AN: Still winning on the poll so another update you get! I do keep track of where it was before but honestly I'm surprised this one is the most popular story I've written. Go figure! You're all trolls! XD
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"Ohhh Tobirama-sama...Not good!" I squeaked sharply and dodged as fast as I could because you know there was a giant freaking fireball going in my direction! Adrenaline rushed through my body and I slammed chakra through every cell, picturing it making me faster and stronger and springing me out of the way as I pushed with my legs rather than just running.
I still felt the heat beating against my back as I whirled, doing a sort of hop to keep from falling, bells jingling rapidly from the movements because I hadn't spared a trickle of chakra to silence them. I had just been walking in the more woodland park areas of Konoha, inside the gates still nice and safe why was there a fireball thrown at me?!
I had my hands curled up in a defensive posture and was looking around frantically. Surely no one was going to try to kidnap me or anything I mean the Lee clan was fantastic but we were usually civilian's and no one knew about me and..
"Whoa nice dodge! Sorry about that, Sasuke-chan is a bit over enthusiastic!" There was a boy right in front of me with a huge grin and I hadn't even seen him move he was just there.
Only the sight of the headband kept me from screaming but I did make a funny little eep sound.
"Apology not accepted! What if I hadn't gotten out of the way? You need to have warnings up!" Yes it was considered rude to not accept an apology but if I didn't train as I did there had been not a single chance I would have gotten away in time. I had training with Lee and our competitions and the sheer wickedness that was Hyuuga tutoring to account for why I wasn't a very sooty color right now.
"Well..I mean, but you did so no harm done!"
My chakra prickled and I moved again, to the side and facing two dark haired boys a bit older than I was now.
"Ah..?" They both blinked at me, dark eyes and pale faced and completely normal for around here. I thought nothing of it though I really should have. I was too busy being irritated.
"Right. No harm done that you almost fried a student or did you somehow tighten your headband too tight this morning and so missed I don't have one."
The very fact that their gazes were so heavy suddenly as they perused my forehead, neck, waist..looking for the usual locations of the Konoha headband gave me my first clue. I am blaming the adrenaline for the obliviousness. Noted that I need to work on that. They did seem to shift posture slightly, ever so slightly uncomfortable though with the information that it really was exceptionally lucky I got out of the way. There had been no warning save a quick fluctuation in my chakra almost like it had been sentient before there had been fire right in my face.
"My apologies. Sasuke-chan, come apologize for your lack of aim."
Now in my defense there are a lot of people with the names here. I mean in the Before it sounded all exotic to hear Japanese names but when you actually are in this weird hybrid society? I know of seven Sasuke's just in the civilian sector and two more who are ninja. It's like calling someone Tyler. So whereas my name is a bit more like an Annalisa or Francesca it's still not that uncommon. Lee's real name Rokku is like the Estaban of this world.
So I am completely blaming Tobirama for my resolve not a month ago to avoid all the Uchiha (who are freaking so normal in their appearance without the swirly red eyes of overcompensating for no personality that they freaking glow in the dark apparently according to Kou whom I always believe about everything) that I just almost got set on fire and partially surrounded by them.
Because only a year younger than I am and about my height there now in front of me was Sasuke. Who mind you despite not losing all his clan was still a broody looking little emo.
Or Emu. Because that hair is way worse in person.
"I don't see why I should apologize. A real ninja should be aware of their surroundings."
Oh you little fuc-
"Which.." I start off with that butter wouldn't melt in my mouth tone that even Neiji is quirking smiles at these days. Sarcasm exposure is good for Hyuuga's. "Is why you are clearly a terrible one. Setting off a jutsu you have little to no control over in a location that is a public park as opposed to one of the training grounds means you are inviting the potential for untrained innocent civilian's which would land you with a fine, possible reparations to be made and likely a black mark on your career. As well as those of any with you whom allowed you to have such an incident occur."
Note to self, Uchiha turn a really funny puce color when you freak them out. As I've said before there is precious little logic in the ninja world and I don't just jump into that loophole but do horrible interpretive dance.
"On behalf of my otouto I apologize..miss..." Yeah I have clearly been sassing off to Itachi. And speedy Gonzales there must be the infamous-should-be-dead Shishui.
Someone up there really hates me. Probably Madara, I mean I do go swearing on the Tobirama-sama bit and didn't they absolutely hate each other? Without the bromance going on with the first and all.
Still there is rude and then there is losing all your high ground and becoming interesting rude so I cave.
"Lee Ziwei."
"Ohhh!"
oh crap Shisui's heard of me?
"Hey you're that girl that Minako is always complaining about in her class!"
"Who?" Yeah that does not ring a bell. Unless we are talking Before and then I just picture short sailor skirts and talking white cats. Yes I liked sailor moon as a tween. Bite me. Saturn was awesome.
"Uchiha Minako?"
I blink twice and then think carefully..yeah there's only one Uchiha girl I have in my class. "Ohhh you mean bratty-hime. I never bothered to learn her name. She's loud and never talks about anything useful so I ignore her."
My filter has clearly taken a vacation. On the other hand Shisui is cracking up and even Itachi is cracking a smile. Sasuke has his mouth open and just staring at me.
"You call Aniki's fangirl..bratty..hime..."
I shrug then because of course bratty-hime is Itachi's fangirl it's just too convenient and dear lord that means the Uchiha have all heard of my antics in class. "Well, yeah."
Stop being friendly with the group of psychotic curse of hatred nutjobs..nope. No filter and the sass wants out. Crap.
