A/N: OMG more than a hundred favs! Guys, let me give you a hug. Come here, I'm going to hug the hell outta all of you. You are the most gorgeous people ever! Thank you so much! I love you guys so much! Yay!

So this chapter has a bit of politics. Hope you like the way I described it. Please tell me your opinion because I plan on having lots of politics here.

Hope you like it!

See the end of the chapter for translations.

Disclaimer: don't own Naruto.

Warnings: Language.

Academy Arc: Echoes

"The essential thing is not to lose oneself, and not to lose that part of oneself that lies sleeping in the world."

- Albert Camus, Notebooks

I've never considered myself a coward. Okay, maybe once. Or twice. Or… getting of the topic! So yeah, I'm not a coward, not a single bit. I'm rather used to facing obstacles headfirst, consequences be damned.

So here I am, standing in front of the Academy building at an ungodly hour of a seven, shaking like a leaf because I'm no longer protected. As soon as I step into this room I'll never be myself again. No, I'll be another child warrior, another assassin. This is where I'll make the first step into adulthood.

It's both thrilling and stifling.

The letter yesterday said that I was accepted into the advanced group, gaining a perfect score, all because the test was for a mere child, not a full-grown adult. I know it's kind of cheating, but what can I say? I'll thrive for as long as I can.

But… maybe it was a mistake? What if I'm simply painting a target on my back by making such bold choices without thinking? Danzō's breathing into my back, which was clear back at the orphanage. While most kids were in mourning, I recovered quite quickly. But how could they grasp that I faced death myself, that I grew up before, that I've lost in my previous life. I know pain, but I understood that weeping wouldn't help revive her. So I let go for her, like I let go of my loved ones before.

I realize that hiding in the shadows wouldn't help my goals at all, but I still need to be cautious. And starting today, every single one of my moves will be monitored by the government of a military, paranoid shinobi village.

The universe might go against my decisions. I know that I made a lot of mistakes before, but there is no other choice – I must grow. I already am considered a prodigy, and deluding myself into thinking that the village doesn't keep tabs on me…

No matter how much I'd have loved to rest, this world needs help. And the only way to do so is in action.

Sighing, I take a step into the Academy because there is no turning back.

(It's in human nature to make mistakes.)

The acceptance letter said to go to room No. 302 on the third floor. The Academy was still rather deserted, no wonder why. I can still remember that no child would actually come to school half an hour prior to the lessons. Today was an exception due to me being a new student and all.

The third floor consisted of various classrooms, mostly smaller ones. There were signs indicating the room number over each door, and soon I found the one I was looking for. It looked like an average shogi door, yet to be opened. Should I? Maybe if I run now…

The door opened into my face, revealing the classroom to me. With my dilemma shuttered, I glanced at the one who opened the door. He was a few years older, blonde, brown-eyed and extremely pale. He was studying me with an apathetic expression while he kept his hands in his pockets. A few moments passed as we eyed each other before someone from behind him coughed, snapping my attention.

"Ohayō gozaimasu. Can I help you?" asked the girl. She seemed to be around ten years. Her hair was a rich chocolate brown pulled into a high ponytail. She had fair skin and huge onyx eyes with a mole under her right one. All in all, she reminded me of a doll, especially with that high-collared purple shirt she wore.

"Konnichiwa. I was told that I got accepted into the advanced program and supposed to attend classes in room No. 302 with the second advanced group. I didn't mess up and confuse everything, did I?" a nervous giggle escaped me as I peered around. There were two more boys at the back of the classroom. It looked like an auditorium of sorts, with a high ceiling and a podium for the teacher. It was rather spacious, but not too big or anything.

Beaming, the girl answers, "Aa, you must be the new pupil! Hai, you're in the right classroom. We've been informed that today you might join us. My name's Uchiha Izumi, hajimemashite!" she finished with a bow. Uchiha, huh… Might as well start helping the world with them.

"I'm Amachi Isamu. Kochira koso hajimemashite, Uchiha-san. So… anything I should know before the lessons?" I ask her. Her name… it seems oddly familiar, was she in the series?

