A Diamond in the Sand

Chapter 1: Skaters and Fake Smiles

Quote of the chapter: A champion is someone who gets up when he can't. (Jack Dempsey)

Disclaimer: For all of you who believe Naruto belongs to me I'm sorry to say it does not, but I know the guy who does actually own Naruto. His name is Masashi Kishimoto.

Naruto was enjoying the summer breeze, when Deidara came up behind him, "Yo Naruto-san, let's go skate."

Naruto smiled, "Yea, it's getting cold up here on the hokage faces."

Deidara smiled and the two headed off.

Meanwhile on the other side of town Hinata was playing the piano in the background as the other girls danced beautifully. Hinata watched Sakura do an amazing ballet move (I am a boy and don't know much about ballet, sorry). Hinata watched the girls jumping around and put on another fake smile. She hated her life, but knew there was one thing she could count on. It wasn't her good for nothing boyfriend Kiba.

She could relax and watch the blond haired, blue-eyed skater. He skated long after they all went home and she loved that about that boy. She watched the girls finished and began to finish her song as they took a bow.

At the skate park Naruto was talking with Sasuke.

"So anyways teme, I was thinkin' we could change our logo to spitfire, I wanted to get this new board." Naruto said hopefully.

Sasuke frowned, "Whatever, just make sure your wearing your Element sweatshirt to the show, we need to make sure our team gets recognized, we have been stuck down in Konoha for two years, I want to expand."

Naruto frowned as Deidara rode over, "Well ye know our team is still kinda small you know. I mean we only have 5 skaters, maybe we should recruit some new blood."

Naruto nodded, "Seems like a good idea."

Sasuke nodded, "Yea, good idea, get the other three over here."

Naruto yelled out, "YO! SHIKAMARU-SAN GET OVER HERE! LEE-SAN GET OVER HERE!"

Sasuke hits him upside the head, "Damn your loud."

Deidara looks to the two, "Art is…a bang!"

Naruto looks over to Deidara, "What the hell dude?"

Deidara gives him a sheepish grin, "It seemed like a good time."

"Whatever." Sasuke says, "Alright Shikamaru-san, Lee-san, Naruto-dobe, Deidara-san, we need some new blood for our team, and I want you guys to get us the publicity. I know Choji and Ino love our skate crew, have them help us make posters and we will post them around town."

Nato smiled at his friend, "Alright then! We will be the best skate team in Konoha! Believe it! Hey wait a second why am I always dobe, come on guys, that's cruel!"

Sasuke cuffed him, "What have I told you about saying believe it. Damn, I thought we got him over that last time."

Nato shuddered remembering that prank, probably the worst one ever.

FLASHBACK:

Nato woke up and walked into his shower. Sasuke heard the water turn on and told everyone to come in. Deidara smiled to him and ran the faucet. Shikamaru grabbed a bottle of hot sauce and Sasuke hooked up the hose to the water faucet. He then hooked the water faucet to his water gun. He grabbed some ice cubes and Shikamaru poured the hot sauce into his gun. They slowly opened the door and Shikamaru sprayed hot sauce over the showerhead making it rain on Naruto. Naruto hadn't noticed at first, but shortly after it spread to…private places and he screamed out loud. He stopped the water and started to get out when Sasuke shot the gun into the shower sending Naruto back onto his back. Screaming from the pain he fell back into the shower and lay there dazed, as Sasuke started yelling at him about saying believe it. Naruto agreed to not say those words and the group left him alone.

(This actually happened, just substitute Naruto for me T.T it hurt!)

End Flashback:

Naruto shuddered once again. Sasuke got the appropriate reaction and the five were about to head out when Sasuke stopped them, "I want Shikamaru and Deidara to do this task, Naruto get your board, and Lee follow me."

They complied and Naruto hoped on his old Element board. The board had a huge crack from one end to the other and had duck tape holding it together. The wheels were old Birdhouse that must have been on at least five other skateboards. The bearings were almost gone and the trucks had glue holding them together.

Hinata was headed to her house where her father would be mean to her, Neji would make fun of her, but Hanabi was always there for her. She sniffed as a tear ran down her cheek.

She dropped her head down and didn't notice the blond haired boy that was about to hit her.

Naruto saw Hinata just before he hit her. Hinata let out a terrified squeal as Naruto landed on top of her. Hinata blushed when she realized whom it was.

