Chapter 5

The class after lunch went on smoothly and soon it was time to go home. Some went home by pairs or groups, while others were picked up by their parents or siblings. As for a certain raven-haired boy, he remained near the gates of the Academy, but was hidden from view. Upon seeing his target leave, he followed it stealthily.

Yuka waited until she was sure most of the children have gone ahead just to avoid another event like what happened earlier. She made a quick chat to some jounins she knew then left the Academy.

Since her parents were out for a mission, she can stay out a couple of hours longer to train before someone sent by her parents comes home to check on her. And so she took a path towards the forest, to the usual place she trains during daytime alone.

While walking, Yuka can't help but feel uneasy, like she's been followed. She had felt it since she left the Academy, though she was definitely sure she saw no one else was there when she left. She had tried glancing sideways and back to check anything that is not in place of the surroundings but found none. The person who follows her was probably good in hiding their chakra as she was having a little difficulty pointing out where the person is. Still, she was also having doubts of being followed because certainly no one would be interested to follow a 'freak'.

'That's weird. I don't feel any threats. It's just annoying.'

When she arrived at the entrance of the forest, she suddenly came up with an idea.

Itachi started following Yuka since she left the Academy. He made sure that his chakra was perfectly hidden so she wouldn't notice him.

Curiosity took the better of him though he actually didn't really want to follow her home. There was something in her eyes that draws him to it. From the looks of it, it wasn't just an ordinary eye discoloration disease, but more of like there was some kind of a hidden power behind it.

He was deep in thoughts about her eyes that he didn't notice quickly that she had stopped walking. He hid behind a wall just in time before her head spun around.

"Hello?" He heard her call out. He peeked a little and saw that she was now facing the forest and her hands were moving, fast.

'Hand seals?'

He hid back to his position as Yuka glanced around again. When he couldn't feel her chakra anymore, he slowly took another peek and saw her dash through the forest. He smirked.

"It's a challenge then."

Itachi moved swiftly and stealthily as he could, while careful not to lose Yuka on his sight. She was hoping on the branches while he dashed on the grounds, their gap enough for him to see where she goes and for her not to detect him. She moves quite fast too that Itachi thought if he ever blinks longer than he should, he'll lose her quickly. They were almost at a clearing when he saw her jumped down from a tree to some thick bushes below it.

He immediately crouched down on another thick line of bushes and kept all his senses on full alert if ever she suddenly comes out. Strange enough, he was sure he saw her disappear on the bushes across to where he is hiding now, but the sudden absence of her chakra was like she disappeared as if she was totally gone from the place.

'Impossible.' Itachi thought. Even if they are good in hiding their chakra there will still be chances of small amount of presence left by the person. He heightened his senses of detecting chakra signatures but still he found none of hers. Only the sounds made by birds and insects echoed, with occasional whistling of the breeze that made the leaves rustle.

Every second that passed seemed eternity but the young Uchiha refused to give up. He won't fall for a trap. He won't lose to her game.

'If you won't come out, then I'll find you.'

Just as Itachi was about to move from his spot, he heard shuffling of leaves from the direction where Yuka disappeared. He crouched lower and proceeded with a stance, ready to pounce on a prey as soon as it appears on sight.

His adrenaline came tumbling down when what appeared was not who he expected. A kitten came out instead.

"Just a kitten." He dropped back to a relaxed position but then immediately went back to a stance when he realized something was off. 'What's a kitten doing out here?'

Itachi then felt cold metal pressed lightly on his neck. "Good thinking. What's a kitty doing here when this forest is known to be full of other larger predators?" He turned his head to his back slowly. Yuka smirked at him and removed the kunai from his neck. "If I were an enemy, you'd be dead already."

"Hn."

"You're really one stubborn kid are you?" Yuka placed the kunai back on her pouch and crossed her arms. "Why are you following me?"

"How do you do that?"

She knitted her brows. "Do what?"

"Disappear."

Yuka let out a choked laughter. "Disappear? I didn't disappear. I just hid my chakra from you idiot. You're just slow..."

She was cut off as Itachi pushed her to a tree. "No one calls me an idiot." He stared at her angrily, clearly insulted.

"Well, I guess there is one now." She returned back his stare with a stern look on her face. "Arrogant Uchiha brat."

Itachi let out an irritated sigh as he let her go from his grasp. He turned his back from her and started to leave. He thought about regretting of following her when he could already be at home training or spending time with his baby brother. Guess he was wrong about his impression of her.

Yuka also let out a disappointed sigh as she turned her back as well. "This morning, I thought I found a kid different from the others." Itachi made a sudden halt. "I guess everyone's the same as anyone else."

He turned to face her but was surprised that she was already gone.