Chapter III: The Lotus Flower
I woke up in as the sun rose to go to the academy to apply even though I am sure I was over basic jutsu. Red Hare rode me over as I looked around the village. People looked at Red and I strangely, like they hadn't seen me at all… big surprise… By the time I was at the door, I met a guy in a white garment and red & white hat, he was rather old. As I entered the main door I ran into him by accident. I stepped back and looked at him.
"My bad sir, I should watch my step next time. I'm just aching to become a ninja for this village and I think that my skills are good enough to just become a regular ninja, not having to go through the boring academy." I said.
"No need to worry," the man said. "Lucky for you that you caught me, now let us see your skills shall we?"
"Wait, so you are going to evaluate me? Well I mean, you're just an old man, I expected a well-trained ninja to evaluate me…"
"'Just an old man' huh? Tell me something; are you new to The Village Hidden in the Leaves?"
"Yes sir. I moved in just yesterday." Red snorted and started grazing. "Ya may have heard of my horse, Red, in the news. She made that door and got me in the village hospital."
The man's eyes widened. "Ah! So you are that kid she was carrying. Well you are lucky to have such a steed. Now then let's get down to business, so you haven't been in the village long?"
"No sir. Why with all these questions? I need to find a ninja teacher to pass me through the Academy not just some old man."
"Oh really, even if the old man is The Hokage of the Village Hidden in the Leaves?" My eyes widened and I stepped back.
"YOU'RE THE HOKAGE?!" I said surprised and flattered.
The man laughed. "Yes that describes me pretty well, and your name is?"
"Caranomaru Kinoshita sir, so you are going to evaluate me?"
"Yes Caranomaru. Now hurry up, I have errands to run. I just got done with some joker ninja, we needn't go into it and I am running late. Show me a transformation. Transform into… into your horse, Red." I looked at her and she looked at me with a look that said, 'you've got to be kidding me'.
"Okay! TRANSFORM!" *POOF!* I became a spitting image of Red. I couldn't believe I did it first try, I'd never transformed into an animal. *POOF* I returned to normal. "Next sir!"
"Very good job. Now give me a clone jutsu."
"I'll give ya something better! COPY CLONE JUTSU!" a puff of smoke came up next to the Hokage revealing what appeared to be another one of him. "I think that qualifies as a 'clone' jutsu."
"Amazing, I don't think we need to check your health record. But ninja squads have already been released."
"He can join our squad sir." An older woman said, walking up to us. She was wearing a Leaf Village Headband. She had velvety dark red hair and had a Squad Leader's uniform on. "My squad only has two Genin, Ryoki Nikanto and Amidasu Kisarikouyo."
"Yeah Hokage; Let me join her squad," I exclaimed, anxious as ever. "And by the way who are you?"
"Kuninobu Asuka, leader of the 9th squad and you are my new recruit. Follow me to your new squad."
"Okay ma'am goodbye Hokage!" I yelled as I jumped on Red galloping away, following Ms. Asuka who was jumping through the trees above.
As we were approaching a forested area, I stood up on Red's back as if surfing her. As we reached the edge I jumped on a branch Ms. Asuka had leap from. "See ya later Red!" I yelled jumping after the Jonin. After a minute or so, she stopped at a rooftop with two Genin sitting on a bench, one girl and one boy. I looked at them as if observing them like I would the stars in the old war camp. I missed looking for constellations.
"Attention, Ryoki and Amidasu! Meet your newest squad member." Kuninobu ordered. They both stood up and bowed in respect.
"My name's Amidasu Kisarikouyo." Amidasu said, "It's nice to meet you so long as you don't hold me back in missions." I ignored that comment… he's acting like I'm useless.
"My name is Ryoki Nikanto. It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance." The female Genin said. "I hope you ignore Amidasu's comment. He can be show-offy at times."
"Hey, fuck you Ryoki, it's for good reason. I'm the backbone and you are the medic. Without me, the strength goes a…"
"I SAID ATTENTION!" the Jonin interrupted "That means introductions then sit down!"