Her fingers kept tapping the desk in thought. "Hmm… Oh! Also the lessons always start with theoretic stuff till lunch break and physical afterwards. Sensei shouldn't be bothered too much 'cuz he's rather short-tempered, hehe. Hmm… everyone here's 'bout nine-ten, but there are a few eight-year-olds. Most of us are rather nice, but there are some you should avoid. Hey, you seem rather young, are you actually that little?" She questioned in confusion.

A smirk graced my lips at her claim. Amusement was clear in my reply. "Hai, I guess I'm younger than others considering I am six." Her eyes widened as she realized my age. "Arigato, I'll take everything into consideration. So," I pointed towards the seats, "is there some type of seating system or can I take any seat?"

She didn't answer for a few moments before she stutters. "Y-yeah, sure. I-I mean you can take any seat ya' want!" a light blush cowers her cheeks. How cute!

I sent her a smile before I headed towards the end of the classroom. Old habits never die, I suppose. The only seats occupied were the two at the back. I opt for the one near the window, as well as the furthest one away. This way the whole class will be in my field of vision, as well as it'd be rather easy too blend in. no one would realize that the stuff I write is different. Except for Danzō, but with him there's no reason to even try to seem normal. No, with that bastard the best defense is a good offence.

Izumi has her back towards me now, a huge red-and-white Uchiwa fan gracing the back of her shirt. She's my first Uchiha associate. Not like I haven't seen them before, not at all. They're roaming the village all the time, and they seem kind of decent, even if rather distant. It's just that I never had a reason to actually get into a conversation with one till now.

By a quarter past seven half of the classroom is stuffed. Some of the kids came by to introduce themselves, but none paid too much attention too me. That's when a chubby redheaded boy with chips and bored looking girl came up to me. "Ohayō," the boy said, "I'm Akamichi Hokomaru and * munch * my friend here is Nara Keiko. We wanted to know if * munch * we can sit with you?"

"Konnichiwa, Akamichi-san. Yeah, sure, you can sit here," I shrugged. "By the way, I'm Amachi Isamu, a pleasure." I can feel my lips turn upwards at his delighted expression and the girl's "I'd rather be anywhere but here" attitude.

A few moments pass and a pack of chips comes into my vision. "You want some, Amachi-san?" the Akamichi offered.

"Arigatō gozaimasu, Akamichi-san. And please, call me Isamu." I take the food because free food is, well, free food.

Satisfied with me taking the offered food (the best wasabi flavored chips ever!), he answers, "You're welcome, Isamu-san! And call me * munch * Hokomaru too!"

The next few minutes prior to the lesson pass peacefully, with the Akamichi talking to his Nara friend while devouring the chips (he already started the second pack! Where does he even keep all the food?). At 7:29 a middle-aged man entered the room, a pile of papers in his hands.

"Morning, everyone! I'm Yuichi and today we have a new student joining our ranks! Please, Isamu-kun, come here and introduce yourself." He gestured for me to come to the podium. I'm feeling like a real six-year-old. God, I hate when people pay so much attention to me. Gah!

Timidly, I come down and face the class. The kids look at me as if I'm: a) a freshly grilled kebab, b) an excuse to slack off, c) a guinea pig. I do not like those glances at all.

Letting out a breath, I start, "My name is Amachi Isamu. I'm six years old. Err… I like dogs and reading. I live at the Inuzuka Compound," a girl from the clan let out a howl at that statement, "and I take care of an veteran ninken. I wish to grow strong enough to protect my loved ones and become a formidable shinobi." I finish as I glance at Yuichi-sensei. He nods, letting me know I can return to my seat.

"Great, Isamu-kun!" approved sensei. "Now, let's get on with the studies! Today we have civics as the first lesson. Yesterday we learned the basics of our system. Can somebody remind us which those were? "

Izumi raised her hand. "Hai, sensei. Unlike the other hidden villages, Konohagakure is a communist society that strives for unity in the nations. For years Konohagakure has tried to ensure peace, but the other nations had their vision clouded by greed and envy towards our unity and resources. Konohagakure no Sato always aspires for a better future for its people. Every person is treated equally, no matter the upbringing. The only exceptions are the clan rules that are not under the village's authority. Our village is famed for its teamwork, honesty and bravery.

