Sumire's POV
One Monday morning, Kakashi knocked on my door and informed me that breakfast was already served in the gardens. I told him I would be out in a few minutes as I prepared to get ready. We had been training earlier that day, so I took a bath as soon as we got home, and I was just deciding on what to wear.
I chose to wear a knee-length sundress in a light pink color with small white daisies embroidered at the hem. I made sure to wear some shorts underneath my outfit. The dress looked nice and was also very comfortable. I decided to just let my hair down, it was a little bit wavy and looked nice so I did not bother to change it. I decided to wear a white strappy platform sandal to complete the look.
I noticed that Father and Kakashi were already seated at the table outside the garden. The silver-haired boy had his mask down, sipping tea while talking with Father about something that clearly interested him since his eyes shone with delight. He looked so adorable and cute without that dark piece of fabric covering his face. He was in the middle of saying something as I approached them. He finally noticed me, his mouth dropped open and he stared at me for a long time. I guess he never saw me in a short dress before. I took his reaction and speechlessness as a compliment.
My father finally looked around to see what had caused the unexpected reaction from the silver-haired boy. He laughed warmly and greeted me with a good morning before saying that I looked really beautiful today. Kakashi seemed to recover from his shock, a slight blush showed on his face. He told me that I looked nice while giving me a fond smile.
We started with our breakfast and talked about random topics to fill the silence as we ate. After the hearty meal, father imparted a very exciting news to me. I never expected him to register me at the academy since I already have a private instructor at home. Apparently, he had been busy the past few days submitting the requirements I needed to be enrolled. My private instructor gave a detailed report about my skills and current learning progress to the academy director. They decided to put me in the same class as Kakashi upon evaluating that I have the same level of knowledge as the silver-haired boy, and be able to go toe-to-toe with him during our training.
Father explained that he had discussed this matter with the sandaime hokage, they both agreed that my educational arrangement would be better if I were to attend the academy. I would be able to interact with people my age and slowly integrate myself to the Konoha population as an aspiring genin without revealing my heritage. My private lessons would still continue, but it is my father who would teach me instead of a hired instructor. He decided to slowly build up my knowledge of Senju techniques, so I would be better prepared once I graduate.
Father had already told Kakashi of this arrangement, it was probably what they were discussing before I came outside. "Remember to only write your first name on papers," father reminded me seriously. "The hokage also asked the academy director to be discreet about this and not to reveal your identity to the senseis or other students." He added.
I bowed my head politely to show my gratitude and said, "Yes, otou-san. I will keep that in mind to do that." He smiled at me with contentment and handed me an elegant white leather backpack containing all the things I would need for school.
He took his camera out and decided to snap a shot of me and my masked friend while we stood next to each other with our backpacks slung on our shoulders. It was another photo to add into my father's book of memories.
"Go ahead now, or you two will be late for class." Father said with a soft voice while handing out bento boxes to Kakashi and I.
I already reported to the administrative office in the academy upon arriving at school and just have enough time to walk to class without being late. My silver-haired friend accompanied me so I wouldn't get lost around the building. I felt my hands twitching from being nervous as I stood beside Kakashi outside our classroom door. He noticed it so he took my hand and held it to ease my nerves. The other students chatted loudly and the noise could be heard through the door. It was probably why Kakashi was always annoyed by the other kids, because I've observed that he enjoys a tranquil environment. His personality is very calm and he prefers peace and quiet.
The homeroom teacher probably realized that two of his students were not yet in the class. He checked outside and found us standing by the door. He introduced himself as Jiro-sensei, "Are you the new student, Sumire?" He asked nicely. I nodded and bowed my head politely at him and greeted him with some pleasantries. Then he told us to come inside so we could start our class.
The noise gradually died down as other students noticed two figures walking behind Jiro-sensei. Of course, they knew Kakashi already, so all states were focused on me as the academy instructor explained that I was going to be their new classmate. Some students started chatting about how they saw me with the masked boy the other day already and told others who were willing to listen to the new information. "Kaakashi and Sumire, please find yourselves a vacant spot and take a seat.", instructed Jiro-sensei.
