Chapter 1
Morgan Arc
The Breaker of Tropes
So this plot idea hit me hard. I have recently revitalized my interest in Naruto after re-watching Shippuden and getting into Boruto. While the theme may seem a bit cliche with a "mc reincarnated as Sakura trope" but I hope to put my own unique spin on it and make it an interesting read.
As always I do not own any of the characters.
I now have fanart! I am so happy that LUFTRITTER, Galler , and mdkcde on Imgur decided to draw some pieces for this story! The content of it is a spoiler so click on it at your own risk.
A Cape in Konoha
Prologue:
Opening my eyes was the first clue that something was wrong.
One does not simply “open” their eyes after being shot in the back of the head after surrendering your sanity to a multi-dimensional parasite to kill a pseudo god.
I was supposed to be dead, or at the very least living the rest of my life as a vegetable.
Instead I woke up in a small bedroom covered in a soft blanket. In addition, the entire room was painted pink of all things.
As a lifetime lover of more subtle colors even before the bullying, the offensively bright color hurt to look at.
Pressing a disturbingly small hand to my head I take deep breaths to calm myself and think on the situation.
First, I was in an unknown room in what appeared to be a young girl’s room.
Second, I was alive and lucid, which suggested that I had been saved. The question remained on whether me being here was by choice or chance.
Third, I could not sense any bugs, meaning that my shard had either been removed or my power was being blocked somehow.
‘Considering my last memory was being shot in the head…I can say it is probably the former.’ I muse with a wince, slowly uncovering the floral printed bedsheet from my legs. To my dismay they were much shorter than I was used too.
As a girl who had shot up like a weed during puberty, being back under five feet was a novel experience as I got up from the bed and tested my weight on the ground.
Approaching a mirror at the far wall I stop dead as I gape at my new body.
For one I was short, really short. It looked like I was only around seven to eight years old. I was wearing a bed shirt, long enough to act as a pseudo dress with an image of a shuriken on it.
But that was not the most important thing about the image.
No.
Not in the least.
I could handle being seven again, there were powers in the world that could do that. In fact, there was a famous cape in China who could make you look any age,
What I could not handle was the fact my hair was now an even brighter pink than the walls.
Stunned, I robotically lift my slight fringe to look at the roots of my hair, despairing at the fact that the strands were pink down to the follicle.
I don’t know how long I stared into the mirror, but I flinched when a voice broke me out of my stupor.
“Sakura-chaaan! Are you awake? Breakfast is almost ready!”
… “What the fuck?”
“SAKURA!”
I stared with a deadpan expression as Mebuki Haruno, this bodies mother, raged at Kizashi Haruno about teaching impressionable children bad words.
The two were certainly odder than my parents had been.
The matron of the family had burnt yellow, borderline orange, hair.
The father had a dull pink, nearly gray hair styled to look like a flower.
‘You two…should have never had a child.’ I decide, shoving a bite of rice into my mouth. The meal consisted of a bowl of rice, a small grilled fish and a bowl of soup.
While I did not know much about other cultures, having spent most of my life in a city where being non-American was actually a health hazard, I could still recognize the signs of Asian influence.
‘Am I in china?’ I wonder idly as I take a tentative bite of the small fish, finding that it tasted sort of like tuna.
The argument seems to be winding down, with Mebuki sitting down in a huff and Kizashi rubbing the back of his head awkwardly as he begins to eat.
“So, Sakura. Looking forward to starting the academy?” Kizashi asks, obviously trying to break the awkward silence that any argument creates.
‘School?’ I think with a hidden grimace before nodding. If I really was five years old again school was obviously inevitable.
“Ahh how nostalgic. I remember my first day at the academy.” Mebuki simpers, a hand on her cheek as she reminisces “I remember thinking it quite boring at the beginning. But you should remember to pay attention Sakura-chan! You only get one chance to become a ninja after all.”
‘A what?’ I blink before responding “Why did you think it was boring…mom-chan?” I tilt off awkwardly, not knowing what the -chan, really meant at the end of a word.
