An Imperfect Spectrum

Knowing

What is up you guys? Miss me? Anywho, now that SAT season is officially over you can have your update. Yay! So here's what y'all get. Happy reading!

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Sprinting past the people in town to get to the ninja academy without getting caught is a lot easier than you would think, considering the mass of ninja that are constantly in the village.

"After you?" Sakura gestured to Itachi, then the window.

He climbed in, chakra gathered in the soles of his feet to prevent slipping as he jumped in. Sakura followed quickly after, climbing in through the window of their classroom just in time to see their panicked sensei run in, take a glance at them as if he had seen a ghost, and silently turned around to leave the room. Whoops.

Sakura gestured to their seats, which sat on opposite sides of the almost empty classroom. Several students sat in a circle, gossiping as they ate their lunch, but none of them took notice of the pair sneaking in through the window.

'They'll be shit shinobi when the grow up, ignoring their surroundings like that.' Sakura coughed in her hand, one of the kids looked towards her, sneered, and brought her attention back to her lunch.

They were about to sit in their respective seats when their now slightly composed sensei ran back in. "Haruno, Uchiha, follow me." Some of the other kids in the class, who had not noticed their presence before looked up at them as they walked towards the door.

Their sensei turned towards them after shutting the door. "That was a jonin rank jutsu. Where did you learn it?" Itachi glanced at Sakura, who stared at the teacher with a stony expression.

"Itachi?"

"Sakura showed me how."

The teacher stared disapprovingly at the pink haired girl. She continued to stare back, unnerving him.

"I taught Itachi the jutsu, because I believed he could use it without injuring himself."

"That doesn't change the fact that it is a high rank jutsu that academy students have no business knowing."

Sakura shrugged. "I read a lot of books."

The teacher stared at her in frustrated disbelief. "Fine. Return to your class. You'll stay behind after school to discuss this more."

"Yes sir."

They turned toward the door, Itachi reaching out to open it for Sakura. They entered, ignored once again by the group sitting in the back. The bell rang above head and they made their way to their tables just as the rest of the class walked in, chatting loudly amongst themselves.

The pair made eye contact as the teacher cleared his throat, quieting the masses, before beginning a long lecture on the importance of mathematics and its practical applications in the shinobi world.

*<>*

The doors of the Hokage's office bust open, revealing a breathless chunin carrying a small file. He bowed before the table before speaking.

"Lord Hokage sir, I have some news for you." The chunin straightened out before continuing. "I believe there are two students whose talents are being wasted in the academy."

Danzo stiffened in his chair before leaning forward. Hiruzen motioned for him to continue. "Report."

"Sir, students Uchiha Itachi and Haruno Sakura are more than ready to greaduate the academy. Along with the basic clone jutsu, they already show mastery of the forbidden Shadow Clone Jutsu. They are the top two students in their year, excelling in all subjects. There is no purpose for them to remain in the academy."

"Aren't they only freshmen?" Hiruzen said questioningly.

"That doesn't matter.This has happened before." Danzo spoke up, eyeing Hiruzen from his seat.

"That was a different era, this is not the age of war, old friend."

"The girl is brilliant, no?" Danzo asked the chunin.

"Yes."

"So then it'd be better for her to graduate then." Hiruzen sat back in his chair. "Very well. The girl may graduate."

The chunin stood for a moment in silence before realizing the implications of what was said. "And what of the Uchiha?"

"I suppose that-" Danzo cut him off.

"With all due respect, Lord Hokage, would it not be better for the Uchiha to graduate than for the civilian girl? She is, after all, and unknown, and may not be up to the lifestyle of a shinobi." He shifted his gaze towards the other elders that nodded with his every word. "I say we keep her in the academy for at least another semester to better gauge her abilities."

The chunin glanced back and forth between the two speakers before shuffling the papers in his hands.

"Very well." Hiruzen motioned for the chunin to bring the files closer. He pulled out the one on Uchiha Itachi, stamping it with approval for graduation. "Uchiha Itachi is approved to graduate at end of term, and Haruno Sakura is to be watched for another semester at the academy."

The chunin gathered up the files before escaping through the door.

.<>.

As the end of day bell rung, Sakura stayed in her seat, but placed her books back into her bag. A quick glance in the direction of Itachi told her he did the same, choosing to flip a kunai in and out of his hand.

After a good 10 minutes, their teacher stepped into the room, glancing at the two children before walking to the front of the room. Gaining the pair's attention by clearing his throat, he began speaking.

"You two were were reckless today. Your use of the Shadow Clone Jutsu could've been cause of major injury to you or your fellow students. However," he stared directly at Sakura, "your clones managed to protect your peers, and so I see little reason to punish you."

Sakura smirked as the teacher glared intensely at them in attempts to scare them. "That being said-" He walked towards the front row of seats, "If you attempt anything of the sorts again whilst under my tutelage, you will be held for detention after school for a month."

"Alright but," She stared at him, her gaze unyielding as sweat formed on the top of his forehead. "Your intimidation tactics need a bit more work." She smiled at him as he gulped.

A knock at the door shook him out of her gaze.

"I'll take my leave now. Haruno, you are free to head home. Uchiha, stay put." He quickly made his way out of the room, shivering slightly as he felt Sakura's eyes on his back.

"Hey Itachi, why do you think you have to stay here longer?" He shrugged. "Well, when you find out, tell me, alright?"

"Hn."

"Thanks!"

Sakura grabbed her things and made her way towards the teacher's desk. With Itachi distracted by his kunai once again, she grabbed the files that were laying across the wood and headed out the window. With the file tucked under one arm, she turned back to wave at him.

"See you later, Itachi!"