I'm at Hazuki's house in her living room, sitting on a comfortable flower print couch. The sun streams in through the curtains, reassuring me it's still early in the day and giving me plenty of light with which to read. Hazuki's library really is a wonder, a vast collection of near-ancient (if not actually ancient) texts seemingly preserved past what I thought possible.

Honestly, these should be in a museum or something considering how rare books like these are, or maybe they are common but just kept out of reach of civilians?

None of the books discuss jutsu, but they are a snapshot of the time they were written. Times long since forgotten. They discuss the warring clans and the formation of the countries; they talk about the tailed beasts, not as demons but as spirits. Some books even paint them in good light and speak of entire cultures revolving around one as a deity. Something that certainly isn't true today.

As I read though, my thoughts are on other things. Tomorrow… tomorrow the academy starts back up again.

Of course, that is the least of my worries with everything going on in my life. Not to mention my most recent title, 'Aspiring Prodigy,' doesn't aspiring to mean you are trying or WANT to be one? I certainly do not! This title lies!

Then again, what exactly are these titles? I mean, who decides them? I've been called Chibi and Googly-eyes by Ami and Yataka for what feels like forever now, but those are not titles, yet the taunt 'Ghost Girl' is? Does it have to be recognized readily by a certain number of people? If so, then I may be in a world of trouble because, as far as I know (Kami, please), no one knows about my eyes, yet 'Madogan User' is a title.

So maybe there are a variety of criteria? Perhaps no one thinks I'm a prodigy? As much as I really want to believe that… I don't. Being a prodigy, as far as I can tell, is signing yourself up for a life of hardship and pain, but apparently, I've already joined those ranks. I can't change anything now as much as I desperately want to.

I sense Izumi returning back to the house and trying to think on the bright side. She really has been a huge help.

Dancing Proficiency Level 19

The ability to dance in elegant and controlled motions. Improves general agility, balance and flow per level, helping to improve your general dance ability, and familiarity with dancing movements. Increases all physical stats while dancing by 0.4% per level. Current ability increases stats by 7.6%.

She makes it so I can barely move after our little training sessions, but you can't argue with the results. Even if Sasuke tries his hardest to do just that, I certainly never thought I would become so comfortable in the Uchiha compound of all places. The Uchiha don't really seem like bad people. They are stubborn, a little too stoic and proud (AKA arrogant), but not bad. If only the rest of the village could see that… how old was Sasuke when the massacre happened again? He was like eight, right? Or maybe older. Maybe if I could make people see the Uchiha clan's good side, the massacre can be averted?

"Hey, Kaachan?! Do you know where the eyedrops are?" Izumi asks loudly. She is actually really loud, very different from the more quiet Itachi, but opposites attract, right? I close the book putting it back on the shelf. Hazuki had gone out and left me alone here, a very big show of trust that made me feel touched.

"Hazuki-san said she had some things to take care of, Senpai." I say, and Izumi jumps; she may be very skilled physically, but her sensing skills suck. As far as I can tell, sensing is very rare among the Uchiha clan.

"Sayori-chan! You scared me half to death!" Izumi exclaims, leaning into her more theatrical and dramatic side clutching her heart.

"Maybe I can help?" I offer, and she pouts. Honestly, I have a feeling that Shisui and her would get on really well if Shisui stopped teasing Izumi and started teasing others with her.

"Sure, more help the merrier." Izumi says to me, and I nod. "We're looking for eye drops. Kaachan usually has some since she knows the recipe." Izumi says thoughtfully, and I tilt my head.

"What do they do?" I ask, and Izumi smiles at me.

"They're no use for people who aren't Hyuga or Uchiha, but they help limit the flow of chakra to the eyes." Izumi says, and my eyes widen. The universe is either playing with me, not wanting me to get caught, or I am incredibly lucky.

"So they help turn on doujutsu?" I ask, trying not to get hopeful.

"No, they help turn them off. Doujutsus can be hard to control when you first start." Izumi says offhandedly as though she didn't just make my day.

"Really?" I ask, keeping my voice even as to hide my relief and pure joy that such a thing exists.

"Ya, Uchihas need to have really good control of chakra flow in our body. It's one of the reasons we're good at concealing our chakra." Izumi says as she begins to look, and my mind connects the dots. Chakra concealing uses the same fundamentals of chakra flowing through your body as it does to activate or turn off doujutsu… but with something as cost-heavy as the Sharingan, until you can use it properly, you need something to help a learning aid. I think of this as I follow Izumi around the house like a little lost duckling searching until she finds what she's looking for. "This is it see?" Izumi says, holding up a small dark vile. I turn to the side, seeing there are a few. My hand twitches to grab one. It's stealing… it's taking advantage of my relationship with Izumi and Hazuki, but… I need help.

"They Hyuga use it too?" I ask, peering at the vile, and Izumi nods.

"Yep, though they pay us for it." Izumi informs me. "Well, I need to deliver this to Chiaki-chan. I'll see you later, ok?" Izumi says, placing a hand on my head. I feel her signature disappear further and further away. I wonder if someone could be watching. I need those drops, but… I reach into my pocket, grabbing a generous amount of Ryo. I open the cubby door and pocket one vile that hopefully will not be missed and place the ryo on the kitchen counter, praying neither Izumi nor Hazuki will look too much into it. I grab my bag and leave guilt gnawing at me despite my little money offering. Now I just need to master chakra concealing, which has just become a priority. Tomorrow I start my second year… I wonder what this year will entail?

For now, though, I think I'll spend the rest of the day with Ami.

POV Ami

Tomorrow second year starts! It's exciting! This time, this time I won't be shown up by anyone! I'm ready much more than last year.

I look at Googly-eyes making dinner. Curry! Yes! I'm very happy about that though I tilt my head noticing googly eyes don't seem so happy. She looks like someone kicked her puppy or burnt her favourite book or something.

I huff softly googly-eyes is confusing. Sometimes she seems invincible, others she looks so small…

I wonder if I'm going to have to have a talk with someone…. Because, well, I'm the only one allowed to make fun of googly-eyes.

Hopefully, this year she'll introduce me to Sasuke-kun so that I can totally win his heart and, more importantly, break the hearts of my rivals as a result…

"Thanks, googly-eyes!" I say, taking a bowl of curry curtly, and she smiles. This year is going to be fun. After all, I need to start REALLY testing my poisons.