Sorry it's taking so long and this chapter is a bit weird. I lost inspiration for after getting into a fight with my boyfriend and forgot what I had planned, my apologies. Please read and Review. Thank you.
I own Ketsueki and the plot.
Never a Shinobi
"Chakra," Aoi Sama began as we walked down the dirtpath, beginning lesson number one,"is the energy created when you mix Physical and Spiritual power together within your body." I nodded, listening and absorbing what I could. She and I both agreed that starting now would be best for me, helping me mature and control my chakra while I still had some time. I was informed that ninjas were trained from age six and I was eight years behind on lessons.
"We harness and expel our charka through hand signs." Aoi Sama continued, turning to me. "The hand signs are based on the 12 animals of the Zodiac. You do know the Zodiac, right Ketsueki?" I nodded and began reading them off to her.
"Bird, Boar, Dog, Hare," I said, taking a slight pause trying to remember the order, "Ram, Horse, Rat, Serpent. Dragon, Ox, Tiger, and Monkey." I completed. Aoi Sama nodded before she continued with the lesson.
"Each one of those Zodiac signs have a hand sign to harness and expelenergies." She said as she demonstrated by lifting her arms and making hand symbols to each of the zodiac I mentioned. She named them off and I watched intently, trying to memorize each one. "Your chakra, Ketsueki,hasn't been properly trained so it's hard to actually judge what you are capable of at the time but with the proper training, we can build it up." Aoi Sama said, stopping momentarily to pick a blade of grass. I stopped and looked at her curiously as she flicked the blade towards my face. It smacked intomy foreheadand stuck, a little tingle of what I guessed was dab of her chakra keeping it on the center of my forehead.
"If you can concentrate on that blade of grass, you'll become greater at controlling and harnessing your chakra." She began as she started to walk again, "Being able to focus helps you draw out your energies and use the adequate minimal amount needed in jutsus, but we'll delve deeper into that once you learn how to concentrate and build up more of its energies." I nodded following her and feeling the leaf slightly slip. I bit my bottom lip, focusing in on it. I smiled, thinking it would be easy until Aoi Sama spoke again.
"But as you do that, I want you to practice your hand signs too. No point on making this exercise too easy." She said, almost sounding happy. "I want you to have the hand signs down by the end of the day so we can hurry and move onto more of your training." She finished as I began to trying to remember the order we had listed off the Zodiac and each of the hand signs to it.
Bird, hand sign.
Concentrate.I began, trying not to scrunch up my brow as I tried to remember the hand sign for next Zodiac and focus on the grass blade.
Boar, hand sign.
Concentrate. The blade stuck. I wasn't doing too bad.
Dog, hand sign
THWACK! I winced, feeling a sharp pain in my right hand, causing me to lose focus on what I was doing. I bit my lip and closed my eyes, letting the string of chakra on the grass blade fall from my forehead. Rubbing my wrists, I opened my eyes and started scanning the ground for my blade of grass, knowing I had messed up.
"That was the sign for Hare, not Dog." She reprimanded as I continued rubbing my hand, the sting refusing to leave. I nodded and apologized as I picked up my grass blade while she continued walking. I placed it onto my forehead, holding it there with my finger and began concentrating again, moving to catch up with her. Focusing for a moment, I felt the faint feel of my chakra form on my forehead and removed my finger, feeling the grass blade stick. Taking in a deep breath I continued with the next hand sign.
Bird, hand sign, concentrate
Boar, hand sign, concentrate
ConcentrateIt continued like that for a moment, us walking in complete silence the empty dirt road. No one was around and little red wild flowers were growing sporadically, catching my attention. I messed up a hand sign and received another painful hit to my wrist. Wincing, I continued to concentrate on the blade of grass on my head, refusing to let it fall as I tried to ignore the smarting ache in my wrist.
"You're only going to learn through pain." Aoi Sama said back, chuckling slightly. I nodded, agreeing with her. I took in a deep breath, focusing and redoing the signs again.
Hare, hand sign, concentrate.
Ram, hand sign, concentrate.
Horse, hand sign, concentrate
Rat, hand sign, concentrate. I sighed, trying to remember the sign for Serpent and received a quick smack to the back of my head. I winced, catching a glimpse of the blade of grass falling onto the floor. I heard Aoi Sama's chuckle.