Mebuki laughs a bit “Aww that’s so cute, you are mixing the old and new language together. Remember Sakura-chan, only use suffixes when using Ootsuki language and at the end of people’s names.” She lectures.
For a moment I’m painfully reminded of my own mother, who as an English professor had often corrected any improper use of grammar spoken near her.
I wrack my brains for what the Ootsuki language could mean and come up blank but by some instinct I respond “Hai Kaa-chan.” I reply.
‘How did I know that?’ I wonder as the Haruno matron looks satisfied.
“Well I guess we got off topic, the reason I found it so boring was because I never wanted to be a ninja. My true passion was in trading!” Mebuki explains with a soft smile.
“Yes, your mother really traded the life of a ninja for a life in the Caravans!” Kizashi giggles.
“Kizashi!”
I ignore their byplay, focusing on my own thoughts, which once again turned to my situation. ‘Ninja…like Oni Lee?’ I wonder, remembering the teleporting assassin who had plagued my early years as a villain in Brockton.
‘I need more information.’
“Mom? Can I go to my room to play?” I question, cranking up the cuteness factor of my new body to level 10.
Mebuki appears to melt “Of course sweetie! Just remember you have to go to bed early since you have to be at the academy by seven!”
Nodding I head upstairs back to the offensively pink room.
After closing the door, I immediately go to a small desk in the room, opening drawers and cabinets, pulling out any book or journal I could find.
Most were colorful children books, but I struck gold at one book forgotten in the back of the closet.
The cover was a dull gray with a language I vaguely recognized as kanji was inscribed upon it.
‘The Complete History of Konoha by Homura Mitokado.’ I read, instinctively translating the kanji into English.
‘Konoha?’ I internally question, translating it to Village Hidden in the Leaves. I trace the abstract leaf design underneath the letters before cracking the book open, looking at the index.
Skimming through the first and second chapter I stop my reading as I think about what I had learned, ‘Well, I certainly am not on Earth. This may be some warped version of Japan, but I doubted it. The locations, names, and culture were just too different.
There were similarities, such as the prevalence of Daimyos and the fact that apparently the word ninja was a pseudonym for a cape, soldier, mercenary, assassin, and spy rolled into one.
‘Konoha is like a city with the protectorate instead of the government in charge.’ I decide, making the comparisons to what I was reading with what I was familiar with.
Before the village system, families or “clans” operated like gangs, providing protection in exchange for services.
Flipping the book to the last two chapters, I could read up on what happened between later, now I needed to understand the most about the current world was like.
The picture at the start of the 2nd to last chapter proved once again that this was not my world. It was clear that the culture was distinctively Asian, but the man in the photograph was the most European looking man I had ever seen.
Golden blond hair with bright blue eyes, the fourth Hokage looked to be an Empire 88’s wet dream.
The chapter was the shortest in the book, seeing as Minato, despite his legendary skill, died only a few years into his reign at the hands of what sounded like an Endbringer.
The Kyuubi was proclaimed dead but I had my doubts. If the bijuu were anywhere near as strong as the trio from Earth Bet, then I would not be surprised if they were biding their time somewhere.
The next chapter revealed why the Third Hokage had two chapters, seeing as the man had retaken his post after the tragedy.
'Which means either the man is that good or there is no active contender for the Hokage seat.' I theorize.
The last chapter did not have much information, but I did learn that the world was currently in a ceasefire after the last world war had devastated many of the other villages.
Closing the book with a loud snap I place it back on the desk, thinking about what I had learned. The entire book was filled with propaganda, omitting any of the actions Konoha may have inflicted and emphasizing the acts that the other nations committed.
The book did not give me the full view, but it did give me enough to fill in the gaps. Konoha was a meritocracy, with the strongest in the village declared the leader, who would have final say when it came to village matters. Below the Hokage were the council of elders and the council of clans who could contest with the leader’s rulings.
‘So, a meritocracy with a sort of hereditary democratic background to preserve it from total anarchy.’ I muse, trying to link the example with anything I had known back in my world.
Nothing really came up except the old tribal ruling styles of Africa and the Native American chieftains.
