Chapter 1

I dropped back-flat on the ground as I threw the last kunai I had in hand. I didn't need to look if it did hit my target as I heard sounds of splintered wood along with the thud of my body as it made contact with the solid ground. Exhausted. One simple word to describe exactly what I'm feeling right now. Training during summertime, especially when the sun's at its peak is the hardest. You just don't get tired with your physical training, but with the weather as well.

'A few-minute break wouldn't hurt.' I thought to myself.

Opening of the Academy classes is just around the corner. Even if they don't ask me to push my training harder, I did it on my own. Being ahead among the other children will be an advantage. And that's what I'm aiming to be. To be the best. As early as now, I'm already imagining the faces of the crowd who used to pore their eyes on me whenever I'm around. They'll be in total shock for sure. The 'weird' girl they loved to talk about is on the top.

'Hah!' I chuckled inwardly. 'It'll be one hell of a sight for sure.'

One blue and one green.

Well, that indeed would've been the strangest pair of eyes ever seen in the history of Konoha. Surely, they have the white eyes from the Hyuuga clan, the famous red orbs of the Uchiha clan, and many other eyes I've read from the books, but not my eyes. It was enough to scare kids of my age, and be placed under constant scrutiny of the people who doesn't have a single idea why I had these pair. Not that I blame them, even I myself is also clueless.

My attention drifted to the vast blue canvas that held thick, white, fluffy things called clouds hovering above me. My eyes drooped down a little. Though I had long accepted the fact that the color of my eyes will never change, I still had these occasional thoughts of wishing that they had the same color. If it's blue, then blue. If it's green, then let it be green. Unfortunately, they're not. What can I do anyway if they're stuck as a blue and a green?

It did hurt. My childhood that is. Coping up with other children and people's discrimination and fright because of my truly odd pair of eyes was quite hard. They were either too scared to approach and play with me, or their parents were the ones who are scared to death like I had some kind of a contracting disease that the instant their child got close to me even by little they immediately yank them away. It also normally occurred that every time I step on the playground or the town's training ground, people will start to disappear on the site. But in a matter of days, turned weeks then to months, I finally got used to being ignored. And I've been utmost considerate to be on such places on times that they'll surely be leaving, just so I won't be spoiling their fun.

Sunset.

I so love watching it while sitting on a swing, alone of course. It was the time of the day that I actually enjoy the most as I feel peaceful. The changing of colors of the sky from yellow, orange and then as the sun sets, into a very lovely shades of blue, violet and a little orange. It was simply breath-taking. It was also one of the rare moments that I get to thank my existence, even if it meant having my odd pair of eyes.

"Yuka!"

Hearing the very familiar voice calling my name broke all of my thoughts soon turning to sleep away. It only meant it was time to go home.

I answered back even without turning to see who it was. "Coming mom!"

I quickly stood upright, patting away the dust that clung on my shirt and pants as I moved around the area gathering my stuff. As soon as I've finished, I turned to the shades of the trees and smiled when I saw two figures standing underneath. Forgetting whatever I was contemplating earlier, I ran towards them with a huge smile plastered on my face.

The two dearest persons to me, my parents... my adoptive parents.

As I closed the distance between us, I jumped and quickly latched myself on their legs, one arm on each. I'm still too small to give them a proper hug. I looked up to them and flashed a wide grin.

"Welcome home!" I exclaimed happily, and then made a pout. "And you're late."

They both laughed. "Well dear, you know the drill." Mom answered.

"Yeah, yeah. Report after mission to the Hokage, blah blah..." I said with a hand wavering up and down, acting out a fake anger.

Dad suddenly scooped me up and placed me on his shoulder. "So nice to see our little princess again. We missed you." He smiled at me.

"Me too. I missed both of you." I replied with a same genuine smile as his.

"Shall we go?" He offered his free hand to my mother. "Who's hungry?"

"Me! Me!" I shouted happily with both hands raised.

"To your favorite ramen house then." My mom said as we began to leave.