"Alright class," Iruka started, shuffling papers in his hands idly. "It's time for lunch. You're dismissed." He announced, a small underlying tone of relief in his tone. Dealing with hyperactive children tended to require an immense amount of patience. Not to mention the trouble that they tended to get through...
As soon as he finished, the students scattered quickly to go outside and wander off. Zero however instead chose to stay inside for the day. Usually, she would eat outside under a particular tree that she had claimed for herself or even the Academy's rooftop. This time though, she just wanted to savor the quiet peacefulness that the classroom afforded.
Although, Zero stared at a figure that snuck in through a window quietly, I guess I wasn't the one with the same idea. The other stared at her with a challenging gaze, as if daring her to say anything. Zero merely gave a nod of acknowledgement.
"Uchiha-san." She greeted with indifference.
The Uchiha stared at her for moment before turning away and sitting at his usual seat as he dug into his own lunch. He disregarded her, the only other person in the room.
Zero ate her lunch, a bento made of her leftover dinner. She read a book about fuinjutsu while she ate, eyes roving over the pages quickly and intently.
Space-Time Ninjutsu (Jikūkan Ninjutsu,"Teleportation Ninjutsu" or "Transportation Techniques", Space-Time Ninja Techniques)are techniques that allow the users to manipulate the space-time continuum.By manipulating a specific point of space, the user can warp anything targeted into a dimensional void and teleport it to another location instantaneously.Space-Time Ninjutsu allows one to bypass any Barrier Ninjutsu, as barriers only extend over the dimension they are placed upon, and similarly cannot prevent Space-Time Ninjutsu users from escaping to a dimensional void and then back outside of the barrier's confines.
She looked up from her book, head turning slightly to the side as if to listen better. I thought I heard something, she thought.
" ─ where are you!" A high-pitched voice called out.
"─ are you here?"
"Sasuke-kun!"
"Sasu-kun!"
She turned her gaze towards the Uchiha and she can sense the discontent coming from the Uchiha but she didn't really need to. It was clear enough in his furrowed eyebrows and narrowed eyes.
Fangirls? She wondered. "That makes sense." She muttered to herself. They were well into the first year of the Academy and the young Uchiha had already gained swarms of fangirls that increased by the day. It made Zero frown slightly because the behavior that some of the girls displayed was... extreme.
There was the sound of pounding footsteps and raised voices and Zero turned her gaze to the Uchiha, who was once again muttering curses under his breath and was making his way to the window, intent on escape but he paused and a look of extreme discontent filtered over his face before it was gone a moment later.
Zero looked out the window and she could see the girls scouring the grounds for the Uchiha. It seemed that no matter where he went, the Uchiha couldn't find a moment of reprieve from the hordes of overeager girls.
It made Zero shudder in sympathy. Jullian had seemed like a fanboy as well and there were times that his actions were... unusual and extreme to an extent, but Zero knew that his feelings for her were genuine. Jullian had told her that he had loved her when she had first shown him kindness, back when the world rained constantly around him. She had shown him the beauty and warmth of sunlight , helped him training , and show that there's more to life than loneliness. The fangirls seemed to have... less than genuine intentions, considering what she's heard. Zero had no doubt that the Uchiha knew as well. He was young but he wasn't stupid. Far from it. Zero placed aside her bento and she stood, idly wiping the imaginary dust from her clothes. She made her way to the classroom door, disregarding Sasuke's tense form. She went out the classroom and carefully closed it behind her, looking like for all intents and purposes she was going out.
"Hey you!" A girl called out, skidding to a stop before Zero.
There were other girls close behind, all of them wearing disgruntled looks. Weather it was because they couldn't find the Uchiha or if it was because of Zero herself, she didn't know, nor did she particularly care, to be honest.
"Ah." Zero muttered. "How can I help you?" She said blankly.
The girl in question, looked at Zero suspiciously. A severe frown was on her lips. "Have you seen Sasuke-kun, orphan?" She snapped.There was a series of snickers and snorted laughs and more than one girl looked cruelly amused and interested. Zero brown twitched but her face still remained neutral "Uchiha-san?" She tilted her head to the side, as if contemplating. "I think he went out to the training grounds." She answered. It was an answer that held merit, since it was something that the Uchiha might do.
Ino scoffed, "Whatever." She turned and walked away without another word. Sakura glanced at her before a frown took over her face, a vein throbbing violently on her forehead. "Hey! Don't think you can get a head start and hog Sasuke-kun all to yourself Ino-pig!" She yelled, running after the blond a moment later.The girls perked up in interest and soon they too were running after the others, shouting and shoving their way as they realized that they would need to hurry lest they miss their chance with their 'precious Sasuke-kun'. Zero stared at them for a moment before she quietly made her way back to the classroom.
