"Be good to both friend and foe alike!
In one who is by nature kind,
You'll never find a trace of spite.
Offend a friend—you make a foe;
Embrace a foe—you make a friend."
Omar Khayyam ©
July 12, 1056
15:38
"Naruto, you should be more prudent," I said calmly as we carried him and Sasuke back from yet another mission. Several weeks had passed since that mission in the Land of Waves, during which we mostly did D-rank missions, though there were some C-rank ones. But somehow Naruto managed to get himself into trouble even on those.
"You constantly need help," Uchiha smirked crookedly at Uzumaki spitefully.
"What?!" He abruptly freed himself from our hands. "You jerk!" He was about to lunge at Sasuke, but I held him back. Lately, Naruto has been itching for a fight with his friend. But honestly, from the sidelines, it looks funny and fun. After all, they're getting closer.
"Mm-h... where's your teamwork?" Sensei scratched the back of his head; he was walking behind us, reading his book.
"Exactly! Sasuke's to blame!" Naruto pointed at the Uchiha walking slightly ahead.
"If you don't want to owe me, then get stronger," Sasuke glanced back, throwing fuel on the fire.
"Well... umm... time to head out, I still need to write the report..." Kakashi looked at the serene sky and vanished in a puff of white smoke. In the end, we were left alone.
They stared at each other without breaking eye contact, as if devouring one another. But a second later, Sasuke pretended nothing happened and turned his casual gaze to me.
"Ari, wanna hang out tonight, talk about training?" he asked with a slight smile.
"Sure," I nodded happily. Now we hang out more often and spend time together, and thank god, those emotional swings are gone. I no longer get nervous around him. "Bye, guys!" We said goodbye, and I went home with a calm soul.
I just need to grab my stuff and head to the training ground.
I've been devoting more time to training than before. On weekends, I even sleep at the training ground. It's uncomfortable, but it bears fruit. Now I can create clones without seals, and extend the fire beam from my wakizashi by two and a half meters.
Lately, I've been training shuriken-jutsu with wire too. My throwing is excellent on its own—we trained it together with Sasuke under Itachi-san, though he just demonstrated and then bailed, but that was enough for us. So hitting targets in blind spots is no trouble for me.
My only problem is taijutsu. Yes, I bought new weights, honed old moves and created new combos, but it's not enough. I'm at upper-chunin level in taijutsu, but there are so many strong enemies ahead that they'll roll me out like playdough.
Though I don't expect huge power on a silver platter with a blue rim, the path to high-level shinobi is thorny. But I have killer motivation, so no time to waste—better run home, loosen up on the way.
I was just about to jump onto the nearest house when I sensed ominous chakra—definitely not human.
"Idiot!" I scolded myself reproachfully and slapped my forehead.
"How could I forget about Gaara?! My girly memory! I need to check that note about the future more often. With my sieve-like memory..." I spun 180 degrees and was about to run, but stopped after one step.
"Right! Calm down! Inhale-exhale. No panic or emotions—meet the guests coolly."
After a few deep breaths, I calmly used the Fire Body Flicker Technique. I landed on a fence, so my appearance was dramatic.
The scene before me was about the same as in the anime. In a small alley between clans, fenced by a wooden barrier, shinobi from Sunagakure and Konohagakure had gathered. And they weren't exactly friendly.
Gaara, Temari, and some painted guy in a black jumpsuit whose name I'd forgotten were glaring at the beaten Naruto, Sakura, and kids led by Konohamaru, who was lying on the ground. Sasuke had taken an observer position and was sitting in a tree opposite me.
But as soon as I appeared, all eyes turned to me. Some with curiosity, some with joy, and Sakura with clear irritation.
"Oh! Ariza-chan! Hi!" Naruto waved, grinning widely. I nodded to him and looked at the Kazekage's kids: deal with them first, then find out who beat Uzumaki this time—though I had guesses.
Crossing my arms and smirking, I broke the silence:
"So genin from the Sand came to Konoha for the chunin exam?" I asked, trying to figure out which bijuu Sakura had forgotten here.
"Yes, that's right," the girl with wheat-blond hair and a fan on her back bared her teeth. "Not everyone here is stupid..." She glanced at our restless blond.
"Another brat..." the puppeteer added irritably, but I ignored him.
"What's this chunin exam?" Naruto squinted. Konohamaru decided to answer. While they chatted, the one-tail jinchuriki and I didn't break eye contact. I stared into his swamp-green eyes, drowning in them. He really has no pupils... How does he see? Where's his lens?
Black circles from sleep deprivation ringed his eyes, and his hair was the color of caked blood. He wasn't particularly handsome, but you could tell he was strong, and his chakra was unappetizing and lifeless.
