Amaya Uzumaki POV
Kushina and I headed straight to the west area of the village, where most of the shops were focused on selling all kinds of ninja gear.
I quickly picked out my equipment, remembering the tools I was most used to from training and that wouldn't be too heavy to carry on missions kunai and shuriken were the essentials.
I also bought some explosive tags, small smoke bombs, and nylon wire, just in case I needed to set up a trap. I grabbed a standard leg pouch, like the ones the village ninjas use, to carry all that stuff.
Another piece of equipment I looked for, which was a bit unconventional for new graduates, was a sword. A wakizashi, to be specific, I thought.
The vendor helping me and Kushina watched me with open curiosity as I looked over the displayed weapons. They were all sheathed, and I unconsciously stopped in front of one for a moment.
This one looks ideal, I thought to myself, and took it off the display. I calmly unsheathed the sword, listening to the metallic sound it made against the scabbard. My eyes slowly traced the entire length of the blade to its tip.
Perfectly sharp… I noted, turning the sword over to briefly examine both sides of the blade. I gave it a light swing and concluded it was definitely heavier than what I was used to, even though it was a similar model to ones I'd used before.
– Our swords are made with an extra amount of carbon – The vendor explained, noticing how long I'd been admiring the wakizashi. I looked up at him.
– That explains the extra weight – I said – And it must make the blade more durable too – He looked slightly surprised.
– I see you have some knowledge about this – the man said with a faint, interested smile.
– Just the basics – I commented and turned my eyes back to the wakizashi.
I spun it in my hands and held it up in front of me, as if pointing it at someone. I slashed at the air and could already tell I'd need some practice to get used to moving faster with the sword's extra weight.
– I'll take this one too – I announced and quickly sheathed the sword again.
– You'll need a utility belt to carry your weapon – Kushina advised, and I agreed.
– We have some over here – the vendor said, and we followed him.
I didn't really expect to use the wakizashi while I was a genin, since missions at that level usually involved helping out around the village, hunting animals, or sometimes being a bodyguard. Still, I had some skill in kenjutsu, and if I needed to, I could rely on it during a mission later on.
The belt for the sword's scabbard was made of a flexible fabric that could be adjusted to fit the user's waist tighter or looser. The one I chose even had a small pouch near where the scabbard would go, and I immediately planned what to put there: first aid supplies.
I knew from the information I got at the lab that there were some healing jutsus, but I didn't know any and didn't know anyone who could teach them to me. So having a first aid kit is my best bet for now, I admitted to myself.
I paid for all the equipment I'd chosen, and the vendor, who introduced himself as Yato, told me to come back anytime if the wakizashi needed repairs.
I thanked him, and Kushina did too, then we headed off to continue our shopping. The clothing stores were in the east area of the village, so we had a short walk ahead of us.
The Uzumaki asked me a bunch of things along the way, like my likes, hobbies, and lots of other stuff like that.
She explained that she wanted to get to know me better and thought it was easier to just ask me than to try and figure it out on her own, since I seemed pretty introverted, which didn't make it easy for her to learn my preferences.
I told her the little I knew about my own likes… or what could even be called personal preferences. I didn't have many hobbies or even specific things I liked. Just like I told my friends at the Academy, I told Kushina that I liked reading, training, and drawing.
The redhead seemed to get excited when I mentioned I liked drawing. I want to see some of the drawings you've done, 'ttebane, she asked eagerly, and I easily agreed.
The only person who'd seen my drawings up until now was Sakumo, since he was the one who suggested this "hobby" to me. And speaking of which, I need to finish that drawing he asked me for… I reminded myself.
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At the clothing store, Kushina was the one guiding me around to pick out my new clothes. The redhead was having fun choosing different pieces and putting together outfits for me.
That's when I understood what Minato meant that time. When the blond brought the green dress I wore to go with him to the Analysis Team, he mentioned he wished Kushina had been there to help him.
She has a real talent for picking clothes, I realized as I watched her. The redhead picked out a bunch of clothes and then started pushing me towards the fitting rooms so I could start trying everything on.
We'd picked out a few things I could wear at home, as well as some casual wear. But our main problem seemed to be finding an outfit I could wear on missions.
I tried on at least twenty different outfits that the Uzumaki had picked, but we both agreed that none of them felt quite right. There were still a few pieces left in the fitting room, and I looked at them for a moment.
