Chapter 5: Best in the generation

To use a technique, a shinobi needs to use their chakra. To do that, the ninja will bring out and release the two energies of chakra, the physical and the spiritual energy. By forming hand seals, the ninja is able to manifest the desired technique. Because of the extensive number of hand seals and different combinations, there are thousands of potential techniques to be discovered.

Without proper control of their chakra, a ninja will produce ineffective or weakened technique which will lead to them running out of chakra early in a fight. To manipulate their chakra more easily, hand seals can be used. With these hand seals, users can control their chakra and technique with higher efficiency. Different techniques require different hand seals.

-Extract from the Academy curriculum on chakra-

– Best in the generation -

-Yahizui-

Break time was always a battlefield. Not for all of course, but to Yahizui it sure felt like that. Clanned kids – as they were dubbed by the rest – had the nasty habit of picking on everyone else. Those of civilian backgrounds were their first targets since they were usually physically less fit and behind in the curriculum. Those who had the bad luck of coming from another village didn't have an easy time either, as the Konoha students tended to be distrustful of what they deemed to be outsiders. Being both painted a massive target on Yahizui's back. After a full year at the Academy, she learned how to deal with the stigma that haunted her.

It had taken quite a few courtyard scuffles for them to realize that the 'scarlet demon'– as they called her – was not to be trifled with. As a result, she had acquired her own personal band of misfits, who stuck to her like glue during their breaks between classes. She liked them, they were all friendly, fun kids; but Yahizui knew that although their dreams were big, Tojiro was probably the only one among them who would make it to genin. The prejudice against civilians was based on real facts: civilians rarely made it in the ninja world. Still, they were her friends, and even if they were doomed to stay in the academy forever or drop out and go back to being a civilian, no one deserved to be bullied.

"Yahizui, good morning!" Ama and her twin sister Ima waved at her as she headed to the building. The twins were in the same class as her, and although they hadn't managed to throw a shuriken accurately yet, they were determined to at least graduate the first year.

"G'morning!" She walked their way, eyes narrowing at the long shadows of a few nearby seniors. What were they doing here? Their courtyard was on the other side of the building. Yahizui quickly reached the twins' side, intending to enter the building as soon as possible.

"Not so fast, foreign civ'!" said a voice behind her, thick with contempt.

Yahizui turned around and was surprised to find Uta glaring at her. And behind him, a larger copy of him flanked by two other brutes. Her eyes narrowed as she took a protective step in front of the twin girls. This could be trouble.

"Oi, oi, Buta-chan didn't know there were two of you!" she said, hoping to direct the boys' attention away from the twins.

Uta turned scarlet red, but his older brother ignored her.

"Uta, is this the one?" At a nod from him, the larger boy looked at her with angry eyes. "You'd better learn your place civ'. I wouldn't normally hit a girl since I'm a gentleman ya' know but you, red-haired bitch, are beggin' for it!"

"Oh? Beggin' for it y' say? It's your stupid brother that begs for it. He's the one that keeps tormenting my friends, keeps picking a fight. Ain't my fault he gets his ass kicked by a girl." She turned around, motioning the girls to move along when the two sidekicks blocked their way.

"Not so fast brat!" roared Uta's brother. "First you need to apologize! Apologize to me, Masako Ruko, for insulting my brother, and by extension my clan!"

A frightened squeal pierced the air as Ruko's two friends closed in on the twins, strong hands grabbing them by their skinny arms.

"Leave them alone!" Yahizui shouted.

"Not until you get on your knees and apologize."

Yahizui lowered her head, crimson bangs obscuring her vision. "Your clan, you say?" she asked in a cold tone. "A clan that has their kids threatening little girls? What kind of stupid clan is that?"

Ruko frowned. "Listen here, brat you'd better watch your words when you talk to your better." He smirked when her head bowed, confident that the battle had already been won and her pride lay broken. "Now, I won't do anything to you, as long as you apologize. On your knees."

