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Shy Fox Chronicles
Chapter 9: Academic Woes
"Lee! Don't leave me with Kei and Duck Butt! I need your optimism!" Naruto cried out as he, on his knees, clung to Lee's leg desperately, forcing Kushina to try and pull him off.
"Naruto, you're embarrassing us! Calm down!" Kushina told her son chidingly.
"Lee, please don't go and leave me with my old hag mom!" Naruto yelled more, still clinging to the boy's leg desperately.
"Excuse me, young man!?" Kushina roared out, her hair beginning to split into nine segments resembling tails.
"Don't leave me with my beautiful old hag mom!" Naruto squealed before finally being ripped from Lee's legs.
"I…" Kushina started with an angry face before taking a deep breath. 'Just take the compliment…'
"Naruto-kun! He's not going away forever!" Enten groaned as the Hyūga assembled with Neji.
"But a year is a really long time!" Naruto bemoaned as he was set back on the ground by his mother.
"You still have us to keep you company, Naruto-kun." Hinata noted to her friend.
"My hair doesn't look like a duck's butt…" Sasuke grumbled in the crowd, only to get an elbow from Kei.
"Relax, Duck. You know he's just teasing." Kei replied playfully.
"Enten-sama, why is your friend who happens to be a boy so melodramatic?" Neji asked his cousin confusedly.
"Just call him a boy friend, cousin. You don't need to be so formal all the time." Enten replied in annoyance.
"Apologies. Why is your boyfriend so melodramatic and offensive?" Neji said, rephrasing his question.
Enten blushed at that. "Not boyfriend! Boy friend! There's a difference!" Enten snapped at her socially inept cousin.
"It appears you have gained that trait from your boyfriend as well." He said as he headed over to Hinata.
"I'm gonna hurt you, Neji!" Enten called out, still blushing.
Naruto cocked his head in confusion. "Why can't I be your boyfriend, Enten-chan?" Naruto asked with a tone of innocent confusion.
"B… because… because… you know…" Enten replied surprisingly shyly, looking down while blushing.
"Hiashi-sama, your daughter's broken." Naruto said, pointing to Enten.
Hiashi chuckled a bit. "No, Naruto. Enten is not 'broken,' as you oh so elegantly put it. Merely embarrassed." He told the boy in amusement.
Neji then walked up to Hinata and bowed his head respectfully to her. It was a thing that Hinata never truly understood from him. Her parents had told her he was in the lower house, and somewhat of what that meant, but something just did not sit right with her. This line of thought was broken when Neji spoke to her.
"I wish you and Enten-sama well on your day while I am gone, Hinata-sama. Until I return from the academy for the day, I must delegate my duties as your future protector to another." Neji told his cousin.
"I volunteer!" Naruto told Neji, raising his hand.
"God's help me…" Enten said, her hands in her face as the twins' mother spoke up.
"How wonderful of you to volunteer, Naruto-kun." Nikkō, the Matriarch of the Hyūga clan, told the boy.
"I am in your debt, Naruto-san." Neji said, bowing in respect to him.
"Do not worry, Naruto-kun! I will ensure that you will not miss me and prove to be the greatest shinobi I can become! Onward, Neji-san! Let us go to victory!!" Lee yelled, strapping his lunchbox to his back and grabbing the formal boy's arm.
"Lee! I can walk on my own!" Neji replied as the… 'enthusiastic' boy dragged him off to the entrance ceremony.
"Who said anything about running, Neji-san!? For the bold fly!" Lee said with a grin so wide it looked like his face would split.
"Lee, don't you DAAAAAAAAARE!!!!" Neji said before screaming in fear as Lee took off with him in tow.
"Should we be concerned?" Naruto asked Sasuke.
"At this point, I'm not sure what concern means in relation to Lee." Sasuke said with a shrug.
"Unless they both come back in green spandex, I think it's fine." Kei replied with a shrug.
At the Academy: Post-Entrance Ceremony
"Alright, everyone. Your class placement will be dependent on the entrance exam scores. Our staff will soon be done with putting your class placement up on the board. When they are done, please look at which class and report to it immediately." The principal, a stern and scar faced shinobi said through a thick mustache.
"Do you think we will be in the same class, Neji-san?" Lee whispered loudly to his peer.
"I am uncertain, Lee. We will have to check the results for ourselves." Neji told the 'enthusiastic' boy.
"Oh, they're done! Let's go!" Lee yelled, seeing the board free to look at, and dragging the poor Hyūga along.
"One side!" A voice called out, catching the attention of the two boys.
Neji was shocked and near horrified as he and Lee were bowled over by a flash of red and electric yellow. Groaning as he checked that Lee was all right, he then stood and turned to chase down the devil that did that.
