In the hall, the kids were lined up and talking. Making sure I didn't look back, I walked over to Shikamaru, Hinata, Choji and Shino who were the only ones not screaming in excitement.

I like to think I am a good person, and more than that, polite. I may forget to say my please and thank you all the time, but I try to be nice to everyone. Even not holding the door open felt wrong to me, and I could tell that Shikamaru knew something was up.

Which means I need to step up my acting and come up with a cover story. Quick.

"Are you okay?" Choji asked and I felt like bashing my head in the wall for how nice the kid is.

"I'm fine. Just-" before I could come up with a very realistic excuse that I totally didn't make up on the spot, the door opened again.

I made the mistake of looking over, to where Naruto was and I could see that his eyes were glassy. I was never able to do mean interactions in a video game, how was I going to completely ignore Naruto?

"Okay class, follow me to our room at 1-3." Iruka unintentionally saved me from having to bullshit my way out of this situation, and I was one of the first to get in line behind him.

I tried my best to pay attention to the maze of hallways that Iruka walked through, but honestly, it all looked the same. I do remember making a note about that being the reason why the Chunin exams were held here. At least for the first part of the exam. I can't remember for the life of me if that was canon or fandom, but hopefully things will be different enough that it wouldn't even matter. Butterfly effect and all that.

"This is our class." Iruka announced, holding the door open as he motioned for the rest of the kids to keep moving.

"Take your seat and we can begin your first day."

I ended up taking a seat in the second row by the window with Hinata and Shino. Shikamaru already moved to the back row and had his head in his hands while Choji pulled out his snacks, looking a little worried.

Honestly, if anyone here fat-shames Choji I might just get in my first fight. Normally I wouldn't fight kids, but everyone in the room was training to be killers.

Ino was already talking to some girls I recognize as the ones we played with a few times. I didn't get too friendly with them yet, since with civilians I'm focused more on the adults, but I'll have time for that in classes now.

"For now, I'm only your homeroom teacher. We will start class at this time every day except for Sundays, and breaks. Each day we'll have a different set of classes, but today we'll start with writing and reading..."

Iruka looked younger than what I remembered. Which, duh, he is younger. It's still 5 years before 'canon'. Iruka is still a teenager.

Holy shit we are being taught by a teenager.

Said teenager started handed out a small quiz to see what level we all were. For most kids, this was their first time in a formal learning environment. There was no kindergarten or pre-school. Kids here needed to be taught the basics from their parents.

Which also means that orphans start off with next to no learning.

I that time I resisted the urge to look up to see where Naruto was. It wasn't my problem to solve. If Naruto doesn't know how to read, then Iruka would just have to teach him.

I slowly filled out the paper. It was easy, and even while reading over everything carefully and double checking my characters, I was one of the first finished. I waiting until Hinata and Shino turned their sheets over before doing the same and resting my head on the table.

For all I know, the massacre could happen the next full moon. From what I've seen, it didn't seem like people were any more hostile to the Uchiha clan then they were when I start starts paying attention. But it's not like the show or manga showed it either. Not in a way I could compare and contrast without having the wiki page open. Right now all I can do is continued making positive connects and seems like a good student. Making sure that Makoto and maybe Souma are good students would help too.

Crazy that right now there are only two other kids in school, what which with Itachi graduating so early, and other kids graduating when they're 10 on average.

"Okay class, pencils down. Now let's talk about the history of Konoha while your numbers teacher arrives."

I tried my best not to sigh at the fact that I will be having to listen through a basic math class, but considering how Hinata giggled, I guess I didn't do a very good job at it.

By the time lunch rolled around, I was seriously considering taking a page from Shikamaru's book and taking a nap. The only thing of note that happened was learning that Taijutsu class will be all afternoon, and for the girls, there would be kunoichi class. Apparent the boys have Shinobi class, but it sounded more like study hall.

"Are you okay Chiyo-chan?" Hinata asked as she poked me while the rest of the class ran outside.

"I already know all of this." I told her, though it might have gotten muffled since my head was still buried in my arms.

"I was told our first year will be easy. Why? Because it is needed to make sure everyone is on the same level." Shino explained, and while I figured that would be the case, it didn't make it suck any less.

And here I thought ninja school was going to be fun.

Makoto sat down for lunch and immediately started starting at the Hyūga who had the gall to beat her in taijutsu today.

"You know, that was a really good match today Mako-chan. Sensei even mention that was the longest spare he's ever seen."

