Okay finally! They are all twelve years old now now and the start of this takes place two months before everyone graduates from the academy. By the way, i will be switching between first person and Third person throughout the story to show others views and thoughts on things too. Don't worry it won't be random swappings where you have to guess if whether it's in first person anymore, because i will only change it after these lines:
that type of line there ^ sometimes it will signify like a different place or time, sometimes it will signify a change between first person and third person and others it will signify both. Oh yeah, first person is ALWAYS Ren
I don't own Naruto, but I do own the Okami clan and everything about them and Renata/Ren Namikaze/Okami
Chapter 3 : Return Home
Silhouetted against the pitch-black sky Konoha was abuzz with life. You could clearly make out the tall buildings-even from a good three miles away in the forest where I currently stand- including the hokage tower and the light radiating off them like a display was commencing. Still eight o'clock at night wasn't particularly late.
"Home."
Standing there on the branch of a tall tree with my left hand clutching the bark to steady myself, in my beloved Land of Fire, with Konohagakure in almost reaching distance, I couldn't help but stretch out my arm and grab at the air as if I could hold the village in my palm, before bringing my closed fist to my chest.
"Six...years, that's all it took for me to make it back to you, Konoha." I said coldly, thoughts swimming in my head of pain and the ever crashing wave of water. I shivered at the thought.
Reaching inside the kunai holster strapped to my thigh, I flicked it open. It concealed both mu Kunai and my Pocky sticks box. I was pretty lucky my kunai holster was a perfect fit for both of them, meaning I wouldn't get annoyed with my feeling my kunai jostling as I ran and that I could feed my addiction.
Just thinking about those chocolate-coated biscuit sticks made my mouth water.
I pulled one out and rested the chocolate covered end in my mouth, which would continue to stay there, much like Genma and his senbon until I decided it was time to munch and crunch.
After sucking off all the chocolate I finally consumed the Pocky stick. Realizing I've had my mask down this whole time, I hastily raised it up to just below my eyes, shielding my plasters from sight also.
"Time to go." I whispered to myself. Pushing off the branch I gained enough power to propel my body a few meters before needing to repeat the step. Standard ninja travel.
I like trees.
They offer comfort, safety and shelter. I've missed them, especially as to where I've been living for the past six years, honestly when I left five days ago, after travelling for three days, Do you know what I did when I saw the first tree in the land of fire? I ran up to it and hugged around the trunk crying my eyes out in happiness. Yeah, pretty pathetic, trust me, I know.
Close. I'm so close. I can almost taste the music and fantastic foods on my tongue. I hadn't even noticed the rain starting to pour down, but I couldn't care less. This was just too important.
Then the rain started getting to me. I quickly reach behind my back and pulled on my hood that was concealed inside my flak jacket. Hastily, I wiped away at the water on my face, unnecessarily breathing rapidly and heavily.
And now I'm suddenly standing on the tree closest as possible to the Gates. It took me a few minutes to find that I was holding my breath. Peering around the trunk, my green eyes spotted two very familiar chunin, 'guarding' the gates. Well they were supposed to be guarding...instead they were having a very bromance-like conversation.
My heart lurched in pain, and salty tears trailed their way into my mouth. So many familiar scents. So many memories and good times. That had been taken away from me. I stamp my foot in anger and clench my teeth. I was owed a childhood! I had everything taken away from me. But now...maybe, just maybe it will be like before. Everything will go back to what it was...
"Who am I kidding?!" I slapped myself in the face. "I was living a lie, a cushioned life, I couldn't know of Reality even if it bit me on the nose!" I snarled, shocked at the menace in my voice.
But now I do, I know the harshness of life, the pain horrors and anguish. NOTHING will be the same again. EVERYTHING has changed.
And with that thought, I slipped down to the ground and approached my home.
Kotetsu and Izumo looked up, startled by a sudden noise outside the gate. Their eyes travelled along the path until they found someone in white walking towards them.
"Who goes there?!" Kotetsu called into the shadows, immediately adopting a defensive stance while Izumo tensed, ready to send for reinforcements if needed.
The person stepped into the light. She stood at 151 cm and was quite lean in build. Her hair was the exact same style of a certain blonde-haired Kumo Jinchuriki (Yugito Nii) excluding of course the bangs that framed her face were also tightly wrapped in bandages with each having a tuff's of hair poking out. Hair that was medium brown with a hint of red.
The girl wore white Joggy-bottoms which were just below knee-length, which had a long red marking on the outside of each leg. Her Kunai Sandals were white and she wore the regulation Kumo nin shin-guards and finger less gloves. She wore a white simple flak-jacket that was belly-button length, and underneath a tight light jade-green t-shirt.
The chunin could see two brown leather straps, one starting at each side of her hips and diagonally looping over her shoulders in an X fashion under the flax jacket. Slits had been cut in the flak jacket where two red sword hilts poked out from her the top of her shoulder blades. An extra slit that was in between the other two also had a red handle poking out of it. The flak jacket was only half-zipped up too.
But what caught their attention most was the Kumo forehead protected on a white bandanna Beeping sounded from a very dark green wrist watch, in which the girl pressed a button to shut it off.
The girl spoke under a navy blue cloth-mask.
"Take me to the Hokage." She was done with playing nice, has been for about three years now.
Kotetsu and Izumo bounded the twelve-year old's hands with strong rope, in case she tried anything, after all she was a stranger, they couldn't endanger the village or the Hokage, there have been known to be children younger than twelve and yet at jonin-level.
Including the fact she refused to talk until they took her to the leader of their village.
Willingly the girl walked with them through the streets, Izumo leading the way while Kotetsu kept hold over her being the stronger of the two. Before they had left their replacements had shown up, so if was safe for them to abandon their posts.
The girl ducked her head away from the civilians and ninjas walking passed, as they each stopped to whisper something to their companion casting wary eyes in her direction.
After the 'walk of shame' the chunin led the kunoichi up into the Hokage tower. When they reached the door to the office Kotetsu knelt down to her height.
"Now remember, only speak when spoken to and no funny business." The chunin warned with a wag of his forefinger.
"Of course not." The genin scowled.
Izumo nodded and proceeded to knock on the Hokage's door. There was a loud shuffling noise heard from inside before they were answered with a "Come in!"
The door creaked open to reveal the Third sitting at his desk. Papers were sprawled across the top in a last ditch effort to conceal an orange covered book. Unfortunately it was still visible.