The Uchiha was staring out the window with much less tension than before. "Uchiha-san, the others aren't here anymore. I told them you went to the training grounds." She said, casually sitting back in her seat as if nothing happened. She continued to eat her food in elegant gestures.There was silence for a few brief moments and from the corner of her eye she saw the black - haired boy move back to his seat, eating his own lunch with much less tension than before, not saying a word and merely keeping to herself she returned her attention to her food.
When Zero goes home, she's always greeted by silence.There were scrolls and books scattered all around the living room. Aside from the large single couch she had stretched along a wall and the small coffee table in front of it, there wasn't much to see. The kitchen table was a small thing with only enough chairs to seat four people. Her bedroom was small. A bed was pushed against a corner of the room with the window right above it. Beside her bed was a wardrobe that contained the majority of Zero shinobi wear. The rest of her more casual clothing was eighter inside her small closet or in her requip dimension. A full-length mirror was hanged on a wall.It was a small and meager home, but again, it was hers. For the rest of the day she continued with her research for the hiraishin.
School seemed to pass by in a blur for Zero. It was yet again another day in the Academy and by now she's claimed a permanent seat. She sat next to the Uchiha while the other sat beside the window. The remaining free seat that was left beside Zero was always occupied by a series of people. It was a seat that was more reserved for the last person to arrive since people were reluctant to sit next to Zero, notably the civilians. To Zero, it seemed that Sasuke didn't care for her presence but she got the sense that he preferred to have her than any of the other girls obsessed over him. Children are annoying , Zero knew but she never would have guessed to the sheer extent of it. It seemed that her new nickname was 'Orphan' on behalf of many of the students, even those outside her class. Various Clan members were baffled at the term and some even seemed slightly offended but no one made a move to stop it. She understood. If you were different you stood out and children were quick to make judgment if it was the sort of good different or the bad kind of different. If it was something that wasn't... approved then they were quick to point it, quick to judge, quick to label and mock. It was sort of like a herd mentality and everyone had to follow and if you went against it then you were just as bad. No one would want that because then it meant that they would pick on them next. It was a fear of retaliation. Then again that how narrow minded humans are and she doesn't really care what they call her since they don't stand in her way she won't bother with them. If they stand in the way of her goals? well then there would be a few less people to become shinobi.
She spent her days alone and idly watched the world around her. When group projects and assignments, Zero frequently requested that she work alone, so much so that Iruka allowed for it without her needing to ask anymore. He'd give her concerned looks and frowns of contemplation but since she never really made a complaint, he never did anything.She could have worked with Sasuke but the other was snatched away by the girls before Zero could do anything. Not to mention that the few, rare times that Zero did manage to it would incite the rage of the girls to a point that was simply astounding and annoying.
This was one of those few times.
"I'll be back class. Keep working on your assignments!" Iruka announced sternly before leaving the classroom, closing the door behind him as he did so.Their assignment was fairly easy and straight forward. It was a packet of key terms that they had to complete relating to a broad range of shinobi fields, from chakra to elemental affinities and even to weapons. Both students were required to place effort and Iruka had warned that he'd know if they weren't helping their partners. He was scary that way.
So far, Zero and Sasuke had worked in silence. Speaking wasn't really necessary. They had just divided the terms evenly between them, not even asking if the other knew them or not and filled their part, passing it to the other when they finished their assigned portion. Zero was confident that Sasuke could complete it without her aid and easily get them all correct. She knew she could too.The entirety of the class was silent for a moment, staring at the door before there was a cacophony of sound, the sound of children free of authority.
"Zero switch with me!" A pink haired form ambled towards Zero's way, green eyes glaring fiercely towards the silver haired girl. "I can help Sasuke-kun better than you can!"
Zero frowned, glancing towards the Uchiha who held his usual impassive gaze. "I don't think we can switch─"
"Of course not!" A voice called out and Ino shoved Sakura away from where she stood before their desk.
"You can't switch with her because your switching with me!" Ino declared haughtily, sweeping her blond hair away from her face with an elegant gesture that gained jealous looks from the other girls.
"Move out the way Zero."
"If you think that Sasuke-kun is going to work with either of you then you're just as stupid as you look!" Ami declared, hands on her hips and sneering down at them.
Her words incited the rage of the two girls immedietly.
"What did you just say?!" Ino hissed, hands clenched into fists and glaring quite ferociously towards the other girl.
"Say that again, I dare you!" Sakura yelled, rage in her eyes and a vein throbbing threateningly on her forehead.
