Chapter 21: Forging the Will of Fire: Ayumi's Resolve
The sun blazed relentlessly, casting harsh shadows across the Classroom as I sat at my desk like the rest of my classmates. Sweat dripped down my pale skin, Today I'd start my life like a true ninja. My heart raced in anticipation, knowing that I was an odd number in the class. Well, that was to be expected. Just who would I be put with?
"Hey, Ayumi!" Naruto called out, grinning widely. "Yout still don't nervous about what team you will be put in?"
"Yeah," I replied, mustering a smile despite my anxiety. My golden-brown eyes scanned the crowd.
"Alright, everyone, settle down," Iruka-sensei barked, his voice bringing me back to the present. As the teams quieted down, I could sense their excitement and camaraderie.
"Kure, Ayumi," Iruka-sensei called my name, It was finally time. "You'll be paired with Uchiha, Izumi."
My breath caught in my throat as I met Izumi's dark, indifferent gaze. She hadn't been the same since that day in the hospital, and from how she treated me I was surprised she had agreed to be my squad leader.
"Izumi?" I muttered under my breath, feeling a strange mixture of emotions bubble up inside me. Anger, curiosity, and even a hint of worry.
"Good luck, Ayumi," Hinata whispered beside me, giving me a small, reassuring smile. Her kindness was always something I've come to like.
"Thanks, Hinata," I murmured back before taking a deep breath and walking over to Izumi. There was no turning back now.
"Kure," she greeted me with a nod, her voice as cold and distant as ever. I forced myself to maintain eye contact.
"Uchiha," I replied, So this was how she would treat me, that's fine I cou;d treat her the same way. "I suppose we're a team now."
"Seems so," she said, her eyes narrowing slightly. "We'll see how this goes." As we left the classroom I could tell she wasn't happy about this. Passing the many windows of the academy hallway, It was a weird feeling knowing I wouldn't really need to come back here as a student anymore.
As we reached the doors and stepped outside a sharp breeze rustled through the trees, As I stood before the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. His wise, aged eyes observed Izumi and me, assessing our potential as an unconventional duo. The sun's rays strained through the leaves, casting dappled shadows across his wrinkled face.
"Kure, Uchiha," he began, his voice steady and authoritative, "I have chosen to pair you two together for a reason. I know you have your differences Izumi with Ayumi's family at the moment but you need to let that rest in the past now."
I watched Izumi trying to gauge her reaction while I kept my expression neutral.
"Thank you, Lord Third," Izumi said, her voice sounding annoyed at him.
"Remember," Hiruzen continued, "the Will of Fire burns within all of us here in Konoha. It is your duty to uphold this principle and protect our village, no matter the cost."
"Understood," we both replied in unison, our voices firm.
"Very well," the Third Hokage said, his gaze lingering on each of us for a moment longer. Before walking away.
As soon as we left the Hokage's presence, I could feel the tension radiating off Izumi. Her jaw was set, her eyes flinty and cold.
"Izumi," I said, breaking the silence between us, "I know this pairing wasn't what you wanted. But I promise to give it my all and learn everything I can from you."
Izumi's eyes locked onto mine, and for a brief moment, the façade of indifference cracked. "you better," she replied, her voice softer than I'd ever heard it in the last few years.
"I will," I said, my heart swelling with newfound determination. I would show my half-sister that I wasn't all that bad. "Together, we'll become stronger than anyone could have ever imagined."
As we went our separate ways I headed home to tell my grandfather. Running past our servants and into his office. "Grandpa I found out who my team member was!" my voice was a little too excited.
"Oh, and who was it" he was holding the scroll I had taken from here without asking and I stopped right in my tracks as my eyes lingered on it. His eyes rested on me as he placed it back on the shelf, but he didn't seem angry with me and motioned me to go on.
"I um..... I'm partnered with Izumi.." My voice was nervous, I had learned almost everything on that scroll. There were a few things that I just couldn't do, due to my lack of charka or just my age.
"That's wonderful, tell me how was she?" His hand rested under his chin while he sat in his chair seemingly lost in thought. " She still seemed mad, and it looked like it was lord third who had forced the pairing"
He simply nodded. " That is good, this gives us a chance to mend things over with her, why don't you go rest in your room? Im sure you have a long day tomorrow."
And with that I was dismissed, Walking through my family hallways as I headed to my room. Finally, I would be able to make a change, I'd use canon as a bit of a guild but I wasn't stupid enough to believe everything would remain the same as my being here had already changed many things.
The night was uneventful as I had gone to bed early.
The morning sun was barely peeking over the horizon when I arrived at the training grounds, my breath fogging in the chilly air. I could feel the dewy grass beneath my feet as I walked, the dampness seeping through my sandals.
Izumi stood beneath an old oak tree, her arms crossed over her chest as she stared out at the empty field before us. Her posture was rigid, her expression unreadable. it was clear that she wasn't thrilled about our new partnership. Despite this, there was something in her eyes that told me she had taken our conversation with the Third Hokage to heart.
"Good morning, Izumi," I called, hoping to break the ice. "I'm ready to get started."
"Morning." Her voice held none of its usual warmth like it did in the past. She eyed me critically for a moment before sighing heavily. "Let's just get this over with."
As we began our warm-up stretches, I could feel Izumi's reluctance hanging heavy in the air between us. Each movement felt strained, our synchronization nonexistent.
"Izumi," I said, pausing mid-stretch. "I know you didn't ask for this. But if we're going to make this work, we need to be honest with each other."
Izumi sighed again, her gaze flickering towards me. "Fine. You want honesty? I don't think this is going to work. Not after your grandfather kept that secret from me for so long."
"Izumi come on, if you want to be mad at him that's fine but I didn't do anything to deserver you treating me like this," My voice sparked with anger. "We are family and I have done nothing to hurt you in any way so stop treating me like I have"
"Maybe." Izumi's eyes narrowed, as she ended our conversation.
We resumed our training with renewed vigor, I was able to keep up with her far better than when I was younger. I could feel Izumi's reluctance beginning to ebb away, replaced by a grudging respect as she saw how much I had improved.
"Better," she admitted, wiping sweat from her brow. "But you still have a long way to go."
"ha sure if you say so," I said, as I wasn't even close to being tired or sweating. "I can still keep going."
A ghost of a smile flickered across Izumi's face, gone almost as quickly as it appeared. "Alright, Ayumi. Let's see what you're made of."
And so, beneath the watchful eye of the rising sun, our unconventional partnership began in earnest. With each swing of a kunai, each graceful leap, and each class of Jutsu, I could feel the walls between us crumbling.
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting the training grounds in a warm, orange glow. I stood at the edge, watching Izumi as she tried to teach me chakra control, And was surprised when I had already strong chakra control.
"Hey, Ayumi!" Naruto called from across the field, waving excitedly.
I waved back as I glanced in his direction. I could see his Team was still the same as Canon at least.
"Ayumi, are you going to stand there all day?" Izumi asked, her voice laced with annoyance. She paused her training and turned to face me, arms crossed. "If we're going to do this, you need to focus."
The distant sound of Naruto getting hit on the head sounded. "Don't bother her Naruto she's training!" Came the annoying voice of Sakura, And a visible tik appeared on my head. Izumi seeing that chuckled a bit. "I see you and Naruto are still friends."
I groaned as she said it in a weird manner. "It's not like that, we are just friends" my voice came out a little annoyed.
{Sorry for the short chapter as I've not been feeling well this week}
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