Enjoy the new chapter and please review!

. . .

I moodlily tightened my grip on the pencil in my hand, and I was slightly satisfied when the wood creaked.

I held it to eye level, examining it curiously.

A multitude of barely noticable cracks ran down the pencil's straight frame, and I was slightly mystified that it had been me who had done that.

But the pencil wasn't the bane of my frustration and annoyance.

No, never.

It was the piece of paper innocently gazing up at me from its place on my desk.

I huffed, dropping my pencil onto the desk and crossing my arms over my chest.

The pencil fell to the desk with a dull clutter.

My eye twitched.

Yashamaru glanced at me vaguely before going back to his own paper, his expression as quiet and grim as it usually was.

Huh.

Okay, in the past month that I've been with this class, I've observed that Yashamaru was nothing like his older sister, Karura.

Whereas Karura was loud and cheerful, Yashamaru was quiet and grim, coming off as slightly cold to a newcomer.

I'd never really spoken more than a few words ever since he had helped me with my target practise, but that was to be expected, I guess.

If only Kame-chan hadn't insulted my hair, than I wouldn't have gotten detention in the first place.

I sighed, glaring down at my test moodily.

Ever since I had entered the academy, I had been the bane of bullies everywhere.

All for the reason that I lacked the ability to use chakra.

My sullen look faded into a frown.

I was a Sensor type, but that ability could only be utilised by possessing chakra.

Unless...

I actually could use chakra, granted it would only be the tiniest of trickles.

The tiniest amount to use the standard academy jutsus, and maybe, just maybe... enough to grip walls.

I grinned, and I was about to finish my test with a renewed vigour.

But just as my pen descended onto the paper, Sensei's booming voice sounded throughout the classroom.

"Time's up, class," he droned, "now, if you could bring your papers up..."

I scowled, but I did as he told, anyway.

When everyone was seated again and the classroom was eerily silent, Sensei spoke.

"We have at least an hour before lunch begins," he murmured, "now, I want everyone to follow me outside. I'm going to begin teaching you about the basic uses of chakra."

At the sound of that admission, whispers broke throughout the room.

"I'll totally ace it," I heard Kame-chan whisper, then she turned her malicious gaze to me, "but I can't say the same for you, Aka-chan."

A few of the girls seated beside Kame-chan giggled.

I, however, merely frowned.

"I don't think that's right, Kame-chan," I murmured softly.

Kame-chan snorted on laughter as we walked out toward the training field.

I frowned the entire way there, but I was startled when something abruptly brushed past me.

My arm tingled.

My frown deepened.

Kame-chan took one look at my face and giggled.

"Do you have a crush on Puppet Boy, Aka-chan?" She cooed sweetly.

Crush...?

I snorted.

How juvenile.

Wait... Puppet Boy?

My eyes flashed, and I growled, "Don't call him that!"

Kame-chan laughed harder, and she shrieked, "Aka-chan and Puppet Boy sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-"

"Shut up! I yelled.

Kame-chan squealed and hurriedly hid behind Yashamaru who I hadn't noticed until now.

"Save me from Aka-chan, Yashamaru-kun!" She shrieked.

Yashamaru sighed in exasperation, and didn't bother to deign Kame-chan with a reply.

"Yashamaru-kun," she whined.

Yashamaru sighed again, and this time it sounded more tired than angry

"Please refrain from touching me, Kimiko-chan," he sighed.

My jaw dropped.

Yashamaru called Kame-chan by her name?

And yet, he only calls me by my last name.

There's too many injusticies in this world.

I huffed angrily, and all my angry thoughts were soon drowned out when Sensei soon began to speak.

"... and if you possess enough aptitude, then you will be moved up a class."

My jaw dropped even further, and from his place beside me, Yashamaru murmured, "Kindly refrain from opening your mouth like that again, Kishi-san."

I shot him a scowl, and as I'd predicted, Yashamaru didn't even blink.

