AN.

Chapter 3 with the shameless family feuds. Because I couldn't think of any family bonding fillers :)

EDIT 11/25/2017: Conducting a mass editing. Just added a line break. Carry on.

"Rin-chan, so good to see you!" My dad gave Rin a polite smile which she returned. Dad instantly froze over when he directed his eyes at the fidgeting Uchiha and nodded to him. "Obito, you're looking well." He greeted the boy all the while eyeing Obito with immature malice. I fidgeted nervously beside them. "Please, come in." They both muttered thanks and entered the house stiffly. We made a beeline for my room.

We all exhaled stiffly.

This has been going on for a while now. After the Hyūga incident (that is literally what they call it at school.) Rin, Obito and I instantly became a trio. One can't just be acquaintances when that happens. It's like a Harry, Ron, Hermione thing with the Ogre, except with martial arts and learning how to survive in a gruesome war. My mom kept encouraging me to marry the damned kid. If only she knew I was about the same age as her. I'm pretty sure she was about 25 or something. They made Rin and him eat dinner with us every other day. When mom noticed Rin's passion of medical ninjutsu, she asked her if she wanted to join me with my classes, and an enthusiastic reply followed. She is making leaps of progress compared to me, so my mom focused on her and I focused more on learning the Eight Triagrams. Obito sparred with me from time to time, but we mostly hung around the village marketplace. Dad approved of frequent dinners until the fish sticks incident happened.

Obito was about to say something when I held my hand up. His mouth shut with a click. I formed the snake seal and activated my Byakugan. My dad was staring at the door with his Byakugan. Creepy.

"He's watching us." I whispered.

Rin looked nervous. "We didn't mean to impose. Maybe we should visit some other time when your mom's here." She said quietly, Obito nodded sullenly "She makes the best fish sticks." He said seriously and I smiled "She does, doesn't she?" I frowned once more, focusing on the problem at hand. "I cannot study with your dad practically glaring at my back." Obito shuddered "I cannot fail this test you guys, dog-sensei told me that this might affect my chances of being a genin!" Rin looked askance

"Come on, Obito, he's not glaring at you and judging your every move…Is he? She turned to me, since I can literally see through walls. Perks of being a Hyūga by Hyūga Tokina.

"He is. I can see him." I confirmed and nodded seriously. "I don't think he needs to glare at a newspaper article about kunai and shuriken price hikes with his Byakugan on. He usually does that with his normal eyes."

Well maybe if we weren't Branchies, then we wouldn't need to worry about buying supplies.

"Well it's not my fault I stole his fish sticks! I didn't even know it was his! Akane-san put it on my plate anyway!" He complained quickly and quietly, making weird hand movements. I sighed, deactivating my Byakugan. "He's being very has got to stop."

The two exchange skeptical glances. "Follow my lead."Rin nodded and Obito looked like he wanted to melt in the floor. I deactivated my Byakugan and fished out my text books and wrote notes for tomorrows quiz, and the other two did the same. I heard the door open and the voice that followed. "I'm home." She called. I stopped writing and nodded to Obito, he gulped. I heard my mom and dad talking. We exited my sanctuary.

"Hi mom," I greeted, hugging her briefly. "Hello, Akane-san." The other two said in unison. I grabbed her hand. "Mom, Rin-chan has a question about Medical Ninjutsu." I lied.

Rin nodded, catching on. "It's true, Akane-san. Could you please come with us?" We pushed my ruffled looking mother into my room and slid the door shut. I activated my Byakugan and eyed my dad at the edge of my near 360 vision. He was still staring with Byakugan. My mom sat on my bed and began. "It is about your father, correct?" She sighed when she saw us (mostly just Obit) nodding profusely. "I'm sorry, I am to be blamed." She began explaining when she saw the shock in our faces. "I may have joked with your father about you and Obito-kun making a cute couple."

I blanched at her and Obito turned red and spluttered "I joked how the Hyūga and the Uchiha need to finally mend their ties as fellow villagers and I said that an arranged marriage would not be the least unusual between clans. He might have taken that too seriously." She finished, looking sheepish. Rin, who was not at all affected, asked the first question and most important question that could determine our friendship with Obito

"So he's okay with the fish sticks?"

Mom looked confused for a minute and made a sound like she remembered something important. "I do not think he remembers it to be honest. I believe he was plotting the most inconspicuous and cleanest way of assassinating someone from a prestigious clan." Obito paled, gaped and held his hands with his face "What did I do to deserve this" he groaned. I patted his back awkwardly, trying to comfort his still hard, no matter how silly the situation despite me chuckling.

