Chapter 68 - TenTen (I want to be a Genin!) (2/2)
”Papa I.. I still wanna be a ninja.” TenTen said looking up. ”What else do you want to show us?”
”I think I should go next.” Ino walked over with Inoichi. She more or less dragged him with her. ”You two come with.” They barely had a chance to grab on before the view changed.
”Woosh,” in the view was the forest of death. Ino was with Shikimaru and Choji. They were running for there lives as ninja from a small village chased them. In the front was another pair of leaf ninja. They could barely make them out as they ran.
Ino barely ducked a kunai that flew pass. It caught one of the ninja in front in the back t.h.i.g.h. The ninja rolled to the ground accidentally hitting a trap someone set. an explosion rang out taking his ally with. When the smoke cleared it revealed a Yamanaka ninja and a Akimichi.
”That's your cousin. He always had poor balance but he had great chakra control.” Inoichi added. ”I think he.. yes that's right. We found out he had a small brain tumor last year. He is doing fantastic now thanks to the new medical ninja.”
”Yeah that's right.” Ino added. She looked closer and saw why it was a bad vision. Her cousin was dead. She forgot about the other ninja. He held his scroll out to Ino to grab.
Taking it Ino shot off with Choji and Shikimaru. An explosion rang out just as the others landed to check the bodies.
”He.. he.. blew himself up to take them out.” TenTen said lowly. ”That was a very brave thing to do.”
”I want to go back.” Ino said as she stared at the ground.
”Very well. This was over.” Kai said neutrally.
”Woosh,” back in the room they still saw Kari and Karin talking. Chrysa stood still as her eyes were closed. Pakura was watching the orbs flowing by in trepidation.
”I want to be alone for now.” Ino said as she walked away. Inochi gave Kai a nod before following but stopping a bit away.
”My turn Papa!” TenTen said with a fire in her eyes. Pakura walked over and grabbed her hand. With a jerk she pulled her back. ”Ah what is it mama?”
”Are you sure want to do this?” Pakura asked. ”We dont have to.”
”Yes. They did it. So will I! I am there leader after all. No way I let them go through this and I dont! ” TenTen said with a passion. ”So let's go!” Pakura nodded and they touched the orb.
Karin and Ino heard TenTen and felt a funny feeling. They didnt know what to call it but watched. Waiting to see her come back, for better or worse.
”Woosh,” in the ball was a young TenTen. She was fighting kids at the center.
”This is that place uncle would leave me at. Whenever he had work to do.” TenTen said. Her voice was loosing its energy in it. ”He did that a lot before you came.”
”Why are you fighting those kids?” Pakura asked.
”They wanted my snacks. Most of us didnt have a lot to eat. So when we came to the center everyone always ate there snacks.” TenTen looked up at Kai. ”You know this already dontcha papa. Your a ninja, I know you checked on me before adopting me.”
”I did not actually. I checked after about your situation. There was a lot of stuff I didnt know.” Kai squatted down and looked at her. ”You have not done anything I would not have done to survive. I am proud of you.”
”Its cause I am the best!” TenTen smiled.
A bigger kid had broke the bread TenTen had and it fell to the ground. Upset the boy shoved her in the dirt. TenTen scrambled over the bread and ate it. The next day the boy thought he would get the drop on her.
He did did not. When he came TenTen had turned with a stick and bashed his nuts in. Taking his food she ate it and gave some to kids smaller then her. At three years old there were not that many smaller than her really.
”You were always a handful.” Pakura smiled. She saw a person that looked familiar and realized it was the daycare teacher. ”That woman again!”
”The old witch.” TenTen said. ”She made sure we had those few portions of snacks. She always bought them herself. ”
”Where did she get the money to pay for all that?” Pakura asked. Kai himself was intrigued.
”The bath house in the lower area. Some times she brought us after we didnt have a bath in awhile.” TenTen looked on as if everything in front was just a bad dream. Pakura hugged her tightly. ”Always was her and a bunch of the Hyuga branch women. They made sure we were safe. Since it was so troublesome with the boys one right next to it.”
”Was there... was it kids only?” Pakura asked.
”No a.d.u.l.ts to.” TenTen looked up at her and pieced things togethor. ”Dont worry mama. nothing happened to me. But a few others didnt get so lucky. But a man with a dog took care of those guys. I didnt see those two girls again though.”
”Swoosh,” they returned to the other room.
”I.. owe her an apology. Will correct that when we get back.” Kai said softly. He watched as TenTen reached out, and grabbed the sphere and crushed it.
”This me doesnt exist anymore.” She turned to the others. ”I am still gonna move forward. I will not let the past define me or control my future.” TenTen's chakra surged to new levels as the aspect of Determination reappeared.
”I will love forward to.” Ino said. She walked over and grabbed the sphere and crushed it as well. ”I will also protect my friends and family.”
”I.. wo t be left behind.” Karin walked over but hesitated. A few tears left her eyes as she grabbed the sphere and crushed it. ”Mama is safe and here with me. I have friends and family to. I wont give up.”
”That's right.” TenTen said as she held her hand out in front. Karin and Ino followed suit.
”All for one, and one for all.” They cheered before laughing. ”Haha The three musketeers!”
”Swoosh,” a large influx of chakra circled the three before leaving. A strange connection formed that needed to be checked on later.
”The last one what is it?” Inoichi asked. This place amazed him. But he knew he could never talk about. The very thought sent a deep fear in his heart. 'How many secrets does he have?'
”I peaceful one.” Kai said. ”Thos is for the girls only.” Floating it towards them, it landed right in there connected hands. In a split second the girls were gone then back again. ”You are to tell no one what you saw. Not me or any of your friends. The penalty is quite severe.”
”But!” Ini said before she saw the look in his eyes. ”Oh fine!” She stomped her foot a little angrily.
”Hmmm, what a weird seal.” TenTen said as she rubbed her hand. ”Now what?”
”You get checked by me. And tomorrow you take your Genin exam.” Chrysa said with a smile.
”Woohoo!” TenTen jumped for joy. The others jumping with her after a moment. ”Gonna be a genin. The best around!” The girls started dancing and cheering.
-Afterward-