A/N: Hi, it has been ages. Other projects pretty much took over alongside with new hyperfixations. On the positive note, it hasn't even been a year yet!

To describe this chapter... I would say, what timeline? I was incredibly confused and rereading DoS while writing this did not help my confusion. But I'm managing...

Some classmates I've picked from my Twelve Flowers of Hanafuda - Naruto fic that takes place in Sannin's time. Some names are changed though...

Chapter 5: Rivals maybe?

Shisui – with the limited time he had at his disposal – was very dedicated to being a senpai. As Shinju progressed in chakra control, the jounin brought a slip of chakra conductive paper for her to test.

"Chakra nature is set in stone since birth. Even if you aren't starting with intensive elemental techniques, it is good to know where your strengths lie." The boy had explained to her when giving her the paper. Frankly, Shinju was not surprise over the emphasis both Hatori and Shisui put on ninjutsu. They were Uchiha after all. They had made their bread and butter for centuries from beng able to use any techniques possible, storing and archiving anything and everything that had been used against them.

The paper turned wet. But its corner caught fire a bit.

"I take after kaasan." Shinju mused, dropping the paper into a trashcan.

"But the secondary fire affinity is a great help for the clan techniques." Shisui mused. "I may look small but that is because water is superior to fire and thus suppresses it. If you can work through that and punch through the threshold, you'll find your fire techniques quite easy and strong eventually."

"So despite the elemental disadvantage with fire, the fact that I have an affinity will aid me as long as I get through the first obstacle?" Shinju tried to parse out the meaning. The problem with the genii was that they thought faster than average people and then when trying to explain what they meant, they skipped a couple of steps.

"Exactly!"

That made sense really. The first affinity would always be strongest, second affinity the next easiest to figure out. If there was no second affinity, then people usually picked an element superior to their own or then from the other side of the chart. Earth was the element superior to water. Wind and lightning were on the opposite side. But affinity trumps ease of practice and thus fire would be Shinju's next pick. And Shisui's delight.

Uchiha favoured fire. So much that Fugaku probably hadn't even considered that fire was not Sasuke's primary affinity. Adding that to Itachi's genius and a mix of too high expectations was done.

"Will Shisui-senpai be teaching me the Great Fireball Technique then? I thought Hatori-jiisan was going to do it?" Shinju asked.

"I got the permission to! And on the long list of things, I want to teach you, this is on the top of it." The boy grinned. Shinju blinked, tilted her head and considered.

"What else is on the list?"

The answering smile was blinding. And maybe a bit foreboding.

Shisui had a lot to teach actually. While he could be present constantly or even regularly, he did his best and the lessons he gave broke the monotony of school lessons nicely. While Hatori focused on physical prowess and control, Shisui took over with ninjutsu basics.

Thus Shinju learnt the 'academy three' only within the first year of her schooling. Transformation, replacement and basic clone were all very weird. A mix of physical and illusory. Transformation primarily was an illusion but if done right, one could utilize the new shape quite well too – like some sort of animal or a weapon. Replacement swapped two things on physical level but on illusionary level left behind an afterimage to confuse the opponent. Clone techniques in the other hand… It worked if the opponent was not a sensor and thus could buy you a bit of time. But one hit in and the clone was gone. Thankfully the technique was not chakra intensive. Shinju was nowhere neat mastering any of the three yet but it was a solid start in understanding how chakra was utilized outside of simply circulating it.

At school Shinju was becoming more comfortable with the other children. Maybe because Shisui had forced socialization on her and thus the threshold of actually interacting with new people was lowering.

There were some cliques forming within their class. Some were bigger groups, some were just two or three kids who had known each other from before the Academy.

Shinju's group had the Inuzuka twins, Momiji, Akimichi Chouha who was always called Happa-chan, Shiranui Ginzu and Yamashiro Aina who were inseparable, and Nakanori Akarou who had a sister a year above and gladly told them about future coursework beforehand.

Another bigger group had bunch of the class's orphans, Sarutobi Honoka and Aburame Shina whose parents had apparently been teammates, Katsunima Tomoko and Kitagawa Akio whom Shinju remembered from the rollcall easily, them being the names before and after hers.

The Uchiha in their class mainly stuck together but Nara Shiroki, Akimichi Chiaki and Yamanaka Isaiki orbited around them with Hyuuga Himitsu. Himitsu was from the Branch family, had beef with the main family and thus intentionally hung around the Uchiha.

