AN.
Slight trigger warning for people who are against romanticizing death. I mean, if you killed yourself I'm sure you would have the license to joke about killing yourself.
Should I have put a trigger warning for that joke to?
Eh. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
I woke up feeling fresh and raring to go, a universal sign of the start of a great day. With a smile and a stretch, I got up from my futon and began eating the shit Snake-shishou wanted me to. Ninja Diet and all that. It had a lot of meat in it so it was done. It's not like they would give me SQUID or something. I shuddered at the memory of being forced to eat one of the gummy pink tentacles.
No.
Just.
No.
I packed my lunch and immediately went to Training Ground 6, with my Byakugan active. I scanned the trees around me, already expecting him to try and kill me from the get go. I focused on a suspicious looking bush in the middle of all the trees, barks and dummies. I'm pretty sure he wasn't trying. Or holding back which was highly unlikely. I don't know, can't tell what the hell is up with his head. I threw a kunai at it while subsequently drawing a senbon in my left to defend myself with.
A large purple boa was seemingly shot from the bush. I side stepped and stabbed its head mid air while it made a gross squelching sound. I shuddered and flinched, letting the senbon go. That was disgusting and also a mistake. I gasped and drew two more senbon to block the grinning Orochimaru who had a legit sword.
In training.
Against a five year old.
Who isn't genin.
The fuck is wrong with him?!
My surprise seemed to be shown on my face since he cackled while long needles and sword met, making a horrid scraping sound. "My, my, what a greeting to give your mentor." He joked while I exerted a lot of effort to at least make him use both hands. The bitch had a hand on his hip. He looked at my form with a frown "You're doing it all wrong. Use your wrist to-"
His blade skidded to the ground as I overwhelmed him with the flick of the wrist. I smirked at him cheekily before trying to stab his tenketsu points with my needles. Yeah, use your wrist to direct the blades; I got that after trying to overwhelm you didn't work I mean, what was I actually expecting? THE Orochimaru holding back just for his itty-bitty genin apprentice? Hah, the stars will fall before that shit ever happens. The madman kills KAGES out of boredom. He kicked my right senbon away as he plucked the one on the right away.
I disengaged with wide eyes as he twirled the one on my left with a smile. "Cheeky brat, aren't you? How does five laps around Konoha sound? Your endurance doesn't seem to be at least below average." He frowned, holding my papers. I inwardly hissed at the papers and his order. So I don't exercise every single day. Whoop-dee-do, do you realize how big Konoha is you overachieving prick?! He seemed to sense my distaste since he chuckled sadistically. "Five laps under thirty minutes. Let's train your speed as well."
I didn't risk groaning.
Poor Rin, though. Having a sweaty and exhausted Tokina to have an afternoon snack with. Obito was off training or stalking the silver (Rin corrected me with a huff that day I asked his name) haired kid that was actually The Hatake Kakashi.
Shame.
He looked cuter in the anime. Maybe that was just me. I took a quick shower before going to that new desert store she recommended. With my lazily put Kimono Shirt get up, I plopped down the seat in front of her and immediately put my head down on the table. She was used to me being tired anyway. Not that she had eye bags (which she masked expertly thanks to Kunoichi classes that I am not attending because I am excused for all academy bullshit.) from reading stuff about poisons or medical ninjutsu. I heard her chuckle at my suffering, the tiny sadist.
"Hard day?" She singsonged. I looked up at her who, using my Byakugan for a quick second to confirm my suspicion, was hiding her smirk behind a menu. These brats are so cheeky it's irritating. I'm the cheeky one dammit. It's one of my endearing character traits. "I had to run around Konoha five times in thirty minutes. My legs are killing me." She gave me a 'wow, you actually managed it?' look before snickering at my aching muscles.
"He's a Sanin, Tokina-chan. I'm sure he knows what he's doing." She reasoned as she called the waiter. I trusted her judgment. Besides, she knew that I wouldn't take anything else other than chocolate and or vanilla. Green Tea Ice cream? In this country? It's basically asking water for sauce. The cute waiter I so would have hit on if I was my older self and not socially inept gave us our order, a strawberry sundae for Rin and a Chocolate Cheese cake for me. I yawned before digging in. Should I have ordered water instead of tea? I mean, I have chakra to heal me anyway.
"Hey, can ninja get tonsillitis?" I asked her. She was going to be a medic, anyway. It was worth a short. I'm still going to drown myself-
Wrong word.
-Drink a gallon of water just to be sure. I don't like that sticky feeling in my throat. It's like a sign that you'll wake up with a sore throat and a bad mood. She looked thoughtful for a second. "I think so, unless that ninja can heal themselves. Otherwise we're just normal humans with the same body systems." I nodded at her answer. It sounds right. Not like we're so superhuman we don't get fevers and the like. That would be useful though.
