In the Konoha spring, the trees that lined the avenue were clothed in pink and white blossoms, and the fragrance of the jasmine flowers that lined the ground wafted through the air. To see the boughs that were so bereft in the winter became so beautifully adorned lifted Akira's spirits. The floral scents became diffused in the warming breeze and the young ninja held her head high to savour it. When their petals rained down in a steady trickle a few weeks later, she feel like a bride just to walk under them.
As Akira slowly trekked from home to the Academy, she stopped to pick a few bundles of lavender, sweet and purple. The green stalks swaying in the wind, the flowers filling the air with their fragrance. Akira smiled peacefully. Nothing could disrupt the tranquility that she felt in that moment. Except maybe Naruto Uzumaki running past her laughing his head off, two shinobi hot on his heels. Akira stood as he ran past, the current of air pulled by the three people making her long black hair sway in their direction. The girl let out a breathy chuckle and calmly continued on her journey to the academy, admiring Hokage Rock, Naruto's freshly painted graffiti comically adorning the Hokage's faces.
"Oh, Naruto..."
Soon, Akira found herself on one of the main streets of Konoha, the old traditional looking buildings still colourful after years of exposure to the elements. The street was less peaceful, but the hum of voices coming from the happy villagers put a smile on the young girl's face, her dark blue eyes sparkling with happiness. Akira loved Konoha, loved the people of Konoha. That's why she swore to protect them, and enrolled in the Academy as soon as she could. Just then, a light tap on her shoulder brought her back to reality. Akira looked to her left.
"Good morning, Kai," she said.
Kai Manzo and Akira Uchiha had been best friends nearly since birth. She loved him to bits. Whether it was because of his mischievous golden eyes or wild white hair and crooked smile she didn't know, but there was nothing that was going to keep them apart. Kai and Akira met every morning on the way to the Academy and walked together. However, Akira was surprised to see him today.
"Shouldn't you be goofing off with Naruto?"
"Nope," Kai said, popping the 'p'. "He did that one all on his own."
Naruto and Kai were Konoha's resident pranksters, though Kai somehow managed to always get himself out of trouble each time, leaving Naruto to get the punishment. For some reason, Naruto didn't mind, and they remain to this day partners in crime.
The Academy was quite large and was comprised of several building that were erected over time, some parts being weathered by time other, nearly brand new. The large ancient oak tree that stood in front of the main door was beautiful as ever in the golden beams of the sun, the wind gently swaying its vibrant leaves and the small swing that hung from the sturdiest branch. Akira glanced at the large sign beside it which showed the kanji for 'fire' - it had been repainted over the weekend. The classrooms in the Academy were large and had high ceilings, based on the theory that larger classrooms lead to expansive education, expanding even to the blackboard itself which touched both opposite walls. In front of the blackboard was a podium, situated far from the students' desks and put in a position where the teacher could view everyone at once.
As with any school, students were taught a core curriculum of reading, writing, mathematics, science and geography - amongst others. These lessons were typically framed in a ninja-context, and in fact are learned in order to facilitate later instruction in tactics and strategy. Students learn the Shinobi Rules, how to strengthen their minds and bodies, and receive special lectures from veteran shinobi. They are taken through the handling of ninja weapons and tools, like shuriken and kunai, learning how to throw and wield them through target practice, as well as instructed on the basics of trap-setting. Academy students are also taught about chakra and how to use it, as well as hand seals. Shinobi classes can be broken into the basic levels of Taijutsu classes which serve as the Ninja Academy's equivalent of physical education. In taijutsu class, students are engaged in physical activities to help train their bodies and develop their stamina. Sparring is common; Ninjutsu classes provide the bulk of what potential ninja learn at the Academy. Students are taught about chakra, how to manipulate it and use hand seals, and ultimately how to use techniques such as the Transformation Technique and the Clone Technique; Genjutsu classes are focused less on how to create illusions and more on how they work. Students are taught how to determine if they are trapped in a genjutsu, and then how to release themselves from it.
Girls must also attend kunoichi classes, where they are taught about other cultures and how skills such as flower arranging will help them to blend in during an infiltration mission. Akira disliked that class very much; she preferred Ninjutsu training with the boys.
Akira and Kai entered their classroom and sat down at the place they always did. Desks were shared by three students and, as usual, Akira sat beside her other best friend Kiba Inuzuka. Kiba's personality and fighting style was complemented by his wild appearance as, while clearly human, he has several physical traits more akin to animals. Like most of his clan, he Kiba has messy brown hair, sharp black eyes, pronounced canine teeth, and nails that he can change into claws. He also has the distinctive red fang markings of the Inuzuka clan on his cheeks. He looked a little intimidating, and could be quite headstrong and sometimes egotistical, but he was loyal to his comrades and downright fun to be around.
"You're here early," Akira said, sitting down next to Kiba.
"Had to bring Hana to daycare before coming here," he said simply.
"Your mother is working this early?" Kai asked.
"Yeah, something about Naruto again."
"He painted graffiti on the Hokage."
"I'm not surprised," a voice from behind said. "Iruka sensei is gonna be late because of him. What a drag."
Though lazy by nature and finding nearly everything 'a drag', Shikamaru Nara had a rare intellect that consistently allowed him to prevail in combat. However, Shikamaru is naturally a lazy person and has inclination is to do as little work as possible. Remarkably, he is able to get away with his laziness, spending his days in class either sleeping, watching the clouds or playing games of shōgi and Go. He was easy to get along with, which is why he was another one of Akira's good friends.
"You think everything's a drag, Nara," Kai said.
"That's because everything is a drag, Manzo," Shikamaru said lazily, looking back outside.
"I just hope he doesn't get into too much trouble," Akira said, a little worried.
