Disclaimer: I own nothing recognised as belonging to someone else.
Sorry about the wait. Between work, funeral and near-chronic depression, I haven't been up to writing much. I hope to update my other stories soon, but don't be surprised if I don't.
Naruto never fully appreciated Sasuke and Neji's complete and utter terror in regards to fangirls until he began to accidentally culminate his own in his mid-twenties after he joined ANBU. Neji had had to sit him down and explain to him exactly why those ANBU kunoichi had attempted to jump him in the locker room showers.
As it was, it took Iruka nearly ten minutes to settle the class (more specifically the girls) and another five to coax Naruto down off the ceiling were he had fled when the fangirls made their dash towards him.
It was decided the Naruto would sit in the front corner next to the door with Shino beside him and Kiba, Choji and Shikamaru in the row behind him. Hinata, the only girl not to lunge for him, was seated and the end of his row, tapping her fingers together and blushing.
The blonde resolved to find out what, exactly, had his whole class in abject awe of him.
Class was decidedly odd for Naruto, having learnt nearly everything the class was taught at some point or another. Taijutsu was merely a performing of basic kata, followed by weapons practice which was, basically, target practice with single kunai and shuriken. By the time history rolled around in the afternoon, Naruto was seriously considering swapping with a kage bunshin.
It was nearing three-thirty when Iruka informed the class that it was time for them to choose a specialty if they wanted to. The first time around, Naruto had been off chasing some prank or another and hadn't known about the specialty classes until it was too late to sign up for anything.
He also had a sneaking suspicion they would have claimed they were full even if he had turned up.
So Naruto, having practically attached himself to Iruka-sensei's side, trudged down to the seminar room with the rest of the class and looked around at the various class stalls.
As the blonde had expected, most of the boys made a bee-line for the weapon-training stalls. The drugs and poisons stall was amongst the most popular, as was the advance survival training stall.
Naruto, for his part, wandered disinterestedly through the mass of students and stalls. Students could choose up to three classes, but the blonde doubted he would even choose one.
The blond had just about decided that there was nothing offered that he hadn't already learnt or he saw little point in when he noticed the elegant woman a little apart from the other stalls.
Stopping a ways away, Naruto observed the woman, unable to place her profession, but certain that there was a uniform-like way that she was dressed in her subdued but still expensive kimono. Her black hair was styled into an elaborate knot with equally intricate combs and hairpins.
After a half-minute or so, Naruto moved closer, curious about the calm, peaceful air the woman had, despite not having many, if any, of the academy students sign up for whatever course she was offering. As he moved, he realised that she was, in fact, likely towards the end of her forties, rather than in her late twenties as the blonde assumed.
She was kneeling in a very proper fashion behind the low table, obviously having been trained o sit just so for hours. Next he noticed that the tablecloth was carefully painted silk, very expensive, and the forest green tea set was high-quality china. Indeed, everything in the stall was of the highest quality, but not overtly so.
Realising he was genuinely interested in this woman in her casually expensive stall, he wandered forward and gracefully knelt opposite the woman on the embroidered silk cushion, watching attentively as woman gracefully set down her green tea cup and inquired if he would like some tea.
Tilting his head, Naruto regarded the woman a moment before saying, "If it would not be too much of a bother for you, Okaa-san."
The woman merely smiled and prepared some tea for him.
As she made the tea, the blonde was again drawn in by her graceful movements. It was only as she set the teacup before him that he realise that she, too, had been watching him.
He took a sip of tea, noting that it was also of good quality and well made, before setting it down so he could give his full attention to the woman.
"What class is it that you are offering, Okaasan?" Naruto inquired when it became apparent that she was waiting for him to initiate the conversation.
There was a slight shift in her demeanour that she was unhappy or disappointed by the question. "I offer not merely classes, but full apprenticeships for the art of being a Geisha."
Naruto blinked and tried to recall what he knew of Geisha.
Which was very little.
He knew they were almost always women, who were trained to be companions to rich men and women. They lived in a small district in the more expensive area of residential Konohagakure. They wore white face make-up sometimes. They were excessively polite and, when he was young the first time around, they didn't mind when he hid from the mobs in their district's garden. One of the matrons had even brought him in to stay the night on a pallet in the kitchen sometimes.
Blinking again, he refocused on the woman who was demurely sipping her tea. "What does this apprenticeship entail?"
This time she gave him a startlingly beautiful real smile "The apprenticeship goes through three stages before one earns the right to become a Geisha. Throughout the first two stages of the apprenticeship, and, more often than not, the third, the apprentice will live in the house of her matron, called an okiya, within the Geisha district, called Hanamachi or 'flower towns'. After one reaches Geisha, one many live wherever one wishes."
She paused to sip her tea before continuing. "The first stage of apprenticeship is called Shikomi. The duties of a Shikomi include maid work and is designed to make or break the new apprentices. The youngest Shikomi, or the most junior, is often called upon to wait up for the senior Geisha late into the night and early morning before being able to retire themselves. During this stage of training, the shikomi will also go to classes at the hanamachi's geisha school. This stage exists to accustom the apprentices to the traditional dialect, traditions and dress of the karyūkai. That is to say, the 'flower and willow world' which is explained in greater detail should you choose to accept the apprenticeship." She added at Naruto's curious look.