Another thing that the book emphasized was the danger of this new world. Konoha had been founded roughly sixty to seventy years ago and the world had seen three wars and countless small skirmishes. The strongest could go against Endbringers and everyone had a superpower.
Whats worse was that I was no longer Weaver, Skitter, or even Kephri, former warlord of an entire city, slayer of Alexandria and head of the Boston Wards.
No…
I was a young girl of seven with pink hair.
Looking back down at my young body and the lack of any of the muscle and training I had put myself through back on earth and took a deep breath.
‘I have a lot of work to do.’
It turns out that Konoha was misnamed, the village was more of a city than a small town. If I had to guess, then the village was not much smaller than Brockton.
Another oddity was the strange state of technology in this world. While most infrastructure, clothing styles, and transportation indicated that this world was still in the medieval period, there were odd additions to technology that made no sense.
TVs, radios and an eclectic mix of other electronics that shouldn’t have been invented until electricity was discovered.
I didn’t understand how it was possible, but I was grateful that the world was not completely in the dark ages.
Walking down the dirt road, I kept my eyes sharp as I examined everything about my new environment.
“Sakura-chan, you seem much more attentive today! Getting ready to be a great ninja?” Kizashi chuckles, walking at a sedate pace next to me.
I wince at the comment. Already Sakura's parents were seeing that something was off about their daughter. Last night I had thought long and hard how to treat the Haruno family. There were several options available. I could try and separate myself from them as much as possible, pretend to be their daughter, or a third option that I was leaning towards was a slow shift in personality.
From Sakura’s journals, the girl was a bit of an airhead and a classic girly girl type personality.
Needless to say, I was pretty much the exact opposite. So, short of breaking this body’s parents’ hearts to pieces, I would need to adapt my personality over time to something I was more familiar with.
But for now, I had to play the part of the little girl on my first day of school.
Looking up at Kiza-tou-san I respond “Yup! I am going to be the best ninja ever!”
There, that sounded childish enough.
It seems to have worked as father gave a large grin, a thumbs up, and we continued our walk.
Looking up at the large cliff that the city was built against I recognize the four faces from the book I had read last night. The monument reminded me of Mount Rushmore, just made out of a light brown than the distinctive white marble of the Earth-bet version.
‘Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Minato Namikaze.’ I list off as I put the faces to the names. I wonder how the Endbringer fights would have gone with those four at our side. A man who could create an entire forest in seconds, another who could create a flood in a desert and so much more.
The four were easily Triumvirate level, perhaps even above that.
“And here we are! The bastion of childhood dreams and education!” Kizashi announces with arms spread wide as we stop in front of a large red and white building.
To be honest it did not look like much, but it was still leagues better looking than Winslow. For one the only gang signs I could see were the Konoha leaf and there was no litter in every corner.
‘Of all the things I hate about this situation…is school.’ I wince. I never had good experiences with the education system back in Earth Bet. From rampant bullying to disinterested teachers, I had experienced it all.
‘It won’t be like Winslow…I won’t let it.’ I swear, walking slightly behind the taller man as we enter the courtyard, where a bunch of kids my age were gathering in front of a podium.
“Go on and line up, someone very important is going to give a speech to welcome you to the academy.” Kizashi says, patting me on the shoulder before moving over to the other parents.
I watch him leave before turning to the crowd of young kids. There were about thirty or so students, some more distinctive than others. I try to pay attention to their faces and any distinguishing traits. Some stood out, such as those with clan emblems. But most just blended into the background.
After a few moments of waiting a woman in green vest and dark blue underclothes stepped onto the podium, “Attention all students, please line up in rows facing the podium, the opening ceremony will begin soon.”
The kids scramble to line up, pushing and shoving until by some miracle we were all lined up correctly. I ended up standing in the back, a kid with a gravity defying ponytail in front of me.
The chatting kids hushed as an old man walked on to the stage, his presence silencing even the most high-strung kids.
‘So, this is the Hokage…’ I think, observing his weathered face and flowing white and red robes. The second oldest Kage ever to hold a seat and known globally by the monikers of the “Professor” and the “God of Shinobi.”