What a stereotypical dad. Jesus Christ.

"What should we do, Akane-san?" Rin said seriously.

"Do not worry; I will talk to your father." She stood up and activated her Byakugan; her activated eye seemingly glowed with malice yet her face calm and serene. The air turned cold with malice and pure evil. She embodied a snow storm in her wake. I could have sworn ice was forming at the walls. We gulped. She opened the door and closed it all too quickly. I contemplated if I should activate my Byakugan so I could see what she's doing.

"Fun fact, you guys?" I whispered to my conspirators. "She was known as the 'Cold Blooded, One-Eyed Beauty' by her peers." I didn't know if that was true. I only learnt that from other Hyūgas as I walk by. 'How's the One-Eyed Beauty?' an older man told me. He began a long tale of adventures of this certain Branchy that could freeze people in her wake. I didn't know if it was literal.

"Honey? What's wrong?" I heard muttering before inhumane screams filled our house.

"NO! NO! NOT THAT! ANYTHING BUT THAT! AAAAGH!"

The house shook and quieted. I heard the cracking of eggs and the boiling of tea. We stared at the door for a second longer and Rin cleared her throat. We continued to study till mom reared her head again. "Dinner is ready, children." She announced. We walked to our respective chairs separated our chop sticks. "Thank you for the food." We muttered. I eyed dad, who looked calm and peaceful. "Obito-kun," Obito instantly turned his attention and said a flustered "Yes?" He looked nervous, my dad pointed at the soy sauce and he passed it.

When dinner finished and table and dishes were clean, Obito and Rin took off. "Thank you for the food, Akane-san." Obito said gratefully, patting his belly. We said our goodbyes, dad muttered something and went to bed. My mom glanced at me innocently "Something wrong, dear?" She smiled.

Are all medic-nins that scary?

I dreamt of rabbits on the moon. One of them seemed so cheerful to see me. I couldn't hear what it was saying. Its voice sounded like it (or I) was underwater because it was kind of understandable. Sound waves can't travel in space. What was it doing? Warning me? I couldn't tell, honestly. I only focused on its happy face and depressing eyes.

The bell rang, signifying the end of the day, me, Rin and Obito walked to the crossroads of the Hyūga and the Uchiha compound. "Be there by six, okay? I might need help with the fish; mom might still be at the hospital, so..." I said to Obito who rolled his eyes. "C'mon, Kina-chan, I'm not always late." Me and Rin gave him equally disbelieving looks. He had the decency to look embarrassed. Sure, Obito. Tell yourself that. 'The boy who was late in the ceremony' says he wasn't late. How absolutely precious.

"Anyway, see you guys later." I waved them off. I walked to my house with a spring to my step.

"I'm home." I announced, sliding the door. Huh, that's weird. This is usually the part where a least one of them greets me, but it seems there was nobody here. I shrugged and left my shoes outside and set my back at the counter, heating tea and inspecting the fridge for anything I felt like eating. When I saw nothing I craved, I walked out to the backyard to train and formed the snake seal and activated my Byakugan.

I immediately picked up on a chakra signature but it vanished in an instant. I stood still, using my sharp and near three-sixty degree vision. I can't see that far ahead yet, but damn was the world crisp, clearer and better looking than a 1080p video. I immediately saw a small green snake slither slowly to me. Its emerald scales glinting in the afternoon light, yellow eyes staring at me. That is one beautiful snake.

You know, other than our class rep. Bitch thought she was hot shit, can't even tell Khaki from Cream!

I walked slowly towards it; I saw it tense ever so slightly but made no qualms of moving away. I don't know what came over me but I held a finger near its head. It slithered near me and coiled around my index finger and slithered around my arm, its cold body pressed against mine probably relishing in the body heat. I held my arm out, its shiny scales reflecting some light and making a rainbow. I deactivated my Byakugan.

"Beautiful." I murmured. What's so scary about snakes anyway? I think their majestic honestly. I always wanted to have one as a pet in my past life, maybe a harmless corn snake or something, but I knew I would never feed it and it would end up dying because of my negligence. I never kept any white jeans because I couldn't trust myself to maintain the damn thing. Stains and dirt hidden behind an innocent black or denim was my style. I carefully stroked its head. Oooh, its head is so smooth.

"I see you have found one of my summonses." A raspy voice said, I jumped and turned around quickly, my new friend not enjoying the change in speed and momentum hissed. I froze. Holy shit.

"Sannin-san." I said dumbly, my eyes probably in shock. His yellow slit eyes quirked in amusement "Are you Hyūga Tokina?" He asked.

