ARC I : ACADEMY

CHAPTER 2

The Betrothal

It's been weeks since I started the academy and so far I'm alive. With all the scrolls and papers on my desk that was towering over me for days now, I barely have time to attend the academy regularly. I was glad that all my sensei understood and always gave me the plan for the week. I only attend during practical and written exams. Hell, many of my classmates just know me by name, I never talked to them.

Why, you asked?

I was given a task, and socializing wasn't one of them.

But now, reading the scroll in my hand, I think I will have to speak with a certain classmate of mine.

I sighed. Father really don't like this idea since he'll be coming over next week to discuss this political move that the elders were forcing him to do. I'm against this as well, but you see, this is for the clan.

And I'll do everything for the clan, the family, the people who accepted me, who didn't question my intelligence, nor my mature behavior. Because I know why they don't treat me like a child, I feel like they know I'm an old soul.

They just didn't consider a rebirth.

But still, a betrothal?

They want me to marry to gain political favors? Don't get me wrong, I don't mind really. I never got to marry in my first life, let alone got a boyfriend. So marrying brings excitement to me.

But to marry an Uchiha?

Not a chance.

I just hope I can talk my way out of this.

A knock stopped me from my thoughts and I said a silent enter. My uncle opened the door and bowed at me, I raised my eyebrows, normally he wasn't this polite when we're alone. I narrowed my eyes in suspicion. "Rise Oshiro" I said in a commanding one, the way my father always address me. Uncle Tatara stands up and sent me an emotion wave, I distinguished it as apologetic, to what I don't know.

"The civilian council demanded your presence, they were angered by your move in the business district. Most of them have shops there and they're accusing the Oshiro clan of corruption"

Corruption? I sighed. It wasn't a corruption at all. Our clan only owned a weapon shop and a bar that was at the end of the business district. I don't know where that accusation came from. But, if they're talking about the tax that I forced to collect, they're in for a mouthful. They haven't been paying the right tax to Oshiro that's why the business center isn't that improved. We own the land where the business center resides and of course we get revenue from it. It's not like we get all of this money, half of it went to the clan, yes. A quarter goes to the Hokage and another quarter to the border supplies.

"When will I be needed?" I asked silently, my hands were already cleaning the mess on the table and mentally preparing myself for the onslaught of dumb words that was the civilian's rants.

"In two hours my lady, do you need me to assist you?" uncle asked, reading his emotions, I can tell he's a bit hesitant about this. I agree. Hell I can't say that I only answer to the Hokage since I'm still not a ninja, but to accuse the Oshiro of such thing, I can't let it pass.

"There's no need. But if you can, please do. I need an anchor if my control slipped." I looked at him squarely, silently asking what's wrong with him. The look he was giving me was scary. There's someone else in the vicinity. "Please meet me there in two. I have to finish some papers and send them to certain people."

Uncle bowed to me, my eyes twitched in irritation, he smirked but subtly motion for me to go along with his actions. He went out and I continued to stare at the papers in front of me. I sighed, and to think I'm still seven. And the betrothal, I feel like I'll do more of these works.

Murmurs were heard as I entered the chamber. They were all looking behind the door, as if expecting someone else. I walked gracefully towards the seat that has the Oshiro emblem on it. People were staring at me in question, I made a sweep of my kyoukan and noted that they're all getting impatient, and curious too. Uncle Tatara was amused. Of course, their reaction was funny. I guess they didn't realized that a 7 year old girl was the one they're antagonizing.

"Now that all is here, let's start the discussion. This is pertaining to -" he-who-shall-not-be-named was cut off by a sudden screech and crashing of chairs. I looked towards the councilman, or woman in this case, who was pointing her fingers at me. I raised an eyebrow, what's wrong with me?

"What's a child like you sitting in the Oshiro chair? We demand the Clan Head's presence." She said, clearly outraged. "This is not a children's playground young missy, I suggest you go home and study your homework!"

The temperature in the room turned cold. But I was smiling sweetly at her. The nerve of this woman. "Is that so?" I started. "Forgive me if my Otou-sama can't attend to your wishes, he's a very busy man. But as far as I'm concern, this matter was about my works in the business district." At that, she seemed to be angrier at me, but I continued. "As you see, I don't really plan to attend this useless meeting. But I really want to hear the side of your story. Because if I'm not mistaken, the Oshiro did nothing wrong here."

"You collected high tax! We aren't paying that much tax until you Oshiro came!" she shouted.

Still smiling sweetly, I countered, "With all due respect, the Oshiro clan should have done this long ago. What with the overpricing of products from the Land of Waves and certain issues of monopoly from civilian merchants. Otou-sama was very lenient with you. Sadly, I'm not like Otou-sama. I will not tolerate these actions and I'm putting the rules back in place. Hokage-sama already signed the papers where a division will be opened for this matters, including implementation of tax collection."

"You're just a mere child! What do you know of business?!" a random council suddenly back her up. Oh, they're all cornering me huh.

