Purple Arrow
Member
Chapter 2
Chapter 2 To Train a Shinobi
Naruto and I walked through the village. It was cozy, the set up. Most houses and shops looked clean and warming, welcoming to outsiders. All the people here would greet you, with a friendly ‘hello' or gesture of a smile. Some rare people would just walk on by or run away. To be in the actual leave village it was like no other experience I'd had in my life. It was not like anything I could have imagined.
As I looked at Naruto I noticed how he looked in real life compared to the manga and anime. His face wasn't that flawless appearance that is given to a drawing, because it's hard to draw all the details or just left out for the purpose of it just being a cartoon, manga or animation. He had whiskers, three on each side of his face, but they didn’t stick out like a cat's would, they would hold in place no matter how he moved. If you looked closely you partly could notice the layer of skin that covered the whiskers and would hold them in place.
His blue eyes had a real look too, but same shape as are drawn in the anime and manga. I used to not be able to imagine how his hair would look if he were real, but now it was easy to see how it would look and not at all like a bad cosplay wig. He had thick hair and it was still that unusual shade of yellow, but looked natural on him. It was coarse and stuck in place but easily moved with the wind. Almost like those mouse commercials that claim it holds hair in place and doesn’t make it stiff, but his is actually like that rather than a false advertisement.
A man standing in an alley way, looked at me staring. As I stared back trying to place his real life face with anime and manga face, to determine who he is, he turned away. His long spiky raven black hair blew with the wind. It was clear as his hair moved aside that he wore an Uchiha symbol on the back of his shirt, a circle that was half white and half red with the white slightly extending from the circle like a handle to a circle paper fan. He was tall and walked with dignified confidence.
“Was that…..?” I spoke softly to Naruto not wanting to make a big deal or appear scared.
“What? You mean Madara?” I gawked at Naruto, he continued, “I guess you hit your head hard. He came back to the village after the great shinobi war.”
“Was that the battle I was in that I hit my head?”
“No. You hit your head in a battle after that one.”
“Why did Madara come back to the village? What did you say to him that changed his mind?” I was curious. Was I even in the great shinobi war? Madara was set in his ways, for him to change his mind, must of taken a lot more than anyone could imagine. Naruto is the only one with such strength and courage to dare to try.
“I did speak to him. Of course he was really into the fight. I had to get him to a point where he couldn’t fight at all.” Naruto bragged. “But after that I told him what it means to have a brother. I won’t go back on my ninja ways, and wouldn’t let him kill anymore of the people I cared about.”
“But why did he come back? What changed his mind?”
Naruto stopped walking and was about to say something when Sakura came around the corner. It was easy to notice Sakura, with pink hair, a larger forehead than most, and the typical red shirt. Not to mention her posture, “Naruto, give Hitomi a break, already. She hasn’t recovered from her head injury. I have to take another look at it.” She gazed at me swiftly and noted, “It's fine, but your memory loss is permanent. “ Sakura was one of the easier people to place her real life face to her anime and manga face.
I turned to Naruto, “Why is Madara back in the village? Can we even trust him? Could he be planning something? “ Madara was one powerful shinobi. His power is enough to run chills down my spine.
“I…” Naruto began to brag again but Sakura socked him on the head.
“Hitomi you don’t remember?” She glanced at me as I was quiet. “Naruto didn’t have anything to do with it. “
“Hey! I at least got him to…..”
Sakura cut Naruto off, “Yes he was immobilized, but,” She turned to me. “Hitomi you…” she read into my silent anticipation. “Hitomi, you are the reason he returned.”
Shocked my eyes widened with suspense.
Sakura flashed back to that time during the war and began with a story, “ Naruto fought Madara, and Sasuke gave Madara a final chidori, pinning him to the ground. In that instant Naruto had no time to waste. He had used up more chakra to create shadow clones. But Madara knew he was defeated. He told Naruto, ‘I didn’t expect to lose, how could you have danced this long?’
You walked toward Madara after you regained chakra. Instead you told him how you would fight for those you love, and Naruto agreed with you. But it wasn’t a big speech on the love of others and your comrads. Hitomi you would have finished him, or at least you wanted to, but you couldn’t, you knew you wouldn’t be strong enough for it. Even with full strength. You threw your fan next to him instead. Letting Madara see you wouldn’t do it. Naruto grabbed your fan, asking you ‘Hitomi how come….?’
‘I can’t. I wouldn’t be able to.’ Naruto picked up your fan and handed it back to you. Madara stared at you. Then he grabbed your arm. ‘Wait,’ he said. ‘I can come to reason.’ All of us hesitated. You exchanged looks and after looking into your eyes for awhile, he had a change of heart. Naruto could feel it, it changed instantly. Based on what Naruto said, we agreed to let him back into the village. It took a lot for Naruto to convince all the kages, but they agreed to it. He’s been back here since.” Sakura sighed and gave me a look of guilt. “We don’t know exactly what you did, Hitomi, but he hasn’t given us any trouble.”
“Oh,” was all I could say.
“Yeah, lets get on with our training,” Naruto was in a hurry.
“Naruto!” Sakura said.
“What?” He was puzzled as Sakura shook her head. Naruto was missing the big picture, but I couldn’t figure out why Sakura was angered by Naruto. We walked away as Sakura watched and smiled.
It wasn’t to much longer when we arrived at the training grounds. Three wooden posts stood in the middle and a small river ran behind it. Just like in the anime and manga. The river flow was steady, and the sound it made gave it a peaceful, and serene vibe, plus with the birds quietly chirping in the background, it made me feel a little bit calm about coming to this place. The wooden posts looked a little worn, and tarred. Some of the wood on it was splinting, but it was still sturdy in the ground.
“Alright! Let’s get started!” Naruto threw a kunai knife at a target on a tree. Some leaves fell off to the ground.
“So this is the basics.” I grabbed a kunai knife from the holder strapped to my left leg. It was strange to hold a kunai knife, as I have not done so in the past, but it was common in a place with ninja, this strange place. It was cold to the touch on the handle. I focused on the center of the target on the tree and flung the knife at it. It hit it’s mark. I grinned watching more leaves fall.
“Not bad. You still have skill. Just need practice, ya know.”
The training went on like that for hours until finally I was doing a light sparing with Naruto. He knocked me on by butt. I threw a shuriken, adjusting to the touch of another ninja tool, that I would place my finger through the hole in the center, fling towards Naruto to have him block it with a kunai.
One of his clones came from the sky to punch me into the ground, and I dodged it with a tuck and roll, like you would do to make an escape out of a moving car. The shadow clone thing was more like looking at identical twins, but in Naruto's case as many as he wanted, I had to adjust that. I still wasn’t sure what jutsus I could use or my nature type, so I stuck with basic taijutsu. I didn’t know much on using ninjutsu, as Naruto didn’t go deep into that training.
I was also adjusting to having chakra, and for using it, that’s going to be later. Out of breath I was panting. “Alright Naruto lets give it a rest.”
“Already?!” he was dissatisfied.
“Yeah, I need a break, Naruto.” I turned too walk away and realized he didn’t follow. Not sure why, I guess he was going to train alone after. The woods I walked through to go back to the village had that damp smell, coming from the moist leaves on the ground. A bush rustled and the animal that came out from it moved like a small black rodent but it was just a blur with the speed it was moving, as it ran across to other side of the trail.
When I was back in the village, I was lost. It didn’t look familiar and I couldn’t find the Hyuga clan manner. Walking into a tool shop, I noticed it had a lot of scrolls and different types of shuriken. The metal giant fan on the wall drew in my attention. As I touched it a woman with brown hair, had to buns on top of her head and a long braid trailing down her back. Although her clothes were clean, they looked old, like they've been worn out throughout the years. “ Anything you’re looking for?” She was calm and collected.
