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Chapter 6: Sasuke: Schoolyard Politics

Summary:

Age 12, starting second year of the Academy

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

All in all, the graduating class I was part of had 272 Shinobi and 113 Kunoichi. That's 385 teenagers all crammed into the same floor of one very big building. Broken into 10 classes of 38 to 39 students a piece. First year in the academy students shifted around constantly, flowing through classes to ensure that if we were kicked from the Shinobi program we could still pass civilian schooling. A bit of physical training and chakra training to see if we could hack it.

Second year started only a few weeks ago and was already vastly different. For one our classes were now ranked 1 through 10, and you wanted to be in class 1. The higher ranking your class, the more likely you are to get a real Jonin as your teacher rather than a Tokubetsu Jonin.

"15 laps brats, let's move-move-move." I frowned at the Chunin instructor for our class. Mizuki was, to put it plainly, an ass and a suck up. He was constantly belittling struggling students and putting the good ones on a podium. Unfortunately he was also the teacher in charge of class 2. My arms pumped as I ran, not pushing myself for the best time like some of the idiots. Didn't matter how many times it happened, they always seemed to forget. First it starts at 15, and then 25, before finally it's just an endurance race.

I found myself in the middle of the pack, alongside the other kids who had caught onto Mizuki-Sensei's weekly ruse. Of course at this point I knew who would win. At the very back of the pack almost at walking speed was Haruno, and as always, just a step behind her was Uzumaki. The guy is an animal that just doesn't stop.

"Alright, since some of you are just so quick to go we'll be picking up the count to 30 laps." A small glance back shows Haruno giving Uzumaki the same clap on the back as she always does. He gives that feral grin, his eyes doing that creepy glow. All of that right before he goes blitzing past us, almost in a full run. I can't help myself but try to keep pace, and damn if it hasn't been doing wonders for me. Every week I go a little bit longer, feeling the burning in my muscles and the air feeling like a knife down my throat.

By the time I give up it's been almost 20 minutes of straight running. I felt the stitch in my side attempting to swallow me whole but blocked it out. Plenty of the other students tapped out a while ago, sitting in the shade with their waters. The only ones still running were Uzumaki at that full tilt, Haruno at a firm jog, and 2 others whose names escaped me.

"Alright, that's enough. Go ahead and take a breather. Then we're heading inside. Uzumaki, Haruno, Uchiha. The three of you are with me." I pulled myself up, I matched glances with Haruno as she shrugged a bit and poured a liberal dose of water on her literally steaming companion.

"So like, why are we following you Sensei?" My eyes flicked over Uzumaki, shorter than anyone in our class, showed once more that he didn't care much for manners. I could see Mizuki-Sensei's jaw twitch a bit.

"Well if you foll-" he didn't make it much farther, Haruno planting a hand on her hip and jaw setting firmly.

"I was also wondering, Sensei, are we in trouble at all?" Her teal eyes almost seemed to shimmer as she kept eye contact with him, as though daring him to agree with the thought. Mizuki-Sensei made a small half choking sound half cough at being cut off.

"The three of you are being moved to class 1, run by Umino-Sensei." Uzumaki's head snapped up, a vicious grin on his face as he grabbed Haruno's shoulder.

"See, I fuckin told you!" She nods a bit, giving a noncommittal hum. She hid it well for the most part, but once he turned away to lead us in she couldn't seem to help a smirk. The walk to the room was short, class 1 for 2nd years was right by the stairs. 3 kids were waiting there for us, 2 I never bothered to learn the name of as well as Ino Yamanaka. She looked livid, shoving past Haruno as she tried to flash me a sweet smile. Any effect it would've had was ruined as she stormed down the stairs.

"Told you she wouldn't keep up in class 1." Haruno's voice was just a little too chipper as she gave a hushed whisper. Uzumaki just grumbled as he attempted to pass Haruno a few yen notes, only for Mizuki-Sensei to snatch them.

"Gambling on school grounds is strictly forbidden. I'll be taking those as evidence." They both rolled their eyes, moving into the classroom ahead of me. The room definitely had a more chaotic feel to it than any of the other classes I'd been a part of. Rather than being evenly spaced out the students sat together in thick clumps, Umino-Sensei standing up at the black board writing notes as he prepared for the lesson.

