Quick Note: My friend swapped over to third-person perspective for this chapter and will likely continue going forward. He wanted to try writing in first-person for a bit to help keep it closer to my own fic but this is more natural for him. I think this turned out quite well. Enjoy!

Chapter 5

The academy was rife with screams, cries for help, tears, and the sounds of heavy blows landing. Construction was going on for the school festival and hordes of chakra laden youths trained to murder from a young age were bound to be high strung little gremlins. Mizuki's class had already been divided up into different groups despite how long it had taken the class to agree. "Bye Gorilla!" Kiyomi called cheerfully to Meiko as she left her team of heavy duty lifters. Shun and a few other of the boys were starting to wrap up with setting up the stands as Kiyomi, Rei, and Mana were working on the signs.

"So mean." Rei said reproachfully at Kiyomi's name calling. The pale Nara's paintbrush was gliding gracefully on the sign as they were trying to wrap up some last minute touches before the weekend.

"Fine Orangutan for Meiko. She's not a gorilla." Kiyomi said grinning as she helped paint on a few shuriken onto the sign. "She knows I'm saying it to be playful, not mean. Although…She is a bit unga bunga sometimes. Especially when she spaces out. I wonder if she's okay." The Yamanaka wondered aloud.

"What's an unga bunga?" Rei asked, confused as to exactly what that was. It was the first time she had heard Kiyomi refer to Meiko as such. Likely it wouldn't be the last.

"She's a cavewoman." Kiyomi said with no hesitation.

"Probably bored like me." The bright eyed Mana said as she happily painted. She was laying down happily kicking her legs as she drew a ninja bunny onto the sign without really asking anyone's opinion. "Mizuki-sensei can be so boring. I don't know how since he knows so much about magic, but he still somehow makes it dull." With a little twirl of her finger sparks flew out, startling Rei. "Whoops, sorry."

"It's just…really impressive you can do that so casually." Rei breathed, mildly jealous. Like many Nara she had top grades in the class in academics. However, she was just now able to use the clone jutsu after a lot of practice. She fell in the middle of the pack in the class when it came to jutsu practice much to her chagrin.

"It's easy once you get the hang of it. You just gotta visualize everyone enjoying the show you're going to put on. Unless you're boring like Kiyomi and play with bricks." The darker girl said, giving a teasing grin to Kiyomi, like the Yamanaka often did to Meiko.

"Hey! I'll be able to do stuff like make a mountain soon enough. Or a stone cage. Or maybe something really cool like dad's golem!" Kiyomi said, caught off guard by her friend turning the tables on the teasing. The sweet natured girl turning on her always threw her off because, unlike Meiko, Mana never got riled up and took everything in stride. Then could dish it out when you least expected it. "Well, we'll have to figure out how to put our knowledge to the test and make a good show together. We've got the weekend to figure something out together."

"Oi! Rei! It's time to go!" Shun's surprisingly deep voice for a seven year old called out to Rei. He had just finished moving the tools and other gear back for the upperclassmen. His mother was at the school gates to pick them up. "Ma wants you to walk you home, since she has some stuff to give you along the way." He said, helping Rei to her feet. "Your uncle is here too, Kiyomi. Saw him at the front gate, likely waiting on you and Ino."

"Thanks Shun. Guess it is getting a bit late." Kiyomi said since it was close to five pm. They had stayed after school an hour or two to get a jump on the projects like everyone else. "We'll see you later, just gotta put all this up." She said, waving goodbye to Rei and Shun as they left. Mana and Kiyomi would set the sign out to dry over the weekend under a pavilion just in case it rained. Once they had their hard work put away the two approached the gates to see not only Great Uncle Inase, but Aunt Noa who was Ino's mother there.

Kiyomi noticed a certain pink haired girl walk past the two elders not looking at Ino who pointedly ignored her as she went by. Rolling her eyes, Kiyomi muttered to Mana. "They're still mad about both liking that jerk Sasuke. Honestly I don't get it. Why fight over a boy who doesn't even want to be around either of you?" It just didn't make sense to Kiyomi. Sakura was a nice girl and pretty fun to be around whenever she had been brought around by Ino.

