First Person POV____

I was sitting in class drawing on the side of my paper. It had been a few weeks since I had spoken with Yasu sensei.

"Alright, we will now have study period. I have made these packets with worksheets that will help you improve. They are all custom made for each of you so there will be no cheating." Shunichi sensei stated as he passed out the packets.

I couldn't help but sigh. We had also been getting packets like this during class time. Our goal was to finish as much as possible of them during class and each packet was different so I wasn't able to compare my answers to my classmates.

Sensei placed my packet down and I quickly flipped it open.

There was some basic math and as much as I hate to admit it, division was kicking my ass. It had been a long time since I divided without a calculator in hand. But that was nothing compared to fractions. I had been bad at those even in my past life. I always forgot the formulas to solve them. But I was getting the hang of them.

There were also some paragraphs with open-ended questions that I had to do.

Another thing I noticed was that I was actually learning a lot from these packets and I was one of the few that always got them completely done.

I bit the end of my pencil as I read over a paragraph and then wrote down my answer.

To be honest, my last 14 years of schooling in my last life really came in handy. Even if I didn't remember much I learned how to take tests.

Problem-solving, context clues, process of elimination, etc. I was able to go through and get most of the answers right.

As soon as I finished my packet I stood up and walked down to place it on sensei's desk. He gave me a curt nod before I hurried out of the classroom and went outside.

From there I waited until Obito and rin got out for recess so that I could chill with them.

I swung lazily on the swing. I couldn't help but get lost in thought about my past. I was always thinking about it. Trying to see if I remembered more of it.

To be honest I think that even my memories from the show are a bit clouded. There were already things that I was already forgetting and I also doubt that I will remember a lot of it when I really need it.

"Riku!" I turned to see Rin grinning as she waved her hand.

I hopped off the swing and hurried towards them.

'One thing is for sure, I have to write down what I do remember or else I will forget.'
____

"Obito what's wrong?" I asked as I glanced over at Obito. He had been mostly quiet and Rin seemed to be trying to cheer him up.

"It's nothing, I swear." He chuckled sheepishly as he scratched the back of his head.

I couldn't help but place my hand on his shoulder. "We are your friends and we help one another. You can trust us." I say calmly and his smile faded slightly as he let out a long sigh.

"My brother Fugaku activated his Sharingan when he was around my age. My parents and the elders are waiting for me to activate mine but..." he trailed off and pouted slightly.

I froze for a second. Fugaku, Fugaku Uchiha, wasn't that Itachi and Sasuke's father?! Does that mean Obito is Sasuke's uncle? If that's the case it's no wonder he was so pressured in the anime. If he made it to being 12 without activating it while being the son of the previous clan head they would be disappointed in him.

"Oh, um... it's okay. Maybe you're a late bloomer." I try and say encouragingly. He cocks a brow.

"What does that mean?" He asked and I sighed.

"An early bloomer would show signs of early on and develop them, a normal person would have it when normally everyone else does. Late bloomers are usually one of the last ones. But it's okay sometimes being late means that when you do get it will still be as good as everyone else." I try to explain. Although usually, that was with periods or puberty, but maybe it was the same with Dojutsu.

"You think so Riku?" Rin asks as she glances over at me and I nod.

"Yeah! For example that Kakashi kid you guys went to school with. He's an early bloomer. His abilities and strengths showed up while he was younger. We are probably going to be normal and there will be a few kids that will fail the graduation test a few times before passing. And that doesn't take away the fact that we can all be great shinobi." I say with a nod.

"But my mom and dad are kind of concerned. They say if I don't develop it then they'll send me away to live with my grandma." He winces as tears gather in the corner of his eyes.

"Grandma?" Rin asks confused.

"Yeah, my mom used to be a shinobi and was born outside of the clan. She married my dad Danjuro. My grandmother was widowed and lives in the clan compound but she was a civilian. They will send me to live with her if I don't show more progress." He huffs as he fiddles with his fingers.

I nod and look down. Damn, so Obito is the little brother of Fugaku. That's so fucked up. How come I had never heard of this though?

"You can do it Obito. I'm sure you'll prove them wrong. Rin and I believe in you." I say patting his shoulder.

Did I want to try and help him get stronger? I know what he becomes. Maybe I could help him. Change the flow of things. Maybe then the Uchiha clan lives and Sasuke is happy. Naruto gets his parents and we are all happy.

"You guys really think so?" He asks and I nod. "Of course." Rin smiles as she engulfs him in a hug.

I smile although I couldn't help but feel reluctant. What if everything bad still happens. What if we can't save rin or Obito what if I can't make a change. Will I still help him become stronger. I couldn't help the slight fear I felt. I know Obito is capable of becoming a monster
_________
Another day, another packet.