Despite sitting down by myself, I found a half asleep boy lounging right next to me. His head resting on his arms, and his half open eyes gazing right past me to the window.

"Clouds are real nice ain't they? Names Nara Shikamaru." I gave a grunt, ignoring the nerve wracking creak of the chair as I tipped it back to put my feet on the desk.

"They're alright I suppose. Uchiha Sasuke, Clan Head." His eyes fully opened at that, and he looked like he was debating sitting up. "Can I help you?" A glance at my watch told me that I had another 3 minutes before class officially started.

"Thought you'd only be a Clan Heir, like me or Inuzuka over there." His head bobs, and my eyes are drawn to the almost feral looking kid in a thick fur jacket. How he's wearing that in this heat I don't understand.

"I was nominated as Clan Head." Nara nods slowly, scratching his chin a bit.

"How bout we get lunch together? Sit, and talk N' stuff." I shrug, not bothering to answer as Umino-Sensei starts to move, closing and locking the classroom door.

"Right, enough talking." The classroom fell silent, frankly I was impressed. "As you all noticed we had another rotation today, stop acting surprised about them and try to keep your spot in my class. Today I'll be teaching incentive to stay in my class even. You don't normally learn this till third year." This got everyone whispering. Nara was hunched over his desk, and I was sitting up properly now.

"Holy Shit!" Inuzuka's voice rang through the class as Umino-Sensei proceeded to walk along the wall back to the black board.

"Holy shit indeed, detention." There was a smattering of laughter, and Inuzuka seemed to take it in stride rather than personal. Umino-Sensei was now standing on the ceiling with practiced ease as he wrote on the top of the chalkboard upside down so we could read it.

"Being able to walk on any solid surface is one of the most basic techniques that any Shinobi should be able to do. This is one of the criteria for graduation from the academy, and WILL become as casual an action as breathing to you." Without any extra flair or dramatics he suddenly dropped from the ceiling, twisting his body and landing on his feet with the grace of a cat. With a few motions and shouted orders we were all lined up against the massive black board that took up the whole with a piece of chalk in hand.

Some kids tried running up the wall while using chakra but that didn't seem to be doing much for them other than breaking the black board and sending themselves stumbling. Every few seconds I would catch Umino-Sensei using some kind of Jutsu that would cause the black board to repair itself.

Other kids instead were putting a foot on the wall and pulling it away, trying to get a feel for the chakra needed. Whilst the process was effective it was also slow and tedious, requiring one to know their chakra closely.

"Umino-Sensei, could I have another demonstration of the wall walking technique please?" He quirks an eyebrow, the movement making the scar along the bridge if his nose twist.

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt any." My eyes were like a hawk's, watching as his foot connected to the wall. His chakra almost invisible to sight unless you know how to look for it. I bowed my thanks and turned back to the blackboard. Placing my foot against the wall I drew my chakra forth, feeling the thrum and warmth of it in my chest. As it courses through my body I let my mind wander to the best answer here, and that's when I feel it. This almost suction cup grasp I have on the wall, and yet as I try to focus more on it begins to feel shaky.

I think everyone was surprised as I put my hand into my pockets, and just walked up the wall. Working my way up to the ceiling where I sat down in the Lotus position. Umino-Sensei nods a bit, motioning for me to come down.

"Uchiha, if you'd be willing to assist your classmates. Bits of advice and what-not" I nod, walking back down the wall.

There are 2 things people hear all the time but usually tune out. Our heartbeats, and the sound of our Chakra coils. The thrum reverberated through my chest, almost seeming to ring in my ears, making me nauseous. I stumbled as I walked, having to support myself on the wall as I got back to the floor. After a few moments it passes and I'm able to right myself, heading over to the sprinters to help. I catch out of the corner of my eye Haruno standing on the wall, gripping Uzumaki's arm as she whispers in his ear.

Rather than forming a suction his chakra almost seems to have become sharp hooks, digging into the blackboard wall and keeping him up through brute force.

Helping the other kids is exhausting, me and Haruno the only two to get it on the first day. Well the only two to get it properly, as while Uzumaki's strategy works it's wasteful on chakra. The day ends with an after academy recess, where we have to sit and eat nutrient bars and drink juice. Meant to make sure we don't kill ourselves via a lack of nutrients or something, they both taste like chalk.

