Smile Smile
Chapter 2
"I'd never thought I'd see the day." A masked man laughed as he blocked my forward path perched atop a tree limb I had intended to leap to. He was not alone, around me two others encircled waiting for command to strike.
"Get out of my way." I growled in threat crouched low and ready for fight or flight. The forbidden scroll was strapped to my back now and hindered my movements but I would manage, I must.
"You hear that, she's telling us to get outta her way!" The same man laughed again and slapped his thigh at the hilarity. They weren't taking her serious, they didn't even consider her a threat. A three time failure at the academy. Good, let them think that, it would be their fatal mistake.
"Oh no whatever shawl we do. The girls bearing her teeth, watch out she might bite." Another of the men goaded but his voice was twisted and tense with excitement. That one no doubt wanted to draw blood and fully intended it, orders or not.
"I won't ask again." I hissed and the three men narrowed their eyes. Fine, have it your way but don't cry when I beat you.
I bolted to me right along the forest floor and the third man, no woman, attempted to intercept me. I had sensed her hesitation, her concern, her weakness. For whatever reason the woman did not want to harm me but sadly I had every intention of harming her.
She blocked my path hand on undrawn weapon, no hesitation. I blurred forward and stuck, first the legs with my own. Then her throat with fist as she began to fall. The action swift and efficient, the woman incapacitated chocking and straining for breath. No harm done, but ability to fight was now zero.
The two men hollered hot on my heals and I ran like the wind. Swift and fast flowing between the trees as if it was the most natural thing in my existence. A phantom, a wrath, silent as a gentle breeze but as swift as a raging river.
"Leave her." The blood thirsty man commanded to his companion who had hesitated in favour of aiding their downed ally. He complied reluctantly and joined the chase but a distance behind. Good, that gave me breathing room with dealing with the next conflict. Together they where a danger, alone they where manageable.
"You're going to pay girl." The blood thirst man laughed in confidence as his long strides slowly shrunk the distance between us. I grit my teeth, the scroll was so heavy and it slowed me to such an extreme. No this was good, I needed them to catch me so I could take them by surprise. I couldn't let them return to the village and inform my whereabouts.
The man leapt, the distance conquered. His blade cutting though the air and my hair alike. I witnessed out the corner of my eye the death of a great lock of hair as it exploded in the wind. My rage return to me and I let it be the fuel for my counterattack.
The man pushed forward again intent on more hair or the first spray of blood. I gave him no chance. I doubled forward stopping almost dead in my tracks the blade passing harmlessly overhead as the man sneered forced to leap over me or collide and risk injury. I planted a hand in the ground and with all the strength in my body I shot my revenge directly into his jaw as he soared overhead.
My leg had risen vertical slamming my foot into his face and supported by my spring wound body I pushed up off the ground fully extending and transferring all my anger directly into him. The man's eyes widened as impacted was made and his momentum halted in an instant driving him upwards from the sheer force, a sickening crunch and snap filling the air. I ducked and rolled aside as his body did a semi twist and fell heavy and limp where I had just been. Blood and shattered teeth spewed from his lips but I knew he would not stand, the blow temporally parlaying his body. I had desire to escape but not to kill, he would live.
"Your making a big mistake." The final man shouted a short distance away and closing. I stood my ground. He, smarter then his allies, stopped short and crouched ready for conflict staring me down. I returned the stare in kind letting him see all the determination and resolve I held. He did not falter.
"Surrender now and return." The man commanded, I ignored.
"What your doing is reckless, right now you can still come out of this with a slap on the wrist. The hokage has demanded you not be harmed but if you do not return soon that order will be resended and you will be labelled a traitor. Do you understand?" The man spoke wisely and threatening and to his credit the threat was a potent one. No, no regrets, I started this I would finish it.
"I have nothing to say to you." I spoke indicating the end of negotiations, he accepted it with narrowed eyes like one would favour a impulsive child.
The battle began without warning, out blades holstered but our fists aflame. He was fast and stronger but I was not without my tricks and advantages. Our body's danced about, foot meeting defence block, fist meeting dodged air, grapple meeting counter.
Though at first we seemed matched it became clear I was the better and the man struggled against my assault, pushed back with every exchange. Finally I had opened his guard and took full advantage by securing his arm behind his back and subduing him in a chocking submission hold. He beat at my arm with his and elbowed me violent and painfully but I still held, held till his face turned purple and he finally passed out.