"Who do we have here?" The Hokage inquired. His eyes sought out the girls face and registered the Kumo nin forehead protector.
"We were hoping she would tell us once you spoke to her, sir."Kotetsu replied.
"Leave us." Sarutobi waved them away. He wasn't stupid as to think the girl wasn't dangerous, after all he did have four ANBU in the room, just not visible to the naked eye.
Once the door closed behind the chunin, the girl looked up and fixed the hokage with an icy stare. Well he thought it was an icy stare. What the girl really was trying to do was to show his innocent eyes. But unfortunately due to her naturally narrowed eyes and what she's been through these past 6 years all she good do so far was give a cold look.
"So...what is you purpose here in Konoha?"
"To return home."
The hokage looked confused. "Where?"
"Konoha." Sarutobi noticed the girl had a strong controlled voice. Quite grown up for her age, not like the high pitched noises girls like Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka would spew. (her voice is kinda in the same league as Temari's)
"And just who are you; I'm sure someone from Konoha would not be wearing a Kumogakure headband."
"I'm a kunoichi of Kumo after training for the past year, but before that I was a Konohagakure civilian, about to be entered in the academy. My name is Renata Namikaze and this time, i wish to stay in this village."
There was a low thump noise as the pipe literally dropped from Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth in utter shock. The third spluttered as he sought for words.
"You-can't be, it's clear you are an intruder...Renata Namikaze was presumed dead six years ago."
The girl noticeably flinched at his last statement. Dead? They thought I was dead? "Sir, I assure you I am who I just said."
"Well then take off you mask and prove it. You do realize it is great disrespect to wear a mask in front of me while I'm talking to you."
pfft yeah right, you let nii-san do it all the time she thought, but then again she was an enemy ninja. She couldn't help but hesitate as she reached up with one finger and lightly pulled down her mask, resting it around her neck. The genin felt strangely naked.
"Well I see your informed as to who you are to be posing as." The hokage mentioned, getting up from his chair as he made his move towards her, still believing his theory of her impersonation someone from this village. Sarutobi traced the plasters on her cheeks.
Then suddenly he ripped them off.
The girl didn't budge, expecting it meant she could prepare herself from the pain, those plasters were held in place by a special substance meant to endure almost anything. The act nearly tore her skin off. Luckily for her she had worn these for a while, meaning they were already starting to wear off.
"hmm...paint I presume?" he questioned as he licked his thumb and wiped away the eye markings. Well...tried to. The Hokage's growing frustration was somewhat amusing to the Kumo nin as he furiously tried to erase the dark dots.
"Permanent marker then?" he was growing desperate now. Surely this girl couldn't e who she said she was. He could tell it wasn't a transformation technique and the girl did fit the persona. Same colour hair, unusual forest green eyes, similar build and tall for her age. Not to mention her consistently narrowed eyes.
The Third could also feel a large amount of chakra radiating from the girl. A familiar chakra.
"Here." The girl offered her arm and held out a syringe with the other one. "Take a blood sample and I assure you it matches that of Renata Namikaze's or my parents if you don't have any of my DNA."
"Fine!" The Hokage snapped. He was losing his patience. He jabbed the needle in her arm. Harshly. The girl winced. Serves her right...trying to fool the Hokage.He thought.
Once finished, he tossed the syringe to a hidden ANBU. "Take this to the medics, I want this done with as quickly as possible!" he ordered.
"Hai!" Came a voice from nowhere.
"Could I please sit down, I have travelled far." The hokage literally threw a chair at her. She caught it before the wooden furniture had connected with her face and placed it on the floor before settling herself down.
Several moments past.
"Do you want to ask me questions...or...?"She trailed off, unsure of what to do.
"Alright then...who was your guardian?"
"Nii-san, I mean Kakashi Hatake."
"What did Kakashi give you for your birthday?"
"My half-staffs, which father made for me when I was two months old...I don't know what happened to them though."
"Okay this is only a few select people know, what was so special about Renata Namikaze?"
The girl hesitated first. Should I tell him what else i found out? No. It's better to keep concealed.
"I could remember everything since I was born, so vividly, for example I remember when father -because mother was too busy being pregnant and all- would take me to work, often in a baby-carrier connected around his torso. I remember he would joke about it a lot, but he was always smiling. I remember when despite his calm personality, whenever he stubbed his toe or banged his head he would swear continuously until the pain subsided. The only time he would swear was then." Something I seem to have inherited.
"The other special thing about me is that I'm a strong carrier of a special chakra or kekkai genkai, which actually affects the nature and colour of my normal chakra, turning it a yellowy-gold colour and giving it light-like properties. I've also discovered recently what type of nature release I have, which was the common release trait in the Okami clan that Minato would often talk about."
The girl was out of breath, while once again the Hokage dropped his pipe.
"Sir?"
"Ahh!" the hokage leaped out of his chair. With his full attention on the Kumo nin he had not notice the ANBU's return. He ordered for them to be quick, but not that fast!
"The results, lord Hokage." The Anbu dismissed himself after handing the Third a small scroll. The Hokage grumled something about young ninja's and their interruptions when he proceeded to open it. Unclasping the latch his eyes scrolled down as the information settled in.
His hand started shaking, and if he had picked up his pipe, once more it would have fallen. His gaze met that of the narrowed eyes of the Okami girl.
"Ren...h-how?" Was all he cold manage. After all these years of searching and mourning their loss, it was Renata who found them. The Hokage had blamed himself, thinking he had failed the Fourth and Kushina.
Ren smiled. Something she didn't do very often these days. "I'm glad you remember! I always knew I could count on you not to call me by my full name."
It took a lot of persuasion and a few hours for the Hokage to get over his shock and to greet Ren, telling her of how they searched for two years before giving up. Her Half-staffs had apparently been found at the scene and Kakashi carried them with him always. Ren couldn't help but shed a few tears of joy at the thought that Kakashi still thought of her, and couldn't wait to see him again.
"I'm sorry Ren but Jonin Hatake won't be back until the day after the genin exams, two months from now."
Ren's heart plummeted like a stone.
Then something sprung to mind. "You know sir, am i not a genin of Konoha now?!" Ren asked eagerly, after all, she passed the Kumo test three weeks ago.
