Konohagakure high school was filled with students. They ran through the hallways, screaming and laughing, no care for who they crashed into. But it was, in fact, the first day of a new school year – people were allowed to be excited, right? Besides, it wasn't as though any of the teachers would choose to stay behind to give out detention, especially not on the first day.

The high school had been founded at least twenty years ago by a man everyone referred to as the first hokage. Since then, they had had five different principals, their current one being none other then the moody, gambling-addicted, over controlling woman, Mrs. Tsunade. Glued to her side was the loyal secretary, Mrs. Shizune, as well as two old guidance counselors. The teachers were numerous, and constantly moving around. They never seemed to stick to any certain subject. Konoha high school was constantly changing; therefore, no one could ever keep track of its current state. Some said that Mrs. Tsunade changed the school's schedule so often for the sole reason of causing havoc.

And then there were the students. Like any school, there were many appointed groups that were scattered throughout the halls. Some even roamed the streets. No one ever stayed in a certain clique for long, because new students were always transferring to and from the building. It was best just to gradually drift into a certain group of friends, and move with everyone else.

The popular group was composed of fashion obsessed girls, led by Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka. The two girls were in constant rivalry with each other. They were followed around by a mess of popular wannabes, including the shy and out of place Hinata Hyuga. And, of course, trailing after them was Naruto Uzumaki, Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame, Shikamaru Nara, and Chouji Akimichi; the geeks of the school.

Neji Hguya, Hinata's cousin, was part of the group of transfer students. Gaara, Temari, and Kakuro had just transferred from Sunagakure high school as well, and were much too cold and intimidating to be approached by the rest of the students. People generally left them alone, in fear of the unknown consequences.

But of course, Gaara had a girlfriend, Aukina Tasashi, who led the group of "outcasts" in the school. They were loners – rarely even hanging out with each other. It wasn't that they couldn't make any friends, but more that they didn't /want/ any friends. Besides Aukina, there was Sasuke Uchiha, Tenten, and Sai. They all had their reasons for being left alone, though some were rather… peculiar.

Finally, there was the school's leading – and most dreaded – gang, the Akatsuki. No one spoke to them, terrified of the /known/ consequences. They remained close to invisible, drifting through the classrooms during the day, wreaking havoc at night. All that was known of the members were their names; the leader, Pain, his girlfriend, Konan, the angry one, Sasori, Sasuke's brother, Itachi Uchiha, the odd one, Kisame, the psychopath, Hidan, the masked guy, Kakuzu, the schizophrenic, Zetsu, and the annoying wannabe, Tobi. They all had some serious criminal history, and constantly got into fights with other gangs from different schools, especially a certain one, Hebi. But the Akatsuki were still on top.

"And I'm supposed to fit /in/ here?!" Deidara gaped at the front entrance of the enormous school. "What the hell?!"