Disclaimer: I do not own this. Do I really look like a Japanese gut to you?
Authors Note: Sorry it's a day late. I have to warn you now though; the next one won't be out until Monday or late Tuesday. I'm working a lot this week and don't know when I'll have the chance to work on this.
Chapter 12- Before You Know It
The first thing I did the next morning was speak to Yamanaka-san. Honestly I was too scared to do anything else. I got up hastily and headed straight for the backyard. He wasn't outside yet so I decided to pass the time with my stretches. The moment I saw him I ran up to the fence, and before I had the chance to speak he was already calming my nerves.
"I have spoken with the Hokage. The person following you should have stopped," a look of relief crossed my features. I was glad that was over.
"If something like that ever happens again, even if you don't know for sure, I want you to come straight to me. Understand?"
"Yes," I reply, nodding my head. And with that he left me to my own devices once again. I didn't go out as much that summer as I had the previous. I was still scared something might happen. By the time the school year was ready to start up I realized that this would be Naruto's first year. I've got to sneak a peek at them.
I was late on the first day and only managed to slip in before the teacher. Upon entering the class room I noticed Hana in the corner, waving me over. Over the summer I had introduced her to Hiroshi and Kiyoshi and they had gotten along fairly well, so it wasn't surprising when they made their way over to our seats.
"Hey guys. Excited about our second to last year?" I ask with a yawn. Kiyoshi smiles at us.
"Yeah! Now I'm one step closer to being a ninja," Hiroshi nods his head in agreement. It's cute how earnest they are. I hope they don't lose that. By the time lunch came around, I was dancing an excited jig in my seat. I wanted to see them. The moment the bell rang and we were dismissed I was up and out of my seat. Hiroshi was giving me weird looks. That's okay though, I needed to remind him I was crazy anyway.
"Suikazura!" I turned at Sasuke's voice. He was walking over to me but looked like he was trying really hard not to run.
"Hi, Sasuke, enjoying your first day?" he wrinkled his nose in thought.
"I like the classes but my classmates keep staring at me," he sounded so annoyed that I just had to laugh.
"It's not funny!" the look of indignation on his face had me laughing even harder.
"Of course it's funny. They can't all stare at you though. Have you made any friends?" now he starts frowning.
"No. Everyone is so… stupid. There's this one dobe who keeps shouting at everyone." Yeah, that sounds like Naruto. We start heading towards the yard when we hear a very loud, and there is no other way to describe it, SQUEEEEEEE. Sasuke jumps at the loud noise and starts walking much closer to me than before. Oh dear. I've found the fangirls. That's going to get annoying quick.
Once outside we picked a seat near a tree and sat down to eat. He barely put his food down long enough to stop talking. He spoke about his class, his teachers, Itachi. It was only as we were going back inside that I realized he hadn't spoken of his father at all. So their relationship was already that bad.
In my past life my father and I had gone through a lot. We had both pushed each other so far over the edge, but we had gotten over it. Even if we had really only pretended it never happened, we were dealing with it. The fact that Sasuke and his father would never get that chance was just sad.
I ruffled Sasuke's hair as I dropped him off, ignoring the swatting hand that came to hit mine. Walking back to my classroom I see a very sullen Naruto. I need to do something about that. Inspiration only struck as I was on my way home. That's okay though because I need to go through the old storage closet…
The next day I happily mad my way to school with a big orange ball in tow. I got a lot of looks from Hana and the boys, especially as I tried to keep it from rolling around the floor. It wouldn't fit in my cubbie, I'd already tried. I was so preoccupied in my task I didn't notice when class began.
"-and just what are you trying to do Suikazura?" looking up at my name I realize the class is staring at me. Oops. Pushing my bangs back in a nervous gesture I offer him a sheepish grin.
"Sorry sensei. I didn't realize you were entering." It wasn't the right thing to say but I felt like I had to use my childhood to its fullest. What other way is there to do that than being insulting and pretending not to notice? His eyebrow was twitching in annoyance.
"The inability to pay attention to your surroundings will get you killed as a ninja," and so the lesson began. Rolling my eyes I take my seat placing the ball in between my feet so that it wouldn't roll around. The lesson was boring and I soon found my attention drawn to the window. I want to go outside. Sighing dramatically I lay my head on my desk and doze for the rest of the lesson.
"I have a new game to teach you guys. Let's go outside," I say to my friends when the bell rings.
"Is that what that ball is for?" Hana asks. I just nod my head and lead the way. First I needed to get Sasuke. Catching a glimpse of him in the crowd I run up behind him and grab his arm.
"C'mon Sasuke! I have a new game to show you." He jumps at the sudden contact but relaxes when he sees it's me.
"Alright already you crazy women! I'm coming so let go of my arm!" he yells at me.
