alright.
Finally magical ninja bullshit.
Chapter 5
Nohara Kaizen was awoken by the sudden ear-splitting sound of his bedroom door meeting the wall. He blinked awake barely startled by behavior that was honestly quite normal for Kaito.
The next came the pain in his abdomen that made him suck in a deep breath. All of it was caused by the idiot who thought that it was the most brilliant idea in the world to wake him up by flinging himself on his bed and elbowing him right in the stomach.
"Rise and shiiiine!" Kaito shouted at the top of his lungs, it was so loud that it seemed like he was trying to wake up all their neighbors.
The irritation welled up inside Kaizen as Kaito continued to jump up and down on his bed as if it was the time experiencing the wonders of its springy nature. He curled up in pain as his body continued to bounce with recoil.
Up-
His face was set in a scowl, crease forming between his brows, waves of anger coming out of his every pore.
And down.
His face pressed even harder into his pillow. This uncomfortable position was temporary blocking his airway making him unable to breathe properly.
Up-
He looked daggers at the nuisance, his glare was so sharp and cold that no one would ever question whether he was the son of infamous Poisonous Viper, Akimichi Nora. To Kaito who received far worse from the Orphanage it did not look threatening at all.
And down.
With Kaito's every move the flames in his obsidian eyes shone brighter and brighter betraying his growing annoyance. He took a deep breath trying to contain his anger, but it did not help the slightest bit.
'Should he just kill him?' he seriously contemplated that option for a moment.
"Zenzen, it is already morning!" Kaito said with unbridled joy. No one could ever be so energetic so early in the morning without at least one screw loose.
"Why are still lazing around in your bed?!" Kaito started poking him in his squishy cheeks and when that did not produce the expected result, he grabbed his shoulders and started shaking him like a rag doll.
Kaizen kicked him with his leg and sent him flying to the floor. "Get off me, you idiot!"
"Ouch! It hurts!" He shouted in indignation as he rubbed his bum with tears in his eyes. "Your kind elder brother-" Kaizen rolled his eyes. "- came to wake you up but you don't appreciate my efforts at all," he pouted his lips. "Zenzen you are so cruel to me, ah!"
"You mean younger," said Kaizen as he crossed his outstretched legs arrogantly. "I am older than you after all."
The old argument was on.
"You didn't wake up from your dream yet?" Kaito looked at him with taunting smirk on his face. "I am definitely older."
He almost missed the time when Kaito first came to his family, he was so quiet back then just like a mouse. His peaceful life with his new family member only lasted for two weeks though. After that all hell broke loose and there was not a single quiet moment in the house.
Without a doubt he was more fun now but also more annoying.
He scowled at Kaito who fluffed up the pillow that he snatched from his bed and made himself comfortable on the ground with his arms behind his head.
A muscle in his jaw pulsed angrily. "What is it?!"
They lived together for some time now and everyone knew that it was better not to bother him early in the morning and definitely not to wake him up, if they didn't want to lose at least one layer of skin. So, he must have come here for something important.
Kaito hummed noncommittal and haughtily examined his nails with single minded focus etching every detail in his head. "Hmmmm."
"Ah! I forgot just now. You know my memory is not the best," he said demurely and fluttered his long lashes at him feeling satisfied at the flare of annoyance in his brother's eyes.
'He looked more girly than nee-san just now. Simply revolting.' Kaizen looked at him in disgust.
'Does he think he is like those vendor aunties who will drop the price just because he acted cutely?'
"But you know-"he made silence stretch between them, "- I could probably remember, if you say: 'Elder brother! Pretty please!'" Kaito clasped his hands together and looked at him with the moist blue eyes showing exactly what he wanted to see from him. "Or something like that. You are free to improvise."
"That will surely help to jog my memories back up." He could not help his evil grin from growing wider on his face.
'This asshole.'
The chances of Kaito getting punched in the face were increasing exponentially.
Before he could do anything to him other than glare Kaito shot up from the ground based on his instincts feeling waves of hostility coming from him effectively avoiding physical confrontation for a moment.
"No?" he tilted his head. "What a pity…"
Zen's brother dearest began to stomp around the room with pout on his lips opening the shutters and allowing the morning light to filter in just to piss him off. The sudden brightness made him scrunch up his face in displeasure. Kaizen buried his face under the covers hiding away from the merciless sun and even more merciless brother.
