Chapter 1

Toshiro woke and greeted the morning with a yawn. She blinked and rose from her bed. She strode to the window and looked at Japan's beautiful countryside thinking, 'How calm it is…' She breathed in deeply and smiled, but it soon faded away. Something felt… different. 'Nothing's wrong today… everything's fine.' The smile reappeared and Toshiro walked out her bedroom door. She saw her father and older sister sitting at the kitchen table.

"Good morning Father!" Toshiro called as she greeted her father.

"And a good morning to you Toshiro." He looked into her green eyes, "Is something wrong?"

"Oh, no," Toshiro answered as happy as ever, "Looking out the window this morning I saw how beautiful it is today. But, there was something that didn't feel right…"

"Hmm," Toshiro's father puzzled, "I don't sense anything out of place."

"Hmph…"

Toshiro remembered that her older sister was sitting at the table too, "Good morning, Izanami!" Izunami ignored her. "Uh… never mind. Father? Where is-"

"Good morning Sister!" a high pitched voice chirped.

"Ai!" Toshiro picked up her younger sister and gave her a hug, "Good morning!" Toshiro smiled widely and placed Ai back on the ground. She reached her hand into her pocket, "I almost forgot…" Toshiro said pulling out a wrapped package and handing it to Ai. "Happy 7th Birthday Ai!"

Ai's eyes widened, "Oh arigato gozimasu Sister!" She grasped the package and ripped it open. She then opened the unwrapped chest. "Arigato, arigato, arigato Sister!"

Their father reached his hand out for the chest to see the contents, "What did Toshiro get for you Ai?"

Ai almost couldn't get the words out because she was so excited, "Kunai! My first set of kunai!" Izunami's eyes widened ever so slightly, but went right back to normal seconds later. Ai continued, "This is the best gift I've ever gotten on my birthday!... Oh, uh, gomen nasai Father…"

"Perfectly alright Ai, perfectly fine," their father chuckled, "I felt the same way when I first got my first set of kunai."

"Oh, really? Wow… well anyways… arigato Sister! Arigato gozimasu!" Toshiro laughed, "You're welcome Ai." Ai went to the table and began examining the kunai up close. Toshiro sniffed the air, "What's that smell Father?"

"Your mother is in the kitchen making breakfast, I believe."

"Ii yo. Arigato. I'm going to go help her," Toshiro said as she walked threw the kitchen door. "Good morning Mother! Can I help you with breakfast?"

Toshiro's mother turned around and smiled, "Arigato Toshiro. Could you get the eggs out of the fridge onesai?"

"Sure!" Toshiro pulled open the fridge door and examined the contents, "Uh, Mother… I'm sorry, we have eggs but not enough for everyone."

Toshiro's mother sighed, "So that's what I forgot to get at the grocery store yesterday! Well, I guess that we'll just have to-"

Toshiro interrupted, "Mother I can have toast instead of eggs. It's fine really…"

"Are you sure?" Toshiro nodded. "… Ii yo…"

"Oh, I almost forgot… I was wondering if I could train today in the targeting range."

Toshiro's mother turned around, "You going by yourself?"

Toshiro shifted her gaze to the floor, "No…"

She turned and met Toshiro's gaze, "Who's going with you?"

Toshiro blushed slightly, "Uh… heh… Sasuke."

"Oh, Sasuke? Isn't that the little Uchiha boy that you like so much?"

"Mother!" Toshiro burst out as she crossed her arms and stomped a foot. She blushed a dozen shades of red.

Toshiro's mother was smiling widely, "I was just kidding… ease up a little Toshiro."

"Ii yo…" Toshiro's smile returned, "So can I go? Onesai?"

"Alright...but don't stay out too late."

"Arigato Mother! Arigato gozimasu!"

Toshiro's mother smiled. "Here is your lunch and here is your toast. Go on now and have fun! Don't forget your kunai now!"

"I won't!" Toshiro gave her mother a hug, "See you later!"

Toshiro walked out of the kitchen, and back to her room. She ate one of the pieces of toast and set the other down. 'Now where did I put my kunai? Oh wait . . . here they are.' Toshiro pulled a small pouch out of her dresser and attached it around her right leg. She then ate the other piece of toast as she walked out of her room, down the hall, and into the dining room where Izanami and her father were still sitting.

