Disclaimer: Not mine.
Authors Note: Thank you for all the reviews last chapter. I didn't think I would finish this early, but here it is. Chapter ten!
Chapter 10- A Youthful Time
This year at the academy they began to focus more on shinobi arts. They started teaching us how to make simple henge and clones. It didn't take too long for me to learn them. Over the summer my chakra control became good enough that leaves wouldn't spontaneously start growing when I put them on my forehead. It took much more concentration but my control became much better.
The academy teachers weren't impressed. It was something we were supposed to have learned and mastered last year so in their eyes I was a year behind the rest of the students. Shuriken practice only solidified my reputation as the dead last. Bad hand to eye coordination seems to be one of those things that carry over even after death. I usually did better with a gun or bow and arrow.
Missing every target in practice reminded me how much farther I had to go before I could even be considered a Genin. I practiced my throwing whenever I got the chance but I was much more interested in the kunai. I had so much fun with them. They are some of the most convenient weapons available for a shinobi.
They were sharp, small and easy to wield. We only practiced with wood weapons but I could already tell that a well aimed kunai, no matter how strong the opponent you fight, could save your life on more than one occasion. Izumo was a great weapons teacher. At the moment Kotetsu was better with weapons than Izumo, but he came in at a close second. He was also much better at teaching then Kotetsu.
I was excited when the teachers announced that we could use other battle styles in the class spars. We all made our way outside to the sparring field and were partnered up. Spars are held one at a time so all the students can watch and learn. I was pared up against a Hyuuga as the third battle. We enter the arena and both fall into our stances.
Of course the first battle that I can actually fight and it's against a Hyuuga. He was standing in the Jyuuken pose and we both took a moment to size each other up. Deciding to make the first move I rush in and just barely dodge his chakra filled fist. I had originally planned on punching him but I was no longer in a position where that was possible. Instead I used my momentum and knocked him hard in the chest with my shoulder on my way up from the dodge.
I think I made him angry. He went straight for me, each fist coming at me one after the other. While fighting Itachi I had gotten good at dodging or only getting minimal damage, but when fighting a Hyuuga even the smallest of touches could be detrimental to the fight. It was a glancing blow but he got me in the upper arm.
It hurt. I jumped back and grit my teeth. I was holding my injured shoulder with my other hand. That wasn't a good idea. The fight ended up being a game of tag. I would jump around holding my injured arm, twisting and turning so as not to get hit with those fists again. He meanwhile lost his temper completely. It was rather amusing really. He kept running around like a wild boar, arms outstretched, hoping to hit me. I saw him begin to tire and was hoping to finish it with a kick to the gut.
It was a good plan in my head, but the moment I was in reach he got my leg as well. Now I was hopping around the field like a lame bunny rabbit. The kids on the sidelines were having fun and by now I was so used to being laughed at I wasn't too embarrassed to laugh along as well. That just seemed to make him angrier.
In the end I had more stamina but he got me in the stomach, and was announced the winner. It took half the afternoon before I had feeling in my arm again and I had to limp home. Izumo gave me a sympathetic look.
"A Hyuuga, huh?" I just sigh dejectedly in reply. Kotetsu got a good laugh at my expense. He also got a punch from my good arm. My parents were confused though, they didn't know what made a spar with a Hyuuga any different from a normal spar. We tried explaining the gentle fist to them but gave up after the first ten minutes.
My Disposition stances were a lot harder to move between when my body was still so stiff. The exercise was good though, it got more blood, and chakra, flowing into my deprived limbs. The next day at school had pretty much the same result. I wasn't pitted against the Hyuuga, instead it was Hana. We had sparred before and both knew each other's styles. It was a much closer match this time around
It began slowly with each of us throwing the occasional punch. Then she started crouching in the Inuzuka signature fighting stance. We both started moving faster and as I went to punch she blocked and threw one of her own. I knocked her arm aside before ducking down and going for a knockout with an uppercut to the jaw.
I was only semi-successful. I landed the punch but she twisted so that it didn't knock her out. Backing up we found ourselves in the same position we started. We jumped back together and I made to punch her again just like I had the first time. She blocked but crouched this time so that I couldn't uppercut her again. That's okay though because I wasn't planning on trying.
Instead I swung my knee up to her face, and with a sickening crunch, my knee made contact with her nose. She wasn't done though, and used my lack of two legs on the floor to, quite literally, sweep me off my feet. My arms flailed pathetically as I landed flat on my back. I saw spots on the way up and the teacher told us both to go to the infirmary.
