To Become a Shinobi Ch. 3
By Eliad Sholomovich

Ibuki woke up early in the morning due to the loud ringing of her alarm clock. She groaned and slowly got out of bed. She looked at th clock. It read 6:30.

Ibuki sighed "Only a hour and a half of sleep. Man I really hope I can pass this test."

She yawned and streched her limbs. She took her school uniform from her closet and got dressed.

She then went to the bathroom. She looked in the mirror and groaned "My god I'm a mess" She thought.

Her hair was all messed up. She had blue bags under her eyes. and her left cheek was blue and swollen.

She brushed her teeth and took out some makeup. She hid the bags under her eyes. Then she braided her hair and left the bathroom.

She went into the kitchen and saw her mom was already awake and had made her breakfest. "Good Morning Honey. how'd you sleep?" Her mother asked sweetly.

Ibuki sat near a table and yawned "I slept fine Mom" She lied. If her mom would ever find out she forgot about the test Ibuki would never hear the end of it.

Ibuki ate breakfest and drank some orange juice. Then someone knocked on the door. "I'll get it" Ibuki said and sped towards the door.

She opened it and saw her friend Sarai was smiling "G'morning Ibuki. What happened to you?" She asked. Ibuki smiled "G'morning Sarai come in.I'll explain later"

Ibuki told her to wait and sped up to her room and took her school bag and sped down. "Later Mom!" Ibuki shouted and left Sarai after her.

The two teenagers walked threw the streets of Tokyo. "O.k Ibuki spill the beans what happened?" Sarai said. Ibuki

looked at her "Well...Yesterday I returned late from practice and I took a shortcut threw an alley. To make it short some thugs jumped me and got some lucky shots before I mopped the floor with them."

Sarai chuckled "Your really something Ibuki. Say are you ready for the finals?" Sarai asked innocently. Ibuki smiled nervously "Kinda I made a quick review yesterday" Ibuki said in a nervous tone.

Sarai was shocked "Are you crazy Ibuki? That Final is 30 percent of our final mark. I hope you've been listening during the year or your really toast." Sarai said.

Ibuki smiled "Luckily I'm good in math so I bet I'll get a B minus or B plus" Sarai shook her head "You'll never learn"

SIX HOUR LATER

Ibuki was relieved she had faired quite well on the test. She persumed she'd get a B. "Good thing Sensai insisted I study hard all year as well as practice" She thought.

Ibuki was in the shower room. She changed her attire and was now wearing some black shorts and a white t-shirt.

She heard the bell and sped off toward the gym for Phys. ed class,

She was sat down near Sarai. It was time for phys. ed exams and Ibuki was exhausted and her back hurt.

She shook her head and raised her hand as the teacher called her name. "Must...Stay...Awake" She mumbled under her breath.

She felt a tug on her sleave and she snapped back to reality. The teacher pointed at her. "Ibuki climb the rope" the teacher commanded.

Ibuki shook her head. "Come on must concentrate. I got to ace these or Sensai'll kill me" Ibuki thought as she approached the rope and rubbed her hands.

The teacher held a stopper clock and spoke. "Ready...Set...Go!!"

Ibuki blocked everything out and concentrated on one thing to reach the end of the rope. She clapsed both hand on the rope and darted upwards. She climbed the rope with amazing speed.

As she reached the top she could hear the class clap their hands and cheer.

She climbed down the teacher was wide eyed "Thats a new school record. Congratulatoins Ibuki A plus on the rope exam." The teacher said.

The next half hour all the other girls tried to climb the rope. None had reached the top not even Sarai that usually aced Phys. ed.

Then the teacher called out two name "You two missed your last exam. You better not blow this cause there aren't any other tests." The teacher said.

One of them nodded and the other simply snorted snobbishly. The two girl both recieved high marks.

They were Sakura Kusanago and Karin Kanzaki. Ibuki had never seen them before but was now impressed with their skill. She sat down near Sarai.She coughed slightly as she heard the two girls talk.

"I can't believe it, I've improved my time again. Wait ti'll I tell Ryu. I bet he'll finally accept me as his student." Sakura whispered

Karin yawned "Keep on dreaming Sakura. He'll never accept anybody he's too busy improving himself. He'd never accept any student" Karin whispered back.

Ibuki beamed "A link to my target. This is great I'll just have to ask them where he is later"

Then the Teacher dismissed the class. They all left except Ibuki that heard a psst sound. She turned and located a figure in the shadows.

When everyone had left to change. He spoke "Well done Ibuki. you've Started finding links to Ryu already, I'm impressed.

You'll set off after him the minute the summer break begins. Oh and don't be late for practice." he whispered then he reached for his belt.

"No Sensai wait..." Ibuki cried but it was too late he already threw the smoke bomb and disappeared "Don't throw a smoke bomb" She sighed in despair.

The anti-fire sprinklers turned on drenching her with ice cold water. She left the gym all wet.

As she passed threw the corridors towards the showers she heard the laughter of the students as she passed by them drenched to the bone. She muttered under her breath and ingnored their remarks.

She reached the showers. She quickly undressed and entered a shower. But when she turned the hot water knob she cried out in surprise as the water was ice cold. "Atleast I'm wide awake now" She thought.

"Thats what ya get for being late" Sarai said. Ibuki soaped and bathed quickly and grabbed her towel trying to warm her body a bit.

She was trembling. She switched back to her school uniform and combed her hair. She spotted Sakura and Karin talking and walked up to them.

"Excuse me but do you know a man named Ryu?" Ibuki asked polietly.

Karin snorted "None of your business." Ibuki ignored her "Maybe you could tell me where I can find him?" She asked Sakura.

Karin cut Sakura before she could answer. "Are you deaf? I said none of your business!" Karin said. Ibuki turned to her "I ain't talking to You. You got a problem with me asking her a question?"

Karin narrowed her eyes "Tell you what. Meet me at the school gate in a hour. If you can beat me in a fight we'll tell ya everything we know"

Sakura interupted "Come on Karin! thats hardly fair towards her. Your a trained street fighter"

Ibuki grinned "Your on Kanzaki. school gate,one hour. Don't be late"

She then left the showers. Sarai ran after her. "Ibuki have you lost your mind? Thats Karin Kanzaki she'll cream ya"

Ibuki made an off hand motion "Believe me after the people I fought last year she'll be a pushover. Don't worry" Sarai wasn't convinced "Well I'll be cheering on you no matter what"

Ibuki smiled "Thanks your a real friend Sarai"