Naruko: Chapter 003

Chapter 3.

It was a clear morning in Konoha, and Naruko awoke in her over-sized t-shirt, that she used as a nighty, and met the sun that glared through her blind with a long and loud yawn.
Today was the day she was to be assigned to a team, and meet her new sensei who would teach her more advanced techniques, not learnt in the academy, and she was excited.
She quickly downed her breakfast of toast and a glass of cold milk, before taking a shower and getting dressed.
She glanced over at the headband that lay neatly on her set of drawers and she grinned even more.

A short while later, the smile on her face was still there, as she sat at her desk.
Naruko looked around and saw all of her classmates; they all were looking at her surprised she was there since they had heard she had failed the exam. But there she sat, and with a forehead protector tied around her head, and wearing it like a hairband.
At the back, sat one of her few friends Hyuuga Hinata a shy young girl who Naruko had befriended awhile ago. Although they didn’t hang out as much as normal friends, they often spent lunchtime together.  Naruko gave her a quick wave, and pointed to her headband.
Hinata giggled, and smiled, happy that Naruko had actually passed.  Hinata adjusted her own headband, which was around her neck, and smiled a little herself.
Naruko mimed a wolf whistle and winked, as she stared at her with a ‘lookin’ hot look on her face.
Hinata blushed a deep red and looked down, embarrassed.

“Hey Naruko.” Came a girls voice. Naruko turned her head to see who it was... it was Haruno Sakura a pink haired girl from her class.
“Hey Sakura.” Naruko said happy to see her old friend. And she was an old friend. Naruko, Sakura and Ino, were once close friends, Naruko and Sakura because they were both always teased and picked on, Naruko, for just being herself, and Sakura for having an unusually long forehead. But when Ino and Sakura ended their friendship, Naruko was caught in the middle, and lost them both.
Naruko always hoped that Sakura would become her friend again, but all her attempts usually ended up getting Sakura angry.
“Naruko... you’re in the way!” Sakura said as she pointed past the blonde. Naruko turned, and suddenly realised she was sat in the same row as the class heart-throb, Uchiha Sasuke. In fact, Naruko was the only  girl who didn’t get all goo-goo eyed over the grumpy boy. In fact she found him rather irritating.
Sasuke noticed the girl staring at him. “Do you want something?” he asked in his usual non-chalant way, that irritated her.
“Go back to daydreaming about the size of your own d-“ Naruko said before being slammed against the desk in front of her by Sakura as she leaned over.
“GOOD MORNING SASUKE!” she shouted, as she  climbed over Naruko. “Is this seat taken?”

A short time passed, and the room began to fill with chatter as they continued to await Iruka, and there assignments.
Sakura was smiling as she continuously glanced over at Sasuke, who was as always, ignoring her, and everyone else in the room.
Naruko looked at Sakura and at Sasuke, still nursing a sore face. “Why is she so obsessed with him?” she was thinking, “What’s so great about that moody S.O.B?”
Naruko climbed onto the desk and moved in front of Sasuke, crouching down and staring at him. “I guess you’re ok looking.” She said, “But still... nothing to get all goo-goo eyed over.”Naruko was not impressed.
Sasuke glared at Naruko, as if he was looking at an annoying bug. Everyone was jumping up to see what was going to happen, Naruko was known for starting fights with boys, would se really start a fight with the genius?
A boy in the row in front wanted to see too, and quickly stood up, knocking Naruko by mistake, and the entire class gasped, and the hearts of every girl in the room sank, as they watched Naruko’s lips press against Sasuke’s.
They quickly parted, and both of them gagged.
“You... you stupid...” Sasuke said.
“Oh my god... I’ve been poisoned.” Naruko cried, before she got the sense of blood lust!
“S-Sakura?!”  Naruko cried as she turned to see not only an angry pink haired kunoichi... but a bunch of other girls too. They all grabbed her and pulled her away and out of the room.
“She’s so dead.” Laughed Kiba.
“Oh dear.” Hinata said, having stayed, and now worried for her friend.

Naruko lay on the ground have received her punishment, a hard right hook, and now she was nervous as the girls surrounded her, and glared at the blonde.
“Ok Naruko...” said Ino with a strict tone.
Naruko nervously waited for her to finish her sentence, when suddenly all the girls moved in closer with inquisitive eyes, “What was it like?” Ino asked.
“Was it as dreamy as I think?”
“Was it nice?”
“You are so lucky?”
“Come on... tell us how it was really?”
“Yeah... no playing around. Sasuke’s lips can’t be as bad as you pretended!”
Naruko was a little surprised by the sudden interest, and feared to say the wrong thing. Even though she had laid it on about being horrible, it wasn’t that god to her.
“It... it was... umm... ok.” She reluctantly said.
“Oh come on... you kissed the coolest guy in the class, it had to be better than that?” Sakura said as all the girls glared at her with death glares.
“Umm... Ok, ok, I admit it... it was really nice, he kisses well!” Naruko lied, panicked.
All the girls sighed happily, as if their dreams had come true.
“Oh brother.” Naruko thought, unimpressed, and disappointed in herself for saying Sasuke is a good kisser.

Soon enough they were back in class, and Iruka was giving a speech.
“You are no longer mere students, you are now Genin, the lowest rank of a Shinobi, and as novices you will now face greater challenges from this point on.” Iruka said. “My final job as your academy teacher is to divide you all into three man cells. Each of which will be mentored by a Jonin, a more senior ninja who will guide and coach you as you take on assignments.”
Sakura hoped in her heart that she would be teamed up with Sasuke. While Sasuke was annoyed that he would be teamed up with two others.
Naruko, turned around and gave a thumbs up to Hinata, hoping she would be with her friend. Hinata smiled back, hoping the same thing.
Naruko then glanced over at Sasuke, hoping she wouldn’t be paired with him.
“I made the selections so that each cell’s abilities would approximately be equal.” Iruka said.
This made Naruko a little nervous now, it suddenly got less likely she would be teamed up with Hinata.

