Chapter 6
Rei awoke with a burst of excitement, startling Yuri, her black cat who had been peacefully napping next to her pillow. "Ha! That's karma for destroying my alarm clock, you little monster!" Rei exclaimed, scooping up the now disgruntled feline who retaliated with a gentle nip before squirming out of her grasp.
'Awesome! Today's the day I get my official ninja photo taken!' Rei thought, her heart fluttering with anticipation. She slipped into her usual attire - a light blue crop top with mesh armor underneath, a matching apron skirt, black shorts, and fingerless gloves. She paired it with her reliable ninja shoes and her newly earned ninja headband. After a moment of indecision, she decided to wear the headband around her neck - a perfect spot to hide the necklace given to her by Itachi.
Rei's gaze fell onto the necklace, and her heart ached. She knew she should have discarded it after everything that had happened, but a part of her just couldn't let go. She shook her head, refusing to let sorrow taint this exciting day. Today was a day for making good memories, not dwelling on the bad ones.
She examined her reflection in the mirror, contemplating what to do with her hair. Ever since she had impulsively cut her waist-long locks short at the age of seven, she had rarely styled it. The length had become too cumbersome to manage, and in a fit of boredom, she had chopped it off. Now that it was short and more manageable, she quickly ran a brush through it and decided it was fine the way it was.
Feeling ready for her first official ninja picture, Rei left her home and headed to the designated photo studio. She took her seat, flashed a bright smile at the camera, and with a quick flash, her picture was taken.
"Okay kid, your picture's done," the photographer said, his voice echoing in the quiet room.
"Thank you!" Rei responded, her mind already wandering to Naruto. 'I hope Naruto managed to take a good one too.'
A short while later, Rei and Naruto found themselves in the office of the Third Hokage. The wise, old man was examining their pictures with a stern expression. Naruto broke the silence with an explanation of his photo, "It took me like three hours to figure out how to do it, but I think it turned out like a piece of art on my face."
The Hokage sighed, "Take it again."
"No way!" Naruto protested.
"We can't submit this photo," the Hokage explained, his voice firm.
"Yeah, well I'm not doing it again!" Naruto retorted.
"It can't be that bad, Lord Hokage," Rei interjected, glancing at the photo. She couldn't help but burst out laughing at Naruto's ridiculous face painting and attempted tough guy pose.
The room fell into a tense silence as Naruto and the Hokage stared each other down. Suddenly, Naruto transformed into a naked woman, a technique he called the "sexy jutsu". The Hokage fell off his chair in shock, and Rei's face flushed in embarrassment.
"NARUTO!" Rei shouted, punching Naruto into a wall as he transformed back to normal. "What did I tell you about using that jutsu?!"
After the Hokage had regained his composure, he turned to Naruto, "That's the sexy jutsu, you say? Tricky, very tricky, don't do it again."
"I'll make sure he doesn't, Lord Hokage," Rei promised, still blushing from the incident.
The Hokage then asked, "And where is your headband, Naruto? You're supposed to be wearing it like Rei is."
"Oh, I'm not putting it on until the orientation. I don't want to mess it up," Naruto replied.
"So, you want your headband to be nice, but your photo, which is supposed to identify you, makes you look like a clown?" The Hokage countered, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"He's right, Naruto. You can't tell who it is in the photo," Rei chimed in.
"You're not helping, Rei!" Naruto exclaimed, throwing her a disgruntled look.
"I'm just stating the obvious. This is for your ninja training, and if you want people to hire you for missions, the first thing they see is your photo," Rei explained, trying to make Naruto understand the importance of a good identification photo.
"So, retake it," the Hokage stated firmly, his gaze unwavering as he met Naruto's annoyed expression.
"Well, fine! How am I supposed to know all this complicated stuff anyway?" Naruto grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest in a huff.
"Well, if you'd pay attention to what I say—" Rei began, but was abruptly cut off as the office door slid open, revealing a young boy with an absurdly long scarf.
"Old man! I challenge you!" he declared boldly, his youthful voice echoing in the room. "I'm going to defeat you and become the fifth Hokage!" With that, he charged forward, only to trip over his own scarf and tumble face-first onto the floor. Naruto and Rei watched the spectacle, their expressions a mixture of surprise and amusement.
'What is up with this kid?' Rei wondered, a laugh threatening to bubble up from her throat as she watched the boy flail about on the floor.
'My grandson... another headache,' the Third Hokage thought, pressing his fingers to his temples as he watched the boy's antics.
Suddenly, a figure appeared in the doorway - a ninja wearing sunglasses. "Something tripped me!" the boy complained, rubbing his reddened face.
"Are you okay, honorable grandson?" the newcomer, Ebisu, asked with concern. "By the way, there's nothing for you to trip on. The floor is quite flat."
Naruto and Rei exchanged glances, their eyebrows raised in disbelief. 'Who is this shrimp?' Naruto wondered, his gaze drifting back to the boy. Rei, on the other hand, found her mind wandering elsewhere. 'Can't we have a peaceful day? I wonder if Hinata is free to hang out today,' she thought.
