Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. :( Dear Ms. Ito Shiori,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Shinobi Gakuen. You will start school on the 4th of April.
Attached to this letter are forms, a booklist, and a booklet. Please fill in the forms and submit them to the General Office on your first day of school before lessons. We strongly advise you to read the booklet so as to fully understand our school's rules. The booklet also explains the school's history and system.
We hope you enjoy your time at Shinobi Gakuen.
Yours Sincerely;
The Five Kages
"You actually applied for Shinobi Gakuen?"
"Not me. My mom." I replied while lazily flipping through the half-an-inch thick booklet. "Mind you, she's been trying to enrol me in since middle school."
"Its the most prestigious school in the country, the best of the best. Of course she'd want to enrol you in." My best friend, Konan sniffed. "Still, what the hell made them accept your application? I thought they only take in millionaires' heirs."
I shrugged. That was a big question for me too. Shinobi Gakuen, like what Konan said, is the most prestigious school in Japan. Actually, make that the whole of Asia, perhaps even the world. Students from other coutries are known to learn and master Japanese so that they can attend lessons there. It is a school for the rich, famous, and gifted. I am definitely not famous, my father owns small silk company so we're not filthy rich, so that leaves the "gifted" part. Sure, I come in Top of the School almost every year, but that's because I spend like, 3 quarters of my life mugging books. My mother said that she had showed the lady in the office the certificates and trophies I had won in Koto competitions, so maybe that's what got me in too. She also said that the prize money I won in all of the competitions is enough to pay for my school fees too. Still, its almost too good to be true.
"Or maybe they were tired of my mother's letters and decided to just let me in." I sighed. Every year, my mother would write a letter to Shinobi Gakuen to ask them to take me in. That woman is relentless. I told her that she was thick-skinned and that Shinobi Gakuen would never let a commoner attend the school. She said that she "just wants what's best for the only child of our family, and we're not commoners", when I know that all she wants to do is to show off to her friends and the whole of the neighbourhood.
"She must be overjoyed to receive this." Konan said as she placed my acceptance letter on her table.
We're at her apartment now. Konan's almost ten years older than me, but that doesn't stop us from being the best of friends. We met at the cafe I am working at. She was an employee there for a short time. Konan's really beautiful, with short blue hair (which she wears a flower in it) and heavy-lidded gray eyes. She has a lip-piercing too and a very curvy body. Sometimes, I feel ugly standing next to her.
In addition to that, she can make beautiful and elaborate paper sculptures. She's rich too, but her parents died when she was young. They got murdered by a burglar who broke into their house.
I guess you can't have everything in life.
"Oh my god. I've spent what, 45 minutes reading this thing and I still know nothing about the school!" I threw the booklet onto the table and buried my face in the pillow that I've been hugging.
Just then, Konan's boyfriend, Pein walked in to the living room.
"Hey." I greeted. He nodded to me and picked up the booklet. "What's this?"
"Shiori's been accepted to Shinobi Gakuen." Konan replied as she sipped her tea. "School starts tomorrow and she's still clueless about the school system."
Pein's real name is Nagato, but somehow, everyone calls him Pein. He has spiky orange hair and really cool eyes. He's handsome, and looks really good with Konan. I think they've been together since middle school, but I've never seen them do couple-ly things, like kissing, holding hands, or even hugging. Once, I even stayed overnight at their house to try to catch them do things, but they didn't. Pein's really aloof.
Another thing about him is, he loves piercings. Seriously. His ears, nose and lip are pierced multiple times. His wrists and lower neck are pierced too. I didn't even know you could do that! Sometimes, I wonder if he even pierced his pen-
Okay, shutup mind.
"This brings back old memories." Pein said while scanning through the booklet.
"It sure does." Konan sipped her tea again.
They talk like a married couple. Pein should just propose to her already, and hold a wedd-
Wait.
"Brings back old memories?!"
"Yes. We were students there once. Didn't I tell you that?" Konan calmly said.
"NO?!" I could feel my mouth touching the floor. My best friend studied at one of the most renowned school of the entire universe and I didn't know that. If Konan wasn't the stoic woman she is I would have thought that she was joking.
