Kakashi walked down the hallway with his student. It looked like any normal school, but Kakashi knew very well that it wasn't. Kira was in somewhat of a daze, her ears swiveling in different directions and her nose twitching. She was smelling other cats; a smell that she had never experienced before. She felt the fur on her tail bristle as they came closer to the room, their footsteps echoing in the hallway.
"You ready?" Kakashi asked, reaching for the door. Kira looked up at him and suddenly huffed loudly.
"I told you, I'm ready!" she grinned. Kakashi looked at her for a second and realized she was right. He reached for the door slot and slid the door open.
Kira's eyes lit up and her ears leaned straight forward. She gave a slight gasp. The room was filled with Neko students everywhere, sitting on desks, scattered about the room, relaxing on window panes. A few shady looking proctors stood in the corners, but did not interfere with the students. While the proctors looked as any normal ninja proctor would (scarred, old, and probably bad tempered) the students were bright and young, most of them Kira's age, some a few years older as they laughed, joked, and talked. Kakashi smiled; this was what she wanted.
But as soon as they entered the room, a quiet hush descended on the room. Eyes landed on Kira, mouths dropped, whispers were tossed around the room.
"Look, it's her."
"The one they were talking about."
"Look at her eyes!"
"It's the Kaze Koneko!"
"Look, her instructor is Kakashi Hatake!"
"I can't believe it's really true. I just can't believe it. It's back."
Kira's ears folded backs lightly as she held her tail in her hands, taking a step back slightly into Kakashi. Kakashi held his aloof attitude, as he was used to the occasional whispers of his name, but Kira was obviously not used to this much attention. It seemed the world had stopped and was looking at her. As if she was their last hope.
"You're Kira!" a voice suddenly chirped. Startled, Kira looked up to see a young cat girl about the same age as her. Her ears were black with tufts of silver sticking out of them as they stuck up in a ruffled mess about her dark hair. Her green cat eyes stared wide at Kira, much like Kira stared at Kakashi.
"H-huh?" Kira asked, putting a hand up to hide her mouth.
"Everyone's talking about you!" the kitten grinned excitedly with her fangs, her tail wagging, "You're the special one, right? The wind one?" Kira looked down, shuffling her feet and nodding softly.
"That's so cool!" the cat girl exclaimed suddenly, making Kyra lift her head in surprise, "I've always wanted to see wind powers! Will you show me some time?" Kira stalled for a bit, but only from surprise.
"Yeah, sure," Kira's eyes lit up as she smiled with her fangs too.
"I'm Akemi," the cat girl grinned, "You wanna come and meet my cell?"
"Mm-hm," Kira nodded happily as Akemi took her hand and led her to a group of other Neko students that were crowded near a desk in the back. Kakashi smiled as he watched Kyra begin to laugh with the other students as the talked excitedly: it made him happy to see her make friends. It just made him happy to see her laugh.
"Alright everyone," a voice suddenly said over the quiet chatter of the students. Kyra looked up to see a tall older looking man staring down at the students through frocks of jet black hair with stern eyes. All Neko students immediately gulped in unison.
"I am Masaru Shishu, the chief examiner of the Chunin Selection Exams. The first part of the exam is about to take place, so please take a seat…in your desks please." The Neko students laughed as they got up from their position on window sills and desk edges and scattered in different directions with their cell to assorted desks. Kira took a seat next to Akemi as they exchanged looks of suspicion.
"Kakashi Hatake?" a voice said next to Kakashi. Kakashi turned to see a younger man next to him, smiling politely. He looked to be a bit younger than Kakashi, with short brown hair and a Wind head band that accompanied his Jonin outfit.
"Yes?" Kakashi asked.
"I'm Atari Houka," the man said, bowing slightly, "I hear your Kira Koneko's instructor?"
"Yes, I am," Kakashi said as the examiner began to recite the instructions of the exam to the students. Kakashi felt himself smile when he said this: it felt good to know that he was her instructor.
