(Hey all! So my co writer and I have a decent amount of chapters written so far but would appreciate any suggestions or criticisms to help us entertain you and become better writers. I also forgot the disclaimer but so far the only characters we own are Lie and Shizuko. For all those who don't know there are pictures of our characters on my co-writer tsukiange's pintrest page under "tsukiange" Enjoy!
(Lie's P.O.V.)
While Shizuko and I left the office, I had a lot to think about. One, how ridiculous it was that I had to give a different last name since I'm almost 100 percent positive that my powers would give my identity away anyways, and two, how Shizuko wrangled me into becoming a Konoha genin. This will give me plenty of time to search Konoha for those who knew the angel clans' rituals though.
"What do you think Lie?"
"About what?"
I had absolutely tuned Shizuko out while I was in thought following her and the Hokage's secretary to a decent size house that was supposed to be our new residence.
Shizuko huffed and pouted in my direction, "were you not listening at all Lie?"
"Obviously not or I would have answered you."
She smacked her head. It was funny to see her annoyed at me for once.
"I was asking you if you thought of a new last name."
"Uh, Kawakami I guess though it's gonna be pretty useless, I'm going to actually have to stop using my powers of darkness if I'm gonna actually hide my identity and your gonna have to get rid of your holy crosses on your sleeves and disguise your sword."
Shizuko looked down sadly at the thought of having to change her proud appearance. I hated seeing her sad lately and I wasn't sure why. Sadness was a part of life. But I wasn't very familiar with it. Only anger.
Even so, I didn't want to see her like that, "I will sew you a white base for your sleeves to put over your crosses so that you can tear it off and show them whenever you want. Until then just roll them up a little."
Her eyes lit up, "Really? Thank you Lie."
I smirked, "Yeah, yeah now let's see what kind of hospitality Konoha shows its allies."
It was only a half joke because we opened the doors to a family size apartment that now belonged to her and I. Our guide had vanished shortly after we reached our new home.
It was plain but incredibly spacious, I didn't really care about that yet with exhaustion being the only thing on my mind. I half yawned, "I think I'll just show myself to bed."
I stretched but Shizuko grabbed my wrist, "I want to sleep too but we have to go and get put on a genin team."
She pulled me back out of our house and started heading towards the school building that Shizuko explained, was where genin get put into three-man groups with a jonin leader. Which is apparently common practice amongst the great nations and she gave me a strange look when I didn't know.
"Lie I just thought of something," Shizuko said in a serious tone.
I yawned and stretched, "and…"
"What if we don't get put on the same team?"
I shrugged as if saying who cares but she flashed me those annoying sad eyes again.
"You're worrying about nothing. The Hokage would never put a Kuriyama on a genin team without having someone with light chakra to balance out the dark power. I'm almost positive if it's up to a democratic nation like Konoha a balance of power will always be in check."
She looked at me weird again.
"God, what?"
"You know for someone who pretty much lived under a rock you are well versed in national politics."
I yawned again, "it was part of the Kuriyama training program since my clan pretty much worked as mercenaries we had to learn major political practices for potential future missions."
She nodded slowly understanding but not prying. I think that was my favorite part of Shizuko. For the most part, she accepted that I didn't like to talk about my past and since after our first meeting she seemed accepting of the little information I gave up because it was better than nothing. Even though I'm sure one day she'll not settle for the vague answers I give.
Finally, we reached a school like building and walked inside where I took the lead and Shizuko fell behind me. We entered a classroom as a sea of shocked faces stared back at us.
Shizuko's POV
The older looking ninja standing at the front of the room turned to us smiling kindly as his eyes crinkled. "You must be Lie and Shizuko. I am Iruka. You guys came just in time, we are about to test to graduate to become genin. Please take a seat." Bowing to the Sensei I took a seat next to a bright boy who was wearing all orange with bright yellow hair, Lie sitting next to me.
Just as Iruka started to explain the test I feel a poke on my arm to the right.
"Hi, I am Naruto, you're Shizuko, right? You're looking at the next Hokage." Naruto grinned at me, but I averted my Brown eyes back to Iruka as I tried to listen to him.