The Hokage takes a moment to collect himself before speaking “When the tree leaves dance, one shall find flames. The fire’s shadow will illuminate the village, and once again, the tree leaves shall bud anew.”
‘A poem?’ I guess, finding the words to be oddly melancholic.
“This poem has been inscribed into the hearts of every shinobi who enters these halls, and every shinobi who fights to defend our home.” Hiruzen explains, folding his arms behind his back “The Will of Fire is not just an ideal, as I hope each and every one of you will come to understand in time. For now, remember that you all are the Leaf’s most precious resource and beacon that will pave our way forward into the futre. You are the ones who will stand before our enemies and protect your friends, loved ones, and fellow shinobi.”
His stern visage melts into a soft smile “Those of you that graduate and take up arms to protect our village will earn the eternal gratitude of not only me, but our ancestors and future kin. For it is you that has made the foundation and continued existence of Konoha possible. However, if it turns out the life of the shinobi is not for you, It does not matter. For what you do after you exit these halls, either as a shinobi, merchant, writer or even a simple farmer. No matter what road you end up taking, always remember you are a proud citizen of this village and your efforts serve to water the great tree that protects us all.”
The clearing is dead silent as everyone absorbs the words from the Hokage, thinking on the seriousness of what they were preparing to do. I break apart the words of his speech, finding the hiding meanings and warnings within.
The man had a way with words. He conveyed the seriousness of their career path in an inspirational way while also reassuring those with doubts that failure was acceptable and even commendable.
“Bah! Don’t wait for an old man to ramble on about the future. Today is a day of the now and not the when! I am sure your teachers are anxiously awaiting to cram as much knowledge as they can into you. So why don’t you hurry on inside!” Hiruzen breaks the thoughtful silence with a kind smile.
The children cheer, the spell broken as they rush past the suddenly pale instructor.
I sedately follow, knowing that rushing would only get me caught up in the mob of toddlers. As I walk, I glance at the Hokage, observing him as he speaks with the various academy instructors, the benign smile on his face never wavering.
Unfortunately, I had been disillusioned with authority figures too many times to truly believe the Hokage was just a kindly old man. No one in the profession of killing made it to his age without being ruthless.
I would not be surprised if the man could kill someone with that same expression.
As if sensing my gaze, the man turns, his eyes meeting mine, the fiercely intelligent gaze of the village leader pinned me in place for a few moments before he closed his eyes, smiling kindly as he gestures with his hand for me to head inside.
I turn away and make my way inside, heart beating frantically as I make my way to the classroom.
‘What…was that?’
…
“Hokage-sama?”
Hiruzen reaches into his robes and pulls out a pipe, lighting it with a small hint of fire chakra “That girl with the pink hair…what is her name?”
The academy principle scratches his hair before pulling out a binder, flipping through several profiles before stopping on one “Pink hair…pink hair…aha. Sakura Haruno, age seven. No clan affiliations besides a small connection with the Yamanaka. Her mother is a merchant who often deals with Kusagakure and supply the clan with some of their preferred plants. It is also of note that her mother is a member of the Mother’s Association and quite skilled in Taijutsu. While more suited to shinobi life than most civilians, she is not quite worthy of note.”
The third Hokage ponders this information. A fresh academy student with no shinobi background with eyes like those?
‘The last time I saw such eyes on one so young…was Itachi…’
“Principle.”
“Hai?”
“Make sure Sakura gets sorted with the class of clan heirs. Something tells me there is something…special about the girl.” He orders, trusting his instincts that there was something was off about the innocent looking toddler.
“As you say Hokage-sama!” The principle bows before excusing himself, rushing back inside to follow his orders.
Puffing on his pipe the leader of Konoha turns to head to his office, the faces of each young student burned into his memory.
‘May this generation’s flames burn brighter than any before.’
AN:
Like it? Too early to tell? Please let me know in the comments. I started writing fanfiction from Naruto and I am quite excited to return to this world.
As always I do not own any of the characters.