“No, just I’m lost. How do I get to the Hyuga manner?” In a scared voice, I gave my reply. I couldn’t adjust to the new atmosphere of the place and I the way others looked and just are in this place. A tool shop, it was meant for ninja tools and not the drills and hammers like back in my other life. No professional attire, just typical ninja wear and a natural old country vibe in the village and all over. The tool shop was included.
“I’ll take you there.” I heard a familiar voice, that I would hear a lot in anime. As I turned I could place the voice with the character. Again not just an anime and manga character, the sudden change in idea that he had to be real, I jumped back slightly. Forgetting my ninja body, my light jump back was stronger and I knocked into some tools held on the wall by metal hooks, knocking almost all of the shuriken down. I scrambled to pick them up and place them back in the right place.
“My tools! Hitomi!” The brown haired girl shrieked at the tools on the floor.
She knows me? “Sorry, I'll put it back.” Not turning to look at Sasuke, knowing it was actually Sasuke I began to shake with my usual scared reaction to a man I have a crush on, and add that he's not just anime….
Still standing behind me was Sasuke Uchiha. Not a response at all to my sudden klutzy display against the shuriken on the wall, he stayed still and waited until I had all the shuriken back in the right place. As I turned around slowly to finally once and for all take a look at what Sasuke Uchiha would look like in real life, my heart would pound fast. If he used his sharingan he could probably easily figure it all out, how I like him, I’d have no chance at hiding it at all. It would be really cool to finally see sharingan in live action, but I’d rather not have any of it used against me in a battle or for him to see my heart pounding.
So I finally saw Sasuke Uchiha in real life. It was clear who he was, his handsome face with perfect proportion was complimented by his dark black hair that still spiked in the back. I noticed he had both his arms, not like in the manga and anime after his fight with Naruto. I looked down. I could feel the blush building in my cheeks. His shirt was dirty, and he looked like he had trained or just returned from a mission. I could have fainted, but glad I didn’t.
We walked out side by side. “Thanks, Sasuke. I can’t remember how to get home.” I still couldn’t meet his gaze.
He was silent as we walked along through the peaceful side of the village. The Hyuga manner wasn’t to far from the tool shop. As we walked up to a building, I began to recognize it as the Hyuga manner, my home. At least in this place.
“We’re here.” He said then turned to walk away. I was about to thank him again, but he vanished. I blushed a deeper red.
If Sakura is with Itachi now, do I have a chance? Typical Sasuke showed no interest in me, and was just being kind like he does with most people, like Karin and random others throughout the manga/anime. No chance, and I’m still plain, not really pretty, or skilled. I’d be far from his type. I lowered my head and sighed in disappointment.
Just then Hinata ran passed me out of the house. “I’m going to be late! “ She said. I walked inside as she had left the door open. In my room I found no peace as my thoughts stirred in all directions. I thought I saw Madara just now in the reflection of my window. He would have no reason to be here, must just be the fact that I’m tired.
Not worried, I pulled the covers over my head, after climbing into bed and kicking off my sandals. Pulling the covers over my head and sleeping like that was something I grew to like, it kept the flashlight out of my face waking me up in jail as the D.O.s (Detention Officers) would walk past. I wasn’t scared of being here in this place, I didn’t fear for my life or safety. It was easy to sleep, as long as Naruto didn’t wake me up.
It had to be about two weeks of training. Not just with Naruto, but Hinata sometimes trained me, ‘reteaching’ me the jutsus and taijutsu that I apparently already knew. Which I truly didn’t know and never actually could do before. I trained with Tsunade once, too.
“Hitomi, get up!” she hollered at me, as I stumbled trying to stand up right. “Is that all you’ve got?” She was throwing explosive balls in my direction and I had to dodge or block it.
“I can’t….”
“Don’t you dare quit now, Hitomi!” she threw one at me like a pitcher trying to strike out a batter in baseball.
“Air palm!” I said creating a blue gust with my hand stretched out. The sensation was strange, it was like a burn that didn’t hurt or give pain, that shot from the middle of your stomach and out your hand, almost as quick as lightning. The wind release wasn’t enough to stop the ball, it didn’t even slow it down. It hit me and exploded on impact. It didn’t cause much damage, but I had some scrapes as I began to struggle to rise to my feet.
“Hitomi, don’t give up so easily. Or you will never become a strong ninja. You still had chakra left and enough to protect yourself from an oncoming attack. Use more force in your air palm, don’t underestimate your opponent. I told you I won’t go easy on you.”
A ninja with grey hair and a mask covering his face approached Tsunade. “Kakashi, she will never be able to use my super human strength like Sakura, but…” I could still hear what Tsunade was saying at a distance. I walked away not wanting to hear the rest of it. I know I’m a failure. It wasn’t to different in my other life. Love didn’t come easy, work I was never a top employee, always late, and constantly messing up. Friends, I didn’t have many, and I could see in this life it hadn’t changed any. I was still plain, not with extra ordinary chakra or skill.
…………..
Another week had passed and I was training hard. I didn’t train with Tsunade again. I was starting to get the hang of it, as I had already known it in this life and place, its probably the reason I could learn so quickly and the skills start to come naturally.
I heard there was a mission to take a woman and her child to the Hidden Mist. Strangely it was a B rank mission, I wasn’t sure why. I was to late to go on this mission, the team already left with the woman and her child.
“You wouldn’t have been the best fit for this mission, Hitomi. I chose based upon the skills of certain shinobi.”
Making a pout, I continued to listen to Kakashi. He is the Hokage at this point. I wonder if Naruto will be Hokage soon? Kakashi didn’t stop talking even as he noticed my pouting, “Ino’s mind transfer jutsu, along with her medical training made her the ideal fit for this. And Sai with his experience as an Anbu Black Ops. Shikamaru has the strategy needed for this type of mission and Hanabi's Byakugan could be used swiftly. “
“Why not me or Hinata?” I crossed my arms across my chest and lifted my head up slightly.
He placed his hands on the desk in front of him, “Hinata would hesitate more, and you Hitomi, would dive right in recklessly. “ He tilted his hat downward.
I tried to keep my face from showing any expression.
“Besides, you still don’t remember how to use the byakugan. You would be a poor choice on this mission.
Annoyed I walked out of his office and then out of the Hokage's mansion. On the backside of the mansion was a small clearing. No one in sight. A couple of birds chirping in the background as the wind blew leaves around me. Sitting on the ground I was writing in the dirt with a stick, ‘I *heart* Akihiro’ I wrote the name of the man back in my other life, who broke my heart. Truly I couldn’t say I still felt that way for him, but the pain will still be there, just like the memory, just like with Mot, my crush as a teenager who played head games with me.
It suddenly got shaded where I was sitting and I heard a deep man's voice, “Who’s Akihiro?”
I turned my head to find Madara Uchiha standing over me. I gasped but quickly pulled myself together. There wasn't much I could do being startled and trying to act calm. “Just some guy I used to know.”
“Very well then. We need to talk.” He said with no emotion in his voice.
……………..
We we're standing on a ledge with trees behind us. I wasn’t sure where he took me, but I didn’t know where anything was in this place I was suddenly living in. I wouldn’t look up at him or meet his gaze, I stared down shyly at the ground and found I was more mumbling what I would say, or taking awhile to say it without stammering.
“Do you know why I returned to the village? “ he said staring out to the village that was easily seen from a bird's eye view from here.
Shyly I found a way to speak up, but merely blurted out, “Nn….no. Wwhy?” Clearly I can’t talk today.
“The look in your eye….” He paused to turn and look at me. I was still looking toward the ground.
I didn’t respond to him, I nervously bit my lip.
