Beautiful Monsters

Chapter 5~ Graduation

"Alright stand in a line until I call your name for the graduation exam." It's been nearly two years since Shizi Yemao moved to the Hidden Leaf and she hasn't regretted a day. She stood respectfully in line behind her best friend, Shikamaru, with Kiba and Akamaru behind her.

"Sasuke Uchiha." Called Iruka Sensei, the said boy smirking and walking forward. "You are to make a Clone and Transform it into the Hokage." He did the necessary hand signs and by the feel Shizi was getting, added a little too much Chakra. It didn't hurt any but if it was life and death, it'd be a waste.

"Shikamaru Nara." The said muttered about being a drag and passed as well. This was the case until the Sensei called Shizi up.

"Shizi Yemao." She gulped and walked forward, hissing at the glaring Ino and Sakura as she went.

"Don't be nervous, Shizi-chan. You'll be perfect." She smiled at Jingxiao's comment and followed everyone's suit in her graduation exam, passing beautifully.

"Naruto Uzumaki." Shizi lightly cringed, she knew full well that Transformation and Clones weren't his forte whatsoever. It didn't stop him from trying, but it only produced a pathetically useless clone that wasn't even close to looking like the Hokage.

"Those of you who passed, here are your official Konoha Shinobi headbands." Shizi was handed the navy blue strip of fabric with a metal plate bearing the Hidden Leaf Village crest. She tied the straps around her waist like a belt as she walked out of the Academy, her friends congratulating her on her graduation.
Shizi spotted the wild blonde hair of Naruto sitting on a tree swing in depression of being the only one to not graduate. As she pushed through the crowd, snippets of gossip reached her keen ears.

"Can you imagine if that boy became a Ninja? Especially since he's-"

"Don't say it! You know we aren't allowed to speak of it!" Shizi hissed at the two women talking about her friend like he wasn't human. She even heard bits about herself.

"I can't believe the Hokage let such a freak into the village. Is he trying to get us all killed? First the boy now her." Her ears pinned down in anger and she glared at the man who spoke ill of her.

"I heard her old teacher died. She could bring us bad luck, you know. It's beyond me why our best Jonin Kakashi even let her stay in his apartment!" Shizi rolled her eyes and shoved by the final barrier of people separating her from the tree Naruto was at, but the boy was already gone. Sighing, she wandered around the Academy until she left for her shared apartment.

"Kika? You home?" She still used her nickname for the silver Jonin she gave him when she was ten. He hasn't said anything against it yet, so she doesn't plan on stopping. She pulled off her black sandals and walked into the kitchen, spotting a note on the table.

Went grocery shopping. Be back soon. ~Kakashi

"Alright, while Kika's gone I can practice with Jingxiao. It'll be good to get used to the weight before I go on a mission or something."

"We should go to an arena. No need to break the house. Kakashi wouldn't be pleased." Shizi chuckled at the thought and agreed before locking the door and sprinting to the closest training arena. She bit her thumb and did the signs before placing her hand on the ground.

"Summoning Jutsu: Nekomata." A poof of smoke brought out a tall, lanky man with wild calico hair and cat-like green eyes with cat ears to match his hair. He wore black pants and a white shirt. On his hip was a katana blade and on his back was a reaper that was made to look like a cat's claw.

"Hello, Shizi-kun. What is it you need?" The man purrs out while deeply bowing.

"I was hoping you could help me with Jingxiao. I'm having him add more weight so need to get used to the feel. I hope I'm not bothering you or anything." The Yokai smiled and assured her it was perfectly fine. She thanked him and he unstrapped his reaper, twisting it with grace unlike any other.