Jinsei Lee
Member
~~~~~~~~~ARTHUR'S NOTES~~~~~~~~~~
Hey guys! Just a heads up! This is chapter five and the last part of my "little test" here. After posting this, I'll see what sort of reactions it gets, then I'll decide whether or not to continue. Thanks for your patience!
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CHAPTER FIVE: KANAKO WA DOU DESUKA?
("What About Kanako?")
Hey guys! Just a heads up! This is chapter five and the last part of my "little test" here. After posting this, I'll see what sort of reactions it gets, then I'll decide whether or not to continue. Thanks for your patience!
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CHAPTER FIVE: KANAKO WA DOU DESUKA?
("What About Kanako?")
___Saiounji watched the two girls in silence as the remaining two Shikari disappeared in a puff of smoke, freeing him from the Kage Mane no Jutsu while doing so. Saiounji kneeled down to his left knee, resting his upper-body somewhat on his right knee. While doing this, Saiounji's eyes were kept on Shikari.
___"Shikari used the Henge no Jutsu to disguise herself as Kanako, then proceeded to follow me with the shadow clones." Saiounji thought to himself, giving a soft sigh before standing upright. "During this, Kanako must have been setting up all those threads in the disguise of a trap."
___"We won! We won! You suck!" Shikari yelled out at Saiounji, pointing a finger at him. When she moved her hand, the bell fell down onto the ground. Kanako's golden-yellow eyes shifted to the fallen bell before looking towards Shikari. Kanako remained quiet, though she kneeled down and reached out with her bare hand to pick up the bell. Saiounji's turquoise-colored eyes were on Kanako now, noticing how timid she seemed when the bell landed on the ground. Those eyes slowly shifted over to the boasting Shikari, whom was still excited about having become a ninja.
___"Sou da," Saiounji thought to himself. By watching Shikari, he noticed how she was sweating somewhat and panting. "Just like most of the Nara Clan, her chakra reserves are low after-all. She probably used up all her chakra with those shadow clones, the transformation technique, and the shadow manipulation."
___"So now that I'm a ninja, what's my first mission!? Eh? IKEMEN-SENSEI!" Shikari shouted at the top of her lungs. She seemed to have forgotten all about Kanako at the moment, while she continued to tease Saiounji by calling him a pretty-boy. "Please let it be cool, like defeating a powerful enemy. Eh, Sensei? SEN-SEI!"
___"However," Saiounji continued to think to himself. At this point, he raised his left finger up to his left ear in an attempt to plug out the noise made by Shikari. "While I can guess Shikari's abilities off the bat, I know virtually nothing about Kanako."
___Kanako watched Shikari for a moment, noticing how rowdy she was getting. She fumbled with the bell in her hands for a bit before shifting her attention towards Saiounji. Noticing that Saiounji was looking straight at her, those eyes drifted away and a blush formed over her cheeks.
___Saiounji finally removed his hand from his ear and politely pushed Shikari back from his personal space. He turned his attention towards the sky and thought for a moment, making a slight "humming" sound.
___"Oi, Ikemen-Sensei!" Shikari shouted out at him, getting impatient.
___"Ah, your first mission." Saiounji finally spoke out before offering a smile towards the two. "Your first mission will be assigned to you when and if you actually become shinobi."
___"Wait, what?" Shikari blinked before glaring at the man in front of her. She pointed her finger at him again. "What do mean 'when' and 'if!?' I passed your stupid test!"
___Kanako blinked and returned her attention towards Saiounji. She was confused as well, unsure of what Saiounji was thinking. She winced a little at Shikari's sudden shouting.
___"Well, you passed my bell test," Saiounji stated, nodding his head as he closed his eyes. Those eyes opened a few seconds later and Saiounji offered a kind smile to the two of them. "Be at the Nakama Shrine in twenty minutes."
___"Nani!?" Shikari yelled. She noticed Saiounji raising one hand to his chest and his two fingers extended upwards while he waved with his other hand. "Oi! Matte!"
___Unfortunately, Shikari's plea for him to wait wasn't met as rows of cherry blossom petals formed and Saiounji's body disappeared while the petals blew away in the wind. Shikari growled, forming a fist with her hand.
___"Tch... dammit!" Shikari clenched her teeth while squeezing her fist. Her attention finally turned towards Kanako, glaring at her with chocolate-brown eyes. This stare caused Kanako to shift a little in her place and look away while fidgeting with the bell.
___Kanako remained quiet as she and Shikari were walking on a path in the woods. Various creatures of the forest around them could be heard, being the only noise that broke the silence. Birds chirping and insects making their own, unique noises filled the forest with its own audible soundtrack. Shikari seemed to have settled down from her fit earlier with Saiounji and was walking along the path with her hands behind her head and her head tilted upwards.
___Kanako was walking beside Shikari, her golden-yellow eyes tilted downwards at the bell that she still held in her hands before slowly turning her head to look over her attire. The dress she wore was dirty and showed wear and tear from the bell test that had just been completed. She bit her lip and shook her head before looking over towards Shikari, remaining quiet. The two soon entered a clearing in the forest. The clearing had a small house, not very large and was obviously very old. It wasn't anything special, since it had mold and rotted wood that decorated the majority of the exterior.
___"Anta no kao ga," Shikari grumbled as she turned her attention towards Kanako. She stared at Kanako for a moment with her brown eyes, almost as though Kanako were an enemy. "maji mukatsuku."
___Kanako's eyes widened and she stopped walking, watching Shikari before lowering those eyes to the bell. She didn't respond, she simply fumbled with the bell for a few minutes.