He placed his hand under my chin and lifted my head up. “You have a look in your eye that is more sinister than my own.”
He kept his hand under my chin, startled I had to ask, “Why would that…. Make you decide to return to the village?” I managed to say but it came out more as a whisper.
“You obviously don’t have a clue do you? You are dark inside, but you remain uncaring to what goes on around you. But you remain on the side of justice.” His response nearly killed me. On the side of justice? I just got out of jail. He added, “You have no hope for this world, but remain unchanged. You could have attempted to kill me, be the hero, save your loved ones, but you gave up on it.”
He moved his face closer to mine, I slightly backed up and he dropped his hand from my chin. “You changed my resolve, and that is what changed.” He stared into my eyes making me more shy and I had to avert his gaze staring down yet again.
“Do not misunderstand, I’m not here on a new resolve due to some affection suddenly found inside my heart.”
I wasn’t sure what made him say that, “What? Why are you saying that?” I blinked with confusion.
He stared at me with his arms crossed across his chest and plainly stated, “You smile at me, and looked like you were expecting that type of resolve. I don’t have affection toward anyone. You included.”
“Um…. I wasn’t expecting you to. I wouldn’t think you’d like me like that, um…. I’m not really pretty or talented or smart or anything like that. No offense but I don’t like you like that either…..M…Madara.” I stuttered stating his name. I was really nervous around him, yet comfortable.
“You need to recalculate your judgement.” He narrowed his.
I stepped back again. He gave a smile. “Okay, I will. Um….” I was pacing away from him, making it clear I was leaving, “I'm just going to go.” Was all I could say.
“You clearly are lost. Hitomi for stating you don’t have affection for me,” I stopped, wanting to hear what he had to say. “Your face is always red in my presence as well as having a lustful look in your stare. That is also clear.”
Strangely as I heard what he said ring in my ears, the Hyuga in me must have been catching up because I was suddenly so embarrassed by that, him knowing I had a secret crush on him, he at least didn’t know about Indra, but I won’t have to worry about that, Indra's long gone and dead for centuries. The impact of his statement, I watched the darkness slowly transcend over my sight and began to feel weak in my legs and was suddenly losing consciousness and heading for the ground fast.
I awoke where I had passed out. Madara was no longer there. I was still a little dizzy and found someone put out their hand to help me up. “Hi, Hitomi! What ya doing way out here?” His voice was close to Naruto’s English dub, yet a little deeper. He wore a white kimono with markings on it that resembled ‘9s’. His hair was short and dark brown.
My eyes widened, “No way! Ashura?!” This can’t be for real. He looked puzzled.
“You don’t remember me? That’s right you were hit hard on your head. Yeah! It’s me Ashura.”
I nearly lost consciousness again, but Ashura caught me. If this is Ashura that means Indra could also be here too. My legs got even weaker, I guess that was the Hyuga in me, in this life, similar to my now older sister Hinata, and I was slowly getting used to this. “Hey, easy Hitomi. Maybe you need some water. “ The miracle cure water, that will fix a broken heart and cure spontaneous embarrassment that leads to fainting.
I sighed, “No it’s okay, Ashura. I’m fine.” I wobbled on my feet and could barely stand.
“Maybe I should carry you back to the village? You still look like you need water.” I said nothing to Ashura, but he scooped me up into his arms and began to walk back to the village.
While in the village I didn’t talk much to Ashura and I didn’t say anything about Madara. I was actually forgetting the whole nervousness and my crush on Madara causing me to faint thing. I was readjusting to this place. Ashura placed me down outside of an unknown manner, it was similar to the Hyuga manner but was for another family. I straightened out my shirt, “Thanks Ashura I need to get back home, though.” My head was getting clearer and I was sure I could find my way from here.
Ashura waved, I could hear him say, “What's with her all the sudden? It’s like she don’t even know me.”
Making a turn around an abandoned building, I found a rusty shuriken on the ground. It fell apart when I picked it up. I didn’t think they would make one that could rust like this. I watched it fall to the ground.
Finally finding the Hyuga manner on my own, I walk inside. Hinabi is away on a mission and Hinata is on another date with Naruto. The house was quiet. I stepped out into the yard that was used for training. It was empty. The sun was setting and the sky had turned a red color. It didn’t look like a good sign. Another shadow was cast from behind me and I turned around expecting to see Hinata's father standing there. But to my surprise and my bad luck was a man. He had long dark brown hair tied back. He wore a white kimono just like Ashura's and he had a sword on his back.
Is this really? His face was flawless and he was as handsome as ever. I instantly looked away. Wanting to run and not even talk to him, I did the only thing I could think of. Actually I impulsively and nervously blurted out, “ I have to go, I’m late and have to catch the bus.” The first thing that came to mind.
The man grabbed my arm so fast that I didn’t even manage to take my first step away from him and I had only barely begun to spin in the direction I was headed. “What’s a bus?” He plainly asked.
I forgot that buses don’t exist in this place, and it's not like I used a bus at all back home. I used to drive my car, that is until a cactus had fallen on it. “It’s….um….. I don’t know. I made it up.” Still not giving a good reason to be in a rush to leave, I tried to move away again but his hand was holding on to my arm still and he had a tight grip. “I can’t stay,” I refused to turn around and look at him. It was obvious that he was….
“I will train you,” He released my arm and watched as I didn’t flinch or turn to face him. It didn’t affect him at all.
“I didn’t ask you to train me,” I thought about it for a second, and finished my statement by asking, “did I?”
His eyes narrowed. My vision was slowly blurred, I couldn’t understand what was happening. It was like, it all turned into a dream. My eyes opened. I was back on the ground that I had awoken upon after Madara had left earlier. Pulling myself together I stood up. A girl with dark pink, perhaps red hair had walked up to me. She adjusted her glasses with one hand.
“You were in a genjutsu,” she was perceptive. Then she added, “ Don’t worry, no one harmed you.”
I remained speechless. The girl smiled at me.
“You haven’t changed one bit,” she was satisfied with my reaction to her.
“No I haven’t,” I was going along with what she said. I guessed we were old friends or perhaps had been rivals. “ Did Madara place me in the genjutsu?”
She seemed curious, but replied, “ I’m sure he was the one. Sasuke wouldn’t waste a genjutsu carelessly like that.” Her look was of jealousy, “What did he show you? “
I had the need to talk to her. It was like I had found someone I could relate to in some way. Instead of keeping it to myself like I would have, I told her about Ashura and Indra, just left out my crush on Indra.
“That’s twisted. Why show you something of the sage’s sons?” She hesitated and changed the topic. “Look neither one of us has a chance.”
I opened my mouth slightly.
She continued, “Sasuke. It looks to me that he likes that pink haired girl.”
“Sakura? But she’s dating Itachi and….” I got caught up in this conversation, it was about time I had someone I could talk to about this. As far as I could tell she was just as eager.
“Sasuke still likes her. We competed with each other for nothing,” she adjusted her glasses again.
“I gave up on him. I don’t have a chance at all. I think we should put our competition behind us. And just be friends, you know move on to other guys.”
She glared at me. She was deep in thought but finally said, “ We were always friends. As long as Sasuke is happy, that’s all I need.” Her smile returned, “But if you’ve moved on, I can help you get the guy you’re after.”
“You can? Its just,” I really wasn’t ready for romance. I just had my heart destroyed before I got to this place, and didn’t expect anything to change. I was used to my anime crushes being just that, animated. With them suddenly being real, I couldn’t think straight. I had no plans to make them mine, just mostly fantasized. I couldn’t date them in my other life, so I didn’t have a plan or even thought about trying to date them. Plus Indra is dead and Madara stated he has no interest in me like that. I couldn’t see myself dating Madara, all my options were gone.