Yahizui focused on her chakra, remembering the training she'd had with Itachi. She could already use it to enhance her jumps and help her climb trees, though her control was far from perfect. A moment later her head rose, pinning him with a furious gaze.

"Let them go!"

Chakra flooded her legs as she jumped toward him, twisting mid-air and using the momentum to aim a kick at his head. She'd practiced this move with Itachi many times. It was fast, and though it lacked in real strength, the element of surprise was on her side. Her booted leg connected with his face with a vicious crunch and before he had the time to punch her back, Yahizui had already pushed against his shoulder and propelled herself away.

 "You stupid friggin civ'!" Ruko was enraged. His cheek was already swelling, mad anger shining in his eyes. "I'll show you what a real ninja can do!" He pulled a kunai from his hip pouch, grinning at her wide eyes.

"You're not allowed to have weapons outside weapon class," she said, a ripple of fear passing through her.

Ruko grinned, the kunai spinning through his fingers. "Rules like that are made so stupid little civs' like you don't get hurt. Real shinobi carry real weapons."

From the corner of a building, Tojiro watched with wide eyes. He had to do something, but against seniors, he had no chance. But if he couldn't help, then Yahizui might get seriously hurt. An instructor, he had to find an instructor! He took off as far as his long legs would carry him, his eyes searching the familiar tall figures of the adults. What he found instead was a pensive-looking boy surrounded by his ever-idolizing fans.

That would have to do.

-Itachi-

"Itachi!"

Itachi looked up, recognition shining in his eyes. "Tojiro, hello."

"Please, you must come quickly! Yahizui, she's in big trouble! One of the seniors has a kunai, and they're fighting!"

Itachi's eyes widened. Why did she get herself in these situations? If she'd just mind her own business and stop provoking people, none of this would happen. He was gone in a second, rushing to the other side of the building where Tojiro was pointing.

What Itachi saw made his eyes narrow in anger.

Two older boys were holding down the twin girls in Yahizui's class, while a third stood to the side and cheered at the spectacle before them. Yahizui was kneeling on the ground, griping a nasty gash on her arm, her face scrunched in pain while her attacker looked down at her with a feral grin. Itachi moved without realizing it, his hands quickly grasping the bloodied kunai, throwing it at a nearby tree with more force than necessary as his leg tripped the large boy smashing him to the ground. He then turned to look at his injured friend.

"You're hurt," Itachi said.

Yahizui lifted her head to look at him, no doubt with some cutting remark of 'no really?' of the tip of her tongue. There was no remark. Her eyes widened, and Itachi felt the shift in the air as the burly boy aimed a punch at his head.

He ducked, then nimbly jumped, avoiding the incoming kick. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Yahizui stand, a feral look on her face.

Stay down, don't get up!

Yahizui jumped away just as the other boys entered the fray, trying in vain to either hit or pin Itachi down. Itachi evaded their hits with ease, his speed and agility far surpassing theirs. All he had to do was wait for the boys to tire out, and hopefully incapacitate them in a way that didn't cause much harm. It was then that he saw it. Yahizui had taken the kunai from the tree and was ready to throw it at her previous attacker.

Without a second thought, Itachi pulled out his own hidden kunai, throwing it with deadly precision. It hit hers, making it ricochet harmlessly on the floor while his weapon embedded itself in the building's wall. The move was successful, yet it cost him precious seconds of attention. When Itachi saw the punch coming, it was already too late. It connected with his jaw violently just as the instructors rushed to the scene, breaking bones and loosening teeth. Pain exploded in his head and then…

Nothing.

Itachi's clone disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving everyone staring open-mouthed.

In a forest clearing a little outside Konoha, Itachi gasped.

"What happened?" asked Shisui, surprised at his wide-eyed stare.

"My clone got killed," he said after a moment. "I have to go to the academy; Yahizui is hurt."