"Oh, she did not just say that." A voice muttered through the sudden silence of the room. "Troublesome."
Ami smirked in a manner that really shouldn't have been possible for a girl her age. She pushed the girls away without a care, ignoring their indignant yells. She slammed her hands on the desk, rattling the pencils and causing them to fall to the floor but she ignored it. Ami's eyes were boring into Zero and was leaning towards her with intent. "Get the hell out of the seat, Orphan." She said threateningly.
There was a strangled sound, seeming to come from all around the room at once.
"Oh my god." The recognizable voice of one Inuzuka Kiba said, "What. Just, what?" "Why do they keep saying that, Shikamaru?" Chouji whispered, trying to be quiet but in the pin drop silence, it was impossible.
"Hell if I know, Chouji." Shikamaru replied, dark eyes boring towards the scene before him. What is wrong with these people?! Why just her? I know for a fact that there's more than one in this class. So why?...
Zero stood still face impasive like nothing that happens around has anything to to with her until she finally opened her mouth "Please don't call me that Ami-san." Zero said voice neutral. Ami smirked, leaning forward with unforgiving intent. "Why? You don't like it? I thought it was a nice nickname! It certainly sounds nice to me!" She said mockingly, "Here, just listen. Maybe you'll see what I mean, orphan. I mean that's what you are, aren't you orphan?" Her smirk stretched into a smile full of teeth. "Orphan. Orphan. Orphan." She repeated, giggling all while she did so. "Ami-san," Zero said, tone still neutral . She could feel the stares of her classmates burning into her back but paid no mind . Ami gave a booming laugh. "Orphan," She whispered. "Orphan, orphan, orphan─" She repeated, hands pounding the desk rhythmically with each time she did so, her voice steadily getting louder until, suddenly the majority of the class joined in. There was the sound of hands hitting the desk, joining Ami's own rhythm and the voices of her classmates melded into a single voice."Orphan! Orphan! Orphan─" They repeated and Ami egged them on. She motioned with her hands her encouragement and she laughed. Zero gaze lowered and her hair shadowed her face which seems to encourage them further "Orphan─" They continued and they pointed mocking fingers towards Zero, taking delight in her discomfort.The others didn't know what to do, namely the Clan children. They've never seen such an act of bullying and it was quite possibly the worst that they've ever seen before. They've seen children fight with one another, seen others call each other names but none of that could quite compare to what they were seeing now. It was impossible to look away. The scene demanded their attention and it was horrifying to watch and so bewitched were they that they could do nothing but sit still in their seats. Not one of them made a move. Not Shino. Not Hinata, Shikamaru or Chouji. Not Kiba or Sasuke. Not even Naruto, whom watched in the same horrifying manner as the rest.
"Orphan, orphan, orphan!─" Zero body remained still face still obscured by her hair
"ORPHAN! ORPHAN! ORPHAN! ORPH─"
Bang Zero hand slammed violently on the desk and while managing to hold back her strength it still creaked ominously before breaking apart. Slowly she raised her head and what they saw terrified them. Zero wore a glare so cold that make them to tremble but what gave them chills was the fanged smirk and the killing intent in her gaze . Taking a few steps forward she stood right in front of Ami and before anyone could react her hand reached forward and clenched around the annoying girl neck. Raising her up by the neck she opened her mouth "Orphan hm? So what of it ? I rather be an orphan than having to call a weak worm like you family . Heh, but then again for a trash like you it won't be long before someone erase you off the face of earth. Listen well at me vermin the next time you open up your mouth to insult me will be your last bacause I willl rip it of before ending you . And your end won't be a painless one. Got it ? " just for these sinistre words to come out . After a few seconds Zero threw her on the floor and Ami had enought time to rise on her feet before the door slammed open and Iruka walked in, others following closely behind. "What is going on here?!" He demanded! His eyes took in the sudden silence, the pale faced looks of half of his students and the other half with shocked expressions.
" Nothing sensei." Zero said with a neutral look on her face .
Ami trembled violently and without a word ran out of the room without a second thought or glance back.
"Ami!" Iruka called, torn between following her or demanding answers from his class.
"Don't worry about her sensei." Zero said surprising everyone . "Ami, Sakura and Ino wanted to switch with me to be with Uchiha-san but when I looked at them I saw she didn't look all that good."" I was concerned and was about to see what's wrong with her but Ami-san must have really been feeling bad to have run out of here so fast." She continued "I hope she feels better." She added a moment later, her tone worried. "Isn't that so ?" She asked her classmates while giving them a dark look daring them to deny her words . Others nodded along with her too afraid of what happened a few moments before all the while giving sympathetic murmurs.
