Nervous Takara sat in class at the Ninja Academy for the first time as the room was made bright by the yellow sunlight. She was getting along well with the other children in her class, making light conversation with them and being surrounded by them, but having to answer the same questions over and over.

"What's your name?" a friendly six-year-old girl inquired.

"Uh-- My name's Shizute (pronounced shee-ZOO-tay) Takara."

"Where are you from?" a mildly interested boy questioned.

"Tanzaku Town is where I was born and lived until now."

"Why'd ya move?" an overzealous girl more so announced than asked.

"Well-- my dad got a job at the Konoha Hospital..."

The apparent sensei, Iruka, came in to begin class and her crowd scattered to their seats, making Takara sigh in gratitude. Without bothering to introduce Takara to the class, he went right into the lesson, earning more gratitude from timid Takara. It wasn't until a compellingly cute boy, tied in rope, was flung by another sensei into the classroom did Takara think this new town held any interest.

He had a cute face with cheeks lovably stuffed with yet-to-be-grown-out-of baby fat. Blonde hair, like sunshine, puffed out in spiky tufts from his head. Baby blue eyes to die for, and mysterious slits on his cheeks. The fairy tales Takara had heard as a child, along with the romance stories she had overheard her mother reading aloud to herself when she thought she was alone, were building in Takara.

"Iruka-san! Control your student!" he demanded.

"NARUTO!!" Iruka shouted into the boy's sweet face, making Takara cringe at the sensei she thought was gentle. The other children rolled their eyes at what the had become used to. "What did you do now!!"

"Naruto!!" the other teacher pointed at Naruto, "was vandalizing the teacher's lounge!! Trying to set traps in the refrigerator and on the ceiling fan!!"

Takara let the name set into her mind... Naruto... it was sweet and reminded her of... ramen? Yes, naruto went in ramena, but it went along better with lollipops. Yes, Takara decided Naruto instead went with those lollipops that were huge-sized and had a swirl going into the middle. Sweet, sweet, Naruto.

"Go sit down, Naruto! We'll talk about this after class!!"

Naruto turned to look, pouting, at the class contemptuously judging him. His expression turned to surprise when a pretty girl sitting in the back row lifted her books from the seat next to her and gave him a come-hither stare.

After Class

The kids were piling out of the classroom, but Iruka called to Naruto.

"Naruto!! Where do you think you're going?! I said I'd have a talk with you after class!!"

Naruto and Takara shared a fleeting look but Naruto proceeded to the front of the classroom.

From the time of 3:00 to 3:26, Takara winced at every criticism and disapproval in Iruka's lecture, as she had her ear to the door, listening in. Some of the words were drowned out by the thickness of the wooden door, but most of it was clear. The speaking stopped for a while and Takara wondered if she should leave or not. Her reluctance caused her grief, however, as Naruto opened the door, to see a shocked girl through his more shocked expression.

"What were you doing?" Naruto placed his hands on his hips, suspicious as to why he was being eavesdropped on. People didn't normally take interest in him.

"I--I--I-- uh..."

Iruka, with one arm holding a bunch of papers to his side, came to the door to leave, but ended up smiling on the two.

"You waited here for Naruto?" The two children turned and looked in surprise him, one astounded that he had figured out such a thing and the other astounded that it would even happen.

"Well-- yes... I was.. going to see if Naruto-kun wanted to go to the playground or.. something. But he had to stay behind so I thought I'd wait for him..."

"Have fun, you two!" Iruka bantered, as he waved behind his head, walking away. Instead of leaving, as he implied, however, he lingered around the corner.

Nothing but silence was heard for a few moments. Then, said a cute, blonde boy:

"Want to go get some ice cream?"

Author Stuff

I can't wait to write this!! Please, oh, please keep me motivated to writing this, whether in the form of loving reviews or flames!! I HAVE to finish this!! (Summer Resolution Thing: Finish at least one fan fiction!!)

And don't worry, I WILL get more guys in here!! ;D (LOL!)

Explanations

a: Naruto's name is an ingredient that goes into ramen, and that's what Takara is referring to. Ironic, eh?