"There aren't many chances of that happening, Akira," the person beside Shikamaru said.
Sasuke Uchiha was, according to most girls, quite handsome. He had the same black hair as his twin sister which hung over his face and was spiked up at the back. He never spoke much and never smiled, all that thanks to their older brother Itachi, who, well, you know the story. Sasuke was a happy child, eager to please and be worthy of his family name, but he became cold towards others, unmoved by and uninterested in what they did or thought of him, choosing instead to keep to himself. His only goal in life became to take revenge for his family's deaths.
"Always the pessimist, aren't you brother?" Akira said.
Sasuke glanced at her then looked away silently. Akira sighed and turned back towards the front. Just then, Iruka-sensei walked in to the classroom, huffing and puffing, Naruto trailing behind him, bound with ropes; they'd finally managed to catch him. And now, Akira predicted, he was going to be lectured.
"I'm at the end of my rope, Naruto," Iruka-sensei said. It seemed as if he was continuing a conversation. "You failed the graduation test last time and the one before that. Tomorrow you've got another chance, and you're messing up again!"
But Naruto wasn't having it. He glared at Iruka-sensei and turned his head in a huff. Sensei was exasperated.
"Now, because you missed it, everyone will review the Transformation Jutsu!"
There was a collective groan issued from the classroom, but everyone shuffled to the front and lined up. First up was Sakura Haruno, a young girl with garish pink hair and pale green eyes that was completely infatuated with Sasuke, not that he would ever give her the time of day. Akira didn't hate her, but she didn't like her either.
"All right, Sakura here, let's do it! Transform!"
She held her hands in the appropriate seal and in a blast of grey smoke, Sakura turned into Iruka-sensei.
"You transformed into me? Good. Next!"
"Yes! I did it!" Sakura said happily. "Sasuke did you see that?"
"Next! Akira Uchiha!"
Akira rolled her eyes and went up next, nearly shoving the pink-haired girl out of the way. She placed her hands in the correct seal and didn't even speak, simply thought of transforming, and she turned herself into Iruka. He looked up and smiled.
"Great! Next!"
"This is a total waste of time," Shikamaru complained.
"Shut up, Shikamaru," Akira said, albeit with a smile. "Everything is a waste of time for you, get used to it."
"Yeah, we always pay for your screw ups!" another girl said. This time it was Ino Yamanaka, a blonde girl who was equally as infatuated with Sasuke, which made her equally as annoying as Sakura.
"Like I care," Naruto grumbled.
And it went on and on until Naruto went up last, as usual. And as usual, Naruto couldn't pass up the opportunity to goof off. He stepped up to the front and placed his hands together, but instead of transforming into Iruka-sensei, he transformed into a tall and quite naked blonde girl who greatly resembled Naruto. Taken off-guard, Iruka shrieked as Naruto transformed back into his normal self and burst out laughing.
"Got ya! That was my 'Sexy Jutsu'!"
"Cut the stupid tricks!" Iruka-sensei yelled. "This is your last warning!"
Class was dismissed soon after that, and all the students filed out of the classroom, except Naruto who stayed behind to go clean up the mess he had made of the Hokage's faces. In the meantime, Kai, Kiba, Shikamaru and herself went to the small training yard behind the school to practice their aim. Kai and Kiba used kunai to practice, Akira used shuriken (an Uchiha classic) and Shikamaru decided it was a good idea to nap underneath a tree. Eventually, a few more students joined them and even began a not-so-friendly friendly competition, which Kai won.
"You only won because Shikamaru startled me!" Akira complained.
"It's not my fault I was having a horrible dream," Shikamaru defended poorly.
"What were you dreaming about that made you screech like a girl?" Kiba barked, laughing loudly.
"Your mother."
"Hey!"
The four friends parted ways just before dusk and returned home, but Akira took a detour to Ichiraku ramen, in case Naruto was there. When she arrived, he and Iruka-sensei were there, eating their fill. Akira smiled and poked her head between the two boys. Naruto nearly fell out of his seat.
"Don't do that, Akira!"
"Couldn't help myself," she chuckled. "Can I join you?"
"Yeah, sure go ahead."
Akira took a seat beside Naruto and ordered her usual bowl of ramen. As she slowly began eating, Iruka resumed his conversation with Naruto.
"Naruto, why would you do that to the Hokage faces? I mean, you know who they are, don't you?"
"Course I do!" the boy said. He then slurped the last of his ramen. "Everyone knows. They were the greatest shinobi of their time, right? The best of the best? Undefeated ninja champs? And the Fourth Hokage is the one who saved the village from the Nine-Tailed Fox - he was the most amazing."
"Then why did you-"
"Cause I'm going to be greater than any of them! Me, Naruto, the next Hokage - a ninja legend!"
Iruka awkwardly slurped a noodle that was hanging from his mouth as he stared both quizzically and suprised at Naruto who was pointing his chopsticks at his sensei.
"So that way, everyone will have to stop disrespecting me and look up to me! Believe it!" Naruto paused, then asked a little awkwardly. "Uh, by the way, I have a favour to ask, sensei."
"You want another bowl?" Iruka asked, making Akira chuckle.
"That wouldn't surprise me," she said.
"Mmmm... no," Naruto contemplated. "I... wanna try on your headband! Come on, please!"
Iruka reached for his forehead protector. It gleamed in the low light, the engraving of the Konoha leaf constrasting with the shine of the metal it was etched on. Iruka laughed.
"What this? No way! You can only wear the Leaf headband when you finally graduate from the Academy and become a ninja. You've got to pass the test tomorrow!"
"I'm going to pass," Akira said, suddenly determined. Everything from the way she was sitting up straight to the tone in her voice showed it. "I'm going to pass, and I'm going to become the greatest I can become... No matter what!"