9
Age: 12
The next day, Ryou spent most of the afternoon in her room writing connections and trying to conclude what had really happened that fateful day when her family had been assaulted. It didn't make sense.
The furniture, the missing limb.
Who could've done such a thing?
She needed more information… She figured her next challenge would be to look at her father's enemies and do her own independent research on them.
She was so focused on her work that she didn't notice when Obito came bursting through her bedroom door.
"Ryou!" He said catching his breath. A wild expression on his face.
"Ryou! What did Shisui do to you?!" Obito said panicking as he rushed and shook her by the shoulders.
"Nothing. He took me to dinner, why?" she asked eyeing him warily.
"I knew it!" Obito shouted smacking his fist into his other empty palm.
"Knew what?" Ryou asked confused.
Obito took in a deep breath and sounding annoyed dropped over her massive King bed with 10 pillows. He raised his head with his eyes narrowed. "It was a couple of weeks ago, we were walking around the compound. And well, word gets around it's a small community you know? So you left and Shisui approached me asking who you were-"
"And what did you tell him?" Ryou said turning to face Obito from her chair, both of her eyes wide.
"I told him you were my friend." Obito scoffed.
"Hey, I didn't know you had it in you old dog. She's cute." Shisui had said elbowing Obito grinning.
"She's just my friend!" Obito snapped, feeling his face grow red.
"Sure." Shisui said obviously not convinced.
"I've seen her walking around here with you more than once. Doesn't look very 'friendly' to me." The older cousin began poking his younger cousin's cheek.
"Stop Shisui. She's just a friend." Obito said beginning to grow annoyed.
"Well lucky me then, you should introduce us." Shisui said with a playful wink.
"EHHHHHHHH?!" Obito was completely taken back.
"Shisui the Body Flicker", who at the age of 14 was already rumored to be the become the best Uchiha to ever live, wanted to meet his best friend. Obito didn't think it was a good idea.
"And what did he say?" Ryou asked now standing up.
"That he wanted to meet you." Obito finished.
"So how was last night then?" He asked throwing a pillow at the girl, who couldn't help but smile.
The week passed. Ryou hadn't seen Shisui since their date after he caught her breaking into the Uchiha Police department. She wondered if he took her out to obtain more information and then told on her. The thought of high rank ninja showing up to her house to take her to the Hokage for her punishment made her uneasy everyday. However, besides that she had spent countless hours every afternoon attempting to learn how to craft crystals from her father. He was about to leave on his first business trip since the incident with Ryou's mother and sister. She didn't want to worry him knowing that she would be fighting Kakashi today.
"Close your eyes." He said "And focus your chakra on both of your palms. Picture it leaving your body, shape it. Control it." He said in a hushed voice.
The father and daughter were currently working in the family basement. So far tiny shards had been able to leave Ryou's palms, but nothing major that could even bring harm to someone else. Atleast nothing greater than a scratch.
"It's so hard…" She sighed in defeat. "How do you do it dad?" She asked kicking a nearby rock in the crafting basement.
"Crystal making comes from a clear mind, and emotions. The more beautiful your feelings and thoughts…" He suddenly held a perfect crystal in his hands "The more beautiful your chakra gem." He said polishing it slightly.
"It's late… I think I'm going to call it a night. Remember clear mind, and good thoughts." And with that he was gone. Ryou wouldn't see him until 10 days from now.
That night she didn't sleep, barely making any progress in her crystal making. She was going to lose her fight in the afternoon. It was suddenly that the doorbell ringing echoed throughout the empty house. Ryou rubbing her tired eyes rushed up the stairs and opened the door where two older ninja were standing. They were both Jounin and she recognized them from being at the Hokage's office. She felt her body immediately tense up.
'Oh shit…'
Had Shisui snitch? Had the Uchiha clan's golden boy tattle told on her.
"Ryou Noa." One of them began.
The twelve year old girl had to look up to them.
"You have been summoned to the Hokage's summit." He continued. "I recommend you gather your hitai-ate protector and follow us. We will escort you."
Dread washed over her face. This was it. The major punishment and he was going to have her head for it.
She flashed the two ninja with stoic faces a nervous smile before following them to the Hokage's office.
And that's how Ryou's morning got started.
She felt so stupid. Shisui had seduced the information out of her and she had fallen for his trick. How foolish of her.
Kakashi's on the other hand you could say was rather…
Hard. Very hard.
His eyes shot up open. It took him a second, but he finally realized he was in his apartment alone, and caught his breath.
He didn't even want to think about his dream. He glanced down at the tent pitched in his bed and sighed even if he had just woken up he was already feeling exhausted. It was 7 in the morning and he was already a hot mess and it was all because of- her… It was always her. Haunting him.
That's how strong the powers she held over him were.
He turned to look at the three pictures of the girl in the wall, he needed to update it again. He secretly hoped the day wouldn't come because it would mean that Ryou had appeared on the newspaper again.
He hated being a teenager and not to be able to control his thoughts, his nature.
He shook his head. His body had began changing and he had noticed that so had hers. Her hips had started to become a little wider and her chest was barely developing. As much as he hated to admit it-he was a boy and he had thought of what she looked like naked. He shook his head at the idea.
