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Chapter 4
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"You know...I am now very unsure I should have helped you..." I said not looking up from my book.
"Hm." Sasuke just sat beside me, still eating. "I can only get away when you're nearby, don't know why, don't care why." Sasuke said not even looking at me.
"I am pretty sure it has to do with the fact everyone, and I mean everyone, thinks we're dating. Naruto was pissed last time he heard this. That's why he tried to kick your ass in today's lesson."
"That dope can't ever beat me."
"That dope is my little brother so don't insult him."
"Not like you're that much older than hi-ow!"
"I said don't insult him." I opened my book again after hitting Sasuke with it. "Also, go away. I can't enjoy my afternoon reading if you're here."
"You're always reading."
"There's always something new to learn."
"What do you even read?"
"Just a bit of everything."
"A bit...You have a different book every day."
"A bit of everything. Ninjutsu, taijutsu, battle tactics, survival methods, medical knowledge, shinobi tools, bingo books, things like that. If I think it might have some use to me, I read it. I wanted to Fuuinjutsu, but I can't since we have to be genin before then."
"Fuuinjutsu?"
"It's off limits to civilians except for those who are in a clan or are children of shinobi. Considering my parents were shinobi, but I'm an orphan. I don't have access to it. I'm actually quite interested, but I have to wait until graduating."
"They won't make an exception?"
"No exceptions. My parents were the only shinobi of their family, I'm not part of a clan or anything, so I'm stuck waiting until I'm a genin."
"Why can't you learn Fuuinjutsu as a civilian?"
"It's dangerous. The most common you know of is sealing a kunai or weapon in a scroll. The more advance ones are dangerous to use and without proper guidance it can end in explosions and such."
"Hm..."
"It sucks, while I wouldn't actually practice, I would like to read about it. It seems interesting."
"How is that?"
"Well, I want to figure out how to make my own explosive tags and seals. There are many things I want to use seals for that I think would be useful."
"Hm."
"Plus...Aside from being intelligent, I'm not very good physically or all that good of a fighter. I want to make use of my brains so I want to at least try Fuuinjutsu. If I can master it, then I'll have something up my sleeve."
"Not...that good of a fighter...?" Sasuke looked at me with a weird look on his face. "You...do realize you're the only one in our year who can match me, right?"
"Hm, I guess." I leaned back against the tree we were sitting under. "Still, when we get older...you'll eventually outmatch me physically. I want something I can specialize in." I got another weird look from Sasuke. "You...boys, seriously! Any famous shinobi has a nickname based on their strongest trait or ability! If I get a nickname, I want it to be something I can have pride in!"
"H...Haah..."
"Besides, I don't like my current nickname...Demonic Flower Fukushima Misaki. It sounds totally lame. I only got the nickname because it was spring when I went wild for the first time...ugh...I still can't believe I had a bunch of flower petals stuck in my hair..."
"Pff..."
"Don't laugh at me you jackass!"
"Want to spar?"
"...Fine, but if I win, you're leaving me alone at lunch from now on. I really want my solidarity."
Sasuke and I aren't friends, but we're also friends at the same time...if that makes sense. Well, I am pretty sure he only tolerates me and finds me a suitable target and person to deal with compared to our...rather immature classmates. I was the only girl amongst our schoolmates that doesn't give a damn about his looks or status. Not my type, not now and...probably not for another 15 years. I'm not into kids even if my appearance is that of a child. I like men!
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I stared at the two groups of girls who were arguing and facing off one another. Sasuke sat beside me, but he was looking away as if it doesn't matter to him. I listened to Sasuke's fangirls shout at my fangirls how I had stolen Sasuke from them while my fangirls were defending me saying that there was no way I would have an interest in someone like Sasuke. I felt a bit bad about it...since Ino and Sakura were involved and they're best friends! However, I'm so glad...Naruto was skipping or he might just antagonize both groups into directing their hate towards him.
"You do know we have to do something, right?" I questioned unsure of what to do.
"Hm."
"You bitch!"
"Ow!"
"That's enough!" I stood up, slamming my hands on the table. Both group of girls looked at me startled, while everyone in the classroom who was watching turned their attention to me. "Do not harm one another over such an argument!"
"B-But..."