Ebisu's gaze landed on Naruto, recognition flashing in his eyes. 'It's that kid! The Nine-Tailed Fox... he's nothing but trouble,' he thought grimly.
"All right, you're the one who tripped me, aren't you?" the boy accused Naruto, pointing an accusing finger at him. An angry vein popped into Naruto's forehead as he grabbed the boy by the collar.
"You tripped over your own feet, dork!" Naruto retorted, his patience wearing thin.
"Naruto! Stop!" Rei intervened, her gaze darting between Naruto and the boy.
"Rei, he's asking for it!" Naruto defended himself, his grip on the boy's collar not loosening.
"Haha, taking orders from your girlfriend!" the boy taunted, earning a simultaneous exclamation of "She's/I'm not my girlfriend!" from both Naruto and Rei.
"Hey, you! Take your hands off him right now! He's the honorable grandson of the Third Hokage!" Ebisu interjected, stepping protectively in front of the boy.
"Huh?" Naruto and Rei uttered in unison, their expressions a mix of surprise and confusion.
The boy smirked, clearly pleased with the reaction. "What's the matter, huh? I thought you were gonna hit me, tough guy! Afraid 'cause the Third Hokage is my grandfather?! Or is it because you don't wanna hit me 'cause your girlfriend is watching?!" he taunted, causing Naruto and Rei to bristle with anger.
"I don't care if he's your grandmother!" Naruto retorted, his patience finally snapping.
"He's not my boyfriend!" Rei added, her cheeks flushed with annoyance.
"So, believe it!" Naruto exclaimed, landing a punch on the boy's face.
The boy staggered back, caught off guard by the sudden attack. 'This guy is different,' he thought, rubbing his throbbing cheek.
'This is not looking good,' the Third Hokage thought, his gaze shifting between Naruto and the boy.
A few moments later, Naruto and Rei left the office, the tension from the earlier confrontation slowly dissipating. "So Rei, you wanna do something?" Naruto asked, his gaze hopeful.
"Ah, sorry Naruto, I've got plans. I need to do some stuff," Rei declined, her mind already preoccupied with her plans for the day.
"I've got some girl stuff to do, Naruto," Rei finally said, giving her friend an apologetic smile. Naruto simply shrugged, a resigned smile on his face as they parted ways.
As much as Rei enjoyed Naruto's company, there were times when she craved solitude. Today was one of those days. She decided to head to the hot springs, a place she found to be a sanctuary of relaxation and introspection. The warmth of the water, the soft hiss of the steam, it all helped her unwind and gather her thoughts.
Slipping into the comforting warmth of the hot spring, Rei let her thoughts wander to her kekkei genkai. The unique power that she had inherited from her father was a mystery she was determined to unravel. She remembered her father's journals and scrolls, the detailed accounts of his own journey exploring the kekkei genkai. The techniques he had developed, the obstacles he had faced, it was all documented meticulously.
With a sigh, Rei wished she had a mentor who could guide her through this process. But she was alone in this journey. Determination set in her heart, she decided she would do her best with the resources at hand.
As she was soaking in the hot spring, her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice. It was Sakura's, and she was yelling. Rei's heart skipped a beat, a feeling of dread washing over her as she recognized the other voice - it was Naruto!
A few minutes later, Naruto was nursing a face full of bruises and scrapes, his grimace a testament to the pain. Rei stood fully dressed before him, her expression a turbulent mix of anger and embarrassment. Her cheeks were flushed a deep shade of pink, and her gaze was fiery as it bore into Naruto. Sakura's harsh reprimands echoed in the background, adding fuel to the already uncomfortable situation.
"Why do they only whack me?" Naruto grumbled, wincing as he gingerly touched his bruised cheek.
"You forget I'm still here," Rei retorted, her voice icy. She cracked her knuckles ominously as she approached the young boy who had caused all the commotion. "Don't ever do anything like that again, kid!" she warned, delivering a light punch to the boy's head. He winced, rubbing his head as he nodded hurriedly.
'She's the first girl to do that to me... she's just like him,' Konohamaru thought, looking up at Rei with a mixture of fear and admiration.
"Sorry, it's 'cause I'm the grandson of the Hokage," Konohamaru muttered, his gaze downcast.
"Hey, don't worry about it," Naruto said, trying to lighten the mood. "I've prepared you, so you're ready to learn the sexy jutsu!"
"That's what you've been teaching him, Naruto!" Rei exclaimed incredulously, her hand pressing against her forehead. 'I can feel a headache coming on,' she thought, sighing in exasperation. 'So much for a relaxing day.'
Rei weighed her options, deciding that it was either leaving or enduring more of Naruto and Konohamaru's antics. She pulled out a box of pocky, settling under a shady tree nearby. She decided to leave the boys to their own devices. "Naruto, I still have some errands to run, so try to stay out of trouble, okay?" she said, her tone serious. The boys gave quick, fearful nods, clearly not wanting to experience her wrath again. Rei gave a small smile before leaving them alone.
