The Uchiha Incident: Chapter 3

The Relentless Pursuit of Friendship

Her school life, Taku would find, was surprisingly mundane. After the dust settled, and people got used to her, they let her be, allowing her to blend into the background. She had to deal with some of the kids trying to get friendly, but nothing she couldn't fix by ignoring them; People got the message eventually.

It would take a week, but she'd finally get her peace and quiet. She could now do her thing by her lonesome, just the way she liked it. Sitting at the back of the class, she nodded off, struggling to listen to the monotonous drone of the Chunin instructor as they teached math. Another boring day at school.

It was almost funny how nothing changed for her since she moved to Kumo. She still attended school and learned the same lessons, just with a different coat of paint. Glancing at the window, she found herself daydreaming as she watched children play just outside.

"Come on Taku," Her friend laughed as she dragged her along to the lake along with the other kids, "It'll be fun!" She got to learn to throw fireballs that day after watching the other kids play around. She wished her friend was here…

So lost in her daydream was she that she almost forgot that she tended to piss off instructors; A usual side effect of her lack of interest. As her ears picked up the sound of chalk snapping against the board, she ducked. Same old classroom, same old kinds of teachers.

Thunk!

"I see you have enough presence of mind to dodge, Taku-san," The instructors gritted out as Taku peeked back up. Eyes twitching, the instructor smiled as he tapped on the board, "Why don't you show the class the answer to this formula." Glancing at the board, she found herself staring at basic trigonometry. Just getting the hypotenuse, nothing a bunch of school kids her age couldn't solve.

Forcing herself up from her seat, she trugged over to the board before picking up the chalk. She was a bit rusty, but she eventually solved the equation. What can she say? Her memory was just that sharp, totally not her using her eyes to learn faster.

Writing down her final answer, before taking a step back and allowing the instructor to have a look. "W-well, I see you've been listening as well," He coughed, his face a bit red as he waved her off, "You can go back to your seat now, but please, do try to participate."

She nodded, not really planning to, but merely trying to placate the man. She'd rather spend her time in the training ground and get stronger, but just like Konoha, Kumo wanted everyone to have a balanced education. She understood why it was needed, but that doesn't mean she had to be happy about it.

Eventually, the mind numbing lessons would come to pass as the bell rang. It was now lunch break and her classmates were all too eager to get out and stretch their legs. She chose to stay behind, content on her little spot as she enjoyed the afternoon sun.

As she took a peek from her desk, she watched her classmates out in the field, eating, playing and just generally having fun. While it was by her choice to be alone, hearing them laugh and seeing their smiles, it was hard not to feel envious at times. It looked like they're having fun and for a moment, she considered joining.

Nothing was stopping her. She could get to know her future comrades, make allies, make connections, or just make friends. Hell, it would be better for her especially if she made friends from those from the clans. That Oni looking girl looked fun and that fiery redhead was still glancing at her.

Her musing however would be cut short as a blonde shape suddenly peeked up from across her desk. Caught by surprise, she jumped, chair screeching as she reached inside her bag for the nearest object to stab only to pause as she recognized who it was; It was that blonde girl she bumped into.

"Oh, it's her," She muttered to herself as her eyes twitched. Of all her classmates, she was the only one that had yet to give up. No glare nor her silence could stop her and what's worse was this girl kept sneaking up on her! She hated getting surprised.

Where the hell did she even come from? How did she sneak up on her! Did she have some Blood line masking her presence or perhaps she was some sort of ANBU Agent tasked to monitor her? Whatever was the case, her presence was starting to grate at her.

"Heya Taku!" The girl greeted, her smile as radiant as ever, "Nice cucumber!" What?

Frowning, she wondered what the hell she was talking about before she followed her gaze. There, in her hands, wasn't a kunai as she had expected, but a cucumber; Her lunch. Blushing, she slowly lowered her improvised weapon before sitting down. Maybe if she ignored the girl, she'd go away. It worked with the others after all.

The girl however would prove persistent, taking the empty seat beside her. "Do you mind if I sit with you?" She asked, "I saw you were sitting all alone again and I thought you could use the company!" No, no she really didn't, but the girl thought otherwise.

Pulling out her pack, she reached inside before pulling out some pork buns. Immediately, her stomach started growling with hunger. Looking away, she blushed, avoiding the girl's gaze as she giggled at her misfortune. Why did she only pack cucumbers today?

