Chapter 2
Kakashi led them to a barren, rocky land where he usually taught his students. There, he made Asuka sit on a boulder and held up a metal that looked like a small, many-sided star.
"This is a shuriken," he said. "And you throw it like this," demonstrates how to use it. "Now you try it," hands the shuriken to Asuka.
Asuka took the shuriken and threw it the way Kakashi had taught her.
He raised an eyebrow. Fast learner, he thought. Pointing to a protruding rock, he said, "Hit that with your shuriken."
It took three tries but Asuka managed to hit it. Kakashi taught her how to use the dagger after that and then the katana wherein Asuka protested that she knows how to use it and that led to an argument.
"I'm telling you," she said, raising her chin a notch, "I know how to use it."
"Don't start your fancy, princess-of-the-palace act on me. It's impossible for a ten year old to fully know how to use a katana," he argued.
I'm 16, damn it! Aloud, she said, "If you really don't believe me, then I challenge you to a fight."
His brow furrowed. "You're challenging me but you have no katana of your own?"
She raised an eyebrow. "You have an extra one. Else, you wouldn't bring up the subject."
He threw a sheathed katana towards her. "You're quite clever, young lady."
"Hah!" she said, catching the katana. "I'm not just QUITE clever. I'm VERY clever. Papa said so," she thought to add.
"Papa's girl," he taunted, pulling out his katana.
"I ain't!" starts attacking him.
He blocked her attack and starts retaliating. "So where's your papa, baby girl?"
She smirked, seeing an opening. "He's at home, wooing my mama," she said. "Opening on your right side," she sang and hits him with the broad side of her katana.
Kakashi blinked. He did allow an opening, a very small one. One not so easily detected yet she found it. Not only that, even her hit was controlled. Not the usual hit of one trying to best the other but the playful hit of one who knows the limitation of her sword.
"Convinced?" she asked, smiling. For a moment, Kakashi thought he saw a sixteen-year-old smiling teasingly up at him but when he blinked his eyes, he only saw Asuka patiently waiting for his answer.
"Whatever you say," he dismissed. "Want something to eat before we start the second part of your training?"
"Second part? Would that be the techniques?" she asked excitedly.
"Hai," he replied.
"Then you'd teach me how to multiply myself like Naruto-kun does?"
He nodded. "Among others."
"Yappo!" she shouted jumping up and down.
They went through town and stopped to eat at a ramen house. The two were chatting amiably, sitting across each other, when Kakashi saw two black-haired kids entering the ramen house and heading towards them. He turned to look at Asuka.
"Asuka-san," he said.
"Nani?" she asked blinking at the tone of his voice and wondering why he was so serious.
"Do you promise to do whatever I say?" he asked.
She frowned wondering what the hell was wrong. "Hai," she promised.
"Good. Don't turn around 'til I tell you to."
The two kids stopped just behind Asuka. One was wearing a purple cap and trench coat and his face was wrapped with bandages with only one red eye visible. He was carrying something wrapped with bandages over his right shoulder. The other was also wearing a trench coat but in red color and dark tinted glasses with very wide lenses that completely covered both his eyes. He was carrying a black umbrella over his left shoulder.
Kakashi looked up at the two kids. "What do you two want?" he asked the two.
The one with dark glasses spoke up. "We're here for Inoue Asuka," he said.
"And what do you want from her?" Kakashi threw back.
"That means we're on the right track," Bandagedface said softly.
Asuka's hands fisted and she glared at the beef at the ramen as though willing it to live just so she can kill it again.
Kakashi saw her clenched hands and wondered at her reaction to the strangers.
Darkglasses said, "We have orders to—"
Bandagedface nudged him and Darkglasses fell silent. "I am Uchiha Kira and this is my brother, Gentensumaru. His Majesty, Hotohori sent us here to watch over his hard-headed and stubborn daughter," Bandagedface said.
Kakashi turned to Asuka. "Asuka, do you know these young lads?"
Asuka exhaled and said without sparing the two kids a look. "Hai. Go away, Kira and Gentensumaru, I can take care if myself just fine. Ite!"
"Take care of yourself, my foot," laughed Gentensumaru, "you can't even beat Hikitsu in a fight."
She turned to the Gentensumaru and shouted angrily, "Why don't you shut your trap, Genten-kun no baka!"
So much for diplomacy, thought Kakashi, what a temper.
"Whoa! Calm down, young lady," Kira said, taking a seat.
Asuka glared at Kira angrily. "Don't you dare give orders to me," she hissed angrily, "I'm your superior."
"For the moment, we're older than you," Kira said calmly, "Didn't His Majesty ever teach you to respect your elders?"
"Urusei," she said sulkily.
Kira turned to Gentensumaru and said, "I'm starting to love this work."
Genetensumaru just laughed.