"Seriously." I walked up to the girl who harmed one of my fangirls. I lifted her chin up with my fingers and she stared up at me with wide eyes. "You think Sasuke-kun and I belong to yourselves, but we are our own people. Who we choose to love is not your concern."
"B-But..."
"Love isn't just about pleasant feelings of being adored or loved. A real adult can handle the bad feelings that come with it along with the burning jealousy or hate for the person who gained your beloved's affection. If you can't handle it like a real woman, then grow up you pathetic little girl!"
"S-So cool...!"
"Misaki-san!"
"Kyaahhh!"
"L-Let go...!"
"I'm a bit tempted to teach you how you should act, a little punishment?" I smiled innocently and I saw her face become red...the same with any girl watching. "Maybe I should take that first kiss you were saving for your first love?"
"N-No...!"
"I'm very..." I moved my face closer until our lips were just centimeters apart. "...tempted, my dear."
"H-Hwaaahh...!"
"...?" I stared at her when she sudden fainted with a bright red face. Her friends were quick to catch her when she fell and I released a snort. I rested a hand beneath my chin, a grin on my face. "If you can't handle that level of teasing, then you really are a child."
"Misaki-san, please do me too!"
"Me as well, Misaki-kun!"
"Gomenasai, I don't like the thought of messing with such cute and pure hearts like that. While I might treat you all kindly, I feel I cannot return your affections since my preferences are towards men."
"It's fine!"
"Yeah! Misaki-kun is just so cool!"
"That's right!"
"Really...?" I felt a little confused, but I smiled at them all the same. "I'm very much sure in the future you will all have a nice man or woman who will love you with all their hearts."
"So cool!"
"Misaki-kun!"
"M-Misaki-san! Please take my first kiss!"
"Mine as well!"
"Hm...I'm afraid that kind of thing I should never do. You should share it with someone who returns your affection in full. That way you have a nice memory instead of simply giving it to your first crush you know would never return your affection."
"Kyaahhh!"
"She's just so cool!"
My fangirls squealed, circling around me and I wondered...if this accounts to the 'manliness' everyone says I have. Since classes already ended, I was going to go off on my own...but I dragged Sasuke with me since my fangirls 'support' my love...or what they think my love is. Sasuke didn't seem to mind or care, considering his fangirls were very much weary of me and didn't want to get within 10 feet of me.
"Were you seriously going to kiss her?" Sasuke asked on the way home.
"Not really. There's a way to trick a girl into thinking you kissed them. All I got to do is press my thumb against their lips." I explained.
"How does that work?"
"First you place the hand on the side of the neck with the fingers behind the ear." I reached out, doing so. "Then you merely press the thumb against the lips rather than my own when my face is close enough." I leaned forward and I pressed my thumb against his lips, I kissed my own thumb instead and I pulled away. "See?"
"..." Sasuke was looking at something behind me. "You should...probably deal with that."
"Deal with what?" I turned around to see a shell shocked Naruto. "Oh, Naruto."
"Y-You and the teme...N-Nooo!"
"What's wrong?"
"Why did you kiss him?!"
"We didn't kiss."
"I saw you two!"
"I was showing him how a fake kiss works."
"Liar!"
"..." I stalked towards Naruto and I began pulling his cheeks. "Liar, you say? Have I ever lied to you, Naruto? We didn't kiss, you know. Don't go saying strange things."
"Wwaaaaiiiirrrr!"
"I don't remember raising you to this way, I wonder where you got this bad behavior from."
"Iiiiwwwwwhuuuwusssttts!"
"I didn't kiss him, besides I prefer men older than I am by 10 to 15 years!" I released Naruto's cheeks and I shook my head. "You seriously know nothing from what I told you about my preferences."
"Your preferences are impossible. No way an adult would fall for a kid."
"What was that?!"
"Rrrrunnn aaaawwwaaaayyyy!"
"Uzumaki Naruto! Get back here this instant!"
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"Sakura-san, Ino-san, which one do you think would work out better, red, black, green, or maybe white?" I asked holding up several article of clothing.
"Green would clash with your hair and white would get dirty too easily!" Ino said putting those ones back for me.
"I see, as expected of the most fashionable girl in our year...So it's between red and black...I prefer if it has very little in black..." I muttered debating over the last few articles of clothing.