I now have fanart! I am so happy that LUFTRITTER, Galler , and mdkcde on Imgur decided to draw some pieces for this story! The content of it is a spoiler so click on it at your own risk.
A Cape in Konoha
Prologue:
Opening my eyes was the first clue that something was wrong.
One does not simply “open” their eyes after being shot in the back of the head after surrendering your sanity to a multi-dimensional parasite to kill a pseudo god.
I was supposed to be dead, or at the very least living the rest of my life as a vegetable.
Instead I woke up in a small bedroom covered in a soft blanket. In addition, the entire room was painted pink of all things.
As a lifetime lover of more subtle colors even before the bullying, the offensively bright color hurt to look at.
Pressing a disturbingly small hand to my head I take deep breaths to calm myself and think on the situation.
First, I was in an unknown room in what appeared to be a young girl’s room.
Second, I was alive and lucid, which suggested that I had been saved. The question remained on whether me being here was by choice or chance.
Third, I could not sense any bugs, meaning that my shard had either been removed or my power was being blocked somehow.
‘Considering my last memory was being shot in the head…I can say it is probably the former.’ I muse with a wince, slowly uncovering the floral printed bedsheet from my legs. To my dismay they were much shorter than I was used too.
As a girl who had shot up like a weed during puberty, being back under five feet was a novel experience as I got up from the bed and tested my weight on the ground.
Approaching a mirror at the far wall I stop dead as I gape at my new body.
For one I was short, really short. It looked like I was only around seven to eight years old. I was wearing a bed shirt, long enough to act as a pseudo dress with an image of a shuriken on it.
But that was not the most important thing about the image.
No.
Not in the least.
I could handle being seven again, there were powers in the world that could do that. In fact, there was a famous cape in China who could make you look any age,
What I could not handle was the fact my hair was now an even brighter pink than the walls.
Stunned, I robotically lift my slight fringe to look at the roots of my hair, despairing at the fact that the strands were pink down to the follicle.
I don’t know how long I stared into the mirror, but I flinched when a voice broke me out of my stupor.
“Sakura-chaaan! Are you awake? Breakfast is almost ready!”
… “What the fuck?”
“SAKURA!”
…
I stared with a deadpan expression as Mebuki Haruno, this bodies mother, raged at Kizashi Haruno about teaching impressionable children bad words.
The two were certainly odder than my parents had been.
The matron of the family had burnt yellow, borderline orange, hair.
The father had a dull pink, nearly gray hair styled to look like a flower.
‘You two…should have never had a child.’ I decide, shoving a bite of rice into my mouth. The meal consisted of a bowl of rice, a small grilled fish and a bowl of soup.
While I did not know much about other cultures, having spent most of my life in a city where being non-American was actually a health hazard, I could still recognize the signs of Asian influence.
‘Am I in china?’ I wonder idly as I take a tentative bite of the small fish, finding that it tasted sort of like tuna.
The argument seems to be winding down, with Mebuki sitting down in a huff and Kizashi rubbing the back of his head awkwardly as he begins to eat.
“So, Sakura. Looking forward to starting the academy?” Kizashi asks, obviously trying to break the awkward silence that any argument creates.
‘School?’ I think with a hidden grimace before nodding. If I really was five years old again school was obviously inevitable.
“Ahh how nostalgic. I remember my first day at the academy.” Mebuki simpers, a hand on her cheek as she reminisces “I remember thinking it quite boring at the beginning. But you should remember to pay attention Sakura-chan! You only get one chance to become a ninja after all.”
‘A what?’ I blink before responding “Why did you think it was boring…mom-chan?” I tilt off awkwardly, not knowing what the -chan, really meant at the end of a word.
Mebuki laughs a bit “Aww that’s so cute, you are mixing the old and new language together. Remember Sakura-chan, only use suffixes when using Ootsuki language and at the end of people’s names.” She lectures.
For a moment I’m painfully reminded of my own mother, who as an English professor had often corrected any improper use of grammar spoken near her.
I wrack my brains for what the Ootsuki language could mean and come up blank but by some instinct I respond “Hai Kaa-chan.” I reply.
‘How did I know that?’ I wonder as the Haruno matron looks satisfied.