"Hm..."Sarutobi scratched his chin. "Well you are a genin of Kumo -which we will discuss later about, mind- but that is Kumo and this is Konoha, besides the Kumo test is different to ours, and we have only two months to go until the genin exam, which means you will have time to get well acquainted with your future fellow genin if you join the academy now and you will get a squad...this would greatly benefit you and also prove your loyalty to this village...however I'm not sure how the council members would agree,they would most likely want to keep you under guard for the rest of your life, and to not become a genin."
Go through becoming genin again? Well it couldn't hurt...hell I probably just allied both Kumo and Konoha...actually maybe not considering I ran away,lets just not worry about that for now. Ren thought to herself before turning to Hiruzen.
"Oh I'm sure they'll agree."
I couldn't help but squeal with excitement when the Hokage left to go talk with the council. Finally I was going to enter the academy.
In Kumo I wasn't allowed to because it was too late and they didn't want someone who needed catching up, so Yugito sensei trained me for the exams anyway, which I didn't find out why until the day after I passed. The exam for me was a one-on-one sword fight with a chunin,who judged how well I did. Apparently I was a natural. Must be something in my blood.
Killer B, being a good friend of Yugito's was dragged into helping me too, even though he insisted that he didn't want to and that he had his own team. But in the end he's where I learned to use Kenjutsu properly, he even gave me my own three swords,which he said I would grow into.
Now I'm sitting,waiting for the Hokage to come back, but I already know what the answer is going to be. How could the council refuse the proposition I offered? Letting me enroll in the academy and to be treated like any other genin of Konoha in return for information of what happened to me the past six years. There was also another catch. I wouldn't tell them until I became a chunin.
Ah how good it is to have some authority over those two wretched council members, Homura and Koharu.
The door creaked open to reveal The Third to have finished with his meeting. I turn my head to see he had something shiny in his right hand.
"Ren, the council agreed with your proposition, though i have to say I do not approve of you withholding information like this I agree that that was the only way for you to become a ninja. With Jonin Hatake away and the fact that you are now a Genin and are responsible for yourself, I have bought you a small apartment put onto Kakashi's bill - I'm sure he won't mind- which you will pay rent for."
"I'll be sure to thank Nee-san." I said with a smirk. "Wait-how Hokage-sama, how am I supposed to pay rent?"Confusion centered my brain.
"Well...you are a genin, just not a Konoha one yet, so I will allow you to do D-rank missions inside Konoha. Meet me here at eight o'clock in the morning, we need to register you for the academy which starts at ten to nine and inform you of your first D-rank mission for after your lessons." Sarutobi smiled somehow knowing that's exactly what I wanted to hear. Brilliant! I was itching to explore every last inch of Konoha, to meet the people again, to just enjoy being Home. Home. I couldn't get enough of that word as a warm feeling washed over me.
"I guess that's it, huh?" I asked.
"Well normally this would have taken much longer but with your refusal to tell us anything...it's best that you are to...to put it simply, carry on as you were before..." The Hokage scratched his head. I'm guessing this whole ordeal was like a dream to him, it just hasn't registered fully yet. It hasn't to me either. This was really happening...after six years!
Giddy with excitement I excused myself turned towards the exit.
"Hold on." I turned to find the Hokage holding something out to me.
"Wouldn't to forget these, now would we?" He smirked.
Keys. Of course. Can't open my new apartment without keys.
Ren walked along the wooden planks creating the walkway for three apartments. She looked down over the side. It was a long way down. But she was on the top floor so she couldn't expect anything less. Glancing at the number on her keys she frowned. No 3.
Heh, my lucky number ,she tapped each of the sword hilts on her back.
Ren remembered B telling her to make them easily accessible during anytime, hence the reason for the slits in her Flak Jacket. She also has another opening in the middle of the back of her jacket. Sometimes she would put the loops on the leather straps through that opening so her weapons were on the outside of her jacket not inside, to make them even more accessible.
If she put the straps on her jacket instead of her top it would make things too uncomfortable and would restrict her moments.
The only reason she had them under her jacket was because for some reason, having the weapons right against her back made her feel safer and more sure of herself. They were like a confidence boost.
Number 3 was at the end, which was quite cool because there was this part of the walkway that just went off on a tangent and stuck out, like someone had built a small bridge-path thingies but it all fell down apart from the first three meters. Seems for safety reasons they put a railing along it too. She decided that would be one of her outdoor thinking spots.
"It also had a great view", she noted.
no.1 being at the other end, the end she's walked up the stairs to get to. It seemed 1 was unoccupied,but from the noise coming from No.2 Ren's suspicions rose of a very loud owner. Great, just great.
She shoved in her keys and turned the lock. Satisfied upon hearing a click, she pushed open the door to find a clean ordinary apartment.
She whistled as she walked into the middle of the room. "This will do nicely, a house all to myself."
After checking out the kitchen and bathroom, the Kumo nin smiled when she spotted a comfy looking bed. In Kumo she had to stay at Yugito's house and because Yugito was pretty hardcore, they slept on camping mat's, apparently it makes you tougher, but really all it does is give you back ache.
Thankfully there was a particularly large window on the wall beside the bed, so I could wake up to the sunlight every morning. How thoughtful.
Noticing the folded pajamas on the bed, the genin smiled.
"It seems Hokage-sama thought of everything."
Then she thought back to the empty fridge.
"Well...almost everything."
There was another door she hadn't noticed before, a room opposite her bed. she creaked it open and was happy to find a training room, small but very useful. The empty shelves and desk told her that at some point she would half to buy some scrolls,shuriken and kunai knives - she only had the one-.
She got changed into her pajamas and with a smile noticed they were white with the same red markings, and liker her flak jacket, had the Uzumaki symbol in light green on her back surround by a ring of red.
Setting her watch to go off at seven o'clock, the Kumo nin climbed into bed. She was too tired to have a bath, and to be honest...she didn't want to. It's not because she was dirty or anything. She just hated water...to be fair it was more than that. She's have to get a shower head installed, that would much better.
In the morning I'll wash in the sink, Ren decided.
Ren looked up at the wall her bed rested against, and inwardly swore. There was a small window above in the wall just below the ceiling that separated her apartment from No.2's.
"Oh brilliant." she spoke to herself sarcastically. "Now not only is my neighbor loud, but I will be able to hear him very easily, thanks Hokage-sama. I really owe you one."
Fortunately the light from the other apartment flickered out. The occupant seemed to also want to sleep.
