I'm in the library. You know, looking at the shelves in their honey-coloured wood… wood release. Definitely wood release! I think… maybe? It's not like I've been able to see the style up close, but I don't see any cutting marks, so it's either that or really good craftsmanship. Both are possible, really. I mean, I doubt that ninjas would want shoddy pieces of furniture… but if there were Uzumaki seals (I think they are Uzumaki), then maybe the library could have been a project of Mito and Hashirama?

Or the more important thing is that I have been in this building since early this morning staring at books, and it's now starting to show…

I am spending the day learning about electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, basic crafting, political structures and, of course, history.

I've been doing so for the past few days, EVERY day, covering my bases and learning. I have to go home by the time its dark, though, because otherwise, Hazuki has threatened to suspend my library card! Isn't that threat getting old already?

Besides with, Ami continuing in her poison-refining home isn't exactly safe.

I was surprised I didn't gain any new knowledge-based skills from these only increasing my reading ability.

Reading Expertise Level 50

Ability to read and understand texts on a far higher level. Increases rate with all languages to read and learn them. Speed reading increases an additional 1% per level on top of 200%. Current Reading speed increase 250%.

Either way, I am slowly continuing to read my way through the library. It's the afternoon now. Outside, the sun is probably shining brightly, adding to the hot sunny day. The library offers a cool relief from the elements. The library inside is mostly deserted, with the librarians and a few regulars such as myself, but otherwise empty. Quiet, that is the best word, quiet as a library should be, until… well, until it is NOT.

"Kaachan!" A loud shout says as the doors fling open and Izumi, who looks particularly pale yet at the same time blushing furiously, tumbles into the library, causing other librarians to shush her, making her blush more. Seriously the paleness mixed with blush is such a contradiction! "Sorry!" She whispers tells to the librarians, now calming down and dragging her form to Hazuki.

"Izumi-chan?" Hazuki asks, and now… well, now I am curious! I move quietly through the rows of books, half pretending to look at the titles for something new while trying to discretely staying safely out of the range of either Uchiha's vision.

Stealth Proficiency level has risen X2

Stealth Proficiency Level 13

The ability to move quietly without being detected. Increase in a total skill when actively trying to be stealthy per level decreasing the chances of others catching you.

"I don't know what to do!" Izumi whisper yells to her mother. In this moment, she really does look her age, a twelve-year-old girl with twelve-year-old issues.

"Just be honest with him." Hazuki says, patting on her daughter's back, hugging her close and soothing her. "Itachi-chan is very understanding…." She then utters, kissing the top of Izumi's head affectionately.

"B-but… then he'll give me that look! They'll be no way he'll let me come either!" Izumi says, pulling away and pouting, her lip wobbling a little with her frustration. "Please help!" She then whines, pressing her forehead to Hazuki's body. I have a feeling that I am seeing the REAL side to the Uchiha's so-called 'curse of hate,' the truth being their undying love. Not that they would ever admit it, even Hazuki, who I don't think is as reserved as most Uchiha.

"Ok… ok…" Hazuki placates Izumi, and the girl resumes her composure after her little slip-up and looks more confident. "What EXACTLY did you tell Itachi-chan?"

"Well… his parents are… well, they're going to visit Mikoto-san's family… so he has the house for the weekend with only Sasuke…." Izumi begins to say sheepishly, and Hazuki instantly raises a single eyebrow.

"Izumi…." Hazuki begins to say, looking a little sheepish herself and I am about ready to bow out of this little eavesdropping session because if Hazuki is about to give Izumi 'the talk,' then I REALLY don't need to hear it. Excluding nh past life as Paige,I already had that unfortunate experience in this lifetime by Keiri and Kanpu about a month before leaving the orphanage. They were… very thorough… with that education so that more orphans don't come around due to abandoned children.

"It's not like that!" Izumi yells, and this time it is actually a yell, and her face is practically sunburnt. "I just wanted to spend the day with him… he's taking it off… and well… he NEVER takes days off!" She exclaims but this time much more quietly.

"Then what IS the problem?" Hazuki asks Izumi, prodding further and Izumi sighs.

"He said he was going to spend the day with Sasuke… I said I'd love to just join them, but he said that Sasuke wouldn't like that." She says and then ducks her head down. "So I said I knew a kid Sasuke's age I could bring along too… I don't know why I said it…." She slumps defeatedly forward, and now I have a feeling I should probably scram before I am spotted because…

"Well, you can always ask Sayori-chan. What do you think, Sayori-chan?" Hazuki then says, and I know I am caught. Shoot. I sigh. I really shouldn't have thought I could sneak up on Hazuki or spy on her without her knowing and get away with it.

I stumble out an apologetic smile, but the look on Hazuki's face states that she's fine with it, which is a relief. I certainly wouldn't want to upset her. Yes, I really wouldn't want that, not at all. She can hold my previous books hostage!

"Hey…" I say awkwardly with a wave, and Izumi's expression lights up, full of joy and hope. "Sorry for interrupting… I didn't mean to cause any trouble…." I begin to say, and then suddenly Izumi Uchiha, genin of Konoha, a friendly girl who helped get me sweets and a person I BARELY know is HUGGING ME.

"Please, please say you'll come with me to spend the day with Sasuke and Itachi!" Izumi gushes, begging.

"Um… Izumi-san…" I begin to say, but how do I explain away that I have never met the future (potentially) avenger except for a time I'm pretty sure he thinks I pranked him, and don't want to get involved in another clan to be used as a spy let alone one that is plotting a coup against the village? I am coming up short on any explanations for that, and judging by the determined look in the not-yet-teen's eyes, she won't be taking any excuses.

"Please, please, please! I'll owe you one! Please!" Izumi pleads and is giving me puppy dog eyes. She is giving me puppy dog eyes. She's older than me (sort of), so they shouldn't work… but they kind of are… "Name your price!" She demands, and I blink. Price? Ok… if I can't get out of this, maybe I can turn this for the better instead? I do need a teacher, a competent one, (no offence Iruka), one that will actually teach me valuable things. I doubt Izumi, as a genin, knows much, but she must know more than me. I don't think Hazuki would let her teach me jutsu, so what else are Uchihas we'll known for? A small smirk tugs on the corner of my lips.

"This is really important to you?" I also, and she nods repeatedly.

"Itachi-kun isn't around a lot. He's already a chunnin and more, and we NEVER spend time together!" She says, moving her arms out dramatically. "And… and I miss him." She says the last part more calmly.

"Would you tutor me in Shurikenjutsu? I want to get better at it." I tell her, and she looks at Hazuki, who discretely nods before she does too.

"Deal." Izumi says, putting out her hand, and I shake it. It looks like I'll be meeting the two prodigy brothers of the Uchiha clan.