Year one, Month one, Day one
Opening my mouth for a yawn I idly listened to the Fire Shadow, aka the Hokage but the sound of Fire Shadow is so much more neater, preach about the "Will of Fire" and "He hopes this generation is filled with it." Keeping my ears open for the Fire Shadow's words, I observed the parents and their kids around me, feeling my eyes sting I shifted foot from foot as I rubbed my tired eyes. Blinking back the sleepy tears I watched as the Fire Shadow finish his speech and the people around me began to move towards the academy door. As I entered the building I glanced at the board next to it to see what class I was in, memorizing where my class was, as to not forget, and leisurely made my way towards my class room.
Spotting an empty seat in the back of the classroom I made my way to it while avoiding the kids around me. As I took a seat on the mildly uncomfortable chair I decided to stared at the kids surrounding me with my usual deadpan expression on my face, watching as the more rowdy ones rough housed with one another while others either cheered them on or ignored them.
Removing my gaze from them I felt my eyes wandering as I got lost in my thoughts, 'Hmm being a shinobi isn't nor would be my first career choice... not to mention I would really like to live past thirty this time. Soo best case scenario is to fail my classes... or I could actually try my best and see what happens. I never did enjoy failing anything, but I really don't want to kill people and I know I could become a Medic-Nin and logically I wouldn't have to worry about killing anyone. The con though is that I would A) have to talk to people and B) probably heal prisoners of the Torture and Interrogation Unit...… Again not something I want to do. But over all the best choice so far. Stupid voices in my head making me feel guilty for no reason.' Letting out a frustrated puff of air I tried to think of a better plan to, you know, not became a Killer Shinobi. Closing my eyes a let my mind wander once again, 'Think, think, think. What could I do to not became a mass murdering psycho?'
Feeling someone taking a seat next to me I felt inquisitiveness swell up inside me as my natural curiosity overcame my needless worrying, blinking out of my dwindling thoughts I turned to the person next to me. A small girl with short purplish hair was poking her fingers together and glancing at me through her peripheral vision.
"Hi!" I chirped, my eyes almost closed with a big fake smile on my face.
Watching her jump a little though the slits of my eyes I made sure my aura was all cheery and happy to put her at ease, tilting my head to the side I blew my pink hair out of my face before continuing on with my chatter.
"Aww is Purple-tan shy? Don't worry Sakura is a good girl! Sakura's so good she gets cookies for lunch! Cookies are so nummy in my tummy! Sakura's favorite cookies are peanut butter! Oh oops he-he, Sakura forgot to introduce herself Sakura's name is Sakura! Who are you Purple-tan?" I cheerily babbled, whilst bouncing in my sit.
"H-h-hi, Sa-sakura-chan m-my nam-name is Hin-hinata Hyūga I-I'm ve-very pl-pleased to me-meet yo-you." She stuttered, looking down at her hands.
"Sakura is very pleased to meet you too, Hinata-tan! Didga know that Hinata means sunny place? Do you like flowers Hinata-tan? I love Forget me nots! Hey, hey, hey Sakura thinks you're extremely adorable" I announced, throwing my arms up in the air.
"Thank yo-you!" She squeaked, as she placed her hands on her face trying to hide her blushing cheeks.
Rapidly nodding my head with a big smile I replied, "No problem Pretty-tan!"
Hearing the door slid open I glance to see who it was, a male with brown hair pulled into a ponytail wearing a dark forest green vest and black pants, and a scar on the bridge of his nose. Putting my focus back on Hinata I give her a bright grin before mouthing 'Talk later?', seeing her nod with a shy smile that graced her face I made my grin wider whist giving her a thumbs up.
"Hello and welcome to the Academy, my name I-" The man started, before a orange blur barreled into the room.
Seeing the teacher open his mouth, most likely to tell him off, I removed my gaze form their form and grabbed a empty notebook. Placing the notebook in front of me, I ignore the yelling of our teacher. Taking out a pencil I silently began to tap it against my notebook.
Aware of the teacher still yelling at the orange blur, I began to drift in my thoughts, 'I know if I stay a civilian there's no-way I'll live past thirteenth because of Orochimaru's men when they attack the village. I don't think the show mention any other deaths besides the third fire shadow daring the Chunin exams... But it wasn't that type of show.' Biting my lower lip in worry, I let out a soft sigh. 'So Shinobi it is then. Becoming a mass murdering psycho isn't something I want to do, but if it means I can live a little bit longer so be it.'
