Chapter 8
Reina practiced her facial expressions in the mirror as she got ready for the upcoming day at the academy. Putting on her usual black outfit, the apology she made to the inuzuka’s was fresh in her mind.
“Ok Reina, you’ve got this. Just relax your eyebrows and you’ll look less constipated”
Reina wasn’t sure whether she had actually done what Aiko had advised regarding her facial expression. Looking in the mirror now, trying to relax her face like that one guy they had met, she realized the expression gave off a look that was more confused rather than calm.
Trying to back up from the door, Reina turned away.
“Sensei, I’m not sure I can do this.”
Aiko grabbed the young kunoichi by the shoulders and turned her back towards the door. Keeping a hard grip on one of the shoulders when she took the other off to knock on the door.
“Remember the words I taught you, nothing more, nothing less. Remember- If you can get through this, you can go back to the academy and you can eventually become a genin or more.”
Reina let out a nervous breath as the door opened. A fierce woman with spiky brown hair and face tattoos opened the door. Behind her was a giant dog with an eyepatch that looked at Aiko with a hesitant, yet interested expression. Needless to say, Reina was simultaneously impressed and scared by the woman.
“Ah, I see. The girl is here.” the woman barked out.
Turning behind her she called for someone and motioned for the girl and Aiko to come into the main living space. Making sure to follow what she knew about manners, Reina left her shoes at the door and followed the woman where she gestured for the two to sit on the couch. Making sure the older women sat first, she tried her best to not look ‘constipated’.
The Inuzuka woman trailed her eyes over the young girl, seeming to calculate whether she was a threat. Whatever magic Aiko had worked on her appearance seemed to work, because the woman had nodded to the dog and it walked off.
Thinking back on it, it was most likely the seal that Aiko had put on her. But it was still an interesting experience dressing up in the formal attire that was popular in konoha. She didn't like it, because it was constricting, but it was still kind of cool.
“My name is Tsume Inuzuka, I would say greetings, but I am not excited to meet you.”
Reina sweat dropped, worried she had done something wrong already. Turning to Aiko with a questioning face, Aiko pushed her shoulder to look the woman in the eyes.
“I heard that you took the ninken of one of my youngest. For the Inuzuka, this is a great offence. You make me disappointed in this town’s youth, Reina.”
It was that mark that had really rubbed Reina the wrong way. Who was this person to say that she was a representative of the whole village's youth! Literally everyone was different from her. She hadn’t even done anything wrong! She bet the little snot-Kiba- had greatly exaggerated what had happened. But unfortunately, as she had learned from Aiko, clans had more power than the individual. It was unlikely they would take her and Naruto’s words over the clan’s heir.
All this was complete bullshit to her- even now- days after this event, it still made her clench her first.
Reina clenched her teeth, trying her hardest not to talk back to the woman. Aiko had stated very clearly that she was to only apologize, and to keep her mouth shut as much as she could.
Seeing Aiko make an over the top gesture of itching her brow, Reina realized that she had tensed her face into a scrunch. Quickly trying to relax her face, she watched as the Inuzuka woman stood up.
With Movements that seemed graceful, yet sharp, her eyes followed the woman as she walked over to the house's window. Peering out like she was looking for something, the woman stood with her back stick straight with her hands behind her back. It seemed very military like, and in that moment it dawned on Reina that she most likely was a very strong ninja.
Reina reminisced on this. It had been really surprising in that moment when she had come to that conclusion. Usually, Reina could have spotted a strong ninja right away by sensing their chakra presence. But because her abilities had been locked away…she’d have to use her mind.
A muscle that often went underused because of her keen senses.
Reina focused back on the mirror, trying to practice the unassuming stance she had tried to used at the Inuzuka’s when the older woman had started her speech.
From her place at the window, the woman beckoned for Reina to stand next to her. Not waiting for Aiko to nudge her along, Reina rose and stood next to the woman.
“Look out there young kunoichi” Tsume started, “what do you see?”
Reina couldn’t help but question why this was relevant, but she decided it would be best to humor the woman.
“Konoha?”
Tsume nodded her head, “yes, and since…..”
The woman went on a long tangent that had caused Reina’s eyes to slightly glaze over. Little did she know, the glazed look was what Aiko had been trying to get her to copy the whole time. A look that unfocused her eyes to the point that her natural fierce stare was no longer apparent.
Reina tried to remember what the woman had said to her that day, but it was too hard as her focus had been elsewhere. Especially because what had happened next was the only reason why she had come there. It had also been an infuriating experience.
Listening to the lady drone on, Reina became aware of a presence that had joined the room. Despite not having her super senses, it was obvious a little boy had stomped his way in.