"What's the brat for? Is he part of the game too?"
"Who are you calling a brat?" well this was deteriorating fast.
"Now now boys, let's put our childish differences aside for the sake of fun," they both turn their glares on me before huffing and following after me. Surveying the yard I spot Naruto pouting by one of the trees. Perfect.
"First we need to split into teams."
"I hate to break this to you Suikazura, but we don't have even numbers," Hiroshi points out. I make a surprised face before it turns thoughtful.
"Hmm. You're right. Why don't we find someone else to join us?" I say. And without giving any of them a chance to protest I run off in Naruto's direction. He looks up as he sees me approaching him. His body is tense as he looks right at me.
"Hey, my friends and I are trying to play a game but I forgot we don't have enough players. Would you like to join us?" the hope shining in his eyes was unbearable.
"Can I?" he asks breathlessly, almost as if he is afraid of the answer. I smile warmly at him as I reply.
"Of course. I wouldn't have offered if I didn't plan on letting you. What kind of a jerk does that?" it was a rhetorical question but I could see him opening his mouth to reply. I honestly don't want to know what he would have replied. Instead I interrupt him before he begins.
"My name is Suikazura. What's yours?" his last trail of thought forgotten he answers.
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki, and I'm going to be the next Hokage!" my responding smile was blinding.
"Well I look forward to the day. But for now we should go tell my friends I found another player," and now he is nervous again.
"Don't worry they're nice kids," that doesn't seem to calm him down at all. The closer we get to the group I left behind, the more pronounced Sasuke's scowl becomes.
"Out of all the people here, did you have to pick the dead last?" Naruto glares back and I can practically feel the tension.
"Be nice Sasuke. There nothing wrong with dead lasts. Unless you mean to say you hate me as well?" he looks stricken that I would think he meant such a thing. That was probably a bit mean but I wanted him to know this now. In the future he would be too blinded by his hate to really hold on to a friendship. If he and Naruto became friends now then maybe, and it was a very small maybe, he would be more reluctant to leave. As they say: every penny, or in this case minute, counts.
In the end I got him to stop glaring and pay attention to the game. I had always had mixed feelings about dodge ball but this was awesome. After everyone was able to understand the rules we began. The game is simple but with more strength and speed then the average child it made the game just a bit more interesting. And throwing things at people had always been fun.
It was a close match. The teams were: Hiroshi, Kiyoshi, and I against Naruto, Sasuke, and Hana. I made sure they were on the same team so that they had the chance to work together. In the future much of their friendship was spurred on by their rivalry. That's not a bad thing but it would be better if it wasn't as mean spirited as it had been in the beginning. All I could really do was speculate and hope.
"Man that was awesome! Can we play again tomorrow?" Naruto asked. Then he froze and looked at all of us. It was painful to see him so excited about the chance to play with other kids.
"I don't mind. What about you guys?"
"Yeah! Next time I'll bring Kiba. He would love this," Hana replies. The boys both nod enthusiastically. I turn to Sasuke waiting for his answer.
"Yeah but next time I want to be on a different team than Naruto," Naruto's expression is crestfallen before it is replaced by a mask of anger, but Sasuke wasn't done.
"Unless you think you can't win without me on your team?" and in the blink of an eye the real anger is gone. Instead there stands a dumbfounded Naruto before he grins widely.
"No way I'd lose to a jerk like you. Just you wait tomorrow I'll totally kick your butt!" Sasuke rolls his eyes at Naruto.
"Try all you want. By the way, I call Kiyoshi."
"What?! No fair! You can't start picking your team now!" I close my eyes and listen to the familiar bickering. I knew it would get really irritating soon enough, but for now it was comforting to listen to.
"Bye boys. We'll see you tomorrow. I'm going to bring Kiba so find someone else to make it even again," Hana says as we leave them. I don't even think they heard her, both too involved in their argument. Hiroshi approached me as I was preparing to leave that day and offered for him and Kiyoshi to walk me home. Shrugging I lead them out the door and into the street. We walk in companionable silence before he finally speaks up.
"That was nice of you to include him, but why?"
"I saw him during lunch yesterday. He looked really lonely. I figured he might need a friend or two," Hiroshi nods but I can see him thinking on it more.
"It doesn't matter why she had him join, all that matters is that he was fun to play with," I smile at Kiyoshi. Simple, but true.
"Yeah, that sounds about right."
Most of the year passed in much the same fashion. We didn't always have the same people playing, but the amount of regulars grew after the first week. I was surprised when we were able to get Shikamaru to join, but then again we had already snagged Chouji. There were a lot of incidents with other students. Some of the bullies wanted to play but didn't want to play with certain dead lasts; there were three of us after all.
