I sat on my bed as I polished my silver bow, Yujin purring on my pillow. My blue-tailed arrows lay next to me, and a sharp stone. I had been sharpening my arrows in preparation for a little training. Apparently, according to Naruto (Bolt, as I liked to call him), there was a small clearing near the centre of the forest just down the road, with dummies and such. I carefully put my arrows into the metal quiver, and slung my bow over my shoulder, grabbing a small packed lunch with some dumplings and an apple. Yujin leapt up onto my shoulder, and then I started down the steps. I waved to Ichiraku,
"I'm just going for some training in the forest, okay?" I called, not waiting for an answer. I ran out the shop and jogged at a steady pace down the street. After my long journey I needed some exercise! I alternated between sprinting and jogging until I reached the edge of the forest. I was just about to walk in when a figure appeared, scary the life out of me. I leapt to the side, kunai raised. He had the same stunning blank eyes as Hinata; and then I realised that they had the Byakugan. He had long, dark hair held in a loose ponytail down his mid back, and he was wearing a plain white kimono. He was quite a striking figure. I nodded respectfully toward him, as I was a newcomer I had to show respect and gratitude. He smiled softly back, and came over to me.
"Hello, there." He said, his voice gentle. I smiled, blushing as I returned the kunai to its sheath, "I'm sorry I frightened you. Are you alright?"
"Yeah, thanks." I said, dusting myself off in a great show of hands. He offered his out, and I took it hesitantly,
"Neji Hyuuga." He said, nodding slightly,
"Aiko Tora." I said, letting go of his hand.
"Ah, so you're the new girl from the Cloud?" He asked, folding his arms over his chest. I nodded,
"But I hope you won't judge me on that!" I joked, laughing. Neji didn't laugh. I stopped, embarrassed. Why was it always me who messed up!?
"We shall see, Aiko, we shall see... Anyways, I must go. Nice to meet you, Aiko Tora. "
"It's been a pleasure, Neji!" I said, waving as he poofed away. I sighed; it was my first day and I had already met three cute guys? Geez, I'd hate to see what the girls are like, fangirling all over them...
I continued into the forest, and walked for a while. The forest was rather drab; green and full of trees but dark and cold. But what was I expecting? Multicolour trees that sparkled and unicorns prancing in and out of cotton candy fog?! Well, not quite. Yujin was happily leaping from tree to tree, her silky blue fur rippling in the gentle breeze. I sighed to myself, contemplating all the techniques I was probably rusty on... My 'Shield of Splinters' always made me so achy afterwards, but my simple chakra control and transfer was easy. I would need to practice archery, too. I began to hum a soft lullaby, its hauntingly beautiful tune ringing out into the silent forest, accompanied by the soft chirp of birds. Yujin leapt lightly onto my shoulder, and snuggled into my hair as I began to sing.
'When you come home,
To me...
When you come home,
To me, my darling...
To me, to me...
I will be waiting,
I will be waiting
For you, my darling...
For you...'
It was a familiar tune, and I sang it from the bottom of my scarred heart, where many memories of its kind floated about in and out of my vision. My father used to sing it to me, every night. Until that day... Until him!
Suddenly a loud whistling came from out of the trees, and a gleaming shape was spinning toward me... A kunai... That day... Orochimaru... My father's death! I cried out as I deflected it off my golden kunai, "NO!" and stood there. Motionless... It had been the same, with me deflecting the dark kunai off my own golden one. But it wasn't Orochimaru... It was a boy. Wait, what? I looked again. There was definitely a boy walking toward me. And as he came into focus I realised that he was indeed the most handsome boy I had ever seen. He had dark blue hair, two bangs falling over his headband and to his chiselled jaw line, the rest of it shaped behind his head... Oddly like the rear end of a duck. But it was cutely messy. His eyes where completely dark and striking, with a small, straight nose and a small, straight mouth. He was a little taller than me, and he wore a navy blue shirt with matching shorts. He held a kunai in his hand, and when he saw me he stopped. We stared at each other for a minute, and I bent down to retrieve the black kunai impaled in the soft ground. I walked toward him, "Is this your kunai?"
"Yes. Thank you." He said bluntly, and returned it to his pouch, "I'm sorry if I frightened you."
"Oh, I wasn't frightened... I was just surprised, you know?" I smiled,
"Right..." He said, frowning slightly. I looked at his symbol on his shirt, and stifled a gasp. It was a blood red crescent moon over a white fan. The Uchiha clan symbol? No... They were all wiped out by one of their own flesh and blood; Itachi Uchiha. I paused before mentally shrugging, may as well ask.
"So... You're an Uchiha?" I said hesitantly. I immediately regretted it. He threw me a dirty glare, and ignored my question,
"You're not from around here... You're a cloud ninja." He growled, and brought up his kunai, "What are you doing in the leaf?!"
"My name is Aiko Tora, I'm staying in the leaf with an invitation from the Hokage." I said formally, reaching for my kunai just in case.
"Hmph. Whatever. If you're here to train just stay out of my way." He said, his voice menacing,
"Fine." I said, casually examining my grubby nails, "I was just going to say the same thing about you." I smiled, and pushed past the Uchiha. What made him so special? I was the last of my clan, too, but I didn't act like I owned the place. As I brushed past him, he muttered something,
"I wouldn't talk like that to me." I whirled around, and was extremely motivated to slap him. Instead I smiled artificially,
"I'm so sorry, your highness of the Uchiha clan!" I chuckled and moved on. Another kunai flung past me, hitting the tree in front of me.
"No one insults me like that... You will pay! I challenge you!" He growled. I laughed, and cracked my knuckles,
"With pleasure, Uchiha..."
YOU ARE READING
Team 101: Enemies of Fate (A Naruto Fanfic)
FanfictionA Naruto Fanfiction about an unusual Ninja called Aiko Tora and her life, starting from the very first day when her father and the Raikage were ruthlessly murdered by the one and only Orochimaru to the day that she has to make a decision which could...
