Nine

Foe Or Friend

When I got home Father was waiting. He motioned me to follow him and we walked into his study. He set up the privacy seal before leaning back casually.

"What was the meeting about?" I sighed.

"I was told what was expected of me," I muttered looking towards the left. In that moment I had a thought, a spark. It probably build over the next few years. A small voice whispered in my head, what if I disobeyed? I never had any reason to do so but I wanted to do it all of a sudden.

"And what is that? Report, full detail." I sighed. Not now, I don't want to botch up Tsuki's chance at the Academy. So I told him a quick version of everything he said and clipped versions of my replies. He seemed a little annoyed.

"Be more polite, dismissed."

My chakra control was finally good enough for me to try the Henge Transformation technique. I had been waiting for this for so long that there was a dull ache now. It was never a concrete thought until Orochimaru told me about the Henge though. He told me the basics after a flashy show of different Henges.

"The Henge allows a Shinobi to blend in and camouflage but no Shinobi worth his two cents would be fooled by it." I decided to take that as a challenge and tried to see any way to notice it. The chakra signature stayed the same.

"Your chakra signature is still the same." His eyes widened and he sat down next to me so I was almost at eye level with him.

"You can sense chakra?" I shrugged. "Well, I guess I never took a clear assessment. We'll do that later."

"Okay. Oh and I am also joining the Academy in a month." He sighed.

"That's fine, I've been told. I'm being sent back to the battlefield." I wrung my hands, there was a question I had been meaning to ask someone, anyone but with Sakuraya still angry with me I guess Orochimaru should do. "What is it?"

"Sensei, what is it like? The battlefield?" He blinked before a smile came over his face.

"It's amazing," he said. My expression betrayed me, I think. "There are jutsu going off everywhere and there is an adrenaline rush. All your senses seem to sharpen and you can let go of all parameters and control. You don't have to hold back. It's amazing."

"Amazing?" There was dull ache in the back of my head. I had an odd feeling as gulped back bile. A hideous memory came forward. The way Orochimaru talked about killing was the way people talked about drugs. I remembered it, one of the few memories I wish I had forgotten over the last four years. I had forgotten my Grandfather's name. I had forgotten the name and colour of my favorite pet, a bird. I had forgotten what my sister looked like but I remembered this so clearly.

I had walked into the room and stared at the grinning boy. He was older then me by four years but we got along well. He had recently gotten into drugs after a concussion with a shattered knee cap and two broken ribs had him banned from skateboarding and motorcycling. There were pin pricks on the inner side of his right toe, I knew that well. His pupils were dilated at that moment. I walked closer to him before sitting next to him.

'What is it like?' He tilted his head with the same shit eating grin. 'Being stoned.' He sighed happily.

'It's amazing. The drugs coursing through your viens.' A pause filled with small chuckles. 'It's amazing.'

I walked home and locked myself in my room as soon as Orochimaru let me go. There was full lenght mirror in the bathroom I walked into it again staring at the stark white hair which was now longer and still spiky, kind of like Naruto's hairstyle except that it was shaped towards the left jutting out in that direction. I went through the hand seals for Henge and remembered all the details I could about myself, my original self. Curly brown hair, forever messy. Light brown eyes. High cheek bones, broad shoulders. Average height. Small bone structure. Tall, lean body of an acrobat. I opened my eyes gasping as the chakra illusion gave me what I carved, my own body. I sat there staring at myself for almost ten minutes not sure when I had collapsed on my knees. I was wearing an oversized black top and some shorts, my night suit.

"Congratulations, you just failed this exam in the most spectacular way ever." I sighed and rolled my eyes. The woman's voice was annoying.

"Next, make it fast or I'll dock have your points." I walked to the door and then pushed it open slamming it behind me. Now to face the owner of that voice.

"Senju Arashi." I was in the Academy. I had given the entry test which was a mere formality. Now to give the test for skipping grades. I hadn't talked to anyone but Tsukishima, I hadn't even looked around. I would get to building 'contacts' after I get in a class. He hadn't known about the second test and seemed rather worried so I explained it to him as he chewed his own hands off. He was still doing that when he left the room. I was next after him.

"Okay, list any Shinobi achievements you have," she drawled with an annoyed voice. Her left leg was plastered which probably the reason she was here. She took my paper already filling it in for the first grade without even listening to me. I handed her the manilla folder and started listing off the achievements. Training with the Sanin, the village's only Uzumaki and a Genjutsu specialist seemed to look good but I didn't look good enough. I had to be honest and mentioned the fact that I was good at chakra control and didn't even know any Genjutsu. She filled it into the second grade instead.

"You will able to fit in easier and you aren't remarkable enough to actually get to a higher class within the first month. The Uchiha brat was good too but still one Kanton techinque, some shuriken techinques aren't good enough for graduations." I glared at her in annoyance. "Be glad, gaki. I am probably saving your life on the field with this move." I stopped glaring immediately. "Have some sense in ya', eh. Good." I bowed a little.

