Shizuki knew it was a dream, it couldn't be anything else, it was the image that haunted her in every nightmare for as long as she could remember.
A boy with blond hair was running laughing towards her. The sound was warm, familiar, though Shizuki couldn't recognize it. She wanted to catch up to him, but her legs didn't respond.
"Wait!" she wanted to shout, but her voice didn't come out.
Behind the boy, a tall woman with golden hair smiled warmly.
The breeze blew gently, carrying with it pink petals that seemed to come from the woman. The petals swirled around them, as the woman waved her hands for more flowers to appear. But then, the wind became violent, like a storm roar. Clouds darkened the sky, the earth shook, and the boy disappeared into the mist. The woman reached out her hand toward Shizuki, but vanished into the distance, leaving Shizuki alone in an endless fall.
Shizuki awoke with a choked gasp, her chest rising and falling rapidly. She looked around, her mind still trapped in the empty feeling of sleep. The sheets were soaked with sweat.
She closed her eyes, bringing a hand to her forehead.
Again...who are they? she thought for the umpteenth time, but as always, no answer came.
She didn't know their names, or their voices, but deep inside, she felt that they had been important to her. More important than anything in this world.
She sighed and ran a hand through her hair before getting up.
After changing and tying her hair into a low ponytail, Shizuki went down to the dining room of the inn.
After changing and tying her blonde hair into a low ponytail, Shizuki went down to the inn's dining room. Her stomach was growling, but her mood was far from enjoying the food. Breakfast was simple: rice, miso soup, some fish and a cup of tea. She sat in a corner, away from the other guests, keeping her eyes down.
As she ate, her thoughts returned to Jiraiya. It had been days since he told that he had to leave "to settle some important business" and left her alone in this small town.
"I'll be back soon."
It was the last thing he had said, and she, though annoyed, hadn't complained. After all, it was something she was used to by now. Jiraiya always disappeared for some reason or another. Shizuki wasn't naive; she knew that her sesei's engagements tended to drag on longer than expected, especially since Jiraiya tended to be easily distracted. She accepted it because he was her sensei... her only family.
Her fingers tightened around the cup. An unfamiliar feeling stirred in her chest.
But what is more important than continuing my training?
She finished the meal in silence, leaving the empty dishes on the table. Outside, the wind gently stirred the branches of the trees, and the sound reminded her of the pending training. Shizuki decided that she could not wait any longer.
The forest surrounding the village was quiet at that time of the morning. Only the singing of birds and the rustling of the wind through the leaves could be heard.
Shizuki headed for the clearing where she used to train. This place had become her personal refuge since her sensei disappeared. Here, at least, she could feel that she was progressing.
Since a few months ago she had discovered something strange about her chakra. If she concentrated hard enough, she was able to give it tangible form and make it remain stable for a few seconds before she was forced to reabsorb it or it would disappear. It was not a simple flow of energy, but something completely material.
Shizuki started by creating small spheres the size of a grain of rice. Now she was able to create a cherry leaf that looked like it was made of crystal. It was the most beautiful thing Shizuki had ever seen. It looked so much like her dream that had to admit she got her inspiration from there.
The problem was that doing that left her exhausted and with an incredible headache. After the first two times she passed out, Jiraiya forbade her to try it again until she increased her chakra control.
But it wasn't fair, she could already control her chakra enough to walk on walls and over water, she could perform multiple clones without wasting chakra, and not to mention her handling when it came to performing a rasengan. If she could handle that, how could she not be able to do this? Her sensei was just underestimating her.
Good thing Jiraiya wasn't there to ground her.
"Just a little bit more. I just want to test if I can keep the shape longer." she told herself.
She stood in the center of the clearing, holding out her hands.
Her theory was that if she could materialize enough leaves, added to her wind-type chakra, she could create a jutsu that would allow her to use her creations as an attack. It was hard to explain, she was sure that her sensei had not understood her the first time Shizuki explained her plans. That's why it was better to show it.
I would look so cool!
Shizuki could already imagine herself surrounded by a shower of petals made of chakra.
She took a deep breath and let her chakra flow through her body.
"Focus... I just want to materialize a few leaves."
She opened her eyes and raised a hand.
Three small chakra leaves began to form in the air, floating in front of her. But instead of the standard blue of chakra, hers was deep red, like blood.
That color again...
She didn't know why her chakra was different, but every time she tried to materialize it, her energy took on that crimson hue.
When the leaves began to fall to the ground, that's when the second part of her idea began.
Again she focused on her chakra, on the light wind rushing through the forest.
"Focus." She repeated herself. "You've done this before"
The air buzzed around her. First, a gentle breeze, then a whirlwind of sharp currents. Her hair rose slightly as she felt the power forming. The leaves no longer touched the ground, they were sucked into the light whirlwind and began to swirl around her, glistening in the sun. A faint smile appeared on her face.
"I made it!"
But as soon as she let her guard down, she felt a stabbing pain in her head.
