The Huntress

Chapter 7

Ilya's training was rugged, even for her. They started on chakra exercises that day, her learning how to feel it in her body and then learning how to sense it in the world. They started on some basic jutsu as well, the kawarimi, henge, and bunshin no jutsu were all basic but the general concept of using chakra was a little difficult to grasp for her. However, Genma has told her she has larger than average reserves despite doing nothing about it, and she figured it must've been all the post-apocalyptic journeying she had to do with her family.

  She was pretty sure by the sixth day, the day before her last training day, her bruises had bruises. Genma had her meditate for at least an hour after training as their cool off, supposedly to help her feel her own chakra and the natural chakra around them better. Ilya, however, had her suspicions it was to give the old man a rest.

  By the seventh day Ilya had grown a little attached to the outspoken man. Not in a weird way though, she already had someone else after all, but in a teacher sort of way? She was unsure just yet.

  After the meditation Genma stopped her from leaving. "Be sure to keep up the meditation," he started, a little awkward maybe, "it doesn't have to be an hour, like ten minutes." He said while flicking the senbon in his mouth. Ilya nodded in response, about to open her mouth to verbally respond when Genma said "and if you have any questions after you become a genin, feel free to come find me."

  Ilya gaped like a fish for a minute, staring the brunet in mild shock while he blushed a little under the scrutiny. She stood up soon though, smiling at the man and saying a cheery "sure!" She glanced up at the sky, gauging the time, "it's about time I go pick up my friend from the academy," she said, going to pick up her hoodie, this one with a big hood, and waving bye to Genma before going on her way. She was really tempted to take the rooftop route but she knew she would most likely fall so she instead opted to take the longer shortcut way, avoiding the main street. She made it to the academy just as the classes let out and she smiled and waved to Kiba when she saw him. He was talking with two other brunets and Naruto when he spotted her and it seemed he was about to say bye but they all stopped him and decided to come over. Ilya pulled her hood down as Kiba came close and pushed her ponytail off her shoulder, and gave him a small smile before smiling a little wider at the rest of the group.

  "Hi Kiba, Naruto," she said.

  "Hey Ilya."

  "Hi Ilya-chan."

  "And who are these two?" Ilya asked, gesturing to the two in the middle of the boisterous boys.

  Kiba cleared his throat and moved to stand beside Ilya, silently making his claim, "this is Nara Shikamaru and Aburame Shino." Naruto smirked at Kiba who rolled his eyes at him. Shikamaru watched their exchange, rolled his eyes mumbled troublesome. Shino stayed silent.

Giving a grin Ilya said "it's nice to meet you two, however Kiba and I had some plans to attend to so we have to get going." And then turned around, linking her arm through Kiba's after pulling her hood back up.

Shino watched them leave then turned to Naruto, "I suspect they both have a 'crush' on each other. Why? Because of the lack of complaining coming from Kiba."

Naruto threw his arms behind his head and grinned, "yup! They totaaaallllyyy like each other but neither of them have said anything. He's even slept over at her place a few times."

"How do you know?" Shikamaru drawled, sticking his hands in his pockets as they walked off. Shino looked at Naruto questioningly as well.

"Cause I'm her neighbour, like, right next door neighbour."