“Well I guess we got off topic, the reason I found it so boring was because I never wanted to be a ninja. My true passion was in trading!” Mebuki explains with a soft smile.
“Yes, your mother really traded the life of a ninja for a life in the Caravans!” Kizashi giggles.
“Kizashi!”
I ignore their byplay, focusing on my own thoughts, which once again turned to my situation. ‘Ninja…like Oni Lee?’ I wonder, remembering the teleporting assassin who had plagued my early years as a villain in Brockton.
‘I need more information.’
“Mom? Can I go to my room to play?” I question, cranking up the cuteness factor of my new body to level 10.
Mebuki appears to melt “Of course sweetie! Just remember you have to go to bed early since you have to be at the academy by seven!”
Nodding I head upstairs back to the offensively pink room.
After closing the door, I immediately go to a small desk in the room, opening drawers and cabinets, pulling out any book or journal I could find.
Most were colorful children books, but I struck gold at one book forgotten in the back of the closet.
The cover was a dull gray with a language I vaguely recognized as kanji was inscribed upon it.
‘The Complete History of Konoha by Homura Mitokado.’ I read, instinctively translating the kanji into English.
‘Konoha?’ I internally question, translating it to Village Hidden in the Leaves. I trace the abstract leaf design underneath the letters before cracking the book open, looking at the index.
1. Warring Clans Era
2. Shodai Hokage Era
3. Nidamine Hokage Era
4. Sandamine Hokage Era
5. Yondaime Hokage Era
6. Sandamine Hokage Era Pt.2
“Fire Shadow?” I question, flipping through the book as I start absorbing information about my new surroundings.2. Shodai Hokage Era
3. Nidamine Hokage Era
4. Sandamine Hokage Era
5. Yondaime Hokage Era
6. Sandamine Hokage Era Pt.2
Skimming through the first and second chapter I stop my reading as I think about what I had learned, ‘Well, I certainly am not on Earth. This may be some warped version of Japan, but I doubted it. The locations, names, and culture were just too different.
There were similarities, such as the prevalence of Daimyos and the fact that apparently the word ninja was a pseudonym for a cape, soldier, mercenary, assassin, and spy rolled into one.
‘Konoha is like a city with the protectorate instead of the government in charge.’ I decide, making the comparisons to what I was reading with what I was familiar with.
Before the village system, families or “clans” operated like gangs, providing protection in exchange for services.
Flipping the book to the last two chapters, I could read up on what happened between later, now I needed to understand the most about the current world was like.
The picture at the start of the 2nd to last chapter proved once again that this was not my world. It was clear that the culture was distinctively Asian, but the man in the photograph was the most European looking man I had ever seen.
Golden blond hair with bright blue eyes, the fourth Hokage looked to be an Empire 88’s wet dream.
The chapter was the shortest in the book, seeing as Minato, despite his legendary skill, died only a few years into his reign at the hands of what sounded like an Endbringer.
The Kyuubi was proclaimed dead but I had my doubts. If the bijuu were anywhere near as strong as the trio from Earth Bet, then I would not be surprised if they were biding their time somewhere.
The next chapter revealed why the Third Hokage had two chapters, seeing as the man had retaken his post after the tragedy.
'Which means either the man is that good or there is no active contender for the Hokage seat.' I theorize.
The last chapter did not have much information, but I did learn that the world was currently in a ceasefire after the last world war had devastated many of the other villages.
Closing the book with a loud snap I place it back on the desk, thinking about what I had learned. The entire book was filled with propaganda, omitting any of the actions Konoha may have inflicted and emphasizing the acts that the other nations committed.
The book did not give me the full view, but it did give me enough to fill in the gaps. Konoha was a meritocracy, with the strongest in the village declared the leader, who would have final say when it came to village matters. Below the Hokage were the council of elders and the council of clans who could contest with the leader’s rulings.
‘So, a meritocracy with a sort of hereditary democratic background to preserve it from total anarchy.’ I muse, trying to link the example with anything I had known back in my world.
