Yay! More reviews! Reviews equal a very happy Midori and friends. Anyway, I thank everyone who reviewed, and so do Nami and Kyoko! Enjoy this chapter! And don't worry, there will be more villains (Hm...there aren't really ANY right now, huh?) in later chapters. But first, we must meet the sensei! Enjoy!
IMPORTANT...WELL, SORT OF: Just a heads up for the readers who don't like reading Japanese or English jutsu or both...I'm going to put Japanese for all the jutsu (is plural jutsu or jutsus?) I know like "Kage Bunshin" or "Kawarimi" and English for the jutsu (or jutsus, whatever it is) that I make up. Sadly, the only Japanese/English Dictionary I have is a really crappy one and I don't know Japanese. If there are any complaints, just say so in your review. Thank you!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
The next day was bright and sunny, the perfect day for an orientation. Midori, who had gotten up first out of the two, was already dressed and ready for the orientation. She put on the necklace she had made out of the Hikari Suishou (crystal) around her neck, strolled to the next door that was beside her room and knocked. Opening the door, her eyes widened.
The room was slightly messy from open scrolls and such, and there were needles spread out in one corner. Asleep on her bed was Shimizu Kyoko. Her face was buried in her pillow and her blanket had half-fallen off the bed.
Midori sped to the room across from the two others and peeked in. Her eyes trailed upwards, following the pillow fort Nami seemed to construct last night. Nami, however, was no where to be found. Midori started to dig through the numerous pillows. "How did she get so many pillows?!" Midori said aloud.
Suddenly, a hand shot out of the clouds of pillows, scaring Midori half to death.
"AIE!" Midori shrieked, falling backwards.
Nami's head popped out of the pillows, her hair stuck to the side in an odd fashion. She yawned and smacked her lips loudly. "What time is it?" she yawned.
"Almost time for the orientation, that's what!" Midori exclaimed, jumping right back up. "Geez! You trying to kill me or something?"
Nami shrugged and looked around, blinking sleepily. "Hey…you messed up my pillow fort."
THUMP.
"Get dressed," Midori said, annoyed.
Nami took off the pillow that had been launched at her face and smiled lopsidedly. "Okay, okay."
Midori moved back into Kyoko's room, silently stepping over the slight mess. Looks like someone's been doing their homework. How unlike her, Midori though, amused. She poked her friend. "Hey, Kyoko. Wake up."
Kyoko shifted in her sleep, but showed no signs of waking up.
"Kyoko!" Midori pulled the blanket off of the sleeping girl.
Kyoko didn't budge.
"KYOKO!" Midori started to drag Kyoko off her bed. "WAKE UP!"
THUMP.
She fell backwards, completely pulling Kyoko off the bed. Breathing heavier, Midori put on an irritated face. "You…"
Nami appeared in the room, dressed, and clean. She had one of her pillows with her. She raised the pillow high and—
WHAP! WHAP! WHAP!
"WAKE UP, SLEEPING UGLY!"
WHAP! WHAP! WHAP!
"OW! OW! OW! I'M UP! I'M UP!" Kyoko cried, covering her head. "Stop it!"
Nami ceased. "Can't get up, Kyoko? Wasn't it you who said that stayed up all night?"
"Why you…" Kyoko grumbled bad-temperedly.
"Hey Kyoko, the orientation's in a few minutes," Midori said. "You have to get ready."
"Yeah…yeah…" Kyoko sighed, standing up slowly. "I'll meet you guys there. I don't wanna make you late."
"Fine," Midori said. "We'll see you, then."
Nami and Midori left the apartment.
"So…do you think the Rookie Nine will like us?" Midori asked. "It would be good to make friends with them…"
"Too late," Nami said nonchalantly, latching her hands behind her head and walking aloofly. "I had a run-in with Sasuke-baka yesterday."
"Oh no…you didn't," Midori said, sounding completely horrified.
"Don't worry, I didn't make it obvious that I knew that he was a hotshot traitor," Nami said. "But we're not exactly on good terms."
Midori sighed. "Geez…you make this a lot harder than it has to be…"
"Hey, it's no fun if everyone likes everyone," Nami pointed out.
"Whatever."
The girls came to the academy and walked into Iruka's classroom. Iruka hadn't arrived yet, and it seemed that Naruto was just now inspecting Sasuke closely.