"Konohagakure is ruled by Hokage-sama, the strongest shinobi in the village. He's the one who makes all the choices in the village, as well as has the biggest authority. He's being advised by the council, both civilian, shinobi and clan head.

"Our village has shinobi being prepared from a young age, thus ensuring they are prepared to face the hardships of shinobi lifestyle later in life. The graduation exists out of a series of exams, unlike the unorthodox methods used in other villages. The graduated students are given the ranks "Genin", which allows them to begin with D- and C-ranked missions. After a while Genins can participate in the Chūnin Exams in order to advance in rank. The rank "Tokubetsu Jōnin" is given to Chūnin with extensive knowledge in a particular field. Afterwards they can advance to Jōnin, which are the strongest ninja in the village. One can gain the rank of Tokubetsu Jōnin and Jōnin via field promotion or an exam. There are also the ranks of ANBU, but there isn't much known about them due to their secretive status. It's only known that they're the best of the best.

"Our village has suffered massive loss in both shinobi and civilian populations after the Third Shinobi World War and the Kyūbi Attack. At the moment there many shinobi and kunoichi in training at the Academy going through the accelerated program in order to supply our village with more manpower, ourselves included.

"Konoha has close ties with every single clan it houses, making it unique due to having teams of shinobi and kunoichi with different kekkei genkai working together flawlessly. That'd be all, I guess." Finished the Uchiha with a clap.

Sensei was smiling widely. "That was perfect, Izumi-chan. Arigatō gozaimasu. Our village is, indeed, unique in different ways. But the main factor in all our lives is "The Will of Fire", our life force and greatest weapon. It as our passion, our resolve that helps us protect our village, the greatest one to stand. Konohagakure no Sato's society relies on its shinobi, on all of you. The happiness of all our land will be in your hands. That is why, with hard work and pure will, you can bring our village to its glory, protect it to your best and bring happiness and security to its population. I know you can do it, guys! Now, onto the next topic…"

I tuned the rest of the lesson out, lost in thoughts. What I just heard… I didn't expect anything like it. Communism is nowhere to be seen. Really, there are too many conservative clans here to even think about communism. And don't even get me started on the Hyūga. And, in all truth, civilian-born people are treated way worse than those of shinobi upbringing, while clan members are considered more elite, with the main branch always having privileges. The ranks matter, the social status, the upbringing. Of course this is never announced, but it still exists. As a grown-up, I was able to deduce this quite early on. But those are children being programed into believing in what the village wants. And Konoha striving towards peace while other villages are not showing cooperation? Don't make me laugh. Konoha shinobi killed too many, took too much. Suna has an economical crisis due to Konoha. The Yellow Flash demolished more than a hundred Iwa shinobi in seconds. Kumo was jealous of all the dōjutsu Konoha possessed, especially the Byakugan. Kiri was in a Civil War; it had no time to run after Konoha. And Konoha? We have a whole force dedicated to creating emotionless "tools", and two dōjutsu clans, and a clan that can read minds. Were I a Kage of another village, I'd be paranoid too. Konoha shinobi have powers that make others whimper in fear. Its shinobi talk about peace, but kill without a second thought. Konoha isn't saint. Just look at Orochimaru, the Sandaime's student. A broken boy that needed psychological help, but he was taught different killing methods. People knew something was wrong with him from the very start, but did they try to prevent the worst? No, in fact, Sarutobi deemed him (an unstable Ne member) suitable for being a Kage.

The government in Konoha is not autocracy as well. It is pure oligarchy, with the elders having more weight than Hokage himself at times. Danzō can manipulate different village leaders, blackmail young children into performing a massacre and even attempt an assassination on his own Kage and get away with it. There are clan heads too, and they have more power inside their own clans than the Hokage.