Nothing really came up except the old tribal ruling styles of Africa and the Native American chieftains.
Another thing that the book emphasized was the danger of this new world. Konoha had been founded roughly sixty to seventy years ago and the world had seen three wars and countless small skirmishes. The strongest could go against Endbringers and everyone had a superpower.
Whats worse was that I was no longer Weaver, Skitter, or even Kephri, former warlord of an entire city, slayer of Alexandria and head of the Boston Wards.
No…
I was a young girl of seven with pink hair.
Looking back down at my young body and the lack of any of the muscle and training I had put myself through back on earth and took a deep breath.
‘I have a lot of work to do.’
…
-Konoha Academy-
-Konoha Academy-
It turns out that Konoha was misnamed, the village was more of a city than a small town. If I had to guess, then the village was not much smaller than Brockton.
Another oddity was the strange state of technology in this world. While most infrastructure, clothing styles, and transportation indicated that this world was still in the medieval period, there were odd additions to technology that made no sense.
TVs, radios and an eclectic mix of other electronics that shouldn’t have been invented until electricity was discovered.
I didn’t understand how it was possible, but I was grateful that the world was not completely in the dark ages.
Walking down the dirt road, I kept my eyes sharp as I examined everything about my new environment.
“Sakura-chan, you seem much more attentive today! Getting ready to be a great ninja?” Kizashi chuckles, walking at a sedate pace next to me.
I wince at the comment. Already Sakura's parents were seeing that something was off about their daughter. Last night I had thought long and hard how to treat the Haruno family. There were several options available. I could try and separate myself from them as much as possible, pretend to be their daughter, or a third option that I was leaning towards was a slow shift in personality.
From Sakura’s journals, the girl was a bit of an airhead and a classic girly girl type personality.
Needless to say, I was pretty much the exact opposite. So, short of breaking this body’s parents’ hearts to pieces, I would need to adapt my personality over time to something I was more familiar with.
But for now, I had to play the part of the little girl on my first day of school.
Looking up at Kiza-tou-san I respond “Yup! I am going to be the best ninja ever!”
There, that sounded childish enough.
It seems to have worked as father gave a large grin, a thumbs up, and we continued our walk.
Looking up at the large cliff that the city was built against I recognize the four faces from the book I had read last night. The monument reminded me of Mount Rushmore, just made out of a light brown than the distinctive white marble of the Earth-bet version.
‘Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Minato Namikaze.’ I list off as I put the faces to the names. I wonder how the Endbringer fights would have gone with those four at our side. A man who could create an entire forest in seconds, another who could create a flood in a desert and so much more.
The four were easily Triumvirate level, perhaps even above that.
“And here we are! The bastion of childhood dreams and education!” Kizashi announces with arms spread wide as we stop in front of a large red and white building.
To be honest it did not look like much, but it was still leagues better looking than Winslow. For one the only gang signs I could see were the Konoha leaf and there was no litter in every corner.
‘Of all the things I hate about this situation…is school.’ I wince. I never had good experiences with the education system back in Earth Bet. From rampant bullying to disinterested teachers, I had experienced it all.
‘It won’t be like Winslow…I won’t let it.’ I swear, walking slightly behind the taller man as we enter the courtyard, where a bunch of kids my age were gathering in front of a podium.
“Go on and line up, someone very important is going to give a speech to welcome you to the academy.” Kizashi says, patting me on the shoulder before moving over to the other parents.
I watch him leave before turning to the crowd of young kids. There were about thirty or so students, some more distinctive than others. I try to pay attention to their faces and any distinguishing traits. Some stood out, such as those with clan emblems. But most just blended into the background.
After a few moments of waiting a woman in green vest and dark blue underclothes stepped onto the podium, “Attention all students, please line up in rows facing the podium, the opening ceremony will begin soon.”
The kids scramble to line up, pushing and shoving until by some miracle we were all lined up correctly. I ended up standing in the back, a kid with a gravity defying ponytail in front of me.
The chatting kids hushed as an old man walked on to the stage, his presence silencing even the most high-strung kids.
