Author's note:

Hey readers

just wanted to say that after rereading my own work and decided that Hiyori was unrealisticly has fast progress on the physical department despite her very young age. I decided that from this chapter I'll make all characters a year older than they should despite no time-skip

It won't affect the story and I'm just telling you cause I want to anyway

Enjoy

Disclaiming NARUTO and all things cannon.

Chapter 10: Rikuo vs Shisui

It's already passed sundown and almost bedtime for most citizen in Konoha.

It was a time when Rikuo should have gone bed.

It was a time when Rikuo should have eat dinner.

It was a time when Rikuo should have come HOME!

"Where the hell is that idiot!" right now I'm mad but I'm fucking worry out of my mind. What if Danzo had his slimy little way and finally got Rikuo on his hand. I swear I'll turn Konoha upside down if I have to if he ever does.

Had I've been a jinchuuriki instead, I think the bijuu chakra should have enveloped me by now.

I used the tracking seal and made my way toward Training Ground 12, immediately I found RIkuo only he had his back on his ground and the area around him was full of senbon, kunai, and shuriken and few other weapons I couldn't name but I recognize some of what Ten Ten used. My blood boiled in panic as I made my way to him, hoping he was fine.

He looked listless and breathing, I checked his body and there was barely any bruise, what in the world happe….

*SNORE*

….

Ah, now I see…..he's just exhausted and fell asleep here.

Hmm, good, good, at least he's not in danger or anything.

"WAKE UP IDIOT!" I cried while slapping his head. Rikuo jerked up with alert, turning his head left and right until he realized where he was.

Next, he looked at the sky, aware of what time it is. Then he looked down at me with eyes red from tears, arm crossed, and a death glare that sent shiver down his back.

"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" I said with icely tone.

Rikuo knew I was pissed and gulped. He was stuttering for words but got to explain.

Basically, he was training to be the oh-so-greatest-weapon-user that he's lately been training overtime to get used with throwing weapons which he mostly had a hard time with.

"When have you started doing this?"

"Hmm, about a month, I only started practicing shuriken and stuff recently, usually it's the sword, tanto, and spear. I usually don't overwork myself honest! Just….enough that I barely couldn't move"

"That's what you call overworking idiot!"

Rikuo shifted his gaze I notice the irritated look on his face, "What am I supposed to do then?! The academy has only started explaining the theoretical stuff, I only have you to spar without holding back and that's only in my freaking mind. You said yourself that I have a target on my back Hiyori! How am I supposed to get stronger when I'm holding back? How will I know I get stronger without overworking myself or anyone pointing that for me?!" he said sternly and softly, he knew that there were words he didn't want anyone around to hear, but I bet it didn't matter to ANBU if they could enhance their senses.

However, being heard or not didn't matter.

Rikuo expression shifted to one with realization and looked lost on how he's going to face me.

I sigh, thinking through his words. He made it look like an outburst but he has a point. I held him back along with me because I can't practice my eyes out on the open. He has Danzo and Akatsuki on his target list, telling him the inevitable future, and every day I kept pushing him to be stronger but reminding him to hold back in the academy.

No wonder he's pissed.

Rikuo took my silence as anger as he got up and apologize only for me to cut him off with my own.

"I'm sorry Rikuo"

"Wha…."

"You were right, I might have…..expecting too hard from you. I'm sorry I didn't realize you were having problems on your own." I was truly regretting my shortcoming, and was irritated that I didn't see it myself. But people aren't perfect so I can't expect myself to be.

"No, Hiyori….."

*GROWL*

The tense air snapped like a twig from someone's stomach and you could guess it was from someone who had missed dinner.

Which was both of us actually.

We exchange gaze as if conforming what we heard and burst out laughing the next. Oh kami this is the first time I had synchronize stomach grumble. Once Rikuo wiped the tears falling from his eyes, he looked at me with sad eyes yet the smile hadn't left his face.

"You don't need to apologize Hiyori…..I shouldn't have put it that way….you were only trying to help me….you always have and I…"

"Doesn't mean I'll always be right Rikuo" I smiled sincerely at him which seemed to put him in ease, "Tomorrow you have a day off right, come with me, there's someone I wanted you to meet."

