Drifting Petal

Ayaka's family recently moved to Konoha and decided to become a kunoichi. She accidentally called the man Ojii-chan when she saw his white hair when they first met in the shop. Of course the white haired man didn't let slide and it irks him that it becoming a habit. Babbling

Short fic-Five chapters.

Note: I don't own Naruto and Senju Tobirama. Please forgive me if there's any grammatical error since English is not my main language.

A green haired girl carefully stepped inside along her home teacher and faced the rowdy crowd.

"My name is Ayaka Katsuragi. I'm pleased to meet you."

The Katsuragi clan is among the newest additions in the village of Konoha, the merchant class family originally came from Suna and decided to rally with their branch family that resided in Konoha. The First Hokage gave them a huge welcome and he is really happy to know that the main Katsuragi clan decided to extend their hands. Ayaka's grandfather bestowed their clan's prized item as the sign of trust between them to much of her surprise.

As their clan's settlement in the village, they began to start their business as blacksmith and glassmaker. Their craft is sought after because their refinement skills and class of their products. Ayaka admitted that her family became little busy when the demand of production increased. Although Ayaka is knows little of their family craft but she can manage when given time. She is still going under training from her father in managing their shop's business.

The First Hokage is kind to let her attend the Ninja Academy and gave her papers to be legally enrolled. She feels grateful but at the same time guilty since she didn't lift a finger in moving her paperworks to become a citizen in Konoha.

She decided to become a shinobi and fascinated by it.

She started late in Academy and worked hard on her missed duties and academy official gave her special requirements for admission (only for new settlers which is quite hard and she was puzzled one time that she is required her catching fleeing cats) completing simple missions before joining her class.

"There are seats to choose from. Please choose where you would like to seat and we will start our class officially." The academy teacher pointed few seat open to her and Ayaka followed his directions, she saw two seats free at the back, one in the front near the door, one free beside a fellow whose brown is spiked up. Ayaka recalled several faces of their shop customers as she has the feeling that she knows him.

"Aha! He's the fellow who bought father's edition of chrome shuriken pack! "

Ayaka nodded at her instructor and pointed that she wanted to seat beside the familiar customer.

"Hey! I thought you didn't recognize me! I never told you my name after we first met in your shop! My name's Hiruzen Sarutobi!" The brown haired boy grinned as reached out his hand to Ayaka. "It's really nice to meet a familiar face…" Ayaka shook Hiruzen's hand and returned gesture. "Let's study and have fun!"

Hiruzen is one loud fellow!

Ayaka had fun in during her study time in Academy, she met Hiruzen's teammates.

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.

She felt tense under Koharu's gaze and she didn't know why, it also applies the same to Homura. She thought that it is the case of her being an outsider and being so closely acquainted with other students in her class. Most of the students are wary of her first then when she mentioned that she assists in Katsuragi Craft store, many of her classmates flocked to her asking about the shinobi weapons they make.

"So the feeling of being watched is from these two genin."

One student literally grabbed her arms and begged lists of their selling items in her family's store. She sucked few breaths since her seat is surrounded by curious students. Ayaka held her hands in defensive stance while trying to calm the crowd around her.

"Why we don't pay a visit to my father's shop and see what we have there after the class? I'm sure you can find various additions to your ninja gear that you may like."

Sudden sensation made her skin crawl…and she felt hairs in her skin stand on end.

"What is this feeling? It is them again…? I'm beginning to feel something…"

Ayaka sweat dropped and slowly turned to the source of hostility to the point that she seeing eye to eye with the brown haired girl along with spectacled boy. She gulped when she stepped on her personal space and whispered something on her ear.

She didn't like the tone…she's hearing.

"Don't get too comfortable…I don't care if you are from the Katsuragi clan and given special conditions…you are still an outsider."

Ayaka only nodded and looked that most of her classmates didn't notice Koharu's approach.

After that girl's warning, Ayaka quickly left the Academy after class and headed straight home. The words that Koharu gave her are simple but it sounded like a threat in her mind and tried to think that it is normal to be treated that way.

"I'm an outsider…I can understand that…but she didn't have to drip the words with so much hostility that makes me want to run outside."

"Don't mind Koharu! She acts like that but deep down she is a nice girl."

A voice popped in her ears.

"Wha-?!" She gasped as she ditched away from the presence in her left.

"Hey! Relax! It's me! I've been following you for some time while you mutter some things to yourself. I've been calling you many times but your mind is on something else." The brown haired boy stepped closer to drag her towards her shop. Ayaka couldn't summon her voice to protest about being dragged away. His hand felt warm and nice for Ayaka, that feeling ghosted a smile that formed her on lips while she savoured the welcomed feeling. It was hard for her to be alone in the bustling village and without a friend to rely on. She began to miss her best friend from Suna and sometimes she want to come back to former village since she couldn't stand to pretend that it is always alright.