After taking a few moments to get over that fact, I asked her, "Okay ex-Shinobi, can you explain to me the concept of the school and everything? I don't get the house/sato thing." (Pein went back to his room.)
Konan sighed and looked through the booklet for awhile.
"It seems that nothing much has changed since my time, so this should be easy. Okay listen. Shinobi Gakuen has a special school system. As you know, it is a boarding school, but students can choose if they want to stay there or not, which of course, most of them would want to choose the former. Shinobi Elementary, Shinobi Middle School, Shinobi High School and Shinobi University are all located within the same campus. Educational Stages are called Levels. 6-7 year olds would be in Level 1, 7-8 in Level 2, so on so forth all the way to age 24-25 in Level 19. You are starting University there so you will be in Level 14. Clear so far?"
I was jotting everything down on a small notepad, when it occurs to me that I can always refer to the booklet if I forget, so I threw the pen and notepad away. "Yeah continue."
"Shinobi Gakuen is a big school, so they have divided and grouped the students into 5 houses. Houses there are called sato, so there are Konohagakure no Sato, Sunagakure no Sato, Kirigakure no Sato, Iwagakure no Sato and Kumogakure no Sato. Each sato has a Kage aka a Head, which would be the Hokage for Konoha, Kazekage for Suna, Mizukage for Kiri, Tsuchikage for Iwa and Raikage for Kumo. The 5 Kages are the Headmasters and Headmistresses of the school." Konan paused for me to process everything.
"So which sato were you in, Ko-chan?"
"Me and Pein were in Amegakure, but it seems that they don't have that sato now." Konan looked away for awhile. "Obviously, each sato gets its own dormitory. The different satos don't really mix together, and the only time when they gather together would be during assembly and mealtimes. I guess that's all you need to know so far. Any questions?"
"Nope... Actually, yes. Can you repeat everything again? I want to double-check."
It was already late when I reached home. Damn that school. Why the hell must it have so many weird terms?! Can't a simple "House" do instead of what, "village hidden in the leaves/sand/whatever"?! Or a "House head" instead of "shadow?!" They make it sound like some school for Ninja. Oh wait, Shinobi Gakuen does translate into Ninja School. The founder must have been some deluded ninja wannabe. But the again, I guess special schools need special terms.
But still, why ninja-themed?! At least use something cooler and more high-class sounding. Gawd.
"I'm home!"
Almost immediately, I'm assaulted by my mother.
"Shiori! Quick! Let mommy apply this mask on your face. It will brighten up your skin!" She said while smearing some green cream on my face.
"What for?!" I tried to pry her fingers off my face, getting some of the cream on my own hands.
"Are you stupid?! If you show up tomorrow with skin like lizards, which boy would want to ask you out?! Your main objective there other than getting a degree is to get a rich, handsome boyfriend." She slapped my arm, dirtying it with the cream too. "The worst-off boy over there is probably the best candidate for a husband in any matchmaking agency. And don't you dare wipe the mask off! Leave it on for an hour or so."
I rolled my eyes and walked up the stairs, where I bumped into my dad.
"AHH!!!?!! Oh its just you, Shiori. God, I thought I'd seen a ghost." He placed a hand on his chest while staring at me.
"Oh shutup, Dad. Its some mask mom made me wear."
"Did she buy another beauty product again!? Oh my God I thought I told her to stop spending so much money already!" He yelled. "Prices are going up now you know! And we just spent a great deal of money on your uniform and books. Tell your mom we won't be buying any meat next week."
This is my dad. The stingiest cheapskate you will ever meet. His goal in life is to save and keep every Yen. Its not like he's poor. On the contary, he owns a silk company. It might be small but he's doing quite well. Whenever we go out, he would spend as little money as possible and take as many freebies as possible. I remember that one time when he purposely walked past this woman who's giving out free tissue packs 20 times. And he's always going on about prices and bills. To him, spending money is like hacking off one of his limbs.
He is the complete opposite of my mother.
My mom is a shopaholic. Her goal in life is to spend every Yen. I've never seen her come home empty-handed. And she hankers after branded goods. She's the mortal enemy of dad. How they fell in love and got married, I have no idea. Another thing about her, she likes to act like some rich woman. She and her friend, Keiko, will often go for high tea and act like the wives of millionaires. Which they are not.