I got so angry the first time that happened that I picked up my ball and walked away. By the time the kids noticed that the ball was missing I had already started up a mini-game with Naruto, Lee, Chouji, Sasuke, Shikamaru, Hiroshi, and Ino. It was slow going but I could see their generation beginning to not only work with each other, but like each other as well.
There were many times that year when I could have sworn I felt someone watching me. It was that ominous feeling you get when you walk down an empty street at midnight. The hairs on the back of my neck start standing up and my heart beats faster. I never have any proof. There wasn't one presence following me like last time. This felt more like they were keeping tabs on me.
The Hokage may have gotten Danzo to stop following me but that doesn't mean he is willing to let me out of his sights just yet. The very thought chills me to the bone. I felt like it wasn't safe in my own house. I had forgotten how that brings out my insomnia.
I got my period during the winter and decided to do a physical assessment of my appearance so far. It was strange to see yourself grow up. I was a few inches taller, my hair now reaching just past my shoulders. The bags under my eyes were familiar as well. I knew the ability to sleep wouldn't last forever, but it was sad to say goodbye.
I was still very thin but I could see where my arms and legs were beginning to thicken. That's good; it will help to be a bit bigger and stronger especially with how short I would end up being. Although I had gotten much better this past year I knew I still had a long way to go.
When my birthday came with the end of the school year I was surprised by the amount of people who wanted the dodge ball group to keep up over the summer. I was fine with that; it was a nice break from all my training. Naruto over the course of the year had made some of his first friends. Even Sakura who hadn't liked him much at first seemed to be warming up to him. They were all so cute.
I had always loved kids, and didn't find it hard at all to play with them. There were many times when I wasn't in the mood, but they never took it to heart. It was almost like being with my old friends. I say almost because I can't make perverted jokes here. I always know where the line is when it comes to bad jokes, but my old group of friends would throw them around all the time.
It would get very annoying but it was also hilarious. While with them I felt like I had to contain part of myself. I have always done this, but never with my friends. I was a little worried that I would slip one of these days and let out a very well placed 'that's what she said'. The worst part is, I don't think any of them would get it yet. Maybe Hiroshi or Kiyoshi, but it wasn't a term used a lot.
We were all together at the park during the first week of summer vacation when I felt a presence again. Why couldn't they leave me alone? I already suffer from paranoia and they aren't making it any better. They wouldn't try anything with all the other kids around right? It was so nerve wracking. I hate this.
I hate feeling like I'm under 24/7 surveillance. I hate being unable to go anywhere without the thought of them hovering over my head. It was wearing me out quickly. I don't even have any proof. They switch so often that I can't focus on the one on me at the moment because he is always soon replaced by another. Do these people really have nothing better to do?
"Are you all right Suikazura?" I look up into the worried eyes of no less than ten children.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I just spaced out there a minute. Sorry. What were you saying?" they still looked worried but they soon forgot to about it as they informed me of which team I was on. Watching all the happy children made me wonder what else had changed by my presence.
How different would it all happen this time around? What if nothing changed? I feel like I wasn't sent back far enough. The plot in the story was so convoluted; taking years, generations, to form. What good will being plopped down in the home stretch do? Wouldn't I have made more of difference if I were sent back before Akatsuki turned into what it was today?
Had I been sent back in time to prevent Yahiko's death that would have changed everything. Madara would still be a jerk, the Fourth Hokage may still have died, but Nagato wouldn't have turned into Pein. He would have stayed part of a peace loving organization that may have changed the world as we knew it.
Aside from damage control, what else could I do in this time period? I sigh, annoyed at the complexity of it all. Whatever; if there is something for me to do I'm sure I'll find it. I just have to keep training. I have to get as strong as possible so that I can help. And so the summer passed and I prepared to enter my last year in the academy.
It was a daunting prospect. I began worrying over what teacher I'd get, and who would be on my team. At that point there were only six civilian children left, including myself. We would probably be paired with each other so as to increase the chance of some of us failing. That's when I had my mini panic attack.
"Calm down Suikazura," I glared at Hiroshi. You don't just stop having a panic attack.
"The teachers may be hoping that the civilians fail but they aren't stupid," and now I was having a strange sense of déjà vu. Hadn't I said something similar to my brothers?
"You are the strongest of the civilians. Kiyoshi is second but he never does to well in class. I am the weakest physically but the smartest in all the classes. They will only see this when they make the teams. We will all be on the same team," I nod slowly. He was right.
"If we already know that we will be on the same team why haven't we tried working as one?" I ask an idea forming. They both start backing away at the look in my eyes.
"What are you planning?" Kiyoshi asks hesitantly.
"I have an idea. It will really help the three of us learn how to work as a team," I say with an innocent grin. They aren't buying it.
"Just wait until lunch. I'll tell you then," I say simply. Later that day I had to stop them from escaping, and dragged them out to the field where our play group was waiting.