"I am the heiress of the Oshiro clan. The heiress of one of the founding clans in Konoha. The whole business district is under the clan's name." I looked around them. "If you're all going to question me about my decision, you can take it all to Hokage-sama. Because before I implemented such task, it was approved by the higher ups first." I stand up abruptly, all eyes were pinned on me, some gave me fearful looks, some were angry. "If that is all, can I be on my way? I still have an exam to take" I smiled sweetly at the head of the civilian council. With a hesitant nod from him, I walked away gracefully.

But I can't help the slap I gave my uncle once we were outside.

He was fucking amused by the whole event and I can feel him laughing at me.

"Seriously Oji-san, you could have help me. All you did was stand there and look pretty." I huffed, walking gracefully in my pink kimono. "And please tell me you get the names of those who has issues with our clan."

"Hai Ruko-chan" he smiled at me and ruffled my hair.

"What did you find out in the compound anyway? Did you found out who's listening to us?" I asked as I put my hair back in place.

"No, not really. But I felt a disturbance in the air. Like a void watching you out of your kyoukan range. I feel like you should know about it." he looked at me pointedly, "If I'm not mistaken, that's a perfect shinobi's emotion, or rather lack of emotion."

"A void huh?" I whispered. Uncle must be talking about the root. "I must be careful if I'm on surveillance."

"You do that. A prodigy like you must be extra careful" he mused, looking at me with that weird expression of his. "Now get your mask back, there are people approaching us." He then suddenly become a stoic man. Like a switch that was flipped on, I was emotionless like him. My body posture, my eyes, and my aura changed.

"Do you have to go to the academy, Haruko-hime?" I twitched. I'm still not used to this mask-thing.

"Yes, I have a written exam right now actually. I'm already late by minutes, there's no need to rush." I answered, I felt his amusement double and I sighed. "Yes Tatara-san, I already read the lectures for today."

"I don't want you to slack in your studies. Your physical training with me will start today, after your exam, go straight to the our training ground. We'll start giving you weights." He said in his i-don't-care voice but I felt it. His sadistic nature is about to let out. I inwardly flinched.

"I can't wait."

At the academy...

"Yusuke-sensei, I apologized for being late. I was called in a meeting." I bowed at my sensei. I felt the whole class look at me. In their desks were the exam materials.

"I understand Haruko-chan, but please next time tell beforehand. I was about to call a search party for you since you never missed an exam" he winked at me, giving me the exam papers. "Do your best."

I went to my desk and silently read the materials on hand, almost missing a step before I caught myself. I sighed once more. I forgot that I'm still 7 years old.

The exam was about arithmetic operations, geometry and accounting.

Sure it wasn't a material for a normal seven-year-olds but we weren't normal anyway. And seriously, even if I don't review for this, I know how to solve this.

I am taking care of some of the financial accounts of our clan anyway so what's with a few mathematics?

I sat down and get to work.

I was the first one to finish too. Sadly, we can't go out yet until most were finish so we were asked to wait in our seats. I didn't passed my papers yet, I don't really want them to know I'm done.

I leaned back and ignore the accusing look of a random girl beside me and thought about the letter I received this morning.

I am to marry an Uchiha.

If this is a fanfiction, I would have said, yes fuck yes, let it be Sasuke. But no. Sadly, no. This is real life. I don't want to get involved with that clan, and neither do I want my clan to get involved with them.

I can see the bloodshed and I don't want that to happen to Oshiro.

I just hoped Otou-sama knows what to do.

OMAKE

THE PRODIGY OF THE OSHIRO CLAN

SHIZUKA POV

I was amazed by how time flies so fast I forgot my little daughter is growing.

Or maybe this is because she learns so fast and absorb all the information surrounding her.

At 5 months, she already knows how to crawl with help from her Uncle Tatara.

At 6 months, she already knows how to speak basic words and even commands her 'jii' to play with her.

At 7 months, she can recognize numbers and always point it until we say what it was.

I can already see the potential of a kunoichi in my little Haruka. I just hope my husband, Haru-sama won't see it.

"She's a fast-learner, she must got that from you" a whisper in my ear interrupted my thoughts as I felt a warm body approached me from behind. Reaching out, his fingers gently trace our daughter's cheeks. "And what a beauty, definitely a rare gem."

I turned around to face him, his arms suddenly enclosed me in a loosed embrace. "Why did you come here? If my husband find out.." I was then silenced by his fingers.

"Just tell me one thing" he leans closer, his lips barely meets mine, "Is she mine?"

I stare at him, drinking in his features, he looks a lot like Haru-sama, but his eyes were gentle, his whole posture were open, like he trust me completely to drop his thousand mask down. I can't help but do the same. I tip-toed and kisses his cheeks.

"Yes, she's not Haru's daughter. She's yours."

*hides* DON'T KILL MEHHH .

I know I know, sorry for taking this long to update. This chapter was already done months ago, and I didn't have time to post it like I should have.

But yeahhhh! Who is Haruko's father then?

And who cares who her father is?

And who will be her fiancé?

When will I upload the next chapter?

NOTE: OMAKES WERE SNIPPETS OF THE STORY SO READ PLEASEEE

I think I'm done here.

yeah... byeee *runs away*