Uh oh…Midori thought. She glanced at Nami from the corner of her eye. "Nami…you wouldn't…"
Nami had a devilish grin on her face. She walked over inconspicuously behind Naruto, the fox boy unsuspecting. Closing her eyes and planting a smile on her face, she breathed in and said, er, screamed, "HEY NARUTO!"
"Wha—" Naruto, surprised; fell forward, right smack into none other than the great Uchiha himself!
"What the—" Sakura, who had been standing off to the side with every other girl in the classroom (besides Hinata, that is) stood in shock.
The two boys broke contact, choking on their own saliva.
"GAH!" Naruto spat.
"BLEH!" Sasuke said, clutching his neck. Once he had spat a fair amount of liquid from his mouth and cleaned off his tongue, he looked at Nami hatefully. "You…you planned that, didn't you?!"
"I did no such thing," Nami said pleasantly.
Sasuke had revenge written all over his face. "What's your problem, huh? I barely know you and you're on my case!"
"What're you talking about?!" Nami said furiously. "You're the one on my case!"
Meanwhile, Naruto was trying to escape the fury of the fangirls.
"Gangway!" Naruto shouted. "I wanted to be chased by girls, but no like this!"
"Get back here, Naruto!"
"Yeah! Be a man!"
"REVENGE!"
"HOW DARE YOU KISS SASUKE!"
"It wasn't my faaaaauuullt!"
Midori stepped to the side as Naruto and the mob of girls ran out the door. She sighed. "Nami…why did you do that?" she muttered, slapping her forehead.
Minutes later…
Nami had found a spot next to Ino on the edge of the bench. Midori had sat next to Kiba who had greeted her with a toothy grin. Kyoko had gladly sat next to Shino, giving him the 'victory' sign and a cheesy smile.
"Good morning everyone," Iruka smiled. "Today you're all considered genin. You aren't academy students anymore, therefore, I won't be teaching you. Instead, you will be grouped up into teams of three according to your skills and will be trained under the supervision of a jounin sensei whom you will meet tomorrow. But today, you will be told which groups you're placed in." He looked around the room. There are those girls…they actually came.
The girls waited patiently for their names to be called. Team Three…Team Four…Team Five…
Nami sighed, resting her cheek on her propped-up hand. "C'mon, sensei…"
"I hope I get in the same group as Sasuke-kun," Ino said quietly.
"Huh?" Nami said.
"Oh, you must not know him," Ino whispered. She pointed at Sasuke. "See him? He's Uchiha Sasuke, and he—"
"We've already met," Nami said.
"Isn't he the dreamiest guy you've ever met?"
"Not really," Nami said.
Ino was shocked. Shaking her head quickly she said, "You probably didn't get to know him! He's actually totally hot and talented and…" she continued.
Nami tuned her out.
"How troublesome…" Shikamaru sighed.
"Tell me about it, Shik."
"Shik?" Shikamaru raised an eyebrow.
"Yep. Like it?"
"Uh…"
"Team Seven: Uzumaki Naruto," Iruka announced. "Haruno Sakura…"
"YEAH!" Naruto cheered.
"Oh…" Sakura groaned.
"And Uchiha Sasuke."
"YES!" Sakura squealed.
"Aw…" Naruto sighed.
Midori smiled, amused. Poor Naruto…
Ino had a completely disappointed look on her face, and Sakura giving her the victory sign didn't soften her anger. "Gr…"
"Team Eight, Hyuuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, and Aburame Shino."
"I don't get you," Shikamaru said to Ino. "Why do all the girls like Sasuke anyway? He's not so special."
"Hmph," Ino said. "Shows what you know, Shikamaru. I'd hate to be on your team."
"Team Ten…Yamanaka Ino…Nara Shikamaru…"
"What?!" Ino gasped.
"Heh. Did you say that you'd hate to be on my team?" Shikamaru said, obviously amused.
"…And Akimichi Chouji."
Not him too! Ino thought, clearly in distress.
"Tough break, huh?" Nami said, patting her on the shoulder with fake sympathy.
"Oh…"
"How could this happen?" Ino muttered. "What awful luck!"
As Iruka continued, Kyoko was sure her team would come next. Team Eleven…no…
"Team Twelve, Shimizu Kyoko…"
Kyoko's head perked up at the sound of her name.
"Hikari Midori…"
Team Twelve, huh? Midori thought.
"And Kawa Nami."
"It's about time, sensei!" Nami remarked.
