Scarlet Justice - ep. 15
"Formation!"

After some examination, I decide that I do want to change my forehead protector a bit. It's apparently okay to do so as long as the metal itself isn't modified in any significant way, or the Leaf symbol in the middle is intentionally altered, which would bring 'significant consequences' if discovered. The vague wording of that threat is warning enough, I think.

I enlist Luna's help, and her ability as a seamstress is elite as expected. The cloth is made sturdier, and I choose a new colour: a crisp green that is the colour of my sisterhood. It only makes sense that I carry Midori with me here as well. The new form will be an armband, one that goes onto my upper right arm for now. I think it looks cool and stylish. Luna and Midori watch me try it on, and they both approve of the new look.

A new outfit is in the cards as well, naturally. But I will decide on that after the next big event. Luna reminds me that I need to pick something with sleeves, both to conceal the seal on my left arm and to mask my movements when I summon snakes or throw weapons. She really has been paying attention to everything.

I keep saying that I want to be independent, but...Luna really is wonderful. I don't know if I can let go of her.

Emi could only stay a day or two. She has business to take care of at home, so I wish her well and advise her not to do any rash things for the sake of her child. Naturally, she is indignant and reminds me that she's perfectly capable of being responsible and sexually active and...all sorts of things someone twelve years old shouldn't be aware of. Unfortunately, I was before she said anything. It doesn't make it less gross to hear it again.

Midori thankfully is going the same way and decides to keep her company.

They both promise to visit soon; Emi to explore the Leaf's novelty, and Midori to check up on me, after tending to Luna's carnal desires first.

"Don't let that cute face fool you, eh? She's got quite the appetite~"

"Lady Midoriko, those are not things we should be-"

"It's fine. The child is clearly already aware of these things," Emi says casually. Well yes, stepmother. Your choice of clothing certainly makes me aware of a lot. "Though it's good you're getting some exercise, Luna. I was almost under the impression you were frigid."

"Ufufu...hard to believe something like that," Midori says with a smile.

Luna gulps and makes a squeaking noise.

"I think we should leave her be for now. It's not nice to bully, you know," I say. Not unless it's me, I mean.

"Oh, hush. Luna knows we mean well. Good luck to both of you on your journey into mystery and bodily harm, etcetra, etcetra," Emi says.

"You're not worried about anything happening to me."

"I don't think about such things. They bring down malicious energy." Emi places her parasol on her shoulder and saunters off. "If I pray for your safety and let your genius do the rest, there is nothing to fear, Lilith Kobayashi."

"..."

She's right. I have a lot to live for now, and the strength to make it through. She believes in all of that, and in the person I've become. A warrior princess, as she foresaw. A proud woman of the Kobayashi house.

I bow towards her back.

"Until the next, Emi Kobayashi."

Midori hugs me and gives me a smile. I smile back as she rubs my head gently. Luna gets a kiss for her troubles, and then we watch as she hurries to catch up to my stepmother. It sort of feels like the end of an era...even if Midori will be back soon enough to have her way with Luna, I suppose. But watching two important people move into the distance, with the symbol of this village now on my shoulder...

Again, I think about how much has changed since that day. Where Emi sent me on a journey, and Midori helped me find my way. Providence, perhaps? I wonder. But everything from here on will depend on my own strength. And the three people closest to me all believe in me.

I won't let them down. No. Failure was never an option.

A week smoothly passes, and the next phase of shinobi life begins. Instructions had already been given, but a letter comes through the mail to remind all of us of the big event.

We are to return to the Academy for a final gathering, with an important purpose: determining which team we end up on.

"Sleep."

"Miss Lilith..."

"Sleep," I say firmly. I shove Luna back into her room and pull the sheets over her. "I will be fine. Take the day off. Is Midori coming?"

"Mm-mm..."

"Then you'll be able to rest for once."

"Mm...awful..."

I smile and kiss her on the forehead. She goes back to sleep and I close the door gently behind me. Today will be a simple breakfast for growing girls. Sticky rice and salmon. A glass of the fortified milk. No equipment to gather for today's session, and my usual outfit taken for one last spin before I retire it.

"..."

Luna did say something incredible the other day. Her social gatherings with the dance and painting groups produce all kinds of juicy gossip, from many corners of the Leaf. But it's something I will have to verify with my own eyes and ears today, and I will get the opportunity without a doubt.

I leave for my destination, early as always. I'm hoping that a certain someone will be there to answer my questions about the entire process.

"Lili, hey!"

"Ino. I was hoping to see you."

She smiles as I enter the big lecture hall and find my way to her.

"Yeah? I'm flattered, obviously, but what for?"

"I had questions about the team selection process. From what I know, they're balanced based on overall scores. Top scorers usually get paired with bottom scorers, and then someone in the middle to complete the set of three," I say as I sit on the side of her desk. "So that would mean that I'm destined to be paired with the lowest scoring person, isn't that right?"

