Chapter One

Typical Day

x x x x

Tick, tick, tick...

I yawned behind my hand as I impatiently awaited for the last five minutes of class to hurry up and end. I hated taking classes at the Konoha Ninja Academy. I had no passion for becoming a ninja, but, my twin brother Naruto asked of me to join him in the academy, so I obliged. Barely.

Three more minutes and the bell will ring! I thought anxiously as I fidgeted, wanting so badly to get up from my seat and book it out the front door! I looked over to Naruto, who was dazed out in his own little dream world. Probably thinking of becoming Hokage...

I glanced around the room, noticing everyone having different expressions written on their faces. Shikamaru had an exhausted, yet bored look on his face as he nibbled on the tip of his pencil. Sakura was looking at Sasuke in an infatuated daze, while Sasuke glared out into the nothingness of his own mind.

Choji, of course, was munching on his favorite bar-be-que chips while Ino looked at him with a disgusted reaction. I couldn't help but giggle a little at her face, which sent a glare from her in my direction. I quickly turned away and blushed in embarrassment at my action.

I felt a finger tapping on my shoulder and I quickly turned around to see who it was. It was Naruto, of course, giving his huge signature grin. I smiled softly at him and mouthed a 'What?' He pointed to our sensei, Iruka, who was reading a Icha Icha Paradise novel.

I snickered with my brother, which were responded with strange glances from our peers and an obvious annoyed glare from a few others, (coughSasukecough). Oh, well. My brother and I were known as the 'Troublemaker Twins', so we decided to live up to that name, since the adults were ignorant enough to label us as that - we wanted to give 'em hell.

However, Naruto was worse with it than I could ever imagine to be. It was fun pulling pranks and goofing off sometimes, but I didn't enjoy getting in trouble and being put down by peers and elders. I didn't enjoy the nasty looks that adults sent our way, and I never really understood why most adults looked down upon Naruto and I in the first place.

Okay, so maybe the whole mischevious thing wasn't a good way to gain their respect, but hey! They didn't have much respect for us in the first place... which ticked me off, considering the fact that my brother and I didn't do anything!

Riiinnnnggggg!

"Finally!" I cheered as I bolted up from my seat, almost knocking down my chair. Naruto laughed at me as some other kids rolled their eyes and scoffed at my eagerness to leave school and go home!

"Azuki-chan! Why are you always so excited when school ends? It's not like there's anything to do at home..." Naruto asked as we exited the classroom with our peers. I smiled up at my brother, who was a good four inches taller than I. And we were both really short...

Well... I was. Although he was short now, I knew he would definately outgrow me before long...

"I just think school is boring, that is all..." I replied with a whisper. Naruto pouted, "Azukiiii! We have to study these things so we can become exellent shinobi! You're looking at the future Hokage!" Naruto grinned big while pointing to himself in triumph.

I snickered, "Yeah, I know. I just get impatient with studying..." Naruto sighed in understanding and we continued to walk down the hallway into the lobby area, where almost all the girls in the academy were in a huge group.

They were piling over the heart-throb of the academy, Sasuke Uchiha. I actually felt pretty bad for him... he just wanted some peace and quiet, but all these ignorant little fangirls didn't understand the meaning of, 'get the fuck away from me.'

As my brother and I walked by, I heard Ino whisper, "Ewww, it's her. Did you notice what she was wearing in class today? Where'd she get those rags?" I narrowed my eyes and turned around to confront her, "Excuse me? Who are you to think you can judge me? And if you have something to say, then say it to my face!"

Ino gasped at my sudden outburst, and all the fangirls turned towards me with a death glare, but I could care less. Naruto turned around and smacked a hand over my mouth to keep me from fighting, because he knew I would.

"Azuki, shh! Just ignore them!" Naruto whispered in my ear to keep me sane. Didn't help much...

"Aww, look at the pathetic little shrimp. She's so ignorant that she has to have her brother fight her battles for her," Ino mocked me, making my temper rise, along with my body temperature.

