Amaya Uzumaki POV
I walked with Kurenai to our classroom. Part of me felt a little bad for leaving Shisui so suddenly, but the look on his face right after put me at ease.
– Sorry for dragging you away from your friend – Yūhi commented a moment later.
– It's fine, he'll understand – I reassured her calmly.
– Oh, that's good then – She gave a weak smile – I never really know what's going on in the heads of the graduated students. Most of them act stupid around Academy students. It's like they weren't students themselves just a little while ago.
– I don't know about everyone, but Shisui isn't like that – She looked at me, her smile widening.
– Well, at least one escapes the stupidity – We shared a soft laugh.
As soon as Kurenai and I entered the classroom, she invited me to sit with her, Rin, and Obito. I glanced around the room and saw Kakashi was already there, so I just gave him a discreet look.
Our teacher arrived and class went quickly that morning. During the break, I hung out with Kurenai, Rin, Obito, and Asuma – a boy with dark eyes and hair. I spent most of the time just listening to them talk and discuss various things.
I involuntarily ended up formulating and memorizing each of their most distinctive manners and behaviors during their conversations.
Kurenai and Rin were quite outgoing, although Yūhi was a bit more serious than Rin at times.
Asuma was a laid-back boy who didn't like doing anything that wasn't absolutely necessary. He and Kurenai seemed to be the closest of the four.
Obito liked to talk and repeatedly stated his desire to become Hokage. Another thing I discovered, which kind of worried me, was that he was from the Uchiha clan.
But I quickly reassured myself. I don't use the Uchiha surname, and only a few adults, plus Shisui and Kakashi, know I'm a descendant of the clan, I noted silently. Besides, since I wear my hair down, that dark strand stays hidden among the red.
The four of them pointed out that I didn't need to use any honorifics when referring to them from then on, just as they wouldn't use them with me. In a way, that made me feel much more comfortable around them.
– And you, Amaya... – Obito brought up my name and I looked at him – What do you have to tell us?
– About what? – I asked.
– About you – Rin clarified and I looked at her.
– What do you want to know?
– You're not used to talking with people, are you? – Asuma commented and Kurenai shot him a slightly sharper look.
– Don't be rude...
– What? I just said what everyone was thinking – I gave a soft laugh.
– To be honest, I'm really not used to it – I admitted calmly.
– Then tell us what you like to do – Rin said and the others agreed.
– I don't have many hobbies, but I like reading, training sometimes – I listed without thinking too much – And also drawing.
– Drawing? – Kurenai asked, excited – And are you good at it? – I shrugged lightly.
– I do it more to relax.
– You'll have to show us your drawings someday – Rin said.
– I'd rather play shogi – Asuma announced as he lay down on the floor and we all looked at him.
– But nobody, besides the Sandaime, likes playing with you – Kurenai said – You only know how to win – He gave a weak laugh.
– What can I do if I'm good at it? – Kurenai rolled her eyes and the others laughed.
– Why do you and the Sandaime play? – I asked, curious about that point.
– He's the one who taught me – Asuma said as if it were obvious.
– You didn't know the Sandaime is his father? – Rin asked and I shook my head slightly.
– To not know that, you must have come to the village recently, right? – Obito asked and I gave a weak laugh.
– Is it still that obvious? – I asked them.
– Not really... – Kurenai said.
– But since you were always in your own world, it was easier to guess – Asuma explained.
– I've only been here a few months – I simply commented.
– And what was the place you came from like? – Obito asked quickly – Did you come here because of the war? – I lowered my eyes for a moment and Kurenai elbowed the Uchiha – Ow! – He complained.
– Don't be an idiot asking that kind of thing so bluntly – She scolded Obito and he lowered his head.
– Sorry – I gave a weak smile, shaking my head.
– It's okay – I said slowly – I didn't exactly come here because of the war – I continued, but without looking at any of the four – I don't have much to say about where I came from, but if I had to define it with one word, I guess it would be 'nightmare'.
I didn't want to lie to them, but I couldn't tell the truth either. So my only option was to tell the truth in the most superficial way possible, without revealing anything that could expose the secrets of my past.
Maybe one day I can tell them everything, I thought. But for now, I need to follow the Sandaime's orders and keep all the knowledge I have about the laboratory and the experiments with Uchiha clan cells secret.
