Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
Who is the king?
A week passed before things started feeling normal again. The repairs on the damaged parts of the village were completed. Patrols of the village done by chunin became less and less as it become more and more unlikely that a second attack would happen. Mothers' stopped keeping their children tied to their apron strings. Naruto returned to his 'Super special training', as he calls it. Akio regained the freedom he lost as his parents' sense of security within the village was renewed. And the academy is now holding regular classes again. I had never been so happy to go to the academy as I am today. The past week was so boring with the whole village being on high alert. A shinobi on duty could be spotted on top of every building, in every street, and around every corner. I think I even caught a glimpse of a couple of anbu, but I never got a full look of them. Security was so high that I couldn't go outside without feeling like someone was always watching my every move. It was as if every villager was being considered as a possible danger. Before the attack the kids that were old enough to go to school could be seen wandering and playing through the village streets without the accompaniment of adults. But after the attack the only child that could be seen out and about without the watchful eye of a parent was me. I went out the day after the attack to try and find out if school was canceled or not. The streets were pretty much empty except for the shinobi on patrol, a few brave shop owners who were opening their doors for the day and customers who were hungry enough to leave the safety of their homes to buy food. Several times I was asked by shoppers, who mostly looked like mothers, why I was alone, or if I had been separated from my family. For the most part I just answered that I'm used to being alone, and no. But the same questions just kept coming and coming so much that what should have been a simple trip to the academy became impossible. At one point a portly woman that had two five-year olds clinging to her skirt reached out and tried to grab my hand. But I spun out of the way before she could succeed. She told me to give her my address and she'd take me back to my parents. My face heated up at this. My hands curled into fists and I finally just yelled out, "I'm not lost! I know where I'm going, and I don't have any family!" The entire street fell silent as I relaxed my hands and came back into myself. I shouldn't have yelled like that. Father always said that shinobi do not raise their voices unless they were alerting others.
'Forget the academy', I thought as I picked up my feet and took off for my apartment, leaving the slightly stunned portly woman and her two kids behind. I shouldn't have yelled at her. I got back home in less time that it took me to get to the market streets. And didn't wander from the apartment complex again, though I ran out of food two days ago. But instead of going to the market I picked the lock to Naruto's apartment and stole some of his instant ramen, since he hasn't come home since the attack. Apparently he landed himself in the hospital because of something he did while defending Konoha. I only know this because Sakura came by the day before I broke in his apartment to collect some of his things, and with a message for me that Naruto wouldn't be back anytime soon, and to tell me when classes were going to start up again.
After spending the week in my apartment where the only things I could do was study the academy scrolls, and train by doing pushups and sit ups. I was more than ready to go to class. Even if it means sitting through one of Iruka- sensei's drawled out lectures. Akio is waiting for me at the entrance of the academy. His hair lays flat on his head and I've never seen his clothes look cleaner. "What happened to you?" I asked.
Akio drops his shoulders and sighs. "Mom", he said. "Whenever something happens, either when she's on missions or here, she gets all protective and won't let me do anything. This morning she wouldn't let me leave until she messed up my hair and made me put on these dorky clothes!" He said, venting his frustration.
The first thing that I think of is to say, "at least you have a mother". Though I swallow those words before they can make an appearance. Instead I said, "She's not here now. What is stopping you from fixing your hair?"
Akio pauses before glancing to the left and then to the right, as if he expected his mother to appear at any moment. "Alright", he said quietly, in case someone might have been nearby to overhear him. He bows his head and quickly runs his hands all over his head until it is once more spikey, and sticking straight up. He kind of looked like a dog with an itch when he was doing that.
"Feel better?" I asked.
Akio nods his head. "Yea", his eyes darts around in search of his mom one more time before he said, "Let's go", and he lead the way into the academy.