Hana was holding her bleeding nose and I was swaying as we slowly made our way to the infirmary, laughing the whole way there. My chances of winning the class spars became smaller and smaller the further we got into the year. By now most of them have seen me fighting. Most of my year was made up of clan kids and each one had a family style different than the last.
There were other civilian kids like me and we had some close spars together, but we were usually set against the clan children. I think they were trying to discourage us from being ninja. Because we weren't from a clan we were weak and didn't deserve to be shinobi. So instead of showing us how to survive they try to beat us down by showing us that we will never match up to clan children. And it was working.
We had less civilian children this year than last. By the time next year comes around we will have even less. It made me really angry. I hate getting angry. It makes me feel like I don't have control over myself, and so I always try to keep my highly volatile temper down. When I feel myself getting angry I get quiet so that I don't start yelling. I separate myself from people so I don't get snappy.
My family noticed. My mood was broody that night as I quietly marched right for my room after school. It was so stupid of them. There were a lot of civilian children who held great potential that was being wasted because of an imaginary wall built between the clans and the civilians.
There was a part of me that thought the method made sense. As ninja there will be times that we go through many mentally disturbing and traumatizing events. If we can't put up with a little prejudice how will we handle ourselves in a foreign nation? By treating civilian children like this they are actually making very mentally stable shinobi. The ones that pass anyway.
What pissed me off was that they didn't do the same for the clan kids. It's like they got a 'get out of mental torture free' card. They made the clan children feel so superior and it would be their downfall. They were setting these children up to die by teaching them to overestimate their abilities and to underestimate that of their foe. Sometimes ninja really made me want to bash my head into a wall.
"Are you alright Suikazura?" the boys must be back from their mission.
"Yeah I'm fine. How was your mission today Kotetsu?" the door creaked as he and Izumo entered.
"It was fine. Why are you so upset?" I glared at Izumo. One thing I hate more than being angry is being caught being angry. I guess it's my fault for not really hiding it. I sigh in frustration and face the two of them fully.
"Do they always treat the civilian children like that?" their bitter smiles were answer enough.
"So you noticed?"
"I'd have to be as thick in the head as Kotetsu not to notice," Kotetsu just sighed.
"If you don't want to be a ninja you can always pull out," and now I was angry at Kotetsu. I never said I wanted to stop. I was learning so much, conquering my fear of hitting people, and becoming healthier then I had ever been.
"Now you sound just like them. Of course I don't want to quit. I just hate that they don't treat the clan children the same. Because their teachers show them that they are the best, they will always think they are. And one day when they aren't, they are going to die. It is stupid and unnecessary," my voice was very low by the end of my rant.
All they do is keep giving me that bitter smile. I hate seeing two of the most cheerful people I know looking so sad. The silence continues for a little while longer before Izumo stands up. He reaches his hand down and helps Kotetsu up before turning to me.
"Come on. Dinner should be ready soon. Let's go see if there is anything we should do to help," I nod and take his hand.
I recently got myself into the habit of sitting in populated areas and feeling the people through the ground. I would close my eyes and extend myself into the ground. It is always the easiest to identify the plants, after them I start feeling the ninja. They are easy to pick out because of their chakra. The chakra in plants is strong and stretchy, that's why I can grow them how I want. A ninja's chakra is much more organized, so I can always pick them out in a crowd.
I can't identify specific chakra unless I knew that chakra. I can point out Kotetsu, Izumo, Yamanaka-san, and Itachi. All the other ninja just felt like chakra. Civilians were a lot harder. They don't have nearly as much chakra as a shinobi and it is always a jumbled mess. In the academy we meditate and organize our chakra. We do chakra control exercises so that we always use it efficiently.
A civilian has none of our training, and they are harder to pinpoint because of it. Its ironic that ninja are easier to find then civilians. But a good ninja, like the ANBU, are taught how to make their chakra like that of a civilian. I turned it into a game. I always make everyday tasks a game or a challenge to help me keep interest.
I'm not the only one in the village who trains though. Quite a few times I've been kicked out of a training field by ninja who want to spar. I never leave. I like watching how easily they throw weapons and Jutsu around. At first people got annoyed by me, but they eventually learned to pretend I wasn't there. Sometimes I would pick a tree and just sit there watching everyone who came by.
Some would talk to me, others would ignore me, and my favorites would let me have at them. That's how I met Kurenai. She was alone and practicing the basics. Paying me no mind she just walked right in and started throwing kunai at her targets. I know she knew I was there. I don't know how to mask my presence and I'm pretty sure she was at least a Chunin by this point.
"Is there a reason you are hiding like a rat," I grin sheepishly and jump out of the tree I'd been using as cover. She seemed surprised that I was just a kid.