When I turned my gaze back to the four of them, their expressions were more introspective. Each with their own thoughts about what I had just shared. The mood got really tense because of that..., I pondered. Maybe I should have chosen different words.
Right at that moment, I felt Kakashi's chakra near where we were. Looking past Kurenai and Asuma, who were in front of me, I saw Hatake walking a bit further away.
– I'll be right back – I just said and stood up, heading over to the boy.
Hatake was walking while reading. He had one of the books Sakumo left for us to study.
– Hey – I said and the boy took his eyes off the book, looking at me.
– Hey – He closed the book and stopped.
– Sorry for leaving this morning without telling you – I apologized directly.
– You don't need to apologize, or explain where you go – He pointed out – As long as you don't get into trouble – I gave a weak laugh.
– I doubt that will happen – He shook his head and looked over my shoulder.
– Looks like someone is learning to socialize – He said, indicating with his eyes the group I was with before.
– You talk as if I'm always antisocial – I said and he shrugged.
– And isn't that the case? – I crossed my arms and stared at him.
– And who are you to say anything? – He raised his hands in surrender, laughing weakly.
– Touché – We both laughed then.
– Come join us – I suggested – They won't mind if you hang out with us.
– I'll pass, thanks – He replied immediately.
– And you call me antisocial – He gave a weak laugh and then I remembered something – That's right... – I said more quietly and Kakashi looked at me.
– What? – I looked at him again.
– I never said what you'd have to do since we tied in our last competition – I reminded him.
– No, you're not going to ask me to...
– It's not a request anymore – I said, smiling – It's an order – I took him by the hand and led him back to where the others were.
I knew Kakashi didn't like interacting with others, but I never knew if it was his choice or because he, like me, didn't know how to interact with others. So I'm going to give him a little help with that..., I thought and laughed weakly to myself.
As soon as we got back to the others, I briefly mentioned Kakashi would be joining us. As I imagined, Hatake couldn't loosen up easily with the others, but he seemed more relaxed by the end of the break.
I, in a way, also felt more at ease with Kakashi there. He's the only one I know well here, I admitted, and he brings me a sense of security.
And even though Kakashi's payment for the bet was just to join me and our classmates that one day, in the weeks that followed, we always got together to talk during breaks.
There were no more questions about my past, although everyone was very curious about why Kakashi and I got along so well. I expected them to ask that, since both Kakashi and I were the 'quiet' ones.
I had talked about this with the platinum-haired boy at the Hatake clan residence. When we were asked about our 'relationship', the boy just said it was because of his father, and just like the questions about my past, the subject ended there.
Everything went smoothly during those weeks. We had a few more Academy tests, but nothing I needed to put much effort into.
Kakashi and I had another competition in the meantime. We bet on who could go the longest without talking, since Kakashi started complaining that I was becoming too 'talkative'.
In a way, it was true. I was starting to feel more comfortable opening up and acting like myself around my classmates. And unfortunately, I ended up losing that competition. Not by my fault, but because of Shisui, who ended up being the reason I spoke accidentally.
Kakashi made me say everything I thought for a whole day. At first I thought it would be easy, but it almost got me into some embarrassing situations.
Since I tend to overthink, once I started talking, I almost couldn't stop because I'd continue the subject mentally and have to say it out loud. Obviously, Kakashi found my struggle entertaining. But I won't miss the chance to get back at him later, I reminded myself.
With that, Kakashi and I were tied in the competition.
My studies and training with Shisui also progressed quickly. It was the eve of the graduation exam and I already knew all the theoretical part I needed, and even a bit more thanks to my brother.
We decided to focus the final week only on practical training so I'd be prepared for after my approval. I was training with Shisui at that moment, and he was reviewing some theoretical content during the training.
– Rule 25 of the ninja code? – The Uchiha asked while I dodged his punches.
– "A ninja must never show their tears" – I answered him.
I dodged his lunge at me and managed to retreat. He joined his hands without losing a single second and launched a jutsu at me.
– Wind Style: Breakthrough! – He announced and aimed in my direction.
– Wind Style: Breakthrough! – I used the same jutsu as Shisui, but added fire style to counter – Fire Style: Fireball!
