Chapter 4: Becoming a Genin
The Academy, Day Before Final Exams
Another day, and luckily since that day a few years ago, she mostly got glares from the other girls. But she hung out with Saskue and she and Hinata were always on top. Yuri didn't care. But Sakura and Ino were getting there. Their last evaluation was last month and none of them knew the results. Yuri didn't personally care about the results. As she only wanted to prove she was better most of the time. Shikamaru found out Ino asked her father for extra practice time. Even demanding Choji help her with her Taijustu. Which he was improving on because he started training with Hinata snd Saskue. Sakura saw Hinata, Yuri and even Ino improving so she bite the bullet and began training with Kiba and Shino. And she was showing a lot of improvement. Sakura had even managed to convince Kenji to help her. She was showing she was smart and it seemed a small friendship was forming. Sakura still ignored Isamu… but at least wasn't mean to him around Yuri. Leaving the biggest slacker in class: Naruto. While Naruto could do some seals, he wasn't the best at it. Mostly using it to pull pranks on others.
Which Yuri found funny all the time. She has managed to pull minimal pranks with Naruto. While he wanted her to help him a lot… she couldn't bring herself to. Instead she made sure to include Naruto with games. But Kiba and Shino were the ones mostly hanging out with Naruto. Naruto even trained with Kiba all the time. They even dragged Shino into playing with them most of the time. She didn't have a chance to hang around Shino much, but he seemed wise for his age and kept Naruto and Kiba out of trouble most of the time. Naruto was proving to be a bad influence on Kiba and Shino by skipping class sometimes. Shino was normally fine skipping… but Kiba and Naruto couldn't. Yuri heard that Kibas mother threatened the two boys. Though… it didn't work on Naruto.
Even after Jiyra came back to the village to take care of Naruto… he was a handful. Running around and skipping lessons. Not to mention Jirya was going on missions every few months. Even trying to get someone to watch Naruto while he was gone. Like now. Jirya was sent on a mission and was supposed to be back in a few days. Leaving Naruto to run wild. Naruto told her that he and Jirya got into a huge fight before Jirya left. Naruto didn't tell her what it was about though.
Iruka sensi was taking attendance… he noticed Naruto was missing. He even looked around the class when he didn't hear him. Iruka sensi was well aware of the bets and how Naruto wasn't allowed to speak in class for weeks or take notes for Shikamaru or Yuri. But he had to check, and thinking of it… Yuri hadn't seen Naruto all day.
"Alright, has anyone seen Naruto?"
Everyone looks towards Shikamaru and Yuri. But both of them look at each other and shake their heads. She hadn't seen Naruto since last night. So she was only guessing, and she hates guessing with Naruto.
With a sigh Iruka looks at the class. "Do some studying on your own."
Iruka leaves and Yuri turns to Shikamaru. "So Naruto didn't tell you his plans?"
Over the years Shikamaru and Yuri had become closer. She would hang out with Saskue and Hinata and Naruto. She even hung out with Kiba and Shino. Even Choji warmed up to her and they made sure to include Naruto in games and training. She wondered if Naruto liked Shikamaru more than her. She knows he liked Kiba more due to Kiba being as loud of a person as he is.
"Nope. He said you would know." Shikamaru leans on the table as Yuri pouts.
"No, he didn't tell me anything." Yuri gets an idea and looks to Hinata, who still has a crush on Naruto. "What about you Hinata? Did Naruto tell you anything?"
Shikamaru also looks at Hinata as her face becomes red. "Um… I…"
"Don't lie Hinata. You suck at it." Shikamaru adds.
Hinata steals a glance at Yuri and Shikamaru. "Um… he… he told me not… not to tell… saying… say-saying it was our secret."
Yuri looks back at Shikamaru who raises an eyebrow. "Can't fault him. Clever of him to tell Hinata. But dumb to tell you he told me about it. Oh well. I am sure Iruka will find him."
Pulling out her scroll, Yuri begins to read more about her clan. She had been reading more about them lately and it was explaining a lot. The taste, which now she knew Iruka sensi tasted like a forest. Which was really weird for her to know. But she and Shikamaru tested it out. She even spoke to Shikaku to understand. He said he would try to get information, but didn't know what to look for.
