So, maybe some of you will notice, that I switched into past-tense in this chapter. That's because I like to try with what I am most comfortable to write. This whole fanfic is a giant experiment, with how I feel comfortable with writing. So, hope it doesn't bother you. It should stay in this tense, as I like it quite much. Also, thoughts are now written in curved.
Today is cheat day, give yourself a treat and munch on some candy or what else your heart desires. But don't forget to stay hydrated!
Enough of me. * steps to side, as plot enters*
I woke up in the middle of the night, to my stomach growling loudly.
"Uah, I am super hungry! I should've eaten something yesterday." I slumped my head back onto the cushion and mumbled into it loudly. Then I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and sat up.
It's still dark outside and a slightly cold air permeated the room. I looked out the window above my bed; The moon is covered up in clouds, huh? Well, I better look for something to eat. Maybe there's something in the pantry-cupboard.
I shivered slightly as my bare feet touched the floor and I nearly ran into the door because I couldn't see in this darkness. It took me a while to find the light switch; I am still unfamiliar with this place, after all. And then I made my way into the bigger room.
Without having much hope, I stumbled behind the countertop in the living room and rummaged through the only cupboard; my stomach grumbling along the way even more.
If only I hadn't thrown up so much yesterday… I lamented as I found the cupboard exactly as I feared; empty.
"God damnit!" I yelled and hit my tiny fist against the cupboard-door.
Hopelessly, I slumped against the countertop and let my gaze drift outside.
The round and large window allowed me a view right onto a mountain covered in thick fog. But because of the clouds covering the sky, only a faint silhouette hinted that it was even there. But a house; right next to mine brought some light towards my window.
Maybe I could ask the neighbour for some food? An idea formed in my mind. My legs moved without really thinking.
Determined and hungry. "...hrp…" Very hungry. I left my apartment and knocked at the door next to mine. Dim light brightened the windows above the door; so I knew someone was definitely awake… or at least home.
I heard some footsteps coming from within. So, obviously someone home, then.
A moment later, the door opened and a young boy, perhaps two years older than me, looked at me. He stands taller than me, maybe 4ft 9in and he is dwarfing me with my 3ft 5in.
"Who're you?" He asked, lifting an eyebrow at me.
For a moment, I just stared at him. Something about him scratched at the back of my mind, and my white eyebrows shifted together into a deep frown. He looks like a normal boy… spikey and short black hair, quite tall and darker skin than I would've thought possible for a place like Kirigakure. Where do I know him from?… An uneasy feeling spread throughout my body and I had a foreboding sensation that I forgot an important piece of information; again; concerning that boy. But I couldn't pinpoint it at all.
"You just standing there or what?" His voice turned into an annoyed drawl and I tried to quickly pull my mind into action again.
"No… uhm—sorry. I am Zōge Yuki, your new neighbour." I felt nervous now and my answer just blurted out of me.
"Well, good for you. If that's all, I'll have a peaceful morning then." He said sceptically and was about to close the door in my face.
"NO!.." I yelled, and I got a little perplexed at my own outburst, but I continued. "No, please. I meant to ask– would you perhaps have some food you could spare?" I bit my lower lip and averted my eyes to the floor. God, this is embarrassing.
He stopped closing the door and frowned at me. "Food? You appear here in the middle of the night and ask a total stranger…for food…" He paused for a short moment, but followed up with roaring laughter. "Hahaha, you are either the dumbest kid I've seen or the bravest."
At that, I lifted my head back to glare at him. My small lips thinned as a mixture of embarrassment and anger creeped up my face. "Well, I am sorry. Alright?" I stomped my foot on the ground. "But I had a hell of a day yesterday! I woke up in the fucking hospital, got teleported or whatever you call it, right here and then the damn fish has the audacity to abandon me the moment I step through the door and I don't even have any food or whatsoever…" And I realised something far more important as well at that moment. "I don't have my bag with any of my belongings anymore!–my teddy was in there…" I mumbled the last part, and my eyes began to sting a little.
He dragged a hand through his hair and leaned his head back. "Whoa– hey, don't cry, alright?" He tiredly sighed at me. "Alright, alright. Come in! I'll see if I have some food left for you." And then moved out of the door, letting me enter.
"'m not crying–, thank you." I mumbled at him and crossed the door with slight reluctance.
I carefully rubbed my eyes with my hands and blamed myself for the slight wetness they carried. I wanted to stop the damn crying.
His apartment looked, astonishingly, the same as mine. Even though his bedroom door was closed, I got the gist of the room layout and it's mirrored to mine.