Her cheeks became flushed, “ I can see what you mean. Madara isn’t an easy man to get. Try keeping your options open Hitomi. Is their another person you’re thinking about? “
An image of Indra from the anime passed through my mind, I wondered what he would look like in real life, “ I can tell you this. I know Indra is dead, ya know? The man that started the Uchiha clan. I like him.”
She folded her arms across her chest, “That's not what I mean. Besides you like a dead man. That’s Sasuke's ancestor…. He's long gone. His chakra clings to Sasuke yet, I haven’t sensed it in him. I've only ever sensed Sasuke's.” Her face turned a deeper red. “Let’s go to the women's bath house.”
…………….
I held on to my towel as I gently sat in the sauna. My hair was in a messy ponytail above my head. She pulled back her hair neatly. It was just us two in the bath house today. “Maybe you’re not ready for a relationship. Or have you ever thought about something different. “ She said as she slowly took off her glasses and batted her eyes. She moved closer to me.
“I'm just not ready. We've been friends for a while. I am just waiting on the right guy. And unless Indra becomes real--,” I had to stop myself, he is real in this place, “becomes alive again, I’m just going to wait.”
She pressed her leg against mine, “It's not different with girls than it is guys,” she said in a sensual voice. Then added, “We at least understand each other. “
I saw what she was getting at. Although she was very attractive, she wasn’t my type. “Sorry, I can’t. I’m just going to stay single.” My face flushed a little at the idea of Indra coming back from the dead, but I know I'd not be his girlfriend, the idea though, with the fact he is actually real. It’s a different concept to have an anime and manga crush. And someone real, and now…
“I won’t let anyone get in my way,” She insisted.
“No one is in the way. I just can’t date.” Was all I could think to say. She was displeased with what I said but she pulled herself together.
“I get it. You'll wait for Sasuke. I heard that some guys like the girls to be together, and I think Sasuke is one of them. But if you’re not ready, I'll keep my eye open for anyone else who comes along. And besides even though we aren’t together I can still help you out. I just want to see you happy.” She tilted her head down and her cheeks were still red with a blush.
I knew she really liked Sasuke. She liked him enough to let him go, as long as he was happy. As far I knew that meant true love, and she had that for Sasuke. Slowly I put that together and realized I was talking to Karin Uzumaki. She looked like she does in the anime and manga, but I couldn’t see it at first, I wasn’t sure if she was Karin or not. It was hard to tell because after seeing her as a real person and not just a drawing, I could finally imagine what she’d look like as a real girl. She did look like Karin, like a really good actor doing a live play of the anime and manga, it took some getting used to, to see all the characters in a real life for the first time. It also made it hard to be sure you were right about who was who.
With a head nod, I said, “Karin, maybe you could help me pick out a new outfit? “ She agreed. Although I did think Karin was attractive in the anime and manga, seeing her in real life was different. She looked just as you could imagine a real live Karin Uzumaki would look, that is if you can imagine what she would like in real life. As I saw her in person for the first time, I found I wasn’t really attracted to her in real life like I was in the anime and manga, but Sasuke and Madara, well they were another story. Just as attractive in the anime and manga as they were in real life, and Madara was even more so than he was in the manga and anime, Sasuke was equal, he was the same amount attractive in real life as he is in the anime. Another girl I was interested in seeing in person was Temari. I wonder if she was still attractive in real life like she is in the manga and anime.
………….
I was walking along with Kiba, it wasn’t hard at all to tell he was Kiba, mostly because of Akamaru, the giant dog he would ride on, and his red face markings. “So Hitomi, have you seen Madara lately?” Kiba teased. Apparently my relationship with Kiba is similar to his with my sister, Hinata. To some degree he'd tease Hinata about liking Naruto. This also lead me to conclude my crush on Madara was already known or obvious. I'd have to ask around to find how so many people know about it. Just have to find the right person to ask, probably a good gal pal, just have to find out who my gal pals are.
I instantly responded as my face flushed, “No I haven’t. And probably won’t. He talked to me once and probably won’t again. He could be on a mission. “
“If you say so,” Kiba grinned.
Shikamaru wasn’t hard to recognize either, he came around the corner of a small cottage like house. His hair was dark and the only one I had seen that has a spiked ponytail. “Kiba you’re needed for a mission.” Shikamaru said.
“Can’t it wait.” Kiba replied.
“It can’t. We have to go now.”
“What about me?” I said as they already took off. “Really?!”
I wanted to find Madara again anyways. So I walked through the village until I was lost again. I found another clearing. I must be outside the village. Sakura was flirting with Itachi, her smile was genuine, and lit up her face. It wasn’t hard to watch, I was over Itachi, but I couldn’t say the same for Sasuke who was watching Sakura from afar. He was sitting on a roof top not to far from the clearing with Itachi and Sakura in it. The way he’d look at Sakura…..
I know he noticed me, as he turned his head to acknowledge my presence, so I walked back into the village.
So plain and simple. It’s all I was. Not overly pretty or popular, not a skilled ninja who was called immediately for any specific mission that made me the best fit. And not an interest of Sasuke's. That was easily predictable. I was nothing to him. I frowned with sadness. My heart was broken, so bad. I knew Sasuke was going to end up with Sakura, it's how the manga was written. I couldn't see any changing that.
“Hitomi! Hurry! You're needed at the Hokage's mansion!” A voice called from a woman I didn’t recognize. Her hair was dark and she had a pig in her arms.
I began to run in that way all the ninja ran, with their hands behind them as they would swiftly manage to glide across the land underneath them, and in astounding speed. I wasn’t sure if it was the same with me, but I tried to look like all ninja moves and ninjutsu came naturally, as well as the basics like running and jumping on roof tops or in the trees.
I jumped up on a small roof that wasn’t to far from the entrance to the mansion, it was easier than taking the stairs. I bounced off of it gracefully and landed right outside the door of the mansion. I turned the handle and walked in, the room wasn’t to far down the hall and I burst into the room and stopped immediately in front of Kakashi's desk. His head lifted slightly at my overly exaggerated entrance. “Sorry Kakashi, mister Hokage, sir. I was just in a hurry to get here.”
I looked at him wearily. He was interested in why I had made such an entrance. “Hitomi, you’re needed for a mission.” He kept staring into my eyes, trying to gather if I were ready to go on any type of mission, as I had not had a lot of training. He continued, “ This isn't a low rank mission.” I gave a smirk of anticipation. “Don’t get overly excited. You were only chosen because I had no one else who could go on this mission. The information I'm about to share with you is classified. Even Shizune isn’t aware.” That’s the woman who called me here, I couldn’t recognize her from afar, but maybe the pig should have given me the answer. “I will explain to her after. The information just arrived today. You are to head to the land of wind. There has been sightings of a possible, reanimation justu being used. You are to go and only gather information, nothing else.”
It’s about time I was allowed on a mission, although I was wanting to see Madara, but wait, “ What about Madara? Isn't he good with reanimation, and the samsara heavenly life thing?” My comment was from my lack of knowing jutsu names.
Kakashi smiled. It was the type of smile someone gives you if they know you are talking of your crush. “He is already on a mission. If you happen to see him,” he threw a scroll at me that was on his desk, “give him this.”
I opened it up to take a look at it. The only thing on it was a picture of a dark crescent moon. “Ok, I will.”
“Hitomi, don’t let your feelings get in the way,” Kakashi hesitated to allow me to go on this mission, but I was his only option. “You can be reckless, Hitomi, just gather what you can and report back to me. I don’t have anyone I can send with you on this mission.” He pauses but made a serious face, “Now get going, you don’t have time to waste.”
I put the scroll in the pouch on my back, in case I ran into Madara. I ran out the door.
