Koyo sighed internally as she watched her two excited friends watch Itachi instruct his team on their forms.

They look so happy about working with Itachi that I can't very well scorn the situation. Koyo thought with a mild groan as she switched her gaze over to the other trio. Even though I definitely am not anything close to pleased.

There was a snort and the distinct feeling of eyes rolling.

Of course, you aren't. Ura said drolly. The Uchiha brat is a threat, so you're gonna treat him like one until further notice.

Koyo frowned.

I don't view him as a threat.

The hell you don't.

Huffing a bit Koyo resisted the urge to cross her arms and turn up her nose, she instead moved closer to Hana as the girl beckoned them over.

"Today we're gonna do evaluations." The Inuzuka girl told them. "To gauge your physical progress and now don't be embarrassed if you don't last very long."

Koyo glanced over to the twins and smiled. While they weren't the fittest of children, they certainly played ninja together enough to sprint around without getting breathless too quick.

And that was how a better part of the morning went - with three kids running, jumping, and rolling around a practice field until they felt like dying - or at the very least Koyo did. The twins seemed to be faring better seeing as how they were crouched down, breathing through their noses and she was sprawled out on the floor, breathing through the mouth.

She was kinda jealous of their control.

"Not the best but definitely better than I'm used to seeing Kotone and Kaito and despite how hard it was you forced yourself to keep pace." Hana remarked as she handed them all a water bottle to which they gratefully took. "So good work!"

"I want to go to bed." Kotone grumped as she damn near dumped the whole water bottle on her face and Koyo groaned in agreement.

"At least - you - can breathe - properly." The pinkette wheezed as she clutched at her chest. "Are we done Hana-sensei?"

The girl tapped her chin in consideration and Kaito whined.

"It's been like five hours!" He needled. "Five hours!"

"It wasn't five hours straight." The Inuzuka pointed out amusedly. "You had breaks in between."

But when all three opened their mouths to protest, she raised a hand and laughed loud.

"I'm kidding, I'm kidding." She teased with a smile and all three relaxed with a sigh of relief. "You guys can leave after I've formally introduced you to your co-leader and co-squad."

And just like that Koyo's mood plummeted.

We just cannot catch a break. Ura muttered and she resisted the urge to nod fervently.

"Hey, Itachi!" The girl shouted and said boy glanced over from where he was talking with his group. "Bring your squirts over so they can meet my squirts!"

There was an imperceptible nod and in seemingly an instant, they were standing in front of them and Koyo felt awkward.

Would he remember us?

There was a snort.

I have a feeling people like him don't forget a lot.

Staring up into the Uchiha heir's face, the foreign-born girl felt out of place. Especially with three clan children staring down at her and with an internal frown she stood up and her friends followed her lead.

"Itachi and co. meet Kotone, Kaito, and Koyo." Hana introduced and the three of them waved. "And I'm Inuzuka Hana."

"This is Yamanaka Ren, Nara Injinoo, and Uchiha Dao and I am Uchiha Itachi." The prodigy said and it was just then that she realized that Hana hadn't included Kotone, Kaito or her last names when she presented them but went out of her way to say her own - and with a slight hum she looked up at the older girl and then away with a little sigh.

Even the nicest shinobi born kid has some ingrained classist behaviors. Ura pointed out and Koyo gave a mental half shrug.

It was an unintentional slight.

But it was still one that hurt.

Not me.

Of course not - but the twins aren't as thick skinned as you.

Blinking, she turned to view her friends and startled at the decidedly hurt but understanding look in their eyes.

They probably thought that because the Inuzuka was nice and complimented them that she didn't have the same mindset as the rest of the ninja blooded spawn. Ura scoffed and Koyo furrowed her brow.

She doesn't.

Then why not say our last names but offer her own.

There was silence.

That's what I thought.

Sighing, the lava eyed girl smiled bright and bowed.

"It was nice meeting you all." She chirped cutely as she grabbed hold of the twins arms. "But my mom is expecting us for dinner so we'll see you guy later!"

Spinning on her heel, she dragged the two kids away and tossed back a 'bye Hana-sensei' and was gone.

