The demon blinked in surprised, a little bit dumbfounded at the request. “That’s it?”
“Yes,” Iruka replied in a business tone.
Kurama shrugged and started to form the hand signs needed to do the technique. Although he couldn’t quite get the thought out of his head that something about this just wasn’t right and he was missing something. But he had other things to focus on right now. Although he went to classes almost every day, Kurama had no intention of ever becoming one of this village’s ninja.
In the first few years that he had been reborn, Kurama had spent most of his early life at a small orphanage. Since there had apparently been a war a few years before he came into this world and that other incident with the nine tailed fox, there was no shortage of orphans in the village. But unlike those that eventually found families to care for them, Kurama had pretty much been left to fend for himself as people avoid him like the plague; and thought of the disease in a better light than the boy.
When Kurama enrolled in the ninja academy, it had been out of necessity more than anything. Since he was in the school, and everyone assumed that he would one day become a ninja to help defend and support the village, all of his food and housing was provided without Kurama having to go to the trouble of obtaining it himself.
But despite the free ride and a few tricks that he learned, the demon had no feelings of gratitude towards the humans. The animosity Kurama felt when around another that was not of his apparent age and lack of any mention about the fox demon that attacked the village while he was in hearing distance told him everything he needed to know. If the humans only wanted the worst for Kurama, then why should he risk his life for their safety and betterment?
So, along that line of logic, Kurama proceeded to fail the ninja academy exam for the third time. When he was done forming the symbols needed to focus his energy the demon put on a somewhat interesting lightshow before letting it all fizzle out with no effect besides the cloud of smoke that accompanied most ninja techniques.
The judges didn’t even need to talk to each other to decide the kid’s grade. “Kurama Uzamaki… FAILED!” the judge on the left said as he stamped down his pad on the boy’s permanent record.
A few minutes later…
“They called me up first!”
“You see this, I’m a ninja now!”
Kurama walked away from the crowd of students and proud parents that stood outside the entrance to the school at a slow pace. It was best to look at least somewhat depressed to the casual observer, otherwise some of the smarter humans might put it together that he was just leeching off the village and try and make him get a job. If that happened… well… destroying the village probably wouldn’t be that much of a hassle, certainly less dull than serving ramen.
“Hey Kurama, wait up a second!”
“Hmm?” the demon mumbled as he looked back to find out who the person coming up to him was.
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(Posted Tue, 28 Feb 2006 04:36)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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