Oh how he dreaded her existence….
Ryou stepped into the Hokage's office, her head help up high and her jaw clenched. Inside the office Saisho-sensei was standing in front of his father. And the Hokage was looking at her with a very serious expression. His face resting on both of his perched hands with a pensive look in his face.
"Ryou." He said very seriously.
"Yes, Sandaime?" she repeated in her strongest voice.
"You know why you're here, right?"
She swallowed the lump that had been growing on her throat expecting her punishment.
Meanwhile Kakashi warmed up at the training grounds. A small audience had already been forming which consisted on Obito, Rin, Asuma, Kurenai and honestly most of their old classmates.
Of course Obito couldn't keep his mouth shut and told everyone about his on going fight with Ryou. Eager to se the two geniuses clash, they had gathered for the spectacle.
Today would be the day he proved to himself that he was superior than some spoiled girl.
'Where was she, she was late? Very late.'
"Did she chicken out?" Genma asked Gai from the audience.
"Tsk.. You speak as if you didn't know Ryou." He retorted. "She'd never back out. And now more than she's finally going up against Kakashi."
Gai had a very bad feeling about this fight…
"Popcorn anyone?" Anko offered with a wide grin as she clutched her popcorn bag close to her.
It took a while longer but Ryou finally showed up. She came in running from the city and her fans began cheering.
"Don't tell me you overslept?" laughed Asuma.
Kakashi noticed immediately. And he began to feel felt his stomach churn in anger.
Her dark green vest…
"Are you kidding me?" she said with a wide grin. "I just got promoted to Jounin!" She said showing off her band new vest.
Everyone started congratulating her and cheering.
"Ryou." He said very seriously.
"Yes, Sandaime?" she repeated in her strongest voice.
"You know why you're here, right?"
She swallowed the lump that had been growing on her throat.
'BUSTED! Damn that Shisui….' She thought a scowl beginning to form on her features.
Ryou scanned the face on her sensei he looked almost upset. A sad smile showed on his face.
"No. I'm afraid I'm not." She said in one breath. Deciding to play dumb.
"Very well then…" The Hokage stood up. Ryou closed her eyes for a momenther career as a ninja was officially over…
"Congratulations!" her eyes shot open and jaw dropped in shock.
In front of her stood Saisho-sensei holding a Jounin vest just like his.
"You've been promoted to Jounin!" he said with the same sad smile. It took more than a moment for her brain to register what had just happened.
"Really?" She asked with a dumbfounded expression clearly surprised.
"Yes, Ryou." The Hokage began, "I was very impressed at the Chunin Exams and at the way you have developed tackling every adversity with strength and bravery."
Ryou couldn't help it, she jumped into her sensei's arms hugging him tightly. He hugged her tightly too. He was happy that the girl was actually showing more and more of her emotions.
"You will now be assigned more missions with a higher rank of ninja, and you will be replaced in Team Saisho by Raido Namiashi."
This was the last string. Kakashi felt he should've been promoted first. Why was she promoted? Because she tricked some stupid girl into thinking some papers were bombs?
"Enough. I've been waiting enough." He barked, jealousy dripping from every word.
"Eager aren't we Hatake?" she flashed him a cocky smirk.
The battle began and Kakashi wasted no time in attacking her. She was actually a little taken back by the pure look of hatred that he held in his eyes and the way he fought- he really had the intent to hurt her.
His Taijustsu was better than hers by far, but she was faster thanks to her training with Gai. So far he was wining and Ryou felt breathless. She took an opportunity to do a back handspring and when her hands were on the floor she placed some smoke bombs there. To her disadvantage Kakashi was faster than her previous opponent Hana and he kicked her straight in the jaw making her lose her balance.
in defense Ryou kicked one of her legs managing to push him again just in time for the smoke bomb to go off.
Kakashi found himself coughing in the middle of the smoke, he attempted to focus all his senses on finding the girl, and he did. He sprinted towards where he heard she had been standing, but failed to find her. Instead he was greeted by a fist buried straight to his kidney and a knee to his face.
"Quit hiding in the smoke!" he said as another smoke bomb went off. He suddenly heard the sound of some metal clanking and just in time blocked several shuriken headed his way.
"I can't see!" some of the girls in the audience complained.
"I don't even know who to cheer for…" said Rin to Obito in a worried tone.
"For Ryou of course!" He boasted with a broad grin.
The smoke soon cleared out and Kakashi found himself surrounded by a wide circumference of white paper.
Ryou was having a hard time catching her breath.
"I'll only warn you once. The white papers are bombs. If I were you I wouldn't step any further." She warned him.
"Have you ran out of new tricks? I already know this one." He scoffed.
Grabbing a kunai knife he swiftly tossed it in the middle of the paper circle and he wasn't surprised when it didn't explode.
"I'm warning you." Ryou said bracing herself for attack.
Kakashi began sprinting and his eyes widened as the ground under him blew up. He felt the heat burn his skin.