Fire is strong against wind and, when combined with the second style, it's strengthened. Shisui had to resort to earth style to protect himself and prepare to attack again.
Although he didn't have mastery over earth release, he had copied the jutsu from me when we trained before. He's going to use the sharingan from now on..., I thought and drew my wakizashi.
– Rule 57? – His voice came from my right side and I quickly blocked the shuriken thrown at me.
I still hadn't managed to use my sharingan, but Shisui said many times that I shouldn't rush to learn how to use it in combat, and that when the time came, I would know how to activate it.
I closed my eyes, focusing on the sounds around me to locate the Uchiha. Like me, Shisui could move at an incredible speed. And when he used his sharingan, his techniques became even more flawless.
I heard the sound of some dry leaves behind me and to my left. I smiled mentally and threw some kunai, hitting Shisui's shadow clone behind me.
– "A ninja must see the hidden meanings within hidden meanings" – I answered Shisui's previous question and ran to my left, where he was.
The blade of my wakizashi clashed against Shisui's tantō. Although Shisui had an impassive expression, I knew he was enjoying himself.
– Rule number 04? – We moved apart for a moment, then quickly returned to exchanging sword strikes.
– "A ninja must always put the mission first".
– And the most important thing...
– "A ninja must never show any weakness" – I managed to knock the tantō out of Shisui's hands, but he grabbed my wrist, pinning my arm behind my back.
He held my arm firmly and my wakizashi fell to the ground. I tried to hit him with my free arm, but he quickly grabbed that one too. I tried to break free from him, but Shisui held me tight enough that I couldn't get loose.
– Give up? – My brother asked with a certain arrogance in his voice.
I didn't think I'd need to resort to this, I thought, but I'll have to use my trump card. I laughed mentally at that.
Before Shisui could do anything else, my clone rushed quickly toward us. Shisui looked in its direction and for a fraction of a second loosened his grip on my arms.
I dispelled my clone and threw my head back, hitting Shisui. Sorry for this, nii-san!, I immediately apologized. He instinctively released my arms and I quickly crouched, sweeping his legs and leaving him on the ground with that.
When he tried to get up, I already had my wakizashi pointed at him. I smiled, still a bit breathless.
– Rule number 22, nii-san? – I asked Shisui and he laughed.
– "A ninja must prepare before it's too late" – He said – I lost – I lowered my sword and extended my hand toward him, helping him to his feet – You've improved again – I gave a weak smile and we formed the Seal of Reconciliation to end the fight.
– And you forced me to use the clone I prepared earlier – I told him – Seems like someone was taking this much more seriously than it was supposed to be – He scratched his head and gave a weak laugh.
– Maybe I got a little carried away – I also gave a weak laugh – But when you used the clone, I thought the one I was holding was the real clone.
– Doesn't the sharingan differentiate a Shadow Clone from a person? – He shook his head.
– It's almost impossible to differentiate a clone and its user – Shisui explained calmly as we gathered our things – But if you have time to analyze or think quickly, you might notice who the real one is.
– And how can you do that? – I asked.
Shisui was about to speak, but stopped the next moment. He gave a weak smile and made me turn my back to him.
– I'll show you – He said and I heard Shisui move a bit away from me – You can turn around – He warned and when I looked at him, I saw him and a clone – Now...
– Which of us is the real one? – Shisui or his clone asked next.
I looked at them for a moment. In appearance and voice, both are identical, I assessed. But what could differentiate them? I won't figure it out just by looking at them like this.
With a quick movement, I threw some shuriken in the direction of both. They both drew their tantō to defend themselves. But only one of them moved as quickly as when I trained with Shisui. I gave a weak smile.
– A clone can be a perfect copy, but it will never reach the same level as the user's techniques – Shisui smiled, visibly pleased, and dispelled his clone, sheathing his tantō.
– Exactly. That might be hard to notice with someone you don't know, but in a fight it becomes easier if you can analyze your opponent's fighting patterns – I nodded in agreement – And that was my last lesson for today, my first and only student – I gave a weak laugh.
– I hope I can train and fight more with you after I pass, sensei – I gave a slight bow to Shisui and he smiled.
– It will be my pleasure – He also bowed and we laughed.