A/N: The following chapters take place one year before the Uchiha Massacre. When the year is up, I will let you know so there isn't any confusion. The first chapter was more of a...prologue? And yet, not really. Anyways, I hope you will like reading this chapter.

Takara, much to her disappointment, had discovered early on that the Academy sucked. Big time. For more reasons than one. First flaw, very obvious and very disturbing, was the curriculum. It was repetitive and pretty much ancient. Weren't people in charge of it aware that eras shift and things that worked for some shinobi once, would be useless for some of them now?

Secondly, the teachers. They were often unfair, playing favourites and no, that was not her wounded ego talking. Favouritism aside, they weren't teaching them how to think outside the box, how to think on their feet. The key verb with them was: memorize. "Memorize this", "Make sure you remember that", "Don't forget this either."

While she could agree that having the memory of an elephant was astounding, it came nowhere close to what 'intelligence' was supposed to entail. Smart was the shinobi who had just avoided an ambush by thinking up a strategy on the spot. That, was how smart was supposed to sound like. Not that she doubted the importance of knowing facts, history often repeats itself, but a little more mental stimulation and less being handed everything on a silver platter as well as being told that if they learn all of it'd save their behind...well, that would be nice. Very nice indeed.

Takara didn't have high hopes regarding the Academy changing their approach any time soon, however. All she was capable of achieving was talking Shikamaru's ear off until he either fell asleep or sought out Chouji to escape the torture his ears were often subjected to. She didn't think he'd refer to her rambling as an achievement though.

Hell, I myself don't count it as one.

When she wasn't complaining about school, she was attending it and when both options were out, she was doing her homework. Takara couldn't help but think somewhere the universe was having a good laugh at her expense. Such awful was the loop she was caught in. Truthfully, she had been the one to dig her own hole. Shikamaru had warned her, hadn't he?

Glancing at him as he was sleeping, Takara sighed, reaching out to smooth his dark hair. The Academy Entrance Ceremony was to be held tomorrow and Shikamaru was going to walk right into something that he had never asked, nor wished for. Heck, he had sounded close to pleading when he told her not to sign up. The world wasn't fair at all but what was there to be done? Shikamaru was the sole heir of the Nara. Unless he died, nobody was going to take the title. So that was a no-go.

The brunette shook away the disturbing thought of her cousin dying. Ever. If she had any say in the matter, she will be making sure she gets buried before him.

"Takara?"

So, he was only pretending to be asleep.

"Hm?"

He opened his eyes, watching her with a sleepy yet awake gaze in its curiousness. "How is it there?"

She knew he knew she didn't need any clarifying. She was aware what "there" meant. Arching a confused brow, she spoke. "I told you about the Academy before." Hundreds of times even, so she couldn't understand his curiosity.

Shikamaru grimaced, as if the mere mention of the name felt physically painful for him to hear. The unpleasant sensation in his chest didn't stop him, however. "Only the bad parts." he intoned, not willing to go to sleep yet, no matter how tempting his pillow looked or how many yawns decided to test him. Takara couldn't seem to remember ever seeing him so motivated before.

Wait, scratch that. I had never seen him motivated by something, period.

She inwardly cursed herself. Shikamaru was already thinking of the Academy as hell on earth. Her stories had done nothing good and only made his opinion worsen. Sighing, she slapped her forehead. "Sorry Shika, I was an idiot."

The frown suddenly creasing his forehead shocked her. "Truthful. You were truthful. There is a difference. Now, you are acting like a troublesome baka, though."

She could already see so much of the older Shikamaru she had spent years watching in him. The firm refusal to accept a comforting lie and the use of the world "troublesome" were simply the first signs from many to come. Takara adored her cousin and had long ago started loving him like family, and less like a fictional character to be swooned over. Shikamaru had become more than a face on a screen and more than a drawing in a manga. He was human, flesh and blood, standing beside her. They were sharing a home, a past, a present and a future.

