Yay, new chapter. Nothing much to say about this one...

I had asked my guardians to show me some stretches I could use in my quest of becoming an aerialist. They still didn't know what, exactly, an aerialist was, so I was forced upon the task of explaining it.

"Well, it's like gymnastics! And acrobatics! But mixed together, like!"

I was not the best with words. But they seemed to understand it well enough...
"-And they do cartwheels and backflips and they're always really pretty and you can do, like, dance routines to the flips and it's really cool and yeah."

"Honey," Sachi started.

"That sounds a lot like a ninja," Hiroto finished.

My face scrunched up.

"No! It's way cooler! Ninja are really stupid, anyway! I don't want to be a ninja!"

"Where," said Hiroto, "Did you even hear of an aerialist?"

"I don't know! Somewhere!"

"We don't even live around people, honey. Where did you hear this? Was it a book?"

"Yes! No! Maybe." My face slumped. "I don't know, okay? Do you want me to say I saw it in the tea leaves or something, 'cos Itachi-tan says that's not real."

It was true. The last time he had come over, I entertained the idea of magic and prophecies (jokingly, of course), and he shot me down quicker than a bullet.

I can't remember what he said, exactly; but I can remember pretty well how I responded.

"Calm down, Mr. Scientist Ninja (I thought I was pretty funny, coming up with that)! I'm six, not stupid. I know magic and stuff like that's not real!"

Sachi sighed, and pursed her lips together in a way that made me certain the conversation was over. Hiroto went off to practice calligraphy, or whatever he did in his free time, when he didn't teach me basic math skills and reading (not that I needed that, I loved to read and knew grammar well), and things a civilian ought to know. I knew some ninja things, too, thanks to my rarely-seen-on-screen brothers.

Not enough to let me pass the Academy, mind you, but pretty good, anyway.

I went back to my room to draw. Back in my first life, I was an okay artist. I could draw realistically, but I'd always had trouble with shading and noses and things like that. I'd preferred a more cartoonish style, but my new hands weren't coordinated enough for intricate pictures.

I was trying to draw a picture of Sasuke, because when I showed him my picture of Itachi the last time he visited, he thought was really good and he wanted a portrait, too.

I liked Sasuke. As a person, I mean. Twincest is not cool, and should not be shipped.

I didn't remember much of the plot from the show Naruto, but I did remember Sasuke betraying Konoha because of... Someone dying, I didn't remember who, but it had a huge impact on his way of thinking. And he went to a Snake-guy?

No, I think that was before, but I'm not positive...

I'd convinced Sachi to take me on walks around the forest where we lived. I was peaceful here, and breathtakingly beautiful. During the summer, all the lightning bugs would come out and lightly dot the air, while the small stream a few meters away bustled and it was so full of life.

I always enjoyed our nature walks.

Sometimes, a ninja would be camping out with their team, and sense us. Sachi would smile and introduce herself, gently nudging me to do the same. All while reaching into her bag to pull out her old hitai-ate, and invite them into our house for the night. They almost always declined, but I got my hair braided by a konoichi once, and ate dinner with a team once or twice.

Sometimes Sachi or Hiroto left to buy things at Konoha, but one of them always stayed home with me. This was the first time I had come with them to see Konoha. I has to practice my manners for three days straight beforehand, however, and I wasn't supposed to speak out of turn and such.

I mostly only used formal manners when we had guests and that was it, but perhaps it was different in a hidden village?

Anyway, we walked for a long while, and Hiroto had to pick me up a few times to make sure I could continue walking once we were in Konoha.

A bored looking man stopped us once we reached the gates. He raised his eyebrow once he saw me, but when he saw my guardian, he brightened immediately.

"Hiroto! Haven't seen you in a while, ne?" He smiled.

"It's nice to see you again, Souta. Ah, I'm just here with Sachi and our ward, Kaiya."

"It's nice to meet you," He smiled.

"Likewise!" I squeaked.

Hiroto handed some papers over, and the ninja nodded and let us in.

It was… Huge. Pretty. Colorful. And there were lots of people. I was a little overwhelmed, because I was used to... Well. Not this!

Sensing my disbelief, probably, Sachi just took my hand and went to a store.

We tried on pretty dresses and clothes. By the time I was hungry and it was time for lunch, we had splurged on at least four bags of clothing. I had talked to tons of people, and most of them pinched my check (which hurt), and commented on my politeness.

Ha! As if...

We were going to a ramen stand or something like that called 'Ichiraku Ramen'. I had to keep the name down on a note-sheet as our meeting place, and memorize it.

I'd never had restaurant made ramen, only the instant kind for when I was too lazy to make lunch.

Sachi sat with me, waiting for Hiroto, until she realized she left a bag or whatever back at one of the stores. Apparently she knew the owner well enough to leave me there to wait, and let me order whatever.

I got chicken ramen, not comfortable with much else. I liked beef well enough, but Hiroto always made it wrong and I just...

I was waiting for it to be finished when some blonde weirdo bounded up to me excitedly.

...The main character...

Uzumaki Naruto...

"Hi! I'm Uzumaki Naruto! I'm gonna be the next Hokage! I've never seen you before, are you new?"

"It's nice to meet you, Uzumaki-san... I am Uchiha Kaiya. I don't live in town, I'm just here for a visit. So, to answer your question, yes, I am 'new' here." Geez, did I sound like a try-hard or what?

"Cool! What're you calling me 'Uzumaki-san' for? I'm just Naruto!"

"Okay, then... Naruto-san. What ramen are you planning on getting?"

"Miso!"

We left soon afterwards, but I don't think I'll ever quite forget my first meeting with Konoha's Most Unpredictable Ninja.

My family missed my seventh birthday. They had something to do, and I didn't get to see them that year. Maybe next year...

Now, class, can you tell me why that isn't going to happen?