About a dozen bombs went off several people in the audience gasped. Even Ryou was concerned for his safety. Her eyes were knitted as she tried to see him through the smoke.
"Behind you!" She reacted just in time to dodge his kunai knife which made a shallow cut on her arm. She ducked and saw part of his clothes had burnt. She didn't want to have to pull out her knife. Instead she looked at the clone in front of her. It didn't smell like Kakashi…
'A replacement,' she thought stabbing it straight through the chest. It poofed into a log. Ryou looked at her surroundings there was no sign of Kakashi up, left, right, unless… It was too late a pair of hands stuck from underneath and pulled her underground so only her head was showing.
"This is it!" He shouted raising up his leg high ready to kick her head. He was going to smash it like a pumpkin. Ryou closed her eyes tightly and Kakashi's foot came down. He grunted at the impact of the kick, her head was as hard as a rock. Wait-it was. Another replacement. Now he had no idea where she was and it could be dangerous.
"Hey!" he turned and saw Ryou clearly standing in the field. She held two shuriken in her hand a plastered smirk on her face.
He braced himself to attack.
"Hey!" Another one spoke from behind him.
"Hatake!" Suddenly another one, and another one.
"Over here!" Suddenly surrounding him where about a dozen of Ryou clones. 'Shadow clone? But that's impossible!' He thought with both of his dark eyes wide. Suddenly all of them started moving in different directions, interacting with each other rotating in figures.
"Ryou may not know shit about genjutsu," Asuma began with his arms crossed.
"But using such a basic move like this with speed. It's good enough to fool anyone." He said with a smirk.
'He had to figure the odd one out… But there was no possible way of knowing…' He saw that all the clones were taunting him and they all threw the two shuriken his way. His eyes shut tightly and feeling the impact of the shuriken on his side without even looking he threw 3 knifes that way.
Hearing the sound of a painful grunt he looked up to see the girl holding her lower abdomen where a knife had hit her.
The fight continued and the gathered crowd was on their last nerves the fight just had finish. It couldn't go on for forever, even if seemed like hours had passed.
"Kakashi… we have to stop." Ryou said panting her breathing heavy as she rested her dirty palms on her knees.
"Is that you giving up?" He retorted through ragged breaths.
"Of course not." She growled.
She quickly clapped her hands together and began focusing chakra into her palms. She had to craft a crystal…
He took this opportunity and sprinted towards her a kunai knife on his right hand. 'Come on!' Ryou thought as sweat built on her brow, her stomach was churning in anxiety. It was too late, Kakashi was too close.
In that split second he saw their relationship through hard eyes. She had always over-shadowed him, humiliated him. She laughed at him. She was responsible for everyone still whispering about him in the streets. Nobody would acknowledge him as anything else other than Sakumo Hatake's son, Konoha's White Fang's son, the shamed traitor of the Leaf village's shameful, dishonorable son.
It would never stop as long as she overshadowed him, but it was all about to end.
He would be number one again and nobody would stand in his way.
Out of instinct she raised both of her hands and gripped onto his shoulder's tightly in an attempt to push him away. It was then that she felt a piercing pain stab through her stomach. A cough escaped her mouth and blood slowly dripped down the edge of her bottom lip. He had stabbed her.
It was over. He looked at her pain expression through the eyes of a cold killer.
She felt the knife cut her inside in excruciating pain. She took in a deep breath and looked into his pained eyes. She had never been so close to him.
For the first time, she saw the despair and loneliness that he had to bear with and she almost felt sorry for him.
Just almost.
She slowly removed her palms from his shoulders and saw they were stained with blood.
"W-What?!" She flipped her palms over and saw that two sharp, light green, crystals about three inches long had grown.
He saw something in her eyes too, but he couldn't pin point what it was. It was then that he placed a hand on her shoulder for support. She saw he looked down with both of his eyes wide and pulled his hand and the knife away from her stomach.
Feeling a burning sensation on his stomach.
He was shocked to see a massive crystal that measured about a foot in length and five inches in diameter had pierced his torso as well. Her body began shaking. She looked down and for the first time felt that massive stalagmite like crystal that had shot out from her lower torso in self defense. It had pierced her clothing and had dug itself in her opponents.
She had no words. It must've been a sight. Both of them stabbing each other violently. At least it wasn't in the back...
The shriek became stuck in her throat. She felt the adrenaline rushing trough her veins and panic cloud her mind. There was so much blood. She looked at her hands and at him.
How had she cast that crystal? How could she control this?
Horrified screams erupted from the crow of Genin. He collapsed to his knees bringing her down with his weight. The crystal suddenly turned dull and easily broken apart into shards as both collapsed to the ground. "Gah!" She coughed more blood as she clenched onto her wound tightly. He did the same.
"What... What have I done?" He uttered weakly not meeting her eyes.
"Kak..." She struggled to speak. Her vision was becoming blurry from the internal bleeding.
"What have I done!" He repeated.
Suddenly Asuma was on her side. He was barking out orders. Gai was getting ready to carry one of them to the hospital. Rin was doing her best to minimize the wounds. Kurenai was instructing everyone to either help or get help.
Then, everything went dark...