Once again, it was Sesnei's voice that shattered my irritated thoughts.

"You will channel your chakra, and if successful, you will attempt the clone jutsu."

When everyone had taken their respective places, I was near startled by a tap on my shoulders.

I turned to see a boy with a gentle smile on his lips.

A very familiar looking boy with a gentle smile on his lips.

"Huh- oh, Hiroshi-kun!" I broke off, launching myself at him and wrapping my arms around his neck.

He choked on a laugh, wheezing out, "I-It's good to see you, too, Yū-chan."

I pulled back, still smiling fintly.

Hiroshi looked... well, older, I'd say.

But it had been over a year since I'd last seen him, I reasoned.

He was only a taller than me, and as usual, his fringe obscured half of of his face, letting only a sliver of his eyes through but the majority of his smile.

He was clad in a green kimono that looked as if It'd seen better days.

"Channel your chakra, Yū-chan," he murmured, "I know you can do it."

Against my better judgement, I clapped my hands into the same sign Takashi had shown me all those years earlier.

But unlike what I usually did when I was training by myself, I only proddest for the tiniest sliver of chakra, deciding to test my theory that I had fabricated only minutes earlier.

As usual, the toxic feeling of my chakra bubbled to the surface, and I cringrd at the poisonous feeling. It tried to force its way out, and my eyes went hazy and unfocussed, but I gritted my teeth, determined to pull through whatever this was.

I prodded for the tiniest sliver of chakra, and believe it or not, it actually obeyed, albiet burning my palms in the process.

"That's it, Yū-chan," Hiroshi murmured in encouragement, "now put your hands together in whatever sign Sensei showed you."

I clumsily copied the handsign that Sensei had shown us, desperately holding onto the sliver of chakra that I precariously held.

Hiroshi then pulled on his own chakra, and I yelled: "Clone Jutsu!"

There was a puff of smoke, and it cleared away a moment later.

My eye twitched at what I saw, and I couldn't help but feel ashamed at what I had come up with.

Obviously Hiroshi couldn't perform such a jutsu since he had no idea what a person looked like. He had only pulled on his chakra for encouragement.

The clone I had created was pale and rather sickly looking.

Half of its body was missing, and not a few seconds later, it shuddered before poofing out of existance.

My heart dropped, but considering that I had summoned it on my first try, I reasoned that my control wasn't too bad for my almost non-existent chakra. And judging from what a few other kids produced, it proved that my control wasn't shot to hell like I thought it would be.

I looked up at Hiroshi and was mildly surprised to see an uncharacteristic grin present on his gentle face.

"You did better than I thought, Yū-chan," he said.

I grinned, but it dimmed somewhat when I realised something.

"Hey, Hiroshi-kun," I said, "do you have an idea of why my control isn't as shitty as I'd thought It'd be?"

Hiroshi didn't hesitate, saying, "Otou-sama's chakra is a lot like yours, Yū-chan. Meaning: he has so little chakra to work with, and with so little chakra, naturally his control would be superior to others."

I nodded, considering his theory. It made sense from what I could comprehend. I mean, let's talk about Sakura Haruno from the manga: her chakra control was near-perfect. Far better than her team mates with their own huge chakra reserves. My theory is that because her reserves were smaller than most, her chakra was easier to control.

I think that's the same with my own chakra.

But being that I was unable to freely expend my chakra because of an illness, than lack of talent in Rock Lee's part, I had to be extremely careful with what I used up. If I used too much, then my body would get an overload and my coils would burn out.

And then I'd die.

Very slowly and painfully.

"Wait a sec," I murmured mostly to myself before glancing at Hiroshi, "what did my chakra even look like, Hiroshi-kun?"

Hiroshi was silent, but after a few moments, he jokingly said, "You know I can't see anything, Yū-chan."

I scowled at him, knowing all too well that he wouldn't be able to see it. "You know what I meant," I moodily grumbled.