His gaze was indifferent, but if you looked closely, he was interested.
"Temari, Kankuro, let's go," Gaara ordered calmly and turned back, as I started the interrogation:
"Naruto, who beat you?" I asked seriously and quickly, barely holding back.
"Uh... Ariza-chan, uh... well... I kinda..." he started mumbling, clearly not wanting to answer.
"Sister Ariza, it was all that ugly girl!" Konohamaru shouted, pointing at Sakura.
"You!" She was ready to hit him, but I cut her off with an icy voice:
"Sakura, I warned you."
"Yeah, I don't care what you said!" she yelled angrily, staring me down. I suddenly wanted to teach her a lesson. I'd already asked her not to hit Naruto, but no use. I hate it when my friends get beaten, especially if those friends are kids. The only thing I hate more is violence against children! Fighting or training is one thing, but hitting someone who can't fight back is another.
Alright, time to put her in her place.
"What do you think I'll do to you next time?" I whispered icily in her ear, appearing beside her in an instant to show my speed. One hand on her shoulder, the other slowly drawing my sword. Yeah, I'm a damn plagiarist who just copied that familiar scene from season two, but I don't care—this world's only transmigrator is me.
"You... you can't..." she said confidently, but her appearance betrayed her. I decided to scare her more, releasing ki.
"I can feel you trembling, Sakura-chan," I drawled mockingly, pressing the sharp tip of my tekko-kagi to her nape. "You really think I can't?" She swallowed at my question. "For. My. Friends. I'll. Kill. You. Got it?"
"Don't, Ariza-chan," Naruto said dejectedly behind me, signaling I'd gone too far.
"Naruto..." Sighing heavily, I sheathed the sword and went to him. I hope she gets it now and leaves poor Dobe alone—raising a hand to a girl outside the arena isn't my style. "If she can't control herself, I will."
"I think that's wrong..." he said lost, as I healed his black eye.
"I don't!" Konohamaru chimed in happily—gotta heal him too; he got it from her. "Good job, sister Ariza, get her!"
"Can't control, can't control?" Sakura muttered thoughtfully to herself. "I'm the one who can't control myself?! You're the strays! No father, no mother, so you do whatever! No one to watch you! Too bad Sasuke-kun got stuck with you!"
"I'm a stray?" It spun in my head as Naruto said something. I didn't expect her words to hit me so hard. So this is what having emotions feels like.
Somehow... But it's unpleasant to hear. Even hurts... I'm not to blame my parents died, and Naruto's not for his mom dying. Yeah... no one watches me, but I...
"Ari, don't take it to heart," Sasuke's voice sounded over my ear, and I felt his hand on my shoulder. How'd he get here so fast?
"Sakura," he continued seriously, "better leave."
"Sasuke-kun..."
"Nicely..." he added with contempt. Sakura, almost crying, ran off. I think Sasuke was too harsh. I wanted to tell him, but we were interrupted:
"What's your name?" a quiet voice said behind us, and we three turned. Hm... I thought Gaara left, but he'd seen it all.
"Me?!" Naruto shouted beside me. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki!"
"No, not you. You, with red hair."
"Ariza Saito," I answered, surprised but hiding it. He stared a second longer, then turned to leave.
"And what's yours?" Sasuke asked displeased, stepping forward.
"Sabaku no Gaara," he half-turned. "I'm interested in you too. Name?"
"Uchiha Sasuke," my friend said proudly, and the Sand trio left the alley.
Phew, what a day.
"Sister Ariza," a girl with red hair in eccentric pigtails approached me. Seems like Konohamaru's friend, Moegi.
"Yeah?"
I thought she just wanted to say hi, but her next question caught me off guard:
"Is it true you're dating brother-Sasuke?" she asked slyly.
"What?!" Naruto yelled first, almost jumping, while Teme and I stood stunned. "Is it? Why am I last to know, dattebayo?!" He pointed at us.
"Uh... you misunderstood..." I put up my hands, and Sasuke and I stepped back simultaneously.
"Don't be shy! Tell us, we'll get it!" Sarutobi waved enthusiastically. "You must've kissed already!"
"Pss..." I whispered, covering my friend's mouth, "we gotta bolt..."
"Yeah, quick..." he nodded, and we bailed our favorite way—shunshin—last hearing not-so-nice words.
"Fuu..." I exhaled when we appeared in the park. "Knew someone would spread rumors."
We sat on our favorite nearby bench. We usually walk mornings when it's quiet. No Naruto—he goes to post-Academy genin ninja classes mornings. Almost all classmates go, so I drop in sometimes for cover.
"We were just walking together..." he said thoughtfully, skyward.