As she resigned herself to munching on her cucumbers, she found a bun pressed against her face. Mouth watering, she glanced towards the girl as she offered, "You know you can have some."

It was a tempting offer, but one she resisted. As much as she wanted too, she knew if she accepted this, she'd never have her peace."I'm not really hungry," She lied, but her body betrayed her as her stomach growled even louder. "Damn it stomach, not now!"

To her annoyance, this only made the girl more persistent as she insisted, "You should try it!" Placing the meat bun on her hand, she complained, "My mom always packs more than what I want anyways, telling me that I need to get some meat on my bones, but I don't want to get too bulky. Speaking of bulking…"

Taku could feel her brain melting as the girl jabbered on, going off in wilder tangents each time she changed subjects. It was amusing for the first five minutes, until she realized this girl wasn't going to stop. Unable to take it any longer, Taku reached up, pinching the girl's mouth shut yet even then the girl wouldn't stop, mumbling along like normal.

Sighing and seeing no way out of this, she asked, "If I take one, will you leave me alone?" She knew she'd be back eventually, but she'd take her win.

"Mhmmm…" The girl nodded, lips still pinched. Taku glared at her for a moment, waiting for her to make a sound, before she let go.

Turning her attention back on the meat bun, Taku frownend, before she lifted it up to her lips. She took a moment to appreciate the scent and how firm the bun was before she took a bite. As soon as her tongue touched the treat, she felt her resolve start to melt.

It was rich, juicy, and absolutely bursting with flavor. Each bite packed with delight from the overstuff bun, and the aroma, oh the heavenly meaty flavors filling her lungs was to die for. Bite after bite, she savored her meat until all that was left was her craving for more; Her momentary reprieve, taken away from her by her own stomach. She needed more.

Turning to the girl, she cringed as she saw the girl's smile; She knew. "So?" The blonde purred, leaning in closer as she asked, "How was it?" It took all her willpower not to jump the girl and grab her pack.

Much to her shame, she had to admit defeat. "It's delicious," She gritted out as she glanced towards the buns in the girls hands. She already had her fill, but she wanted more. After having a bite of heaven, how could she settle for her measly cucumbers? Swallowing her pride, she begged, "... Can I have some more?"

Without a moment of hesitation, the girl reached into her pack before handing her another, "Sure!" Seeing that playful smile lighting up her face, Taku couldn't help but smile as well. Despite her best efforts, she really couldn't hate the girl.

And just like that, Taku found herself defeated not through combat or by wit, but by the girl's kindness and some of the most delicious meat buns she'd ever tasted. After days of denying herself real food, she finally had a meal and it was glorious. She devoured the offered buns, hoping to sate the black hole that was once her stomach.

As she swallowed the last bit of morsel of her delicious meal, she looked and saw the girl's cheeky grin as the girl rested her elbow on the table and stared at her. "You must be really hungry, huh?" the girl noted with a cheeky grin as she offered another bun.

"Yeah…" Taku blushed, averting her gaze as she cleared her throat. Reigning herself in, she nibbled on the next bun, content to just savor it for now. "I just don't have the time to cook when I'm in my apartment," She reasoned she knew full well that was a bold faced lie.

"You spent most the day moping around," The voice at the back of her head whispered, taunting her for her weakness. Instead of making herself food or actually making herself comfortable, she had simply chosen to do the bare necessity. She simply couldn't bring herself to care.
"You're free now," She asked herself, "So, why are you like this?" Why wasn't she happy? Everything was just exhausting…

That train of thought however would come to a screeching halt as felt a warm pack land on her lap. Staring down, she found herself now holding all of the girl's buns, one that she freely offered. "Here, you can have this."

Opening her mouth, she tried to protest, but the girl would prove insistent, pushing the pack back to her. "Come on, just take them!" The girl told her as an fond yet exasperated smile stretched across her lips, "My mom packs way more than what I can eat."

Quirking a brow in disbelief, she checked on her own as she opened the pack only to find it filled with buns and nothing but buns. "... She does pack more than you need." She whispered as she weighed the hefty pack, "Where does this all come from?"