"Alright guys. Today we try something new."
"Really? What is it? What is it?" Naruto asks all energy.
"Today it will be all of you," I pause for dramatic effect, and can hear both boys groan having caught on to my idea.
"Against the three of us. Same rules as always so let's get started," the kids looked ecstatic at the idea. They boys looked like they wanted to cry. I meanwhile resolved myself to getting beat by a bunch of kids younger than me. We failed miserably.
It was harder to hit someone when there were so few of us, but they weren't training to be ninja for nothing. It was worse when they got Tenten to join. The woman is a beast. It was hard but by the time it was over we were all determined to win the next round.
The three of us would spend evening's together working on strategies that might work on the younger kids. We got better and started lasting longer but their sheer numbers over powered us each time.
There were only some basic moves that were taught at the academy. They didn't want to spend time teaching a child Genjutsu when they would end up being a Ninjutsu user in the future. Instead they gave us the tools to find what type of jutsu or fighting styles interested us or worked best for us.
We used what we learned and soon found that the three of us would make a very rounded team. Hiroshi was interested and good at medical jutsu while Kiyoshi found himself leaning towards Genjutsu. I wouldn't say I was a taijutsu type but I did hold an advantage. It was easy to gain the upper hand in a fight with my Green Disposition, throw in a kunai and I could be deadly.
We all began studying in our chosen fields but would always get together to tell each other what we learned. Though I would never really study medical jutsu, I was learning what it could do and how Hiroshi would benefit the team with it. Kiyoshi had fun explaining the inner workings of Genjutsu to us. It was hard to understand the 'how's and 'why's' but I could definitely understand the 'how to use it'.
Say we were in a fight and revealed to the enemy that he was a Genjutsu user. We could pretend my Disposition is part of the jutsu, by the time they would realize it wasn't, it would be too late. Hiroshi we soon learned was not only good at medical jutsu but also had a scary knack for Ninjutsu as well.
I felt bad that I was learning so much about them when I was keeping a huge secret. It wasn't quite winter yet but fall had completely taken over by the time I decided to tell them. We were sitting in one of the training fields talking about anything and everything after a particularly tough spar.
"Guys, I need to tell you something," I say quietly, hoping they will catch on to the seriousness of the situation.
"What is it?" Kiyoshi asks cautiously.
"I need you guys to promise not to tell anyone unless you have my express permission."
"Sure, so spill the beans already," Kiyoshi impatiently replies.
"I mean it Kiyoshi. I can't have the both of you going around telling people about this. It's not safe."
"We promise, Suikazura," Hiroshi states in a calm voice. I take a deep breath before nodding my head. And so I show them my Disposition. As vines start growing from my feet and winding up my body the boys just gape openly at me.
"I thought you said you couldn't do Genjutsu!" Kiyoshi exclaims rather accusingly.
"It's not a Genjutsu. Ever since I was little plants would grow at my touch. I spent years trying to get it to stop. There was an incident two years ago where I felt someone following me. Ever since then I have made sure I don't leak chakra at all. You guys are my friends though, I thought you had the right to know," I finish quietly. They both continue to stare at me until I have a vine poke them in the head.
"Well? Angry? Upset? Happy? Sad? What?" they both look, really look at me, and see how terrified I am of their answer.
"You could have told us before, you know," Kiyoshi nods in agreement.
"Yeah, we could have helped you or-or done something. Now I feel like we have to train twice as much so that we can get used to fighting with you using that, and just when I thought we were getting somewhere," he wistfully sighs. I wanted to cry. I hate crying and I didn't, but I wanted to. To have friends who accept you no matter how freaky you can be is something I had missed.
"Thank you," are my whispered words. They spend the rest of the day eagerly questioning me about my Disposition. I answer them as best I can, wanting to show them that I trust them. And I did trust them. It felt good to be with people you can trust. We spent the rest of the year working on devising ways to use all our abilities to the fullest.
It was hard to get my brothers to help. They wanted too, but they were among the better Chunin at this point, and were in high demand. When we did catch them we had three against two battles with the three of us going all out. When these sessions would end I would then have my brothers help me with my kunai wielding.
The routine was familiar and I fell into it easily. Before I knew it we were coming upon the graduation exams. My parents came with the Yamanakas. I searched the crowd and found more familiar faces. Ino was sitting with Sakura away from her parents and waving at me enthusiastically, and Naruto was in the back giving me a big thumbs up.
Next to him was Sasuke, rolling his eyes at Naruto and behind them, hiding from view, is where I felt Itachi. My chest felt warm and bubbly at the thought of these people coming here just to congratulate me. I knew I still had the second exam to pass, but I couldn't hold in my excitement. I was officially a Genin of Konoha.
Hope you enjoyed! Leave a review and come again.
ToeGirth,
Signing Out