Gerimis

“Happy 16th birthday, here’s your birthday present!”

The blonde birthday girl in the television gaped at her present as it was being unveiled. As soon as she saw it she closed her mouth and screamed excitedly. She leaped into her mother’s arms and then let her mother go, and dropped a kiss on her father’s head before rushing forward for her gift. Her family had given her a car, a very expensive looking car.

Naruko gawked at the television programme she had been watching for the past ten minutes. The programme was about a birthday party which looked extravagant, but that did not faze Naruko one bit. Being in a public school while she was in Iwa, she had plenty of schoolmates whom she heard had extravagant birthday parties. Rich people equals extravagance she realized. What made Naruko astounded at the birthday gift of the sixteen year old girl on tv was the gift. The car, Naruko thought, was too big and too expensive for a teenager. God knows what these rich birthday girls will get when they reach twenty one.

Somehow Naruko was jealous too, not at the extravagant party or the pricey present but at the thought that she might not have any birthday parties after this like these girls would year after year. Back in Iwa her birthday was always celebrated no matter how belated. Her foster mother Chiyo would always bake a cake for her, and then they would eat it together with the other foster children.

Naruko wondered if the folks at CHUNIN celebrate birthdays like civilians do, they look like they don't do personal activities much. But on the other hand Naruko had not anticipated that they would have such trivial programmes on their television either so she shouldn't really judge them. They seemed to have military like living quarters and campus atmosphere but at the same time they don't appear to be that strict. Maybe they aren't that tii military-esque, which to Naruko means straight, strict conservative lifestyle. Maybe they do celebrate birthdays, and Naruko wondered if they have cakes here, she hoped that they do.

Naruko was left alone in the room as Sasuke was away getting changed. After their visit to the CHUNIN living quarters Sasuke had received a call about a sudden meeting with his superiors. So he went back to his room to change into his uniform and deposited Naruko at the CHUNIN leisure room.

Upon entering Naruko was in awe at the normalcy of the room. The room contained a large television, a few monitors and game consoles, and some bean bags for sitting. There was also a wooden cabinet standing against a wall, with racks full of books and on the lower racks all kinds of board games. Naruko thought that the CHUNIN sure had their places neat and organized.

Naruko had then switched on the tv and just tuned to the first channel on screen and it was the birthday party programme. After fifteen minutes passed no one came into the room and the tv was now showing the birthday girl in her car with her father in the passenger seat. She was taking them around their neighbourhood while her father explained to her about the car. Meanwhile, Naruko’s mind wondered if CHUNIN would be like a normal higher education institution, but maybe more sophisticated because it was military like. In her far mind she wondered how much studying would she be doing, will she actually have classes or just spend these early days waiting around. No one had formally explained to her what CHUNIN was so far and they were far more interested in her potential for CHUNIN than in explaining about anything else. CHUNIN looked interesting enough so far for her, much better than working the minimum wages at a cinema, going home alone thinking about mundane things and getting ready for tests. Well not that Kakashi was a bad boss but CHUNIN looked like a better place to be in comparison. Naruko hoped the hours she had spend studying would be used here.

As Naruko’s mind wandered into thinking about what CHUNIN was actually, she heard the door slid open and promptly turned around. Sasuke stepped inside wearing something new. Her initial thought was that Sasuke looked sharp in his new attire before she realized that Sasuke wore something which looked like Kakashi’s mercenary clothes which he would wear at the cinema. However Sasuke looked less intimidating without a mask on his face like Kakashi. Sasuke closed the door in his way in and Naruko noticed red trimmings and pipings on the sleeves and some part of his uniform. The red accents made the navy blue uniform look relaxed and much less intimidating as a military uniform would.

Sasuke turned around and smiled at her and that made her heart skip a beat. Naruko smiled back and turned around to hide the blush creeping on her face, she elaborately picked up the remote to lower the tv’s volume in anticipation of Sasuke talking.

Sasuke eyed the tv and then sighed. “I hated this program. But a year ago I had to watch this program while we were preparing for a year end theatre performance, it became bearable to watch after that", Sasuke said breaking the ice.

Naruko’s eyebrows rose sharply at his words.

“What kind of character was that?” she quickly shot him a question.

Sasuke chuckled and then looked at her, “I was a poor boyfriend to a rich girl. My character was a loser and I had to react to her extravagant party and her haughty friends, it was kind of “I want to be here for her but at the same time wanted to run away from the situation.”