"The pipsqueak?" asked Shisui in surprise. "What did she do this time? And what do you mean your clone got killed?"

Itachi took off at high speed, the trees zipping past him. Shisui kept up with little difficulty. "The shadow clone I left at the academy got punched in the face during a courtyard fight. Yahizui got injured by a kunai during that fight," he said calmly. "And yes, we still spend time together. She's my friend."

With a sigh, Shisui moved alongside him, and then offered his hand. "Wanna go faster?" At Itachi's nod, Shisui quickly grabbed him and shunshined away.

They were in front of the academy a couple of seconds later and were greeted by a sight that made neither happy. Yahizui was sitting on a bench, her head bowed low, clothes stained with dirt. Around her the academy instructors loomed like vultures, scolding her for her behavior.

"Yahizui-chan, two people say they saw you throw a kunai at Ruko, and that you started the fight."

Yahizui's head snapped up at the reprimand, her face momentarily filling with shock. "What of Ama and Ima? They saw what really happened!" Her eyes narrowed, teeth bared in anger. "They saw that fatty throw the kunai at me!"

The instructor shook his head. "Those two girls are too shaken up. Their mother picked them up, and they're currently resigning from the academy program. They're civilians, and too scared to talk; I'm afraid we can't take their testimony into account."

"What? No, that's not possible! Look, I'm not the one that started this fight!"

"I'm sorry Yahizui-chan, but you've been in so many incidents already, and Ruko, who comes from a respectable clan, has two reliable witnesses. You have no one to back your claim up."

"I can back it up."

Itachi stepped behind the instructors. He looked at Yahizui's guarded posture, at the blood seeping through the bandage, and her angry gaze. His eyes narrowed, a muscle ticking in his jaw.

"I was with her when the boys came, Miroku-sensei." His voice was calm, even. "They restrained the twins, then attacked Yahizui with a kunai. I was later able to take the weapon from him, but the damage was already done. Then they attacked me and… dispersed my clone."

Miroku's eyes narrowed. He had seen the Uchiha boy's clone disappear, and with those dark eyes staring at him, urging him to contest the confession, he felt cornered. Beside the wide-eyed Miroku, Kou looked thoughtfully at the young Uchiha. He was his primary instructor and knew that the boy was not prone to lies.

"Is this true, Miroku?" Kou asked. Something did not add up, and the nervous look on his colleague's face didn't help the situation.

"Ah, Kou-san, I doubt that was a real shadow clone!" said Miroku casually. "After all, it's a forbidden jutsu. Maybe it was a normal clone."

"I can show you, Kou-sensei." Itachi didn't wait for an answer as he quickly weaved the hand signs, making an identical, solid copy of himself appear by his side.

For a moment no one spoke. This was a B-rank technique that had been deemed forbidden to anyone under Jounin level – and yet, a seven-year-old boy was performing it right before his eyes.

"Very well," Kou finally said with a cough. "This changes the situation. I will be talking with Ruko's family, and he will be punished. Yahizui, go home for the day and take care of that cut." Kou then turned toward Itachi. "You have shown a skill that surpasses anything we could teach you here at the academy. For how long have you known this jutsu?"

Itachi shrugged. "A few months," he said, then watched the shocked look on the instructor's face. He didn't like to brag, hated it even, but if surpassing their expectations made them teach him more advanced techniques, then he wasn't about to hold back.

A few moments later the instructors left, muttering amongst each other and occasionally glancing back at him. As soon as they entered the building, Shisui dropped from a nearby tree and joined the duo.

As the adults dispersed, Yahizui said nothing, her head bowed low, knuckles white with tension. After a while, she spoke. "Why did you lie for me?"

"There was no way you could have proven your innocence. This way, justice is served," said Itachi in a calm tone. "However… what you did was wrong. Do that again, and next time I might not stand on your side."

Itachi could see how his words sparked an inferno of anger in her eyes. "What I did was wrong? Have you lost it? He's the one that pulled a kunai on me, tha' threatened my friends! What I did was justice!"