She wanted what was best for him and she hated herself for being yet clueless on how to accomplish it.

Baby steps, Takara. Rome wasn't built in a day either.

She scolded herself before nodding and taking a sit at the edge of his bed. "You are going to love the backyard! There is grass everywhere and trees. The clouds are a pretty view from there. The inside is less spectacular but still nice. The ANBU guarding the entrance has a funny looking mask, you will see and he has gotten nicknames for everybody! He calls me Konoha's Brightest Shadow which is weird because my hair is dark, like yours and shadows are dark, not bright but anyways...he is friendly. Uh, my classmates aren't the smartest bunch, unless you count the Hyuga but I'm doing my best to get him off his high horse so praising him wouldn't help. I made some friends. Lee and Tenten are great, I will make sure you guys meet one day and don't worry, from what I've heard, Chouji is going to be in your class and so will Ino, although I'm not sure how thrilled you are about the latter and..."

"Takara, you are rambling again." Shikamaru interrupted her with a yawn.

Said girl blushed, slightly embarrassed. She really had to stop doing that but habits die hard, especially one attached to her soul that survived rebirth.

"I'm sorry." she apologized but when she looked up to find her cousin finally asleep, a smile on his face, her lips inevitably formed one of their own. "Good night Shika. I promise, the people you will meet there and form bonds with are worth all your future "troublesome" mumbling." Takara whispered as she quietly left his room, heading towards her own.

Shikamaru won't be the only one meeting new people tomorrow after all.

...

The sun showered her and the crowd gathered in front of the Academy gates with warmth. It was a good way to start a new year, unlike it had been on the day of her Entrance Ceremony. It had rained heavily enough that for a moment Takara feared she had somehow ended up in gloomy, depressed Ame, not bright and sunny Konoha.

Looking around, it was easy for her to notice Shikamaru, standing near his parents...and already donning the typical Nara posture. She felt like banging her head against something.

Too much of a stretch was to hope he wouldn't inherit the slouch this time around, huh?

Whatever. She was already messing up the timeline, she didn't want to find out what would happen if she tried meddling with genetics too. Besides, it was endearing. In a way. Sort of.

Bah, who am I kidding? Ino better nag him enough about it that he quits.

Considering that didn't happen in the past, Takara doubted she'd be more successful now. She looked around some more, spotting several familiar faces. Who didn't know her yet but never mind, she knew them.

Knew of them anyways.

The only one that she had yet to see was Naruto which was as ridiculous as it sounded. The kid could as well be walking around with 'target' written all over his forehead and if people ever overlooked him, then personality and voice were guaranteed to accomplish the task.

Takara could have stayed where she was. She should have, but when had logic ever applied to her? Not in her former life and most certainly there wasn't any room she was willing to make for it in this one. No, logic did not belong in a world where people walk on water like they are Jesus. Simply put, she disappeared from her parents' sight, from her clan's all together in her quest to find Naruto and she did find him, once she could see the back of the enormous crowd.

The sight of him sitting by himself on a swing was awful. It made her feel lonely and she wasn't even the one going through the stuff he was going through! That's when she remembered. Six-year-old Naruto was far from the twelve-year-old version who hid his pain and suffering behind blinding smiles, creative pranks and loud proclamations of his hokage dream.

The sad picture pulled at her heart strings. It was one thing to see it on screen and another in real life. She didn't get it. How could people be so cruel as to isolate a child? Were they really that blind and lacking soul? The brunette approached him tentatively, not wanting to scare him. He was already looking at her with wide eyes and around himself, as if he was having an internal debate.

"Hi there, I'm Takara!" she exclaimed, smiling softly, extending out her hand. When her introduction was met with silence and her hand given a very confused, weary look, she sighed in disappointment. "Okay, so no shaking hands then."

Naruto titled his head, suddenly more curious than afraid. "Shaking hands...?"

