Sensei's head and made Kakashi think we were idiots."
"Oh yes, I remember that." Came a voice from behind me that made me jump and reach for my Tessen on my right hip. I turn around to see Kakashi Sensei with a book in his face.
"Your late as always," Sakura says standing up.
"Kakashi Sensei… Oh." I say at a loss for words.
"Yes Sakura, I came across an old lady….."
"Save it Sensei, We've heard this before, well I have, Kane all of his excuses other than probably when he gets summoned from the Hokage are a lie. Haha."
"Oh, Ok," I say. Kakashi just sighs.
"Shall we start now Kane?" He asks sounding bored now.
"Yes, what do you want to see first Sensei?"
"Let start with your basics. First a clone Jutsu."
I make the hand signs and produce a perfect replica of myself. "What now Sensei?" asks the clone me. "Substitution Jutsu." The clone me disappears and another me pops up where she was. Kakashi throws a kunai at it, it puffs into smoke and a log falls to the ground. This goes on for quite a while. Transformation Jutsu, where I turn myself into my guard Masao, then into Kakashi. Chakra control where he then has me climb trees and stand on a river.
"Now for Taijutsu no weapons just a basic fight right now," Kakashi says.
"Right," I say, getting in my normal fighting stance.
Kakashi comes at me with a punch. I easily block and try for a kick at his side. He blocks with his arm and sweeps kicks to trip me. I jump and aim for a kick to his back. Dodging he turns around and throws a punch at me. I dodge and aim my own punch to his face. He turns, dodges and lands a kick to my back, making me fall. I stand up quickly doing a back handspring kick to his leg almost making him fall. He jumps back then comes running towards me and disappears last minute. I turn around quickly, not seeing him there, I then look up to see him falling towards me with a kunai in his hand. Rulebreaker…. I pull my Gunpai from my back blocking just in time. I swing it towards him and open it all at once, gaining space from him. I close my Gunpai and grab the Tessen from my right thigh and run toward Kakashi. I only get halfway when he throws a couple of Kunai at me. I flip over them and open my Tessen and swing it towards him, causing a few Senbon to fly at him. They hit but he just puffs away. Of course, it's a clone! I turn around looking for him only to see more Kunai coming my way. I block them all with my Tessen, again trying to find Kakashi. I can't sense him anywhere either, he must be hiding his chakra, the ground below me slightly moves. As I try to dodge a hand grabs my ankle causing me to be pulled, to my neck, in the ground.
"Well done!" I hear Kakashi call, but I'm still unable to see him. I concentrate my chakra and slowly make vines grow and help me out of the ground, just as Kakashi jumps in front of me. "Impressive. I've never seen someone get out of that without help."
"I did have help." I smile and pet the vines.
"What else can you do with your Kekkei Genkai?"
"I can make herbs and plants grow, like Death Bell, and if I drain all of my chakra out of the plant I grew, it dies and I can make it into a poisonous powder," I say, as I make the vines die.
"That was amazing," Sakura says while running towards us.
"Thank you, Sakura," I say, smiling.
"You did well Shinokane, Your defensive maneuvers are great but I definitely want to work on your offensive work," Kakashi says. "Also, Tomorrow I want to see more of how you use your Kekkei Genkai in battle."
"Of course, Sensei, thank you." I smile.
"Well, now to see about your medical Jutsu," Sakura says sitting down. I sit down next to her as she takes out a Kunai and cuts her own arm. I flinch but get where she is going with this. I concentrate my chakra and move my hands above the wound to heal it. I do it in two minutes. She then asks a bunch of anatomy and other medical questions. As she gets to harder questions is when I have to stop and tell her I don't know the answers to these questions. We stop at that point. "If you were to continue with your medical training you would be a great medical ninja," Sakura says.
"Thank you, Sakura but I am not sure if that is what I want to learn. Maybe I'll change my mind though. Right now I'm just wanting to be a better kunoichi." I say.
I go to my apartment, with the help of my map, and get cleaned up. I then put my belongings away and put up some of my pictures and other nicknacks on the shelves, I finish by putting up all of my books. I then just rest and wait till it's time for the barbecue.