"And you three are the last ones too," Iruka said. "So, everyone, think about your teammates, get to know them, and chow down for lunch!"
The students filed out of the classroom, the three girls walking together.
"Who's up for catching a glance at Naruto beat up Sasuke?" Nami whispered as the raven-haired Uchiha passed them without a bat of the eye. "I got a new camera yesterday…" She pulled a camera from behind her back.
"Could you be even crueler?" Kyoko said with disgust.
Nami lowered her head.
"But I'm in, I can't miss it!" Kyoko said excitedly.
Nami laughed. "Now that's what I like to hear!"
"I'd go, but I have some other stuff to do," Midori said.
"Like train with Neji and his team again?" Nami said, annoyed. "And that's another thing! I could've met Lee! That would've rocked. But no. You didn't want that to happen, did you?!"
"Dramatic, aren't you?" Midori said, slightly amused. "Sorry, but if you wanna meet someone, you have to leave that…to the ties of fate." And she ran off.
"Feh. Neji follower," Nami mumbled. She turned to Kyoko. "So wanna eat some ramen before we go? I think there's some time."
"Sure!"
The girls had spent another quarter of their money on Ichiraku Ramen, happily slurping up the tasty noodles.
"There's no ramen like Ichiraku!" Kyoko declared.
Old man Teuchi chuckled fondly. "Why thank you. What was your name again, miss?"
"That's Kyoko!" Kyoko said, stuffing some more noodles into her mouth.
"Well, Kyoko-kun, I like your taste. You're just like one of my other favorite customers…"
"Oh really?" Kyoko said.
"Yep. If you two were to get together to eat ramen, I'd be a rich man."
"Well, where I'm from, we have some pretty crappy ramen," Kyoko said. "Compared to this!"
Teuchi laughed whole-heartedly. "Well aren't you sweet!"
"Hey, Kyoko, you're taking way too long," Nami said. "I'm gonna go now."
"But—"
Nami had already gone off.
Kyoko's eyes started watering animatedly. "WHY DO THEY ALWAYS LEAVE ME LIKE THIS?!" She started to slurp her noodles while sniffling. As she wiped her eyes, she noticed a shadow falling over her. Turning around with several noodles hanging down her chin, she gasped. "You…"
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"I've gotta get to know the other teams…" Midori said to herself. "If I know Kyoko and Nami…they'll want to take the Chuunin Exams, and so do I. It would be good to make a few small alliances before Kyoko and Nami say something to crush any chance of us having some helpful friends…Oh, whatever," she muttered. "I just want to make some friends!" As she pondered the rookie nine, she came back down from space to realize she had no idea where her feet had been taking her.
Glancing around, Midori sighed and let her body flop backwards into a field of soft grass. "But I have no idea where to find any of them…"
A shadow appeared above her. Midori's eyes fluttered open. "Huh…?"
--------------
Nami trudged down the streets of Konoha, kicking every rock she happened to come across. "Stupid Sasuke-baka…who the heck locks their doors while their inside eating? The idiot…"
She suddenly noticed a person standing in the way of her destination…wherever that was. "Hey, lady, do you mind?"
A tall woman with a mask and her hair in a high ponytail stood in front of Nami. Her eyes were golden and her hair was a sandy brown color. A Konoha hitai-ate was tied loosely on her small waist. "A bit impolite, aren't you?"
"Sorry," Nami immediately apologized. "Just having a bad day, is all. Excuse me."
"Hm, well," the woman said nonchalantly. "It's quite all right. And I don't think I want you to leave just now."
"Huh?"
The woman's eyes closed into happy arches and she chuckled a lovely, strong chuckle. "I would like to talk to you privately, if I may."
--------------
"Talk to me privately?" Midori said, confused. "Should I...should I know you?"
"Not yet, actually," the woman said mysteriously. "But it wouldn't hurt to bend some rules, no?"
-------------
"What do you mean 'not yet'?" Kyoko demanded. "Tell me!"
"All right," the woman said. "I will tell you…my name is Senshi Marieke, and I am a fellow jounin of this village."
"Well…that's good for you, but what does this have to do with me?" Kyoko asked.
"I am the person Iruka will assign as your team's sensei."
"HUH?" Kyoko jumped up, forgetting her precious ramen. "You're gonna be my sensei? Seriously?"
"Yes," Marieke nodded.