There were a lot of rivalry between the groups. While the strengths appeared to be evenly mixed, each still would eventually have a focus as they years progressed. Shinju's group were just a bit better in taijutsu, Honoka's group in the basics of genjutsu and the Uchiha group in ninjutsu. Most of the contention came between the prowess in taijutsu and ninjutsu. Shippou, Mimi, Chouha and Ginzu were often set against the two Uchiha, Himitsu and Chiaki in taijutsu. The results varied depending on the match-ups. Sukima of the orphans and Shinju herself mixed the deck as well, Sukima with being older than most of the class and thus with more height and bulk compared to the rest of them, and Shinju with her unconventional tactics against the Academy taijutsu. Ninjutsu was also a similarly mixed bag considering they were so early in the year and thus the comparison was hard to make. Momiji, Aina and Shinju were at the top against the Uchiha pair again, and Isaiki. Honoka and Shina being clan children too, joined that group as well.

How Fusae could stand the tension mounting every time rankings were about to be re-evaluated, Shinju could not comprehend. But overall, it led to quite competitive atmosphere in the class, with everyone wanting to do their best and actively asking classmates – usually within their own clique – for help. Naturally there were students who were shier or lazier than others but they didn't impact the mood in the class negatively. Additionally, Fusae made sure that no one felt pressured either to keep up and find a pace and method comfortable to learn with. A rarity among the teachers. But probably with the rest of the class being semi-independent and access to resources outside of the school, she could focus on the singular students better.

Shinju was reasonably sure Fusae had been a saint in her previous life.

Days sped by and the classes advanced accordingly. Kunoichi classes were also some that Shinju found herself doing. Technically they'd begun a week after the start of the school year but Shinju joined them late.

"I completely forgot those existed." Mitsuru grimaced. "It wasn't something I did myself much… Quit after the first year and focused on lessons otou-san gave me at home."

"Do you think it will be hard to catch up with them?" Shinju asked.

"No… A lot of more traditional stuff you've already learnt from otou-san and myself. And Nakajo-san has offered to help you catch up with Suzume-san's lessons as needed. If I remember correctly, Nakajo-san aced the kunoichi lessons back then…"

"I'll make sure to pay attention then to everything." Be it on lessons or then at the extra tutoring. Shinju was a bit nervous for starting in the middle. But she knew many of her friends were attending those lessons so… it would be fine?

Like with regular lessons at school, on kunoichi ones Shinju either was bored or then had to work hard to catch up. It was not fun. It was nice to find out that Momiji and Akarou were also on the lessons along with Akio. Those three were the only boys though.

"Hey, have you ever made music with a leaf?" Momiji asked one lesson as they were all gathered outside to revise plants for a sort of mid-term test in ikebana. The boy tugged free a narrow blade of some type of hay or grass placed it between his thumbs and the heel of his palms. There was a narrow gap into which he blew then, using the rest of his hands to cup and alter the sound.

"That's cool." Akio blinked. Momiji had produced a variety of notes and Akio, with his family specializing in infiltration was curious about the utility of such a simple object. "That could be used for signalling teammates at short distance. Can you teach me?"

"Sure!" Children gathered around the tiny blond and Momiji began eagerly instructing how find and appropriate blade of grass and how to hold it correctly. Shinju sat on the side a bit and then went to a nearby lilac bush. Those leaves were snappy and strong as well and she remembered from her previous lives of using those too.

The lilac leaves were easier for some children to use, especially if they had a bit clumsier fingers. Moreover they didn't cut the palms accidentally.

All fun had to come to an end though when Suzume noticed they were not actually revising.

Shinju plucked a leaf from a bush at Hatori's backyard and inspected it. The midrib was sturdy and the veins evenly paced. Sitting down on the porch, she lifted the leaf on her mouth and began to play. It had taken a lot of effort back then to learn this piece but… it had been worth it.

Oración may have been a song from Pokemon movie but it was a song that had remained with Shinju even when she had not been actively watching the anime. It was beautiful and calm song. It was hers in a way many other things weren't. The song in her soul, so to say.

"That was beautiful, Tsu-chan." Shisui said from next to her. Shinju had noticed when he had arrived and sat down mid-song. She had also noted the other presence and thus was not surprised to see Uchiha Itachi sitting next to her self-proclaimed senpai. Not surprised but a bit… disappointed maybe. While Itachi had been one of her favourite characters since the beginning, Shinju did not like the implications of him knowing about her. It lessened her chances of survival after all.

"Thank you, Shisui-senpai. I should probably learn some instrument though in order to reach all the notes properly." The girl smiled.

"Will you have time for that?" Itachi asked then. "According Shisui, you already spend most of your time in some type of training… Are you aiming for early graduation?"

Early graduation? No thanks!