"Sometimes friends fight over silly things. I hear it all the time at the cafe. I heard someone arguing with their friend about sleeping with their boyfriend. If they're friends what's wrong with sleeping in the same bed? Maybe it was cold or something?" Mana questioned, looking thoughtful.

"I don't know. Seems fine to me. We slept on the same futon before. Maybe she was cranky because she needed a nap or something." Kiyomi guessed along with Mana. "Good afternoon Aunty Noa. Great Uncle Inase!" Kiyomi said politely, bowing to them both. Mana followed suit.

Aunt Noa was a graceful looking brunette with an iris in her hair and a flower print apron with the Yamanka flower shop logo on it. Ino got her father's hair, but her facial features and blue eyes from her mother. She was a civilian with no shinobi training, but she still kept a tight leash on Ino so Kiyomi always acted polite around her. Besides, she was the wife of their clan leader. Noa smiled in greeting as she was smoothing a perturbed Ino's hair as it had gotten messy.

Uncle Inase was one of the clan Elders in charge of tutoring the young in standard shinobi practices and the clan's Hiden techniques when they were old enough to use jutsu reliably and safely. In his mid-sixties Inase Yamanaka was still standing around six feet tall, blonde hair turning white hanging down to his waist, a well trimmed goatee, robes, and a ninja tool kit on his waist. He had been coming around the academy often walking Ino and Kiyomi home. The two didn't know why though.

"Ah, hello girls. Ready for the weekend I hope" Inase said pleasantly and gave them a smile which Mana returned. "If I'm right it's about time for the academy festival. I hope you'll have fun with it and show us how it's done. We didn't have any festivals or an academy back in my day." He said chortling. Despite the genuine friendly nature, Inase was not there simply to learn more about the girls' academy life.

As they were chatting Inase was focusing his sensory abilities and scanning the area. With all that had been happening in the last couple of months he along with several other elders of the various clans had been suspicious of the Uchiha's activities. Even with assurances from Lord Third and other members of various clans Inase and other Elders had taken it upon themselves to monitor the safety of the various clan heirs. Kiyomi was getting some protection by proxy of being the same age as Ino and living close to the destination the current heir was heading.

Multiple strong chakra signatures were around them, but that was to be expected considering where they were. He felt the chakra of the teachers, students, parents, and others nearby, but none felt as if they were trying to hide. Nor did he sense mal intentions. Nodding along as the girls began to chatter he kept his smile up, occasionally commenting on what was said as he kept scanning the road home.

"A play? Your class decided to do a play about the founding of the village? That's so lame, you're just trying to appeal to the teachers for praise." Kiyomi scoffed at Ino as they were talking.

"So? We'll still draw in a bigger crowd and more votes if all the teachers like it. The parents will love anything our teachers like." Ino said grinning triumphantly. The best class presentation won a prize. What it was varied from year to year, but it was often food, extra credit, and other trinkets. Sometimes a field trip simply where the kids got to have fun. "Right mom? You love it when I talk about all that lame school stuff that's educational. Ouch." She said as Noa lightly tabbed her head.

"I enjoy that you're learning history, math, and all the important subjects. I'm not so impressed that you're already learning to manipulate people to win a contest." Noa said with a sigh. "Though I suppose that's shinobi training for you. Try not to use that mindset on your own mother, young lady." She said clicking her tongue and Ino had the decency to at least pretend she was abashed.

"Well it's about making people happy not trying to win through manipulation." Mana piped up going a bit ahead of the group as they walked. She was practicing some dance steps clearly thinking ahead to the show. The girl's house was in the business district close to the Yamanaka clan's compound, the flower shop, and Kiyomi's home. "The play will be boring if you're not doing any jutsu or dancing in it. You should make it a musical!"