She tried her best to ignore the anger beginning to bubble in her chest, nobody taught him that? nodding instead. "Yes. That's what people do when they meet someone new. They shake hands. It comes with telling your name." she patiently explained.

"I'm Naruto." he answered hesitantly and reached out for her hand. It was the gentlest handshake that she had ever received in both of her lives.

"One tip for future meetings. Your handshake has to be firm, otherwise people aren't going to take you seriously, okay?"

"Okay."

Smiling, Takara cautiously asked. "Mind if I sit next to you?" The other swing was empty but she didn't want to push her luck. Naruto was obviously having a hard time believing that somebody was talking and behaving decently with him.

"Why?"

Now it was her turn to look confused. "Why what?"

"Nobody ever comes near me and when they do, it's not usually for a good reason."

Takara shook her head negatively. "What are you talking about silly? They are plenty of people in the world! It's not fair to judge them all by the actions of a few. It's like saying I have to ignore you just because others are doing it."

Naruto was silenced and positively shocked because she had a point and he more than agreed with it. "Take the other swing, if you want to." he answered, trying to sound nonchalant and formal but his big watery eyes ended up betraying him in the end.

Takara had wanted nothing more than to hug him tightly for all the times nobody did but knew she couldn't yet. So, she settled for encouraging smiles, gratefully accepting the offered seat. "Cheer up a little, will you? Look, the sun is shining and you get to become a ninja if you work hard enough!"

Naruto tried but the grin he gave her didn't quite reach his eyes. "Will you be in my classroom?" he asked, sounding hopeful to a painful degree.

For the first time, Takara regretted being born on a different year than Shikamaru. She sighed profusely. "I'm one year older." she replied. However, upon noticing Naruto's hope sinking faster than the Titanic, she was quick to add: "But that doesn't mean we can't see each other during breaks! Or outside of school, if you want. Besides, don't worry. My cousin will be in your class and he isn't like most kids."

He seemed to brighten-up a little at that. "Really? We get to talk and play together?"

Takara nodded solemnly, placing her hand above her heart. " I promise on my honour as shinobi."

Naruto made a face at that, scoffing. "Pff, what honour? You aren't a ninja yet."

She tried stopping herself from grinning. "But I'm older than you." she retorted, excited to hear his comeback.

He didn't disappoint with its delivery. "Beauty before age dattebayo!" he blurted out before clamping his mouth shut in horror.

She couldn't help but laugh softly, making motions with her hands that it was fine.

More than fine. If Naruto can joke around...

"That was good!" she exclaimed, giving him a thumbs up.

To say that the blond Uzumaki was confused wouldn't do the puzzlement he was currently feeling enough justice. He didn't get it. He had just called her ugly! Not that she was. He was just trying to win. "You are weird." he declared, crossing his arms over his chest.

"It takes one to know one." Takara said in a sing-song voice, not missing a beat, watching Naruto splutter indignantly.

"I'm not!"

"Are to!"

"Not!"

"To!"

"Not!"

"Yes!"

"Yes?"

The two looked at each other in silence then burst out laughing. Then, as if realizing he was the one who lost...

"You aren't fair!" he cried out.

She stuck out her tongue. "Are to!"

"Not!"

"Yes!"

"Ye—...No! I'm not doing this again!" Naruto protested vehemently, feeling dizzy already.

The Nara smirked smugly. "Just did!"

"No, I didn-...Takara!"

She titled her head to the side, looking like the very definition of innocence. "Yes?"

He groaned, stomping his foot childishly. "You are troublesome."

Takara laughed, she laughed until she ended up falling off the swing and even then, she only stopped laughing to assure Naruto she wasn't going to die because of a small bruise.

"What's so funny? You just fell over!"

"You and Shika are fun to exasperate although it takes longer for my cousin to work." she answered before a sudden thought occurred to her.

SHIKA. THE CEREMONY. SHIT.

