A/N: Salutations! Hopefully you've gotten past the 10,000 words that was the last chapter and enjoyed it! Honestly never thought I'd write something that long. At least when considering chapter size. This one should be shorter. I think. It's basically an interim chapter between the first and second arcs. Still canon with some backstory, but that's about it. Enjoy!
"So, Aika." She heard one of them ask.
"hm?" she raised her head from her note, another she had received from Shizune in some time. Detailing the events of late such as Tsunade's introduction to her position as the new Hokage of the Hidden Leaf, succeeding Hiruzen Sarutobi. Aika had taken the news with difficulty, hearing about his death. He was Hokage when she was a Genin and was later succeeded by Minato Namikaze. Good man, he was. Shame about his fate but Aika wasn't able to hang around for various reasons.
"I was wondering" it was Yukio who'd started "What was your training like?"
"My training?" Aika repeated the question, staring across the fire at him, the light hitting his face at the right angle, giving the boy an almost ghost-like appearance. At least in his face. It was night out and the three of them were relaxing after a day of training. Denji was splayed out on the grass while Arine polished her spear. Yukio had been reading as they sat under the stars.
"You know, I'm quite curious as well." Arine backed him up, pointing her spear at Aika to gauge polish or something. Or feeding murderous thoughts, which amused Aika quite a bit. The girl lowered it and went back to polishing the crimson blade.
"Yeah…" Denji said, somewhat tired. He sat up, his muscle bulk increasing quite a bit since their first arrival. He leaned an arm on his left knee and sat, attentive. All three looked at Aika across the flickering flames between them. Aika sighed, closing the parchment detailing one of their Genin going rogue, heading to Orochimaru. That man was everywhere nowadays.
"All right then. I'll give you guys the short version of my time in the Hidden Leaf Ninja program."
"C'mon Aika" Yukio smiled, baring some teeth on the right side. He'd been doing that recently and it creeped Aika out whenever he did it. She expected him to go full villain. "Give us the full version. We've got time." That was true, they had tomorrow off since they'd been working their asses off learning jutsu and fighting techniques. Aika rolled her eyes, as if she were the child being coaxed by a parent to say something.
"Fine. You little ingrates." Aika growled non menacingly. She was tempted to start really growling when Yukio bumped wrists with Arine as if they'd won some victory. But she let it slide. "I hope you're prepared, it starts off nice enough. But we kinda delve into-"
"C'mon." Denji coached. Aika glared at him.
"Fine." She turned to all three. "It started when I was twelve."
Several Years Ago
"And with that" the instructor spoke to the class, a bored Aika not paying much attention, sat in the back seat, middle row. She'd passed the test, with flying colours the instructors had said. But this woman was just making sure everyone got their participation medals. She sat, propping her head up in her right arm, leaning into it sleepily. She was tired since she spent all last night studying, perfecting her techniques. "I'm glad to say you've all passed." Several students congratulated themselves and friends. Aika yawned. She was about to drop.
"So when are we gonna learn our teams?" one excited boy asked. Aika's eyes drifted to him. He sat in the row closest to the window, second bench. He wore a blue and orange jumpsuit and goggles for some odd reason. Beside him was a girl with brown hair and another boy with stark white hair at the oddest angle.
"Calm down Obito." The instructor lightly scolded him. "I'll be giving out your teams now." Several hissed yeses in excitement, hoping they got with their friends. Aika tapped a finger on her leg, when was this going to be over with? The instructor flipped a page on her clipboard. "Okay, first up…" she rolled her eyes a bit. "Obito Uchiha, Rin Nohara, and Kakashi Hatake." Aika swore Obito was about to lift off in excitement. Rin seemed excited as well. Though Kakashi kind of sat there, no reaction Aika could see from behind. She raised an eyebrow.
"Hey" Aika heard a voice to her right. She turned her head and saw her bench-mate. Akio Sahashi, a boy with spiky red hair going down to his shoulders in a way that suggested he slicked it back and startling green eyes. He wore slim clothes, a black jacket with a red shirt underneath and maroon pants. With him he carried his lady-killing smile. "Who are you hoping to end up with?"
"I dunno." Aika whispered back, contemplating. "I don't care as long as I don't mind them."
"I mean that's a given." Akio kept that smile going. "But I mean, any friends or future boyfriends." He wiggled his eyebrows. "or even a girl-" he stopped when Aika drove her heel into his exposed toes, thanks to the sandals they wore. He lowered his head and bit his lip hard to avoid screaming. Aika chuckled. One advantage of sitting next to Akio: he took a hit quite well.
"Just shut it and listen." Aika replied, her smile now sloping sideways. Akio looked down and rubbed the offended foot.
"Ow." He hissed. "Why do you do that?" he never wore an expression of anger or hate, Akio. He was overall amicable.
"It's supposed to be didactic." Aika sighed.
"Didactic?"
"To teach a lesson or a moral." Aika defined the word for him. "Now shut up and listen."
"Fine." Akio rolled his eyes as if to say you'll come around. The boy had pined after her a decent amount, but that was no different than other girls. Aika just stepped on him more than the rest. Though she supposed that made her an overall more desirable target.
"I hope you realise" a voice to Aika's far left, on the other side of Akio "that she'll never fall for it." Senji Tanigawa, a large boy in muscle, tried to convince Akio constantly that Aika wasn't worth it. Though Aika had a strange, unresearched feeling that Akio was a masochist. She never voiced it since Akio would likely admit to it if only to get a girl. He had the looks just was too headstrong. Senji was far more stable, being the biggest in the class in both height and weight. He had close cropped black hair, warm brown eyes, and a scar along his jaw from when kunai knife training got out of hand once. He wore a simple brown t-shirt and black pants. He never cared about standing out, which Aika respected. Plenty of girls would've loved to get with him, save for the fact he preferred male company. Akio just gave Senji a quizzical look.
"Oh, she'll fall for it." He pointed a finger at Senji's nose. "Persistence is key, my father always says."
"Persistence is annoying." Aika commented, eliciting a low laugh from Senji and a sigh from Akio.
"Mugen, Jin, and Fuu." The instructor called. Aika looked to the three. A laid back boy with wild black hair, another one with long black hair kept in a pony-tail and glasses, and a small girl who looked like a scrapper, her brown hair kept up in a bun.
"Oh man." Akio complained. "Fuu was so cute too."
"Keep it to yourself." Senji seemed as disappointed. "Jin's a nice guy."
"Both of you keep it in your pants." Aika growled.
