Ayame took a deep breath, placing her hands out in front of her once again. Narrowing her eyes at the black haired women in front of her, she ran forwards, hoping to at least strike once. She once again made the mistake of looking into the swirling red eyes, instantly being trapped inside a genjutsu, as she had been already numerous times. 

Ayame quickly placed her hands together in the hand sign that would set her free, muttering under her breath, "Release!"

As she slowly started to fade back into reality she could make out the shadow of Kurenai in front of her, who had not even broken into a sweat. Ayame had been training with Kurenai ever since she had been let out of the hospital, seeing as Kurenai was her legal guardian for as long as she lived in Konoha, which Ayame hoped wouldn't be to long. 

Ayame had never been good with genjutsu and taijutsu, and going against Kurenai, a person who was good in both, wasn't something she was used to. Ayame began to wish that Kurenai would stop testing her and just train her instead. They had been going for at least four hours now, and while Ayame was close to running out of chakra, Kurenai seemed like she was perfectly fine. 

Kurenai noticed her student starting to struggle even more then she had been earlier and decided too call for lunch, even though she knew Ayame would give her a hard time. 

"Ayame, come on. Time too eat!" Ayame narrowed her eyes at Kurenai, and slowly made her way over. Kurenai was already sitting down on the floor, her legs crossed and she brought out bundles of rice balls. They were really the only thing that Ayame would eat with giving Kurenai a hard time. 

Sitting down in front of Kurenai, Ayame took one rice ball, staring at it for a couple seconds before she bit into it. The flavor bursted throughout her mouth, and she had to hold back the drool that she felt ready to drip down her face. Although Ayame was sure that if she let herself do whatever she pleased, she would have hearts in her eyes and drool going down the side of her face. 

She didn't know what it was about rice balls, but they always her favorite food, at least for as long as she could remember. Ayame couldn't remember anything before she was eight years old, but that didn't bother her. She was just happy that she was alive today. 

"Ayame, I know you don't want too talk about it, but I really need to know about Orochimaru," Kurenai begin, seeing Ayame tense up at the question. 

"T-there's nothing I wish to say about that horrible man." Ayame whispered, her gaze dropping to the floor and she put her half-eaten rice ball back down on the plate. 

"Well, how about your clan? Do you know anything about them?" Kurenai pressed on, not even noticing that inside Ayame was practically tortring herself with vivid flashbacks. However, Kurenai did not put it past herself to notice how Ayame was visibly shaking on the outside and her green eyes were wide with fear. 

Ayame slowly brought her hands up to her face, pulling at the sides of her hair. Kurenai's eyes instantly widened when the tears started to fall from Ayame's eyes, not used to seeing the girl like this. Ayame was usually quiet, reserved, and never showed any sign of emotion. 

Kurenai quickly moved over next to Ayame, pulling the small child towards her. Ayame instantly blinked when she felt herself come in contact with the older women's body, and she instantly wiped her eyes.

Kurenai felt horrible for making Ayame relive stuff she most likely didn't want too relive, but she was just trying to protect the girl from the interrogation corps. If Kurenai didn't get the answers soon, she was sure they would take her away and torture her with their cruel methods. 

"Ayame, why don't we go home?" Kurenai asked softly to which Ayame nodded her head in reply. She was tired for once, and really just wanted to sleep, although she wasn't sure if she'd be able too. She knew that she was most likely just going to have nightmares again, with Kuri making them happen. 

Ayame didn't understand who and what Kuri was, but the women scared her. The way that it was like she was trapped inside Ayame, and was always threatening to kill her. The only thing that Ayame knew was that Kuri only appeared after she had been with Orochimaru with at least a year. 

Ayame knew that she would rather die then tell anyone about Kuri, seeing as Kuri always proclaimed that the young girl must always protect her, seeing as she couldn't really do anything herself unless Ayame allowed her too.

Ayame knew what happened once Kuri was let out though, and she planned never too allow it to happen again. Last time, Kuri had managed to kill four ninja and Ayame had been too scared to see what village they were from. 

Ayame was just scared, and the way Kurenai was holding the girl tightly, made her feel safe. It felt like the warmth of a mother, a person that Ayame  either didn't remember or didn't have in her life at all. Slowly Kurenai helped Ayame to her feet as she too stood up. 

