After some traveling, my temporary team and I arrived at Konohagakure along with our team leader for the Chunin exams. We are the only team from Kirigakure to be competing this year. I didn't think I would have to take the chunin exams seeing as my uncle, the Mizukage Yagura Karatachi has been having me go on A rank and even S rank missions previously. He hasn't told me why I was competing only saying that he will tell me when I make it to the finals, which he was certain I would do. I wish I was able to compete by myself, but he decided against it. He didn't think it would be the best idea if I was to compete by myself with my brother having just died. I loved him knowing of the horror he partook in, but I'm really no different, my graduation to genin had the same results as his graduation.
My brother and I were raised by our uncle. Our father died on a mission, he committed suicide when he was captured by ninja from an unallied village that wanted information on ours. As for our mother, she died several hours after I was born. Yagura took us in because he didn't have an heir of his own. My brother was always distant from our uncle, but he still acted like a loving older brother to me. As loving at a Mist ninja could get anyway. I still loved him despite the fact he became a rogue ninja and left me by myself with uncle Yagura.
Ever since he left I've been doing whatever I could to become stronger, I didn't want to disappoint him by being weak. Now that he is no longer alive it renews my resolve to get even stronger so that if he were watching me from wherever he is now, he would be proud.
Our team leader, Shozouki brought us to the apartment we will be staying at so that we could drop off our things before we went exploring the village. I managed to get my own room being that I'm the only girl in the team. That and there is also the fact that my two teammates and even Shozouki are uneasy around me. We were just recently placed on a team together, but none of them have bothered to try and get to know me. I feel as if the reputation of my brother and my own are enough for no one to want to have anything to do with me. I guess I don't blame them, it's just life has been lonely. Ever since my early graduation to genin and my acceptance into the seven ninja swordsmen of the mist, people have been referring to me as a demon of the mist, just like my brother. If only the villagers knew the truth behind those words. Shortly after my uncle gained custody of me he took the three tailed turtle, Isobu, that was sealed in his body and sealed it into my newborn self. The only people alive to know of this switch of hosts is myself and my uncle. He has been training me all my life to be stronger and to gain control of Isobu like he did. He never told me why he sealed the beast inside of me, and I never had the nerve to ask him. All I know is that even with his reputation of keeping Kirigakure the Bloody Mist, he still loves me and that's all I really want from him.
I placed my things on my bed, not caring to put anything away at the moment. I wanted to explore the village, I've never been to Konohagakure before and I was going to make sure it was worthwhile. I made sure my sword, Kukoshibyo was securely attached to my belt and resting against my back before I made my way out of the hotel room. The black sword was the same size as my brothers executioner's blade for the sole purpose of conditioning me to one day wield that sword. It was before my brother left our village that it was discovered I had the same potential he did to wield it. Along with my sword I was also wearing the same attire as a swordsman from the Mist, a sleeveless black shirt and matching pants. Honestly, that's all my attire was when I was living with my brother. I didn't wear the same leg warmers around my ankles or wrists, instead I used bandages as a way to indicate a newer generation than my brother, and to hide the seals placed there.
Just as I rested my hand on the doorknob Shozouki called out to me. "Ketto, behave yourself out there. We represent Kirigakure and your actions will reflect on the village."
"I know they do. I won't do anything to jeopardize our alliance with the Leaf village." I said it with no emotion, it's tiresome that people from your own village can't trust you. I didn't even turn to face him. I'm sick of how people look at me, with fear and uncertainty. "Besides, I wouldn't want uncle to be unhappy with me."
"As long as you understand," he said. "Also, I would like you back before dark." I sighed recognizing this means of monitoring me. He wanted to make sure I wouldn't kill anyone in the night. My uncle and brother raised me to be an assassin, but that didn't mean I used those abilities whenever I felt like it.
"Fine, I'll be back later," I replied. I left without sparing a glance to any of them. I could sense all three of them, Shozouki, and my teammates, Jiro, and Mitsuru watching me as I left. None of them dared to follow me.
On the streets of Konohagakure, I was mildly surprised that I blended in with the crowd. Or at least enough to where people didn't look at me as if I was a monster. If anything I probably gained their attention with my Kirigakure forehead protector, which I wore sideways like how my brother wore his.
I sighed at the thought of him. Now that he's dead what reason do I have to stay in Kirigakure? I hoped that one day he would come back to me, but now that's not possible. He was the only reason I stayed. I thought of uncle Yagura. I couldn't leave him alone either. Even if something were to happen to him, I would probably still remain in Kirigakure as a way of remembering him. I shook my head trying to dispel these thoughts, whatever, I must become stronger. It's the least I could do for myself, become the greatest ninja, I'll be even greater than my brother. Maybe even greater than uncle Yagura himself.