Surprisingly clean as well. The boy couldn't be more than three years older than me. And yet the room was neat and clean.
"Just sit down there," he closed the door with a tight snap and appeared behind me, waving at a worn and sat through couch in the middle of the room. "I think I have some cup-ramen left, I think." he stared at me in thought, then grinned devilishly. "If it is to your liking, your highness." He mocked me and walked over to the same cupboard I have in my apartment.
I rolled my eyes, but took his offer and slumped myself onto the couch. Despite the looks of the worn thing, it was pretty comfy. And I curiously took a look around the room.
Beside the large window, were the same shelf's I had hung. They held plates and a few other dishes and tableware. But what really caught my attention was a small crate next to the couch.
"Are you in the academy as well?" I asked him near silently as I drove my eyes over the many weapons and protective gear littered within the crate.
"Huh– oh, yeah. I have just started out a few months ago or so," He rumbled over to me as he rummaged through the cupboard, obviously not finding what he intended. "Aha! I knew I had one left."
I looked up from the crate at his outcry. And he triumphantly waved a triangle shaped package in excitement. "Sorry Shortstack, seems no ramen left. But I got this, t'is a real delight, trust me." He threw me the package, and I scrambled up on the couch to catch the damn thing.
"Thanks– hey! Don't call me Shortstack, you beanpole." I threw him a glare and absentmindedly unpacked the thing, and lo-and-behold soon stared at a triangle shaped and tightly pressed rice-thingy in my hands.
"It's onigiri… not poison. Stop staring at it and eat it." he slumped down next to me on the couch. "And I don't think so, Shortstack." I could hear his grin before I saw it.
My ego wanted me to protest, really. But my stomach overruled my mind, and I simply didn't care that much. So after scrutinising the onigiri again, I called, "Fuck it!" and ate the damn thing.
"Aww, thish ish sho good" tears of joy crawled down my face as my stomach finally, after what felt like eternity, got something to work with. It wasn't the best tasting thing I've ever eaten. But god damn, did I need it at that moment? Yes! It was a simple rice ball, pre-packaged from a store and filled with sweet red bean-paste. And it was absolute bliss.
He smirked at me knowingly. "Glad you like it. Was my last one and they're always sold out. It's from the store we're allowed to use, just down the road."
He pronounced the word 'allowed' weirdly, and I halted my eating. "The store we are allowed to use?"
"Mah? Ah, you must be a total newcomer then." He sighed, deliberately lengthening the word total with it. "Well, we as orphans, I mean. Things in Kiri are a bit different from wherever you probably come from," he said as he leaned his head back into the couch and closed his eyes.
I stuffed the rest of the rice ball into my mouth and looked at him questioningly. " What do you mean?"
"You really don't know anything, huh, Shortstack?" his hand roved over his closed eyes and he rubbed them slowly. "Well, better you learn now than the hard way." He sat up again and looked seriously at me. "We, the orphans, are seen as the worst possible people in Kiri." He popped the p of people. "And don't bother asking me how I know you are an orphan, your question is written all over your face. It's your presence here that tells me everything." He waved at me, as if that would explain everything. "Only orphans get carted away here, at the furthest and remotest shithole." He paused to look me in the eye. And I swallowed nervously, but nodded for him to continue.
"This place is far away from the academy. And it will take you at least an hour and a half walking there, maybe even more. Depends on how fit you really are." he sighed and I gulped, already imagining the terror of sore feet I will have. Not speaking of how early I probably have to wake every damn morning.
"And well, it just doesn't stop there. Everyone will treat you like hot garbage. Especially in the academy… listen, Shortstack, if you want my advice; don't trust anyone in the academy. NEVER!" he yelled at me and his eyes bore into mine. Brown and serious ones imploring my own ivory eyes to believe every word he said.
"Is it really that bad? Why?" I asked curiously and frowned at him.
He rolled over on the couch, facing away from me. "I don't know. But my guess is, it's the current Mizukage. There are whispers and rumours among the other students…" his voice shifted into thoughts of his own and he took a moment but said, "But nevermind. You will learn that stuff soon enough." And with that, he left us in an awkward silence.
Me trying to process what he just said and him probably drifting in his own thoughts.
"So you say I shouldn't trust anyone at the academy? That includes you, right?" We sat there for a while in silence and I tried to break the awkwardness and managed to squeeze a slight teasing tone into my rhetorical question.
He turned over to face me again, a grin on his face. "No, especially not me," he teased me back. "By the way, I am Mo–" He started to say, but I put my index finger on his lips, interrupting him.
