As Crystal exited the examination room, her expression a mix of satisfaction and determination, she spotted her older brother, Minato, waiting for her with a warm smile.
"Minato! I did it! I passed the entrance exam!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement.
Minato's eyes lit up with pride as he ruffled her hair affectionately. "I knew you would, Crystal. You're truly incredible."
They walked together, discussing the spar portion of the exam. Crystal couldn't contain her admiration for Kakashi Hatake's skills. "Kakashi was so strong and skilled, but I managed to defeat him!" she boasted, a hint of pride in her voice.
Minato chuckled softly, nodding in approval. "I'm sure you gave him quite the challenge, Crystal. You're becoming quite the little ninja."
Their conversation turned to the topic of Might Gai, whom Crystal held in contempt. She recounted the incident where she had stabbed a kunai through Gai's hand during the exam, her disdain evident in her words. "He's not even worthy of trying out for the exam, Minato. He's just a weakling."
Minato listened patiently, though he couldn't help but feel a pang of concern at his sister's lack of empathy. Before he could respond, they spotted Might Gai and his father, Might Dai, nearby.
Minato's expression softened as he approached them. "Might Dai, Gai, it's good to see you both," he greeted warmly.
Might Dai returned the greeting with a smile, though Minato noticed the bandaged hand of his son. Concern flickered in Minato's eyes as he addressed Gai directly. "Gai, I heard about what happened during the exam. I hope your hand isn't too badly injured."
Gai grinned brightly, seemingly unfazed by the incident. "It's nothing! Just a little scratch. Thank you for the support!"
Crystal, however, couldn't contain her disdain, her words dripping with contempt. "Ha! Scratch? More like a lesson for being so weak."
Minato's expression darkened as he gently forced Crystal's head down, urging her to apologize. "Crystal, that's enough. Apologize to Gai and his father."
Reluctantly, Crystal muttered a half-hearted apology, though her tone remained cold and dismissive. ""You're welcome, you weakling! And you," she added, turning to Might Dai, "Sorry, but your eternal Genin status says it all, Doesn't it, Might Dai?"
Might Dai's smile faltered slightly at the insult, though he maintained his composure. "No need to apologize, Crystal. We should be going now. Take care, Minato."
As they walked away, Minato sighed softly, shaking his head at his sister's behavior. He knew her heart was in the right place, but her lack of empathy could be troubling at times.
Before they could go any further, they bumped into Kakashi and his father, Sakumo Hatake. Minato greeted them warmly, exchanging pleasantries with his old friend.
Kakashi and Crystal exchanged nods of acknowledgment, their rivalry evident in the air between them. "Crystal," Kakashi said coolly, "I challenge you to a duel again."
Crystal smirked confidently, accepting the challenge without hesitation. "You're on, Kakashi. I'll defeat you once more."
As they parted ways, Minato couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in his sister's determination, even if her methods were less than conventional. He knew that with his guidance, she would become a formidable ninja in her own right.
Crystal Namikaze's days at the academy were marked by an air of quiet dominance and isolation. From the moment she entered the gates, the other students seemed to shrink away, their gazes flickering with a mixture of awe and fear. But Crystal paid them no heed, her focus unwavering on her own path to greatness.
As she moved through the crowded halls, Crystal's expression remained impassive, her eyes fixed on the horizon of her own ambition. The chatter and laughter of her classmates fell on deaf ears, their trivial concerns and petty rivalries beneath her notice. To Crystal, they were nothing but insignificant specks in the grand tapestry of her destiny.
Only Kakashi Hatake dared to approach her, drawn by the challenge she presented in the sparring ring. Their encounters were electrifying, each clash of fists and feet a testament to their mutual skill and determination. In Kakashi, Crystal found a kindred spirit, someone who could match her stride for stride in the pursuit of excellence.
But as the weeks wore on, even Kakashi seemed to hesitate in her presence, a subtle shift in his demeanor betraying a hint of apprehension. The teachers, too, began to distance themselves, their interactions with Crystal becoming increasingly formal and guarded. Yet, she could sense the fear that lingered beneath their polite façades, a silent acknowledgment of her superiority that only fueled her determination.
Despite the growing isolation, Crystal remained undeterred in her quest for knowledge and mastery. She saw no need to rely on others for her education, determined to forge her own path to greatness. When Minato was unavailable to train her, she sought out Kakashi's father for private instruction, hungry for the challenge and the opportunity to push herself further.
In class, Crystal often found herself bored and uninterested, the lessons feeling trivial and insignificant compared to the grandeur of her own ambitions. She had no patience for the mundane tasks and exercises that filled the curriculum, seeing them as mere distractions from her true purpose.
As she observed her teachers and fellow students, Crystal felt a mix of disdain and amusement. They were mere mortals, trapped in their own limitations and ignorance. But she would not be held back by their mediocrity. She was destined for greatness, and she would stop at nothing to achieve it.
With each passing day, Crystal's determination to graduate and begin her training as an Anbu only grew stronger. The thought of serving the village as a member of the elite special forces filled her with a sense of purpose and excitement. And as she looked to the future, Crystal knew that nothing would stand in her way, not even the fear and resentment of those around her.