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Edit: Almost done updating
Chapter Four: Lessons in Making Friends
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"Got your lunch?" Mugen asks for the third time as they make their way toward the Academy; one pair of feet scuffing the dirt on the road, the other silent. Raika tries not to roll her eyes, fails miserably and simply nods. "And your bag?"
"You can see everything I'm carrying dad," She reminds him, jerking a thumb over her shoulder to point out the backpack because elite ninja or not, he obviously isn't seeing it, "And stop asking, you're the one who packed it."
"Right, right. Sorry," Mugen says, scratching the back of his head with a chuckle. "I guess I'm just nervous. It is your first day after all."
"Why? It's just school?" Raika snorts, though she can admit to herself that she is a little bit apprehensive. There's nothing quite like starting somewhere new, even if you've done it before. Even if, technically, you're an adult. She used to think she was comfortable in her own skin, but the childish thoughts of what if they don't like me? still circle quietly around inside her head, "Besides, it's my first day – not yours."
"I know that, I just – oh never mind." Mugen says around a huff as they come into view of the gate. Luckily he isn't overly perturbed by his daughters blunt manner, nor her occasional bouts of sarcasm - which is handy considering how often they crop up.
He's worrying though. Not just because this is her first day but because it means Raika is going to become a ninja. He won't be able to look out for her when the memories bubble up and she looses herself. He can't keep her safe any more, shielded from the rest of the world. He can't be there for her.
They stop outside the Academy grounds and Raika watches with interest as the other parents fuss over their children, pulling collars and flattening hair. Some of the kids look eager, practically vibrating with excitement. Others look worried, a little afraid maybe. One; a tiny mousey haired girl who is clutching her fathers hand tight enough to crack the bones looks ill, her face a delicate shade of green. The kind of colour that is usually a precursor to violent projectile vomiting.
Nerves are a wonderful thing, Raika decides. She makes a mental note to stay out of the splatter radius, just in case.
Raika hears her father take a deep breath and drags her attention away from the other academy inductees to watch as he drops into a crouch beside her. Mugens hands bracket her shoulders, their comfortable weight resting there once Raika has turned to face him fully
"Alright, lets take a look at you," Her dad says, tilting his chin down to inspect her with a expression of mock seriousness. "Bright eyes, big smile, listening ears on?"
Raika nods and twists her lips into a smirk. Her father is a dork.
"Your hair's a mess," Mugen tuts, lifting one hand from her shoulder in an attempt to pat down her wayward locks. She pouts at that and gives him a scowl.
"That's not my fault!" Raika tells him indignantly, because she gets her looks from him, and Mugen's hair is always a mess. "Besides I brushed it like four times!"
"Maybe you should have tried five," Her father laughs, his eyes twinkling as he plasters a wide grin on his face.
But his hand stills, resting tenderly against her head as he watches her silently. The easy grin slipping from his face, replaced by something less readable. Melancholy, if she has to take a punt.
"What?" Raika asks cautiously after a minute has passed. If he keeps this up she's going to be late, and that is unacceptable on her first day.
First impressions and all that.
"You're growing up so quickly." Her father tells her finally, letting a sigh escape him.
"I'm already grown up." She replies with all the authority she can muster, which at a staggeringly unimpressive three foot six and weighing in at only fifty five pounds is not much. It draws another laugh from the older Tsugaya – which is not quite the reaction she was going for. Thankfully Raika is well past the point of being annoyed at people treating her like a child. Irritating, yes. Unreasonable, no.
"Hikari would be so proud of you," Mugen claims and Raika blinks back, startled. He says it so casually, like it doesn't send lances of pain through his heart to talk about his dead wif -
Darkness roiling at the edges of her vision
-"I'm proud of you too."
Raika almost laughs in his face.
It's only funny because it's so out of the blue, so unexpected. How many times had she heard those words in her previous life? Once, maybe? After all she'd achieved and how hard she'd worked she could only remember one occasion and yet here is Mugen, her father for only five short years, offering it up for simply making the decision to come to school.
