CHAPTER 1: Akai of the Uchiha Clan…

CHAPTER 1: Akai of the Uchiha Clan…!

"Akai!"

"Mmm-hmm…"

"Akai! Wake up! Your genin graduation starts in an hour! Get up and prepare yourself already…"

After pushing me back and forth in my bed, I finally decided to get up after Oba-san(aunt) left the room to set up breakfast for herself, Oji-san(uncle) and of course, me.

"Hnn… I'm so sleepy.." I said to myself as I looked outside the window. The sun was late for rising, probably because of the rain last night. Morning dew created mist on the glass so I decided to form a word on it:

The Katakana characters, "chu"; "u"; "ni"; "n".

"Heh. Chuunin…" After a variety of endless missions that were partaken by my teammates and I, we finally made it to the ranks of a chuunin. I sighed then suddenly it slowly occurred to me that in order to be 'officially' labeled as chuunin, it is compulsory necessary that I attend the graduation.

"Shimatta!!"

I dashed outside the bedroom and towards the bathroom. It took me about 15 minutes or so to finish taking a bath. After that, I went to my dresser. I reached out my dark-violet forehead protector with the proud symbol of Konohagakure. I tied it tightly on top of my head, just like I always do. Then, I pulled out my violet v-shaped sleeved shirt that has the back imprint of the Uchiha's proud emblem, and slipped it over my figure-less body. I'm still lacking some curves, I thought, oh well. Next I wore my grey shorts that only reached above the knees and overlapped by a black skirt with slits on both sides. I strapped on my knee-high kunoichi boots and looked at this 16-year old iryouninja (medic-nin) who has definitely done a wardrobe change most probably because she is finally a chuunin.

"Should I or should I not?"

I was deciding whether or not to tie up my black hair that reached half of my arms. But seeing that the time on the clock was running fast, I brushed a few strands here and there then dropped my brush and rushed down the stairs and finished off my breakfast.

"Oji-san, Oba-san… Will you be coming to my graduation this morning?"

I asked then as they were finishing their meal and while I reached for my kunai, shuriken and medic stuff holsters that were sitting on one corner of the room.

"Of course, Akai-chan. We wouldn't miss it for the world.",

replied Oji-san.

"Yes, indeed. But, you just go ahead. I still need to clean this place up before we go. We'll come. Yakusoku, Akai."

Added Oba-san.

"Arigatou ga Oji-san! Oba-san! Well, I'll be off now… See you there."

And with that, I ran outside the house and quickly went to the venue where the said graduation will take place. The soft, rain-scented morning breeze soothed my face and skin as my heart rejoiced by the scene from my imagination as I finally become chuunin. Yeah, that's right. New mission, new jutsus, new adventures and new… teammates? An image reflected on my mind. An image which had four people in it. Our smoking lady sensei, Futatsu Okami; the prank-loving and perverted (yet kind) shinobi, Suiko-kun; and last but not the least, Uchiha's pride and my very distant itoko (cousin), Itachi-san.

As I ran outside the Uchiha clan compound and nearing the not-so far ceremony place, I slowed down a bit and smirked at the idea and probability of not having them around so often anymore.

"I'll really miss them… No! Wait! Why should I miss them?! Every scab and scar I have is because of them… ugh… so annoying…"

I shook off the idea from my head and regained again my previous run. But, still, memories flooded from my heart, reminding me of my stories connected to them.