"I for one would love to see the founding of Konoha done in the form of ballet." Inase said rather dryly, getting a chuckle from Noa as Ino considered the merits of this. The thought of a bunch of screaming kids citing history while doing something like a ribbon dance was hilarious to think about, but likely would be painful to sit through. He made a note that he'd send a clan Chunin or two to suffer through that show over going. He'd use his old war wounds excuse to get it out of going. It worked every time. It often got him some sympathy sweet delivered to his door.

As they walked along and entered the business district, the Nakotsumi cafe came into view first. Being a Friday afternoon it was already starting to fill with customers. "Mom's going to need help again. I'll see you later!" Mana called to the Yamanaka's before running into the cafe with a skip in her step thinking about what the show would be like. She was already thinking of practising some routine for the customers to see what got the most attention. It took her a moment when she entered the cafe to notice someone picking her up and she comically kept walking.

"Well something has my little star distracted." Said a tall thin man in an overcoat, wearing thin glasses, a long shiny black ponytail, and a thin sallow face. "Didn't even see your old man waiting by the door for you." He said holding Mana back a bit from his face knowing what was about to happen.

"Daddy!" Came the expected happy squeal that made the rest of the cafe go quiet for a moment, before some laughs were heard and the normal din came back. Tiny hands found his collar as she pulled him in for a strangling hug. Tsukomo smiled as his daughter hugged him. He had gotten back from his last patrol mission a few hours ago and had been forced to take a nap by his wife and for once was looking rather refreshed. "Show me your new devices!" She said excitedly, practically vibrating in the air to have her father home for the first time in weeks.

"Later kiddo I've got the week off, so we'll be able to play some before I go back to work." He said carrying her to the table he always claimed when he was home. "Tell me what's got you all excited." He implored as a dark skinned woman with mid length purple hair and a broad smile on her face came over. "Thank you honey." He told her as she put plates down for them.

"Eat up, it's your favorite. I can handle the customers. Hired a girl to be a waitress on the weekends to help with the rush." Kei said. Now beside Mana it was clear where she got her unique looks from. Behind her a teenager in an apron was bustling around delivering and taking orders so for once Kei wasn't a one woman show like she normally and preferred to operate. Giving a kiss to her daughter's forehead as she began to chatter excitedly Kei vanished once more into the back to start cooking several orders again.

"What are you going to do this weekend? Want to get the others to play soccer again?" Ino asked Kiyomi as they were walking towards the Yamanaka flower shop. Kiyomi considered for a moment. She had already completed her homework during the week so she had the weekend mostly free aside from some basic chores and training.

"Maybe. Kazuma's home for a few days. I may get him to show me something cool if he's not just running around in those weights again with Dakun and Hana." Kiyomi said rather wistfully. "It's mainly been dad and mom showing me stuff whenever they're not busy. I know Mana will wanna go over our performance at some point, but I'd like to beat you again."

"Yea right! You lost last time even with Shun blocking half the goal." Ino said, riled up instantly at her cousin's smirk. "The only reason you've won at all is because you got Shun and Rei backing you up. Shikimaru just lazes around and Choji is just snacking the whole time!" She hissed as Noa and Inase laughed as the two started to bicker.

Inase's laugh sounded a bit forced though as he kept scanning the area. He had detected chakra signature's of considerable power within several city blocks. That in and of itself wasn't unusual, but it always put him on edge. It reminded him of the old wars and it always paid to be on alert. Even during peacetimes. That was when one was most vulnerable when they thought they were safe.

The girls kept arguing about scores until they got to the flower shop. Inside the store was a young man behind the counter tending the shop for Noa. He was checking out customers trying to get some last minute flowers before the shop would close down. Alongside the several shoppers there were two Yamanaka men in Chunin flak jackets relaxing on benches by the flowers, seemingly there just to enjoy the relaxing shop. Inase would hit them with a nod as he entered to take a seat near the counter.

"I just have to do some numbers for a bit Ino. Then we'll go pick up an order I placed for dad and have dinner. Mind watering the flowers for me while you wait?" Noa asked as she went behind the counter to get the books.