I smacked Naruto's hand off my mouth and yelled, "Excuse me?! He's not fighting anything for me! He's trying to keep me out of trouble from kicking you in your fucking face! Do you really want a new nose? Because once I'm done, you'll be lucky if you even have one left!" I screamed as Naruto had to put me in a choke hold to keep me from lunging at Ino and her little fangirl posse.

She scoffed and waved her hand, "Oh, please. Go back to the junkyard where you came from, brat. At least I have a family that loves me!" Oh, that did it. Somehow, I released Naruto's hold on me and lunged towards Ino.

First, I colecocked her in her face again and again before biting her arm and dodging a couple punches she aimed at me. All the other girls gasped and cleared the way, afraid of getting hit or so, because they totally would.

It took three boys to get me off of Ino. Naruto, Sasuke, and Shikamaru had to use a good majority of their strength to pull me off of her. It was quite hysterical, actually. I thought it was actually kind of funny that Sasuke of all people attempted to help get me off of Ino. I mean, Kiba or somebody else would've obviously joined in... but Sasuke? He doesn't even talk to anyone! Let alone break up girl fights!

Sasuke was the one who pulled me off of Ino with a loud huff as his back hit the floor and my back hit his chest. We both panted, but I was panting mostly from anger. "Why do you always have to cause trouble?" I heard Sasuke whisper in my ear, making me blush and a little more annoyed.

"You didn't have to join in, Uchiha!" I retorted as I quickly removed myself from him and stomped over to my brother. "Uhg! Look what she did! She broke my nose! I'm so telling my mom! She'll make sure you never see the light of day again, you little bitch!" Ino cried, holding her bloody nose to keep it from gushing out. Fail.

I bit my lip in anger and stormed out of the academy, slamming the door behind me very loud...

"Come on, Ino! Don't tell on her! You kind of deserved it..." Naruto smiled his cheesy smile while Ino scowled at him. "Shut up, Naruto! Go away!" Ino cried as Sakura ran up to her and gave her another box of tissues to keep her nose leakage maintained. Naruto sighed, "Ino..." "What is going on out here?!" Iruka-sensei yelled out in shock at the sight of Ino having a horribly bloody nose and all the students surrounding the lobby. It was obvious that there was a fight.

"That little Azuki-baka! She hit me in my nose! How are you going to punish her Iruka-sensei?" Ino asked through sobs and gush. Iruka sighed and put his palm on his forehead, "Naruto... what happened?" "Ino was insulting Azuki and she hit her a few times. Shikamaru, Sasuke, and I pulled her off of Ino, though," Naruto explained, trying to keep Azuki out of trouble.

"I'll have to speak with the Hokage about this. Azuki is aware that fighting is prohibited on academy grounds, unless it's sparring. I'll notify you when I have some feedback," Iruka grabbed some Incident Report papers and walked towards his classroom to fill them out, leaving his students behind to return to their duties.

Naruto sighed and went to look for Azuki-chan.

x x x x

"Uhg! Stupid Ino! Why can't she just leave me alone?! Now I'm going to get kicked out of the academy and let Naruto down!" I screamed out in anger as I infused chakra in my fist to punch a good couple of dents into some trees. It hurt my hand in the process... but I didn't care at the moment.

I was so infuriated! Uhg! I threw a few more punches and kicked a few shrubs until I heard somebody approach me from behind. I narrowed my eyes and sighed, "Go away Naruto. I'm not in the mood, okay?" "It's not Naruto," I heard the irritated voice of Sasuke retort. My brow knitted further, "What do you want?"

"To make sure you don't commit murder... it would be a shame to see you end up in jail," I could hear his smirk through his voice. God, I hated his cocky attitude! "Why would you of all people care? Aren't you more worried about becoming a great shinobi and being better than the rest of us? Take your nonchalant ass somewhere else!" I yelled, tears spilling from my eyes.

God, I was so mad.

"I would... but this is the only road that leads to my house," Sasuke replied with an emotionless expression. I rolled my eyes, "Whatever..." I mumbled as I walked away from him and towards my own home. I could feel his eyes following me, but I didn't care. I just wanted to go home and relax... I've had enough of this day.

x x x x

I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling while listening to the radio. I had been in this position for about an hour now, but I could care less. I enjoyed it that way. Naruto came in to check on me a few times and fled to the couch to watch some TV. I mouthed the words to one of my favorite songs that appeared on the radio and closed my eyes during the process.