He watched with one eye open in disinterest how the dumbass scurried away across his room from one place to another. Looking at his notes at the table, tugging at the curtains, and looking at the painting on the wall pretending like he knew anything about art.
"Did you really forget what day it is today?" Kaito asked a bit too cheerfully, as if a mere mention of what was to come had already made him giddy with anticipation. He was buzzing with energy; every fiber of his being overflowing with excitement. He could not keep still at all, hopping from one foot to another.
He watched animatedly as Zen's brows knit together betraying his confusion and annoyance. There really was not anything better in the world than messing with his prickly brother, ah!
Zen tried to recall all birthdays and important days, but it did not seem that today was anything special.
'Kaito was bullshiting him again, wasn't he?!
Like that time when he said that throwing their milk teeth that fell out on the rooftop was an ancient tradition that can bring one luck for at least (per Kaito's word) a week. He did not believe him back then, but the thought of 'what if' came to his mind. It was not like he could do anything with it anyway.
So why not try? - he would not lose anything anyway.
It was a beautiful thought.
But instead of good luck he had a very awkward stand-off with a passing by kunoichi with flaming red locks. He forgot that people come and go that way because he only used roads himself. She caught his tooth in her hand instinctively when she was going on her way and then stared speechless at him for a while. It did not take long before she doubled over with laugher and said that it was not her first time for teeth to be flying at her. 'Just didn't expect it to be from someone so young, dattebane!'
'And wasn't that a scary thing to say?'
He became so embarrassed that he immediately ran home and gloriously fell on the porch in a haste. He could still hear the echoes of her raucous laughter ringing in his ears.
Good luck his ass.
At least he had the foresight to do it, when no one was at home. Or Kaito would have never let him live that down.
"If you have the mouth then say it. Why are you talking in riddles?" His eyebrow twitched in annoyance.
"Did you really forget? I thought you wanted it as much as I did. Today teacher Toberu is coming to unlock our chakra!" Zen slowly blinked looking at Kaito with bleary eyes still half asleep. As soon as meaning of those words sank in, he immediately shot up from the bed legs tangling up in the covers. His chubby figure sprawled on the floor one leg still lying on the bed face painfully squished against the cold ground.
'Ouch, that must have hurt,' Kaito thought without any sympathy still feeling pain from his fall himself.
"It is today!?" he screamed incredulously neck craning to look at him from the floor.
"Yep." The letter 'p' was said with a special annoying pop sound.
Kaito glanced at Zen who was still half hanging from his bed and grinned with evil intent secretly thinking about karma and its dues. He lightly kicked his arm which supported most of the weight of his brother and immediately dashed from the room not forgetting to lock the door in passing.
Zen's jaw made an audible click as it hit the floor dragging his body further on the ground. When he finally got up, on his way to teach Kaito a lesson he slammed face first into the door so hard that the wood cricked, and walls shook loud bang echoing throughout the corridor.
Angry cursing followed behind Kaito's back.
"Shi! Mi! Zu!" He roared.
If Kaito had been made of wood, he probably would have shattered on the spot just like that fragile door mere moments ago beneath Zen's ire.
"Hahaha. Zenzen, you need to calm down." He ran down the stairs breathlessly laughing. "I just provided assistance. If I didn't help you to move now, you would have stayed in that position for God knows how long. Are you trying to repay my kindness with evil? Isn't it a bit too much?"
Hasty footsteps were getting closer and closer to him. "You just wait… huff- I will break your legs as soon as I catch up."
Kaito turned back and stuck his tongue out. "I am so scared, young master," he said tauntingly and wiggled his behind in provocation. "As if you can catch me."
As the first rays of sun entered through the windows the house was already filled with the noise accompanied by a ruckus created by troublemakers. Rin smiled gently looking in the direction of the upcoming voices.
It was a nice change, Rin thought. Before Kaito came it was always so quiet. Too quiet. Her parents were barely at home always busy with their own matters. Honestly, it wasn't that bad, on rare occasions when they did spend time together it was rather peaceful and pleasant, even if it felt somehow like something was missing. Nonetheless she respected and loved her family.
