Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

(I totally did not forget to update. Forgive me.)


Chapter 12


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2 months of watching Mizuki nag at them flew past quickly, and Class 1A had finally begun to practice actual taijutsu, and not just study the various moves and techniques.

In the past two months, Aguri had been doing well but not exceedingly well, and the only thing that was noteworthy about her would be her chakra control. Her taijutsu was just slightly above average, and honestly, she thought that the only reason she was doing well at all was because of her advanced mind and extra years of experience- meaning that she had a better 'common sense' and that she knew how to do things more efficiently.

(After all, common sense was far less common that what one would expect.)

It felt just like cheating, that the only reason she was able to do well in anything at all was because of her life-hacks in the form of twenty years of experience, but she should be grateful, because at least she still had most of her memories.

And as much as she doesn't want to admit it, it scared her. Everything scared her at this point, and she was not even a ninja yet, for goodness' sake. It scared her that her mother was never at home, and that her father was in the hospital. It scared her that she just might be losing her sanity, because no sane person heard voices in their mind. It was freaking her out how swiftly time was slipping through her fingers, reminding her that even though she was currently a child, time was never on her side and never will be.

(Sometimes, she looked into the mirror and felt like she was looking at a stranger. Her looks, her smile... who the hell was she?)

Nothing could last forever. Those whom you trusted with your life may very well one day stab you in the back. Bonds could be broken. Dreams couldn't last forever- they are either torn apart from sinking reality, and once you fulfill a dream, won't it disappear? Eventually, you grow tired and bored of it and it wasn't a dream anymore, that was why living in a dream was impossible, because life itself doesn't last forever, and it was a bed of prickly roses.

The girl who got knocked over by a car could very well be a living lie. The boy who was ostracized as a kid could very well be everyone's future savior. A boy with bright eyes and a kind smile could grow up nearly driven mad by the death of his family. The cheerful outcast who used to help the elderly cross the road could lose his mind over the death of someone he loved dearly. A mother who raised you all your life may leave you on your own because she was afraid that everything was a mistake.

Nothing lasted forever because there would always be change. It was sort of ironic in a sense, that change was the only constant.

Aguri looked around her, and she wondered how long this sense of fleeting peacefulness would last. She wondered if the smiles on the faces of those closest to her were just masks, and she wondered how many were hurting inside. Maybe none. Maybe all of them.

Nothing brought this on- except for maybe the fact that she was just living up to the expectations of society.

She felt the need to question this existence of hers. She wanted, no, needed to find something to justify the mystery named Fusako Aguri.

Why was she training to be a ninja? She could very well just be an ordinary civilian. She could just pretend she didn't know anything, and watch as everything headed towards the way it was supposed to be. Why was she even doing this? There was sure to be some sort of effect of her here, because she didn't belong here. What made her think she could help this world, even remotely? What even made her think she was supposed to be trying to change something here?

It didn't even make sense, because Naruto ended off being happy, didn't it? Everyone grew up and was perfectly happy. What right did she have to change that?

Why was she here?

For all she knew, this peacefulness was a lie. It could just be an illusion, after all. Maybe this was a genjutsu. Maybe this was just fragments of reality. Konoha reminded her of so many unfulfilled promises and regrets that she had left behind. Her name was robbed away, along with her normal life. Maybe this was just someone up there mocking her former temporal existence.

Aguri heard someone laugh, and for how good her hearing was, she could never figure out who was the one laughing.

.

The end of the year loomed before her with a sort of finality, and she knew that she was doomed.

Over the course of the year, at least five people had dropped out from the Academy from being unable to cope with the strenuous training. With the end of the year came major exams- though if she were to be brutally honest, she wasn't particular concerned about anything other than the taijutsu practical.

(Sure, her weapon throwing could do with more concern, but yeah. She just sucked at that. One day she would find what she was good at, but whatever it was, it wasn't amazing accuracy in throwing weapons, or at least shuriken and kunai.)

The upcoming taijutsu exam was to be done in pairs. Lee and Daisuke had already paired up to fight each other for the upcoming exam. This meant that she was pretty much alone, because the only two people whom she was at least acquaintances with were pairing up with each other. It had come as a surprise though, but she shouldn't have been that surprised about it, really.

"I do not wish to fight Aguri-saaan!" A tearful Lee had proclaimed just earlier that day.

So now, Aguri was walking around the grounds with a sort of desperation. Tenten was partnered with someone not familiar to her, and Hajime was partnered up with one of his goons. To think she was as desperate as to consider pairing up with someone she didn't talk to and her brat of a cousin.

Ah, but such is the life of a loner.

