Summary: I've done this before; meet people, share memories, then forget. Even if I don't want to. (Also, I decided to take Sakura out of this fic, so if you have complaints just don't read it. My OC has taken over the job.)
A girl about the age of 12 roamed about in the streets of Konoha. She looked completely normal; not a least bit out of the ordinary. The eyes were bright green. Her clothing was typical for it was a black tank top with off-white shorts that came to her mid-thighs. Lastly, she wore the traditional blue sandals.
She stuffed her hands inside the pockets of her shorts as if seeking for warmth inside it (which is strange because it was blazing sunny outside). Her hair was long and ebony; the locks reaching her pelvis. This certain girl's name was Rai. Rai's last name was never known for whatever the reason.
So, the girl was walking down the street, and all of the sudden, she stopped in front of a building (very well known to the village) also known as, the ninja academy. She observed the academy and walked in. 'This should be interesting…' she assumed.
A/N: By the way, I'm kind of starting the series over with my OC in it if you didn't know. Although I did kind of skip the beginning of the first episode. Whatever. Now back to the story.
While a certain hyperactive ninja sat in class thinking about everything, but paying attention, Iruka-sensei walked in and stood in front of the class as if he had something to announce. The commotion soon stopped as everyone sat properly and faced the front. Iruka finally started to speak when it seemed he had everyone's attention.
"Today, we have a new student joining today. Please welcome Rai to the academy." When these words were said, a black-haired girl with glowing green eyes walked into the classroom. She stood near Iruka scanning the people presented in front of her. After the short scanning, she bowed and said in a very cute, yet calm way, "It's a pleasure to meet you." She then smiled after the short sentence. A few of the boys' eyes turned into hearts, but it went by unnoticed by the girl.
Naruto, who had been actually paying attention to the new event, was kind of… curious. The girl was very beautiful; I mean who has black hair and green eyes? The blond's heart pounded lightly in his chest a little louder than before, but soon he realized something. Naruto knew that the girl would ignore him and just give all her attention to the heartthrob of Konoha: Uchiha Sasuke. He frowned a bit as he thought about this.
Rai had found a seat that was next to… well, nobody. The boys (who had their eyes turned into hearts) looked disappointed as she sat at the desk nobody occupied. Iruka continued with the lesson, the girl paid attention even knowing the fact that a certain boy was looking at her the whole time. Yes, knowing. She didn't seem to mind, though, because every time Iruka asked Naruto to explain something, he would murmur something strange. This, apparently, seemed to amuse her greatly, for she would giggle every time such a thing happened.
Soon, it was the end of class, and everyone was dismissed. They were also reminded that they had the exam to become Genin because it was only weeks away (which was bad news to Naruto because he kept failing the test).
A few weeks later…
The weeks had passed, and the new Genin (which was mostly everyone) who had passed the exams stood happily in the sun with other fellow ninja. They were showing-off their new headband that had the Konohagakure symbol on it. Although, majority of the academy students had passed, one hadn't. You see, this little fellow who hadn't passed, goes by the name of Naruto. The poor thing sat on a swing that was under the shades of the tree. Maybe the blond knew that people were talking behind his back, along the lines of "you know he's the only one who didn't pass" or "well of course he didn't pass, with that demon of his he couldn't be normal enough to pass."
As these conversations went on, Naruto just sat lifelessly on the swing, like an outcast. He felt as if he was alone and he'll never have friends for the rest of his life. He contemplated all of this which caused him to get even more depressed. He really thought he was going to pass this time, but they just had to make the exam based on his weakest point! He kind of got frustrated as he kept thinking like that. While he sat there, he didn't notice the figure hovering over him.
Of course, this person was Rai, the new girl that joined the academy and graduated. When Naruto didn't notice her standing in front of him, she was kind of worried. After all, who was the most hyperactive kid in the village? So she decided to do something to "wake" him up. He was looking slightly at a downward angle so she walked to the left side of where he was sitting. Then she swung her right arm around Naruto's shoulder; making him suddenly tense. Rai then bent her back forward so that they were on the same eye level and their cheek almost touched side by side. She then looked to the same direction Naruto was looking at and asked, "Does the ground look prettier when it's under the shade, Naruto-san?"
Naruto nearly fell off the swing and started panicking (not to mention blushing) so he started to stutter. "R-r-rai! I didn't notice you there! D-did you n-need so-something?" Rai straightened up, crossed her arms, her eyebrows already raised, and Naruto let out a nervous laugh. After a few moments of silence, Rai answered his question of needing something. "Well, I needed to know why you were sitting here… sulking. Just because you didn't pass the exam it doesn't mean you should be depressed."
Naruto kind of stared at her. 'Was she worried about me? Wow, a girl actually caring about what I'm thinking. That's kind of weird.' Was what he thought.
Naruto got up from the swing and admitted reluctantly. "You… you're right. But, what I don't understand is why anybody wouldn't be my friend. I mean, I'm normal… except being the class clown part and all." Rai's green eyes softened and sympathized with the poor boy. There was silence, but it wasn't either comfortable or uncomfortable. It was a neutral silence.