Hiroshi chuckled, "You're right. If you really want to know, your chakra was fluctuating wildly around your form."

My chakra was wild?

"That's really weird," I said, then: "What does that even mean?"

Hiroshi shrugged, "I wouldn't know. Try another clone."

I looked down at my hands, "I don't think I have enough chakra for this jutsu."

"Just try," Hiroshi insisted, "it doesn't look as if you're drained just yet."

I sighed, "Fine."

Like before, my hands formed the sign that Sensei had made us memorise, but my form was sloppy, and overall, I very badly done.

But I tried my best, forcing out the same sliver of chakra as before, yelling: "Clone Jutsu!"

Like before, a poof of smoke wreathed around me, and when it dissipated, a replica of myself stood before me.

But like before, it was sickly and demented looking.

It disappeared soon after, and I buried my face in my hands, moaning, "Why am I so horrible at everything I try?"

"Uh, Yū-chan?" Hiroshi tried, interrupting my self-pity party. "You're not horrible at everything. You're really high in Taijutsu, remember?"

Huh?

My face didn't brighten, and I said, "I have to be the best I can at Taijutsu, considering that I can't really use chakra."

"You did just then," Hiroshi pointed out.

"Yeah, but using only two jutsus practically drained it all away!" I argued.

"You're doing better than the majority of the class is right now," Hiroshi continued gently.

I looked up, and saw that he was right.

Most kids were having trouble to just draw on their chakra, and if they could, they weren't having much progress on the Clone Jutsu.

Suddenly, a grin found its way onto my face.

"Hey, you're right, Hiroshi-kun," I murmured.

A shy grin appeared on Hiroshi's face, and I almost missed it just because his hair was in the way.

My smile was as equally shy.

"Alright, class," Sensei called, "that's enough. You can all leave for lunch, but I need a few to stay behind."

Huh? Sensei never asks people to stay behind unless it's a detention.

"If Hiroshi, Yashamaru, Sasori, Kimiko, and Yūmaru could stay behind," Sensei said, "then that would be marvellous."

I blinked, and I shared a look of confusion with Hiroshi before we both decided to stop standing around and we both slowly approached Sensei.

To my left, I noticed Yashamaru walking beside me, and with a pang, I saw a familar head of red hair.

Sasori!

The boy completely ignored everyone around him, his brown eyes half-lidded and cold. His expression was that of a bored and lazy half-smile, but I knew better.

Maybe Sasori was as confused as I was.

Then I noticed someone else.

"Kame-chan!" I hissed in disbelief.

Kame-chan looked at me in surprise, and very briefly, we both held a glare of hatred and loathing.

"Aka-chan," she whispered through clenched teeth.

I glared even harder, but my murderous thoughts were swiftly cast away once I heard Hiroshi speak.

"Sensei, why were we kept behind?" He asked quietly, "I know you only keep students back if they're in trouble."

"You're not in trouble," Sensei assured us gruffly, "I actually asked you to stay behind to inform you that all five of you will be moving up a class."

Wait...

"What?!" I cried, "how can I move up a class?! I'm the dead last if you forgot!"

"The reason the five of you are moving up a class," Sesnei snapped, "is because you're far more advanced than the current one you're in!"

"Uh, how so?" I asked meekly.

Sensei sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. "For one, Yūmaru-chan, all five of you can control your chakra to an extent, and in an extreme case, perform the academy jutsu. And while Hiroshi-kun may not be able to, he can still summon his chakra. And Yūmaru-chan, your mother informed me that you lacked the ability to use chakra."

I winced.

Ouch, Mum.

"I can use it," I said heavily, "but only for the most basic of jutsus."

"Nevertheless, you're still moving up a class," Sensei said shortly, "and while you may be the dead last, your Taijutsu skills are still reasons enough to move you up. That goes for all of you, not just Yūmaru-chan."

"Can you just call me Yū-chan?" I pleaded, "Yūmaru's too manly for my tastes."