I stopped walking when I heard a yell, "Konohamaru!" the voice belonged to a boy and he seemed to be worried about this Konohamaru person. I shrugged my shoulders, I might as well check it out, it's not like I'm doing anything interesting.
"So does this hurt punk?" I heard another voice say, this one sounded like it belonged to someone older than the first voice. Could it be an older kid picking on a younger kid?
"Put him down Kankuro," a girl said. "Or you know you'll pay for it later."
"Hey, I'm sorry the whole thing was my fault," another girl apologized.
"You better take your hands off of him right now!" the first voice demanded. I scaled a tree so that I would be able to see the scene, my chakra was masked so that it wouldn't alert any of them to my position.
I saw an older boy in a catsuit holding up a much smaller boy who looked to be an academy student. The younger boy must be Konohamaru and the one holding him must be Kankuro. Otherwise there was a blonde girl that had her hair fashioned into four ponytails that was standing off to the side of Kankuro. There was the loud boy with hair more blonde than the girl and next to him was a girl with pink hair, the one who attempted to apologize. Behind the two of them were two more academy students, a boy with glasses and a girl with her light orange hair in pigtails.
"We've got a few minutes before he gets here, let's mess with these punks huh?" Kankuro suggested.
The child he was holding up by the scarf around his neck started to kick him. "Let go of me you jerk!"
"You're feisty, but not for long," he taunted.
"Put him down!" the blonde boy yelled. He then ran at Kankuro with the intent to save his small friend. He had massive amounts of chakra, which made me wonder who he was exactly. Genin don't possess that amount of chakra. I watched as Kankuro used his free hand to trip him. Could that have been a chakra string? The boy fell onto his back, he lifted his head, "What the- What was that?!"
"You're a Leaf genin too? It looks like your village is full of wimps." Kankuro voiced in a nonchalant way. I observed the symbol on the hood of his suit, Sunagakure. What is a genin from Sunagakure doing threatening a ninja from an allied village?
"Konohamaru," the blonde said. The small girl yelled his name too with the other small boy following suit.
"Hey, cut it out, it hurts!" Konohamaru grit out.
The blonde boy jumped up from his place on the floor declaring, "All right drop him now before I take you apart, you got that fool!"
The pink haired girl grabbed him in a chokehold. "You're the fool, making threats isn't going to help Naruto!" she scolded. It looks like his name is Naruto. What kind of friend is she? Naruto was the only one willing to do anything to save Konohamaru.
Kankuro smirked, "You're annoying, all of you. I don't like runts or any other scrawny weaklings, so when a wimp like this starts shooting off his mouth I just want to break him in half." That's the reason he was terrorizing these kids? I don't think I've met anyone more idiotic than this Kankuro person.
The two children were crying. The blonde girl sighed, "Fine, but I'm not involved in any of this okay."
"First I'll waste this little squirt, then I'll waste the other one." Kankuro drew back his free hand and clenched it into a fist before swinging towards Konohamaru. I didn't think as I pulled out my Kirigakure standardized kunai, the first weapon my brother trained me to use, and swiftly threw it. Blood spattered and Kankuro dropped Konohamaru to scream out and clutch the hand that was recently fisted with my kunai lodged into the back of it. Kankuro just missed a rock that embedded itself into the wooden fence behind him. After his initial scream, Kankuro grit his teeth to stop himself from screaming again.
The girl next to him started to fuss over him, "K-Kankuro?! Hold still." she took hold of his hand to examine the kunai. "What is this?"
I jumped out of my tree to join the Leaf genin. The one who threw the rock also descended from his tree. "That is a kunai from my village. The extra protrusion on the side turns the kunai's primary uses into thrusting and stabbing. If you pull it straight out he will bleed even more than if it was a regular kunai." I explained.
The boy who threw the rock looked at our forehead protectors. "None of you are from this village, you're a long way from home."
"Look it's Sasuke!" the pink haired girl cheered with a blush on her cheeks. Hmm, she must have a crush on him. I can see how that behavior could get annoying fast. I wonder if they are in a team together? I looked back to the Sunagakure ninja and I noticed the blonde girl also blushed, could she also have feelings for him despite just meeting him?