I bid farewell to my girlie friend as I walked home with a takeout bottle of water to sip on the way back. I was all sun shine and smiles. That feeling when you hung out with a friend? That was the feeling I had and it was a feeling I missed. Maybe living isn't so bad after all. I let a butterfly land on my finger before it took flight once more. I watched it flutter to the sunset, giving off a moment that, If I had a camera, that would have made a great background for my computer.
Oh wait, no computers.
I sighed irritably. Why do I do this to myself? Don't think about the internet, Tokina. It will only end in suffering. I entered the house and took out the leftovers from last night's dinner party (Rin's dinner omelettes being to die for) and heated it in the toaster oven because I was such a lazy bitch who didn't bother putting a pan, oil and wait for two minutes. I ate in silence as I watched an owl fly by my window with a mouse on its talons. Such is the way of life I suppose. I washed my dishes, took another bath and went to sleep, resting my bones, groaning at the feeling of soft cushions and fluffy pillows.
I woke up, the tiredness gone from me instantly. Maybe Rin was right with the whole ninja chakra training bullshit she fed me the other day. I rolled my shoulders experimentally while I was still in bed. I stood up and did a few experimental stretches. Nope. Nothing. Perfect!
I began continuing the diet Snake-Shishou ordered me to eat. It might be all dandy and tasty but just you wait, I'm going to get sick of this one day and I'll start begging for veggies and fish. I drank my milk an washed my dishes and did all the normal morning routines a regular human being does.
Did I count as regular human being? I shrugged. "Eh, probably not." I blinked and snickered. Oh god, so much for hoping that talking to myself bad habit wasn't inherited. I walked back to Training Ground Six, my Byakugan already raring to go. I readied three senbons on my right and a kunai on my left to defend myself with. Since speed and endurance was focused yesterday then I'm sure that he wanted to go do an all out attack.
I blinked at the suspicious looking bush. Really? Did he underestimate me that much? I know I'm not Jonin level, you dick, but I was trying dammit. At least give me some respect! Maybe I should train my Byakugan like dad's. His is renowned for being the clearest, best and purposely trained it so he could remember the color of people's chakra. It looked like it took too much effort though. One thing at a time, Tokina. First, is your ass of a Shishou to deal with. I threw the three senbons at it subsequently in a straight line, piercing the boa hiding it. I whirled around and deflected the sword that cane out of nowhere, using my kunai to deflect it.
I got it, use my wrist, Jesus Christ. I'm not inept, you cuck. I made him skid his sword to the ground before engaging him in taijutsu, trying to pierce his skin with the kunai. I threw it at him and disengaged. He dodged it with a smirk. He rushed forward and delivered a round house kick to my stomach.
"Oof!"
"Ah, ah. How sloppy." He kneeled next to me as I clutched my poor stomach, using chakra to heal it. "I'm sure five laps around Konoha under thirty minutes would fix that slow reaction time of yours." I paled and outwardly groaned. Again? With a stomach injury? The sadist snorted. "You should get to it if you want to go home early." He said as he body flickered away, the dick.
After showering and relieving some of my tense muscles, I met up with Rin for another afternoon snack. "So, where do you wanna eat? Somewhere with comfy seats I hope." I questioned her, giving a sideways lance. So I wanted to put my butt into something soft? Sue me for being human with human needs. Konoha restaurants have NO idea how to serve customers. I get it, Wood-Release from the first Hokage is amazing but it wouldn't kill them to maybe just maybe add a cushion or something if it wasn't too troublesome. These people stab others for a daily living, I'm sure they could afford a cheap butt cushion, not the ones you sit on. Cotton? No. Give me feathers. She hummed thoughtfully. "I heard about this new desert place. Want to check it out?" She recommended with a polite smile.
I gave her a tight lipped smile and an amused raised eyebrow. "Sweets again? I'm craving vegetables myself." She looked baffled but continued walking next to me.
"What are you talking about? It just recently opened." She pouted her childish and heart wrenching pout. I tilted my head. Woah, I get it girlie. You like your sweets. "Fine, fine. Let me see if I have a few ryō socked away." I got out my bunny wallet and opened it to see my one thousand ryō bills staring innocently at me. I blinked. I was pretty sure I spent sox hundred yesterday. I closed it with a smile and gavea thumbs up to the girl who left who whooped for joy for more sweets.
Guess someone was looking out for me, huh?
When our orders came in (Me ordering a Desert Crepe instead) I couldn't help but snickered at Rin's addiction to their strawberry sundae. "You really like strawberry, huh?" I couldn't help but chuckle at the brunette's obvious pleasure. She nodded furiously with a spoon in her mouth. I took a bite of my crepe, the delicious vanilla and banana tickling my taste buds. Mmmm, so good.