Ren shuffled under the covers and closed her eyes to feel unconsciousness washing over her. It was a good thing she's set those traps in her apartment,just in case someone tried something, it made her feel safe and sleep come easy.
I opened my mouth to yell but nothing came out. Waves of water crashed over my head as I tried to stay a float, but unable to. My legs were bound tightly leaving my arms thrashing around, trying desperately to swim, but unfortunately I did not know how.
At the same time more water was being added, someone throwing a huge bucket of it over my head, meaning the sea-level was rising. Before my feet were touching the ground and I could just poke my head out of the water to breath.
But now?
My lungs were bursting with pain as I swallowed more and more water. It continued to rain water and I could no longer feel the floor. Terror seized my body and I frantically tried to find a way out, a ledge even, scrabbling at the walls. But there was nothing.
Just pain and fear. And this time, there was no rope attached to me, to pull me out at the very last second, no second chance. Water filled my mouth and i screamed. No one heard . How could they when i was under water? Yet even if they did, they would not pull me out. This is the consequence for nearly everything i do.
Drowning. I was drowning. My hair, undone whipped around my face like seaweed. I glanced at my hands and then the rope that bound my legs and hastily tried to undo them. I was running out of oxygen, if I had any chance of surviving I needed my legs free. Pain whipped across all parts of my body, screaming for air.
Yes! The rope came loose and I kicked out my legs. I didn't know how to swim but this was a start, and hopefully would get me high enough to breath air. But my hope was slowly fading, by the bucketful as new water was continuously added. I have to try! I felt the water rush passed me as I gradually got higher and higher.
I was going to make it!
Something grabbed hold of my right foot, and I struggled to hold my breath. Looking down and I saw a snake coiled around my ankle and in the dark abyss further down, two yellow snake-like eyes looked back at me and words echoed in my brain.
"Going somewhere?"
I woke up screaming and covered in sweat, my hair sticking to my face. My whole body was shaking and it took deep,calm breathing to steady my hands. I looked to the situation at hand. I had these nightmares often, and they always involve me drowning. I tended to scream throughout the night when I did. Sometimes my captors would appear in them. But there was something wrong. I always woke up the second before I was about to die, yet that dream wasn't finished, I'm sure of it.
So what woke me up?
A clang somewhere in my apartment answered me.
So. Someone did try to sneak in. I bet they weren't expecting the trap that laid in wait. I slid cautiously from my bed and pulled on my leather straps,with weapons in tow. Pulling up my mask and taking my favourite blade, Ōshokudo -Yes I named my swords, deal with it- from the middle of my back.
One of the many things I loved about this sword was that you could wield it easily in both hands, though my other two are more suited to each hand.
With Ōshokudo in my hands I felt safer already and tip-toed across to the middle of the room . My eyes widened as much as they could, damn my stupid genes, to try to see in the dark. It was just a simple trap,really, but it was effective.
I had set three trip-wires in case the first two didn't work. Something was hanging on a wire from the ceiling. A frying pan. My brand new frying pan that now has a face print in it. And looking down from the frying pan my eyes glared at a lump of orange clothing with spiky-blonde hair.
Shuffling closer I raised my sword with one hand for safety measure while I used the other hand to grabbed a handful of the scruffy hair and yank it up in one quick motion. And immediately dropped it back down again, the kids face smacking against the floor earning me a groan.
I know this kid. At least I think I do, with the necklace on remembering things was harder than it used to, the only reason Minato was so clear in my mind was because I only started wearing the necklace around my neck the day before I was captured.
But those whisker marks.
I'm positive it's him, no other kid I know has the same markings.
Groaning brought me back to reality as the boy sat up and rubbed his face, a bruise already starting to form.
"What was that for?" he whined, not registering the situation he was in. He finally opened his eyes to see me, ready for battle.
I think I made him wet his pants. Lovely, now I'm going to have a stain in my new apartment.
A closer inspection showed no dark marks around his *cough* area.
"Gah!" he yelled, leaning away and shielding himself with his arms. Too bad I wasn't backing away. I stalked over dangerously to him, squatted down to his level,since he was still sitting on his butt, and whispered in his ear.
"Get out." I hissed.
Fear showed in his eyes but then he stood up to his full height, and to be honest, his confidence nearly knocked me over. There was too much of it.
"This apartments supposed to be empty, ya know!" He said. Actually to me he was shouting it. What a loudmouth.
"Then what are you doing here." I retorted, voice as icy as ever.
Seriously, I can't help it. It's a wonder how I managed to keep the coldness out of my voice while talking to the Hokage. I used to be cheery all the time when I lived in Konoha, I only discovered my scary side when I left after being surrounded by so many dangerous and viscous people, and now it seems I can't seem to keep the dangerous tone out of my voice. I betcha if I tried to be polite, people would probably think I'm challenging them.
Thats what happens when you're brought up by people who talk like that constantly around you, I guess. And when you've been tortured.
That didn't seem to phase him. "I heard screaming. Which means someone was in danger. And I was right!"
He pointed at me. and I internally hit myself in the head. The window! Of course! He would have heard me during my nightmare, and must have woken up and picked my lock.
I looked at him again.
"So. You're my noisy neighbor." I said quietly but in my icy tone. Oh well, people are just going to have to deal with the way I speak, too late to change it now.
He seemed not to have heard me. " You're hurting someone with that sword aren't you?I bet your a burglar! I knew it! Believe it!."
"Way to jump to conclusions." I slid Ōshokudo back in it's leather holder and folded my arms, staring at him. He probably took it as a glare because of my stupid eyes.
"You must be a burglar, otherwise why would you be wearing a mask?!"
"To hide my identity." I said simply(A/N keep in mind of her ever present icy tone, even if I don't mention it) as if it was the most obvious answer.
"Exactly! Burglars hide their identity." Oh I forgot about that part too. I was growing tired of this game.
"Are you going shut up or am I going to have to knock-you out?" I drawled.
The twelve-year old took up a stance.
"There's no way I'm gonna let a burglar get the best of me. Believe it!" He yelled raising his fists. This kid was giving me a headache. I yawned, and kept glancing backwards at the door to my bedroom.
"Look. I'm not a burglar. Can you see anyone else in this apartment? No. Now will you please-"
"AAAAAAAAAAH!" His war cry rattle in my ears just before I felt the wind get knocked out of me as we both fell to the ground.
I was not prepared for that.
I felt his weight on my hips as he drew back a fist. Narrowing my eyes even more I reached upwards with my right hand and grabbed at the air. A few more grabs. There got it.
