Azami Senju

Chapter V: Moving to a New Tree

~Anko POV~
I was scouting around The Forest of Death when I noticed a large hole in a tree with something it it. I couldn't tell what yet so I ran towards it, when I looked again I saw that kid, Azami Senju, asleep on a dirt and grass bed. There was food in one corner and ninja stuff in another, as well as a spare outfit. Seems she's living there, although I do need for her to leave.

"Azami! Wake up!" I shouted suddenly.

She sat up in a flash and had me pinned where she was sleeping before with a kunai to my neck.

She let out a small breath and said, "Oh, it's just you Anko. Sorry about that, I get defensive when out in the wild and being woken up by loud noises."

She smiled sheepishly and helped me up, I just smirked right back and nodded in understanding. After all I had stayed out here before as well, so I knew all about that. Loud noises in this forest are generally akin to attack, although that can be said for pretty much any noises in here, but my point still stands.

"I get it, but I do have some bad news for you. I'm gonna need for you to leave within the next two weeks, chunin exams. The second part is here so I can't have someone cheating on accident, and it would suck if someone takes your stuff." I warned her.

"Alright, although I have a pretty big advantage in this forest, me and Otou-san placed seals all over the place in here when he was teaching me survival." She smirked.

"Oh, well don't disappoint me then after such big talk." I replied, smirking right back at her.

"I won't. Besides, I was trained by three Hokage and a super powerful Uchiha, and the current elders minus Danzo, the prick." She bragged jokingly.

"Heh, he does suck."

"I know right, he thinks he's so entitled, but he's definitely not. He also wants to be Hokage, but never will be."

"Yeah, if he does become Hokage I'm gonna be pissed and kill someone. Slowly. Very, very slowly."

"You're definitely a torture expert with that sadistic chakra, it feels like it just wants everything and everyone to suffer very slowly. It's interesting in an odd way. It also has an odd snake-like feel to it."

"Hm, I never knew. It makes complete sense though."

After that we just talked about the forest and compared what it was like forty-six years ago to now, apparently it hadn't changed much, apart from getting bigger and a tower in the center. Anko soon had to leave and I had to figure out a place to stay during the exams. I could always go find another giant tree and make a hole in its trunk to stay in. Yeah, I think I'll do that.

And so, my search for the tree began. It took a couple hours but eventually I found it, a tree outside the forest of death perfect for my needs. It even had a small hollow already in it, I would just need to expand it. And so I did, I made the hollow larger and flattened the bottom. I placed a layer of soft grass and dirt, then Hiraishined back to my tree in the forest of grass and gathered my things. I had to run back to the other tree since, like a smart person, I hadn't placed a Hiraishin seal.

As soon as I got back I placed everything down and placed a Hiraishin seal on the inside of the tree. Then I took out a blanket I had made from leftover fabric and put it on my bed in the corner, my clothes were unpacked and placed next to my bed. I took out the food and ate some jerky and dried fruit, as well as drank some water. I closed the jerky bag and set it in the corner with the other food bags and water. Then my ninja tools were cleaned and set in, yet again, another corner.

I was finished moving my stuff and it was already after noon so I grabbed my ninja tools and Hiraishined to a nearby clearing with nobody in it to train. First I ran around the clearing a couple times and stretched to warm up. I then pulled out some wire and set it up all over the place, I stood in the center and started sprinting through the wire, ducking, jumping, and sliding, to avoid being cut by the nearly invisible wire. Of course I still got a few cuts, but I was doing much better. Next I pulled out my sword and did the same thing, just cutting all the wires as I went. When I finished I started doing pushups, situps, and squats. Then I used Hiraishin to teleport around and hit specific branches with my sword or kunai. Next, I practiced jutsu until I was almost passed out.

I sat on the ground and got my breathing under control before using what little chakra I had left to teleport to my tree. I took off my shoes, headband, bandages, and gloves before picking half of the blanket up and laying on the bottom part, wrapping myself in a sort of burrito. But it was comfortable so I don't really care, besides now I dont have to deal with the cold wind all night.

I woke up early today, around four am, and decided I would be looking at stealing the newest bingo book possible to learn about recent ninja. Otou-san said to be as prepared as possible and learning about others skills and ranks would surely help on that end. I'd also go to the library and look up anything and everything about recent events and anything else I could learn.

I ate the same meal as always, jerky and dried fruit, I'm getting tired of it already and it hasn't even been that long, not even a week. I'm just missing my precious Mitarashi Dango and Matcha Tea. I haven't done any missions yet so I still don't have any money, I'll have to get on that. Anyway, I washed myself in the river and changed into my other outfit after using my self heating jutsu to dry off. I left my hair down and put my hitae-ate on like a hairband with my bangs in front, keeping the rest of my hair out of my face. (Think how Sakura wears her hitae-ate, it's like that) I washed my old clothes and hung them to dry with a gravity seal on top to keep them from flying away.

I Hiraishined into Hiruzen's office and completely ignored his existence as I searched for a bingo book. He wasn't even mad, just amused. After a while I gave up and he handed me a book with nothing on the front. At first I was confused, but he just went back to his work, my brow scrunched and I opened it, seeing it was a bingo book, and a recent one! I love it when people read my mind and do things for me without my having to ask, its nice, unless it's in a fight, then it is not appreciated. I quickly thanked him and jumped out the window.

Then I found myself back inside his office and asked, "Where, um, where exactly is the library?"

He chuckled and gave me the directions, I thanked him again and jumped out. This time I knew where I was going so I didn't have to look stupid. When I got there the Librarian was a sweet looking old lady, who had a surprising amount of chakra, she must be an ex-kunoichi.  We bowed to each other and she asked if I needed any help, when I shook my head yes and told her I was researching recent history about the world she took me to a large section and pointed out where what I would want is.

-Timeskip no Jutsu-

It was closing time and getting pretty late so the librarian helped me check out a couple books, they were mostly around the different Kage and their families, as well as the villages and how they typically do stuff. I walked out and went into my tree to read even more, and then ended up falling asleep with the book on my face.