"We should definitely come back here again." Rin declared and continued ravaging her Strawberry Sundae. I tilted my head. "We already went here yesterday, though." I reasoned. I don't want diabetes this early in my life. Wait no; I don't like diabetes in general. I don't want an arm or a leg cut from my body which I need to at least try and live my second chance. I could always kill myself since death just led to another world; I mean no biggie, right? "Huh?" She blinked at me and swallowed the cold contents in her mouth. "This is our first time here, Tokina-chan."
Now it was my turn to blink at her. "No it's not. We even had a talk about ninja tonsillitis right? You said that if there was a ninja out there who could use his chakra to passively heal his wounds then he would he immune to it." I reminded her with a bite of my diminishing crepe.
Her eyes widened. "I literally just read that chapter of my medical-ninjutsu book today, Tokina-chan."
After that, I just feigned ignorance and blamed it on my exhaustion. Despite the act, I knew that went to that shop yesterday. Walking back home with another water bottle to sip on I saw a blue Monarch flutter past by me innocently. I sipped on my straw and opened the door. I took a bath with thoughts of dinner and bed. I opened the fridge to see Rin's half finished dinner Omelette. I narrowed my eyes at it.
"Wha...?"
I picked it up gingerly and heated it up in the toaster oven. I put the plate in my small coffee table and ate it.
An Owl fluttered by with a mouse in its talons while I dug in, savoring the assorted meats and vegetables.
...am I forgetting something?
I blinked up the ceiling once more. The exhaustion I had for two days straight was gone. What the hell is going on? I got out of my bed in a flash, opening the fridge to see Rin's dinner Omelette and Orochimaru's diet food staring at me innocently. I blinked at it, my heart racing.
Something's wrong.
Something is definitely wrong.
I put on my Kimono Shirt get up and a few weapons just in case; I got out of the house and locked the door. This is the part where I go to Training Ground Six, Orochimaru is going to make me run around Konoha five times and I'm going to eat in that desert place with Rin again then I'm going to insist on us already eating there once more. She's going to deny that. I'm going to walk home with a bottle of water and her omelette is going to be right there.
What day is it anyway?
Ignoring my total ineptitude in social skills, I pulled the shoulder of a nice looking old lady. "Excuse me, honored elder. Could you please tell me what the date today is?" She turned around with a smile. She looked thoughtful for a second.
"Why today is September 20, my dear." She answered politely and walked away. I narrowed my eyes and began walking aimlessly. September 20? It should be September 22 by now. Maybe she was just mistaken. She did look pretty doubtful of herself. I walked to a stall that sold fruits and apples, putting a nice face for the bored stall manager. "Excuse me, mister. What day is it today?"
"Huh? It's the 20th. Don't you kids use calendars? Shouldn't you be in school?" I thanked him curtly and walked away. One is a mistake but two is a confirmation. September 20? No, that's definitely not right. I'm sure it's September 22 by now. I walked to Training Grounds Six once more. I activated my Byakugan, threw senbons. Deflected a sword. Ran around Konoha five times under thirty minutes.
Again.
I walked tired, exhausted and full of it to Rin who wanted to eat a strawberry sundae in that new desert shop.
And again.
I woke up feeling refreshed, ate Orochimaru's diet. I came back home to eat Rin's dinner Omelette.
And again.
I stopped walking. Throwing my free bottle of water to the sidewalk as I stared at an innocent Monarch, fluttering to a sickening sunset I grew to hate over the course of this loop. It fluttered innocently past me that looked absolutely ethereal if it wasn't so irritating to look at now. I've seen that scene for four days straight. Besides, the last time I saw a butterfly that big was when I met…
...The old man in the graveyard!
I diverged from the Hyūga compound and ran to Konoha Cemetery. Yeah, that's right! He asked me if I wanted to be part of his test to get more power! I couldn't remember if I told him yes or no but I think it's safe to conclude that I'm in some kind of genjutsu and forced me to partake in this "test" of his. I entered the graveyard and had a senbon hidden away in my sleeves. I activated my Byakugan; his chakra was all over the place!
"What did you do?" I interrogated the seemingly weak old man. If he was a genjutsu specialist then all I had to do was fizzle my chakra which that neither academy nor Orochimaru bothered teaching me yet! It was all physical conditioning, weapon throwing and taijutsu training! He turned around with an aged and tired smile on his face.
"What? Oh, hello there pretty girl." His bushy eyebrows quirked as his bead gave way to a open-toothed smile. The mysterious old croon began walking to me, killing intent flooding the while cemetery. I narrowed my Byakugan and refused the gag reflex the aura wanted me to do. You can so do this, Tokina. Orochimaru gave you DUMP TRUCK load of this shit. This should be puppy play by now. I jumped back and threw the senbon hidden away in my sleeve. He deflected it casually with his cane.
