A/N: if I get lazy, please note that "蘭" or "うずまき蘭" means Ran, to all ya who aren't as much as a weabu as I am.
Ran's POV
I walked around my birth village. So much as changed in the years I was gone... no! I told myself, stop talking like an old person! I am not that old!!!!
I wandered about, insure on where to go. It was too early to go and get ramen, and my 'twin' would still be sleeping, if he still had the same habits.
"I could see if my house is still standing," I muttered to myself, glancing in the direction of the Uchiha sect of the village. "But I kinda wanna see if anyone I know is around..."
"Hey, young girl!" Someone called out from behind me. I turned and saw the owner of a bakery shop I recognized standing in the doorway. I think her name was Shia.
"Me?" I asked pointing at myself, partially to see if they recognized me.
"Yes you," she said, "What are you doing wandering around at this hour? Shouldn't you be sleeping in or something?"
"Maybe? I was hungry, so I was looking for something to eat," I told her, only partially lying. The lady's face broke out into a type of smile that I hadn't seen in a while: a true one.
"Why didn't you say so sooner, little lady? I was planning to open early!" Shia motioned for me to follow as she unlocked the door and switched the sign to read 'open'. As I walked into the tiny shop, I was greeted by the rich aroma of light pastries.
I looked at the list of food items. Skimming, I read the options until I raised my eyebrow at the second to last item.
"'Chunky Sweet Bean Jam Bun'?" I read off. "Isn't that a traditional food from the far north?"
Shia grinned broadly. "Yes! It is my father's recipe." She looked at me like a proud teacher may look at a student who knew more than what was required. She walked over to behind the counter, pulling out a medium sized bag and placing a good five or six of them in.
"Here!" She handed me the bag. I nodded in thanks, reaching for my wallet.
"Oh, don't worry about paying. Just think of it as a reward for recognizing it!" I looked at her, and bowed.
"Thank you very much," I told her, gratefully accepting the freshly baked gift.
"Just remember to come back!" She called out as I left the shop, a bun already halfway demolished.
She is as nice as I remembered  I thought to myself, that's a comfort.
I then found myself stopped in front of a familiar house, as someone was coming out. When did I get here? I thought to myself, looking for a place to hide as the boy was locking his door. However, my attempts were in vain, as the boy noticed me.
"What are you doing here," he asked coolly, as if trying to downplay his curiosity.
"Strolling around the neighborhood, care to join me?" I asked sarcastically, but with a dead serious face. The boy analyzed me.
"... No." He said, turning his back to me and walking in the direction of the Ninja Academy. Oh, that reminded me...
"Hey, can you tell me when the Genin exams are?" I called out to him before he got to far. He turned around to face me again, with a strange look on his face.
"They are today," he said. Crab! He then turned on his heels and headed off.
"Thanks Sasuke!" I called out, dashing to the other side of the neighborhood in the direction of my house. I could feel his eyes baring into my back, but I didn't care.
In a few moments, I was at my house. Thank goodness the Third Hokage kept his promise. My house wasn't in ruins like some of the other Uchiha homes were. I suppose even if it was covered with overgrowth of vines in some spots and the grass in the yard was a little too much, it hadn't changed much in the time that I had been gone.
I unlocked and opened my worn down purple door.
"Ugh," I muttered as the smell of must and dust hit my nose. "I can tell this place wasn't touched," I looked around. My place wasn't that big, just the size of a normal house, excluding the walkway. There were roughly four rooms, one main room, and a kitchen. Simple.
"I'm home," I uttered instinctively, though I knew no one would reply. I started to go to my old bedroom before I thought better of it. My closet wouldn't have many outfits that I can still wear, I realized, so I walked to my parents room.
I went to their room and pulled open their closet door. "Mom, Dad, I'm stealing your clothes," I muttered, smiling a bit.
Five minutes later, I stood examining myself in the mirror. I wore a simple long sleeve black shirt (my mom's), black pants rolled up to my ankles (my dad's), my pack from earlier, and some jewelry with the Uchiha crest from my mom's jewelry box.
"Something's missing...." I stared at my reflection....
"Oh, that's it!" I snapped my fingers and rushed to my bedroom, digging in a box that was underneath my bed.
"Come on, I know it's here," I muttered before spying something still surprisingly white.
"Ah ha!" I cried triumphantly before pulling out a sleeveless, white, crested jacket out and putting it on. It was still surprisingly large on me. Nice.
Then, I glanced around my room, covered from things given from all sides of my family. Now, I wasn't a super messy kid, but my room was a different story. It was mostly an organized mess. Mostly.
Just then, I noticed a homemade fox stuffed animal that was poking out of my 'mom's family' side of the room.
"Hey, didn't I make this with-" I stopped, and hurriedly looked at my watch. It was almost noon? Nande?!
"I'm gonna miss him getting his headband!"
I left the fox there, making a mad dash to the Academy.