Word count: 3,327
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~(Kirigakure)~
A bloody murder. The whole graduating class died, only the murderer survived, and he is praised by the Mizukage. I panicked, like the other children. Although, it's not because of the crime but the one who killed the class, Momochi Zabuza, and the few seconds of panic because I thought Mangetsu died. Do I know "Zabuza"?
Since I heard about the news his name got stuck in my head. I keep getting the feeling something is going to happen and it will include me and him. I try not to think about it too much, it doesn't go away, for obvious reasons.
Gozu is scared. The academy didn't feel safe... crazy thought. Kiri, in general, is not safe. But for Gozu, who has lived in this country since the day he was born, Kiri is supposed to be the safest place on Earth.
"Nothing will go wrong, you are in control," the fortune-teller said.
Nanashi laughed happily, clapping her hands. "I knew it, thank you so much, Misaki-chan!" she beamed.
"It's a pleasure, Nanashi-san."
I scoffed. "Yes, such a pleasure, Misaki-san."
Nanashi heard it and gave me a cold glare. "Get out, Fuyuki."
My only response is a shrug before walking away. We hate each other, that's for sure... I miss Nono. Nanashi is such a nag.
Nanashi is a forty-year-old woman who has a liking for luck charms; necklaces, bracelets, mood stones, half the orphanage's money, and a lot of other junk. She is the boss of the orphanage, the worst mama bird of all time.
Everyday there would be a fortune-teller inside the orphanage and she'll get giddy when they say she's going to have a wonderful future, but I think they only say it because they're afraid of Nanashi's backup.
Her 'backup' is basically a rising prodigy from the orphanage, who she babied, spoiled, supported, and everything she doesn't give everyone else. If anyone ever had the balls to say that she's going to have a terrible day... let's just say there will be consequences.
Fastidious disposal of bodies, sheesh, they expect us to do that? Second year in the academy is going smoothly, especially if you ignore the constant teasing of the blue hair and shouts of, "Ha, is this a joke? Did Mizukage-sama just allow three hooligans to enter the academy?"
Instead of coming up with a witty retort, I just think of the weather. Kiri is in an archipelago of islands that make up the country of Water, so as usual it's hell'a misty and rainy as well.
The first week we learned chakra control, the second it was Taijutsu, then Ninjutsu, and now Genjutsu. The topic of the class change every week, it starts to annoy Meizu. When he asked Suzume what was the point of it was, he simply smiled then walked away.
"Fuyuki, can I test the Genjutsu on you?"
"No," I glared at Gozu.
Everybody had a "partner", or as I like to call them, live training dummies. Suzume forced us into pairs, making us use Genjutsu on each other so we would know the effectiveness of our attack.
A part of me thinks this is logical and necessary but the other just flat-out complained and whined.
"Come on, Harumi," he said, using the name he originally knows me as. "You're acting like a kid."
"I am a kid! I have the right to throw a tantrum if I wanted to," I said, waving my arms around in protest. He sighed, staring at the floor while I crossed my arms.
Gozu's patient and quiet, that's why I like him better than Meizu, I could control him.
"Fine," he gave in. "But I won't always be your partner, remember that," he said, then ruffled my hair.
I crossed my arms trying to shield my head. "What was that for?"
"You are a kid, right?"
I turned away and occasionally glared at him from the corner of my eyes. Power and strength is everything in Kiri. Here, being strong and powerful also meant tough and manly. Kiri's macho ego led it to not having a nice attitude to those who play the female role. Women are ninja, no village would be that stupid. I highly doubt that the village truly forbade women from being ninjas, they just didn't allow them to take part in big, open warfare.
"Why are you even here?" a kid said.
I ignored him. Most of the topics I learn in the academy is a repeat of the lessons I learned at Konoha, but some things changed and the schedule is more complex. No one's complaining. If in Konoha there's usually a certain age on when to start, here it's whenever you're ready; early or late. It's all you. I guess Konoha does that too but I never saw a twelve-year-old in a nine-year-old class.