"Where are you guys from? I've never met anyone from another village before!" I blushed as the other students turn around to stare at Naruto as he whisper-yells. I heard Lie next to me snicker.
"Naruto! Pay attention! To pass you need to be able to do a clone jutsu." I looked over as Naruto stopped talking to see a scrunched up look on his face.
"Are you okay Naruto?"
"I can't do a clone jutsu!" my lips drew into a frown as I look at him with pity, he was completely panicking. I looked over to Lie to see her relaxed tilting back in her chair with an amused smirk.
"I'm guessing you'll be fine Lie? Remember you can't use your darkness powers…." my voice was barely above a whisper, but Lie just smirked at me.
"I'll have no problems, it'll be a cakewalk for me." I nodded and listened as Iruka begins to call the students back, each one coming out looking happy.
I shouldn't have a problem with passing this, my school covered this two months ago. I could hear Lie playing with a kunai, spinning it around as her chair squeaked. I'm lost in memories of my home village; all my friends and my teacher before we were attacked. As I'm lost in thought I pick at the white covering of my villages symbol on my sleeve.
"Kawakami, Lie" I'm jolted from my thoughts as Lie's chair thud on the ground. Looking around I see the other 13-year-olds talking excitedly in groups, particularly in the back where I see raven hair in-between all the girls.
"Good luck Lie"
"I don't need luck" Lie cockily smirked and sauntered to the back room. Sticking my tongue out at her back, "saw that" she threw over her shoulder, eyebrow quirked.
I noticed that Naruto was gone when I looked around the classroom.
"Hey Sasuke, did you see my headband, I passed! Hopefully, we'll end up on the same team! Won't that be amazing Sasuke!?" A voice screeched from the back of the room.
When I turned around I saw a girl with pink hair squealing with a wide forehead in a red qipao dress with white circular designs with dark green shorts underneath, in front of the raven-haired boy who looked like he wanted to jump off the building to get away. I could understand why, after just hearing the girl's screeching I'm getting a headache.
"Hoga, Shizuko" Lie comes out of the room the Konoha ninja band hanging loosely in her hand. "Like I said, don't need luck." She smirked as I pass her into the testing room. I picked at my sleeve as I looked at the room; two Sensei's were there, Iruka and a man with ice blue hair.
"It's nice to meet you Shizuko, I'm Mizuki. To pass we need you to create two clones of you." Mizuki smiled kindly, but I shiver as his gaze landed on me, there is an malevolance in his green eyes.
"H-hai" I mumbled, wanting to flee from the room, his eyes reminded me of the thugs that attacked me on the way here.
I made the hand signs and focused my chakra making two clones standing on either side of me.
"Congratulations Shizuko and welcome to Konoha, you'll be a great ninja." Iruka handed me my ninja headband as I grinned up at him.
"Thank you!" I ran out of the room, going to where Lie was sitting on the desk with her legs crossed though she was glaring through her eye mask at the pink haired girl.
"Congratulations to those who made genin, you are dismissed. You'll be receiving the group's tomorrow." the two Sensei smile, but Mizuki was staring at Lie and the mark on her forehead.
"Let's go Shizuko." Lie grabbed my hand after jumping off the desk. She pulled me to the side away from Mizuki and scowled at him as we pass. When we reach outside I felt like I could finally breathe as the sun warmed my face. We pushed through the groups of people who were celebrating, and just as we were about to get out I see Naruto sitting on the swing his goggles covering his face, the only one not wearing a ninja band.
"I'll be right back, meet you at the gates," I yelled over my shoulder as I walk up to Naruto.
"Hey, Naruto…."
"Come over to tease me?" He stared at the ground his shoulders hunching defensively.
"No, I know we just met, but don't give up. I believe that one day you'll be Hokage, ignore all the bullies. People are mean to others they don't understand." As I spoke Naruto lifted his head and I grinned giving him a thumb up like he did when he told me to believe it.
He still looked sad, but I could see a smile tugging at his lips, as his whiskers twitched.
"Thank you, Shizuko."
"Lie's waiting for me, I'll see you around!" I waved and ran over to Lie who was leaning against the gate, though she is arguing with the raven-haired guy, who looks angry, she just looks amused with the smirk on her lips.
