Child of the Moon (Naruto Fanfiction)

23. The True Meaning

Chapter 23 – The True Meaning

Miyuki stood outside a pair of double doors with a seal saying “Open”. Kaminari rested on her shoulders as usual and the twins stood just behind her. It was roughly an hour after the sun had set and if Miyuki was right only one other team had made it to the tower already. She turned to her teammates. “Are you two ready to go in?”

“Yeah,” they nodded together.

Miyuki turned back around and pushed the doors open, breaking the seal. The girls stepped into the room and closed the door behind them. To the left and right of the girls were stair cases that lead up to two small balconies on each side of the room. The balconies each had and entry way that lead into another room on the second floor of the tower. In between the two balconies was a large wall scroll with writing on it. Miyuki already knew what it said due to it being in each room on the ground floor like the one they were in for many years.

Akahana and Akiha, however, both read the message written on the scroll. “If qualities of Heaven are your desire, acquire wisdom and knowledge to take your mind higher….” Akiha read aloud.

Akahana picked up where her sister left off. “If Earthly qualities are what you lack, train your body in the fields and prepare to attack.”

Miyuki smiled and decided to finish the rest. “When both Heaven and Earth are opened together, the path of peril will revert to the righteous path forever. This ‘__’ is the secret way…that guides us on from this place today.”

The twins turned to Miyuki. “What goes in the blank?” Akahana asked.

A thoughtful look crossed Miyuki’s face as she thought of her answer. “Hmmm….I remember once I asked the Lord Hokage that same question….He never did answer me directly. He just said that there would be a day that I would finally know it. I’m thinking that day is today…”

Akahana smiled, “Well…What are we waiting for? Let’s find out!”

Miyuki and Akiha laughed while giving a nod of agreement. Miyuki pulled out their two scrolls and handed one to Akiha, as she was standing the closest to her. Together they pulled open the scrolls. In the center of both scrolls was the character meaning “person” or “humanity”. Suddenly, the scrolls started to sizzle and smoke. “It’s a summoning! Drop the scroll!” Miyuki shouted as she dropped the one she was holding and jumped back a few feet. Akiha followed Miyuki’s example and dropped the scroll she was holding as well before moving away with Akahana.

A loud poof echoed through the room and the shape of a person could be seen as the smoke started to clear up. Miyuki narrowed her eyes before they started to widen at who she saw before her. “Suzume-sensei?” she asked when she could clearly see the woman before her. Suzume was a teacher at the ninja academy. The woman had once taught Miyuki and her fellow kuniochi how to pass themselves off as normal citizens when undercover.

“Hello, Tukiko-san,” Suzume greeted Miyuki before looking at the twins.. “Hello to you two as well.”

“What are you doing here, sensei?” Akahana asked the older woman.

Suzume pushed up her glasses as she answered the older Shimizu twin. “The jutsu on the scroll was designed to that we Chunin could greet the applicants at the end of the second exam. I just happened to be the messenger for the three of you girls.” Suzume pulled out a watch and saw the time. “You three completed this exam rather quickly. I do believe you’re the second group to complete the exam in such short time…” Suzume scanned over the girls. “And with no injuries at that….”

“Hm? Is that so? How long did it take for the other team, if you don’t mind my asking?” Miyuki inquired the academy teacher.

“Yes. They arrived at the tower only half an hour ago. I heard they captured the second scroll an hour and thirty-seven minutes into the exam. Just around the same time you three did as well.”