– Kushina… – I called her from the fitting room door, and she turned her eyes to me.
– Yeah?
– Can you grab one of those pants and the open-toed sandals I tried on earlier? – I pointed to the two items I'd just mentioned, and she agreed.
Kushina promptly found the pieces in my size and brought them to me. I closed the fitting room door again.
I put on the pants she'd handed me, and then a long-sleeved dress that had previously been paired with other clothes. I slipped on the sandals and looked at myself in the mirror for a moment.
As soon as I opened the fitting room door, Kushina's eyes snapped to me, full of anticipation. Her expression turned surprised, and then she broke into a happy smile.
– That's the one, 'ttebane! – She said, clapping her hands a few times.
I gave a soft laugh at her reaction and felt my cheeks warm up slightly. It felt so good, feeling happy with myself and how I looked. It was another new experience for me.
Kushina said we were taking that outfit and all the other pieces she'd set aside while I was in the fitting room. The cashier who rang us up seemed a little surprised by the amount of clothes we were buying.
I thought it was too much too, and I tried to argue with the older girl about it, since I didn't want her spending so much of her money on me. But the redhead ignored my protests and said she was taking it all.
Kakashi Hatake POV
It had been two weeks since Amaya moved in with Minato and Kushina and joined their team as a genin. I hadn't seen her since then.
It felt a bit strange, both at the Academy and at home, without her around. Even though the Uzumaki was quiet, her presence brought a kind of peace and comfort to the environment.
I talked to my father about the genin graduation exam and managed to convince him to let me take it – it was an idea I'd had long before Amaya even came to the village.
But since the first exam of the year was too close, I wouldn't have enough time to study everything I needed. So I decided to wait for the second exam, which would happen around the middle of the year.
Two weeks had passed since Amaya's promotion to genin, and I was organizing all the study materials I'd need, starting to focus on the theoretical questions, which were my biggest problem.
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I was on my way back from the Academy in the early afternoon. Classes had ended early that day, and I was heading to Minato and Kushina's house.
Since Amaya had taken the genin graduation exam, I thought about asking her for some of the study materials she used. Or whatever she has left, I corrected myself, since she already knew a lot of the information from her time at the lab.
I was passing through the center of the village, my mind on some random thought, when I felt a strong burst of chakra from the rooftops above me.
I looked up and immediately saw a familiar redheaded figure running soundlessly over the village roofs. But her appearance wasn't how I remembered. Is that really Amaya…? I wondered, stunned.
I pushed my thoughts aside for a moment and saw she was chasing a white cat. She's on a mission, I deduced. I ducked into a nearby alley and scaled the building walls, concentrating chakra in my feet to reach the top.
I started running and had a bit of trouble catching up to Amaya. She's gotten faster, I thought. And her movements are still silent.
I took a shortcut across the roof of a nearby building and appeared in front of the cat she was chasing. The animal stopped abruptly when I appeared and tried to run the other way, but Amaya caught it instantly.
The redhead adjusted her hold on the cat so it wouldn't escape again and let out a heavy sigh.
– Target captured – She said, putting a hand to the communicator in her ear – I'm heading back to the client now.
She then looked at me and gave a small smile.
– Thanks for the help – She thanked me, a note of tiredness in her voice.
– Tired from chasing a cat? – I asked, teasing her a little – You're getting out of shape – She gave a weak laugh.
– Try chasing seven of these, then we'll talk – I looked at her, slightly surprised – This was the last one, and the fastest too – She said, petting the cat, which had stopped trying to escape her arms – You were going somewhere, right? – I looked at her – I won't take up any more of your time.
– Actually, I was heading to your house – I explained quickly – I wanted to talk to you. But it looks like you're a little busy now – She gave a faint nod.
– Ah, right… – The Uzumaki said and paused for a moment – Come with me – I looked at her – After I return this little guy to his owner, I'm done with missions for today. Then we can talk.
– Alright – I agreed.
I accompanied Amaya to where her team and her mission client were waiting for her. The redhead explained that this cat was the last one her team needed to capture, but they hadn't been able to find it earlier.
She'd spotted it by chance and didn't have time to call her team to help catch it, so she was chasing it alone. Amaya excitedly told me about her missions and how she and her team had been successful in all of them so far.
I just listened and observed how much the girl had changed, both in appearance and in how much more outgoing she seemed. And, of course, she seemed more alive.
