Title: Rebirth Among the Leaves
A/N: Thank You Perseus12 for your supportive review!
A/N: You know the drill, I don't own any franchise, or characters or anything, except the ideas of forming Naruto fanfics with offbeat pairings
Chapter 4: Growing Pains
The academy bustled with energy as Ivy took her first steps inside, her green skin and red hair drawing stares from everyone in the room. Whispers filled the air as she walked down the hall. Her skin prickled with unease, memories of her past life as a misunderstood villain creeping in. But this time, she wouldn't let it get to her.
Naruto bounded up to her, his bright grin easing her nerves. "Hey, Ivy! You ready to show them how awesome you are?"
Ivy rolled her eyes, but a hint of a smile played on her lips. "You better keep up, loudmouth. I don't want you slowing me down."
"Keep up?" Naruto scoffed, punching the air. "I'll be so far ahead, you won't even see me!"
Despite her feigned annoyance, Ivy was grateful for his presence. The other students might not understand her, but with Naruto around, she felt a little less out of place.
Their first training session was kunai practice. Iruka explained the basics and handed each student a small set of training kunai. Ivy took one, holding it delicately as she weighed it in her hand. This was different from anything she'd done before—her powers didn't rely on weapons, only her bond with nature. But kunai would be a useful skill to learn, she supposed.
She was broken from her thoughts by the voice of a girl with long, platinum blonde hair who was watching her skeptically. "Aren't you supposed to throw it?" she asked, a faint smirk on her lips.
Ivy didn't respond, merely threw the kunai with a flick of her wrist. It sliced through the air and struck dead center on the practice dummy. The blonde girl's smirk faded as a ripple of surprised murmurs spread through the class.
"Wow!" Naruto shouted, laughing. "Nice one, Ivy!"
She shrugged, hiding a smirk. Maybe she could get used to this.
But not everyone was impressed. A boy with dark hair and a perpetual scowl, Sasuke, watched her with narrowed eyes. Ivy had caught him staring at her a few times, his gaze intense, as if he was trying to figure her out.
"Tch. Just a lucky throw," he muttered as he threw his own kunai. His kunai also struck the target dead center, with pinpoint accuracy.
Ivy raised an eyebrow. She didn't know much about Sasuke, but it was clear he was a skilled shinobi, even if he had a bit of an attitude. She'd have to keep an eye on him.
Later that day, the students were split into groups for a sparring session. Ivy found herself partnered with the blonde girl from earlier—Ino. She didn't know what to expect, but judging by the determined look in Ino's eyes, this wasn't going to be a lighthearted sparring match.
They squared off in the training ring, surrounded by curious classmates. Naruto cheered loudly from the sidelines, which only seemed to spur Ino on. Ivy could feel her connection to the plants around her stirring, roots and vines subtly weaving into the earth beneath her feet, but she resisted using them. This was about learning to fight like the shinobi did.
Ino charged first, aiming a series of quick punches and kicks at Ivy. Ivy dodged with grace, using her smaller frame to her advantage, ducking and weaving around Ino's attacks. Finally, she saw an opening and darted forward, catching Ino off guard with a well-timed kick that sent her stumbling back.
Ino quickly recovered, brushing herself off with a glare. "Not bad," she admitted grudgingly, before lunging at Ivy again. This time, Ivy responded with a burst of speed and agility, blocking Ino's attacks with a natural fluidity that came from her connection with nature.
But as the spar continued, Ivy's frustration grew. She had so much power waiting beneath the surface, an arsenal of plant-based abilities that she could easily tap into—but she'd promised herself she wouldn't use them unless absolutely necessary. She wanted to prove she could do this without relying on her powers.
Finally, Ino stumbled, and Ivy saw her chance. She knocked Ino down with a sweep of her leg, ending the spar. Ino blinked up at her, surprised, but offered a begrudging nod.
"Fine, you're pretty good," Ino said as she dusted herself off. "But next time, I won't go easy on you."
Ivy smirked. "I'll look forward to it."
From the sidelines, Naruto whooped in victory. "That's my teammate! Way to go, Ivy!"
Despite herself, Ivy felt a swell of pride. She'd won her first spar without using her powers. Perhaps she was stronger than she realized.
As the weeks went by, Ivy settled into a rhythm at the academy. Though her classmates continued to keep their distance, their initial hostility faded as she continued to prove herself in training. With Naruto's endless enthusiasm and Iruka's patient guidance, Ivy felt herself improving each day.
But she wasn't the only one growing. Naruto, too, was pushing himself harder than ever, his determination unbreakable as he trained to prove everyone wrong about him. Though his moves were still rough around the edges, Ivy could see his potential. His passion reminded her of herself—someone who refused to be defined by the world's expectations.
One evening after class, Ivy found herself alone in the forest near Konoha, the plants humming with life around her. She knelt down, placing her hands on the ground, feeling the roots stretch deep into the soil. She was still learning, still testing the limits of her powers in this new world, but each day brought new discoveries. She could sense the trees, feel their life and thoughts, their slow and steady pulse. She was connected to them in ways she couldn't explain.
She reached out, letting her power flow gently through the roots and vines. They twisted and coiled, shaping into a small dome around her, almost like a shelter.
"What're you doing, Ivy?" Naruto's voice called out from behind her.
Startled, she looked over her shoulder, watching as Naruto approached with his usual grin.
"Just… practicing," she replied, feeling oddly embarrassed.
Naruto's eyes widened as he looked at the dome of vines. "Whoa, that's so cool! You should use that in our training!"
Ivy shook her head. "I don't want to rely on it too much. I want to prove I can be strong without it."
Naruto tilted his head, frowning slightly. "But that's your strength, right? Why hide it?"
She glanced away, her expression darkening. "I've been called a monster for it. My powers make people afraid. I don't want to give them any more reason to hate me."
Naruto's gaze softened, and he placed a hand on her shoulder. "Ivy, they're wrong about you. You're not a monster. You're one of the strongest people I know, and not just because of your powers."
She felt a lump form in her throat. She wanted to believe him, to let go of the fear that had haunted her for so long. But trust was something she wasn't used to, not after a lifetime of rejection.
Still, Naruto's belief in her was unwavering, and for once, she allowed herself to believe in his words, if only a little.
"Thanks," she muttered, brushing his hand off with a small smile. "But don't think that means I'll go easy on you in training tomorrow."
Naruto laughed, his usual spark returning. "Wouldn't have it any other way!"
As the moon rose high over Konoha that night, Ivy lay awake, staring at the ceiling of her small room. She'd come so far since her first day in this village, but the road ahead was still uncertain. Yet with Naruto's encouragement, she felt a sliver of hope she hadn't felt in years.
For the first time, she considered a future here—not as an outcast, but as someone who belonged. And perhaps, just perhaps, she would finally find the acceptance she'd been searching for her whole life.
To be continued...
A/N: From next chapter I will write from Naruto's perspective. Naruto's perspective will continue for a few chapters then I will be back to Ivy's for another few chapters.
I want the characters to build, to grow.