I wrote my notes faster, wishing to get away from the idiots. They, however, didn't have anything better to do.
"Hey, Fuyuki, wanna hear something stupid?"
I stopped. I slowly turned my head to face him, there were bags under my eyes and I could barely look at him straight. The only reason I turned was because my neck hurts from looking up and down, over and over, for the past hour. Taking notes isn't necessary but some of the subjects focus on poisons. I thought learning a little about it would be helpful. The rest of the pages on my notebook is covered in the indistinguishable language called English.
My expression is placid... at least I think it is.
He smirked and two other kids joined him. "You didn't even let Gozu do a Genjutsu on you; you're such a wuss."
"Yeah, it was so simple!"
"You'll never understand anything unless you experience it first hand," he mocked copying the useless words I heard Suzume say.
I dropped my pencil and stood up. It did nothing to help my height, there isn't much difference between him and me, but it made a noise that got everybody's attention. Suzume seemed unfazed by the commotion I made, he crossed his arms and placed his feet on the desk, as if getting comfortable for a show.
I glared at him. Listen, kid, I just want to learn this stuff and get it over with, okay? I didn't agree to waste nine hours of my time, everyday, to listen to you ramble about my appearance and physical flaws. You see, I'm no fighter, that I admit, I'm just one hell of a genius with a notebook, and you should definitely believe me when I say that your death is planned in here. So I suggest you stop pestering me with your ignorance. I may be in the same class as you but I won't let a six-year-old, runt insult me. I have way more power than you, for God's sake I had a thirteen year head start.
I didn't say any of it. I wish I did but I stopped myself. My knuckles are white because of how hard I'm clenched my fists.
He down smirked at me. "What's the matter scared?"
I glared at him a bit longer before speaking. "You think I need to experience something before I learn how to do it." I scoffed. "Let's just see about that, you nitwit." I placed my hands behind my back and did hand signs. Snake. Rat.
"Who t-" he froze for a moment, then continued to babble. "-he hell are you calling a ni-?"
His eyes widened and he started shaking. "Wha... what... AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" he screamed at the top of his lungs. He held his head and fell to the floor kicking and screaming. He cried and didn't stop. His friends stared at me in shock and horror.
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?"
Suzume-sensei is still sitting with his foot on the table. He's not smiling. He's not angry. He's simply staring blankly at the kid on the floor.
"Harumi, what did you-?" I covered Gozu's mouth.
"Don't ask. He'll faint any minute now."
I grabbed my stuff and jumped out the window. Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique. Thank you, Hatake Kakashi and Sugiyama Hideo, for having the patience to teach me the technique.
This is one difference I can't skip over, I am growing the normal way in Kiri, getting in trouble, getting a few friends and learning in a slow phase. Whereas in Konoha I was trained like a machine, secluded and separated from other children.
Normal, the word has a nice ring to it, but I'm afraid I'll be the center of attention when I get back to the academy tomorrow.
I opened the door of the orphanage. It was quiet, everybody is at the academy. The only noise I could hear was the sound of the faucet running until it stopped and the kitchen door opened. Nanashi squinted her eyes to get a closer look at me. She adjusted her glasses.
"Why aren't you at the academy?" she asks, her face twisted in a smirk that mocks my very existence.
"Children," I say, putting spite in my words. "They are ignorant fools."
I never liked anyone, I never wanted to like anyone. Like, leads to connections. Connections, lead to caring. Caring, leads to amity. Amity is something I only have with my father, Sakumo, Kakashi, and Hideo. No one else.
She examines me like a hawk before smiling. "Come with me, my ignorant and foolish darling," she orders.
My crossed arms tightens at the insult. "Where?" I ask through gritted teeth.
"To the bar," she answers, pulling me outside. She locked the door and banged on it to make sure it won't budge. "I need some stuff."
"And who's watching the place?"