"Yeah, yeah. I don't care. I'll just call you beanpole, Beanpole. But you have my thanks for the food, and I'll probably better be on my way." His grin widened against my finger, and I quickly pulled away from him. As I hopped up from the couch, I stretched my arms up and glared at the reddish hue shining in from the window.
"The morning sun shows colour and I really want to clean myself up before the fish takes me to the academy." I added as a yawn escaped me.
"Whatever you say, Shortstack!" He got up from the couch as well and walked me to the door, holding it open. As I turned to face him again, there was a mischievous glint in his eyes. "And, Shortstack?"
"Yeah?"
"Nice pyjamas by the way." He gave me a slight push out the door and closed it hurriedly, his laughter roaring even through closed doors.
I stopped on the spot, hesitantly looked down at me and my face instantly imitated a tomato. "Fuck!" That's it with plans formed by the stomach and not the brain.
—-
It was an hour later, after I made ample use of my new shower. And adjusted to the feeling of my stomach rumbling with hunger again. Well, one onigiri is just a snack, not real food.
And Kisame rang my doorbell.
His hulking form towered far above me as I opened the door. And he stared at me with his small eyes and thrust a bundle into my hands.
"You forgot this at the hospital yesterday." He stated, annoyed.
Startled, I took the offered bag and, to my joyous surprise, found my missing satchel, among it my bear as well. "My bag!" I sang, my face alight with joy. "I thought my stuff would be lost forever. Thank you so much!" I hugged my satchel close to my chest, careful not to reveal what it held.
"Yes– no problem. But make sure you take care of your stuff on your own. I am not your nanny." He looked at me and I got the impression it was with heavy disapproval. But with his features, that's tough to say.
Not minding, though, I nearly skipped back into the apartment. Holding up at the last minute, and turning to him, I waved him on; to enter. "Come in, please. I will change real quick, now that I have my clothes back." I couldn't wait to be rid of this damn pyjama, after all.
He scoffed at me. "Keh, no need. You'll get a uniform at the academy. And after what I saw in that bag of yours, the clothes aren't worth the bother either." Then he smiled, his sharp teeth on full display.
The horror in my eyes was palpable and I swallowed, "You, you looked through my stuff?" I uttered, feeling a little betrayed.
"Yes, now don't be such a drag. We had to be sure what exactly you needed. And, well, it seems you need everything. The place you came from must've been a really rundown old thing judging by those rags you call clothes." He crossed his arms in front of his chest, still standing in the doorway and looked down at me. Then he smirked, again. "Not like I saw anything noteworthy in that bag of yours, Kid." He took serious effort to pronounce every letter in the word kid as strongly as he could, whilst still appearing stoic.
Aghast I stared at him, clutching my bag a little tighter, "No, nothing noteworthy at all." I whispered and carefully placed the bag on the countertop and walked back to him, intensively fighting the damn heat creeping up my cheeks again. I swear, there's never peace for me in this damn life.
"I'll take you to the academy today, but remember. Only for today. As of tomorrow, you are expected to remember the way and arrive there every day on your own from now on. The only exceptions would be the weekend." He said to me as he left my apartment.
"So, the weekends are free, then?" I asked as I trudged after him.
He turned back to me, face stoic and staring at me. "Normally, yes." Then he smirked evilly, "For you, on the other hand, not so much." I looked at him questioningly and got goosebumps running up my spine as I saw the evil glint in his eyes.
"Wh–why?" I gulped and asked; not liking where this was headed.
"On the weekends, you and I will meet. For some reason or another, I was ordered to train you. They even took me off the war-roster, just to personally train you. Now hurry up, kid, or we'll be running late to the academy." He looked at me intently and turned, expecting me to follow.
"Right, I vaguely remember Biwa-sama saying something like that." I said, drifting back into thoughts of the things I may or may not have missed, that were said to me. Kisame just nodded and briskly walked on.
Our continued travel was mostly filled with silence. And I got the feeling Kisame didn't really want to talk anymore. But to be truly honest, I didn't want to ask him anything either, because he slightly unnerved me. Mainly because I still couldn't categorise him as a potential threat or ally; But those were thoughts for later, I decided.
And I really underestimated the distance from my apartment towards the academy. Even after what that beanpole said to me, I didn't think it would be that long of a walk.
Although I followed quietly, there was an incident that interrupted our silent march; my stomach grumbled so loudly that even Kisame turned my way and lifted an eyebrow.
I shrugged my shoulders at him. "I'm hungry. There was no food in my apartment and I got nothing to eat–well, since my departure from the orphanage." I said matter-of-factly.