Then with my left hand I stopped the boys punch. Well look at that. Seems I'm stronger than him. His face turned to shock, but not before I hit him in the face with the frying pan I had yanked down with my other hand.
CLANG
For a moment there I thought he was going to carry on but then he stopped vibrating from the hit and fell on me. Knocked out cold. Some drool escaped his mouth and marked my t-shirt. Lovely. What a nice house-warming gift.
I rolled him off me and took a few minutes just lying their, breathing deeply and covered in sweat. Yep...I am definitely washing myself now.
Okay, straight after I get this orange knucklehead back into his own apartment. I'm guessing he left his own unlocked. Pulling myself into a standing position I eyed him warily. Maybe I should give him a good kick in the head in case he wakes up too soon.
I tried to ignore the enjoyment as I booted his skull.
"That should do it."
sliding my arms under his armpits, i lifted him up with his feet trailing along the floor. I had a sense of Déjà vu when his head rolled back. Huh. Just like that time all those years ago, except we were both conscious and it seems one of us has gotten dimmer within that time apart.
Dragging him was proving to be easier than I thought. He looked heavy due to the bulge of his jumpsuit around his belly, but it must just be baggy, a bit like my tracksuit bottoms(A/N: they are basically like the standard uniform bottoms, like Killer B's and Kakashi's but white, I'm just gonna call them trackie's, because Thats what we call them in Britain, not pants, to us pants are knickers and boxers and whatnot)
I'walked out my door backwards with my new 'friend' in tow. It was quite nice weather outside, but when I looked down over the railings the few people who were still out late at night were wearing jumpers and shivering.
Maybe there was an advantage to be continually drenched in freezing cold water.
I kicked upon No.2's door and we entered his home. And the first thought that came to mind was what a dump it was. Second thought was that it was the exact same structure as mine, but like a mirror reflection, meaning the the miniature window also hovered high above his bed.
"What a great opportunity to get to know each other." I grumbled sarcastically.
Ramen cups were littered all over the floor, dirty clothes hung off of chains and mingled with the cups. Flies buzzed around the sink filled with food-covered dishes. Off milk was spilled on the table and there was a sour smell in the air.
When you've lived for as long as two years, as I have in a dump worse than this, two things happen.
1. You get used to it. This gives you a tolerance to truly disgusting situations.
2. You learn to appreciate even mildly clean places, and make an effort to sustain this cleanliness.
So when you see that someone has the choice whether to live in a pigsty or not, and chooses the pigsty, you tend to get a little bit annoyed. Especially with all this once good quality furniture.
I gave him a black-eye for that. He didn't seem to mind.
Then something stopped me before i put him back into his bad.
"Do you really go to sleep in this thing?" I asked the rhetorical question indicating to the orange jumpsuit. Then I that he was wearing something underneath.
So. He must have heard my screams, jumped out of bed and put his jumpsuit on over his pajamas. And now I have to strip him.
I sighed in exasperation.
With his jumpsuit now unzipped i ripped the top half off in one swift movement and shimmied his trackies off. The whole thing took about a second.
"If I get any better at this, I probably become a world-famous stripper," I snickered to myself. "But then again, why would I give up the life of danger, blood, and eternal grief of a ninja?"
Several seconds later, the boy was lying in his own bed under his stained quilt. I would have tucked him in, but that wouldn't seem like something he would do himself and would probably wind up confused in the morning, so i practically threw the quilt on him, proud of how I managed to replicate his messy life-style.
And now back to bed.
I woke in the morning to the sound of birds chirping outside. Checking my watch I found it was six o'clock. The birds must have woken me up. I've always been an incredibly light sleeper. The smallest of sounds often woke me from my slumber. This is due to being ridiculously tense, all the time. I mean every ninja is alert, but I'm high above that. I tend to jump at every tiny sound when it is silent.
Which is a bummer because it means I don't sleep properly,my shoulders hurt from the continuous tensing, and due to my alertness I wake up much earlier than I wanted to, adding to my tiredness. Even if I did get my eight hours sleep, it still wouldn't be enough because I'm so acutely aware of my surroundings I don't sleep properly, It's like only one side of my brain shuts down while the other half is still awake.
Which means I'm yawning more than a Nara.
A sour smell caught in my nose made it twitch. Right, I forgot to have a bath, and I'm still covered in sweat. Not to mention it's pretty warm today. Stretching, I slithered out of bed, not bothering to walked properly as I hobbled to the bathroom. I filled the bath only a third full with cold water, before very cautiously -and after changing out of my clothes obviously- dipping my toe in, to check if it was safe.
When i felt the bottom of the bath I released a sigh of relief;i didn't realize I was holding my breath. It took me a full ten minutes to settle in the bath, my arms hugged my knees to my chest while i breathed deeply.
"It's okay,It's okay." I told myself, repeating it over and over again while I reached out for a sponge and began washing myself, careful not to pour too much water on me at once. I even managed to shampoo my hair, noticing i still had time left. That was the easiest part of my body for my to drench in water.
Glanced at my digital watch: 7:10.
Wow, I've really improved at the rate I've washed myself. It used to take hours for me to finish washing, just fear of drowning made me very reluctant and too careful. I've only been too a Hot-spring once.
I took one look at it and ran away with a second glance.
By the time I toweled off my hair, combed through all the knots and gotten changed along with my leather straps and blades -which I'm wearing on the inside of my flak jacket today- , I still had twenty minutes to spare. So I applied my super sticky plasters, and pulled up my mask before moving onto my hair.
It's not like I'm copying Yugito's hairstyle -Okay I kinda am- It's just we both have a very similar hair-shape and her method of keeping it out the way is handy. But unlike her I also wrap my bangs in a sort of bandage-plait. I took out my bandages from my pocket, twisted my hair in one hand to make it thinner and pulled on the bandages with my teeth.
With my hand holding the bandage roll, I managed to wrap it round the majority of my straight hair,while leaving the last five inches of my hair free. My hair was pretty damn long and The bandages didn't start too close to the base of my hair like Yugito's did,so my hair bunched out a bit around my head and covered up my ears from the side.
This meant unlike Yugito my bangs were free(due to not being long enough to be kept in by the bandage), so I bandaged them in a similar manner
I just really didn't like my ears exposed, too many memories of water getting sucked in. I wanted to shield them from that.