"And finally…" the instructor checked her clipboard. "Akio Sahashi, Senji Tanigawa, and Aika Furude, Team 12." She looked to them. Aika was surprised, Akio's smiled was bright as ever, almost blinding. Aika rolled her eyes. "With that, I'll leave you all to enjoy the day, getting to know your teammates a bit better." She set the clipboard down. "Dismissed." The room then lit up with activity, some walking across the room to meet fellow team members, others leaving. Aika and her new team left the room with the majority, standing outside the classroom letting the crowds thin.
"So." Senji started "What now? We've got all day."
"We get to know each other of course." Akio smiled in Aika's direction, an eyebrow raised. "So Aika, how would you-" she stomped on his foot hard as she passed by.
"I'm going to the bathroom, be back in a sec." she called over her shoulder as Akio held his already hurting foot. Hopefully he'd avoid making any more comments, lest he wanted to keep his feet.
Aika entered the lavatories and did her business quickly, washing up at the sink. She slashed some water in her face to wake up. She looked up at herself in the mirror. Her purple hair went down to her mid back over her purple jacket. It was looser than Akio's by a long shot with sleeves big enough for Aika to stash anything she needed. Underneath that she wore a purple shirt and black pants. Purple was her favourite colour, something Akio asked about several times before she answered him. On her lower back was a tanto in its sheath. She liked swords and the like but never found a good fit so the tanto worked for now. She looked to her chest. A bit below average for her age, maybe Akio was into that sort of thing. Not her place to judge. Much. She exited the bathroom and found her teammates chatting idly.
"So, lunch?" Akio asked harmlessly enough. Aika gave the boy a withering glare that made him back up a step. "I-I mean the three of us. Teammates and stuff, y'know?" Aika kept her gaze for a second before turning it on Senji who shrugged in apathy. He was silent for a minute, leaving Akio to sweat bullets. Finally, he spoke.
"He means it." Senji rolled his eyes as Akio let out a sigh of relief. Aika shoved her hands in her coat pockets.
"So where are we planning to eat?" she glanced around at the student who were still milling about. She noticed Kakashi and his little group were still discussing things. Though Kakashi wasn't speaking much, if at all. That mask covering his mouth was certainly an issue.
"I dunno, the dumpling place sound good?" Akio scratched the back of his neck. "Unless there's somewhere else you guys would prefer?"
"Nah, dumpling place is good." Aika assured him. "So when are we meeting our sensei?" she asked, in case she missed out.
"Instructor said in about a day or two. To give us time to talk things over." Senji answered for her, rifling through his pockets for his money. "So dumplings now or later?"
"Now." Aika looked out at the gorgeous sunny day. "Let's eat outside, it's nice out."
"Sounds good!" Akio put his winning grin back on and Aika was ever so tempted to step on him again. Unfortunately that only got so much enjoyment. Akio led the way as Senji and Aika walked to either side. They exited the building and headed towards the dumpling shop, passing by alleyways and streets where people meandered, some parents and their happy students were out to eat to celebrate. Aika's mother was probably busy cooking.
"So what's the story with the Hidden Stone?" she asked to her teammates. "I've been hearing things."
"What things?" Senji queried.
"Attacks." Was Aika's answer. "I think things are gonna escalate."
"Oh Jeez Aika" Akio said, not facing either of them. "Lighten up! Now isn't the time to be thinking about war!" he turned on his heel, bringing the other two to a stop. His grin was on full power. "This is the time to celebrate, to show that we as children can be ranked among the adults, to become a part of the power of the Hidden Leaf Village!" he tapped the forehead protector around his neck which reflected in the sunlight. Senji glanced to his own, wrapped around his large upper arm. Aika's was tied around her waist for now. She never decided on a permanent spot.
"He's got a point Aika." Senji smiled. "Let's not be pessimists, let's just enjoy today." Aika rolled her eyes and sighed.
"Okay, you've got a point Akio." He smiled brightly. "For once." The boy closed his eyes and held his arms up as if to say Whatever you say.
"All right then! To dumplings!" and Akio led the way.
Two Days Later
"They're late." Aika repeated, tapping a finger on the railing. Their sensei had given them instructions to meet here. Said orders given on paper to each of their houses. Senji sat cross-legged in the shade while Akio paced, unable to keep still. They had met under an awning on a building roof, a relatively popular lazy day place where people talked and chatted. It was shaped in a long oval with stairs at one end leading down. The group sat at the semi-circle of seats at the opposite end of the steps.
"I dunno, maybe they got caught up in something." Akio raised a solitary finger in the air to make his point. "Never know."
"I know if you don't stop pacing I'll make you stop." Aika threatened.
"It's either pacing or cracking my knuckles, and I know you hate that." Akio responded quickly. Aika gritted her teeth, he was right.
"I think we know each other too well." She commented and then pointed a swift finger at Akio, whose mouth was open for a reply she had predicted. "And if you say anything about us needing to get better acquainted I will acquaint your face with the ground." Akio simply gave Aika a knowing smile.
"Perhaps you know me too well Aika." He responded with a sigh. "And you know what they say about two people who know each other very well…"
"Akio!" Aika stood, hand on her tanto handle, Akio's arms held over his chest in preparation, when they heard footsteps coming up the stairs. All three looked to see a woman walking up the stairs. She wore the traditional leaf jumpsuit and flak jacket of a Jonin, her forehead protector aptly placed on her fore head, her long evergreen hair put in a high ponytail that went over the band and down to her waist. She was quite slim with a bit of purple lipstick on her lips, bringing them out amongst her pale face. When she turned, they saw her striking green eyes giving them a once over, hand on hip.
"So" she started, her voice a low tone, similar to the kind women used that Akio called "seductive". "I see we're off to a great start already." No one spoke for what seemed like several minutes as the situation was absorbed into the three. It looked like Aika was about to kill Akio. Admittedly she wanted to but in a friendly way.
"Don't worry." Senji finally said. "They do this all the time." Another minute of silence passed before their teacher chuckled to herself.
"Boy oh boy do I get the interesting ones." She sighed. Then she clapped her hands together. "Well I think now would be the absolute best time to sit down peacefully and get to know each other." Aika stared at the teacher. Akio seemed perplexed but nonetheless relieved that he wasn't about to be hurt at the hands of Aika. He shrugged, moved over to the seat Aika was standing in front of, and sat beside it. Aika scooted a couple back from Akio and sat back down. Senji stayed where he was sitting and their sensei made her way in front of them. Aika swore she saw a small glint in the air, but it must be her imagination.
"So you're pretty good at peace keeping." Akio started up again. "What else are you good at?" the woman smiled.
"Oh I'm good at several things." She replied. "But right now I want to know about you three."
"How much about us?" Aika queried, cautious as she looked at this woman.
