Chapter Three. On Extended Family and Kidnappings.

The Academy's entrance ceremony was considered a very important affair for shinobi, maybe as important as graduation. This was because it was a child's first steps into shinobi life; into adulthood. Yes, a twelve year old was in fact a child, but not if they had graduated from the academy. Shinobi, regardless of their rank, were adults; and as adults they were expected to carry out their duty properly and being good examples for the population as representatives of the hidden village.

They were expected to be responsible with their actions and own up to their mistakes; age aside. A six year old genin had the same chances of ending up in prison (or worse, in the T&I building) as a thirty year old jonin; and that was mostly the reason why, graduating classes at the academy never exceeded the thirty people mark a year. Parents did not like the idea of their children going off to war at the age of twelve, even if peace talks had already started.

The ceremony was quite simple, with speeches from the Academy's director and the Hokage himself. Both of them had a way with words, but being addressed and encouraged by the strongest shinobi in the village, had an effect that I hadn't anticipated. Even if I had suspected both speeches would have an element of shinobi glorification and had expected it to sound a lot like brain washing, I was not prepared to receive honesty.

The Hokage believed what he was saying; he knew it to be true; he believed every single one of us would become a shinobi worth remembering, someone who would have an active role in shaping the village's future. He spoke of the dangers that find their way into a shinobi's life whether they want it or not and how many times these dangers would become sorrows, but it would be our duty as ninja of Konoha to put our personal troubles aside so as to do our job to the best of our abilities. We would become shinobi and sacrifice ourselves so that others didn't have to.

It made me high on enthusiasm and determination at the time, not that I noticed what exactly had happened, I would later realize just how well planned the academy's teaching method was, psychologically speaking. But even after realizing what they had done back then, I couldn't help but thank Kami for the words I heard that day. If it wasn't for the loyalty Konoha shinobi hold for their village, and on a lower scale their comrades, the Land of Fire would have never had been able to achieve such military strength.

When the ceremony was over, we were allowed thirty minutes before the start of classes; presumably so that we could receive some last minute encouragement from our families. Unfortunately, Shisui had been on a mission then, so as every other student talked to their parents, I sat outside the academy walls patiently waiting for the crowd to leave.

With Obito-nii gone during the war and our grandparents killed on the nine tails' attack, the only person whom I spoke with other than my brother was Itachi. But there were times, sporadic and far from each other, when my cousin's only remaining team mate paid a visit. It felt a lot like he was searching for any trace of Obito he could find, and had after a long time, found one in me. I didn't mind though, I missed my cousin, the only one who was not an outright ass with a silver spoon up his crack actually; so even if it was for selfish reasons I wouldn't push Kakashi away just yet. He was awkward and quiet in most social affairs, but I liked to think it wasn't the case with me. Yes, we were silent most times, but it was comfortable, understanding. He wanted to feel whatever was left of his team mates in this world, and I just didn't want to be alone.

"I just got back from a mission, bumped into your brother on my way back" said Kakashi as he sat beside me, having appeared seemingly out of nowhere. "He says he's sorry he couldn't be here and that he would treat you to okonomiyaki once he gets back."

I didn't answer, I knew Shisui was sorry for not being there and he tried to be there whenever his job allowed him to; but sometimes I just couldn't help being selfish. I couldn't help but wanting him to be there.

Kakashi sighed.

"It's not his fault, Akane-san." Was all he said.

I knew that already, he knew I did; he was just reminding me it was one of many things shinobi couldn't help. The wellbeing of the village always came first.

"Thank you for coming, I really appreciate it. And sorry for the trouble." I answered finally.

I looked up at his covered face. Hatake Kakashi had gone through everything a shinobi dreaded. He had lost so much because of the war, and yet here he was; still doing his job, still enduring. After everything he had lived, he was still selfless (or selfish, I still wasn't sure) enough to go out of his way to attend my entrance ceremony. I looked up to him, almost as much as I did Shisui, he wasn't just a survivor, he was a fighter; he was a true shinobi.

"I hope that when I become a kunoichi, I'll still have as much kindness as you do now, Kanashi-san."

He kept his gaze forward.

"Oh no, Akane-san. I am only doing this out of selfishness"

I smiled, not that he could see, but even when he made his intentions clear, I could still only feel admiration for him.

"Then I hope one day, I'm just as selfish."

….

At some point that week, I found myself talking to another first year, a girl with brown eyes and wild hair. Actually, she came straight to me, marching across the hallway and introducing herself. She was an Inuzuka, the daughter of the current Alpha to be precise; her name was Hana. The red markings on her face did nothing to hide how pretty she was, and the informal but somehow fun way she had off speaking, made her personality outshine the rest of the class. Later that day we walked to class together, and during the whole conversation I don't think I said a word, and she decided for the both of us, we would be friends from then on. Looking back, it was then that Hana decided for the both of us that we would be friends, and to be honest, I don't think I ever thanked her.