‘So, this is the Hokage…’ I think, observing his weathered face and flowing white and red robes. The second oldest Kage ever to hold a seat and known globally by the monikers of the “Professor” and the “God of Shinobi.”
The Hokage takes a moment to collect himself before speaking “When the tree leaves dance, one shall find flames. The fire’s shadow will illuminate the village, and once again, the tree leaves shall bud anew.”
‘A poem?’ I guess, finding the words to be oddly melancholic.
“This poem has been inscribed into the hearts of every shinobi who enters these halls, and every shinobi who fights to defend our home.” Hiruzen explains, folding his arms behind his back “The Will of Fire is not just an ideal, as I hope each and every one of you will come to understand in time. For now, remember that you all are the Leaf’s most precious resource and beacon that will pave our way forward into the futre. You are the ones who will stand before our enemies and protect your friends, loved ones, and fellow shinobi.”
His stern visage melts into a soft smile “Those of you that graduate and take up arms to protect our village will earn the eternal gratitude of not only me, but our ancestors and future kin. For it is you that has made the foundation and continued existence of Konoha possible. However, if it turns out the life of the shinobi is not for you, It does not matter. For what you do after you exit these halls, either as a shinobi, merchant, writer or even a simple farmer. No matter what road you end up taking, always remember you are a proud citizen of this village and your efforts serve to water the great tree that protects us all.”
The clearing is dead silent as everyone absorbs the words from the Hokage, thinking on the seriousness of what they were preparing to do. I break apart the words of his speech, finding the hiding meanings and warnings within.
The man had a way with words. He conveyed the seriousness of their career path in an inspirational way while also reassuring those with doubts that failure was acceptable and even commendable.
“Bah! Don’t wait for an old man to ramble on about the future. Today is a day of the now and not the when! I am sure your teachers are anxiously awaiting to cram as much knowledge as they can into you. So why don’t you hurry on inside!” Hiruzen breaks the thoughtful silence with a kind smile.
The children cheer, the spell broken as they rush past the suddenly pale instructor.
I sedately follow, knowing that rushing would only get me caught up in the mob of toddlers. As I walk, I glance at the Hokage, observing him as he speaks with the various academy instructors, the benign smile on his face never wavering.
Unfortunately, I had been disillusioned with authority figures too many times to truly believe the Hokage was just a kindly old man. No one in the profession of killing made it to his age without being ruthless.
I would not be surprised if the man could kill someone with that same expression.
As if sensing my gaze, the man turns, his eyes meeting mine, the fiercely intelligent gaze of the village leader pinned me in place for a few moments before he closed his eyes, smiling kindly as he gestures with his hand for me to head inside.
I turn away and make my way inside, heart beating frantically as I make my way to the classroom.
‘What…was that?’
…
“Hokage-sama?”
Hiruzen reaches into his robes and pulls out a pipe, lighting it with a small hint of fire chakra “That girl with the pink hair…what is her name?”
The academy principle scratches his hair before pulling out a binder, flipping through several profiles before stopping on one “Pink hair…pink hair…aha. Sakura Haruno, age seven. No clan affiliations besides a small connection with the Yamanaka. Her mother is a merchant who often deals with Kusagakure and supply the clan with some of their preferred plants. It is also of note that her mother is a member of the Mother’s Association and quite skilled in Taijutsu. While more suited to shinobi life than most civilians, she is not quite worthy of note.”
The third Hokage ponders this information. A fresh academy student with no shinobi background with eyes like those?
‘The last time I saw such eyes on one so young…was Itachi…’
“Principle.”
“Hai?”
“Make sure Sakura gets sorted with the class of clan heirs. Something tells me there is something…special about the girl.” He orders, trusting his instincts that there was something was off about the innocent looking toddler.
“As you say Hokage-sama!” The principle bows before excusing himself, rushing back inside to follow his orders.
Puffing on his pipe the leader of Konoha turns to head to his office, the faces of each young student burned into his memory.
‘May this generation’s flames burn brighter than any before.’
AN:
Like it? Too early to tell? Please let me know in the comments. I started writing fanfiction from Naruto and I am quite excited to return to this world.
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