"Last night's leftovers," The blonde replied, "We have a shop and as the family's first ninja, I get all the leftovers!" Scratching her cheeks as she sported a wry smile, she admitted, "I'm getting a bit sick and tired of pork buns so the help is really appreciated!"

So she wasn't a clan kid. Giving her a once over, she noticed she carried herself. While not lacking in her gear, sporting reasonably comfortable, but unassuming clothing, she did not hold herself the way a ninja would be.

She wasn't guarded, nor did she sit proudly, she was simply herself, a cheerful bundle of happiness. If she could compare her to an animal, she would be a dog, a small and fluffy ball of sunshine looking for a friend. Why a girl like her wanted to be a ninja was beyond her.

"You know, being a ninja isn't all that glamorous," She reminded the girl, "We'll kill people, do some nasty stuff, and follow the orders of the highest bidder." There was nothing honorable about being a ninja. It was a profession steeped in blood and best a girl like her knows it.

"I know," The girl replied as that ever present smile faltered for a moment before passion lit up in her eyes, "But that doesn't mean we can't do that right thing!" Clenching her fist, she declared, "If my future client was an asshole then I'll simply offer my service to the other side with a massive discount! That'll show them!"

So taken aback was she that she just sat there as the girl got up to the table and shouted, "My name is Ami Mizuko and my name shall be told across the land for my gallantry, bravery and good looks!" Nodding to herself, she grinned, "And off course, with fame comes great fortune!"

Unable to hold it in, Taku laughed. For the first time in what felt like forever, she laughed freely and without restraint. It was simply so absurd, so stupid, yet so earnestly said that it was charming. She laughed so hard that she doubled over at the pain in her sides.

"Don't laugh!" Ami cried as he stomped her feet in protest, "I'm being serious here!" She was simply too cute for Taku to take her seriously. Huffing the girl stomped off, shouting, "I swear I'll make you regret this day! I'll be the best damn ninja this village ever made, just you wait!"

She felt bad about the girl, but she just couldn't help it. This accursed world likes to chew up idealists like her. Resting her head on the table, she sighed in relief. Hopefully, that would be the last time she'd ever interact with her.

Unfortunately for her, life had other plans.

-x-x-x-

It wouldn't take even a day before the girl came crawling back, greeting her like nothing happened. She was cheerful as ever and off course, a lot more annoying. "Heya Taku!" Taking the empty seat beside her, she leaned in close, "Are you busy?"

Glaring up from her disturbed nap, Taku noticed the nervous smile she sported. Glancing at the way she fidgeted, and how she was hiding behind her back, Taku sighed, "... Is there something you need?"

"U-um no!" The girl scoffed, laughing as she averted her gaze, "How can a ninja like me need help! That's preposterous!"

Reaching up and pinching the bridge of her nose, Taku muttered, "Just spit it out." She was never going to get rid of this girl was she?

Thankfully, the girl would crack rather easily. "Ok ok! I might need help…" With a pained look on her face, she handed her a graded test paper before croaking out, "Specifically in math…?" She disturbed her nap for a math test?

"Last test was easy…" Sighing, she grabbed the paper before choking at the answers. "Ok, I take it back, you need help." Despite the test being multiple choices, the girl somehow got nothing correct. It was honestly impressive.

Lifting up her pencil, she flicked the girl on the nose. "That's what you get for being stupid now come here so I could teach you proper math." As the girl whined in embarrassment, Taku rolled her eyes. At least the girl knows how to swallow her pride. Maybe she wasn't all bad, just a bit annoying. Perhaps if she could tease the girl enough, she'd let up. If only she knew how tenacious this girl was…
-x-x-x-

No matter what she did, the girl kept coming back. No amount of teasing or angry glares could keep her at bay. It was as if the girl took that as an invitation to come and bother her. Of course, she could only take so much and had to have her own time for herself.

Choosing a tree in the courtyard as a change of pace, she found some peace, but that would only be fleeting at best. "Prawncrakers!" The girl shouted, making Taku jolt in surprise. Of course she'd find her.

Rolling out from under the giggling menace, she stood up before throwing her octopus plushie at the girl. "How is that a proper greeting!" Sometimes, Taku finds herself getting frustrated, but her anger would be short-lived especially against that stupid smile of hers.

"It caught your attention, ain't it?" The girl giggled, making Taku sigh. The girl was just too adorable and she knew it.

