Hello to my readers! I hope you like the story so far. Keep reading!
I got the idea for this chapter from a flashback from the Manga.
Disclaimer: The anime Naruto is owned my Masashi Kishimoto. I only own my characters.
"All right class! Who wants to volunteer?"
Today in class, rather than writing equations or studying the history of Konoha, Iruka-sensei decided that we should practice the ways of proper dueling. To me, this seemed like a dream come true. Finally, no mundane paperwork! I admit it's a nice change. Sensei made us line up across Training Field 8 and took his pick of the students.
"Shino! Naruto! You duel first." A boy with a long grey coat and sunglasses approached the field.
"But Iruka-Sensei! Why do I have to fight HIM of all people?" Naruto pouted.
"If you expect to be strong enough to become Hokage, you need enough experience with a variety of Shinobi. Don't you think this is a good start?" He grabbed Naruto by the sleeve and ushered him out to the vacant part of the field. "Now, before you spar with someone you make the Combat Symbol. It's just like using the Ram symbol, but you only use your left hand. Make th-"
"Ooh! A beetle!" Instead of listening, Naruto was watching a bug crawl up his forearm on fascination. When…
THUNK!
"PAY ATTENTION NARUTO!" Iruka had hit him upside the head. Rubbing the back of his head, the blonde boy grudgingly made the hand sign. Oh Naruto, will you ever learn? "Now fight!"
Shino stood adamantly, his legs bent slightly and his hands in his pockets. He looked sure of himself, but anyone would look that way if they were against Naruto at his current level. The whiskered boy shook the beetle off his arm and went charging straight for Shino. Really? You are denser than I thought.
As expected, the sprint backfired on him. Shino had side-stepped to the left, and that's all it took for Naruto to fall flat on his face. A loud "OOF!" was muffled into the ground before a glob of black started consuming his body. He squirmed for his life, at least for a little while, before he slumped to dirt once more. Shino approached his limp form and the creatures recoiled into his coat.
"You should know of my clan's ability, right Naruto-kun? My Kikaichu fed on your body's chakra, leaving you useless."
Iruka intervened and helped Naruto to his feet. "I hope you learned from this."
"Uggh.." was all the blonde could muster in his state. He struggled, but stood attentively. Glaring at the boy opposite of him, he forced back a growl that bit at his tongue.
"This is where the Symbol of Harmony comes in," Sensei stated, "This hand sign you make with your sparring partner ensures that the two of you remain allies. Go ahead, make the symbol."
Naruto frowned in embarrassment, but obeyed once again. His pointer and middle finger intertwined with Shino's, who was stoic throughout the entire transaction. Both were ordered to the line of students. The orange jumpsuit meandered next to me and sat down.
"Naruto, are you okay?" I asked as I laid a hand on his shoulder. He looked so out of it, I couldn't help but be concerned for him.
"I'm just fine. Thanks Nina-chan." He looked up at me and smiled before I heard a voice. It was Iruka once more, but when I looed up he was pointing at me.
"Umm…Yes sensei?"
"You're sparring next. I've yet to see your abilities, and honestly, I'm looking forward to it."
"I'm assuming that means you have confidence in me? You'll be impressed then."
Iruka-sensei gave me a reassuring nod before picking the next contender."Aha! Sakura, you're next."
"Who?"
A girl with pink hair and pale skin walked next to Iruka and bowed politely. She seemed nice at observation, but from what I saw she was absolutely obsessed with boys. I don't understand…She should be concerned about progress. Either way, with those faults she should be quite weak. I didn't expect such an attitude behind the pampered face.
"So YOU'RE the one he keeps watching!" She pointed an accusing finger in my face. "What does he like about YOU that I don't have?" Crossing her arms, she turned her head and glowered at me.
"Well, from my perspective, you're too juvenile for your own good."
"WHAT DID YOU SAY!" Oh boy, did I rile her up!
"Point made," I retorted.
"Ooh, you're gonna get it!" The girl looked raging mad as she pounded her fists together. But really, she couldn't pull off intimidation tactics at all. To Iruka's complaint, he insisted we stick with tradition. We hurriedly made the signs and engaged in battle.
"Bunshin no Jutsu!" Sakura had made two clones beside her, but it was painfully obvious that she was in the middle of them. She sent them after me while she prepared for another jutsu. They circled around me continuously, but I tired of them quickly. I walked right past them only to find that the real Sakura was hiding.
Sighing, I pulled my hair up with a ribbon I had on my person and wandered about. It sure doesn't feel like sparring anymore. Might as well have fun with it!