Snapping out of my thoughts I realized the teacher made the orange blur stand in front of the class, and finished his interrupted introduction. Placing my fist under my chin I closed my eyes, muttering a soft, "Troublesome."
Year one, Month two, Day fourteen
During the first few weeks, the only thing we really learned is the Shinobi Rules and The Glory of the Hidden Leaf. To be honest it felt like they were shoving them down our throats. Always repenting the something over and over, "A shinobi must always put the mission first." Or, "A shinobi must never show any weakness." And my, personal favorite, "A shinobi must follow their commander's instructions." With the Village its always how great it is, how the Land of Fire is one of the largest and most powerful countries, and the first country to adopt a ninja village.
The only benefit of hearing them preach, is getting a friendship with one Hinata Hyūga. A soft-spoken and polite girl, always addressing people with proper honorifics'. A little annoying, but she makes it work for her... Then again the fact that I have to say my Last Name first is just plan annoying, too.
Sighing, I idly listened to the teacher talk about the history of the leaf. Something I already learned from grandfather. He made sure, since I am civilian, that I had some sort of edge. So he put my okay-ish memory to use and made me read all the history he could get his hands on, which was surprisingly a lot, and unexpectedly he allowed me to read the most updated Bingo-book he had. From what I could remembered from my past life, my father's weird obsession with Naruto helped, the Bingo-book was only given to the more higher up shinobi's; like Jōnin and Anbu members. Those listed seemed to typically be dangerous ninja from rival villages, missing-nin, or potential security threats that are to be eliminated given the opportunity.
Leisurely moving my gaze from the outside world to the class room, my eyes rested upon the back of the popular Uchiha. I wasn't sure why but the females of my class, bar Hinata and me, was in love with him. Some would say he was emo, mean, and cool. With his aloofness towards anything nowadays that wasn't training or power.
But deep down I knew he was just a scared little boy that saw his family get killed a year ago by his big brother. Repeatedly, from what I could gather. From the one he looked up too, the one he wanted to become. I wanted to feel sorry for him. But I just couldn't. I didn't know him, I wasn't friends with him. He wasn't one of mine.
I swiftly moved my gaze from the boy, to the orange chaos. The steadily raising class-clown. With his grins and catchphrase, he's been pranking the teacher. Testing the waters, seeing how far he can go before someone snaps. But he's just a lonely soul, who wants attention, a friend, family. Wanting someone to love him, want somewhere to belong too. Answers to why the people of his Village beat him, call him a monster.
Nibbling on my lip I silently question the Third fire shadows judgement. Telling the Leaf Village, that the little blond sunshine was container of the monster that killed so many. Wasn't rational, even if the Forth fire shadow asked with his dying breath. That the little blond sunshine, was to thought of as a hero who saved the village. But humans fear the unknown, and a giant chakra monster is just that. The unknown. Even knowing that the Third fire shadow tried to outlaw any mention of the Nine-Tails, a vain effort to protect the little blond sunshine. Didn't help matters for him after all, what known is known and no matter how hard you try the damage never goes away.
"Sakura!" The teacher shouted, frowning at me.
Easily moving my gaze from the little blond shine, now intently staring at me from the teacher's shout. I place my hand under my chin and stared into the Teachers eyes.
"Hmm?" I hummed out, ignoring the childishness laughter around me.
"How did the First Shinobi World War end?" He questioned, silencing the laughing children.
"The conclusion of the First Shinobi World War, was ended with armistice, before a treaty was finally signed. In addition, virtually all countries were completely devastated in some manner by the time hostilities ended." I murmured, blinking when I heard Hinata squeak in surprise.
"Please speak up, Sakura." The teacher asked, patiently waiting for my response.
Feeling annoyed I loudly declared; "Dunno, Don't care."
"Sakura." The Teacher said in a disappointed tone before continuing his lecture, all while telling me that I should care.
Rolling my eyes, I saw Hinata stare at me with surprise. Giving her a confused look I sat there watching as her face began to redden. Shrugging I turned around and stared out the window. Inhaling the fresh air around me I closed my eyes and started to meditate.
As recess came around, I heard the Teacher announce that we could eat. Opening my eyes I twisted around to face Hinata to give her a small smile, getting one in return.
