A/N: I couldn't help but start another one, but this one will be very different from Hitori's story. Before I start, Ashi means paw and Kogane means gold just so you know.

Disclaimer: The only thing I created was Ashi and Kogane.

I was five when I began the academy. All of my clan, the Inuzukas, had a tendency to where long sleeves but I purposely wore a hoody that I could practically bury myself in. Kiba, my older brother by a year, entered the same year I did at age six. I held on tightly to his hand and did my best to shrink behind his back as he led me to a desk.

I refused to say more than a few words at a time. Not because Iruka sensei or anyone in the class was particularly mean, but because I didn't like being seen. I wanted to hide and not be noticed. Yet I still noticed everything around me with blinding clarity. There was a boy, Sasuke, who answered all of Iruka sensei's questions with ease and girls throughout the class would stare at him. A blonde boy, Naruto, grumbled loudly that he was a show-off. My brother beside me grumbled as well, just softer.

After Taijutsu class everything went downhill. I loved the class; I was fast racing my brother when we were told to run laps. But it brought the attention of everyone. Suddenly all eyes were on me and my brother. Kiba soaked in the praise with a smile while I did my best to hide behind him. I sighed in relief when he led me away from the crowds during lunch and shooed everyone away.

I was relieved when class ended and I opted not to be a part of the special Kunoichi classes after school. "Ashi!" I flinched when my mom called my name; normally she called us her pups. I was relieved when she had a smile on her face instead of a scowl. "Why don't you go take a walk in the garden."

I looked at her quizzically but obeyed. I always found the garden to be relaxing because the plants that surrounded the path were so big compared to me that it was easy to feel hidden. While I was walking a small dog walked up to me and barked. I heard a chuckle behind me and turned to see my mom with my older sister, Hana, and all their dogs. "Her name's Kogane and from now on you'll take care of her."

I looked back at the puppy and paid attention to her golden fur this time and understood the name. I crouched down and held out my hand so she could recognize my scent as I had been taught to do around dogs ever since I was little. "Nice to meet you, I'm Ashi." I introduced myself and giggled as her tongue began to tickle my fingers and I picked her up. As I pulled her closer to my chest she snuggled into me.

When I arrived back home I saw Kiba with another dog. "Imouto, meet Akamaru!" He held the white puppy out to and I grinned and pulled out Kogane.

"Meet Kogane!"

From that day on our pups came with us and learned with us each day at school. Since I now had Kogane with me I began to feel bad about hogging Kiba to myself, especially since he was so social. Tentatively I introduced him and Naruto because I observed that they were very similar to each other. Naruto seemed surprised that anyone would talk to him, but I was right about him and Kiba getting along.

I might have regretted introducing them if Naruto hadn't been just as happy to talk to me. I was even invited on multiple occasions to skip class with them. Most of the time I declined but I had days where it was blissful just to get out of the stuffy classroom and do my best to hide from Iruka sensei.

As time passed Shikamaru and Choji would join us to skip class and the five us really got to know each other. Choji almost always had food to share so we often ate lunch together as well. Most of the class would give us dirty looks, but they were especially cruel to Naruto, although I had no idea why.

I was younger than all my friends by a year so pretty soon all four boys called me Imouto. I was a regular part of their group and I loved it. So I decided to ask mom if Kiba and I could have them over for dinner. She agreed and I waited patiently for each of them to arrive.

Choji was, unsurprisingly, first as he couldn't wait for food to be served. Next was Naruto who was looking rather sheepish despite his outgoing personality. I saw mom and Hana tense up a bit as he stood in the doorway but they were still welcoming and they invited him in. Shikamaru was last, probably too lazy to get there in any kind of hurry.

After dinner Naruto was back to being his rambunctious self so I suggested we have a race out back. "No way." Naruto objected, "You and Kiba always win anyway."

"It's too troublesome." Shikamaru agreed.

"Then how about we play ninja?" I asked instead, "We wouldn't have even teams but maybe we can get onee-chan to play with us."

"I don't wanna play with her." Kiba complained.

"But it could be fun to play ninja." Choji pouted.

"Yeah, let's do it!" Naruto exclaimed.

I grinned before running up to Hana. "Nee-chan, will you play ninja with us? We need even teams."

"Eh? Sorry Imouto I have to go into work." I pouted. "But, I guess I could lend one of the Haimaru brothers."

"Yay!" I shouted bringing one of them with me. Then I looked at the four boys in front of me and a question came to mind, "Um, Kiba and I both have dogs with us. Do we count as two people?"

