Chapter 2: Land of Waves.

Chapter 2: Land of Waves.

Now, officially graduated, I had to work on my shinobi uniform. I mean, after the first year I gave up on trying anything too complicated. Too expensive to have the clothing store Oba-san craft it just for me since I’d replace it just a few months later. I was a growing girl, and clothes got destroyed fast when you’re training to be a ninja.

But this time I wasn’t training to be one. I was a ninja!

I already had my ideal uniform in mind. Heck, I had already paid the ninja people to craft it for me. Years of saving money — and maybe selling a seal here and there — I ordered four sets of matching clothes. I would order more when these didn’t fit me anymore. I was still a growing girl, after all.

I still didn’t break tradition of the opentoed shoes. They had their reason. Those stayed. White stocking to cover my toes, going up to mid thigh. The usual skirt ended up just shy above the stockings. A finger width of exposed skin. I mean. I was twelve already. I wasn’t a kid anymore. I mean, I was still a kid, but wasn’t. I was proud of myself. I wanted to feel pretty. If that annoyed anyone, they could go practice their chakra control elsewhere. Not that anyone would see anything under my skirt. We were tree-hopping ninja. I wore shorts beneath it all. The skirt was just a fashion statement. There were small hidden pockets on those shorts where I kept my new miniature seals. It took years of research, but I was finally able to create small seals that could to store large things. My Koto was there, so was my supply of exploding tags. Can’t blame me for keeping the important stuff on hand.

I wore what was basically a short sleeve dress shirt, collar, yoke, button stand and all. To top it off, a small red tie, and open finger gloves. My fan-girl side mute squealed in delight when I saw myself in the mirror. Damn I looked good. My hair had changed. It had always been dark, more toward blue. But now it was completely black. I couldn’t see a hint of blue there. I’m not sure when that happened, I never paid attention to it. It was only when Sakura-chan pointed it out for me last year I noticed the difference.

The shorts, skirt, shirt where all shinobi approved, of course. Crafted with wire mesh underneath, and reinforced to provide any protection it could. It was all black. Save for the tie, which was red. I wore the forehead protector beneath my fringe, almost all hidden. It was cool. It looked good. I mean, If Naruto can wear a orange jumper, Gai a green leotard, why couldn’t I abuse my earth days for some fashion statements?

The rest of my preparations was packing stuff. The story never went in details what sort of training Kurenai-sensei put the team eight through, but I was confident the team wouldn’t fail because of me. Team eight was supposed to be a tracking specialist team. I didn’t have byakugan anymore, but I could still feel chakra. Even if I hadn’t told anyone yet. Should I have spoken to Iruka-sensei about it? I shook my head. The academy covered the basics only, these things were the purview of a jounin-sensei.

“Team seven.” Iruka-sensei called. I perked up. Comedy time. I looked expectantly at the row with the trio from team seven. “Uzumaki Naruto,” he called out, “Hinata,” he said next. I tilted my head. Wasn’t Naruto supposed to cheer and Sakura to get sad at the news? “Uchiha Sasuke.” Iruka-sensei ended. Naruto played half of his part. Slouching on the table at mention of his team up with Sasuke, Sakura also looked devastated.

“Iruka-sensei!! Why an outstanding shinobi like me have to be on the same team as that prick over there?” Naruto hollered.

Iruka-sensei put hands on his waist. Leaned over, face stormy. “Sasuke’s grades were the best of all twenty seven graduates and yours were dead last. Do you understand we have to balance teams, right?”

Emosuke did his emo routine. “Bah, just don’t get in my way... dead last.”

Class exploded in noise. Naruto yelled, others laughed. Something still didn’t seem right to me. Sakura looked sad. Shouldn’t she be happy for teaming with her crush?

Iruka-sensei called the classroom to order again. “Team eight.” He started. “Haruno Sakura, Aburame Shino, Inuzuka Kiba.”

I blinked. Tilted my head again. Looked a the row with team seven. Sakura looked pretty freaked out. That made sense, she couldn’t deal with insects. I tilted my head the other way. Wait? Sakura on team eight? I replayed the previous scene in my head. Played again Iruka-sensei’s words.

It finally dawned on me. I was on team seven, not eight. Shit. I was so screwed.