Sakura
I spent most days reading and people watching. There wasn't much to do considering I spent most of my time inside. I'm not necessarily scared to go outside. I love nature. No, I'm scared of the people.
The adults never fail to make me uncomfortable. Asking questions. Pinching my cheeks. Calling me cute with my big eyes and unique hair. My hair brings me to my next point. The kids. They tease me because of my big forehead and pink hair. When they see me out they throw rocks and sticks at me. Sometimes when we're alone they'll kick and punch me too. They say I'm a freak. I wear long baggy clothes to hide the cuts and bruises, I'm sure if my parents were around more often they'd notice and do something about it. I've gained a reputation of being clumsy. I guess it was bound to happen. I hardly ever leave and yet I'm covered in bruises. Then there's my favorite people to watch, the shinobi. I love to watch them when I go out. They run on roofs and wear special outfits. They're fascinating. I don't get to see many shinobi in the civilian district but when I go to the shopping district I see plenty.
When I venture out for supplies, most often new books, I always watch for shinobi. They're able to do so much, I can only wonder how. Oh, I'd love to speak with one. Unfortunately, mother and father forbade me from ever entertaining with any kind of shinobi.
Although, I suppose what they don't know can't hurt them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was four when I finally talked to a shinobi. It was February. I might have been just a little lost, I did that often. He was tall with brown hair and some kind of metal thing in his mouth. I'd been trying to figure out how to talk with a shinobi for weeks; I'd never expected one to just walk right up to me.
"What's a small fry like you doing out here by yourself." Maybe I'm small but I'm four and nowhere near done growing and my body is just a little slower than everyone else's!
"W-well you s-see uh... um..." did I mention I'm shy? "Ah... see... I was j-just trying t-to get some n-new b-b-books from the li-library and... um... well... I k-kinda got l-lost trying to th-thi-think of a way to t-talk to a sh-shin-shinobi and i um... kinda... k-kinda sorta m-maybe g-got a little l-lost. So instead o-of j-just trying to find m-my own w-way back I decided to j-just wait for s-som-something to find me and sh-show me the way h-home. B-but then y-you found me f-first shinobi-San. And wow... I can't b-believe a shinobi is talking to m-me! And... HEY! YOU'RE NOT AS SCARY AS MY PATENTS MADE SHINOBI SEEM AND I KINDA ALREADY GUESSED THAT MOST SHINOBI WEREN'T BUT YOU LOOK NICE AND KIND AND I MEAN I'M SURE YOU COULD LIKE KILL ME WITH THE FLIK OF YOUR FINGER OR SOMETHING BUT I DOUBT YOU WOULD AND... OH YOU LOOK REALLY COOL MISTER! WaIt! WHAT'S YOUR NAME? I'm Haruno Sakura and I'm four and I live in the civilian district and I'm not supposed to talk to strangers but I don't think I'll get in trouble for talking to you... unless my parents find out you're a shinobi... but you wouldn't tell would you?" So maybe I should have breathed a little and maybe shouting wasn't a good idea and maybe he didn't understand when I started to should but I'm just so excited. You think. You probably scared him away. Oh no, I hope I didn't scare him away. Now I'll probably never get to have a conversation with a real shinobi and I'll never get to kn- Wait, he's saying something.
"Genma." Wait what?Did he just...I think he said his name! "The names Shirnui Genma."
"Hello Ganma-san!" Oh my god.He's so cool!
"Drop the -san kid." He's pretty laid back. He doesn't want me to say -san. "Hey kid, would you mind explaining some things for me?" Why would a shinobi like Genma-san want to ask me anything? Don't be dumb. There's no way I'm letting this opportunity pass. Maybe I can learn some things too! Too late, you're already dumb. Hey! That's mean inner. Never said I'm nice. Answer him.
"Sure! But only if I can ask you stuff too." He looks a little shocked.
"Sure, why not." Thank goodness! "You go first kid."
"How do you do it? Be a shinobi?" Maybe I should've eased into that question. Like I said, you're dumb. I couldn't help myself.