"As much as you feel free to admit." The woman responded. "Just tell me your name, likes and dislikes, something about yourself, and future plans. Outside of that is your choice." She rubbed her thumb and fore finger together on her right hand. "For example, my name is Rei Amano. I enjoy sewing on occasion along with running. I dislike people invading my personal space, my future plans are already in motion." She motioned to her attire. "And I'm good at keeping people in line."
"How good at keeping people in line are-" Akio started but he was cut off when he was jerked forward as the back of his pants was lifted up. Aika looked and saw Rei had lowered her right hand a bit from its previous position. On it was a fingerless glove, same with her left. "Hey, what the hell?" Akio struggled to keep his balance as he was held by an invisible force by his pants. Aika looked between Rei and Akio, wondering how she was doing that when a small glint appeared in the air again. This wasn't her imagination. It was in the shape of a short line and it moved from side to side as Akio struggled.
"I'm just that good." Rei answered as she lowered her hand some more, bringing Akio up.
"String." Aika deduced, looking to Rei. "You're using string." Rei kept smiling as she raised her hand, letting Akio back down to his seat.
"Clever eye." Rei adjusted the position of her hands and small glints of light reflected seemingly out of thin air. "But not string. Small, microfiber wires. I can lace them around an area and use them offensively or even defensively." Rei pulled her middle and ring fingers in and Akio sat straight before lowering his posture.
"Thank you." He said, rubbing his behind.
"No problem. Now since you were kind enough to demonstrate, you tell us about yourself." She nodded to Akio. His face turned as red as his hair, getting Senji to laugh.
"Oh yeah, she's great." Akio glared at him quickly before going on.
"I'm Akio Sahashi. I like ladies, I dislike work, I'm quite the charmer" he wiggled his eyebrows for an amused Rei. "And my future is to have a harem. Not just any harem, but the best one any man could ever get." He stood as he said that, raising a hand to the ceiling. Rei started laughing, eliciting a confused stare from Akio.
"Oh my." Rei sighed as she finished. "Such ambition." She waved for him to sit back down and pointed to Senji. "Now you." Senji popped his neck, moving it from side to side.
"I'm Senji Tanigawa. I like spicy foods a lot so I always get the spicy dumplings at the dumpling shop. I dislike very little, I'm an easy guy to please most of the time. My future plans are to find a nice mate and live a happy life. And the one thing about me is I am gay." Rei raised an eyebrow at that tidbit.
"Well, more power to you Senji." She looked to Aika. "Now for the clever one." Aika sighed through her nose.
"I'm Aika Furude. I like training and swords. But I don't have one due to money issues so I use this tanto." She pointed to the weapon on her back. "I dislike cheeky upstarts who constantly make moves on me and other girls." She growled in Akio's direction "my favourite colour is purple." Then she eyed Rei. "And my future plan is to join the ANBU Black Ops." Rei's smile grew very slowly after Aika stated her future plans.
"ANBU, now that's an honourable goal. Not easy by any means but" Rei pushed from the pole she was leaning against. "If you work hard enough, you will be able to join them no problem. In due time of course." Rei gave the trio all a once over. "Akio, Senji, and Aika." She repeated their names. "I think we'll make a good team, the four of us." She reached into her flak jacket and grabbed a vanilla envelope, opening it to give each of them a piece of paper with instructions written on it. "Now keep those a secret from your fellow teammates as they're personalised for each of you." Rei put the envelope back. "It won't make sense otherwise. Now" she clapped her hands to draw their attention from the papers. "I want you to meet me by that new Ramen shop, Ichiraku. From there I'll take you to where we will get more acquainted training wise." Rei turned to leave and took a few steps before stopping and turning. "Also, don't eat breakfast. And be ready early, about five in the morning." She turned and left.
"So…" Akio started when Aika rose.
"I'm going home. I'm tired." And she, too, left.
Later that night, Aika lay on her bed after dinner, reading the paper. It gave her some tips based on her own skills. A couple things she didn't know such as channelling her chakra into her weapon and inducing the element which was labeled as a "more advanced" skill. Aika scoffed. Advanced didn't cut it, that was pretty high level to do it right, let alone eve doing it in the first place. Channelling your chakra into your weapon was one thing but inducing your element was a whole other ball game.
"Tch." Aika made the noise as she let her arms sprawl out beside her on her bed. She was supposed to be ready for tomorrow? With this? The tips based on her own skills, which Rei obviously researched, seemed incomplete. As if they were missing something. If they were, then that's sloppy research. There was a note on the bottom that read make sure to pack a delicious lunch! Aika took it as a taunt of sorts, though she had no idea why.
"Psst!" she heard. She rolled onto her stomach and saw Akio's head poking up from under her windowsill.
"What?" she hissed as she went and fully opened her window, looking out. She saw Akio barely balancing one foot on the top of the window below, a precarious place to say the least, and the other balanced by the toes on the small balcony their apartment had. Akio lived right under her, though Aika made it a point to avoid her friend as much as she could at home. No telling what reprobate actions he participated in outside of school.
"Just wanted to ask if you- whoa!" Akio's foot on the balcony slipped just a bit before he caught himself. "Could ya just let me in?" Aika looked out at the setting sun. If her mother walked in... though Akio was about to slip. "C'mon Aika! I'm not here for any ulterior motives, okay? Now help me up." Aika rolled her eyes.
"Fine, fine. Come on." She held her hand out and Akio grabbed it with vigour. She hauled his skinny frame up into her window as softly as she could, though Akio's scrambling wasn't helping. However, she managed to pull him in and the boy landed on her floor face first. He wasn't there for long as he rolled and got to his knees.
"Thanks a ton Aika!" he smiled that winning smile.
"You really want me to punch you, don't you?" Aika growled. But Akio just laughed.
"Maybe I do." He stood. "So what was on that paper of yours?" he pulled his own out and Aika immediately got suspicious.
"What's it to you?" she eyed him, letting the boy figure it out on his own.
"Nothing!" he countered. "It's just…" he looked at it "my stuff seems incomplete." He showed it to Aika, who looked between Akio and the paper.
"So…" she started but he just shook the paper.
"Just read it." He insisted, letting Aika take the page from his hand. She read it over. It talked about his skills with hidden knives and the like, possible techniques for many hidden knives, but this also read as incomplete. As if Rei had missed pieces of information that could've been there. At the bottom was the same note, however. Make sure to pack a delicious lunch! Kami…
"You're right." She replied, handing her page over to Akio, letting him read over it. He was done quickly.
"You see?" Akio now seemed a bit jittery. "I think she's planning something."
"Or she's just bad at research." Aika reasoned. "We can't assume she'd-"
"Nonononon listen." Akio held his hands out to stop her "This is our new sensei. She's gonna want more than just our school records, she's gonna want practical evidence of our abilities." Aika raised an eyebrow.