And it's true, Yūmaru sounds a boy's name!

Were my parents planning on having another son after Takashi, or something?

Sensei didn't even bother deigning my question with a reply.

Then I remembered something else.

"Kame-chan's moving up a class, as well?!" I cried.

Kame-chan looked affronted while I felt mortified.

"Likewise, Aka-chan," Kame-chan sniffed.

"Can you even perform the Clone Jutsu?" I sniped.

Kame-chan smirked cockily, and she clapped her hands in a perfect sign, shrieking, "Clone Jutsu!"

I blinked at the overload of chakra that had been put into the jutsu, but when the smoke dissipated, my jaw dropped.

Standing before Kame-chan was a very good clone. Granted, it wasn't perfect, and there pieces missing around the edges, but unlike mine, Kame-chan's clone didn't look like it was about to drop dead.

My eye twitched.

I clapped my own hands into the same sign that Kame-chan had used only moments ago, and I felt it in my dwindling chakra reserves that I'd only have enough for one more.

Three jutsu were my limit, it seemed.

Anymore and I was sure my coils would get fried from a chakra overload.

"Clone Jutsu!"

Smoke poofed around me, and I saw a glimpse of my clone.

It was pale and haggard.

As sickly looking as I currently felt.

I hurriedly spat out a globule of blood, and assessed my work.

It was almost embarrassing at how perfect Kame-chan's clone looked compared to mine.

Kame-chan laughed, spitting out, "Who's superior now, Aka-cha?! My clone looks better than yours!"

I surprised out of my mind at who spoke up next.

"Aka-chan's control is superior to your own," Sasori pointed out gravely.

Huh?

Did Sasori just call me Aka-chan?

And did he just stick up for me?

Wait, he didn't stick up for me, he was only proving a point.

"Whatever, Puppet Boy," Kame-chan sneered. "You're only jealous because I'm better than you!"

Uh, yeah, Kame-chan, I don't think you should say that you're better than a future S-Class criminal that would easily be able to kill you once he gets strong enough.

I don't think I would.

"I don't think he really cares, Kame-chan," I said softly, absentmindedly wiping away the gathering blood on my chin.

"Says the person who was making googly eyes at him earlier!" Kame-chan spat.

I blinked, "That's what this is about?" I said incredulously, "Kame-chan, I'm too young for that sort of stuff!"

"What sort of stuff?" Hiroshi asked blandly, "the bad sort of stuff?"

I shot him a weird look, and I silently debated whether he knew anything about that.

When his face remained confused, I decided that he didn't.

"If you have no more questions," Sensei stated montoneously, "then I must ask you to leave and have your lunch."

I nodded, then tugged Hiroshi toward in the direction of the playground after grabbing our respective lunches. Surprisingly, he complied without complaint.

When we arrived, I approached a vacent area and sat down, opening my bento and snatching a riceball from within.

I chewed on the rice languidly, swallowing when needed and generally savouring the taste of it.

"You must like riceballs," Hiroshi pointed out, a teasing tone present in his voice.

"And if I do?" I retorted, smiling a little.

I tool another bite of my riceball, and soon enough, it was gone. Devoured.

So I simply took another one and ate it.

And another.

And another.

Before I knew it, all my riceballs were gone and my bento was empty.

I snapped it shut with a flourish and slipped it inside my bag before turning to see Hiroshi chewing thoughtfully on a piece of dango.

I sat there for a while, just staring at him.

The fact that we would be in the same class tomorrow reminded me of the fact that I wanted to befriend him even more than I already had.

He was, quite possibly, the only friend I had in this world.

We had only really known each other for a month, and I wanted to know him more.

I wanted to know his dream.

I wanted to know what he loved and loathed.

I wanted to be his friend.

"Hey, Hiroshi-kun," I said, chewing on a piece of rice, "what's your dream for the future?"