Then suddenly they started quarrelling with each other, and every day started and ended with shouting and broken plates, their home became 'lively' but in an unpleasant way. It was to the point that their family time went from couple of days a month to practically nothing.
Kaito's presence brought different kind of liveliness into their lives not the angry one breaming with tension but the one filled with laughter and joy, at least when it was three of them. And for that she could not be anything less than grateful.
Kaito hid behind her back pretending to be innocent. "Nee-chan! Nee-chan, Zenzen is bullying me again. You must protect me." Rin shook her head in amusement. More like he angered Zen again and did not want to deal with consequences.
At that moment Zen finally reached him chest heaving from exertion. "Don't hide behind people you coward!"
"It is called strategy! There is nothing cowardly or shameful in using the brain. You wouldn't know that though-" he peaked behind her back and stuck his tongue out at him.
Both started running in circles around her, chairs falling on the ground, dust rising into the air.
No matter how fun it was for them, for her it had become increasingly annoying. "Boys, let's stop for a second or you might get hurt."
They did not seem to hear her at all, too engaged in their own little game. Medical notes that she wrote with so much care flew in the air and got stomped and crumpled by those overexcited idiots with whom she unfortunately has family ties.
Not her precious notes!
Rin has had enough, her temperament changed from gentle breeze to a sharp gale that could cut people in half, her kind smile was still on her face which made her expression even more frightening.
"Boys," she gritted out unbearable pressure exuding from her. They both froze in shock and simultaneously thought that they were in big trouble. "Let's stop for a second or you will get hurt."
The underlining 'Stop right now or I will be the one to make sure you are hurt' was obvious in every word she uttered.
"Sorry, nee-san." The boys chorused together; eyes transfixed on their feet burdened by guilty consciousness. They immediately scrambled to pick her notes trying to salvage ruined pieces of paper.
Let it be said that the rest of their morning they spent by rewriting those texts full of difficult medical words while Rin was breathing down their necks.
Sigh.
Rin looked affectionately at them with her warm brown eyes.
Sometimes they are so troublesome but still.
she would not change it for the world.
The scorching sun overhead mercilessly directed its light onto the world with no care to those who stood under it. The unbearable heat made everyone uncomfortable and wet with perspiration.
People were fanning themselves or drinking water trying to cool down. Only the refreshing breeze was able to slightly soothe their spirits.
The sweet chirping sound of birds and gentle brush of the wind was drowned by the murmurs of the masses. Excitement mixed with nervousness was palpable in the very air that they breathed. Some of them had sweaty palms and body taunt with tension like a string that could snap from a single touch. Others were either relaxed displeased or simply indifferent to everything that was happening around them.
At the platform before the dense crowd of people was a man with ridiculously big hat, the red character 'Fire' written in bold strokes attracted attention of many.
The esteemed Lord Third was giving congratulatory speech to the new recruits of Academy. Something about 'The Will of Fire' and protection of the Village. Kaito listened only with one ear open, more interested in observing people around him.
Many children of his age stood in small groups either with their parents or friends, looking with shining eyes at their role model, the Leader of the Village, whispering quietly to each other about this and that, and comparing the items that they brought with them. The shyer ones were holding hands with their family members, fidgeting and nervously observing everything around them- from their future instructors to the classrooms that could be seen through the windows.
Akimichi-sama was glaring at him from the side, her eyes telling him that he was intruding on their private family time but stiffly looked away after some time, not wishing to pay him more attention than absolutely necessary. If someone looked closely, they would notice that beside usual irritation, her gaze contained some unnamed emotion.
Zen tried to stand straight to create 'mature and cool' image, but his wandering eyes betrayed his anticipation and eagerness. His head was patted patronizingly by a fair hand that belonged to his elder sister which made him raise his hackles and huff in indignation. The fourth member of their family was unsurprisingly missing, Uncle Tori was traveling somewhere in the Land of Tee, as far as he remembered, first day at the Academy of his child was not important enough matter for him to return.
Kaito stood out like a sour thumb with his unique coloring beside them, revealing to everyone that he had no blood relationship with them whatsoever. Their previous if not familial then at least warm relationship among three children was now tinged with an inexplicable air of awkwardness.
