Sumiko – Thirteen Years Old
Last day of class, Konoha Ninja Academy.
The speech ends and I head out of the classroom. But, as usual, someone blocks my path.
One of Sasuke's admirers decides to have fun at my expense and tosses a paper ball at my back. But I'm faster—I duck, letting it fly past…and smack right into Sasuke's face just as he's entering the door.
Silence hits instantly.
His frown and irritated glare say it all.
"You again," he snaps in that characteristically dry tone.
I blink, stunned. We haven't exchanged a single word all day, so his accusation catches me off guard.
What the hell is he talking about?
He must see it in my face, because his expression hardens further before he rolls his eyes and shoots me his usual look of indifference. Then, keeping his composure, he walks by me and mutters a brief but loaded:
"Hmp."
I ignore him completely and keep walking out of the classroom.
Behind me, the murmurs begin.
"Did you see that?" Ino whispers cruelly.
"She's always annoying him," Hannah adds, with that nasty little laugh she loves to use.
"She's pathetic," says an albino-haired girl. "Doesn't she realize how much Sasuke despises her?"
"You're totally right," Ino continues. "If I had that ugly girl's obsession all the time, I wouldn't show up to the academy either. Right, Sakura-chan? She's your stepsister, but she lacks common sense. I don't know how she expects to become a Genin."
This time, Sakura speaks up:
"She's just a misfit. Don't waste your time on her."
I breathe deeply, forcing steady steps so they don't get the satisfaction of a reaction.
But today, in particular, I don't have patience for them.
So before they can corner me with more venomous comments, I turn down a hallway and slip off their radar, melting into the crowd of students leaving the building.
At last free of them, I head straight to the training field.
At least there, I'll find something more productive than dealing with my classmates' stupidity.
Our sensei must already be there.
And I need to release some energy.
The training field is packed when I arrive. It's not a place I'm especially comfortable with, but at least here I can focus on something useful.
Or so I thought.
"What are you doing here, Sumiko?"Hannah's voice rings out, dripping with mockery and superiority, rising above the group's chatter. Again, no honorific—just my name used with contempt.
She sneers condescendingly, arms crossed, head tilted in arrogance. Sakura and Ino snicker behind her.
"Don't tell me you actually believe you have a future as a kunoichi," Hannah continues, feigning disbelief. "I mean, everyone knows you can't even catch a kunai without looking like an idiot."
Sakura looks away again, fiddling exaggeratedly with her hair.
"Maybe she thinks enough practice will impress Sasuke," she adds venomously, careful to speak loud enough for him to hear—if he cares.
"Yeah, and maybe tomorrow Sasuke will ask her out," Ino chimes in, smirking. "She can keep dreaming."
Their trio laugh feels like a serrated blade scraping at my patience.
I say nothing.
I'm not giving them the satisfaction.
So I simply start warming up, completely ignoring them.
But it seems our sensei has been watching, because his voice suddenly rings out above the group:
"If you have something to settle, do it like shinobi."His gaze scans the group, landing on me and Hannah. "In a fight."
The silence that follows is brief—but only because it's immediately replaced by a burst of jeers.
"Why bother? Sumiko's too weak!"
"There's no point—she'll be torn apart!"
"She should give up now!"
The students' voices blend into a chorus of disdain—except for one.
"Y-you shouldn't force her to fight if she doesn't want to…"Hinata's soft, trembling voice rises over the noise.
Not loud enough to command respect, but I hear it.
Turning, I find her standing there—hands clasped, gaze downcast, clearly nervous. She's the only one who looks troubled by the public humiliation.
That makes me smile a little.
Hinata and I aren't close, but we have a mild friendship. It's... touching that she cares enough to defend me.
"What do you say, Sumiko?" Iruka-sensei asks, pulling me from my thoughts.
I take a breath and nod without hesitation.
"I have no objection to fighting."
The classroom murmurs intensify. They didn't expect me to agree so readily.
"Alright," the sensei says with a slight bow of his head. "Who wants to challenge her first?"
"Sakura, you should fight her!" one of the girls exclaims with a smug smile. "It'd be humiliating for Sumiko to lose to the weakest."
So they think I'm weak. No surprise—I've worked hard to appear mediocre; it's easier to seem clumsy than skilled.
Sakura stiffens instantly. Her expression twists into discomfort and her nervous laugh betrays her. Not because she fears me, but because she knows I'm not as useless as they think.
Since my mother died, kidnappings increased and I had no choice but to stay under the radar, at least until I grew stronger. Fortunately, my efforts have paid off. It could be said I'm at a solid mid-Chunin level.
"No, not me…" she replies quickly, touching her wrist. "I got hurt in yesterday's training. I don't want to make it worse."
A brief hush falls over the group, followed by skeptical looks.
I, on the other hand, raise one eyebrow and smirk.
"Oh, how convenient."
"Then I will!" Hannah steps forward confidently. "It'll be a pleasure to prove you're not worthy of Sasuke."
Here we go again.
"Sure, sure…" I mumble disinterestedly, rolling my eyes.
When I look up, I find Sasuke's gaze fixed on me. He's saying nothing, but his expression is unreadable—he seems to be assessing the situation more closely than he'd ever admit.
And then, an idea strikes me.
Why not take advantage of the moment?
So I give Hannah a faint, calculated smile and let my words drop coolly:
"You know, I wouldn't mind facing you, Hannah. Then, once I beat you, maybe you'll finally get it through your head that I don't care about Sasuke."
The entire group goes silent.
Hannah blinks a couple times, then bursts into arrogant laughter.
"I'm Hannah-sama to you, Sumiko," she retorts haughtily and before I can argue, she continues:"You're dumber than I thought. Do you honestly believe you can beat me?" Her tone drips with condescension. "You're clumsy, delusional, and a liar. Don't come at me with that 'I don't like Sasuke' crap. We all know you're obsessed with him."
Her words echo through the air.
And me…
I just stare back, totally calm.
I blink twice before delivering my final jab coolly:
"I don't know where you got such an absurd idea."
I pause, as if considering my words. Then I narrow my eyes and deliver the coup de grâce:
"But after I fight you, you'll see exactly why I'm not interested in someone as pathetic, ugly, and arrogant as Sasuke."