Naruto groaned as the sound of his alarm clock filled his room. He reached out from under his covers trying to find the snooze button but only managed to knock the clock to the floor. Thus silencing the sound it was emitting. Wrapping the cover around him again he wondered why he had the alarm set in the first place. 'Was there something I was supposed to do today?' Naruto thought for a while but instead of coming up with an answer he only managed to drift off to sleep again. Later he was awoken again by the sound of his doorbell being rung repeatedly.

He rubbed his eyes as he got of bed and stumbled to the door wondering who would be here at this hour. He opened the door to see his best friend Sasuke standing there. Sasuke shook his head at the sight of his friend still in his pajamas clearly just waking up, "I can't believe you're not ready yet. We are going to be late."

"Late for what?" Naruto asked while scratching his head.

"Did you seriously forget what today was? You've been talking about this day all summer!" He waited for Naruto to realize what day it was but Naruto just stood there and shrugged obviously unaware of anything going on. Sasuke sighed and pinched the brim of his nose in frustration, "It's the first day of school."

"No it's not that's the eight."

"It is the eight!"

Naruto turned around and pointed to his calendar hanging on a nearby wall, "Look Sasuke there is nothing circled around today's date. I think you've got your days mixed up."

Sasuke groaned realizing immediately what Naruto didn't, "It's on the wrong month you idiot turn the page!"

Naruto walked over flipping the calendar page up to the correct month and seeing today's date circled and in bright red letters written across it said 'FIRST DAY OF SENIOR YEAR!' His mouth fell open, "IT'S THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!"

Sasuke watched from the door as Naruto ran across his entire apartment changing clothes, taming his bed hair and throwing school supplies into his backpack. He was surprised at how quickly he got ready and was soon speeding out the door past Sasuke yelling as he ran "COME ON SASUKE WE CAN'T BE LATE FOOR THE FIRST DAY IT'S THE ONLY DAY ALL YEAR THAT COUNTS!'

Sasuke rolled his eyes and threw his backpack over his shoulder, "This is going to be one very long year."

~Hyuga Household~

Tenten had barely knocked on the door of the Hyuga house when it flung open. Hinata so happy to see her friend barely let Tenten get out a hello before hugging her tightly "Tenten!"

As she hugged her back Tenten said, "Welcome back!" She noticed Hinata looked different she let her usual short hair grow up over the summer was now reaching her lower back, she was wearing some eyeliner and blush, she was losing that baby faced innocence Hinata was famous for.

Hinata had just spent the summer away with her family although she enjoyed being with her family she did miss her friends and was very happy to see them again. "Can you believe we are finally seniors?"

Tenten rolled her eyes she had been hearing Ino and Naruto talk about becoming seniors all summer, "What's the big deal with be seniors?"

"This is our last year of high school."

"So? It's not going to be any different than any of the other years of high school."

Neji overhearing there conversation came out of the house carrying both his and Hinata's school bags and said, "So then you're going to lust after me for another year than Tenten?"

Tenten turned back to Hinata, "Why did you bring him back with you? I told you to let him get eaten by a shark!"

Hinata couldn't help but smile Neji and Tenten had been like this for as long as she could remember. Tenten on many occasions stated her distain for her cousin and she told this to everyone including Neji. However, Neji never took her constant put downs and hateful stares to heart, "Oh Tenten you're just upset because you couldn't see me walking around shirtless this summer."

"Now who would want to see that?" The group turned to see Shikamaru standing at the steps of the porch.

Hinata immediately ran up to him hugging him, "Shikamaru!"

Shikamaru stumbled back a bit before catching his balance and hugging her back. "Hey Hinata, it's good to see you to." He walked over to Neji and gave him a high five, "Good to see you to Neji welcome back."

Hinata took her bag from Neji nearly shaking with anticipation, "Let's get going I'm so excited to see everyone else and to start our senior year."

Neji shook his head his cousin was always such an optimist, "Hinata you do know senior year is really no different than any other."

"How could you say that? This is our last year all together. I just have a feeling that this is going to be a year we always remember."

Shikamaru admired Hinata positive attitude he swung his arm over her shoulder and said, "Well let's get going then wouldn't want to be late on this most memorable year."

The four of them headed off to school where Sakura already was with a rather impatient Ino. Ino was practically bouncing off the stair case leading up to their high school. Sakura was started to get nauseous just from watching her, "Ino can you please relax already."