"Too slow, Ketsueki. If you forget your hand signs in a middle of a battle, you're enemy won't stop and give you time to think about it." She said as I picked up the blade of grass and placed it back on my forehead, trying to ignore the pain in the back of my bed. Aoi Sama was definitely using the "Gain through Pain" theory.
"This is going to be a long day." I mumbled to myself, upset with my poor skills.
"It's going to be a long week when we start on your physical training tomorrow." She replied back as I inwardly winced. I was probably going to be sore all over once training began but I faked boldness and smiled.
"Don't worry, I'm ready. I won't fail you, Aoi Sama."
-----
It was near the end of the day when I memorized and mastered all the Zodiac hand signs and when Aoi Sama had spotted a small town. The sun was slowly sinking behind the horizon causing the sky to turn to pastel colours while we stood atop a hill, looking down at the quaint little town that you'd normally see out of a child's picture book. Aoi Sama stood still, looking down at the town then around like she was examining the place then the surroundings. She seemed a little on edge and would occasionally sigh.
"Ketsueki," She began, turning her attention back onto the town. "I have a little mission for you to test your stealth." I blinked.
"What is it, Aoi Sama?" I asked, looking down at the village. When she said stealthy, I knew she wanted me to steal something. My previous master used that phrase often when we first started to exchange services.
"You need to get a new outfit to train in. A kimono is not suitable enough. Steal anything you need. If you get caught, then well," I looked up at her at the moment, feeling the air change from normal to having a slightly warning feel to it. "I'll leave it up to you to guess what kind of punishment you'll go through when I find out." She teased. I knew she was grinning and I nodded, ignoring the horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. She would not bail me out if I ran into trouble.
"I understand." I replied back as I pushed a strand of lavender out of my eyes. I took another quick look to Aoi Sama only to see that she had disappeared, the sound of her bell eerily jingling from the quick movement. Blinking and moving my hands to where she once was, I grinned to myself, amazed as I headed towards the town. On my way down there, I kept an eye out for Aoi Sama but didn't see her around and continued walking. Once I entered the place, I noticed how everyone on the streets where doing their end of the day shopping while kids played around, chasing one another. I scanned the area while I moved looking for the appropriate clothes store. Stealing from just one would have made it easier for someone to catch me and I needed to find more then just one shop.
"This looks like an okay place here." I thought to myself as I entered the store. There were a few people in the store, so the manager would have to look between all customers and not just focus on me. Many of the teenagers in there were causing a problem anyway, drawing attention on them. I roamed around and looked for easy targets of things I'd need. Stealing wasn't a problem for me.
-----
I walked down the streets, smiling as I held the brown satchel bag that hung from its strap on my left shoulder. I had taken the minimum of what I needed all within about an hour from a few different stores and change in a random restaurants restroom. I had managed to steal a black fishnet shirt that ended at my elbows, a dark blue tank top, and black shorts that ended above my knees. They were comfy enough to train in and easy to take, not being to flashy or easy to see. I had also taken the time to steal a pair of sandals and some other necessities I would have needed and put them in a brown satchel that I had stolen from an outside stand. The manager was selling some woman an overpriced, ugly bag and wasn't paying attention to anyone else. The bag was set on a pile of cheap purses and bags and I snatched it up when no one was looking the continued looking for Aoi Sama.
I scanned the area, feeling the cold breeze of the night air and saw nothing but the faint glow of street lights. Almost everyone had headed into their homes and it had left me to wander the streets. I didn't know how I was supposed to find Aoi Sama or even contact her. Looking around again, I just kept to my walking till I heard that eerie jingle of bells. I stopped and listened, hearing its faint noise and strained to hear it. It continued for a second and I ran off in the direction I heard it, trying to move quietly in my new sandals. I stopped at the corner, hearing voices of Aoi Sama and some other person – a man. I pressed my back up against a brick wall and peered around the corner, catching the shadowy outline of Aoi Sama and a giant plant sprouting out along side of a wall. The lights were dimmed, blocking off any view to get a good glimpse of who ever Aoi Sama was talking to and find where he was hiding. I stood there, settling to just eavesdrop on them.
"Leader Sama wanted to know what was taking you so long with your mission." The man said, as Aoi Sama gave a relaxed reply.
"Ran into a little trouble so it took longer then it was supposed to." I blinked, wondering if it was me that was the trouble Aoi Sama game across.
"Understand able but what about the kid?" He asked, sounding interested. I was glad I wasn't the trouble but the word 'Kid' made be bite my lip in anger.