I took his hands and decided to take the weapons in the early morning. Leading the exhausted Rikuo back to our home.

#

"Rikuo…meet Shisui and Itachi Uchiha, guys, meet Rikuo Kurogane"

The next day at the park, the two Uchiha's weren't very much expecting company and neither was Rikuo. I took their awkward expression as a job well done for me.

I'm sure the three had expected for me to want them to be friends and get along and all but sadly, I don't plan to start things civil.

"Shisui, Rikuo asked for a spar with you!"

From my declaration, Rikuo wanted to protest but I shut him up with a dango I had buy beforehand.

Hmm, I'm having a sickly obsession with dango more than Itachi at this rate.

"I don't mind but why all of a sudden?"

"I told him about you, and he said that for an Uchiha you sound idiotic and probably won't amount too much and that he could kick your ass anytime"

Rikuo was about to refute once more but I shoved another stick of dango into him.

We felt a cold anger emitting from him, Shisui still had a smile splattered on his face but he looked ready to pounce. "Hooo, so an academy brat who just started thinks he could take me on, now how could I refuse that" he said with his usual chipper voice, but if you're in my shoe, you could tell he's not chipper.

"Let's go to a training ground shall we?"

#

"Hiyori, what the hell are you doing?!" Rikuo whispers to me.

"Getting you a sparring partner"

"Why not someone closer to my age like Itachi?! Heck, why did you even try to rile him up?"

Pfft, making him spar with the future S Class missing-nin? Even I'm not that heartless. Though Rikuo still didn't know Itachi will be the one who massacre his clan, I codenamed him the Martyr and the reason because I didn't want him to treat Itachi any differently with others.

"It's because he could get rile up that I choose him, well either you get your ass kick or you put up a fight so I'll only tell you one thing…." I gave him the scroll that had the store weapon he never had the chance to use first hand and I looked at him straight in the eye with a determinant look.

"Don't hold back."

He blinked in surprise, I never told him not to hold back so now I don't expect him to win or lose, I expect him to show everything he had.

He smiled and took the scroll.

#

Out of all the training ground, I never would have thought it would be training ground three. I never got the chance here since that time with Kakashi.

Shisui and Rikuo was standing face to face about 20 feet from each other. Shisui looked lay back but he had no opening while Rikuo armed my sword the…

OH MY KAMI, WE NEVER GOT TO NAME THE SWORD!

I remembered Mino-ojii said to leave the name to me and yet why was I so slow.

Heck even my umbrella-sword has a name called the Funsai-ki by the way, meaning the Crusher.

I don't know if the maker was lazy or honestly thought the literal meaning was cooler.

Okay back to the story.

The sword in Rikuo's hand was long and didn't look like it would be wield well by a 9 year old. Shisui must have seen that point and smirk when he saw Rikuo holding it. "Hiyori, what's the rule for this?"

"Show everything you got but don't aim to kill or injured lethally" I said flatly.

"If that's the case, this'll be done in a flash"

Oh yea, Shisui the Body Fllicker. Rikuo would need to find a way to handle that.

Godspeed Rikuo.

I cleared my throat and with my loudest voice which turned out mostly to a shriek, I cried "BEGIN!"

At the signal, Shisui flickered his way behind Rikuo and made a series of hand seals that even I was familiar with.

Shisui is seriously isn't holding back.

"Katon: Gokakyuu no Jutsu—Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu"

The place where Rikuo was fully engulf in flame, I winced at the heat but it shouldn't be enough heat to be lethal but enough for a few degrees burn. Shisui turned his back on him with a smile as he walked away and toward us. "That was easy" he mouthed.

"Idiot" Itachi whispered.

I wonder who he meant that for because right after that, Shisui must have sensed something and shusin himself away in panic. For a ninja, it was a latent ability to feel the chakra of an attack which is why even though the anime should have depict chakra as invisible, ninja could feel the shape of it.

The fire had reduced significantly and Rikuo was unharmed and he had his sword pointing at the previous place Shisui's was. "With that speed…..this will be tricky." Rikuo commented.

I agree, now what will you do Rikuo? Son Goku should be watching you as well by now so you better impressed him.