She stood still for about a full second before she started jumping up and down again making the silver bracelets she wore clang together to make an odd melody of her impatience, "I can't I'm too excited! Where are they how come no one is at school yet?"

Sakura checked her watch, "They've still got plenty of time before the bell rings."

Ino continued jumping to see if she could see her friends coming towards them, "Do you think they forgot?"

"No they did not forget, not even Naruto is dumb enough to do that." Out of the corner of her eye she saw Lee bounding up the stairs. Lee had been MVP of every team he played for since he was a freshman, making him one of the most popular guys in school and on every college sport team's radar. But he still managed to be down to earth and friendly. He waved at both the girls as he got near them, "Hey Ino, hey Sakura!"

Ino still jumping managed to only mumble a, "Hey Lee."

Sakura waved her off, "Don't mind her she's not herself today. How was your summer Lee?"

"Great I trained almost every day with Coach Gai he thinks I have a real shot of getting a full scholarship to State if I really apply myself this year. How was your summer?"

"Fine I just worked at the flower shop with Ino and hung out with my friends."

Lee grinned, "Cool, well we should hang out sometime, but I've got to go I told Coach Gai I'd meet him before class hopefully we will have a few classes together this year. See you girls later."

Sakura turned to see Ino had finally stopped bouncing, "Did Lee just ask you out?"

"What? No. All he said was that we should hang out sometime. Ino please promise me you won't go all boy crazy this year."

Ino was offended by Sakura's comment, "When have I ever…." She found herself at a loss for words as a tall light skinned boy with short black hair approached them. He shook his head to shake his bangs out his face as he asked, "Hey do any of you know where the office is?"

Ino just stood there eyes wide mouth open and trying desperately to find the words to speak. The boy continued to speak not noticing Ino's new mummified state, "It's my first day so I'm not really sure where anything is."

Sakura confused on why her friend fell so deadly silent answered by pointing behind her she said, "You go straight through these doors and down the hallway. It's the third door to your right."

The boy nodded and said, "Thanks." He threw his backpack over his shoulder and proceeded up the stairs with Ino's eyes on him until he entered the building.

"What is wrong with you, when are you ever quiet?"

Ino's body went limp and she fell onto the stairs next to her friend, "That guy is going to be my future husband."

Sakura rolled her eyes and mumbled, "Great here we go again."

Down the block Sasuke was approaching the school with Naruto leading the way ranting over their upcoming school year, "I'm telling you Sasuke this year is going to rock. We are seniors everyone is going to want to be us especially with prom, senior trip, the parties…."

Sasuke rolled his eyes, "Not to mention all the school work."

He waved him off, "Yeah, yeah if there is time." They passed a group of junior girls at the bottom of the stairs; Naruto winked at them and said, "Hello ladies looking good." The girls giggled and in unison said, "Hi Naruto, Hi Sasuke."

Sasuke ignored them and kept walking up the stairs with Naruto right behind him, "Man now that we are seniors the girls are going to be throwing themselves at us all we need to do is sit back and just pick anyone of them."

He spotted Sakura and Ino and made his way over to them, "I don't want to just pick any girl."

"Fine pick a boy then whatever you want we are seniors baby!"

Sasuke stopped short and shoved Naruto "I'm not gay you idiot."

Sakura snorted, "Yeah that's for sure."

He glared down at her, "And what was that snort for?"

"Oh come on Sasuke you've been with more girls then I can count."

"What? No I have not!"

Naruto started counting, "Well there was that girl that worked at the movies, the one that was really into vampires, the one that liked to say kawii instead of cute, the one with the purple hair, the one with the pierced…"

Sasuke put his hand up to stop his friend, "Ok so I've dated a lot of girls ok?"

Sakura mumbled, "More like hooked up with a lot of girls."

Sasuke thought it was too early in the morning to be annoyed by this many people, "What are you saying now?"

"You've never really dated a girl you mess around with them for a while then stop calling when you get bored. You're not capable of a real relationship."

"I can have a real relationship! I just choose not to." Both Naruto and Sakura rolled their eyes, "Oh screw both of you, Ino will you please tell them I am capable of having a real relationship." Ino just sat there staring of into space unaware of anything that was going on around her. "What the hell is wrong with her?"