A memory comes to her then, not one of the ones that steals the light from her, but something softer. The face of a man seen with new eyes, blurred edges and indistinct lines smiling down at her. No expectations, just love.
It makes an embarrassing lump form in her throat and she doesn't trust herself to speak– not that she has a clue how to respond anyway. 'Cheers dad,' or 'I haven't actually done anything yet?' a simple 'thank you'. No. That's weird. So instead Raika remains silent, keeping her internal musings to herself and her gaze fixed on the silver eyes that have become so familiar to her.
Mugen doesn't seem to expect an answer from her -which is good - and smiles again. He draws her forward into a hug that lasts one, two, three, four seconds before he pulls away and pushes to his feet.
One hand returns to her head as if he's afraid Raika will fade away without him to hold her in place. "You'd better go, the induction will start in a few minutes."
"Kay," Raika agrees, the sentimental atmosphere melting away as quickly as it had come - for which she is eternally grateful. Feelings, ugh.
They stand for a moment in not quite awkward silence, then Raika sees the mischievous grin that spreads over Mugens face. She tries to duck away before her father can muss her hair – but she isn't nearly fast enough to evade him or the way his fingers rub against her scalp, throwing her already messy hair into further disarray. "Daaaad!"
"Sorry kit!" Mugen laughs, not sounding sorry at all. "Now remember to listen to your sensei and try to make some friends."
"Yes dad." Raika grumbles, patting down her hair as best she can while still maintaining her frown.
"Don't start any fights and try not to ask too many questions," He adds, then shakes his head and amends. "I mean, still ask questions – but don't ask all the questions."
"Yes dad," she repeats, trying not let her annoyance show though.
"And don't worry if there are things you don't understand-" Mugen continues, but Raika knows she has to cut him off before he can really get going. She really will be late if he's allowed to carry on.
"I'll be fine." Raika tells him in her most reassuring voice as she wraps her arms around his legs for a quick hug, then hurriedly steps back a pace before he can make her look any more dishevelled.
"I know," Mugen went on, sighing again. It's the sigh of a man who knew he was being too overprotective, but couldn't quite bring himself to stop. Still, he smiles and gives her a cheery, "Have a good day kit, I'll be here to pick you up."
"Bye dad!" Raika waves, turning and speeding away to join the other kids that are being ordered into lines before Mugen can delay her any further.
Behind her she hears a hurried "Be good!" before she is shuffled into the front row between a brown haired boy and a blonde haired girl who is grinning like a maniac. Creepy. Veeeerrry creepy, Raika thinks to herself, don't make eye contact.
Raika keeps her face forward, then blinks and turns just enough that she can see the boy in her peripherals -just like Hotaru taught her- and examines him. Spiky brown hair pulled up on top of his head like a weird fluffy pineapple and a scar running across the bridge of his nose – Iruka!
God he's adorable! His face is round with the baby pudge that still plagues Raika, glancing about with big curious eyes like liquid chocolate, eager to take in everything. And he's so tiny!
Raika holds in a little squeal of excitement, she has to be friends with him! She just has to.
She's opening her mouth to introduce herself but slams on the social breaks before any words can escape. Is she just going to start chatting to a random stranger? That's a bit forward isn't it? Who initiates conversation in situations like this – or does she wait for something to happen that will allow an interesting topic, something they have a shared interest in, maybe?
Raika hums in frustration, which draws the attention of the blonde girl on her other side with the wide smile.
"Hello!" The blonde chirps much too loudly, dragging Raika's attention away from Iruka and back to her grinning face. She looks like she has too many teeth in her mouth and is intent on showing every single one. "I'm Yamada Hanako but you can call me Hana, what's your name?"
"Uh, Raika," Raika answers, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. She'd definitely forgotten how quickly kids struck up conversations. No insecurities among the five year olds, she'll have to remember that. But at least she's gotten her answer about how to start introductions with Iruka. Blurting was perfectly acceptable. "Tsugaya Raika."
