Chapter 11
Chapter 11: Learning Self-Defense
After my fiasco with Amy, the ANBU squad decided it was time for me to learn some self-defense. They said it was for my own protection, but I didn’t want it. I was just a civilian. I didn’t need to be trained in combat! Amy had been banned from the academy for a month, and I wasn’t sure what happened to her after that, but she never bothered me again. So, I thought I was safe.
But, apparently, my safety wasn’t enough for the ANBU.
"No, no, we need to give her a sword!" Cat quaked excitedly in the dimly lit training room.
Boar-masked ANBU coughed, "No, senbons would be better. Small, fast, deadly—"
"Shuriken..." Raven whispered under his raven mask, clearly distracted by his own thoughts.
"No kunai!" Weasel raised his fist dramatically, looking like he was ready for a fight even without a weapon in hand.
Inu-masked ANBU, who sounded a lot like Kakashi, spoke up, his voice a little more level-headed than the others. "No people... We teach her hand-to-hand combat with no weapon, period."
I raised both my hands in protest. "Hello, do I get a say in this?"
All the ANBU turned to me in unison, glaring down at me with masked faces.
"NOOO!" they shouted collectively.
I groaned, my shoulders slumping in defeat. "You can't just do this to me! I'm not some little ninja in training! I'm a civilian! You can't just throw me into the world of weapons and combat like this."
"Yes, we can," Raven said flatly, his tone as serious as ever. "You’re part of the family now."
I couldn’t argue with that logic. It seemed I was stuck with these overly protective, overly intense ANBU members.
"Hand-to-hand combat is the most important," Inu-masked said, crossing his arms. "It doesn’t matter if you’re unarmed; if you can defend yourself physically, you’re more likely to survive."
I huffed, folding my arms. "But that doesn't mean I have to like it."
Weasel leaned down closer, giving me a serious look. "You'll thank us one day. Trust me, this is the best way to protect yourself."
"Yeah, you'll thank us when you’re kicking the crap out of anyone who tries to hurt you," Raven added, with a hint of a grin behind his mask.
I sighed again, glancing at each of them. Despite how ridiculous this all seemed, part of me knew they were right. The world I was in now wasn’t like my old life, and I had to adapt. I had to learn how to take care of myself, even if it meant enduring crazy training sessions with a bunch of elite ninjas who treated me like their personal project.
I nodded reluctantly. "Fine. I’ll do it. But no weapons, and no crazy, impossible moves, okay?"
"Deal," Inu-masked said, the hint of a smile in his voice. "Let’s get started."
And so, my training began.