Class started, the tanned skinned teacher leaning over his desk, palms spread on the surface.
"Alright, we have one new student, Izumi Mori."
I bit my lip, standing. Looks of horror were dawning on the faces of the other students, and I giggled inwardly, before sitting down again.
"Good, now that we're introduced," he started again, walking to the front of the desk. "Let's proceed out to the training grounds, where we can spar."
We filed out, and now stood in front of a few stumps.
I briefly had flashes of the tiny training area Haruki set up for me.
My stomach clenched, and I swallowed rapidly, blinking.
"Izumi-chan?" Naruto whispered, leaning over with a worried look.
I waved him off, regaining my composure and focusing on the wooden post in front of me.
"Alright, so these are the pairings," Iruka said, "Katsu, and Ami, Sakura, and Shikamaru, Ino and Choji, Kiba and Naruto, Shino and Hinata, Ren and Hana, Izumi and Sasuke." I groaned. Just my luck. The very guy I had manged to piss off, a minute before.
"Sasuke and Izumi will start," he said, then stepped back, letting his hand fall.
We walked forward, circling each other.
I darted forward, catching him off guard. Grinning at him, I stomped on his foot, grinding it in.
He yelped, and I brought my left hand up, and punched him in the gut.
He retaliated with a spin, pulling me off balance and throwing me over his shoulder.
I rolled out of the way of his foot kicking at my ribs, and snagged his other ankle, pulling him onto the ground with me.
He punched me in the jaw, and I saw stars for a moment, before shaking them out of my vision, and grinding my teeth.
Iruka, who was standing at the side, with the rest of the children, looked faintly worried, while Naruto, who was bouncing around at his side, was yelling my name, punching the air.
I twisted away, back-flipping once and skidding to a stop, one hand planted on the ground, and the other holding a kunai.
"Izumi-chan!" Iruka called, striding forward. "This is a taijutsu spar only!"
I blew a strand off my face, before pocketing the kunai and charging at Sasuke.
He blocked my blows, then caught me in a choke-hold, until a brought all of my weight down on one of his feet. Again.
He dropped me, then rolled away as I sent a fist flying at his stomach.
"Alright," Iruka called, raising his hand. "Enough."
"Hehe, uke, I'll get you next time," I said, huffing.
His eye twitched, and I mentally gave a cheer.
Unfortunately, he wasn't one of my favorites, as he didn't follow Kakashi Hatake's rule, 'those who break rules are trash, but those who abandon their comrades are even greater trash.' Or something like that.
I walked away, before sitting down, gazing at the far horizon.
"That was a good fight," I looked up to see a wolfish grin, and the gray-white of a puppy.
"Kiba Inuzuka." I said, grinning. "Thanks."
He sat down, Akamaru scampering around.
"So, you're Izumi Mori?"
I nodded once, my eyes fixed on Katsu and Ami.
"Not much of a talker?"
I shrugged, then grinned. "Maybe."
He laughed. "Alright then."
A silence fell between us, as I closed my eyes, remembering.
Time slipped by, faster than running water, and at some point I heard Kiba leave.
Maybe this won't be so bad, I thought, as I heard Ren, Katsu, Naruto and Kiba return and sit down, bickering among themselves.
Now, the night breeze ruffled my hair, and the stars gleamed down at me, as I looked back up at them.
I was perched on the edge of the roof, my knees pulled to my chin, and my loose night gown pooled around me.
I tipped my head, feeling tears run down my cheek.
"I miss you so much, Kaa-san, Otou-san, Haruki." I whispered, leaning my face against my knees. "So, so much."
Sorrow as well as anger churned in my stomach, and before I knew it, I was slipping into my room, changing into my training clothing, then I was heading towards one of the training grounds.
It was empty, the inky blackness of night swallowing any details it might've had.
I didn't care, I just ran forward, unleashing my fury on a wooden post.
Kunai, Shuriken, my hands, feet, anything worked to aleve the bursting emotions that over whelmed me.
Several hours later, I stepped back, my hands bleeding and cut, my reserves of things to throw had dwindled to about nothing, and the post was smeared and smudged with crimson.
I panted, slumping to the ground.
"You alright?" the voice startled me to my feet, and I clenched my hands, feeling fresh pain burn from them, and the partially died blood break.
"Who's there?" I asked, turning in a slow circle.
Someone stepped out of the shadows. Silvery hair, the mask. Oh. Him. "Who are you?" I said, eying him 'suspiciously', when in all reality, I just wanted to go and hurl into the bushes.
Kakashi Hatake walked forward, sitting down beside me.
"Kakashi. You?"
I huffed, sliding to the ground again.
"You know who I am."
He tipped his head. "Izumi Mori, only survivor of the Mori Clan killing."
I clenched my teeth, then nodded once.
"Go home, Izumi. I'll see you soon." and with that, he was gone, with only the sudden coldness of the empty spot beside me to remind the world that he existed.
Alright, I want to apologize for the OOCness of this chapter.
And I want all of your honest opinion. Is Izumi a Mary-sue? Come on, tell me, please!