"...what a freak…"
"Another stuck-up Uchiha…"
"...wait for the sparing to start…"
That is what Ryoko's classmates thought of her. She couldn't blame them as she really didn't try to blend in. In her past life, the girl worked hard to create and maintain a perfect mask. To get to know people, manipulate them into a false sense of security.
Here, however, she didn't feel a need for it. She was an Uchiha. She was entitled. But most of all, she didn't have time to play around. You can either force people into submission with kindness or using sheer power. She chose the latter.
Teachers would ask her questions at first until they realized that she had the whole curriculum and more memorized. By now Ryoko was left to her own devices. She would sit in the back with her eyes closed and chin perched on her laced fingers.
No, she was not sleeping! Most of the time… Ryoko decided to use this time in the academy to passively listen and meditate. She just couldn't get enough of her own chakra and there was always that feeling urging her to expand her limits and control.
Naturally, other students only sensed the chakra she allowed them to. So they had no idea of her true potential until the sparring exercises. At the end of her first week, such a session happened. They were gathered in one of the training grounds around the academy.
"Ryoko-chan, your turn," sensei called her gently. Naive idiot. She stepped forward with her arms crossed over her chest. She didn't grace her opponent with a full bow, only a nod.
The girl in front of her was clearly a Hyuga. This had to be fun. Maybe they acknowledged her smarts, but no one had expected her to stand on equal ground with an older student.
Father had forbidden her from using sharingan outside their sessions and especially in the academy, so it had to be a taijutsu and ninjutsu fight. Ryoko evaded precise hits with ease. Her father was more relentless when the two of them sparred.
Still with her hands crossed over her chest, Ryoko toyed with the girl.
"Ryoko-chan, I must see you counter," the sensei carefully encouraged. She sighed dodging another hit. The Hyuga girl had already activated her Byakugan.
Another swipe, Ryoko dodged under it and was now shadowing the girl's steps back to back, pissing her opponent even more. She finally dropped her hands into a fighting stance and attacked the Hyuga.
Maneuvering her hands to avoid any contact, Ryoko targeted the vital points. Maybe she couldn't see chakra points like Hyuga, but she knew anatomy well enough to make her hits count.
Chest, neck, sternum. Her opponent was breathing heavily. During the whole fight, Hyuga only managed to touch Ryoko once to the shoulder. It's good that young Uchiha was not planning to use any jutsu. With taijutsu alone, it took her another minute to finish it up.
Hyuga dropped to the ground knocked out. There was silence. Her classmates were fuming but now regarded Ryoko with more than hate. Respect.
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Evening at the Uchiha household was quiet. Her father was still at war. Itachi was out on his first mission outside the village. It was only her and Mikoto sitting by the dinner table.
"Darling, how was the academy?" her mother asked.
"Acceptable."
"Hn."
"Hn."
"How about boys? Did any catch your eye?"
Ryoko looked up at her mother with one raised eyebrow. Seriously? She was only six years old. Although to be fair, she probably should be glad that her parents have not arranged a marriage for her. Yet.
"No," she answered without much emotion instead favoring to put more grilled meat into her plate.
"Hmmm, maybe," her mother started carefully eyeing her daughter's plate," it's time for you to think more about… your figure? Maybe a diet?"
Ryoko was now fully staring at Mikoto. Was her mother really a kunoichi? She should know better than suggest having fewer calories for a person who is training day in and day out.
Without breaking eye contact, Ryoko snagged three pieces of juicy meat with her chopsticks and placed them in her mouth. SO, that was a no on the diet question.
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One thing Ryoko did hate about her body, how weak it sometimes was. She didn't sleep as much as when she was a toddler, but still, the strain of training and her mind constantly working got to her. She eventually worked out a schedule.
Every week or at least once a month, Ryoko would take what she called a 'day off'. She would sleep and do absolutely nothing. It was her way of recharging. Checking out her brain for a day was a blessing. After which, she could train even harder.
Sunday was that day. She slept till mid-day. She would stay in her bed even longer, but today was an exception. Itachi was due to come back from his mission and she really missed him.
Reluctantly, Ryoko got herself out of the comfortable sheets and dressed. She opted out to wear a fluffy hoodie with cat ears on the hood itself that covered her black hair. It was comfy. If she had to step outside, she might as well feel good.
Still yawning every other step, the girl made it to the gates of Konoha. Two guards by the entrance smiled at her cute little self.
"Hey there, kid, you lost?" one asked leaning to her level. She yawned.
"Nah, shinobi-san. I'm good."
"Kitty, this probably is not a place for you to be," another guard tried gently to shoo her away. Ryoko really didn't have it in her to frown and be stern today.