"Sorry. I like watching people train and I figured that since you ignored me, you didn't care," she blinked for a moment then smiled. She seemed amused despite herself.
"There were some Chunin who seemed to think this field was haunted. I will enjoy telling them that they were afraid of a little girl," I laughed out right at that. To think they thought I was a ghost. People could be really funny sometimes.
"I'm not a ghost. Just a girl who wants to learn. I'm not the best student at the academy. I figure if I watch enough I can pick up a few tricks,"
"Most tricks you find here will be much too hard for an academy student," I already knew that. It would be years before I was able to do some of the things I watched in the field, but just knowing of their existence makes me feel better. I just shrug at her.
"What year are you at the academy?"
"Year three, why?" she gave me a long look before nodding to herself.
"Alright, you should be old enough to spar," I wasn't quite expecting that. She looks at me and beckons me over rather impatiently.
"You said you were here to learn right? Well let's get started already," okay. I'm completely fine with that. I smile at her and get into my stance. In a sense fighting with her was harder than fighting Itachi. She never hit me anywhere important so I was never forced to stop due to injury. Instead she just kept me going.
My lungs began to burn and my muscles ached as she slowly worked me into exhaustion. My brawlers' style isn't very good with long fights. It uses short bursts of energy and moments of opportunity. This lengthened battle was slowly crushing any confidence I had built in my skills. By the end of the fight I didn't have any bruises or injuries, but I was so tired that I couldn't have continued even if I wanted to. The worst part is she barely broke a sweat.
"You aren't bad, you're just not very exceptional," I glared up at her. I already knew that.
"I know. That's why I'm training. I want to be better," and I did. Up until now I trained because I had too, because I wanted to do my part. But now I wanted to fight. I was beginning to enjoy it. I wanted to push myself and see just how far I could go. I wanted to improve even by the tiniest bit. She was watching me closely and then she smiled.
"I want to help you. From now on we will spar here every other day," I blinked up at her. Wait what? She was going to spar with me? I had to go through this hellish training every other day?
"Why? Why would you decide to help me like this?" she looked a little uncomfortable for a moment. As if she was embarrassed by something.
"I want to be a Jounin so that I can train my own team of Genin. I figured it would be good to have experience working with someone in that age group. Plus I like you. You look like you can be pretty tough if you get the right training, and you look like you want it. As a fellow Kunoichi I want to help you," that was unexpected. But who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth.
"Thank you. I can't wait to spar with you again. But… um… What's your name?" her face turned beat red as she realized we didn't even know each others names. I have a feeling she is fun to mess with and can't stop my mischievous grin.
"The names Kurenai, and yours?"
"It's nice to meet you Kurenai. My name is Suikazura,"
"Alright. I'll see you in a few days. Don't be late," and just to mess with her a little,
"Yes Kurenai-sensei," her face turned red again but I saw a small smile on her face. She must really want to be a teacher. I knew she would be good at it too. Out of the teachers of the rookie nine I admired her the most. Not because she was a girl, but because she built a team.
I love Kakashi, he was always one of my favorite characters, but as a sensei he let his students down. His team cracked and by only focusing on Sasuke it shattered. Asuma was given the Ino-Shika-Cho. They were born to work together; there was nothing to build up to because they were already there.
Kurenai took three children who didn't know anything about each other and taught them. She brought them together like a family and gave them all the support they needed. She single handedly built one of the best teams Konoha has seen in a long time. And I admired her for it.
Speaking of teachers I wonder who I will get… it had better not be Kakashi. I wouldn't put it past the academy to make him my sensei so that I would have a guaranteed fail. That would really suck. Who else would they group me with? Probably other civilian children. There was no point thinking on this now.
Why don't I just focus on getting home before it starts to rain? Yeah that sounds like a good plan. I didn't make it. By the time I got back I was soaked. The boys took one look at me before bursting into laughter.
"You look like a drowned cat," Kotetsu choked out. My hair had fallen out of its bun in the fight. When it was down it reached my tail bone. I march right up to the still laughing boys before shaking my sopping wet hair all over them.
"Who's the wet cat now," I mutter before my angry mask shatters and I laugh along with them. It felt good to laugh. I love laughing; it always makes you feel so free. It's why I try to make other people laugh, because the only thing better than a good laugh is being the reason why someone else is having a good laugh.
I never do it to be liked I do it because there is a part of me that needs to be around happy people. When other people are happy they make it so much easier to be happy yourself. So if I'm in a bad mood I make people laugh. It's a bit selfish to only make people laugh so that you don't feel bad anymore. But people are selfish creatures. At least I don't demand human sacrifices or something like that to make me happy.