And last but not least, my Kumo nin bandanna Just because I'm not a Konoha genin yet doesn't mean I'm going to stop wearing it. I am a genin anyway, just of a different village, I earn't this headband, now I just have earn the Leaf headband too.
Naruto balled his hands and rubbed them in his eyes, getting rid of the sleep that had formed during his rest. He looked around to find himself in his apartment, his quilt tangled up around him as it usually is when he wakes up. His face felt extremely painful for some reason.
"What a weird dream that was." he yawned and stretched looking at the time on his alarm clock:
7:45
"Hey! I actually woke up only ten minutes after my alarm this time! New record! Believe it!" He fist-pumped the air and scrambled out of bed.
He didn't bother picking his way through the rubbish on his floor and just trampled through, bladder about to burst and whatnot. He stumbled into the bathroom and let out a sighed at he released last nights Ramen's soup into the toilet. He flushed wiped, the spun around, ready to go back to bed for another twenty minutes of sleep. The his eyes caught the mirror.
"WHAT THE HELL!"
Ren left her apartment just after she heard a large shout from next door and chuckled to herself.
"It seems he saw my little 'gift'."
She decided to take her time walking through the main street. Feeling Nostalgic, Ren ran over to a very familiar looking gap in between two stalls and stepped over the sandbags to trace a finger along a crack in the wall.
"Still here." But then why wouldn't it be? She couldn't help but think that when she returned everything of her existence would be erased, that she would be forgotten.
But she was only half-right. Even though she was stated deceased, she had left her mark on this village, physically and mentally, this wall and from what the Third told her about Kakashi still carrying around her half-staffs, were proof of that.
She left the wall and continued on her way to the Hokage's tower, people and ninja alike were giving her odd looks. A few were even about to arrest her, wondering as to why a Kumo nin was walking their streets, yet then again she must be allowed otherwise she be tied up and be escorted by one of the guards on the gate.
Ren reached the Hokage tower five minutes early. While ascending the stairs to the office she glanced at anyone giving her odd looks making them duck their heads. I guess having narrow eyes does have it's perks. she thought. I don't even have to put much effort in and people think I'm glaring at them.
The genin knocked on the Hokage's door and entered when she heard a 'Come in'. Satisfied to see only the Hokage there and not Homura and Koharu along with him, she sat stood with her arms crossed facing Sarutobi.
"I can see from the expression on your face that you've met our prankster." The Third stated not looking up from filling in his papers.
What?! How could he know about that? Is my face giving something away? Ren thought
"If your wondering how i know, it's because of that scowl on your face,". Hey! Thats just my normal face! She almost retorted back a him. "There's a reason i put you in the apartment next door to his. I specifically remember the brat complaining to me one day how his new friend didn't turn up at the academy like she said she would, and what else happened that day. I'm sure you too will get along."
Like a house on fire
The Hokage smiled. But that wasn't the only reason. The fact was both the children were orphans, and he thought it would be ideal for them to stick together.
"There are acceptance requirements, Ren."Hiruzen warned her. Then he proceeded to read them out after he put on his glasses
"One. You must love the village and hope to preserve peace and prosperity."
"I do love this village, I came back, didn't I? And after what I've been through I will try my hardest to not let anyone disturb the peace we have."
" Two. You must have a mind that will not yield,able to endure hard training and work."
"I never gave up, even when I only had a year of training to be become a genin." Mind I didn't get to learn anything about ninjutsu and genjustu. I only needed to learn Kenjutsu and taijutsu, and since Sword fighting came to me easily, after a year I managed to pass the exam.
" Three. You must be healthy in mind and body. If the conditions are met, your admission into the academy will be granted."
Ren panicked at the last one. She's healthy in body, but as far as the mind will go, she's pretty messed up in some parts. But the Hokage didn't need to know that.
"I am."
He raised an eyebrow at that,suspecting she was holding back, but dismissed it anyway. He scribbled his name and signature down on a scroll, her name too then handed out the quill for her to sign her signature.
After doing so The Third cleared his voice.
"The Academy starts at ten to nine every week day for registration. There is a short fifteen minute break and a lunch break. You can got home at three o'clock unless your teacher asks you stay. But don't worry they won't, I've written in the scroll that you are not permitted to stay behind because you have missions to complete, and speaking of missions I have a number of D-ranks here for you to choose."
Ren smiled. She always like the Third, he was a good leader and cared for everyone of Konoha. Still she couldn't wait for the D-ranks, it would give her a chance to explore more parts of Konoha.
"You have a choice between painting a fence, babysitting, or catching a small thief in this village?" Sarutobi guessed at which one she would go for.
"The thief,please." That was the perfect opportunity. It meant she was allowed to explore most of Konoha AND practice her ninja skills.
"Check. After the academy report to the Ichiraku Ramen stand, they were robbed of their money and ramen ingredients." He said as he threw two scrolls at her. One, one containing her admission into the academy and the other with the mission details. He dismissed her with a wave of his hand.
"Err.. Hokage-sama?"
"Yes?"
"How am I supposed to get there? I don't know where it is?"
"I'm sure you know someone who does, now away with you, can't you see I'm busy." He gestured to the paperwork on his desk. Most of it was in fact about Ren, but she didn't need to know that.
Ren gave him a confused look before exiting.
She stomped down the stairs scowling to herself. Great now the Third won't tell me who it is, i have to work it out for myself Ren thought as she made it down to the main street again. Not sure which way to turn for the academy she asked a civilian who gladly pointed her in the right direction.
A flash of memory skipped in her mind of Ramen cups littering the floor of a certain apartment.
"You've got to be kidding!" She yelled out in exasperation when it finally clicked who the Third meant, earning a few looks.
Startled by the sudden beeping from her watch, Ren stubbed her toe on a random plank of wood on the ground. She grabbed her foot and started hopping on the spot swearing at the same time.
"Fuck,shit,fuck,shit,dammit, whorefuck,chickenshit,fuck,shit..." until the pain started to go away. She looked around annoyed to find disapproval in a lot of human eyes. I'm making myself out to be weird
Remembering that her watch was beeping, Ren clicked the button to stop it and looked at the time : 8:49
"I'm going to be late."
"Fuck."
I ran as fast as I could, which was an alright speed, but at the moment not fast enough. I really didn't want to be late. That would be making an entrance and every ones attention would probably be focused on me for a while. Not something I wanted.