She groaned softly and eventually gave up on looking by herself, because not only was she the youngest in class, she was tiny. She felt tiny. Walking towards Mizuki, she decided to approach him for assistance despite the mild bitter taste in her mouth.

"Sensei," She heard herself say. "I can't find a partner."

Mizuki glanced at her, his gaze shifting from calculating to one more akin to understanding in a matter of seconds, and the corners of his mouth stretched up into a not-smile.

"Well, that's not good, Aguri-chan. Class! Who doesn't have a partner?" He called out for attention from the class, his tone sounding a tad too warm.

Aguri fidgeted on the spot as the class suddenly turned her attention onto her and it made her extremely uncomfortable, knowing that a whole bunch of six year-olds who consisted mostly of self-assured and judgmental brats were staring at her like she was a caged tiger on display. She heard Lee's audible sniff all the way from across the training grounds, quickly accompanied by Daisuke's half-hearted attempt to calm him down, and was broken between wanting to laugh or run away.

Suddenly there was a hasty shift in the crowd as it hurriedly parted for someone to move to the front, and Aguri blanched.

The person, who was notably strong in taijutsu, had undoubtedly been unable to find a partner as well, despite his overwhelming popularity as top student in the class- mainly because of the glaring fact that no one wanted to get their ass kicked. He stood, clear eyes holding a strong gaze and his head held unnecessarily high.

For her taijutsu grading, her sparring partner will be none other than Neji Hyuuga. They stared at each other, and her grey eyes narrowed as they met pale ones. It remained that way until class ended and along with it came the end of school. She grabbed her things and ran out of class, feeling like an asshole for leaving Daisuke and Lee behind even though they hadn't asked her if they could walk home with her yet.

But for now, there was only one thing in her mind.

Damn. I'm so screwed.

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"Mother?"

Aguri ran into the house, and was greeted with an empty silence. As was to be expected.

"Psh, dang you." She backtracked out of the house, slamming the door close behind her before she dashed off to the hospital.

"Can I visit Fusako Miyuki?" Aguri pleaded as she confronted the nurse standing by the door, doing her best impression of Naruto's puppy eyes, but to her sinking displeasure the nurse shook her head.

"I'm sorry. Fusako-san is currently resting." She nodded and sighed.

"Thanks. Send him my regards!" Calling out half-heartedly, she began to jog away.

She went to find Shisui subsequently after that, hoping that he could give her some advice, but he was already discharged from the hospital. She ran to the Nara's to ask Shikamaru for advice, but he wasn't at home. Hell, Lee and Daisuke were nowhere to be found either.

She almost contemplated visiting Naruto when an idea struck her when she groaned as she smacked herself on the forehead.

"How did I not think about this earlier?" Aguri grumbled at her own stupidity as she bolted towards the Uchiha's. Urgh. Count on her for her thinking to be affected at a crucial time like this.

Gulping in a breath, she dashed over to the front gate, pushing it open and slipping inside. The guards by the door paid her no attention at the common sight.

"Sasuke! You here?" She called out. A few passing Uchiha's spared her an odd look, before turning their mighty heads away. Undoubtedly, they were cringing at the sight of such a dishevelled girl in their compound.

A flurry of footsteps could be heard as the said young Uchiha poked his head around the door, and upon seeing her, a grin appeared on his face as he waved.

"Miss me already?" He asked with a wry grin, however it quickly shifted as he finally noticed her distress. Aguri swallowed.

"HYUUGA IS AFTER MY BLOOD." Sasuke winced at the shrill wail and her hands flew about as she attempted to gather herself before she flipped out completely, and Sasuke looked almost at a lost of how to deal with a tiny five year-old who was freaking out, and-

Poke.

Hang on. Did someone just poke her?

Her eyes shifted upwards as a pair of dark eyes that didn't belong to Sasuke stared back at her. His arm landed back by his side as he stepped back in silence.

"...Heya, Itachi-san." She said, feeling about ten times better for some reason. The incredulous look that appeared on Sasuke's face was almost funny.

"...Hello, Aguri-san. Have you calmed down yet?" He spoke politely, if not rather softly.

His words registered about a second late. Holy shit, this was the first time she actually heard Itachi speak more than one sentence at a time.

"Y-Yeah, I think so. Thanks." She spoke, feeling the awkwardness that came with thanking Itachi for poking her in the forehead.

(Also, damn the traitorous stutter.)

Aguri closed her eyes and willed Sasuke to break the awkwardness somehow. Then she gave up on that thought and sighed, turning towards the younger Uchiha..

"Hey, can you spar with me? I need all the practice I can get if I don't want to lose too badly." Swallowing sheepishly, her hand placed itself on the back of her neck as she spoke.