"Impressive, Akio. That actually makes sense." He smiled.
"Thanks. Anyway, what if the incomplete bit is what we need?"
"Need for what?" Aika asked.
"Need to pass her secret test." Akio now seemed urgent, like he needed to get the point across and get it across now.
"Huh?" Aika eyed Akio suspiciously.
"C'mon!" he cried. "You don't think she's gonna do some ulterior stuff? Teachers always do this kind of crap, something secret that the team needs really bad." He stopped to breath.
"But what do we need?" Aika asked, letting Akio shrug his shoulders.
"I dunno but we need to figure it out for tomorrow."
"Listen, Akio." Aika started "It's almost night out, and we have to be there early." Akio jerked around and saw that outside, the sun had almost completely set. "And I doubt your parents will appreciate you having snuck out."
"Yeah." Akio sighed. "Yeah." He took his paper and headed to the window. "Okay then, I'll see you tomorrow." He let one leg out before turning back to Aika. "Just think about it, okay? We'll talk with Senji tomorrow." And with that, Akio began his slow climb down to his room, leaving Aika with an open window and a working mind. She let out a sigh and crawled into her bed, feeling drained. She needed all the sleep she could get tonight.
The Next Day
"So" Senji started before letting out a big yawn which, in turn, made Aika and Akio yawn. "What you're saying is that Rei-sensei wants us to figure out some super-secret quality we need?"
"That's about it." Akio leaned against the wall of the Ichiraku Ramen place which was, as of yet, unopened. Senji turned to Aika, who shrugged.
"Made sense when we talked about it." She admitted, to her dismay. "I mean think about it, don't teachers do this stuff all the time?"
"Yes, but the issue is how Rei-sensei will teach us." Senji brought up. "What if she's a more traditional classroom kind of person?"
"Senji, bro." Akio held a hand up. "You honestly think a woman who uses wire as a weapon is traditional?" Senji rolled his eyes.
"It's a possibility."
"Regardless" Aika interjected. "Let's be on our guard so we can be prepared for whatever she decides to throw at us."
"Kind of hard to be prepared." Akio looked to the sun as it slowly ascended above the horizon "when she's late."
"Who said I'm late?" they heard above them. All three jumped back from the building to see Rei crouched on the corner of the shop.
"R-Rei-sensei!" Akio started quite loudly. "That rhymes! I-I mean how long have you been up there?"
"Oh" Rei cocked her head to the side. "Long enough. At least long enough to hear about you little ingrates saying I'm tardy." She grinned, letting Akio step back in fear. Rei let herself fall to the ground with no sound whatsoever. "Regardless, let's head off! I have a place just outside the village."
"Wait, Rei-sensei?" Aika started, drawing the woman's attention. "What about the training grounds?"
"What about breakfast!?" Akio asked.
"Oh forget that overcrowded casual area." Rei said dismissively. "Were we're going is better. More bare bones." She adjusted her pack. "But you all should be safe. Hopefully. And breakfast is forbidden today. You need some motivation." And she started forward, leaving the three to stand in stunned silence before running after Rei, who led them outside the village gates and down the road a good hour's walk, the sun rising with each passing minute. They came across a path in the woods on either side and turned into it, a breeze blowing through and rustling the leaves.
"It sounds like millions of people whispering." Senji observed as they walked.
"Really?" Rei asked, listening for a second. "I suppose they do. Senji, you should pursue a writing career instead of being a shinobi." She turned to look at him, her lips in a kind smile. "After all, it's much safer." Senji bit his lip.
"I kind of wanted to but being a Shinobi is a bit more stable." He answered, leaving Rei to turn back to the path ahead.
"Oh that's a false statement. Out state of living is about as unstable as it gets. We could very well die on any given mission." She wagged a finger in the air. "Sure you're taken care of financially but the rest…" she sighed "It's up to Fate at that point."
"I see." Was Senji's only response.
"I should hope you do." Rei responded before exclaiming "and here we are!" Rei had led them to a clearing in the woods with an open view of the sky. There was nothing in the clearing but grass and more grass. Rei turned to them all. "Now set your bags down at that tree." She pointed to a particularly large one. All three set their bag against it and turned to face their teacher. "Now then!" she clapped her hands, opening them to show a single small bell in her hand that wasn't there before. "Time for your training!"
"A bell?" Aika queried, curious as to the goal. Rei nodded.
"Indeed. Most go for two bells but I prefer to make things my own." She held the tiny thing from her thumb and fore finger, rubbing her left thumb and forefinger together. "Usually the exercise is the first two to get a bell get to eat lunch." Aika felt her stomach growl in protest. No breakfast and motivation…. No she wouldn't. "While the third is left to starve. However I like to change things up so here's the deal." She eyed each student. "Whoever gets the bell gets all three lunches while the other two starve."
"What!?" Akio cried. "That's insane! You want us to run on no energy?"
"Of course." Rei giggled low. "But now whether you really want that energy is up to you. Who are you willing to toss aside?" Rei smiled sweetly and Aika suddenly got her game. Get it yourself, leave the others. "No holds barred, come at me like you want to kill me. Anything goes, even weapons and elemental jutsu if you are so inclined to know any at this point."
"This is insane." Senji stated evenly, possibly hoping to get some sense into Rei, who simply kept her smile.
"And whomever doesn't get a bell is dropped from the program entirely."
"That's crazy!" Aika exclaimed. "You're only taking one student?"
"Well now that's up to you." Rei answered cryptically.
"What does that-"
"You have until noon, time starts now." With that Rei crouched and leapt into the woods, soaring over the trio, and disappearing. All three were left in shock.
"Um." Akio started to talk but then Senji ran into the woods with quite a bit of vigour, breaking through low branches that got in his way. "Well…"
"Listen, I'm not losing out on my chance at the ANBU." Aika gave Akio quick reasoning before she leapt into the woods, not checking to see where he went. Aika quickly got up high, into branches before she got anywhere. She heard Senji breaking through branches and knew he would get caught quickly. After all, with that wire, who knew how long Rei could extend her reach? All Aika had to go on was glints of light from the sun- wait.
Aika looked around. They were under the leaf canopy now. There was little sunlight to go around. Rei could lay her wires around with little care about someone finding them until it was far too late. This was bad, Rei had the advantage completely.