She's not expecting us for dinner.

She'll feed us all regardless.

Sitting at her dinner table as she stuffed a roll in her mouth Koyo watched her two friends gleefully regal to her parents their exploits of the day and she grinned.

I'm glad they bounced back. She thought to her inner persona and she felt a stirring in the back of her mind.

They're pretty cheerful kids so they wouldn't stay down for long.

I know. She agreed. But to have their very first ninja decide to forgo acknowledgment of their last names - as if they weren't important enough to know because they didn't belong to shinobi - definitely hurt their feelings.

Yeah but fuck her. Ura said bluntly and Koyo blinked.

Language. She halfheartedly scowled. Besides she didn't mean it, it was probably reflex.

Just because you didn't mean for something to hurt doesn't subtract from the fact that it still hurt. Ura pointed out drily and Koyo leaned back in her chair.

"True." She muttered aloud and then startled as Kotone's attention violently swung towards her.

"I know right!" She giggled. "Isn't Uchiha Itachi so freaking cool? I wanna graduate early too!"

And all of a sudden Koyo felt like she was gonna have a heart attack. Her anxiety seemed to clench her chest cavity in a vise grip and her stomach dropped to her toes at the thought of her first two real friends dying because of some misplaced notion of patriotism.

And this situation was different from Sakura who she knew would survive and be great, she didn't remember a Kaito or Kotone in the series which meant they either didn't exist or died.

She didn't want that for them.

"Are you prepared to do the things that graduating early entails?" Koyo asked sharply. "Think about things before you say them."

And at her words, the eldest twin drew back and Koyo immediately felt guilty.

Nice going genius.

"Sorry, sorry." She soothed as she reached out and grabbed the other girl's hand.

"I'm just - worried about you getting hurt if you get on the battlefield too soon." She told her and Kotone's eyes widened with understanding and she grinned.

"Aw don't be!" She laughed. "I'm gonna be a kick ass-butt, kick butt" Kotone corrected herself at Koyo's glare. "ninja before I become a genin so I'll be able to handle it."

That's what they all think. Ura muttered and Koyo was hard pressed not to vehemently agree.

She should have more faith in her friend - especially when she knew that their mom had been a ninja and they could very well graduate early. Not as soon as Itachi but on the fast track none the less since they were both intelligent and great at physical activities.

They would be genin before she knew it and she would forever worry about them from the sidelines.

She had to ensure their safety as least a little bit. Give them a head start or something, an edge at the very least.

And she knew just what to do.

"Oh, I know you will." She assured the other beaming girl as she took a bite of rice. "I know you will."

Because I'm gonna make sure you're prepared for anything.

What? You think you can be a better teacher than Hana? Ura asked and she narrowed her eyes because no she, in fact, didn't, but she knew how to do certain ninja things in theory and she could help the twins get a leg up.

Hush you. She chastised with a scowl. Now are you in or not?

I go where you go and I do what you do - mostly because I have no choice.

Good. She smiled as she ignored the last part. Because operation give the twins an advantage is a go.

New chapter!

Sorry, this took so long lol but I'm back in business!

Thank you all for sticking with me through rewrites, not updating for years etc etc. It means a lot to me!

Koyo has decided to try her hand at teaching Kotone and Kaito - like she has been teaching Sakura (there will be more on that next chapter) - and I wonder how that's gonna go for her.

Also on a side note if you haven't heard already I need some help!

Like I've never really asked for help with anything that didn't involve writing fanfic so I hope you'll consider lending a hand! ^^

I would like you guys to follow my Instagram because I'm trying to get a paid fashion sponsorship and I need a high number of followers to do that! And I have a high amount of followers on this website so yeah! It would really mean a lot to me if you guys would do this. Like it would mean so so so sooo much if you guys could do me this favor.

I'm almost to my first thousand on there which is a big milestone for me and a big step towards getting the sponsorship! I just need 400 more followers!

So help me out with a follow on my Instagram: slimjimsandarizonas pls and thank you!~

(Also if you don't want to help me then don't leave rude reviews about it bc I've gotten a few rude ones.)