I looked at Kakashi and he was already scanning the room for any vacant seats. One was at the back by the window next to a sleeping boy, and the other at the second row beside a boy with goggles who was smiling at me with a big grin and pointing at the empty seat next to him. I was about to walk towards the smiling boy when Kakashi grabbed my hand and led me to the back of the room. The students all shut up and were watching the scene intensely, with wide eyes very curious as to what's about to happen. Kakashi knocked loudly on the table to wake up the sleeping figure on the desk and said with a firm voice, "Move."
The poor boy was very startled and it took only one look at Kakashi's scowling masked face for him to start moving. He scrambled to get his bag and hurried to the empty seat next to the boy with the goggles. The silver-haired boy gently put an arm around my shoulder and sat me down by the window while he took the seat next to it. I saw the jealous faces of some girls as they looked at me with a frown, I realized that Kakashi probably had a lot of crazy fangirls. I can't blame them though since the boy beside me is very appealing. The sensei was still busy as he prepared the lesson materials on his desk so all eyes were still focused on us.
I tensed up when I realized this, so I tried to hide myself from all the attention. I tilted my head sideways and faced the window, this resulted in my hair covering most of my face. The masked boy beside me saw my reaction, and he did an unexpected gesture that surprised even myself. He held my chin and turned my head to face him, then lifted both his hands and tucked the messy hair behind my ears so I could see better. "Relax, the day just started." He stated before he touched the tip of my nose affectionately, like how he always did these days.
The other students' eyes widened even more, and some even had their mouths hanging open. They couldn't believe Kakashi Hatake just did that. Apparently, he never says anything nice to anyone, and his actions shocked people even more. He noticed that everybody was still looking, so he glared at everyone who met his gaze. That seemed to do the trick, as the students started to face the board and others followed suit.
The first class passed quickly. I knew most of the topics discussed already since it was about chakra theory which I know by heart and had read about a few times. The teacher gave a surprise exam at the end of the lesson to check if the students were paying attention. Jiro-sensei announced the results, with me and the masked boy beside me having the highest scores with perfect marks. Kakashi looked smug and very pleased, while I just smiled shyly as the instructor praised the two of us.
The next class was more interesting because sensei decided to take a different approach in assessing the students' knowledge of the lessons. The class focused on the geographical knowledge of the elemental nations. Sensei would pick one student to recite and provide a detailed explanation of the topic at hand. Everyone should be prepared in case they were called and this would go on everyday during the second period until everyone got their chance, this meant that all of us would need to do extra reading to be able to participate with the lesson. A lot of students complained upon hearing this, but Jiro-sensei simply said, "A shinobi must always be knowledgeable about geography. You will never know where your missions will be assigned so you should have a broad knowledge about this. Learning geography early will help you gain advantage since you'll be prepared in the future."
"Does anybody want to go first? I will give extra marks if you volunteer. Just make sure you explain everything correctly." Sensei said in a loud voice. He scanned the room and it looked like nobody was willing to volunteer.
I took a deep breath before I raised my hand. The extra marks would really help me since I joined the academy late and am likely behind in my class with my grades. My reading habit became quite advantageous as I read several books on geography already. The instructor looked pleased to see a hand in the air and called me up to stand in front to recite.
I walked towards the platform at the front and tried to calm myself down a bit before the recitation. I saw dozens of eyes as they scrutinized me, and noticed that most boys from my class had a blush on their cheeks. I focused my gaze on the silver-haired boy who gave me an eye smile in return.
"Sumire, your topic is about the Land of Wind. Explain what you know about it thoroughly", said Jiro-sensei with an encouraging look on his face.
I've read about it so I should be able to easily share what I know about the topic.
"The Land of Wind, also known as Kaze no Kuni, is one of the largest countries in the Elemental Nations in terms of area. However, it is primarily composed of deserts and lacks significant vegetation due to the uncommon occurrence of rain throughout the year. This region experiences extreme heat and dryness, making its environment particularly harsh. Located south-west of the Land of Fire, it shares borders with Amegakure and the Land of Rivers. The country is governed by the Wind Daimyo." I said loudly then took another deep breath before I continued with my explanation.
