After dinner last night, Granny had urged you to go with them. You told her to give you a few days to think about it. Today you were wandering around in the forest, still absolutely undecided.
i'On the one hand, I could go with them and fulfill my destiny - becoming an amazing ninja. On the other hand, what's going to happen with Gato around? I don't want Granny to get hurt...'/i
You adjusted your straw sun hat and knelt on the ground, smoothing your black dress around you. The sun's rays just barely made it through the canopy in this small area. The atmosphere was something poets dreamed of.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't expecting to see anyone here."
Peering up, you noticed that a beautiful girl in a pink kimono had just walked into the clearing. You admired her dark hair and warm, brown eyes. Shaking your head gently, you assured her, "No, no, it's okay! I was just wandering!"
Her smile was warm, brightening the rays of sunlight themselves.
"If you don't mind me asking, miss, why have you come out here?" you asked. The girl laughed, a sound as beautiful as wind chimes.
"Your polite formality is really cute."
Heat began seeping through your cheeks as blush swept over them.
"As for your question...I've come looking for some medicinal herbs," she gestured with her basket.
i'There are herbs growing all over the clearing...'/i you noticed. Picking a few, you examined them in your hand before presenting them to her. "Like these, right?"
"Yes, exactly. Would you like to help me?" she asked.
Clapping your hands together, you exclaimed, "Yes! Yes, I would!"
Picking the herbs proved to be harder than you'd imagined. You had to remember to get as much root as possible.
"Tell me...do you have someone precious to you?" the girl asked quietly.
"I do...Granny is very precious to me."
"Would you do anything to protect her?"
"Anything and even more. Do you have someone precious, too?" you asked curiously.
"Ah...yes, I do. I'm picking these herbs for him now..."
"Who is he? Your boyfriend?"
She laughed in earnestly and said, "Not quite. Though I, too, would do anything and more to protect him..."
The basket was soon overflowing with herbs.
"Thank you for your help. I rather enjoyed your company." she murmured as she rose to her feet.
"Oh, no, the pleasure's all mine! Well, um, goodbye!"
Smiling another warm smile, she walked away. Suddenly, she stopped at the edge of the clearing.
"By the way..."
She turned and walked back to you. Kneeling, she kissed you on the cheek and whispered, "I am a boy..." where your ear should be. Satisfied with your shocked expression, he walked off, then said, "May we meet again..."
i'Wow, that was the prettiest boy I ever met.'/i you thought. Then you realized, 'iOh my God! That was the first time anyone's ever kissed me!'/i
You skipped back home in a fluttery daze.
i'That boy made me realize something...'/i you thought as you lay in bed that night. i'Granny is precious to me, and I have to stay here and protect her, no matter what.'/i
Days later, the whole town was in a ruckus. You and Granny watched as half the town took up arms to go chase Gato away.
"I'll stay here and protect you! Protecting that which is precious to me - that is my nindo, my shinobi way!" you exclaimed as you extended your claws. You stationed yourself by the door, just in case Gato's men came to attack. Luckily, the most exciting thing that happened was just snow.
"I've never seen snow in the summer!"
"Neither have I, Granny..."
Hours later, the townspeople came back, celebrating.
"They did it! They did it!"
"They chased out Gato!"
You and Granny danced around the small, decrepit house.
"Ai, you're free. You can go with those Konoha ninja, and become a full fledged shinobi yourself!" encouraged Granny that night at dinner.
"You have a point. With Gato gone, I'm sure you'll be fine on your own. I could also send home some of the money I make!" you exclaimed, excited.
"No, no, you keep your money. With Gato gone, I don't have to worry about Ryo anymore."
You nodded, a smile brightening your features.
"Once that bridge is finished, I'll become a ninja!"
The bridge was finished before long. Granny walked in your room whilst you packed.
"Are you sure that little bag will be enough?" she asked, handing you your straw hat.
"It's plenty, I'm sure. Granny, are...are you sure...?"
She hugged you.
"I'll be fine, sweetie. Just promise me one thing."
Squeezing her a little tighter, you said, "Anything."
"Stay safe."
Breaking apart, you told her, "I promise."
Granny opened the door.
"Go get 'em, Ai."
You ran over to the bridge builder's house to meet the ninja, but nobody was home. When you asked around you found out that the bridge builder's family was on the bridge, saying goodbye to the ninja of Konoha.
"Oh no! I'm late!"
You sped through town as quickly as you could. When you got to the bridge you found the ninja walking away.
"Wait!" you screamed, your old backpack flapping wildly off your shoulder, "Wait for me!"
The ninja stopped and turned around.
"Kitty Cat!" yelled Naruto as he took off towards you. He pounced before you made it to the bridge.
"You're coming with us? Are you, are you?" he asked excitedly, bouncing in your lap.
"Yes, if you'd allow me to!"
"Of course." said Kakashi as the others caught up to you. WHAM! Sakura kicked Naruto off you, proceeding to beat the crap out of him.
"Ow! OW! Sakura, I – OW!"
"NARUTO! You are SO RUDE!"
Sasuke helped you up. "You okay? That idiot didn't hurt you, did he?" he asked.
"No, I'm okay. Thanks." you murmured.
"Sasuke, keep an eye on Sakura and Naruto for me, okay? I'll be right back."
Sasuke nodded as Kakashi approached you.
"Ai, was it? I'd like to show you something."
Peering up at him curiously, you nodded. "Ok."
You followed him until you arrived upon a cliff. There was a giant sword in the ground, along with a broken mask.
"What is this?" you asked.
"I'd like you to know what you're getting into before you decide to come with us. Being a ninja isn't all fun and games. There are some missions that you or your teammates might not come back from. These are two such ninja."
You knelt before the memorial and payed your respects.
"Kakashi, sir," you began as you stood, "I want to be a ninja.
His gaze was drawn towards the sky.
"It may result in your death."
You, too, peered into the clouds, searching for the magnet that drew Kakashi's attention.
"I will become strong enough to protect those who are precious to me. That's my shinobi way."
A single white fleck of fluff floated down and landed on your cheek.
i'A snowflake?'/i you thought as it melted away.
"Let's go. The others are waiting."
You followed Kakashi towards your destiny...