Academy Days: The Saga Begins!

[abileunaspada]

Who: Adela Milani (abileunaspada) & OPEN
When: January 3rd-31st
Where: Konohagakure's Ninja Academy
Notes: Adela is one of the chuunin recruited to be a teacher's assistant for Iruka at the academy! At times it's rough, and at others it's fun, but to be a future Hokage one has to know how to address the youth of Konoha! And, well, give them proper reprimand for nearly burning the buildings down on a weekly basis.

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Adela didn't think she'd have such a hard job in assisting Iruka with his academy classes, but man was she ever exhausted! Between running around, teaching kids combat and stealth skills, breaking up spars that were going too far, dousing fires, testing kids meticulously, and dragging the kids who played hooky back to the classroom for extra lectures and hidden evasion exercises? She was exhausted. Even thinking up that list was hard work!

If Adela wasn't running around and helping Iruka however she could, she was taking one of the few breaks she could with a sigh, a bottled water, and a tune to hum to herself. It wasn't like she was the only aid he had, but that didn't stop the work from being any more tiring. At least on missions out of village she occasionally had the chance to rest!

But, maybe she was being too negative. A smile tugged at the teen's lips as she watched the kids, growing up into the next generation of protectors for the village in a relative era of peace. The future that she'd be protecting with all her might, along with every other shinobi there. Yeah... Times like this, it felt worth it. It felt like her goal was even more important then.

Not that she'd tell the kids that, between teaching them, praising them for good work and scolding them for giving less than their very best in their efforts. There was simply no time, but they didn't need to know the hard work of adults yet either. They were still kids, and they were still allowed the time to be young and carefree so far as she could see.

Yeah. This was way better than her days in Kiri. This was Konoha's Ninja Academy.

Comments

[senseiofthesea]

Iruka had seen the girl's energy flagging through the day and casually snagged a wayward weapon before she had to put down her water to catch it or dodge it. He, of course, threw it back towards the source with a pointed look that got a sheepish one back, and he shook his head on a laugh as he looked to Adela.

"They're a bit of a handful today aren't they? Have you had lunch yet?"

[abileunaspada]

"Iruka-Sensei," Adela's expression brightened a little on seeing him (and only partially out of relief), nodding to him in greeting as she straightened to look up at him a bit more, "They're certainly energetic. No, haven't really had the chance to eat or even thought of it. You weren't kidding when you said your class this year would be a handful."

[senseiofthesea]

"It's mostly the number of them." His smile turned soft and he lifted a box he'd had in his hand, a bento. "You can't let them run over you or you'll never get a handle on them."

[abileunaspada]

Ahh -- she blinked before nodding, taking the bento gratefully and seating herself to get more comfortable, "Thanks. And I know, Kiba and I have had to kidnap a few back here when they tried to play hooky. The deal is that if they actually can outmanuver Kiba and I, we give them the day off."

Her grin was filled with mischief when she added, "Whether they know it or not, they're getting trained either way. But we haven't let anyone get away yet."

[senseiofthesea]

"Considering that Kiba was skilled enough as a child to evade me to get out of my classes, even for a little while? Those children have quite the challenge ahead of them." He laughed softly and shook his head, leaning in slightly as he sat beside her. "Pranksters tend to make the hardest to escape teachers."

[abileunaspada]

"I guess it comes from experience, doesn't it?" She couldn't help it, she laughed and shook her head as her eyes went back out to the kids, "Makes sense. They'd know how the other pranksters would think a little bit, wouldn't they? It's been super helpful to have Kiba helping drag them back because of that."

[senseiofthesea]

"Mmmhmm. You can learn a lot from him too." He paused, giving her a fond smile. "And he can learn a lot from you too. I think you've been very good for each other."

[abileunaspada]

"Ah, you think so?" Although she went a little pink, Adela just smiled at Iruka before shaking her head and opening the bento. Oh man, it smelled good... That just reminded her of how hungry she was. Jeez, when had she worked up such an appetite?

"We'd met before this, but I guess the idea of actually working together hadn't come up before now. Our teamwork's decent, though."

She... Just wasn't going to mention the embarrassing fiasco of the scarf mission. They had already sorted that out privately anyway.

[senseiofthesea]

He looked sideways at her, and his smile was soft, but knowing. "Sometimes the people you don't expect are the best ones for you."

[abileunaspada]

"As partners? Yeah. He's been really great," Adela didn't seem aware that her words could be taken out of context, or just plain didn't care then. Kiba really was great, and she wasn't sure if she'd have really known that if she hadn't had the opportunity to work together with him.

At least she was getting to remedy that, now.

[senseiofthesea]

"He's always been a good person. I'm glad that you like working with him." He laughed softly and started on his own food, settling another box in his lap.

"Do you think you'll keep n contact with him after this?"

[abileunaspada]

"Probably, if we're not too busy on separated missions and the like. I'm thinking about grabbing him and getting him to go out to dinner with me tonight."

After a beat she thought about it, then immediately went red and started shaking her head, "A-As colleagues! I mean, even if we get along we don't know each other well right?"

[senseiofthesea]

He laughed and lifted a hand, the gesture intended to placate. "Deep breath now. I take people out all the time."

[abileunaspada]

"... Yeah, sorry, it's just... M'kinda sick about the rumors floating about me being 'Konoha's Siren' and all that crap," A sigh and she relaxed, her shoulders falling from their lock as she looked up to Iruka again, "I just kinda don't wanna worry about that romance stuff for a while."

[senseiofthesea]

"Then don't worry about it. Rumors being what they are, they'll only stay predominant as long a they're given fuel. Sometimes, the discomfort of the person they're about is all the fuel they need." He sighed, shaking his head.

[abileunaspada]

"I hope you're right, but... I guess I kind of have my own reasion for not liking the rumor mill, you know?" Her smile disappeared then, and Adela glanced away from Iruka with her fingers touching the skin beneath her blinded eye. Rumors were part of the lifeblood of a Shinobi, because how else were they supposed to get tips for important missions? But, considering what it had done to her...

[senseiofthesea]

He regarded her for a moment, turning solemn. "It's a terrible thing that happened to you, but it won't happen again. You learned something, even at a terrible cost, and now you're prepared. Hopefully, you'll never need to use what it taught you again."

[abileunaspada]

"Yeah, I know. It shouldn't be like that though -- we shouldn't have to be on guard within our own village, should we?"

[senseiofthesea]

He gave her a wistful smile. "Not to paranoia... but the Hokage has guards with him at all times even inside the village for a reason. People set traps at their doors and windows for a reason. Being careful will never be amiss."

[abileunaspada]

"Yeah, that's true, but... It just shouldn't have happened," She sighed, her head bowing a bit as her fingers touched the skin around her damaged eye. Damn, now they were on this kind of depressing topic...

[senseiofthesea]

"You're right. All we can do now is make the world a place where it won't." It was a simple statement, soft, and he shook his head slightly. He nibbled on his food, watching her.

[abileunaspada]

"... Mm," The hum was all he received as she pondered over her food, having slowed down a great deal as she just tried to think of other things and to eat. Still, the conversation sort of made her lose her appetite, and she wasn't sure if Iruka really understood. Then again, she wouldn't want him to.

[senseiofthesea]

He let the quiet pull out for long moments, observing her as they both ate. "Adela-san, do you dream of the future?"

[abileunaspada]

"... Sometimes. I still don't know if I'm ready for it or not, but if I don't try then how else am I supposed to live my life?"

[senseiofthesea]

"And when you reach the future, what do you expect it to be like?"