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Get to know me... Naomi relaxed a bit, but the situation had quickly gone from a casual hello, to an awkward state. The name, Uchiha, she recognized obviously. As one of the noble clans of Konoha it was hard for a person whom grew up within its walls, not to know of them. Unlike the Hyuuga, they did not have any defining characteristics to set them apart from others when their sharingan was not active, and in all honesty she had not pegged him as apart of that clan. However, of all the places, and people here, why did he want to get to know her? She blinked a few times, and what was quickly turning into a barrage of thought was halted.

He's just being friendly... She reassured herself as she relaxed her posture. Her hand fell away from the pouch of weaponry, and a soft smile came upon her face. “My name is Naomi,” she replied. With a raised hand she gestured out into the street, where the route curved and led back into a square populated with stands and small growing crowds as the day ebbed on. “This is not really the place to have a conversation though. Would you like to walk?” Standing in between the entrance to the academy, and in the middle of a walkway was just foolish for one and for another, if they remained long they might look a bit suspicious.

Taking a step forward, and looking up, she was beginning to realize just how much taller than her he was. She had to tilt her head up just to look into his eyes. A foot at least, if she had to guess. Although, his face still looked quite young to her. Then again, he might just be thinking the opposite of her. He had no doubt expected someone older, or maybe taller when he had called out to her. Distance had a funny way of distorting people and things. Regardless, she had no plans and from what she could tell, he did not mean her any harm. Perhaps, he was just a bit lonely, or bored. Blinking again, this time while shrugging she asked, “I could show you around the village, since you are new here?”

[OOC: Enter Continued from Hyuuga Compound ]

In the late morning hours, those just before noon, the streets of Konohagakure were quite occupied. Persons of all professions, literary backgrounds and monetary wealth, were heading to work, grabbing bites to eat and talking quietly amongst themselves. To the ears of the silent, a thousand whispers became a sea of conversation and incoherent noise. Between the taller adults, children played, ninjas and samurais, and games of a fantasy life. Their little shadows danced the most, along the many walls and into the many backstreets, turnpikes and corners of the multiple branching routes around the village. Ahead and high above, a mountain of carved faces gleamed in sunlight which shone through gathered, puffy clouds as they departed along the course of a gentle breeze, leaving the sky a dazzling painting of warm golds and reds, but mostly hues of blue.

Among the streets that directed pathways along buildings and stands, Naomi walked in between three others of her kin. The hazy whites of their eyes, and their little steps and short stature, suggested they were quite younger. They in fact, were academy students on their way to the first classes of the day. Two boys. One girl. Naomi, whom kept close to them, never allowing them to stray further than herself, was their escort. The boys bore a seal in black upon their foreheads, which matched her own, even as it was partially hidden every other step by the flowing movements of her bangs. Long and thick locks of seagreen hair that fell loosely down to the midsection of her back and curled at the tips, which were often swept to the side by a raised and sweeping hand.

Between them, she stood out starkly in comparison. Unlike the students, she wore attire befit a true shinobi. A blue and white jacket, which hid a laced-thread of black that held Konohagakure's headband in place around her neck. In the back it was tied not so tight, but tight enough to keep it from shifting as she walked. Her black pants were kept tight and flexed easily and flowed with each step she took forward, ready to compensate for any shift in weight. Upon her feet, white-black sneakers, that made soft tap-tap footfalls as she walked. She walked with shifting eyes, as if she was examining those talking, those walking, those eating and those whom stared at the four of them. Although she did not seem out of place, her face was tight-up with tension and a serious frown rested indefinitely.

“What do you think we will be learning today,” one of the boys asked. He looked up at Naomi, for the question was directed at her. His voice broke her frown momentarily, but was not enough to distract her from the streets ahead. With ease, she navigated them around those that stopped abruptly, others that in a rush, wished to pass brushing alongside of them and the many stands set up with various wares from watches, to melons, to dealers that dealt in fashion. She knew that in a few more blocks, the streets would narrow, and the amount of those that lingered would decrease. Around a few more bends, up another hill and then down one, the academy resided. There she would be able to turn her charges over to their Chuunin instructors, relieving herself of the morning duty of escort.