They both recited 'yes ma'am' and sat down silent. "Caranomaru, you may introduce yourself now."
I nodded and bowed to the two respectfully. "I'm Caranomaru Kinoshita. It's nice to meet you both. I'm sure we will be great allies and even better friends."
"Thank you very much, now sit down next to Ryoki, Caranomaru." Asuka Sensei ordered in a not so stern voice. I complied and sat next to her. She was so beautiful, the way her black hair shines in the sunlight, she had a blue symbol under her left eye, I'm guessing for some technique but, we'll see when we fight. Her eyes were a beautiful shade of ocean blue. Before I could observe anymore, Asuka Sensei was asking us what our nindo (ninja way) is. Amidasu said it was to never back down and always put up a fight. Ryoki's nindo was to be successful in helping the needy and the sick. It sounded like she wants to be a medical ninja. "So, what's your nindo Caranomaru?" sensei asked.
"My nindo?" I said faintly looking at the floor. Remembering what I fought for died off; I didn't really have a nindo. "I-I don't have the answer to it… my nindo died awhile ago, at Nagashino. To keep the peace was my nindo… chaos will always catch up and never allow peace in." They all looked at me with scared looks. I raised my head up smiling. "Well, I guess my nindo has to be reborn. I suppose my new nindo has to be to keep the peace as long as possible, and to hold chaos back until we have absolute peace. Yeah, that's my ninja way!"
"Okay thank you, now, tomorrow morning we will all meet at the training grotto, next to the river. See you all there" the sensei said before disappearing. Amidasu made a smartass comment, something about being paranoid about the past and left. Ryoki walked up to me and asked me what I've been through, curious as ever. I told her to sit down as I explained…
"So I found a house and I live with Red here now… I'm still saddened by Hideyoshi's death but I'll get over it in due time." I told her.
"That's so sad Noma…" she said
"Noma?"
"Yeah, my nickname for you. Like it?"
"It's kinda funny."
"Well most nicknames are right?"
"Sure are." She placed her head on my shoulder. "Huh?"
"Its getting late but I don't want to leave your side. It's so interesting how much you have been through." Ryoki raised her head and looked at me. "I have an idea! Why don't you spend the night at my house tonight! You could meet my family!"
"Well I don't know, can we stop by my place first? I want you to meet Red Hare."
"Sure, I'd love to meet her." So we walked together and stopped by my place, Red looked at her funny.
"Red don't worry this is one of my partners in my squad. Her name is Ryoki, she's nice and I told her about everything that's happened to us." I told her calmingly. She and Ryoki got on real well and started to get to know one-another while I got changed and got my gear ready. I also put out some hay for Red and left the gate open for her to run around while I was gone. After saying goodbye to Red, Ryoki and I set out to her house. We held hands the whole way. It was nice as we were also looking up and trying to find constellations in the sky. When we got to her home she got my bed ready as I explored. She read a note on her cabinet saying her parents are currently on a mercenary mission and will be gone for awhile. I looked around and noticed that she kept her room notoriously tidy. That was unexpected… I watched her while I lay in my bed. She was beautiful, like a lotus flower in bloom. "Hey Ryoki, what's that tattoo, the purple one on your right cheek?" I asked.
"Oh this? It's supposed to help my chakra control; I've not been the best with it." She said blushing.
"Why are you blushing?"
"It's kinda embarrassing."
"I don't think so, it makes you look cute I think."
"Huh? W-well thank you I guess…"
I smiled. "Hehe ur welcome, but blush anymore and your head will be a tomato!"
We laughed. She walked into her room; I was in the guest room, put on a pink evening gown with some pajama pants, checkered red and purple. She walked in when she thought I was asleep and kissed me on the cheek.
"Good night Noma-kun." She whispered. I tried to hold back a blush until she was out of the room. I looked at her as she closed the door behind her. Then, laid my head back down and fell asleep with last thoughts of what was going to happen in the morning…