I came in sight of the building alongside a tree with a swing hanging from it. I noted another thinking spot. Panting and huffing, I gathered my breath out side the academy doors before entering myself. The doors led onto a large hallway with multiple doors on each side, most likely the different age-groups.
I unstrapped my scrolls from an extra leather loop(they were all adjustable) and put one of them back, tightening the loop again. Inside the scroll was the name of My teacher : Iruka Umino. So I searched for his name on the doors and found it on the second to last one.
Standing outside, I couldn't help but feel nervous yet excited. My shaking hand reached out and turned the door handle. I was two minutes late.
Taking a deep breath, I reminded myself that I was a ninja and opened the door. The room itself was quite large and spacious with a total of nine long desks that seated three students each. Weirdly enough, one desk had four squished twelve year old's behind it. Huh. Maybe there's someone who smells really bad in here and I'm gonna have to sit next to them.
All eyes turned on me, so I glared back and felt satisfied to sea most of them look away. Wimps. It seems my entrance interrupted Iruka shouting out the register. I thought I recognized that name! And now that I see that signature scar I'm positive.
I knew him briefly before I left. Hell knew a lot of ninja before i left, so it shouldn't have been a surprise. But it was.
"Excuse me, but you're not supposed to be in here." His voice brought me back to reality.
"Actually I am." I told him, handing him the scroll. He took it without hesitation and skimmed through it.
I sneaked another peak and noticed that the Hokage had added the extra information about my headband, genin rank,weapons, basically everything I told him before. While she waited for him to finish, Ren studied her surroundings.
A massive window on the right side let sunlight stream in and the blackboard had the register written on it. I recognized two names.
Ino Yamanaka and Shikamaru Nara.
Well that was nice. I remember Kakashi talking to their fathers once while I played in the back with both of them. Well...sorta played. We spent most of the time cloud watching and then trying to get Shikamaru to actually move, and Ino was so bossy about who did what that I lost interest and in the end we watched clouds again.
At first I thought the register was in alphabetical order, but then I realized it was in seat order. So we each had permanent seats until we became Konoha genin. I just hope whoever I'm sitting next to is the silent type.
A sort of quiet strangled noise made it's way out of Iruka's throat. I'm guessing he finally found out who I was. I feel kind of guilty. He, like a lot of other ninja must blame themselves for being able to find me. But it's okay I'm here now.
I tried to give him a reassuring smile but my face would not allow it. What is up me?! I swear the Hokage must have magic fairy dust in his room because that's the only place that I act like who I used to be.
Iruka got over the shock pretty fast.
"Welcome back Ren." He smiled warmly at me. Now that is the type of welcome I expected after being away for six years, not accusations of being an intruder. Thank you Iruka.
He then turned to the rest of the class.
"Class we have a new student today, who just transferred from Kumo and will be joining us for the next two months. Please make her feel welcome." Iruka gave me another encouraging smile.
"Sensei!" A girl with unusual pink hair stood up. "Why does she already have a headband?"
Before Iruka could answer, I interrupted.
"Shouldn't you be asking me that question?" I warned. How rude. The girl grew silent and sat back down.
"Please take a seat." Iruka gestured to the desks. The only seat available -Not gonna make a four-man desk, I value my elbow space- was in between two boys on the far right,Halfway up. Unfortunately one was wearing an orange jumpsuit and I couldn't keep the groan out of my voice.
I trudged up the steps and wondered why the kid hasn't sprung up yet, yelling accusations. Took me a few second to figure out he was asleep, drooling on the paper in front of him. As long as he's quiet.
I prepared to take the seat beside him and the other boy when I noticed this seat had a bag on it. Assuming it belonged to the boy on my left(not the orangutan because it had an identical symbol to that of the one on the back of the boy, I crossed my arms and turned to him. I thought we didn't have to bring bags...Glancing around quickly gave me the impression this boy was the only one.
"Excuse me, could you please move your bag?" For some reason apart from Iruka, the whole classes attention was on us, and I was getting a lot of glares from a substantial number of girls, including Ino. What the hell?!
Somehow it came off more as a challenge than the politely question I was hoping for. The boy didn't even look up at me when he spoke. I swear these kids have no manners.
"Make me." He said in a cool voice. So this is why no one's sitting next to him. He won't let them. And it looked like he wasn't challenged about it or those who did, lost. Iruka was oblivious to the whole thing so I took matters into my own hands.
I reached for his bag, but with moves the Yellow Flash would be proud of -Sorry I take every opportunity to mention my father, because he's just too cool- the boy grabbed hold of my wrist.
Oh it's on.
I decided to test his strength. I wasn't particularly amazing strong, but my strength rivaled a lot of boys my age. I tend to rate skills have out of five. My own strength is 2.5, and with the way my arm was pushing the boys hand away from me I'm putting him in my head as a 2.
I could see him frowning, still not looking at me. Maybe it's time for him to let go. I gave a massive pushed and his grip came loose, and with my other hand a grabbed the bag off the chair, sat down, and threw it in his face. There's nothing like throwing a little bit of luggage at someone who is getting increasingly on my nerves.
I probably could have just removed the bag with my other hand after he grabbed my wrist, but somehow that would be backing down and declaring he was the winner. It wasn't a challenge to see if I could remove the bag,well that bit too, but more like a test of strength. And I won.
Surprisingly the kid had slept through all of it, even if it was just a quick scuffle. I realized Iruka forgot to mention my name. Then again, he'll add it to the register.
"Sasuke Uchiha!" Our sensei called out.
"Here." Mumbled the pile of shit beside me. He's an Uchiha?! Well chickenshit.
"Renata Namikaze!" Yep, I was right.
"Here." I replied. And I noticed a few of the head in the room perked up. Of course. Wanting to know what I was called and whatnot. I am the new kid after all.
But then, I almost forgot the other reason, there will be a few book-smart pupils in here that will recognize the Namikaze family name. And I wonder if Ino and Shikamaru remember me too. With a quick glance in their direction, I huffed in disappointment. Ino didn't seem to notice anything different. Then again we were about five when we played together.
Yet a head did turn in my direction. Shikamaru. Of course he wouldn't forget easily. He's a Nara, one of the sharpest minds on the block. And I have to say, this is the least laziest I have seen him look, it's almost amusing. I put my hand up in a piece sign as a sort of silent greeting.
It still didn't wipe the shock off his face, or change how he was calculating how it was possible.
"Naruto Uzumaki!"