"Ah, right?" He sighed in realisation. "You were supposed to get a stipend. But I guess you haven't got anything yet." We stopped at a crossroads and he looked at a store on the other side of the street. "What a drag–, wait here kid." With that, he disappeared from my side and left me standing where we stopped. I sighed and slumped to the ground. Nothing else to do. I took a look around the village.
Not many people up yet, but the ones who were all threw some shrewd glances my way. If this is how my life's gonna be, it'll get old pretty soon. Of course, it could also well be the fact that I still wore my pyjamas, because why ever the fuck should someone truly give me some proper clothes?
But I did not have enough time to play the blame-game in my head. Kisame reappeared quickly back at my side and shoved a grocery bag in my direction.
"Here, take it. It should last you for today." I looked perplexed up at him and when our eyes met, he averted his gaze hurriedly. "Ahem, it's nutritions. They're important–for growing and stuff." I kept looking at him and tilted my head slightly to the side. "Well–, let's go." He finished.
"Thank you, Kisame-sama!" I finally beamed at him, stood up and gratefully took the bag from him.
"Whatever."
We resumed our track, and I tried to, as quietly as I could, rummage through the grocery bag. "A bento-box!" I joy-whispered as I freed said food from the bag and immediately began munching away, happily.
"There's the academy. It's the big building ahead." Kisame suddenly said, a short while later. And I hurriedly ate the last piece of rice from the bento-box.
Before us was a square formed building-complex. Grey stone walls, reminiscent of stones formed by the ocean, with lots of bulges and crevices, surrounded the huge area and obstructed any view inside. But I followed Kisame straight through the big metal gate at the front of the street and I gasped loudly at the sight.
"This is a school!?" I shouted out in disbelief. "This looks more like a military prison."
Kisame looked curiously at me. "More accurate than you would like, believe me," He mumbled then and tilted his head for me to follow him. "Let's go, classes start in half an hour and you need to be fitted before that."
I nodded at him and stared at the academy area.
The inner parts of the area were riddled with fields of sand and mud, fitted out with several training devices I only recognise from my old world's military. Rubber-tires placed after each other, a mud field overhung with barbed wire and multiple jumping and climbing areas equipped with wooden bars. And the building itself looked like most other buildings here, a huge cylindrical structure several stories tall, coloured in a monotone grey and even fitted with metal bars at the windows.
From the look of it, it's a seven or eight stories tall prison, more than a school. On the walls surrounding the place, more barbed wire glinted in the ever rising morning sun. However, I see it, this place screams indoctrination and gloominess.
At the entrance of the building, I could make out another building, a dome-like structure in the background, looming slightly at the edges of the main building. "What's that Kisame-sama?" I asked, silently staring at the dome, not really getting any good vibes from there.
"Mhh?" He looked at me, followed my gaze, and I didn't miss the slight cringe in his features at all. "That's the arena. But nevermind that thing, you'll only go there once you graduate." With that, he briskly stepped into the building and I followed him in silent contemplation.
Inside the building, everything looked, and thank the gods for that, like a normal school.
Multiple classrooms stretched out from the hallway and there were many lockers placed inside the hallway. If just a little colourless, it looked exactly like a school would.
On the third floor, we stopped before a closed door. "You are expected." Kisame started and knocked, opened the door without waiting, then he gave me a slight push inside and also snatched the grocery bag out of my hand. I whipped my head back at him in surprise and widened my eyes slightly as I saw him, for the very first time, not utterly stoic or mockingly humorous. If I had to describe his expression, I would say it was… apologetic and grim. What the fuck Kisame!?
He closed the door behind me, without entering himself. The moment the door closed, the hair on my neck instantly stood up. And I slowly turned around.
Behind a rich-looking and large wooden desk sat a lean and tall, very long haired man. He looked to be in his mid forties or beginning fifty. His long hair, once black, had already begun drifting into grey and he wore the tell-tale hat that I knew the Hokage, the leader of Konoha often wore.
So this must surely be the Mizukage, then.
He had his eyes partially closed and looked at me with an indifferent frown. To his right stood another man. This one was huge, probably standing at 8ft or so. He had a wild mane of orange-coloured hair and grinned with the same damn shark teeth everyone seemed to have around here, directly at me. But his eyes looked off. They seemed cold and emotionless. And I unconsciously gulped, as I warily stared at the huge bandaged thing on his back.
But I noticed another presence in the room. Standing in the far left corner, shadowed by curtains hanging in front of a window, stood another man.