Shikamaru was the one who answered, "How about you two stay on different teams, that'll even it out."

I scrunched up my face but agreed. Since we were on different teams we each became the team captains. Shikamaru and Choji were on my team while Kiba had the Haimaru brother and Naruto. "I call seeking!" I shouted knowing that the Haimaru brother would have given Kiba's team an unfair advantage otherwise.

Normally Kogane and I did a pretty good trying to track people down, but we realized that the Haimaru brother's and Kiba's scent was more difficult to pinpoint because they smelled much like their home. So we found Naruto first and took him out before tracking down Kiba then the Haimaru brother.

Not long after a victory did Nee-chan come back and apologize for having to take the Haimaru brother away but she wouldn't tell why. The next day at school I found out it was because all the chuunin and jounin were called for a state of emergency because Uchiha Itachi massacred his entire clan save for his little brother, Sasuke. Sasuke didn't show up for the next week at school and when he did come back he was changed. No longer was he the little boy who was smiling and eager to answer all of Iruka sensei's questions. Instead he became sullen and quiet. Girls that had already liked his looks became even more infatuated with him when he began to brood during class. When I looked at him I felt sad trying to think what it would be like if Kiba or Hana killed everyone in my clan but no image even came up. I couldn't even imagine my family doing that and I had no idea what Sasuke was feeling.

Still, I didn't dare talk to him. Even though I had gotten comfortable around my brother's friends I was way too nervous to talk to anybody else in class, let alone someone who would just shove me away.

The rest of my academy days went by in a blur and before I knew it was the day of our graduation exam. I waited patiently for Iruka to call, "Inuzuka Ashi."

I made my way down to the center of class and put my hands together, "Bunshin no jutsu!" beside me stood two illusions of me and Iruka gave a nod and handed me my headband. Immediately I tied it on my forehead and sat back down while the rest of the class tested. I felt horrible when Naruto failed, but even though I wanted to comfort him Mizuki sensei was already doing that. I smiled hoping that Mizuki sensei would be able to help him and rushed home to tell mom that I graduated.

Two weeks later we had an orientation so I walked with Kiba hand-in-hand and was completely surprised to see Naruto there with a headband. He was sitting next to Sasuke and I still wanted to sit next to Kiba so I didn't sit next to him, but I decided to talk to him at least. "Did they let you have a re-test?"

"Yeah!" He smiled enthusiastically reaching toward his headband.

"How'd that happen?" I asked curiously.

He seemed conflicted about whether or not to tell me but he was too Naruto-ish to not tell his story. "Mizuki sensei told me to steal this scroll and if I learned a technique from it I could pass. He told me this place I could hide and I trusted him, but it turned out that Mizuki was lying so he could get it himself. Then Iruka sensei came in and protected me from Mizuki and I used the new technique I learned, shadow clone jutsu, and made like a hundred of me and beat him up. So Iruka sensei gave me his headband so I'm a ninja now!"

He spoke quickly so when he was done talking I kind of had to piece together everything he said but when I understood everything I smiled and said, "Congratulations!"

He grinned at me and I found a seat as Iruka sensei walked in to explain that we were going to be in teams. I vaguely listened to what he said but I perked up when I heard, "Team seven Uzumaki Naruto." I looked over at my friend but became even more surprised when I heard, "Inuzuka Ashi." Naruto cheered and I desperately hoped that my brother would be the third name called but instead I heard, "Uchiha Sasuke."

Naruto hung his head in despair while Iruka sensei continued to call out teams. My brother was with Hyuuga Hinata and Aburame Shino neither of whom I knew very well. I felt sorry for him and was happy for Shikamaru and Choji when they got called to be on the same team.

As soon as Iruka was finished calling out teams Naruto stood up and pointed to Sasuke, "Why does a great guy like me have to team up with Teme?"

Iruka sensei sighed in resignation and explained, "Sasuke had the highest scores. Yours were the lowest."

Sasuke smirked, "Don't get in my way, dobe."

"What was that teme!"

"Do you wanna fight, dobe."

"Teme!"

"Naruto settle down!" Iruka ordered, "I'll introduce the jounin senseis in the afternoon. Until then, dismissed!"

I brought my lunch to Naruto, "Wanna eat together?"

Naruto looked at me and his usual smile came back, "Of course!"

I looked at Sasuke and I did my best to hold me voice steady, "You can eat with us too since we're teammates now."