She has everything…but she couldn't stand without a friend in Konoha.

Hiruzen's actions alone spoke and he told her without needing a voice when he offered his hand in class.

"I'm your friend."

A lone tear dropped without Ayaka realizing it.

The feeling of wanting to have a friend gushed out.

"Genki-sensei our homeroom instructor tried to call you but you quickly bolted away and asked me to give you this….uh-" Hiruzen stopped on his tracks when he heard Ayaka's sobbing and hiccups, he gawked when he noted that he held the girl's hand too tight. He quickly bowed down and apologized many times to the crying Ayaka. The crying girl dismissed it quickly and went on apologizing for being such a softie. She meant not to offend and explained to Hiruzen why she teared up and she was happy that someone in her class greeted her.

"I was really happy when you greeted me…to tell you the truth it is really hard for me to adjust to my new home. I have my family but I really wanted a friend to talk to…although casual conservations with customers is okay but I can't shake the feeling that I want a friend who has the same interest as me like in academics and I want to study and train like a shinobi too. I feel like being constrained in our family and I want someone from this village to acknowledge me too. Thanks for spending time with me."

"H-hey! I thought I hurt you but well…you are welcome here and you are part of Konoha. I know it's hard for you here but you can come to me anytime when you feel someone to talk to! I can teach you few things about being a shinobi and you can also learn cool jutsus from me! Let's study together!"

Hiruzen grinned and puffed his chest proudly in front of Ayaka who admired his confidence. Somewhere inside his mind, telling him that he forgot something.

"Oh…I completely forgot! Genki-sensei asked me to give you this!" Hiruzen took two scrolls from his pack and handed the items in the hands of Ayaka.

"Hiruzen thanks! I wonder what is this…one is addressed to my father and one is for me. Hmm…it was sealed. I guess I'll read them later…" Ayaka packed away the scrolls to her bag and turned her attention back to Hiruzen. "Would you like to come to our shop again? We have new selections that came from my uncle's branch. I think the arrival is today so I think we can take a look."

Hiruzen's face lit up and grinned sheepishly. "I would like to! By the way your father's edition of shurinken is really cool! It's sturdy and light despite of heavy looking! I spared few kunai's to Tobirama-sensei since he found it good to add his arsenal. He said he would like to visit your shop soon…"

"Your sensei…I thought Genki-sensei is our sensei…" Ayaka found herself dumbfounded about Sensei thing. She was sure that her homeroom teacher is Genki-sensei …is Hiruzen training with another teacher?

"Oh…you don't have your team yet! I forgot you are still new regulations of Academy! Most of the genin is given team assignments and they are supervised by one instructor during their stay in Academy. Each team consist 3 genin and one jounin rank shinobi. Since you are new and I'm sure officials will give you consideration." Hiruzen noted his two classmates Koharu and Homura are his teammates, Ayaka noted to herself that she needed to be with a team in order to pass requirements in Academy.

"Then…I don't know which team I will be assigned. Who knows what will happen if I don't work well with others. I know few tricks and I'm just starting learn basics…ninja thingamajings….what do I do…I might get fried or get buried alive…I' m getting confused…"

Ayaka squat down with depressed aura and dramatically wailed in the street corner.

"She somehow…resembles the First when sulking…" Hiruzen remembered when he saw Hashirama sulked and got depressed when reprimanded by his Sensei. "Ayaka-chan…quit worrying about things like this. Take it easy and trust me it will work out for you just trust your teammates and do your best in accomplishing your mission. That is one of the tips in working together!"

Ayaka smiled at Hiruzen's enthusiasm and wish she had the same.

As the two genin walked on the street together towards the Katsuragi Craft shop, Hiruzen began to elaborate his team's adventure and difficulties they faced. Various bandits and also the painstaking babysitting jobs and guarding cargos and deliveries, he told Ayaka also the cat wild chase through Konoha's forest. He showed her claw marks to prove it and felt humiliated when other genin team laughed at them as news of their mission reached their ears.

Ayaka told Hiruzen her share of missions by rushing deliveries throughout the village and acting as a common messenger of post office and assisting in translation of documents and easy desk jobs. Hiruzen sympathised about her boring missions however Ayaka was happy to perform missions assigned to her. When the brown haired boy asked the green haired girl if she is willing to train with him, the girl nodded in response and is happy to found someone to train with

The Katsuragi Shop sign came into view as the two genin slid past the entrance of the shop. Ayaka quickly introduced Hiruzen to her brother Shuuichi who manages the shop while their Father is away for business. The cerulean haired man bowed and offered his thanks to Hiruzen in escorting his little sister home. Shuuichi Katsuragi is the man in his early thirties and he is the eldest among the Katsuragi siblings, he specializes in repairing swords unlike their father.