"I'm not that good with ninja stuff." The girl laughed. Sure she shone in some areas but so did many others. Shinju wasn't 'the best' at anything though she probably could've if she'd put more effort to it. Like some of the book subjects. But in those she had boredom induced laziness – potentially inherited from her Nara side.

Shisui and Itachi both gave her looks that told her they didn't buy it. Shisui was smiling while Itachi seemed confused.

"Oh yeah!" Shisui realized suddenly. "You probably guessed from my stories and all but this is Itachi. We are partners and best friends. Itachi, this is Katsuki-chan. She is Hatori-shishou's latest student and Mitsuru-senpai's child."

"I see. Nice to meet you Katsuki-chan."

"Nice to meet you too, Itachi-san!"

There was no harm in being polite.

"So… there was actually a reason I dropped by." Shisui began. "Hatori-shishou gave his permission to start teaching Tsu-chan tree walking."

"Already?" Shinju blinked.

"Yes. You have good enough control and I brought Itachi here to get second opinion."

"I happened to have a free moment." Itachi agreed.

A free moment that he didn't spend with Sasuke? Interesting. And maybe a bit worrying.

"And he wants so see how I teach so he can mock my mistakes and then show me up when helping Sasuke."

Ah, so this is the rivalry thing. Sasuke was too young yet while Shinju was in Academy already. Thus Shisui could try first and then Itachi could do better. And then they'd compare whose kouhai did better and thus who ultimately was the better teacher.

Teenagers.

"Sounds fun!" Shinju grinned, discarding the leaf. "How shall we start?"

"That's the spirit!" Shisui cheered and then guided her to the tree at the other side of the yard. Below it was plain grass for a good two meter radius, thus when Shinju would fall, it wouldn't been too hard of a surface.

She was bruised all over when she came home. But she had managed to get a meter up the trunk before it was too late to continue. Mitsuru was mildly alarmed over the state Shinju was in but understanding after she heard what she had been doing.

"That Shisui…" The woman sighed. "Always rushing into things. I would've postponed that exercise for a year or two while waiting for your reserves to build. We are not all prodigies…"

Shinju was reasonably sure that Shisui and Itachi had labelled her a budding prodigy in their minds but while pushing her forward, tried not to be too quick about it. The situation was different in the village compared to their childhood, for one. For two, Shinju was not an official Uchiha and thus there was no pressure on her to become 'the next Itachi'. For three… They knew what it was like to be the centre of attention thanks to their skills and aptitude. They wanted her to not experience that and have more leeway in her life. And a longer time in Academy provided that. As long as Shinju was un-graduated, she would have freedom not to bloody her hands yet.

She appreciated it very much.

Year turned to the next and soon was Shinju's birthday and the change of Academic year. The birthday was celebrated twice, with one party at her home for school friends, and another at Hatori's house for family and Hatori's students.

Shinju got a lot of presents as a result. Some were on the practical side while others meant for leisure time. She unsealed the next storage seal from Ikoma's scroll as well with a new letter and a pouch of wasabi coated peanuts.

Most curious but maybe most appreciated gift from that year was from Itachi though who had given her an ocarina.

"I've heard it is quite easy to learn." The boy had explained afterwards.

Thus came the graduation of new students and entrance of new ones. Shinju didn't pay much attention that other than hearing that Uchiha Izumi was among the graduated ones.

Classes were not shuffled though Shinju had heard that could happen, especially if there were enough drop-outs that then required merging of the classes. Apparently Fusae was very liked teacher and thus no one from her class had dropped out. Yet. There was still a chance that some of the students would, considering the toughening curriculum.

In second year came the thrown weapons. Which sparked yet another layer in their intra-class rivalry. Shinju and Ginzu versus the Uchiha pair versus Honoka and Tomoko. It was actually interesting how the girls in their class dominated the rankings at shurikenjutsu. Shinju patted herself in the back for the fact she had good shishou and senpais whom to ask for tips.

That year rolled onwards as well. Shinju learnt tree-walking to suitably reliable degree and was then moved on to water-walking. She progressed with her sword katas and was sometime set against Shisui to spar. The boy naturally dumbed down his own skill level. Shinju rarely won but she did learn to take advantage of the holes in defence that Shisui deliberately offered. Learning to recognize when one was open was important and how to take advantage of such. And it was usually the last match of the day that Shisui would deliberately lose. It was obvious but got Shinju on cheery mood anyways.

Then Shisui taught her the Great Fireball. They were at the pond within the compound, one of the few places Shinju knew aside from Hatori's house, Shisui's house and the senbei shop. Hatori was with them when Shisui demonstrated the technique.