Hiroshi finished the remainder of his dango before answering, "I think... I think I would want to find a cure for Otou-sama's illness. I want him to live, to watch me grow up, and if possible, watch my children grow up."

"You..." I was speechless.

"What's your dream, Yū-chan?" Hiroshi asked around another piece of dango.

I paused for a moment, considering.

What is my dream?

"... I... want to get stronger so that I can protect all that is dear to me."

"The village?" Hiroshi guessed.

I hesitated, "Most of the time," I answered truthfully, "but sometimes, I feel this unexplainable feeling that makes me want to yell."

"Anger and hatred," Hiroshi said quietly, he smiled wryly when he saw my startled expression, "you're not the only one with so much bitterness, Yū-chan. I sometimes feel it off Otou-sama, and in extreme cases, Sunako-nii-san."

I sighed, how had I met this sweet, gentle boy who had the aura of someone years older?

I didn't know.

. . .

"Are you ready, Yū-chan?" My mother called, "Takashi-chan can't wait forever."

I rolled my eyes, yelling, "I'll be there in a minute!"

"Okay!"

I finished bandaging my hands and pulled my bag onto my shoulders.

I then exited my room, sliding the door behind me.

It would be my first day in a new class, and I couldn't say that I wasn't excited.

I entered the kitchen and took the bento that Mum had proffered for me. Akito clung to her leg, and when he saw me, he pointed a chubby finger at my chest.

"Where going, Yūyū?" He demanded, his big black eyes narrowed.

"To the academy, Akito-chan," I answered.

His eyes widened, and before I knew it, he had dashed foreward and clung onto my leg.

"Can I come?!" He cried.

"Ne, Akito-chan," Mum said gently, "Yū-chan is learning how to be a ninja, it will be too dangerous if you go."

"It's okay, Okaa-san," a voice interrupted, "Akito-chan can come. I'll keep him safe, and afterwards, I can show him around the village. It's my day off, anyway."

Mum sighed, "Oh, very well, then. But you keep him safe, Takashi-chan, do you understand?"

Takashi blushed faintly at the honorific, but he nodded firmly,"Of course, Okaa-san."

"Do you hear that, Akito-chan?" Mum cooed, "your big brother will take you to the academy."

"Yay!" Akito cheered, clapping his hands, "Yūyū and Taka-chan!"

I turned to Takashi, raising an eyebrow, "You have a day off, Onii-chan?"

Takashi simply nodded, and I nearly slapped myself at my obliviousness.

Everything about his clothes positively screamed "day off".

As usual, his hair was undone, and it was really long, reaching the centre of his back in length. His usual jōnin ensemble was replaced by a casual grey shirt with matching mesh under armour. His pants were black and he still wore his normal sandals.

"Wow, Onii-chan," I remarked, "I never noticed how girly you've become."

There was stunned silence at my words, but a moment later, Akito began to giggle, clapping his hands loudly.

"Girly Taka-chan!" He laughed.

Takashi flushed an alarming shade of red, all the while Mum scolded, "Yūmaru!"

I had a nice laugh, as well, and I didn't bat an eyelash when Takashi turned his pissed off, mortified glare at me.

"Alright, then," Mum interrupted loudly, "Takashi-chan, Yū-chan, you take care of your little brother, okay?"

"'Course we'll take care of Akito-chan," I chirped, "no need to worry, Kaa-chan!"

I watched as Mum leaned down and pressed a kiss to Akito's forehead, murmuring, "Mummy will see you soon, okay?"

"'Kay," Akito chirped.

Takashi then took Akito into his arms, holding him against his hip.

"We'll be off, then, Okaa-san," he said.

Mum nodded before hurriedly kissing us both goodbye.

I blushed furiously and dashed outisde.

Takashi met me outside a few moments later, our little brother balanced in his arms.

"Before we head to the academy, I need to see Kazuki."

I smirked, "You wanna see your girlfriend, Takashi-chan?"

My big brother blushed, then said shortly, "Have you been taught roof hopping?"