“Can't imagine you being in that kind of character.”

“Makeup and costume helped,and I even won best promising actor in the regional theatre competition.”

“Really?” Naruko asked before laughing. She find it hard to believe his story as Sasuke was far from being humble or awkward all the while he was around her before.

“I am a good actor, practice makes perfect,” Sasuke said haughtily.

“But you never acted like a good actor friend before? I was receiving mixed signals about your interest in me, some days you were really friendly but sometimes you're distant. I couldn't figure you out,” Naruko said.

“The assignment ruled that I have to befriend you in my own way, naturally, so not much acting needed there. I had to earn your trust by just being myself... I realized that it might be a long term working relationship when they told me to just be myself. It worked out anyway ok anyway,”

Naruko mused at his words. She now realized that she was thankful that Sasuke had remained his bitchy prickly self,  because if he was acting nice and she was attracted to that fake part of him... only to find out that it was a ploy to get her to CHUNIN,  then she would have been deeply hurt. He was only nice because it was all an assignment. But instead she had been angry at his haughtiness, attracted at those nice sides of him, because when he cared he was very sincere and she could feel that he was himself… not many people were sincerely nice to her while she was growing up.

“People often chide me for being cold and insensitive. I should warn you about that, should I?” Sasuke smirked and held his hand out for her to get up. Naruko smiled before taking his hand and got up.

“I don't think you need to after I've experienced it first hand,” Naruko said as she let go of his hand. They slipped into their shoes and left the room together.

They were approaching an elevator and Naruko realized it was an area she had not visited yet. The elevator lobby was adorned with white marbles compared to the grey corridors of the CHUNIN hostels. She was starting to get nervous as they entered the elevator.

“Temari is on her way to meet us, I will be there for about an hour but I have to be somewhere else afterwards.”

Naruko glanced at Sasuke and gestured at his uniform, “So that explains the uniform change. Do I get one too?”

“Maybe, Temari is more clear on that.”

So she was getting uniforms and maybe actual missions later, after they do whatever they wanted to do on her. Naruko had watched enough tv shows to find similarity in CHUNIN with those shows, these military like organization looked similar in their earth toned uniforms, stern looking superiors and weapons. Now that thought made Naruko thought about the kind of weapon she might learn to use here.

The elevator opened on the next floor and Temari walked in. “Hi guys, so you…” she turned to Naruko and leaned against the elevator wall before continuing, “meet with my dearest bro?”

She nodded at Sasuke who nodded back as he stood with that bored expression of his.

“Um I did, but we didn't get to talk yet,” she explained. The elevator soon stopped and they got out.

Temari led the way and the two followed them. She slowed down to slid between them both and said, “My brother was turned into a Jinchuriki as soon as he was born so I guess that made me knowledgeable on Junchiriki. But I am not here as an actual expert, they asked me to stay back and lend my time to assist you and also the other Jinchuriki.”

Naruko’s eyes widen in attention at Temari’s words. Sasuke looked at Temari as he wrapped his arms across his chest while they continued walking.

“I came with my brother earlier this year but Kankurou returned to Sunagakure as he had to help father manage the government, we were training to be the next leaders of Suna’s Desert Army, it's an underground military facility almost like CHUNIN.”

Naruko looked at Temari’s blue eyes and blonde hair, she remembered that Gaara had red hair and green eyes. Were they his original traits, and what was that tattoo on his forehead.

“He had his forehead tattooed after he knew our mom died after he was born. He could be very mysterious and complicated but I've been his big sister for awhile now, so I kind of guess how his mood is most of the time. And I have been right most times. Well we are here, come let's meet Dr. Shizune.”

Naruko glanced at the door to her right in pale pink and gulped down nervous saliva down her throat. She glanced at Sasuke who quickly got beside her and placed a hand lightly on her back to encourage her.

“Let's get in, the doctor will be so glad to meet you,” he said softly.

“Temari, you haven't been here for weeks,” a voice called from the darkened room. “Oh the room's to dark, let me switch some lights here.”

“Good day doctor,” Sasuke greeted formally. Temari on the other hand had engulfed the doctor in a bear hug.

“It’s so good to see you again,” Temari said as she hugged the doctor.

“Uh Temari, me too. How are the sand siblings?” Shizune asked as she hugged Temari back and let go.

“Better than ever, anyway here's Naruko. In person. Live!”