"I'm one of the assistant proctors for the Neko exam," Atari explained, "I was actually hoping I could talk to yo for a second about your student?"
"Uh, yeah," Kakashi looked back slightly at kyra who was listening intently to the proctor, then turned back to the assistant proctor. He looked at her one last time, just to make sure that her ears weren't back in anyway and said, "Sure."
As they exited the room, Kakashi could hear the proctors words ring out before he closed the door, "The test is made up of ten points. If you write a correct answer…"
"I'd hate to be that proctor," Kakashi said quietly as he faced Atari.
"How so?" Atari asked inquisitively.
"Those students," Kakashi smiled slightly, nodding towards the classroom door, "They were practically glaring at him, and so young too." The man gave a slight chuckle.
"As expected from Neko students," he smiled, "You know how they rarely give their trust to men. And they can sense the tension coming off from Masaru too. You have to be careful when proctoring these students. I've learnt that over the years."
"I'm actually not as keen as some of these other instructors may be on the whole Neko subject," Kakashi admitted.
"But you knew you were assigned to teach the Kaze Koneko, yes?" Atari asked.
"Yes, but I was more or less thrown into the lion pit, if you will," Kakashi explained.
"Well, it's a very interesting subject," Atari chuckled, "My father was actually married to a Neko woman. In fact, most of the proctors here have affiliations with the Neko clan, including Masaru-san."
"Really?" Kakashi asked.
"What I wanted to talk to you about," Atari said, dropping his voice slightly as a voice on the other side of the wall shouted, "Begin!"
"What are your plans for her after she's graduated to Chunin?" Atari asked. Kakashi was momentarily caught off guard. He had no idea what would happen after she became Chunin. He assumed that she would be assigned missions and that he would regretfully go back to Konoha. Something simple like that.
"I, ah, actually have no idea," Kakashi confessed, scratching the back of his head.
"Well, some people here have been talking, including Masaru and Sunagakure," Atari explained, leaning up against the wall next to Kakashi, handing him a piece of paper, "Saying that she should join the Suna ANBU." Kakashi took the piece of paper with slight interest. It was actually a letter sent to the leader of Kaze, asking permission to grant Kira entrance into the Suna ANBU.
"They had to send letters, since if this information leaked, it's be fatal," Atari gave a small smile, "Her mother received one as well, I believe." Kakashi nodded.
I could understand why they would want her," he said seriously, "Considering her skills and status." Atari stalled.
"Well, yes," Atari nodded, "That is true, and it would be a great opportunity—but—there's a problem."
Kira shifted in her seat quietly, reading over the question. The large classroom was silent except for the scratching of pencils and occasional dodge of wind through the window.
I can't figure out this thing code, Kira sadly thought to herself, I didn't learn any of this stuff in the academy. No one knows this stuff, at least not at our age. But if I cheat…
Kira's stomach churned slightly. So far, no one had been caught and sent out of the classroom. She didn't want to have to be the first one. She looked out of the corner of her eye to the student on her left. She seemed somewhat older, maybe even almost fifteen. Kira's ear swiveled to hear her pencil writing furiously.
She's older…she definitely knows what she's doing…why is she here? Everyone here must be at least seven or eight.
Suddenly, something clicked in her mind.
She's a set up. They want us to cheat…they want to…see our abilities.
Kira racked her mind. She glanced at the other students. Most of them were swiveling their ears, picking up different pencil scratches. Kira could understand how easy that would be, but suddenly, an even better thought came to her mind.
She inched a finger towards the student to her left, and cautiously flicked her finger towards her. A hardly noticeable but powerful whisper of wind lifted the edge of the paper, curling it towards Kira. The student merely thought of it as a natural breeze, but little did she know that Kira was now copying all the answers on the visible sheet of paper.
