Chapter 14
Chapter 14: See You Again, Off to Space
On Monday morning, Morgan stepped into her classroom, only to be immediately engulfed by her classmates. Their excitement radiated like warm sunlight, wrapping around her in a whirlwind of questions and eager expressions.
“Is it true that Sunagakure has a living cactus that eats people?” one girl exclaimed, her eyes wide with curiosity, sparkling like stars as she leaned closer, practically bouncing on the balls of her feet.
“Is it hot there? Like, super hot?” another chimed in, her eagerness almost palpable, hands animatedly gesturing as if trying to grasp the very essence of the heat.
“Class rep, I bet you were so cool representing us!” someone else added, a wide smile plastered across their face, admiration shining brightly in their eyes. Morgan felt her cheeks flush, a mix of flattery and embarrassment washing over her. ´´Why are they so interested in me?´´
Amid the commotion, Han stepped in, dramatically waving his arms to shoo them away. “Stop it! You’re killing the poor thing! Look, she’s almost dead!” he exclaimed, his expression comically exaggerated, causing a few classmates to erupt into laughter. Morgan let out a breathy laugh, grateful for Han's intervention. ´´Thank goodness for his lightheartedness; it makes this chaos a bit more bearable.´´
Just then, the door slid open quietly, and Hayate walked in. His footsteps were nearly inaudible, but his amused smile illuminated the room like the first light of dawn. Observing the scene, he chuckled softly, his eyes glimmering with mirth as he took in the sight of his favorite student being bombarded with questions about her experiences in Suna. Tears of laughter pricked at the corners of his eyes as he opened the attendance book, marking off names while listening to their enthusiastic inquiries about quicksand and horror stories from Sunagakure. He rolled his eyes at the ridiculous rumor of cacti eating humans, recalling how Genma had spun that tale to scare him off when he was a genin. ´´What a silly story.´´
After a while, he decided it was time to intervene. “That’s enough! Morgan isn’t a toy, guys,” he announced, his voice firm yet kind, waving his hands like a conductor bringing an orchestra to silence. The class, suddenly aware of his presence, quieted down, scrambling back to their seats. The energy shifted from chaotic to attentive, the hum of excitement replaced by a respectful stillness.
“Okay, everyone, stand up… bow. Good morning, Hayate-sensei!” Morgan instructed, taking charge of the morning greeting. As her classmates followed her lead, she walked to her seat, feeling a wave of relief wash over her as the classroom settled into order. The familiar routine felt comforting, like a well-worn path.
Hayate turned to Morgan, his expression softening. “Want to share what you did during those two weeks?”
With a deep breath, she launched into her recounting of the trip, detailing the museum visit, the mesmerizing sand phenomenon, the unique cactus spices, and the various experiences she’d had in the other villages. Her voice flowed smoothly, calmly, and steadily as if she were delivering a mission report. She carefully avoided mentioning her sparring match with Mei, feeling a flush of embarrassment.´´ It had been pathetic, and I’m sure Mei only praised me to make me feel better. There’s no way I was actually that good.´´
The class listened, mesmerized, completely absorbed in her stories. Their eyes sparkled with fascination, and Morgan couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride as she painted vivid images of her adventures. She gestured animatedly, mimicking the way the sand shifted and sparkled in the sunlight, capturing their imaginations. Her hands danced in the air as she recounted tales of swirling storms and the breathtaking beauty of Sunagakure’s landscapes.
But soon enough, their enchantment was cut short when Hayate clapped his hands together. “All right, class! Time for a math quiz!”
A collective groan of pain erupted, a chorus of dismay echoing through the room. Morgan just giggled, her heart light. ´´It’s good to be back, ´´she thought, feeling a sense of belonging wash over her as her classmates rallied together, ready to tackle the challenges ahead. As the day continued, she felt her clone, responsible for fixing the abandoned district, send back information—it was done for now.´´ I don’t need to make any adjustments to my cozy seven-room house; it’s perfectly prepared for any season. ´´That comforting thought brought a smile to her face. ´´I wonder if my clone in the hospital is doing okay after all that chaos.´´
After classes, she waved goodbye to Han and Hanabi, receiving bone-crushing hugs from both for missing her. The warmth of their affection wrapped around her like a comforting blanket, easing her lingering fatigue. This is what I’ve missed, she thought, a sense of fulfillment washing over her as she returned home, a smile lingering on her lips.
Evening came, and she had her routine training with Hayate and Cat-senpai. Finally, after so long, she had a video call with Ellen, who listened intently to all her stories about Suna. Yunoo joined in, scribbling quickly to jot down any information he could, his eyes wide with fascination.´´ He’s really into this stuff, ´´she mused, feeling a sense of camaraderie blossom between them.
As the days passed, it was just a matter of time before she fell back into her old rhythm. Occasionally at the academy, she caught a wave and a smile from Menma, which she promptly ignored, a mixture of embarrassment and annoyance bubbling within her. ´´Why don’t he and Natsuki ever leave me alone?´´ But when she came across TenTen, she made it a point to approach the older girl and engage in conversation, hoping to continue their friendship.