"Well then shall we eat?" I asked, my voice sounding posh as I wiggled my eyebrows. Hearing Hinata giggle I felt myself smile, Uchiha and the blond sunshine wasn't the only one with issues, I had realized. Hinata has her own set of problems, with her timid personality her father believes that Hinata is not suited for the role of heiress, as she struggled under his gruesome training regime. I snorted at my thoughts, Hinata would some day be feared even with her timidness, her father was just to blind to see that Hinata just needs to go at her own pace and not some war veterans.
Seeing Hinata nod with a shy smile I watched as she got her bento box from underneath her seat. Coping Hinata's previous movement I grabbed my own before asking her a question.
"So why did you squeak in surprise, anyway?" I began, forgoing my usual third person speak, as I opened my lunch box and frowned at my veggie filled box before continuing my question."Was it because I kinda back talked our teacher?" I wondered out loud to her, picking my chopsticks up.
I felt Hinata shake her head, turning down my suggestion. Humming I looked at my food in thought, could she had heard me when I had answered the Teacher? Perhaps. Curious of her response I asked.
"Ye-yes um I hea-heard you ans-answer Iruka-sen-sensei ques-question." She murmured, picking at her food."I-I was ju-just shocked I gue-guess?" She finished of with a question.
I stared at her, slightly surprised before releasing a child like chuckled,"My you're too cute, Pretty-tan!"
An easy silence fell over us as we started to eat our lunch, that something I immensely enjoyed about my friendship with the shy heiress. Nothing was uncomfortable or awkward when ever one of us stop talking, just an effortless silence.
When lunch time was over, me and Hinata picked up our mess before I suddenly stopped what I was doing as my brain short circuited.
"Wha-what our Teacher has a name!" I silently shouted, my eyes wide with surprise. Hearing sunflower giggle beside me, I turn my head to her her."He-hey! Wait, Pretty-tan! Did you know?!"
"Um-umm.. I heard Iruka-sen-sensei introduce himself o-on the first d-day of sch-school." The purplett answered, a sweet smile on her pale cheeks.
Blinking at Hinata, I hung my head down with a depressed sigh. "I've been calling him Teacher this whole time..." I admitted to Hinata.
"O-oh really?!" She mumble baffled, shifting a little she begin to pat my back softly. "I'm su-sure that Iruka-sen-sensei doesn't mi-mind, Kura-chan."
I nodded my head pitifully and dug my head into my arms. Waiting for class to commence so I could go home and sleep, I paused before I turned my head slightly and give Hinata a thankful smile as she eased some of my worries. I felt warmth bubble within me as she give me one of her rare sweet smiles and softly muttered,"I'm gl-glad I could he-help, Kura-chan."
The Teacher, I guess Iruka-sensei now, came back braking Hinata and I sweet moment and once again started class. Pouting a little I moved my head forward so I could see Iruka-sensei as he talked about the Shinobi Wars. My conscious teetered on the edge of sandman domain as the Hours passed, blurring together as he continued to talk. Knowing if my parents found out I was sleeping in class that they would hound my ass, and spout off about how I should of stayed away from my grandfather, should of gone to the civilian school and stuff like that. I decided I would quietly talk to the sweet sun child.
"This is soo boring!" I muttered, my voice sounding muffled as I buried my head farther into my arms, trying not to think about my parents.
"Are y-you o-ok, Kura-chan?" Hinata quite voice asked, as she glanced at me then our teacher. Turning my head slightly so I could see Hinata, I replied with,"Yea I'm fine, it's just... I've already learned this."
The sweet sun child gave me a stunned glance, "Really, Kura-chan?"
I nodded my head proudly, "Yup, I sure have. Grandfather wanted me to have an edge against the clan kids."
"O-oh... " Hinata sighed as she poked her forefingers together, "Um-umm c-could you help m-me th-then?"
felt a rush of affection for the shy heiress, she was so... Kind. Something people think it's a weakness and while it could be one I knew that it can also be your greatest ally.
"Course, Hinata!" I said with a smile.
Year one, Month two, Day twenty-one
The academy was still boring, but they at least lightened up with shoving their views and opinions down our throats. With school comes waking up in the early morning; at dawn when the sun finally emerges into the previous inky sky. Now in the past I awoke rather early but grandfather decided that zero eight hundred hours wasn't early enough and began to wake me up at zero five hundred hours, since school doesn't start till ten hundred hours I was lift with a lot time before then.
