Truth: You only got what you worked for.
Kiyomi stomped the ground and threw up her hands in irritation. "This is stupid! I can't do it!" she screamed in frustration. The only reason she dared to say it was that Ayano had been called away from their training for a meeting with some other jonin and wasn't there to deliver one of her lectures. "Ayano keeps giving me all these ninjutsu to learn and then just watching me like a hawk! It's too much pressure! And then every tiny screw up I make she jumps on!"
Miyako and Sayuri glanced at each other. They knew precisely why Ayano was always watching Kiyomi. It was because she reminded Ayano of herself as a genin. Ayano had been just like her, a taijutsu fighter until she showed a talent for ninjutsu. Her teacher jumped on it and pushed her, just as Ayano was now pushing Kiyomi, and Ayano was incredibly grateful for that. Because of that pressure, she was now as good as she was.
They both watched as Kiyomi attempted the ninjutsu once more. She flicked through the hand signs easily, but the fire only shot a few feet weakly and then crackled out of existence. Kiyomi threw up her hands and screamed once more.
"Why can't I do this?" Kiyomi demanded furiously, slamming her fist on the tree next to her. "I should be able to do this by now!"
Miyako and Sayuri exchanged glances again, silently debating who was going to handle this. Sayuri stepped up, placing a hand on Kiyomi's shoulder comfortingly.
"You'll get it," she said confidently. "It's a tough technique. Ayano's trying to challenge you and make you better. You know how she works."
"You can do it," Kiyomi said petulantly, giving her a dark look. Sayuri blinked at the hostility she felt rolling off of her teammate.
"Well, are you practicing after training on your own?" Sayuri tried.
"No. I've already worked on it during training for hours."
"Try working on it after training," Sayuri suggested. "If I'm having trouble with a technique I spend at least an hour on it that night during my personal training. I'll ask Satoru and Ayano for help and try to describe the problem I'm having with it as much as possible. Sometimes it really helps to work on it alone and have someone to ask and help guide you while you-"
"Shut up!" Kiyomi snapped, shoving Sayuri's hand off and whirling on her. Sayuri blinked in surprise and drew back, holding her hand to her chest in shock. Kiyomi had never blown up like this before. She'd thought they were getting along fine lately. "Believe it or not, it gets really annoying with you walking around acting like you know everything and talking down to me!" she roared.
"Guys. Please don't-" Miyako began, but she was cut off.
"I don't talk down to you," Sayuri insisted, offended. She shut Miyako out of the conversation because she knew the girl couldn't handle any kind of confrontation between friends. She'd end up in tears and hating herself for not being able to fix the problem. It was best to simply lock her out. "I'm just trying to help!"
"Yeah? Well knock it off! I don't need help from you!"
"From me?" Sayuri repeated softly, hearing the unsaid words in the air. Blind. Freak. Miyako whimpered slightly."I'll endeavor to keep my opinions to myself in the future," she said shortly.
"Do that," Kiyomi snapped, storming off.
"Kiyomi, come back!" Miyako begged, running a few steps after her. She looked between Sayuri and Kiyomi helplessly. "Guys, don't fight, please!"
"Leave her," Sayuri sighed. "Let her blow off some steam. Hopefully this will have blown over by training tomorrow." She rubbed her forehead wearily. "I didn't mean to talk down to her. I just wanted to help," she said softly.
"I know," Miyako said, touching her shoulder lightly. "You weren't. Kiyomi's just kind of touchy lately."
"Do you have any idea what's going on?" Sayuri asked. Miyako shook her head sadly.
"I don't know what's gotten into her. She just always seems angry," Miyako sighed. "I wonder if something's… going on at home?" she said nervously.
"I doubt that," Sayuri scoffed. "I doubt Kiyomi would be able to put up with any kind of abuse."
"I guess you would know." Miyako slapped a hand over her mouth, eyes wide and horrified. "I'm so sorry Sayuri, I didn't mean for that to come out! I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to say that!" She put her hands over her face. "Oh, I'm a terrible friend, saying something like tha-"
"Breathe," Sayuri chuckled. Miyako took a few deep breaths. "I'm not offended Miyako. It's true." She shook her head. "What are we going to do about Kiyomi?"
"What are we going to do about Kiyomi?" Ayano repeated, appearing behind them. She looked around and crossed her arms, scowling in displeasure. "Where is she?"
"We got in a fight," Sayuri explained. "She left."
