Chapter 4 The Ninja Academy

The Hokage led me down a hall and some stairs. I was able to keep up with him, but I was also distracted by all the shinobi that we passed by. Everyone I passed I saw them staring at me with a surprised look. Every single one…It hurt to know that it was no different outside of the village. All people are the same…anything different than their norm they fear and avoid.

We finally stopped in front of a double door with the number "301" above it. Lord Hokage told me to stay put for a moment as he walked into the classroom. A few moments later he came out with a younger-looking shinobi. This one was dressed in black with a green vest and a headband with an odd symbol engraved in the middle. They both stopped in front of me. As we locked eyes I panicked and bowed in their presence.

"Osamu-Sensei this here is Isamu Tatsusageru she will be a new addition to your class starting tomorrow."

I looked up at the Hokage with a shocked expression as I tilted my head in confusion.

"Sir? What do you mean by class?"

The Hokage laughed and put a hand on Osamu's shoulder. Osamu looked down at me with a small smile as he bent down to be at eye level with me.

"It is nice to meet you Isamu…you will be a great addition to our class this year."

I smiled but still was very confused. I bowed my head and Osamu looked back at the Hokage rubbing his hand behind his neck laughing nervously.

"I am sorry Lord Hokage but, I must return to my class we are going to start exams soon."

Lord Hokage smiled and gestured for Osamu to go back in, so he waved goodbye and went back inside.

"Here Isamu…follow me, I will be showing you where you will be staying from now on."

I stood still in place as I saw Lord Hokage beginning to walk down the hallway to the exit doors. I then ran to keep up with him and as we went outside the building, I looked up at him in confusion.

"Sir…I am very confused, what do you mean by class? What class am I starting? A place for me to stay? What do you mean."

The Hokage smiled and did not answer until we came to an apartment building. He led me up to a door and handed me a key.

"This is your new apartment where you will be staying for your duration in the Hidden Leaf Village. Since you are 5 years old you will be emitted to our Ninja Academy class tomorrow morning. Osamu will be your instructor and will be evaluating you to see if you are genin material."

I held the key in my hand inspecting it for a moment before what the Hokage said hit me like a pile of bricks.

"Ninja Academy? You are placing me to become a ninja?!"

I almost screamed at him, but I was able to catch myself before I became too loud and drew unwanted attention to us. The Hokage laughed and put his hand on my head messing my hair up a little.

"Yes, you are from the Dragon Clan. The little information we have has given us a view on how powerful your people are in chakra. I know there were shinobi in your village, and I know that ninja study I am sure, is not foreign to you."

I shook my head, I never thought of becoming a ninja. Well because in my village it was forbidden for females to become shinobi unless we were trained in the medical field. But even then, we were only to use our chakra and jutsus for medical necessities. I was shocked, I had no idea what to say but I looked up at the Hokage and smiled.

The Hokage began walking the way we came waving his hand in the air.

"Good luck on your first day tomorrow!"

I continued to watch the Hokage walk away until he was no longer in sight. I turned my attention to my new apartment key. I put it in the knob turning it to unlock the door. I walked into the apartment and turned on the lights so I could get a good look at everything. I walked through the kitchen and saw that the cabinets and fridge were stocked with food and supplies. I walked through the bedroom where a small laid-out futon was on the ground for me to sleep. I went through the bathroom and finally the small open space that had nothing in it now besides a lamp that was placed in the corner.

I sat down at the kitchen table and put my head in my hands. I was overwhelmed, I was trying my hardest to process everything that was going on, but it was all happening so fast. Attending class tomorrow? I do not even know much about being a ninja. Of course, we had books in our library in the village that I would study but that was all I did. I just read, took notes, and left them in my notebooks. I never practiced anything physically, I did not want to make my father even more disappointed in me. I lifted my head as my stomach growled so I went to the fridge to make myself dinner. It was quiet with only me here, but it was calm. I could finally relax a little.

After eating dinner and showering I laid down on my futon. before I knew it, I was fast asleep.

I heard a loud ringing noise that made me almost jump out of my bed. My eyes popped open as I looked over to the side. My alarm clock was going off. I rolled my eyes and looked back up to the ceiling as I made a fist to silence my alarm. I realized it was my first day of class! If I did not get up and ready, I was going to be late. Oh great, I do not want to be late on my first day. That would make a horrible impression. Since I am not from this village, I do not want to look even worse to the native shinobi here! If I was going to become a Ninja, I needed to have the people of this village know me…respect me…see me as a person with skill and potential. The Hokage opened his arms and his home to me with no question. I cannot let him down.

I sat up in my bed and put my hands into a fist as I hopped out of bed. I was ready and I was determined. I had a fire in my eyes and a fire in my soul. I ran to the bathroom to clean up before getting dressed. As I began to wash my face I grabbed a towel to wipe my face dry. I stopped in my tracks, all I could do was stare straight into my eyes in the mirror.

"No…way…how…how is this possible?"

I leaned in closer to the mirror and started examining my left eye. It no longer had a white coating over it, it was fully back to normal. Well, no not fully, it was an unusual color now. It was blood red! It had the same pupil shape as the other, but the color was dark. I looked from my left eye to my right to examine the differences. As I was doing this, I noticed I had my full vision back. It was not cut in half anymore I could see fully now! I shook my head and blinked a couple of times to make sure I was not going crazy. No, it was still there, I shook my head as I got pulled back into reality. Enough of this I can worry about this later I have to get going now.

I put my outfit on pulled my hair into a high ponytail grabbing my satchel as I ran out of the front door. I locked the door and ran towards the Hokage building I was in yesterday. As I ran up to the main doors, I stopped to catch my breath. A big wave of anxiety took over my entire body as I looked up at the building. As I looked behind, I saw faces carved into the mountain. I tilted my head in the confusion about who those faces were but, I had no time now I had to go in. I stood up straight, brushed the dirt off my clothes, and walked through the main doors.