"Answering violence with violence is not the solution."

Yahizui seemed to burn with rage at his words. Her eyes were wide, pupils contracted, and all previous pain was forgotten.

"What are you talkin' about? Should I just let 'im torment me, push me around?" Her mouth twisted into a sneer, eyes filling with disgust. "Sure you can talk big Itachi. You're a Uchiha, everyone knows your name, your family. All you get here are awed looks and fan clubs; no one would dare touch a Uchiha. But for me? I'm no one, just some desert rat that even the instructors don't believe. They pick on me 'cause I'm a civ', and they pick on others like me 'cause they're too weak to protect themselves. Well, I ain't weak and I ain't gonna try to reason with stuck-up bastards that hurt others for fun. So you stay in your privileged little world and think high and mighty of right and wrong, but I'm gonna take care of the real world."

With that she turned around and ran toward the exit, concealing the tears in her eyes. Behind her, the two Uchiha cousins stood speechless.

"So… that was intense," said Shisui, his slanted eyes wide with surprise. "I never thought this academy prejudice would go so far."

Itachi looked up at his cousin with a confused look. "What do you mean?"

"Hmmm… how should I put it," Shisui took a seat on the bench before them and looked his younger cousin straight on. "Besides the large clans like the Uchiha, the Hyuuga, Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi, Aburame, and Inuzuka, Konoha is filled with smaller clans that are only one or two generations old. Clan-shinobis make up the bulk of Konoha's forces. It makes sense that children from shinobi families get training early on, have more knowledge, and have more chances to acquire extra techniques. Simply put, they have a higher chance to survive in the field."

Itachi nodded, seeing the logic in this.

"But," continued Shisui "many civilians want to become a shinobi. It pays well, and it gives you higher social status and civilian kids might also be tempted by the life of adventure that they believe a shinobi leads. So they come to the academy. Tell me, what percentage of civilians do you think usually make it past the academy?"

Itachi thought for a moment. "Five to ten percent?"

"Wrong. Out of all civilian applicants, roughly one percent make it to genin. And only half of those manage to reach the rank of chuunin. Some stay genin forever, some retire from the job altogether and go back to their civilian lives."

Itachi was shocked. He knew that there weren't many shinobi of civilian background, but he wouldn't have imagined that there were actually so few. "But then, why the hate? It's not like clan kids have anything to fear from civilian applicants, so why torment them?"

"It's something taught at home. Those from clans have seen what happens to most civilian shinobi, especially in times of war. In fact, what they're doing can be called mercy. Encouraging someone that is not ready for this life will lead to certain death."

Itachi nodded, turning the information over in his head, but the concept still made little sense. Shisui sighed, his expression taking on that serious stiffness that told Itachi a heavy lesson was about to come.

"You were young when the last war was still raging. In such extreme circumstances, it was paramount not only that the majority of your forces survived, but that you could rely on the person guarding your back. When the second war ended, Konoha was desperate to replenish their troops. All academy applicants made it to genin, and after a certain number of missions and a test, they'd be promoted to chuunin, hoping that they would get the necessary knowledge in the field. But then, when the Third War broke out those newly promoted, former civilians, fell like flies. They were liabilities on the battlefield and those who relied on them to cover their backs were quickly dead as well." Shisui sighed, his eyes darkening. "My dad was one of those who believed anyone with enough determination could become a shinobi." 

Itachi looked away, uncomfortable with his cousin's pain. "Do you hate them?" he asked, though he was unsure whether he wanted to hear the answer or not.

"At first I did," Shisui admitted. "But things got better, Konoha got better. The Academy weeds out the weak and leaves only those that actually have a chance. The fact that these kids get to see the gap in skill and knowledge early on would work on discouraging them from a path that they're not ready to take. Those that remain are the right type for this profession. Of course, this leads to kids that abuse their power. But those that survive them… they have what it takes to survive in the outside world. Still, what they're doing to Yahizui is a personal vendetta. She's proven her worth many times over, yet they still doubt her. I'm sure that kid can handle whatever they throw her way, but her need to step up for those less fortunate might prove to be her undoing."

