When best friends Alison McKay and Michelle Prince found a small piece of paper bearing a promise of the greatest Naruto experience of their lives, they were unwittingly sucked into the world they had only ever watched and read about. Now, hearts will be stirred, Bonds will be formed, blood will be spilt, and worlds will collide as fantasy and reality fuse inextricably into one.
Disclaimer: Obviously, as this is a fanfic, I don't own Naruto. Anything found in this story that does not exist in the real Naruto plot line though, including the characters Alison, Michelle, Shinjako and Kai, I claim as my own.
This is a comedy/drama/romance story I've been meaning to write for a long time. Any pairings will be decided as the story progresses, though suggestions are welcome. Also, before I begin, I realize that there are some of you out there who may not like my writing style, or the angle I'm taking with this story. As much as I'd like constructive criticism, please do not simply review to say how much you hated it. It's common courtesy.
Note to Readers: I'm Back! Surprised? Sorry I've taken so long with chapter twelve, but I've been wrapped up with Kabaret, The Sears Festival, an English essay, my great-uncle dyingand the fact that in order to work on this story I have to go to my gramma's house and access the files fromher computer and e-mail it to myself, then work on it via my laptop;which takes a while on a good day. Life caught up with me an bit me on the ass, but now that it' march break, I should be getting a good bit done on WWE. Now, for reader notes;
-Yep Sakura's going to be totally heartbroken if and when she finds our about Michelle and Sasuke. I've got this planned out though! Why do you think I stuck Kai in, huh? Huh? -winkwinknudgenudgepokepoke-
-I edited chapter 11, so hopefully most of the typos are gone. Sorry about that, it was particularly bad. I was half asleep while I wrote it, so, don't blame me! Blame Jiraiya, just because you can! -
SPECIAL NOTE TO 'A PISSED READER': Look, I get that reading a story that doesn't get updated each day can be frustrating, but there's to need to insult me. I am a fifteen year old girl who has a life that she happens to enjoy living, homework, and a part-time job as an artist. I do not spend my days chained to my computer, and it is not your place to start telling me I should be ashamed of myself. At very least you could have spelled 'Incompetent' correctly when you decided to attack my integrity. Take into account that it takes two and a half hours to write the eight pages, singles spaced at twelve point font that make up a chapter of Worlds Without End before you go getting snarky next time!
Well anyway, now that I've calmed down a bit, let's get on with chapter twelve, shall we?
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Chapter 12- Determination
We're all nothing but dreamers,
trying to fly our way,
across an never ending starry sky...
The newly formed team fifteen arrived at their designated forest training area after a forty five minute walk. Predictably, Michelle was barely managing to drag her feet along by then.Alison and Kai walked in front of her, just behind Shinja. Naruto-kun was seated on Alison's shoulder as usual, and was snoozing quietly. There had been an awkward silence hanging over the group ever since they had left Konoha, as it seemed no one had anything to say.
"Alright everyone, drop your stuff over there and let's get down to business."
Shinja said cheerfully, breaking the silence and planting the blade of her weapon in the ground as she unlocked the gate that sectioned off their training area from the rest of the forest. The genin did as they were bid, leaving their things at the base of the large tree she had gestured toward, and following their sensei as she advanced further into the wooded area. Alison had to practically drag Michelle along, and was all too happy to let her drop face down into the dirt when they stopped and sat down. Michelle moaned, but didn't move, even as the blonde puppy lept from Alsion's shoulder and onto her head, his little tail pinwheeling behind him as if he was very pleased with himself for forcing the blonde to swallow another mouthful of dust and grass.
"Well, I think the first thing we need to do is get to know each other,"
Shinjako said, clapping her hands together.
"so let's hear a bit about you all, just to get us started off on the right foot. Atsuko, you start."
"Ummm...uh well...Uh..."
Michellecoughed up a cloud of dust as she crawled to her knees, and rubbed at her eyesin an attempt toclear her vision.It then occured to her,as Nauto-kun stared down at her from atop her own head, that she had no idea what was going on.
"I...um...I..ummm..."
She stammered, attempting to come up with something intellegent to say.
"I'm...I'm...13...and uh...umm...I-I'm...good?"
Somewhere nearby, a cricket chirruped, then realized it wasn't nighttime yet and fell silent.
"Well...yes but...uh...Maybe I should give you an idea here."
Shinjako sighed with a tiny smile. Darn Kakashi and his stupid advice, she thought.She'd have been better off getting started right away and skiping the introductions. Shinja ignored the instinct that told her to beat Michelle's head in for not paying attention, and instead attempted to clarify herself.
"Just say your name, interests, likes, dislikes, ambitions, that kinda stuff. Kai why don't you go first to show her how it's done?"
Kai glanced up at his teacher inquiringly, then shrugged.
"Uh well, okay sensei...Um, hi. My name's Amemura Kai...I guess...Ilike training and that kinda stuff. And I also like cooking and I used to write-"
"Ha! Cooking? You are such a GIRL!"
Michelle laughed, only to cry out in pain a moment later as a vexed Alison smacked her in the back of the head.