"They have a hidden village called Sunagakure no Sato, or the Village Hidden in the Sand, and is led by the Kazekage. It is considered as one of the five great shinobi villages. Suna is located between a valley, which serves as a natural fortification against harsh desert sandstorms and invading enemies. There is only one passage through the village, an opening carved out between two cliffs that surround the entire village, making it difficult for their enemies to launch a frontal attack. All the buildings in the Sand village were round in shape and made using stucco or clay, since those resources are easy to obtain in the area and ideal for cooling down the unbearable heat in the desert." I said while my peers listened intently.
"The shinobi in Sunagakure are known for their wind release techniques, mastery over sand, and using puppets in battle. One of their most notable shinobi is the third Kazekage who is known for his powerful Iron Sand technique. It is also mentioned in some books that Suna has the Ichibi in possession, the One-tailed beast was said to have once lived in the vast deserts of Kaze no Kuni before it was captured by Suna shinobi." I explained with a small smile on my face before turning to the instructor, "I am done sensei."
Jiro-sensei beamed at me and announced to the entire class that I received a perfect score on my recitation, as well as the extra points he had promised. The expressions on some of my classmates' faces were filled with awe. I returned to my seat with a satisfied smile. My silver-haired companion looked at me proudly and gave me a thumbs up.
Kakashi and I decided to have our lunch outside, just like most students did. We picked a spot away from the noisy crowd under a tree and got our bento boxes out. Kakashi strategically sat across from me, facing away from the other students so they wouldn't be able to see his face while he ate. I had already seen him without his mask before, so he was comfortable with me seeing his bare face.
Some of his fangirls were trying to take a peek, so I shifted from my spot to give him cover and comfortably finish eating the rest of his lunch. I heard annoyed high-pitched voices muttering something about not being cool, but I ignored them and finished my lunch in peace. Kakashi looked grateful, so he gave me a pat on the back softly to show his appreciation.
We still had plenty of time remaining before class resumed so we remained outside as we passed time. Both of us were leaning our backs against a tree, sitting comfortably next to each other. I started to ask Kakashi about things that intrigue me, "Kashi, who do you eat lunch with before?" I asked curiously.
He looked a bit surprised from the affectionate nickname I gave him, but he did not say anything about it so I assumed he did not mind when I called him using that endearment.
"No one." He briefly replied like it was the most obvious answer.
People gravitated towards the boy beside me because he is very charismatic despite his aloof personality . From what I've observed so far, they were very interested in getting to know him. Too bad though, since he doesn't like interacting with others too much. "Don't you have friends attending the academy?" I asked him with curiosity.
He said in a low voice. " You? That's why I ate lunch with you." I looked at him with my eyebrows raised, slightly laughing as I poked his side.
"I meant before you met me, Kashi." I replied playfully to him while still poking him relentlessly. He seemed to be a little ticklish in that spot, as he was suppressing a giggle and trying his best to stop my hand.
He caught my hand between his palms to stop me from moving it any further. He suddenly started rubbing one of his thumbs on the base of my knuckles. He looked like he was deep in thought, trying to figure out what to say next.
"I used to play with Asuma, the hokage's son, before the academy started, but we stopped hanging out because I preferred training rather than running around with other kids. The red-eyed girl, Kurenai, often came with Asuma. This kid named Genma also hung around sometimes. Then there's this kid called Guy who likes to follow me around and give silly challenges that I never agreed to participate in," narrated the masked boy while he continued to move his thumb on my knuckles in circular motions. He added, "I can't call them friends yet, I don't really know them that much."
"Well, we can start hanging out with them, if you agree. I don't know a lot of people in the village yet, I am sure it would be nice to be acquainted with some kids our age." I said with an encouraging smile.
He seemed to understand that I wanted to widen my social circle, so he reluctantly nodded and said, "If it makes you happy." I showed my appreciation by giving him a side hug and smiling brightly at him. Then he added, "Come on, let's head back inside."
The rest of the class went by without a hitch. During the last period, Jiro-sensei said that we'll be having some taijutsu practice on the training ground outside. We all headed out and waited for sensei to give out instructions. The winner will be called if one of the fighters gets knocked down or thrown out of the drawn circle that outlines the area for the match.
Jiro-sensei started to draw out names to randomly pair students for the spar. The first few matches were as expected.