Naruto was laying flat on top of her with his leg spread out hers and his hands over her shoulder. Hinata put her head down and turned even brighter red.

"Sorry Hinata-chan, I didn't-aw no, my board!" Naruto yelled.

Hinata looked to see his board in pieces; it had hit the brick wall next to Naruto. Hinata grimaced, "I am so sorry Naruto-kun."

Naruto nodded her head, "No, I wasn't paying attention, my bad."

Naruto never understood why, but he always had a soft spot for that girl. She seemed like someone he could easily get along with. Sasuke was always talking about how all the girls were suffocating him. Naruto knew he loved it when he realized that he was the only dude on his team without a girlfriend.

Sasuke had the Ino girl, Lee had Sakura that preppy girl, Shikamaru had that biker girl, Temari, and Deidara had those one-night stand girls. He said he likes his relationships to be short and fragile, like life.

Naruto looked at the girl who smiled at Naruto. At the worst possible time Sakura, Temari, and Tenten walked around the corner.

Sakura walked up to Naruto and saw Hinata on the ground, "You trash, how dare you hurt Hinata-chan."

She looked the kid up and down, from his baggy jeans to his loose Element sweatshirt. She walked up to him and punched him dead center in his face.

Naruto flew through the brick wall as the other two girls looked at him. Tenten helped Hinata up and spat at Naruto's face. Temari shrugged and mouthed, 'sorry about them, they are probably PMSing, it's cool.'

Naruto nodded and wiped the blood that was flowing from his broken nose. He walked to the skate shop, while using the demon fox's healing powers to quickly repair the damage.

"Damn I hate her." Naruto said as he cracked his nose into place and walked into the skate shop.

Ayame was running the shop because her father was working the ramen shop.

Naruto smiled at her, "Hey Ayame-chan, where's the old man."

"No clue," said the ramen/skate shop girl, "But are you looking to buy that Spitfire board."

Naruto smiled, "Yea, my Element broke on the street, I had to walk here."

She handed him the board, "128.99, have a nice night Naruto."

Naruto smiled at her, "So anyway, I just wanted to say I'm stopping by early, I have school and some ramen would really hit the spot before the teachers spend a day confusing me."

Ayame smiled at Naruto, what a good kid.

Naruto was happy with the board he had found. He went to his house and put the board on his couch so the deck was downward and he could see the graphics beneath. Naruto looked at the rasen-shuriken wind element rasengan in the middle surrounded by kunai, and two shuriken on either end of the board. He stripped down to his boxers and turned in for the night.

****The Next Morning****

Naruto yawned and blinked slowly. He grabbed his board and changed into his baggy orange pants, and his black Spitfire shirt. He put his Element sweatshirt on over that and reached for his board.

Naruto leaped out his window and cavemaned 6 stories bellow. He infused the board with his chakra to keep it from shattering. He stopped by Ichiraku's where he grabbed a bowl of beef ramen.

Naruto decided he would actually go to school on time for once. He rode into school grounds and kicked the board into his hand. Sasuke and Ino were making out, and she had already taken her shirt off.

Naruto laughed, "Some girls."

Sasuke turned his head, "Shut up dobe," he said teasing him, "I heard you were gay."

"Ah man, people spreading rumors again, this sucks." Naruto groaned and ran to first period class, Honors biology.

Naruto blanched and reread the paper a dozen times, "HONORS BIOLOGY!" he finally screamed.

Hidan was walking by, "Shut the fuck up, damn, and convert to fucking Jashinism, damn."

Naruto had always hated that kid, he swore like he was paid for it. Naruto walked to his room, room 221. He walked in and groaned at who was in his class.

Sakura motioned at her friends, "Look who just walked in." Tenten smiled at the boy.

Naruto saw Tenten and Sakura and groaned, the teacher didn't help by asking, "Who are you?" asked Kakashi-sensei.

Naruto groaned again, "Naruto Uzumaki."

Naruto wanted to sit in the very back, but the teacher wasn't having that, "Um, Naruto I want you to sit in front of Sakura-chan, she is a star pupil and can help you."

Naruto groaned even louder and moved his stuff back down to the seat next to him.

Sakura smiled once more, "What should we do with him?" she whispered to Tenten.

Tenten smiled, "I have a few ideas."

Naruto had the worst class ever. Kakashi was not making anything better however.

"Naruto-san, what is one example of an amphibian?" Kakashi said, oblivious to the fact that Naruto had lost him at example."