"And what was this fight about?" Ayano asked, raising an eyebrow. This was new. She'd never seen her team fight before, beyond the petty squabbles every team got into. There'd certainly never been a fight resulting in one of them getting mad and storming off.
"Nothing important," Sayuri said, covering for Kiyomi. "We're just tired and touchy today."
Ayano's eyebrows went higher. "Yeah, because you and Miyako are totally the types to blow up when you get sleepy. Please, I know you girls better than that. Come on, spill. What happened?"
"I really was nothing," Miyako insisted. Ayano's eyes narrowed.
"I'm getting an answer. Stop covering for each other and tell me," she said warningly. She was a happy person usually, but this was her team and she wasn't letting anything tear it apart, especially while she was watching from the outside with no idea what was going on.
Miyako looked to Sayuri, who sighed. "Kiyomi was upset that she was struggling to get a technique. I tried to help and suggested she practice after training and ask around for help, like you told me to."
"Go on," Ayano nodded.
"She started shouting that Sayuri was always talking down to her and it just sort of… escalated," Miyako finished sadly.
"I see," Ayano said, narrowing her eyes. "And then she ran off?"
"Miyako tried to call her back, but she wouldn't come," Sayuri explained.
"Uh huh," Ayano nodded. "I'm not going to stand for cutting training and running off to cry because you've got some PMS going on or whatever. We're all shinobi. It's hard. That's no excuse. Training's over for today," she added to Sayuri and Miyako. "I'm going to go talk to Kiyomi."
She shot up into the trees with a blur and could be seen leaping from rooftop to rooftop in the distance.
"Do you think we should go with her?" Miyako asked worriedly.
"If she wanted us along she would have invited us," Sayuri said. She pulled her hitai-ate off and rubbed her eyes tiredly. "Really, what's wrong with Kiyomi lately?"
"Should we wait a while and go talk to her?" Miyako suggested.
"To be honest," Sayuri said, a bit of irritation leaking into her voice. "I don't particularly want to see Kiyomi right now. I want to go home, take a shower, and then let out my frustrations on an innocent block of wood."
"Okay," Miyako sighed. "I just wish there was something we could do to help her," she said sadly. "I don't like all this fighting. I feel like we're coming apart," she whispered, wrapping her arms around herself.
"If Kiyomi wanted our help she would tell us what the problem was," Sayuri reasoned, putting her hands on Miyako's shoulders and rubbing comfortingly. "It'll be okay. Ayano will sort this out. We'll fix everything tomorrow during training and things will be back to normal."
"I hope you're right," Miyako said, shaking her head. "I don't think I could take it if you guys got in a fight like that again," she admitted ruefully.
"I'm sorry for talking over you earlier," Sayuri apologized as they both headed towards the town proper. "I know you don't like fights and I was trying to spare you that."
"I know," Miyako smiled slightly. "I'm kind of glad you did. But you protect me too much," she whined slightly.
"Of course I do. You're my friend," Sayuri blinked. "That's how friends work, I thought."
Miyako chuckled and hugged her. "They do. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye."
Sayuri, true to her word, returned to the apartment she shared with Satoru and readied her comfiest pair of pajamas before stepping into the shower. She'd quickly discovered that showers could cure anything. Whenever something was weighing on her mind she'd crawl into the shower and let the scalding water pound down on her for a while, lulling her into a meditative state.
This time, it was the sudden realization that the water was leaning dangerously close to ice that made her hastily shut it off and step out. Sayuri reached for a towel but paused. She ran her hand over her body, feeling for any changes, any muscles getting softer.
With all the exercise a shinobi got from training and missions, none of them had bad bodies, per say. But for kunoichi, there were a few things you wanted to try and avoid or risk being called masculine. You wanted your arms and legs toned, not bulky. Your shoulders shouldn't be too broad. The outline of abs on your stomach was fine, but a true six-pack was kind of a put-off for most guys.
There were times Sayuri wished she had larger breasts or wider hips like Ino. She didn't have to see to know all about Ino's famous assets, she just had to listen to guys talk around her. Then she would firmly remind herself that things like that were actually a disadvantage in her profession. Big breasts meant you had to tape them down as flat as possible, or they bounced around painfully, and you were more likely to have back problems. Wider hips made it more difficult to maneuver.
All in all, Sayuri was happy with how she looked. She fit most of the guidelines. Shoulders not too broad, toned limbs, and a flat stomach. There wasn't much of a dip at her waist, but that was fine. She was perfectly content with her B-cup, as it made life much easier.