They didn't get any more scrolls than this. Some referred to more scrolls, but she couldn't check it out. It frustrated her. Even the Hokage didn't know anything more, no matter what she just wanted to know a little bit more about her clan. No one she talked to had answers.
Yuri even discovered that Saksues mother had been at her village, but she didn't know anything more that Yuri did. She was invited a few days before the killing and was told there she was expecting a child. Nothing more came of it though.
So Yuri can only review the information on the scrolls.
Until she can taste the forest and cotton candy. Seeing Naruto tied up, Yuri giggles into her sleeve. Glancing at Shikamaru who looks annoyed. Yuri can't blame Shikamaru though, but Yuri had a soft spot for Naruto. Iruka sensi is already lecturing Naruto, which Yuri can imagine is going to spill over to the class. Every time Naruto does this he gets the whole class in trouble.
"I'm at the end of my rope Naruto. Tomorrow you have a chance to graduate, Naruto, and you're messing up."
Naruto huffs and turns his head away from Iruka sensi. Iruka sensi has a point though… They have their test tomorrow and Naruto needs to do well on it. Or he will fail. Which wouldn't be good for him. With the head turned though… Iruka sensi gets the look on his face. The look of pure annoyance and trying to teach Naruto a lesson.
"Here we go…" Yuri mutters under her breath.
"Fine, because you missed it Naruto everyone will review the transformation justu." Iruka sensi says to the whole class.
The class groans. Slowly Yuri gets up from her seat and shakes her head. Leave it to Naruto to get a whole class punished.
"Leave it to Naruto to get all of us to do this." Shikamaru yawns.
Yuri smirks. "It's why we stopped betting on this one right? Since we ended up agreeing everytime Naruto skipped, we all end up reviewing." They make their way down and Yuri stands between Shikamaru and Ino.
While Ino ignored her, Yuri gave her a grin. She loved making Ino and Sakura mad. It was beyond entertaining to her, even if it made things worse in the long run. Though… sometimes they were so focused on beating Yuri they forgot about their crush on Saskue for a moment. But one look from Saskue? Broke their focus. It proved to Yuri though they could focus on something else for a short time. However short it was.
Iruka sensi calls Sakura first and she moves up.
"You're right. We stopped betting on it." Shikamaru whispers.
Iruka sensi liked silence while they were reviewing justus. And Yuri and Shikamaru would be silent. Until Naruto pulled something else.
"Alright Sakura here. Let's do it. Transform!" In a puff of smoke, Sakura transforms into Iruka.
"Transformed into me? Good." Yuri rolls her eyes as Sakura transforms back.
Sakura fangirls about how well she did. While Yuri was happy, she can't help but feel annoyed at the whole display of Sakura being so excited she got something so basic. What annoys her more is when she looks at Saskue. And Yuri can hear the unasked question.
"Saskue did you see that?"
Sakura walks away as Iruka sensi calls the next person.
"Next, Sasuke Uchiha"
Saskue walks up and transforms without a word. Typical. He was cold and distant at school since he didn't want to invite the girls to be around him. At home though? He was such a sweet brother.
"Um… Good."
Saskue transforms back and walks away. Not looking over to anyone. Yuri snickers and shakes her head. Seeing the other girls following Saskue with their eyes, Iruka had banned fangirling in the classroom when testing. He found that out the hardway a few years ago.
"Next Naruto Uzumaki." Iruka announces.
Shikamaru decides this is the time to speak up. "This is a total waste of time Naruto"
"We always pay for your screw ups." Ino chimes in.
Sadly, Yuri can't help but agree with both of them. It does waste time and everyone is up on their justus, sometimes Naruto isn't, but there isn't much Yuri or Shikamaru can do since Naruto developed this mindset that everyone dislikes him. Even the people closest to him. While Shikamaru didn't want to fight with Naruto on it, he did anyway. Even Jirya was at the end of his rope with Naruto. A few times Naruto mentioned it was because people still looked at him in the way he hated and people seemed to know something he didn't.
