Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Just Manami
"This is cruel", Akio moans as he dangles from a low tree branch after having completed his tenth pull up. "I hate pull ups!"
With almost undetectable amusement in his tone Neji said, "Ten more". Which promptly earns a loud groan from Akio.
While I'm smart enough to keep my mouth shut I have to agree with Akio. Two back-to-back afternoons spent training under Neji has been absolute torture. I started this morning feeling sore in places that I've never felt before. And as soon as Akio and I had joined Neji on the training field after school he had us working our muscles in ways that I hope I'll never have to do again. My face scrunches up as I pull my chin over my tree branch. And that's ten finished pull-ups for me. I think as I let myself dangle again. Right when I am starting to attempt pull-up eleven Neji's head jerks up, so that he is staring into the sky. Following his line of vision I see a hawk, circling. Why is Neji so interested in a bird? He looks back at Akio and me, and said, "Finish your pull-ups". Before taking off, heading for the center of the village.
Akio let's go of his branch and lands on his feet as I stare after the jounin. "That was sudden", I said as I also release my tree branch, having no intention on finishing those pull-ups.
Akio shakes his head at me. "Didn't you see that hawk?" He asked almost rhetorically. "Hawks are how the Hokage calls shinobi into her office. Neji's probably gett'in assigned to a mission". He said, looking up at the sky, trying to spot the hawk that had gone away with Neji.
I shrug my shoulders, as I place my hands in my shorts' pockets. "At least we don't have to do those pull-ups now".
A few weeks pass with no returning sign of Naruto or Neji. In that time span Akio and I invented a new game. Which consists of seeing who can steal the most pencils off of Iruka-sensei's desk during class without getting caught. Akio is currently leading, having successfully taken five pencils with Iruka-sensei being none the wiser. Yesterday Akio and I were tied, but I got caught going for pencil number six. I didn't get a detention or anything. Though, much to Akio's and the rest of our class' amusement, who are witnesses to our game, I did had to survive a tedious lecture about why it's important to come to class prepared, because Iruka-sensei thought I was taking the pencil because I didn't have one. And according to the game's rules my pencil count went back to zero after getting caught. Now I really need to step up my game if I don't want Akio to leave me behind in the dust.
Luckily today is Sunday, the one-day in the week that academy students have off. I'll be able to spend the whole day constructing new pencil taking strategies. Stifling a yawn I sit up in my bed and let the sheet fall of my body. Come Monday Akio wouldn't know what hit him, and Iruka-sensei will have to go pencil shopping.
In no hurry, I climb out of bed. It is nice to have a day off. Back at my old home father had me training seven days a week. The only time I could take days off was if I was sick or if it was my birthday. The uncarpeted floor chills my bare feet as I head to the kitchen. Maybe I can find a way that not only would I be able to steal Iruka-sensei's pencils, but also make Akio get caught. Or would that be playing dirty?
I open one of the cupboards, planning on making some brunt toast only to see that I have no bread. Sighing, I opening the fridge next, counting on making a plate of running eggs to be my back up. But I'm out of eggs. Biting my lip, I close the fridge and cupboard before quickly throwing on some day clothes, and going over to the front door to put my shoes on. Looks like I'm going shopping.
The sun is bright and birds are chirping as I walk to the market. I must admit, that living in Konoha is a cheery experience, despite having lost my parents and brother. This village isn't anything that I ever thought a shinobi village would be like. I thought living in a hidden village would be like living in an under water cave that is impossible to find. I never imagined this place, where there is so much light that just about everything is visible.
About a quarter of a way from the market I spy pineapple standing outside of a shop talking to my neighbor. When did Naruto get back? I stop walking and stare at the two older boys. If Naruto is back that means his sensei is back. I approach them, just in time to hear Shikamaru say, "I already told you. As troublesome as it is, I'm working in the chunin exams." What are they talking about?
Shikamaru spares me a glance as Naruto starts muttering about how Shikamaru wouldn't help him out. Looking annoyed, as usual, pineapple head said, "look you can pout all you want but my hands are tied". Naruto slumps his shoulders as Shikamaru looks down at me. "What do you want Manami?"