Shisui's whistle, "That's not just a sword is it?"

"Wouldn't you like to find out?" taunted Rikuo.

This time, with Rikuo making the move first. He used a one hand to form various hand seals which cause Shisui to stunned from disbelief. The thing is, Ninjutsu had been long use one hand seal according to Son, people used two hand seals because it's easier especially to those who had bad chakra control. However since we had perfect chakra control from our training and Son insisted in making us practice one hand seal to get used to it and teaches us.

He made a slam on the ground and activate his jutsu. "Doton: Retsudo Tensho—Earth Style: Earthquake Slam" The ground around them immediately shifted, changing the grassy terrain into one with disoriented rumbles around them. Itachi and me also moved to not get caught with it.

"He knows a C-Rank element jutsu? With one hand seals at that" Itachi couldn't help ask.

"I'm sure you could do a C-Rank way before he could Itachi"

"Hn"

Shisui flickered from one place to another until the shaking stopped and didn't get caught the full effect from it. Though he then had to sidestep from and underground attack aimed at his head. Oddly though, even though Shisui was sure Rikuo had missed, there was a clear cut from his chin up to his lips. "Seriously, how many tricks does that sword have?"

"Not many" Rikuo admitted before he dashed toward Shisui as he pulled out his tanto from his sheath and decided to go full blown kenjutsu with him.

They were skillfully making use of their sword technique, though noticeably, he had used the Sabre Technique to make his sword like a giant axe. Against Shisui's tanto it was almost overwhelm, but Shisui didn't look alarmed and instead managed to parry his attacks with ease. Knowing his skill alone couldn't match him, Rikuo changed tactic to using Chakra bullets in the midst, forcing Shisui to step back since when he dodge the chakra he gets attack, when he parry's the attack he gets hit with chakra.

That style of switching chakra to weapon at any given moment is what most samurai uses other than technique and sheer strength.

Shisui who never seem to handle such situation was flustered but he seemed to have had enough sizing him and decided to body flicker behind him and aimed his tanto to his neck. Rikuo seemed to have waited for this when he realized Shisui was gone, he changed his sword to that to a scythe that was pointing whatever enemy behind him.

Shisui was taken aback when his ear was less than an inch from the tip of the scythe blade and flickered away once more. I didn't miss the smirk and Rikuo made a tiger seal and shouted "KAI." The ground Shisui's standing surrounded him in a 3 meter wall. This way, Shisui had to flicker toward the top, but that's where Rikuo would anticipate and aimed a chakra bullet right toward his head, intending to knock him out.

"I see so that's how it is" Itachi murmured.

"What, what, what did you get?"

"At first I thought the terrain was used to go against his Shushin since it's far more disadvantage at a wide open terrain. However, at the span time he had in the underground, it seemed he had placed seals to release earth style jutsu to cage him but in this case, to lure him to one location."

It was probably the first time I heard Itachi talking in a long full sentence like that and he had a curious gleam in his eyes.

"Good plan, but too simple."

"Agree"

Unlike how Rikuo had envision, Shisui caught him off guard with a blast of lightning cutting through the earth wall. Rikuo didn't have time to adjust to this before an electrified tanto was pointing between his eyes.

Rikuo bit his lips in frustration before he yield and Shisui sheathed his tanto back to his sheath.

Rikuo made another series of hand seals to adjust the terrain back before he flop his back to the ground. Shisui on the other hand was grinning ear to ear the whole time. "I've got to say this, you were awesome!"

"What?" that didn't just come Rikuo but from me as well since….he looked awed at someone he just beat. Not many could actually feel that way.

Now I have more respect to him.

"You're like only in the academy but you can use one hand to form seal that's just amazing, you're tactics weren't bad but it doesn't have enough layer in case of failures, and what was that you did with your chakra, it's different from chakra flow but it goes hand in hand with your style so I'm guessing it's a part of your kenjutsu. Moreover your sword! Kami that's the coolest sword I've ever seen! It could shoot out chakra and turned into scythe. It made me thought of a shinigami is disguising as a samurai with it." Shisui said with a snicker.