"Oh no! I must have lost her!" I feigned surprise and concentrated on finding her chakra signature. "Is she playing a game of Hide an' Seek with me? How fun!" Lucky for me, she couldn't very well control her chakra. She was hiding in a tree about ten yards from me.
"Ollie Ollie Oxen Free!" Let's see what she does…
No one came out. Her clones vanished a while ago, so she must feel pretty accomplished. "No one? At least I gave you a chance." I made a few handsigns of my own. Withing seconds, jagged pieces of ice materialized in the air, suspended above my form. "Koori wa Shuriken, Iku zo!"
The iced shuriken froze the air it sliced through, making the girl shriek and fall from the branch she was perched on. Homing in on Sakura, the ice pierced through her clothing and pinned her to the tree tightly. I walked up to her slowly, relishing the image of her under my Ninjutsu, and triumphantly smirked at her.
"Tell me, how does it feel to be bested by the girl you were gonna 'give it to'?"
Needless to say, she was shocked by the results. Fuming, she thrashed about trying to free herself to no avail. Iruka strolled up to us and showed me an appreciative smile, but not without turning stern.
"Great job, Ninamori-chan. Your progress is further than I expected." He glanced at Sakura, then back to me, "Is there a way you can release her?"
With a bored sigh, I made the signs and said, "Kai." The ice quickly melted, drenching her clothes and angering her once more. She tried covering it up with a smile, but you could just tell the pink haired student was irked. Standing, she extended her hand to me.
"…I underestimated you… Next time, I'll be prepared for you." Polite she maybe, but I still don't like her. I remained silent as we exchanged 'pleasantries' and returned back to the line.
Sitting next to Naruto isn't exactly the best place to be, is it? I thought to myself. Once Naruto started, it was hard for him to stop talking. "NINA-CHAN HOW DID YOU DO THAT? YOU'RE FREAKIN' AMAZING! BELIEVE IT!"
"It wasn't much, really," I replied modestly, "Just something I've been practicing."
"Where did you learn that from?"
"…From a good friend."
"Hey," Naruto interjected, " Can I practice with you sometime?"
"Sure, I don't see why not!"
A few days after my confrontation, I couldn't shake off the feeling that someone was stalking me. Everywhere I had been there was another chakra signature trailing my very own. It went from the market district to the park, and even to my apartments. Maybe Sakura was right. Is someone watching me?
For now, I minded my own business. I didn't know who it could be, but I'd like to recover the identity of the person before I dealt with them. In the meantime, I'll just do my own thing. Nearby my apartment there was a small clearing I found a few weeks back. So far I had been training almost every day in it. Today would be another one of those days.
I wandered astray from my living quarters into the woods nearby. A light grey stone blocked my path. Hopping over the boulder, I followed the dirt path behind it to what used to be my training area. "What is this!"
There used to be a lush patch of grass where I stood. Instead, the greenery all around me was scorched and torn to shreds. Someone tampered with MY territory. I figured if it was anyone, it would be my new stalker. I couldn't keep to myself any longer.
"Alright! I'm getting sick and tired of feeling your chakra everywhere I go! Either get the hell out of here or show yourself!"
A few moments later, a blue and white blur shot out of the trees. It was someone I knew from class. His raven hair managed to cover his pale face, but didn't hide the snide smirk plastered across it. For me, it was irritating to be near him.
"Uchiha? What are you doing here?"
"Hn." Grr, can he be annoying!
"It's obvious you were now spying on me, so what are you here for?"
"I want to fight you." He crossed his arms and stared at me with determined eyes.
"Pfft! That's all?" I widened my stance. "Why should I grant you that privilege?" He kept silent. "Well? Answer me, if you're no fool."
"From what I saw in class, I think you would make a…worthy adversary."
"Wow, are you soft in the head?" Sasuke scowled at me. "We shouldn't be fighting unless it's cooperatively. Fighting… just leads to hate." Feeling somber, I started walking away from the decimated site. However, that annoying Uchiha stopped me.
"If you dislike it so much, why are you enrolled in a Shinobi Academy?" He spit at me in venom.
"…So I can protect myself from those that want to harm me." My thoughts went back to the men in the cloud cloaks briefly. "I never want to face them again, but I have to be ready." This time it was my turn to glare at him. I shoved him aside and went on my way. After hearing so much about him through the village, it makes me wonder…
Are we as different as we seem?
Bunshin no Jutsu! - Clone jutsu!
Koori wa Shuriken, Iku zo! - Cold shuriken, let's go!
Kai - release
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