Academy School
Chapter 3

A month had gone by quickly with Tetsumari working hard training either with Granny or by herself. She had improved a lot in the time being. Tetsumari had dedicated her free time training until she couldn't move a single muscle in her body anymore. Even, if she was still sore the next morning; she would keep training from morning till night. Being so exhausted however, she would knock out easily each night when she reaches her room.

"Tetsumari, wake up!" it was granny who had came into her room and woke her up from her deep slumber.

"Granny, what time is it. I'm tired!" Tetsumari whined.

"Get up! I got a surprise!"

"Fine, fine."

"Meet me in the kitchen."

"Alright," Tetsumari got off of her futon and went to wash up. Then she walked to the kitchen to meet up with Granny.

"Morning Granny! What were you going to show me?" Tetsumari whined again, still tired.

"Close your eyes!" Tetsumari closed her eyes shut. She heard a few ruffling noises.

"Okay, open them!" Granny said a minute later. Tetsumari opened her eyes and saw Granny holding up a beautiful short burgundy kimono.

"It's beautiful, Granny!" Tetsumari awed, "I've never seen anything like that!"

"It's for you! I bought it yesterday. I thought you would look lovely in it. Burgundy suits you, you know?" Granny held the kimono up to Tetsumari.

"Thanks so much, Granny! But what is it for?"

"Well, before I bought this, I enrolled you into academy school. After doing so, I decided I should get you an outfit suited for you when you become a shinobi."

"Academy school?!"

"Yes go try it on, academy school will start pretty soon, don't want to be late on your first day of school now."

"Okay thanks again, Granny!" Tetsumari ran in her room excitedly and changed into the gorgeous burgundy kimono. She wore black shorts under her kimono and added a large black ribbon bow around her waist, some bandages on her right thigh, and long black gloves. Tetsumari also wore some long boots that went up to her knees. She tied her long light purple hair loosely and put it to one side of her shoulder. Lastly, she placed her barrel of arrows and her bow around her back. When she finished, she walked back out to the kitchen.

"More beautiful on you then I thought," Granny commented.

"Thanks, I added a few things to it, "Tetsumari blushed.

"Okay let's go, I'll walk you there, "Granny gave her a bag with food in it for lunch and walked with her to school. When they arrived there, Tetsumari saw a lot of kids around her age talking and scattering around excitedly.

"Wow it's so packed!" Tetsumari said a little shy.

"Yeah, well have fun! Don't get to class late!"

"Okay, thanks Granny, bye," Tetsumari walked to her classroom smiling.

It was very noisy in the classroom and their sensei was having a hard time calming everyone down. Tetsumari took this time to observe, something she loved to do because that's how she learns new things. She observed around the room and all the new faces. Finally, when everyone was settled, their sensei introduced him to all the young kids; his name was Karuke-sensei. When he was finished, he started calling out roll. Tetsumari observed all kids some more as he did so.

"Temari!" he called out.

"Here!" she was the girl that sat next to Tetsumari. Temari looked pretty; she had blonde ponytails and looked tough.

"Kankurou!"

"Here!" He was a guy that had purple face paint on his face. Kankurou looked like he was a funny guy to be around with and didn't look as tough as Temari did.

"Gaara!"

"Hmm that's a strange name," Tetsumari thought, she looked to see who it was.

"Here!" He was a cute red head little boy who was sitting by himself in the front.
Gaara looked shy and a bit lonely; he had dark black rings around his eyes also. As Karuke-sensei went down the list, Tetsumari tried to remember everyone by their faces and unique features about them.

"Tetsumari Tora!" Karuke-sensei called out, but she didn't notice him calling her, "Tetsumari Tora?"

"Oh here!" she called out embarrassed. Suddenly, everyone was beginning to whisper and talk about her.

"I've heard about her! Didn't her clan die out last year?" one girl said to her friend that was sitting next to her.

"Yeah, I heard that too from my parents, she was the only one that survived. I also heard she was called the 'Cursed Child' in her clan." The girl said back to her friend. Tetsumari looked down on her desk. While Karuke-sensei continue with roll, Tetsumari didn't bother listening or observing the few last kids names and faces that were being called. Tetsumari was getting kind of sad and regret going to academy school.

"Oh hey, Tetsumari, right?" Temari asked looking at her.