"So, Uchiha-San, really impressive work back in class." I keep my sigh internal, glancing over to see Nara sitting beside me. He's chewing on his nutrient bar slowly as though he's too busy thinking.

"If you say so, I just listened to my chakra." He quirks an eyebrow, seeming to debate just what to say. He doesn't really get the chance to finish his thought as somebody else flops down on the other side of me.

"Hey-hey, Inuzuka Kiba, that was some good shit. Saw you out in the yard too, bet you could've won that race!" His brash nature combined with his almost feral features reminds me more of a wild animal than a person. His nails are extended out as claws and his pupils slit like an animals.

"Uchiha Sasuke, and no I wouldn't have." He just kinda blinks a bit, leaning forward as though the wind were knocked out of him. Nara's hands are folded together as he hunches over his lap.

"Why not? You're clearly one of the top students." I roll my eyes, taking another bite debating my answer as I chew the chalk line substance.

"Uzumaki is an animal, plain and simple. I've not seen an endurance run he's lost, or a spar he hasn't waited for his opponents to tire themselves out." Nara just kind of blinks at me and Inuzuka gets this vicious grin on his face, showing off his fangs.

Our eyes just kind of turn to the corner of the yard, looking at Uzumaki and Haruno. Plain enough looking, Uzumaki wears a pair of Boots that I know from sparring are steel toed and cleated. His pants and shirt are nothing to write home about, a simple pair of cargo pants with plenty of pockets and a black ratty T-shirt. His jacket, a dark enough shade of red to blend in with the sunset, is armor plated and loose on him to offset the lack of fishnet armor on him.

Haruno wears the same kind of boots but that's where things differ. A pair of blue leggings with fishnet armor disappearing into the boots. She's currently abandoned her shirt leaving her in a sports bra and fishnet armor all the way down to a pair of fingerless gloves. Her hair was cut shorter than most people's and kept trapped under a flat cap. As we're watching, Uzumaki makes a gesture and her head snaps over to us. She raises an eyebrow, as though challenging us. Inuzuka shuffles a bit, breaking eye contact with her quickly. Nara doesn't seem concerned, almost seeming to dismiss her as he looks back at me.

"So, Uchiha-San, how about you and I go out. Get something to eat and introduce you to a few of my friends?" I give a hum, weighing it as I keep eye contact with her. I can feel my eyes start to ache with the desire to blink.

"Out of friendliness or something else?" Inuzuka laughs, a hand slamming against the bench, and I catch Nara shrugging uncomfortably in my peripherals. She finally blinks, rubbing at her eyes and I let myself relax.

"I suppose, if-"

"Stop dancing around the fuckin politics shadow dancer!" I don't know if Nara took more offense to being cut off, or the nickname, either way I had enough time to react to avoid it as he lunged over me to pin Inuzuka to the table and put a Kunai to his throat. I reached over, plucking the Kunai from Nara's grasp before Inuzuka really tried to get a purchase with his claws.

"That's enough of that, teachers catch you, you're done for." That was enough to get them to break off. Inuzuka rubbing at his throat angrily and Nara just kind of half glaring at the new scratches on his arms.

"As Inuzuka so bluntly pointed out, yes I'm trying to politic. The Uchiha clan is in a tenuous position currently." I fix my gaze on him, hiding my grin as he flinches back from the hard stare.

"You and a dozen others, like dogs over a bone." I ignore the growl, and the scoff as I stand up. Cramming the rest of my bar in my mouth I head out of the yard. Ignoring their calls to come back.

By the time I arrive home I'm nursing a headache, trying to pinch the bridge of my nose to stave it off. The Uchiha Clan's district has been cut down to half what it used to be. The other half I, after running it by Suchu to hear his thoughts, decided to lease back to the Hokage for Shinobi housing usage for a few years until the clan's numbers climbed back to where we needed it once more. All for a monthly sum of course that's padding the Uchiha bottom line nicely.

Funny enough most of the Shinobi that have been placed in those homes are clan-less Chunin and Genin that have been assigned to fill out the Military Police.

