When I was Paige, I wouldn't say I liked public speaking. I mean, I wasn't bad at it, but certainly, I wouldn't say I liked it at all. It made my stomach do summersaults, and my hands shake a little. Some of my friends recommended I join the debate club to lose this response. I declined it, not at all interested in spending houses preparing for each debate, even if I could admit that arguing was fun.

Now standing in front of Koharu, having to do a verbal report, I have to admit I wish I had considered joining debate club more fully because, with not even a script and a ninja watching your every move, the stakes are much higher.

"They talked about some farms and complained about paperwork… not much else." I tell Koharu, Choza hadn't given me much this week, which made sense because there wouldn't always be information I could get access to. Still reporting to Koharu practically empty-handed didn't exactly calm my nerves.

"I see… what about body language?" Koharu asked, looking down at sheets of paper in front of her, and I froze… what? I didn't plan for that!

"Huh?" I say, knowing I need to respond in some way.

"The tension at the table, did it seem up? Was it relaxed?" Koharu prods further, and for a split second, I wonder if she is on to me; after all, how would a six-year-old know how to read experienced ninja?

"Choza-san and Yataka-san seemed fine. Yataka kept asking Choji and me about class since I moved classes… Natsumi-o… Natsumi-san looked confused." I tell her thinking about it. Natsumi would be the best bet at reading the group as she is a civilian.

"Hmm…" Koharu hums in thought, and I feel my heart pick up a little as the calm slow it back down. "You may go. Here." Koharu says, sliding two envelopes, this month's allowance.

"Thank you, Koharu-sama," I say with a polite nod taking the two in hand. I hurry out of the office and head home. Entering the apartment, I am met with the 'workshop,' which is our main room. The dining room table has been taken over half by jars, vials, and plants, and the other parts, tools and broken appliances. I've gotten really good at fixing them up now, but I am yet to sell any. I need to find someone willing to buy and fix them to a level that I can get a reasonable price for it knowing I will probably be cheated somewhat. Ami is furiously pouring vials, thankfully wearing rubber gloves while doing so. She has really increased production; I think she's found some wild plants in bloom and is also starting to use them.

"Hey Ami, Koharu-sama gave me our allowances." I say, placing her envelope in front of her. She looks at me, looking almost hurt?

"Why didn't you tell me?" Ami asks, and I blink. Tell her I was meeting Koharu? I don't want to lie, but I can probably spin something about her just happening to meet me and give it to me.

"Well, Koharu-sama saw me and…." I begin to say, feeling a tiny part of me die for having to lie more than absolutely necessary.

"Not that!" Ami declares, pushing the table, and the opens jars rattle, and I really hope that nothing terrible would happen if some fell over and mixed, but Ami doesn't seem to care. "Everyone's talking about it! Sasuke-kun overheard some of the girls calling you a show-off and said, 'just because she's better than you doesn't make her a show-off.'" Ami accuses, and I blink surprised, one by the fact that Sasuke had stood up for me and two that Ami was taking this as some kind of betrayal.

"Ami, it's not like I asked Sasuke-san to say…." I begin to say, and Ami narrows her eyes dangerously.

"Sasuke-kun never cares what others do, yet he stood up for YOU?" Ami sneers, and I am taken aback by the way she seems to spit the 'you' part. "You've been spending hours in the Uchiha Compound; you've been trying to steal him, haven't you?" Ami demands and man, is this escalating fast.

"I have spent some time with him. His brother is Izumi-Senpai's friend…." I begin to say, and I can see the hard clenching of Ami's jaw as I do so. "However, we're just friends. I have no interest in Sasuke-san…." I try to explain, but Ami scoffs.

"Ya right. Tell me another one, liar." Ami says, pushing past me and heading to her room. I feel a little shocked, if I am being honest. I thought Ami would understand I would never do anything to jeopardize our relationship. Plus, Sasuke is tiny, me being interested in him would feel so gross.

I sigh and sit on my side of the table, and begin to fiddle with my multiple fixit projects.

Level up!

Maintenance Proficiency Level 100 (MAX)

Ability to maintain, clean, and fix up items and/or possessions effectively. Speed and success improves per level. Increase in quality of the item by 0.25% per level and increase in speed of action by 0.5% per level once action is familiar. Current ability, quality increase 25%, speed increase 50%

Skill has evolved!

Crafting Expertise Level 1

Ability to maintain, fix, or create items and tools effectively. Chances of success improves per level. Increase in item quality by 0.25% per level, increase in speed by 1.5% per level. Current ability, quality increase 0.25%, speed increase 1.5%

Great… now if only I could actually enjoy it. I open the envelope seeing that clearly there has been a minor raise in my allowance, and see some coupons for shinobi gear? Why is Koharu suddenly feeling generous?

POV Koharu

Damn, Hiruzen, he said he would be hands-off as long as I didn't take things too far. What exactly changed his mind?

To actually move Sayori and the last minute, quite literally the night before the academy started, is beyond unusual.

Now my newest asset is in view of not just two influential clans but seven being close to their heirs. Some attention is good; this much? This much is dangerous. I have to back off of my asset until I can have a more strong reason to interact with her. I won't break things off entirely, but the situation is now far more delicate than it was previously.

Doesn't Hiruzen recognize the danger he's put the girl in attracting so many eyes? Even if she wasn't my asset, she would quickly become someone.

Danzo can't be held off by traditional means, and I have a… unique advantage over him. For now, I need to keep Sayori close. I need her to start thinking like a shinobi, not that she is far from that already. She needs to see underneath the underneath many times over, for the girl has found herself launched into one of the most dangerous games there is for a shinobi. In this game, the line between friend and foe begins to blur, and worse yet, she has no real protection or preparation for what she has unknowingly stumbled into.