Sayuri climbed into her pajamas and went to her room. From a small basket under her bed, she took her knife and a bit of wood, then thought again and pushed a bone from her arm. She wanted the challenge of a harder material. Sayuri sat herself down on the bed cross-legged and lay a little bit of plastic sheeting across her lap to catch the shavings before setting to work.
Her knife moved mindlessly, an idea of what she wanted it to look like drifting absently in the back of her mind. Mostly, she was focused on Kiyomi.
She couldn't understand what made Kiyomi lash out like she did today. Sure, tension and pressure were liable to make anyone snap, but she'd never thought Ayano was that rough on them. Strict, but fair, Satoru had once described her teaching as, and Sayuri agreed. So long as you did what she said, you were fine, but if you didn't, you would be punished. It was to your best advantage to follow her advice. She knew what she was talking about and you would get better.
That said, Sayuri knew that Kiyomi didn't do the supplementary exercises Ayano gave them, and then complained later on when Sayuri and Miyako were better than her. That had always vaguely annoyed Sayuri. It was like she was very willing to reap the reward but not willing to put in the work.
Sayuri couldn't understand that. It had been an overarching truth her whole life. You only got what you worked for. No magical talent fairy was suddenly going to suddenly swoop down and make you a wonderful painter or give you the ability to dance ballet. It took practice and dedication. Kiyomi was dedicated, sure, but it was the practice part she avoided.
"Sayuri, are you home?" Satoru asked in surprise, poking his head in the door of her room. He'd been out on a brief mission to deliver a scroll and was surprised when he came home to find the mirror in the bathroom fogged up and the sound of whittling coming from Sayuri's room.
"I thought you had training with Ayano today," Satoru said, stepping fully into the room. He looked at the bone in Sayuri's hands and the large pile of shavings in her lap and sighed. "Okay, what happened?" he asked, moving to sit beside her on the bed.
"What makes you think something happened?" Sayuri asked with forced breeziness.
"The fact that you've reduced that radius to a senbon. A pretty senbon, but still," Satoru said with a small smile, examining the tiny flowers carved into the side of it.
Sayuri sighed and the pile of shavings began to move, crawling back into her skin like a swarm of insects. She shoved the senbon into her equipment pouch carelessly and stuck the knife back under her bed.
"There was a fight," she said shortly.
"A fight," Satoru said in surprise.
"Kiyomi got angry when I tried to help her get better at a technique she was struggling with. She accused me of talking down to her and I think she almost started throwing punches. Instead she just ran off. Ayano's pissed."
"Language!" Satoru said sharply. Sayuri winced.
"Sorry. I'm just annoyed," she sighed, burying her face in her hands. "I don't know what I did."
"You know, you may not have done anything," Satoru said, rubbing her back. "It's not like your team is the only part of her life. You guys have gotten closer, but there's still things about each other you don't know. Kiyomi may have been annoyed about something completely different and she just lost it. You were nearby and got the worst of it."
"I know that her father doesn't approve of her being a kunoichi," Sayuri recalled. "He wants her to stay in the family business."
"There you go," Satoru encouraged. "Maybe her dad's been on her more lately and she's just stressed. It may not have anything to do with you."
"Perhaps not," Sayuri sighed.
"See?" Satoru said with a smile. "Not a big deal. Now, I'm going to jump in the shower – provided someone hasn't used up all the hot water," he added, giving her a mock-stern look.
"I may or may not have," Sayuri admitted. Satoru sighed mournfully.
"You're lucky I like you…"
"Indeed I am."
Sayuri woke in the morning and did her exercises, doing more than usual to make up for slacking off the day before. She did some light cleaning and then got started on breakfast. Satoru was sleeping in, still a bit tired from his mission, so she left his breakfast on the table with a note telling him she was at the training field and then started off.
Miyako caught up with her about five minutes into her walk.
"I'm nervous about today," she admitted. "I don't want this to get even worse."
"It won't," Sayuri said confidently. "Ayano wouldn't allow it. I think she'd tie us up and leave us there to sort out our own problems before letting things get worse."
Miyako chuckled slightly at that. "Didn't Satoru say she tied up her students in the past?"
"He was joking." Sayuri paused, contemplating. "...I think."