Ayame and Kurenai walked side by side as they walked through the village. People passed the two weird looks, but Kurenai shook them off. Ayame, however, didn't like the fact that everyone seemed to be staring at her. 

Kurenai stopped suddenly, a frown evident on her pale face, causing Ayame too crash into the older women. Kurenai watched in shock as a man pushed a blonde boy onto the floor and the boy's eyes instantly started to waver, however the boy placed a forced grin onto his face. 

Kurenai knew this boy, it was the boy that held the Kyubi inside of him. Ayame noticed this as well, her green eyes narrowing at the sight of the boy who was being ridiculed and laughed at, yet still kept that grin on his face. 

"I'm gonna be hokage on day! This doesn't matter! Believe it!" That said, the boy ran off in the opposite direction not before noticing Ayame amongst the crowd. The boy instantly blushed when he saw her already staring at him, but he kept running. 

Ayame soon looked up at Kurenai, frowning, "Why did they do that?" She whispered. 

Kurenai looked down out of the corner of her eyes, sighing, and started to walk, Ayame following close behind. "Ayame, that boy is different. Although, that shouldn't stop you from being friends with him, okay?" 

Ayame nodded, going to her thoughts. She didn't understand why people hated that boy and she didn't think she ever would, at least, unless she got to know the boy later. Kurenai assured Ayame that she would get to know the boy, seeing as Kurenai had enrolled Ayame in the academy, the one that the boy went to and many other children. 

Ayame would most likely be a bit behind however, seeing as the other kids had been going since they were about six, and now they were all about thirteen or even twelve, just like Ayame. 

A few days later, Ayame was standing in front of the entrance of the academy, clenching her hands into fists. All around her, kids were laughing and talking, seeing as the teacher wasn't here yet, so everyone was waiting to be let inside. 

Ayame felt like she was trapped, she wasn't used to being with large groups of people yet, and felt dangerously close to having an anxiety attack. Yet, she didn't want that to be her first impression on these kids. She wanted too make friends --- even if it killed her. 

She knew it would be hard, seeing as she had the social skills of a fly, but she would try. She had too, she had too make Kurenai proud. 

So, when a man with spiky brown hair appeared, sweat dropping as he mumbled an excuse about being late and let the students in the class, Ayame barely noticed that she was now standing in front of a full classroom. 

All eyes were on Ayame, curious as to who the new girl was. Two girls sat towards the back of the room next to a raven-haired boy and were whispering quietly to each other. Ayame could just tell they were talking about her and it most definitely didn't make her feel any better.

"So, class, we have a new student today. What's your name?" The man, known as Iruka, asked Ayame. 

"Ayame," The small girl answered simply, and furrowed her eyebrows as the man kept staring at her. "Yes?" She questioned, not liking the way he was looking at her. 

"What's your surname?" Ayame shrugged, and Iruka sighed before he glanced around the room, his eyes landing on a seat right in between Kiba Inuzuka and Hinata Hyuga. "You'll sit there." Iruka nodded towards the seat, Ayame nodding. 

"What?!" Kiba shouted, an anime vein growing on his head. He most certainly didn't want too sit next to this girl, he wanted to be next to strong people!

"You heard me, Kiba. Go on Ayame." 

Ayame was barely listening as she stared wide-eyed at the male who was now fuming, slowly she made her way towards her seat. Ayame couldn't help herself as she was surely blushing and could feel her heart beating inside her chest. She didn't know what this feeling was but she knew for a fact that the male in front of her was. . . cute. 

Kiba was scowling and glaring at Ayame, causing the girl to seem even more nervous. As soon as Ayame sat down, Kiba said something that shocked Ayame, "So, are you gonna be shy and quiet like that one?" He jerked his head towards Hinata, who instantly blushed, looking away. 

Ayame narrowed her eyes at Kiba, she didn't like when people treated other's wrongly, it just didn't seem right. It also reminded her of Orochimaru, something she didn't like either. Even though the boy had his looks going for him, his personality made everything just go away. 

"Of course not." Ayame replied simply, and went on ignoring the rude Inuzuka but she couldn't help herself as she kept stealing glances at him from the corners of her eyes. 

So, when Ayame graduated a few months later, she didn't expect herself to actually feel happy with herself for once, and now she just couldn't wait to be put on a team. She thought she would just have fun and make even more friends, with the very few she actually had, but boy, was she wrong.