"Stop, you! You bowled over my compatriot and I!!" Neji yelled with authority in his voice.
Stopping, the figure turned to look at them. Dressed in red and electric yellow combat robes with storm clouds and lightning bolts on it was a boy their age with medium length, spiky red hair. Though what the two recognized right away was the Kamishini crest displayed loud and proud on the back of his robes. Running back over, he sheepishly helped them up and tried to help them dust off.
"Sorry. Got a little over excited there. The name's Issen. Kamishini Issen. Nice to meet you." The boy, now identified as Issen, told them as he helped them dust themselves off.
"Rock Lee! At your service, fair and most speedy of lads!" Lee chipperly yelled, jumping to his feet to greet him.
"Hyūga Neji. Pleased to make your acquaintance." Neji replied, still a bit irritated.
Issen smiled. "Neji and Lee? Like the boys my little brothers mentioned?" He asked.
"Brothers?" Neji asked, raising his eyebrow in confusion.
"Yeah. Kei, Sei, and Shin have told me about you two." Issen told the two.
"Oh." Neji said simply.
"Yes indeed, they are friends. Most joyous of friends." Lee proudly said, putting his hands on his side.
"Forgive my rudeness, but they didn't tell us they had an older brother." Neji told Issen.
"No surprise there. They were probably worried you two would like me better. Those three have a tough time standing out because of how much they look alike." Issen replied with a shrug.
"Naruto-kun always tells them apart." Lee said simply, shocking Issen greatly at first.
"He does? Normally, only our family and I can tell them apart." Issen replied, still surprised.
"Each one of them do have very kickable faces." Lee said, adopting a thinking pose about the comment. "That explains why Neji always beat them so thoroughly in games."
Issen chuckled. "Yeah, that's my brothers for you. Well, since we're here, wanna check together what class we'll each be in?" He replied.
"FOR FRIENDSHIP!!" Lee yelled excitedly, grabbing the two of them by their arms and rushing off with them.
"ONWARD!!" Issen called out as he ran alongside Lee, the two dragging Neji behind them.
"HELP MEEEEEE…!" Neji called out as the two mad lads absconded with him to the board.
Rushing over to the board, somehow not turning any poor child in front of them into red paste, they arrived at the boards. Across the well-worn and weather-beaten board was written the various classes' compositions. They did not have to look far, as they all landed in Class 1-A. This only got Lee and Issen even more excited.
"We are in the same class, Neji! I even managed to be accepted as an alternate!" Lee yelled, before bear hugging his poor Hyūga comrade with the force of an over excited puppy.
Issen sighed in relief. "That's good. For a second there, I thought I'd fail everything but Taijutsu and Bukijutsu." He admitted.
"Lee… losing… consciousness… light… fading…" Neji choked out, his face turning red from the hug.
"My apologies, Neji!" Lee replied before dropping his compatriot.
"Let's get to class before we are somehow late." Lee said, focusing himself again.
"Yeah! Before the good seats are taken!" Issen pointed out.
"No seat isn't good when you have friends to share them with!" Lee asserted forcefully to his new friend.
"Now you're speaking my language, Lee!" Issen replied excitedly.
'By the gods… they're multiplying…' Neji thought with a tinge of horror as the three of them headed off to class.
In Class 1-A
The trio arrived in the class to be greeted by a creaky floorboard at the doorway. Despite being the classroom of the best and brightest, it was clear that said best and brightest had put it through the ringer. Worn class, creaky floorboards, a teacher's desk with multiple shuriken still in it, the place looked less like a classroom and more like a warzone. As they made their way up to the multi-tier seating, Lee's eyes scanned the room and saw a row of three seats. It was in the center of the classroom, not too far away from the teacher, but far enough to hear both them and those around them. It was… perfect!
"There, my friends! Our seats await!" Lee called out to Issen and Neji.
"Then let's get 'em! C'mon, Neji!" Issen told the Hyūga boy.
"Can you two please keep it down?" A voice said from the seat next to where Lee was about to park his overly eager behind.
Next to them was a girl with twin black-haired buns, gray eyes, and creamy smooth skin. She wore a sleeveless blue… Lee thought it was a dress, which was odd for a shinobi. Neji corrected him that it was a blouse. Whatever that was. Granted he liked forest green as a color, so he was not one to judge. Her face, a fairly round one by village standards, was contorted into an annoyed frown.
"My apologies, dear classmate. My friend and I were not attempting to be rude. And you are?" Lee replied, trying to be more polite.
"Tenten." She answered him.
"Pleased to meet you, I am Rock Lee." Lee told her, bowing.
"Kamishini Issen. A pleasure." Issen replied, bowing as well.
"Hyūga Neji. A pleasure to make your acquaintance." Neji added, giving a polite nod.