"Nice to meet you! Welcome to shop Hiruzen! Take your time here and feel free look around from our list equipments here. Aya-chan will you shift with me for a while? I have to check uncle's delivery in the back and I can't leave my post since Masaomi is not back from his deliveries."

"Yes Shuu-nii." Ayako nodded in response and shifted to his place.

Hiruzen noticed an opened wooden box in the corner and opened it. The blade shimmered and reflected to the light. Judging the appearance of the weapon, it looked a little longer and thicker on the edge than normal kunai.

"Wow look at this three bladed kunai…" Hiruzen took the blade from its case and to find it is surprisingly light for its size, he sparred with it for a bit and tested its movements with the handle. He asked Ayaka about the strange engraving in the center blade.

"That is my Masaomi-nii's special…chakra blade…he mentioned something like infusing chakra into the blade to make it more versatile…I don't know about it since it is just a prototype. I wonder what is that doing here…Masaomi-nii never mentioned about putting this on the line with merchandise…" Ayaka stepped outside her post and went beside the brown haired boy who is amazed at the beauty of the weapon.

Hiruzen's eyes glittered at the weapon he is holding and he seemed to really like it.

"I guess he likes to collect kunais…"

"Shuuichi-nii-san I'm back-Aya-chan? Oh who's the fellow?" the green haired girl introduced the newcomer to Hiruzen and have them acquainted with each other.

Masaomi seemed happy that his creation is noticed by the small genin and decided to let him have it for free. Hiruzen was thankful but insisted to pay for the kunai since he felt it is not fair however Masaomi never minded him and also only asked the boy to experiment on the blade.

"I never meant to put here but…when the moment I saw you gazing at it I decided to let you have it. Just tell me their effects since I haven't tested it yet. I was about to present this to someone but I have the feeling that this is perfect for you kid." Masaomi gave the boy the thumbs up and grinned.

"I'll give it try right now! Let me practice this with Shuriken kage bunshin."

Ayaka found herself being alone in the shop as the two fellows left to be more acquainted with each other.

"I never thought that I would be friends with Hiruzen that fast! It seems Masaomi-nii has taken a liking to that fellow. Now…since I haven't grasped fully the Academy's regulation and I need to work on double. I wonder if work out with my fellow genins."Ayaka decided to open the scroll that is addressed to her, picking it up from her pack and pulled the lifted tab of the scroll open. Due to her clumsy nature the scroll rolled away from her hand and plopped down until it ended creating a lone line of paper under counter.

"Ahh! Darn! I slipped!" She decided to crouch down the counter to reach the end of the paper before pulling entirely. She heard their shop's short bell signals that there is a customer just got inside.

"Umm…I'll be right with you…A moment please…" The green haired dusted her clothes and settled her balance before rising up to face the customer. She caught a glimpse of the customer's white hair from behind the counter and settled to apologize for the delay.

Ayaka rose to her full height and wears a sunny smile for the customer.

"I'm sorry for the delay! How can I help you Oji…-chan…?!"

Ayaka started to become pale as she saw face to face with the newcomer. Seeing his expression he didn't like the way she addressed him! She started to sweat as she is under those blazing red orbs that can kill. Her voice is stuck in her throat as she stared at the man with shaky breaths.

"Scary! Bakemono! " Ayaka whimpered mentally as both of them went of staring showdown.

He wore a blue armor that protected mostly his chest area and a short blade strapped on his left side. The Oji-chan she addressed wore a head protector that framed his face. Fur decorated around his neck and has the same color of his spiky white hair. Ayaka regretted calling the man Oji-chan and hopefully to let it slide but the man saw it as an insult. He crossed his arms and it irked him that this midget shopkeeper called him Oji-chan.

This green haired midget has guts to call him that!

"I should get glasses…get myself…a pair glasses…" Ayaka stamped that mental note.

How she is going to talk to this man when he is glaring daggers at her?!

"Ahhh…earth swallow me whole…I don't care being buried alive!" her terror intensified prompted her to apologize profusely hoping he would forgive her. Ayaka gawked when he stepped closer and his voice reached her ears.

"What's your name?" in cool voice.

"Err-Ahh…A-ayaka…" she managed to find her voice to answer.

Oh god…tasukete….

Thanks for reading!

I will reveal Ayaka's skillset and features of her personality in next chapter. You will learn more about her as the story progresses.