"My brother should return soon from his first mission. I miss him," was what she said instead.
"Aww, well aren't you adorable," the first guard chuckled. They were clearly amused.
In about thirty minutes a team of genin finally approached the gates. The guards straightened up greeting them. Itachi noticed her in an instance and smiled.
"Ryoko," he greeted her with a warm hug. From the corner of her eyes, she noticed how the guards shared a look.
No doubt, most shinobi already heard about Fugaku's genius children. Of course, they wouldn't expect a cute little girl to be one of them.
"Onii-san, welcome back," she smiled up at him.
"What about me, Ryoko-hime?" Shisui was also there waiting for his own hug.
"If I must," she sighed with pretend reluctance. He got a hug too. It was good to see the two boys together and safe. She worried about them way too often.
"Is it your 'day off'?" Itachi smiled, poking at her hood cat ear.
"Yup!"
"Why don't we get some dango?" he suggested. She could hug him again. So she did. The boys said goodbyes to their team and the three of them left.
"So, how's the academy?" Shisui asked when they settled in one of the cafes.
"Boring," Ryoko yawned perching her chin on the table.
"Are they treating you well?" Itachi asked.
"I guess so."
"They are not being mean to you? If so, just tell us!" Shisui could be scary when he wanted to. All Uchiha had that quality. And she was positive, that both boys would not be happy with the comments she received from other kids.
"Define 'mean'?"
"Are they picking on you?"
"Nop."
"Did you have to spar with them already?"
"Yup. Beat up this Hyuga girl," Ryoko smiled.
"That's my girl!" Shisui ruffled her hood with a pleased nod.
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When Ryoko turned seven, she really could not see anymore point in the academy, but she didn't skip a single class. Teachers already mentioned that she could graduate early. Ah, the joy of growing up in wartime.
The only classes that did offer something she hadn't read about were the kunoichi classes. As Ryoko was in the higher level grade, she skipped the whole boring part of ikebana and now faced more serious topics like rape, seduction, and how to deal with periods while on a mission.
Fun.
Actually, it wasn't that different from war tactics she was familiar with from her former life. Rape was used by non-shinobi too. When a woman is captured, men cannot resist using her or breaking her that way.
What did surprise her, was the lesson she got from Fugaku one day.
"Ryoko, there will be a day when you will go out on a mission. And despite your skills, there might be a scenario, when you are captured."
"Yes, father, I am aware," she said calmly.
"As an Uchiha you have to know one very important thing - if an enemy will know that you are an Uchiha, they will try to take your eyes."
"Oh," her mouth made a round shape of surprise. It was so obvious and yet she never considered such possible actions. "They can do that?"
"Yes, honey. Those like us, who hold a dojutsu are often targets for their eyes. So if you can predict that you will be captured, make sure to hide the fact that you are an Uchiha at all costs. Promise me, okay?"
"Yes, father. I promise. No one will take my eyes," she smiled sweetly but it was also vicious. "And then when they let their guard down, I will unleash the full extent of sharingan on their sorry asses!"
"Ryoko! Language!"
"Sorry, father."
"Okay, then, let's start our training?"
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Yes, Ryoko was forbidden from using her sharingan outside the training. Yes, she promised not to use it. But… Well, she honestly saw this more like a challenge than a restriction.
It took her six months to find a solution. She never read about it before, not seen any other person do so, but the idea was pretty genius if she could say so herself.
After long hours of practice in her own room, Ryoko finally achieved it - activating only one of her eyes at a time. Honestly, what's the point of the thick fringe covering her eye if she couldn't hide a trick behind it?
"Ryoko, come here," her father called for her from the other room.
She deactivated her right eye and went to see what was up. She noticed something was off right away. In the living room was her father with Itachi and Shisui. All of their expressions were void of emotion, meaning there was something bad hidden behind those stone faces.
"Yes, father?" she asked curiously.
"Obito was lost on a mission," he announced, eyes stern and not wavering.
"Lost as in…?" she clarified.
"He is presumed dead. His teammates reported back."
"I see."
"Are you okay, Koko?" Itachi asked, grasping her small hand to show support.
"Hn," was all she said. They knew how close Ryoko was to their cousin. But this was war. People were going to die. Death didn't scare her.
Thankfully, she was about to graduate from the academy and enemies will see her wrath first hand. They didn't discuss the matter further. Itachi took her to train instead. He looked worried more than anyone.
He recently awakened his own sharingan and now they could spar more or less like equals. Neither was holding back but in a good manner. They were not competing with each other. The worry for one other was what forced them to hold nothing back.