"My, my. That's not the way to treat an elder." He huffed as I drew three more senbons in each hand quickly. I narrowed my eyes. He clearly knew what I was doing for the past days if he used that exact wording pattern. An attempt to rile me up? Too bad, old man, that was literally the oldest (hehe) trick in the book. I'm not falling for that. I saw his hand tense before he sized me up.
What incredible speed!
I deflected his attempt to slam his cane on my shin. I disengaged and threw the senbon at him, rapidly deflecting all of them as he got in a Bōjutsu stance with a casual smile. I stood on the wall of the graveyard as I readied more senbon. "What did you do?" I reiterated for his probably not deaf ears to hear.
"Ah little this and that." He mocked all the while in an expert stance that had no openings, the assessment was further enforced when I threw one senbon at him and he deflected it easily. It's not every fucking day you fight an old man in the graveyard who trapped you in a time loop genjutsu and had Bōjutsu skills that probably rivaled Sarutobi Hiruzen. That or I was just inexperienced. Probably the latter.
Twirling the cane like the show-offs everyone seems to be in the world, He tensed before jumping after me. I ran around the wall and jumped to the ground, using the stones as leverage while I threw a volley of shuriken, senbon and kunai alike. The old man deflected and dodged them indiscriminately. Now would be a good time to have a fireball or a mud wall jutsu to turn the tides!
"WAIT!" The old man said with power as I dumbly stopped mid step on a certain grave.
Takahama Aishi.
I retracted my foot as he threw his cane away. I sign of surrender and peace. What, was this his boyfriend or something? I narrowed my eyes at the old man who looked offended. "Honestly, kids these days! Stepping around the cemetery like they own the place." He huffed as I bonked me with a fist with assorted metals impaled around Konoha graveyard. It didn't hurt but it reminded me that, oh right. Five years old.
"Who's Takahama Aishi?" I tilted my head because, yo, we were having a fight. "And can you stop whatever your doing and release me from this genjutsu?" the man beamed and pointedly ignored my question. "The most beautiful, most kind, and the strongest shinobi that ever graced this planet?" He puffed out his proud chest.
Yeah, probably his boyfriend. He waved off the narcissistic and pretentious vibe he was giving off. "Anyway, you passed the test. Here, catch." He threw this GIANT scroll at me as the world began breaking into a kaleidoscope of butterflies.
I woke up with a cold sweat while the fall breeze blew leaves to a faraway land. I blinked and rubbed my eyes with my right hand to ward of the sand man's dust. It seems I fell asleep under tree near my back yard. With grogginess still in my systems, I saw a mountain of ants whisk breadcrumbs and the like away to their small hill.
What a strange dream. I yawned and stretched. I stopped mid way when I felt a weight drop into my left hand. I clutched it and examined the really big scroll that came out of nowhere. That's strange, I could have sworn I...
'Here, catch.' A voice that rode the wind whispered. A yellow butterfly landed on the spot the old guy bonked me on. Successfully creeped out by the seemingly random and utterly normal events, I opened the scroll, names in blood red at the very top with fingerprints I did not remember stamping.
Takahama Aishi.
Hyūga Tokina.
The yellow butterfly flew away as a swarm of the same insects began flying in my proximity. With a sigh and an acceptance to my fate, I dragged the scroll to my lap and leaned on the tree, butterflies resting on various parts of my body. I raised my finger as a blue monarch landed on it innocently.
"You are such a manipulative little thing, aren't you?" The beautiful creature fluttered its wings slowly as an answer. Using my peripheral vision, I saw a small rabbit gazing at me before hopping off to its burrow. The butterfly on my fingertips flew away as I stood up and stretched to ward off the grogginess away. The swarm continued to follow me as I filled a glass of water. I narrowed my eyes at an innocent looking calendar. I almost dropped the glass of water when I saw how all the dates were crossed out leading to September 21. Dream genjutsu? Was the whole yesterday a genjutsu? Am I still in genjutsu? Oh shit, which one of the loops was the right one because I'm sure Rin or Orochimaru would not appreciate any panicked outbursts I may or may not have made them experience.
Jesus Christ, I hope Shishou would believe me. Butterfly summons. How the hell am I going to explain butterfly summons?
AN.
Heh, you can immediately tell when I wrote this chapter ;). Anyway, thanks for the reviews, follows and views (almost 1000 guys, omfg). Also, Looking into his eyes by Intothedeep27 which was recommended to me by thanzintay.2000 is really good if your looking for Slow Burn fanfics. The ending though. I kind of support it but...
Anyway, I hoped you enjoyed this chapter. Butterflies replacing snakes. You have no idea HOW MUCH this one little thing changed my story. Review, Favorite and Follow if you want. I mean, a view is already a big deal to me (my baby having almost 1000 view, like how though?). Enjoy your life :)
(I'm sure I have spelling mistakes or grammar errors in here. Constructive criticism is appreciated. I DO want to get better after all.)