This one stared at me with dark-circles around his eyes, in deep contemplation. But he looked to be the only one without further agenda in the room. He had white and shoulder long hair and wore a necklace of heavy looking pearlescent baubles.
I looked nervously and slowly from one man to another, waiting with bated breath for one of them to finally break the awkward staring contest.
"So, you are the wayward child Matarabi-san picked up. Interesting." It was the Mizukage, the man behind the desk, who finally broke through the silence.
"She looks different than I would have expected from a kaguya." A shiver ran down my spine as the Mizukage said that, and he slowly got up from his seat, his damn eyes still partially closed.
"Mayhaps, but she definitely is a kaguya, lord Mizukage-sama. I've seen it with my own eyes, the power that slumbers within her." The huge, orange-haired man barked out as he sidestepped, so the Mizukage could approach me. I stood, petrified, before them unable to understand why I was even there. But these people gave me the creeps.
"Say, child. What is the Kaguya-clan to you?" The Mizukage slowly walked over and stood right in front of me, his arms folded behind his back as he looked, still emotionless, at me. But I got the heavy impression this was a question better answered with utmost care.
I frowned shortly and thought over my answer, before I replied. "Nothing. They abandoned me and threw me into a river. Most likely to get rid of me. I owe them nothing." I said confidently, even if I felt very unnerved by the Mizukage standing so close to me. And it's at least the truth, I owe the Kaguya-clan at the very least, only a painful death. For what they've put me and my mom through.
"Good, good. Yes they threw you away, they wanted you dead and yet it was them who failed." he paused and turned, so he would face the window behind the desk and continued. "Matarabi-san deemed you worthy of becoming a Ninja of Kirigakure," he paused again, and this time for an awkward amount of time, making me even more nervous. Then, finally, he faced me again and to my shock and surprise, wide black eyes stared into mine. "I am not so sure yet. Matarabi-san arranged some amenities for you, but I don't think they are quite fit for your situation. You will be placed into the lowest class, prove to me your loyalty towards Kirigakure! And remember, it was Kirigakure who saved your life. If ever a situation arises, where the Kaguya-clan is involved you are better to remember that." And at those words my vision started to shake harshly. The whole room felt darker and my body started shivering. I stared into those black eyes of the Mizukage and it became one small tunnel, until I only saw those dark orbs of his. A horrifying feeling of undiluted hate and certain death imbued my body and mind with petrifying fear.
"Mizukage-sama, I think she understood." I didn't register the new voice intervening in whatever the Mizukage did, but the feeling of absolute and certain death stopped crushing down on me soon after. And I fell to my knees, gasping for air.
"Yes, you are right Amatsubu-san. Well, Fuguki, I guess we are done here, come with me please I have some other business we need to discuss." The Mizukage and the orange -haired man didn't spare me another glance and walked towards the door. But it was as the Mizukage passed the door, that he looked back at me, his eyes partially closed again. "I have high expectations for you, Zōge-san. Mitsuru spoke highly of you in her reports, don't let her sacrifice go to waste." Then they finally departed.
They were gone, except the man who still stood, shadowed by the curtains, in the corner. I guess it was him who stopped whatever was happening to me. But my body still refused to move properly and I still knelt on all fours on the floor, trying to catch my breath.
I couldn't even lift my sweat riddled head. What the actual fuck was this. I never want to experience anything like that again. The Mizukage has officially made my shitlist!
"You should breathe steadily, Zōge-san. It'll pass in a few moments." The man in the corner spoke and I managed a nod, that I heard him.
"It is already very commendable that you managed to stay conscious. Not many fully trained chunin would withstand the killing intent from lord Mizukage-sama. Not even mentioning untrained civilians. You should be proud." he said to me and came over to me and placed a rough hand under my arms. With one steady pull, he lifted me up.
My legs still felt a little wonky, but I nodded at him. "T–thanks."
"Here, these are for you." And he handed me a folded bag, which felt like clothes inside. "These are two sets of your new uniform. You are to wear them for everytime you attend the academy. Which will start everyday at 8.00am sharp. Your first class will start today and your classroom is on the lowest floor, the first on the right. I am Tetsu no Amatsubu, but Amatsubu-sensei will suffice. I will be your class's Taijutsu instructor. I will also be responsible for teaching you how to control and not use your blood limit here in school. It will be a rough and demanding training, Zōge-san. So you better give it your best. But well, welcome to the academy student Zōge." he said and walked past me, leaving the room. "I would hurry and change gear, classes are about to start in ten minutes." Then he closed the door and left.