"Like I care." Naruto comments as he walks up. "Transform"
Yuri slides into Narutos old spot to watch whatever is about to happen. It takes a moment but what Yuri sees makes her facepalm.
Naruto looks like a girl… but with no clothes on. She glances and sees Iruka going down hard. She glances over to Shikamaru and sees his own cheeks red. Causing her to elbow him in the ribs.
"Ow. What was that for?" He asks.
"Staring at Naruto's stupidity. You might catch it if you stare long enough." Yuri mumbles.
Naruto changes back and begins to laugh. But… No one else in the class is laughing. In fact it's one of the few times the girls can all agree that Naruto went too far. Yuri glances to Kiba and sees he is trying to hold in his laughter. She narrows her eyes at Kiba. He must have sensed her and looked at her. Deadpanned as his little puppy wags its tail. She leans over to Shikamaru.
"We should pin Kiba down. I feel like he had something to do with this."
Shikamaru hums as Naruto finally speaks up.
"Gotch you. That's my sexy Justu"
Iruka sensi stands up with paper in his nose. Yelling at Naruto "Cut the stupid tricks. This is your last warning."
He even got in trouble for it. Luckily, it was close to the end of the day and Yuri went to Nara's house. While walking there she and Shikamaru began arguing a little about something Shikamaru was supposed to learn, and Yuri went over that evening.
He didn't want her over since he had training with his father and wanted to nap before.
"Come on Yuri…" Shikamaru starts.
"No way! You said you would learn it! Plus, I need to ask your dad a question. I don't want people to know I can taste chakra and that I can absorb chakra. You're the only one who knows about it. I feel like I should mention it to your father."
Shikamaru only looks at Yuri. Even pausing to stare at her. He knew that Yuri didn't have much to go on when it came to her clan and their abilities. She was trying to figure it out as she went, which sadly wasn't going too well. With a sigh Shikamaru shakes his head.
"Not tonight. He's working on something. Maybe tomorrow after the exam?"
Yuri nods and turns to head home. Only a little upset that Shikamaru is sending her home alone. He knows she hates being alone. Saskue and Hinata are busy with training as well.
Exam Day
The night had been awful for Yuri. She had a nightmare about her mother. With red eyes around her, she saw one of her other cousins there with her mother. The nightmare was dark and scary, there was blood in a lot of places, along with there being testing rubes and other items Yuri didn't know about. She had woken up with a start… and she didn't scream. But she couldn't sleep well after that. The words she thought she heard echoing haunted her.
"You failed."
Yuri hadn't spoken. Not even to Shikamaru or Hinata. She even sat in the back of class by a window. Looking at it, she couldn't get the images out of her head.
After Yuri was called into the exam room and passed she went outside. Staring at her new headband. Struggling to remember if she had ever seen her cousins wearing this headband or if her family even did. But with the thought of her family the images flash scrolls her mind. Even her mothers words.
Many thoughts go through Yuris head as she tries to process what is going on with her. Could she truly be part of this village? Doesn't this headband prove she is part of the village fully?
She must have been lost in thought since she didn't hear Mitoko and Yoshino approach her.
"You passed! Congrats!" Both the women hug Yuri as they wait.
"So… this means I'm a genin? They said to come back in two days. We have to do a list of things before they give us any more information." Yuri looks between the two women.
Mikoto speaks up first. "That's right. Tomorrow you can sit with a photographer for your identification photo and speak with the Hokage."
With a frown Yuri looks at the headband once again. "And this means I am fully part of this village?"
She looks up at the two women and sees a flash of something come across their faces. The women share a look. Yuri doesn't know what it's about… did she ask the wrong question? Was she going to fail like her mother said?
"Yuri," Yoshino begins, "You have been part of this village since you set foot in its gates."
Slowly the young genin nods her head. She wonders if her mother would be proud of her. She needs more information about her family, and the weird things happening to her. But she doesn't think so. Which makes her sad. Still, Yuri doesn't answer Yoshino… she doesn't know if she could. Too many things have been happening in her head that Yuri is unsure about what to do.