Later, Rei was stepping out of the flower shop, her arms laden with a beautiful bouquet. As she turned a corner, she bumped into someone. She quickly jumped back, her heart racing as she checked the flowers for any damage. "I'm sorry, I couldn't see past the flowers. Are you okay?" she asked, her tone filled with concern as she looked up to meet the gaze of the stranger she had accidentally collided with.
Rei almost let out a gasp as she recognized the figure before her. It was Sasuke, her childhood friend. His face was as stoic as always, his onyx eyes mirrored a cold detachment. The once close bond they shared had slowly faded after the massacre of his clan. He had drawn himself into a shell, distancing himself from everyone, including her. Yet, Rei never stopped caring for him, always trying to reach out, albeit from a distance.
His gaze fell upon her neck, his eyes narrowed slightly as he noticed her ninja headband. Rei felt a surge of pride as she realized he was acknowledging her achievement. "Congratulations," he muttered, his voice as cold as the winter wind. Yet, Rei felt warmth spread through her. She beamed at him, thanking him for his words.
"Why do you have flowers?" His enquiry caught her off guard. She looked down at the bouquet in her hands, a mix of vibrant roses and lilies. "I...I'm going to visit my family's grave," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I wanted to share the news with them, I haven't been there in a while."
Sasuke's expression softened at her words. She dared to ask him if he would join her. He didn't decline, instead, he offered to walk with her. His destination was in the same direction.
The walk was silent at first, the only sound being the crunch of leaves under their feet. Rei broke the silence, asking Sasuke about his well-being. His initial response was monosyllabic, making the conversation even more awkward. But as they continued, he started opening up, sharing bits and pieces about his life. It wasn't much, but it was more than Rei had hoped for.
Their paths diverged eventually. Sasuke seemed reluctant to leave, his eyes holding a trace of warmth. "It was nice talking with you, Rei," he admitted, causing her heart to flutter. "I...I missed it." With that, he bid her goodbye, disappearing into the distance.
Rei sighed as she watched him leave. She wished he had opened up more, yet she was thankful for the conversation they had. It was a start. With renewed determination, she continued her journey towards her family’s grave. She spoke to them, her voice echoing in the silence. She told them about her adventures, her friends, and her dreams. She wished they were there with her. She promised to make them proud, vowing to become the best ninja she could be. Her voice echoed in the graveyard, a promise carried by the wind to the heavens.
Upon returning home from the graveyard, Rei was filled with a sense of purpose. She marched towards a room she had reserved for storage, her heart pounding with anticipation. The room was filled with boxes stacked high, a testament to generations of memories and secrets.
She began her hunt, tearing through the dusty, cobweb-laden boxes. Her fingers brushed against countless objects, each one a fragment of her family's past. Some of these artifacts were older than her parents, their stories lost in the sands of time. She made a mental note to revisit them later.
Hours turned into minutes, minutes into seconds, until Rei’s fingers finally traced the worn leather cover of her father's journal. Alongside the journal were ancient scrolls, their parchment yellowed and brittle with age. The answers she sought were within her grasp.
She began with the journal, its pages filled with tales of her father's clan and the origins of their kekkei genkai. It was a fascinating tale, a weave of legend and reality. Her father was a sixth-generation bearer of the kekkei genkai, a trait that was non-dominant and often skipped generations. The mystery of why her older sister Hanako bore the trait while her brother Ryuuichi did not was finally solved.
As Rei delved deeper into the journal, she discovered the sinister origins of her kekkei genkai. It was a product of the first ninja war, a manmade creation of an unknown scientist. This scientist, driven by a desire to create stronger ninjas, experimented on orphaned children of the war using a unique flower. His ruthless experimentation resulted in hundreds of casualties and only 20 survivors. These survivors later rebelled, destroying the scientist's work and the flower, ensuring that the experiment could never be replicated.
Rei was taken aback by the revelation. It was a harsh truth, a stark reminder of the lengths some would go to in the pursuit of power. She had so many questions, but she had to focus. She needed to understand how to harness her kekkei genkai.
The journal revealed that her blood had the potential to be lethal, a potent poison. On the flip side, she possessed immunity to most poisons, a trait she could further train by subjecting herself to small doses of poison. Furthermore, the kekkei genkai enhanced her physical capabilities, making her stronger, faster, and heightened her senses.
A surprising revelation was her clan's deep affinity for cats. They had mastered the art of using cats in combat, leveraging their agility and heightened senses. Cats were sacred within the clan, often serving as companions and allies. Rei's heart fluttered with excitement at the thought of forming her own feline army. She made a note to connect with the stray cats around Konohagakure.
As the moon began its descent, Rei realized she had lost track of time. She was due to meet her new teammates and sensei the next day. With a deep stretch, she scooped up her cat Yuri, who had been snoozing beside her, and started her nighttime routine. As she drifted off to sleep, her mind was filled with ideas for her future training and her journey as a ninja. The revelations about her kekkei genkai had not only unfolded her past but also opened up a world of possibilities for her future.