The Academy works on forging killing machines, not preparing us. I can't say that what they do (train us since childhood) is stupid, no. It makes sense. This way we can be more obedient, better trained and have more practical skills by adulthood. But teaching children ways of killing, deception art and weapon throwing is not good for mental stability.

The things about the losses and the programs are completely true, and it makes sense since this way we'll be back at out best in no time, thus eliminating the possibility of a foreign attack.

The things she said about the clans having close ties to the village… does she really not see her own clan? Konoha let down the Uchiha, leading them towards their demise. The village doesn't have such close ties to every clan. I believe it is rather close to some, but the Ino-Shika-Chō clans have been together since before the village was found.

But the thing that set me off the most was what he said. Is it really just the same here? All people can do is tell lies and propaganda? Such big words, but what does it matter if no one is here to see.

On the outside I keep my impassive mask up, but inwardly I feel my blood boiling, my fury fogging my mind. Those are innocent children! They have their whole lives in front of them, but they'll die for some senile old men?

I can feel something break inside of me, feel it tear me from the inside out. It hurt so much to realize that we're not seen as individuals, as people, but as mere material.

It hurt even more to see sense in it all, to see how it can help protect the village, the civilians and the loved ones.

It hurt the most to agree with the system because I love my village too much. Hard lessons are the best ones to learn, after all.

(Starting that night, the nightmares got worse.)

"Ohayō, class!"

Two month have passed since I started the Academy. The class is set to get through March, meaning a total of five month of studies. I basically knew it all prior to the Academy, so I spent most of my time enhancing my fūinjutsu skill. At the moment I can create a filtering seal used on skin and a basic gas seal. With my water affinity, great chakra control and small chakra pool the sealing matrix is very easy, the only difference between me and an average Uzumaki seal user being the chakra capacity.

Komugi has started me on silencing seals too. Those are the weight of gold, really. Any self-respecting shinobi should know how to use those, too practical. They are used on each wall, ceiling and the floor in order to mute the room for outsiders.

The classes are boring. I always sit alone with my Akamichi and Nara neighbors, both never causing any trouble at all. The others were always avoiding me because I was the class freak. Well, not like I cared. I was always too exhausted from the vivid dreams that left no place for sleep. And plus I had Hatsuyuki and Naru-chan now, and my dear Kazumi-chan. In fact-

"OUCH!" I squealed. What the…

An outraged sensei was towering above me, his grey eyes piercing my misplaced ones. "Err… sensei? Something wrong?" I tried.

The way his eyes glinted was not good. "Something wrong? Something wrong?" Shit, wrong thing to ask! "The lesson has ended, and you haven't written a single word, that's wrong!" I loved you Masuyo-chan, Kazumi-chan, Shin-kun, Naru-chan… "Detention for the rest of the week!"

And he strode the hell out of the classroom on his heels, steam coming out of his ears. The whole class was staring at me, some snickering. What's so funny?!

One of the girls, Rie, broke into a laugher fit. "Gosh! Ahahaha, oh my, ahahaha! His face! Hahaha, that was priceless!" That's when the whole class started snickering and hiccupping. What is going on?

I just started to open my mouth when the Nara next to me answered after a giggle, "ya' fell asleep durin' the lesson, so he went to wake ya' up. But ya' were rather, ahem, tired, so ya' told him your opinion in a rather, hmm, colorful vocabulary. I didn't even know ya' could use some of those words the way you did. Great job!" she giggled with thumbs up.

I'm going to go dig myself a hole. And die there. Slowly.

Hope these little motherfuckers choke on their pity laughter.

Ohayō gozaimasu – good morning

Konnichiwa – hello

Hai – yes

Hajimemashite – nice to meet you

Kochira koso hajimemashite – nice to meet you too

Arigatō gozaimasu – thank you very much

Kekkei genkai – bloodline limit

Ne – Root

A/N: Politics, blegh. I live in a military environment, so it was all taken outta my life (I actually saw little kids listening to propaganda… hell, I was one of those kids). Also, about Konoha being a hierarchy village: just remember Sasuke and how the village treated him, always worshiping the land "the Last Uchiha" stepped onto.

Hope you liked it and please review!