Standing in front of the room Iruka-sensei smiles and said, "I'm glad to see you've all made it back after last week's events." His eyes jump around the room as he tries to make eye contact with as many of us as he can. Before he takes a deep breath, and propels into a lecture about how last week's events are a good example of why we have to be diligent in our studies for the sake of the future protection of the village. Both Akio and I rolled our eyes at that. Leave it to Iruka-sensei to find a lesson out of a village invasion. At the end of his 'lesson' Iruka-sensei took another breath and said, "Today we will be aiding our village. I'll split you into groups of three. Each group will be assigned a task-"
A boy in the front row pops up from his sit. "Like a mission?" He asked with pure excitement.
Iruka-sensei smiles at him, not at all displeased with the interruption. "Yes, like a mission", he said. I guess he just does not like interruption when it is off topic. "The assigned task can vary from delivering something, to helping a citizen. Once your group is finished you'll return to the academy and complete a one paged report on your task, and how it was completed."
From the other side of the room Izumi raises her hand, and waits for Iruka-sensei to call on her. When he does she lowers her hand before delicately placing both of her hands on her, and sits as straight as her back will allow. "Sensei" She started, before I notice Akio mimicking her posture from the corner of my eye. "Is that all we'll be doing today?" She asked as I stifled a laugh. Oh Akio, I missed you so much last week.
"No Izumi. After everyone has returned we'll break for lunch and then end the day with some sparring", Iruka-sensei answered. "Now for the groups", he said before he started to list off names.
Akio slumps back into his usual posture and scoffed. "Ya know why he's making us do this right?" I shake my head before giving him my full attention, tuning out Iruka-sensei. "They're doing this so that no one will be scared of being out in the village." I gave him a confused look, causing Akio to roll his eyes. "Think about it would ya. How many kids did you see walk to school today alone?" I could not think of any except me, and my face must have shown my answer. "Exactly." What good are future shinobi if they're afraid of being in their own village?" He asked rhetorically before look back at Iruka-sensei.
"And our last group will be Akio Suzuki, Manami-"
"Good call Sensei", Akio blurted with his usual energy. "With us workin' together we'll be the first ones done!" He exclaimed and I nodded, agreeing with everything that Akio said.
Iruka-sensei just sighed before adding, "And Izumi Nanahara."
Well we are doomed I thought as I glance at Izumi, seeing that she looks absolutely disgusted as Akio loudly pounds his head on the desk.
All of the groups line up in the order that they were called. Leaving Akio's and my group at the end. "I can't believe I'm stuck with you freak." Izumi said with her arms crossed as she gave me a pointed look.
I shove my hands in my pockets and glare. "The feeling is mutual", I said as the first group left and we took a step forward in line. Akio glances back and forth between Izumi and I in a not so subtle way.
"What?" Izumi snaps at him after a little while.
Akio raises his hands in a back off manner before he said, "Just trying to guess who's gonna throw the first punch." The second groups leaves, and we move up in line.
Izumi huffs and points her nose up in the air. "As if I would do that." Fighting outside of sparring is against the rules." Akio and I both roll our eyes at each other. That's Izumi for you. Not even in front of the teacher and she's still playing the role of kiss up. "Besides", she continued in her 'I'm above you all' tone of voice. "We all know I would win the fight. No matter who starts it."
This time Akio and I do not roll our eyes. Akio grins and I smirk. "Ya wouldn't stand a chance against either of us!" Akio boasted.
"Not with how much we have been training." I added on.
"Yea!" Akio said, gaining us a few stares from the group in front of us. "We've been workin' with a Jonin almost every afternoon." The third group departs and now there is just two groups waiting.
"Who?" Izumi asked with a raised eyebrow, acting as if she is calling a bluff.
My smirk deepens. "Neji Hyuga."
"A Hyuga?" She said with evident disbelief in her voice. "Why would a Hyuga waste his time on the likes of you two? You don't even come from a Ninja clan", she said pointing at Akio "And you don't even have a last name." She said pointing at me.
