Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
It's been about five years since I first met Kenja sensei, and I am now sixteen. Ever since he first told me he would give me a name people would talk about, I knew my destiny lied with him. After we met, we ventured off north to his home town Hyogasenta. My life had suddenly felt worth living. While the town was small, and there were very few villagers, I felt overwhelmed. All the villagers had greeted me as if they knew me. I have never once had such a positive relationship like this with anyone, and at first, things felt weird. Kenja introduced me to his granddaughter, Korihana. Eventually, she became my first friend. Because Kenja had not given me my real name yet, everyone referred to me as Kokori for the moment. Kenja had let me sleep out in a small little shack that had no use till I came along. It wasn't much, but it was better than what I was use to…nothing.
Throughout the five years, Kenja had been talking to me about several things. He said that while the journey to getting my name would be tough, it would be worth it. For the first couple of weeks, Kenja had talked to me about the northern regions of the Land of Water. He talked about how poverty, and lack of protection had poisoned the region with hatred and greed. Many of the northerners, he said, blamed the Fourth Mizukage. Kenja explained that in the past, the current Daimyo of the Land of Water had lived in the northern parts of the land. However, after the Third Great Shinobi War, the daimyo had decided to move closer to the Hidden Mist Village as he would be in a safer location. Kenja then explained that the fourth Mizukage had just about abandoned the area and stopped all transportation, economic flow, and security from the area. Many believe it was because after the daimyo left, there was not much reason for people to travel around the north, however for those who live in the north, this decision was awful. After Kenja had told me of this, Kenja had started making me read a bunch of books, and said that before I get my real name, I must first work for it. At first I was unsure of the idea as I could not see, but then Kenja said that the scrolls had been etched with braille. I ended up learning how to read the language and eventually learned a lot about politics, money, management, and more. By the time the five years had passed, I had read every book Kenja had except one.
As morning rose, I slowly yawned as felt the cold air from the outside snow shock with the warm heat that the sunrise had reflected onto my face from the window. I sat up and rubbed my slow reacting face. As I stood, my body automatically stretched and I went along with it because it felt good.
After I got dressed, I sat back down and grabbed a plate that was on my nightstand. As I felt the steam rise from the food, I noticed that time was being wasted, and I quickly ate my breakfast. No matter the weather, Kenja had always brought me food and left it in the same place so I knew where it was.
When I finished, I walked over to the bookshelf where I grabbed the last of Kenja's books, and jumped on the bed. As I flipped open the cover, the first page said: "Kage." I flipped through the pages and read the book, I noticed that the book was comprised of several poems that described the word kage.
After reading about one fourth of the poems, Korihana jumped into the room and threw several snowballs at me. I expected this, as she had done this every day. When I heard her, I jumped up and listened till I heard one of the snowballs come close. Immediately I shifted my body and dodged. I then did the same with the other two, then grabbed the last one as it passed me, and threw it back at her. As she moved forward and jumped on my bed, I could tell I didn't hit her. Usually she'd scream, and get upset or something if I did.
Korihana made herself comfortable on my bed and looked up at me reading the poems, then said: "Don't you get tired of reading all these old dusty books?" I then replied: "No. Kenja has been nice to be, and if he asks me to read books, then I'll read books. Also, he said if I read them, I'll get my real name! Would you like to listen? Very well…Kage, great, powerful, kind…" After saying this, Korihana stood up and snatched the book out of my hand, then stuck her tongue out at me. She then grabbed a chop stick pretending that it was a pipe, and started acting like a "kage" while she paced back and forth reading the poems. She did so in an obnoxious accent that I knew was probably her interpretation of how I sound. After listening to her for a second, I snatched the book back and turned. "Well, let me finish this last book, then I'll be done." As I read the poems to her, she played with something that I could not identify, but was probably the chopstick, insinuating that she was not paying any attention to the poems.
After about an hour, I finished and closed the book. I then walked back to the bookshelf and slid the book back in place. I then clapped my hands together. "Ahh, finally done." As I clapped my hands, I heard Korihana move and assumed that she must have slept through the whole thing. When I turned to her, she jumped up in excitement, then ran up to me and grabbed my hand. "OH since you're done, you want to come down to the forest and face me in target practice again?!" I stood there for a second, then turned and headed back to the bed. "Pff nah, that stuff is too easy." After saying this, Korihana opened the door and turned. "Well, I guess your brain has finally accepted the fact that I am better than you. After all, I have won three times in a row already." As she stuck her tongue out at me, I turned around and replied: "Hm, alright then. We'll see who wins this time!" As Korihana and I raced down to the pine forest, we continued arguing to each other over who would win.
When we finally got down to the forest, Korihana set up the targets on the trees and I went first. Because I couldn't see, Korihana gave me the distance and height of the target so I could measure out in my head how to throw it and in what direction. As I threw my final kunai knife, I could hear Korihana snicker in the background, meaning that I did not do as well as I planned.
