When Iruka-sensei said he'd work me just as hard as the others, he really did mean it. Physical training hadn't been so bad; while my main focus wasn't going to be Taijutsu, he still wanted me to show him my capabilities. I'd hurt him, too.

Iruka-sensei had me run two times around the entire village, and I'm no stranger to obstacle courses or running like this, either, since they had been the first things on Makara-sensei's regimen, and Iruka-sensei made me do one of those, too, in a room in the Academy larger than our cabin, but I still quickly tired from it. I think it was because of the clothing I'd been wearing; it's not exactly ideal for the climate here in the Land of Fire. It's hot!

I'd also have to do a set of one hundred push-ups, then sit-ups, and chin-ups, and sixteen hours later, my limbs have become immovable. I one hundred percent blame Iruka-sensei for it, not to mention, I didn't even get a single break when I did them! He'd even attached fifteen-pound weights to my arms and legs, so it was even more difficult for me!

Then I had to start practicing with kunai and shuriken and senbon—I can't even count how many cuts on my hands, arms and legs I have from those little weapons he had me use. Does he think I have a death wish?! Honestly! Not even Makara-sensei trusted me with sharp objects. And then he tells me to get some of my own? Jeez!

I don't think I've ever been so anguished in my entire life. Not even Makara-sensei worked me this bad. I'm just grateful that I could come back to my new home and sleep the pain away. Of course, as I'd mentioned, I'm aching all over, and the cuts just add insult to injury. Yet still, this wasn't the worst part.

The mental training had been even worse. I'd never had to take in so much information before that I'd become so mentally drained by the time I'd finally be able to leave. All this stuff about chakra, and all the different kinds of Jutsu, and the hand signs, not to mention how I had to start practicing how to actually use the stuff... He'd said that my next Sensei would teach me about things more.

That was another thing Iruka-sensei told me about. When a Shinobi graduates from the Academy, they are put into a team with two other Genin under a Jōnin, who is their new Sensei. Because I came well past the new "curriculum year", he would have to put my name down in their system so I could be properly placed on a team, and that because the number of potential Genin had become odd-numbered with my arrival, one team would have four members.

I wonder what team I'll be placed on...

My thoughts are almost immediately driven away as an extremely painful throb ripples through my lift calf. I bolt upright on the couch and hold it up in the air. I learned a long time ago that one of the best ways to get rid of calf spasms is to hold them where the blood can't flow, so if you did this, the pain will numb and go away faster. Makara-sensei was a genius when it came to home remedies, and this is just one of the hundreds she had.

Continuing to sit with my left leg in the air, I glance around my empty house. I don't understand why the Lord Hokage gave me such a large space to live in. Sure, it's incredibly nice, but it feels... a little lonely. Each moment I spend in this place makes me wonder who the people in those pictures in that office are; the little girl, the beautiful woman, and the handsome man...

Why did they leave their photos behind? And why did they leave in the first place? Did something happen to them?

Lowering my leg back down on the cushion, I push myself up and limp up to the second floor and into the same office. I stare around at all the pictures on the wall before grabbing the nearest one that had all three of them inside the frame, taking out the picture from it, and tucking it into my shirt with a heavy sigh. This only reminds me that I've got to go shopping for new clothing.

It is very warm in the Land of Fire. The weather here compared to back in the Land of Snow is almost completely opposite from each other. So, these thick sweaters and sweatpants weren't going to cut it in this dry heat.

Reluctantly, I take the photo back out of my shirt and set it down on the frame. If I want to become a proper part of the Hidden Leaf, I have to act, dress, and fit in like one of them.

"I guess I'd better go shopping, then..."

Food, clothing, and tools for my Shinobi education—I thought it wouldn't be so difficult to find and shop for these things, but it's not like there's a map they hand out to newcomers to the village. Also, I genuinely doubt there are many newcomers to the village.

I have no idea where to go, or even what to get. I have the money for it, of course, but I've never spent money before. I've seen what all the other villagers wore, so it seems simple enough to pick out new outfits: day clothes, pajamas, and maybe a couple of nice kimonos I've seen around.

Stumbling down one of the roads in the center of the village, I finally find a shop where I'd be able to change out of my stifling snow pants and wool sweater and into something more locally comfortable.

Without even looking where I'm going, I race over to it, earning several annoyed grumbles from the other villagers when I accidentally bump into them as I pass. Throwing open the store's door, I am consumed by racks and racks of hundreds of materials and fabrics in hundreds of different shapes and colours. Amazing.