Makoto snapped her head to glare at the girl who looked more amused than scared. Tenten is one of the only girls who care more about becoming a good kunoichi rather than finding a protection spouse. Usually, Makoto wouldn't bother to befriend a civilian raised kid, but Tenten knows her way around weapons thanks to an uncle who's a shinobi grade blacksmith and is pretty good company.

"If you keep staring, the fan club will take notice Uchiha-san." Said the other girl that Makoto regular eats lunch with.

Like her, Nara Sayuri was far enough removed from the clan head that she didn't get any special training. Of course, Sayuri is like all Nara born ninja and thinks that doing the bare minimum to pass is good enough. At least Tenten trains without being forced to by her parents.

"Tch. I could take them." Makoto announced, even though she did decide to start paying attention to her own meal.

Purely by chance.

"Yes, I would love to see how you would fair against eight girls and four boys." Sayuri said in her deadpan voice and Tenten snorted out a laugh before covering it up.

"There can't be that many people who like that ass."

"Sorry Mako-chan, but I have to agree with Yuri-chan on this. We even compiled a profile during our last Kunoichi class since we were just going over coded poems." Tenten explained with a shrug.

Technical, since Makoto doesn't have a private teacher for it, she's also spouse to be in Kunoichi class. But after the first week last year, Makoto decided the time was better spent training physically and got her mom to sign here out. It wasn't required, just took her out of the pool of applicants to become the top kunoichi when she graduates. Which is fine since Makoto is aiming for rooking of the year.

"If it makes you feel better, your fan club has five boys and five girls in it. Perfectly balanced between the sexes." Sayuri then added, all without even opening her eyes.

"No that doesn't make me feel better!" Makoto yelled, shoveling as much food as she could into her mouth. "I mean, who's even in it?"

"Hmm, I wonder."

"Sayuri. Tell me."

"I don't know. I think I'm going to go back to sleep."

"Sayuri!"

The rest of the day passed painfully slow. Naruto got yelled at during math class by a teacher named Katsuo, and got yelled at later by a different teacher. Sure he was being loud, but so was most of the class. Taijutsu class ended up being just physical conditioning, and the only thing of worth that I learned was that next week we would start on the academic style katas. With that, our day was done.

"See ya tomorrow Ino!" I called out to the girl as I walked with Hinata and the boys to the front gates.

Hinata and I had private teachers and didn't need to go to kunoichi class. Kaa-chan did ask if I was fine with that since the classes are good for making friends, but since most of it is about disguise mission I declined. While I wasn't sure exactly what I wanted to go in this life, I knew that I wanted to be able to through around elemental jutsus like it was nothing. It might be childish, but if I have to deal with this dictatorship then I am going to try to have fun.

One by one, our group of five split up once we saw our parents. Or in Hinata's cause her cousin. I gave Neji a wave, which he returned with a nod of his head, before catching sight of the last person I thought I would see.

"Otou-san? What are you doing here?"

"Picking you up. How was your day." The man said like this was a normal thing that he did.

"Um, It was okay. Mostly introduction stuff." I said as we started walking, looking at my father for a moment longer before my curiosity got the better of me, "Is everything okay?"

"Why would you ask that?"

"You're picking me up. From school. Even though it's a ten-minute walk from the compound." I pointed out.

"Today's your first day."

"Aaand?"

"...Your mother asked me to."

There it was.

"Ah, got it." I said trying to hide my amusement, but from the look tou-san gave me, it didn't work.

I should probably work on that.

"I also got done with the clan meeting sooner than scheduled. This wouldn't be a common accordance."

"Of course not." I said before registering what he said. "Wait you had a clan meeting? What... how did that go?"

"It was fine."

"Had any interesting arguments?" I asked casually.

I needed to know just how the clan was viewing the situation. If they go through with a coup that would still be bad. Maybe even worse than the massacre since they would lose and be written down as the enemy.

"Chiyome, I know you want to get involved, but trust me you do not want to go to these meeting until you have to. They are very dull."

I frowned slightly, no doubting that most of them are just about budgeting and stuff like that. But still.

"Hey tou-san? Can I ask you something? Privately once we get home?"

I keep my eye in front of me even though I could see his on the back of my neck.

"I'll have to go to the police station before dinner, but we can talk for a few minutes." Fugaku said after what felt like way too long.

I nodded and allowed the rest of the walk to be quiet. I had a hard time placing Fugaku, and I need to figure out if he agreed to the coup in canon because of his own beliefs or because the clan pushed him. I hope it's the later because then I just need to keep doing what I'm doing to improve the public's view of us. But if it's the former.

Fugaku opened the door to our home for me and we both started taking our shoes off.