After a short time, Iruka made it up the list and eventually got to... “Team seven... Haruno Sakura, Uzumaki Naruko and Uchiha Sasuke.” Iruka announced.
“WHAT?!” Naruko shouted. “Why with him?”
“Naruko... out of all the class Sasuke has the best grades, and you... are at the bottom.” Iruka said, “That makes you for an ideal balance, and that’s why.”
“Oh great... I’m saddled with two girls.” Sasuke moaned. “Just don’t drag me down, dobe.”
“What was that?!” Naruko cried.
“Naruko sit back down!” Sakura ordered.
Iruka sighed as he watched Sakura hold back Naruko.

After handing out the other assignments the class finally broke for lunch before meeting their new sensei’s.
Naruko walked up behind Hinata, “Hey... wanna have lunch?” Naruko asked with a grin.
“U-Umm... w-well... I... err...” Hinata said.
“She’s gonna be having lunch with us.” Said a boys voice. Naruko turned and saw Kiba and Shino. “We’re her new teammates, so I think it’s best if we stick together until we meet our Jonin instructor.”
“Oh...” Naruko said, a little disappointed.
“M-maybe later.” Hinata said.
Naruko smiled slightly and nodded, before Hinata left with her new teammates, and Naruko’s smiled disappeared again, and she looked down sadly.

Naruko went and had her lunch by herself, and thought about the day. And when it came to the team selection, she was still not happy. “This sucks.” She said to herself.  “I need to have some fun to cheer myself up.” She sighed. Then an idea hit her.

Not too far away, Sasuke was leaning against a window eating a sandwich when all of a sudden a rope was thrown around him and he was dragged inside.
“WHAT THE HE... NARUKO?!?!” Sasuke cried.
“So much for the genius. HA-HA!” she said as she jumped out of the window, leaving Sasuke tied and gagged.  “See you in class.” She laughed.

Sakura meanwhile was sat on a bench, moping, and sad she couldn’t find Sasuke, and have lunch with him.
As she sat, she dreamed of Sasuke coming up to her and telling her how pretty she was.
“Hey Sakura... wanna have lunch?” Naruko said as she approached, interrupting Sakura’s chain of thought. “Well... I’ve already had some of mine.” She giggled.
“Naruko... go away, I’m not in the mood.” Sakura said, gloomy. “I can’t find Sasuke anywhere.”
“Oh don’t bother with him.” Naruko said, “I really don’t see why you like him.”
“Because he’s cool, quiet, handsome and thanks to your info...” She frowned, still not happy with Naruko for getting Sasukes first kiss. “... I know he’s a great kisser.”
“I never said he was a great kisser.” Naruko thought to herself, not wanting to say it out loud, for fear of retaliation.
“But seriously, He’s the only person I want to be close to.” Sakura continued. “I’d do almost anything to win his attention, his respect. You know I have a crush on him, Naruko.”
Naruko looked at Sakura, she didn’t realise her crush was like that.
“Hey, I... I gotta go.” Naruko said, perhaps leaving Sasuke tied up wasn’t such a good idea after all, especially since Sakura was so sad at not being able to have lunch with her new teammate.
Naruko waved as she ran off, leaving Sakura glad she was gone... but confused as to the sudden rush.

Naruko ran as fast as she could to the room she left Sasuke, only to find it was empty, except for the ropes and the gag.

Sakura meanwhile was still sitting when she perked up at the sight of Sasuke approaching.
“SASUKE!” She said, jumping to her feet. “Wanna have lunch?”
“Breaks over.” He said, “Have you seen that pain, Naruko?”
“Oh she was here a few minutes ago, but let’s not talk about her.” Sakura said, “She’s always getting in the way, and causing trouble.” Sasuke began to pass by Sakura, as she continued, “I think it’s because she was brought up so badly.”
“You mean... Because, she had no parents?” Sasuke said as he stopped and glanced over his shoulder at Sakura.
“Yeah. She never had to answer to anyone, ever, and its made her totally selfish.” Sakura continued on, not noticing the look in Sasuke’s eyes. “If I got up to the kinda stuff she did, my parents would ground me for life.”
“Don’t you envy her being alone, not having parents nag at you all the time?” Sasuke asked.
“Noway. Kids without families always grow up selfish.” Sakura said,
“That, and lonely.” Sasuke added, much to the shock of Sakura. “Being scolded by your folks doesn’t even compare.”
“What?!” Sakura said, nervously smiling as Sasuke glared at her with a stern glare, “What’s wrong?”
“You... Make me sick.” Sasuke said before turning and leaving. Leaving a stunned Sakura standing by herself.
After he had gone out of sight, Sakura sat back down, upset. “I... I make him sick?!” she thought, “I wonder if Naruko feels the same way. I’ve been too mean. Maybe... maybe I should be nicer to Naruko, and give her a chance.”

Meanwhile, at Naruko’s house, the third Hokage was sat down.
“So... this is her apartment?” Kakashi asked.
“Yes.” The third replied, “She’s not the most organised of girls. She’s clumsy, and stubborn, but I think you have a talent for finding the best, so you’ll be good for her. And then of course... theres Sasuke of the Uchiha. Good luck with them.”
“This could end bad but... I’ll do my best.” Kakashi said.