Thankfully, this had stopped the woman from her ongoing speech. Abruptly stopping when she saw Kiba, she turned away from the window and walked by his side. Staring down at him lovingly, she rustled his hair. It was a look that said “my son can do no wrong”, which was utter BS. He ditched class almost as much as Naruto!
Standing there awkwardly, Aiko gave Reina the signal to apologize, and she stepped toward the young soon to be ninja. Noticing this, he gave her a smug look that made Reina want to punch him.
Bowing deeply, trying to hide her clenched hand, Reina started.
“Kiba, I sincerely apologize for my actions.” She turned her bow towards Tsume, “I have learned from my actions, and promise I will treat the inuzuka’s with the correct actions They DESERVE from now on.”
Aiko tried to hold back her smirk, but the only thing she could think was, “that little shit.”
Reina had purposely changed the wording of the apology that Aiko had told her to say that day. She was supposed to say that she’d treat them with respect, but instead Reina said “with the correct actions”. It sounded the same, but it meant much less.
Reina would never Promise to treat someone with respect if they hadn’t given her any. The wording “correct actions” was used, because that means that Reina herself would decide what the correct action would be.
The Inuzuka's had accepted her apology, and because Aiko was so impressed with her students ability to think on the spot- they went into the city to celebrate.
It had been the first actual time she got to see the town. Her first time was at night when she had ran into the city high on endorphins, and the second was when Naruto had taken her to school- and since that had been so chaotic, she really had no Idea what Konoha actually looked like.
Luckily, Aiko was a quieter companion than Naruto, so Reina actually got to look around at her surroundings as they went to get a “treat”.
It was…. Interesting.
Each of the homes were slightly different, the families decorating or painting their houses whatever color they wanted. Homes and businesses intermingled, and while the sizes were similar, the differences were very noticeable.
It looked like a collage to Reina.
She wasn’t used to seeing so much individuality. Not to mention the fact that the city seemed to have machines and tools she had never seen before. It wasn’t like her people lived like how people typically considered cave dwellers lived- but it was pretty close. The modern day inventions that had been used by the ryuuchi were all from outsiders, and her mom had been the first in about a few decades.
Compared to konoha though? It made them look so…. Simple.
Walking side by side with Aiko, the two continued to stroll through the city until they found a small food stall that had a few benches and a curtain. Aiko looked at Reina expectantly,
“Have you ever had ramen before?”
Reina perked up at the sentence. Recognizing the Dish her neighbor had croaned on about.
“No… but I’ve heard a lot about it from Naruto.”
As if he had been summoned by name, the boy himself hopped on a bench next to where they were standing. He looked back at them and smiled.
“Hi Reina and pretty lady! What are you doing here? I’m just here with Iruka sensei!”
As Naruto said this, Iruka walked forward towards Naruto.
Reina bristled at the familiar name, her spine hunching like a cat that had just dipped a toe In a pool of water. Her eyes scrunched as the familiar man walked towards Aiko and Reina.
Noticing her response, Aiko elbowed Reina and leaned in towards her ear.
“Hey. Cool it, cupcake.” She whispered.
Reina returned to a faux- relaxed posture and gave Aiko a weird look.
“What’s a cupcake.”
Aiko blanched.
“I-” Aiko stuttered, “never mind”
Deciding it was best for the whole of Konoha, and Reina’s blood pressure, Aiko put her hands on the girl's shoulders and steered her so that Aiko would be sitting next to the chunin, her left unoccupied and Reina sitting next to Naruto and the wall of the small stall.
Aiko hadn’t talked to the man all that much, considering she had leveled up to ANBU at a very young age, but she figured he wasn’t that bad. Reina just had some weird preferences when it came to people- which was obvious by the way she seemed fairly comfortable next to a jinchuuriki, but not a teacher.
“So Reina, how do you know this lady?” They boy said as he slurped noodles into his mouth.
Aiko didn’t let on that being called lady made her angry, but Reina could guess that she wasn’t too happy. Despite her being behind in school, city living, and even abilities now- she was good at picking up even the slightest body language, and Aiko had slightly scrunched her brow.
“You idiot!” Iruka smacked Naruto on the back of the head, “that’s rude! You’re talking to an elite Jonin!”
Naruto gave the woman a skeptical stare and crossed his arms.
“Well she doesn’t look it.” He refuted, food dangling from his mouth as he talked.
“Naruto!” Iruka chided.
Aiko gave a deep belly laugh, waiving off the supposed insult.
“Ah! It’s fine. I know I don’t look it, but Iruka-Chan is right. I am a jonin!”