Faster than the Yellow Flash (not quite), Takara sprung to her feet, looking ahead to find nobody in front of the Academy. Was she really that much of an airhead? Glancing at Naruto, she shook her head. Nah, he is just that good of a company.

The blond seemed to have reached the same conclusion she did because in the next second, he had his finger pointed at her accusingly. "Gah! I'm late to meeting sensei because of you!"

"Me? You are clearly the one at fault so shut up and let's get moving."

Kami-sama knows Aido-sensei is going to fireball my butt when I step inside the classroom.

Before Naruto had any chance of protesting, she grasped his hand, pulling him with her through the gates, inside the Academy and never letting go until the moment they reached his classroom. She knocked politely, then bowed, kicking him subtly to follow her example. "I apologize sensei-san for the inconvenience. I am the reason Uzumaki-kun is late."

She held her breath as they waited for a response. Takara was aware everybody was currently staring at her and Naruto. Managing to catch Shikamaru's eye, she mouthed an: I will tell you later, before offering a supportive smile.

"And you are?" the young teacher questioned, unimpressed.

"Takara Nara."

The mention of the infamous clan of geniuses made him pause for a moment before asking:

"Class?"

"Second year, under Aido-sensei."

The teacher took his glasses off, looking at her. "He is going to be hearing about this." he informed her, as if she didn't know that was going to happen.

"Wouldn't expect any less. Just don't punish Uzumaki-kun." she met his eyes with a fierce look in her own, daring him to do anything to Naruto.

"He is already stained as it is." the teacher intoned indifferently as if the person they were talking about wasn't currently in the room with them. Glancing at the Rookie Nine, she was surprised to find some of them were glaring at the man. Well, as much of a glare six-year olds could muster doing anyways.

Knowing now she was supposed to leave, Takara turned to face Naruto. "Don't get upset. He is a monkey, not a sensei. He will probably get replaced soon enough so hang in there." she whispered, gripping his shoulder in a comforting manner before leaving the classroom, heading towards her own.

The joy of being back to hell.

...

A week of cleaning textbooks. Not only student ones but also her sensei's personal favourites. Takara didn't know if she was supposed to be glad she hadn't gotten more and Naruto received none, or if she was supposed to get the job for the day done and go running home to Shika to complain.

A little bit of both, maybe?

Lost in her thoughts as she was, she failed to realize that a certain prodigy hadn't left the classroom with everybody else.

"You lied earlier, to Aido-sensei."

Takara almost jumped out of her skin at the sound of his voice. She spun around, glaring at the lavender-eyed boy standing with his back leaned against the wall. "Hyuga! Go exercise your ability to sneak up on people somewhere else!"

He ignored her, however, narrowing his currently lifeless Byakugan eyes at her as if that it'd be enough to read into her soul. "I could have been a rogue-nin."

She rolled her eyes. "You'd make an awful one." she told him, no longer annoyed but serious.

Not taking it as an insult yet, Neji decided to play her game, arching a brow. "And why is that?"

Takara didn't look at him, getting back to solving the task at hand: cleaning textbooks. "Your honour, sense of duty and crap about fate wouldn't allow you to." she answered simply, like she was talking about the weather.

"Thank you."

She spared him a glance over her shoulder. "It wasn't a compliment."

"Aido-sensei told me to tell you there are some books he had forgotten about under his desk." he told her in a neutral voice, leaving the classroom.

The brat. He was probably smirking. He had to be…

Recalling what he said earlier, the brunette yelled. "Wait a minute! How...did you know?"

She was far from being an excellent liar but she wasn't bad enough to be caught so easily, right? Takara hoped Neji was the exception otherwise she was going to have a problem.

"You don't randomly fall asleep."

"How would you know?" she repeated the question, adamant to get at the bottom of it.

There was a pause.

"I wasn't certain. Until you told me."

Told him? Told him what exactly...

No...

No, no. I refuse to get played by a seven-years-old Hyuga Neji, prodigy or not.

This is my second time on earth dammit and his is the first!