FROM kURIA'S PROSPECTIVE

I followed Hannako slowly through the branches of the rigid trees. We went slow and steady, and I was tripping on branches. Hannako was a lot better at jumping from tree to tree then I was. I could tell that her Byakugan activated, checking the area around us. And there I went agin, tripping. Hannako was getting want out from over using her Byakugan, so she began to slow her pace. Her body stiffened as if she sensed something up ahead so we slowed right down and eventually stopped in a small opening.

At seven years of age both Hannako and I were anxious about leaving the mountain passes that had been our haven up until now. I yanked on Hannako's shoulder, pulling her out of her thoughts back to where we were, and what was behind us. The large amount of chakra was even noticeable to me, it was close and it felt uneasy. Hannako, being the protective cousin pulled a kunai from her pouch and pulled on my wrist, to move me against the side of her to move me out of the way, and then as she spun she flung the kunai one way before dragging my tired body and herself the other. When I looked up I saw a young boy with a kunai sticking his pants to the tree, and he was wearing the Hidden Leaf Village symbol on his forehead.

My exhaustion began to take over me as I clutched Hannako's shoulder for support as my legs started to go out from under me. I could feel my hair sticking to the moisture that was on my face, and the look on my face was prominent, and I knew that this boy could read me easily. Once I got a better look at this boy i could see that he was older then us, but he wasn't trying to hurt us. I wanted to be strong, for both Hannako and myself, but this fatigue that was coming over me wasn't helping.

There was a hiss that came from Hannako and i could tell that she had her fangs out, and she was ready to take this guy on. "Who are you?" i heard the impatiens coming from her voice. Her arm moved when the boy didn't answer and she was ready to hurt him. There was a long pause as i hid behind the body of my cousin.

I almost jumped when I heard her voice again. "If you think you can cast a Genjutsu on me, you're clearly underestimating me," She said, being very clear with how she said her words. I glanced out from behind the red hair of my cousins and looked at the boy. I looked at the redness of his eyes and I wanted to look away, but by then it was too late. What is the Genjutsu like when you're in it? I felt Hannako's chakra going through my body as the jutsu lifted off of me. It almost drained me of all the energy I had left.

I felt Hannako's charka again, but this time it was focused towards the boy. "Who are you?" she said again. This time I helped her with her jutsu and it put excruciating pain through the boy's body. He fell to his knees, nearly tumbling off the branch he was unsteadily balanced on.

"Stop, please stop," he managed to mutter through the jutsu we had put on him. Hannako stopped with the jutsu, but I refused to, he put me in one and now I was going to get him back for it. Hannako placed her hand on my shoulder, and I blinked, sopping the jutsu. He fell forward, toppling off the branch and dislodging the kunai. Hannako ran over to where he would fall and caught the boy before he hit the ground. I think she should have let him break his little face. Well, as long as it was still beautiful afterwards. I took the boy off of Hannako and placing him against a tree; his back to the bark, as he slid down, sitting on the ground.

"I want to see clouds…" I heard Hannako whisper. I didn't understand, being too tired to contemplate her unusual speech pattern, so she pulled in her fangs and repeated. Now I understood what she meant.

"If you come with me I can get you somewhere you can see clouds," said the boy, still leaning against the tree. His eyes were wide and a monotonous black that was hard to look away from and, it seemed, he had trouble avoiding contact with Hannako's bright green eyes.

"You're from Konohagakure?" I asked weakly, wanting to rest.

"Yes."

"Will you take us there?" My cousin asked the boy, looking at him longer then I liked.

"Will you try to kill me again?"

"We weren't aiming to kill you, merely make sure you didn't hurt us."

"How old are you two?"

I smiled through me weakness, "Seven, and we can already beat you when were at our weakest."

He smirked in return, "The next generation always surpasses the one before them, and you have already surpassed me. I am Itachi Uchiha." He dipped his head in acknowledgement and his black hair flopped over his eyes before he brushed it away irritated.

"I am Hannako Esumari," Hannako hissed with pride, her fangs coming back out. "And I'm hungry."

I looked at her with begging eyes before turning back to Itachi. "I'm Kuria Shinda and I suggest we find a way to get animal blood before she eats you," I said sweetly, but the warning still came across.