"Ouch..." I hissed stumbling a bit a hand on my bruised but hopefully unbroken ribs. I had no time to stand around, I had to make distance. I fled, just as before I aimed deeper into the forest, silent and swift. How long should I run, when was it safe to stop and read. I did not know.
As if answered by a divine power a small natural clearing opened before me with a large stone at its center and a beam of light illuminated it warmly. Here I decided. If I did not stop now I would always be on the run and never able to discover the truth.
Recklessly I threw the scroll to the ground and unrolled it violently letting it tumble across the clearing spilling all its forbidden secrets. I read, no I scanned. My name, where, where is it? it would have it. my eyes flew over the scroll seeking only one specific thing and nothing more. Words flew by but I did not retain them, they were forgotten the moment their identity was revealed not to be me.
From one end to the other, nothing. Again, back and forth, northing. A different name, a different phrase? I lifted a segment of the scroll teeth gritted and bearded behind my mask as I inspected closer. I did not exist in this scroll...
"You won't find what you're looking for." A charismatic voice laughed and my head and eyes shot up. Atop a branch sitting casually with legs dangling was Mizuki one of the academies instructors. How long had he sat there? I did not know and it infuriated me.
"What am I looking for?" I snarled venomously and he gave a soft laugh.
"Nothing I am allowed to speak to you about." His eyes hooded and I saw the evil in them at once. I did not know Mizuki but I had always suspected there was far more behind his charming smile and charisma.
"If you know then tell me." I growled in demand standing slow and stiff fully prepared to claim the answer through force.
"Whoa there, hold on!" He grinned broad and rose his hands in a placating motion. "I may not be able to speak with you about it but I didn't say I couldn't give you a hint."
I decided did not like this man, what game was he playing. Despite all the warning signs I happily joined the table and rolled the dice.
"A hint? But at what price?" I crossed my arms feeling no threat from him nor any hidden around us.
"Ahah, i knew you where a smart girl. To be honest I have always liked you and would have supported you but you know. Rules are rules." The man smirked and my eyes narrowed.
"Get to the point." I commanded and he sighed displeased at my attitude.
"Ok ok, miss, as you command." The man whined like a child and pushed off from the branch landing in the clearing not more than ten meters away. I took a defensive stance now and he paid it no mind.
"Lets see, a price, for a hint...." His eyes regarded me, slimy and lewd. immediately I felt shame and venerability and gave him the most hostile expression I could. He gave a soft laugh and motioned with his hand.
"Don't worry i'm afraid we wouldn't have time for such a price in any case." His words did not make me feel any less violated by the intentions he eluded too. Pacing back and forth he pondered and finally slammed fist into upturned palm.
"A price. You give me the scroll." He smiled innocently and bright making me feel off kilter. Wouldn't he take the scroll regardless, he was here to capture her right? No his game was far deeper then that, something was very wrong here.
"When I have my hint." I demanded wanting to see if he would make a slip.
"Well let's see... what is the big secret no one will speak of." He grinned as my temper rose. "I will say the reasons is as old as you are."
"As old as I am?" I asked as nothing jumped out at me. eighteen years.. eighteen years. What could have happened then... The most notable event was the Kyubi attack but how I was related was beyond my understanding.
"That's a terrible hint!" I complained throwing my arm to the side in anger. "I want a new one."
"Ah ah!" Mizuki waves his finger like she was a naughty child. "I said hint, and I gave you one. Are you saying you wont honour our deal?" I grit my teeth and stepped across the scroll placing myself between him and it.
"Another hint." I hissed low and deadly my rage flaring. He regarded me indifferently for a moment then sighed shrugging his shoulders.
"Fine I'm tried of this game. Do you want to know the truth? All of it?" He asked seriously and his words hit my like an attack and made me stumble back a step. He would tell me everything, but why? Why so suddenly... Why not stick with his game he seemed to have been enjoying.
"Tell me..." The words tore from my lips hoarse and pleading full of desperation.
"You are..."
"Stop it! Not another word Mizuki!" Another voice rang out interrupting Mizuki's words. Jerking to the side I saw 'him' the one that had denied my rightful graduation three times in a row. Iruka.
'Tell me!" I screamed turning towards Mizuki. No I needed to know, I needed to know now. Tell me, don't stop. Please!