Heck, I already know I'm probably going to lose. I just don't want to lose to that kid so easily.

Inwardly in her mind she complained, because her damn pride won't let her consider the thought of letting a six year-old turn her into a punching bag. Hell, she wasn't even anywhere near the Hyuuga's level- this body of hers (with nonexistent stamina) was no way conditioned like her old one, it had no way of performing the karate moves she had learnt and she just did not think that karate could beat taijutsu. She had been dead wrong when she thought that she could incorporate some of her moves in her fighting- she already had difficulty remembering details from her former life as it is, how could you expect her to remember every single karate move? For that she had relied mostly on muscle memory, and it definitely wasn't going to help.

Her age already put her at a disadvantage- not only was she smaller (albeit shorter), she was also lighter, and that meant that she wouldn't have much luck trying to tackle anyone until she was actually not a pipsqueak. It worked that one time on Hajime, but that had only because he was being a careless asshole.

(Her only salvation was that her fighting style was vicious, or at least she thought that it was. She liked to think that she was intimidating in battle but she realised she probably just looked like a tiny pissed-off kitten. Urgh.)

In the span of all that inward freaking out in five seconds, Sasuke glanced at her like he could sense her anxiety. He grinned.

(She grinned back at him because she knew what was his answer already, and she wondered what made her deserve such an amazing friend like the little shit.)

"'kay." He intoned, and without a further word he dropped into a stance and signaled for her to make the first move.

And so she did.

Aguri charged towards him, light on her heels, and her fists swung at him. He backed up, landing back on his feet for mere seconds before he catapulted towards her, before quickly vanishing out of sight. Aguri heard the whoosh in the air before she saw him, and spinning around she raised her arms as she blocked the upcoming blow.

Suddenly she was the one on the defensive as she began to dodge blow by blow, and Sasuke moved faster than what her eyes were used to seeing. She weaved around his kicks and punches, with a sort of flexibility that she didn't know she possessed before this spar.

The Uchiha Clan's taijutsu style was fast and dynamic- in other words, it was all speed and power. It gave you no room to breath and it kept you on the tips of your feet. It blew you away with the sheer intensity.

And there was no doubt that Sasuke was taught to fight like this from his infant days. He had power and speed on his arsenal. She had... at least the speed needed to keep up.

But what she liked about Sasuke was how he didn't hold back. He wouldn't fight her with anything less than a hundred percent and she appreciated it.

A fist flew by her face, and she dodged in time, feeling the air whistle in her ears. Ducking under Sasuke's arm, she made use of her momentum, sliding to the ground behind him and her hand flew out to strike him in the back of his head. Almost immediately, he turned around and bent backwards, her fist soaring a mere inch from his face.

In retaliation, he struck out in a kick- and she didn't see it coming. By the time she tried to back out of harm's way, the kick met it's target, and with a wheeze the air is knocked out of her as her body is pushed several meters behind from the impact, and she landed less-than-gracefully on the dirt ground.

Stepping forward in silence, Itachi called the spar off, and Sasuke was the winner, because he had made the first real strike.

"Damn, you really like making me land on the ground, don't you?" Aguri grumbled, wheezing as she pushed herself back up. 'And on my ass, no less.' She added in her mind, grumbling softly.

Itachi's attention silently snapped towards her, and she felt a warning glare being directed on her all of a sudden.

Of course, the older Uchiha was an overprotective little shit, and wouldn't know that she swore in front of Sasuke on a daily basis.

Shit, don't tell me Sasuke's been swearing at home?!

Her mouth fell open in horror and immediately she launched into a series of hacks and coughs, and she pressed her hand against her mouth.

"S-sorry, did I say damn? I meant ham, you know! H-ham! Ham is super delicious." Her arms flailed as Aguri stuttered, and she tried to smile convincingly, but instead her smile like a grimace.

As if he considered the negative effects on his brother's ears negated, Itachi's head jerked just in the slightest and she let out a breath she had no idea she was holding in. Suddenly Sasuke snickered, and Aguri's thumb twitched in irritation.

Itachi silenced both of them with a sharp look.

"Now," He intoned softly. "I will review your spar."

Her back straightened up as Itachi took up what she thought was 'Sensei mode.'

(And on that fateful day, Aguri miraculously payed attention during a lesson for once.)


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Her fingers drummed lightly across the wooden table top, and her head propped on her other hand, she lazily lifted her gaze in front to where Mizuki was droning.

And yes, she was drifting off in her own thoughts. Because who wasn't guilty of not paying attention in class at least once? Right?