Holy shit. Why is Orochimaru here? In my backyard? While I'm home alone? Holy hell, if this was planned, then...Oh my God, where are my parents? I'm pretty sure that he's experimenting on kids right about now, I'm not really sure what, if it's the Wood-Release one or the Cursed Seal of Heaven. Either way, only one person survived those two experiments and I am not willing to try it. I realized that I haven't answered his question yet and I replied with a curt and tense "Yes, Sannin-sama"

"I have a letter from your parents. They are in a long mission, spying in Iwagakure." He said formally, his serpentine smile still plastered on his face. "Nobody knows how long it might take. A week perhaps? Maybe a month?" Bad things just keep happening to me, huh? First a child murderer then my parents are now behind enemy lines? What the hell? I opened the letter and yes. It was written by my dad, it had his stamp, printed name and signature on it. I should analyze it for anagrams, who knows if Orochimaru did something to them. I was about to thank him when he interrupted me.

"Irritating, is it not?" He said, gauging my reaction. When my face remained impassive, he continued on "This war is such a bothersome. Many lives have been taken and are being taken right now and we cannot do anything about it." He said walking towards me. I stood my ground. Where is this leading to? Why is he telling me this? "All the Shinobi here want to die an honorable death. Dying for the village is the highest honor here in Konoha. Do you want an honorable death, Tokina?" He eyed me, his slit eyes flashed with something I couldn't discern. I'm pretty sure a Sannin could read lies and the snake Sannin at that, I opted to be honest. "No, I do not, Sannin-sama" I said in calm surprising me because inside, I was panicking and felt my everything turn to jelly, my danger radars blearing through my ears but I could do nothing about it.

"Oh? Why is that, Tokika-chan?" His raspy voice drawled and lowered himself as I met face to face with him.

"I do not want to die, Sannin-sama. I want to live." I tried to hide my nervous fidgeting. Didn't work, obviously. Can you blame me? I'm fucking 5!

He smiled and retracted. He shrugged nonchalantly and shook his head. "Don't we all? I am happy that you have self-preservation in you, Tokina-chan. A lot of great Shinobi died because they lacked it." He then kneeled before my and clasped my hands with his pale ones.

"Be my apprentice, Tokina-chan." He said, the signature serpentine smile still there with his high cheekbones yet this voice entirely in a no-bullshit tone. The snake I had all but forgotten tightened its hold on my arm ever so slightly. Ah, the snake was a trap. It was probably planned then, me picking up the snake, him using his silver tongue to make it seem natural then bust this question out of the blue, asking but really commanding. "I am not one of those teachers who would make you throw away your self-preservation. I will help you break your barriers and your limits to help you survive in this world." Damn him, he's charismatic ill give him that. "The training might be as intense as whatever you Hyūgas do but I promise it will be worth it." He said quickly, his eyes seemingly giving off malicious intent, or maybe excitement, that or it's just my imagination.

It was so painfully obvious that he wanted me as an experiment. Maybe not painfully obvious, but since I knew what he really was (well, to be fair, the other two Sannin and Hirzuen knew but they kept turning their cheek and hoping he'll change). He was a demon that would pursue his goals till the ends of the Earth. Hell, I wasn't sure if he was fucking earthbound.

I scrambled for a reason. "I'm barely a genin, Sannin-san." I reasoned weekly. It seems he came prepared for this. Like a true businessman. A really fucked up business man.

Aren't all businessmen kinda fucked up in their own way?

"Then you will be excused for the rest of the academy year, you still have to take the genin exams and you still have to learn the basic of jutsu but with more worthwhile lessons in the mix." He countered, ugh. I know what he's doing and I know I'm falling for it but even I say no, he might just outright kidnap me. I inwardly cursed myself, closed my eyes and tried to get into terms with my chaotic fate. What the hell can I do? He's experienced while I was literally just born a few years ago.

"Please teach me, Orochimaru-shishou." I grunted out dejectedly mostly out of rational fear for my life. Who knows what he might do to me if I refused? He wasn't constricted by the norms of being a human, if he is one that is. I shuddered at the thought of what could have happened to me. Hell, I wasn't even sure what was going to happen to me tomorrow!

He chuckled his dark and slightly irritating chuckle "Wise choice." His raspy voice sounded amusedly. Hell, I was pretty sure this was a low-key threat at its finest. Am I going to get snake summons, though? That would be so cool and creepy, I love it. I wouldn't need to do any work, just summon a viper and BAM donezo. Maybe I could poison him while he's asleep. Is he even immune to poisons? "I have yet to get the paperwork from the Hokage yet." He let himself murmur. Orochimaru was actually lazy. Who would have thought? He's probably down playing his murderer act, though, probably making me think that everything is going to be just peachy and wonderful.