If only they all were excited... Masumi, was distracted by the many things they passed. Even though she had once voiced worry, in front of her father about being late, now that she was out on the streets of Konohagakure, she did not care how late they actually were. Amongst the Hyuuga, appearance and truth were two very different things. What a child did at home in front of her parents, especially one of the main house, was very different to what they did when they were away from the compound and without supervision. Naomi suspected that it was not merely coincidence that she had been charged with escorting students to the academy the past few days. Perhaps Masumi's parents had caught wind of behavior that would embarrass them, and now felt that an escort was necessary.

The narrow hallway that led out from the residential area, had a rather unique charm to it. The doors, although solid were etched in with symbols for peace and opposing forces of yin-and-yang, which separate the sides of the hakke revealed by the Byakugan. Leading away from a paneled, wooden floor, and dotted with several four-walled rooms, the hallway curved sharply in two distinct directions and connected together with the opposite, adjoining hallway, that led into the central chambers of the mansion. The outer-sphere, where the Branch family resided, served as both a militant, physical protection, and a spiritual, symbolic protection, which represented those of the Branch family whom were meant to serve as protectors of the noble lineage.

Naomi stepped out into the hallway, now fully dressed and hair straightened and long, flowing down to the midpoint of her spine. The color of sea green that highlighted and deepened into the locks of her hair, contrasted starkly with the blue and white of her jacket and the thin, layered black-mesh which held in threads, her village's headband and her tight, black pants. As she walked, her footfalls, not silent but nigh audible in the light of many other shuffling feet ahead of her, the headband held tight to her neck, and shifted only as she adjusted the tied knot in the back. In its proper place, the cursed seal, a swastika protected by two lines of black, peeked out in between her bangs.

In past times, this had caused many stares to be drawn her way. However, those that could now be called her neighbors, paid no mind to her odd representation of the mark she was forced to wear. They had thought she sought for rebellion against the caste of the Main family, however she made it openly known, that all she longed for was respect enough to live and protect those closest to her. She had no desire to stand out, despite the fact in some cases she did; nor did she want to abolish and isolate kinsmen that had longed protected Konohagakure from outsider strife. For now, living with a precious few was enough, and as a shinobi her duty to the village came before all else.

The curve of the not-so-perfect, spherical hall, turned and she walked alongside it, until an adjoining hallway beckoned. Her steps slowed as she passed the last of half of the residencies, and she turned right down the hall leading to the central chambers of the mansion. It was further along this path, that others gathered, all kinsmen, but most were of the Main family. Now that the morning was becoming not-so-early, many had already left to start their day, and the few left were children and worried parents. The latter stared with mild-annoyance, and perhaps slight hate, as she lowered her head before them in a compliant apology. She stood silent for a moment, but had already picked her charges from those. Two boys. A girl. The former bore the cursed seal, and stood close by the latter, whom skin was pale, clean and mark-free. Her ebony hair was tied into a strict bun.

“Naomi-chan,” she said. “You're late you know.” Her eyes glanced to her father that stood behind her. The curve of his lips showed disgust, but the nod he gave showed approval to his youngest. The man had seen two children previous through the academy, and one had once been close to Naomi. Sanosuke had long since begun to avoid her, and seldom spoke out of turn in argument towards his father in regards to her. His care still existed, but tradition and structure of the nobility prevented further disrespect. He had hollowed. An empty word, but true. His achievements below the norm of others, he had been caught in a sea of political strife, and was unable to pull free from it. Hiroshi, the father, had his arms folded and greeted with disdain.

She, although not open with hatred towards him, or any of those present, did take a step back and brushed some hair out of her eyes. “I'm sorry, I was only told that this duty was mine again, a few minutes ago. Are you three ready to depart, or would you rather speak to your parents in parting?” A tone riddled with politeness, but the hints of fear in it were unmistakable. For a moment, after looking so fully into their eyes, glancing rapidly between them all as they stared not at her, or her seal, but through her, she looked away; off down the hall in the hope that someone else would happen upon the small gathering and douse the growing tension between them.

I thought admin approval is only required for the Main family line not the Branch family?

Edit: Question resolved in Pm.

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Prologue: The Early Years[/i]

Naomi, translates roughly into “pleasant child or child born from beauty,” and for a time, that description was rather accurate. She, born into the Branch Family, wore simple clothing, did work and never stopped smiling. More often than naught, seen as just another “one of the guys,” a tomboy who preferred labor, and training over smelling flowers and makeup. For awhile, her albino hair, which some hope would change, made her unique.