"A young man who was kind enough to volunteer," she chirped. "Oh! Hehe, silly me, I forgot to tell you about your soon to be new roommate!"
My eyebrows creased. The nice young man is obviously her spoiled brat, Kenji, and our new roommate is her new puppet.
Kiri has a system for orphans, you are on your own... unless you sign up in the Academy. If you do, you get to live in one of the old, dilapidated buildings and get some money each month for living; an allowance for every month you don't die, Kiri logic. Now, most of the buildings had already collapsed so every orphan who are still studying, are all cramped in one building; our building. Meizu and Gozu practically kick and punch each other in their sleep and they somehow pull me into the "fight" once in a while. Since our conditions are already pretty bad, I have one question for Nanashi, why the hell did you take in another one and placed him in our small, closet room?!
Swordsmanship is a "thing" in Kiri, basically a lot of people are decent at it, most people who know it are pretty good at it and a lot of people know it. Kiri has higher standards in swordsmanship than the "big three" (Ninjutsu, Genjutsu and Taijutsu). So it didn't surprise me when our new, shy four-year-old roommate is aspiring to become one.
Chojuro, was his name. Short, blue hair and dark irises that scream "don't talk to me, I may not respond due to the small panic attack I am having at the moment". Blue and black, now where did that genetic combination come from... oh yes, me.
"Haha, it's like you two are related!" says Meizu, as he laughed at my predicament. "Nanashi's new, little spoiled baby is related to you, haha! Man, you are gonna get beat."
"Don't listen to him, Harumi, you'll probably beat them to death before they say anything," Gozu tried to reassure me.
To be honest I wasn't listening to them, I was more focused on our 'roommate'.
"How did Nanashi find you?"
"Kenji-san found me a-and brought me here. Nanashi-san was nice enough t-to accept me-"
"Be careful, Chojuro," I warned. "And be observant, don't let her 'kindness' blind you."
I'm pretty sure Chojuro didn't understand what I meant by any of that, but he complied nonetheless.
"Ok, uh..." he paused.
"Well, well, Nanashi didn't tell you who we are... I'm Fuyuki," I held out my hand for a handshake.
He stared for a while, before nodding and holding out his hand experimentally. "Fuyuki-nii-san."
"Hehe, he called you big brother," says Meizu.
I elbowed him and glared. "Shut up, Mei-mei."
"Hey!" he yelled in protest.
I turned back to Chojuro and gave him a smile. "Chojuro this is Mei-mei, he's a goof ball. So you can call him-"
"Hey!" he protested again.
"Mei-mei-chan..." Gozu scratched his chin. He nodded in approval. "Sounds good."
"You!" Meizu pointed his finger rudely at me. "I'll get you for this!"
"Don't hate him, Mei-mei-nee-chan, he didn't do anything wrong," Chojuro said innocently.
"Yes, he did! He did something very wrong! It was offensive and intentional! I demand a witness, and backup!" he screamed. "And don't call me nee-chan I'm not a girl! If anything Fuyuki's the girl," his voice cracked at every other word, making him sound a bit too much like a girl.
"All right, all right I'm sorry," I said, calming him down. For a moment he's fine until I said, "Forgive my lack of maturity, I meant to say it, Mei-chan."
"Fuyuki!"
The library is a sacred place, no sound, no conflict, just little books that distract me from the life. Although, the fact that I'm researching the history of Kiri, means reality isn't that far behind.
Kirigakure no Sato the village with the lowest population, the village with a high criminal rate (missing-nin count), the village with the least military power, home to two tailed-beasts... how is it possible that I actually prefer all this complicated crap?
That's how Kiri is now, back then though, they didn't seem as violent, they were more like Konoha; not quite but close.
The village was founded by the First Mizukage, it started as a small community of mostly civilians and ordinary ninja until clans started to arrive. The Kaguya were the first to arrive, offering cooperation and security for the village. When the First Mizukage accepted them clans came flooding in after.