"Um…well…it's…um…I guess…" other kids started giggling at Naruto and Naruto made a huge mistake. He blurted out the first thing that came to his mind, "Ramen!"

Kakashi cocked his head sideways, "Naruto, that is a food, Sakura-chan can you answer the question."

Sakura removed her eyes from Naruto and sweetly answered kakashi's question, "An example of an amphibian is a toad."

Kakashi smiled at his star student, "Correct."

Just as he was about to ask Naruto another question the bell rang, "Saved by the bell!" Naruto exclaimed.

Naruto walked to his next class. He could hear Hinata, saying something about saying no. In the hallway, two boys were surrounding Hinata, "Why not?"

Naruto noticed those two pricks, "Oi! Kisame, Itachi lay off her."

Itachi looked over to see Naruto, "Damn it! Not him again, let's jet Kisame!"

Kisame nodded to his partner and the two took off down the hall.

Naruto shifted his skateboard in his hand, "So, are you okay."

Hinata wanted him to kiss her, but she was too scared to say anything so she nodded her head yes.

Naruto smiled, "Oh good, what class are you in?"

Hinata responded by showing him her schedule, "Oh, we have Chakra Class together." Naruto said smiling at the scared girl.

Hinata was flipping inside, but smiled and nodded, "Hai, Naruto-kun."

Naruto laughed at the girl, "You sure are quiet, huh."

Hinata nodded as Sakura started to turn the corner, "Hinata, why are you with that trash."

Naruto smiled at her, "I must leave, see ya." With that said Naruto jumped on his board and did a backside tail slide down the 12 set to get to his next class.

Hinata watched him go dreamily, and Sakura didn't let this go unnoticed, "Hinata you can't seriously be falling for him, he's the lowest type of life."

Hinata put on another fake smile, the kind of smile she hated to put on, "Y-Yea S-Sakura-chan…y-your r-ri-right."

Sakura knew from her pained tone that she was just saying that to get her off her tail. Sakura sighed and told her bye. The two headed to their separate classes and finished their day.

After schools Sasuke and his team headed out. Naruto was asking him a serious question, "Why is it your so popular, but I'm…so unpopular? I don't get it."

Naruto smiled at his naïve friend, "Dude, its cause of him," with that said the five headed off, and Naruto was yelling at the demon fox inside him.

I told you it was your fault.

No, I am a spirit, I haven't done anything to you, its just how people think of you, kit.

I hate you; I just want you to know that.

The demon fox smiled sending a strange feeling towards him, as Naruto fell off the board and grabbed his head. Deidara picked him up and grabbed his board.

"Damn! Yo Sasuke-san, Naruto-dobe was arguing with fox again, we gotta wake him up."

Sasuke grimaced, "Do it."

Deidara created an ant out of clay and rested it on Naruto's shoulder, "Art is…KAI…a bang!" Deidara yelled as the ant exploded waking Naruto up.

Naruto sat up with his shirt on fire and blinked a few time, "Thanks guys."

Sakura was walking by and noticed Naruto laying there with the blood on his face, she pointed to Tenten then pointed to Naruto, "I wonder what happened to him, I hope it was painful."

Sakura motioned for the other girls to come, which they did. Hinata was the last one and wanted to stop, but Temari nodded no.

"If you help him, Sakura-chan will make your life a living hell, even though I already know it is." Temari said to her friend sadly.

"Y-yea," was all Hinata could say as she put on her fake smile to let everyone else know she was okay.

Temari hated that fake smile; the two had been best friends for the longest time, ever since the Sabaku brothers and her moved in.

Sakura smiled to the rest of her group, "It's time for ballet practice, I'm so excited."

The other girls nodded, they didn't like Sakura, but were terrified of what Sakura could do to them.

Naruto finally got up with a small scrape on his cheek and a tiny trickle of blood running down his cheek, and he smiled.

"I'm fine guys, really…I'm fine." Naruto said as he wiped the blood from his face.

Hinata smiled, she had loved him before he skated, and even in grade school. Naruto laughed and she saw the five go skating off. She was relieved he was okay, and hurried to catch up to Sakura.

***********

So that is the end of chapter 1. How did I do, I thought it was pretty good, but that depends…what do you guys think. I will continue this story even if it doesn't ever become known.

Anyways, the next chapter will be called A Skater's Promise. By the way, Naruto and his crew are only 12 in this story at the moment.

Yea, so I will continue with this story.