Chapter 2

"Well your examination is now very close at hand. In fact it is actually tomorrow. Unfortunately we seem to have run out of time. I'm not sure why. Not a word" said Yukari as Tomo raised her hand up in the air.

We all know it's because you're a lame teacher thought Tomo to herself. But she still respected her teacher. She did know what she was doing. It just took her time to get to what she was actually doing. Not to mention she frequently took time to criticise her students.

"Fortunately we only have one major action to now cover before you undertake your exam- which I may say I will be overseeing. And don't think you can buy a pass with presents" she said, waggling her finger. "This is an important exam we're talking about."

"Yeah! I'm going to become a proper ninja tomorrow!" exclaimed Tomo. Surely tomorrow right...?

"Yeah, that'll be the day" muttered Yomi a few rows back.

"What?" growled Tomo, turning to face the bespectacled girl.

"I said nothing" replied Yomi.

"Ah Yukari sensei" asked the small Chiyo, holding up her hand. "What is this one action?" she asked.

"Ah, glad to see we are back on track. I speak of one of the important basic arts. The art of transformation! We have covered this- however we have yet to employ it practically. Well come on, up from your seats, form a line at the front" said Yukari. She was silent for a moment. "Now" she added sternly.

At pace the class assembled in front of the desks. Chiyo stood shaking slightly, terrified. Yomi attempted to calm down the small girl. Yukari marched forwards, turning to face the class as though she was overlooking a military squad. She adopted a more relaxed pose.

"Good to see you can work at pace. Now then this is very simple" stated Yukari. "I will call you forward one student at a time. Your task is very simple. One transformation each. Your task is to transform into me. And look like me too. Understand?"

"Yes Sensei" replied the class in unison.

"Ok then. The first student is Ayumu Kasuga…wait who? Oh Osaka. Come on, to the front."

Osaka, awoken from a daydream slowly moved forward. Yukari watched as the girl came to a halt. She dreaded to think what bizarre transformation she was about to behold. Osaka stood still and looked up at Yukari. Much of the class stood waiting, wondering what they might see. Many believed she wouldn't set a very high standard to achieve to.

"Should I go now Yukari-sensei?" asked Osaka looking towards the teacher in a carefree manner.

"Yes please. We don't have all the time in the world you know."

Osaka nodded. Her hands rose, her fingers taking a specific position. Yukari looked down in surprise. That seemed to be the correct position for the transformation technique. Surely not Osaka? The girl muttered the word change and in a brief flash Yukari suddenly found herself looking at…herself. Unbelievable. There didn't appear to be anything wrong with the transformation.

"Well…well done Osaka" said Yukari, not good at handing out praise. "I guess I'm better looking then I thought." Osaka nodded dreamily before moving out of the way. Yukari slowly turned. Next up… "Tomo, you're next."

"Right!" said Tomo stepping forwards. She pointed towards Yukari. "Prepare to be amazed!"

"Remember Tomo" explained Yukari firmly, "You are to transform into me. No other actions or stupidity."

"I understand Yukari-sensei" said Tomo, "Transform into you. I've got it."

"Very well then Tomo. Show us if your confidence is misplaced."

"Of course Sensei."

She slowly crouched down, raising her hands. She looked across at Yukari and grinned.

"Transform!" Yukari jumped back in horror as something vaguely resembling a women appeared in a cloud of mist. However the back was bent, the nose crooked and the hair greasy. And she could do to loose some weight. She turned to Yukari, back creaking slightly.

"Well what the hell is this?" asked Yukari.

"You asked me to transform into you didn't you? Well there it is. There's you" she said grinning.

"Tomo!" yelled Yukari. Yomi covered Chiyo's eyes. Better for the child not to see the terror of Yukari in action.

---

The next day

"Oh she's so adorable" muttered Takeshi. He was a balding man who sat at a desk with two other people- a man and Yukari. The three had been tasked with overseeing the practical exam.

"Indeed" said Amida unenthusiastically.

"Whatever" said Yukari. "Are you ready Chiyo?"

"Y-yes Yukari-sensei" said the small girl nervously. "W-what do you want me to do?"

"All of our students must perform the same task- generate two separate doppelgangers. Do you understand Chiyo?" asked Takeshi kindly.

"Of course the little squirt does. She may be tiny and practically a baby, but she knows her stuff" said Yukari, failing spectacularly in encouraging Chiyo.

"Ok sensei's" said Chiyo. "Art of the doppelganger" she stated, before two more of her appeared. They stood, before all three waved at the gathering of teachers.

"Oh she's so cute!" cried Takeshi.

"Very good" said Yukari unenthusiastically as two of the Chiyo-Chan's disappeared. She turned to face the others. "We've still got quite a few to get through. What are your thoughts?"

"Pass" said Amida.

"Definite pass for the test" said Takeshi.