Hmm, a samurai shinigami? Shinigami in disguise… A Hidden Reaper—Kakusa Karito. That's not a bad name for the sword, I should tell that to RIkuo later.

"Uhm…thanks?" Rikuo looked unsure as he said it.

"Hey Itachi, looks like you have a future prodigy rival in the making!"

"Hn that was an impressive battle Kurogane-san"

"Really? Shisui barely go all out though, and if he had the Sharingan then he didn't use it." I commented on the side.

"Hey, I don't see you fighting him. Who the hell did you spar me up against because he sure is not normal from what I could tell?" He said snapping at me.

"Like you're one to talk" I snapped back.

"Now, now, since the spar finished why don't we go buy our self a drink?" Shisui said, trying to soothe the tension then turned to look at me with a curious assessing glint in his eye and I just innocently smile, as if not knowing what he was most likely be thinking.

I offered my hand to him and Rikuo took it with a grunt. "Did you have fun?" I asked softly.

Rikuo thought about it, then he shrug. "Not bad I guess"

"You can stop holding back by the way" I whispered him from the side.

"Weren't you worried I got taken in by Scar Face?"

"Don't worry, if you disappear, I'll rip Konoha to pieces if it gets me to find you." I was really serious at that statement but Rikuo offered me a smile and pat me in the head.

"Then I'll make sure to do the same for you, though I'll have to get stronger first"

I nudge him on the side, happy he cherished me that much. I looked at him staring daggers at Shisui's back as he inwardly resolve himself once more his determent to get stronger, and maybe he was hoping a little to get as strong as Shisui's.

I knew it was a good thing for him to spar him. I thought one of the things what made Rikuo frustrated is that he doesn't have a goal to reach. He had a dream, yes. But without someone for him to reach and overcome, it made him unsure where he was going.

"By the way, why wouldn't you had spar me with Itachi?" he asked, snapping me from my thoughts.

"Because he won't hold back and fucked your mind real bad" I said flatly causing him to sweat nervously at the thought

#

Next few days when Itachi and Shisui didn't come, I was greeted by one face I had the chance to meet a few times after that one incident together.

"Neji, good to see you!"

"Hmph, it seems fate had led me to you once more Hiyori-san"

"Oh don't give me that, fate or not, you're here so why don't we hang out like the good friends we are?"

Neji's gaze had given me an expression I was being ridiculous. Sooner or later he'll get used to me though.

"We barely know each other, what makes you think I'd be friends with the likes of you?"

I scoffed at his royalty attitude, "Because I said so and you can deny it as much as you want Neji, but I'll make you say we're friends and be warn that I have my ways in getting what I want" I said with Cheshire grin.

Neji raised an eyebrow but somehow took it as a challenge as he made that Hyuuga smirk.

He would have been so adorable if it weren't for his attitude.

However, I know he has a good heart deep down. Like the fact he would sometimes give death glares to bullies who aims at me because of my one bandaged eye.

So here in the park, I either meet up with the Uchihas or meet with a Hyuuga.

….

That's quite a play of fate if I do say so myself.

Who would have thought I would get in acquainted with members of the two clan.

Thinking that, there was a point that's been bothering me for a while.

"Neji why are you avoiding the Uchiha?"

Neji jerked and snapped his head at me. He muct have never expected me to notice.

Seriously Neji, every time Shisui or Itachi couldn't come you would be there hanging out with me, of course I'd notice you only show up when the Uchiha wasn't present.

Neji kept staring at me until he sigh suddenly, "I kept forgetting you weren't from this village"

"What does have anything to do with them?"

Neji scowled, he wanted to explain I suspect but not sure how to go about it. "Hiyori-san, I think you should not be so close with the Uchiha."

"Why?"

"They are currently not the most trustworthy clan at the moment, most of my clansmen are wary of them for a reason and so should you"

And here I thought it was some rivalry issue. Kami dammit, to think the isolation was this serious. Well if it weren't than there wouldn't have a coup in the first place.

"Well I like them regardless, Shisui did say his clan was stuck up so I'm guessing there are exception."

Neji sigh once more, he must have thought I didn't fully understand him when I know more than I could have wanted. Then our conversation broke from the sound of crying.