I felt myself get lost into the song and eventually fell asleep.

I woke up to the bright sun rays dripping through my window drapes. I groaned and rubbed my eyes to wake myself up and slowly forced my body into a sitting position. I looked at my clock - 8:30 AM on a Saturday. Why am I up this early again? I sighed in defeat at my lack of sleep and swung my lean legs over the bed and scooted myself off.

As soon as I came out of my room, I could hear Naruto's obnoxious snoring. I rolled my eyes when I peeked in his room to find his exhausted body spread out over his blankets in his boxers, along with his mouth wide open with drool hanging to the side. Typical sleeping Naruto.

I figured since it was a Saturday, along with most Saturdays, Naruto would sleep in until about noon. I decided to be a nice twin sister and make him some breakfast (other than ramen). Some toast, eggs, and bacon should be swell! After I finished pretending to be a five-star chef, I wrapped the food in some foil to keep it fresh and wrote a tiny note and stuck it on our refridgerator.

Naruto -

Hey, sweety. Did you sleep well? I'm going out on a morning stroll and probably to do some shopping. We need some groceries since our milk is sour! Yuck. Anyway, I made you some breakfast. It's wrapped in foil and placed in the second shelf inside the fridge with some fresh orange juice. I hope you like it! You need something else in you other than ramen noodles all the time :) Hehehe. Love you, Naru!

Azuki-chan.

After sticking the note on the fridge, I rushed to my room and silently brushed my teeth, combed my hair, and put some clean clothes on before grabbing my purse and heading out the front door. Today was going to be an Azuki day... Lord knows I need one.

x x x x

I smiled as I walked down a street in Konoha that consisted of boutiques and other femanine stores. I gawked at a really pretty lime green strapless dress that cost more than I ever would. 1,000 yen? Bullshit. I couldn't afford it... even if I were to sell my body for the rest of my life. That's how poor Naruto and I are. God...

However, I couldn't help but linger around the window to stare at the gorgeous dress. I was so tempted to at least ask to try it on... but the clerk would probably deny me of my girly fantasies. I sighed in grief at the fact that the dress would never belong to me. Being poor sucks big round ones...

"Azuki? What are you doing here?" I heard the voice of Kurenai-sensei ask from a few feet away. I blushed bad, not noticing her staring at my constant daydreaming of dresses. I cleared my throat, "I, uhm... just wanted to see what they had on this side of town, ya know? What are you doing here?"

Kurenai giggled cutely behind her hand, "Looking for something to buy for Anko. Her birthday is coming up soon, no?" I smiled warmly, "That's right, it is! I bet you'll find something nice! Anko likes many things." She nodded her head in agreement and we continued our small talk for a few more moments before heading our seperate ways.

I glanced at the green dress in despair one last time before heading down the street to look at more expensive things that I could never even so much as hold for two seconds. I stopped dead in my tracks when I heard girly giggles. Girly giggles that belonged to Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka. Fuck.

I narrowed my eyes and took a deep breath and forced my feet to keep walking so I wouldn't get myself into trouble. Those bitches still had it comin' to them... just not yet. I can't fight here, there's too many witnesses. Sighing, I smile in relief as they didn't notice me pass by.

I decided to stop by a little restaurant to get a small bite to eat. I had a kitty shaped onigiri and some soda. I quickly nibbled upon my lunch and retreated back to my side of Konoha... the poor side. Unfortunately. Uhg.

I didn't even buy anything other than my lunch! My thoughts wandered back to that really pretty green dress that I admired so much. I let out a sad sigh and walked into the small house that my brother and I resided in. I walked into the house and noticed that Naruto was still asleep! Dummy. I peeked over at the note that I wrote him a couple hours ago and noticed that I wrote that I would do some grocery shopping... whoops.

I sat my little bag down on the counter top and chilled out on the couch and decided to watch some television until my brother woke up. However, I fell asleep myself within half an hour of watching TV...