It's a good thing I only meet with Kurenai in the evenings otherwise I'd be too tired to finish the day. She continued to fight me in the way she had the first day and it never got any easier. Each time we fought my endurance grew so each time we fought it lasted longer than the time before. After a few months of going at this pace she made it even harder. Not possible right? Wrong.
Now every time I exhausted myself, instead of sending me home, she had me run a few laps around the field before continuing the spar. I don't know what she is on that gives her that much stamina, but I want some. She is supposed to be a Genjutsu user so why is she so strong. It was a little mind blowing to realize that she is probably just as strong as the average Chunin.
I had so far to go. Instead of letting the pressure depress me I threw myself into my training with gusto. Every time I felt like quitting the words, I'm not there yet, would go through my mind over and over. It was during one of our spars that I felt someone coming in our direction. We had been interrupted before by other shinobi who had wanted the field. Kurenai was always quick to scare them away. But this time we stopped as Guy entered the field.
"Kurenai! It is good to see you! Your youthful presence is wanted in the Hokage tower," cue good guy pose. That's just creepy. Kurenai looked like she was having trouble deciding how to feel about him. Right now it was a cross between irritated and amused. In the end she just nods.
"Suikazura I have to go now. Why don't you finish up with a few more laps before heading home?"
"Okay. Thank you. See you in a few days," she smiles and disappears leaving me with Guy and feeling very awkward. I really wanted him to leave. He was just staring at me and I was not about to start running with him watching me. I don't have boobs yet, but old habits die hard.
"You're youth looks familiar," I jump at his loud voice. Then his words register. He was able to recognize me? Of course he can recognize me. Ninja are taught to memorize faces. I just shrug at him. I think he is starting to feel awkward. He proves me right by doing the good guy pose.
"Well I must be off. It was nice to meet you little girl. Stay youthful," and with that he was off. He is weird. I didn't get to think on his weirdness too long when I felt someone else coming through the trees. I grin.
"Hello Itachi. Long time no see," he jumps down and I get a good look at him. He seems older, more tired. He hides it well but I could tell he was stressed. I've always been good at sensing these things. Instead of talking to me he gets right into a fighting stance. I smile.
"You always were one to do the deed and go home-"it was just like old times. As we fought I could tell he had gotten better. By a lot. He proved it to me by beating me into the ground. But I had gotten better too. It may not seem like much but I was dodging just a few more punches, lasting just a little bit longer, getting more than just a few lucky punches. Now they were aimed punches, no luck involved. It wasn't a lot but it was enough.
"You've gotten better," he remarks offhandedly when we finish.
"Why thank you. I must say you have certainly gotten better yourself," he rolled his eyes at my pompous tone. From Itachi that was as close to a laugh that you were going to get.
"How's Genin life been treating you?"
"Im a Chunin now," was his reply.
"Wow. You must have gotten a lot better then. How's Sasuke?"
"He is good. He is excited to begin learning our clan techniques," he was what, four now? It's around when I started training. That gives him two years before he enters the academy.
"He seems like a smart kid. He shouldn't have too much trouble,"
"Hn," I almost giggled at the stereotypical Uchiha reply.
"I'm glad you two are doing well. You should come to see me more often. Without you to beat me up, I feel I might get a big head," he just rolls his eyes again. And with that our random meeting is over. He gets up and leaves so I get up and go home. I was on my way back when I heard a very loud voice. Wondering where it came from I made my way to the center of the market place.
There he was blonde hair, blue eyes, and the most determined look I have ever seen on a four year old. Naruto. He looked so angry and was glaring at us, the people watching him. That look made me feel like I had done something wrong.
I wanted to apologize to him, to get on my hands and knees and ask his forgiveness. Because I had known and I had done nothing. It's irrational to think there was anything I could have done, but the feeling was there all the same. I only got there in time to hear the end of his speech.
"-be Hokage! Just you wait!" and he looked every single person in the eye as he said it. It wasn't a nervous gesture; he was looking everyone in the eye so that they knew he meant what he said. They all glared back at him, not caring about his dream in the least. And then his eyes met mine as I stared back. And I smiled at him.
His eyes widen before he turns and runs off. And that was it; everyone went back to what they were doing before Naruto's episode. It was strange to realize how much contempt these people held for him. I wanted to throttle them for being so stupid but that would get me nowhere. Instead I turn and head back in the direction of my house. It had been a long day.
This chapter really just came out of nowhere. I hope you enjoyed!
ToeGirth,
Signing Out