Uchiha Avenger

Chapter 5

The ceiling of the cavern seemed a mile high and all around, there were patches of grass and moss. Beds for the cats supposedly.
Sunlight streamed in through a small opening in the corner of the cave where a waterfall had been made from cracks within the wall. A large pool of water sat within that corner, a large pile of food stored on the opposite side. Homemade buckets sat next to another waterfall, the water seemingly deeper than the other.

Koto walked forward cautiously, creeping around the moss beds as Ayame carefully followed.

"It's bad luck to stir one's bed." She explained once they had reached the other side. "Now, come on." She walked through the opening of the wall, much larger than usual. They suddenly reached another opening, Ayame looking up slowly.

Three moss beds were placed around her on a level of higher ground, feathers and other bedding serving as cusions within the moss. One each of the beds sat a giant cat, matching the descriptions the drawings had offered. The tiger was a white color with golden stripes and a piercing green gaze, his beads around his ear. The cougar was a dusty brown with light blue eyes and a beaded necklace while the leapord was normally colored although his gaze was a brimming purple. His beads were on his front paw.

The tiger's ears rose and they each turned. Koto bowed immediately, Ayame only staring blankly. Koto's tail tapped the back of her knee and she knelt down immediately.

"Koto." The leapord spoke. She closed her eyes nervously. "What have you brought?"

"Sosuke." She stammered, obviously a mess. "A young kunoichi has come here solely for the purpose of learning our ways to benefit her studies of becoming a shinobi that will benefit her village."

"Which is?" The cougar asked.

"The Village Hidden in the Leaves." Ayame answered. She stood, the tiger's ears twitching back in curiosity.

"I can tell by your chakra you're an Uchiha." The tiger spoke, his deep voice rumbling off the cave walls to vibrate the insides of her chest. "But that does not phase me. You have come here unwanted and I want you to leave."

"Leave?!" Ayame whispered in a feeble voice. "No!"

"Leave." He repeated, narrowing his eyes. "Do I need to personally show you out?"

"You didn't even give me the oppurtunity to rest my case! You won't even let me explain myself!"

"I don't want an explanation." He snapped. "You disrespectful little pest! You have the audacity to walk into my home, command me to teach you, then refuse to leave! I should crush you and use your bones as a tooth pick!"

"Why won't you train me? No one else in my village will and I thought out of all the people, you all could mold me into a strong shinobi! You-you dumbass!"

"Leave." He growled. Ayame took a step forward, balling her fist.

"No." Koto's ears folded back and her eyes became the size of moons. The other two onlookers had lowered the heads to spectate Ayame's arrogance.

The tiger suddenly slammed his front paws on the lower level and took a sharp breath, roaring his rage at Ayame. Koto scampered underneath her paws, in the process slipping her scarf over her head.

The tiger finally stopped, baring his teeth. His eyes slowly opened, flashing down to see Ayame. She glared up at him, her arms now crossed. Not a brim of fear was reflected in her eyes as she locked gazes with him.

Sosuke's ears perked in interest as the cougar scoffed.

"She that looks death into the eyes and doesn't bat one eye is the she who is worthy of apprenticeship." The cougar spoke as if reciting something. The tiger stepped onto his level and suddenly bowed his head, the other two cats following his lead in doing so.

Koto's jaw dropped as she stared up at Ayame who stepped back in surprise.

"what?"

"You've won our respect. You will undergo our training and become a strong shinobi. We are sending you home and at the crack of dawn on your third day back, summon a cat and it will bring you back. This gives you enough time to say goodbye." The tiger explained. He stepped forward.

"If no one is summoned, your apprenticeship will be immediately ended." His tone took a venomous twist as he growled the warning.

The leapord tilted his head and smirked. "See ya."

Ayame's body disappeared from the cave and reappeared before Jiriaya. Manzo and Yasmin stood behind him as well as the Fourth Hokage.

Ayame gasped at their presence, leaning back slightly.

"Lord Hokage." She bowed.

"Ayame." He dipped his head back in greeting. "Do you know where you are?"

"Yeah." She said warily, looking around. "A clearing just outside the village. Right?"

"Yes, yes." He nodded. "Do you know how long you've been gone?"

For the first time, Ayame looked at Jiraiya who sat with his arms crossed and a guilty expression upon his face.

"Thirty minutes?"

"Ayame." Yasmin whispered. "You've been gone for a day."

"A Day? But it didn't seem like that long-"

"The time between our reality and their's is extremely different. What seems like an hour in their's could be a week in our's."

Ayame swallowed and nodded. The fourth Hokage helped her stand.

"Thank you." Manzo nodded to Minato as Yasmin brushed Ayame off.

"Any time. Sorry about this happening though." He glanced back at Jiraiya who huffed.

Yasmin guided Ayame home where she immediately was bathed and placed in fresh clothing.

"Hey ma, I'm going to run over to Itachi's!" Ayame yelled before running out the door. Before she made it to his house, she stopped at soft murmurs coming from behind her. It was evening at the time but Ayame was able to still clearly see around. She spotted Itachi walking beside Izumi, another Uchiha. She narrowed her eyes as Itachi slunk an arm around her as she babbled on, leaning her head on his shoulder.

Ayame chewed on her bottom lip, standing in the middle of their walkway. As Itachi finally looked up, Ayame was gone and not a trace of her was left.

She fled to Obito's house, spotting him outside his house dumping something on the ground. She slowed to a simple walk, catching his gaze.

"Ayame!" He brimmed with delight as he embraced her in greeting. "You're back!"

"Yeah." She breathed, resting her head on his shoulder. "I️, uh, I just needed to...figure some things out." She breathed, stepping back.

"What's wrong?" He asked, resting his hands on her shoulders. Ayame's eyes were lined with tears as she shook her head.

"Nothing." She whispered. Obito clutched her hand gently, Ayame gazing into his eyes. She leaned forward, Obito leaning back in response. Ayame peered up at him in confusion, Obito glancing to his right.

"I'm sorry." She pushed him back and dipped her head. Embarrassment was written over her face as Obito attempted to grab her arm but she slipped away from his grasp.

Ayame headed home immediately and walked inside. Manzo stepped infront of her, blocking her pathway. She looked up, taken aback by the smirk upon his face.

"I'm glad to see you back." He placed his hand on her head. "It's good. You'll be back at the academy early tomorrow just in time to prepare for your Genin exams."

Ayame nodded and stepped around him. "I'm going to bed." She faked a yawn and trekked to her room to collapse upon her bed.