Before she knows it Shikamaru comes out and Yoshino dots all over him. Yuri for once is silent. Her own thoughts overcome her as she puzzles things out. Which of course Shikamaru notices. He was good about noticing things, even trying to get his mother to back off since he was only a genin. But that didn't stop Shikamaru from trying to talk to her and get an idea of it. Luckily for Yuri he doesn't have a chance. When Hinata comes over to talk with them, Yuri tries to cheer up, but she can't stop her thoughts from piling up. Causing her to zone out when Hinata and Shikamaru talk.
Yuri frowns even more when she sees Sakura and Ino pass, and when Saskue passes. But she doesn't see Naruto. She looks over and sees Naruto alone on the swing. She even hears a few parents talking. Shushing each other about some big secret. And in a blink of an eye Naruto is gone with Mizuki sensi.
Yuri isn't sure if she likes that. But Yuri holds her words as she feels someone pulling her, the mature ripe taste. She looks over and sees Saskue and Hinata walking by Shikamaru while he drags her to wherever the four of them are going. But they all remain silent. Leaving Yuri in her thoughts a little longer.
They make it to an alley in the village and the three look at Yuri.
"You… you don't seem… seem happy Yuri." Hinata starts.
While Hinata got better about speaking around the three of them, she barely spoke to other people. Which was fine, Hinata and Yuri proved they were better than the other girls. Though Sakura was getting better.
Looking between all three of them. Until Shikamaru speaks up. "You're out of it. Why?"
"I…" Yuri begins. But she pauses. How is she supposed to explain her thoughts? She sees Shikamarus eyes narrow as she pauses. "Honestly… I don't know how to explain what is going on in my mind."
"Yuri, come on. You normally just say what's bugging you." Saskue comments. He walks over to her and puts a hand on her head.
"Fine. Multiple things are bothering me. For one, I have no idea how my family would feel about me being here in this village, the scrolls indicate that we lived in that village so we didn't have these ranks since we never took missions. It's still a strange thing for me as I have no idea what to even think about it. My village seemed to have simpler things going on. Like me being the chief's daughter, I was to get head of the clan when I was old enough. But I don't have much of a clan here, I'm the only one here. It's been a strange thing that's been going on for a while, but I am just at the end of my rope to say. And I wonder if this makes me officially part of the village…"
"Yuri…" Shikamaru begins.
"She isn't done. Let her vent." Saskue steps in.
"Not only that, but I have no idea how to handle this family justu or whatever is happening to me. Nothing I can do, I haven't been able to find any information on what is happening to me. Even public records, there is nothing about it. And," she turns to Shikamaru. "I had a nightmare last night where I saw my mother and a cousin of mine. You know what my mom said? You failed. That's all I can hear since I can't figure anything out about these powers I have. I barely know what they mean and no adult has been able to help me with this whole thing! I don't want to be alone. I miss my family."
Yuri crouched down, turning away from all three of them. See feels some tears leaving her eyes and falling. Until she feels someone hugging her from behind.
"You're not alone. You have us." Yuri tastes dumplings. Sweet dumplings.
"Hinata is right. What about your justus is bothering you?" Looking up she sees Shikamaru and Saskue crouching in front of her.
Sniffling Yuri sits down. "The taste is something I'm not understand. Everyone has a taste, and I've been noticing families have the same taste. So like Shikamaru and Shikaku, they both have a mature and ripe taste to them…"
"But?"
"But something new is happening and getting stronger. One time when Shikamaru and I were sparring he had me almost pinned, but after a moment it felt like there was this weird transfer. And I was thinking about it. But I don't know what it was. The scrolls don't get that far."
There is a pause between them. Until Saskue speaks up. "What do you mean?"
"Just something different. While we all know basic justus, the best of us at chakra control is Shikamaru. I know I use slightly too much but after that I used only as much as I needed."
There is another pause as they all take it in. Shikamaru only stares at Yuri, and she stares back.
"Wait… you've sparred… sparred with all of us and Naruto…" Hinata mutters.
Slowly Yuri nods. "That's not the only strange thing… I can taste the jonin without touching them. And some Chunin. Genin and academy students I can't. But I can with you guys and Naruto."
"That doesn't make any sense." Shikamaru scrunched his face up.
This causes Yuri to shrug. "I don't understand it."