We turned our heads toward the source and saw a girl about our age, crying at the edge of the park. She had curly black hair tied in twin tail, she had crooked teeth I saw as she cried, angular head and freckles around her face. I made my way toward her side and started stroking her back in circle as I asked what was wrong softly.

She began to quiet down at the moment and turned to me with her face wet from tears and snot.

"My doll…." She started. "My brother took my doll and throw it into the tree and now I can't get it back"

I asked which tree and she pointed the tree in front of her, I eyed the tree for the doll and had difficulty when I noticed his brother must have put it some strength because the doll was waaaay high up, right at the middle of a 10 meter tree.

I patted her back once more to calm her and without much of a thought, I promise her to get the doll back.

Neji who had been silent, not caring much of the situation was forced to intention when I declared such.

"Can you even climb that high?" he asked skeptically.

"Hmmm, won't know if I don't try right?"

"Why do I have this feeling you're fated to fall?"

Okay, I was a little pissed at that. Can't he try putting more faith in me. "Fine then, let's make a bet. If I get the doll back without falling, then you'll have to spar with me, if I don't then…I'll just have you decide that!"

Neji pondered for a moment, but thought of it as acceptable bet.

I grin and went straight to the tree, chakra flowed on my hand and feet, reinforcing me in climbing.

With this, there's no way I lose the bet.

That arrogant moment became my downfall.

Just as I had reached for the doll and smirk at Neji, I failed to notice a familiar looking cat with ribbon snap to attention from my appearance and pounced at me.

It took only a moment for me to realize this cat was the infamous Tora.

And the immortal hell cat I bet sent from Jashin himself to lead me to my downfall.

Literally.

I screamed.

Neji panicked but immediately went to where he predicted I'd fall.

Before he did, someone has jumped and caught me in midair. Instinctively I reach for him and hold on to him like my dear life depends on it.

Once we reached the ground safely, I took a good look at my savior and smiled.

"Thank you so much for saving me Itachi"

"Hn you should be careful next time, good thing I passed by"

"Hey, blame the demon cat!" on cue, the cat hissed at me before he began running back toward the forest. "I swear Itachi, that cat must be planning humanity's downfall in that forest somewhere"

Itachi chuckled and when Neji broke our conversation with a cough, we both realized he was stuck carrying me bridal-style for some time with my face close up on him.

He was 10 now, so he had that adorable look, but the handsome part is starting to come out.

I know, I'm talking nonsense.

I let my feet touched the ground as he let go and gave the doll to the girl which she took it happily and gratefully before she said her farewells.

"Looks like you won the bet Neji" I grin at him but it fell immediately when I saw the deep scowl in his face unlike I've ever seen him do.

He wasn't just displeased.

He was pissed.

What's more his gaze was toward both me and Itachi.

Hmmmm, not good indeed.

"I told you were fated to fall" he said while holding back a spat.

"Yeah, you kind of did" I my voice squeak and I had my head down. Ugh, now I reinforced his conviction in unchangeable fate.

"You were lucky the Uchiha was there to caught you, otherwise you would have been badly hurt"

At this, I snap my head right back up. Was Neji….worried about me?

Oh man, now I feel bad and happy at the same time. I had to bring out my will to suppress my grin. "I wasn't worried, you were there even if he hadn't right?"

Neji's eye began to soften at my blunt trust for him. He rub the bridge of his nose then eyed me, "Please try not to do anything reckless."

"I will made no such promises" I made a cheeky grin and Neji Irk Bar must be spiking by now.

I then turned to Itachi who was silent at the whole ordeal and since this might be the only time a Hyuuga and Uchiha child member are present, I decided it was also a fate playing a part indeed in this.

Gosh, Neji is rubbing on me.

"Itachi meet Neji Hyuuga, Neji meet Itachi Uchiha."

They both silently stared at eachother, Itachi was the first to nod and that it was a pleasure to meet him. Neji did likewise. For someone saying they had pleasure, their faces was indifferent and showed no emotion like a good ninja they are.

I'm really tempted to break their poker faces, sadly I don't have ideas for it at the moment.

