FitzChivalry Farseer
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Inuzuka Chronicles: Initiation
"Names please?”I was caught dumbstruck. The full realization of my acceptance to the chuunin exams had finally dawned on me. I was about to be tested in the harshest scrutiny under the eyes of top class shinobi. Death was but a failed attempt in their opinion. Doubt seized me. Was my group strong enough? Sure we did fine in our missions but were we really that capable?
Brother, please tell her your name
My companion wolf, Surefoot, nudged my leg and brought me back into focus. The proctor had asked my name and I dimwittedly stayed staring at ahead.
“Oh, Inuzuka Yasuke and this is my wolf Surefoot”
Not hiding her irritation at my slow reaction the proctor screeched the chalkboard in writing our names. She would be none the less happier later in the day when she would discover where Surefoot had relieved himself. With a wolfish grin, I left her pondering the location of the new fish smell.
“Um, why did you hesitate?”
The question was flung with a stint of rebuke and carefully timed when all participants were not busying themselves. Of course, the question was flung from my fellow teammate, Anari Hyuuga. Insufferably vain he always took an opportunity to try to assert his supposed superiority.
“Was that perhaps fear I saw in your face?” he added with a mocking tone.
“You’re right. You see I fear for your safety. This exam might be a little too much for you. God only knows how many times I saved your pampered butt.”
The same mocking tone I used was no coincidence. At that reply, some bystanders overhearing our talk either snickered and others couldn’t hold their chuckles. Anari’s face had turned scarlet at his public humiliation. With a few steps he stood face to face with me. Our gaze could have had electricity running through it.
“Might I remind you that I am a Hyuuga of the upper branch! You’re words are nothing but those of an insolent brat.”
The irony of his words was not lost on me. As expected from him, he hid under the overarching shadow of his “upper branch.”
“Well princess, you know that I am not a Hyuuga but belong to an even fiercer clan. The Inuzuka. You’re status is of no consequence to me.”
My thoughts touched the edges of my fiercest held secret but I did not allow my face to give away anything. Either way his byakugan could not penetrate my poker face. My words were like a breeze of air going through one ear to the other. Arrogance never did have good ears. He shrugged off the statement as I knew he would.
“You’re right. You see I fear for your safety. This exam might be a little too much for you. God only knows how many times I saved your pampered butt.”
The same mocking tone I used was no coincidence. At that reply, some bystanders overhearing our talk either snickered and others couldn’t hold their chuckles. Anari’s face had turned scarlet at his public humiliation. With a few steps he stood face to face with me. Our gaze could have had electricity running through it.
“Might I remind you that I am a Hyuuga of the upper branch! You’re words are nothing but those of an insolent brat.”
The irony of his words was not lost on me. As expected from him, he hid under the overarching shadow of his “upper branch.”
“Well princess, you know that I am not a Hyuuga but belong to an even fiercer clan. The Inuzuka. You’re status is of no consequence to me.”
My thoughts touched the edges of my fiercest held secret but I did not allow my face to give away anything. Either way his byakugan could not penetrate my poker face. My words were like a breeze of air going through one ear to the other. Arrogance never did have good ears. He shrugged off the statement as I knew he would.
We were both of the same age of 13 but we were as different as fire and ice. From his stance to the way he regally carried himself Anari was determined to show he was of an upper class. A unique lineage, their eyes could carry vision leagues away from where they were standing. Still a good nose was always better than great eyes. They certainly were an admirable race; however, Anari was the epitome of their never ending vanity. He wore the unmistakable symbol of the Hyuuga clan. Appropriately knitted to his chest, it actually did make him look royal. The konoha headband was proudly displayed across his forehead. Sometimes I wondered about his loyalty to the village. Maybe he preferred the Hyuuga clan. Undoubtedly he did. Yet as my teammate in team 8 he would not lose the chance at exalting his genin status to chuunin. Thus also laying the groundwork to back up his talk.
“Boys Oh Boys, What have I told you about arguing? That’s right, if you don’t draw blood then why bother with petty conflicts.”
A cold chill ran down my spine once I heard those cold uncaring words. The advocate of peace, my other fellow
teammate, had made her appearance in an elegant rough manner. Unlike, Anari, she used action instead of words to express her feelings. The way she looked at us with excitement in her eyes proved that she really did mean her words. Unfortunately, for us both she came from the Nara clan.
“Boys Oh Boys, What have I told you about arguing? That’s right, if you don’t draw blood then why bother with petty conflicts.”
A cold chill ran down my spine once I heard those cold uncaring words. The advocate of peace, my other fellow
teammate, had made her appearance in an elegant rough manner. Unlike, Anari, she used action instead of words to express her feelings. The way she looked at us with excitement in her eyes proved that she really did mean her words. Unfortunately, for us both she came from the Nara clan.
Heion Nara. Funny, her name actually meant tranquility. High intelligence and violent intentions interwoven into one being. This did not forebode well for the whole team. . . .ever. Neither I nor Anari were too particularly fond of some of her decisions when she was once placed as team leader. Her stance reminded me of a snake coiling to attack.