Harmony, peace, happiness, rainbows, gemstones, and sunshine; for almost fifty years Kiri was like this. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen were personal guards of the Kage. Loyal to the founder of the village, trained to protect the village and its people.
Everything changed when a sudden realisation hit the citizens; clans are becoming more and more powerful. They ignored it first to maintain peace, but when a Hozuki rose into power and became the Mizukage, all hell broke loose. The original villagers felt as if the clans are controlling them, they had the delusion in which the clans are trying to overthrow their government. The clans wanted Kiri for themselves.
After the Second Mizukage died, miscommunication led to a civil war. Many suffered and many lost loved ones, the Third Mizukage tried his best to support the village but everything went down hill. Civilians died and some clans received the terrible faith of becoming "extinct" and the constant warring of the village affected the Land of Water, greatly.
Kiri is the main village and supplier of almost everything in the land. So when Kiri fell into chaos, so did the country. People became greedy, human trafficking, stealing, obliterating towns, scavenging unlocked houses, people did anything they could to sustain themselves.
When the Third Mizukage finally found a temporary solution the damage had already been done. Kiri, the once quiet country, became corrupt and chaotic. The citizens were furious with the new reputation they had. They learned a few things from their earlier mistake, so instead of confronting the "enemies" directly they decided to play by the other side's rules and became what the other countries saw them as; chaotic sadists; wild and free.
The Seven Swords became reckless, a number of them went on their own, in other words, rogue. They tried to steal the sword and keep it to themselves but the swords are the relics of the village, passed down from generation to generation, so stealing it could very well lead to certain death. So now I wonder how Kisame pulled it off.
The temporary solution is indeed temporary, a few months ago, the Yuki clan was massacred. This rose a tension between the two parties once again.
Konoha seems like an "ok" village except, they're at war. I'm not saying that Kiri is peaceful, I'm not saying Konoha is the same; they have differences. They're just hard to spot. For someone like me who has experienced living in both villages first-hand, looking for differences is hard. Everybody knows I'm not exactly in Mother Earth, if anything I'm in Suicide Earth. I know what will happen in the future, usually, I also know how the villages are 'programmed' to be.
Konohagakure no Sato, the home of happy-go-lucky loud mouths, broody ninja clans and a relaxed Kage. Period.
Iwagakure no Sato, Konoha's enemy during the Third Shinobi World War. Period.
Kirigakure no Sato, the sadistic village crawling with yakuza groups and soon to be rogue and powerful ninjas. Period.
Sunagakure no Sato, the home of puppeteers and Gaara of the Sand. Period.
Kumogakure no Sato... er... underrated but extremely powerful. Period.
All of them together they become homes of seemingly non-existent civilians. Period.
Once you really look at the villages, you see more and more similarities, until at some point they all just look the same. Of course, reaching a conclusion like that requires a lot of time and a slightly boggled mind; both of which I already have... now I know how Madara and Future Nagato's brain work!
Personally, I don't want to get in between all this crap, I'm happy I'm an orphan. Yagura has some tough shit to settle. I bet he would try, but all this, is going to end very badly. With that said, thank you universe for making me a Kinju and not a baby-faced Mizukage!
"Takeshi-san, can we take out b-books?" Chojuro asked, struggling with the word 'books'.
I quickly wiped the stupid grin off my face and nodded. "Sure you can. I suggest you take out books on biology, sounds interesting right? Better yet, microbiology! Or you could just take out a basic learning scroll on Kenjutsu."
"I don't know w-what that micorow-b-o-gee is but I think I like your last advice, uh, I mean choice... suggestion. I want to get a Kenjutsu scroll."
"All right then, kiddo."
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If a man insisted always on being serious, and never allowed himself a bit of fun and relaxation, he would go mad or become unstable without knowing it.
~Herodotus
A/N: Wow, this chapter. This chapter took me a while to figure out. Thanks to Kyoki no Megami for the 30th reviewer and for Kyid being the 60th to follow. Thanks for reading, I hope to hear from some of you in the future. See you guys in a week or two.