"Nice to meet you!" Hana says, still grinning as she clasps her hands in front of herself. "You sound funny."
"Thanks." Raika says flatly. Creepy and rude, what a stellar combination.
"Are you a transfer? I've never seen you before!" Hana continues on obliviously.
"No, I'm from Konoha," Raika informs her patiently. "I was born here, and I've always sounded like this."
She knew it would be a factor when interacting with people her perceived age. Kids are amazing at ignoring the social taboos that adults tiptoe around. They see that people are different to them and they don't give a rats ass as long as that person is fun to play with. The downside is that they don't think before they speak, just blurt out whatever their curious little brains are thinking and don't worry about what effect their words will have on the people around them.
"Are you sure? My great aunt lives near the Land of Rivers and she has an accent too," Hana volunteers, tapping her chin. "It doesn't sound like yours though. Your hair is blue too, I don't know anyone else with blue hair."
"My father has blue hair, and he's from Konoha too," Raika explains, wondering if it is too late to change places in the line. It'd be rude, sure, but that isn't a problem for kids, apparently. No, everyone is watching, she can't leave. A different tactic then. "Are you looking forward to school?"
"Oh yeah!" Hana nods eagerly and Raika mentally pats herself on the back for the easiest distraction ever. "I'm really excited to make lots of new friends! How about you?"
"I guess," Raika shrugs, then scratches her cheek. If kids can just start conversations out of the blue does that mean they can also disengage from them as quickly? Unlikely. "I mean, it'll be cool to learn ninja stuff but school is school."
Hana nods sagely as if she knows exactly what Raika means – which Raika suspects she doesn't, but decides not to mention in case it spurs the girl on to further conversation.
The blonde opens her mouth to say something else but snaps it shut, her too many teeth clicking together as she spots the Hokage making his way over to their line with a smile on his face.
Oh thank God. Saved by the old man in the ridiculous hat.
Hiruzen stops a little to the left of where Raika and Hana are standing, giving the collected children a benevolent smile. He doesn't look like a super strong shinobi – more like an uncle, or maybe an accountant – with a funky robe.
"Welcome new students," The Hokage begins once everyone had quietened down, his eyes roving over the prospective ninja with a kindly smile. "My, we have a fine selection of applicants this year. It warms my heart to see so many promising young faces, eager to protect their village and carry on the Will of Fire that burns so brightly within Konoha."
Raika stands in line with the others and promptly zones out.
She can recognise the start of a long boring speech when she hears one and knows she won't miss much. It isn't like the Hokage is going to go into depth about the intricacies of the shinobi world on their first day.
Well. She hopes not.
Idly Raika wonders how likely her chances of getting put in the same class as Yamada Hanako are and what their first lesson is going to be. She already has maths and science down and thanks to Kojima-san her geography and history are passable as well. P.E is going to be murder – not that she'd been a complete slouch before, but nothing quite on the level of what she is expecting here.
She's looking forward to learning about chakra the most, and Ninjutsu of course. Mainly things that weren't an option previously – new things for her brain to ponder.
Raika decides that once everything is settled she can think about where she wants to head with her life as a shinobi -assuming she makes it that far- and what she can change -assuming she can change anything- in the Naruto-verse – but first she has to deal with school. Joy of joys.
"-ope you will all try your best, and I look forward to hearing about your progress as the year continues." The Hokage finishes.
The new Academy students let out a collective "Yes, Hokage-sama," which Raika manages to tag onto the end of as she snaps out of her thoughts, having missed most of the induction speech. Result.
Two shinobi wearing Chunin vests appear, already looking frazzled despite this being the first day and begin sorting the children into groups. Predictably Hana is placed in the same group as Raika because of course she is – the upside being that Iruka is too, so there is still a good chance to befriend the adorable little pineapple head.