Even though it was his first day at the academy he did not feel a single emotion of agitation, nervousness or anticipation. Long time ago his stomach was full of butterflies from a mere thought of learning something cool with his friends and likeminded people. Now he felt only determination to become stronger, nothing else mattered.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw a flash of purple. The fire that seemed to be absent in his eyes lit up again, corners of his mouth rising imperceptibly.
"Akimichi-sama," he said bowing deferentially toward her. She looked at him almost unwilling, muscle tensing in her jaw. "I just saw my old friend. I want to go greet her."
She waved with her hand in the air shooing him away. As he was ready to bolt out, he was met with the curious gaze from Rin and displeased one from Zen.
"Wait." The imposing woman stopped him and looked at the Academy teachers who were hanging scrolls on the walls with the names of the students, their ranks, and classes they belonged to. "Do not be tardy. I will not have you shame my family because of your unsightly actions with your scruffy friends."
For someone like Akimichi-sama it almost sounded like the words of concern like she was genuinely worried that he would be late and would have problems finding his way around. She must be feeling guilty about what happened back then. As if, the hell would freeze over faster, he snorted inwardly.
With permission granted he finally left them ignoring their stares fixed on his back. As soon as he reached the purple haired girl, who was talking to the boy with chin length brown hair and senbon in his mouth, Kaito jumped on her back hugging her neck. "Anko-chan, I missed you so much." He nuzzled into her like an overgrown cat.
The girl staggered from the unexpected attack trying to find the balance, but as soon as heard his voice she decided to forgo her own well-being just to shoulder throw him on the ground, joining him in the fall herself in the end.
"Yee?" Kaito's eyes widened when he was midair. He expected passionate reunion, but it was a bit too passionate for his taste.
People all around them were sending them curious gazes. Good thing he could not see Akimichi-sama from this angle. All of this happened just a minute after she told him not to shame them.
His skull cracked painfully against the ground, but the biggest danger to him right now was not his brain matter that was flowing out of his head, but Anko who was staring daggers at him from above. If he did not tend to his wound he would simply die, but if he didn't resolve the problem with her, he would wish he was dead, she would never grant him an easy way out.
"You still know how to show your face in front of me when you never visited us even once after you left?!" she viciously gnashed her teeth at him.
Kaito massaged the back of his head. "You think I didn't try?" He pouted because of the unfairness, he went through so much to meet his friend and failed in the end. But all that mattered was the result and not the effort he put into it. "I was chased away before I even took a step on the territory of the Orphanage."
Anko scrutinized his expression. "I think Matron was afraid that they were returning me back, so every time as soon as I approached anywhere near the building, all kind of things were thrown my way." It was unpleasant, like they were trying to chase away some nasty stray dog." The thought that if one day he really were chased out of his family, he would have nowhere to go to other than streets. Or a brothel, he thought grimly.
"I missed my best friend so much, that every night I was weeping while thinking of you, crying my eyes out every time as I saw buns filled with red bean paste (Anko)*, climbing tall trees and high buildings just to get a glimpse at you." He dramatically covered his eyes as if to hide away his tears. "But the first you did after our unbearable parting was to hit me." He pouted his lips. "Tell me, is it fair?"
Anko got up from him and helped him stand up. Kaito sighed loudly before jumping to his feet.
He loudly hit his thigh in agitation. "And there was always that- that nasty guy…-" Kaito snapped his fingers trying to remember the name. "You know the one with weird looking moustache- Ah… what was his name? How was it-"
He loudly clasped his hands together in a realization unwittingly letting out 'Aha' sound. "Ikkedana!"
"Dakewana," Anko subconsciously corrected him.
"Yes! That's the one! I was so close."
"That old fogey who was always at the Gates and sat there like a mushroom with roots sunk into the ground was the reason I couldn't come. He always had a grudge against me, I am telling you. If I knew he would be like this just because I sticked a piece of paper on his back one time, I would have never approached him, ah!"
"Anyway, I swear I came with a different hair color every time and he still recognized me." He could see from Anko's expression that she had already forgiven him. "I might've been a rainbow with just how many I tried."
"But what can I do about it?" He shrugged his shoulders. "I am so memorable, that no one could ever forget me once they meet me." He said cheekily.