"We're home. Chiyome wanted to talk to me about something, we'll be in my office." Fugaku said before Mikoto could say anything.

I followed silently, starting to wonder if I could just put this off for a little longer. But what if they are planning the coup now? What if I only have a few weeks until everything goes to shit?

"What did you want to talk to me about?"

"Um, Well..." I started to say, looking at everything but my father.

"Are you happy?"

Whatever Fugaku expected me to ask, it wasn't that. "What?"

"Are you happy, like with how things are right now. In Konoha... and our clan."

"That's a very complex question Chiyome." Fugaku simply said as he leaned back in his chair, but since it wasn't him telling me to mind my own business I decided to continue.

"I know, but you're always working on making the village and our clan better, so I wanted to know what you think. What your ideal vision for both is."

"Hm...And what brought this on?"

I paused for a second, wondering if it was a good idea to tell him, but... in for a penny in for a pound right?

"Uchiha helped found Konoha, and yet I didn't see anyone working in the academy from our clan. Not to mention that we are so far away compared to the other clans, and-"

"Chiyome, you are far too observing for your own good." Fugaku interrupted with an actual sigh.

"Chiyome listen. What I'm about to tell you does not leave this room, alright?" Fugaku said and I nodded.

"There is a lot about our clan that you don't know. And a lot that the rest of the village will never know. As you've no doubt noticed, there is some... tension between the village and our clan right now. Has been ever since Madara left."

I figured that, but hearing my father say it so frankly is another thing.

"Some people think that even though we exiled him, that one day we will turn on the village like he did. And what happened 7 years ago was all the proof that some needed to believe our guilt."

"The nine-tail attack?" I asked just to make sure.

"Yes. Few know this, but Madara did the same thing when he attacked the first Hokage. But this village is as much our as it is theirs, and we will not let baseless gossip take that from us." Fugaku said, giving me a look.

"So you're just ignoring them?"

"No. We are showing them that Uchiha is a valuable member of this village. That we always have been and always will be. Nothing they say will change that Chiyome."

I nodded as I thought. Sure the whole, 'us vs them' talk isn't great, but that's good that he's still considering the village ours... right?

"But not everyone thinks that right? Yoshino-san is Kaa-chan's friend, and her family is very nice to us." I ended up asking when Fugaku didn't say anything more.

"The Nara's are a smart clan, even if they don't always use their potential to the fullest."

"Then can't you ask them for help? If this problem has been happening for so long, then maybe just showing others how strong we are isn't enough."

Fugaku gave me a look that I didn't quite understand, but it made me hopeful that maybe I was giving him some useful suggestions.

"Maybe. The elders of our clan like to think we can solve everything by our selves, but there is a reason why Konoha is made up of more than just the Uchiha and what remains of the Senju clan." Fugaku said, and I couldn't help but smile.

Look at him saying that help might be worthwhile. Seems like I was worried about nothing.

"Exactly. I bet Hiashi-san would also help if you asked."

"...I know you are good friends with his daughter, but there is no way I would ask that man for help."

"Well, maybe you could bribe him? Or if not the Hyūga then maybe Inoichi-san? Ino-chan told him that he works with interactions and stuff so-"

"I think that is enough for today Chiyome. If you need to talk about this anymore you can go ask your mother. She knows just as much about clan politics as I do. If not more." Fugaku said as he picked me up and placed me into the hall.

"Aww but I was just starting to get some good ideas!"

Fugaku looked at me one more time, then disappeared leaving only some leaves.

...

I really need to learn the body flicker at some point.

A/n: So, I didn't mean to take a year to write this chapter. I had half of it written when I updated the last chapter, and I wrote the rest three days ago. Whoops. Good news is I got a 98% on my modern physics final so even though life is kicking my ass I'm going a good job at kicking it right back.

Thank you all the kind people who have favorited/followed this story since last freaking year, and special thanks to Iail10, 00-night-eyes-00, RealistIze, Fading Feathers, ShadingWolf49, Tsuki, Anon (chapter 11), Girl-luvs-manga, xenocanaan, VenaHope, CallmeCrazylol, EmmieSauce, DannyPhantom619, and lizyeh2000 for leaving a review. Reviews are the life and blood for most fanfic writers, so I can really not thank you guys enough. Main reason why there is even another chapter to update.

I do have this story mapped out until after the chunin exams, and by then it gets very much into AU territory, so even if it takes me another year to write the next chapter (and I hope it doesn't), there will be another chapter.

Hope you all had/going to have a nice holiday!