Scarlet: This is just a test run, if enough people review, I'll continue writting!

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Chapter 1: Life As A Ninja

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It was another boring day at Konoha academy...that was, until we heard,

"That's it! Thanks to Naruto here, you are all going to practice your Henge no Jutsu!"

I sighed, it had to be the work of that trouble maker in the other room. The one they call Uzumaki Naruto. Well, I don't know Naruto personally, but judging from what I have seen and heard, he's been causing trouble for the whole village. Maybe if I met him or spoken to him, I would have thought differently.

Oh, my name is Murai Ari. I am a student at Konoha Academy and was close to graduating. I have long black hair that glimmers red when in the sun and unusual red eyes and black pupils.

"Yuhi Murai Ari" our teacher, Takada-sensei shouted, gaining my attention, "Have you been listening to what I was saying for the past 10 minutes?"

"No..." I couldn't help the blush that was appearing on my face as most of the class snicker and gave looks

"People like you don't deserve to be a ninja" the boy beside me stated

Usually, I didn't mind what the class thought of me, it was just this one person that gets on my nerves all the time. The way he looks at you with those calm pupiless eyes and hard stare just makes you feel usless and afraid

"Okay, lets continue with our class session, and this time, please pay attention Murai. Your graduation exams are just tomorrow. You would not want to fail it" Takada-senei sighed

"Yes, Takada-sensei" I answered boredly

It's not that I want to fail, it's just that I have already learned all these things already. How? It's easy when your Onee-chan is a jounin in Konoha.

After about 30 minutes of sensei's boring lecture, we were finally excused and I quickly left before anyone could stop me.

"God, I hate him" I muttered as I walked home

"If you paid attention, there wouldn't have been any distractions" an annoying voiced sounded from behind me

"What do you want Hyuuga?" I growled turning to face the boy from my class.

Hyuuga Neji. Top rookie in our class and from the honorable Hyuuga clan. He was wearing his usual white jacket and black pants today with his bandages around his right leg and arms.

"Nothing. I just happen to pass by and heard your mumbling while walking home" he stated as he continued walking pass me

'Grr...I just hate him!' I glared at him before I too, walked the same way. Just about 50 steps behind him

"You know, Murai, you don;t have to walk behind me. I suppose you're good enough to walk next to me" he smirked

"And ruin your perfect reputation? No thank you, Hyuuga" I stated as I contiinued to walk behind him, if not farther.

As soon as I got to my house, I quickly left Hyuuga without saying a word as I opened the door and walked in

"Konnichiwa" I heard my sister greeting me as I locked the door shut

"Onee-chan!" Laughing I ran over to her and gave her a friendly hug

"How was school today?" she asked me as we walked to the kitchen

"Boring" I summed up my whole day in that one word

"I heard that the graduation exams are tomorrow. Eat dinner and make sure you get some rest. I have a mission" Onee-chan said as she headed for the door, "Bye"

"Bye, Onee-chan. Be safe!" I called to her as I got up to fix my dinner. Nothing special. Two Onigiris should do it. After eating, I took and shower and went to bed as my Onee-chan suggested.

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Morning

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I got up as my alarm started to annoy me. Quickly shutting it off, I got ready for school just as I remembered that the exams were today.

"Great..." I mummbled as I combed my hair. I was wearing a fishnet sleeved red top with a semi-high neck and a black skirt also with fishnets. I had on arm guards and my right goot was bandaged from above my ankle to below my knee. Tieing my hair up into a ponytail, I walked out my door just as someone else happened to pass by. Someone that I hadn't wanted to see.

"Murai" Hyuuga greeted

"Hyuuga" I answered

No more words were exchanged between us as we headed for the academy. It seems that my prediction was correct. Our graduation exam was to create 3 bushins of ourself.

"Okay class" Takada-sensei ordered, "Stand in a line and wait your turn"

Hyuuga was one of the first up there. As expected, he did it with perfection and recieved his hitai-ate (headband). When it was my turn, I walked up to the chuunin/ jounin obserbing us and stood quietly

"You may begin, Yuhi Murai Ari" one of them said

Without changing my expression, I went through the needed handseals and spoke clearly, "Kage Bushin no Jutsu"

3 shadow clones of myself appeared next to me.

"Shadow Clones?" one of the judge's eyes widen before handing me my hitai-ate, which I tied around my upper right thigh, "How can you perform such and advanced level jutsu?"

"Look at my name" I murmered before turning to walk away, "The clue is right there"

Before I could fully walk out of the class room, I heard some people whispered

'She is such a show-off!'

'She makes me mad sometimes'

"Don't blame me if you're jealous!" I shouted before walking home. They let the students go home early since it was to be their last day. Just before I left the school though, I saw someone sitting on the swings next to the school without a hitai-ate. Deciding that I had nothing else to do. I walked over to the guy as I heard all the other parents whispered

'Hey, isn't that the kid who-'

'Yeah, that's him. The only one who failed'

'Can you imagine if they let someone like that become a shinobi...?'

'LOSER...'

"Is that how you treat someone?" I glared at the adults

They only gave me a hateful look for going back to congradulating their sons/ daughters.

"Hey" I walked over to the kid

"Are you here to make fun of me too?" He muttered

"No way, of course not" I smiled, something that I don't normally do around people, "I know what it's like to feel worthless too. What's your name? Let's be friends!"

"Name's Uzumaki Naruto!" he held out his hand, "What's your name?"

"So you're Uzumaki Naruto. I heard that you painted the Hokage mountain heads" I laughed, "My name is Murai Ari"

"Nice to meet you Ari!" He began to smile and I returned it

"Sorry that I can't stay long, Naruto, I have to get home" I reached into my pocket and gave him a slip of paper, "You can have this though"

"FREE BOWL OF RAMEN AT ICHIRAKU! THANK YOU ARI-CHAN!" Naruto seemed to have taken a life pill because he sprung up and was jumping happily up and down.

"Bye Naruto!" I waved before going home. Tomorrow was when we have to meet our team and new teacher. Hopefully Hyuuga won't be in my team...

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Scarlet: So...please tell me what you think!