"Grah!" she heard a deep voice bellow in the distance to her right. Senji, he must've been caught by her. Unless it was a trap. Aika leapt from her branch to keep moving and be harder to track. Senji was a stable guy but he wasn't the brightest. Above average intelligence he had, yes, but he never had much common sense. Neither did Akio for that matter. Aika turned left at one branch. If she avoided Rei then there would be a better possibility to catch her by surprise. Rei would be so focused on Akio and Senji that she would likely forget about her and then-
"Whoa!" Aika stopped her foot on the branch she landed on, balancing precariously on her right foot. In front of her ankle, mere centimetres from it, was a wire, a small glint being Aika's only warning. One of Rei's? Aika turned her head and saw a branch just a foot below this one. She let herself fall to the branch, landing solidly on both feet. She examined the wire on the tree. It was tied to one of the tiny branches that extended from the tree like eager fingers and ended in the middle of the bark for seemingly no reason. Aika didn't dare touch it but was nonetheless curious as to the trap. A smoke bomb maybe? Or a stun bomb? That'd be standard. Aika pulled her tanto out, setting the blade under the wire. She prepared her legs to leap back and down in case it exploded in a flash of light and sound. She held her tanto beneath the wire for a minute, thinking if she should do this. If she did, one less trap to worry about. If she didn't, she'd be safe but Senji and Akio would likely encounter it. A bead of sweat tickled down the side of her face. Aika gulped and decided to cut. She raised the tanto, slicing the wire and simultaneously leaping back, eyes closed in preparation for the flash of-
BOOM! Aika was thrown back at a diagonal angle, hitting a brush under an adjacent tree with immense force back first, knocking the wind out of her. Aika opened her eyes, her ears ringing lightly as she looked at the shower of wooden shrapnel that rained down upon the area. A large chunk was ripped from the tree, the branch where the wire was tied had been blown to shreds. Aika stared at the result of Rei's trap before the realisation hit her.
"She used a real paper bomb." Aika whispered to herself. A real paper bomb. Meant to kill. Aika felt her body start to shake as she got her breath back. Rei wasn't messing around, this was real. She meant it when she said to go at her with intent to kill. She had likely prepared this entire area with the same intent. To show if they weren't ready, then they'd die or get horribly injured. "She is insane." Aika concluded in a whisper before she heard something. A laugh on the wind. Rei. Aika got up shakily, picking up her dropped tanto. She had to move, get away, to get Rei to lose the trail. Aika ran from the area, heading to her right. Her back hurt from the impact she had on the ground but she had to run. If Rei was after her now, the woman would likely kill her. Then Aika wouldn't be able to join ANBU or go back to mom or do anything. She'd be dead, another casualty for the Hidden Leaf.
She ran, taking turn after turn just to keep anything that might be trying to chase her to lose track. She zig-zagged, she ducked under bushed for seconds before leaving, anything she could think of that would throw someone off. Have to get away, have to survive this insane exercise. Aika gripped her tanto in her hand, not bothering to sheath it. She made another turn and slid under a brush, hiding for a second, catching her breath. She looked out of the brush and saw the tree with the crater in its upper portion, pieces of wood scattered about. The explosion sight? Aika looked both ways, up, behind her, even down before she decided to bolt across the area. She trampled over pieces of wood, letting them scatter around her feet as she ducked under a bush across from her position. She looked out of her new brush and saw…
The same thing. The cratered tree, the pieces of wood, not scattered as if Aika had never run through. But she had. Maybe it was another tree that had exploded. But she hadn't heard any other bombs go off. Not that she remembered. Aika bit her lip. It was impossible that she would come across the same tree. Maybe if she turned around she'd find-
The same thing. How? Aika's heart started pumping out of fear. Something was wrong, very, very wrong. Aika looked all round, poking her head out of the bush at different angles, seeing the same thing over and over and over. Finally, having had enough, Aki got out from under the bush and looked around but saw nothing but the area she was in.
"What is-" she turned around and finally saw Akio facing the cratered tree. Aika felt her heart do a flip. Finally, someone! "Akio!" She stepped from the brush and walked towards the boy. "Where are we? Where's the clearing? Where's Rei?" Aika stood behind Akio, who didn't respond, move, or even acknowledge her existence. "Hey!" Aika tapped his shoulder, making him rotate a bit. "Akio?" she grabbed his right shoulder and pulled, spinning him around. What Aika never noticed were Akio's feet, hovering above the earth a couple inches, not noticeable by someone on the verge of hysterics. When Akio was facing her, Aika started screaming. Akio's lifeless body hung from the tree by a piece of thin wire, his face an odd combination of purple and blue, his eyes glassed over and wide open. His mouth agape with his tongue swollen, hanging out of the corner of his mouth.
Aika stepped back and tripped over a piece of wood on the ground, landing on her rump, her scream still echoing throughout the woods. She crawled back until she bumped into something. She stopped screaming and looked up to see Rei's smug smile right behind her.
"Boo." The teacher said lightly, eliciting more screams from Aika. The teacher touched Aika's forehead with her finger and Aika's world was enveloped in black.
Aika! She heard in the deep black void of sleep. Aika! The voice echoed through the void, resonating through Aika. But she couldn't bring herself to wake.
"AIKA!" she shot up, panting hard, gripping her chest with one hand. She felt her heart thumping at a fast tempo in her chest, the rhythmic beating serving to calm her down some. She looked to her right and saw Akio, his face full of concern, his green eyes staring at her intently. She looked at them for a second before gripping him in a huge hug. "A-Aika?" he stammered.
"You're not dead!" she cried. "You're not dead!"
"I'm not- whadda ya mean I'm not dead? Of course I'm not!" Akio responded, but Aika didn't care. She kept hugging him until it dawned on her who she was hugging. She pulled back with lightning speed and recoiled.
"Akio!" she said, letting the boy roll his eyes.
"Gee, thanks." Akio's response was sour. "I almost thought you cared."
"No, no." Aika started. "I mean when I saw you last you were-" she pointed to the tree which wasn't cratered in the slightest. "hanging…. From… the.. tree." She let her hand slowly lower. "Where am I?"
"Not far from the clearing." Akio answered, still looking confused. "I mean it was like a five minute walk. Speaking of it's about… nine or so in the morning. I'm not sure how long you were out. But I heard your screaming so I came running. I got distracted by Rei. By the way I haven't seen or heard anything from Senji."
"Senji." Aika whispered the name. "I hope he's not dead."
"Well you're not dead." Akio reassured her.
"Yeah…" Aika let out a sigh. Then she perked up. "Wait… Rei saw me but she… she didn't kill me."
"What?" Akio suddenly seemed concerned.
"Yeah, Rei came up behind me and said 'boo' and then… I blacked out."
"Aika" Akio gripped her shoulder "I think Rei had you under a Genjutsu."
"Genjutsu…" Aika repeated. "Oh Kami, how could I not know!" she gripped her head in her hands. "Genjutsu."
