Graduation Celebration

Kicking the ground, I thought about the past few years. Leaving my tribe to come to Hidden Leaf, learning and specializing in Taijutsu, and most of all... Graduating. It was a breathtaking experience to have been here and called a Shinobi, though low ranked, finally. Looking around at the village, how many people were happy faced due to the graduation, and how many just carried on with their lives, an idea formed in my head. Looking for one of my fellow students, I smiled when I saw Squad Eights Kei Hatake.

"Kei! Hey!"

Running to him, dodging through the crowds, I smiled when I finally reached him.

Kei turned to see a girl he vaguely remembered from the academy. She was on an opposing squad, or so it seemed. "I dont mean to be rude, but i forgot your name." He blushed and scratched the back of his head.

Feeling a little disheartened, I nodded my head.

"Ah.. It's okay. We weren't exactly on the same squad, and that normally means that we wouldn't have gotten along. Anyway, I'm Rae Okami!"

Waving at my last remark, I tilted my head and looked at him.

"What were you planning on doing to celebrate your graduation, if I may ask?"

Ashley got up from her chair as she saw others. She ran up to them. "Hey sorry if I'm intruding..just wanted to say hi." Ashley smiled

He moved his hand back to his side and looked back and forth between the two of them. He thought to himself.'It seems like I became popular overnight....' He yawned and waved to the new girl then turned back to Rae. "Im sorry. But i just plan on relaxing before i get swamped with missions to be honest..."

Nodding, I understood his reaction. Why do something that takes energy, when all you're going to be doing soon are exhausting missions?

"Well, I was planning on going to the tavern my Aunt owns... Ah well. Oh- Hi Ash!"

Laughing, I waved over in Ashley's direction. I didn't know either of them too well, just their names. But, seeing as how I was going to need friends soon, I was willing to take the nicer people over the egomaniacs.

"So... Xixas and Valedictorian, eh?.."

In a struggle to keep up the conversation, I brought up my Squad Leaders achievement.

He could only smile and chuckle to himself. "I heard he tied another student with a perfect score, but the other student didnt take up for himself." He shrugged his shoulders and relaxed into a chair.

"Who knows?"

Thinking about his words, I ducked my head a bit. My tribal wolf mask was on top of my head, shading my eyes from the sunlight.

"So why didn't you stand up?"

His grin faded, but only a little. He looked her in the eyes and was entirely honest with her. "Well... I just dont like taking credit for things. I would rather be a great man standing behind a lesser man to make him look great. I love doing heroic deeds, while being called a hero makes me shy." Who cared anyways, it was just a competition.

Hyaku grinned at the three of them as he walked up.

"I see Kei Kun is quite popular! Have you told them about me yet? Did you mention the... heart of gold, or my amazing sense of wit?..."

Laughing a little, Hyaku made a small bow to the two women and introduced himself.

"Hyaku Yukimura, squad seven, at your service. It's good to see so many new Genin!"

Blushing, I looked away from Hyaku.

"Ah- Er..."

Stammering, I cleared my throat, before quickly recovering.

"Kei, What about your specialization? What'd you decide to go with anyway?"

After those remarks, Kei raised an eyebrow. Maybe he really was getting popular, didnt matter to him either way. "Have we met before?" He asked rhetorically, knowing the answer was no. "I chose genjutsu, i love the mind."

Ashley smiled and laughed. Her swords feel from her hidden pocket and onto the foot. "Oww!" she yelled.

Still nervous around Hyaku, seeing how he was older than me, I looked at Ashley's sword.

"Didn't you strap that on right?... Here, lemme see that..."

Picking up the sword, I checked her foot.

"That'll be bruised, but you should be fine."

I then checked her belts, straightening them before putting the sword back into its hold. After adjusting them so that she could move freely, I crossed my arms and waited for her to try out her mobility.

He simply observed Rae fix Ashley's equipment effortlessly. He too had a sword, but he never used it. It was more for decorating his room than anything. He didnt ever make an effort to use ninja tools. "Ashley, aren't you on squad eight as well. Along with... err... whatshisname?"

"Anything a good ol healing can't fix." she said as she started healing her foot. "Sumaru I think is his name."

"Sumaru... That name rings a bell."

Stretching my muscles, I yawned. Bored out of my wits, I looked at Kei and smiled.

"So, neither one of you are going to do anything at all? As celebration, I mean."

He mimiced her subconsciously. He looked back and forth between the twn of them. "Not really, unless either of you have an idea..." He notioned.

Ashley giggled. "Have no plans really since mother and father are out of the village but if you have any ideas I'd be honored to go with you guys."

"Well, like I said. My Aunt owns one of the taverns, and she said as long as it was for my graduation only, she'd hold a full tavern for us."

Shrugging, I rubbed the back of my neck and looked at each one of them.

"So really, it's up to you guys."

He had tasted alcohol before. Hated the taste, loved the feeling, resented the next day. But it sure was fun...

"Let's do it then." He looked over at Ashley and smiled. "You coming?"

Ashley thought for a couple minutes and then grabbed Rae and Kei's arms. "Shall we?"

Giving directions to the both of them, we walked hapily to my Aunts tavern, near the eastern gate. The building wasn't large, but it wasn't small either, and had nothing lacking when it came to liquor. Waving at my Aunt, I smiled up at her before showing my grad scroll.


A few moments later, we were seated at the best table with a jug of Sake in between us.

"Who's first?"

Kei stared in amazement at the bottle of alcohol that was bigger than his skull. He was going to hate himself in the morning. He grabbed a shot glass and poured his drink. Kei threw it back and shivered.

Ashley didn't know what to do so she got a bottle and started chugging it. She felt tipsy and fell over. Ashley got up and started dancing.

"Er..."

Staring at the now dancing Ashley, I calmly flagged my Aunt for another bottle. When she came, I swallowed my first shot before moving onto my second and third. Feeling no effect, I frowned.

"This was supposed to be strong...."

Kei laughed at how Ashley was so quickly affected. He mouthed 'Lightweight' at Rae and chuckled. He took a second shot. "It tastes strong... but there's something off..."

I nodded in Kei's direction, before letting the sake fall on my tongue once more. I then noticed an irony taste.

"Shit."

Cursing, I looked at Ashley. She downed a whole bottle of this...

"This is my Aunt's Sake Rum.... She experiments...."

I put my head in my hand, realizing that Ashley not only drank an ENTIRE bottle of over powered liquor, but I was about to venture into the same realm. Holding my shot glass up to Kei, I smiled lightly.

"Here we go?"

He was tempted to ask her what was wrong, but instead he downed a third shot and got silent. He slowly felt it kicking in. Kei looked at Ashley in amazement. He then looked at Rae. "Have you ever heard of Suiken, or Drunken fist?"

Grinning at Kei, I laughed.

"One reason I'm not allowed to get too wasted here. Sadly, my Aunt cut off my liquor supply when I ah..."

Blushing at the memory of hitting Sensei, I shook my head.

"I really should NOT drink too much."