Raika does a quick headcount – forty one students – not quite enough for two full classes if she knows her three times tables. Which she does. Briefly she wonders what they do with an odd number of students? Some won't pass, sure, and others might even drop out but even after graduation there can't always be enough students for teams of three, can there?
She hums to herself and lets the thoughts slide to the back of her mind as the children in front of her start to move. The Hokage and remaining parents watch proudly as the two groups are herded through the doors of the Academy and then out of sight. Before Raika disappears through the doors she glances back but Mugen isn't among them.
Moving in single file passed open doors where classes are already in session Raika follows the rest of her age mates through the halls of the Academy. Hana, walking a few paces behind Raika, keeps up a stream of senseless babble while the Chunin at the front of the lines points out places he thinks will be of interest; the teachers officers, the lunch rooms, the training halls and so on.
Eventually they come to a halt and one troupe of children file into the room on the left while Raika's class shuffle through the door on the right.
The classroom is set up much the same as she remembers from the anime. A high ceilinged room with large windows letting in an abundance of natural light that work in tandem with the fluorescents buzzing overhead.
The room – painted an attractive pale green that in no way reminds her of vomit or snot - is set in tiers, giving a clear view of the open space at the front of the class where the teachers desk and podium stand. Behind them on the back wall is an old school blackboard, wedged in between two shelving units brimming with text books and work books. The desks are set out in three rows of three, each one seating three students – several of which are already dropping into spaces at the front of the room.
Raika pauses her observations to pick a seat.
She glances around and- Aha! There's Iruka, just pulling out the end chair of the middle desk at the back of the room. Raika quickly changes course and steps up beside him. Not too quickly, though. She doesn't want to make it look like she's targeting him specifically – even if that is exactly what she's doing.
The seat isn't a bad choice. It offers a good view of the entire classroom and is close enough to the door to get out quickly and not get caught in the crush of students when break is called.
And she can probably sneak a nap if she really needs to, which is an added bonus.
Seat chosen, Raika plonks herself down and tucks her bag under her chair to stop anyone else from falling over it, then she waits, watching as the rest of the students fill up the rest of the desks. She wonders if she should just introduce herself to Iruka like Hana had done to her, or is that weird even for kids? She'd felt weird about it, but then again she wasn't the most normal child in the first place and neither was Hana, who had only made it more awkward because she didn't know when to shut up.
Raika hesitates too long and the situation is taken out of her hands when – talk of the devil - Hana practically leaps into the seat next to her, grin still in place.
"Mind if I sit next to you, Raika-chan?" Hana asks even though she is already seated and rummaging through her bag.
"Sure." Raika replies dryly.
"Do you want to eat lunch together?" Hana questions, stopping her bag search abruptly to fix Raika with big green eyes. No easing in with this kid, huh? "My mum was worried I wouldn't have anyone to eat with, but I said that no one would have anyone to eat lunch with because it was the first day and-"
"Settle down Cheshire cat, we can have lunch together," Raika cuts in, begrudgingly resigning herself to the fact that for some reason Hana has singled her out to be friends with. And Raika can admit that even peculiar friends are better than no friends - most of the time.
She can hear Hana asking what 'cheshire cat' means but Raika's attention has already moved elsewhere.
A tall man in ninja garb is slouched against the desk at the front of the room, watching the class with intelligent eyes. She could have sworn he wasn't there the first time she looked, but she hadn't seen him come in either. "Never mind, not important. Has he always been there?"
"Wha- who are you- oh!" Hana blinks in confusion as she follows Raika's gaze. "Oh. I suppose so, I wasn't paying much attention."
Raika nods but doesn't say anything else. She huffs, has a short internal debate which ends with oh fuck it and turns to Iruka. "Did you see him appear?"
"Who?" Iruka asks, his face a question mark until Raika points down to the shinobi leaning on the desk. "Huh, I didn't see him at all. You think he's our teacher?"
"I guess so." Raika nods and takes a second to study the man.