"Thank you. If I may ask a question?" She nodded. "Is ...is Tsukishima with me?" She smiled and nodded. I repressed a shudder three of her teeth towards the left had been pulled out and it looked painful. As soon as I was at the door she pushed the other door open.

"Weak! Very weak! I can't believe they have hopes for shit like you. Next!" I blinked as she smiled at me while shooing me off.

"Your name? If I may," I rushed knowing that the next kid was on his way.

"Ito Furuhime, you'll be calling me Ito-sensei though," she said. I grinned at her as I rushed out. Tsuki was standing there with a lopsided grin.

"I'm in the second grade!" We both burst in small laughs after yelling at the same time. This was going to be good.

The first day was mostly learning about our teachers, getting to know what had been covered in the previous year. They even asked us if we would like extra classes to go through any of those topics. I signed up for those and so did Tsukishima rather reluctantly. Then we were placed in a seating arrangement that would change monthly. Tsukishima due to special permission from the Senju sat at my right for the first month, longer if I decided to ask for that. On my other side was no other then Uchiha Shisui.

My first impression? This is not the happy go lucky kind of guy that I read about in fanfictions. He had large eyes and a mess of curly hair on top of his head, his lashes were long and he wasn't overly skinny but he didn't smile. He just sat there quietly glancing out of the window or just generally watching, observing the class. I didn't extend my hand to him for the first lesson of the day in which we were given some unsupervised free time. Tsukishima was already conversing with the boy in front of him. He didn't even look out of place with a childish look. He did look odd to me as he wasn't in his kimono but instead in a full sleeved shirt and some cargo shorts that went past his knees with Shinobi sandals. I think the Haori had taken a lot of convincing on his part because his mother wasn't allowing him to wear it yesterday. It went two inches past his waist and was sleeveless with a little belt that was probably tucked into his bag. The small hoop on his back and sides were empty. I turned to Shisui who happened to be looking right at me. I paused a moment before extending my hand.

"Sorry for my rudeness, I'm Senju Arashi," I muttered. My name still felt a little odd and Saya was always on the tip of my tongue. He stared at my hand before gently shaking it.

"Uchiha Shisui," he whispered staring at me weirdly. I think that's when I remembered that the Uchiha and the Senju didn't get along that well. I nodded before looking toward the chalk board where some girls were playing a game. I didn't want to go over though. I think I looked like a guy to everyone. I was wearing a full sleeved mesh shirt with a dark red sleeve less loose top with beige shorts that didn't quite reach my knee. I wasn't very chubby around the edges now nor skinny. I missed my womanly curves. I almost laughed when I remembered I had only been fifteen and had ordinary curves to speak of. I had Shinobi sandals on my feet with my calves tapped up lightly. They were supposed to protect my calves and stop me from cutting myself over the edge of my Shinobi sandals which were enforced with steel. My wrists also had bandages but those were to keep the gloves in place. I didn't want to show off all the scars I had. My birthday was almost two months away. As the bell ringed I grinned inwardly, I couldn't wait.

Ito-sensei walked in with a slight limp and plopped herself onto the desk. She smirked at us before she started leaking KI (killing intent). I started rooted to the stop but grinned lightly. Father's KI was more unsettling. Tsuki was frowning lightly and shaking a bit. Shisui's breath hitched and he lowered his head. Most of the other kids weren't so quite. A few them started bawling and some girl started shrieking. Insects started crawling everywhere in an odd sort of frenzy which was the only sign of discomfort shown by Muta Aburame who sat two seats ahead of me. Tokuma Hyuuga sat somewhere to me left but I could still see him bitting his lip and pinching his own arm for some reason that was lost to me. Kasuga Nara seemed very disturbed because he was sitting perfectly straight with an uneasy smile.

"I am Ito Furuhime, you call me Ito-sensei. Welcome to your personal hell!" I sighed at her dramatics as senbon flew from hands and embedded themselves on every desk causing a few whimpers. I pulled mine out and threw it back. My aim wasn't very good since I only practiced with wooden weapons or ruber ones but it whipped past Muta's head making him turn and then struck Ito's desk. It didn't get imbedded like hers but clanged loudly before falling to the floor.

"Would you like to introduce yourself?" I smirked before standing.

"Arashi Senju." There was a bit of murmuring but that stoped when Ito-sensei glared. I wondered what I had done wrong.

"A lap around the Academy, think on what you did wrong." I blinked. "Now Senju!" I blurted a quick affirmation before rushing out. It was only when I almost finished the lap and I was panting did I realize exactly what I had done wrong. I paused to lean against a window and the words fluttered out.

"-and no matter what you never use a lethal technique on an ally. It is against Shinobi code of conduct and is considered a sign of a budding missing-nin. The psychological view-" I ran back after taking a quick glimpse inside the class. There were older kids by two or three years at the very least who were being taught by an aged man with white streaked blond hair and vaguely blue eyes. Yamanaka. I ran into the class at a break neck speed and almost bumped into Ito. She seemed to be waiting for me. I bowed with a frown.

