"Good afternoon Tomoko!" Iruka-Sensei said with a smile.

I nodded stood in one place "Iruka-Sensei, Mizuki-Sensei..."

"Being the top girl of the class, we have high expectations of you Tomoko" Mizuki-Sensei told me with the fakest smile anyone could pull. Don't ask me why, but there was something about Mizuki-sensei that unnerved me.

"I'll do my best..." was all I replied.

"And that's all we ask for Tomoko" Iruka reassured me "whenever you're ready begin the replication justu".

'Right...' I told myself as I formed a hand seal to focus my chakra 'I need at least three replications to pass, start building the chakra...'

I could feel energy course all the way though my body and fill me up with power, when I gained the right amount of chakra I yelled replication justu and smoke appeared around me. When the smoke cleared, it seemed I managed to make four replicas of myself.

"Er... does doing more than the actual number of replicas count as a fail?" I asked nervously.

This made Iruka chuckle "doing three replicas for someone your age, is considered very difficult, but you have managed to do four. Congrats Tomoko you've passed with flying colours!"

I couldn't stop grinning! Now that I was a genin... I'd be able to receive that gift Haruo mentioned. I got handed my headband and took time to examine it before tying around my waist.

"Thank you both so much!" I cheered as started to walk to the door.

"I'm sure your mother would've been very proud" Mizuki called across the room.

I felt my heart tighten slightly, I try to avoid talking about my mother as much as possible, but in this case, I had to make it brief.

"Yeah I guess... see ya!"

Later that day, all the graduates stood in the court yard with their parents. Well... I was waiting with Hinata's family for Haruo to arrive.

"Look it's that boy..." I heard someone whisper. I turned my head, along with Hinata who also heard, to see two women whispering to each other.

"he was the only one that didn't pass" whispered the woman. Me and Hinata followed their gaze, which landed on a figure who was sitting on the swing under the old tree. You'd have to be a fool not to recognise the orange outfit.

The over woman cursed under her breath, "Serves him right! If he was to become a ninja, it's only going to cause trouble. Because he's a..."

I couldn't help but feel angered at their disgusting attitude, what did Naruto do to them to make them hate him so much?

"Hey!" the second woman cut in "it's forbidden to say anymore about that!"

"Poor Naruto-kun..." Hinata whispered "he always tries so hard".

I took a quick glance at Naruto then back at my best friend "maybe we should try and cheer him up?" I asked her.

"huh? He's gone..." Hinata suddenly said.

I turn back to where Naruto was and surely enough, he was nowhere in sight. 'That's weird... I could have sworn he was there a second ago'. Suddenly I felt someone lift me in the air and spin me around.

"What the..."

"OH TOMOKO! I JUST KNEW YOU'D PASS! I'M SOO PROUD! I'M THE PROUDEST BIG BROTHER IN THIS COURTYARD!"

As soon as I noticed people beginning to stare, I wiggled out of his grip "Haruo what the hell!"

"Sorry..." he replied bursting out laughing, his eyes twinkling with joy, "but I had to show how please I am for you passing, after all! Its only gonna happen once!"

"Well I really appreciate that Aaron..."

"I know you do little sis!"

I could feel a water drip on the side of my head, "I was being sarcastic..." I mumbled so no one could hear.

"Oh! And congrats to you to Hinata-chan!" My brother chimed at her. Hinata went a little red in the face but mumbled thank you. As Haruo and Hinata continued their small chatter, I found myself scanning the area. A lot of my female classmates was staring at Haruo and giggling amongst themselves, I don't blame them, Haruo is a young, good looking man.

Then my eyes landed on a certain onyx eyed ninja.

I was a little stunned at the fact that Sasuke was staring straight at me, he was all the way at the back of the courtyard, leaning against the wall, just staring at me. Within that moment I saw something in his eyes, like a glimmer of what he use to be...

"You are nothing but a nuisance to me... its time you grow up and realise we are not friends anymore."

Those past words, were a flashing reminder of why we never look in the others direction, let alone talk to each other.

"Aaron?"

Haruo stopped in mid conversation and stared at me, he then noticed who was behind me and got the hint. "Well... me and Tomoko best be off. We have a lot to discuss yes?"

I nodded my head and gave Hinata a brief goodbye hug before walking with my brother to our home, only he turned the opposite direction.

"Er... Haruo? You're going the wrong way..."

Haruo stopped and turned round to face me, now with a serious expression on his face "I promised that I'd give you something after you graduated... and I'm true to my word, just follow me".

Strangely enough, me and my brother ended up outside of the Hokage's office. I started to have doubts about this... 'surprise'. Could it have something to do with my mother, did the Village Hidden in the Mountains want us to return?