He is younger than her father, perhaps twenty - twenty two years old with light brown hair kept long and tied at the base of his neck. The man peers around the room with owlish dark eyes on either side of a long straight nose, peppered by freckles. He wears the standard flak jacket associated with ninja ranked Chunin or above and the long sleeved blue shirt with Uzushiogakure's swirl on the upper arm – he doesn't really stand out, but Raika guesses that's actually a good thing for a ninja.
"I'm Iruka by the way. Umino Iruka." The brown haired boy says, offering his hand in a very adult gesture. Raika grins and shakes it, almost melting. So cute.
"Tsugaya Raika. Nice to meet you." Raika replies, and means it. She'd always liked Iruka.
The man who they assume to be their new teacher clears his throat – cutting off any more conversation Raika could have attempted and causing a few of the students seated at the front desks to jump – then gives them all a smile.
"Good morning students," The shinobi announces, pushing himself off of the desk to stand in the centre of the floor. "I'm Soton-sensei, I will be your teacher for your first year in the Academy."
"Good morning Soton-sensei!" Raika chimes in time with the rest of her classmates.
They take a quick register where Raika tries to put names to faces and ends up missing her own because she is too busy memorising the three people that had come before her. She catches the second time Soton-sensei calls her after a helpful - if much too forceful- nudge from Hana and stubbornly doesn't meet any eyes as her classmates heads swivel to look at her.
Awkward.
When the register is complete Soton-sensei turns his full attention back on them, still smiling.
"Well, it's nice to meet you all. I'm looking forward to the year ahead and I know you'll all try your hardest to be the best shinobi you can be," He says, moving to stand behind his podium where he shuffles a few papers back into order. "Now, today is a little different as it's your first day – but from tomorrow onwards your days will be structured as follows: You will come here at the start of the day where we will take our register and then begin our first lesson – Literacy, where we will cover reading and writing. Next will be mathematics."
There is a groan from somewhere at the front of the room and Raika suppresses a snort of amusement.
"You will have a short break before returning for geography and science. After that you will have another break for lunch and then we will have a short lesson on chakra theory. The rest of the afternoon will be spent outside or in the training halls for Taijutsu practice," Soton-sensei explains, detailing their day. "This will be the general structure of our days for the first portion of the year. Later on we might expand our time with Chakra theory and the basics of Ninjutsu, but that will depend on my assessment of your skills."
Soton-sensei looks around the room, making sure everyone understands and that none of his students heads have imploded with the information. Satisfied that they are all intact, he nods to himself.
"Now, lets hand out some books. We have a bit time before first break so I'd like you to all write a little about yourself – your likes, your dislikes and your hobbies – which you will then read to the class to help everyone in getting to know each other," Soton-sensei tells them as he turns his back to the class and gathers a stack of work books from the shelves on the left side of the blackboard. He passes them out to the students in the front row who take one and pass them back. "Everyone take a book, you have five minutes."
Raika digs a pen out of her bag and waits for the books to make their way to the back of the room before getting started. Beside her Hana is scribbling furiously, somehow on her second paragraph already by the time Raika has written three words. Iruka is writing diligently on her other side, his motions precise and careful though his writing is still childishly large.
Raika lets out a huff and presses on reluctantly. Writing about herself and public speaking on her first day? Two of the worst things in any life. How many hobbies could they have anyway? It's a class of five year olds – all they do is run around like little energizer bunnies and pick their noses.
With an entirely too adult sigh Raika scratches despondently at the paper, and so begins her first day at school.
Again.
….
Things go well for Raika during her first few months of the Academy though she quickly becomes disenchanted with the idea of attending school for a second time.
The only lessons that she actually pays attention to are Chakra Theory and Taijutsu – the more mundane studies such as maths and science she spends paging through the advanced sections in their chakra textbooks or sneaking glances at the books she brings in from home.
Learning about Chakra is awesome.
It's such a strange concept to her and yet she also knows more about it than most of her classmates, the natural inhabitants of this world.