I walk down the first aisle, my fingers brushing against each piece of clothing, silently wishing I could have all of them. They are much nicer than the clothes I'd worn in the Hidden Snow, which Makara-sensei had made for me. I love them, of course, but it'd just always be so hot when we weren't training outside, where it'd always been snowing. And she always had the fireplace on, which made it ten times hotter. On the plus side, I never had to worry about having bad skin since I'd sweat so much...

At the end of the room, I find a rack that is occupied by several differently styled and coloured dresses. Apparently, they're called "qipao". Walking over to it, I push each dress aside until I find the one colour that catches my eye.

It's incredibly simple, which is just how I like things to be. It's teal, with a v-neck that reaches down to the stomach. Folding it back, I notice that the lighter fabric that is underneath is stitched in, and that it is a one-piece body suit. The one beside it catches my eye, too, but it is a deep red, instead of the teal I like. There is also a dark grey, but I don't like it as much as the teal. So, I decide to get six of the same qipao dresses, all in teal, and three in dark grey. I'd held one up to me to confirm my size.

Next are shoes. The far wall off to my left has at least thirty sections of shelving full of boots and sandals, all varying in sizes that are labeled on the walls from one to fifteen in both Men's and Women's. I had no idea shoes were even made this big. I then walk over to it and try on pair after pair until I find my size. As it turns out, I'm a size five.

Just like the clothes, there are many different colours of shoes; blue, black, grey, red, white, orange, and even purple—my favourite colour. But I figured it would clash with the clothes, so I stick to taking a pair of matching teal, which have a golden strap across the tops, a pair of black, and a pair of blue closed-toe shoes.

And finally, all I need are casual and underclothes. They are stationed in the middle of the room, either in large baskets that hold large quantities or hanging up on small wooden hangers. I grab several pairs of cut-off shirts, three six-packs of socks, five five-packs of underwear, and at least twelve pairs of undershorts. I am then advised by one of the store workers roaming the aisles that the Hidden Leaf does tend to get cold, and that I should buy some sweaters, so I do.

All finished, I look around to find the person I'd just spoken to, to find them standing behind the counter near the front of the store. She is rather tall; blonde and pale. I walk over to her and begin awkwardly placing my chosen goods on the counter before her.

"Hello again," she says, looking down at me with a smile. Her voice is incredibly soft; it's a little difficult to hear her. "Is that all?"

I nod, and she starts sifting through them, removing hangers and placing them in a bin next to her, before folding them into a pile. She starts moving her fingers over a strange board with many buttons. Something lights up on a black box, and I become even more curious.

"What is that?" I ask her, pointing at it. Taking a moment to look down at me, she smiles again.

"It's called a computer," she answers, resuming her actions. "I'm using it to look up the prices of each item." She starts pressing the buttons again. "So you're total comes to 4480 Ryō."

I reach inside my jacket and pull out the pouch of money, which the woman starts eyeing suspiciously. I try to act natural, as I have a feeling that she might suddenly accuse me of theft, and pull out the money. She holds out her hand, keeping her gaze locked on me as she places it inside a drawer. Bending over and pulling a paper bag from under the counter, she places my purchases inside it and hands it to me.

I thank her and leave the store, before the daggers she stares into my bag can make an impact.

Before I'd left my house, I'd made a list of groceries I would need. I don't know what their prices will be, but I only hope that they'll be a lot more reasonable than the prices at the clothing store.

My list is comprised of all the healthiest foods I'd been able to think of, from the tiniest grain that held the most valuable nutrients, to the sweetest fruit that would bring your energy to the highest point if needed. It is to be my ultimate training guideline, where I'd gain more muscle but no weight.

It's foolproof!

When I finally find the grocers', I have to wait a bit because it is overcrowded, and the employees need to restock their shelves. When they are finished, and the customers start filing out with their purchases, I go inside and gather all the items on my list and return to one of the seven checkouts at the front of the store.

The total had come to 8705 Ryō, which makes both me and my pouch of remaining Ryō hurt.

All that's left to do is supply shopping. Iruka-sensei made a list for all the gear I'd need in order to train to become a real Shinobi. He'd also said learning the functions of weapons were required to pass the written part of the graduation exam.

The shop is small, but it sure has a lot of things inside it.