On the day of the rite, she was four, a year older than Sanosuke whom was the next member of the Main family to turn three. In accordance with tradition, the third day of his birth marked the day the seal was placed upon her forehead. At the center of two lines, a symbol, that much resembled an old religious icon, a swastika, it was. Later, she found that although she remembered the meaning behind the seal, and how she was to serve as a protector of the Main family, she could not remember the actual process. Presumably, she repressed the memory.

Unlike most, she made no effort to hide the brand placed upon her. Only locks of her hair would come to partially obscure the symbol she was forced to wear. Among her friends, she became a leader; they quickly took her positive outlook, and although she was perhaps unaware, she spared the Main family much hatred in the years that followed. Her own display of compassion, even to those that looked down upon her, earned her a reputation as a Branch member willing to defeat hatred in any form. Although she did not like members of the Main family, she in turn gave them respect that every person deserves and hoped for some in return. In the few years that came and went, she still smiled and her hair remained in ever winter.

Around the time she started to dye her hair, her smile faded. It was at this time, shortly before she was to be enlisted into the ninja academy, that her heart had finally hardened. For years, she had hoped for a change, that perhaps the Branch family would not always be seen as servants of the Main. However, time after time again, she saw and lived through suffering and mistreatment. The brand she wore identified her, and without an effort to cover it, she was a constant post between children of the Main family and those that stood behind her. Those younger than her, she shielded; and before long she came to believe that the only thing in life that matters is protecting those you care about. The rest just falls off somewhere over the horizon and will come naturally.

The Academy Years[/I]

She entered the academy with one other Hyuuga that year, Sanosuke, a member of the Main family. Although in the years prior, they had become friends, he now had to live up to the reputation of the Hyuuga and excel in ways that she could not. He began to push her away, and soon after that, she became a daily scapegoat for him and his friends. She knew why he did it and in some ways she understood it as well. However, she sought to get away from him, and all the other staring eyes. Even though she had better scores on tests, a more natural aptitude in taijutsu and the will to train, she failed to graduate on time. In fact, she failed twice.

As a member of the Branch family, this went largely unnoticed. After all, she was expected to fail whereas the Main was expected to excel and graduate early. In this respect, Sanosuke had graduated a year early at age thirteen. However, where young Hyuuga sometimes graduated at elven and twelve, after only one or two years of training, he was on the lower spectrum of achievement. Unlike him, she did not want to be in the spotlight, or a target for her family. She failed because she wanted to. And with the extra time, she trained mostly in secret.

An instructor she had come to trust, a Chuunin, of a non-clan family by the name of Hituheru, kept a close eye on her and knew that in order to isolate herself away from her family, she had failed to excel.

In her first year, she was one of the few he had picked out that would graduate early in fact, and when she did not, and failed on the normal graduation plan, he took notice. When he confronted her about it, she had not even tried to hide the fact. The first time she had felt like she had been straining herself to hide her ability. And the second time had just been a joke of a performance.

At the time, he had asked her why she would want to fail on purpose, especially since she had the chance to outshine the Main family. “I just want it to stop,” she had replied. “I have had enough of this hate, and I am tired of seeing my friends crying in secret. Why would I make a target of myself, or them?” After that, he gave her the key to the south training courtyard, and said she could use it late at night if she wanted. She had, and he began to take her under his wing. He noted that she was particularly skilled at spotting Genjutsu with the Byakugan and after a year of training, she passed. As any teacher, he did not want to let go. He began seeking her out in the compound, and checking on her progress.

Npc's and Relations

-Obito Hyuuga-
A member of the Branch family whom lives in the compound a few doors down from Naomi. A few years ago, she took up for his son, Iruka, in a squabble between him and a Main family child; and she took quite the beaten in his defense. Since then, he has made it a point to be kind and open to her whenever they cross paths. His wife, Kaoru Hyuuga is just past five-months along in pregnancy and often tells him how helpful Naomi is around their quarters. Taking this to heart, he enjoys casual conversation and plays the role of an illegitimate uncle.

-Hiroshi Hyuuga-
A member of the main family whom acts as a overseer between the two sects. He often deals with the youth Branch members and assigns them their charges for given days. In his late twenties and still in fine shape, he was considered a prodigy as a child, but has since retreated away from shinobi life, in order to deal with internal issues. He hopes to ease disparity between the two families and eventually put an end to a hatred that has been bred between them. Although fair, he acts mainly in accordance with tradition and rules set aside, with only a small amount of leeway on a situational basis.

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