"Sure mom. See you later Kiyomi. No excuses once I crush you tomorrow." The heiress flipped her hair pompously. "It's only natural that I win. I was just letting you build up your confidence. A good leader lets her clan feel good about themselves even when they're better than them at everything." She said getting an eye roll from Kiyomi.

"The only thing you're better at is going unnoticed by the boy you like. Bye!" She said running out before Ino had a chance to sputter out a reply. "By Aunty Noa. By Uncle!" She called as Inase waved.

"Go straight home!" He called after her. "It's Friday, the drunks are already out." He said in a stern voice. "I'll know if you stray!" He said tapping his forehead. Kiyomi nodded a bit confused as to why he sounded almost mad, but she wasn't going to argue with him. That was a good way to get put on a punishment chore at the clan compound. Not wanting to be struck with raking leaves, cleaning a toilet, or whatever her great uncle could think up she took off at a jog.

Kiyomi's house was just over a block away in the market district. A two story building right across from a small business center where her mom's office was. There was a ten foot privacy wall erected by her father's doton jutsu. As was standard with most Yamanaka, a garden in the front and in the back yard as well. Unlike other houses though it was made of brick with strong wooden doors instead of the traditional paper. Her dad felt it was more secure this way. Her mom told her it was because he got tired of repairing the traditional paper doorways because young Kazuma often simply ran through the doors in his fits of hyper activity when he was younger.

Kicking off her shoes at the entrance she noticed Kazuma's training boots were outside. "I'm home. Kazuma, you're free tonight?" Kiyomi said brightly, running into the living room. Her family was all there. Bando was on the couch reading a newspaper beside the radio which played simple classical music. He'd merely grunt at his youngest's entrance. Standing at six foot six, Bando was a muscular man whose clothes seemed to strain a bit to contain the muscle.. Brown hair starting to become peppered with gray, a well trimmed beard and mustache, a few scars on his arms, and was still clad in his flak jacket and headband. He apparently just finished his shift at one of the gates into the village. His Kenabo he used for work ,more for simple intimidation, was set upon its special reinforced stand beside the fireplace.

"Hi honey. Just starting dinner." Ai called from over the counter that separated the kitchen from the living room. Kiyomi's mother had her waist length mildly curled blonde hair up in a ponytail as she was setting up the rice cooker. Still vibrantly blonde and standing at five foot two, Ai, though retired as a shinobi, still kept up her training to an extent. Namely morning workouts with the clan members, some target practice with Kiyomi, and a few sparring sessions a week. She mainly did some part time work as a therapist and helped maintain the household since she still got some stipend from her time as an espionage specialist. Unlike Bando she had no scars since in her line of work combat was very much something one wanted to avoid. She was wearing a simple black t-shirt and some gray pants since she had been home for an hour and made herself comfortable.

"Hey sis." Kazuma said dully. He had grown since the Chunin exams. Now after another growth spurt he was getting closer to being Bando's height. He was now five foot ten, easily taller than Ai. He had more of his mothers graceful form still, but had gained a fair amount of muscle due to his new weighted training regime he had kept even after the exam. His tanto was on the coffee table of the living room, tucked in its sheath. The boy, like his father, was also in his flak jacket. He was using a chair to elevate his feet while he did some push-ups. He had just finished a local c-rank mission with his team involving some academy drop out pickpockets in the market district.

Kiyomi without pausing simply ran over and hopped on his back. Kazuma, used to this, merely kept doing his workout with Kiyomi on his back. "Is the team busy tonight? That's okay, you can play games with us!" She said excitedly since Kazuma and his team normally on free weekends went out and did something. Sometimes allowing Kiyomi and Kiba to tag along if it was a movie, play, or something. Mostly though it was just the older teens. Kazuma grunted dejectedly.

"I think it's more Hana's busy." Ai's sing-song voice came from the kitchen, the smile in her tone obvious. "Just seems like someone is dragging his feet when it comes to being honest. I think she'd appreciate bold action over-"

"Mom!" Kazuma hissed as he glanced over his shoulder at Kiyomi who was listening in not understanding exactly what Ai meant. "Can you not?"

