Life in the Academy Pt 2
Kimimaro adapted to life with the Jiang clan with surprising ease. He was a serene, patient boy which tempered Li Qiu's energetic and impulsive nature. She tended to drag him along everywhere, including to the Seven Swordsmen practices she often watched. This particular day, she sat on the sidelines of the grassy, open area that served as their training ground. Kimimaro stayed fixed on her left while Zabuza's adopted son Haku leaned into her right. On his other side was a slumped and grumbling Suigetsu.
"Hey, Uncle Kisame?" she looked up at her aunt's former partner. "How come Mangetsu-sama is training the prospective swordsmen so hard?"
Kisame glanced down at her, one hand on Samehada. "Chunin exams are coming up. And Konoha is sending their genius of the Uchiha clan to compete. Iwa, not to be outdone, is sending their own genius to face off with him. Should be interesting but we can't let them make us look bad, now can we?"
She nodded in agreement. "No wonder my compound is so busy. We're gonna be housing all the guests, aren't we?"
Kisame chuckled. "Damn right. You two better work hard. In fact...Hey, Mangetsu! How about we have Haku and that brother of yours help the Jiangs out with all their new guests, eh?"
Mangetsu, who was seemingly pinned between two prospective swordsmen, glanced up in thought. "Sure, might not be a bad idea. Let them get familiar with the other villages." He tossed both ninja away with ease, then darted after one of them to inflict what was sure to be a punishing combo of blows.
"Aw, what?!" Suigetsu shot up from his seat and folded his arms. "No way! I'm not gonna do lame girly work!"
Li Qiu also stood, sending a dozing Haku tumbling. Kimimaro blinked up at them, placid as a lake. "What did you call it, brat? I'll show you girly work!"
Suigetsu flinched away from her, being much younger and far less experienced in a fight. Li Qiu's punches hurt.
Kisame only chuckled again.
Some weeks later, the guests from the other villages began to arrive. Each country had its own guest house to stay in and Li Qiu was placed in charge of the girls tending to the Konoha house. She took the task with pride, personally ensuring every floor was sparkling and clean. She double-checked that all the linens were dust-free, skimmed the leaf litter out of the hot springs, and even helped with meal prep.
When the Konoha teams arrived, they were clearly in awe of the guest house's shining appearance. She bowed low with the rest of her team, mostly made up of cousins close to her age. One or two older aunts also supervised the more difficult tasks, like cooking and entertainment. She wondered which amongst them was this supposed genius and was startled to find a boy her age amongst the group.
An older Uchiha, one who seemed oddly chipper, ruffled his hair. "Isn't this great, Ita-chan? Good food, beautiful accommodations, and charming young ladies to wait on us while we're here~"
The one dubbed Ita-chan ignored his clan member and bowed to her, his posture stiff and formal. "Thank you for your most gracious hospitality, Jiang-san. The Konoha Delegation of prospective Chunin are in your care."
She hastily bowed back, a flush across her cheeks. "We are happy to do so. If you have anything you need, please feel free to ask myself or my cousins. I am Jiang Li Qiu and I will be overseeing your care."
"Bit young for that, aren't you?" The older Uchiha bowed but grinned at her in a roguish sort of way. Her heart fluttered.
"Shisui!" hissed Ita-chan.
"Don't be so uptight, Itachi. You're turning into a mini version of your dad more and more each day. I'm Uchiha Shisui and this is my younger cousin Itachi. Nice to meet you, Li Qiu-chan."
Li Qiu straightened to lead them inside to their rooms. "And you as well...And I am in charge because my mother, Ru-Shi is the next in line to be head of our Clan. I need to learn to lead as well as she does."
Shisui hummed and followed after her, though he nudged Itachi lightly. "She's cute, right? Maybe you should ask for more private attention from her~?"
Itachi blinked up at him. "What for? I am not in need of anything at the moment."
".....Yeah, way too much like your dad. Poor Aunt Mikoto."
Itachi tilted his head but said nothing as they continued inside.
The exams were held over a period of two weeks, throughout which she hardly saw the foreign ninja, though their teachers were happy to enjoy the baths and food. Once the second round ended, more than few teams stayed around to celebrate. Her own Konoha ninja, who had been nothing but pleasant and respectful the entire stay, bid her a quiet goodbye only two days after the second round. Most of them, including Itachi, had succeeded in making it to the final round which was to be held in a month's time.
Li Qiu quietly swept the walkways when she felt a heavy arm around her shoulders. She wrinkled her nose at the stench of alcohol and burnt ozone. Kumo ninja.
"Hey...hey little Missy. You...you know where a guy can find a good time?" He pulled her close and she pressed her free hand against his chest. "Hey now, that's...that's hardly showing me some hospitality."
"Back off, asshole. Can't you see she's just a kid? Yeah." She glanced back at her savior but her hope deflated. He was an Iwa ninja, hardly older than she was.
Before the Kumo ninja could respond, the Iwa boy darted forward and slammed a hand into his back, detonating what looked like a small explosion. She suddenly found herself pressed up against him while he kept his still-smoking hand held out. His long blonde hair swayed in the evening breeze.
The Kumo ninja shot back up and considered starting a fight, but seemingly decided against it. He stormed off, befitting a ninja from his village. She sighed in relief and looked back up at the boy. He grinned at her with lively blue eyes. He smelled like gunpowder and sweat, but she didn't really mind it.
"Are you that Iwa genius everyone was talking about?" She instantly looked away. No thank you, no asking for his name. Just...ugh! What was the matter with her?
"Heh." He didn't seem entirely displeased. "Probably. The name's Deidara, yeah."
"Er.. Jiang Li Qiu. Thank you for saving me." She flashed him a nervous smile, then realized she was still pressed up against him. He seemed to realize it in that same moment. They quickly parted. He tugged on one of his sleeves while she fiddled with her braid.
"So um-"
"I was-"
They looked at one another, then away again, both blushing.
"I made it to the third round so...I'll probably see you in a month. You'll be watching, right? Sensei said it'd be good luck to have a pretty girl cheering me on, yeah."
She smiles. "Sure, I'll cheer you on. But...if you end up in a fight with Itachi-san from Konoha, I might be a bit conflicted."
Deidara puffed up like an angry bird. "The Uchiha brat?! No way! I'm gonna wipe the floor with him, just you watch, yeah!"
"Then sure, I'll cheer you on. I'll see you in a month, Deidara-san." She grinned at him.
He calmed back down again and flashed her another easy grin. "Count on it."
In the third round of the exams, Deidara and Itachi faced off for the semi-finals. It was an impressive match but ultimately, Itachi came out the victor. Still, Deidara was promoted anyway, having shown all the skills needed to reach the next rank. She, along with all the assembled ladies of the Jiang clan (who she had told of the rescue) all cheered, louder than even the Iwa ninja there to support him.
He seemed disappointed that he hadn't defeated his new rival...but a lifetime of free stays at Jiang-owned establishments was an acceptable condolence prize.
Before Li Qiu knew it, her own graduation from the academy was fast approaching. And two years after that, she'd have a chance to enter the Iwa chunin exams.
Maybe then, Deidara would be the one cheering for her.