NFTA: Okay this is something I just randomly started with no real thought into the plot so don't expect much of it- not to mention its my first one. Well it takes place when our leaf ninja (Shikamaru, Kiba, Naruto, Sakura, etc.) are still in the academy and around eight or nine. Some of the characters are a bit different.

Chapter One: Bad day


"A ninja must always be prepared; to expect the unexpected. He- Naruto? NARUTO!!"

"Whu- ahh!" Naruto Uzumaki sat up, a bit of drool on his lip from sleeping on the desk.

"Ahh, who cares about this stuff anyway!" He shouted, waving his hand.

"You don't think a ninja should always be alert?" Iruka questioned with a raised eyebrow

from the front of the classroom.

" No! Who needs to be lookin' around every two seconds? I mean- argh!" Naruto stopped short

as a chalkboard eraser hit him in the face- having not noticed it soaring through the air towards

him. "Hey, what was that about!?" He yelled at his sensei, standing up out of his chair and

pointing a dramatic finger at Iruka.

"Loser," A voice called near the blonde. It was Sasuke Uchiha, the most popular boy in

school, "If you'd been paying attention you would've seen it."

"Yeah!" Naruto recognized this voice easily, Sakura Haruno, possibly the cutest girl ever in

his opinion. "Naruto your so stupid, that's the whole lesson and you couldn't even dodge an

eraser!" His heart sank a bit as the girl of his dreams scolded him.

"Enough talking, guys. Now as I was saying. You must always be in control. this means being

aware of the strengths, weaknesses, and abilities of those around you. You...

..."So that's him? You know, the one who-"

"Shh! I told you no talking about it in public.

"Oh right, sorry!"

"Mommy?"

"Yes my dear?"

"I don't like him, I don't!" Naruto raised his eyes. A tiny little brunette girl was glaring at him from the school courtyard, he knew those cold eyes all too well. A twelve-year-old ran out of the school laughing, jumping into a woman's arms, who swung her around in a circle. A young woman chuckled, touching her hands to her lips, by the voice she was the first one who spoke.

Naruto looked down at his feet and leaned back against one of the swing's ropes. Laughter, support, family, friendship...love.

It's not fair, Naruto thought bitterly, it's not fair! All of them, he looked long fully at the kunoichi-in-training. they're born into a loving family, provided with their first friends. Happy without having to do anything, friendly and fun loving. And yet… The family walked away.

And yet…they won't even lay an eye upon me. Won't even wave. They just ignore me…or stare at me with those cold eyes…why do the hate me?! Why? Why!

"Why!?" The young blonde boy shouted up to the sky, then noticed his fists were clenched so tightly on the rope they were bursting with pain.

"Oh that Ino pig!" Naruto breathed in quickly- Sakura was almost right behind the tree. Carefully balancing on the swing's seat, he grabbed hold of the rope and crouched down. Leaping, he used the rope to propel himself forward using the momentum from the jump. Unfortunately, he slammed the top of his head straight into a huge limb.

After getting situated in the tree, the young boy scuttled over to the other side and peeked out through the leaves. Sure enough, there was a pink haired girl walking down the street. Her fists in tight balls and her teeth clenched, the short haired academy student was actually stomping whether than walking.

Why does she hate Ino anyway? I mean…they couldn't be separated, well before . Hmm…

Naruto's eyes widened as Sakura turned off the street and marched towards the old tree.

Ahh! D-does she see me!? Wait- no, that's not it! She's sitting down. Whew! Close one.

"Stupid Ino! Stupid, stupid Ino!" Sakura shouted, huddled with her back against the tree. The blonde boy noticed she was crying. He crawled further out on the branch towards the road and turned around on it so he could see the pink haired girl better. She was scratched up, and had a black eye and an a small stream of blood had run down her chin out of the corner of her mouth. "I h-hate her! She and h-her stupid-d friends!" She wiped her nose on her arm and hugged her shins close to her.

"Oh, so Ino did this." Naruto clenched a fist.

Ino's so mean! She hit my Sakura! I'll get her back!

Just at that moment, the thinner part of the branch which Naruto had decided to go on snapped and he flipped through the air, smashing headfirst into the ground in front of Sakura. The pink haired girl jumped up and gasped as Uzumaki flopped to the ground on his stomach.

"Naruto, you weirdo! You were following me around again!" Haruno shouted, quickly wiping away her tears and blushing.

"No, no! I was just-" He sputtered trying to sit up, but she was already running away. "aww…

…Uzumaki walked around the streets, two bumps on his head. "I never do anything right with Sakura…its not fair." He kicked a rock. Just as that happened, he heard none other than his crush's voice. The blonde ran down an alleyway and peeked around the corner. Sasuke Uchiha was walking casually along with his hands in his pockets, though he wasn't alone. Ino and her friends were right behind him, the blonde headed girl trying to give the most popular boy in school flowers. Sakura Haruno was following behind the group, keeping her distance. She had put on long sleeves and pants to cover up her marks, and her face was now blood free and a band aid had found its way on her cheek.

"What's so great about him anyway? Thinks he's so cool…he doesn't even do anything!" Naruto slumped away, grumbling. Eventually he made it back home, kicking open the door. Uzumaki struggled to cook some ramen, he could almost cook the quick-cup meal perfectly now. After eating and doing some exercising, he climbed into bed in his lonely apartment.

"Wait…Iruka-Sensei said something before we left…oh yeah! There was something important tomorrow-a surprise! Well, at least there was something good about this day!