"Pleased to meet you all. At least you're not late. From what I can tell, our teacher is a proper battle ax." Tenten warned as they sat down.
"Then it's a good thing we made it on time." Issen replied with a smile.
"Pipe down, everyone! Class is in session!" A loud, booming, distinctly female voice yelled.
Everyone shut up faster than a steel trap as their teacher walked in the room. Wearing standard shinobi fatigues and flak jacket, she wore a battle worn and scarred headband proudly across her forehead. Turning to face them, the woman, who they figured had to be at least six feet tall, revealed a heavily scarred face, including a truly nasty looking one across her nose and upper cheek. Deep green eyes scanned the room, looking over the class before her for every detail. Then, and only then, did her lips move to speak again.
"Alright, Class 1-A! I will be your teacher Kamatsuma Raidori. This class is traditionally for those who excelled in their entrance exams, and I intend to keep that tradition alive. I will push you hard, to show this academy what you are made of, and to push you to see your potential through." The woman said with her booming voice. "Any questions?"
Neji slowly raised his hand. Seemingly almost afraid to do so for a moment. However, she then pointed to him.
"Yes, Hyūga Neji?" She asked firmly, shocking him with his name.
"Sensei… where is your teaching assistant?" Neji asked, almost afraid to know the answer.
"I killed them and ate their liver." She answered him simply.
Everyone looked at her with fear and disgust at that. However, she then broke into laughter.
"Oh, I didn't think you all were so gullible. No, she's fine. She's actually behind you all." Raidori replied with a cheerful smirk.
The class all looked behind them only to see no one there. Then, as if a mirage were dissipating, the air shimmered before a woman came into being. She had a light shade of blonde hair, not platinum blonde but more sun kissed. She had brilliant emerald-green eyes and a thin but well-developed shape. Giving a smirk at the class looking at her in awe, she giggled a bit.
"Well done, assistant." Raidori said with a small smile, before motioning her to join her by her side.
"Thank you, Sensei. Class, I am Kingyosō Kin. My teammate and brother-in-law, Haruno Kizashi, taught me that little trick before he retired." The now identified Kin told the class with a smile.
"Indeed. Right, without further ado, time to put you brats through your paces!" Raidori yelled. "On your feet and 30 laps around the academy!"
"Thirty!?" Tenten asked in disbelief.
"Oh, I'm sorry! I thought you all wanted to be shinobi, not runway models! Any further backtalk and said person gets to wash the school's walls!" Raidori yelled, this time giving no illusion on what she wanted them to do.
When no one replied, she smirked. "Then hop to it, maggots!" She called out as the class scrambled from their seats to head outside.
Saying the next eight hours were the worst that that classroom of newcomers had ever had was an understatement. The laps quickly escalated to eighty around the academy building due to perceived slights by the kids. Genjutsu class was a complete disaster, as the teachers intentionally distracted them to force them to get better at control. Taijutsu was a complete and utter bare-knuckle slugfest, sparring with an opponent to see where they were. Ninjutsu was the tamest, simply because they had to be taught the basics of how to do a Ninjutsu technique. But weapons? They quickly learned why the shuriken were in the desk, to say the least. It was less like school, and instead like something out of a war movie. Only this was real.
The fact Lee even survived that first day was practically a miracle. Even the best course he was on, Taijutsu, he still was covered in bruises from. Weapons got him cuts all over his body that he needed to see the nurse for. Ninjutsu and Genjutsu were complete flops, he showed no talent in either. It did not feel his spirits any that Issen did somewhat better than him, though he still ended up with the same number of bruises and cuts as him.
Tenten to his shock was a ferocious fighter, and the one that gave the two the cuts from weapons class. But Neji… he impressed the teacher; he did that well. Which Lee and Issen were convinced was not possible. It was as if he walked on air and could part the clouds he breezed through the day. By the time the new group had broken off for home at the end of the day, Lee staggered through his clan's estates gates, opened the door, and fell face-first into the entryway.
"I'm… Home…" Lee groaned into the floorboards.
"Welcome home, son." Jazz told him smoothly, having already prepared a snack for him.
"How was ya' first day, ma' boy?" Reggie asked from the kitchen.
"Brutal…" Lee groaned, heading to the dining room table to be given his snack.
"What doesn't kill ya' makes ya' stronga', boy. That's what me old man always taught me!" Reggie said, patting his son on the shoulder, causing Lee to groan in pain. "My bad, mon."
"Thank you, Dad…" Lee groaned as his mother put two bowls before him, causing him to look up.
"Did you make any friends, son?" Jazz asked as she poured him some tea.
"Yes, Mom. I made two." Lee replied, looking at the bowls.
"Well, tell us all about them, boyo!" Reggie said with a great big burst of joy.