One Sunday evening, after a long shift at the hospital, the medical ninjas had an outing. Morgan decided to join them, listening as Anko ranted about a new prisoner in the torture interrogation department who seemed too tough to crack. Sipping her hot bean paste soup and biting into a dango, the nine-year-old couldn’t wait for summer.
“Oh, Morgan, do you leave during the summer holidays?” Shizune pried, her eyes wide with curiosity.
“Yeah, I took the rest of my leave for a holiday trip with a friend. Is that bad?” Morgan replied, a hint of anxiety creeping into her voice as she fidgeted with her dango stick, the soft stickiness of the dango a comforting distraction.
“No, no! I’m glad. You deserve a break; you need it. You can’t work all the time,” Kabuto reprimanded gently, concern etched on his face. His warm tone made her feel a little better, and she nodded appreciatively, comforted by his reassurance.
Morgan chuckled nervously, sensing Ibiki’s presence once more, his gaze flicking between her and her fidgeting hands. ´´Does he remember something? No way does he know that I am Naruto.´´ Ignoring her fear, she went home to another lecture by Yunoo before some training with Ellen. In a flash, the summer holidays approached.
Time Skip: The Day of Holiday Start
“With that, I see you all in a month and a half for your second grade,” Hayate said, a soft smirk on his face as he looked at the happy faces surrounding him. The whole class had made it to the second phase; no one was left behind. He watched as kids jumped for joy, others animatedly discussing their holiday plans.
His eyes landed on Morgan. Her face, unlike her peers, was clouded with disappointment. ´´What’s bothering her? ´´That’s when he recalled needing to talk to Ibiki about self-esteem issues. As everyone trickled out, Morgan approached him, hesitance in her step.
“Uh, during the holidays, I won’t be here, so you and Cat-senpai can train on your own. Is that okay?” she asked, her voice steady but her eyes flickering with uncertainty, betraying her true feelings.
“Sure, kiddo. Recover yourself; you’re our class’s best kunoichi after all,” he replied, trying to inject some encouragement into his words. He noticed Morgan's face flush, her embarrassment palpable as she mumbled, “Not really. Thank you for cheering me up, Hayate-sensei.”
Before he knew it, he watched the long-haired girl dash out, leaving him with a mixture of pride and concern. "Yep, low self-esteem issues," he murmured to himself, shaking his head lightly.
Morgan waited at the clearing where she and Ellen had agreed to meet. Checking to ensure she had everything packed inside her scroll, she sat down in her combat outfit, which consisted of a dark blue Hanfu tailored for fighting. She had made it in the sewing class for kunoichi; it was dark blue with gray stitches of flowers and whirlpools, complete with useful pockets. Making sure her kunai pouch and shuriken were tied to her left side, as she was a left-handed user, she groaned in anticipation. To complete the ensemble, she wore long combat socks and sandals. Her hair was neatly tied in a ponytail. Tapping the ground and humming, she watched as the light blue sky gradually transformed into a deep, dark blue, with stars beginning to twinkle and the moon illuminating the night.
From the distance, a yellow dot grew larger, signaling Ellen’s approach. A smile spread across her face, excitement bubbling within her at the thought of their summer adventures together.
Finally, with a flash, a magical circle appeared beside her. Ellen, dressed in her mage outfit, gently landed. “Oh, well, look at that, my favorite student!”
“Ellen-sensei…Star Gazer...” Morgan exclaimed, tears welling in her eyes as she dashed forward, glomping her. Taken aback, Ellen chuckled and hugged her tightly.
“Hello, good to see you, Sir.” Star Gazer chimed, the star-shaped gem on Ellen’s outfit blinking.
“Well, where are your items? In your scrolls, huh? I forgot how skilled ninjas from your planet are.” Ellen looked at her kunai pouch, no doubt filled with scrolls. Picking up Morgan in her arms in a bridal style, the adult flashed a smile at Morgan. “Okay, my little princess student, we will travel a long distance. It will take us maybe 12 minutes?”
With a commanding voice, she looked up. "Star Gazer, activate Light-Year Wrap transportation, allowing Morgan to be enveloped in the spell. Target is Milchidan, of course."
“Yes, sir! Activating multi-teleportation… Charging. Takeoff in three…” The star-shaped crystal embedded in Ellen’s barrier jacket flashed as the magical formula expanded, enveloping her and Morgan in a protective barrier from the cold space for the travel ahead. The area illuminated in yellow flashes, dust dancing up from the ground.
“Two…” Morgan’s red hair fluttered from the energy being generated.
“…one… Casting: Light Speed Travel!” The Intelligent Device finished counting down, pushing herself off Ellen with Morgan in her arms as they flew up, passing through the ozone layers into space. Mesmerized, Morgan gazed at the moon, stars, and planets whirling by her purple eyes taking in the sight. This is amazing; my heart pounds with excitement. Ellen looked at her, shooting her a reassuring glance, filled with warmth and adventure.
The two were long gone, traveling to Milchidan. After an hour, Ibiki arrived with Hayate, Anko, and Cat-senpai at Morgan's house. Breaking in quietly the adult shinobie looked around.
It’s time to find out why the best kunoichi in Hayate's class has such bad thoughts about herself /low self-esteem issues...