"Oh, yeah," Tetsumari replied.

"You shouldn't be sad, don't listen to what those kids say." Temari tried to cheer her up.

"Thanks," Tetsumari was happy again. Not one other kid was ever this nice to her before.

"Do you know anyone here? If not you can hang out with me."

"Okay, sounds good!"

"Shh!" Karuke-sensei said towards Temari and Tetsumari.

"Sorry, go on," Temari smirked.

"Okay, thank you," he answered back and went back to introductions.

"I'll talk to you more at lunch," Temari whispered.

"Okay," Tetsumari whispered back. Hours had passed by and the bell for break time/lunch had finally rung.

"Alright! Time to eat!" it was the guy with the face paint, Kankurou. He was walking towards the two girls.

"You fatass," Temari teased.

"Shut up!" Kankurou snapped back, he then turned around and saw Tetsumari, "Oh hey!"

"Hi," Tetsumari felt a bit shy, she wasn't use to meeting new people, "I'm Tetsumari Tora."

"Hey I'm…"

"…The most annoying guy ever!" Temari cut him off.

"Hey! Stop that!" he yelled at her. Tetsumari laughed as the two were arguing with each other. Temari hit him hard on the head once which made him shut up holding his head about to cry.

"Anyways," Temari turned her attention to Tetsumari, "This is actually my annoying little brother, Kankurou."

"Geez! Why'd you have to hit me so hard!" he whined.

"Want me to give you a matching one and hit you again?" she questioned, "If you do, keep whining like that!"

"Sorry, " he said giving her a weak smile.

"Hah!" she smiled in victory and looked at Tetsumari, "You've got to be tough so people won't run all over you like my little brother here."

"Thanks for the advice, "Tetsumari walked over to Kankurou, "Let me see your head."

She saw Kankurou hesitating for awhile, but realized Tetsumari was just trying to help him out. Temari and Kankurou watched as she did some seals.

"Shōsen Jutsu (Mystical Palm Technique)" She said while she moved her glowing hands on Kankurou's wound.

"Hey, it doesn't hurt anymore," he awed, "Thanks Tetsumari."

"You're welcome."

"Alright now let's go eat before break time is over," Temari walked out the classroom with the two others following along behind. All three of them enjoyed their lunch and talked a lot about each other.

"Where did you learn that technique?" Temari asked.

"Oh from Granny, she's a medical ninja."

"Oh, I've heard of her, " Kankurou joined in, "She's one of the best!"

They continued talking some more until the bell rang. The rest of the day was pretty boring because Karuke-sensei talked a lot. When the last bell had finally rung and the first day of school ended, Tetsumari said bye to her two new friends, Temari and Kankurou. Then she went straight to the front to see Granny already waiting for her there.

"Hey Granny!" she said and did the normal hug and kiss on the cheek routine.

"Hey dear," she said with her always so warm and happy smile. They began to head for home.

"How was academy school Tetsumari?"

"It was boring because Karuke-sensei, my sensei, talked a whole lot, but some things that he mentioned seem interesting. Oh yeah and I met this girl named Temari, she's pretty nice and so was her brother Kankurou. They love to argue with each other." Tetsumari laughed thinking about the incident at lunch. During the whole walk home, Tetsumari chatted as her Granny listened carefully.

"Sounds great, I'm glad you had fun. Well go get changed and washed up. I'll make something to eat." Granny said when they reached home.

"Okay, " Tetsumari obeyed and went into her room to change out of the kimono that Granny gave her and went to the bathroom to wash up. When she walked back into her room to change into her regular clothes, Tetsumari saw the tiger eye necklace that was laying on her futon.

"Oh yeah!" she thought, "I forgot to give Granny this present this morning."
Tetsumari changed quickly and grabbed the necklace that was lying on her pillow to take to the kitchen.

"Hey Granny, I have a gift for you!"

"Really? What is it?" she placed down the food on the table and sat herself down.

"Here, surprise!" Tetsumari held out the copy of her tiger eye necklace to Granny.

"It's lovely; this must have been the copy of your own tiger eye necklace correct? I remember you telling me about it once."

"Yep," Tetsumari watched as Granny put it on.

"Thanks, you're so sweet," she said, "Okay, let's eat now!"

They both began to eat while talking and laughing about the random things they usually talk about.