I frowned, "Onii-chan, I can only use the tiniest trickle of chakra, and my limit is three jutsus, I thought I told you this yesterday."

"You only need to direct the tiniest trickle to your feet, anyways," Takashi interrupted smoothly.

I stopped in my tracks, "Good point," I conceded..

Takashi smirked, "Concentrate chakra to your feet with the hand sign I taught you."

"I know what to do!" I snapped, my fingers already in the sign.

As usual, I encountered the acidic sludge that was my chakra, and it took everything in me to pick out the cleaneast sliver and direct it toward my feet.

"Now release it as fast as you can," Takashi commanded.

"Gladly," I released the chakra in a roaring burst, and before I knew it, I was in the air.

I shrieked, attracting the attention of various passerbys. Somewhere in the background, I heard Takashi sigh, and before I knew it, I was safely on someone's roof.

I stood there, completely and utterly stunned.

"What just happened?"

Takashi smirked while Akito looked delighted.

"Yūyū flew in the sky!" He cried.

"Flew?!"

Takashi's smirk faded and he sighed, "I had to give you some momentum, but now that we're on the roof, you should be fine."

"Says the jōnin who looks too girly to even be a jōnin," I muttered.

"I-stop calling me girly," Takashi growled.

His face flushed in the most miniscule of blushes, and I teased, "No, you're saving your girlyness for your girlfriend who you're going to make out with."

My normally stoic brother looked mortified, and he choked, "How do you even know about that?"

"I walked in on Tou-san and Kaa-chan," I said casually.

Takashi choked on his own spit, his face turning an alarming shade of red.

"Shit!" He cursed.

At the sound of the curse word, Akito grinned, "Shit!" He cheered. "Shit, shit, shit!"

Takashi looked horrified now, "How the fuck does my little brother know that word?!" He said it mostly to himself.

At the muderous look in his eyes, I wisely decided to keep my mouth shut, and instead followed me him across the roofs, practically staggering my way across the gasps.

When we stopped at another roof, Takashi hurriedly shoved Akito into my arms and tapped on the window.

A few moments later, it opened and a head popped through. I recognised the face, and I saw who it was when it popped up.

Wavy black hair framed her face and flowed down her back like an inky waterfall. She was beautiful and pale, and her dark eyes were wide in... was it love I was seeing there?

"Come on, Takashi-kun," she murmured, she then turned to me and her eyes lit up, "I'm sorry, Yū-chan, but I need to speak with your brother alone. Will you be alright by yourself? I would ask you to come in..."

"It's fine," I interrupted, "Akito-chan and I will just wait out here."

"Yeah," Akito cheered.

"If you're sure," Kazuki trailed off.

I smiled at her and gestured for to go.

Kazuki then closed the window and I turned to Akito.

"Do you want to hear a story, Akito-chan?"

"Yeah!"

I smiled at my baby brother, "It's a very special story that will be yours, okay."

Akito nodded eagerly and I began the story.

I can't believe I'm going to tell Akito this, but I just want to get it off my back, and what better way than to tell him?

Now, I'm not very updated on the manga, and I never really was in my life, so I'll try my best.

"Alright, Akito-chan, listen closely, 'kay?" Akito nodded and I began, "A long time ago there was a terrible beast. It ravaged the land with with its ten tails and caused massive destruction," I cringed at the description of my story, "but there was one man who could combat it: it was the Sage of the Six Paths. The Sage confronted the beast, and after a long battle, he managed to seal it within himself. Eventually, the Sage grew old, and he knew, that when he died, the beast would be free to once again ravage the land. So on his death bed, he used his Creation of All Things and managed to split the beast into nine separate beings.

"They were the Ichibi: Shukaku.

"The Nibi: Matatabi.

"The Sanbi: Isobu.

"The Yonbi: Son Goku.

"The Gobi: Kōkuo.

"The Rokubi: Saiken.