"Goodbye Father! Ai! Izunami!"

Her father stopped her, "Wait! Where are you going?"

"Oh, didn't I tell you? I am going to meet up with Sasuke and train with him. We're going to the targeting range."

Toshiro looked up in utter frustration as she heard Ai making kissing noises at her. "Urusai..." But as it continued, "Urusai Ai!" Toshiro lunged at her sister but Ai jumped out of the way. Toshiro ended up grabbing hold of the chair that Ai had been in seconds before. "Nee!" Toshiro heard her sister's continuous stream of giggles coming from the hallway. Toshiro looked back at the table and shouted, "Ai, you forgot your kunai!" Ai quickly ran in avoiding Toshiro to the best of her ability and running out with her kunai in hand. She then disappeared into her room. Toshiro mumbled, "You annoying little…"

Toshiro's father chuckled, "Sasuke eh?"

"No, not you too… Mother, Ai, now you? How could this get any worse?"

Izunami glared at Toshiro threw her thick, black hair, 'Oh, It could get worse… way worse little sister…' Toshiro meet Izanami's green-eyed stare, "Something wrong Izunami?"

The cold, unblinking stare continued for a moment, but was soon broken after that.

"… nothing…"

Toshiro sent her a concerned look. "Ii yo… I guess…" She turned to her father, "I'll be going now… good bye Father!" She hugged him, "I love you!" She quickly corrected herself. "Both of you!" Izunami's open eyes twitched slightly and closed. "I'll be back later…" She stood up and strode out the front door.

'Sister?' "I …uh…" Toshiro lowered her eyes. 'What's wrong with Izunami? Have I done something?'

"Don't trouble yourself Toshiro. She'll be back to normal sooner or later. Just go meet up with Sasuke and have fun training today." Toshiro's smile returned, "Ii yo Father… see you later!"

"Sayonara, Toshiro."

Toshiro stepped out the door and shut it behind her. She walked down the little path to the main road. 'What's this funny feeling? It's almost like something is going to change.' Toshiro walked over to the bench and sat down. This was where Sasuke said that he would meet Toshiro. She was there for about five minutes when the feeling came back. But… this time, it was stronger. Toshiro squeezed her eyes shut trying to ease the pain. She leaned over and placed her head in her hands. After a few more moments, the feeling went away. Toshiro just sat there, trying to recover from the pain. She sighed and closed her eyes. 'I just hope it doesn't come back again…' Toshiro crossed her arms over her chest and leaned against the back of the bench, the after-effects of the feeling still coursing threw her body.

Toshiro felt something brush up behind her. Her eyes snapped wide open and she jumped off the bench. Her hand flew to her pouch of kunai as she spun around in surprise. She came face to face with a boy her age in a black shirt with a large collar, white shorts, and spiky black hair with a hint of a navy blue.

"Sasuke?"

"Sorry, did I startle you?"

"Oh . . . I thought you were someone else . . . heh."

Sasuke shrugged. "No, just me . . ."

Toshiro smiled, "Oh yeah . . . Ii yo." She looked down.

"What's wrong Toshiro?"

She met Sasuke's gaze, "Just a funny feeling. That's all..."

"When?" Sasuke asked her, curiously.

"Just after I left my house. And Izanami looked more grouchy than ever. She said there was nothing wrong, but I knew better."

Sasuke watched a leaf fall to the ground. "… brother has been the same way…"

Toshiro noted, "Hai, I know… Izunami has gotten really distant lately."

"But no matter how much I try he doesn't change. He rarely talks to me anymore."

Toshiro agreed, "It's the same with Izunami…" She sighed. "Oh, did your brother ever train with you like he promised he would?"

"Nah, I found him in the targeting range by himself. I ran in, but he shooed me away. But not before poking me in the head." Sasuke rubbed his forehead and smiled. "Heh… well, do you want to go and train now?"

"Nani? Oh uh, yeah." Toshiro's smile returned. "The targeting range right?"