"Whatever." She rolled her eyes.
Cough.
Only now Kaito remembered that there were other people here besides Anko. The boy who was talking to her previously raised an eyebrow at him in amusement. In front of him gathered more of his schoolmates, everyone was either looking at him with curiosity or calculatingly assessing him.
"Oi! I am sorry. I interrupted you guys, didn't I?" He laughed and scratched the back of his head already feeling a slight bump forming there.
"It wasn't a big deal."
"Anko, Anko." He tugged at her sleeve. "Introduce us! Can't you see I am getting shy with all these stares." He nudged her.
He must have had auditory hallucinations because he heard 'Shy my ass.'
"This is Shiranui Genma. Our senpai. It will be his second year at the Academy."
Kaito gave him a bright smile. "Ah! You are senpai." He looked at him with the stars in his eyes. "I am Shimizu Kaito. Please take care of your cute kōhai," he said forgetting that he asked Anko to do the honors.
"Please take care of me too, cute kōhai." The mirth was visible in his eyes.
He stuck his tongue at Anko. "You heard that?" he put his arm around her shoulders. "I already took the glorified position of a cute kohai. Too late for you, Anko-chan." He tutted. "But I can help you negotiate for the position of the most explosive one!"
Anko put him in chokehold, and they started roughing each other up.
Soon enough everyone was chatting happily with each other creating comfortable and warm atmosphere in their little circle. Kaito was able to get acquainted with a lot of people Genma, Namiashi Raido, Morino Ibiki, Yuhi Kurenai and many others.
His first day at the Academy didn't seem that bad.
Zen glanced at him with jealous eyes from the distance away and not only him, but everyone was also captivated by this charming sunny boy.
After all, no one could hate a smiling face.
Kaito had years of experience of maintaining an easygoing persona, the boy born with a smile on his face, the one who could always make anyone in his presence feel relaxed and refreshed.
It was way too easy to put that mask back on again.
Slowly people started gathering near the place, where teacher hang all necessary information.
"Let's go check our ranks. I bet I am higher than you."
"Keep dreaming." Anko snorted.
The results of the entrance exam were organized from highest to lowest scores. They were only informed whether they got in or not, and unless you had a severe problem with your head or body, it wouldn't be difficult at all. The rank wasn't that important, to be honest, but it was still interesting to see how you fared compared to others. This process and the system in general were slowly instilling competitive spirit into them.
Kaito had found his own name in the fifteenth place. It surprised him, the result was under the clan's children but on par with the kids from the ninja families. Anko was just one place lower than him. Considering the fact how they taught at the Orphanage she might be some sort of genius. At least he studied with the teacher hired by Uncle Tori, whilst she had only herself to rely on.
In the first place was Hatake Kakashi, 410 points. The test was divided in four different segments (theoretical knowledge, physical capabilities, mana control and psychological endurance) and the maximum one can get is 100 points in each.
'Is he some sort of genius?' Kaito didn't even know that it was possible to receive extra points.
'How did he do it? Corrected the teacher? Casually created never existed before invention? Outperformed the standards for genin?'
"Hatake Kakashi." His name rolled velvety from his tongue.
'What a funny name. - Scarecrow in the field.'
'It sounded rather pleasant though.'
Abruptly Kaito felt pinpricks on the side of his face from the intensity of someone's stare.
He turned his head and-
All movement ceased.
Even the whispering breeze subsided, the whole world breathless in anticipation as their gazes caught.
The obsidian of the night sky met the turbulent waters of the ocean.
It was the boy with the gleaming silver hair. The one who gave him that scarf. The one whom he met at his lowest point in his life, only leaving heartwarming memories in his wake, which helped him get through the worst nights. He probably didn't even have a clue that what he did once on a whim meant so much to a random stranger.
Suddenly Kaito felt a bit embarrassed, flustered he turned around unconsciously straightening up his spine, his previous ungainly slouch was nowhere to be seen.
Kaito thought he would never meet him again. Turned out the fate had something else for him in store.
As soon as he glanced at the dead last on the list, all his complicated thoughts disappeared at once, expression freezing for a moment.
Oh-
Nohara Kaizen.
Author's Note
*Red bean paste, called Anko ( 餡こ or 小豆 )) in Japanese.