... Of course, with the exception of Lee and Neji Hyuga. Lee was the energetic kid who jumped to answer questions (that he might not always have the answer to). Neji was presumably Mizuki's favorite, because not only did he pay attention, he had good grades, a high social standing because of his clan, and he was a genius. She sucked at math (or at least college-level algebra and geometry), but she was quite sure that it was the equation for getting the wonderful position called 'Teacher's Pet'.

On the other hand, she was getting annoyed at the forced look of patience that Mizuki constantly sent Lee, and a small scowl appeared on her face. Watching that not-smile of Mizuki's that didn't even reach his eyes made her feel disgusted and it made her wonder if her fake smiles looked like his.

Just because the not-yet-green ball of energy was not from a clan, doesn't mean that you could treat him like a pest. Everyone was equal in a classroom (in terms of being a student, because kids got cocky easily), and everyone should be given equal opportunities. Neji should not be treated as the cream of the crop and getting the most attention from the teacher than everyone else.

(Honestly she wanted to think that she was like Daisuke, lazy in school and hardworking at home, but nope. She was the epitome of the demon very commonly known as... Procrastination!)

Insert half-hearted kiddy cheering here.

Aguri sighed, and drummed out a light rhythm with her fingers- the rhythm of the song Unravel (or the opening of Tokyo Ghoul). It had been the only anime song she had learnt properly on the piano, a long time ago...

Something soared past her head and landed on the table in front of her. A crushed paper ball, that looked like it was suspiciously ripped out from the corner of the worksheet they had been given.

She silently picked it up, and the paper unfurled open.

Stop doing that, I'm trying to sleep.

Turning around, she met Daisuke's half-opened sleepy eye and blinked, stuffing the paper in her pencil case.

For a while, Aguri stopped but soon her fingers began to tap the table again, however it was a series of light taps rather than drums. Blankly she eyed the clock.

How is it possible that only fifteen minutes have passed? She shuffled in her seat in a silent groan. Lessons seemed to have this magical way of warping time. She called bullshit.

On the bright side, it did mean that her doom could be prolonged if not slightly longer. Taijutsu grading began after lunch, which was the period after this. She felt queasy in spite of herself.

The way the gradings worked was simple: your first partner would be your first opponent. After which, the partners would be randomly shuffled around and you would have at least three other spars. Points would be given for each spar and averaged out by the number of spars. Basically, it meant that the grading system was (mostly) fair, but if you go up against someone like Neji in the first round you were basically beat up and pretty much screwed for the remaining spars because you were already all beat up.

Luck was pretty much a big factor. And because the universe (and maybe also Lady Luck) hated her so, of course her first match was against the Hyuuga with the huge pole stuck up his ass.

Damn, whining was making her feel terrible. Instead, she decided to focus on the advice Itachi had so kindly drilled into her the other day, and maybe even figure out a way how she wasn't going to get her ass kicked completely one hour and forty-five minutes later.

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"Be prepared for your loss." Neji stared at her coldly (albeit childishly) as he strode up calmly in the training ground. The dramatic scene was well complemented with the slightest breeze of the wind and alas, the enthusiastic shrieking of young girls in love.

Or rather, young girls who were in love with what they saw, and had a ridiculous idea that this was love. How were they even crushing on anyone at all? Didn't hormones kick in during teenager years? These kids seem a tad too young for that.

(Not that she could judge them. She had been in love and had a shit ton of crushes, but unfortunately she had never been in a relationship.)

Aguri had no idea whether to chortle or scoff at the display of the fangirls (Tenten being the sole exception, that lovely girl) screaming their lungs off for the Hyuuga. On her side she saw Lee and Daisuke, Lee cheering her on despite the painfully awkward silence in terms of her supporters, and Daisuke giving her a small nudge in the elbow that sort of helped her overall queasiness. She even sort of felt bad for the moody way she had talked to him the last time they bumped into each other in public. She wasn't that concerned about losing, she was concerned about getting slowly and painfully beat up and then having to fight another few rounds of over-enthusiastic kids.

All in all, she had a sense of pride for a reason, damn it! She was not losing to a bunch of kids, no matter how talented they were.

(But unfortunately, her wanting to win would hardly change anything, if not nothing. This was a classroom. Everyone had wanted to win from the very start, except for her, of course. You couldn't hold back on things like taijutsu easily, and she was not going to let a bunch of kids beat her up that easily. And she wasn't someone like Shikamaru, who surrendered just so his friend could win. No, she wouldn't ever surrender without a real reason, and there was no way she was going to give up a send Neji a free grade.)

Aguri clenched one of her fists, and she cracked her left knuckle. The slight scowl on Neji's features made her wonder if she offended him somehow. If she did, then good.