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Chapter 2 To Train a Shinobi
Naruto and I walked through the village. It was cozy, the set up. Most houses and shops looked clean and warming, welcoming to outsiders. All the people here would greet you, with a friendly ‘hello' or gesture of a smile. Some rare people would just walk on by or run away. To be in the actual leave village it was like no other experience I'd had in my life. It was not like anything I could have imagined.
As I looked at Naruto I noticed how he looked in real life compared to the manga and anime. His face wasn't that flawless appearance that is given to a drawing, because it's hard to draw all the details or just left out for the purpose of it just being a cartoon, manga or animation. He had whiskers, three on each side of his face, but they didn’t stick out like a cat's would, they would hold in place no matter how he moved. If you looked closely you partly could notice the layer of skin that covered the whiskers and would hold them in place.
His blue eyes had a real look too, but same shape as are drawn in the anime and manga. I used to not be able to imagine how his hair would look if he were real, but now it was easy to see how it would look and not at all like a bad cosplay wig. He had thick hair and it was still that unusual shade of yellow, but looked natural on him. It was coarse and stuck in place but easily moved with the wind. Almost like those mouse commercials that claim it holds hair in place and doesn’t make it stiff, but his is actually like that rather than a false advertisement.
A man standing in an alley way, looked at me staring. As I stared back trying to place his real life face with anime and manga face, to determine who he is, he turned away. His long spiky raven black hair blew with the wind. It was clear as his hair moved aside that he wore an Uchiha symbol on the back of his shirt, a circle that was half white and half red with the white slightly extending from the circle like a handle to a circle paper fan. He was tall and walked with dignified confidence.
“Was that…..?” I spoke softly to Naruto not wanting to make a big deal or appear scared.
“What? You mean Madara?” I gawked at Naruto, he continued, “I guess you hit your head hard. He came back to the village after the great shinobi war.”
“Was that the battle I was in that I hit my head?”
“No. You hit your head in a battle after that one.”
“Why did Madara come back to the village? What did you say to him that changed his mind?” I was curious. Was I even in the great shinobi war? Madara was set in his ways, for him to change his mind, must of taken a lot more than anyone could imagine. Naruto is the only one with such strength and courage to dare to try.
“I did speak to him. Of course he was really into the fight. I had to get him to a point where he couldn’t fight at all.” Naruto bragged. “But after that I told him what it means to have a brother. I won’t go back on my ninja ways, and wouldn’t let him kill anymore of the people I cared about.”
“But why did he come back? What changed his mind?”
Naruto stopped walking and was about to say something when Sakura came around the corner. It was easy to notice Sakura, with pink hair, a larger forehead than most, and the typical red shirt. Not to mention her posture, “Naruto, give Hitomi a break, already. She hasn’t recovered from her head injury. I have to take another look at it.” She gazed at me swiftly and noted, “It's fine, but your memory loss is permanent. “ Sakura was one of the easier people to place her real life face to her anime and manga face.
I turned to Naruto, “Why is Madara back in the village? Can we even trust him? Could he be planning something? “ Madara was one powerful shinobi. His power is enough to run chills down my spine.
“I…” Naruto began to brag again but Sakura socked him on the head.
“Hitomi you don’t remember?” She glanced at me as I was quiet. “Naruto didn’t have anything to do with it. “
“Hey! I at least got him to…..”
Sakura cut Naruto off, “Yes he was immobilized, but,” She turned to me. “Hitomi you…” she read into my silent anticipation. “Hitomi, you are the reason he returned.”
Shocked my eyes widened with suspense.
Sakura flashed back to that time during the war and began with a story, “ Naruto fought Madara, and Sasuke gave Madara a final chidori, pinning him to the ground. In that instant Naruto had no time to waste. He had used up more chakra to create shadow clones. But Madara knew he was defeated. He told Naruto, ‘I didn’t expect to lose, how could you have danced this long?’
You walked toward Madara after you regained chakra. Instead you told him how you would fight for those you love, and Naruto agreed with you. But it wasn’t a big speech on the love of others and your comrads. Hitomi you would have finished him, or at least you wanted to, but you couldn’t, you knew you wouldn’t be strong enough for it. Even with full strength. You threw your fan next to him instead. Letting Madara see you wouldn’t do it. Naruto grabbed your fan, asking you ‘Hitomi how come….?’
‘I can’t. I wouldn’t be able to.’ Naruto picked up your fan and handed it back to you. Madara stared at you. Then he grabbed your arm. ‘Wait,’ he said. ‘I can come to reason.’ All of us hesitated. You exchanged looks and after looking into your eyes for awhile, he had a change of heart. Naruto could feel it, it changed instantly. Based on what Naruto said, we agreed to let him back into the village. It took a lot for Naruto to convince all the kages, but they agreed to it. He’s been back here since.” Sakura sighed and gave me a look of guilt. “We don’t know exactly what you did, Hitomi, but he hasn’t given us any trouble.”
“Oh,” was all I could say.
“Yeah, lets get on with our training,” Naruto was in a hurry.
“Naruto!” Sakura said.
“What?” He was puzzled as Sakura shook her head. Naruto was missing the big picture, but I couldn’t figure out why Sakura was angered by Naruto. We walked away as Sakura watched and smiled.
It wasn’t to much longer when we arrived at the training grounds. Three wooden posts stood in the middle and a small river ran behind it. Just like in the anime and manga. The river flow was steady, and the sound it made gave it a peaceful, and serene vibe, plus with the birds quietly chirping in the background, it made me feel a little bit calm about coming to this place. The wooden posts looked a little worn, and tarred. Some of the wood on it was splinting, but it was still sturdy in the ground.
“Alright! Let’s get started!” Naruto threw a kunai knife at a target on a tree. Some leaves fell off to the ground.
“So this is the basics.” I grabbed a kunai knife from the holder strapped to my left leg. It was strange to hold a kunai knife, as I have not done so in the past, but it was common in a place with ninja, this strange place. It was cold to the touch on the handle. I focused on the center of the target on the tree and flung the knife at it. It hit it’s mark. I grinned watching more leaves fall.
“Not bad. You still have skill. Just need practice, ya know.”
The training went on like that for hours until finally I was doing a light sparing with Naruto. He knocked me on by butt. I threw a shuriken, adjusting to the touch of another ninja tool, that I would place my finger through the hole in the center, fling towards Naruto to have him block it with a kunai.
One of his clones came from the sky to punch me into the ground, and I dodged it with a tuck and roll, like you would do to make an escape out of a moving car. The shadow clone thing was more like looking at identical twins, but in Naruto's case as many as he wanted, I had to adjust that. I still wasn’t sure what jutsus I could use or my nature type, so I stuck with basic taijutsu. I didn’t know much on using ninjutsu, as Naruto didn’t go deep into that training.
I was also adjusting to having chakra, and for using it, that’s going to be later. Out of breath I was panting. “Alright Naruto lets give it a rest.”
“Already?!” he was dissatisfied.
“Yeah, I need a break, Naruto.” I turned too walk away and realized he didn’t follow. Not sure why, I guess he was going to train alone after. The woods I walked through to go back to the village had that damp smell, coming from the moist leaves on the ground. A bush rustled and the animal that came out from it moved like a small black rodent but it was just a blur with the speed it was moving, as it ran across to other side of the trail.
When I was back in the village, I was lost. It didn’t look familiar and I couldn’t find the Hyuga clan manner. Walking into a tool shop, I noticed it had a lot of scrolls and different types of shuriken. The metal giant fan on the wall drew in my attention. As I touched it a woman with brown hair, had to buns on top of her head and a long braid trailing down her back. Although her clothes were clean, they looked old, like they've been worn out throughout the years. “ Anything you’re looking for?” She was calm and collected.