Sakura just shook her head and said, "You do not want to know."

"Hey guys what's up?"

The three of them turned to see Shikamaru coming up the stairs followed by Neji, Hinata and Tenten. Naruto high fived Shikamaru and answered his question, "Ino's a zombie and Sasuke might be gay." Naruto managed to jump out of the way missing Sasuke's fist that was aimed at his head, he jumped down and landed in front of Hinata. "Hinata you're back! Look at you looks like someone had a very good summer!"

He tried to hug Hinata but was shoved away by Neji, "Hey what was that for?"

Neji had to deal with stupid guys trying to hit on Hinata all summer and he wasn't going to let it happen here in school, "You were getting too close."

Sasuke peaked around Naruto to get a better look at Hinata she had defiantly developed over the summer. And by the looks of guys passing by he wasn't the only one who noticed. Out of all the girls Sasuke knew Hinata bothered him less. They used to be close friends when they were little kids but grew apart as they got older. 'She does look good don't think I mind reconnecting with Hinata.' Neji quickly noticed Sasuke's longing glance, "Can I help you with something Uchiha?"

Sasuke rolled his eyes, "Nice to see you too Neji." He turned around and headed up the stairs without another word or glance at Hinata. The rest of the group started to follow suit with the exception of the Hyugas, Hinata turned to her cousin with the most anger she could muster with for her wasn't much, "Neji why are you being so mean?"

Neji had always thought of Hinata as a little sister but her naïve attitude got on his nerves a lot, "Hinata I don't want guys looking at you."

"Neji no one is looking at me. And Naruto only said I look nice because of my tan."

He shook his head; Hinata was only slightly tanned at the least she always put sunblock with SPF of at least sixty because she was afraid of burning. Although he hated it he wasn't about to burst her naïve bubble, "Ok Hinata whatever you say."

Whatever anger she had immediately faded away, she smiled and started jumping up and down, "Good now let's start our senior year!"

When the two cousins entered their homeroom the rest of the gang was already seated talking with the exception of Ino who had her eyes glued to the new guy in the front of the room. Hinata waved her hand in front of Ino's face with no change, "School hasn't even started she can't possible have a crush already?"

Sakura shook her head in disbelief, "Yep she has been this way since he spoke to us on the stairs….but it is nice for her to be silent for a while I think this is a new personal record. Maybe if we don't bother her she will be silent for the entire year."

Tenten couldn't help but laugh, "How great would that be? I wouldn't have to hear her complain about none of us having a boyfriend."

Neji took the seat closest to Tenten and threw his arm around her shoulders, "Oh poor Tenten trying to find a guy to replace your feelings for me. It's not going to happen your lust for me burns with the passion of a thousand suns no mere Konoha High Boy can take that place."

She immediately turned to the student next to her who was scribbling on his notebook and grabbed his pen and stabbed Neji in the shin with it. Neji howled in pain and pulled away from her, "OUCH TENTEN! Be careful with that wouldn't want to bruise the merchandise!"

Tenten rolled her eyes and turned back to the student she had stolen the pen from, "Hey…..oh hey Kankuro I didn't even recognize you did you get a haircut?"

Kankuro smiled sheepishly and ran his hand through his hair, "Yeah got it yesterday not to sure about it."

Tenten shrugs, "It looks good to me."

"Thanks, I haven't seen you around the dojo lately."

"I got in trouble for missing curfew so I had to do chores instead of going to the dojo. I'm so out of practice."

"Oh well I could help you get back into shape if you wanted?"

She pointed the pen at his face "You wouldn't take it easy on me just because I'm a girl? You saw what I just did to Hyuga over there!"

Kankuro put his hands up in the air in self-defense, "I wouldn't dream of it."

Neji overhearing the conversation leaned in, "You know Tenten I could help you get back into shape I am an excellent specimen of the human body." He started flexing his muscles in front of her.

Tenten reached over, "Kankuro give me back the pen!"

Just then their homeroom teacher Anko came and slammed her books on the table to get the attention of the room. "Hello class and welcome to your final year of high school." Anko was the female gym teacher and didn't care much for her job or the students she was forced to watch over. And she wasn't shy about showing her lack of enthusiasm for her job.