"But…we weren't supposed to meet our sensei until tomorrow!" Kyoko exclaimed. "And we're supposed to meet you somewhere else!"
"Well, I decided before that you would be worth seeing early," Marieke said.
"Me?"
"Yes. You seem to have more talent then your other two teammates," Marieke said, sitting down.
"You mean Nami and Midori?" Kyoko said, sitting back down as well. "You've met them already?"
"No. But I've seen them around," Marieke said. "And I've looked at the exam scores, and Iruka gave me some information about you as well."
"Oh," Kyoko said. He didn't spill about us being from a different universe, did he? "What did he tell you?"
--------------
"You're exceptionally talented," Marieke said, walking alongside Nami.
"Well, I don't like to brag…" Nami said aloofly. "But I suppose I'm a bit more athletic than Kyoko or Midori."
"Oh, not only that, but from what I've heard, you barely have any weaknesses," Marieke continued. "Iruka said so himself."
"He did?" Nami smiled. That Iruka-sensei… "I try."
"And you get amazing results," Marieke said. "I've heard also that your other teammates haven't gotten such quick results."
Nami shrugged.
"And you must barely have any weaknesses, unlike your teammates."
--------------
"Well, I do admit that my weaknesses aren't as…conspicuous as Nami's or Kyoko's," Midori shrugged, looking over at Marieke who had sat next to her on the grass. She smiled. "But they both are strong, I know."
"Yes, yes, of course!" Marieke said. "But you are stronger. I can tell. If a person does not brag, they know they're strong. They know they don't need to brag. And besides, I bet you don't have petty weaknesses."
Midori stifled a giggle. "I suppose."
"I feel like I'm like you," Marieke said. "My weakness isn't noticeable either. Can you guess what it is?"
"…Men?" Midori guessed.
Marieke laughed. "In a way, yes. My weakness is the one man I've learned to think of as a significant other. If he were to betray me, I wouldn't be able to fight him. I take betrayal terribly. I completely cave in."
"I see."
"Yes, I'm sure your weakness isn't known to many like your teammates'."
Midori laughed a little. "Yeah, well, Nami acts strong and is a formidable opponent, but she's got this really terrible weakness."
"Oh? Do tell."
Midori couldn't see anything wrong with telling her soon-to-be sensei her friend's weakness. After all, she would soon find out anyway.
--------------
"Midori's got this major weakness…" Kyoko said.
--------------
"It's really stupid, though," Nami said. "And it's so easy to get to Kyoko. But don't tell her I told you!"
"Oh…don't worry, I won't as long as you don't tell your teammates about meeting me," Marieke smirked behind her mask. "I promise."
"Why not tell the others?" Nami asked in a perplexed tone.
"Oh, I don't want them to feel bad that I know you exceed them."
The next day...
"I wonder who our new sensei is," Nami remarked.
"Yeah, me too," Kyoko nodded.
It was a crisp, early morning in the village of Konoha. The feminine trio sat eagerly awaiting their new sensei, Marieke, in a classroom. It was only a matter of minutes before the mysterious woman would appear.
Midori looked at her two teammates. Kyoko was sitting with her legs crossed on one of the tabletops. Nami had seated herself on one of the benches, hands folded behind her head and a bored look on her face. She herself had seated herself next to Nami with her chin propped up with her hand. Both of her teammates talked normally, but she hardly spoke a word this morning, not that she ever really did compared to her friends. She hated keeping a secret from her teammates, even one that wouldn't really hurt them in any way. Why didn't she just tell them that she met Marieke-sensei the day before?
Before she got a chance to speak, Midori heard the door slide open.
"Good morning," Marieke said, appearing with a little wave. "How are you?"
"Energized and ready to go!" Kyoko announced.
"Ready to take on missions, if that's what you mean," Nami said.
"I'm fine, thanks," Midori replied. "And you?"
"Perfectly well," Marieke said. "I am your sensei, Senshi Marieke. And I say we get a move on to a different location before I learn more about you guys, er, girls."
The group of four had stopped in a secluded forest area, seemingly a training area. There was a log, which the girls seated themselves upon, a few large rocks (Marieke sat on one), some posts, and other training items. The area was wide and clear with only a few green spots mixed in with the earthy ground. Trees surrounded them, and birds chirped quietly.
"So, who wants to start?" Marieke asked. "Why don't you tell me about…well, you?"
"You mean…what we like and hate…and our hobbies and dreams?" Nami asked.