"Aika, listen." Akio gripped her arm now, suddenly serious. "We should find Senji, it'd be better if we work together."
"Work together? Are you insane, we're no match for her in any sense!"
"But Aika-"
"Listen, Akio, you have a point but we'd need to find Senji first. If he's not dead. Let's split up." She looked around, anxious. Who knew where Rei was right now.
"Aika, listen-" Akio started again, only to be cut off.
"I'll see you in a bit. Let's meet in the clearing in about, say, an hour." Aika turned to leave when Akio grabbed her shoulders.
"Aika, listen!" he spun her around, to Aika's chagrin. "We've gotta find Senji, we could stand a chance. Who knows, what if he's in the clearing and fighting her right now."
"Akio, that's wishful thinking, but-"
"Come on!" they heard faintly. A woman's voice. Rei.
"You're not serious." Aika stated, looking to Akio, who now had a grin on his face.
"Oh yeah I am. It's time we got together."
"But Akio-"
"Let's focus on getting Senji. Then let's focus on beating Rei." He turned and Aika had no choice but to follow, wondering what his endgame was. Was he only after the bell? Aika bit her lip. If he was, she wouldn't let him have it. Better to have a future ANBU member get it than a pervert who only wants a harem. If she caught one whiff of betrayal, she'd end him.
They ran under the canopy of leaves until they reached the edge of the clearing where Senji was giving it his all.
"Oh please!" Rei cried as she jumped back to avoid a punch. "You really expect to become a Ninja when you fight like that?" she side stepped him, giving him a light kick with her foot and sending him sprawling. Senji started to get back up. "I mean what kind of shinobi could you be with moves that predictable?" Senji turned on her with a roar and charged, his shoulders ready to tackle. Aika raised an eyebrow. Senji was a big kid, a tackle from him would hurt. If it hit. However, Rei wouldn't let that happen. She jumped just as Senji was about to hit her and fell, planting her foot on the back of his neck and forcing him to the ground. She leapt off of him and landed behind the kid, the bell on her hip ringing as she moved.
"Come on, just gimme the bell!" Senji roared. Aika had never heard him this angry before.
"Gimme, gimme never gets." Rei wagged her finger as if she were scolding a naughty child. In a way she was.
"C'mon!" Aika heard Akio hiss at her. He jerked his head in their direction. "If we catch her by surprise, we can get the bell." There it was.
"Oh, so that's it, eh?" Aika snapped suddenly.
"What?"
"Get the bell, leave me and Senji behind, get your retarded harem." Aika growled, gripping her tanto.
"What!?" Akio hissed, his face one of confusion, but Aika saw through it.
"Nice try, but I'm gonna get that bell. I'm the only one of the three of us that actually has a goal worth working for." Aika started backing up as Akio looked around, confused. Suddenly several kunai knives found their way between them, piercing the earth.
"Come on out, you two!" Rei called. Aika looked to her. The Jonin looked smug as she kept walking around Senji's ranging form. "It's not fun with just two."
"Or four." Aika heard behind her. She turned and saw another Rei, smiling.
"Gah!" she looked and saw Akio had been surprised by a third Rei. All three had bells attached to their hips.
"Now, now" Akio's Rei started, looking at her nails. "Don't be scared."
"You just have to find the real me." Aika's Rei stated, smiling.
"Who knows? Only me." The one by Senji called out.
"And me." Aika's called.
"And me!" Akio's repeated.
"Great, three of them." Aika commented, gripping her tanto. Maybe now was her chance, while they were distracted with boasting. She shot forward, bringing her blade around, aiming for the chest of her Rei. If it was the real Rei, she'd suffer a good injury. If not, then oh well. However, the Rei stepped back out of reach.
"You'll have to catch me first." She called teasingly before jumping into the trees and running off.
"Damn you!" Aika called before leaping into the trees, seeing the Rei by Akio run into the woods as well. But that was at the back of her mind. Her only focus now was finding this Rei and defeating her. Aika jumped through the trees, leaping off branch after branch, her tanto ready. She heard Rei's laugh and followed it, hoping it lea her to this deranged woman. Aika's stomach growled loudly in protest. She bit her lip. Of course, she was already at a disadvantage in skill level. Not having eaten was the icing on the cake so to speak. Rei probably had a filling breakfast.
Aika kept following the laugh for what seemed like hours. A few times she came across more of Rei's paper bomb traps. She left them alone, not wanting to deal with them again and wanting to leave them for her comrades, if you could call them that. She saw Senji, how enraged he was about the bell. And Akio, of course that's all he cared about. How could Aika think for a second he didn't have ulterior motives? Exactly. She gritted her teeth as she leapt through the trees, following the faint laugh until she saw Rei standing with her back to Aika. Aika stopped, crouching on her branch. What if this was Genjutsu again? She had to find out somehow. She looked but Rei wasn't moving. Not at all. Aika held her tanto in her right hand, her left hand's fingers pressed lightly into the branch for balance. There was no way Rei didn't notice her. Aika reached into a small pouch she had containing a few smoke bombs. She liked smoke bombs, she enjoyed the spontaneous surprise of them. She gripped one and held it, poised to throw. Rei wasn't making any movements. Aika threw it at the tree trunk to Rei's immediate right, the device exploding in a puff of black smoke.
"Now!" she whispered to herself, diving into the smoke, landing on what she hoped was Rei's branch. She swung her tanto in both directions and felt nothing. The part of the branch she was on felt thin. More to her right. Aika turned and leapt forward, towards the trunk, her tanto outstretched for stabbing. Then she felt her hand hit something warm and soft. She got her!
"A nice try!" she heard Rei's voice right in front of her. "I was curious as to how far you'd go but you didn't disappoint me!" Aika heard a snap of fingers and suddenly a gust of wind blew in around her, sending her smoke away in all directions. Aika was faced with a smug Rei, gripping her tanto with one hand, the blade between Rei's thumb and forefinger. Rei's left hand was raised, small glints spreading from it. "And Aika, dear, a point of reference. Never use a smoke bomb on someone who can use Wind jutsu." Her hand let go of Aika's for a split second before it gripped her wrist in a vice and picked her up.
"What the- aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Rei threw Aika, who rose up and fell down towards a tree. She managed to land on a branch, shaking it violently. She looked to Rei with anger. "Since when can you use wind?"
"Oh" Rei spun one of her hands around and around in a sort of gesture to jog her memory. "Since I knew I was able to. It is my chakra nature." She smiled. "But as a Jonin, I'm well equipped to use two chakra natures. I already have Wind. But…" she clenched her left hand into a fist and brought it to her face. "I'm also well adapted to use Fire!" Suddenly from her hand, the wires were set alight, ropes of fire shooting from her hand in a star burst, wrapping around tree branches, trees, and leaves even, setting them alight, and filling the area with immense heat and a growing cloud of acrid smoke. Aika took a breath and started coughing.