Talk about embarrassing parents.
"Speaking of school, you better sleep early tonight. Tomorrow's your first day. I've already packed your clothes and books, and ironed out your uniform." Dad placed a hand on my shoulder.
"I don't think I'll be staying there tomorrow, so I won't be bringing the clothes. But thanks anyway." I gave him a grateful smile.
"My daughter, all grown up and attending Shinobi Gakuen. I am so proud of you." He patted my shoulder a few times. not hiding the beam on his face. I felt a sudden rush of affection for him and gave him a hug. He might be an irritating miser at times, but I still love him.
And my mom too of course.
Then all of a sudden, he pushed me away.
"You got the goo on my face! Now I have to wash it off!" He scowled and bustled away to the bathroom, muttering something about "wasting water unnecessarily" and "water prices being very expensive now".
The mask is still on my face, and an hour isn't over yet. So I took the time to relax and lie down on my bed, staring at the ceiling.
I don't think I will be able to sleep tonight. I mean, I'm attending Shinobi Gakuen tomorrow! How can one not be excited?! It is the best and most prestigious school, the school for the elites of the elites. Along with the excitement, there's also fear. What if I can't fit in? I come from an above-average family. The other students there come from above-the-top families. They talk Prada and Chanel, and I talk Nameless Brand. And since I'm considered as a "commoner", I can't help but feel that I will be the subject of bullying over there. Konan said that rich people are extreme bitches too.
Konan told me to keep a low profile on my first day. Avoid attention and keep to myself. Observe the students and see who the nice ones are, and approach them next time.
I think I will go along with that.
But still, I don't think that anyone over there will have something in common with me.
Oh my God. What if I end up being the one that keeps getting shoved into lockers?! What if they put thumbtacks in my uniform, cut holes in my bag, dump water on me, throw eggs, and call me names everytime they see me?! I don't think I will be able to take it. And if I want to transfer out, my parents will be all sad and depressed, especially Mom (maybe Dad won't be since he will be saving alot of money if I quit). Then I will not be able to take the guilt and it will add on to my troubles and I will want to commit suicide.
But then again, maybe I'm thinking too much. Maybe somehow, I will end up being one of the popular "It Girls"! And meet a handsome, smart and rich guy and we will fall in love. We will have our own share of arguments, break up for awhile, then realise that we're meant for each other, patch up and get married. We could travel around the world for our honeymoon, then we'll have babies and-
Zzz.
Crap. I fell asleep with the mask on.
Luckily, it had dried and didn't make a mess on my bed.
I slammed my hand on the alarm clock and tried to go back to sleep. Damn, I had a good dream. It was about me and this incredibly handsome and rich guy and we were holding hands and walking along the beach and-
Wait, handsome and rich guy?
OH MY GOD I FORGOT TODAY'S MY FIRST DAY AT SHINOBI GAKUEN.
I wrestled with my comforter and bedsheets and rolled out of bed (painfully hitting my head against the bedstand in the process), and rushed to the toilet.
I quickly showered and brushed my teeth, and pulled my uniform on together. Looking at my reflection in the mirror, I have to say that I look good in the uniform. The black blazer is smart and it goes well with the white collared shirt, red tie and the pleated plaid skirt. And amazingly, the colours don't clash with my blue hair. Its blue because Konan dyed it. She said that she wants us to have matching hair to look like sisters and BFFs (I think she was drunk at that time). In the end, the colour grew on me and I've kept it that way since.
Anyway, that's not the time for that. I ran down the stairs and to the dining table, expecting a good breakfast.
Mom would probably be so happy today that she'll whip me up all my favourite food! Maybe there's french toast, eggs, waffles, and pancakes! Or sausages, ham, and....
I only see a small piece of toast and a cup of milk.
"Shiori! Eat your breakfast while I do your hair." She held up a brush and hairdryer. "And don't give me that look! I don't want you going to school looking like a fat pig."
She then attacked my hair with the brush while I bit down on my toast. So much for nice breakfast.
"Where's Dad?" I ask after gulping down some milk.
"He's outside waiting for us. He woke up early today to polish the car you know." She shouted through the noisy "wrrrrrr" of the hairdryer.
