The classroom was awkwardly silent, and Kai looked around to see why. She nudged Sasuke, who sat next to her, before leaning over. "Naruto's not here."

"Good." He muttered, staring off. Kai looked back at her notes.

"Iruka-sensei isn't here either, I bet he's looking for him." Kai said. Sasuke didn't answer. Before long, Kai heard the door open and Iruka bringing Naruto in, tied up in ropes. He sat him down in front of the class.

"I'm at the end of my rope Naruto. You failed the graduation test last time, and the time before that. Tomorrow, you've got another chance… and you're messing up again!"

"Hmph!" Naruto turned his head, obviously not upset about the situation. Kai sighed.

"Fine!" Iruka stomped his foot down. "Because you missed it, Naruto, everyone will review the transformation jutsu!"

Everyone groaned collectively, and Kai kicked her feet under the table. "Idiot." She muttered as they lined up at the front of the classroom. Sasuke leaned against the table behind him as Kai mentally went over what she was doing.

Sakura walked up first. "All right, Sakura here." She said, holding her hands in the proper way. "Let's do it! Transform!"

With a poof of smoke, she transformed into a perfect representation of Iruka. Kai fidgeted.

"Hey, you're perfect at this. Don't worry." Sasuke whispered to her, which made Kai relax slightly.

"Thanks Nii-san."

"Hm."

Sakura transformed back into herself and grinned. "Yes! I did it! Sasuke, did you see that?" She asked. Sasuke didn't answer.

"Next, Sasuke Uchiha." Iruka said. Kai took his place as Sakura went to sit down and Sasuke stepped forward.

Sasuke didn't speak, he did the hand sign and transformed into Iruka again.

"Ah, good." Iruka said, writing down on his clipboard as Sasuke changed back. "Next, Kai Uchiha."

Sasuke tapped her hand as she walked past him. She turned to look at him and smiled before turning to Iruka.

"Transform." Kai said, making the hand sign. With focus, she transformed into an accurate copy of Iruka.

"Good." Iruka said as Kai changed back. She let out a breath of relief. As confident as she was in her abilities, she hated doing it in front of the class.

"Next, Naruto Uzumaki." Iruka said. Kai took a seat next to Sasuke and swung her legs, as she doodled on her notebook. Sasuke watched everyone else transform.

"Transform!" Kai heard Naruto say and she looked up, turning red as she saw what Naruto had transformed into.

A naked lady.

"Huh?!" Iruka said, taken aback. Kai groaned as Sasuke held in a chuckle at Iruka's action. Naruto transformed back.

"Gotcha!" He laughed. "That's my sexy jutsu!"

"Cut the stupid tricks! This is your last warning!" Iruka yelled, causing Kai to shrink and Naruto's face to drop.

Once everyone was done, Iruka sent them all home. Kai and Sasuke wandered through

the streets. They stopped for dangos on their way home and Kai nibbled on her stick as she looked at all the people.

"Nii-san, tomorrow's the graduation test." Kai said in between bites.

"Yeah, and?"

"What if we're not on the same team?" Kai said, looking at him. Sasuke didn't answer for

a moment, which made Kai worry. He finally turned, a corner of his mouth twitched up.

"We'll be on the same team."

Kai smiled, taking another bit of her dango. When they got home she ran through the house and out their back door to the fence of a pasture.

"CURSE!" She called. "We're home!" She stood on the fence, leaning over. A whinny followed by pounding hoofbeats made her heart race. From the barn, she saw her black horse come running out, greeting her at the fence. She hugged his head, smile still present.

"Tomorrow buddy, I'll be a ninja!" He nickered in response. Sasuke stood by the house watching, thinking.

"Which means you'll want to train tonight." Sasuke called. Kai turned and glared.

"But I already know everything!"

"What if you forget something?" Sasuke replied. Kai muttered and got off the fence.

"Fine, whatever." She said as she wandered over to Sasuke. The two walked over to the side of their property and began training for tomorrow's big exam.

"We will now start the final exam." Iruka said, standing at the front of the class. Kai's legs were shaking nervously as she bounced in her seat. "When your name is called, proceed to the testing room. The final test will be on the clone jutsu."

Kai sighed in relief. She knew that one well. They had practiced it last night, among everything else.

Kai waited until her name was called. "Kai Uchiha." Kai got up quickly. Sasuke held out his fist. Kai fist bumped him before trotting down to the door and out to the testing room.

"Alright Kai, I need you to make 3 clones. When you're ready, go ahead." Iruka said. Another man, Kai somewhat recognized him, sat at the table with him. She nodded, taking a deep breath. Headbands sat on the table in front of them.

"Clone Jutsu." Kai said, making the hand sign. She closed her eyes and focused her chakra like she had been taught, a perfect balance. She opened her eyes and saw 3 other versions of herself standing there.

Iruka clapped, and so did the other man. Kai let them disappear and grinned, her eyes teary. She wiped them with shaking hands.

"You pass! Congrats. Kai Uchiha, you are now a gennin."

"Oh my god, I can't believe it." Kai said, walking up to where Iruka held out a headband. She took it carefully.

"You worked hard to keep up with your brother." Iruka said. "You've earned this."

"Thank you, Iruka-sensei." Kai bowed, before walking out the door. Once she closed it behind her, she squealed in excitement. She hurried back to the room. She met Sasuke in the hallway and she jumped him with a hug.

"You did it. I told you you could." Sasuke said, smiling.

"You better pass too!" Kai said, raising an eyebrow.

"If I didn't pass there would be a problem." Sasuke answered. "I'll meet you back at the room."

"Okay." Kai said, smiling. She skipped back to the room and opened the doors. A few other kids who already passed mingled, asking where they should wear their headbands. Kai tied hers around her forehead, letting her face get used to it.

"Hey, congrats." A voice called. She turned to see Shino Aburame standing there awkwardly. He wore his headband on his head.

"Thanks." Kai blushed. It was no secret, at least between her and Sasuke, that she liked Shino. They stood still for a moment, before Shino turned and walked off. Kai giggled to herself and walked over to the window.

Sasuke walked in and was instantly swarmed by the girls. Kai got out of her seat and shoved herself through the crowd. They parted enough to let her through, despite the glares.

Sasuke turned and held up his headband, smiling at Kai. She grinned, hugging him. Everything was right in the world.

When the exams were over, most of the kids congregated around the entrance of the academy, parents mingling in and finding their kids. Kai and Sasuke pushed themselves out of the crowd and stood along the side.

Kai watched the other kids, her heart hurting. Sasuke was silent. Kai would love to have their parents here.

"I wish mom and dad were here…" Kai said quietly.

"Me too." Sasuke said, and Kai could hear the anger in his voice. She held her arm with one of her hands.

Itachi was the reason that they weren't here but Kai would appreciate him being there too. If she told that to Sasuke, however, he would disagree.

"Hey, let's go get something to eat." Sasuke said. "My treat."

"We have the same money." Kai said as Sasuke turned to walk. She stopped to see Naruto sitting by himself on the swing. "Wait, did Naruto not pass?"

"Probably not, he couldn't even pull of the transformation jutsu." Sasuke said. "It's not our problem."

"No.. but…" Kai looked sympathetically at Naruto and walked behind Sasuke. It wasn't their problem, but Kai still felt bad leaving him there.