She listens eagerly when Soton-sensei tells them about how the chakra coils form within the body; small at first, like growths on the major organs that leach off of them until the coils are developed enough to produce chakra – at which point they expand around the organ, still connected but no longer a parasite.
When the chakra coils are enlarged enough to start growing and producing chakra on their own, that's when the chakra pathways open up – and the cause of the god awful itching Raika had endured during her earlier years.
It's mind boggling how such an intricate system could evolve in the body, especially since it just hadn't existed in Raika's old world. It's wild and she wants to learn everything she can about it. How it works, it's effects on the body, how it changes with elemental affinities and anything else in between.
Taijutsu is just as interesting, if for different reasons.
Exercise isn't new to her but in this case previous experience doesn't make it any easier.
Her five year old body doesn't have much strength, it tires easily and leaves her panting and wheezing despite the childish energy that usually allows her to just keep going. Raika is small compared to most of the kids in her class, but only a few of her fellow students manage to complete a day of training without gasping down lungfuls of air afterwards. She reasons that those children had probably begun training to be shinobi the moment they mastered walking, and manages to be only a little jealous of them.
Raika's only consolation is that she's quicker than most, if not all, of her age mates, despite her short legs -years spent chasing kittens was good for something – and still flexible as only little kids can be. Much more than she could ever remember being before. Touching her toes is no problem and she can crouch with her feet pressed flat to the floor, which was something that had always eluded her in her other world.
It is still exhausting.
Their extreme P.E lessons take up almost half the day and range from running laps, learning forms and kata to target practice; being taught how to make a fist and throw a punch. How to block and defend and the basics of hand seals.
Raika had -mistakenly- thought she was in good shape in her past life. She had been a keen runner and participated in several marathons – but she can't quite remember ever being as tired as she is after the first few weeks of the Academy.
But exhaustion makes her dreams less frequent, so she pushes herself as hard as her little body can manage. Even when her arms and legs ache from overuse and her head pound and her muscles cramp she doesn't complain.
Things could be worse.
She's getting along swimmingly with Iruka. He's fun and light hearted but not as loud or demanding as the other children in their class. He seems genuinely interested in learning and messing around in equal parts. Raika loved him instantly and is always happy to talk about their lessons with him at break, going over things he doesn't quite grasp or is having trouble with. In return Iruka keeps her grounded. He, along with Hana -with her almost constant chatter and too wide smile – keeps Raika functioning on a social level, playing with the other students and taking part in activities she otherwise would have sat out on.
The adult part of Raika's mind takes it's cues from her two young friends, following their lead in the playground and around the other children.
She skips back and forth between the seemingly shy part of herself that is trying to re-learn how to make friends and being the overly exuberant inner child that bursts out with no warning; reckless and blabbering every thought that comes into her head. Some of it makes her cringe, but she is a child, so instead of the disapproving looks she would have received as an adult, she simply gets a headshake or an exasperated smile.
Memories still surface randomly. It's like re-watching the same episode of F.R.I.E.N.D.S over and over, only not nearly as funny and with much less Matt LeBlanc. The visions play out, skipping in and out of sequence, twisting till she isn't sure which comes first.
Raika is learning slowly to suppress them or at least divert them. By interrupting her own thoughts with something ordinary she can sometimes derail the lapse – usually with snippets of songs or quotes she dredges up from her previous life. But most of the time she still can't control them and ends up staring blankly until her consciousness rushes in.
Iruka asked her about it once, curiosity winning out over cautiousness. Raika had given him a shrug and a vague answer about thinking too much and that it had always been that way. She didn't tell him what she was thinking about when it happened or why, carefully steered clear of that kind of thing. No one was ready for that can of worms to be opened. Especially her.
Iruka - gloriously wonderful child that he was had let it be after that, accepting her weirdness as part of her.