Shizuki felt the world spinning around her as her vision blurred. Her breathing was ragged and her body trembled. She had strained her chakra too much again.
Jiraiya was right...she thought, frustrated.
But she didn't want to stop. Not when Shizuki felt she was so close to mastering it.
She put a hand to her head, trying to steady herself, but her legs faltered. She leaned forward and closed her eyes, waiting for the feeling of vertigo to go away.
It was then that a scream broke the calm of the forest.
"Ero-sennin, where the hell did you bring me?!"
Shizuki's eyes shot open and she frowned.
What the...?
Before she could react, someone burst into the clearing.
A blond boy in hideous bright orange, garishly gaudy clothes.
He stopped at the sight of her.
She scowled at him.
He looked at her with his mouth ajar, clearly surprised.
Several seconds passed in which they simply examined each other, until the boy spoke with a confidence that Shizuki found immediately irritating.
"Hey, who are you?"
Shizuki arched an eyebrow.
"Who are you?"
He frowned.
"I asked first!"
"So what?"
He snorted.
"You have a horrible attitude!"
"And you have a voice that's too loud."
The atmosphere grew tense.
What kind of idiot is this? Shizuki thought with annoyance.
Before she could say anything else, another voice echoed behind the boy.
"Naruto, stop yelling."
Jiraiya appeared through the trees, walking with his typical carefree attitude. His hands were inside his red haori, and his expression was that of someone who simply wanted to avoid trouble.
Shizuki felt something inside her tense up at the sight of him.
"So this is the 'important matter' you had to resolve."
Jiraiya let out a sigh.
"Don't make that face, you're still my favorite. But from now on, Naruto will train with us."
Us.
She didn't answer right away. Inside, a bitter feeling built up in her chest. He had left her alone to find another disciple.
"Then she's your other disciple!" Naruto pointed at her energetically. "She doesn't look like much!"
Shizuki narrowed her eyes.
"Sorry, who are you again?"
He snorted.
"Naruto Uzumaki! Remember that name because you're going to hear it a lot!"
"I doubt that."
"What did you say?!"
Before the discussion escalated, Jiraiya cleared his throat.
"Shizuki."
She turned her face toward him.
"What?"
Jiraiya watched her with a serious expression.
"You've been practicing that jutsu, haven't you?"
Shizuki felt a shiver down her back.
Naruto looked between the two of them, confused.
"What jutsu?"
Jiraiya ignored Naruto's question and folded his arms.
"I told you not to try it without supervision."
"I didn't."
Jiraiya arched an eyebrow.
Shizuki averted her gaze.
"I didn't try it... until today."
Jiraiya sighed.
"Shizuki..."
"Don't look at me like that," she said with annoyance. "I wasn't going to sit around waiting."
"That's exactly what you should have done."
"For what? To waste more time?"
Jiraiya frowned, his patience seemed to be wearing thin.
"If you keep forcing it like this, one day you'll lose control."
"I can handle it."
"No, you can't."
The coldness in his voice made her flinch for a second, but she didn't let that stop her. Her expression hardened. She wouldn't have had to be training alone if he hadn't abandoned her.
"It's not your problem."
"Yes it is," Jiraiya replied earnestly. "You're my student, my responsibility, and if you keep acting like this, you won't get anywhere."
Shizuki just muttered an insult between her teeth and turned away in annoyance.
Naruto glared at her before speaking.
"If you don't want to listen, then don't complain when you fall on your face next time."
Shizuki slowly turned to him.
"What did you just say?"
Naruto looked at her with a smirk.
"I saw you stumble a while ago. You don't look so strong."
Shizuki felt a twitch form on her eyebrow.
"Say it again."
Naruto shrugged his shoulders.
"You heard me."
The atmosphere froze.
Naruto felt a shiver run down his back as Shizuki stepped towards him with a dark expression.
"Hey... wait..."
"I'm going to crack your face."
"EH?!"
Before he could react, Shizuki raised her fist.
Naruto jumped back, dodging by inches.
"You're a crazy!"
"And you're a nuisance!"
Jiraiya sighed, holding a hand to his face.
"We haven't even been here five minutes and already they want to kill each other."
He watched them wearily as they ran through the clearing, Shizuki trying to hit Naruto while he dodged nimbly.
Despite the obvious annoyance on their faces there was something about the way they fought that was familiar to him.
Jiraiya sketched a small smile.
Maybe this wasn't so bad after all.
***
Later, as they walked back to the inn, Shizuki walked a few steps behind, her thoughts a whirlwind.
Why would he do this, why did he replace me so easily, she thought, remembering the years she had spent training with Jiraiya. Every word of praise, every piece of advice, every moment she felt like she was building a special bond with her sensei.... It all seemed to fall apart.
She looked at Naruto, who was walking beside Jiraiya, laughing and gesturing excitedly. There was something about his attitude, his smile, that irritated her deeply.
What's so special about him?