Long black hair, jade green eyes, a fair bit shorter than me... she was stunningly pretty. Even I, with my pride the size of Konoha, could admit that. Not out loud, but even admitting it to myself was a big step for me. She was hiding behind a woman of almost the same description - apart from the eyes - who I assumed was her mother. It reminded me of my mother and I. This must be Azami Uchiha, I thought to myself.
"Yukia!" Azami bowed to Mother, smiling. "It's great you are here. It's been a while now, hasn't it? What with the isolation and all, it's been impossible for me to even step outside the estate without getting a funny look." I assumed that's what Mother meant when she was talking about the Nine-Tails attack.
Mother beamed at Azami. I couldn't see her face too clearly from where I was standing, and my height, but I felt the warmth in her aura. It changed dramatically in not sixty seconds. She could have loved this woman like a sister. "It's good to see you again, Azami-chan!" Azami rolled her eyes, and Mother stuck her tongue out slightly. "Never gets old!"
"You know how much I hate being called '-chan'!" A light laugh.
Mother grinned. "No matter how old you become, you will always be '-chan' to me!"
"Whatever you say." Azami then looked down at me, and I didn't move. I wouldn't let anybody see any trace of anything but confidence. "Hey Kaze," she said, bending down slightly. "My my, you have grown! I still remember when you were just a little baby. When I had to look after you, Sasuke and Itachi that night, as if it were yesterday."
I grinned. "Well, I don't remember that." Not entirely true. I do remember bits and pieces from that night, but nothing much of importance.
Azami smiled. "Of course you wouldn't." She straightened up again. "Well, what kind of a host leaves their guests outside? Come in, Mikoto and Sasuke are in the kitchen." Ah. The other two people Mama mentioned. She looked down at the young girl, who had barely moved this whole time. "Introduce yourself, Hitomi."
Hitomi looked startled, before bowing deeply and saying, "Oh, er, hello, Hatake-san," to Mother. "Kaze-san," she said to me. She was very polite, almost too much for my taste. But seeing as this was our first meeting, I would reserve judgement for now.
Mother bowed her head. "Hello, Hitomi-chan," she said politely, before straightening up and addressing Azami. "She's so sweet and polite."
"She tries her best," Azami agreed. She and Mother began walking into the kitchen. "But she's not a big talker, I'm afraid..."
That left me alone with Hitomi. I wasn't sure what to think of her at first. Small, not really the ninja type... but there was a tiny spark in her that I admired. The determination to be the best she can be. It was just hidden behind her shyness. I put on a determined smile and offered her my hand. "Nice to meet you, Hitomi-chan!" I said to her. She hesitated, seemingly unsure, then slowly shook my hand. I let go and hooked my thumbs into the waistband of my leggings, still grinning. I did my best to be friendly. "So I hear you go to the Academy?" I asked. When she didn't answer, I continued, "That's cool... I guess. Are you determined to become a Shinobi?"
She looked down at the floor, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. I cocked my head slightly. "Do you have a tongue in your mouth?" I asked sarcastically.
She looked up at me and raised an eyebrow. "Yeah," she answered simply. I noticed her voice had a cute little hesitation in it, even if she was trying to be determined.
I grinned again. "You spoke again! I was waiting for that! You seem so cutey! I think we might actually get along. I was thinking that if you are an Uchiha you will be all kick ass and arrogant, but you seem the polar opposite," I rambled on, my speech filter seeming to have turned itself off again. I put my hands behind my head and shifted my weight onto one foot. "I like those who are different to the majority. They have more personality." She didn't seem sure whether to take that as an insult or a compliment, and I smiled reassuringly.
Azami poked her head around the door. "You two coming? Lunch is going to be served up now."
My stomach rumbled slightly. "Coming!" I said immediately, and headed for the kitchen. As I walked, I marveled at how this Hitomi was so different from the Uchiha I pictured in my mind. And her eyes... the jade green instead of the "standard" black or grey that most Uchihas' had. I suppose they held some sort of special jutsu. Like my eyes, I thought suddenly. I smiled. Maybe I could get along with her. But at the same time, I wanted so desperately to be her lifelong rival.