"Sure," Marieke shrugged.
"Oh! Me first!" Kyoko exclaimed, jumping up.
"Okay."
Kyoko sat down and took a deep breath, propping her arms onto her knees and placing her hands laced under her nose, concealing her mouth. (A/N: Think 'Sasuke') "My name…is Shimizu Kyoko…I hate a lot of things…and I don't particularly like anything. My dream…is not a dream. Because I WILL make it a reality."
Silence.
A crow flew overhead, cawing loudly. "Ca-CAW! Ca-CAW! Ca-CAW!"
WHACK!
"OW!" Kyoko wailed.
"WE'RE BEING SERIOUS HERE, YOU IDIOT!" Nami roared.
That was almost perfectly identical to Sasuke's… Midori sweat dropped.
"So…that's not what she's like? Then what's the real her?" Thank goodness. I don't have an emotional wreck on my team…at least not too much.
"She's Shimizu Kyoko, generally likes ramen, music, weapons, anything dark, and a certain guy…" Nami informed.
"She hates peppy fan girls, younger and usually more annoying people, very sweet foods, and to sum it all up…much, much, more," Midori continued.
"Her main hobby is daydreaming and her dream is to get the guy she likes and become his girlfriend," the two said in unison, Nami with her arms crossed and Midori with a finger pointed up in an explanation sort of fashion.
Kyoko sat in the background, a gloomy cloud over her head. "Thanks a lot guys…" she muttered. "You guys made me sound like a fanatic…some friends you are…and it's to marry him…"
"All right…" Marieke said with an eyebrow raised. What an interesting girl. Though she may have some trouble with being distracted… "You next," she said, pointing to Midori.
"Me? I'm Hikari Midori," Midori said. "I like writing, drawing, silence, and my friends mostly. I hate noisy places, annoyances, and most distractions. Um…my hobbies are pretty much what I like, and my dream…well, I have a lot of dreams…one of them is to make everyone I love and care about happy."
"CoughandtomarrycoughNejicough," Nami murmured, coughing into her hand.
"Shut up," Midori whispered, jabbing her in the side.
Hmph. The polite one doesn't seem shinobi material. She seems too nice, Marieke thought. "And the last one?"
"Well…what I like is basically sports, power, and pranks. What I hate…I mean, the people I hate are Haruno Sakura and Uchiha Sasuke…my hobbies…are kicking guys' butts and my dream…" She smirked and lowered her head.
The girls leaned in a bit closer curiously.
"Is to be…THE WORLD'S FIRST SEKAIKAGE!" she announced while jiggling her forehead protector. (A/N: Think Naruto. Oh, and Sekaikage means "World Shadow" basically.)
Kyoko pouted. "And she whacked me for copying…" she muttered.
"…She's joking…" Midori sweat dropped. "She totally made that up on the spot…"
Marieke sat in silence for a while. From what I've gathered…we have an unfocused dark girl…a polite and kind one, definitely non-shinobi…and a cocky one who dreams of becoming a dictator…did Iruka set me up with such a strange group on purpose?
"Teaching is a big responsibility, Marieke. You're new at teaching and just became a jounin. Not only that, but you just came in from a village different from Konoha. You sure you're up for it?" Iruka asked.
"Of course, Iruka. If it puts food on the table…" Marieke said smiling behind her mask.
"Then I have the perfect bunch for you…"
Iruka…what did you get me into? Marieke thought as she watched as her new team. Kyoko was shouting angrily at Nami who had her hands held out in front of her with a smile on her face saying something like, "It was a joke!" and Midori in between the girls, trying to keep Kyoko from clawing Nami's eyes out.
He couldn't have meant THIS bunch…Well…guess I'll have to make the best of these girls…
"You…" Kyoko said dangerously.
"Calm down," Midori advised.
"Yeah….we go through this every day!" Nami exclaimed.
"Girls."
The girls looked at their sensei.
"I think it's about time I have you complete your first assignment…Tomorrow, we meet back her at the crack of dawn, six AM. Do not be late and bring your shinobi gear. You'll need it."
Marieke disappeared in a burst of smoke.
"Crack of dawn," Midori mused. "I doubt that we'll get you up at the crack of noon."
"It's true…" Nami smiled.
"HEY! Don't you get me started!" Kyoko warned. "And I so can get up at six!"
Now you know about the main characters! And the fun begins...R&R please!
-HM