"That's how it works on paper," Ino says casually. "Oh, old habits hit me today. In the mood for a treat?"

"Always," I say. Ino hands me a bottle of strawberry milk, and I sip from it. "Refreshing."

"Best stuff in the country by a mile. Dad was kind of curious at first since I never drank that much milk, but I told him I was helping out a friend at school and he let it go."

"I appreciate this. Tell me later where you order it from."

"Got it. So, yeah. High scorers and low scorers with someone in the middle is how it works in theory, one of those bubble worlds."

"It's different in reality."

"Oh, yeah. Believe me, the teachers wish they could just sort everything like that. Not that easy," Ino says as she crosses her legs. "I already know where I'm going."

"Really? Where?"

"Shikamaru and Choji. The numbers add up, right? But that's not the real reason. It was decided the moment we entered the Academy together. You see, we're part of a Leaf tradition. It's called the Ino-Shika-Cho formation, brought together maybe fifteen or so generations ago. Our families have worked together for all of that time. We trade secrets, learn about each other, train together, and learn techniques together. Our abilities complement each other so well that it only makes sense to put us into a team together if possible. So the aim was always to have us graduate together and then form a genin team as soon as possible."

"And if something else happened?"

"We'd be put into a specific team structure until we could form up together in some other way. It's never come to that, but there's always been a plan in place for the possibilty. So you have things like that happening. Students that get pushed together for synergy reasons. The system you heard about? That's for the normies, the kids who don't have clan abilities and techniques. Clan kids change the calculus a bit. So you have the teachers looking at not only scores, but abilities and junk to see where their kids work out best. Then you have more layers on top of that. Clan politics."

"Ah. You would want to have your children taken care of as a member of an important clan."

Ino nods. "Yep. Clan heads provide what they call 'helpful input' towards the selection process. And then there's something on top of that. The guy with the big hat himself."

"The Hokage," I say.

"Has his spoon in the pot from day one," Ino says, making a stirring motion. "All the graduate lists go right to him as soon as the day is over. He pores over them, looks at the instructor notes, and then makes 'suggestions' for them to follow," Ino says while making air quotes. "So add his weight to the pile."

"I didn't think he would be so hands on."

"Well, it only makes sense. He's called the Professor because he knows literally every technique in the Leaf. So he would understand how to best balance genin teams for the greatest success. Very hands on and not like the other Kage, from what I know anyways. You've seen him around, yeah?"

"I have, in passing. I simply thought he was doing inspections."

"A little of both. The old man really cares and makes time for children whenever he can. He even babysits! Crazy, huh? One of the most powerful men in the free world, feeding babies and rocking them to sleep over his paperwork." Ino smiles. "But that's really cool! Some people complain about a projection of weakness, but...bah. It's sweet. It's good to know that the God of Shinobi actually cares about us peasants."

"Interesting..." I find myself enamoured by the Hokage already, and we have yet to formally meet. I wonder what he thinks of me, an outsider who swept away the competition so thoroughly. Hopefully I will get to see soon.

"As for you...no idea," Ino says.

"No idea?"

"You're super talented, but also a mystery. Putting you on a team with someone who scored low would definitely drag you down. But pairing you with someone at the top would probably result in a clash of egos. You and Sasuke, for example? Blegh. And that's from my end, I can't imagine you'd be able to handle it."

"You're quite warm."

"Ha. But yeah, there's really no telling where you might land. I have my theories, but...let's keep those a surprise for now," she says with a wink. "No need to spoil all the fun. This is the beginning of a new adventure."

"Right. Thank you for all of that, Ino."

"Hey, it's no trouble. Information is what I do, and you can tap me any time you like. See you in a while, then?"

The class is starting to fill up, and I nod. "Yes, in a while. Good luck, Ino."

"I'll need it for sure with those boys...oy."

I pat her head gently before finding my own seat. Oh, Hinata's here. Perfect. I touch her shoulder and she gives me a smile.

"Good morning, Lili. It's good to see you..."

"You as well, Hinata. Good morning to you."

"I'm...definitely nervous."

I sit beside her and rub her shoulder. "I know. This will be a hectic time. Remember that you've come this far already, okay? You can do this."

"Yes...thank you."

I scan the classroom and see what I expected. Luna wasn't wrong, was she?

Iruka walks to the front of the room and looks ready to speak.

"Hey! Hey, sorry! I'm not late, am I?"

"You just barely made it. Now go and find yourself a seat already," Iruka says, shaking his head.

Well. Seems those rumours were true after all.

Somehow...some way...Naruto Uzumaki has become a genin.

"Hey, Lili! I did it! I'm a ninja now!" he calls from across the room. He adjusts his forehead protector and flashes a goofy grin.

I nod to acknowledge him and he seems satisfied with that. Iruka hits him in the back of the head and herds him into an open seat. Hinata is blushing, and seems relieved at the news. The class is murmuring in disbelief.