Naruto didn’t look convinced.
Trying to take away attention from Naruto’s rude reaction, Iruka gave Reina a brief glance, but settled his look on Aiko's face as soon as he saw the young girl bristle from his stare.
“How do you know each other anyways?”
Aiko looked at Reina fondly, but because Reina wasn’t sitting next to her, she couldn’t give the girl her usual head pat.
“Oh, I’m just teaching her a little about the town. Helping Reina assimilate.”
It was Iruka’s turn to not look convinced.
“….sure, ok”
Reina didn’t like the look Iruka was giving her sensei, and decided to make it known.
“Hey! Who are you to-“
Before Aiko could jump out of her seat and reprimand her student, the curtain opened again, and a loud voice interrupted Reina before she could show her dislike of the man further.
“Ah! The picture of youth!” A man in a green jumpsuit yelled, looking at the two kids and their teachers. His eyes sparkled when he saw Aiko, and it was obvious that the man had known reina’s teacher.
Who was red in the face and looking at the person standing casually behind the big green man.
“I’d hate to interrupt this most YOUTHFUL bonding experience between teachers, but me and my rival have just finished a challenge and he owes me a meal!”
The man in question huffed nonchalantly, and sat next to Aiko- something that made her teacher act even stranger than she already was. The man in green looked at the two like he knew something Reina didn’t, and sat on the other side of the man he had come with.
Aiko had not only turned red down to her shoulders, but now acted completely different from the goofy, but strict woman she had been getting used to. Reina’s and Iruka’s mouths fell open as they watched the elite ninja stutter like never before.
“O-oh. High gai” her red color deepened, “Hi K-Kakashi”
Reina couldn’t help but let out a snort. Her mind clicking together her teacher's red face speaking about someone Reina should emulate in emotion, and her current attitude. Since the other man was quite boisterous- something Reina quite liked about him, she assumed the other man was who she was talking about.
His cool demeanor was exactly like Aiko had described, but what she had forgot to mention was the fact that he practically had 3/4ths of his face covered. Of course it was easier to seem calm when no one could see your face!
Realizing this, she tried to get her teacher's attention, and instead of yelling- like Naruto would have, she got up Temporarily from her seat and stood between the man her teacher was making weird eyes at.
“Hey sensei. Can I get a mask like this guys?”
Shocked at the sudden view of her student, the woman shook herself out of her stupor. But before she could respond, the man with the gravity defying white hair put a hand on her head- something that made Iruka immediately sit up straight.
For some reason he thought putting her in an almost headlock was similar to a simple pat on the head. Her lack of reaction to the touch made the teacher look hurt, but Reina could hardly care.
As the new guy, who she was supposed to learn expressions from patted her head, she looked to him as he responded.
“Mah, you don’t need to do that. I can’t have anyone copying my style now.”
Her teacher, now almost back to normal, gave another belly laugh.
“That’s rich coming from the copy ninja!”
The man in green seemed to agree.
“Ha! That’s right Kakashi! Aiko has got a point! Plus, we need to think about legacies. I think I’d be quite flattered to have a student copy me.”
Kakashi didn’t seem to agree. “Well, we can’t all be great teachers like Aiko and Iruka over here. I’m not really the student type.”
Disagreeing, Aiko let out the smallest snort. It was hardly noticeable, but oftentimes Aiko seemed like she knew a lot more than she let on. And if anyone had noticed her reaction, now one had let on that they had.
Seeing the man behind the counter set the ramen bowls down for her and Aiko, Reina sulked back to the bench.
“So no mask I guess” she mumbled.
Hearing her woes, Naruto lifted his head out of his third bowl and smiled at her.
“You can always wear a green suit like gai-san” he replied, “I think I’d wear that outfit if he ever offered to give me one.”
With that, Aiko seemed to pause in her pursuit of trying to eat ramen like a civilized person. The fault had been slight, but it seems like this time Kakashi had caught the movement as well.
Reina and Kakashi made eye contact in that moment, and they both made it evident that they thought her reaction had meant more than she had let on.
Smirking, Reina made it known that she would most definitely find out first, and Kakashi had narrowed his eyes. While her teacher acted weird around him, she knew that Aiko would never let the man confirm his suspicions. The only way they would find out would be through the woman herself, and despite the woman looking at Kakashi like how her dad had sometimes stared at her mom, Aiko still leaned away from the man.
It was simple body language, and Reina knew that her teacher was wary of the man. He was either too smart or too observant, and based on the way her teacher had spoken of his skills- it was likely both.
Reina couldn’t help but stick out her tongue at the man, because at least her teacher trusted her.