As if on cue, a honk came from the outside.
Mom finished my hair the same time I finished my food. She suddenly cupped my face.
"I'm so lucky to have such a pretty and talented daughter." She said in a loving voice. "A pity you're so flat. If not men would be queuing up for you."
I ignored the last part and picked up my bag. She's always going on about my lack of chest. She often commented that a kindergarten kid has bigger breasts than me. Come on, I can't be that flat right?! I know-
"HURRY UP! -honk- WE ARE GOING TO BE LATEEEEEEE!!!" My dad shouted from the driveway.
"Hurry up dear! Do you have all your books?!" Mom fussed around.
"Yes."
"Your clothes?"
"I'm not staying there tonight so I won't need them."
"Your pads?"
"What?!"
"Just in case. Maybe your period's coming early this month. You wouldn't want to be caught over there right?"
"Mom?! I'm nineteen already! I would know-"
"HURRY THE -honk- UP!!! WE -honk- ARE -honkhonkhonk- LATE -honkhonkhonkhonkhonkhonk-!!!!"
My dad parked the car at an insignificant corner of the school's driveway.
It was a good thing he did; our car would look like a joke among all the Lamborghinis, Porsches, BMWs, and the other designer sportscars and limousines. There are even valets to open the car door for the students (no surprise there actually.)
"See! I told you to get a Porsche the other time! We wouldn't have to embarrass ourselves now then!"
"What?! You know that Porsches are expensive! And buying one for times like this is stupid! And petrol prices are rising. This good ol' car of ours uses very little petrol. It-"
"Kaa-san, Tou-san, I need to go to school already." I mumbled from the backseat. My parents are bickering again.
"Oh yeah! How do I look?" Dad pulled out a pair of shades from his shirt pocket. "Do I look like a rich, professional business man? I spent 1300yen on the sunglasses you know!"
Mom and Dad were decked out in their very best clothes. Mom pulled out the most branded blouse and skirt in her closet, and matched it with gaudy stockings and earrings and a pair of heels. She claimed that this is how rich women dress. Dad wore his most expensive suit (which wasn't really expensive) and leather shoes that he bought from some nameless shop in an alley. I think the sole's about to come off.
"Yeaaahhhh..." I lied through my teeth.
"Okay let's go!" They got out of the car.
"Wait! I can go to the office myself. You two don't need to follow me around!" I almost screamed while clambering out of the backseat.
"Its okay, its no trouble for us. And I want to see the inside of Shinobi Gakuen too!" My dad piped.
Shit. I really don't want anybody to see me with my parents now. Especially people from Shinobi Gakuen. You might think that I'm bad for saying that, but if you were me you would feel embarassed too. I mean, look at the way Dad's dressed!
"No!" I forced on a smile. "Besides, you want to look like rich people right! Rich people stay at home, they don't fetch their kids to school. They have chaffuers to do that. If you follow me around, people would think that you're my maid and servant! Right, Mom?" I'm getting desperate.
She tapped her finger on her chin and thought about it for awhile, then agreed, "Yes, I would look like your maid. Okay then, you will go to the office by yourself!"
I tried not to breathe a sigh of relief.
"But I want to see-" Mom shot Dad a glare. "Okay nevermind."
"Now dear, if anybody tries to pick on you, just ignore them."
"Yeah! Tell them that your father's the boss of Ito Silk!"
"Dad, I don't think anybody here has even heard of Ito Silk..."
"Okay off you go!" Mom gave me a bone-crushing hug. Then she and Dad climbed back into the car.
"Bye!" I waved.
"Give me a call if you want me to pick you up! Have a nice day!" They gave me one last look and drove away.
I picked up my bag and walked towards the school's entrance hall.
Oh my God. Is this really a school?
If the Hogwarts Castle was real, Shinobi Gakuen would be bigger than it.
And more beautiful.
The entrance hall's probably twice the size of my high school's auditorium! There's a huge marble staircase at the end of the hall, next to a booth with a sign saying "GENERAL OFFICE" plastered in gold letters. There are many beautiful stone sculptures decorating the hall, but the most magnificent one of all is displayed in the middle. It is the statue of a dragon, and it is absolutely amazing. I took a closer look at it. Engraved in the stone is:
Sculpted by Deidara
Whoever this Deidara is, he's one talented bastard. I'm about to look at the other sculptures when I suddenly remembered that I need to go to the General Office to submit my forms.