“No, just I’m lost. How do I get to the Hyuga manner?” In a scared voice, I gave my reply. I couldn’t adjust to the new atmosphere of the place and I the way others looked and just are in this place. A tool shop, it was meant for ninja tools and not the drills and hammers like back in my other life. No professional attire, just typical ninja wear and a natural old country vibe in the village and all over. The tool shop was included.
“I’ll take you there.” I heard a familiar voice, that I would hear a lot in anime. As I turned I could place the voice with the character. Again not just an anime and manga character, the sudden change in idea that he had to be real, I jumped back slightly. Forgetting my ninja body, my light jump back was stronger and I knocked into some tools held on the wall by metal hooks, knocking almost all of the shuriken down. I scrambled to pick them up and place them back in the right place.
“My tools! Hitomi!” The brown haired girl shrieked at the tools on the floor.
She knows me? “Sorry, I'll put it back.” Not turning to look at Sasuke, knowing it was actually Sasuke I began to shake with my usual scared reaction to a man I have a crush on, and add that he's not just anime….
Still standing behind me was Sasuke Uchiha. Not a response at all to my sudden klutzy display against the shuriken on the wall, he stayed still and waited until I had all the shuriken back in the right place. As I turned around slowly to finally once and for all take a look at what Sasuke Uchiha would look like in real life, my heart would pound fast. If he used his sharingan he could probably easily figure it all out, how I like him, I’d have no chance at hiding it at all. It would be really cool to finally see sharingan in live action, but I’d rather not have any of it used against me in a battle or for him to see my heart pounding.
So I finally saw Sasuke Uchiha in real life. It was clear who he was, his handsome face with perfect proportion was complimented by his dark black hair that still spiked in the back. I noticed he had both his arms, not like in the manga and anime after his fight with Naruto. I looked down. I could feel the blush building in my cheeks. His shirt was dirty, and he looked like he had trained or just returned from a mission. I could have fainted, but glad I didn’t.
We walked out side by side. “Thanks, Sasuke. I can’t remember how to get home.” I still couldn’t meet his gaze.
He was silent as we walked along through the peaceful side of the village. The Hyuga manner wasn’t to far from the tool shop. As we walked up to a building, I began to recognize it as the Hyuga manner, my home. At least in this place.
“We’re here.” He said then turned to walk away. I was about to thank him again, but he vanished. I blushed a deeper red.
If Sakura is with Itachi now, do I have a chance? Typical Sasuke showed no interest in me, and was just being kind like he does with most people, like Karin and random others throughout the manga/anime. No chance, and I’m still plain, not really pretty, or skilled. I’d be far from his type. I lowered my head and sighed in disappointment.
Just then Hinata ran passed me out of the house. “I’m going to be late! “ She said. I walked inside as she had left the door open. In my room I found no peace as my thoughts stirred in all directions. I thought I saw Madara just now in the reflection of my window. He would have no reason to be here, must just be the fact that I’m tired.
Not worried, I pulled the covers over my head, after climbing into bed and kicking off my sandals. Pulling the covers over my head and sleeping like that was something I grew to like, it kept the flashlight out of my face waking me up in jail as the D.O.s (Detention Officers) would walk past. I wasn’t scared of being here in this place, I didn’t fear for my life or safety. It was easy to sleep, as long as Naruto didn’t wake me up.
It had to be about two weeks of training. Not just with Naruto, but Hinata sometimes trained me, ‘reteaching’ me the jutsus and taijutsu that I apparently already knew. Which I truly didn’t know and never actually could do before. I trained with Tsunade once, too.
“Hitomi, get up!” she hollered at me, as I stumbled trying to stand up right. “Is that all you’ve got?” She was throwing explosive balls in my direction and I had to dodge or block it.
“I can’t….”
“Don’t you dare quit now, Hitomi!” she threw one at me like a pitcher trying to strike out a batter in baseball.
“Air palm!” I said creating a blue gust with my hand stretched out. The sensation was strange, it was like a burn that didn’t hurt or give pain, that shot from the middle of your stomach and out your hand, almost as quick as lightning. The wind release wasn’t enough to stop the ball, it didn’t even slow it down. It hit me and exploded on impact. It didn’t cause much damage, but I had some scrapes as I began to struggle to rise to my feet.
“Hitomi, don’t give up so easily. Or you will never become a strong ninja. You still had chakra left and enough to protect yourself from an oncoming attack. Use more force in your air palm, don’t underestimate your opponent. I told you I won’t go easy on you.”
A ninja with grey hair and a mask covering his face approached Tsunade. “Kakashi, she will never be able to use my super human strength like Sakura, but…” I could still hear what Tsunade was saying at a distance. I walked away not wanting to hear the rest of it. I know I’m a failure. It wasn’t to different in my other life. Love didn’t come easy, work I was never a top employee, always late, and constantly messing up. Friends, I didn’t have many, and I could see in this life it hadn’t changed any. I was still plain, not with extra ordinary chakra or skill.
…………..
Another week had passed and I was training hard. I didn’t train with Tsunade again. I was starting to get the hang of it, as I had already known it in this life and place, its probably the reason I could learn so quickly and the skills start to come naturally.
I heard there was a mission to take a woman and her child to the Hidden Mist. Strangely it was a B rank mission, I wasn’t sure why. I was to late to go on this mission, the team already left with the woman and her child.
“You wouldn’t have been the best fit for this mission, Hitomi. I chose based upon the skills of certain shinobi.”
Making a pout, I continued to listen to Kakashi. He is the Hokage at this point. I wonder if Naruto will be Hokage soon? Kakashi didn’t stop talking even as he noticed my pouting, “Ino’s mind transfer jutsu, along with her medical training made her the ideal fit for this. And Sai with his experience as an Anbu Black Ops. Shikamaru has the strategy needed for this type of mission and Hanabi's Byakugan could be used swiftly. “
“Why not me or Hinata?” I crossed my arms across my chest and lifted my head up slightly.
He placed his hands on the desk in front of him, “Hinata would hesitate more, and you Hitomi, would dive right in recklessly. “ He tilted his hat downward.
I tried to keep my face from showing any expression.
“Besides, you still don’t remember how to use the byakugan. You would be a poor choice on this mission.
Annoyed I walked out of his office and then out of the Hokage's mansion. On the backside of the mansion was a small clearing. No one in sight. A couple of birds chirping in the background as the wind blew leaves around me. Sitting on the ground I was writing in the dirt with a stick, ‘I *heart* Akihiro’ I wrote the name of the man back in my other life, who broke my heart. Truly I couldn’t say I still felt that way for him, but the pain will still be there, just like the memory, just like with Mot, my crush as a teenager who played head games with me.
It suddenly got shaded where I was sitting and I heard a deep man's voice, “Who’s Akihiro?”
I turned my head to find Madara Uchiha standing over me. I gasped but quickly pulled myself together. There wasn't much I could do being startled and trying to act calm. “Just some guy I used to know.”
“Very well then. We need to talk.” He said with no emotion in his voice.
……………..
We we're standing on a ledge with trees behind us. I wasn’t sure where he took me, but I didn’t know where anything was in this place I was suddenly living in. I wouldn’t look up at him or meet his gaze, I stared down shyly at the ground and found I was more mumbling what I would say, or taking awhile to say it without stammering.
“Do you know why I returned to the village? “ he said staring out to the village that was easily seen from a bird's eye view from here.
Shyly I found a way to speak up, but merely blurted out, “Nn….no. Wwhy?” Clearly I can’t talk today.
“The look in your eye….” He paused to turn and look at me. I was still looking toward the ground.
I didn’t respond to him, I nervously bit my lip.