I asked her what it was like living with Minato and Kushina, and the first thing she did was laugh. It was such a happy laugh it surprised me.
She told me about some of the 'craziness', as she called it, she dealt with daily from her guardians. Monotony was definitely not part of their daily routine. And I felt happy hearing her talk about it. I could tell from her voice just how happy she was.
And I fully understood why.
Amaya was experiencing so many things she'd never had before: A family, a real home, people who cared for her and looked after her as if she were truly their own daughter.
– But I have to confess, I miss some things from when I was living with you and Sakumo-sama – She admitted suddenly, and I looked at her.
– Must be my delightful presence – I said, and immediately got a light punch on my arm – Hey! – I complained, and the redhead gave a soft laugh.
– You're partly right – The Uzumaki confessed in a quieter tone.
– So you're actually admitting you miss me? – I asked with a teasing smile, and Amaya looked at me seriously.
– I said "partly", baka – She corrected me quickly, and I laughed at her expression.
– Takes one to know one, weirdo… – I muttered.
– You just admitted that you… – She started to ask, but was interrupted by a familiar voice.
– Amaya!
We saw Shisui there with another boy who was clearly from the Uchiha clan, judging by his hair color, eyes, and clothes, along with a jounin I knew from my father. Shikaku Nara, I remembered. So they must be Amaya's team. With them was a man holding an animal carrier. He's probably the client.
I waited a bit away from them while Amaya discussed something with her team and the client. She handed over the cat, and the man put it in the carrier he was holding. He gave a brief bow to the genin and Shikaku before leaving.
The Nara spoke briefly with his team before dismissing them. The first to leave was the other Uchiha boy. He didn't speak or even approach the Uzumaki; he just greeted another Uchiha before walking away.
Amaya and Shisui talked briefly about something and shared a smiling high-five. The redhead then said goodbye to the Uchiha and came back to where I was.
– So you ended up on the same team as your friend? – I brought it up as we walked.
– Yeah. It was really lucky getting placed on the same team as Shisui.
– And the other guy… He didn't seem too keen on talking to you or saying goodbye.
– That's just how Takafumi-san is – She explained calmly – He's Shisui's best friend and also a member of the Uchiha clan.
– And let me guess, he doesn't like you? – The Uzumaki nodded.
– Spot on. But we can work together, so I don't see a problem. Besides, Shikaku-sensei always makes sure we work together.
– Must be pretty good having him as a sensei – I commented sincerely – He's a great jounin.
– Tell me about it… – Amaya said – Aside from his laziness and constant complaining, he's always teaching us something, even on the simplest missions. Now… – She looked at me – What did you want to talk to me about?
– Do you still have any notes or books you used to study for the genin graduation exam?
– Hmm… – She rested her hand under her chin – I don't think so – I let out a heavy sigh, though I'd kinda expected that answer – Everything I used was stuff I already knew, and the other information I studied came from Shisui's materials – The redhead turned her eyes to me – But why? Are you thinking of taking the exam?
– Yeah. It's something I've wanted to do for a while, but I hadn't started preparing. And since you already took the exam, I thought you might have some materials to help guide my studies.
– Well… – Amaya said after a moment – If you want, I can help you study – I looked at her – I mean, since I don't have any notes, I can help you with what I remember.
– Are you sure? – I asked quickly – I mean, you have your missions now as a genin and everything.
– Most of the missions I do with the team are in the morning until mid-afternoon, so I usually have free time not long after Academy classes end. And we almost never have missions on weekends. So if you want…
– Of course! – I said, only then realizing I'd interrupted her – I mean, yes, whenever you have free time, I accept your help to review some things – The Uzumaki gave a soft laugh.
– Don't worry, Hatake, I get that you want my help – I huffed.
– You were the one who offered to help me first – I reminded her.
– And you were the one who came looking for me in the first place – She pointed out, and I fell silent, making her laugh again because of it – Tomorrow is Saturday, and I only have one mission in the morning – She looked at me – When I finish it, I'll meet you at your house – She started to walk away, heading towards her own home.
– Who said you get to make the rules now? – I asked, and she glanced back over her shoulder at me.
– I did, since I'll be your teacher, baka – She replied, laughing, and I shook my head slightly.
– Always so weird… – I muttered under my breath, smiling as I watched her disappear from view.