"Oh honey she doesn't get it." Ai said as she was pulling out spices. "We've not had the more… advanced talk yet." Bando grunted in discomfort at the mention of advanced talk.

"Advanced talk? What do you mean? Do you think Kazuma should just tell Hana she's going to hang out with him and she'd like it? That would be fun, you can pull her over to our house to play games!" Kiyomi said happily, patting Kazuma's back.

"Oh he'd want to play games with Hana alone." Ai said as Kazuma coughed.

"But games are more fun with more people!" Kiyomi protested, getting a laugh from Ai as Kazuma lost concentration on his push ups and face planted as he went red from embarrassment.

"Ai go easy on the boy. No one wants to hear that talk from their mother." Bando said in his deep voice, though there was a hint of a laugh in there. A ring came from the gate to the house. Kazuma wanting to vacate this particular conversation jumped up sending Kiyomi tumbling onto the couch.

"I've got it!" He said running off as Ai called for Kiyomi to start helping her set up the table. Kazuma hurried to the door. As he neared it his sensory picked up several familiar signatures. Grinning, he'd open the door. "Hey there, the new Genin. How's it been a few months in?" He asked as he looked out from the front door at the gate to the house.

At the gate stood Kimiko Yamanaka grinning in her shiny leaf headband. "Hi Nii-san!" She said bouncing on the balls of her feet from the gate. Like many Yamanka, Kimiko had the trademark blonde hair, Although hers curled a bit at the ends. It fell just below her shoulders. She had deep brown eyes though and a smattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks. Beside her were her two teammates. Aoki Tanaka, a lanky clanless shinobi with somewhat spiky black hair, green eyes, and with a naginata on his back. Opposite of him was a stouter boy with brown hair in a buzz cut carrying a box addressed to Ai. Ito Fuujii if Kazuma recalled correctly. He kept track of those two by the weapons they wielded, Ito had his brass knuckles on his belt.

"Delivery for Aunty Ai. She needs to sign herself unless given permission." Kimiko said brightly. "This is our last delivery of the mission. Thought it would be best to save it for last since we'd be close to home."

From the kitchen Ai yelled out. "You can hand Kazuma those documents to sign for!" Ai since she was also a sensory type knew who was at the gate. Hearing that Kimiko handed Kazuma a pin to sign a receipt for the package.

"A mail delivery. That's also a fun mission to make some ryo off of." Kazuma said, signing for the box which Ito handed over. "How many d-ranks have you all completed so far?" He asked conversationally.

"So far we've completed forty d-ranks. We did one C-rank last week though. Some bulls escaped a pin and were rampaging through some fields. They were pretty aggressive, but big targets, so I was able to nab them one by one." Kimiko said happily.

"Wow, forty one missions in three months. Nice, I bet you're all happy not having to ask for pocket money anymore. That was my favorite thing about low rank missions." Kazuma said remembering since his allowance had been cut off the moment he became a Genin.

"Yea well. D-rank pay only gets you a lunch if you're lucky." Aoki said dejectedly. "Not very exciting either. Weeding fields, catching cats, painting roofs. All pretty boring. They don't feel like missions."

"Yeah, the last mission was all Kimiko while we distracted the bulls." Ito said blushing a bit at having relied so much on Kimiko's mind transfer to catch the bulls. "Only combat action we get is training with sensei, but he's been busy a lot with Jonin stuff. I Really want to learn more jutsu, but you know." Ito said with a shrug.

"Well, combat's not exactly fun. I'd be happy if all my missions were as relaxed as you more time to hone your skills before having to test them. Mmm, so your sensei hasn't taught you all any new jutsu at all?" He questioned since three months was a long time to go without learning something new.

"No. I mean I learned how to do telepathy, but that's because I've been practicing with the clan." Kimiko added glumly. "Not much else other than academy stuff. I've got a hard time keeping the telepathy up too. It's a little draining." She admitted.