He placed his hand under my chin and lifted my head up. “You have a look in your eye that is more sinister than my own.”
He kept his hand under my chin, startled I had to ask, “Why would that…. Make you decide to return to the village?” I managed to say but it came out more as a whisper.
“You obviously don’t have a clue do you? You are dark inside, but you remain uncaring to what goes on around you. But you remain on the side of justice.” His response nearly killed me. On the side of justice? I just got out of jail. He added, “You have no hope for this world, but remain unchanged. You could have attempted to kill me, be the hero, save your loved ones, but you gave up on it.”
He moved his face closer to mine, I slightly backed up and he dropped his hand from my chin. “You changed my resolve, and that is what changed.” He stared into my eyes making me more shy and I had to avert his gaze staring down yet again.
“Do not misunderstand, I’m not here on a new resolve due to some affection suddenly found inside my heart.”
I wasn’t sure what made him say that, “What? Why are you saying that?” I blinked with confusion.
He stared at me with his arms crossed across his chest and plainly stated, “You smile at me, and looked like you were expecting that type of resolve. I don’t have affection toward anyone. You included.”
“Um…. I wasn’t expecting you to. I wouldn’t think you’d like me like that, um…. I’m not really pretty or talented or smart or anything like that. No offense but I don’t like you like that either…..M…Madara.” I stuttered stating his name. I was really nervous around him, yet comfortable.
“You need to recalculate your judgement.” He narrowed his.
I stepped back again. He gave a smile. “Okay, I will. Um….” I was pacing away from him, making it clear I was leaving, “I'm just going to go.” Was all I could say.
“You clearly are lost. Hitomi for stating you don’t have affection for me,” I stopped, wanting to hear what he had to say. “Your face is always red in my presence as well as having a lustful look in your stare. That is also clear.”
Strangely as I heard what he said ring in my ears, the Hyuga in me must have been catching up because I was suddenly so embarrassed by that, him knowing I had a secret crush on him, he at least didn’t know about Indra, but I won’t have to worry about that, Indra's long gone and dead for centuries. The impact of his statement, I watched the darkness slowly transcend over my sight and began to feel weak in my legs and was suddenly losing consciousness and heading for the ground fast.
I awoke where I had passed out. Madara was no longer there. I was still a little dizzy and found someone put out their hand to help me up. “Hi, Hitomi! What ya doing way out here?” His voice was close to Naruto’s English dub, yet a little deeper. He wore a white kimono with markings on it that resembled ‘9s’. His hair was short and dark brown.
My eyes widened, “No way! Ashura?!” This can’t be for real. He looked puzzled.
“You don’t remember me? That’s right you were hit hard on your head. Yeah! It’s me Ashura.”
I nearly lost consciousness again, but Ashura caught me. If this is Ashura that means Indra could also be here too. My legs got even weaker, I guess that was the Hyuga in me, in this life, similar to my now older sister Hinata, and I was slowly getting used to this. “Hey, easy Hitomi. Maybe you need some water. “ The miracle cure water, that will fix a broken heart and cure spontaneous embarrassment that leads to fainting.
I sighed, “No it’s okay, Ashura. I’m fine.” I wobbled on my feet and could barely stand.
“Maybe I should carry you back to the village? You still look like you need water.” I said nothing to Ashura, but he scooped me up into his arms and began to walk back to the village.
While in the village I didn’t talk much to Ashura and I didn’t say anything about Madara. I was actually forgetting the whole nervousness and my crush on Madara causing me to faint thing. I was readjusting to this place. Ashura placed me down outside of an unknown manner, it was similar to the Hyuga manner but was for another family. I straightened out my shirt, “Thanks Ashura I need to get back home, though.” My head was getting clearer and I was sure I could find my way from here.
Ashura waved, I could hear him say, “What's with her all the sudden? It’s like she don’t even know me.”
Making a turn around an abandoned building, I found a rusty shuriken on the ground. It fell apart when I picked it up. I didn’t think they would make one that could rust like this. I watched it fall to the ground.
Finally finding the Hyuga manner on my own, I walk inside. Hinabi is away on a mission and Hinata is on another date with Naruto. The house was quiet. I stepped out into the yard that was used for training. It was empty. The sun was setting and the sky had turned a red color. It didn’t look like a good sign. Another shadow was cast from behind me and I turned around expecting to see Hinata's father standing there. But to my surprise and my bad luck was a man. He had long dark brown hair tied back. He wore a white kimono just like Ashura's and he had a sword on his back.
Is this really? His face was flawless and he was as handsome as ever. I instantly looked away. Wanting to run and not even talk to him, I did the only thing I could think of. Actually I impulsively and nervously blurted out, “ I have to go, I’m late and have to catch the bus.” The first thing that came to mind.
The man grabbed my arm so fast that I didn’t even manage to take my first step away from him and I had only barely begun to spin in the direction I was headed. “What’s a bus?” He plainly asked.
I forgot that buses don’t exist in this place, and it's not like I used a bus at all back home. I used to drive my car, that is until a cactus had fallen on it. “It’s….um….. I don’t know. I made it up.” Still not giving a good reason to be in a rush to leave, I tried to move away again but his hand was holding on to my arm still and he had a tight grip. “I can’t stay,” I refused to turn around and look at him. It was obvious that he was….
“I will train you,” He released my arm and watched as I didn’t flinch or turn to face him. It didn’t affect him at all.
“I didn’t ask you to train me,” I thought about it for a second, and finished my statement by asking, “did I?”
His eyes narrowed. My vision was slowly blurred, I couldn’t understand what was happening. It was like, it all turned into a dream. My eyes opened. I was back on the ground that I had awoken upon after Madara had left earlier. Pulling myself together I stood up. A girl with dark pink, perhaps red hair had walked up to me. She adjusted her glasses with one hand.
“You were in a genjutsu,” she was perceptive. Then she added, “ Don’t worry, no one harmed you.”
I remained speechless. The girl smiled at me.
“You haven’t changed one bit,” she was satisfied with my reaction to her.
“No I haven’t,” I was going along with what she said. I guessed we were old friends or perhaps had been rivals. “ Did Madara place me in the genjutsu?”
She seemed curious, but replied, “ I’m sure he was the one. Sasuke wouldn’t waste a genjutsu carelessly like that.” Her look was of jealousy, “What did he show you? “
I had the need to talk to her. It was like I had found someone I could relate to in some way. Instead of keeping it to myself like I would have, I told her about Ashura and Indra, just left out my crush on Indra.
“That’s twisted. Why show you something of the sage’s sons?” She hesitated and changed the topic. “Look neither one of us has a chance.”
I opened my mouth slightly.
She continued, “Sasuke. It looks to me that he likes that pink haired girl.”
“Sakura? But she’s dating Itachi and….” I got caught up in this conversation, it was about time I had someone I could talk to about this. As far as I could tell she was just as eager.
“Sasuke still likes her. We competed with each other for nothing,” she adjusted her glasses again.
“I gave up on him. I don’t have a chance at all. I think we should put our competition behind us. And just be friends, you know move on to other guys.”
She glared at me. She was deep in thought but finally said, “ We were always friends. As long as Sasuke is happy, that’s all I need.” Her smile returned, “But if you’ve moved on, I can help you get the guy you’re after.”
“You can? Its just,” I really wasn’t ready for romance. I just had my heart destroyed before I got to this place, and didn’t expect anything to change. I was used to my anime crushes being just that, animated. With them suddenly being real, I couldn’t think straight. I had no plans to make them mine, just mostly fantasized. I couldn’t date them in my other life, so I didn’t have a plan or even thought about trying to date them. Plus Indra is dead and Madara stated he has no interest in me like that. I couldn’t see myself dating Madara, all my options were gone.