“Well Yasuke almost got us disqualified from the tournament because he is too dumb to remember his own name,”
Anari declared his innocence in blaming me. Her gaze quickly turned to an icy cold stare fit for a hawk closing in on its rat. Or in our case, rats.
“You idiots better not screw this up for me. I (she pauses) will kill you. Now where’s my favorite wolf in the whole wide world,” Her expression turned from bitter to bright and warm as she saw Surefoot fearlessly welcome her by leaping and rolling on the floor like a puppy.
How can you stand such evil?
My mind touched Surefoots. Luckily my conversation with Surefoot was concealed with our bond strength that gifted us with communicating our thoughts without speaking.
She brings me bacon strips, is all he could answer while he was in his excited state lolling his tongue.
“I would never get us disqualified,” indignance rose in my voice but I was interrupted.
“Of course you wouldn’t Yasuke,”
A haze of smoke suddenly appeared in the middle of us three. The calm voice was unmistakable. Kakashi sensei had arrived.
“Well Yasuke almost got us disqualified from the tournament because he is too dumb to remember his own name,”
Anari declared his innocence in blaming me. Her gaze quickly turned to an icy cold stare fit for a hawk closing in on its rat. Or in our case, rats.
“You idiots better not screw this up for me. I (she pauses) will kill you. Now where’s my favorite wolf in the whole wide world,” Her expression turned from bitter to bright and warm as she saw Surefoot fearlessly welcome her by leaping and rolling on the floor like a puppy.
How can you stand such evil?
My mind touched Surefoots. Luckily my conversation with Surefoot was concealed with our bond strength that gifted us with communicating our thoughts without speaking.
She brings me bacon strips, is all he could answer while he was in his excited state lolling his tongue.
“I would never get us disqualified,” indignance rose in my voice but I was interrupted.
“Of course you wouldn’t Yasuke,”
A haze of smoke suddenly appeared in the middle of us three. The calm voice was unmistakable. Kakashi sensei had arrived.
"Hi guys. So I see you haven’t hurt each other yet. That’s a good sign. You’re at least learning to tolerate each other. Maybe you really do have your heart set on intending to become chuunin,”
All this said while we he was looking at his latest edition of the Make Out paradise series. However his tone said that he meant the words he spoke. Out of sheer luck were assigned this legendary jounin from the 3rd ninja war and the 4th ninja war. Experience rode in his gaze as he picked up his head to scan us thoroughly. I felt that my team was but a foolish quarreling group under his observing eye. He went from me to Anari to Heion to Surefoot. If there was any scrutiny in his eye then he could have easily hid it from us.
“Simple advice will not do to protect you from what’s coming. However it is all I can offer. So allow me to tell you this: When you first came to me, to say the least, you all were pathetic,”
If he didn’t look like he was about to lengthen his speech then I was sure that had been all of it.
All this said while we he was looking at his latest edition of the Make Out paradise series. However his tone said that he meant the words he spoke. Out of sheer luck were assigned this legendary jounin from the 3rd ninja war and the 4th ninja war. Experience rode in his gaze as he picked up his head to scan us thoroughly. I felt that my team was but a foolish quarreling group under his observing eye. He went from me to Anari to Heion to Surefoot. If there was any scrutiny in his eye then he could have easily hid it from us.
“Simple advice will not do to protect you from what’s coming. However it is all I can offer. So allow me to tell you this: When you first came to me, to say the least, you all were pathetic,”
If he didn’t look like he was about to lengthen his speech then I was sure that had been all of it.
“Nonetheless, you passed all my tests with true skill. Your determination was proved in your initiation as genin. This time you will have to exceed those expectations. Your bodies will be pushed to the edge. Your mind thrown into a labyrinth of confusion. Your heart meshed and molded to someone else’s benefit. Do not let your judgment be clouded by fear. A clear mind makes clear decisions. In fearing the worst of a problem, you lose sight of the solution. Again do not cower to fear for you have your comrade to pick you up when you fall.”
A small glimmer of pride shown in his voice for the briefest moment and I basked in its rays. His approving look sparked an excitement similar to the anticipation of an early hunt. I looked at my peers and they returned the same determined glance. We were nothing if not stubborn. I realized that what we all shared in common was our refusal to become prey.
“If you survive the first two phases, then I will be waiting for you on the third. Good Luck.”
With that he disappeared in the same manner that he had entered. If any hesitation resided within me then I had dispersed it as the wind blows away a leaf. An unexplainable air of companionship moved us to enter the academy’s doors. In sync we entered together for the unveiling of our first obstacle.
[End of Chapter 1]
A small glimmer of pride shown in his voice for the briefest moment and I basked in its rays. His approving look sparked an excitement similar to the anticipation of an early hunt. I looked at my peers and they returned the same determined glance. We were nothing if not stubborn. I realized that what we all shared in common was our refusal to become prey.
“If you survive the first two phases, then I will be waiting for you on the third. Good Luck.”
With that he disappeared in the same manner that he had entered. If any hesitation resided within me then I had dispersed it as the wind blows away a leaf. An unexplainable air of companionship moved us to enter the academy’s doors. In sync we entered together for the unveiling of our first obstacle.
[End of Chapter 1]