This time Akio glares. "So what if I don't come from some stupid ninja clan. Both of my parents are jonin! Manami does have a last name! A very cool last name! We just don't know what it is yet! And if Neji-sensei didn't have time for us then he wouldn't be trainin' us!" He finished just as the group ahead of us leaves. I think the lesson in this is to not insult Akio's family. Because if one does he obviously flies off the handle. I will remember that for the future. The three of us, all with glares on our faces, step up to get our task from Iruka-sensei. But before he can say anything Akio blurts out, "Sensei! Why did ya put us in the same group? Manami I understand. But Izumi? What's she good for?"
Iruka- sensei sighs, as we all stare up at him, waiting for an answer. "I put you three together because all of you hold the top three spots in the class rankings."
Akio turns his head to look at me. This is what we have been waiting for. Hopefully all of our studying has paid off. Because then Izumi will be knocked down a peg and Akio and I can go back to only paying attention in class when it suits us. "Who is on top?" I asked as Akio looks forward again.
Standing to the right of Akio and I Izumi scoffs and said, "It's me obviously. I've been the top of the class since last year."
We both ignore her as Iruka-sensei smiles at us and said. "Actually after the last exam Manami has maintained her third place and Akio has pulled into the lead. Putting Izumi in second place. Good job everyone." Akio smiles and we give each other high fives, forcing me to take on of my hands out of one of my pockets while Izumi looks extremely put out. Victory is ours, and it's all thanks to Akio. "Now for your task. You three will be collecting antlers from the Nara clan and then deliver them to the hospital. You'll need to get signatures from the person you get the antlers from and the hospital staff member that you give the antlers to, to prove that you have completed your task. Manami will be leader for this task." Iruka-sensei finished and he handed me a slip of paper that had all of the directions for the task on it as well as two blank lines for the signatures. Well this is a first. I've never ran errands for someone else before, especially not as a school assignment. I guess it is just like Akio said. The village doesn't want its future shinobi to be afraid of being in their own home.
"Why is Manami in charge? She isn't even ranked first?" Asked Izumi after she had regained herself.
With the patience of a saint Iruka-sensei answered, "I choose Manami because she knows where the Nara clan's land is and where the hospital is. Get to it you three." He said as he gestured for us to leave the classroom.
I lead the way through the streets of Konoha with Akio standing next to me and Izumi sulking in the back. Everything seems to be back to normal. Kids are running around with their friends and not clinging to their parents. The adults are shopping and chatting with each other instead of just going about their business with shifty eyes, looking out for any danger. It was a bit serene walking through the village after it being on high alert for the past week. It is almost as if the attack has been forgotten. Did everyone really forget? Or does this village simply do not linger on the past?
"I can't believe I'm stuck with you losers?" Izumi said as we left the busy market streets for the back roads that would eventually lead to the Nara land.
Akio shoots a look at her over his shoulder and said, "Neither can we."
"And you cannot call Akio a loser. After all he is higher than you are in the class rankings." I added, rubbing in Akio's success. Akio looks back at me and grins, enjoying his win.
A moment passes in silent as we wait of Izumi to come with some retort. But obviously she could not think of anything because the next thing that comes out of her mouth is, "How much farther? You're going to slow Manami."
One look of communication passes between Akio and I before I said, "I guess you are right. We should speed up." Both Akio and I simultaneously take off with a small burst of chakra to help with speed, leaving Izumi in the dust.
"That's too fast!" Izumi screams after us.
"First we're too slow and now we're too fast! Ya need to make up your mind!" Akio calls back at her as we do not slow down. Not even a little bit.
Akio and I stop about a quarter mile from the Nara land, and wait for panting Izumi to catch up about five minutes later. Once she is standing next to us Izumi stops and leans over by resting her hands on her knees. Another shared look passes between Akio and me before I said, "Training with a jonin sure does helps one's speed. Right Akio?"