"Well well well Kokori…seems you got three bull's-eyes, and you missed the last two." As I stood aside to let Korihana have a go at it, I knew the worst was coming…she's not going to let this one go. Korihana has been classified by the village as a prodigy in the arts of ninja tools, and could hit a bull's eye on a target from a mile away. Seeing her hit all five targets just now only proved this. "Hahaha I win!" As she skipped around me teasingly, she patted my back and said: "Good luck next time loser!"
Just then both Korihana and I heard a boom, and Korihana said that smoke was coming from the village. Immediately we both dashed up the snowy hill towards the village. As we ran up to the top, my heart pounded and all I could think was to hope that it wasn't another raid. As we got up to the village, Korihana gasped and told me that it WAS a raid. The village was swarming with robbers and bandits. Kenja, who many in the village had considered the "leader" of the town, tried to keep all the women and children safe, but as he was protecting them, a robber came up to him and started attacking him. When Korihana had saw this, she grabbed the last of the daggers that we were practicing with, and threw it at the robber. However, the robber dodged the dagger and grabbed it in midair. He then smirked at Kenja and said: "Give us all your women, and I'll let you live old man!" Kenja refused. "I would die before I let you harm any of the village people!"
Just then, the robber nodded his head and said. "Well then, I guess we can arrange that!" As the robber raised the dagger over Kenja's head, Korihana screamed for him to stop. However, the robber ignored her, and striked down at Kenja with the dagger.
As the dagger hit Kenja in the arm, he yelled in pain and a tear had fallen from my useless eyes. However…even though I have cried several times in my life, this was the first time that I did not cry for myself…
As the robber noticed that he did not kill Kenja, he slid the dagger out of Kenja's arm and raised the dagger again. "This is it old man! Now you die!" Just then, my body reacted and I could not stop it. I started forming hand signs…horse…serpent…dog…as I finished, I could feel a rush of energy through my body. "Ice Style…Ice Prison!" As I touched the ground, ice popped out from the ground and rushed at the robber. Before he knew it, he was frozen solid in a block of ice. When the robbers saw this, they jumped on their horses, and ran as fast as they could. Most of the robbers that come by usually don't know jutsu, and that was probably the case with these ones.
When they left, Korihana ran over to Kenja and the rest of the town stared at me shockingly. After the village medics taped up Kenja's arm, Korihana helped him up and he stared at me. "Kokori…you know jutsu?!" I stood alone awkwardly, and slowly nodded and Kenja walked over to me. As he came closer I wasn't sure whether this was a good thing or a bad thing. My heart pounded as Kenja stood in front of me, then immediately Kenja embraced me as he said. "Thank you so much Kokori! You saved me!" I slowly hugged Kenja back and cried a little. "I'm so glad you're alright!"
As the day died down, and the villagers had finished fixing the village, a villager walked into my room and told me that Kenja wanted to see me. When I got into his room, Kenja told me to sit, and I did. "Kokori…I have been contemplating for a while now on whether or not you were the right person for my plan…" As I watched Kenja, I asked him what his plan was, and he responded: "Kokori…the Hidden Mist village has ignored us for too long. This town has been raided too many times…we've lost too many wonderful people because of it, and, this isn't just in our town." Kenja then sat up. "The whole northern part of the Land of Water has been experiencing the kind of pain and suffering just like us. The lack of support from the ninja village, and the lack of business in these parts are the reason why. I have been talking with the village elders from this town and the other ones surrounding. And, we have decided that we are seceding from the Land of Water." I looked up just then, and started paying more attention, then I said: "Secession...?" And Kenja replied: "Yes. However, because the town has no ninja, we have been questioning whether it was a good idea. Even if we are able to secede from the Land of Water, there's no telling if the Hidden Mist will use force to gain our land back." Kenja then put his hand on my shoulder. "But…today you showed me that we DO have ninja. Kokori, you know jutsu! And, while one ninja still isn't enough, you could teach others what you know, and eventually, we could have enough to support ourselves!" Kenja then stood up and paced around. "Have you ever wondered why I made you read all of those books?...The plan the other elders and I have been thinking is to appoint a leader, or "Kage" that will protect our village, and all the ones around the Northern part of the Land of Water. However, I've been thinking that having a younger, more resilient leader would be much better, and that's why I have been making you read those books. At first, I thought that you may not have the strength to do this, however, with you Jutsu, you are the perfect candidate for the job. You've got the skills, the knowledge, and the strength! So…I ask you now. The name I have been waiting to give you is requires a lot of sacrifice, and leadership. However, I believe that after all of the knowledge you have gained, and with your jutsu, you CAN be our leader." Kenja then grabbed my hand and smiled at me. "Kokori…will you accept my request as being the first Kage for our villages?