"Don't mind her. She's dumb, remember?"
The redhead sighed, gathering up her puppy, who had fallen from her friend's head when she was struck. She smiled kindly at Kai, who seemed doleful once again, and was fiddling with a nearby pebble.
"Keep going."
She urged, and Shinja nodded her head encouragingly, accompanied by a yip from Naruto-kun.Alison was really starting to feel sorry for her teammate. Michelle wasn't usually such a bully, but then again, Kai might have been the only person she'd ever come across that was willing to take such abuse.
Poor guy.
She thought sympathetically as he attempted to gather his courage and continue.
"Well, okay then...I don't like getting made fun of..."
He said, giving Michelle a look that was probably meant to be angry, but was more hurt. He then redirected his gaze to the canopy of the forest.
"And...well I guess I just want to be a good ninja one day. Nothing really special. Just to live a good life I guess."
Shinjako bobbed her head approvingly.
"Thanks Kai, good job. Let's go back to Atsuko then, shall we?"
She blonde nodded with a smug smile, hands tucked into her overly long sleeves and raised in front of her in a cat-like stance. Now that she knew what she was doing, she was more than willing to show off.
"Well fine. Hey there, I'm Sutari Atsuko! I like Ramen, and shiny things, and flowers and fans, and blue, and birdies, and kittens and..."
She winced as Alison elbowed her in the ribs to cut her off before she started ranting, and continued on with a scowl afer a short moment.
"I don't like the rain, or the dark, or spiders, or you Kai! And I reeeeeally don't like Sasuke! He's a self-centred, pig-headed, no good, son of a-"
She yipped as she dodged another elbow aimed at her ribs, and hurriedly switched subjects.
"Anyway. I wanna beat Sasuke up some day, and I wanna prove that I can get by without being a great taijutsist! Or even a good one!"
Shinjako nodded as she finished with a grin.
"Very nice Atsuko, but there's no need to insult your teammate. I'll kill you."
There was no hint of humour in the woman's golden eyes as she made the statement, despite the gentle smile playing on her features. Michelle gulped.The young woman's gaze shifted to Alison.
"Now Riku, let's hear from you."
The red-haired girl nodded and smiled.
"Heya! I'm Hikari Riku. I like animals, and making friends and summer nights. I don't like it when people are mean to each other, or when Atsuko is stupid."
She received a glare from the blonde girl next to her, and met it with one of her own that stated 'well it's true, isn't it?' She then ignored her and continued.
"My ambition is to be the best female Taijutsist ever! And to get Lee-san to notice me!"
She punched on arm up to accentuate the statement. Sweatdrops appeared on the heads of both her cell-mates.
"Gai-san's creepy little clone? Why?"
Shinjako asked, narrowing one eye sceptically as if wondering if she was joking. Riku's eyes suddenly lit up with fire, causing Shinja to flinch, and Michelle and Kai to leap backward in fear.
"BECAUSE LEE-SAN IT THE BEST, AND THE COOLEST, AND..."
"Oh great, now you've got her started..."
Michelle groaned as Alison started listing a string of adjectives to describe her idol, including a few she made up as she went. The speech went on for five minutes, during which the shinobi could only listen with a mixture of fear, distaste, and disbelief that she didn't seem to be stopping to breath at all. Alison finally ended with;
",AND I JUST WANT HIM TO SEE HOW GOOD I AM!"
There was a brief silence during which Michelle and Kai fell over sideways with a groan. Shinjako took her fingers out of her ears and smiled weakly.
"Well, good!. At least you have an ambition that's...specific? Well anyway, let's get started..."
The jounin stood and brushed dirt from her clothes. Michelle perked up suddenly, frowning and pointing a finger at her sensei and she got to her knees again.
"Hey wait! Shinja-sensei, you didn't tell us anything about you!"
She woman glanced at the blonde questioningly before the sentence registered in her mind.
"Hm? Oh ya, I didn't did I? Well, okay, I'm Misaratae Shinjako, I like peach tea, siamese cats and my job. I don't like the way Gai seems to stalk me when we're off duty, or when I get attitude from ignorant kids. My ambition is to whip you guys into shape. Happy? Good, now let's move! Fifty laps around the arena! Kai, you have three hundred!"
Kai stared at his sensei in dismay, drooping as if zapped of all his strength.
"B-but Shinja-sensei! You said I only hade thirty punishment laps!"
The raven haired woman's eyes glinted maliciously.
"The others are for talking back!"
"B-but I didn't-"
"Four hundred! Now move!"
Ruefully Kai stood, and joined Alison and Michelle as they started out around the arena.
---
Michelle suffered through her fifty laps, then dragged herself under a tree to rest-or perhaps die of exhaustion. She didn't care anymore. Riku ran with Kai until he collapsed at lap 263. Shinja sat in a treewith Naruto-kunand was fiddling with an ornamented kunai. She shook her head sadly, making a 'tch' sound with her tongue.
"Come on now Kai, you've got 137 laps to go. Hop to it!"
"Shinja-sensei...I don't think he can run anymore."