"I think red would be best for you. The obi can be black." Ino said picking up the red kimono.
"Ah, this one would be nice." Sakura said holding up a black obi with a simple red flower pattern at the bottom.
"I should wear some fishnet beneath the top and I want spandex as well..." I muttered picking up those as well.
"Do you know how to tie the knot for a kimono?" Ino asked glancing at me.
"Yeah, I learned from books and I did it a few times using Naruto as practice."
"You...put Naruto in a girl's kimono?!"
"Huh? No, I had him lend me his waist so I could learn how to do the knots."
"Heehh...I'm surprised he let you."
"Well, I did agree to let him paint his entire room orange..."
"What is up with all the orange anyways?"
"He really...really likes the color, don't go asking me why."
"Hurry up and change and I'll help you with your hair!"
"Thank you again for doing this, Sakura-san, Ino-san." I moved behind the curtain and I began changing. "This is our final year and I wanted to get used to wearing something more...feminine."
"Well you are a girl! So what kind of man do you have your eyes on?"
"Hm...older?"
"How old?"
"20 to 30 I guess..."
"You're a lot more mature than I thought!"
"M-Misaki-san, are you doing alright in there?"
"Huh, yeah, I'm having a little bit of difficulty with the sleeves. I got it now though."
"Okay..."
"So you don't want to date a girl your age?"
"Hm...That kind of thing is difficult to say. I don't have a problem with the idea, but I prefer men. I suppose I could go with a woman if they're my type and I care deeply about them."
"So what kind of thing did you want in a partner?"
"Someone strong, dependable, and...I suppose someone who will respect me as a whole. I don't want to hear a man say 'it's too dangerous so stay back'. I want them to see me as an equal."
"You're pretty cool, Misaki-chan!"
"C-chan?"
"Ino!"
"Ino-san..." I opened the curtain, now dressed in the short red kimono that ends at my thighs. I'm so glad I went with spandex underneath or I would have felt so uncomfortable. "Why do you use such a cutesy honorific for someone like me?"
"I knew it!"
"H-Huh?"
"You look absolutely great in that! Here, here, let's do your hair next!"
"Ah...Okay?"
"Let's do this...and this...then doing this..." I let her braid sections of my hair over my ears before pulling the rest of my hair into a high ponytail, the braids stuck in it and hanging amongst the other strands. "There! If you put in some cute accessories then you'll look even cuter! I recommend colors that match your kimono and obi. Oh, how about we go check out kanzashi together too?"
"No thank you..."
"Eeehhh?"
"Sakura-san, thank you for your help today. I'll just be getting this."
"Ah, alright."
"..." I stared at Sakura for a moment as she fiddled with some of her hair. I reached out, tucking her hair behind her ear. "You'll find someone special for you one day, so cheer up."
"But..."
"Sometimes the first crush never works out, that's why you should give up on someone you know will never return your affections and find someone else."
"But...What if I don't want to."
"...Give me another seven years and ask me again. I'm very immature too and it's best to wait until we're both adults." Physically for me anyways. "That's why you should always keep your options open instead of focusing solely on one person."
"...Okay..."
"Good girl."
I purchased my new outfit in a bulk while also picking up some other items that would be useful. Ino and Sakura left seeing as they finished their task of helping me pick out new outfits and I wanted to pick up some new kunai and shuriken before heading home. I felt a bit embarrassed dressed so...differently from how I usually look, but I felt a little happy because I can remind myself that I'm a girl. I only dressed in boy's clothing because it was cheaper than girl's and Naruto tended to dye my old clothing orange so he could wear it once I outgrew them. If we couldn't use them anymore, I tended to use unusable cloth into things Naruto would use in his pranks. Still, since this is our final year as students and we will obtain the chance to be genin, that means we'll have to support ourselves through missions and jobs instead of the usual allowances orphans get. I have to do my best to earn as much as possible and to ensure that Naruto can still eat the same as usual.
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Chapter 4 Ends
One more year before the start~! I got most things planned out, but don't expect any dramatic changes to the original story...well, not too many anyways. Misaki is very manly and I absolutely love how someone compared her to Sasame from Nukoduke! Nukoduke is among my favorite manga to read and I really wish in the future someone does an anime~! Welp, I got nothing more to add at this point in time so until next time my dearies~! Bye-bye~!