"You are." Mizuki grinned finding sick satisfaction from Iruka's intervention. Iruka did not hesitate this time as he leapt for Mizuki with blade drawn, killing intent clear.
"One more word and you will be tried for treason." Iruka proclaimed slashing at Mizuki who had leapt away unharmed. Of the two I knew Mizuki was the stronger.
"The kyubi." The words where hoarse thick with sadistic amusement as Mizuki stared directly into my eyes. My world... it ended. I watched lifeless as Iruka advanced on Mizuki with a fury I had never seen proving the truth of the words.
I am.. the kyubi? Why did I not deny it, why was I accepting it so easily. The only answer was.. I had known. My legs shook and faltered crumbling below me as I collapsed sprawled atop them supported upright only by my arms. The demon that had whipped out half the village, ground ruts in the land with its massive tails and slain countless innocence.
Thought left me as a deep wallowing emptiness expanded chocking me, suffocating me in anguish. Tears poured down my cheeks and their appeared made my hand raise dampening my fingers as I stared with interest at them wondering why I was crying. I had finally found the answer I had wanted, the true reason for everything, I should not be crying I should be joyous and happy.
The clang and screech of blade upon blade ringing around me echoed hollowly in my ears. I was paralyzed and broken sitting alone in the center of the clearing. It all made scene... it really did. Every hardship i endured, all the scorn I received. Unprovoked, unwanted, but now known.... well disserved.
A piercing cry filled the air, Iruka's voice, blood curdled and shrill. My head swayed drunkenly till Iruka and Mizuki filled my vision. Iruka was pinned to the face of a tree by a blade though his chest, not fatal but potentially deadly. Mizuki drew the blade free and Iruka fell crumpled clutching his wound and glaring up defiantly.
They exchanged words my ears heard but my mind did not register. Casually Mizuki turned towards the scroll and rolled it closed stopping just behind me as he bound it with rope to his back. He pat me on the shoulder and offered me a gift I did not refuse. The blade that had pierced Iruka, he wrapped in my fingers condemning it as my crime.
"Good girl." he whispered as felt dazed and lifeless. I sat the blade burning in my palm and my instructors life ebbing before my eyes suffocating on his own blood. Mizuki gave a laughing goad to Iruka before leaping into the forest and out of sight.
"Naruko..." Iruka spat out blood as he laboured to breath crumpled to all fours barely able to support his weight. My eyes regarded him as if he did not exist, I did not care. I saw but I did not see, I heard but I did not hear. Nothing mattered, my world had died. There was nothing but the peaceful thump of my heartbeat in my ears.
"Naruko, you must stop him! He can't be allowed to escape with the scroll." Iruka pleaded with me and I gave no reply. He had known, they all had known. His parents had died in the kyubi attack so many years before, his hatred for me must have been as much as mine for him. No his surpassed mine, teaching the very one who murdered his parents... to day after day stare them in the face unable to say anything, to do anything...
"Naruko!" Iruka screamed and coughed violently contorted in agony and complicating his wound. My tears continued to flow steady as my expression remained blank. What could I say, what could I do. Did I disserved everything I have been victim of? Was it all punishment for crimes I could not know?
"Please! Please Naruko!" Iruka screamed again but my eyes grew focused, he was crying. Tears that rivalled my own poured down his cheeks as he stared at me, eyes rounded and pleading.
"I am..." I spoke, I did not know why I spoke or felt he was the one to speak to.
"You are not!" He barked with the same fury he held against Mizuki earlier. It startled me making me jerk back as if he had slapped me.
"But.." I began to plead and he would hear none of it.
"What Mizuki said was a lie! You are not the kyubi! I alone have right to say this as I watched you grow over theses years! You are not a monster!" He screamed and it felt like a very painful admission as bitter tears of betrayal and agony poured down his cheeks. It was not something he ever wanted to admit but I could see the truth in his eyes.
"But why... how come.." My voice broke and i felt like a child ready to burst into fitful sobs.
"Listen! Please Naruko! Listen..." Iruka breath strained collapsed completely to the ground now staring at me with one eye, the other squinted tightly shut in distress.
"That scroll is dangerous, very dangerous. I understand why you took it and don't blame you. But Mizuki, he will use it for evil. He has to be stopped. Naruko please, if you do this I will recognise you as a true ninja." Iruka eye was hard and serious and for a moment his cruel hard lectures returned to my ears. What the hell was I doing. I strived to be a ninja, but here I was collapsed crippled with emotion... a child.