The entire class started to roar with excitement until Anko but up her hand to silence everyone, "These papers I'm handing to are you school schedules please do not come with me with any problems you have with them. I do not want to hear about how you want to be all the same classes as your friends all seniors have lunch at the same time socialize there. Secondly I am unfortunately required by the school to help you organize your senior trip and prom so if you're interested in helping put a note in my inbox I guess. Are there any questions?"

Before anyone can answer the bell rings dismissing the class to their first class of the day. When Sasuke entered the AP Chemistry class he wasn't that surprised to see Hinata there they had both been taking advanced placement classes since they were available to them although they rarely spoke to each other in them. What did surprise him was when Hinata noticed him and waved him over to her. Intrigued by her sudden boldness he walked over to the usual shy girl.

She pointed to seat next to her as she fidgeted in her own, "H-hey I saved you a s-seat…..if you want it. If it's too close to the f-front we could sit in the back but that's not good for your eyes. Not saying your eyes are bad or anything. It's just looking at a board from far distances can but great strain on your eyes even the length of the room can put strain on anyone's eyes. Besides we are also closer to the door so in case of an emergency we can get out quick and efficiently."

He had never heard her talk so much she was babbling so he sat down just to stop her talking. He mumbled a "Thanks" as he threw his bag on the table.

Unfortunately for Sasuke taking the seat only made Hinata talk more, "H-How w-was y-your summer S-Sasuke? M-Mine was great I-I-I went away with my family spent a lot of time at the beach as you can tell by my tan. I really like the beach. Some people don't, it can be very sandy. And the water can be too salty. So it understandable to not like beaches. But I…"

Sasuke was very relieved when their teacher walked in since it made Hinata be quite. "Hello class I am Mr. Kabuto and this is AP Chemistry. Now let's get some preliminaries out of the way early in my class you will be doing a lot of laboratory work so you will be needing a lab partner to complete this class. Choose wisely and when you're down sit with your partner."

Chairs started to scoot backwards and mumbling started within the class Sasuke started to think who he would get set up with since he had to intention of picking. When Hinata tapped him on the shoulder, "Um…Sasuke you're really good at science and I'm really good at s-science so….maybe we can b-be partners? I mean we would have no problem completing the projects if we put our minds together. You know two minds are better than one. At least that's what my father says, although I don't agree with everything he says. He is my father so I should res…."

Sasuke snapped back at Hinata, "FINE I'LL BE YOUR PARTNER JUST STOP TALKING!"

She immediately became embarrassed she hadn't noticed how much she had been talking. "Oh….ok." She sat there in silence as Mr. Kabuto started passing out papers to the class thinking to herself, 'Great job Hinata you ruined it already. You had two goals this year and you just failed both of them. I was supposed to speak out more and become friends with the only person in the group who I am not friends with any more. And now I've spoken too much and Sasuke thinks I'm weird. I can feel him glaring at me. Maybe I'll have to take a different approach we were friends before….good friends…I am sure we could at least be decent friends now…..right?' Hinata made herself focus on the class instead of the six foot tall brooding dark haired guy next to her.

~History Class~

Sakura had to drag Ino who was still in a daze to their first class. Once away from the new guy Ino finally awoken for her trance. She dreamily asked, "Sakura if you think I wish hard enough on my birthday candles I'll get the cute new boy."

Sakura couldn't help but roll her eyes and sigh, "Ino you birthday is like two weeks away."

Ino nodded, "You're right I'll have to start wishing for him now. I can't wait two weeks." Ino closed her eyes and crinkled her forehead and started mumbled "Cute guy" over and over.

Sakura let her head fall on the desk unwilling to see her friend make a fool of herself anymore. She didn't surface until she heard a familiar voice ask, "What's wrong with you two?"

She looked up to see Naruto leaning against the wall nearby, "She is wishing for the new guy and it's giving me a headache."

"Who that guy?" Naruto pointed to the new guy sitting in the first row of the class.

Ino's eyes flew open at Naruto words, "LOOK SAKURA! He is here I wished for him and he is here. My wish came true! Naruto go sit by him and find out everything about him."

"I don't want to be your spy Ino besides he is sitting in the front row. I can't sleep in the front row." He was insulted she even suggest he skip his morning nap.

Sakura grabbed his arm, "Please do it for me Naruto so it will shut her up for a little while. At least find out his name so she can stop calling him the cute guy."

