AN: I'm skipping to her Academy graduation. I plan on filling in some of the gap with flashbacks and summarization from here on out, this is the only major time skip I am planning on (other than the ones present in canon) but I feel like this will move the story along better.
Flashbacks will be in bold italics
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As I walked into class today, I couldn't help but feel a little melancholy. The academy had been a constant since I joined the already formed class when I was six. I was two years older than Naruto, so I was in a class of mostly unknown kids. Alice' s knowledge made regular classwork a breeze. Which left me plenty of time to get to know many members of my class.
"Nana-chan!"
A smile broke out across my face, not that they could see it as I've taken to wearing my mask for all but a few instances. It made since now why Alice's memories portrayed Kakashi with extensive body language, honestly it was the only way for me to convey meaning with my mask on. With a wave and a, totally not stolen, eye smile I made my way to my seat. As I slide into the chair I tilted my head to the side. I internally winced, he was hunched in on himself, practically shaking as he stared at his notes in front of him.
I shifted till my shoulder lightly bumped his. "Lee-kun, its gonna be alright."
His hands fisted in his pants, and he glanced up, dark eyes peering at me from his shaggy black hair, honestly his braid was doing nothing to keep it contained. "Nana-chan…..this is a very important day. I just….." he trailed off biting his lip, turning back to his notes.
Ryu laid his head in Lee's lap with a soft whine. "It is going to be ok Rock-pup, Princess says so!" Lee smiled weakly and gently ran his hand over Ryu's head.
"I appreciate it Ryu, I just….I hope I am good enough to pass today."
I huffed before reaching out and grabbing his chin, forcefully turning his head till I held his gaze. "The Clone Technique is only a portion of the score to graduate. There is still the written, which you studied your butt off for. And the taijutsu demonstration, where I know your gonna blow their minds." I released him to reach up and ruffle his hair fondly, "You've been training with Guy-sensei I know you've got this."
Lee scratched the back of his neck looking away as his face heated, but his lips tipped up in a smile, so I count that as a win.
Glancing around at the rest of the class it was clear they excitement and nerves had everyone jittery. Near the back I saw Neji and Tenten, the former was pointing out a few things on whatever textbook they were studying, and the latter was failing rather spectacularly at hiding he blush. Neji's eyes rose to mine, and he blinked, finding me staring at him. He nudged Tenten and they stood before walking toward me.
Tenten and I had met extensively in Kunoichi classes. Which, I recalled with a smile, was no longer called that.
We had been in kunoichi classes for a few weeks now. Our Sensei, Suzume, had long, curly, black hair and wore oval glasses along with makeup, red lipstick. Her outfit consisted of a simple pink kimono with mesh armor underneath and a pair of baggy red pants with flip-flop-like sandals worn with socks. We had been working on concealing our chakra signatures while compiling flower bouquets. Skills, Suzume-sensei had explained at Tenten's outrage at being forced to learn 'housewife skills' as she dubbed them, that would help us both pass as civilians in the event of infiltration missions and using flower language to send secret messages was more secure than any scrolled messages. Having finished tying together my flowers; Begonia (for Warning), Cypress (Meaning Death), Fern (Secrecy), and Heather (Protection), with a red band, I walked to Suzume-sensei's desk and handed over the flowers. My assignment was to convey a warning to the intended recipient that my client was under a death threat, and I would be taking a guarding position without breaking cover. Suzume-sensei jotted down some notes in her gradebook and I figured it would be a good an opportunity as any.
"Suzume-sensei why do only the girl have to take these classes?" Sensei tilted her head, so her glasses slid forward, and she peered at me from over them. At her raised eyebrow I shrugged. "I mean these are extremely useful skills for infiltration and communication I don't see how it wouldn't be beneficial to the boys as well." She blinked, startled that this wasn't the normal rant she got from her girls. I gestured at the flower bouquet I had turned in. "I mean when we are assigned to teams usually its one girl to two boys, because there are more of them, so it's likely if we are in a situation we need to use subtle communication like the flowers how are our team gonna understand the message if they don't have to learn this as well?"
Honestly I don't remember what Suzume-sensei had replied with but two weeks later Kunoichi classes had been transformed into infiltration and communication classes, mandatory to all academy students. Tenten had become a good friend and most of the boys took to the secret messaging well and the chakra practice had helped the entire class improve.
Neji nodded in greeting, "Lee-san, Hatake-san I am sure we ill all do well at the graduation exam today." I eye-smiled at him with a raised hand. One of the few changes I had wholeheartedly enjoyed the aftereffects of. I had written up a warning to the Hokage and the Hyuga about the attempted kidnapping of Hinata by the cloud shinobi on the pretense of the peace treaty. Wanting absolutely no possibility of the scroll being linked back to me I had asked Alpha to have another group of animal summons, the butterflies, to deliver it to the recipients. Apparently they had a longstanding deal that only the summons knew about, but no one in the leaf had butterfly summons so it was nearly impossible that they'd track it back to me. Thankfully the Hokage and the Hyuga had taken the warning seriously and had prevented the kidnap attempt entirely. The reparations cloud had to give to still sign the treaty was pretty hefty but way above my need-to-know level. Glancing up subtly at Neji's cage bird seal it was evidence enough of the success, along with his more amicable attitude to lee was more than I could have hoped for.