"The Nanabi: Chōmei.

"The Hachibi: Gyūken.

"And finally, the Kyūbi: Kurama.

"They are and were known as the Biju," I finished.

I only deigned to tell Akito about the most minute details that could go unnoticed.

I didn't dare tell him about Kaguya and her fruit, or even about Hagoromo and his sons, Asura and Indra.

I only told him about the Biju, and if he ever mentioned to someone else, all it would be was a story that he gleaned from his big sister.

I sighed, then remembered that I should already be at the academy.

"What is he doing?" I muttered as I crawled to the window.

I peered open, then flushed a deep red when I saw what I had witnessed.

Takashi's lips were firmly joined with Kazuki's, and a few moments later, they pulled back for air.

I thought they were done when, abruptly, Kazuki leaned in and kissed him again, running her fingers through his curtain of spiky red hair.

I cringed, but I couldn't bring myself to look away. I was somewhat ashamed to admit that I was slightly curious when it came to romantic intimacy.

In my old life, I had never been in a relationship, so I never knew what it felt like to kiss to someone.

I know, lame right?

This time it was Takashi who pulled back, but he didn't entirely, his gaze seemed to linger on her parted lips.

He swooped in for another one, and this time I did look away, but for other reasons.

"Why they sucking faces, Yūyū?" Akito asked innocently from his place beside me.

I let out a mortified squeak when Akito gazed at the kissing pair. I hurriedly covered his eyes, not wanting his innocence to be exploited. I ignored his whining and I slid the window open, yelling, "Stop kissing your girlfriend, Onii-chan! I need to get to the academy!"

Takashi hurriedly broke away from Kazuki, his face flushed and his eyes wild.

"How much did you see?!" He demanded wildly.

"Most of it," I answered, shrugging, "Akito-chan saw it, too."

Takashi paled, and he leaned back towards Kazukio, swiping a quick kiss on his way out.

"I'll see you later," he promised.

The beautiful girl could only nod as Takashi bundled both me and Akito under each arm. He then disappeard in a poof, and I squeezed my eyes shut at the sickening sensation that churned my stomach inside out.

But before it could get annoying, the spinning abruptly stopped.

Takashi let me down easily and I hurriedly turned and emptied my contents on the side of the path.

"Ugh," I groaned, "I feel like dying."

"That's what nearly everyone says on their first try," Takashi said in amusement.

I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye, and true to his word, the red haired baby in his grasp looked particularly queasy.

"You used Body flicker on Akito-chan?!" I demanded, "he's only a baby."

"Nearly fifteen months," Takashi sighed.

"Whatever," I said shortly, "let's go."

I pulled the fourteen year old jōnin in the direction of the academy, my grasp on his wrist never slacking.

When we arrived at the designated class, I slid the shoji door open and was relieved to find that class hadn't yet started.

I pulled Akito from my other brother's arms and sat with him in a random seat, him on my lap.

"Yū-chan," Takashi said wearily, "I have to get Akito-chan home. Okaa-san made her terms very clear."

"You just want to get back to your girlfriend," I snapped back at him, adjusting my grip on Akito.

Takashi glared at me harder and I sighed, reluctantly handing my little brother back to my bigger one.

"Thank you," Takashi glanced at Akito, "say goodbye to your sister, Akito-chan."

"Bye, bye, Yūyū," he waved at me cheerfully.

I smiled and leaned up, pressing my lips to his forehead.

"Bye, bye, Akito-chan."

When my brothers were gone, the class soon began, and to my horror, the Sensei announced that there was a seating plan.

Practically everyone in the room was at least eight years old.

Two years older than me.

"Yūmaru Kishi?" I looked up when my name was called.

"You will be sitting in between Yashamaru and Kimiko."

Huh?

Oh, right, seating plans.

Yashamaru was alright, I suppose.

And Kimiko...

Wait a minute...

My jaw dropped in horror.

I was sitting next to Kame-chan.