All three of them look at each other. "We might be safer at my house. Come on." Shikamaru stands up and moves away.
The others follow home to the Naras home. Yuri doesn't taste Yoshino or Shikaku, she looks over to Shikamaru who goes outside.
"What's the plan, genius?" Saskue asks.
Shikamaru turns towards the three others. "Yuri, you've had physical contact with all three of us right?" Yuro nods her head. "We might get in trouble for this… but I'm curious about it. You mentioned feeling like you had better chakra control. Was that an overnight thing?"
Yuri thinks back on it. Slowly she shakes her head. "No… it wasn't. It was almost instant."
Saskue gives Yuri a confused look. Looking between her and Shikamaru.
"Instant? We were only sparring and we have only gotten better since then." Shikamaru closes his eyes and crouchs down. Making his symbol and thinking.
Yuri looks at Hinata. With a shrug, Yuri and Hinata sit down. No one speaks as they all wait for Shikamaru to think things out.
"Alright." Shikamaru opens his eyes and looks at us. "This might be weird but I want to see. Last time we spared was a few years ago. So," Shikamaru holds out his hand. "I have a theory. Tell me if something changes."
Yuri pauses as she holds her hand out and holds Shikamaru's hand. There is a moment while Yuri notices any changes. But she doesn't feel anything until Shikamaru yanks his hand away. Yuri gives him a weird look. A small pout coming across her face.
"What's wrong?" Yuri asks.
"I… I felt my chakra was depleting." Shikamaru rubs his hand and looks at Yuri.
Yuri tilts her head. Saskue steps forward. "Let me try." Saskue holds out his hand.
And Yuri takes it. It takes a moment but Saske also takes his hand back. Which leaves Yuri confused. She still hasn't felt anything in regard to Saskue and Shikamaru pulling their hands away. Hinata only holds out her hand only for it to be taken from her too. Yuri moves her hand and itchs her eyes. It feels like there was something there, but at the same time there wasn't.
"Weird… you think she has Chakra absorption? Iruka Sensi mentioned it once or twice." Saskue looks over to the rest of the group.
Shikamaru nods, but Yuri can only look between them. Chakra absorption? Could she do that? She had felt something when she sparred them each… but this time she hadn't felt anything. Which only makes her even more confused.
"He did, didn't he?It would make sense." Shikamaru musses.
Hinata presses her lips together. "But that doesn't make sense. It felt like… more than just that though."
"True… do you want to check her system Hinata?" Shikamaru asked.
Hinata activates the Byakugan and looks at Yuri. Then she looks back at Shikamaru and Saskue. Yuri raises an eyebrow at the boys as she wonders what Hinata is seeing. But Yuri only starts to itch her eye again.
"What?" She continues to look back and forth until she deactivates the Byakugan. "I… I don't understand."
"What is it Hinata?" Shikamaru looks between all of us.
"She… she has similar chakra patterns… patterns to all of… of us. But she… she has her own." Feeling all their eyes on her.
Does she? Yuri didn't know, nor could she have known. She only looks at them all. While their taste got a little stronger, they always did after she touched them.
Yuri shrugs her shoulders. "I don't feel any different though."
"Let's test something out. This has to stay between all of us though. Because if she can do this… Hinata that might mean she can copy you too."
Slowly Shikamaru teaches Yuri special hand signs. The last one she knows what he is showing her. She notices Saskue is taken by the Shadow Possesion Justu. "I want you to copy that."
With the signs Yuri remembers she goes through and targets Saskue, when she does the final sign though Saskue gasps.
"What… what the hell?" Saskue asks. She looks and sees her shadow stretched to Saskue.
Retracting the shadow they all look to Shikamaru. "What… what does this mean Shikamaru?" Hinata asks.
Shikamaru only stares at Yuri. "I think this means I have one idea why Yuris family wasn't in a village."
Note: Hello! I am back with another chapter! I hope everyone is enjoy the story so far! I keep rereading it and yes, I have been watching the show to get the times correct along with having my own timeline so I don't forget anything. This is probably going to be long and I might be spliting this up into OG Naruto and Shippuden. So keep an eye out for that! Please let me know what you think!