We sat together on the last row of seats, and as my new friend went on about how she would be top of the class in taijutsu, I turned just in time to watch Itachi enter the room. I put my hand up to wave him over, but before I could say anything, he gave me an acknowledging nod and made his way to us. I made short introductions (that were obviously not needed since both Hana and Itachi were children of clan heads) before our new sensei entered the classroom and started giving us an introduction to what we would be doing during the year.

The day bent by, from 'History of the Elemental Nations' to 'An Introduction to Law Enforcement', all the way through 'Theory of Chakra Control I'. We were given a ton of homework, and finally by four, we were sent home. The theoretical classes had nothing to offer which I hadn't already read from Shisui's library, and even if I did pay attention, I found myself bored only thirty minutes into the first lesson.

I had also found Itachi immensely uninterested as he read 'A-Z of Konohagakure's most famous Jutsu' under the desk. He could have only got his hands on that book from the village's library, and only shinobi were allowed into the place. My guess was Fugaku had left it lying somewhere around the house for Itachi to find; shinobi were sneaky like that. When the last bell signaled the end of classes, we said our goodbyes to Hana at the academy gates, and started walking home.

"Would you like to do some training with me, Akane-san?" said Itachi as soon as there was no one around.

I had been thinking of getting some training done myself, before going home and making dinner. Shisui was due to arrive that night.

"It would be my pleasure, thank you Itachi-san. I do have to head home a bit early, though. Nii-chan is finally coming back from his mission tonight" Itachi smiled beside me and offered to walk me home after we were done training.

We did our usual warm up spar before getting started on chakra control. I had managed, after a lot of pondering, to figure out why I was taking so long to make any improvements where chakra was concerned. Turns out, I had been focusing on the entirety of my chakra network, instead of the fraction I would need for each jutsu. With my torn chakra network, it was much more effective for me to concentrate only on the tenketsu I would need. I had been wasting chakra the entire time instead of saving as much as I could.

I also found out, with some encouragement from Itachi, that just like my brother, I was quite good at the body flicker jutsu. I was small and didn't have an incredible amount of chakra, so a low level jutsu that relied on speed and didn't require a lot of chakra control was very fitting for me. I just had to let my chakra flow into my every cell, and let it enhance my speed. The fact that I didn't have a lot of matter since I was so small helped reduce the resistance great deal.

After an hour and a half of physical drills and chakra usage, we decided it was time for us to get home. Itachi walked me home as promised. For some reason, sweaty and covered in dirt as he was, he looked more cheerful than I'd seen him all day. I knew that after the trip to the frontlines with his father, he had become rather averse to violence; so it couldn't have been the spar that raised his spirits. I liked to consider Itachi my friend, so the fact that his gloomy mood was nowhere to be seen put me somewhat at ease.

"Thank you for training with me Itachi-san." I said when we got to my front gate, bowing at the waist. "You will have to lend me that book you were reading in class today, it looked very interesting."

As I expected, Itachi flushed with embarrassment at being caught.

"Don't worry, I won't tell Fugaku-sama.:" I giggled before going inside. Blushing prodigies were always the most fun.

I took off my shoes before locking the door behind me. I didn't set up the traps as I would have done some other time because I didn't want my tired brother to get stabbed by his own kunai.

I took a shower to get rid of all the grime I had picked up earlier and put on my pajamas. I didn't really like cooking, and whenever I did it was never something special. But that day was the exception, I had decided to put all of my effort into dinner that night because it had been the longest time Shisui and I had been apart. Although Okonomiyaki isn't a special dish, it was all I could manage without burning the house down, so I figured that would have to do. It was simple and had enough memories to go with it so that it would be meaningful.

I was taking the utensils out of the cabinet when I heard the back door being shut. It was as silent as anybody would be able to manage, which didn't fit Shisui at all. My brother would always make sure to be as noisy as he could so that he didn't spook me. Knowing this, my guard went up almost instantly and I decided to pretend I hadn't noticed. I took the sharpest knife we had and a spare kunai that Shisui had stuck on the underside of the counter. I put the kunai up my sleeve and pretended to chop the vegetables with the other. Then, I started counting.

Ten seconds since the door was shut.

Another ten to get to the kitchen.

Five to assess the situation.

One to make sure the room is clear and the target within reach.

I turned around to face the stranger that stood menacingly by the kitchen door.

"You are coming with me, kid." His voice was deep and his eyes dark unlike his pale, almost ghostly complexion. Had we not been alone, the lack of doubt in his gaze would have scared me senseless. But I smiled, no longer in need for the blades I had hidden up my sleeve.

"You are late, Nii-san."

The expression on the stranger's face turned from confusion to realization. But he was one second too late. Because when he turned around, the last thing he saw was the spinning tomoe and the scarlet iris of Shisui's sharingan.