I barely hear him as I try to think up a way to get my neighbor to tell me where Kakashi is without giving myself away. "Oh... Um", I start, after I finally process Shikamaru's words. "I want to talk to Naruto".
Pineapple head squints his eyes at me. "Why?" He asked, as Naruto complains about the lack of help he's gotten. Though I really don't have a clue about what he's going on about
Inwardly, I want to hit myself. Shoot, now I have to come up with a lie, and fast. I hate lying. It's so hard! "I want to ask him something about Iruka-sensei", I blurt out, as the pencil game is the first thing that comes to mind. "I want to know if Iruka-sensei has any blind spots". I fight the urge to sigh in relief. Technically that isn't a lie. I do want to know if my teacher has any blind spots that will make pencil snatching easier. It's just not what I want to know right now.
Ignoring Naruto, who looks like he's about to be swept under a wave of depression if he doesn't get his way soon, Shikamaru folds his arms, and gives me a hard look. Obviously not buying anything that's coming out of my mouth. "What are you up to Manami?"
I should probably stick to the story that I've already started to tell him, even if he doesn't believe it at the moment. I don't have to work to look guilty. I get that look easily for not telling him the absolute truth. My mother liked that I am a bad liar. But father always said that that lack of ability would get me killed. "Okay, but you can tell anyone". I said. Shikamaru doesn't respond. All he does is stare me down until I start talking. "A boy in my class, and I have been really bored during school so we started a game where we see who can take the most of Iruka-sensei's pencils without sensei knowing", I said in one breath. Still, Shikamaru doesn't say anything, but his eyes don't look as calculating as before. I force myself to look away from him, and back at my neighbor. Man, Shikamaru can look pretty intimidating when he wants to. Naruto is still standing in front of Shikamaru, still muttering to himself, looking absolutely dejected. "Um", I start, pointing at Naruto. "Shouldn't you help him before he gets any worse?"
All Shikamaru does is sighs, and closes his eyes, obviously feeling a little annoyed because of the two of us. "I'll help", said a new voice. We, including Naruto, all look towards the voice to see Chouji coming with a wrapped up lunch box in one hand, and a bag of chips in the other. "Here Shikamaru", he said as soon as he's standing close enough, and held out the box to pineapple head. "Your mom asked me to give this to you".
Shikamaru unfolds his arms. "Can you really help him Chouji? Didn't you, Asuma, and Ino just get a new mission?" He asked as he accepts the lunch box.
Chouji nods his head. "Yeah but I can't leave Naruto after hearing that he needs help", Chouji smiles before adding on, "I'll talk to Asuma-sensei about letting me off. But help with what?" He asked my neighbor.
With his sudden depression being suddenly over, Naruto straightens his back and grins widely. "Chouji, thank you! With Sasuke, gone and Kakashi in the hospital Sakura-chan and I need another team member so that we can go on a really important mission!" He said. My eyes widen. I know where Kakashi is! Sweet, I got an answer without having to do anything to earn it. But that name, Sasuke, that is the second time I've heard that name. Who's Sasuke?
Great, Naruto now has help, Shikamaru now has a lunch, and I now know where Kakashi is. All I have to do now is say goodbye so that I won't look suspicious to a certain pineapple head, and then I'll find Akio, so that he can help me like he promised, and we'll go to the hospital. Though in a split second Chouji's face scrunches up, and Shikamaru looks over his shoulder with a severe look on his face. Then Chouji throws his non-empty chip to the side, which is characteristically unlike him, and Shikamaru drops his lunch and wraps an arm around my middle, taking me with him as he tackles Naruto to the ground. Naruto lets out a surprised grunt as I let out a squeak, all before a sketched looking beast comes darting towards Chouji. What kind of jutsu is that?
With a fierceness that I've never seen in him before Chouji swings a fist at the beast, causing ink to splatter everywhere as it's destroyed. As Naruto, Shikamaru, and I sit up Naruto yells out, "Shikamaru behind you!"
I whirl around from my spot in front of pineapple head to see another ink monster coming at us, but before Shikamaru reacts Chouji comes, catches, and squeezes the second beast until it's nothing but ink. Shikamaru gives Chouji a half smile in gratitude before looking straight ahead. What is going on? "Who is that?" Shikamaru asked, as I turn forward again.
