Meeting and Passing: the Sound of Trees
Fangirls Meet Naruto
By 88-x-NekoNinja-x-88 and Yumetaka Kourui
-=-=Bond and Free=-=-
Joanna's View:
I opened my eyes to semi-darkness. Sitting up I worked to remember what had happened yesterday. Ah, yes… this was my room in what was essentially Orochimaru's underground lair.
I looked at the tiny skylight – if it could be called that – to see it was very early in the morning. Training started today.
I brought my knees up to my chest and again noticed just how small my seven-year-old body was. I examined my current situation and made some plans for the future. A knock at the door brought me out of my thoughts. I got up and opened the door to see a young boy with silver hair, perhaps in his early teens, standing there. It was without a doubt a young Kabuto.
"Orochimaru-sama has summoned you."
I nodded and followed him as he led the way.
When we arrived in the room where Orochimaru was, I could see some training posts as well as a few columns making sure that the ceiling didn't collapse.
Kabuto bowed to Orochimaru before leaving to do whatever other job he had been assigned. Orochimaru then spoke.
"Training will be difficult if you're going to be strong."
"I won't give up." I had to seem like a mindless henchman after all. How else would he trust me?
"Before I train you, I have one more question."
"Yes, Orochimaru-sama?"
"What is your clan name? I'd like to know more about the girl I will be training."
"My full name is Kuratsuki Joanna."
Some sort of recognition flashed in his eyes and I wondered what that meant.
"I see. Now, Joanna-chan, we will begin your training, starting with chakra control. Focus your chakra into your hand until you can see what color it is."
I focused, and though I was unused to using this energy, soon I was able to make my hand glow a pale silver. Orochimaru then pointed to one of the columns.
"I expect you to be able to climb that column with only your feet and chakra in an hour. I have something else I must do and I'll check back then."
Though the 'or else' was left unsaid; it was obvious that if I wasn't able to climb the column something bad would happen. I was forever thankful that girls in general had naturally good chakra control.
"Hai, Orochimaru-sama."
After Orochimaru left the room I put my hands in the Tiger seal and focused my chakra to my feet. When I felt I had a decent amount I put my foot against the column and then pulled myself up until both feet were holding on with chakra. There were two times when I almost lost my hold, but I made it to the ceiling and carefully back down without slipping. It can't have taken more than five minutes.
When I was back on the ground I decided to try something.
Ram, Snake, Tiger.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu."
I looked at the result. It looked similar to Naruto's failed Clone Jutsu.
The 'clone' poofed away and I again attempted the technique.
Nicole's View:
'Oh god, how much longer?'
It was around noon when Baki and I got within seeing distance of the village's gates. Though of course Baki was now my "daddy".
"Daddy, how much longer will it take to get to those big gates?" I asked with as much innocent curiosity as I could.
He looked down at me (not surprising seeing as I'm basically the size of a six or seven year old…) replying with a hint (that being a major understatement) of annoyance in his voice, "Who told you that it was alright to call me daddy you little…" He paused taking in a deep breath to calm down a little before adding, "We should be there within half an hour. Now I expect you to act like a good little girl when we get to the village, understand?" he practically growled the last part at me!
"Yes daddy, I understand," I giggled.
'Yeah, "daddy", I understand that this plan is going to be fucking hilarious."
Joanna's View:
"Walk up the column."
I followed his commands except this time I didn't even bring my hands into a seal to help me focus. I sent chakra to my feet and walked confidently up the vertical surface before 'sitting' near the top facing Orochimaru.
"Good job."
"Thank you, Orochimaru-sama."
If there was one thing I was good at, it was acting, which, in this case, basically equaled to 'sucking up'.
"Now come back down."
I again did as he said and stood in front of him.
"We are going to try a simple jutsu."
"Hai, Orochimaru-sama."
"The Transformation Jutsu is performed by putting your hands in a reverse Ram seal with your right hand on top and saying the name of the technique while concentrating on who you want to turn into. Turn into me."
"Hai, Orochimaru-sama," I put my hands in the reverse Ram seal while concentration on Orochimaru, "Transformation Jutsu."
It only took a split second to notice the mistake which I quickly fixed. I had been looking from a seven-year-old's point of view so I turned out too tall.
"Whoops! Transformation Jutsu."
This time I was the right height.
"Perfect, Joanna-chan."
"Thank you, Orochimaru-sama."
What a suck-up I was.
Nicole's View:
"Hey! What's with the smirk?"
Ah snap, Baki saw the smirk I had on from thinking about 'the plan'.
I blinked in a cute way that only a young child could pull off. "What do you mean daddy?" I asked.
Luck seemed to be on my side as we neared the gates.
'Tee hee, part one of 'Embarrass Baki!' will commence in 5…4…3…2…1…now!'
"Hey Baki, who's the kid?" The guard on duty asked.
'Well well, the guards noticed me faster than I thought they would!'
Baki opened his mouth to tell him all about the most annoying little brat he found in the desert who insisted that she call him 'daddy'. Now if you're wondering, the little brat he's thinking about is me. Aw, can't you just tell that he just loves me so much?
Now seeing as Baki telling them who I was would ruin my entire plan, I quickly thought of a story, spouting my tale to the guards. "I'm Kurotori Nicole, Baki is my daddy! He found me there when he was looking for any bad people" I paused forcing myself to cry a little. "Bad people just like the ones who hurt mommy! I tried looking for Daddy on my own, but I got lost… I… I'm happy I found daddy…even if he did leave mommy…mommy said it was a one night stand… what does a one night stand mean?" I finished with wiping my eyes of any tears, sniffing for affect.
The guards were speechless. I was surprised they believed that story! I looked at Baki from the corner of my eye, seeing him look at me in shock. He took my smirk as a cue to say something. "Ah… I was going to take her to the Kazekage's office to see if she can stay with me until she's old enough to decide where she wants to live…" He stumbled over his words, trying to seem innocent.
All the guards could do was nod, seeing as they couldn't think of anything else to say. Baki grabbed my hand and dragged me through the gates.
Obviously 88-x-NekoNinja-x-88 (or whatever her username is) came over again today. Reviews would be great! As usual the title is from a poem by Robert Frost. (I have a book of his poems from the library and am taking advantage of it.)