"Well, you go to the academy and they teach you the basics. Most academy kids are from shinobi families, or the orphanage. Occasionally, though civilian kids enter, it's more rare because they don't have the advantage of kids from clans or is the expectations of kids from the orphanage. Kids go to the Academy and turn they turn 12 which is when they take the graduation exam. If they pass then they'll be put on a three man team with a jonin instructor. Shinobi fresh out of the academy are called genin. A genin can be sent back to the academy by their jonin-sensei if they're unable to pass their teamwork test. If a jonin passes their genin team then they will take on a range of D-rank missions, mostly chores around the village, as well as team training until their sensei decides they're ready to take on C-rank missions. C-rank missions consist of simple delivery and escort missions outside the village which usually have little to no danger. Once every six months the hidden villages hold what is called the chunin exams. These exams, if a genin teams sensie nominates them, are where genin from all hidden villages compete to try to earn the rank chunin. If a genin passes and becomes a chunin they are able to lead a team, usually consisting of other chunin, as well as start taking B-rank missions. B-rank missions are very similar to C-ranks just with more danger and they're usually longer. A chunin can choose to participate in the jonin exams, which happen once a year, when they feel they're ready and if they can get two jonin to sponsor them. If a chunin passes the jonin exams they are able to take on their own genin team as well as take A-rank missions. An A-rank mission can consist of many things and has a decent amount if not a lot of danger and can go on for any amount of time. Now, if a jonin really wants to and feel they can do it they are able to apply for the ANBU exams. To do so they have to have three letters of recommendation. ANBU can take S-rank missions. I'm not telling you anything more about either. All shinobi use a plethora of fighting styles. Taijutsu, kenjutsu, sojutsu, and gengutsu. Some shinobi focus on one area and become a master or mistress. all Shinobi learn the basics for all areas though. A shinobi can also choose to focus in the medical field. Those Shinobi are known as Medic nin. Shinobi's work hard and put their lives on the line to protect their will of fire. All it really takes is dedication and they want to do it. Oh, and having the right reasons helps too. We're also protecting the lives of the people around us." Wow.I never expected him to explain so much, goodness!
"My turn kid." I looked back up. " what'd you mean when you said that something always showed you the way home?"
"Oh well, usually it's just a bird or a squirrel or something and they don't just show me the Way home show me the way to wherever I was going before I got lost well as long as I'm not looking for a person or animal or something living they only lead me to places." I wonder why he wants to know about that. Probably because it's not normal and you're not supposed to talk about it. Whoops.
"How old did you say you were?"
"I'm four and it's not your turn. I'll let that one slide though because you were clarifying." For a shinobi he looks shocked a lot. " what rank are you?"
"I'm a special Jonin. Means I got promoted in the field, most common during wartime. Your parents they got something against shinobi?" I should've known he'd be full of surprises. Better yet, how are you going to answer him? Shh, I'm thinking. Think faster. The longer you take the more he's going to think you're lying. You could help too! I can't do everything for you Sakura. You've gotta do things yourself dummy.
" um... w-well I do-don't t-think t-th-they hate sh-shin-shinobi. Well... um... uh... you see... they're merchants... for the Firelord... but... um... there w-was some s-stuff... and uh... I j-just don't th-think that um... they uh... really l-like or t-trust shinobi... um... I thi-think that they um... m-might think that uh... shinobi ah... make the wo-world more dan-dangerous... and... um... yeah..." wow, way to go, that was totally convincing. Not! You majorly look like you're hiding something. I'm not allowed to talk about it so I am! Do you even actually want to talk about it? No. Then you better make a better lie up soon.
"I suppose that's probably not something your folks ever really explained. Probably just gave you some rules and called it good." Is he giving me an out? Take it dummy. "'Kay kid, let's get you home. It's getting dark." I didn't even notice. "We can continue with questions until we get to you're house if you want." This man is a saint.
"OKAY! How do I enter the academy?"
"Your folks sign you up when you turn five and then you go to the next entrance ceremony which is where you learn more about the academy and learn what class you'll be in." Oh on, mother and father would never let me. Unless you can convince them that you don't want to go to be a shinobi. Just tell them that you want to learn more and meet kids your age. Mother wants you to make friends and father wants you to know everything. That's perfect Inner! I know. "Why do you want to go?" Do we lie or tell the truth? Truth wont hurt. Remember what he said, 'for the right reasons' and our real reason has to be a right one.
"I want to be able to protect myself and my important people!" When we get important people. Mother and father are important. Important people that are precious to us and actually care. Oh. Ask him a question dummy. He's looking at us weird. "How old are you?"
"I'm 21. Have a goodnight kid." Huh, we're home.