Shizi was in the woods by Konoha with Yinhua to smooth out her moves with Jingxiao. She swung at the Yokai and he beautifully dodged while criticizing her stance, grip, strength, and grace as he did. They took a break to get a quick drink under a large tree.
"That was very good, Shizi-kun. Very smooth. Well done." The said girl smiled at the calico man as she bit into a rice ball. The Yokai snapped his head to the distance towards the West, eyes searching the trunks intently, ears pricked in attention, and sharp, cat teeth bared in warning.
"What is it, Yinhua?" He stood and Shizi followed, both brandishing their reaper weapons in their own battle positions. Yinhua leapt into the trees and Shizi followed close by, alert for anything unusual. The sharp twang of blood was the first thing to reach her nose, followed by flowers and leather. She distinguished then as three separate people- possibly siblings- and they stopped on a thick branch almost 15 feet up.
They waited and the smells became increasingly stronger until the three newcomers were visible on the horizon as three flicking shadows. Shizi and Yinhua readied their readers as the trio drew closer and closer to their hiding place.
The first feature Shizi could make out was the bright red hair of the middle boy and second was the huge gourd he carried on his back. A blonde girl with four poofy pigtails was to his right with a huge fan strapped to her back. And lastly was a boy dressed in a black jumpsuit with a hat that tops in cat ears who carried a human-like, wrapped mummy on his back.
"Should we attack them, Shizi-kun?" She watched as they grew ever closer to them.
"No, let's just test their strength first." The calico Yokai nodded and they both drop onto the branch that impedes their path to Konoha. The three siblings skid to a stop when they saw the two standing on the wooden branch. Two of the three looked at Shizi in a mix of horror and surprise because of her transformation due to Jingxiao.
"Who are you and what's your business in Konoha?" They all turned their eyes from the brunette to look at Yinhua in the same expressions. They all stood with thick sass at his question.
"That is none of your business." Snapped the blonde girl as she reached back to hold tightly to her fan. Yinhua took that as a threat and in a flash had his cat claw reaper touching her throat in a threat. This jarred the cat-eared boy into action, his arm swinging for his mummy on his back as well. This made the Yokai draw his katana in a flash of silver to hold the blade steady to his throat as well.
"Don't make me repeat myself." Yinhua growled out, green eyes flashing in anger. The redheaded boy did nothing as the Yokai threatened his family, but he did turn to Shizi with a deadpan glaze over his seafoam eyes. He looked her over from head to feet, silently taking her transformation in as he critiqued her as a potential enemy.
"Take a picture, Sand Shinobi, it'll last longer. Why are you heading to Konoha?" He didn't answer, merely lifted his hand and launched sand at her with lightning speed. Shizi reacted with reflexes just as fast and used Jingxiao to slice the pillar in a perfect half, not even batting an eyelash.
The grains cleared and the boy's eyes widened a small fraction at the fact that she didn't even move and she could block his attack with unparalleled ease and grace. The calico looked over at Shizi, not once retreating his weapons an inch.
"What shall I do with them, Shizi-kun?" Her neon green eyes flicked between the three, horizontal pupil widening and narrowing in calculation.
"Let them go, they're not threats to Konoha as of yet." He curtly nodded and lowered his blades but kept them in his hands lest they become needed at a moment's notice.
"Who are you anyway?" The blonde girl demands. Shizi smiled and reverse summoned Jingxiao- the girl and the boy in the black jumpsuit watching in covert awe as her transformation dissipated with the reaper.
"I'm Shizi Yemao. Who are you three?" They introduced themselves: Temari, Kankuro and Gaara of the Desert.
"We're here for the Chunin Exams." Shizi's cat ears pricked at the name. Her chance to get passed the measly Genin level. Kankuro leaned over to Temari and whispered to her- though quite loud.
"Are you seeing the ears or am I seeing a mirage?" At the mention of her ears, Shizi glared at the boy as they pushed against the sides of her head in anger.
"Say anything else about my ears and I'll use my reaper to rip your foul soul from your pathetic body and personally send it to the deepest depths of Hell. Got me?" The boy glared and frowned at her. Temari on the other hand smiled hugely and lightly laughed.
"I like this girl!" Shizi offers to see them to Konoha and they agreed- well Temari agreed- and they hopped through the thick branches towards the Hidden Village.
"Where'd you get that reaper from, Shizi?" Asked the blonde as they went.
"My old Sensei gave it to me. His name was Kandahar Momochi." Two of the three stared wide-eyed in awe.
"Wait are you serious?! Kandahar, the Master Reaper?" Shizi nodded. "I recognize that reaper now! That was Jingxiao, wasn't it!" Shizi nodded once more. They reached the gates and the brunette said goodbye to the siblings before saying the same to the Yokai- who poofs into smoke after giving her a loving pat on the head.
"Kika? You home?" The man looked around the wall to the kitchen and gave his famous closed-eyed smile.
"How was training?" He knew of Yinhua and his training her with her reaper but he wasn't enlightened of the others. Shizi nodded to show it went well and he had her sit with him at the table for dinner. She broke apart her chopsticks and picked up a roll of sushi, her silver roommate following in quick pursuit.
"I heard the Chunin Exams were being hosted here soon. Are the Genin here allowed to participate, Kika?" He swallowed his bite and downed some clear water before speaking.
"Where'd you hear that, Shizi?"
"A trio of Hidden Sand Shinobi in the woods during training. Is it true?" He nodded. "Are we allowed to join?"
"Do you want to?" Shizi fervently nodded, overjoyed at the chance to upgrade and get stronger. Not to mention better missions to boot.
"I'd have to ask the Hokage about it tomorrow then. I think you're ready." Shizi offered the Jonin a closed-eyed smile.
"Do you think Naruto and them are ready?"
"Physically yes, mentally no. But I'm hoping these exams with help give them a good idea of teamwork and that they need to work together."
"Smart thinking, Kika." They finished and washed the dishes in comfortable silence. After checking the time, Kakashi massages Shizi's ear and said an amused goodnight as she leaned into his fingers and deeply purred. They retreated to their separate rooms and Shizi lay on her bed in thought about the future Chunin Exams and if she'll pass.
"Don't be nervous, Shizi-chan. You have me, Yinhua, Minsk, and Avarae to back you up if you need us."
"We're gonna finally do it, Jingxiao. We're going to fulfill Kandahar-Sensei's final wish. We'll both become strong and protect the people of the Hidden Leaf. Unlike when Kandahar-Sensei died."
"This time we'll be ready."
YOU ARE READING
Beautiful Monsters
Fanfiction"The true measure of a Shinobi is not how he lives, but how he dies..." Shizi Yemao's pretty smile hides her secrets and her pretty eyes have cried too many tears. It's scary what her smile has come to hide, and she has gotten better at hiding the...