When I was a child, all I wanted to do was go back. Now... I'd do anything to stay. Can you blame me? Me and Haruo practically grew up here... and we both have friends that we don't want to leave and forget. If we really wanted to return to Yamakure, we would've done that years ago. To be honest, I don't have any memories of anything before the attack, I don't remember my beginning. All I can see is a golden field, the sun, and then fire. People running, screaming, and my mother forcing me and Haruo on the family's horse, and basically sacrificing herself. I figured I hit my head on something and suffered a bit of amnesia, I also believed that my memory would come back in time, it hasn't. But either way... I was comfortable with my life right now and becoming a Ninja can only make things better.

Haruo knocked on the door, and shortly after Enter was called through the door. After opening the door, I saw the Hokage sitting crossed legged on a rug with Iruka-Sensei opposite him.

"Ah Haruo! Tomoko! You came just at the right time, I'd just finished my discussion with Iruka here..."

Iruka stood up and gave the Hokage a bow before walking towards the door. "My Haruo-kun! You've certainly grown since I last saw you!"

Haruo scratched the back of his head in embarrassment "yeah well I've certainly been kept busy since I became a chunin such as yourself".

'Urge don't remind me...' I thought. Don't get me wrong I'm extremely proud of Haruo, but a part of me wishes he didn't have to go on so many missions. He was after all, the only family I had left.

Its selfish I know, but you have to understand. When my brother is gone, he can be gone for a long period of time, which means I have to fend for myself. I can look after myself just fine, it's the loneliness that gets to me. You see, when I was younger, had this fear of being left alone. It was triggered when I found out I was orphaned, since then, I was very protective of Haruo. When he'd leave, I would try and block the front door to stop him, but it never did.

Nowadays, I'm not exactly fearful, but I don't find it particularly comfortable either.

"Have you ever thought of going to the next level Haruo? You'd probably be able to do it..." Iruka told him with a smile.

Haruo returned it "Maybe someday, but I think I'll wait till this little squirt gets a little more adjusted to the ninja life style..." he replied whilst patting the top of my head. I quickly swatted his hand away not wanting to him to mess up my hair.

"Yes of course... well I best be off. Be seeing you" and with that Iruka left.

Myself and Haruo walked till we were standing in front of Hokage-ágend and bowed out of respect.

"Please sit down... we have much to discuss" he told us. Obeying his command I couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

"I'm... I'm I in trouble Hokage-ágend?"

This caused him to chuckle "certainly not young one, just for filling a parents' wishes" he explained whilst standing up and walking towards one of his many cupboards. I shot a look at Haruo who's sight was dead on Hokage-ágend.

"Wait..." I suddenly realised "are you talking about my mother!?"

The Hokage didn't reply, instead he turned around with a large case like box which had a note stuck on the top of it.

"What's that?"

Hokage-ágend placed it on the floor in front of me and sat back down "it's something your mother wanted you to have..."

"But how?" I questioned

Haruo turned slightly to look at me "Mother told me to give it to you when you built up enough strength and skill. Since you are now a genin, I figured now would be the right time."

I briefly looked at my brother and back at the box and ripped off the note, it was from my mother...

Tomoko...

I am deeply sorry for not being able to give this to you personally myself. But now you're reading this I know that it's a sign that you are getting stronger every day. These are to give the protection you and your loved ones need against your enemies and to help further your combat skills...

Use them wisely

Your mother

I scan read the note again before putting it in my pocket. Whatever was in this case... was suppose to protect me? From what?

Slowly I opened to the case to see a pair of... shiny, metal vambraces. After taking one out of the case I examined it's beauty. They weren't shaped like the traditional Shinobi vanbraces that I had seen, in fact, the design was like nothing I'd never seen before! However, it was definitely made in the mountains, because all around it, was ancient ascriptions of the goddess Mistuko. The metal felt as hard as a steel sword, yet as light as a feather. On each side, just below the elbow, a pair of golden like stones were carved in for extra protection and the metal itself had a slight green tint to it.

"These were mother's?" I asked Haruo.

"I never saw her wear them, all she said was that they were made especially for you" he answered.

I threw him a puzzled look "but why?"

"Tomoko" The Hokage cut in "you're asking your brother questions he just doesn't have answers to, we are simply filling the task your mother set upon us... I'm afraid we know no details as to why".

I nodded my head and stared at the vanbrace again; slowly I started to slip it into my hand and started to tie it. The metal finished at my elbow but had an extra leather strap to tie around my Humerous (the part of my arm above the elbow). I then did the same to the other arm and examined them.

For a pair of metal do-dads, they were pretty comfortable... almost like a clove. "Shiny!" I mused which caused Haruo to laugh.

"So... how are they suppose to protect me?"

Haruo then turned serious "even if I knew Tomoko... I probably couldn't tell you. It's one of them things you'll have to find out on your own."