It was harder than I expected, in some ways, to see the Leaf village again. The last time I saw it was when I turned my back after Sasuke left. That thought sent shivers down my spine.

But at the same time, a knot of happiness and excitement was forming in my stomach, close to bubbling over as I scoped out the buildings and trees and hedges and walls and realised that the old place really hadn't changed much at all- except for the addition of Tsunade's face on the Hokage monument.

Before I could say anything, though, I was more or less tackled to the ground by a large white blob. Said blob licked my face, while blob's owner peered over it's shoulder, grinning.

"Sachi! You're back!!" I managed to wrestle Akamaru off of me and grinned.

"Yep! Back- and better than ever!" I boasted, "For one thing, I got boobs!! See!"

I didn't really understand his reaction when he flushed and sweatdropped awkwardly. Sai didn't seem to care when I pointed it out to him...

Sakura hit me over the head, "Sachi! Stop saying that to people, it's inappropriate!"

My eyes watered and I clutched my head. "You're just jealous..." I mumbled, and a vein throbbed on her head.

"Jealous of what? There's barely anything there!!" she snapped, and I hopped to my feet from where I had been on the ground.

"Well, I'm only fifteen, so I'm still gonna grow!" I pointed out, "But you're sixteen- almost seventeen- so you're probably gonna stay like that!"

Despite the fact that we were squabbling, I was rather enjoying myself. I hugged Kiba, glad to see him after all this time, but still couldn't push away my self resentment.

"Come, Sachiko, we have to report in to Hokage-sama. Naruto, Sakura, Sai, you are dismissed." Yamato said, and I nodded perkily, eyes flickering between an azalea bush I spotted, to a hummingbird, and then to a squirrel that was merrily scampering up a tree. Yes, this was what I liked about the Leaf village. It was so full of life. Everywhere you looked, something was breathing, living... loving. I sighed, and dropped my gaze to the ground.

"Ne, Yamato-taichou..?" I asked quietly, "How many people know about my..." I trailed off, not knowing the right words to express it. The brunette glanced at me as we walked.

"Your mishap with Izanami?" he asked in a low voice, and I nodded, avoiding his gaze. "Well, Hokage-sama kept it pretty hush-hush. Really, the only people that know are the ANBU, Jounin and Chunin, and then just your family. Well, and Kirigakure, of course, but..."

I flinched, and sighed again. "They're not my family anymore."

Yamato gave me an odd look, "What?"

I shook my head, "I'm an Asuka now, no longer a Yamanaka. I lost the right to call them family at the same time I lost my self-control." I said. He frowned.

"Do you think they feel that way?" he said, "Just because you no longer have the same last name doesn't make them any less family."

I said nothing, only folding my arms. He wouldn't understand. I had shamed them and myself. I had destroyed homes and killed many- I didn't deserve to be a part of their family. I couldn't face them now.

When we reached Tsunade's office, I couldn't help but straighten up and cross my arms, wringing my sleeves nervously. I wondered how the Hokage would react to me- the last time I saw her she had yelled. A lot. I had caused a lot of trouble for her and this village.

"You're finally here."

"Hai, Tsunade-sama." Yamato said, closing her office door behind us. I pursed my lips and hung back while he recounted the mission's details, informing her of our collision with Sasuke and Orochimaru (and co, Kabuto didn't deserve a mention) and numerous other bits and pieces. It was then that the blonde's gaze scanned me analytically, making me shift in discomfort.

"Sachiko-san. You seem well." she said, and I nodded curtly, somewhat anxious for her to get to the point. "You need to explain what the situation with Izanami no Mikoto is now. It is of vital importance that my village is not endangered by your presence." I flinched at her harsh words, and even more so at the pointed look she gave my newly white hair. I looked away.

"They are not uncontrollable." I began, playing with my fingers and fidgeting, "It seems that both sides are potent in rotation, the good side during the day and the bad side during the night. All that really happens is that in the day I can sense people'slife forces and their emotions along with it, while in the night I can hear the screams of dying people as they plead for life." I shivered slightly in remembrance, while Yamato gave me a shocked look. It seemed he hadn't realised why I had been leaving camp every night to be alone. "I also don't seem to need as much sleep or food as I used to. I can go weeks without either. That's all I know so far."