"Sure, pretty boy, you could totally beat me." She laughed, each breath filled with darkness. I could see her shadow started to flicker.
"Lie! You ready to head home, I'm beat!" I pushed past the raven-haired boy grabbing her arm and pulled her with me. Panic was welling up, I didn't want people to find out about us.
"Should have let me wipe that smirk off his face." She was seething next to me, but I just ignored her and sighed. We finally get to our place on the street, but she just goes into her room and slams the door.
I stand in the door of my room, just staring at the blank walls and white bed. Feels like a hospital. I sighed as I remembered my purple room with flowers on the walls littered with fairytale books. As I sit down on the bed I clutched the Konoha headband, the leaf symbol staring back at me there is a heat rising in me.
This should be an angel wing. I would have graduated today with my friends and family. A pale snake-like face flashed through my mind. A thump resonated in the cold room as my headband hit the wall as I fell back into bed, I covered my face with an arm as tears stained my face. I wasn't strong enough.
FF
The next day we were sitting back in our seats, I knew Lie heard my outburst yesterday, but she didn't ask. Her new band was around her hips, acting as a belt while mine was hanging limply around my neck. This time Lie was sitting next to the raven-haired boy, Sasuke Uchiha, Lie told me his name this morning. She kept turning her head which I'm assuming was to glare at him. I shook my head and continued to read the book that I got this morning, The Mind of a Strategist.
Just as it's quieting down I hear a rumble and a crash as the pink haired girl and a blonde were yelling at each other in the doorway.
"Why in the hell did I agree to stay here with you?" I heard Lie ask with amusement and irritation in her tone, it's like a crash, wanting to look away, but can't.
"I was here first, forehead."
"No, I was here first Ino pig."
"Seriously…." she shook her head, long black and silver hair flowing.
Suddenly the blonde and pink haired girls were in front of our desks trying to gain the attention of Sasuke. I close my book with a sigh as they argue over who was going to sit next to Sasuke, completely ignored the fact that Lie was already next to him and wasn't going to move.
All of a sudden Naruto was crouched on the desk right in front of Sasuke's face. I noticed he got his headband! One second they were glaring at each other, the next I stared wide-eyed as they were locked lips. I saw Lie's shoulders shaking with silent laughter.
"Lie do something!" I grabbed her shoulder as Naruto was getting beaten up by girls who were jealous that Sasuke's first kiss was just stolen away right in front of them. She turned her head and I could practically see her asking why, but she just sighed and jumped into the fray.
Pushing and hitting some of the girls she grabbed Naruto and jumped to the other side of me. "Are you alright Naruto?" I asked while I looked over him for injuries. I started making the hand signs for a light healing jutsu, but Lie grabs my shoulder stopping in my tracks.
"Can't use that anymore." I hesitated, but put my hands back down. Looking over Naruto again I see some of his bruises are healed.
"Do you see that?" Amazement and slight fear in my tone. How is he healing so fast?
"Interesting…" I could hear intrigue in Lie's tone.
"Alright everybody sit down." Everyone shuffled to a desk as we gave attention to Iruka-Sensei. "You guys will be put into groups of three with a Jonin commander." Tensing my shoulder, I look at Lie and bit my lip.
"However, due to the new additions, there will be two groups of four." Going down the list, I didn't hear our names yet.
"Team Seven; Uzumaki Naruto, Hoga Shizuko," Naruto cheered, "Kawakami Lie, and Sasuke Uchiha." On both sides of me, I heard a sigh, and negative energy coming from both.
"Hey, least we are tog-"
"Hey Sensei! why am I stuck with this idiot Uchiha." Naruto stands up pointing to Sasuke who just sits there aloof.
"Well, Sasuke excelled in everything, while you failed almost everything. And Lie was strong physically, but weak on the written, and vice versa for Shizuko." Finally, he addressed the class. "These teams are all about balancing strengths."
"Now team 8; Hyuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino, and Haruno Sakura."
This is going to be interesting… I sighed as I feel the glares from all the girls in class as I heard a scream from behind which either came from the blonde or the pink haired girl.
What did I get myself into?