"I've never seen him before but that's a leaf headband he's wearing". Naruto said, as I spot a pale, black haired male wearing pants and a very short shirt for a boy sitting on top of a building's roof. What's going on? My fingers twitch, as I desperately wish that I have a kunai knife.
"Get behind me Manami", Shikamaru orders as he forms a hand sign. Not wanting to be caught up in the middle of a fight I scamper to obey. This is not a fight that I want to be a part of. Just from the first few moves I can already tell that this fight isn't anything like the ones I've had with Akio. This one is serious.
Shikamaru's shadow begins to stretch away from his body as Naruto begins to charge forward just as several more ink monsters appear. Blocking the attacker. As the beast lunge for Naruto He pauses and forms a hand sign, but Shikamaru calls to him. "Naruto! Go for it", he said as his shadow splits off in several different directions and impales the ink monsters.
Dropping his hand sign, Naruto moves forward again, jumping largely up into the air. Right before he reaches the roof Naruto pulls out a kunai. A loud clang echoes down to Shikamaru, Chouji and I, as Naruto's opponent blocks the kunai with a weird looking sword. Is that a sword? I've never seen that type of weapon before.
For a little while they stay in a dead lock, each trying to push their own weapon past the other. Shikamaru stretches out his shadow even more. Though just as it's about to reach the stranger jumps away and disappears in a swirl of ink.
In shock, Chouji, Shikamaru, and I all gasp, wondering how the stranger did that. Though a shrill voice breaks our silent musing. "Chouji! There you are. We need to meet up with Asuma!"
The three of us turn around, though Shikamaru takes his sweet time about it, to see Ino. "Sorry Ino", Chouji said. "But some weird person just attacked us". Chouji explained, gesturing his head in the direction to the roof that the fight took place on.
Ino looks at the roof, and leans forward a bit. "That's not a weirdo", She said after a while. "That's Naruto! When did he get back?" Wow, she's way out of the loop.
"Well as exciting as this has been I'm going to go", I said to Shikamaru, as Chouji tries to tell Ino more about the previous events.
I make it a few steps before Shikamaru calls out, "Manami". He waits until I turn around, and am looking him in the eye. "If you see that stranger again, don't fight, run and get one of the village shinobi". I nod at him, and quickly head on my way. If I ever see that stranger again I definitely won't be sticking around. Fighting ink monsters doesn't seem like a very clean job to me.
By the time I locate Akio, and filled him in on everything it's noon. Though together we try to form a plan quickly. Akio wants to enter the hospital from one of the back windows and then sneak into Kakashi's room. I want to enter from the main entrance and then ask whatever nurse is station at the front desk what room Kakashi is in, because knowing that is rather important, under the pretense of being visitors who have well wishes. But Akio said that that would be boring, and that we should treat this like a real reconnaissance mission. And apparently a reconnaissance mission requires that we get in and out with only our target seeing us. Finally we agree on a plan that involves Akio sneaking into the hospital to get the room number. He's going to rely on the skills that's he's picked up from our pencil game. Then He'll meet me out back where we will find a window to get into the patient area of the hospital. From there we'll find the right room and interrogate our target.
A couple of minutes later we're approaching the hospital. Another few minutes and I'm standing behind a tree a couple of paces away from the hospital, waiting for Akio. A little while later and we're scoping out the backside of the building looking for an unoccupied open window. We finally found one in an empty hallway completely on the other side of where we started. I jump inside first to make sure that the coast is clear before Akio joins me. "Ok, we're looking for room number 103", he said in a whisper.
Nodding in response, my eyes start sweeping over the nearby doors. The once closest to us is marked room 120. The door to the right of 12o is labeled 119, and the left 121. Which means that we need to right until we spot room 103. Using two fingers I point to Akio which direction we need to go before moving forward. Though every step that I take causes my stomach to churn. What if Kakashi is as tight lipped as everyone else? What if he denies even knowing about the red eyes? Staying on the look out, every few seconds Akio will look over his shoulder, or pause to listen for any approaching sounds. Or what if Kakashi does tell about the red eyes and his family? Our Family? What if he doesn't like me? Or wants nothing to do with me? Will I be without kin for the rest of my life?