"I see," Kakashi nodded after Atari had finished speaking, "So, what you're saying is that, because of Orochimaru, it would be easier to target her?"
"Yes," Atari nodded with a soft sigh. Kakashi's eyes fell to the floor. He really hadn't even began to think about what would happen to her after the Chunin exams. Now that he was hearing of Orochimaru coming after her, putting her into danger, the same unsettling feeling from before began to creep back into his mind. He let out a stiff sigh, folding his arms and leaning back against the wall.
"…Will she ever be safe?" he asked quietly. Atari looked downward.
"No," he said simply, "That's one of the curses that comes with being the Kaze Koneko. People don't realize it, but the Kaze Koneko is not looked at as a god by Kaze just because of its ninjutsu and genjutsu. They're also a powerful breed, just as powerful as a Jinchuriki." Kakashi inwardly perked up.
"Wouldn't she be happier with a Neko cell, right here in Kaze?" Kakashi asked, turning to the door where his student was now taking the test, "Do you think they would look for her there? The Akatsuki, I mean?"
"Well, there are some Neko proctors here who believe that Kyra should do just that," Atari explained somewhat sadly, "But unfortunately, Kaze isn't the way it used to be. Normally, the Kaze Koneko would live freely here and start training in the Neko Academy after they made Chunin, which would be around the age of six, later ruling the village at the age of even ten years of age. But with Orochimaru's attack and his henchmen everywhere, most people want to find a more secluded place for her to be." Kakashi felt himself nod. But a part of him wanted to tear the paper that this young proctor, no, assistant proctor, had given him and say "Don't you think it should be up to her to decide what to do with her life?"
"Well, whose decision is it?" Kakashi asked quietly. Atari sighed slightly.
"Unfortunately, it's pretty complicated in her position. Most Neko students after Chunin exams take on a squad and complete missions with them. With her however," Atari stalled, looking towards the door, "With the Kaze Koneko, they usually become leader of Kaze, but because of times now, I don't think that's possible. It's best to leave it up to the leader of Kaze to decide what to do with her."
These words echoed through Kakashi's head. What to do with her…
Was it really their decision?
"Times up!' a voice rang in the other room.
Kira dropped her pencil with a clack that accompanied the rest, sighing in relief.
"How'd you do?" Akemi whispered in an inaudible voice to those without Neko ears.
"Pretty good," Kira smiled, "You?"
"Not bad," Akemi smiled.
"We will now ask the last question of the exam," Masaru looked at the students as three or four proctors flanked his sides, all holding clipboards, "This question will determine your outcome on the exam." At once, all ears in the classroom flicked with annoyance, a couple of students giving huffs of annoyance. The fact that the previous questions were a complete waste of their time was annoying yet predictable.
"If any of you get this question wrong," Masaru continued with a smirk, his eyes scanning the classroom of cat girls all staring back at him, "You will be dropped from the program." All students' eyes widened. Kira's ears perked up. How hard could this question be? Was it a riddle? A puzzle? But all stayed silent, not moving a tail or ear; determined not to show any fear. The Chief Examiner, although he had dealt with years and years of training with Nekos, was still marveled at how none of them at such a young age would not show fear. The examiner proctors noticed and gave a smirk to Masaru, giving him permission to continue.
"For those of you who don't want to take the risk," Masaru looked as though he relished the looks of surprise from the students, "Can proceed out of the classroom, and try again next year." There was a short silence, until Masaru asked in a cold voice, "Well? Any takers?"
Kakashi was listening somewhat intently into the next room, with Akira standing next to him.
"They're just kids!" Kakashi said to Atari in disbelief, "How could they put that much pressure on them?" Akira only smiled.