-Yahizui-

Yahizui fumed as she ran through the village, hoping to reach a place where no one could see the angry tears in her eyes. How dare he say that she did something wrong?! It was self-defense! Ruko had earned it. It was because of him that Ama and Ima gave up on their dreams, because of people like him that civilian kids felt like they never had a chance at becoming a ninja.

And what did he know? Being the high and mighty Uchiha that did everything perfect and everyone looked up to had clearly blinded him to what the little people were dealing with.

Her ire was reaching new levels, and before she knew it, Yahizui found herself on a forest path on the outskirts of Konoha. It was quiet here, the buzz of people absent. Here she could cry her frustrations away. Here she could scream at the unfairness of it all. Here…

Movement down the road caught her attention. Someone was on the path ahead… she was not alone, and the air was thick with danger like a thousand needles were pricking at her skin. Panic flooded Yahizui's system, freezing all rational thought as her mind supplied flashes of terror and death. Sweat trickled down her forehead, as instinct finally took over and she quickly dashed in a nearby bush.

Voices could be heard in the distance, too far away for Yahizui to understand anything that was being said. She felt trapped, unable to move or breathe among the leaves that tickled her face and branches poking her sides.

What was this? What kind of power lay on the road ahead?

A moment later it was gone, and Yahizui finally managed to take a deep breath. She panted, sweat pouring down her forehead, although her entire body shivered. A few deep breaths later she finally dared to stand up from her hiding place…and stopped.

Suspicious yellow eyes met panicked green. Yahizui gasped, falling back into the bush as fear gripped her like a vice.

"What do we have here?" Orochimaru's tone was languorous, lips stretched in an indulgent smile. It would've been harmless if it weren't for the fear-inducing look in his reptilian eyes. "Did you get lost?"

Yahizui shook her head. Her muscles were tense with panic. She knew this man; after he paid a visit to their academy, Yahizui knew she would never forget those eyes. And that deadly aura, did it come from him? Yet it was his eyes that frightened her the most. Their color was so reminiscent of those that haunted her dreams; it was unnerving.

Orochimaru's gaze roamed over her, stopping at the now bloodied bandage on her arm. "You should get that checked…." He paused, indicating that he required an answer.

"Yahizui," she said immediately.

"… Yahizui-chan. What an interesting name. So tell me, Yahizui-chan, what were you doing here? Skipping school?"

Again, she shook her head in denial. "No sir, I was excused… there was a fight."

His eyes moved to the bleeding bandage once more. "I see. Tell me, Yahizui-chan, where do you come from? I haven't seen anyone with your hair color in the village before."

Yahizui's eyes widened. Why did he want to know? She had nothing to hide, Riruka had made sure that all papers were in order and she had a residence permit at home. No, there was nothing to hide… yet apprehension still nestled in her belly. "A small village in the Suna desert…R-riruka-sama found me."

"Fascinating. Any other relatives?"

Her throat constricted. "N-no."

Orochimaru pinned her with a contemplative gaze for a moment longer, then pulled back, standing to his full height. "Go home, Yahizui-chan, there's nothing to see here."

-Hiruzen-

Upon special request from the academy, Sarutobi Hiruzen assembled the small council and arranged a meeting with the short, academy headmaster. The conference room seemed too large for the occasion, the long, half-circular table too imposing.

The headmaster's voice echoed off the stone walls. "Hokage-sama, Uchiha Itachi has not only perfected every academy jutsu, he knows even genin and chuunin level techniques. The other day he performed a kagebunshin. He is a true genius, and there is nothing more we can teach him."