Packages that are filled with twenty senbon needles each are stacked on top of each other, and there must be over fifty stacks. It's the same with the shuriken and the kunai, though all of them are hanging up in packs of ten. Medical supplies like bandages and band-aids and creams sit over in a separate corner. I'll probably need a bunch of those, even though they aren't on the list...

According to the list, I need two packages of senbon – I grab them from the stacks – three packages of shuriken and three packages of kunai – I slip them off the hooks and tuck them under my arms – two weapon holsters...

Searching around for some, it's apparent that there aren't any around whatsoever. I see the shopkeeper, a frail-looking old man, and approach him.

"Excuse me..." I put the other items on the counter before slipping the note across to him. He puts on a pair of glasses and examines it. "Do you have any of those?" Without saying a word, he reaches under the counter and pulls out three, each being different colours: black, grey, and several different types of blue. I decide to keep things colour-coordinated and point at the grey and black holsters. He nods, a small smile appearing on his face.

It's strange... he hasn't said a single word to me. He just starts doing things with his own computer before the price of it shows up on the screen: 5375 Ryō. Reaching into the pouch again, I pull out the money, count it out, and place it in his outstretched hand, where he then deposits it inside the drawer underneath the computer. Giving me one last smile, he bags up the goods, shoves it into my arms, and waves me out of the store until I'd been standing in front of the door, blocking the way.

Moving as quickly as I can to avoid getting bumped into or knocked over, I then adjust the straps of the clothing, groceries, and tools so that they rest on my forearm and in the crook of my elbow.

"Hello, mister! Hi, Ayame!" The two turn around from the stove, where Ayame is holding a ladle in her left hand and a bowl in her right.

"Kari, welcome back," Teuchi says with a smile. "Want the same as last time?" I nod quickly and smile back.

"Yes, please!"

"Hey, Kari!" Without having to think about who it was, I spin myself around in my stool and smile up at a grinning Naruto, who, to my surprise, is standing beside Iruka-sensei.

"Hi, Naruto," I greet. "Hi, Iruka-sensei." Mr. Teuchi, who doesn't even turn around to ask for their order, begins ladling out more broth for their ramen. I guess Iruka-sensei is a regular, too. The three bowls arrive at practically the same time, and almost immediately following our thanks to Mr. Teuchi, Naruto and I dig in, pulling our chopsticks apart and scooping up the noodles—well, after Naruto's taken off his goggles.

Iruka-sensei had been pulling the face for the last few minutes; I could see it in the corner of my eyes. He hadn't even touched his ramen yet.

"Naruto," he suddenly says, glancing over at him. "Why would you do that to the Hokage Faces? I mean, you know who the Hokage are, don't you?" Confused, I set my chopsticks down across the rim of the bowl and turn toward them.

"Of course, I do," Naruto says, before lifting his bowl to drink the broth. Looking down into his bowl, I realize he's already finished. Wow, I think, blinking. He sets it down and takes a hearty breath. "Everybody knows. There were the greatest Shinobi of their time, right? The best of the best? Undefeated Ninja champs? And the Fourth Hokage's the one who saved the village from the Nine-Tailed Fox; he was the most amazing."

My frown only grows wider. Nine-Tailed Fox? What on earth is a Nine-Tailed Fox? And just what had Naruto done to be bringing up such a mysterious topic? Maybe I shouldn't have skipped out on the general history classes...

"So then why did you—""Because I'm going to be greater than any of them. Me! Naruto, the next Hokage: A ninja legend!" And he points his chopsticks at Iruka-sensei, who had finally started eating his ramen. "And then everyone will have to stop disrespecting me and look up to me! Believe it!"

If spirit counts for anything... I definitely believe he'll make it to becoming the Hokage, one day.

"Uh, by the way... I kinda wanna ask a little favour, Sensei."

"You want another bowl?" he asks, raising his one eyebrow. Naruto shakes his head.

"I... wanna try on your headband! Come on, please?!" Iruka-sensei chuckles and wiggles the band that's wrapped around his forehead.

"No way! You can only wear the Leaf Headband when you finally graduate from the Academy and become a Ninja. You've got two months till the test."

"Oh, that is so uncool," Naruto mumbles, resting his chin on his arms.

"Is that why you took off your goggles?" I ask, suppressing a giggle by his reaction. Turning to me, he begins struggling to change the subject.

"I-I want another bowl!!"

Updated December 1st, 2020
2,931 words