Hana doesn't even notice most of the time. And when she does it's in response to the quiet snatches of song she overhears. Sometimes spoken in English, other times translated in to Japanese but always foreign to the music the Naruto-verse is accustomed to. The blonde girl seems to actually like it, and never presses for reasons as to why.
Despite Raika's best efforts the little grinning girl is growing on her.
So she is thankful to Iruka and Hana for putting up with her, despite her unusual countenance. Raika knows her time at the Academy would have been very lonely without the two of them and she realises she's missed having friends. They sit together in class, have lunch together at break and practise together in training.
They even had play dates! Which is embarrassing as all hell.
Ikkaku and Kohari tell Raika she is the most adorable little girl they've ever met -which she has mixed feelings about- when she goes to dinner at Iruka's for the first time. They are almost as lovely as their son and Raika tries very hard not to think about their future and how it effects the little boy she calls friend.
Hana's parents are surprisingly normal, considering.
The Yamada family aren't a big household name in Konoha, which is probably why Raika had never head of them before coming into contact with their youngest child. Much like the Tsugaya clan they are a single family unit, not a sprawling compound like the Uchiha or Hyuga – but they are kind and seem genuinely pleased that their daughter is making friends.
Outside of school it is like Raika's induction into the Academy has elevated her from child status to something not quite adolescent but a peculiar limbo in between. Something more trusted, like the very intention to join the ninja ranks makes her more responsible. Her father still walks her to and from school on the days that he is home but other than that she is left to her own devices.
She isn't even required to stay with Kojima-san while Mugen is out on missions -though she still visits the old lady often. Which seems a bit remiss considering she has to use a footstool to reach the cooker, but she isn't going to complain – it's nice to be able to do her own thing and not have to worry about who's watching.
Except for Hotaru.
The big ginger tom stays at home -unless her father has need of him- to keep an eye on her while Mugen is away, but he's fairly lax with his duties. Though Raika assumes Hotaru reports anything important to her father when he returned, the cat is happy to let her go about her day as she pleases so long as she goes to school and is in bed by half eight.
Raika falls into a routine of waking up, preparing breakfast before heading off to school. Then, depending on how tired she is when she returns home she will do a bit of reading or practice some chakra control for a few hours and then have dinner.
Sometimes she wanders Konoha -with Hotaru in tow, because even a hidden village isn't completely safe- familiarising herself with the layout of the place and noting landmarks that would become important later on. She visits her friends or goes to the park and on one occasion stopped off at Ichiraku ramen out of curiosity. And while it was good food Raika didn't think it was anything to write home about – not that she would ever say that out loud. It was practically blasphemy.
On Fridays she helps Kojima-san with her shopping because her elderly neighbour has trouble getting around due to her hip, and in return the old woman lends her books.
Books of all kinds – from gardening to dance to survival guides. Raika reads whatever she can get her hands on - though some are more interesting than others.
There aren't many books on shinobi history – probably because it isn't actually that old and ninja are annoyingly stingy with their information lest it fall into enemy hands. Which Raika can understand but is still a real pain in the ass.
Raika learns a little about the time before the Five Great Shinobi Countries were formed, which was creatively named the Warring States Period. It seems like everything that happens within the Naruto-verse is in reaction to something someone else did. A violent reaction, nine times out of ten.
Tribes warring against each other for power. One hired ninja, the other hired ninja to defend against the first. The first hired more ninja to combat the collecting shinobi on the other side and on and on it went till finally Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara brokered peace and founded Konoha – which of course prompted the other hidden villages to be formed.
An endless cycle.
There is nothing on Otsutsuki Kaguya, the Sage of Six paths or either of his sons. Raika supposes that that kind of knowledge has faded out of history completely considering how long ago it had happened – that, or the one or two books Kojima-san has on the matter are simply lacking.
Probably the latter.
Still it is interesting and it gives her mind something to go over rather than dwelling on the mind numbing repetition of things she already knows during her school time.
More interesting still is her discovery of the Konoha Library.