Tsunade nodded, then eyed me sternly, "You know, you put me in a very tricky situation with that outburst of yours. Relations with the Mist village are tenuous as it is, without one of our shinobi destroying half of their outer city and killing several citizens in a rampage. I can't afford another lapse like that again- because if it does repeat then I don't think you going to jail will be enough to appease them." I nodded solemnly- in other words, if I freaked like that again, I would probably be seen as too dangerous and killed. I frowned.

"It will not happen again." I said firmly, unable to bring myself to promise, however- because Sasuke Uchiha remained alive. Once he was dead... then, and only then, could I promise that I would never again lose control.

"See that it doesn't."  she said, then sighed. "Yamato, you are dismissed. On your way out please tell our guest to enter." her hazel gaze flickered to me, and I stared back in confusion, "You stay here, Sachiko-san."

"Um... okay..." I stopped, reaching to rub over the ridge on my spine from my scar as I waited. If I concentrated, I could feel the bumps from the metal casing along my spinal column that Tsunade had fitted all those years ago. Messing with it was something of a nervous tic for me.

The door opened, and a vaguely familiar man passed through it, his left cheek marked with a strange '4' shaped tattoo, and his hair blood red to match the ruby colour of his eyes (see link below). Said eyes were narrowed as though constantly suspicious, and thinned even more upon seeing me. Despite this, he remained silent, and I fidgeted under his glare, seeing the Kirigakure headband.

"Sachiko, this is Ihaku Asuka. He is a Mist village shinobi and a visitor of the Leaf village." I focused back on Tsunade- this Ihaku person's glare was making me nervous. But then I realised.

"'Asuka'?" I asked in surprise, glancing at him again, shocked by the mention of my own surname.

"Yes. Ihaku is a member of your clan." Tsunade informed, "He has come to train you in your clan's techniques in time for the up and coming Chunin exams, and as such will be staying at your residence for the next few months. Please treat him with respect and the hospitality that the Leaf is known for."

I remained still as I absorbed this information, then nodded, eyes wide. "H..Hai, Hokage-sama."

"Very well. You are dismissed." I turned and exited the office, followed shortly by Ihaku. I glanced back at him- he was scanning the surroundings with an unreadable look on his face.

"So, um... Ihaku-san, is there anywhere you want to see?" I asked awkwardly, and his eyes focused on me.

"Not with you, no." I didn't have time to be shocked by his rude tone, "I don't even know why I'm here. How can a useless girl like you be a kunoichi?"

"E-excuse me?!" I spluttered, and he rolled his eyes.

"Look, do you even know any decent ninjutsu? 'Cause the Asuka clan's techniques aren't for just any loser to learn." he said, and I blinked, then frowned. Did I know any good ninjutsu? I knew the basics, Kawarimi, Bunshin no jutsu... but that was it.

"But I thought the reason you were here was to teach me..?" I asked, mystified, and slightly irritated. Just who did this guy think he was?

"I ain't teaching ya unless you've got what it takes, i-di-ot." he said, dragging out the syllables of the insulting term. "And if you can't do ninjutsu then you definitely can't do Kinzokuton. But that Jiji'll be mad if I come back without having made an effort..." he sighed, rubbing his tattoo, "All right, you have three days to learn any chunin level ninjutsu. If you can't do it by then, then I'm not teaching you. Got it?"

I was speechless. What the hell was this? If this guy was supposed to teach me, then why was he telling me to go learn by myself? Even Kakashi-sensei put more effort in than this!

"But, Ihaku-san-"

"And that's 'sensei' to you, Gaki*." I ground my teeth, finally giving in to my glare.

"You're beginning to piss me off." I said through gritted teeth, and he smirked.

"Good. I'm not here to be your friend." Ihaku said, folding his arms. "Now go learn a ninjutsu and come see me in three days. Otherwise, I don't want to see that pathetic face of yours. Ja ne." with that, he turned and walked away, hands in his pockets. I glared daggers at his head until he was out of sight, then turned and walked the opposit direction, ranting to myself. What a rude guy! Calling me those things! He couldn't have been more than three years older than me, so what right did he have to act so superior? Why did I get someone like that as a sensei? And him being my clanmate as well! I was hoping that the first person I met from my clan would be much cooler than him!