Months had passed and I was learning a lot from training with Obito and Rin. They were showing me the katas from their year and we constantly spar.

I was much smaller than both of them and I sometimes could beat them. But they were both taller and stronger than me so I had a hard time winning.

But that meant that in my class I was the top taijutsu student. The only ones that really gave me much trouble were the hyuga and that's due to the taijutsu training they got from their clan.

I picked up my pencil and flipped open my packet. I frowned at the fact that there was a lack of reading and more straight forward questions. It was more like a review than learning.

I had gotten a few packets like this before. It would be a general review of the previous packets. But this one was a bit bigger and harder.

I sighed in annoyance but continued to do it anyway because I was ready to leave the classroom for recess.

It had taken me longer than usual but I had finished it. I stood up and placed the packet down on shunichi-sensei's desk.

He gave me a curt nod and I hurried out the classroom.

As always I had to wait till Obito and rin were dismissed from class.

"Riku!" Rin grinned as she nearly knocked me over as she engulfed me in a hug.

"Sensei said that once I graduate I will be able to enroll in the medic program!" She squealed and I smiled.

"Congrats girly! But don't forget you're a combat medic so you should also work on your fighting skills. Since your likely to be the first one enemies target." I say with a firm nod and she smiles and nods.

"And what about you Obito?" I turn to ask him and he blushes. "I've gotten better and I just checked my grades I'm no longer dead last." He grinned and gave me a thumbs up.

"That's great!" I grin at them. I couldn't help but feel proud of them. I was trying to make rin practice more. If she is stronger than she was in cannon then she is less likely to be kidnapped. Meaning that there's less of a chance that the original events still happen. Like a butterfly effect.

"Anyways let's eat our lunch." Rin smiles as she holds up her bento and we all hurry to find a place to sit down.
_____
The class had ended and I was packing my things. "Go ahead without me, sensei asked me to stay after class." I told Mugetsu who in turn cocked a brow.

"You're not in trouble right?" He asked and I shook my head.

"Haven't done anything so I shouldn't be." I added.

"Kay well see you when you get home. I need help studying." Himeko smiled and I nodded.

Everyone left the room and I picked up my things and went to Shunichi-sensei's desk.

"We have someone else coming in." He stated and I nodded.

The door opened and I turned to see Yasu sensei carrying a folder and scroll. I glanced at both of my teachers before bowing to Yasu-sensei.

"Hello, Yasu-sensei." I greet her with a bow.

"Hello, Riku-chan." She smiles gently, as always she moved gracefully as she placed a folder down on Shunichi-sensei's desk.

"Riku, it has come to the academies attention that you are one of our more fast track students. Over the course of several months, we have been evaluating your learning curve and maturity. We have provided you with packets of information and tests to see where your level is. Earlier today you completed the graduation exam and scored a 92. Your taijutsu and weapon handling have also been evaluated. As you have the qualifications. You are now a full-fledged ninja. Congratulations." He says as he opens his desk drawer and pulls out a headband before placing it in my hands.

I stared at it in shock. I wasn't supposed to graduate yet. I'm supposed to stay here and learn, help Rin and Obito... help the orphanage kids.

"Congratulations, Riku-chan. You've made Genin. You will also be relocated. Since you are no longer civilian you can no longer stay at the orphanage but that is okay. Due to your mannerisms, we will be taking you into a special program. Due to your lack of relatives, we will be relocating you outside of the village. A Jonin by the name of Murasaki will be your teacher. She will be teaching you her art. At the moment her code name is Ayuri." Yasu-sensei stated as she set down a scroll.

"Your code name will be Ichika, you will be traveling with a ninja, their name is unimportant they will be in civilian clothing and you will join a departing caravan. The ninja will drop you off at the geisha house. You will be a maiko and train alongside other civilian girls. Murasaki will educate you in the shinobi arts and will show you the trade you will be working. Your job is to gather information alongside Murasaki. You will be departing immediately. All of your current possessions have been recovered and will be kept by the Hokage tower. When you're recalled back into the village we will be giving you your possessions." She stated as sensei brought a bag filled with things and a change of clothes and set it on his desk.

"As the orphan ichika, you have never lived in Konoha. You were the daughter of a farmer from the eastern province of the land of fire. You do not know any shinobi or any shinobi art. Your mother died at birth and your father was forced to sell you to the debt collectors. Is that understood?" Yasu asked as she turned and picked up the clean sets of clothing.

"Change in the bathroom. These will be the clothes you will be traveling in and.." she took the headband from my hands and grabbed the bag. The bottom of the bag was made of leather and she easily slipped the headband in the flaps between the leather. I noticed that there was already a needle and thread at the bottom of the bag. She simply sewed the flaps shut and then tied it off at the end.