It isn't very big by the standards Raika is used to, just an averaged sized building that backs onto the Hokage tower and apparently doubles as a records room of some sort. The civilian sections are open to everyone, but there are areas that are off limits which Raika guesses hold more sensitive shinobi texts and files.
Raika wonders how old she'll have to be to get into there – or failing that how heavily guarded it is. During her few trips she has only ever seen the Librarian and a few younger people sporting Konoha headbands who were probably Genin. She could sneak past Genin. Maybe. Well, probably not but she is more than willing to give it a go.
Food for thought at any rate, and motivation.
Occasionally she visits the memorial where Hikari's name is carved. It's oddly peaceful there and it's a good place to sit and think without interruption – which are many and often in her day to day (read: Hana)
Sitting beside what passes for her mothers grave Raika is alone enough that she can think about what she is going to do with her life.
She has already decided to become a ninja, that's one choice made. The next big thing that's coming would be the Third Shinobi war and there is little and less she can do about that except try not to let herself get kill-
-alone, cold- "I'm a shooting star leaping through the sky, like a tiger defying-."
The real trouble starts with Obito.
Can she do anything about that? Probably not. She'd been born just a little too early to be much use in that respect. Saving Obito would be easier if Sakumo hadn't already committed suicide – Kakashi wouldn't be such a stickler for the rules and maybe that's enough to change the outcome of things. All it takes is one small thing. Even the tiniest of stone can produce a ripple.
But no, she's too late for that as well and she can't count on Kakashi having a change of heart early on making much of a difference. Worth a shot, but she won't put all her eggs in that basket.
So if she can't save Obito then it will have to be Rin. If Rin doesn't die then Obito doesn't get blinded by his grief and turn into a raving lunatic trying to take over the world whilst unwittingly freeing a vengeful rabbit goddess.
No pressure there.
Will saving either of them do any good? At best it will delay Zetsu's plans for a few years, but he didn't seem like much of a quitter. Eventually he will just come up with something different that Raika won't have any foresight into. Minus Madara, so that's something, but is it enough to risk forfeiting the future she's seen. What good is knowing the future if it changes too much to be of any use? Better the devil you know, right?
But can she justify not trying to save them?
The answer is painfully clear and comes too readily to her mind. Yes, Raika can let both Obito and Rin die for the sake of the timeline she knows. It's dickish to the extreme, but she doesn't really know either of them -both being two years her senior in this world- and it's only in the brief flashbacks and the series finale that their characters had been explored.
They don't mean anything to her, not as much as they probably should have at any rate. And for that she can let them die?
Ugh.
Moral dilemma aside, it's making her brain hurt. Too many variables and not enough information. She needs to know more. She needs time. She needs power.
That's something she can work on at least. Carry on with her chakra manipulation – it's slow going but it's something. If she can puzzle out the more practical ways to use it other than just sticking objects to herself then maybe she can try enhancing her muscles with it.
Ninjutsu is out for the moment. Her reserves are probably still too small for anything helpful anyway and it would be too dangerous to try on her own. What would Mugen do it he came back from a mission to find she'd burnt the house down with an attempted Katon?
Taijutsu she can work on though. A strong foundation for fighting is a good start, the rest could come later. Hopefully.
It isn't a plan. Not even close, but it's something. It's motivation to do better. She already holds more cards than she's supposed to, there has to be something she can do. Something she can help with until she comes up with a better idea.
Quietly optimistic Raika hopes that maybe it will be enough.
The universe has other plans of course and just as Raika is beginning to fall into the familiar pattern of eat-school-sleep-repeat her life shifts three times in quick succession.
One thing that feels small but is actually very big; one that feels big, but in the scheme of things is actually very small – and one thing that comes out of nowhere, smacks her on the head and changes everything Raika had been plotting.
Thank you all for reading and please let me know what you think! Getting more interaction with characters from now on and should hopefully get the story moving a bit more! Please Review/Follow/Fave as you see fit. Until next time, much love!