Nearby, (surprisingly) standing on neutral ground, Hajime winced at the sound of the cracking sound from her knuckles, and it was clear that he was thinking of the last time he got beat up, long ago. In spite of herself her lips curled up in a smug smile as she felt a childish sense of competitiveness kick in, seeming both foreign yet familiar. Something inside her was rejecting the feeling, but she ignored it and reveled in it.

Dragging her feet forward, she marched up to Neji and stood, her eyes focused on Mizuki in a blank stare. Then, she turned away and faced Neji, grey eyes equaling the cold stare she received.

She brought up two fingers to form the represented half of the Seal of Confrontation, and the Hyuuga a few metres away from her did the same.

"You may began." Mizuki said, smiling, and Aguri could hear the forced agreeableness in the tone of his voice.

She ignored him and skirted away as Neji took on the offence, speeding towards her, his right hand positioned to jab her in her side.

(Thankfully, they had been instructed to keep to a strict only-taijutsu test, but that didn't mean that Neji wouldn't try using Jyuuken if he was feeling particularly unfair.)

She avoided the blow, flitting to the side as she felt herself go on the defensive on instinct, and inwardly she attempted to change that instinct of hers. Going on the defensive was only for those with strength and stamina going on the defensive just to stall for more time. She belonged to neither of the categories. If she let herself only dodge and block now, sooner or later she was bound to slip up and get hit. Itachi's voice passed through her mind like advice that would save you in a crisis.

Ducking under a jab, she skidded on the soles of her feet so that she was closer, and instinctively she grabbed Neji's arm and aimed a punch at his face. It connected with his cheek, and she wondered if it might be considered a dirty trick since she stopped him from moving.

Neji looked peeved, of course.

She stumbled backwards as Neji kicked her away, and once more she faced the onslaught of kicks and punches. Aguri retaliated by weaving in between his blows.

"Stop. Dodging." Neji bit between blows, and his punches took on a sort of increased ferocity.

Heh, it seemed his patience was running low.

She stuck out her tongue at him and on cue she could feel the dirty looks Mizuki and the fangirls were sending her. Well, excuse her for acting her age.

A punch barely missed her and she bit her lip. She was losing steam already, and dodging was the least troublesome way but it was not the most efficient.

"Why aren't you fighting? Don't tell me you are a co-ward."

Aguri almost burst out laughing as Neji tried- and stumbled when saying that word. Well. Was he already at the age where he tried to impress kids with better vocabulary? And why the hell was Neji not getting any dirty looks even though he was dishing out all the implied taunts?

(Damn favoritism.)

"Are you so weak that you can't block any of my attacks? I guess you really are just a little girl." Neji's lips curled up in a smirk as he seemed satisfied by his name-calling. Aguri's grey eyes snapped to his, eyes glimmering in cold, dark amusement. Her lips curled up tautly and her thumb twitched.

Well, Hyuuga. Two can play at that game.

(In the crowd, Hajime remembers seeing this expression before, and nervously his hand flew up to touch his nose, even though it broke so long ago. He shivered.)

She stopped, and so did the Hyuuga.

"Well, kid. This little girl doesn't appreciate your name-calling. Talk to me again when you find a more unorthodox way of insulting me. You sound like an egocentric brat, you know that?" She commented, her smile stretching on her face unnaturally.

Her hands then clapped together and she feigned a look of surprise.

"Oh wait! What am I talking about, you already are." It has been a while since she brought out her honey-filled tone and she smirked. It was terrible of her, but damn, this was satisfying.

Meters behind her, Mizuki choked on air.

Aguri noted Neji's confused look. He was intelligent enough to figure out that she was insulting him, but he wasn't so mentally advanced that he would understand her words.

"By the way, I don't mean to insult you or anything," she totally was insulting him, "but you know, you look much more feminine than I do."

Neji froze.

"I mean, just look at your hair. It's so pretty." Neji froze in his movements, and began to splutter. The tips of his ears began to grow red.

Aguri took the chance. Running towards him, she skidded under his outstretched arms and tackled him to the floor.

"Winner, Fusako Aguri." Mizuki said, looking like he was being forced to swallow a worm.

Neji got up, reluctantly completing the Reconciliation Sign, before turning away and striding off with a red face and his nose in the air, said pretty hair swishing in the wind as he left. If being a shinobi didn't work out for the Hyuuga, she was certain that he would do well in advertising hair products in the modeling industry.

(And so, that was the first and last time she defeated Neji Hyuuga in taijutsu.)

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So Neji gets owned.

Thoughts? Reviews and feedback are much appreciated :3