Dr. Shizune’s eyes grew as big as saucers and though in her state of awe managed to greet Sasuke back, “Hi Sasuke, and Hi, Naruko Namikaze. Finally, you're here...”

Naruko who was suddenly feeling very self conscious blinked and retorted, “I'm Naruko Uzumaki. I'm going by my mother's name actually.”

“Oh,” Shizune realized her awkward error and scrambled for her papers and sheepishly looked at it before apologizing. “I'm sorry, I should know that by now as it's in these documents, but I am so happy to meet you.” Shizune then put down her papers before grabbing both Naruko’s hands to greet her.

Naruko was astounded at first that there was someone who was excited to meet her unlike everyone else who had regarded her with curious or doubtful eyes, so decided that it was up to her to mend the awkward air. So she let go of Shizune’s hands and hugged the older woman as tightly as she could. “Glad to meet you too Doctor.”

Shizune was beaming now as she hugged Naruko back and then remembered that they were here for serious business, and so she finally let go of the Namikaze heir. Inner Shizune was excited to regale the young woman about her knowledge about Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki but she was quickly reminded by Kakashi’s warning that the girl was clueless about her heritage. So Shizune put on her best Doctor voice and proceeded to start her briefing.

“Let's proceed to somewhere more comfortable for the briefing. I'm sorry Sasuke that your once a blue moon day off is interrupted.”

“I was assigned something else too, so don't be sorry about that,” Sasuke said.

They all followed Dr.Shizune out of the lab and into the aisle heading for a nearby room.

“This is the scientists lounge room, vit since no one's here since everyone is off doing things we can use it now. Take a seat,” the doctor invited.

Shizune took the middle single seat while Temari gestured to Naruko to sit next to the doctor. Sasuke sat at the farthest seat from them as he was about to leave later.

They sat down as Shizune then opened a nearby small fridge and handed them each a bottle of water.

“Thanks doc, so maybe a little about what Jinchuriki is,” Temari requested.

“Oh yeah, so Naruko we are going to test your body to see whether you are suitable to be a Jinchuriki. I am going to infuse your body with a sample of chakra, and we will monitor you from there. You've met the other Jinchuriki right?”

Naruko nodded and her mind thought of the others back at the house, “I've talked to Fuu and Killer Bee, met Gaara…”

Temari smiled and laughed, “you can tell her about what you think of him. I'm ok.”

“Well, he's not so friendly.”

“They don't differ much from us, some are friendly like Fuu but some of them have had a tough life. Being a Jinchuriki is special but it’s a lifetime of challenges. You're wanted but at the same rejected because people are scared of what they could do. Jinchuriki has bijuu chakra in it, there were supposed to be nine tailed  but ROOT had so far only have four and we are searching for the rest before the Kaguya clan get their hands on it. Your mom was a Jinchuriki and so we thought that you might be a potential candidate. However we are only sire after we test you, we only have a week should you want to wait it out.”

Naruko just sat there blinking in confusion, “I could reject this offer?”

Temari bit her lips while waiting for Shizune to reply.

“We can't force you actually. We have to do this with you volunteering as you are legally an adult. The jinchurikis you met didn't have that option… anyway what would you like to know?”

The first question to pop out from Naruko’s mouth was, “will it be painful?”

“It depends on your body,” Temari chimed in. “Gaara couldn't remember since he was days old at the time but Fu said it was hellish.”

Naruko made a glum expression and promptly looked at Sasuke who gave her a vague look before asking Shizune. “If I may ask, what would the tests be?”

“Oh, there would be blood tests, endurance test, just like any other health tests. We should also be taking samples from your body, just some cells to see how they react. These are all only done with your permission. So all we are doing now is talk, because you have a week to consider this matter.”

“Actually,” Naruko replied. She was surprised to hear that she had choices here when all her life it has always been about people making choices for her. “I thought that I had to do this no matter what... I did not realize that I am going to have options. I am really surprised."

Shizune nodded but waited for Naruko's next words patiently. Naruko looked at the unopened file which Shizune was holding and continued, "I think I would like to spend some time learning about Jinchuriki, and also about a what it means to be a Jinchuriki. And… I want to know more about my parents.”

Shizune nodded at Naruko and smiled at the reference to her idols. She opened her file and asked, “So where do you want to start, or can I give suggestions?"

Naruko nodded and waited as Shizune opened the file.

TBC