"Well…If your sensei is not teaching you jutsu I think you should all work on chakra control to make it easier for when he finally gets around to it." Kazuma said, putting a foot on the property wall and standing sideways. "Knowing how to do this helps you master your chakra output, saving you energy and helping you manipulate chakra better. Try doing that when you have time to train and it will help you master every other type of jutsu faster." He said having been taught that by his Goto-sensei fairly soon after being put on his team. "Honestly this is something they should teach at the academy." He muttered disapprovingly that they didn't teach a bedrock skill like this.

"Oh wow! Good idea nii-san." Kimiko said looking excited at the thought. "I think we're free tomorrow if you don't mind showing us a bit if you have time." She'd adopt a wide eyed pleading stance to try and persuade him.

"Ugh. Fine. You're lucky we're related otherwise that pouting wouldn't work on me." He said waving her off. "I'll see you all tomorrow around nine or something at the training grounds." He said pretending like it was an inconvenience. In reality he had no plans and was still upset that Hana was busy this weekend.

"Thanks nii-san!" Kimiko said, hugging Kazuma as he got off the wall. He'd pat her back for a moment merely looking tired. "See you later!" She called as the teammates echoed their thanks and followed after her as they trotted off down the street. Kazuma would merely wave back grinning a bit at her chipper attitude before walking back inside with the delivery.

Unbeknownst to both of them several blocks away and atop a roof a crimson eye had watched much of this interaction take place. Standing a few inches taller and with his hair cut shorter than before, but still a typical untidy Uchiha mess, Ishi watched the delivery. He deactivated his sharingan to conserve energy. He had seen enough through his binoculars. He had been able to read the lips of Kimiko and Kazuma with his eyes activated.

"Nii-san huh?" He muttered to himself remembering that during the academy days Kazuma had complained about a little sister. He had never remembered the name, but it seems she had grown up and was a Genin now. How fortunate for him and how unfortunate for her to be directly related to Kazuma.

"Ishi, pay attention." Snapped a cold voice from atop the roof. Ishi turned from the group he had been watching to look a bit sullenly at the leader of his group. Katsu Uchiha was around thirty years old, six feet tall exactly, wore a katana at his hip, and today wore his hair back in a warrior's wolf tail. A horizontal scar was across his left cheek and over his nose. He wore a Jonin flak jacket as well, but like most of those on the roof the Uchiha Clan crest on it. This had been sewn over the leaf symbol, a sign of the movement.

"You'll have your revenge soon enough. Eyes on the prize." Katsu said, causing Ishi to nod. "Now then. We're about to start." Katsu said, looking at the several other Uchiha. He was the only Jonin on the roof and along with Ishi there were five other Uchiha Chunin from the police force. "We're outnumbered, but we've been tasked with assaulting the Yamanaka. They're essentially just messenger hawks for the village. Hence why we're few compared to those attacking the other clans. We have to buy time for Fugaku to kill the third then we can regroup and force all the lesser clans to surrender." He said going over the plan one last time.

"That said even though we don't need to wipe out the clans, feel free to cull the numbers a bit. Send the message that we've claimed our rightful place in the village. I'll be going after the heiress to force that weakling Inochi to surrender. The rest of you cause some chaos. A few fires here and there. Just try not to burn the entire district down. Even if this is a culling of the weaker clans to an extent this is our village now. I'd rather have my favorite bar around to celebrate our rightful ascension." He said with a cold grin on his face.

Several of the team grinned, including Ishi. The clan ascendancy was something they had all dreamed and been told they deserved for years. That the Leaf was weak and only their clan could bring it out of the decline set about by the first Hokage. The time of their humiliation was at an end and vengeance would burn away all of the past mistakes.

With a swing of his arm Katsu dismissed his team. All vanished in a flicker of movement to set about getting into position. The signal was coming soon and as soon as it was seen then the leaf would learn what it meant to disrespect the Uchiha clan.