Lee smiled. "First and foremost, there's Kamishini Issen…" Lee began.
At the Hyūga Compound
Neji sighed as he walked along the well-maintained path back to the compound. A lot happened that day, yet it was as if nothing had happened at all. Not like he cared. It was all part of the process. A process to become a shinobi. Yet, as he neared the gates to his surprise, both Hiashi and his cousins were waiting for him.
"Hiashi-sama, Hinata-sama, Enten-sama? This is a great surprise to be greeted at the gate by your august presence." Neji said, bowing deeply to him as he addressed them.
"For the last time, Neji, you don't need to be so formal with us. Different branches or not, we're still family." Enten told her cousin with a smile.
"Family is only a secondary concern for my mission, cousin." Neji said after he lifted himself up from his bow.
"How was class today, Neji?" Hiashi asked his nephew as the four of them headed inside.
"It was grueling, but it was nothing that I could not manage, Hiashi-sama." Neji explained simply.
Hiashi nodded. "That is good to hear. Your father would be immensely proud of you if he could see you today, Neji." He told his nephew.
Neji flinched at that and clenched his hands into fists but held back what he wanted to say to him. "Thank you, Hiashi-sama." Neji said curtly to him.
"I do not mean to antagonize you, Neji. I am merely being honest. Hizashi would be immensely proud of you if he could see you now." Hiashi reassured his nephew.
At that, Neji stopped walking alongside them. It was the last thing he ever expected his uncle to say to him. He wanted to say something, he wanted to shout, to scream. Something, anything. Yet… no words came to him. He stood there in stunned silence to the three, before Hinata came over and gripped Neji's hand.
"Brother Neji? Are you okay?" She asked him, a bit concerned from her tone of voice.
At that, Neji snapped out of it and looked at his cousin. "I am fine, Hinata-sama. Did Naruto-san serve as an adequate protector for you and Enten-sama today?" Neji asked her, trying to see if something was going right around here.
Hinata blushed at that, but Enten smiled. "He sure did. Honestly, he really threw himself into the role." Enten told their cousin.
"Didn't he leap to tackle you to safety because he thought a big dog was going to run you over?" Hinata asked curiously, raising her eyebrow at her answer.
Enten blushed at that. "Hinata…!" She cried out in embarrassment.
"He then also jumped into a water barrel to save the coin you accidently dropped in it." Hinata continued, getting the rowdy Hyūga princess quite flustered.
"At least he didn't climb a tree to save a stuffed animal for me like he did for you because a squirrel fox-napped Ko-chan!" Enten replied.
Hinata blushed embarrassed as the two rapidly devolved into bickering over Naruto's antics. It got a small smile out of Neji seeing this, as at least he made the two happy. Even if it was questionable how much actual protection he gave them. If he had to guess, the real protection came from whatever Uzumaki the Hokage put to guard Naruto. At least his heart was in the right place. At that, however, his aunt's voice broke him from his musings.
"Hello, Neji. Welcome home." Nikkō told her nephew as Neji looked up to see her.
"Greetings, Nikkō-sama." Neji said, bowing deeply in her presence.
Nikkō sighed in exasperation but smiled. "I trust class went well today, dear nephew?" She asked him kindly.
"It did, ma'am." Neji said, keeping it brief.
"Excellent. Did you manage to make any new friends today?" She asked him.
"I had made acquaintances with a couple of people." Neji answered simply.
"I'm glad to hear it. Kiru [1]! Your son is home!" Nikkō called out, surprising Neji.
"Mother is here?" Neji asked, a small smile on his face.
Soon, out strode a woman, clearly of their clan, with the Hidden Leaf's symbol on her forehead protector that covered her forehead. She was lithe but powerfully built and surprisingly elegant. She had a face as beautiful as the light of a full moon on a starless night and long, flowing deep brown hair. Said face was thinner than Neji's, a bit more like a fox's, but she gave a bright smile upon seeing her son.
"Welcome home, Neji." Kiru told her son.
"Thank you, mother. How was your mission?" Neji said, bowing to her politely as he spoke.
"Quite well. Just a simple courier mission into the nearby Land of Grass. Nothing too difficult. Come, I will make us all some tea and you can tell us in detail about your day." Kiru told her son with a bright smile.
"That is not required, mother." Neji said, trying to politely decline.
"Nonsense, my boy. I insist." Kiru told him, a bit firmly but still gently.
"So, who did you meet today, Neji?" Enten asked.
"A girl named Tenten and a boy from the Kamishini clan named Issen. He reminds me far too much of Lee in terms of his… 'enthusiasm'..." Neji told his cousin as the five of them headed into the main house.
To Be Continue...
[1] Japanese for "Saw".