Mari Nara's Classes (Private)

~The First Day: Genjusu Training~
(Intelligence Training)

It was a lovely day to say the least in the bustling village of Konohagakure. The sun shone radiantly throughout the azure colored sky, and the temperature was quite fair- not too cool and not too hot, to be exact. A young girl with bright brown eyes and long, raven black hair whom wore a black t- shirt and some dark green pants lazily walked toward a large white building which read in fancy black writing 'Konohgakure's Ninja Academy.'

Well, today's the day, the young girl, who happened to be named Mari thought to herself casually before continuing a little nervously, the day I begin my training to become a ninja of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. I hope the people in my class are nice...

To the casual observer, Mari would appear to be relaxed and collected, but to any one who cared to look more carefully, they would see the slight tenseness in her shoulders and her slightly stiff posture, revealing her true emotions. Unaware of this, however, the young girl walked up the steps of the school and opened the door to find a large multitude of students that varied in height, age, and appearance as much as snowflakes were gathered in the small room.

Darn it! the girl thought to herself, mentally cursing her luck, Great, just my luck to get stuck with a bunch of people! With the way things are going now, my class will consist of a bunch of morons!

Suddenly, Mari was brought back into the land of the living by a loud but kind voice that said, "All students, please wait patiently for a few more minutes and take a seat. Your teachers will arrive shortly!"

The young girl hypothesized without looking up from her spot in the corner of the classroom that the speaker was probably a chunin, as if they were an academy teacher they wouldn't refer to themselves in third person, and Jounin and ANBU had more important things to do than stand around yelling at a bunch of unruly, energetic academy students. Plus, Mari knew that their egos wouldn't allow them to take on such a low- ranked mission. The girl had nothing against high ranking shinobi (in fact, she admired them greatly), but it was a proven fact.

Shrugging, the young girl plopped into a seat toward the front of the class from her that was completely isolated for some 'strange' reason (the young Nara knew that the reason why it was so abandoned was because the academy teachers could oversee anything and everything you do over the front row, and many students usually got bored in class doodled or slept, a privilege that only backseaters got. Only students really eager to learn as they could hear instructions and lessons easier sat in the front, Mari being one of them.

She wanted to become a shinobi with all her heart and soul in order to protect the ones she loved. And she would be darned if she didn't become a shinobi because she missed a set of directions.

The young girl was brought out of her musings by a loud voice that came from the front of the classroom, which said, "Greetings, children! My name is Haruko Sora and I will be your teacher this year. I expect to be treated with respect and expect great things from each and every one of you! So don't screw up!"

Mari smiled and nodded. This man, Sora, seemed to have a kind yet stern demeanor and appeared to honestly want to help them, something the girl liked to see in a teacher and which was quite rare for a teacher, unfortunately.

"Today's class will be genjutsu! Does anyone know what that is?" the teacher quesioned, glancing around the classroom for any raised hands. Mari knew what genjustsu was, but didn't feel like raising her hand at the moment to answer the question. This was the perfect moment to evaluate her fellow classmate's intelligence, plus she didn't want to acquire the title 'teacher's pet' from the other students. It would be in the young girl's best interest to just lie low and allow the others to underestimate her abilities and intelligence.

Minutes passed until one brave and intelligent student ventured their hands into the air, causing their teacher, Sora, to smile. "Yes, Miss...?"

"Reneki." the girl replied promptly, raising their nose in the air, causing Mari to roll her eyes in disgust. Great, an arrogant teacher's pet, the Nara mentally snorted in distaste before the girl, Reneki, continued, "Genjutsu techniques are the illusion techniques of a ninja, they normally require hand seals. Genjutsu will use hypnotism to cause hallucinations in others. By causing such illusions they can cause their target mental pain and suffering just as real as physical hurt. Genjutsu is created when a ninja extends their chakra flow through the cerebral nervous system of their opponent to control their minds chakra, thereby affecting their five senses."

Right from the text book. Good grief, what is this girl? A walking encyclopedia? Mari thought sarastically before being brought back to the land of the living by Sora- sensei's voice.

"Good job, Reneki!" he said kindly, grinning proudly at the girl, causing Mari to mentally gag. "Yes, Genjutsu are illusionary echniques used by ninja. This, as you can imagine, requires great chakra conrol."

At the blank looks on some of his students' faces, the teacher sighed. "We'll talk about chakra and chakra control tomorrow. Anyways, genjutsu is all about illusions and tricking your enemy. Like... Mari, for example."

At the sound of her name, Mari's head shot up and her chocolate brown eyes widened in surprise. Crap! How did he-?! the girl thought in complete shock. She had thought she had a fool- proof strategy! He's good, the girl decided, smiling slightly.

"She wore a kimono, which is not an ideal guise for a ninja, so many would guess she was a civilian instead of a shinobi. She also dulled down her true abilities, so we underestimate her and test our true abilities, the colors of a true genjutsu aser," the teacher praised, causing Mari to blush furiously at the attention she was recieving. Hnesl, she hadn't even thought of using the kimono as a tool, but now she knew better. A shinobi must use anything and everything to their advantage, the girl thought to herself, reciting the rules of the shinobi code which she learned from her mother and father when they were still alive.

"Alright, that's all today, children," the man dismissed, causing nearly all the children to herd out of the classroom, grabbin their schedules as they exited the classroom. Once Mari walked out lazily, grabbing her schedule, she grinned happily.

First Class: Genjutsu
Second Class: Charka & Chakra Control
Third Class: Ninjutsu
Fourth Class: Speed & Health & Strength
Fifth Class: Weapons
Sixth Class Taijutsu
Seventh Class: (Extra Class)
Eighth Class: (Extra Class)

I can't wait for tomorrow, the girl thought to herself as she walked home.

Word Count: 1232