"I suppose love really is unstoppable," I say to her.

"Lili...you know that you're awful sometimes..." She presses her fingers together.

"Yes, I know." I lean back in my seat and cross my legs.

Iruka gains control of the room again before finally starting. "Alright, everyone! Good to have you all here today. This is the day you've been looking forward to since starting at the Academy. We've gone over every aspect of your performances and scores rigorously to make sure that we get this right. These teams are the beginning of life as a shinobi. They'll be bonds that shape the rest of your lives as shinobi and beyond that. Your life-and-death partners on missions, the people who you will have to trust more than yourself at times. More than your friends, or even your family. All of this is serious business, and we instructors as well as the Hokage himself take this very seriously. More than anything, we want you to have long, productive lives."

"Is it really that serious?" I hear someone ask from behind me. It seems to be so. Shaping your very life, then. It's a heavy weight...

"I'll announce the members of each team and the instructor that you're to report to each morning, at the times they so choose. I will also give you the listed location for your first meeting. After that, you are their responsbility, and they are your field commanders. Follow their orders, unless there is something that makes you feel uncomfortable to the point where it affects your health or performance. In that case, you will report the incident to the Jounin Commander, or directly to the Hokage himself. And if you see me, don't hesitate to ask questions. I am also your advocate." Iruka reaches behind himself to pick up a clipboard, and I see him wince a moment. A back problem?

I wonder what happened?

"Now, let's get started. Stay in your seats until your names are called and your instructors are announced. After that, I want you to collect the information I have for you up front, and then you can head home. Alright? We'll start with...Team Seven." He looks at the sheet and makes an expression that I can't parse.

"Sasuke Uchiha. Sakura Haruno."

Sakura barely stifles her excitement. Guess the dork got her ultimate victory in the end. Ino doesn't seem to mind as much as I thought she would.

"And...Naruto Uzumaki."

"Hell yeah!" Naruto's cheer rings through the air. Right, Sakura was his big target all along. She looks absolutely moronic as she stares, mouth agape. Sasuke is not much better. The class is stunned.

I am as well, but I'm far more amused than anything else. Absolutely amazing. This has to be the Hokage's doing, and I love to see it.

"You'll be reporting to Kakashi Hatake. 10 am, tomorrow. I really suggest you get there early."

From what I know, this guy has quite the reputation as an instructor. He has no students...because he failed every team sent to him. But everything for a reason, I suppose. Clearly the Hokage knows something we don't.

"And now, we'll announce Team Eight," Iruka says. "The first person listed here is...Shino Aburame."

I turn my head towards the boy in his full jacket, sitting quietly on the far side of the classroom. His dark glasses always cover his eyes. From what I remember, he was never part of the bullying. Or much of anything, really. Decidedly low-energy and middling in a lot of areas. Interesting child, though. I wonder who will be with him, as a member of the Leaf's bug using clan.

"Next is Hinata Hyuuga."

Hinata nods in acknowledgement. "Shino is a nice person. I...I think we can get along."

"That's a good way to look at it," I say. From a tracking and scouting perspective, it also makes sense. Hinata's eyes and Shino's insects. Powerful reconnaissance tools on their own, and they could be better together.

"Um...Lili, I...I..."

"Hinata...?" She's nervously looking at me, almost as if she's about to cry.

Oh.

This is where we'll be split apart, isn't it? I cared for her. I gave her a small bit of light while she was in the Academy, and now I'll be taken away from her. I feel my heart sink. Even if I tell her that she's strong enough, that she's capable enough...I have been her only real friend.

I take her hand in mine. I want to reassure her that everything will be okay, that she can make it through without me.

"And the last person is...uh...huh. Really, now." I turn my head as I hear Iruka chuckle. What's so funny? He looks right at me.

There is no way. He wouldn't. He didn't.

"The last member of Team Eight..."

Iruka.

"...our top scoring graduate..."

You madman.

"Lilith Kobayashi."

"Lili...Lili, we're...on the same team. We're together...we're really together..."

Hinata finally does burst into tears, but she's happy.

"So we are," I say as I wipe her face gently. "So we are."

She squeezes my hand and smiles brightly. I squeeze back and return her smile.

"Are you looking forward to it?" I ask.

"Yes. More than anything."

"Your instructor will be Kurenai Yuuhi. The meeting time is 9 am, in front of the Dangoya. Not hard to spot, but you'll have your information cards just in case. Come on down, you three."

Shino joins us as we move to the front. "I've been there before," he says as he pushes up his glasses.

"M-me too...um, I can meet with you at your place to show you, Lili..."

"That would be splendid. 8:30, then?"

"Yes."

Iruka hands us our information cards. I smile and raise a brow at him, to which he cheekily winks back at me.

"Take care of them, Lilith."

"With my life, sensei."

With that, we part ways once more.

"Alright...next is Team Nine," I hear Iruka say as I leave. "The first name here is...Kiba Inuzuka."