I gaped as he summoned a big purple snake out of nowhere.

Okay, maybe a little bit of fear but mostly shock and amazement.

He smirked and stroked the giant creature like a fluffy dog. "Maybe if you show enough potential, I might be let you sign my scroll but otherwise; I'll expect great things from you. Meet me at Training Ground 6 at 5am. Do try not to let me down." He turned around and added something as an afterthought "And don't be late." He said and vanished with the show-offy whatever that was.

Now how do I explain this to my friends and family...

I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

I entered the house with letter and instantly plopped down. What have I got myself into? First, you let yourself befriend the main enemy of the whole world known as Uchiha Obito, second you befriend his wanted but destined to die girlfriend Nohara Rin and now you go and fucking figuratively sign a contract to one of Naruto's biggest, baddest, most inhumane and downright beautiful villains! The Orochimaru! What the fuck happened to live low even though fate just decided to put you in a clan that could otherwise kill you! I clutched the letter in my hand, remembering that 'oh right, this world has its own problems and my parents are out there to solve it.'

I opened the letter that smelled of chemicals and ink. A sign that this really was from my parents.

"Dear Tokina

Our leave has expired and we must return to the active roster. A war might be looming upon us so the Hokage wants to get enough information as possible. We won't be risking letters as it might endanger our cover. We hope you understand.

Then mom's clean and text book calligraphy was replaced with dad's scrawly chicken scratch.

Be safe, work with the project without me for now. I expect you to be able to at least do half of the project. Don't do anything you wouldn't do if we were in the same room and-

At this, black ink made broken lines towards the end of the paper like it was being torn away."

Take Care. Love, Mom and Dad

Huh, either they overestimated my anagram reading powers or they really were no hidden messages. They could have been kidnapped by Orochimaru, the snake-devil, for all I know. My parents think I'm such a prodigy but honestly the reason why I'm by definition 'good' is that I have more attention span than the normal cattle. You would need that to survive college, specifically for the History of Music class. We didn't go there to learn why Beethoven died dammit, we came in there to make music! I couldn't help but sigh irritably at my face as I began preparing a meal for one for the first time in a while. Beef Soup to cheer me up.

I heard knocking and my name wing called by a high pitched boyish voice that desperately needs a whack with the puberty stick. "Hey, Kina-chan, we came to visit!" He called out and let himself in.

Fuck, I completely forgot about them. I heard them knock again. "Tokina-chan, we're here! Sorry about Obito, he got caught up with-" muttering from the said boy while the girl continued her sentence/alibi "With helping grannies with their groceries." Well, it seems I have to cross that bridge soon then. I walked in front of the door and sighed. I am not in the mood to be all cheery and joyful when I literally just told Orochimaru that, yes, I do want to kill myself. I couldn't help but chuckle.

Been there, done that.

Obito entered and instantly went to my food while Rin gave me an assessing look. "What?" I asked pointedly. She pursed her lips. "Something's wrong. You seem sad."

I was about to defend myself but Rin gave the most guilt tripping face a five year old could make and, with a sigh I reluctantly gave her the letter. I let her read it before explaining the scaly situation. After she finished reading she looked at me apologetically. "Oh, Kina-chan." She hugged me. I don't know why, honestly. Maybe she thought I was one of those paranoid children who thought their parents would never come back. I knew my parents. My mom could poison anything, and my dad could probably seal a person's chakra in under five seconds. I was a bit worried though.

"I'm fine, Rin. That's not the problem." I confessed. She let go of me and dragged my problematic add to the backyard. She looked at me expectantly. Here it goes. "Orochimaru is my new Shishou. I won't be attending the academy anymore." Rin looked happy for me, though. If only I shared her sentiments. I knew too much, anyway. "Wow, Tokina-chan! That's great, one of the legendary Sannin!" She chirped as she began her fan girl-ing. "What's so wrong about that?" She innocently smiled at me. Oh, to be young and naive again.

Oh wait...

"He kind of forced me to? I don't know; that's what I feel like he did." I confessed. I explained to her how there was a snake that could probably use genjutsu to make me go to it, how he fed me all his crap, his real crap, and put me in a tight spot. I told her how this might be related to my parents new mission. When I stopped to breath, Rin looked mildly nervous for me but said nothing. I breathed in and continued. "…But more importantly, why me?" I asked myself, Rin just being a witness to my inner musings and turmoil "What would a legendary Sanin want with a random branch member of a Hyūga?" Maybe he wanted to fatten me up before his Byakugan research or something? Or to handle The Cursed Seal of Heaven or Earth? "It just feels so random."