"Enough with the glare you two, Itachi, as thanks I'm buying you dango and Neji, since you win the bet, do you have anything you want me to do?"

Neji looked at me and his lips parted, but for some reason stopped himself. "I don't need you for anything, so let's just call of the bet"

"Hmph, your loss Neji"

#

Later that night, just before Rikuo could closed his eyes to sleep. I flashed my Sharingan just in time to get inside the mindscape.

"Greetings Son Goku-sama"

"Hmm, why if it isn't Hiyori Myou, what brings you to the present of the—"

"Great Sage of Equaling Heaven, you said that many times I remembered it by heart now"

"Just how it should be ukikikikiki, now what is it you need that little Rikuo had to side-step mind training today?"

"Oh, so you call him Rikuo now?" I made a flash smile that made Son's gaze shifted away and had a tinge of red.

"I….may have….reconsider him after his display with the Uchiha Brat…..far outcry still from my previous host though"

"Of course, but like I said, he'll grow stronger, and he'll be there providing his help in the war"

"Yes, yes, you said that many times as well, now out with what you want!"

"There's actually a jutsu I wanted to make"

"Hmph, already coming up your own jutsu, I guess I shouldn't be surprised"

"Yes, but I would like your opinion on this" I then gave him a rough explanation of the future jutsu I wish to make. In the future, I will be going against many S-Class criminals and I need a jutsu that could stand up against them. And the jutsu I envision would possibly class as an S-rank technique.

It'll take many years to accomplish it.

Which is why I need to start preparing myself.

"So what do you think?" I asked after finishing explaining

Son Goku was silenced, I wasn't sure the kind of emotion he had at his passive monkey face. "Kid, you do realize that jutsu you're trying to complete will be classified as one of the dangerous kinjutsu for the ability to destroy a shinobi's life?"

"I am aware, but after seeing things in my vision, I can say not even death could keep evil away"

"Hmmm, the jutsu you have will need precision as much as or even more so than your top medic-nin, and while the lightning element could give you speed, the wind element give you agility which is I would suggest the later if you're going through with said style."

"Thank you Son Goku-sama"

"Don't thank me kid, I couldn't even laugh from how ridiculous your mind could come up such a thing."

"If that's enough to make even you speechless, imagine how people react when nidaime made the Edo Tensei?"

#OMAKE

Itachi was curious.

He was a boy who people called genius that at the age of 7, they assumed he had the wisdom of a kage.

Personally he felt he was just being detached an impartial.

That helped him giving sound judgment and helped him understand people than most do.

However, Hiyori Myou was different.

She was an oddity.

She claimed herself to be 'unique' shy and reserved but once you made her opened up a little, she would welcome you with wide arms and she jest as much as Shisui. At times she should make the strangest remark but with a hint of wisdom in it. If she intends to hide it then she hid it well, but he was sure Hiyori is more aware and knowledgeable than most child her age should.

Something the Uchiha Prodigies could relate and attracted them to came meet her when they had time.

And for some reason, someone like her would often try hard to get him react to her.

She sense his detachment, and hoped for him to open up.

And what Hiyori was unaware of, she has succeed long ago before she tried.

Habits are just hard to break for the young Itachi.

He wasn't as curious now that he admit himself she was a friend regardless what she's like.

Then out of the blue, she introduced to them Rikuo Kurogane.

And Hiyori had spark blood into Shisui to make him spar with Rikuo.

What purpose it was for, he had no idea. Which sparks his curiosity to not only Hiyori but to the white haired boy. He looked familiar for someone he just met but he lightly brushed it off as he watched the spar.

It was quite one sided when you know the opponent is holding back. Not knowing he was fighting an ANBU. However, his set of skill were unique and intriguing that he briefly wished he had been the one sparring with him.

She also was able to somehow be acquainted with a Hyuuga. He was aware how wary is he of him and his clan. He must have seen something in her if he could tolerate being with him despite his own mix feeling.

Again he turned his attention to the girl on his side, she wanted this spar for a reason but couldn't find the reason and pondered how she thinks. He was asking himself 'who is Hiyori Myou?' Itachi wanted to know so he'll just silently watch over her.

Maybe one day he'll get his answer.