With a wide smile Akio nods his head. "Yup. Helps with endurance too."
"You two are the worst." She said in between breathes.
Not able to hold it any longer Akio throws back his head and laughs, and I let myself smile. I thought this assignment would be terrible but it is actually fun. "Come on. We are almost there." I said after a few moments of laughter, panting and smiling.
Once on the Nara's land I lead my group straight to pineapple head's house since his family is the only Naras that I know. As we approach the front of the house I see Pineapple head sitting on the wrap around porch, leaning against a post all dressed in black. I nudge Akio with my elbow to get his attention and then nod my head in Pineapple head's direction. Something isn't right. Slowing I make my way to the chunin. "Shikamaru." I call out. Causing him to turn his head and stare at me with tired eyes.
"Manami", he said in a monotone and then turned his eyes on Akio and Izumi. "What are you doing here?" He asked in a way that suggested that he could care less.
Something is definitely not right. Shikamaru has always acted suspicion about what I do and even more so when I would normal be in class right now. The last time I skipped school, on my brother's birthday, he wasn't too happy. What happened? "Iruka-sensei is making us run errands for the village. We are here to pick up some antlers for the hospital." I said slowly, paying attention that a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. Something happened, and by the feel of things it was something horrible.
Shikamaru nods his head as if it was a great effort for him. "My mom and dad are inside. One of them will help you." And he looks away from us, going back to staring at whatever he was before we came.
"Come on lets go knock on the front door", Izumi said quietly as she tugged on Akio's and my sleeves.
Quickly I hand over the paper for the signatures to Akio. "I'll wait outside", I said, trusting that Akio would pick up on what I will really be doing. He nods his head, his usual energetic expression gone. Then he steers Izumi back to the front of the house. I watch them go, taking a deep breath before heading closer to pineapple head. Once at his side I asked, "What happened?" A couple of seconds tick by with no response. "Why are you dress in all black?"
Without looking at me he said, "Asuma died in action."
I blinked a couple of times. That explains the black clothes, but I really wasn't expecting a death. I let my shoulders drop. "I am sorry", I said quietly. When Shikamaru fails to respond I bow my head out of respect and added on, "My father always said that dying in action was a best way for a shinobi to go. He said that to die doing what one is born to do is an honor."
No response, so I just stood next to him in silence until I heard footsteps and Akio called out, "Manami Let's go! We have the antlers and the signature."
I give Shikamaru one last look before going to rejoin my group. But I did not get too far before Shikamaru speaks out. "You should go pay your respects." I stop walking and wait. "Asuma did play a part in bringing you here."
I let his words sink in. Yes, that is true. Asuma was one to the people that brought me to my new home. That was months ago. I haven't thought about that in a long time. At first I was not happy about it. I did not wanted to be in this village or have to attend the academy. But then I met Neji and Naruto, and Akio and now I cannot image being anywhere else. And that is all because Asuma and his team made the decision to bring me back home with them. "Yes, I will do that", I said to Shikamaru without facing him, before I run to Akio and Izumi. Akio gives me a look and all I feel like saying is, "I will tell you later."
I let Akio lead the way to the hospital as I walk behind the two of them. There's nothing like a death announcement to ruin a fun day.
Our group is the second group to return to the academy with our completed task. When we learned this Izumi promptly blames me for us coming is second. Saying that we could have been first if I had not stopped to talk with Shikamaru. But I do not respond to her. I have something more important to do than respond to the stuff that comes out of Izumi's mouth. Standing in front of my teacher I said, "Iruka-sensei", after Akio and Izumi returned to their seats.
"Yes?" He asked.
"May I skip the rest of the day after lunch? There's something I have to do."
Now I have Iruka-sensei's full attention. "What is so important that it can't wait until the end of the school day?"
I look down at my feet. I hate talking about things like this. "I have to go pay my respects to Asuma-san." I said before looking up, just in time to see Iruka-sensei's face fall. I hate death.