"You're a prodigy, Kina-chan? You're like the second in class, if it wasn't for your..." Rin waved her hand, searching for a not so mean wording of inability to do a basic Elemental Ninjutsu

"…Inept ninjutsu skills?" I offered

She sighed, meaning she couldn't find the right words to soften the blow. "Yeah, that, you would have beaten Kakashi-san for that spot!" She said dreamy eyed. Then she remembered he was trying to convince me that I was a prodigy and instantly turned red, she cleared her throat and continued. "Look at it this way; do you know anyone who has manifested their Byakugan at your age?" She glared determinedly

"I'm pretty sure the Main-house people require an early aged Byakugan."

She pointedly ignored my answer "Do you know anyone in your age that could seal up faster than you?" She continued.

"I'm pretty sure that kid from class five could, I heard he got an instant five in Taijutsu." I replied with curious thought, my head tilted to the side and everything. Yeah, he even had a weird ass bowl haircut and a red scarf. A perfect anime character get-up. He looked familiar though. I really did not want to think that was what Gai looked like as a kid, a literal snot-nosed brat.

"Okay, fine! How about knowing a lot of stuff that not even chunin would know?!" She pointed like she caught me doing a bad deed.

"I'm pretty sure Kakashi-"

"That's not the point!" She screeched irritably and exasperatedly all the while Rin glared at me with the intensity of a thousand suns. Who is this demon called Rin? Jesus, making a woman who didn't flinch at any Resident Evil game or Final Destination movie until this random girlie fucking pulls out that face? "The point is that your great, Hyūga Tokina, and you should be grateful that one of the Sanin is basically tutoring you!" She finished exasperatedly and smiled like she successfully convinced me that it wasn't my so called 'prodigious talents' that enticed him but me probably being an able contestant in 'Who can handle the Cursed Seal of Heaven' game "But you and Obito..." I countered weekly

"-Can take of ourselves, seriously don't bother. Your parents made sure we can." She smiled fondly. I chuckled. "Your right, I guess" I offered reluctantly at the proud girl. Rin jabbed a finger at me "Of course I am! Now come on, dinner isn't going to make itself!"

We walked back inside the kitchen and prepared dinner, when we were setting up the plates, Obito came to the room looking ruffled and wet. What the hell? I tilted my head as Rin sighed exasperatedly. "Don't ask." He said red faced and ashamed of himself

After dinner and the impromptu retelling of my current life's problems, I saw them off like any other good five year old would. Oh wait. Maybe 'like any other reincarnated five year old' would have been more accurate. Oh well. "Are you sure about this? My parents wouldn't mind me sleeping over." Rin offered.

"I don't have parents." Obito shrugged in a deadpan.

Holy shit that was fucked up. I felt myself twitch a little bit guiltily. My poor orphaned Uchiha baby.

Rin cleared her throat, "A-Anyway," she tried to regain her composure. "I'm fine, you guys. It's not the end of the world" Rin looked unconvinced while Obito gave me a thumbs up as they walked away "Good luck on your first day of training tomorrow!" He waved. I waved back.

I went inside and closed the door. The house didn't seem so cold before. I sighed. Maybe the insulator was acting up again. I went outside to check our wiring. I couldn't help but stare at the white rabbit, hare or whatever who was watching me intently as a blue monarch butterfly fluttered to me. It perched on my right shoulder as I shook myself.

Well, that was a Disney princess moment.

I stared up the stars and Earth. The voices and the rabbit stopped seeing me.

I felt lost for some reason.

A white and yellow butterfly appeared out of the stardust and flew past me. Without any reason not to, I followed them.

AN.

Okay, confession? I'm literally changing A LOT of things from the original draft of 3xIs. Like, this chapter? Tokina was supposed to have the snake summon and have this personal summon called Saheel (even watched this really really really good documentary about King Cobras) but that would feel like cheating. So I'm scrapping, adding and adjusting the story to my ideas. So, 1 chapter per week in fear of running out of chapters as I happily edit :)

Also, birthday yesterday. All I did was write, edit, play and lie down. Basically best birthday ever.

Have a nice life if you could help it! ALL THE REVIEWS WERE REALLY NICE! LIKE, THANK YOU!

also, friggin' making all the subtraction/dash signs go byebye when I edit here. I have to use them for line breaks in my phone, dammit.