"Here." yawned the kid. No Way! How was he an Uzumaki! Does that mean I'm related to him?! I almost threw up at the thought. Then I calmed myself down. If I was, it would only be very, VERY distant because I remember Kakashi saying how my biological father was not a direct descendant and according to the DNA tests concluded that he was only quarter Uzumaki, making me one eighth. Which wasn't too bad.
In the back of my mind -since I found out about my clan and how they were very close with the Uzumaki's,especially since they both originated from Uzushiogakure- I told myself that if I ever met an Uzumaki man when I was older, I would marry him, and considering they were pretty rare these days, it would have to be the first one I met.
And now thinking about it, I never expected an Uzumaki to be like...like..what was his name again? Oh yeah; Naruto! I nearly emptied the contents of my stomach again. Yeah I think I'll have to go back and revise that goal.
Luckily, he went back to sleep. I shifted my body a bit to get into a more comfortable position, the chairs were in a curved like shape to help your posture but all they did was make my swords uncomfortable for me, which is a first.
Something dropped out from underneath my flak jacket and I swore quietly. I must not have done up the loop properly and feeling around, indeed my mission scroll was not longer there. I went under the desk to retrieve it. Sensei had gone out of the room to talk to a boy with Red markings on his cheeks that had just punched someone, so I was safe from being shouted at.
Now I was completely under the desk reaching for my scroll that had rolled sideways to the left. It seemed to had rolled under the Uchiha's legs and to the edge of the desk stand. Great.
Hopefully the raven haired boy won't notice. I crawled cautiously along the floor and managed to maneuver myself around under the Uchiha's legs. Why does he have to be so awkward and stretch them as far as they can?!
Okay, I think I'm in reaching distance. Stretching out my right hand I made a grab for it. But somebody got there first. I glanced up to see the lump of shit smirking at me while taking my scroll above the desk. Bastard.
In a desperate attempt to get it back I accidentally tried to stand up too soon and banged my back against the roof of the desk, hurting my back and also producing a loud clang from my blades.
"Okay slow down. Back out, slowly." I told myself as I shuffled out from under the desk. I climbed back onto my seat and fortunately for me the Uchiha was taking his time opening the scroll. And I could take a guess why. He wanted to do it in front of me.
"Give that back." I warned, and this time I made my eyes even narrower. I'm sorry but no one can match my badass glare. Just like no one can match that stupid smirk he gave me.
I smiled. He hasn't seen my headband yet, he wasn't paying attention when that girl called out about it. He must think he's far above me, otherwise he wouldn't be holding my scroll right now.
He opened it and I reached behind my back out of habit. No that's too much. So I reached for my Kunai instead. A few seconds was all it took for me to get behind him and thrust the weapon under his chin.
"Give. It. Back."
He ignored me. So I cut him. Not deeply, but just enough for him to know I'm not playing around. And he flinched in surprise. I took the chance.
I snatched the scroll from him.
"Sorry little Uchiha, but that's confidential, It's something for ninja like me, not wittle academy students like you." I couldn't help but rub it in his face.
"Pfft. Your not even a genin yet." He retorted, with a little bit of anger in his voice. He still wasn't looking at me.
"Wow he speaks." Then I tapped my cloud forehead protected. "What do you call this then, Uchiha?"
He finally looked up, onyx eyes finding my own before rising a little higher and they widened in shock. I will never get tired of seeing that.
"I rest my case." I said.
"Hn." He replied turning away and frowning once more. It felt good to know he was confused. Yet it was obvious he was intrigued and I'm sure if it wasn't for his arrogant attitude, he would have asked me about it. Then a sudden voice broke the tense atmosphere.
"Don't you dare talk to Sasuke-kun like that. You just got here, just because your the new kid doesn't mean you get to do whatever you want. You're a nobody, so Sasuke won't go out with a girl like you just because your playing hard to get!"
I didn't realize this guy was so popular. Hey! His name is Sasuke! What a common name! I've met two in Kumo. Unlike the one here they were actually quite friendly. Wait a second did she just say...
"Yeah!" Piped up another voice. This one belonged to the girl with pink hair. "Sasuke is too good for you, go back to Kumo where you belong!" Ouch that was uncalled for. I looked back at Sasuke...whats so special about him?!
These girls really weren't doing Kunoichi any justice. They were pretty pathetic. But I decided to get the best out of it.
"Fine! Anyone want to swap seats with me?!" I offered. A look of pure terror lit up Sasuke's face. Hehe...I know your weakness, Uchiha.
Unfortunately Iruka chose that moment to rejoin the classroom. "Right class, lets go outside into the training arena. We are going to test out our Taijutsu skills in one-on-one fights. The winners of each match will fight each other and the losers will also go up against each other. Then we will have an overall winner."
Oh taijutsu. I'm not too shabby at that. I'd say I was a 2/5. I practiced hard within the passed year, but without training for five years It's taken a while for my body to get used to it, I have a natural talent for it, unfortunately my body is not young enough for it to be ingrained as much as it would have been if I had stayed in Konoha and attended the academy.
Shame that.
And then Naruto woke up. He still looked half asleep. The twelve year old looked at me then to his right. Then he looked back at me and got the shock of his life.
"GAH! IT'S YOU!"
This is going to be a long day...
I bet no one expected that! Okay maybe you did but oh well.
I corrected the spelling mistakes and put in missing words on chapter 2. but if I missed any do tell. Same here on Chapter 3 but I think I did better with this one.
And no Sasuke's not gonna be like " Oh Ren I love you because your not like the other girls, you dislike me, lets get together and make babies." sorry that's not gonna happen, I just don't see it in Sasuke's personality at this age.
Ren is very, very distantly related to Naruto, which in fact in the ninja world would make her an ideal candidate for his future wife, because of her Uzumaki genes she could carry on the line without tainting . I'm not saying that that is going to happen, just pointing it out.
So yeah please review if you read it. Even it it's just one word like "Good" or even a letter! Also just to say I know the whole meeting with the Hokage is a bit non-realistic, but that's because Ren is refusing to tell them and they are not gonna get her interrogated because she's already been through enough and it might shift her mental stability, The could use Inoichi, but the Third felt that Ren had a right to keep them to herself, and secretly he wants her to become a chunin.
Ren is stronger than most of the boys because her swords are not particularly light and so she needed to build up her muscle mass so she could wield them without getting tired.
Okami out