As she continued, the Geisha went about making more tea for the two of them, and a third for Hyuuga Hinata, who had appeared sometime during the Geisha's explanation of living arrangements. Naruto had been so focused on what the Geisha was saying that he hadn't noticed when she knelt beside him.
Hinata appeared to be just as enthralled by the elegant woman as he was.
"To reach the second stage, one must show a proficiency in the Geisha arts and pass a difficult dance exam. Should one pass, they will be promoted to the status of Minarai. Minarai are relieved of their housekeeping duties so they may focus on training in the field. Although minarai attend ozashiki, meaning banquets in which guests are attended by geisha, they do not participate at an advanced level. Their kimono, more elaborate than a maiko's, are intended to do the talking for them. Minarai can be hired for parties, but are usually uninvited, though welcomed, guests at parties that their mentor, referred to as onee-san, attends. They charge one third the hanadai(1) . Minarai generally work with a particular tea house, called a minarai-jaya, learning from the proprietress of the establishment. The techniques learnt at the minarai-jaya are not taught in school as skills such as conversation and gaming can only be absorbed through practice. This stage lasts only about a month or so."
Despite the end of school bell having rung several minutes before and many of the students having left, the two ninjas-in-training were attentively listening to the Geisha's peaceful and soothing voice.
"The third stage is the most famous stage, called Maiko, meaning literally 'dance child', and this stage can last for years. Maiko learn from their senior geisha mentor and follow them around to all their engagements. The onee-san/imouto-san relationship is important. Since the onee-san teaches her maiko everything about working in the hanamachi, her teaching is vital. She will teach them proper ways of serving tea, playing shamisen(2), and dancing, casual conversation and more. The onee-san will even help pick the maiko's new professional name with kanji or symbols related to their own name. Regional variations exist, as the han'gyoku of Iwa are known for being sassy and the Kumo maiko are known for being demure."
The Geisha was inwardly delighted by the close focus and blantant interest the boy was showing and the longing awe of the Hyuuga girl. While it was highly unusual for a boy to show an interest, she could tell he was someone who would follow through with anything he set out to do. With his narrow features and long-lashed brilliantly blue eyes, he would even be able to pass off as an exotically beautiful girl. The Hyuuga girl, however, was the epitome of what a Geisha looked for in her apprentices. She was graceful, demure, of doll-like beauty and had the natural talent to go far as a Geisha.
The woman smiled as she finished her tea. She hadn't really held much hope of finding anyone interested in being a Geisha apprentice at the Ninja Academy, what with all those nasty rumors of Geisha being prostitutes going around, but here were two who were showing an avid interest before her.
"It appears that classes are over." The two ninja-in-training jumped and looked around, only to find that the students were all gone, leaving only Iruka-sensei and the other stalls, which were in the process of packing. The Geisha was quietly flattered that the children had been so wrapped up in her to the exclusion of everything else.
Reaching beneath the table, the Geisha pulled out two invitation cards and two small, leather-bound books. "Since we do not offer merely classes, but rather a contract-bound apprenticeship, we offer those interested this book on the Geisha lifestyle and training to those interested, as well as these invitations. These invitations are for this weekend, whereby those interested may come and spend their weekend as a minarai to see if they would truly like the lifestyle. However, as ninja, you would have to take your Geisha classes both before and after your Academy classes, as well as on weekends. Once you make genin, classes will also be arranged around your team hours and missions. This will be easier if you are living in the okiya. Negotiations are allowed for members of clans for clan business," she added for Hinata's benefit, "but the contract lasts until you reach the end of your Maiko period, which can last until you are twenty-one at the latest."
She handed over the books and invitations with a smile. "The time in upon the cards. Just go to the gate and ask for Kino Michiko."
Both ninja-in-training took the offered items, stood and bowed. "Arigato, Okaa-san. Ja ne."
Michiko sighed as she watched the children run off to retrieve their school things. She really hoped they came.
*****
Later that night, Naruto lay on his bed, turning the invitation over in his hands.
Being a Geisha certainly sounded interesting, not to mention how useful it would be in undercover missions.
He had been weighing the pros and cons since he had read the small book that detailed Geisha training, the purposes of make-up, hairstyles, kimonos, hanzashi(3), the purpose of Geisha, History of Geisha, relashionships between Geisha and Danna(4) and the differences between Geisha, Oiran and prostitutes.
Mostly he was worried about Rin-san and how she would feel if they were suddenly no longer together.
Sighing, Naruto decided that he would ponder it tomorrow and went to make dinner for himself and Rin-san.
(1) Hanadai=fee
(2) Shamisen=a three-stringed instrument similar to an acoustic guitar or banjo with silk or nylon strings.
(3) Hanzashi= elaborate haircombs and hairpins
(4) Danna=patron