Because of the silence, whispers from the other students who had passed the exam can be heard… well at least by Rai. "Oh my god, that new girl is talking to that Naruto guy!" was the remark from a girl. Although this remark was too low in tone to be heard by an average ear, Rai heard every single one of her words. She gave the girl, who said those very words, a death glare. "Whom I talk to is none of your business." The iciness of the tone struck the girl like lightening. Also the fact that nobody stood up for the blond stabbed her in the head, too.
After the little scenario, Rai turned to Naruto and smiled. "If you want, Naruto-san, I could help you with your training. Plus, Iruka-sensei might let you become a Genin if you prove that you can perform the jutsu without needing to take the whole class again." Naruto didn't quite hear what she said. He was still shocked that somebody else tried to protect him. So she grabbed his shoulders and shook him slightly until came out of his thoughts. "Are you okay, Naruto-san? You look kind of… shocked."
Naruto seemed come to his senses and started to speak. "Well, of course I'm shocked! Nobody ever stands up for me. That's probably because I don't have any friends." Rai blinked for a few times then smiled for god knows how many times that day. To Naruto's surprise, she said the words he thought he wouldn't live to hear.
"I'll be your friend."
Naruto thought he had a heart attack, or that he was dreaming. 'Yeah… I'm just dreaming about this pretty girl who asked me to me my friend… I wish I don't have to wake up from this…' The green-eyed girl raised an eyebrow, and then shook her head. Naruto was a strange kid…
Soon, Rai dragged Naruto's body to where they could train. "Come on, Naruto-san. You can't get lazy if you want to become Genin." While the boy was babbling nonsense in a gibberish language, Rai smirked, but Naruto, naturally, was oblivious of it.
Later that day, into the evening, and it soon turned dark. Naruto was still training, trying to learn a jutsu from a certain forbidden scroll. 'Damn, I still can't get it perfectly. Maybe if I just… no! That's not it…' thought Naruto, 'oh, here comes Iruka-sensei! I'll show him that I can pass that exam without all the boring training.' Iruka had indeed come to the certain place he knew the blond would go to. But this certain teacher wasn't very happy because he saw Naruto and the forbidden scroll with him. That scroll contained jutsu that could wake the Kyuubi!
Iruka finally found his voice and spoke up. "Where did you find that, Naruto?" Naruto had scratches and dirt on his face, a clear sign that he had been training for a long time. The blond smiled weakly from the hard training and said, "You mean this scroll? Mizuki-sensei gave it to me. He said if I could learn a jutsu from this scroll, I could become Genin! That's why I've been training here the whole time!"
Rai was watching the whole scene from a tree. You see, she had come to train by herself because it was an old habit that she couldn't break. This is also the reason why she brought a sword with her. It was a samurai sword, a sworn enemy of a ninja, but it's all she had. But she realized that she was in perfect time for a little show. She covered her chakra completely so the Chuunin didn't sense her. 'So Naruto-san got the scroll? This could get interesting…' was her thought and kept watching.
Mizuki had soon arrived, and told Naruto about the traumatizing information that the Kyuubi was sealed inside him. Iruka desperately tried to stop Mizuki from telling him, but knowing Mizuki, he likes to see people suffer. When the fact sunk into Naruto's brain, he got frightened and ran away. Mizuki followed Naruto while Iruka followed the two. Rai raised an eyebrow. 'Ah, well. I don't have anything better to do.' Then she ran after the trio.
Teacher or not, by the end of the night, Mizuki was surrounded by at least a thousand Narutos. Mizuki, of course, was taken by surprise and didn't know what to do. Iruka was physically hurt, but Naruto's skill of performing a very advanced jutsu made him happy. Rai smiled and stifled a laugh. 'At least Naruto isn't very temperamental…' Then Mizuki got… well, beaten really, really badly. 'Oops… I think I spoke, er… thought too soon.' Rai kept watching as Naruto was asked to close his eyes while Iruka placed his own headband onto Naruto's forehead. Soon enough, Naruto opened his eyes. "Congratulation, Uzumaki Naruto, you are officially Genin!" Naruto, out of joy, hugged his teacher. Shortly, the student and the teacher left to celebrate with Ramen.
The day had come, and Rai then jumped down from the tree and her eyes wandered at the beat up Mizuki. "Well, well, well… Look who got beat up by an academy student, who apparently, now Genin. You should be ashamed." Mizuki was hovering between life and death, but he managed to choke out, "H… help me, Rai…" Rai seemed to think about this.
Then she replied, "But, if I help you, Mizuki-san, who'll know what you would tell people. I mean you're one of the few that know my secret. In fact, you're probably the only one that knows my secret." Mizuki seemed horrified. He wanted to live and have revenge on that demon! "Please… Rai, I… I wouldn't tell…" said the dying man, in a voice that was even lower than a whisper.
"I'm very sorry Mizuki-san, but I cannot save you. Good day." So she walked away, leaving a certain person to die.
A/N: Ah, yes. I'm very sorry I started out very crappy. I'm still learning how to write. So, flame me, if you will. I still would read your "review". And about Rai's little secret, well, you'll find that out later. Whatever, people… please just review.