"Forgive me, I was unaware that returning you, your weapon is forbidden. I had no intention to attack a comrade." She smirked sadistically.

"Sass gets you another lap." I groaned and turned to face a panting Kasuga followed by two Civilian kids.

"Nara," Ito prompted.

"Voicing opinions is wrong," he muttered with a muted glare.

"Further sarcasm gets you another lap," she replied. He groaned. She turned to look at the students.

"Uchiha, Fuuta and Hitoshi, one lap from each of you for being sulky." Shisui blinked before slowly getting up to join the other two stotic kids. "Now!" I scrambled out with Kasuga and Shisui when she yelled barely catching her yells at Tokuma for looking girly which was odd because he had short hair.

"Well, this is fun," I muttered. Kasuga groaned as he tried to keep up. Now I feel kind of good that I had endured all that training. I had a better stamina then the Nara but Shisui could keep up with me.

"I don't think she wishes to punish us really," said Kasuga. I raised an eyebrow immediately interested in the Nara's thoughts. "She might be giving us training like this." I nodded.

Shisui was smart but really quite so I made it a point to talk to him at least once in every lesson. Even if it was for absolutely no reason and would get us laps.

"Shisui?" He raised his head a little. "Do you have a pen?" He shook his head.

"Senju, a lap!" I groaned before running off.

"Shisui?" He raised his head. "Nothing." I peeked at Ito. She raised an eyebrow before jutting her head in the direction of the door. I groaned.

"Shisui?" He raised his head. "There is a spider on your back." He picked it up and handed it to Muta. I saw the other boy looking annoyed when he realized it was a plastic spider. Ito sighed.

"Senju out." I gawped.

"It was a spider," I yelled quickly not keen to go for another lap.

"A plastic one. Out!" I yelled out my frustrations as I stomped out the door.

"Ne, Shisui," I said. He sighed before looking at me. "...I forgot."

"Senju, leave. Oh and take Uchiha with you. If he is the reason you talk so much then you'd better do another lap with him. Hopefully your trap is shut by the time you come back."

By the end of the third day he started looking annoyed. But I could never get a rise out of him. I got tired of doing it so I gave up. Tsukishima used to take me home but lately he has been more inclined to go of to play with his friends. I was forced to stay because I was supposed to be building connections. It was honestly annoying. In all honesty I think I had absolutely no progress with Shisui, mabye we had gone from strangers to acceptable presence but it wasn't enough. Kasuga and I had done a load of laps together after he slept in class so we could talk like friends now. He was really sarcastic, I liked his sense of humor. The Shisui shown in the Anime was different. He used to smile at Itachi, he showed emotion. He frowned, he laughed maybe that's why he committed suicide. He felt too much to be able to hide it. I sighed as I walked out of the school holding a small satchel with two scrolls in it. I was studying the previous course along with my current classes and was assigned a lot of reading work which was all, thankfully, in Hiragana. I strolled out looking left and then right. Tsuki wasn't around. He seems to have left to play. I knew absolutely no one and couldn't go home till six. It was three right now. I groaned before I saw Shisui walking out of the Academy and then turning towards the right. That was the opposite direction from the Uchiha district. Maybe he would appreciate some company. I ran, in a dignified manner. When I caught up to him I smiled lightly giving him a quick nod. He stopped and tilted his head.

"I was wondering if I could join you," I blurted. He sighed before looking down. For some reason he looked sadder. Sure he looked like an Uchiha but there was a lack of arrogance that came with their name. He actually reminded me more of Sasori at the moment.

"You're annoying," he muttered but my small smile didn't falter as I stared right at him with puppy dog eyes which were hard to pull with my narrow eyes, thank Tobirama for that too. "Why do you want to go with me?" I think I heard a frown.

"Well, you're the only one I know right now and I can't go home." He stared at me blankly before bitting his lip looking utterly bored at the same time. His eyes widened slightly as he was struck with an idea.

"You can come," he said before turning around and walking slowly towards ...well, I'll find out soon enough. "Why are you so adamant on knowing me?"

"I don't just wanna know you, I wanna be friends," I chirped. My hair was still open and I started to like it that was. I reached up and tugged at one of the strands that pointed downwards. He stopped for a minute and blinked before nodding and continuing. I think I realized five minutes before we reached our destination.

Glimpse

He pulled out three white cards, they had the same pattern except one card had a purple one and the other two were green.

"Wanna play?"

A/N: Try guessing where Shisui is taking Arashi and the person they are going to meet. The person with the closest guess can give ideas for a plot twist, an OC or an Omake.

Also there is a change in the Canon section of the Sixth Chapter (FTW 7). I got the wrong timeline. So Yahiko is still alive.