Her cheeks became flushed, “ I can see what you mean. Madara isn’t an easy man to get. Try keeping your options open Hitomi. Is their another person you’re thinking about? “
An image of Indra from the anime passed through my mind, I wondered what he would look like in real life, “ I can tell you this. I know Indra is dead, ya know? The man that started the Uchiha clan. I like him.”
She folded her arms across her chest, “That's not what I mean. Besides you like a dead man. That’s Sasuke's ancestor…. He's long gone. His chakra clings to Sasuke yet, I haven’t sensed it in him. I've only ever sensed Sasuke's.” Her face turned a deeper red. “Let’s go to the women's bath house.”
…………….
I held on to my towel as I gently sat in the sauna. My hair was in a messy ponytail above my head. She pulled back her hair neatly. It was just us two in the bath house today. “Maybe you’re not ready for a relationship. Or have you ever thought about something different. “ She said as she slowly took off her glasses and batted her eyes. She moved closer to me.
“I'm just not ready. We've been friends for a while. I am just waiting on the right guy. And unless Indra becomes real--,” I had to stop myself, he is real in this place, “becomes alive again, I’m just going to wait.”
She pressed her leg against mine, “It's not different with girls than it is guys,” she said in a sensual voice. Then added, “We at least understand each other. “
I saw what she was getting at. Although she was very attractive, she wasn’t my type. “Sorry, I can’t. I’m just going to stay single.” My face flushed a little at the idea of Indra coming back from the dead, but I know I'd not be his girlfriend, the idea though, with the fact he is actually real. It’s a different concept to have an anime and manga crush. And someone real, and now…
“I won’t let anyone get in my way,” She insisted.
“No one is in the way. I just can’t date.” Was all I could think to say. She was displeased with what I said but she pulled herself together.
“I get it. You'll wait for Sasuke. I heard that some guys like the girls to be together, and I think Sasuke is one of them. But if you’re not ready, I'll keep my eye open for anyone else who comes along. And besides even though we aren’t together I can still help you out. I just want to see you happy.” She tilted her head down and her cheeks were still red with a blush.
I knew she really liked Sasuke. She liked him enough to let him go, as long as he was happy. As far I knew that meant true love, and she had that for Sasuke. Slowly I put that together and realized I was talking to Karin Uzumaki. She looked like she does in the anime and manga, but I couldn’t see it at first, I wasn’t sure if she was Karin or not. It was hard to tell because after seeing her as a real person and not just a drawing, I could finally imagine what she’d look like as a real girl. She did look like Karin, like a really good actor doing a live play of the anime and manga, it took some getting used to, to see all the characters in a real life for the first time. It also made it hard to be sure you were right about who was who.
With a head nod, I said, “Karin, maybe you could help me pick out a new outfit? “ She agreed. Although I did think Karin was attractive in the anime and manga, seeing her in real life was different. She looked just as you could imagine a real live Karin Uzumaki would look, that is if you can imagine what she would like in real life. As I saw her in person for the first time, I found I wasn’t really attracted to her in real life like I was in the anime and manga, but Sasuke and Madara, well they were another story. Just as attractive in the anime and manga as they were in real life, and Madara was even more so than he was in the manga and anime, Sasuke was equal, he was the same amount attractive in real life as he is in the anime. Another girl I was interested in seeing in person was Temari. I wonder if she was still attractive in real life like she is in the manga and anime.
………….
I was walking along with Kiba, it wasn’t hard at all to tell he was Kiba, mostly because of Akamaru, the giant dog he would ride on, and his red face markings. “So Hitomi, have you seen Madara lately?” Kiba teased. Apparently my relationship with Kiba is similar to his with my sister, Hinata. To some degree he'd tease Hinata about liking Naruto. This also lead me to conclude my crush on Madara was already known or obvious. I'd have to ask around to find how so many people know about it. Just have to find the right person to ask, probably a good gal pal, just have to find out who my gal pals are.
I instantly responded as my face flushed, “No I haven’t. And probably won’t. He talked to me once and probably won’t again. He could be on a mission. “
“If you say so,” Kiba grinned.
Shikamaru wasn’t hard to recognize either, he came around the corner of a small cottage like house. His hair was dark and the only one I had seen that has a spiked ponytail. “Kiba you’re needed for a mission.” Shikamaru said.
“Can’t it wait.” Kiba replied.
“It can’t. We have to go now.”
“What about me?” I said as they already took off. “Really?!”
I wanted to find Madara again anyways. So I walked through the village until I was lost again. I found another clearing. I must be outside the village. Sakura was flirting with Itachi, her smile was genuine, and lit up her face. It wasn’t hard to watch, I was over Itachi, but I couldn’t say the same for Sasuke who was watching Sakura from afar. He was sitting on a roof top not to far from the clearing with Itachi and Sakura in it. The way he’d look at Sakura…..
I know he noticed me, as he turned his head to acknowledge my presence, so I walked back into the village.
So plain and simple. It’s all I was. Not overly pretty or popular, not a skilled ninja who was called immediately for any specific mission that made me the best fit. And not an interest of Sasuke's. That was easily predictable. I was nothing to him. I frowned with sadness. My heart was broken, so bad. I knew Sasuke was going to end up with Sakura, it's how the manga was written. I couldn't see any changing that.
“Hitomi! Hurry! You're needed at the Hokage's mansion!” A voice called from a woman I didn’t recognize. Her hair was dark and she had a pig in her arms.
I began to run in that way all the ninja ran, with their hands behind them as they would swiftly manage to glide across the land underneath them, and in astounding speed. I wasn’t sure if it was the same with me, but I tried to look like all ninja moves and ninjutsu came naturally, as well as the basics like running and jumping on roof tops or in the trees.
I jumped up on a small roof that wasn’t to far from the entrance to the mansion, it was easier than taking the stairs. I bounced off of it gracefully and landed right outside the door of the mansion. I turned the handle and walked in, the room wasn’t to far down the hall and I burst into the room and stopped immediately in front of Kakashi's desk. His head lifted slightly at my overly exaggerated entrance. “Sorry Kakashi, mister Hokage, sir. I was just in a hurry to get here.”
I looked at him wearily. He was interested in why I had made such an entrance. “Hitomi, you’re needed for a mission.” He kept staring into my eyes, trying to gather if I were ready to go on any type of mission, as I had not had a lot of training. He continued, “ This isn't a low rank mission.” I gave a smirk of anticipation. “Don’t get overly excited. You were only chosen because I had no one else who could go on this mission. The information I'm about to share with you is classified. Even Shizune isn’t aware.” That’s the woman who called me here, I couldn’t recognize her from afar, but maybe the pig should have given me the answer. “I will explain to her after. The information just arrived today. You are to head to the land of wind. There has been sightings of a possible, reanimation justu being used. You are to go and only gather information, nothing else.”
It’s about time I was allowed on a mission, although I was wanting to see Madara, but wait, “ What about Madara? Isn't he good with reanimation, and the samsara heavenly life thing?” My comment was from my lack of knowing jutsu names.
Kakashi smiled. It was the type of smile someone gives you if they know you are talking of your crush. “He is already on a mission. If you happen to see him,” he threw a scroll at me that was on his desk, “give him this.”
I opened it up to take a look at it. The only thing on it was a picture of a dark crescent moon. “Ok, I will.”
“Hitomi, don’t let your feelings get in the way,” Kakashi hesitated to allow me to go on this mission, but I was his only option. “You can be reckless, Hitomi, just gather what you can and report back to me. I don’t have anyone I can send with you on this mission.” He pauses but made a serious face, “Now get going, you don’t have time to waste.”
I put the scroll in the pouch on my back, in case I ran into Madara. I ran out the door.
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