"What is this?" she cried, looking around.
"A slight variation on the Phoenix Flower Jutsu my dear. Sent from my hand through my wires. And look" she held her right hand up. "No fire." Aika bit her lip. This was bad.
"All right then." She readied her tanto. "It's time I ended this!" Aika leapt forward again, only to feel thin wires enclose around her ankle and stopping hear jump, leaving her to dangle in mid-air.
"Honestly dear, don't just jump at me. You're supposed to be the smartest of your team, don't disappoint me." Rei taunted. Aika leaned up and tried to slice at the wires only to feel her leg being let go. She dropped several feet before she was caught by the arm which held her tanto. "Can't have that." Rei commented, crouching down. "Last thing I need is you cutting my wires."
"So they can be cut!" Aika responded, leaving Rei to shrug.
"With enough force, yes. But I wasn't going to let you try."
"Well try this." Aika used one hand to make a couple hand signs, Rei's curious eyes watching. "A jutsu I spent time perfecting in case of something like this. She held her closed fist to her mouth, thumb and forefinger kept apart. "Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu!" she inhaled.
"Impossible!" Rei cried. "no Genin can master a jutsu with one hand!" Aika blew, feeling the wires around her arm loosen. The fire ball flew from her over to Rei, forcing the Jonin to dodge. Aika felt the wires open up and leave her to fall. Aika fell through the flames for what seemed like a mere second before she landed roughly on the ground, her ankles feeling the pain. She turned and ran towards the clearing, or that general direction. Away from the flames and this suffocating smoke. Aika but an arm to her mouth to let her breath in slightly better before she heard someone rushing over fallen branches that had snapped off from the fire.
"What?" Aika turned and saw Rei charging her, kunai in hand. She struck, Aika blocking with her tanto, the ring of the metals clashing echoing above the fire.
"How does" Rei struck again, her kunai meeting Aika's tanto. Aika thrust her blade forward only to be parried. "A Genin" Rei swung the knife down in an arc, Aika blocking it in a swipe up and down, pulling her arm back, and thrusting at Rei, who jumped back. "master a Jutsu enough to use only one hand?"
"Don't fear person who's practiced ten thousand things once, but one thing ten thousand times." Aika quoted that saying. "I practiced that jutsu for years. I know others but that's my go to." Aika bolted away from Rei, wanting to leave the smoke. Her eyes were burning and watering.
"Get back here!" Rei began chasing her, running alongside Aika. She swung with her knife, Aika parried. Aika jabbed, Rei dodged, they kept up a pattern of attack and parry and dodge as they ran side by side.
"Just trip me up with those wires of yours!" Aika taunted, taking a slash. Rei blocked it and the blade slide off the knife.
"You're right!" Rei made an odd hand gesture, her pinkie and index fingers extended with the rest closed. Aika jumped as soon as she could, hearing the wires slice the chunk of grass under her feet to shreds. She landed and kept at her pace, noticing they were leaving the area of the fire and saw light through the trees ahead. Looking to her right, Aika saw Rei made another gesture. Out of instinct, she ducked, feeling the wires pull above her head with such force as to make small whistling sounds.
"Come on!" Aika stabbed at Rei with her tanto, which was dodged. "You can do better than that." Rei hissed something before jerking her arm forward in what Aika saw as a punch, a punch so fast it caught her off guard. Rei's fist slammed square into Aika's nose, sending the girl sprawling. Due to her running speed, Aika rolled for several feet before she finally stopped. Rei stopped as well, standing over her.
"So many surprised for a twelve year old. Had you a different teacher you'd probably soar through the ranks quite nicely." Rei smiled. "However the issue is if you don't pass with me you don't get to even rejoin."
"Listen you crazy bitch." Aika growled into the dirt. She swung out with her knife suddenly, catching Rei's pant leg. The woman suffered no injury but she looked to her pant leg in shock. Aika stood, slowly. "I'm gonna pass your stupid test." She got to her knees. "I'm gonna get into the ANBU" Aika raised one knee and used it as a push to go to a standing position. "and I'm gonna become the best in it!" she gripped her tanto. "Even if it kills me."
"Well now." Rei smiled. "Your motivation finally comes forth!"
"What?" Rei struck, coming at Aika with several impossibly fast strikes with her kunai knife. Aika managed to barely block them all, feeling the strength of each hit when she deflected one.
"Maybe no you can really fight me!" Rei stated as she swung again. "Now you can face me with a true intent to kill! No bells, no teammates, just your goal!" she swung again.
"Gah!" Aika deflected a hard hit, the shock going through her shoulder. That's when it suddenly hit her. No teammates, no bells. Her life goal: join the ANBU. She looked to Rei. If what she heard was right, Rei was implying that Aika should abandon everything, focus on her one goal. Her lips moved to form the silent words "… abandon everything…"
"So you see now!" Rei now had what looked like a combination of a crazy yet smug smile on her face. "My teammates all died on my way to my goal. And now I'm a respected Jonin of the Hidden Leaf!" Aika thought about it. Akio, Senji, her mother. Akio was annoying but he didn't deserved to be… shoved aside.
That's it, eh? Get the bell, leave me and Senji behind, get your retarded harem! She'd said those words with malice. And Senji. His anger.
Come on, just gimme the bell! He'd become completely different to that person he was normally, stoic and stable.
"Well?" Aika looked to Rei, feeling a fire burn within her chest. Something she hadn't felt since she first entered the Academy. Burning desire. A burning desire to beat Rei's sick game.
"No." she spat. "I'm not gonna do it."
"Hm?" Rei raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not going to become some goal obsessed freak!" she yelled. "I'm not going to cast aside everything just so my goals can come first! My friends matter to! My family matters!" Aika griped her tanto. "Just because that happened to you, doesn't mean we have to become you, to change into completely different people just so we can win!" Rei's face was now one of surprise and astonishment. Aika felt her heartbeat increase. "I'm not gonna play your sick game!" she readied her tanto. "If I have to, I'll let them win! I won't become someone bitter and resentful just because I followed my goals and nothing else!" Rei's smile wavered, the corners twitching oddly.
"Fine then, you little wretch." The look in her eyes was murderous. "You fail. Time to die." She leaned forward but wasn't able to go forward. Aika beat her to the punch, literally, jumping forward and sinking her empty hand into Rei's pretty face, surprising the woman. With a yell, Aika brought her tanto around to stab but Rei managed to deflect it. Aika took the chance to push Rei to the ground and started running. She heard the sounds of combat, people going at it. If she was right…
"Guys, I'm coming." Aika kept running, heading towards the light. She looked back and saw Rei gaining on her and fast. Aika put all the energy she could into her legs, her stomach growling in protest. As she ran she noticed that Akio was right.
