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[ Six months later ]

"Alright, that concludes our session today. Good job, everyone!" The teacher smiled as he set his book and glasses down before clasping his hands together. "We will meet back here after your lunch break to finally assign you all into your three-men squad. 

"I must say, I am really proud of all of you for your hard and diligent work these past six months. You've all done your very best, and I know that a bright future awaits for all of you. Either you decided to pursue medical schooling, work to become chunin, jounin, or even anbu, or try out for the security division, whatever it is, I know that you will achieve that goal. 

"I am not going to lie but it is a dangerous world out there. So, as your sensei, I will advise you one last time to keep working hard and become the best version of yourself that you can be. It truly has been a pleasure to work with you. Goodluck, my fellow seniors!" The teacher bowed his head infront of the class, while the class did the same.

"Arigato, Hiroki-sensei! You have been very good to us, and for that, we will never forget your teachings." Everyone recited with genuine smiles on their faces. They were excited to finally make their mark outside the academy walls. Their future outside awaits them, and they can't wait to grasp it.

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"Kiara-chan!" TenTen called out as she watched the Uchiha walk towards her usual spot underneath the secluded tree. 

The said girl turned towards the trio of friends and smiled lightly at them. She approached where they sat on the benches and took a seat next to TenTen. "Hello, everyone."

"It's great to finally have you sit beside us the fifteenth time these past six months!" Lee exclaimed with a grin. "At least you're finally opening up, little by little."

"Agreed," TenTen chuckled. "Well, let's eat lunch together."

Kiara nodded as she then pulled out her own bento box and started eating quietly along with everyone else. She listened to TenTen and Lee converse, while at the same time, looked around her surroundings. It was such a beautiful day and she can't wait to fulfill her dreams.

These past six months, she hadn't broken her promise with Itachi, nor has he. They both trained together and they both helped Sasuke improve even more. It was also actually a good thing that Sasuke was placed under Iruka-sensei's supervision as the brunette was seen as a passionate sensei who really loved teaching his students.

Now that she was a senior, two years ahead of Sasuke, Kiara couldn't wait to finally train as a kunoichi.

I wonder who my team will consist of... and I wonder who my sensei will be...

"You're thinking about the team placements, aren't you?" Kiara internally jumped as she turned her gaze towards Neji who leaned on the tree next to her. 

Wait, wasn't he just sitting next to Lee? She wondered though how long he had been standing there. "Well, you're the sneaky one."

"Well, you haven't answered my question."

"Hn." Kiara crossed her arms and shifted her sitting position. She leaned her back against the wooden fence and let out a sigh. "Indeed, I was. Nothing too concerning. Although, what I am concerned about is whether you used your Byakugan on me to read my thoughts just now." She smirked at him.

Neji looked down at her and allowed a small smirk to form on his lips. "For your information, Uchiha, Hyugas don't have that kind of ability. What I've heard though is that the Uchihas can do so, as well as erase one's memory. Perhaps, you're the one who is looking through our minds."

Kiara's smirk widened before laughing lightly. She probably won't admit anything out loud, but she enjoyed the presence of the trio. Especially Neji's. 

Despite having issues of trusting other people so easily, upon observing him these past six months, Kiara saw that they shared many similarities. From the fact that they were both raised in prestigious clans and were constantly looked down upon due to their entitlement, they were able to relate more with each other. Hence, it made Kiara feel a bit more comfortable opening up to him, little by little.

When Itachi couldn't make it to train with her on some days, she could always turn to Neji. The two would hone on their skills and give everything they've got, and at the end of the day, it only built more respect they had for one another. Kiara considered Neji more of a rival and perhaps, a friend who she can hopefully trust and confide with.  

 With TenTen, she could also say the same. The female brunette has so far been kind and considerate towards Kiara, a trait in which Kiara admired and respected as well. TenTen was also very courageous, talented and skilled with weaponry. It surprised Kiara to see how passionate she was in her line of specialty, and she knew that TenTen will become a great kunoichi.

Kiara also felt like she could turn to TenTen whenever she needed to. Perhaps, it was due to how matured, patient and understanding she can be, as well as Neji. With Lee, however, he was a different story. Don't get her wrong, but she kind of enjoyed basking her presence with Lee every once in a while. 

His energy and enthusiasm to always try and do his best, despite not having the ability to perform ninjutsu and only taijutsu, surprised Kiara. Kiara was certainly not a woman with too many words, but Lee's determination and constant hard work these past months earned her respect for him, and deep down, she rooted for him to achieve his goals too.

Overall, she was quite glad that she had met these people and was able to be a part of her little life. Perhaps, giving herself another small chance at trusting others may not have been such a bad thing after all.

Kiara hoped that she would somehow be a part of their team, as she'd like to get to know them a lot better.

"So, were you?" Neji asked her again, snapping Kiara out from her deep thoughts.

"Nope, I haven't been snooping around with your thoughts." She chuckled with a smirk. "Besides, how could I when I haven't even activated my Sharingan yet?" 

"Which reminds me..." TenTen suddenly turned towards Kiara and Neji, having accidentally overheard their conversation. Lee followed the same and joined in on the interaction. "If you don't mind me asking, Kiara-chan, though I would completely understand if you don't want to say anything about it, but why are your eyes amber in color? Aren't they suppose to be darker like the rest of the Uchihas?"