"Guess someone's bored, gossiping," I leaned back.
"Hm... Ari," Sasuke turned to me with a cocky smile, "maybe we really..." He leaned toward me.
"Mmm... nah," I said flirtatiously, running my hand over his chest, pushing away.
"Shy?" He smirked smugly, reminding me of that kiss. Seems any guy boosts ego if a girl faints from his kiss.
"As if..." Leaning to his ear, I whispered: "We're just kids."
"Hm..." He grinned slyly, and after his signature hum came full words: "And when do we grow up?"
"In two years," I smiled. Anyway, no kissing Sasuke now—not 'cause he's, ahem, a kid, but I don't wanna feel like... ahem... a pedo...
"Maybe sooner? I won't hold back," Sasuke insisted, arm around my waist.
"When'd you get so bold?" Messing his hair rudely, I stood. Gotta bail, or I'll give in.
"When'd you get so sassy?" He stood behind me.
"With you, I'll get worse. Bye," unable to resist, I quick-kissed his cheek and jumped to the nearest tree.
"Wait!" he called suddenly. "What do we tell Kakashi about us?"
"What's sensei got to do with us?" I turned surprised.
"Cause he's the only one who knows your head didn't spin 'just like that' then," he reminded me of my excuse post-kiss.
Duh... knew we were watched. If my emotions were fine then, I'd have spotted the jerk.
"Hope you..."
"Yeah," he cut me off, "I asked him to keep quiet."
"Thanks!"
July 13, 1056
8:54
Morning, not alarm but Kakashi woke me—team emergency meeting in twenty minutes. As soon as he left, I ran to the bathroom, making two clones en route. One prepped breakfast, the other tidied the room.
I'll never stop thanking Tobirama for this invaluable technique. Dressed and eaten quick, I left home.
Short walk to meeting spot, but time to replay and analyze yesterday.
What worries me most is threatening Sakura. I definitely overdid it. Not that Haruno will hate me, but what those unknown shinobi watching from the tree will think.
Yeah, I knew they were there from the start—that show was for them. Wanted their attention on me, not Sasuke or Naruto. How well it worked—time will tell.
But I can say confidently: not from our village. Probably chunin here for the exam. Not jonin level—hide chakra too poorly.
Anyway, I brewed this mess, I'll clean it up. Later... someday.
Now, better think about the inner world. Visited again yesterday, walked the corridor as usual. Last time, kicked out after a bit. But Universe pitied me—I reached the end. Not a dead end, a real door!
Sadly, last door's lifehack didn't work here, had to rack brains. Tried everything! Turns out, just pull the handle toward me! And Murphy's law hit: opened door—booted from subconscious!
Hatake was late to meeting, as always. But compensated with exam recommendations. Sensei said only volunteers go to chunin selection. Didn't wanna complicate, asked friends right there if they want to.
Answer came quick, we parted peacefully.
15:38
Now walking central street home, ignoring scorching sun, crowd noise, muscle pain. Can't tear eyes from the application, inked in calligraphy brush:
"Recommendation for Chunin Selection Exam.
Ariza Saito, born 1043.
Genin from Konohagakure no Sato.
First stage: July 15, 1056, Room 301, Ninja Academy.
Arrive by 15:00
Participant's signature: _____"
No choice, and even if, I'd agree. Not that weak—I'll survive. Others? Won't say. Annually, ~40 die, more vanish. Such stats.
Pocketing paper, looked at crowded street. Surprisingly, saw who shouldn't be here: Sasuke Uchiha. Should be training. Weird...
"Ariza-chan, wanna walk?" he asked closer, and I clocked him first word. Not just word—not his chakra! Too impulsive, bubbly; Sasuke's calmer, pleasant. Bet pre-exam test.
"Oh, Sasuke-kun!" I played along. "Better train at our favorite ground?" "Happily" smiling, led him to fourth training ground—we never go there. Wanted to prank a bit, but spared the poor guy.
Silent walk, him ahead, me behind, scheming.
On site, no delay—made ten clones surrounding us. I pressed wakizashi to his nape.
"What do you want?"
"You're sharp," "stranger" said arrogantly; recognized chakra instantly.
"You should know ninja rule one: 'Never turn your back on foe,' right, Iruka-sensei?" I said triumphantly. "And Sasuke never uses suffixes."
"Good job, Ariza-chan!" Iruka dropped henge; I dispersed clones, sheathed wakizashi. "I'm proud!" Sensei ruffled my hair, grinning wide, but eyes shocked.
Oh, butt senses soon chatting with esteemed Yondaime Hokage...
***
Read the story months ahead of the public release — early chapters are available on my Patreon: Granulan