"It looks like this brat here wants a challenge." Kankuro ignored Sasuke and smirked to me. Despite my warning he ripped my kunai out of his hand, wincing as he did it. Blood fell from his hand. He pulled the bandaged object off of his back and set it down in front of him. I didn't know what it was, but I stood my ground anyway. Uncle Yagura didn't raise me to run from a fight. Besides, judging by his chakra, Kankuro isn't even on my level. I didn't even bother to take on a defensive stance.
"Wait, you're going to use the Crow for this?" the blonde girl worried.
"Kankuro," a voice spoke from behind us. "Back off." Kankuro's eyes wided. We all looked to see a boy my age with bright red hair and ringed eyes standing upside down on a tree branch of the same tree Sasuke was in earlier. Despite his small stature he had a large gord on his back and was able to carry it without difficulty. Like me with my sword he must be strong. If it wasn't for his chakra I might have thought he was attractive. It was massive like Naruto's, but it was also heavy and dark. It was something more experienced ninja would notice in Kirigakure, it was the feeling of blood lust. "You're an embarrassment to our village," he continued.
"Uh, hey there Gaara." Kankuro said a bit sheepishly.
"Have you forgotten the reason we have come all the way here?" Gaara asked.
"I know, I-I mean they challenged us." Kankuro stuttered. I wonder why he seems so afraid of Gaara? I doubt he can feel Gaara's chakra if he couldn't feel Naruto's. I wonder if Gaara acts on his feeling of blood lust, could that be why Kankuro is afraid of him? "They started the whole thing really, you see here's what happened-"
"Shut up. Or I'll kill you." he stated. Would he really kill his own teammate? Actually, why am I asking that, of course he would. I find it hard to believe Gaara could actually resist his blood lust.
"Uh, right, I was totally out of line. I'm sorry Gaara." Kankuro said with his hands up in surrender.
Gaara turned to us to say, "I'm sorry for any trouble that he may have caused." Gaara's body dissolved into sand and he reappeared in front of his two teammates, to them he said, "Let's go, we didn't come here to play games."
"Alright, sure, I get it." Kankuro picked up the bandaged object and placed it back in its spot on his back. The three sand ninja started to leave. I made to pick up my kunai that Kankuro discarded to the side.
"Wait a minute," the pink haired girl shouted. "Hey, I can tell you come from the village hidden in the sand." She then directed her voice to me. "And you from the village hidden in the mist. Of course we are allies, but no shinobi from another village can enter another without permission, so state your purpose and it better be good."
The sand ninja turned to look at her. I wiped Kankuro's blood off my kunai onto the leg of my pants and also looked to her. The blonde ninja from the sand responded, "Really, have you guys all been living under a rock or what? You don't know what's going on do you? We have permission." She pulled out her travel card showing it to the leaf ninja. "You are correct, we are hidden sand genin. Our home is the land of the wind and we're here for the chunin exams. Get the picture?"
"The chunin exams?" Naruto questioned. "What's that?" he thought for a moment. "Well I've never heard of any chunin exams, believe it."
I remained silent, what kind of ninja doesn't know how ninja are ranked? Is this really a genin from the hidden leaf village? Even I know how ninja are ranked and we don't rank ninja in the land of water.
"I believe it alright, that you're totally clueless," the blonde said.
"Hey boss," Konohamaru started. "Those are the exams every genin has to take to become a chunin." I gazed at him, how did this child know but the genin didn't?
"Oh! Why didn't you say so!" Naruto exclaimed.
The sand ninja began walking away again. I thought it would be best for me to leave too, I partook in enough conflict for today. I really wanted to thrash that Kankuro for thinking he could waste a child because he wasn't strong enough. Or for even thinking he could do that to whoever he pleased. He is a poor excuse for a ninja if that is how he sees people that are weaker than him. I'll just have to wait and see if I'll have the chance of going up against him in the Chunin exams.
"Hey, you!" Sasuke called. I stopped for a moment thinking he was talking to me. "Identify yourself."
"Hmm, you mean me?" the blonde girl said. Not me then, I continued to leave.
"No him, the guy with the gord on his back." he spoke. "And you, the blue haired girl with the giant sword on her back." I sighed, but turned to face Sasuke nonetheless.
"My name is Gaara of the desert." Gaara replied.
Everyone turned to me next. "Ketto Momochi of the mist."
Gaara spoke again, "I'm also curious about you."
"I am Sasuke Uchiha." he stated. Uchiha? I think I've heard of them. In the land of water those with kekkei genkai are hunted and killed for their power, it's seen as unnatural and and most with kekkei genkai abuse their abilities. That's why they are killed, so they wouldn't have the chance to misuse their power. My uncle would teach me the kekkei genkai of all of the families within the elemental nations, mainly those in the land of water and notable ones from other nations, Uchiha was one of them. I wonder how advance Sasuke's sharingan abilities are? I don't think I would mind a fight with him either.