"Due your own nature, this will be challenging. But less so if you'd already learnt water jutsu." Hatori explained as he showed the hand seals. Shinju ran through them a couple of times on her own. Hand seals were… difficult. Remembering them had taken a bit and moving from one to another was tricky despite how much they had drilled them during the first year in Academy. She had gotten better but she wished to be one day good enough to not need them much. Did those actually mould the chakra or was there a shape of chakra simply associated with them and thus the hand-seals acted as mnemonics. Shinju hoped it was the latter case.

"Now, Tsu-chan, when you mould your chakra, remember to channel it to your mouth properly. Not to your throat, because when you to the inhale in order to blow the jutsu, if the chakra is in your throat, it might choke or burn you." Shisui was explaining. "Throat burns are very painful and completely different from scalding yourself with hot drink."

"So I channel the chakra to my mouth while doing the seals to shape it, inhale, and when expelling the chakra and the air to feed the technique, I do the nature transformation."

"Yes, the seals do half of the job at the beginning. Tiger seal especially is associated with fire." Shisui nodded. "I recommend holding the tiger while doing the jutsu at first. Later on as you get more comfortable, you can let go of the last seal in order to prepare for your next move."

"…When you hold your hand next to your mouth when blowing out is it to aim the fireball?" shinju asked.

"Actually yes." Hatori chuckled. "The way you hold your hand gives you the chance to get the line of sight along your knuckles and then the approximate direction and distance. And eventually you learn to position the hand to aim better and reduce the size but not intensity of the jutsu."

"Makes sense." Shinju nodded and stepped to the end of the pier. Time for her to try as well!

.

.

.

Of course, the first attempt fell flat but on the second one she managed a bit of flames. She didn't expel it far enough though and thus burnt her lips and cheeks. But Shinju was stubborn! She would not give up until she managed some consistency.

Or until chakra exhaustion threatened her as the case was and Hatori had to bodily drag her away from the pond. But she had managed a fireball of the size of a basketball. And that was great. Even Shisui thought it was great and the boy couldn't stop praising her on the way back to Hatori's house. They needed to take care of her burns and hope they'd heal enough during the night. Shinju didn't really want awkward questions… Especially considering how there were Uchiha in her class and would definitely recognize the signs of someone practising their clan's rite of passage technique.

"Shinju-chan?! What happened?" Mimi gasped when seeing the bandages on Shinju's cheeks.

"Ah… I got into a fight?" Semi-reasonable. Though Shinju wasn't very confrontational, there were some uppity kids that were raring to challenge her. Mostly civilians who were older than her, thinking that they could take her on. Some because they wanted to brag of being a ninja student, some because they took offense to her being a Kinoshita. Despite Mitsuru and Shinju were the last ones to carry the name, people still remembered the stories and rumours about their families.

"Are you okay?" Aina asked.

"Did you kick ass?" Shippou questioned.

"How many were there?" Akarou joined in.

"Will you be in trouble?" Ginzu frowned.

"I'm alright. Shi-… Shimizu-senpai bailed me out so I didn't get to do anything really. So there should be no trouble for me for fighting civilians."

"That's good to hear." Momiji grinned. "Your senpai was right in time then?"

"Yes." Shinju nodded and then decided to add another layer of obfuscation. "She was right around corner so I only got a bit roughed up."

The lie came easily. Maybe a bit too easily. And they were too young to question it or notice there was something to be questioned. Shinju was after all a non-clan child who thus did not live in the safety of a clan compound but right next to civilians who might act irrationally. And despite having a senpai, there was no reason to suspect she was getting much extra-curricular tutoring. She was good, but not that good in the eyes of others.

Just like she wanted the situation to be.

A/N: So Shinju is in her second year of schooling now. And... I don't know what else to say. I try to push the plot onwards so I get to more exciting stuff. I try...

Reply to review:

-yochan123:
Thank you very much! About Shisui... it is impossible. One is that Shinju has only vague indication of the timeline. She knows that Shisui dies after Sasuke starts Academy but even then she doesn't know how long afterwards. In DoS the Academy is started at five and Silver Queen states the Massacre happens after the rookies are seven. In my(and Shinju's) understanding prior to reading DoS the Academy is started six-seven years old and Massacre happens some time after Sasuke brings his report card home. I understood that as within the year of starting the Academy. So Shinju might now Sasuke's age(7-8) when Massacre happens but the Academy start will throw her off. Thus she will be wholly unprepared. One day Shisui simply... does not appear. Considering his work in Anbu and thus irregular appearances, Shinju won't hear about his death until Itachi is being investigated and Hatori is mourning. I'm sorry.

()

I try to start working on the next chapter soon. I've bought Pokemon Legends: Arceus, though... It is eating my attention with fic ideas.