"Don't bother with teme." Naruto growled while glaring at him.

Sasuke gave us a dismissing look, "Don't bother me."

Even though I knew he was going to say that it stung. I was always afraid of being rejected and he did it so blatantly. "Oi, Teme, don't be mean to Ashi!" Naruto shouted after him. Sasuke left without another word so Naruto and I ate lunch while he and Kogane did their best to comfort me.

As our extended break came to an end everyone else filtered into classroom. Even though he didn't know why Kiba saw the hurt expression on my face and pulled me into a hug and didn't ask any questions. He only let go of me once his sensei came in and called his team out. "Sorry imouto. I'll see you at home." I nodded mutely as the rest of the genin left in teams of three until Naruto, Sasuke, and I were the only ones left.

After an hour passed and our sensei didn't show up Naruto started putting an eraser in the door. "Hn, our sensei is a jounin. Do you really think he's going to fall for that?" Not two seconds after he said that did a silver-haired man with only an eye uncovered on his face walk in, allowing the eraser to plop on his head. I scrunched my nose up, my heightened sense of smell easily picked up the sudden release of chalk. Naruto burst out laughing while Sasuke scrutinized him.

The man who walked in looked at us, "My first impression is, I hate you." Naruto and Sasuke stood dumbstruck as I did my best to show no reaction to being rejected… again.

He gathered us on the roof and asked us to introduce ourselves. When we all stared at him blankly he sighed, "You know, likes dislikes, hobbies, your dreams. Stuff like that."

"Why don't you introduce yourself first?" Naruto suggested.

He sighed again, "I'm Hatake Kakashi. I don't feel like telling you what I like or hate. My dream… I have a few hobbies. Now it's your turn." He looked at Naruto, "You first."

Naruto grinned as usual, "I'm Uzumaki Naruto. I like ramen and my friends. I hate people who make fun of my friends like teme." He glared pointedly at Sasuke. "And my dream for the future is: To be the greatest hokage!"

"Alright, next." Sensei looking at me.

"Um, I'm Inuzuka Ashi and this is Kogane." I said holding her up. "I like my friends and dogs and I don't like cats. My dream is to be able to protect all of my friends."

"Now you." Sensei ordered nodding at Sasuke.

"I'm Uchiha Sasuke. I hate a lot of things and there isn't anything I like. Also, I have an ambition that I have no intention to leave as a dream: the revival of my clan and to… kill a certain man." Naruto and I stared in shock while Kakashi sensei seemed bored.

"Okay, you're all unique, that's good. We have a mission tomorrow."

Naruto saluted, "What kind of mission is it?"

Despite almost his entire face being hidden behind his mask Kakashi sensei seemed to smirk, "It's something we can all do together."

"What, what, what?" Naruto probed further.

"Survival training."

"Survival training? Didn't we do all that at the academy?" Naruto's excitement seemed to wear off.

"This is… special training."

"What kind of training is it then?" Naruto asked.

Sensei began an eerie chuckle that put all three of us on our toes. Kogane barked, so I tentatively asked, "W-what is it sensei?"

"It's just that, you three aren't going to like it." We continued to stare up at him so he elaborated, "Of the twenty-seven graduates only nine are going to become genin. The rest will be sent back to the academy."

"But," Naruto protested, "We worked so hard to get here! What was the test for?"

"Oh that? That was just to see who might become genin." Kakashi sensei explained simply. "Come to the training grounds at five a.m. and bring your ninja gear.

I know nii-chan will pass whatever test he gets so I have to pass too. I want to graduate with my friends.

"That's it." Kakashi dismissed. "Except, don't eat breakfast tomorrow, or you'll throw up."

On my way home I thought about Kakashi sensei had told us. Five a.m. That's normally about the time I wake up to take Kogane on her walk. I'll have to wake up a bit earlier. But no breakfast? Kaa-chan always had us eat before any strenuous exercises to make sure we had energy. The more I thought about it the more it didn't make sense for sensei to tell us not to eat. When I tried to question kaa-chan about it she told me I had to think for myself so I decided I would eat a smaller breakfast that served to give me energy fifteen minutes before I headed to the training grounds. Before I went to bed I also began checking up on my ninja pack to make sure I was prepared and got an early sleep.

A/N: I'll admit a lot of this was the whole "showing not telling" thing but I promise it will get better. Next chapter will of course be their fight against Kakashi so we'll see how that'll go shall we?