"Alright Sakura for you I do this I'll guess I can sleep through my next class." He walked over and took the empty seat next to the new guy. "Hey you're new here aren't you?"

"Yes, I'm Sai." The new guy barely looked up from his notepad he was drawing on.

"Well Sai nice to meet you I am Uzumaki Naruto, welcome to Konoha High. Did you just move here?"

Sai nodded still not making eye contact with Naruto, "Yes two weeks ago."

If Naruto felt weird about Sai's unwillingness to make eye contact he wasn't showing it. Not one for boundaries Naruto grabbed the pad away from Sai, "Hey what you doodling?"

Finally forced to look at Naruto he answered a bit annoyed, "I'm not doodling I'm sketching."

"Well looks like somebody is an artist this dragon in coming out amazing."

"You think so?"

"Yeah it's so life like I'm afraid it's going to scorch me with its fire breath." He placed the pad back on Sai's desk.

Sai decided to stop sketching thinking it was probable best to focus on the conversation at hand. "Thanks."

"No problem SAI!"

"Why did you say my name so loud?"

Naruto grinned and winked at Sakura and Ino sitting a few rows behind them, "Oh sorry got something caught it my throat. So tell me what else do you like to do besides draw? Do you like ramen?"

Ino was beaming from ear to ear, "Did you hear that Sakura? Sai, his name is Sai. It's so cute! Ino and Sai!" Ino let out a loud girlish scream, "It's so cute I want to scream."

Sakura let her head fall back on to her desk as she mumbled, "This is going to be a very long year."

~Konoha High Senior Lockers~

Tenten had her gym bag wedged into the opening of her locker and was desperately trying to push it in. "Damn it mom I was only fifteen minutes late and look how weak you've made me."

Just then a pair of arms came around her and pushed the bag into her locker with very little effort. She froze when she heard the familiar voice behind her, "Have no fear Neji is here."

Tenten slammed her locker in annoyance, "Go away Hyuga you're going to make me late for class if I have to find another pen to stab you with."

"Don't worry you won't be late for American Literature with Mrs. Kureni in room 26A."

She knew the answer immediately but she still had to ask hoping and praying the answer would change, "How do you know that?"

Neji held up his schedule, "Looks like you'll get to start every day with a big ole cup of Neji just like you've always wanted."

In that moment a million ideas ran through her head most of which were ways to hurt Neji but one look at the clock made her murderous plans go away, "Look now we are going to be late thanks to you."

"Well we better run then and Tenten try to focus on the running and not how sexy I am."

Tenten growled at Neji and started chasing him down the hall and into classroom 26A where there teacher Mrs. Kureni already was, "Why hello Mr. Hyuga and Ms. Tenten thank you so much for joining us. Please take your assigned seats next to each other in the back of the class room."

Mrs. Kureni went back to detailing her lesson plan while to the two walked to the back of the room. A smirking Neji whispered, "You also get to seat right next to me all year this must be a dream come true for you."

As they took their seats Tenten mumbled to herself, "More like a terrible nightmare."

~AP Calculus~

After being one of the first to arrive in his AP Calculus class Shikamaru took it upon himself to take a little nap. He put his book bag on his desk and laid his head upon it. He was about to drift off into sleep when someone hit him on top of the head with a notebook. He turned his head and opened his eyes to see a tall blonde woman whose hair was in four short ponytails and was wearing a sleeveless short black dress with a wide red belt and matching red pumps. He thought she must be a new student since she didn't seem that much older than him, he raised one eyebrow since she hadn't spoken yet, "Can I help you?"

She glared at him not pleased with his informal tone, "What's your name?"

He noticed how very good looking she was even when she was angry he decided to sit up and give her his full attention, "Nara Shikamaru what's yours?"

"Well Mr. Nara you might want to keep that head up in class you wouldn't want to be left behind." She immediately turned and walked to the head of the class room just as Kakashi walked in.

Kakashi sat on the edge of his desk and addressed the class, "Hello and welcome to AP Calculus, I am your teacher Mr. Hatake but you can just call me Kakashi. And this lovely young lady to my right at the desk is Ms. Temari. She is a junior at Konoha University studying to become a teacher and is earning college credit by interning here as my teaching assistant this year."

Shikamaru leaned back in his chair as he starred at Temari; he thought to himself 'Maybe Hinata was right this year is going to be memorable.'