"Poor Ami-chan."
"She did look bad, didn't she?"
"I hope I don't get sick."
"I know, right? It looked bad. I wouldn't want to catch that."
Iruka's eyes bored into his students intently. He knew that they were lying but everyone was in on it, it seemed. He stared at the faces of each of his students, hoping that at least one of them would offer something.
Not one of them did.
Iruka sighned and hopped that everything will return to normal tomorrow .
Zero was deeply annoyed by the incident but she gave no indication of it when she went to the Academy the next day. She had heard the whispers behind her back, felt the points and stares but she kept her head high and the face neutral.
When she left the Academy yesterday she went to the Forest of Death to train and calm her emotions down.Iruka keep glancing at Zero when she arived to the Academy. He had given her a worried look and his eyes had been searching, looking for anything that would give any indication as to what happened but could find nothing .
Zero sat in her usual seat despite the stares that bore into her back. In all her time in the Academy she had been the only girl to sit next to the Uchiha, despite the claim she had on the seat. It never failed to incite the jealousy of the girls. She sat with her head held high and back straight.Why should she care about what they had to think and say ? She held no feelings towards them. "Settle down class! I have an announcement to make." Iruka said, waiting for the murmurs and whispers to die and nodded in satisfaction when they did. His eyes moved from student to student intently. "As is traditional, at the end of the year there is always a title awarded to the best Academy female and male student called Rookie of the Year. This year is no different and I'm announcing those who gained this tittle. Remember, time has passed by quickly but this is by no means the end of your journey." Iruka said sagely.There were murmurs and the sound of fierce whispers once again but they died down immedietly under Iruka's glare. "Now as I was saying, the Rookies of the Year for this year are," Iruka took a moment to savor the tension, "Uchiha Sasuke─"
There was an immediate round of cheers in response on behalf of the girls, most of them staring dreamily and adoringly towards the Uchiha. Zero merely gave the Uchiha a nod of congratulations, unsurprised that the Uchiha had gained the title. There were others that could have gained the title as well, namely the clan children and even Naruto but many of them lacked the single-minded focus and drive that the Uchiha held.
The Uchiha accepted her nod with a slight incline of his head. Nothing else but first would have been acceptable.
"Kyaa~" A girl squealed. "I knew he could do it!"
"You're amazing, Sasuke-kun!" Ami complemented.
"Congratulations Sasuke-kun!" Sakura said, hands clasped together cutely and hearts in her eyes as she stared at the young Uchiha.
"Congratulations Sasuke-kun!" Ino said not a moment later, her rivalry for Sasuke's affections rearing up. "I knew you could do it! No one could have done better!"
There was a series of annoyed groans on behalf of the boys.
Not for the first time, Kiba rolled his eyes so hard he may as well have strained them. "What do they see in him?" He muttered, giving voice to a thought that had plagued the minds of the other boys numerous times. He didn't think he'd ever be able to understand the mysterious mentality of the girls.Iruka pinched the bridge of his nose, wondering why he expected differently. "Quiet!" Iruka yelled, savoring the silence that followed. He still had his touch. Good. "As I was saying─" Iruka said, clearing his throat slightly. "Congratulations Zero, for gaining the title of Rookie of the Year!" He said, a smile on his face.There was silence for a moment before chaos erupted.
"WHAT?!" Sakura shrieked, causing more than one to wince. "Her?! There must be some sort of mistake!" She yelled.
Ino nodded, completely disregarding the fact that she agreed with her rival. "Billboard-brow is right! There must be some sort of mistake!" Other girls nodded along her words, a look of anger on their faces.
"A no name like her Rookie of the Year?" Ami who seems to forget what happed a day before hissed under her breath. "That can't be right sensei!" She said, hands slamming atop the desk.
"Enough!" Iruka yelled, demanding the attention of his students. "There was no mistake." Iruka said sternly, shaking his head at the denials about to be said. "You were close to becoming Rookie of the Year Sakura, third in place in fact, and in second place was Hinata-chan," His words caused the shy Hyuuga to blush violently and a moment later she fainted. "But Zero-chan held the highest test scores and had the highest taijutsu and weapon training scores among the girls."
"B-But─" Sakura stuttered, glaring daggers towards the silver haired girl.
"Don't worry Sakura-chan!" Naruto said, trying to comfort his crush. "You're first in my eyes!" He said passionately, to no avail as the pinkette completely disregarded him.
Zero disregarded the looks that the girls gave her.Their words held no weight in her mind and she was reminded again, that a dragon was still a dragon - a predator who will strike down anyone in their way and a superior being -. She saw Sasuke give her his own nod of acknowledgement.