Chapter 6: Okarina's surprise

The test had gone well for Okarina, but as she made her way home, she was less than happy. In fact, by the way she slammed her front door as she entered her home, ran to her room, threw herself upon her bed, and screamed as loud as possible, she was apparently quite distressed.

Her noisy entrance had gained the attention of everyone in the house, and soon her aunt, sister, and cousins were surrounding her.

"What has gotten into you?" her aunt demanded.

"Yeah, sis, what's wrong?" Kana wondered.

"Are you ok, Okarina?" Both her cousins said in unison.

Okarina's only response was a loud groan.

Her youngest cousin, just slightly younger than Okarina, jumped onto the bed next to her.

"Come on, tell us what happened? Please...Nee-san..." she begged.

Okarina sat up and folded her arms across her chest.

"They won't let me be a ninja!" she yelled.

"Ok…so you failed your first test…" Kana said, "so just try out again next time."

"But I didn't fail!" Okarina yelled, "In fact, I got one of the best scores in ninjutsu in the entire class!"

"Then why are you so upset?" asked her 17 year old cousin Aya. She looked at Okarina quizzically.

"Because!" screamed Okarina, "I practiced every day for months until I had those jutsu's mastered, I missed out on sleep, skipped meals, and, they wouldn't give me the headband or pass me on, just because I wasn't born here! They said if I ever wanted to be a ninja, I had to take the test in my town of birth, the hidden leaf village! They don't want me here. The only person who said I should pass was Minami-sensei. So long as I'm here, they'll never let me graduate and become a ninja. All because I'm not from here! I mean, I've lived here for as long as I can remember! It's not fair! Not one bit! Why didn't they just tell me that in the first place before wasting all my time!"

With that she slammed one of her pillows onto the ground. "Stupid…stupid…STUPID!" She yelled.

"I was the only one to be rejected. Even stupid Chinatsu got a headband, and she's just plain horrid!" She covered her face with a pillow and screamed as loud as possible.

Okarina's family just watched, their eyes open wide, staring at the young girl.

"Ummm…Okarina, why don't you just calm down? You know, throwing a temper tantrum isn't exactly lady like." Kana said, putting a hand on Okarina's shoulder. "It's not that big of a deal. You don't have to become a ninja right away. Just wait another year. Maybe they'll change their minds."

"It is a big deal!" Okarina snapped. "I HAVE to become a ninja NOW! I don't have time to waste. If I don't start now, I'll never advance far enough! I have to become a great ninja for…" she stopped herself and took a deep breath. "well…I just have to! I promised!" Tears threatened to fall from her eyes as she looked at her speechless sister.

Kana motioned with her hand for the others to leave, and their aunt led her children away, shutting the door behind her.

Alone, Kana looked at her sister.

"What promise?" she asked. "Who'd you promise and what was it?" Kana leaned closer to her sister.

Okarina looked away. That was a secret that only Kenji knew. Kenji, her older brother, her favorite sibling, the brother she hadn't seen in almost 6 years.

"I can't tell you." Mumbled Okarina, "It's a secret I've kept for a very long time, and I don't intend on ruining my record!"

Kana growled, "You either got this stupid idea from Mom, Dad, or Kenji. I'm smart enough to realize that. Okarina, if you think becoming a ninja will make up for Mom and Dad's death, don't even bother! Their death was during the mission, a typical death for one who's chosen to live the life of a ninja. It was simply a case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Nothing else! You need to get that through that thick skull of yours. I know you think there's more to it than that, but there isn't. And if you think that becoming a ninja will help you find something else out, you're wrong. Kenji never found anything out and he's a jounin! What makes you think you'll find out any more than him?!" Kana was yelling now, staring at Okarina fiercely.

"Kenji's a what?!" Okarina asked quietly. "He was a genin when we left. How would you know something like that? We haven't talked to Kenji since I was 6." She glared up at her sister and stood up. Kana stood up as well, and was towering over her much smaller sister. "What aren't you telling me!" Okarina's hands were on her hips and she glared at her sister.

Kana gasped and covered her mouth quickly.

"Auntie told me not to say."

"Auntie's not our mother! No matter how much she looks like her, she's not!"

Kana sighed. "I know she's not our mother, but give her a break. She's trying to care for us as good as mom did. I mean, she's taken good care of us for the last 6 years. Plus…well…ok…this was supposed to be auntie's surprise for you later, but maybe if you act surprised when she tells you, I won't get in trouble."

Okarina looked at Kana quizzically. "Ok...whatever...I promise I'll act surprised…sooooo what's going on?" Okarina's voice was firm and demanding.

Kana sighed and place her hands on Okarina's shoulders. "Well…we got a letter from Kenji a while back, and he wanted Auntie to send you back to Konoha. Apparently he heard you were training to be a ninja from a teacher of yours who was traveling up that way. He wants you there right away, but auntie didn't want to send you off until you were definitely ready to go. And today, after you left…well...she told me that she figured you were ready. She decided your old enough to not need her help anymore, I guess. She was planning on telling you at dinner."

It took Okarina a moment to register what her sister had just said. She was going back home…to Konoha. She'd finally see her brothers again. She'd finally be somewhere she could be accepted. She smiled wide and tackled her sister in a hug.

"Oh my goodness! I have to find Auntie right now!" She screamed running out of the room.

"Wait, you said you'd act surprised!" Kana called after her, but it was far too late. Okarina had already run into the hall and had tackled her aunt with the biggest hug she had ever given anyone. Her cousins stared on in shock as Okarina ran around the house gathering her belongings, preparing for her long trip back to Konoha.