"So, Sasuke-kun, Hitomi-chan, what is the academy like?" Yukia asked, gently putting her spoon in her bowl after finishing her lunch, "I've been debating when to start Kaze there."
I heard Kaze snort slightly next to her and turn her head in the other direction. I knew for a fact that she was not keen on the idea of going to the academy. I was right about her though. She was tough. I know for a fact Yukia teaches her, one-to-one, and she has a brother who is an ANBU Black Op. She ceases to surprise me, this one.
Sasuke was the first to answer Yukia's question, "It's really cool! We learn so much! I already know lots."
"Ha! Bet you don't know as much as I do!" Kaze sang from across the table, putting on a cheeky grin.
"Bet I do." Sasuke retorted, smiling determinedly.
I remained silent, lowering my head to avoid eye contact with Kaze. I didn't want to look weak, but I didn't want to brag about how capable I was, because that would be a lie.
Yukia gave a light laugh, "I bet you two are just as talented as each other. Hitomi? What do you think?"
I jumped and flinched slightly when she mentioned my name, "Um..." Everyone's eyes turned onto me and I could feel my face going red, "I...I guess it's alright." I replied, twiddling my thumbs, but not looking up.
"And what jutsus have you learnt?" Yukia continued.
My face went even more crimson, "...I...don't know...any..." I replied, lowering my head even more, "I just...can't."
"Seriously?!" Kaze blurted out. I don't think she would have laughed at me, much to my surprise, but I bet internally she was thinking the same as most others. An Uchiha who does not know jutsu. But I was grateful for the fact she did not laugh.
Before Yukia could scold her Kaze for her outburst, Mother stepped in, "It's not you can't do it, Hitomi, it's the fact you don't believe you can do it. I've seen your academy reports, and they all say the same thing: Hitomi needs to have more confidence. Hitomi needs to believe in herself. Hitomi needs to get more involved. How do you think Itachi-san did so well? How do you think Kaze's brother, Kakashi, did so well? Why do you think Sasuke is top of the class? Because they apply themselves. That's what you need to do, Hitomi-chan!" she stroked my thick, messy hair and smiled, "But you'll get there."
That gave me a boost of confidence, and I smiled slightly, the first time since the new arrivals came. I then nodded, "Of course I'll get there!"
Sasuke, and even Kaze, smiled back at me.
"Aww, bless you, Hitomi-chan." Yukia laughed again, "You'll do well. You know what? You remind me of your Mother when she was young. Always trailed her older sister home, always wanting to be like her, always so behind."
Then, much to my surprise, it was Mother's turn to blush red, "I...is it really necessary to bring back old tales?" she asked.
"Of course. It's scary how alike you and Hitomi are. You look the same, you act the same, it's insane. The only difference between you two is the colour of your eyes and the thickness of Hitomi's hair compared to yours." Yukia explained.
Everyone points that out. Why is there an Uchiha with green eyes? Even I don't know. Mother never told me where that came from because no one else has had green eyes in the Uchiha clan. And as for my hair, Father has thick hair which is as messy as mine. I wouldn't say my hair is messy messy. There's just a lot of it.
"Yeah, I was wondering that too. Why is Hitomi-chan's eyes green?" Kaze asked, looking at Mother, then at me.
Yukia glared at Kaze, "Kaze, you know you shouldn't ask personal questions like that."
"I know, Mama, but...she could be special." Kaze replied, "And I'm interested."
Mother cleared her throat and smiled, "Well, Hitomi's been born with a special ability, only available to the person with her eyes. She has the Jade Sharingan, which is different from mine, and anyone else's in the Uchiha clan. But because Hitomi has not awoken it yet, we are not certain what that ability is, but there have been rumours. Rumours that whatever that ability is, it's an almighty power."
Kaze raised her eyebrows, "Wow. That's so cool!"
Just by looking at her expression, I knew there was more to Kaze than meets the eye too. It's her eyes. They give me the shivers just looking at them. But not in a scared way. It was more of a shiver of anticipation. I gave her a small grin and she sent one right back at me.
"Well, that's lunch over for another day. I'll get this all washed up. Kids, if you want, you can go and play outside for a bit? Of course, as long as it's Ok with everyone." Mother suggested, piling up all of the bowls and plates and heading over to the sink.
"Fine by me." Kaze replied.
Yukia chuckled and shook her head slightly, "I think she meant if it's Ok with me and Mikoto, Kaze." she corrected her daughter, and then she pretended to think about it, "Hmm, I guess it's Ok with me."
Mikoto shrugged, "Fine by me as well. I have all the time in the world. Besides, we really need to catch up with you Yukia."
"I know! It's been so long." Mother added.
Me, Sasuke and Kaze decided to ignore the rest of the conversation and headed out the back door and into the yard. Just beyond the yard was a large sakura tree which me and Sasuke like to climb up. We spend most of our time seeing who can hang upside down from a branch the longest, or just chilling in the branches and talking about nothing in particular.
I turned to look at the others, "Shall we see who can get the highest?" I suggested.
"You're on!" Sasuke replied, clenching his fist, before me and him charged at the tree.
I was wondering where Kaze was, or whether we left her behind, but when I reached one of the highest branches, and used my chakra control to maintain my balance, I spotted her swaying her legs back and forth, sitting on the branch opposite me.
"That was an interesting challenge." Kaze grinned cheekily at me.
Sasuke gave out a small puff, as I hauled him onto a higher branch, "How did you...get here before us?"
Kaze raised an eyebrow, "Have you never used chakra control to climb a tree?"
Both of us shook our heads slowly.
Kaze's eyes widened, "Woah...so you don't know how to climb a tree without using your hands?"
"Without our hands?!" me and Sasuke echoed her, but with more shock in our voices.
"I'll take that as a no." She then looked down at my feet, "See? You're using your chakra to stand on the tree now, Hitomi-chan! Why didn't you use that to climb the tree? And use jutsus! Your chakra control is awesome!"
I looked down at my feet and tapped them against the branch, "Guess I never thought about it." I replied, shrugging my shoulders.
Kaze sighed at my lack of enthusiasm and leaned against the trunk of the tree, "Wow the academy is slow at teaching..."
Me and Sasuke decided not to reply to that, but we both sat down and looked at Kaze in curiosity. I'm definitely not wrong about this girl. I bet, with a bit of extra intensive training, she will be a formidable ninja. And the perfect opponent.