"Nekos are smart," he shrugged slightly, "Did you notice that none of them failed the written test? It's because they're so good at spying. We never worry about sending a Neko student out of the room because we caught her cheating. It's simply unheard of. Plus, even at a young age, they have natural seduction powers. Most of them are so cute we could never get them in trouble." Kakashi smiled slightly to himself. He experienced the same thing when he first met the troublesome kitten. He turned his attention to the door again, waiting to hear the last question. For some reason he felt the same rush of fear and determination that he had felt when he took his Chunin exams. But his exams were nothing like the ones that his student was taking.
"…No one? Not one of you is scared?" All of the students in the room stared back at the proctor, not one students wavering at all. The proctors looked at each other and nodded.
"All right then, since you're all so brave," Masaru almost jeered as she stared at the students through his frocks of dark hair, his gray, stern eyes almost snarling back at the students, "All right, here's the question…"
A hush even greater than before fell over the room as it was plunged into silence. Kira stared back at this man as his eyes briefly landed on her, but Kira didn't even waver. She narrowed her eyes at her, ear ears pointed forward. Now, more than ever, she was ready.
"When I point to you," Masaru said, "Tell me your name."
Kakashi couldn't believe what he had just heard. His Chunin exam wasn't at all like this. How different were these Neko exams?
"What is this?" Kakashi turned to Akira, who smiled knowingly, "Some sort of trick?"
"Don't you remember what they told you before assigning you to your Neko student?" Atari asked. Kakashi searched in his mind for any old memories of when he was first assigned to her, but could not remember any.
"Nekos don't take trust easily," Atari said, "Especially to men."
At once, all eyes in the room narrowed, staring at this suspicious proctor. All the students in the room were band together now, willing to fight with each other. They were not fighting against each other anymore, they were all in this together. There was no way this man would get them to reveal any information about them.
"Starting with you," Masaru pointed to a blonde haired cat girl with blue eyes, "What's your name?" The young Neko girl only narrowed her eyes at him, her tail flicking.
"No?" Masaru asked in an innocent tone, "How about you?" he pointed to the student next to Kira. Suddenly, Kira watched as the student stood up and said, "Maro Bikou."
As she sat down, Akemi shot a questionable glance to Kira, but Kira only shook her head.
"She's a set up," Kira whispered, "Don't trust her."
"Very good," Masaru nodded, turning to a brown haired cat girl with black ears, "What about you? What's your name?" The girl only crossed her arms, leaning back slightly as she narrowed her eyes.
"Not you, either?" he asked, "What about you?" He pointed to another. This young girl, about fifteen, stood up and said clearly, "I am Hina Kibou."
"Well done," Masaru nodded. A couple students turned questionably, cocking their heads at this out of character gesture, but none of them seemed that phased.
"How about," Masaru's finger scanned the room. Kira watched the finger like a kitten would watch a moving piece of string. She felt herself lick her fangs in anticipation. Suddenly, as expected, Masaru's finger stopped on her.
"You," he said deliberately, "What's your name?"
Kira narrowed her eyes, one of her ears flicking in somewhat annoyance. Suddenly, she closed her eyes, stuck her tongue out and spat at the Chief Examiner. A chorus of laughs erupted in the classroom from the students as the proctors smirked appreciatively.
"Well, there's a Neko if I ever saw one," one proctor remarked to another as Kira grinned at him, her fangs showing. Masaru smirked.
"Very well then," he said, facing the entire classroom, "I'm adding a new rule. If any one of you are willing to say your name, please stand up and say it now. If you don't, you will fail the exam."
Any normal student would immediately give their name, but every single one of those Neko students knew one thing. One: they could not fail all of them; they couldn't take an exam with only two participants. And two: they already knew the trick. They knew that none of them would fail.
Every single proctor waited in the room expectantly, as tails swished in anticipation, eyes still locked curiously on the proctors. Masaru stared back at the all the large eyes, watching them. He knew he was done. The exam was over.
"Fine," Masaru growled, taking a step forward, "If all of you are so stubborn and can't take my trust," he glared back at the students who had banned together against him, a handful of the last Nekos in the world, and said, "Then I have to say that…you all pass."