Neji was still bitter about the seal, and honestly I would be too in his shoes, but his father was still alive, and he didn't hide it, actually he parted his hair with a point to display it really. He told me that he would prove that even with the seal, he would work hard and be stronger than any of the main family.
We chatted until in a puff of smoke, Iruka-sensei appeared along with Suzume-sensei, both holding a few stacks of papers. As Suzume set about passing out the papers face down everyone made there way back to their seats.
"Alright everyone, I know you're all excited for graduation but remember you still have to pass the examinations. Suzume-san is passing around the paper exam. Throughout the exam you will be pulled, individually into the adjoining room to complete the Clone technique. After we all have completed both tests we will head out to the practice fields for the taijutsu exam. Any questions?" no one had any to ask.
The exam itself was easy, basic history and protocol questions, along with chain of command lists we had to put in order. When I was called to do the clone technique I made two clones of myself and Ryu had two of himself, we'd been practicing together. Soon we headed out to the training fields. I was walking alongside Lee, who was looking dejected. I reached out a flicked him on the forehead. He flinched and blinked blankly at me.
"Head in the game Lee-kun," I eye-smiled at him. "Taijutsu is next. Got show them what a splendid ninja you'll be."
He gave me a small smile, but his face practically lit up as we neared the training field and saw Might Guy standing proudly.
"Hello my young hopefuls! I am Might Guy, your proctor for your taijutsu test. I am sure you will all demonstrate your youthful skills and joyous ambition."
I had to bit back a snicker, I swear I could practically see the stars in Lee's eyes, but at least he wasn't so glum anymore. We had been paired off and told to spar as Guy, Iruka, and Suzume wander the field, writing a few notes on clipboards as they did so. Lee easily impressed them with the way he left the training field. And smiling at my best friend, who was tearing up as Guy handed him his forehead protector, I couldn't really remember when I'd been so proud.
As I exited the academy I was thrown to the ground under the weight of several large dogs.
"Princess!" my ears rang as multiple ninken barked out a greeting but I giggled anyway.
"Mah, let her up boys." Glancing up I felt warmth fill my chest at the familiar rumble of Kakashi as he opened his arms. Since I'd been bringing Naruto home for dinner, Kakashi had been very hands on. I was willing to bet it was under orders from the Hokage, but when I made him eggplant miso the rumble that came from his chest could very well be classified as a purr. And he slowly grew fonder of the both of us, but I don't think he realized it until we were attacked at one of the summer festivals. Well actually Naruto was attacked by several civilians, and I stepped forward to be a shield. One of the rocks they had thrown had hit me above the eye, disorienting me and when I fell he had drawn back his foot to kick me. I don't know if it was the growl or the killing intent that rolled through the area made everyone freeze. Kakashi popped into existence in front of me causing the civilians to stumble back.
It was that night I knew, Kakashi was pack, he was mine, he was home.
I threw myself into his arms and he spun me around. when he set me down I held up my forehead protector victoriously. "Look Nii-chan look! I did it! I'm almost a ninja!"
Kakashi chuckled fondly and raised an eyebrow, "Almost Imouto?"
I rolled my eyes, "tomorrow we get our team assignments, I know we have to pass our sensei test before we can officially be ninja."
"Nana-neechan!" a yellow blur bowled me over and as the dust settled I huffed a laugh as Naruto beamed up at me
"Hey sunshine!"
"Get off her idiot." The little Uchiha survivor shuffled forward only to be knocked down my the furiously little ball of sunshine.
"Shut up bastard! Nee-chan loves me."
I pinched the bridge of my nose. How I'd convinced Kakashi to let me have the two little orphan tagalongs everywhere I don't rightly recall, and they still fought like cats and dogs but at least the little emo duckling wasn't alone.
"Kakashi said we could go out for Barbecue to celebrate your graduation!"
I winced and glanced at my adoptive older brother, "I already promised Lee I'd go with him and Guy to celebrate." I said apologetically, fully knowing Kakashi's exasperation at Guy's rivalry antics.
Kakashi shrugged and shoved his hands in his pockets.
Mah, Guy has invited himself into my dinners and events enough times I think it's high time I returned the favor."
He lifted Naruto off the ground and threw the squawking Uchiha heir over his shoulder, and started off to where Lee and Guy where waiting. Ryu helped me stand and then pranced forward a few steps.
"Come on Princess, the barbeque place lets me sit in the booths!"
I laughed and dusted myself off. Running to catch up to my pack. I honestly couldn't wait to get my team assignment tomorrow. I was going to use Alice's knowledge to protect my pack, from the threats outside the village, and in its shadows.