___"Nn... Doshite?" Kanako finally whispered out, wanting to know why, exactly, Shikari is so mean towards her.
___"Why? What do you mean why!?" Shikari growled, stopping in her spot and turning towards Kanako. Her hands clenched into fists. "Where should I start? You're a demon seed and shouldn't be allowed to walk the streets let alone become a ninja; you're about as loud as a slug; you dress up like you're going on a date despite the fact that you look like you've never left the box you live in. People like you should just kill themselves and save the world a sore eyesight!"
___Kanako began to form tears in her eyes. Her body trembled, while she did her best to hold back her own words. She wasn't sure what she wanted to say, it was obvious that these harsh words had gotten to her. Kanako lowered her head while tears flowed down those cheeks.
___"Hey look," Shikari smirked, crossing her arms over her chest while she stood. Like Kanako's dress, Shikari's attire had been torn in a couple of spots due to the twigs and branches that stuck out in the forest. "Even monsters can shed tears. Who would have thought?"
___"Doshite...?" Kanako whispered, trying to speak up. "Why are you so mean to me? I did nothing... just because I look like this monster. You believe the rumors... the stories... the lies, but you won't believe the person? Why?"
___"Is it because I'm an easy target?" Kanako continued while she looked up towards Shikari. Those tears still flowed from those eyes. "Do you need to boost your ego or are you just mean for the sake of being mean? How many friends do you actually have with that attitude?"
___Kanako clenched the bell in her hand for a couple of seconds before she threw it at Shikari, gritting her teeth. The bell hit Shikari's shoulder before falling onto the ground, causing a crack in its golden tint. Kanako looked away, clenching her fists. Her shoulders were shaking, an obvious sign that she was crying.
___"You don't know anything about me, but you're always calling me a monster... a freak... a demon seed." Kanako sobbed, though she could barely be heard. "Do you even know what it's like to grow up without a family? Being told that everyone you knew died and everyone thinks you did it? Being told that you were the reason your family was dead?"
___Shikari was stunned at this sudden escape of emotions. Kanako was usually reserved and quiet. Shikari looked away for a moment, remembering a day that happened years ago. On this particular day, Shikari and a group of others were standing by a playground. They weren't that old, most likely about seven or so. It was Shikari, looking like she does now except with longer hair and a violet dress and seven others. The others had no special quality to them except that one of them had a set of eyes that seemed blank, but were all white.
___The group of kids were whispering amongst each other while a young Kanako, just as pale and just as reserved as she is now, sat by herself on a teeter-totter. Kanako's expression on her face had the same expression Kanako just had a few seconds ago before she began to cry.
___"See that kid? I heard she killed her entire family." One kid whispered.
___"No way, her Dad is this 'Orochimaru' guy, I heard my Mother talk about it with someone." Another kid responded in a whisper.
___"You're both wrong! She was born from the blood of the dead Uchiha Clan!" Another whispered.
___"Maybe it's all of them. Maybe she's the devil who came here to kill us." Came another voice.
___At that point, Kanako lifted her eyes and looked over towards the group of children. While they were whispering, they weren't exactly keeping it a low whisper. She could hear every word. When those golden-yellow eyes were set on the children, having a very confused look as to why they were saying these things, the group of kids turned and ran off. Shikari was the only one who remained, watching the others run off. After looking back at Kanako, Shikari gave a scowl and turned before running to catch up with the others.
___"I..." Shikari started to speak when she came back to present time.
___"Of course you don't!" Kanako shouted, tears falling down those cheeks. "You're a Nara, part of the famous Nara Clan! You don't know what it's like being unable to reach out and touch a person without them fearing you! Why do you and everyone else hate me!? Ikitete suimasen!"
___Kanako glared at Shikari with those golden-yellow eyes. This glare, the snake-like eyes that formed in those pupils sent chills through Shikari's body. After Shikari stared with wide eyes and noticeably trembled, Kanako gasped. Those eyes returned to their usual way and she turned away. Kanako began to take deep breaths in an attempt to calm herself before she ran towards the run-down house. She ran to the other side of the small building and sat down, pressing her back against the house and hugging her knees.
___Shikari watched, stunned at Kanako's behavior. She clenched her teeth and was getting ready to yell out something, though stopped herself. She watched as Kanako ran away, but shook her head. Shikari frowned and walked towards an old stump before taking a seat, staying quiet.
___Saiounji tilted his head towards the sky, hiding on a tree branch amongst the trees. Saiounji was sitting on the branch with his back against the trunk, making sure to keep himself hidden from the two girls in the clearing.
___"I see." Saiounji whispered to himself in a low voice, watching the leaves shift as the wind blew by. "Now that I know her motivation, it seems as though I can take them seriously. But first..." Saiounji closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
___"...First, I need them to realize the purpose of their test."
~~~~~~~~TRANSLATIONS~~~~~~~~~
Sensei - A term used to signify someone of a specific educated profession. A doctor, an novelist, and teacher all fit under this term. In terms of "teacher," it's to show that the person being called it is the one who guides the underlings and teach them, duh.
Ikemen - Japanese slang to mean "pretty-boy." It's usually used towards those who are male, but act like Brat Pitt. Think "Yuki" from Fruits Basket!
Sou da - Informal Japanese for "I see."
Orochimaru - Perhaps one the greatest villains in anime/manga history, ever. Inspired from a Japanese folklore in which the character is able to summon snakes.
Nani - Japanese for, "what?" Possibly the best word in history due to all the ways you can say it and not sound like a retard.
Oi - Simply "hey!" in Japanese.
Matte - Informal way of saying "wait" in Japanese.
Anta no kao ga maji mukatsuku. - Informal Japanese for "Your face REALLY pisses me off."
Doshite - Polite way of saying, "why."