It'd be better if we worked together. He'd said back when he woke Aika up from the Genjutsu. He was right all along. They should've worked together. Instead they got caught up, their goals taking them over. That was Rei's endgame. Aika burst through the woods into the clearing to find Akio pressed back by his Rei, both of his swords, hidden in his sleeves, out and being used to block multiple strikes. On the completely opposite side, Senji was busy trying to even hit his Rei, who kept dodging and taunting him. Akio saw her first.
"Aika!?"
"Akio!" she yelled his name as she ran forward. Akio's Rei turned only to get full body tackled by Aika to the ground.
"Aika, what-"
"Go help Senji!" She cried, wrestling with Akio's Rei.
"What?"
"Just do it!" Aika yelled at him. "You were right, now go!" Akio stood for a second, nodded, and ran off to help Senji, yelling his name. Akio's Rei shoved Aika off her and stood, the other Rei joining her.
"That's noble of you." The Rei Aika had been facing said. Aika heard a scuffle over by Senji. Aika stood, her tanto ready.
"Bring it." She slashed at her Rei, the other one circling around her. Her tanto sliced thin air and Aika bent her right arm as it came around, hitting the other Rei with her elbow. Her Rei surged forward but Aika ducked and swung her leg low. Rei jumped over it, delivering a kick to Aika's face. Aika went down to her knees.
"Aika!" she heard a deep voice bellow. Aika looked up to see her Rei get slammed into the ground by Senji's large twelve year old form. She couldn't help but smile.
"Pile on her!" she cried. Aika ran towards Senji and she saw Akio doing the same, barely out running that Rei. They jumped on to the Rei Senji had pinned and all attacked at once. Aika and Akio stabbed while Senji held her down and reached for her waist. Rei disappeared into a puff of smoke. A clone. All three stood to face the two stunned Rei's.
"Well, what now?" Akio asked, breathing heavily.
"What else?" Aika smiled. "We charge!"
"I'm down with that." Senji agreed. With a cry they all ran at the two Rei's, making both of the worry who'd get attacked first. Aika looked to her right, her friends taking notice.
"Left!" she called. The Rei on their left readied out of instinct but was confused when Akio surged forward, throwing one of his short swords at the right one. She dodged, not unexpected, but Aika jumped at her in the middle of her dodge tanto ready. "Now die!" She landed on Rei, stabbing down into her chest. Akio ran up beside her and grabbed her waist as she turned into smoke.
"Grah!" they heard Senji clashing with the Rei on the left, who was surprised. Aika nodded in his direction. He was smart enough to use the distraction and almost punch her, if she didn't block.
"C'mon!" Akio encouraged Aika and they ran at the last Rei, who was surprised that she was now in a three-on-one scenario. Akio jumped at her with his last sword, which extended into a four foot blade from a normal foot long dagger, and swiped down, forcing the Rei do turn her body away from the blade. Aika circled around and grabbed her waist, including the small bell that was dangling from it. She whipped her tanto up to Rei's neck in one swift motion and held it there.
"I've got the bell." Aika growled. The whole thing had gone still. Akio and Senji stood there, ready to attack as Aika held Rei. Then they heard a slow clapping from behind. Aika turned her head and saw another Rei standing there, clapping her hands slowly.
"Congratulations." The Rei Aika was holding spoke.
"Is that the real you?" Aika growled and Rei laughed.
"No, a Shadow Clone." The clapping Rei disappeared in smoke. "You can let go now." Aika was reluctant, but she let Rei go, the woman cocking her head to either side and rolling her shoulders. "Okay then." She spoke as Aika joined Senji and Akio in front of her. Rei's smile now wasn't smug or crazy, but more… satisfied. "I want you wall to hold out your hands." One by one, each student held out their hands. In each hand was a small bell.
"Wait a minute." Aika started but Rei held a hand out.
"The clones were in place before we even got here." Rei explained. "But before you ask, I never said there'd be only one bell." Aika suddenly remembered what Rei had said at the beginning.
"'whomever doesn't get a bell is dropped from the program.' But that meant-"
"You assumed it meant I'd be taking only one student, if that." Rei smiled. "But look at you three, each with a bell." She checked the sky. "And look at that, it's about noon." Rei looked at the students, letting the weight of her words sink in. Akio finally spoke.
"Y-you mean…" he started, his body trembling.
"We all passed?" Senji asked. Rei nodded.
"Yes, you all passed." The words took a second to register with Aika.
"We… we passed." She spoke.
"We passed!" Akio yelled, jumping up. "Yes! YES!"
"I can't believe it!" Senji sounded surprised, looking at his bell excitedly.
"I can't either." Aika smiled. She had her chance, to join the ANBU Black Ops, and her friends could join her. She'd never felt so happy to be with the two of them before.
"Now then." Rei spoke above them. "Just allow me to formally welcome you under my tutelage." Her smile was warm now, even kind. "From here on out, we are all now known as Team 12. And right now, as our first mission" she paused as Aika and her friend's stomachs growled loudly. "I say we get some lunch, on me." Rei smirked. "But this is a once in a life time thing, got it?"
"Yes Rei-sensei!" all three spoke in unison. They grabbed their packs and headed back to the Hidden Leaf, feeling like champions.
"And that's my entrance into being a Genin." Aika finished the story. She looked to her pupils, gauging their reactions. Arine was wide eyed, Yukio had an eyebrow raised. Denji spoke up.
"Wow, your sensei was insane!" he smiled. Aika chuckled.
"Yes, Rei was a bit crazy. But she knew how to operate. She got us motivated in a way we hadn't been motivated before." Aika looked from the dwindling fire to the night sky. "Right now, though, it's time we got to bed. You have a whole day of lazing around tomorrow."
"Yes, Aika." the three spoke in unison, standing and heading inside. They closed the cabin door and Aika looked back to the small flames. She pulled from her pocket three silver bells. She held them gingerly in her hand, staring at them.
"I miss you guys." She spoke softly into the flames before grabbing the bucket of water and doused the flames so not even glowing embers remained. She stood, pocketing the bells again, and headed back inside.
A/N: Holy shit I did not expect another 10,000 word chapter! But in the end, it doesn't even matter. I hope you guys enjoyed a bit of Aika's back story! If you're wondering why I botched the Naruto story with Kakashi in the academy, let's assume he was there for his team assignment at that point. Anyway, read, review, follow, favourite.