"Young Clan-Head" I stifle the sigh, slowing my walk enough for the elderly Uchihas to catch up with me.

"What may I do for you Elders?" One of them gives a toothless grin, taking my hand and shaking it.

"We have heard you were the first student of your class to successfully wall walk, that is a fair achievement to claim as your own!" I nod a bit, bowing and taking the praise as it comes.

"We have also heard you were speaking with the Nara heir, and the son of the Inuzuka Clan-Head." Another one spoke up, half behind me with his hands on my shoulder. I give a shrug, both because I don't really care and to get free from his grip.

"I can't find it much in myself to give a damn about the politics, the Uchiha may be hurting still. However we do not need to grovel at another clan's feet for scraps." I turn glaring them all down, it's not nearly as effective on them as it was at the school.

"Whilst what you say is true, once you graduate you'll be the only Uchiha in the active Shinobi force for another whole 2 years, and that's still almost 5 years away. Support now-" I cut him off by closing the door. They don't bother knocking, instead grumbling amongst themselves. Making it sound like we need to beg, like I didn't already solve the money problems we were running into.

It's not long before I'm sitting at the table, a cup of coffee in my hand and a plate of burnt steak in front of me. Take a bite, and then a drink to hide the taste. Maybe I should finally break and start ordering take out.

I'd been bothered by people before about wanting to 'ally' with the Uchiha clan during our time of hardship. Leeches the lot of them, merely wanting to give us a crutch so that they could pull us around in votes during council meetings. After all, quite a few people haven't been liking that the Uchiha clan has been voting in the Hokage's favor. Just last month the Hyuuga Clan-Head tried to get a bill passed by the Hokage to allow Clans to privately train their members to circumvent the Academy standard. It was a narrow vote that the Uchiha's ended up being the deciding vote to deny the bill.

I left my dirty plate on the stack, uncaring at the overflowing sink of dishes. My chopsticks disposable and thus into the trash, then I grab a needle for a prick of blood. Smearing it across the wall holding the Uchiha crest in-between two bookcases. I hated how slow the wall slid open, and the stairs appeared one by one.

Making it down and turning on the lights, the naked bulbs buzzing within my private vault as the Clan-Head. There wasn't much here, a few contracts almost as old as the village. As well as ancient weapons, my personal favorite is the painting of Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju shaking hands as they founded Konoha.

I sit down at the same desk I do every night since I was able to enter it, looking over the book I had found open at it. The great book of Clans, holding all of the clan members of Konohagakure. Picking up my pen I flipped to the appropriate page and continued to update it. I kept myself up to the late hours of the night, with nothing but cups of steaming coffee for company.

Thus life seemed to progress in a similar manner for weeks on end. Umino-Sensei was a relaxed man, preferring to let his students figure out the best method for them. Nara seemed determined to speak to me, and so I let him. Day after Day, week after week I just let him prattle on. Whether it was about what might be 'best for the village' or just about how our clans could prosper together. I didn't really care, he always had this tone and look in his eyes. Like he's just waiting for me to cave in. At least with Inuzuka the guy could tell when I wasn't in the mood and would wisely just not bother me for the day.

It wasn't until almost 2 months had passed that I learned something very convenient. Nara was scared of Uzumaki, and I don't mean a little bit. It started in a spar match back when the 3 of us first came to class and Uzumaki proceeded to wipe the floor with people. The animal even threw Inuzuka out a window. Uzuamaki's lack of any concept of mercy in a spar, and Nara's seemingly superhuman distaste for getting his hands dirty seemed to cause quite a bit of fear.

"I was wondering how long till you came to sit with us" I gave Haruno a side eye where me and her now share a bench. Uzumaki grinning like a maniac behind us, and Nara glaring at me from the cafeteria.

"At the very least the two of you are more than capable, I can respect that." I watch as she slides a few yen notes over to Uzumaki as he tucks them away.

"Told you it wouldn't be cuz we didn't bother him bout political bullshit." she rolls her eyes, and I can't help but feel myself smirk as she offers me a handshake.

"Welcome to the team" I never could have known just how much would be decided when I took her hand.

Notes:

Easter Update, happy holidays to those that celebrate.
Also, special bonus credit to my Beta reader for getting back to me over night so I could post this on Easter.