章 11: Enrolled
A/N: Academy time! Things get more interesting from here. For those who don't know. I upload 4 chapters per week (This is if nothing gets in my way). Throw some powerstones my way and good reviews if you enjoy the story so far. Enjoy!
Nearly two years had passed. Eiji had turned seven, and Itachi was now six. Both had been enrolled in the academy. Kiyoko had intentionally delayed Eiji's enrollment by a year so he could start at the same time as his younger cousin.
Today was their first day. As Eiji prepared to leave his house, he felt a tug at the lower part of his black cargos. Turning around, he was greeted by his younger sister, now two years and a few months old.
"Where is big bro going?" Michiko asked her older brother.
Eiji squatted down to become eye level with her and brushed the hair covering her eyes behind her ears. Michiko had short black hair and shared the same black eyes as Eiji.
"Go back to sleep, Michiko, it's too early for you to be awake," Eiji chided softly.
Michiko rubbed the sleep from her eyes and wrapped her small arms around Eiji's neck. "Be safe, big bro," she said sleepily. Kiyoko, already awake, arrived at the front door, picked up Michiko, and instructed, "Eiji, you need to stop by your uncle's place. I want you and Itachi to walk together."
'Damn! If I go by Itachi's place, that'll add more time to the journey! Whatever... I'll do it. It's not like Mother ever takes no for an answer.'
Begrudgingly, Eiji nodded, a displeased expression evident. "Don't make that face, young man! You'll be going by your cousin's place, whether you like it or not!" Kiyoko scolded.
'But I didn't even complain! I just nodded! I can't even win with her!'
Eiji bit his tongue, not eager to get scolded further. He often got yelled at by his mother for irrelevant things but didn't argue back. Her rants were more bearable when his father was around.
'If Father were here, he'd take most of the brute force, then turn it into a joke. I love my mother, but I still wish my father were here…'
Eiji felt bad for his younger sister, as she never had the chance to meet their father. He knew he'd have to step up and take that role for her, but the hole left by his father was so large, it seemed hard to believe he'd someday fill it.
"Alright, I'll go meet up with Itachi at Uncle Fugaku's place," Eiji confirmed.
'At least I get to see my little cousin Sasuke! He's too cute!'
After a brief stroll, Eiji arrived at his uncle's place. He knocked on the door, which was opened by Fugaku, who welcomed him in while waiting for Itachi to finish getting ready.
"Uncle, I've been asking for the more advanced chakra theory books, and I'm still yet to get them. What's the hold-up?" Eiji asked in an impatient tone.
Fugaku began rubbing between his eyes and answered, "Things have been busy around here recently. Besides, you can get all the books you want at the academy. There's no point in me giving them to you now,".
'I asked for it two months ago! I could've been far ahead by now! What a waste…'
Eiji shook his head in disappointment. "That's not good enough, Uncle," Eiji remarked.
"You're just as blunt as your father," Fugaku said, smirking. Eiji knew the clan head was easier on him due to his father's death. He often thought his uncle might feel responsible for taking the father figure role for him.
"The boy's right, he asked you a while ago, honey," Mikoto interjected.
As the light-hearted conversation ensued, Eiji's favorite relative entered the room, running full speed at him. "Bro bro!" a young boy yelled. Eiji lifted Sasuke up, throwing him in the air and catching him again. Sasuke was younger than Eiji's sister by a year.
"How've you been, Sasuke?" Eiji asked the boy.
Sasuke giggled; he hadn't yet fully learned how to speak but understood the meaning of some words.
Eiji spent some time playing with Sasuke as he waited for Itachi. "Let's get going," Itachi said, looking back at Eiji from the doorstep.
'He was late, but he speaks as if he came early... He never ceases to piss me off!'
Eiji paused his play session with Sasuke and explained to his younger cousin that he needed to leave. Sasuke, of course, didn't understand Eiji, so when he left the house, Sasuke started crying, finally understanding what Eiji was trying to say.
"You didn't even give me enough time to do a proper farewell," Eiji moaned to Itachi. Mikoto stood at the door waving the two boys off.
"We can't be late for the entrance ceremony. I would've given you more time, but I had no choice," Itachi replied.
"Yeah, right! The only reason I couldn't give a proper farewell was that you took too damn long!" Eiji exclaimed, a vein popping out on his forehead.
Itachi retained his calm demeanor and asked, "Eiji, do you know the quickest route to the academy from the Uchiha Compound?"
'What's he planning now?'
"If you cut through downtown, then take the main road all the way up, that should get us there fairly quickly," Eiji answered.
Itachi shook his head, a dissatisfied expression on his face. "There's a quicker route. If you take the many alleyways that run through Konoha, you should be able to get there in half the time. I was late because I was studying the best route. This information will benefit both of us, as we don't need to leave our houses incredibly early," Itachi explained.
'He's got a point…'
Too stubborn to admit that Itachi was right, Eiji crossed his arms and turned his face away from him.
'I miss the old naive younger cousin of mine. Now he's a know-it-all. I should've paid at least a little attention to the map of the village instead of looking at the global landscape and known paths of traversing other nations.'
Seeing the Ninja Academy come into view, Eiji accepted his defeat and turned back towards Itachi and admitted, "You were right... This was a good use of time." Itachi simply responded with "I know," fueling Eiji's fury more.
'Now he's just trying to wind me up on purpose. I give up!'
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