Sasuke nodded, "Hai."

"Ii yo." Toshiro stood and started walking. Sasuke did the same.

10 minutes later…

Toshiro recognized the twelve red and white targets pinned to the trees. She also noticed the newest indents in them. 'So Itachi HAS been here. He even got the target in the very back behind that huge rock! Wow! Almost no one has ever gotten it before!'

Sasuke saw what Toshiro was looking at. "Oh that. I was here when Itachi did that."

Toshiro looked back at Sasuke. "How did he accomplish something like that?"

"He threw two kunai, one at a time. After throwing the first, he threw a second. That redirected its original path therefore hitting the target below." Sasuke smiled upon seeing Toshiro's confused look. "I'll try and show you."

Sasuke stepped into the center of the targets. He pulled out two kunai and threw one of them at a target. Just before it struck, Sasuke threw the second kunai. It bumped into the first kunai and the first kunai went shooting downwards. The second kunai hit the target originally intended for the first and lodged into it. Sasuke watched in anticipation, but hit his head as in missed and hit the ground, three inches away from the target.

'Kuso! Not again!' Sasuke thought.

"Oh I get it! The second kunai changes the direction of the first allowing it to hit a completely different target! Awesome! I wanna try!"

Sasuke mumbled to himself, "I got this from brother two weeks ago and I still can't get it. But it only took him an hour to learn!"

"Toshiro heard him. "Practice makes perfect, Sasuke."

Sasuke sent Toshiro an annoyed look. "Tell me something I don't know."

Toshiro shrugged. "I just wanted to annoy you . . ."

Sasuke ignored her. 'You just stand there and it sometimes annoys me…'

"… I wanna try that!"

"Be my guest and miss." Sasuke pulled his kunai out of the tree and the ground and leaned himself against a tree to watch.

Toshiro now stepped into the center and pulled two kunai out of her pouch. Toshiro inhaled, and launched the first of her kunai. She watched for the opportune moment, and loosed the second kunai. It flew straight as an arrow hitting the first kunai, imbedding into the target ahead. Toshiro's gaze switched and locked onto the first kunai. As it hit the target, Toshiro burst into a wide grin, and looked at Sasuke who was flabbergasted. He looked away, annoyed. "Beginners luck . . ."

"So you say… ha! First try!"

"Stop it!"

"Ha! You've been practicing it for two weeks and I got it on my first try!"

"Urusai!"

"Meh… fine… but I got it first!"

Sasuke quit arguing and pulled the kunai out of the tree over his head. He tossed it to Toshiro. "Quit your bragging. You never would have gotten it if I hadn't shown you how to do it!"

Toshiro walked over to Sasuke. "Oh yeah, heh. Well then I guess I owe you my thanks."

Sasuke turned and smiled to himself. 'You can't take ALL the credit.'

Toshiro used this to her advantage. She charged at Sasuke and gave him a hug.

"Thank you Sasuke-chan!" She took him completely by surprise.

"Get off me! Go away!"

Nani? But you invited me to train with you today!"

"Train! Not glomp onto me!" Sasuke struggled, but it was all in vain. "Leggo!"

"Fine…" Toshiro released Sasuke who took a step away from her. "Nani?" Toshiro smiled. "I couldn't resist… I'm not the norm. Remember that Sasuke." Toshiro waved a finger.

"Like I could forget…"

"Toshiro smiled. "You know it!"

"Whatever…"

Toshiro's smile faded slightly as her stomach growled loudly. "Heh, uh,
Sasuke, do you think we could take a break and have lunch?" She pointed to a brown paper bag. "I brought mine."

"I guess, you don't have to ask… me."

Toshiro barely heard Sasuke's last word for she had already begun looking threw her lunch bag. She pulled out two rice balls and soy sauce, and Sasuke the same.

Toshiro happily dug in. When she finished, she smiled and closed her eyes contently. Sasuke looked at Toshiro, shook his head, and stood. He then looked away, irritated.

A/N: This is only my second fanfic so if you don't like it, rant and rave threw the reviews. And if you liked it, review. Simple as that. If I get reviews, the next chapter will be up on the 1st of September, I promise. Thank you!