Kiara looked at TenTen and Lee's curious expressions, even Neji showed some sort of interest. Her eyes were often questioned about her and most of the time, it made the Uchiha feel self-conscious about it. Even some members from within her clan looked down at her for having those eyes.

"B-but! Like I said, if you don't want to answer that, you don't have to. It's okay," TenTen exclaimed as she looked at Kiara's blank expression. It probably was a sensitive subject for her. "I'm sorry for even asking..."

Do they doubt that I am an Uchiha as well?

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"First of all, I'll be calling out the names and I will be informing you of which team you will be placed in for the rest of the time. So listen carefully, and say 'Hai' when you hear your name." Hiroki-sensei instructed as he began calling out the assigned names. It went on for awhile until he was down to the last group. 

"Team 9. Hyuga Neji, TenTen, and Rock Lee."

Kiara was secretly relieved that she wasn't placed in their team. Ever since she had been asked that question, she started having doubts about these friends she came to trust, as well started having doubts about herself too. She always had to remind herself that she is an Uchiha, and she will always be one. 

But, how can she continue to do so if everyone else doubted her?

Kiara suddenly noticed that her name had not been called out, and Team 9 was the last team to be assigned. She raised her hand and questioned her instructor. "Hiroki-sensei, you haven't assigned me to a team."

"Ah yes, that's because you are actually a special case. Due to the uneven number of students we have in this class, you are assigned to a two-men squad instead of three."

"I see..." The Uchiha grimaced at the fact that she was the odd one out and had to even be labeled as 'special case.'  The three boys at the other end of the room snickered quietly at her, to which Kiara simply ignored and turned away from everyone with a scowl on her face.

Neji witnessed the entire thing and frowned at the situation.

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As jounins of each team started to appear in the room, squads had been following their new senseis out, ready to start a new chapter of their life. 

Kiara counted down the number of people leaving the room, including Team 9's count. She was internally shocked when she saw their sensei. He looked exactly like Lee! Even his sense of enthusiasm and energy was the same. It baffled the Uchiha to see such a resemblance but she quickly threw those thoughts out the window.

When she caught Neji looking her way, she quickly turned away from him and stared out the window. She had failed to see that the other two had looked at her way too.

With one more team left remaining, she grimaced at the thought of the three males that had bullied her on the first day, were still stuck in the same room as her. She paid no attention to them, however, it was hard for her to not hear them talk.

"So, the 'special case' gets left behind." Ryu snickered. "What? Did you expect a carpet rolling down your feet once Hiroki-sensei announces that you're assigned to a team? Well, guess what, hotshot, no one wished to be in the same team as you."

"Y'know, I was hoping to Kami that I wouldn't be put in the same team as you. Didn't want to have you looking down on me like I'm some ant." Aiko pointed out. "This headband shows that I'm a shinobi now! So, you can't look down on us anymore."

The males laughed in their seats as they continued to throw insults at Kiara.

"If I am not mistaken, we are yet to be called shinobis. We are only mere genins. Compared to a chunin, a jounin, and even ANBU, we are nothing yet. You are nothing yet. So quit acting so high and mighty because it will probably give your new sensei a perspective of who you really are." She replied so smugly, further making the males even more irritated.

"Let me rip that filthy Uchiha smirk off of your petty little pretty face right now--"

"Or what?" A deep, calming but deadly voice sounded across the room, making the four remaining students in the class halt their actions. They turned towards the newcomer who decided to visit their room, and they were sure that he was jounin. 

Kiara observed the jounin. What caught her attention the most was his long and spiked silver hair. It looked thick but she was sure that it was soft when touched. He was tall, slender, probably fit, she didn't know. He also wore his Leaf headband to the side that covered his left eye and a mask that shielded his face from the world.

Kiara could only wonder what he looked like beneath that mask.

"Hm? Tell me, what were you planning on doing with this girl?" The jounin questioned.

"I.. I was..." Ryu cleared his throat as he regained his composure and spoke up more confidently. "I was just teaching her a lesson."

"Oh, are you now?" The jounin challenged. "Do you have any qualifications to call yourself a sensei, to teach her a lesson like that?" He smirked to himself as he saw the young male shift uncomfortably in his place and stutter. "Answer me."

"N-no, sir."

"Still, if that's the case, tell me what lesson you were planning on teaching her?"

"I... I just. She was acting so smugly and it irritated me, so..."

"So, what? You decided that you wanted to 'rip it off from her petty little pretty face?' Is that it?"

Ryu said nothing more but only looked down in shame. The rest of the boys did the same as well, the silence deafening their ears. Kiara could only look and stare at what the jounin was doing to them.

Just who is he? Is he their sensei... or just someone else?

"If I see any of you come near this girl again, and so much as lay a hand on her, I will make sure that you three will see the end of it. The consequences will be... severe." The jounin's aura darkened, making the three quiver in fear. It also made Kiara tense up slightly from her seat. "Bullying another student, as well as a comrade, is highly unacceptable. We do not tolerate that in the Leaf."

"Y-yes, sir!"

"Good." The jounin then turned his attention towards Kiara and gave her a small smile. She tensed up a little bit but strangely felt his presence more comforting later on. 

Eiichi, one of the other males that picked on Kiara, suddenly looked up from across the room and saw this small interaction. He nervously stuttered, "Excuse me, sir, but who is she to you?"

The jounin didn't turn away from looking down at Kiara. Instead, he gestured her to follow him out of the room and offered her a friendlier smile as he spoke.

"She is my student."

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