"Ketsueki? She just caught my eye on the way back. Tell Leader Sama I request a new mission to train my subordinate." She replied back as the man chuckled. I blinked, staring wide eyed at the plant as I saw it pull out from the wall and step forward. It wasn't just your average overly large Venus Fly Trap. Oh no. It was a person within the giant green leaves.
"It has a name?" I heard him ask as Aoi Sama sighed.
"Ketsueki has a Kekkei Genkai I've never seen. If I have some time to train her, I'm sure Leader Sama will take interest in her." Aoi Sama said. I hid in my spot, shooting glares at the giant man plant. Of course I had a name! I was a person! I had wants and desires and feelings just like everyone else. My pulse raced and I scowled, angry.
"I'll inform Leader when I get back. I need to check up on the other members." The man stated voice changing tone before pulling back into the wall. "We do need a new member since Orochimaru left, but I doubt he'd let some little kid join." He chuckled, changing his tone again. Aoi Sama shook her head causing the bell to jingle once more. I felt my throat go dry as the man continued to call me a kid.
"I know he won't accept just anyone, Zetsu. That is why I'm training her. I can help her develop her powers and Kekkei Genkai better than anyone else and Leader just won't pass up on new power, especially Ketsueki's." She stated. I closed my eyes, feeling my blood race through my body. I was still angry with that man, Zetsu.
"Its between you and Leader Sama, but if the kid happens to die during one of your trainings, may I take her body?" He asked, chuckling. I snapped at the moment, moving out from my hiding spot. I turned around the corner and stood there, looking at Aoi Sama and Zetsu. That was it! I wasn't going to die and I wasn't 'kid'. I was Ketsueki! I slightly growled in frustration as my vision clouded and the background changed. Everything drained into white, resembling the uncoloured page of a colouring book with the exceptions of the blood I saw, coursing through the vessels in Aoi Sama and Zetsu.
Ba – bump,
Ba – bump,
Ba – bump!
I heard Zetsu's heart beat and focused in on his form. I could see his body's outline, the shape of a person's under that cloak that looked exactly like Aoi Sama's except the fact that he had a Venus Fly Trap growing around him.
"Is this the kid?" I heard him ask. I winced, angry with him as I stared a hole into the fist sized organ of his heart. The cardiac muscles contracted, pushing blood through chambers and valves.
Ba – bump,
Ba – bump,
Ba – bump!
"I don't think she likes being called 'Kid' Zetsu." Aoi Sama said, most likely evaluating me. I didn't want the taste of his blood but more to just spill it out. I had had the taste from my dead master's blood and didn't need it now. I just wanted him dead.
I raced out to attack him, pulling my right clenched fist back as he side stepped me once I threw it out. I skid to a stop and turned to him, wishing I had a weapon as he moved further back away from me. I stopped as he stood still, like I wasn't even worth the effort.
"This is your subordinate?" Zetsu asked as he looked down at me. His tall form hovered over my smaller one as yellow, pupil less eyes stared down at me. I rushed towards him again as he raised his hands, maneuvering them quickly. A puff of smoke appeared and two motr of him appeared through the smoke.
"Wha-?" I asked incredulous as I skid to a stop. The smoke faded away as I stared down at the three men identical men. I wish I could have seen what hand signs he actually used – I would have been useful.
"I really think she wants to fight you, Zetsu." Aoi Sama said as she moved up against the wall to watch us. I glared down at the other two forms, and scanned for the real one. There was bound to be a difference in what I could see with my Kekkei Genkai. "You should go easy on her until she fully develops." Aoi Sama finished as she tossed something at the ground. I glanced down to see it was one of those small throwing knives she had used the other day. I glanced back up to Zetsu, wishing I hadn't looked away. He had made his move the second I looked away, my mistake, and made me momentarily freeze in shock.
Ba – Bump,
Ba – Bump
Ba – bump!
Hell if I'd let him win! He'll if I'd just die right here.
I dove straight for the knife and grasped it in my hand as I slashed upwards…
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I was never good at cliffies. Sorry for the horrible and long chapter and for any OOC-ness. I don't know too much on the personality of Flower Chan and Zetsu. He changes tones because he has split personality, I hope it wasn't too hard to figure out when he had voice changes. XD Aoi Sama and Zetsu are almost as mysterious as Learder Sama.