"No..." I whispered hoarsely to myself condemning my actions and berating myself. For a moment Iruka believed my words to be denying his request but the fire in my eyes and my slow but steady climb to my feet told him otherwise.
"I always hated you. Always." Iruka spoke harshly. "For what you did... but I know in my heart it was not you. I only wanted someone to blame, someone to be responsible." Iruka closed his eyes panting as blood tricked from his lips. before he opened them once more I had already gone.
There was a darkness inside of me, a pit of hatred and ugly emotions I had always bottled up and locked away. They beat at my barriers and for the first time, I flung the doors wide and had no regret for the consequences. Mizuki had struck me with an attack i had no defence for, no immunities, no ability to avoid. The entirety of my being was as one, I was wrath and Mizuki my goal.
There... there he was just head. But how.. to soon, it was far too soon to have reached him. No, no thought, no care. Defeat him... kill him for what he has done. End it. The world in slow motion but me on fast forward I closed on him and witnessed in perfect clarity as he looked over his shoulder in mid jump. His eyes confused began to wide slowly, skin paling. and voice beginning to cry. No mercy...
I felt hollow and lifeless sitting with my wrists bound securely on a bench outside the hokage's office. Blood dried and caked to my cloth and skin, un cleansed. I waited and expected nothing, wanted nothing. Waited for my judgment, my verdict, my end.
Time had become muddled and confused since I intercepted Mizuki. No memory of the exchange, no memory of victory or defeat. His terrified gaze was the last my mind pictured before clarity returned, Iruka atop my back and scroll in hand as I as entered the village. I was met with violence pining me to the ground, binding me, blades at my throat. I longed for death but found only threat. Then I was here, sitting, waiting. How long, no way to tell.
".. ridicules... no.... won't stand for it." Broken sentences shouted broke through the thick doors filling my ears. The subject unimportant. I played with my bindings seeking distraction and amusement, impossible to remove. I stopped, no goal. Wait, just wait. No rush.
The door burst open and two livid elders marched passed favouring me with hatred. I showed no reaction. The guard to my right took my arm and without care dragged me forcefully into the office pushing me before the hokage's desk. He stood behind it looking out his grand window at all the village.
"Are you aware of your action?" The hokaeg question in a distant voice.
"Yes." I spoke flatly, no regrets.
"Very well." The hokage turned towards me and stared with humble eyes, eyes I had not expected. Sympathy? Pity? I did not like those eyes.
"You have been found guilty for your crimes." The hokage spoke not seeing the need to list them. "But in light of your heroism there has been a great debate." I remained silent unsure what the he was attempting to say.
"Mizuki was suspected of being a risk but we had no way to confirm it. Your selfish actions, your crime, managed to draw him out and confirm our suppositions. You have done a great service to the village but it does not excuse your crime. Had you failed to require the scroll the damage would have been immeasurable to the village. That being said you punishment has been decided." The hokage spoke and I was ready.
"A public flogging." The hokage stated and I grit my teeth, a far to lenient punishment. "Or..." he continued and it forced my gaze to rise. "You accept your graduation and continue to fight for the village but under veil of suspicion."
My heart stopped, had I heard correctly? A flogging, or everything I've dreamed of? Was this some sort of jest? Accept my graduation under suspicion meant no more than probation and enforced team activity to verify my loyalty. Common for all graduates.... The options spun in my head till I came to a crashing stop.
"I failed." I spoke flatly not hiding the tone of resentment I felt.
"Ah yes... well it seemed there had been a mix up with the paperwork." The hokage gave a soft smile. "Iruka has informed me quite adamantly that you are indeed a graduate."
"He lives?" I questioned, my concern genuine and a scapegoat to cover my disbelief at such words coming from Iruka.
"Yes, and will make a full recover. The same for the others." The hokage spoke and the images of the first team to find me flashed though her mind. I cringed thinking more punishment was due but no more was spoken on that subject.
"I... i will graduate sir." I bowed deeply my heart fluttering wildly in hope but prepared for a cruel betrayal. It never came.
"Very well. Report to the academy tomorrow and await assignment to a team and collection of your proof of graduation." The hokage nodded to the guard and with clear reluctance he unbound my bindings freeing me.
"Thank you sir." I spoke and the hokage gave a dismissive nod. I accepted it and left.