Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, only my OCs and this story (as well as the cover image).

Chapter 4

"Have you ever noticed how 'What the hell' is always the right decision to make?"

― Terry Johnson, Insignificance

The next day past without a hitch. Otou san made us milk rice with steamed black beans, I soaked my sister's pillows in vinegar for trying to put her stupid make up on me in the middle of the night (honesty, I'm 6, and guaranteed to stay cute until puberty) and managed to catch up with Keiko after she came out of the academy.

"You want me to show you my notes?! But that would mean having to write them Tora chan!" Keiko groaned, digging her toes into the mud piles we had just created. "Besides, being a civilian won't be that bad. Aren't you worried that your school will tell on you?"

I scoffed. "Honestly Keiko chan, I was born to be a ninja."

"Your parents wouldn't say that."

"Yeah, well I don't care what they say. They're not the boss of me." I growled. "Besides, as far as school is concerned, I've got a raging case of food poisoning."

Keiko snorted and poked my stomach. "Oh really? How did you convince them of that if you haven't even showed up?"

I shrugged, trying to maintain my aloof I'm all that facade. "Forged a sick note and got my sister to give it to the office. I told her it was a field trip letter."

"And you're sure she wouldn't have read it?"

"This is Ayame we're talking about; she wears more pink stuff than we do."

"Point." Keiko shook her head again, her mop of indigo hair dancing in the sun. "Fine, I'll write up some stuff for you, but I'm telling you now, sneaking around the academy with all our sensei's is a stupid idea."

"Well, if you think it's so stupid, then I bet you can't beat me in a race!" I challenged, index finger wielded like a sword.

Keiko narrowed her eyes. "That doesn't even make sense-"

"3 2 1 go!"

"Hey, get back here!"

And so I continued this new routine, blissfully unaware of how much I hadn't payed attention to the handful of times I had watched Naruto. So while I was running around, feeling awfully Hokage worthy...

While one lunchtime the bratty kids of the academy ran around in their break, the chunin teachers Suzume, Iruka and Daikoko were deep in conversation. They were perched within the recently abandoned classroom, sitting on desks by the open bamboo doors that lead to the open fields where their students played. Several trees lined the property, but one particular tree had their attention, even if they were supposedly intent on eating their lunches...

Daikoko couldn't help but chuckle. "I'll give the kid this, she's managed to stay out of sight of the others."

"Yes, all the while being arrogant enough to believe that she can escape detection from us. Honestly, this is why civilians are interviewed before they are entered into the academy." Suzume rolled her eyes behind her oval glasses. Her hands were busy with a small, seemingly innocent domestic knife peeling away the rind of her fruit.

"I don't think this is a normal one." Iruka said, his frown causing his scar to curl like waves along the bridge of his nose. "Check their chakra. Don't you think it feels odd for a civilian kid?"

Suzume paused. "It is strangely...developed I suppose. Maybe they have ninja in their family, but their parents changed their mind on them becoming one?"

Iruka shook his head. Daikoko interrupted, hands up to gesticulate. "You tell us, Iruka san. You're the one with chakra sensing thingy up your belt!"

"It's an echolocation technique baka, and don't speak with your mouth full!" Iruka scolded, a wave of deja vu passing over him.

"You're just jealous that I got the last chicken bento box at the market today!"

"As if!"

"Boys! Enough squabbling in the play pen." Suzume snapped. Satisfied with their silent pouting, she cooly said. "What are you suggesting, Iruka san? Do you want to induct them into this year's recruits?"

Iruka tilted his head. "Perhaps. I know it's not common to add a student in after the year has started, but it's barely the end of the first week."

"I suppose it is interesting that not even one of the clan kiddies have noticed our little spy. What did you mean by weird chakra?" Daikoko asked, arms crossed with one hand twirling the hair on his chin. He had never had a great interest in chakra sensing, preferring his physical skill set.

"It's unusually strong for someone that age. Nothing like..." Suzume trailed off, her head darting over to watch a blonde headed child run like a mad chicken around the grass.

Iruka nodded. "Not as strong as that at all, and the levels are constantly spiking. They obviously have no idea that their chakra is giving them away."

"That's just cute." Daikoko sniggered.

"But it also feels...odd."

"Odd?"

"...Odd." Iruka confirmed, unsure how to describe it. The three chunnin fell into a collective silence to ponder this new information. Eventually, as he noticed the clock and began to fear away his food, he announced. "I think I'm going to have a word with our little spy's parents once class is done for the day."