DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO, OR ANYTHING RELATED TO IT. NARUTO IS THE PROPERTY OF MASASHI KISHIMOTO.

Author's Note: While The Sand Siblings are in the major characters area, it'll be a while before they actually show up. Just a head's up for those reading this. Despite my original characters having a major role, I'll do my best to include the official characters as much as possible and keep them in character to balance things out. Things will start at a snail's pace at first, but things will pick up in due time.

Also, this is my first attempt at a fanfiction. Ever. Due to this, I'd appreciate any critique. It's what helps me improve as a writer and helps me seek ways to make this fanfiction better.

Author's Note 3/28/2014: I changed the summary of The Stray Uchiha to make it a bit more appealing. I hadn't noticed until today how much I rushed it. But now its fixed for you readers to enjoy.

Chapter One: A Ripple

The Village Hidden in the Leaves, a village of ninjas found within the Land of Fire. Despite ninjas being a major part of its residence, the village is well-known for its peace and tranquility. Various clans live among each other in harmony, one of clans being the prestigious Uchiha clan. They live in their own district within the village and hailed as the Leaf's strongest clan. Inside one of the houses lived a ten-year old Uchiha girl named Hitomi. Her story began after a day in the academy. It was late in the afternoon and the sun has started to set. She walked past two of her kinsman, both of whom were around the same age, as she made her way back to her classroom. They eyed her as she reached her classroom.

"Hello, teacher!" Hitomi said in an excited tone. She quickly took a peek at a few pieces of paper on her sensei's desk before he turned around.

"Oh! Staying late again, Hitomi?" Ask her teacher. "This is the second time…any reason why?"

"I just want to see what teachers do after each lesson." Hitomi answered as she took another peek at the papers on the desk. The front page is labeled "Lesson Plans." "You see…I want to become a teacher in this academy one day."

Her teacher looked at her with wide eyes. "A member of the Uchiha clan, who wants to become a teacher?" He thought to himself. "Oh, that's splendid to hear! It's great to hear such a youthful student express interest in teaching! May I ask why?"

"I watched you and the other teachers teach and…well…it looks fun." Answered Hitomi in an innocent way. "It looks like a lot of work though."

Her sensei laughed. "I'll have to ask her the same question after she comes of age." He patted Hitomi's shoulder and gave her a smile. "Oh, it's a lot of work. But there's a joy in teaching students. It never gets old! There are too many interesting characters to interact with, you included! Tell you what. After tomorrow's class, I'll start giving you some lessons on becoming a teacher."

Hitomi grinned. "That sounds great! Thank you! See you tomorrow!" She quickly took her leave with a wave.

"…For an Uchiha to pursue teaching instead of the Police Force or something in the battlefield…perhaps I've misjudged them…" The teacher thought to himself.

Hitomi, now filled with energy, ran out of the academy and headed towards the Uchiha District. She said her frequent 'pardons' and 'excuse me's' after nearly bumping into several pedestrians. The same kinsmen she passed by before were among them.

"That's Hitomi alright…" Said the first Uchiha boy as he leaned against a wall. "She visited the academy late again…is she trying to gain the favour of the teachers?" He finished his sentence with a light chuckle.

"Not quite, Ichiro." The second Uchiha boy said with a bit of a snarl. "It's pretty obvious why she's visiting and it disappoints me…she wants to become a teacher."

Ichiro glanced at him in disbelief. "Wh-what? Seriously, Kojiro? But…Why such a mundane job..? My father told me all Uchihas become officers, or go on to many missions in distant lands…"

Kojiro scoffed. "Some of our kind just isn't fit for jobs like that. Or rather, they are fit, but they ignore their true calling. A shame, really…our ancestors weep at such ordinary aspirations…hey, you!"

Hitomi stopped in her tracks and turned around. "Oh, did I bump into you? I'm sorry; I'm just in a rush!" She chuckled nervously as she moved her black hair away from her face.

Kojiro approached her while shaking his head. "I know who you are, Hitomi. Which is why I want to ask…why would you refuse our clan's true calling? Why pursue such a unfulfilling goal like a teacher?"

Hitomi narrowed her eyebrows and dropped her smile. "I'm sorry? Why do you care? I want to become a teacher. What's so bad about that?

The older Uchiha glared at Hitomi and yelled at her. "It's not one that suits our clan! Have you never heard the stories of the Uchiha of old?! We should all be just like them!"

Ichiro held Kojiro by his shoulder. "Kojiro, stop it. Calm down." He turns his attention to Hitomi. "I'm sorry for my friend's behavior. He's-

"No, that's okay." Hitomi said, her smile returning. "But I want to tell your friend something: I picked teaching because I want to. Not to be like someone else…also, I haven't heard anything about my ancestor's stories…and I don't want to." With that, she turned around and went off her way.

Kojiro pushed Ichiro's hand off and growled. "We'll see how that'll work out, Hitomi…a future officer like me and a future teacher like you!" He spat as he utters the word 'teacher.' "That will tell us who exactly made the right choice for the Uchiha!"

Hitomi paid no heed to Kojiro's warning as she went on home to catch some sleep. Upon walking in, she is greeted by an elder man.

"Welcome home, my daughter." The elder man said. "How was the academy today?"

"Hello, father." Hitomi responded. "I have some great news! I told my teacher about my goal on teaching!"

"You did? Please, tell me-what did he say?"

"Heehee, he is going to give me lessons on teaching after each class!"

"That's my daughter. Good for you, Hitomi. You are young, so you'll be able to absorb the knowledge like clockwork." He walked towards a bureau and touched a picture of a fair-skinned, black-haired woman. "You make your mother proud. This is what our clans needs…"

Hitomi looked at her father with a curious expression. "Father? What was that about the clan…?"

"No, it's nothing…just thinking outloud."

"It's funny you mention the clan, father…one of my classmates, a fellow Uchiha, couldn't believe I wanted to become a teacher. He said we should all be officers; called it our 'calling.'"

Her father let out a sigh and chuckled. "Hitomi…this is a good time to tell you something about our clan: our clan is a warrior clan. They crave battle. While this isn't necessarily bad, the Uchiha tend to go above and beyond. I'll tell you more in due time…but for now, keep pursuing your goal as a teacher. Remember, just because you're an Uchiha, does not mean everything belongs to you. Continue to work hard and take as many lessons as possible; enough to make your future students call you the best teacher in the Hidden Leaf.

Hitomi smiled and hugged her father. "You got it! I won't let you down!"

"Never mind me, my daughter. Don't let yourself down." Her father patted her head. "Now get some rest, teacher-to-be Hitomi."

Hitomi ran to her room to get some sleep. She briefly stopped by the picture of her mother. "Good night, mother. Watch me from wherever you are." She then shuts the door to her room.

Her father sat on a chair and gazed out a window. "You can do it, Hitomi. Pull this off and you'll create a ripple; a ripple to stretch across the Uchiha clan and change it…for the better." He closed his eyes and began to drift in his inner thoughts…