Naruto butt in, "I bet you're wondering who I am aren't ya?" with a smile on his face.
"I couldn't care less." Gaara replied. I wanted to chuckle, but didn't think the timing was appropriate. Gaara and his teammates chose that time to teleport away. Not wanting to be left alone with the leaf genin, I also decided to teleport away leaving traces of black coral dust in my wake.
I went to a shop and helped myself to a serving of ramen before I headed back to my hotel room. The last thing I need is for Shozouki to have another reason not to trust me, so I think getting back on time is probably for the best.
I was in the middle of my bowl of ramen when I heard Naruto's voice. "Hey, you're that girl from the mist, Ketto right?"
"Yeah, and you're Naruto." I glanced to him only to see him seat himself next to me.
"Naruto Uzumaki, I'm gonna be Hokage one day, believe it!" he yelled cheerfully.
"Why would you want to be a kage?" I asked. I kept a look of indifference on my face, but really, I was curious.
"Huh? So I can protect people I care about and prove to all of the villagers that I am better than what they thought I was gonna turn out to be." he was quiet for a minute before calling, "Teuchi, I'll have a bowl of miso pork ramen!"
"When you put it that way, I wouldn't mind being the Mizukage one day either." I voiced. I used my chopsticks to feed myself some more noodles. I suppose Naruto's reason for wanting to become a kage is the same reason I would want to become one. I've never thought about becoming the Mizukage before. I always just assumed uncle Yagura would be the Mizukage until he reached an old age where he couldn't be anymore. He would probably give the title of Mizukage to my very distant cousin, Mei.
"Oh, yeah?"
""Yeah, I'm an orphan, the only people I've ever cared about were my brother, who recently passed away and my uncle, who took me in when I was a baby." I swallowed the mouthful of noodles I had in my mouth before continuing, "I've made quite the name for myself in my village already, none of them see me as a person. They all think I'm some kind of monster. It's not like my uncle is the best role model either, the same of my brother for that matter. All of the people of the land of water think I'll end up worse than the two of them."
"I understand." he replied. I looked to him curiously. "I'm an orphan too, and the people of this village also see me as a monster, all because of what's inside of me." Hmm, could it be? Could Naruto also be a jinchuuriki? It would explain his story and the enormous amounts of chakra I can sense coming from him.
"I see, we are alike." I stated, I didn't worry about him thinking I was also a jinchuuriki. My words were vague enough that he probably won't even suspect.
"Ketto," Naruto called, "Would you like to be my friend?"
I could feel my eyes widening slightly in shock, "What? Why would you like to be my friend?"
He started chuckling. "Hehe, it's nice to see you not as serious."
"We've just met, you hardly know me." I said. Naruto is bold, I'll give him that, but to befriend someone who you literally just met from another village? Do people even do that? Kirigakure ninja usually keep to themselves, they'll accept missions from other nations but they don't befriend anyone on their journeys.
"It doesn't matter who you are or what you've done in the past, I don't care. Will you be my friend so that we each have at least one person outside of their village they can count on?" He held out his hand to me willing me to take it.
"It's just… I've never had a friend before." I muttered not looking at him.
"That's all the more reason to agree." he beamed.
Slowly I placed my hand in his, "I guess you have a point. Let this be the start to a long friendship."
"Hehe, yeah!" he cheered. I wonder what uncle would say to this, would he be proud of me for making a friend? Or would he disapprove? Surely it's good to have an ally right?
I turned back to my ramen, trying to forget about what uncle Yagura might think. I decided that for now I don't care about what he thinks. I wonder what having a friend will be like? I really have never had one before, all of the people of Kirigakure are afraid of me, so having a friend among them is next to impossible. I remember a long time ago my brothers comrades in the seven ninja swordsmen were somewhat friendly to me. However, that might have been the doings of my uncle, he commanded them to teach me the ways of their respective swords. They might have only been tolerant of my because of uncle and my brother, but I don't think I'll ever know the truth to that with all of them missing.
Together we finished our ramen. After, Naruto literally dragged me around the village posing as my tour guide. Konohagakure is different than Kirigakure in the way that there is so much more color here. Back at home there is always a thick mist covering everything in sight, the sky is overcast, and the geography is mountainous. Here everything is clear and open, it all feels very refreshing.
You know it's strange, having a friend, but I think I'll definitely like visiting here in the future.