"I see" he said after a moment. "You've heard about that."
It is not a question but I answer anyway. "Shikamaru told me when we went to his house."
"I didn't think about that. I gave you that task because I know you would know where to go. Alright you can miss the rest of the day." Iruka-sensei said sadly.
"Thank you sensei", I said before I left.
But Iruka-sensei calls me back. "Manami take Akio with you. You don't need to do this kind of stuff alone anymore." He said as an afterthought. I nod my head as Iruka-sensei tells Akio to come.
Akio is fast to abandon his seat and races to the door, where I am waiting. I grab his hand, and pull him into a run. The sooner we get this over with the sooner we can do something else. Maybe training, that would take my mind off of death, hopefully.
As we run through the village Akio asked, "Where are we going? What's going on?"
I take my time to answer as I come to a stop. "Do you know where the cemetery is? I have to say good bye to someone, one of the people that brought me to live in Konoha."
Akio gives me a long look before he nods. "Yea I know where it is. Why were ya running if ya don't know where you're goin'?"
I pause to think. Why was I running? "I" I started and then stopped. This is going to sound stupid. "I just needed to run." I ran after my father was killed. I ran after my mother and brother were slaughtered. All I did was run. I guess to me to die means to run.
Akio does not make some comment about how that does not make any sense like I thought he would. All around us people walk past us on the street. Talking and laughing happily. This morning I thought it was great, that everything was back to normal. But now I just keep asking over and over again in my mind, 'how can everyone be so normal when someone just died?' Suddenly or what felt sudden to me, Akio said, "Then lets run to the cemetery." And with a tug on my hand he leads the way in a full out sprint.
Akio does not let go of my hand until we reach the cemetery. "What is this person's name?" He asked.
"Asuma", I said. "I don't know what his last name is."
Akio nods his head. "Let's start over there", he said pointing to the other end of the field. "That's where the newest graves usually are."
As we start heading over to that area I asked, "How do you know that?"
Without looking at me Akio responded, "When mom or dad loses comrades I sometime go with them to the funerals. I don't really need to but dad says that it's good to look death in the face. So that when I face it I won't be afraid of it."
"Are you?" I asked as we started to read the names on the grave stones. "Are you afraid of dying?"
Akio shakes his head. "No. At least not until we're shinobi." He stops in front of a grave that has freshly turned dirt. "Is this the right one? It says Asuma Sarutobi."
I nod my head. "It must be. It looks like it was just dug."
We both take our places in front of the grave and get down on our knees. I shiver at the feeling of the dirt rubbing in as I sit down on my heels, fallowing Akio's example. Next we clap our hands together before bowing are heads and closing our eyes. I pray for Asuma to have a safe trip to heaven. If there is such a thing. Mother said that heaven is real. While Father scoffed at the idea. I hope for all of the departeds' sake that heaven does exist. From that point on I let my thoughts wonder in my prayers. I go from wishing my family well to wishing Asuma well. I did not do this when my family died. Maybe it's a good thing that I am doing it now. At the end of my pray I clap my hands one more time and said, "Thank you for bringing me to Konoha." I take a big breath and instantly feel better.
A second later I hear Akio clap his hands again and he said, "Thank you for bringing Manami to live here." I look down, hoping that my face will not change colors. That was nice of him.
Someone sighed from behind us, causing Akio and I to turn around as fast as our bodies can move. Behind us stands Shikamaru, how is no longer wearing his funeral clothes, Ino and Chouji. How long have they been standing there? Akio and I quickly scrambled to our feet. "You guys really are the king", Shikamaru said with a barely visible smile on his face. We get a pat on the head from Chouji and a kind smile from Ino as Shikamaru and his team usher us away from the grave so that they may give their own prayers. Once all three of them are kneeling in front of Asuma's grave Akio turns to and asked, "Who's the king." I shrug in response, because I really do not have a clue.