"Oof!" a hand caught mine before I could fall onto my butt, and I looked up to see Shikamaru. He sighed, helping me regain my balance.

"Mendokuse..." he muttered, letting go of me, and I noticed the people with him. "Kon'nichiwa, Sachiko-san."

"Ah, kon'nichiwa, Shikamaru-san, Choji-san! Wow, you guys got tall!" I exclaimed in awe, amazed by Choji especially. I mean, they'd all been taller than me already, but before it had only been a few inches. Now, it was by about a foot!

"Well, it has been three years." Shikamaru pointed out, and I grinned, scratching the back of my head.

"Yeah, I guess. It's so nice being back in the Leaf village that I keep forgetting how long it's been since I saw everyone." I laughed, then blinked, "Oh! Hey, is Ino with you?"

"Nah, I think she's working today. She'd be happy to see you though, she was really excited when she heard you were back in the village." the Nara said, and I froze as I realised what I had done.

"Yeah, you should go see her, Sachiko-san." Choji said between mouthfuls of potato chips, and I waved my hands, smiling nervously.

"Ah, I can't, I just remembered I have somewhere to be. See you guys later!" I turned and ran away down the street, feeling their confused stares on my back as they returned my goodbye. I breathed out loudly- how could I face the girl who had looked after me and protected me when I needed it most after what I had done? I wasn't worthy to call her my sister.

I returned my mind to my task, listing off chunin level ninjutsu in my head that I knew of. I frowned- it was no good listing them off if I had nothing to learn them from! It was hopeless, I was never going to Master a new jutsu in three days!

"-dattebayo!" the indignant catchphrase attracted my attention, and I turned just in time for Naruto to skid to a stop in front of me. I blinked, just as he did.

"Sachi-chan?"

"Naruto?"

We just stared at each other for a moment, and then I laughed, reaching up to pluck a twig from his hair. "Have you been wrestling with a hedge or something?"

He flushed slightly and shook his head. "What are you doing here, Sachi-chan?"

"I could ask you the same question." I replied, flicking a couple of strands of hair out of my eyes.

"Hey, Sachi-chan! Come get ramen with me? You haven't eaten at Ichiraku's in ages, and it's even better than before 'ttebayo!" he exclaimed excitedly, and I blinked at him awhile, then smiled.

"Sure, why not?" I conceded, deciding my problem could wait until after I'd eaten. I didn't need food, but I still gained some pleasure from eating.

"So you've got three days to learn a jutsu?" Naruto said after I'd filled him in on my dilemma. "That's easy, dattebayo!"

I frowned at him, "For you, maybe. Some of us don't have enough chakra to train for three days straight, you know." I said, then balled up my fists in frustration, "And I don't even know where to begin! I don't know what my chakra nature is, so I can't do any of those types of jutsu, and I've never even tried any other types!"

"Hey.. Kage bunshin's a chunin level ninjutsu, and it's my specialty. I could teach you it, if you want, 'ttebayo." I looked up at him in surprise,

"You'd really do that for me?" he blushed and scratched his cheek, seeming embarrassed by the hopeful look on my face.

"Well, yeah... I taught it to Konohamaru before, so..." he glanced at me, and grinned, "No sweat!"

I stared at him, then grinned too, grabbing my idiotic blonde friend in a hug, "Thanks, Naruto! I don't know what I did to get a friend like you!"

"I dunno either," he joked, laughing, "Guess you got lucky."

- - -

*Gaki means 'brat'.

Picture of Ihaku: http://halcyon-sama.deviantart.com/art/Ihaku-Asuka-378952203

So! Hopefully, this marks the end of pathetic, useless Sachi and the beginning of awesome, kick-butt Sachi. It's going to be a long, and painful, process, but hopefully will be worth it in the end!

So... Yeah. What did everyone think of Ihaku? He's an asshole, right? XD Sachi's gonna have a tough time with him. But yeah, vote and comment! My exams are finished now, so hopefully I'll be able to update more often (even though I've kind of lost interest in the fandom now >.< that's surprisingly hard to write). And sorry for the late update. Well, oyasuminasai, Mina!