"What is it this time?" She asked.

"Can a friend just hang out?" The girl replied, taking Taku by surprise. For a moment, she considered just leaving as she grabbed her plushies, but decided against it as she came back and laid down beside the girl. At least with her in sight, she wouldn't get jolted again.

"Fine…" She muttered, "I was just having a nap anyway." Tucking herself to a comfortable ball, she muttered, "You're free to join."

"Nap's good!" The girl cheered before latching onto her.

Freezing at the contact, she hissed back, "I said join me, not hug me."

"But you're so warm and cuddly!" The girl replied, snuggling in closer. Gritting her teeth, she huffed before ignoring the girl. Times like this made her question why she tolerated her… Was she really just that lonely?

-x-x-x-

Eventually, she just gave up, accepting that Ami would be a fixture in her life. Still, despite how open and transparent the girl was, she still had questions. "Hey Ami," She whispered, holding the girl in her arms as they napped, "Why are you doing this…"

Despite knowing much about the girl like how she worked quite the number of hours after school and how she was not one to give up so easily, she was still quite the mystery. The girl was quite oblivious to her frustration as she looked back at her with those wide doe eyes, "Doing what?"

"You keep hanging out with me even when I was being a bitch just a week ago," She replied as she poked the girl on the cheek. There was just nothing she could do to make this girl hate her. She tried ignoring her, teasing her, and at one time ran away from her, but the girl latched on and now she was stuck with her so why?

"You were a bitch," The girl admitted as she turned back and leaned against her, "But you looked like you could use a friend."

"So you took pity on me then," She whispered. She must have looked pathetic in the back of the room. Why else would anyone want to be her friend?

That trail of thought however would only earn her a flick on the nose. Pulling away, Taku huffed, glaring at the girl, but she merely laughed as she sat up, "Silly Taku. I wanted to be friends because you're interesting."

Taku scoffed in disbelief. Unlike most of the other kids, all they knew of her was that she was an orphan picked up from the streets by a nin. Aside from that, she was a nobody, just a wallflower in the background to be ignored, and yet this girl took all the interest in her. Why?

"Now you're the dumb one here," The girl smiled, "You're not a nobody, you're Taku!" Was she talking out loud? Clamping up, she turned away, but the girl was not one to be deterred. "You know, you remind me of a Sea Urchin."

"You're just this ball of secrets who looks so unfriendly, but in truth, you're just a big softie!" She giggled, making Taku's ears burn. She wasn't a softie! She was aloft and it's not like she needed her friendship. She was fine on her own.

"Maybe that sea urchin has those spines for a reason," She replied, crossing her arms across her chest, only to feel the girl latching on and leaning against her. Being older than her, Ami all but enveloped her in her arms.

"That is true," The girl nodded before she asked, "But don't sea urchins have friends too?" Feeling herself smile, Taku nodded.

For a moment, they just stood there, holding each other while the world passed by. It was just her, Ame and the woods to tell their tale. Swallowing, Taku asked, "Hey Ami."

"Yeah?" Ami hummed.

"Are we friends?" She asked, her voice cracking as she felt so small and pathetic. She was an Uchiha scion, someone far older than this tiny girl, but here she was, on the verge of tears already. She didn't need affection and yet here she was, holding onto the girl as she hugged her tighter. She didn't deserve this...

"Aren't we already?" Ami asked as she teared up as well, choking back big fat tears "So please don't cry because I'll cry as well. You don't want to see me crying because I'll get ugly and gallant ninjas aren't supposed to be ugly." Unable to hold it in, Taku laughed and cried, burying her face against Ami's chest.

"I'm not crying you little shit," She replied, "It's just raining right now." She wasn't supposed to be alive, she wasn't supposed to be happy, but she was glad that this girl cared for her enough to make her feel all these wonderful emotions. Maybe it was ok for her to be happy. Maybe she could actually enjoy her life, that she no longer has to fear that the next day would be her last. Maybe she was truly free from that fear…

Grinning back while still all red eyed, Ami replied ,"I'll go get an umbrella then!" Maybe things were going be alright…

A/N:

Ok, that took way longer than I wanted to, but it's finally done. Enjoy this chapter while I go prepare the next chapter, something to shake up the scene as the commissioner of Frog decided to shake things up.