Kakashi sparred against a scrawny kid who evidently needed to practice his katas more since his stances looked wrong. It took only one kick for the silver-haired boy to be declared as the winner, his attack was a direct hit to the chest knocking his opponent down.
The other matches were boring so I didn't really pay that much attention to the fights.
My name was finally called and I was paired with a girl called Sayoko. She has jet black hair and the rest of her features screamed Uchiha. My assumptions were confirmed when I saw the red and white fan symbol etched on the back of her shirt as she walked towards the middle of the circle. I followed suit and stood a few feet from her.
I heard other students mumbling about how the female Uchiha would kick my butt since she was one of the best in taijutsu sparring. Sayoko gave me a smirk before speaking, "You can forfeit you know, your dress might get ruined like how I'll ruin your pretty face." Other kids started laughing at the remark but I didn't mind them.
I assessed her carefully with a blank look on my face, and readied my stance as I saw her shift into the Interceptor style that the Uchiha were famous for. I decided to go with the Forest style of the Senju, the others wouldn't really make the connection since this type of taijutsu style isn't really popular because very few Senju are alive and only a few people were familiar with it.
Sayoko started the offense even though her style of fighting is supposed to be a defensive one. I have read that the Interceptor style is supposed to work with the sharingan to evade attacks since their eyes enabled them to foresee enemy movements. As the name denotes, it intercepts or stops their opponents' hits from landing the targeted areas. Thus, making it a defensive kind of taijutsu. I did not see my opponent's eyes turn to crimson ones that the Uchiha clan are famous for and I was glad about that because I have not yet experienced fighting someone with the famed dojutsu as most of my practice matches are limited with Kakashi or father as my opponent.
I was able to successfully block the blows that the black-haired girl continuously threw my way. She looked surprised that I was able to defend myself from the fierce attacks but nobody from class knew, apart from Kakashi, that l had faced better opponents since I have been sparring with the masked class prodigy. I saw an opening when she side-stepped suddenly, that gave me room to throw a kick on her hips then followed by a punch to her jaw that made her lose her balance and her stance wavered a bit.
She looked mad as I was able to land a hit on her, but I read somewhere that emotions such as anger should be suppressed while engaged in battle since it makes you lose focus. This was proven when she started attacking me again, but her blows were becoming sloppier as she kept throwing punches and kicks loosely. I already expected such a reaction from her though, since the Uchiha are very prideful people.
The Forest style is a very versatile taijutsu form. It is a combination of movements that enables the user to shift between offensive and defensive stances, the set of katas are hard to predict. It would be hard to counter even with the sharingan, they might be able to see the coming hits but they'll have a hard time defending from it. Father told me that it was developed as a way to negate the Uchiha dojutsu in taijutsu battles which our Senju clansmen faced relentlessly during the warring clans era.
I see it as a very fitting form of taijutsu to defeat the scowling girl in front of me given that she is an Uchiha.
I moved backwards towards the boundary line that enclosed the sparring area to give myself enough room to start my offense. The girl shifted to remove the gap between us and lowered her stance so she could perform a leg sweep and attempt to knock me down. However, I somersaulted over her figure and landed behind her. I quickly gave her a hard kick on her back and she was not able to defend from the attack. My actions resulted in her rolling onto the ground and hitting her head on the base of the tree outside the line, making me the winner of the match. She stood up a little dazed with a trickle of blood running down her nose as she looked at me, her whole face red with anger and shame.
"I guess my face didn't get ruined at all," I exclaimed loudly as I straightened my dress. The other kids were speechless because I had been able to easily beat the Uchiha girl without receiving any injuries. I may look like a delicate girl but I can certainly throw a hard punch or a strong kick. I had been training relentlessly with Kakashi after all. I walked towards my masked friend and he looked pleased with the result of my match.
With his arms crossed over his chest, my silver-haired friend stated proudly, "That's my girl. Looks dainty but deadly." He gave me a few soft taps on my back, the statement earned me a lot of angry stares from the fangirls. Though, some of the boys also looked at Kakashi with envy.
Truly, I appreciate his sweet words, but I do not agree with all of them.
I am not, by any means, deadly yet. I am still far from that level, but I aspire to be like that in the future. Maybe Kakashi anticipated that it would happen in time, and I really hope it will.
However, I definitely agree to be referred to as his girl