They arrived at the training field a bit earlier than usual, hoping to score extra points with Ayano in case she was still annoyed. However, when they arrived, they saw Kiyomi had the same idea, and she was not alone. Sayuri threw out her hand and Miyako paused, the two of them just inside the trees, listening.
"Why are you just standing here? You could be working!" a silver-haired man was shouting at Kiyomi. "You know our deal!"
"I know dad, I know!" Kiyomi said hastily. "It's just they should be here any minute and-"
"And you're slacking off and being lazy. If you aren't any good you won't be able to make a living with this, and then you'll be helping me in the kiln like you should be. That woman who stopped by last night said you'd cut training early." He shook his head. "Abandoning your position helping your family provide for themselves…"
"I don't want to spend the rest of my life making vases!" Kiyomi shouted, losing her temper and gesturing violently.
"Oh? And what's wrong with that?" the man demanded defensively.
"Nothing's wrong with it! It's just not for me!"
"Because you're too good to get your hands dirty," the man snorted.
"What? That's crazy! If I was too good to get my hands dirty I wouldn't have become a ninja!"
"And you shouldn't have!" the man roared. "You should have stayed and helped your family!"
He turned on his heel and stomped off, leaving Kiyomi standing in the middle of the training field, slumped and looking defeated.
"What am I going to do about him?" she groaned, covering her eyes. Miyako and Sayuri exchanged looks and stepped from the trees, moving forwards. It seems they had found the source of Kiyomi's stress. Apparently her father had indeed been on her more than usual lately about helping her family.
"I'm sorry, we didn't know," Sayuri apologized softly when they were in front of Kiyomi. She looked up at them, eyes red. Her face was still a bit angry.
"Didn't know my dad was trying to make me stop being a ninja and continue the family business unless I started making real money? Why would you?" Kiyomi snapped. This explained why she'd wanted to go on more difficult missions so badly. They meant extra pay. "Don't even act sorry Sayuri, you don't care!"
"I do care!" Sayuri retorted. "We're a team, we should stick together!"
"Should, not will!" Kiyomi snapped. "We should stick together, but you wouldn't if you didn't have to. God, you're so arrogant, you think you're better than everyone Sayuri!"
"I do not!" Sayuri protested, rocking back on her heels.
"Yes you do! You talk over Miyako all the time! She can't help it that she stutters, and you just start talking like she's not even trying to say anything!"
Sayuri's eyes went cold. Was Kiyomi assuming she knew more about Miyako that Sayuri herself did? They'd been friends for years. Kiyomi had been speaking to Miyako for only a few months. "I do that because I know Miyako struggles to get her thoughts in order sometimes, so I give her the time to decide what she wants to say. Which you'd know if you paid her any attention other than to baby her. She's stronger than you think."
"You know what? Forget about Miyako. You know what pisses me off more than anything?"
"Do tell, I'm dying to know."
"My dad's always saying 'why aren't you as good as that Sayuri girl?' Well you know why dad?" Kiyomi shouted. "It's because her foster dad's screwing our teacher, and she's the poor blind girl. Everyone dotes on her and wants to see her be something amazing, but no one gives a damn about me! They don't care that I'll be trapped in a life I don't want if I fail. And I could be so much better than you if I just had all those opportunities you got served to you on a silver platter. Ayano always tells me what I'm doing wrong but she does nothing but praise you!"
"Leave Satoru out of this," Sayuri hissed. "Insult him one more time and you won't like the consequences."
"You're threatening me?" Kiyomi demanded. "You think you're so awesome, so big and bad with your kekkei genkai. Well let's see how you handle this! Fireball Justu!"
"Kiyomi, calm down!" Miyako cried in fear as she and Sayuri dove to the side.
"Are you insane?" Sayuri demanded, leaping to her feet. "What were you thinking?"
"I was thinking that I want to knock that smugness out of you!" Kiyomi snapped. "I was thinking I'm done being second-best!"
"Third best," Sayuri spat. Anger poured through and now she was aiming to hurt. She was arrogant? She was in no way arrogant. She was proud of what she'd achieved, and there was no shame in that. She was proud of what she'd worked hard and accomplished. "Miyako's better than you as well."
Kiyomi howled and a bone shot from Sayuri's palm into her hand. She deflected the hail of kunai Kiyomi sent flying at her with it.
"Stop, stop!" Miyako was screaming, but now neither girl was backing down. They were too angry.
"You say I'm arrogant?" Sayuri demanded. "What about you? It's all about you, isn't it? You think you know Miyako so well and you don't! You think you're so very good at taijutsu but you still can't beat me!"