"Uchiha Itachi is certainly exceptional, but he is still a child. He did not even get through his first year of the academy. He is too young to be made genin," said Hiruzen firmly. He was sure that the boy could handle being a genin just fine, but especially now in times of peace, he wished that children could enjoy what little they had of their childhood. This was too soon.

From further along the counselor table, Shimura Danzo coughed, gathering everyone's attention.

"Hokage-sama, with all due respect, wasting such talent would not be beneficial for Konoha. The boy is clearly bored with the academy and seeks further training. Why hinder his progress?"

"Because we are at peace, and there is no longer the need to force our children to take arms before they are ready to do so."

Danzo clicked his tongue in annoyance. "We should ask the boy's parents for their opinion on the matter. Surely they will take the right decision… Hokage-sama."

The academy headmaster watched with anxious eyes at the tense to and fro between the two men.

On the other side of the table, Hiruzen expelled the noxious fume of his tobacco pipe. Danzo's trap was firmly clamped over his hands; refusing to implicate the Uchiha clan in this decision would be a sign that Konoha was subverting them. The mood between the clan and the village was already tense after the Kyuubi attack, and he was sure that his insistence that Itachi would stay in the academy would be taken poorly by the ambitious Uchiha.

With a heavy heart, he gave a nod of acceptance. "Very well, let us leave this to the Uchiha. Is there anything else worth mentioning, Aku-san?"

Aku looked first at the Hokage, then at Danzo. "No, Hokage-sama, none."

"Then you are dismissed."

-Fugaku-

Fugaku dragged his feet past the front door of his house, barely having the energy to take his shoes off. There had been another missing case, and he was in no way closer to solving it than he'd been a few months ago. The meeting he'd had with the Hokage had been unproductive at best, and a bureaucratic hell at worst. Even though the missing persons were Uchiha, they were firstly part of the shinobi forces, giving case jurisdiction to the ANBU. Things were starting to escalate, and since the Uchiha had no eyes and ears in the special ops' division, his clan was getting restless. Sleepless nights and long days were just a few of the problems he'd been saddled with.

"I'm home," he said with a sigh.

He saw Mikoto come and meet him, a smile on her face. Ah Mikoto, his beautiful, soft-spoken wife. She was kind, gentle, the most beautiful woman he had the fortune to see, and a cunning mastermind when she'd been in active service. But those days were long behind her; she was now retired from the ninja life, taking care of the household and the more delicate political matters of the clan. Fugaku liked it that way.

At first she had struggled, but in the end, Mikoto learned her place. She was an adaptable woman, and with time she came to accept and enjoy her new role; just as she learned to love him after their parents arranged their marriage. It was an old custom, but one that the ancient and powerful clans still practiced diligently. Love did not matter, what mattered was the continuation of the genes and a powerful kekkei genkai. The elders have chosen well in that matter, and Fugaku was more than happy that they gave him such a beautiful woman who loved him, and who he loved in return.

"Welcome home, darling," said Mikoto in a calm voice, interrupting his inner musings. She took his jacket with fluid movements, folding it in the process. "We have company." 

The question on Fugaku's face was immediately answered by the oily voice of his brother in law.

"Brother, I apologize for the interruption," he said, appearing at his sister's side.

Shuko was so similar to Mikoto, and yet so different. He possessed the same cat-like eyes, same sculpted eyebrows, and same arched mouth. Yet his eyes were cold, calculated and vicious; his mouth had no kind words to say to him, merely political nonsense and poisonous jabs at the way he ruled the clan. But he was Mikoto's brother, and that was the end of it. That was a fight he did not want to repeat with his dear wife. So Fugaku sighed, biting his tongue and replied in forced politeness.

"Not at all, Shuko, you're always welcome."

 Shuko smiled, and they all retreated to the tea room where Mikoto had already prepared a set. She set down the cups, placed a few sweet treats on the table, and then took a seat next to her brother. Fugaku felt restless, yet said nothing, opting to take a sip of his tea.

In the end, it was Mikoto's voice that cut through the tense silence.