Alison called up to her teacher, somewhat worried as she prodded a spiral-eyed Kai with her toe. He moaned quietly, but didn't stir.
"Oh he's fine. Just give him a minute."
Shinja said with a malevolent grin that nearly caused Alison to flinch. This woman just couldn't be for real! Just sitting up there doing nothing while they ran laps-what kind of training was this! She decided to try and argue-for Michelle and Kai's sake.
"Shinja-sensei, I really don't think-"
"Break time!"
She woman said cheerfully, jumping down from her perch with an agile, cat-like flip, and landing next to the startled redhead. She handed Alison her puppy with a smile.
"Fifteen minutes. Get it together guys!"
She then wandered off into the forest to do who knows what. Riku stared after her for nearly a full minute, disbelieving, then set naruto-kun on her shoulder and dragged her teammate over to where Michelle sat, idly folding and unfolding her new fan. The tassels fluttered in the breeze, and the silver designsglinted at thesunlight caught them.
"This sucks."
She muttered sullenly. Alison nodded her agreement, flopping down next to her friend with a sigh.
"I figured we'd be learning jutsu, or running up trees or...I dunno sometthing! This bites like a bear trap."
"Yeah..."
"And look what she did to Kai! You think this happens a lot?"
"Well, apparently she's been his teacher for a while, so...maybe."
They both shivered, despite the warmth of the summer day. Fifteen minutes came and went in relative silence, and Shinjako returned to the clearing. Michele groaned and Alison had to make a conscious effort not to flinch under the woman's flickering, glinting golden eyes.
"Alright everyone, here's what we'll be doing;"
She said in a cheerful voice that made the redhead want to chuck a Shuriken into her smiling face.
"I have a mission scheduled fortomorrow."
The girls tensed, their anxiety suddenly forgotten at the word 'mission' and replaced by delightful anticipation. Shinjako seemed pleased by the response, and continued.
"It's C ranked, meaning it might be a bit dangerous, but you should be fine. So, we'll be going over the basics today, just so you don't stumble and get hurt on duty. Got it?"
"Got it!"
She girls chorused happily, beaming with excitement. This was more like it! Shinja walked over and poked Kai with her toe. He opened one pale blue eye slowly with a moan.
"H-hi Shinja-sensei."
He muttered with a sheepish smile, managing to pushing himself up into a sitting position. The jounin's smile broadened.
"Alright now, everybody up! The first thing we're going to do is go over the art of the doppelganger. Come on now you three, get the lead out and line up over there..."
---
By sunset, they had gone over the art of the doppelganger, the art of tree climbing, the art of transformation, and basic target practice. Michelle groaned and dropped to her knees, panting. She was exhausted. This was past walking through the forest and getting lost exhausted, even past fighting with Sasuke exhausted. She was totally used up, and realized the fact with grim acceptance as she slacked her grip on the small, star-shaped blade she held in her hand.
"Don't give up Michelle! Just two more Shuriken!"
Riku called encouragingly as sheran by her friend in an arc. Micelle scowled at how Alison could be so optimistic at a time like this. Unsatisfied with her doppelgangers,Alison had resolved that each time her clones were slightly defective, she'd run fifty laps around the court before trying again. Michelle was starting to get reeeeally creeped out by her friend's similarity to Rock Lee and Gai, and half expected to see the redhead turn and use the nice guy pose any moment. Thankfully she didn't; just continued onward. Michelle was still trying to wrap her mind around the philosophy.
Running laps to get better at Genjutsu...
One of them was crazy.
And there was Alison, still running and smiling as she came in to pass around the blonde genin a second time.
Damn optimism. She would burn it...as soon as she could move her arms.
"Shinja-sensei says that we have to meet at the gate."
Kai said, approaching Michelle as she carelessly tossed her remaining Shuriken at the nearby target that wasalready pockmarked with weapon holes. They missed, and went spinning off to thunk into the ground somewhere nearby. The blonde wanted to growl some snide comment at her teammate about throwing off her aim, but was too tired. She simply picked up her things and, slowly, followed him to the gate of the arena. Alison was there when they arrived, her bag shouldered and for once in her life, actually looking winded. Shinja was next to her, weapon slung across her shoulders in her trademark stance.
"Alright guys, good work today. Now for more on your mission-we'll all be meeting at the Hokage tower at seven sharp. Come fed, rested and preferably clean. Class dismissed."
Michelle was essentially silent on the walk home, more than content to stare at the sky and listen to Alison and Kai chat, with Shinja occasionally throwing in a comment.
Our first mission...
The blonde thought with a sigh, smiling ever so slightly. She was amazed she could find the strength to think and walk at the same time. Her excitement seemed to have eased her weary muscles ever so slightly, enough to let a single, exhilarating thought work it's way into her mind.
Whatever tomorrow would bring, she'd be able to face it as a real ninja now.
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End of chapter 12! Finally it's finished! Jeez, next time I take that long to update, someone stab me, please. Anyway, once again, commentary is welcome. The pole, "Would you read a sequel?" is still in effect, so let me know your thoughts on that, as well as bad-guy suggestions. KK, gotta go now! G'day all!