With a lot of time before the academy I started to do yoga in the morning, something I did in my old life to be more flexible, with a little bit of trouble. Since this body never stretched much I wasn't very flexible, pissing me off. That was the one of the things I could count on back then, it was something I had worked hard for and with it gone something was just... wrong. It made me remember that I wasn't on earth, my earth that is, the one with out chakra enhanced shinobi's, making the small ping of hurt in my heart worsen a bit more.
But when ever that happened I began doing something to distracted my mind, not wishing to yearn for what I loss. I mostly read textbooks about the chakra pathways and chakra itself, deciding that chakra knowledge would help if I ever damage something inside my body, all ready knowing most about the civilian way. Or I would gather herbs when ever I have free time, testing and experimenting with them. Knowing that it could help me in the future one day, whether I'm a shinobi or a civilian.
But with my time at the academy, my relationship with my parents have soured but then one with Hinata bloomed even more. My parents wanted to to be safe, wanted me to have a normal life were all I needed to worry about was my love life and not if this would be the last day I would be alive. It probably didn't help matters that I kept comparing them to my real parents, the ones that loved me for me, never pushing me to be something else. I really don't give a dame if I'm making shit worse with them, they weren't mine and they never be mine. My mother kept pushing and pushing me to be a proper lady, saying I'll never get I husband if I have muscle on me. My father didn't even stop his wife from basely telling their daughter that she was ugly, just leaving the room if his wife starts to yell and whine. And on some days when things aren't the best, when I've been compared to other little girls that wear dresses, when I've been put down, I just... stop for a second. Shove any and all negative emotions to the deepest and darkest pits of my mind, lock them away and continue forward with life like nothing is wrong. Because I know if I dwell on my negative emotions, I'll snap.
On some-days I train or just hang with Hinata as late as I can and when she has to go home I stay out, gazing at the stars just so I don't home to deal with my parents. Tired of what they want me to be.
Realizing what time it was I quickly glanced out the window before looking at my alarm clock. Hopping out of bed I sluggishly made my way towards my dresser and pick out my usual; a pair of biker shorts and a tank top, and a black oversize long sleeve shirt on over it. Putting it on I turn to the window and opened it up before hopping out of it, hopefully avoiding my parents while doing so.
Leading with a soft thump on the dirt, kicking up some of it doing so, I began to sprint to training grounds 27 to meet up with darling sun child. Thinking about Hinata made this proud feeling aroused within my normally cold heart and when she asked me to help with her study's I also invited her to train with me in the really early mornings to work on our physically training together. I remembered feeling happiness bubble in my gut when she agreed two week ago. And since then we've worked mostly on our speed, confidence, and stamina. So far, in my humble opinion, we have made a huge difference from were we had started.
Hinata can now talk comfortably around me and yeah she stills stutters when she's not with people she's knows, but I truly believe that she has made a huge progress with her stutter. She also can now run around training ground 13 comfortably, it's practically abandon so me and sunflower figured it was safe to use, which is amazing because the training grounds are enormous. Plus she barely gets out of breathe now when she's runs.
While I'm slowly getting better at running, it's still not as it was in my past but progress is progress, my stamina is super shitty. Unlike Hinata who can do ten laps around the training grounds, I can't even do two. But on the other hand I can now use real emotions instead of faking it. Like when I first met Hinata I used fake emotions and really didn't give a dame to what she thought, but she grew on me and now I wouldn't change it for the world.
I know I should feel guilty for what I did in the past, but it's just who I am. I was never truly accepted in the my past, everyone would eventually betray me, always saying it wasn't me but them and that I shouldn't be to torn up about it. But way wouldn't I be? I thought they were my friends and then they turn around, leaving me for someone more popular saying it wasn't me? In the end I figured it would be better to keep everyone at arms length and stopped trying to make friends. Always repeating in my mind that "Acquaintance are for sure backstabbers, Friends are potentially backstabbers, and Best Friends are less likely to be backstabbing" when meeting someone new, in this world and the other.
Hearing Hinata softly greeting me in the real world I snapped out of my, slightly, depressing thoughts and greeted her loudly back.
"Pretty-tan! Gooood morning!" I chirped, holding out the o in good as I bounced towards her. "How are you this fine misty morning?" I questioned as I came to a stop in front of her, lightly giggling I quickly twirled around her before asking another question. "Are you ready to get this show on the road or what!"