Akio taps me on the shoulder before nodding towards the right door. "I'll keep watch", he said as I grasp the door handle. With a big gulp I slide up the door.
Inside the room there is two beds, but only one of them is occupied. A sheet covers him and only his head is visible. But because of his gray hair I recognize him right away. As I move towards his bed on wobbly knees I call out softly, "Hatake-san?"
"Yes", he answers as he turns head to the side to see who is talking to him. Only then do I notice that he is wearing the same mask that he was wearing when he was fighting with Naruto and the pink haired girl. What kind of person in bed rest wears a mask? "You're the girl that was with Naruto during our match". His mask creases a little. Does that mean he's smiling?
I nod my head before asking, "Can I ask you a question?" my hands clench the hems of my shorts in an attempt to tame my nerves. I would prefer to clench my hands behind my back so that my nervousness would be less noticeable, but father always said that it's best to always keep one's hands visible when talking to a shinobi. Otherwise the shinobi will think that you're trying to hide something from them.
Kakashi doesn't say anything, just waits for me to continue. "At that match you had a red eye". He doesn't react. "My father had the same red eyes sometimes". I pause to take a deep breath. "Does that mean we're from the same clan?" I hate the fact that my voice is meek as I ask that question. But I need to know the answer. I'm tired of not having a family name.
His tone is light and knowing, as he replies, "no".
My shoulders drop. "Then why do you have a red eye?" Looks like I'm not Manami Hatake after all. I'm still just Manami.
" Oh", he said in a way that makes me believe that he's going to give me some round about answer. "I obtained it several years ago. Though I will tell you that, what do you call it? The red eyes are a jutsu from your clan. Your clan's kekkei genkai actually", he said with a smile. At least I think he's smiling.
"Kekkei genkai?" I mutter
Though before Kakashi can say anything else Akio comes bursting into the room. "Someone's coming! We gotta get out of here!" He said with his eyes wide open in excitement. I look back over at Kakashi, with words forming on my tongue, but before I can say them Akio grabs my left arm and drags over to this room's window. "Come on", he said as he opens it. Right as Akio is about to jump through the window a nurse appears in the doorway.
"Hey you kids!" She yelled as Akio disappears through the window with a, "Bye mister", directed at Kakashi.
"The hospital isn't a playground", The Nurse continues to yell as I follow after my friend, sparing one last look at what might have been my one hope of ever having a last name.
With a very angry nurse yelling threats at us if we every come back Akio and I run as fast as we can from the hospital.
As we turn the corner Akio laughs loudly, never slowing down. "Did you see the look on that nurse's face? We should do that again". He said with glee. Though this time I can't share in his fun, because I still don't have a last name. Because I'm still just Manami.
We don't stop running until we reach our regular training field. I guess we just ran here out of habit. Akio flops down on the grass, not even a little out of breath, grinning ear to ear, as I slowly sit down, before hugging my knees to my chest, breathing heavier than I like to admit.
"So" Akio started after a while. "Are you in his clan? I mean, did you find out what you last name is? Or about the red eyes?"
I shake my head from where it rests on top of my knees. I'm still just Manami.
Akio huffs. "Well that was a waste of time". I don't respond, and after a few seconds Akio adds on, "it was fun though".
"What's a kekkei genkai?" I suddenly ask. That was the only thing that Kakashi said that I didn't understand.
"Huh?" Akio asked.
"Kekkei genkai. Kakashi said that the red eyes are my clan's kekkei genkai. So what's a kekkei genkai?"
From his spot next to me Akio shrugs. "Don't know. But my dad probably does. I'll ask him tonight and tell ya tomorrow in class. Kay?"
I nod. "Sounds good", I said quietly as I stand up. "I'll see you tomorrow. I still have to get to the market. My kitchen's empty, and I haven't eaten all day", I explained as I start to walk away.
"Manami!" Akio calls out before I can get too far away. I pause. "You still up for pencil stealing tomorrow?"
I force a smile onto my face, even if it's a weak one, before turn to face Akio. "Only if you're ready to lose". I said.
Akio lets out a bark of a laugh as I turn back around, heading for the market. "In your dreams", Akio yells after me.