"As her actual sensei I have the last say, having seen her perform over the year. And I say fail!"

"W-what?" asked Chiyo tearfully.

"I'm just screwing with you. Pass. Congratulations, I think you may be the youngest person to ever graduate from this academy." Yukari grinned as Chiyo walked away, shaking badly.

"Yeah, a full seven years younger then when you did huh Yukari?" asked Takeshi.

Chiyo left the room as Takeshi's face had a close encounter with the desk. Tomo then pulled open the door and stepped inside. She waved at the group.

"Ah, you" said Amida.

"Hi" replied Tomo in an equally dismissive tone.

"Well Tomo, as I've said to all the other students for the past two damn hours your task is to create two complete doppelgangers. And they must last for a certain period of time" said Yukari.

"Right Yukari-sensei. Art of the doppelganger!" yelled Tomo. Yukari moved forwards as two more Tomo's appeared. Could this be it? Tomo's head suddenly turned, and two of the Tomo's present disappeared. Yukari groaned.

"Huh?"

"Wow, I bet you could get onto the roof no problem through that window" said Tomo.

"Tomo" growled Yukari-sensei.

"Yes Sensei?"

"Two seconds is not exactly the time we were expecting. As a ninja you need to be able to ignore distractions in the middle of battle to emerge victorious. You couldn't even ignore undemanding distractions."

"Eh" said Tomo lifting her hand.

"I cannot pass you on this exam" said Yukari.

"It wouldn't be fair on the others."

"You fail Tomo Takino. I am sorry" said Takeshi.

Tomo slowly trudged out of the room. Takeshi watched her barely close the door, her usual energy missing.

"Oh don't look so bad Keshi, she'll be back next year" said Yukari. She stopped. "Wait…I'll have her in my class again. Crap."

---

Tomo sat at as distance as the other students celebrated becoming Genin. Even Chiyo-Chan, the ten year old had managed to pass. And here she sat, alone having failed yet again. Even Kagura had passed despite her lack of skills on the written paper.

"There's that weird girl" muttered one of the boys.

"Just ignore her. You know she's probably up to no good."

"Poor Tomo" muttered Yomi. "But she should study more."

"Miss Tomo should be able to pass next year right?" asked Chiyo in a concerned voice.

"Tomo" said Takeshi appearing beside the girl.

"Master Takeshi?"

"Yes. I've come to speak to you. I know you are disappointed about the exam. But do not give up. I have seen you- you possess a great deal of talent. With the correct focus you can easily become a very skilled ninja. And well deep within you is a great source of power…" Takeshi's voice trailed off, not wishing to speak of forbidden things.

"So? Even if I do try, Yukari-sensei will just take great pleasure in seeing me fail."

"Do not allow her sarcastic nature to betray the true Yukari. She has suffered much loss in this world Tomo. Her parents died at a young age. Her brother was killed trying to protect her. Though you may not see it, she cares for you deeply. She has watched out for you these past few years. And she has personally told me that she believes one day you will be much stronger the she is."

"Y-Yukari-sensei said that?"

Takeshi nodded and smiled. However not quite in those words though.

---

Yukari yawned as she walked past the academy, closed for the night. Finally a chance for sleep. That examination had dragged on.

"Yukari!" said a man rushing towards her.

"Takeshi? What is it?"

"The village is on full alert. Amida has stolen the secret manuscript of the village."

"What?!" asked Yukari.

"The whole town is on alert. The Hokage has ordered for the manuscript to be retrieved. If it falls into the wrong hands, the results could be devastating."

"Right. Gather the others."

"What are you doing?"

"I have all I need on me. I'll go ahead and slow down or stop Amida."

"Be careful Yukari. Amida is practically a stranger in this place. We have no idea of the potential dark skills he may possess."

"I'll be able to handle it." My time to shine! Take that Nyamo!

---

Tomo slowly walked through the town. She couldn't sleep. She'd failed yet again. She smiled grimly. At least she didn't have a disappointed family to go home to. However this night seemed strange. Quite a few people seemed to be running in the darkness. She knew something was up. She didn't have to be a ninja to know that. She yelled as she practically walked into Takeshi.

"Takeshi-sensei? What are you doing here?"

"Just return home Tomo" said Takeshi. "It's dangerous to be out here."

"Why?" she asked excitedly.

"The secret manuscript of the village has been stolen. Yukari has gone to stop Amida." After all the girl had gone through, he felt like telling her the truth. And it did involve her teacher, one of the closest people to her.

"With…"

"What?"

"Yukari and who?"

"Yukari has gone on her own."

"What?! On her own? She can't do that! She needs backup! And I'm fast enough to provide it" said Tomo, turning and sprinting away.

"Wait!" yelled out Takeshi. "Why, oh why won't anybody listen to me?"

Already a distance away, Tomo sprinted past the trees, following Yukari. I'll show Yukari-sensei- I'll make her proud.