"It's easier than remembering her name and since her followers are just 'Loud, Annoying, and Brat..calling her Bratty-Hime just reinforces that she's leading a really pathetic group that sucks in taijutsu, worse in skills we study in class.." I pause actually thinking, tapping my temple.
"Actually if I remember at all the only thing the group is good in is kunoichi class but I have to go on rumor for that one since I don't go."
"all girls go to kunoichi class." Itachi states calmly. Whoa someone is like..rule book perv isn't he? All he needs is glasses and a ruler.
"Pfft I don't. I can learn to put on makeup and arrange flowers or I can stay and learn tactics. Sensei gave up on the second day."
"Oh oh oh oh oho ohoh!" holy crud Shisui said all that so fast I wasn't sure if he was doing like insane santa or just remembering something. "You're that one she said wasn't really a girl!"
"No I said I wasn't a girl for the duration of Kunoichi lessons which is different. Got me out of pointless classes. I'd say whatever was needed for that. Tactics is way more fun, and if I point out all the ways it's flawed in the mission we are studying I can make sensei dismiss us early for break out of sheer frustration because I make certain I always use logic and potential possibilities so he can't give me detention." I think I'm sharing gossip with Shisui. I can hear my doom Tobirama, thank you very much you can lay off the bells..oh. I forgot to mute them. Well like hades am I doing anything to show chakra control in front of this group. I'd rather sound like some idiot's pet cat.
"So you lied."
Whoa Sasuke is so many shades of not impressed he actually seems to be expressing something besides that he may have gas. Have I mentioned how very grateful I am that the Uchiha are not mind readers?
"Training to be a ninja, may as well get used to doing so."
"That's actually a good point." I'm not sure which of the older two said that. I'm more busy freaking out that there is no decent way to get out of this. No. No there isn't.
Why is it I've been resorting to dirty tricks so often lately? Well the last thing I'm going to do is pretend to have a crush on an Uchiha. No thanks. Like my dignity in the current tattered state, no more damage need apply.
It is a bit contrived that I look up and frown but we aren't really that far if I keep going through the park to get to the Hyuuga compound..halfway between there and Uchiha if I recall right and I grimace. I don't have tutoring today but I have been promising to spar with Hinata more so she can work on her Byukugan. Apparently Kou has the biggest crush on her so how he went and arranged that I have no idea. I'll drag it out of him later at one of our parties.
"..Ziwei-chan?" Shisui is waving a hand in front of my face and I barely keep from snapping my own out to grab his wrist. I get this really bad feeling he and Itachi detected the muscle twitch though and knew. Because the odds they really are in ANBU already is about fifty fifty.
"Mmm?" I tilt my head then, the tinkling of bells only enhancing the 'I'm a cute little shit and don't know anything. Ignore me.' It almost always works on those who have fan girls.
Apparently Shisui is completely immune to it because while Sasuke grimaces and looks like a toddler that needs a new diaper, Shisui doesn't. Crud. He has cuteness immunity.
"I was asking if you wanted to spar, it'd be good for Sasuke to spar against someone a year above him."
There is sadly no polite way to go and run away screaming. I'm pretty positive they'd just grab me anyways. "Another time maybe. I was on my way to spar with someone I already promised to."
"Who could be more important than sparring with one of the heir's of the Uchiha-clan?" Sasuke was sneering it at me. Itachi gave a tiny side look which I'm going to bet was in disapproval but I dunno. He was a clan brat, and not a nice normal hard work makes you a good person sort like mine.
Groaning I rubbed my forehead. Really there is no good way. I think that maybe the whole issue is the Uchiha are just impossible! I mean so are the Hyuuga but I've kinda wormed my way into their graces so I'm just biased. Ah well, Tobirama go ahead and take my filter away it can't make this any worse.
"Frankly the first heir, not the second of the Hyuuga." Yep. That was low. I even see Shisui flinch but I meet the black eyes looking at me in disbelief.
"You are .." Itachi trails off because I am a purple haired in purple little bell riddled doll and I know I look it but I shrug.
"Don't look like much do I?" I grin at that because myaha no I don't.
"More like a child's doll." Shisui agrees and my hand reacts before my brain and oops.
"Well looky kitty is all sensitive!" Shisui grins down at me where he has somehow made me turn when he grabbed my wrist and pulled me against his side as if we are best of friends. I just made to swat at his arm because his stupid head is too high up and yeah. Thanks Tobirama I take it all back. You were only to work on my filter!
"If you call me that again I will hurt you." Yes every bit non threatening in this position but I'm not joking. I do have some tricks.
"Doesn't look like you're much of a challenge. I suppose that's why you'd be sparring with that useless Hyuuga girl.." Sasuke drawls.
Have I mentioned that I'm a protective little brat and that seems to override my sense entirely? Because I am. It's a very bad thing. Very very bad. I've seen it in Lee enough to know it's just a family trait we are either nice and rational or we get the stupid. No telling which will emerge in a situation either.
So the fact I am entirely focused on how badly I want to be over there and shove his stupid Emu-Emo face into the ground..
Remember my chakra? My crazy crazy creeps out even Hyuuga chakra?
"Whoa. Thaaat's what a body flicker feels like.." I'm blinking a bit dazed and since I'm pretty well poochy screwed anyways I just rub my ear between too fingers. "Huh. Gotta remember how to do that.."
I'm guessing sitting on Sasuke's back with one hand on the back of his head so he's eating grass is definitely the reason Itachi and Shisui are now staring at me as if I have two heads. I'm going to die. But you know if I live, I am so going to have Kou and Ko and Neiji and all the eavesdropping Hyuuga's pass out from laughing when I tell about this.