"Oh really?" Kiyomi snarled, narrowing her eyes.
"Really."
Kiyomi lunged and they exchanged a flurry of blows, Sayuri calmly blocking each and every punch or kick Kiyomi threw, making her angry at how effortless Sayuri made it look.
"Quit just standing there!" Kiyomi screamed. "Move! Do something! Quit standing there all smug! Fight me!"
Sayuri had worked so that her movements looked this effortless. She'd trained hard even after school and worked with Satoru when they were both free. She'd asked Ayano to tell her any small thing that was wrong in her movements. She'd asked her for additional exercises to do at home, and here was the difference between the two of them.
Sayuri possessed a large amount of natural talent. However, she hadn't just left well enough alone and been content to be an average shinobi. She'd worked hard with the goal of being one of the best in mind. Kiyomi, despite her desperation to avoid being trapped in the family business, had never gone the extra mile. She'd intended for her own not-inconsiderable raw talent to get her far enough, and it fell short, but even then she wasn't willing to accept extra responsibilities.
"You want me to do something?" Sayuri asked, arching an eyebrow. "Fine, I'll do something!"
The bone sword was in her hand again and suddenly Kiyomi was on the defensive, dodging and weaving frantically to avoid losing a limb as Sayuri moved her blade expertly, twisting and dipping it into complicated formations.
Miyako flew between the two of them, tapping each of them on their fingers. She stopped and raised her hands, pulling them apart. Both Kiyomi and Sayuri shouted in surprise and anger as they were tossed away from each other, and just in time.
Lightning struck the ground between the two girls. They both immediately sat up to see Ayano crouching in the center of the scorched black mark it left behind. Her expression was as serious as Sayuri had ever seen it.
"What. Happened?" she snarled dangerously. Both Sayuri and Kiyomi started talking at the same time. Lightning crackled around Ayano and they immediately shut up, the hair on their arms rising in the electrified atmosphere. Ayano had never been this angry at them before.
"Miyako," Ayano said, eying the girl, who paled and began wringing her fingers. She was still shaking from using her Saiketsu on her friends, even if it was to keep them from hurting each other. She felt like she'd just betrayed them. "What happened? You tell me."
Miyako began talking, words quiet and running together, completely indistinguishable.
"I can't understand you!" Ayano shouted in frustration. Miyako whimpered and tried to get herself together.
"Sayuri and I w-were coming to train. We saw... Kiyomi f-fighting with her f-father. When h-he l-left Sayuri tried to c-comfort her. K-Kiyomi snapped at her and th-they started arguing. K-Kiyomi called S-Sayuri arrogant and insulted S-Satoru. Sa-Sayuri g-got mad about that and th-threatened her if she d-did it again. Ki-Kiyomi shot a Fireball Jutsu at her and said she was d-done being second best. Sa-Sayuri said she was third best, behind m-me. Then they started r-really fi-fighting," Miyako stammered, tears running down her cheeks. As soon as she started crying, Kiyomi and Sayuri felt guilty for dragging her into this, but they were still furious with each other.
Ayano turned on Kiyomi. "You threw the first attack?" she hissed. Kiyomi paled.
"She's always walking around like she knows everything!" Kiyomi shouted desperately, pointing at Sayuri. "I was sick of it! You always praise her, but you keep picking out everything I do wrong!"
"Because I'm your teacher!" Ayano shouted back, throwing up her hands. "It's my job to tell you want you're doing wrong so you can get better. I tell Sayuri she's doing well because she is. She practices by herself if she's struggling. I'm sorry you're having trouble with your family, but maybe if you put in the extra time and improved some more, I'd be able to take you guys out on the kind of mission you're wanting to go on."
Kiyomi ducked her head, cowed, tears rolling down her cheeks as her idol rebuked her.
"And you!" Ayano said, turning on Sayuri, whose eyes widened in surprise. "What were you thinking pulling out your kekkei genkai for a petty squabble? You know those bones of yours are dangerous and you were using them to prove a point? I don't care if Kiyomi insulted you own mother, you do not use that against your teammates. You could have calmly deflected her attacks and let her burn herself out. Under no circumstances should you have turned on her!"
Sayuri was now lowering her face as well, tears leaking from under her hitai-ate. Her team was falling apart…
"You guys are going to work out your issues," Ayano said shortly, narrowing her eyes furiously. "And you're not leaving here until you do."