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"What?" The Uchiha boy's expression darkened. "What happened to the other students?" The words came out slowly...suspiciously. He slowly shook his head. No, boring wasn't the right word. The strange calmness within the village...was almost like the aftermath of a violent hurricane. There was something strangely foreboding that hung in the air. Why? What was wrong? The assassins were gone...right? Akeru's piercing obsidian eyes gazed into Akabane's, almost as if demanding an answer.

"I know that." The Uchiha boy half-snapped. "I asked what happened to the other students. You know... Shiku. Zephran." His eyes widened a bit, realizing he might have sounded a bit authoritative. Akabane's next question caught him off guard, though."Oh." He said blankly, blinking once. "It's A-er-Reimei." That came out pretty lame, hopefully Akabane didn't feel anything was off and blame it on Akeru's crash with the poll earlier.

"No. It sure is...quiet here today..." Akeru raised an eyebrow. Where was Saiya? And he haven't seen Kira return to the house last night... He sighed, before his fingers reached up to check his head, to see if a bruise formed from his careless collision either. And the raven-haired boy would wince as his fingers touched an apparent area he missed before. Oh great. Since he missed that area, the bruise will be there at least for a week. Why do Oto have so many street poles anyways?

"I have no idea..." Akeru muttered. "Do you know where Rosie-san is? Perhaps we could finish that Kakuremino lesson that was disrupted. Well, it doesn't matter... I still have an unfinished Jutsu dropped back at the Academy..." The Uchiha boy groaned slightly. "I wonder if I can ask that weird guy with the dreadlocks or that Sannin lady for a bit of tutoring since school's out..." But then he shook his head. "Nah...they probably won't like wasting their time on the Academy curriculum..." And then a slight pause. "I guess I'll be heading off to the training grounds. If you're not too busy, Akabane-san, come with me?"

"Certainly..." Akeru gave a small smile at the other boy. "Let's get going then. Hm...I still don't know my way around very well yet..." The boy laughed nervously...it was honest, at the least. Akeru hadn't bothered with sitting down and memorizing Oto's layout. Besides, things were more exciting when you have to look for them... Like an adventure, a treasure hunt. "Would you mind?" He asked semi-cheerfully, signaling for Akabane to get going first, and that he'll be following.

The Uchiha boy nodded. He was really happy...that Akabane may perhaps be his first friend here in Oto. It was so much easier...things being this way. Without the burden of being addressed 'Uchiha this, Uchiha that...', which includes the stereotypes, of course. And half of the time, he was addressed by his surname followed by a obscene word...

And the nearly insurmountable expectations...he can now go his own pace, without the elders stepping on his progress complaining here and there. His thoughts briefly trailed back to Amaru...and Akeru wondered where was the Hyuuga boy now. He said he got separated from his family...but what the hell were the Hyuuga clan doing wandering so far from Konoha? Wasn't some sort of restriction to keep them in Konoha placed after the massacre of non-Konoha Hyuugas...?

Akeru shook his head. Nah... He shouldn't dwell on this. What that clan said or done was not his business. Ironicly, he did know the Lady of the Hyuugas... That woman was one generation older than Saiya. In fact, she was his father's Genin teammate. And after his father murdered his mother and older brother, for a period of time Yokou had taken care of Akeru as if he were one of her own. The young Uchiha didn't really understand her actions... Why? Just because his father turned traitor she was pitying him? It didn't quite make sense...

"From Konoha!" Akeru answered semi-cheerfully. His thoughts had wondered to another Hyuuga now...the heiress, after her brother was dealt an untimely death. He wondered how was Elruda...the last time they played together was so long ago. It was oddly fun though, joining her in queer plans to drive unwelcome visitors out of the Hyuuga compound. Once, a nestful of bees were released. Needless to say, the Hyuuga elders weren't happy - many got stung over the course of the next week...when searching every inch of the compound to eliminate the pests.

Fortunately, Elruda's mother was away... And so, a punishment was never dealt. Elruda was the heiress and Akeru wasn't a Hyuuga, so the elders could hardly do anything to him. They complained to the Uchiha elders, but Saiya was all the way here in Oto... Quite the contrary, in fact, he heard rumors that Saiya was actually happy her little cousin was returning to his former, cheerful self.

How strange. Two clans, whom were supposed to be fierce rivals, yet...while no one else could bring him out of self-isolation after his father murdered his own family...a bright-eyed girl with infectious optimism did. A small smile crossed his lips as he remembered something Elruda told him.

Live each day to the fullest, but always look forward to tomorrow.

((exit))

Akihiko smiled wickedly under his mask as he followed behind her watching the perfect curves of her hips sway side to side. "I am your to command master," he said a little quietly though he knew just loud enough for her to make out. Akihiko had a role to play now and his eyes where darting from side to side as he stepped dangerously. Just like the man that he was. Capable of most likely being able to take down an entire village. But he did not brag about it. Merely let it show in his walk. The chances of there being another danger in the village now were very slim. Not so soon after another attack.

"What a shame the the villages Kage isn't aloud to leave on a mission. Do you remember what those were like? The fun of an adventure. But now you... such a great ninja is stuck here in a boring village like this... I suppose you do get to see action still being as Oto always seems to be the target of so many people. It''s old history won't die so easily. Even with what little is known of it. According to my information though there is one man here that knows the entire history. He was marked for death. A nice bounty on his head by it seems he isn't here. I would like to meet him some time though... And another ninja of the village... One that claims to be a sannin and yet has no previous infromation on him at all before coming her not long ago. And finally last is the villages other sannin that lived here at one time and seems to apparently be back now... A medic ninja. Oto sure has some intresting charecters... But how did I ever forget that the whole remaining Uchiha family seems to be here... or at least most of them... You were all marked on my list," Akihkio said all at once as he watched Saiya even more closely then before. He really liked the way she moved. "What do you say to a mission some day? I am sure you could find someone to keep things together while you are gone... also we must discuss plans of attack. Once the Fifth Dawn finds out about what has happened they are likely to make an assault... I think we should probably wait for them to come to us first though... wouldn't you say? Or maybe you should send me out before that..."