"I received news from the academy today," she said, pulling out an official looking scroll from under the table. "The instructors recommend that Itachi graduate to genin. They say…" she paused, gripping the scroll tighter.

From under the table, Shuko placed a discrete hand on her knee, urging her to be calm. Fugaku's jaw clenched at the gesture.

"They say that there is nothing more they can teach him," Mikoto continued. "They say he already knows chuunin level jutsu and that the only thing he lacks is field experience."

"I see." Fugaku wasn't surprised. The times he had trained with Itachi, the boy had shown unprecedented growth and talent. He was quick to learn, observant and years ahead of his peers. "But to have him graduate so soon…"

"The Hokage has issued an exemption for young Itachi," said Shuko, his presence demanding all their attention. "This is an honor for our clan. Itachi is remarkable, with more potential than even Shisui. In this rhythm, he will be chuunin in a few years and then, who knows? Fugaku, your son has a great destiny before him. He can be the presence we always needed in Konoha but never truly had. He can be the next Hokage for all we know."

"Shuko." Fugaku hated when his brother in law did that. Shuko's charisma could convince a man to slit his own throat, and Fugaku wanted none of that in his house. "Your input is appreciated, but this is my son we're talking about. This decision lies with Mikoto and me."

"Of course, of course. Yet," Shko paused, head turning to look over his shoulder, "shouldn't Itachi get to decide as well?"

As Fugaku saw Itachi's small frame by the door, he lowered his head. "Itachi, you don't have to leave the academy early if you don't want…"

"It's fine," replied the seven-year-old in an even tone. "There is nothing more for me to learn there."

Mikoto bowed her head, as Shuko clapped his hands. "Then it's settled!" He took a sip of his tea, then stood up, placing one hand on Mikoto's shoulder. "Wonderful tea as always, Mikoto." He looked toward Fugaku and nodded curtly. "I shall take my leave, I don't want to disturb more than necessary."

Fugaku gave him a stiff nod, then took the scroll from his wife's hands. "Bring me a brush and ink."

-Yahizui-

The next day, Yahizui came to the academy looking for her dark-haired friend. The accidental meeting with the Sannin had left her with a lingering chill that she couldn't quite shake, and she yearned to talk to him. After a whole evening of thinking, she realized that maybe she might have overreacted and maybe Itachi had nothing to do with this. It wasn't as if he was the one tormenting others. The apology was bitter on her tongue, but Yahizui swallowed her pride and soldiered on, hoping to get this over with as soon as possible.

Only, Itachi was nowhere to be found.

Where was he? She'd searched all day long until finally, she saw Izumi's long hair among a crowd of giggling girls. Out of options, Yahizui took a deep breath and headed her way.

"Izumi," Yahizui said, waiting for the other girl to turn around. "May I have a moment?"

"Oh, look who's here…" drawled a blue-eyed girl with shiny, blonde hair. "The scarlet demon – or rather, the dirty, ugly demon."

Yahizui pinned the offending girl with an icy glare, imagining how well she could grab fistfuls of that shiny hair. The blonde girl gulped; the name scarlet demon had been well earned after all. Sensing the tension in the air, Izumi diplomatically pulled Yahizui away, whispering urgently.

"Are you insane? You can't just start a fight with everyone! What did you want?"

Yahizui gave her a look that said otherwise before remembering the real reason she needed the Uchiha girl. "I've been looking for Itachi the entire day. Is he not at school today?"

"You didn't hear?" asked Izumi in surprise.

Yahizui blinked owlishly at her. "Hear what?"

"Itachi-kun got sent to the senior class, he's graduating next week." There was a dreamy quality to her voice that Yahizui promptly ignored. But the words she spoke… they shocked her.

All thoughts of the Sannin and her worries flew out the window.

She turned around and left without a word, ignoring the protests of the pretty Uchiha girl. Graduating, he was graduating after only one year? How far ahead was he? How much had he been holding back when they were training?