"Your headband will be there for when you are recalled to the village. Please go change and come back to review the mission details." She stated and I nodded slowly.

"Sensei, may I ask... why me?" I asked softly.

"Most genin are around twelve, they have to have a 12-year alibi. Your only six... you don't need a large alibi. Nobody will expect you to know where you're from. Since your so young you will easily fit in with the other maiko." Yasu sensei stated as she looked over at me.

I nodded as I took the clothes and walked to the restroom.

I licked my lips as I sat down on a toilet as I stared at the clothes.

What had just happened? How had this happened?

How long had they been watching me? No, I had been aware... the file, the talk yasu sensei had with me at the beginning of the year. Was this root?!

I started breathing heavily. How could I forget that Root was a sanction military branch?! What was I thinking? Had I been trying to outsmart ninja? Had it been pointless to try and hide my strength and intelligence in a building full of chunin level shinobi.

I always kept average grades on my regular school work. The packages that we had been getting... those weren't graded so I hadn't thought anything about it. Had I been doing classwork from the advanced classes. No wonder I was being sent out as a ... as a spy.

But how did they catch on that I was keeping my grades average? I closed my eyes and leaned my head back.

I bit my lower lip as I thought about it. In the beginning, I beat that kid up so maybe they kept up with me. What else could have set them off?

I tried to think back to six-year-olds, what they did and didn't do. I took in a sharp breath. The orphans! I had started a study group and led it. I also hung out with older students and trained with them.

Maybe they noticed I was 'advanced' and Yasu sensei taught me so much in kunoichi class, she must've thought I had some talent in subterfuge. That's why she had my file that one time. She knew I was aware that they were looking into me and that I tried to fade in the background.

Yasu had implied it. She thought I was good at subterfuge, she had told me. How could I have ignored it!

The packets started after that. At first, it had been easy. They had been seeing how fast they could get me out of the academy. Holy shit! How could I have missed this?!

I took deep breaths and gripped the clothes tightly. I growled as I stood up and began changing clothing. How could I help anyone now? What if I died?! I was an orphan and they were probably going to make me leave without saying goodbye to anyone.

Would Rin and Obito still remember me if I ever came back? They were 8 and they would probably wonder what happened to me, hopefully, I left a large enough impression that they would remember me if I ever came back.

I let out a sigh and rubbed my face. Shit, I hadn't seen this coming at all. I look around me and quickly fold my clothes. I hurried back to the classroom.

They sent me out to a tea shop to find my first contact.

The second I stepped out of the academy I felt heavy. This was actually happening. I was literally going to leave.. for all I know I'm going to become a root puppet. But I'll stay strong unlike anyone else I was older and more mature. I had to be strong.
_____

"Hello, I'm here for a reservation. I'm Ichika, my uncle should be here. His name is Jin." I say as I spoke to the host of the tea house.

"Ah, you're the niece, correct?" The woman asks and I nod. "Follow me." She says as she leads me to a private booth.

"Sir, your niece is here." The woman says as she sits by the door.

"Bring her in." I heard the man respond from inside the booth.

The woman slides the door open while sitting. I got down and had to kind of crawl in. Japanese style tea houses always had small doors. From what I had learned it was so when someone came in they weren't towering over the people who were already there. There were proper ways to open and enter the rooms.

It had been something we had learned in kunoichi class.

"Ichika, come in." The man spoke up and I bowed my head. "Of course uncle." I say respectfully.

I took a steady deep breath as I took a seat in front of him. We said nothing as our tea was served.

"We will depart to the capital after we leave the tea house. I hope you have all of your things?" He asks and I nod.

"Yes, uncle," I respond as I placed my bag down beside me. I tried to keep myself composed.

This was the contact that would take me to my post. Where I would meet my sensei Murasaki aka Ayuri. I was being deployed the second I made Genin. Who would have thought.

I tried to keep my face expressionless as I sipped some tea.
_____

Konoha was behind me. I sat on a carriage. All of the other adults were walking and chattering away. But I could only watch as the gates got further and further away.

It was actually happening. I was leaving Konoha to be posted as a genin in training for subterfuge.

I'll be back. I'll get strong and even if I have to I'll train and become strong. I have to for Obito, rin, Minato, kakashi, and everyone. I sat back and thought back to the kids from the orphanage. I'll look for them when I come back. Whenever that was and if I ever did return.
______

Sorry I hadn't updated. But here's the next chapter.

Yall I'm so excited for this story. I wish I could jump to the time naruto is born but we have to develop Riku as a ninja and as a person.

Anyway thank you for reading.
Comment if you have any theories of what's going to happen.

Rosymalik/ rosyhatake