She went right to the training ground after school, hoping to find him there.

He was training with Shisui, their movements simple blurs to her eyes. So this is how he fights when he's not holding back. 

Her knuckles turned white, jaw tightening in envy. It was daunting, yet marvelous to watch them fight. Even without his Sharingan, Itachi was on an entirely different level. How much will he still grow? Will there ever be a limit for him?

"I see we have an audience."

Yahizui gasped, her eyes widening. She'd been so absorbed by her own thoughts that she missed when they stopped their fight and headed her way.

"I…" She suddenly didn't know what to say. Both of them were so much better than her that she couldn't help but wonder: why would they even want to be friends?

"Congratulations!" she finally said, though her shocked face clearly showed them that those were not the words she was thinking of. "I heard you're gonna graduate soon."

"The instructors saw my shadow clone and decided I was too advanced," said Itachi casually.

Yahizui gave Itachi a long look, then nodded. "Yeah, makes sense…"

After a moment of tense silence, Itachi decided to take matters into his own hands and split the tension with a sharp knife. "I apologize. It was not my place to scold you after the fight… I did not know the real gravity of the situation."

Her eyes widened, mouth opening slightly. "Nonono! I'm the one that's sorry!" Yahizui said in an earnest tone. "I exaggerated, and it's not like you're like them, you'd never do what they're doin', I know that! So-"

"Look at the two of you, so cute!" from Shisui.

Yahizui quickly turned as red as her hair, as Itachi smiled indulgently with pink tinted cheeks.

"A-anyway," said Yahizui as she tried to yide her blush. "Don't you think you're going too fast? There are four more years of academy, are you sure you wanna skip them?"

 "There was nothing more they could teach me," Itachi said.

Yahizui looked at him with a pout. "No need to rub in how superior your skills are."

Itachi looked at her from the corner of his eye and smirked. He infused a blade of grass with enough chakra to make it rigid and threw it playfully at her. "It's not my fault you're so slow."

She quickly moved out of the way and gave him a cheeky look, sticking her tongue out. "I ain't slow; it's you who's freakishly strong!" With a playful smile, she waved a hand before his nose. "You need to get a life, I-ta-chi! All that studying will make you a strange hermit that never sees sunshine!"

Itachi looked confused. "But… I have a life! I spend time with people." He peered intensely at them to make his point, making Yahizui smile.

Shisui smiled at the exchange. They made a strange fit, but somehow, through her jabs and light conversations, Yahizui always managed to drag out the real Itachi from underneath his shell.

It was…refreshing.

 "So," said Shisui, taking a seat next to them "How's your arm?"

"Better. One or two more days and it's gonna be healed."

Shisui blinked at her quizzically. "That's fast... Did you see a med nin?"

"Nah, I always healed fast. But Riruka-sama's salves help a lot!"

Shisui nodded, though his eyes were roaming over her with suspicion. The red hair was a giveaway, but there were plenty of people in Wind Country that had red hair, so it didn't say much. The healing rate… it was a possibility.

"So Yahizui-chan, now that Itachi is a genin he won't have so much time to train…" said Shisui.

Yahizui held one hand up, stopping him mid-sentence. "I know." She then turned toward Itachi, one finger pointed at his nose, making his eyes cross to follow it. "The next time we train, I will be prepared! No more holding back!"

The look of surprise on Itachi's face quickly turned into a soft smile, his coal dark eyes warming up. "I know," he said, and it held all the faith he had in her.

That same year Itachi graduated as the youngest genin in the history of post war Konoha. He was placed on Team 2, together with Izumo Tenma and Inari Shinko. His life as a genin had begun, his childhood left behind.

Yahizui watched the graduation ceremony, wondering if he would even remember his old friends. As if he'd read her mind, Itachi looked her way, their gazes locking across the field. Warmth blossomed in her chest, and she smiled back. She knew then and there that they will stay friends, no matter what life brought.