"Uh, hi?" I said unsurely to the lady in the booth. She looks just like a typical office-woman, hair bunned up, black rimmed spectacles, gray suit.
"Yes?" She had this sickening fake smile on and a really snooty voice.
"Um, I'm a new student here." I pushed the papers to her.
She looked through them, stamped something on, put them away under her desk and then looked up to me and drawled, "Here's your timetable. You're the new university student right? Your mother's been writing letters to us non-stop. It was getting annoying..." She mumbled the last part and shoved a piece of paper to me.
I felt my cheeks burn up. Partly due to embarrassment and partly due to anger. How dare she call my mom annoying?! Who is she to insult my mother?!
Only I can call my mom annoying.
I bit back my tongue and muttered a "Thanks".
"Oh and you are assigned to Konohagakure no Sato. Its written on your timetable in case you don't know. And you might want to take a pamphlet. It contains a map of our school. Commoners usually get lost in Shinobi Gakuen, I can still remember that time where a neighbourhood school visited... It took 3 hours to them up..."
I had to steer myself away from the booth and stomp up the marble stairs to stop myself from giving her a slap. Gawd that woman's so snobby! If the other people in Shinobi Gakuen are like her, I swear I will...
I will...
I will... what?
What I swore I would do, I completely forgot.
Because I'm standing in front of the most magnificent building ever.
The school has this giant clock tower that looks like the smaller version of Big Ben, and its humongous. I don't want to know how many hectares big the school is.
I'm in a garden that has plants and bushes of every kind. The map tells me that I'm in the courtyard. I think the architects re-constructed the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and I'm standing in it right now.
I knew that the school would be extremely grand and stunning from looking at the pictures in the booklet, but its an entirely different thing in real life.
Oh my God, I just want to explore every inch of the school now. But that would take me a day. Or maybe even longer.
I checked my timetable. I still have 30 minutes before my lessons start. I think I can go around the school for awhile, and the other students are in assembly. Apparently, new students don't need to attend assembly on their first day of school.
I picked up my pace and walked through the courtyard. Excitement building up inside me. Which part of the school should I see first? Maybe I could check out the classrooms, or the cafetaria. Or I could go to the-
OH MY GOD HOW CAN I FORGET!?
I quickly scanned the map for the music room, and took off in that direction. The booklet said that the school's music room has over a hundred different instruments, be it Western or Eastern. That must mean that they have the Koto!
After navigating my way through a series of corridors, and getting lost twice, I finally reached the music room. Great. I only have 10 minutes left!
The music room's like, the size of 3 dance studios, with many musical intruments arranged nicely. Some of them were displayed, some of them were in their cases. I looked around and my eye rests on a beautiful Koto in the corner of the room.
I think I'm going to melt.
I put down my bag, placed a hand on the strings and looked around. Seeing nobody, I sat down and began to play.
My mom forced me to take Koto lessons when I was 6. At first, I hated it because it hurt my fingers. But gradually, I began to fall in love with the instrument. It became my passion, my life. Okay that sounded cheesy but whatever, I love playing the Koto.
After finishing a piece (a very beautiful one, I might add), I looked at the door, half-hoping for someone to be listening and falling in love with the music.
And me of course.
Then I heard footsteps.
Oh my God! There he is! My Prince Charming would reveal himself and tell me that after listening to me play, he has fallen hopelessly in love with me! And then we'll-
"Hey what are you doing here? Classes are starting soon! Get out of here and let me clean this place up."
Standing at the doorway, is an old man in janitor's uniform holding up the nozzle of a vaccum cleaner.
I snatched up my bag and dashed out.
"Sumimasen! Sensei!" I ducked my head down.
I'm 20 minutes late for my first lesson. Way to go on the First Day of School.
But then again, its not my fault is it?! I mean, the school's so freaking huge, and I'm a new student. Naturally, I will get lost.
The silver-haired teacher sighed, and spoke through his flu mask. "It's okay, I will forgive you today since you're new."
"Kakashi-Sensei! You came in like, a minute before her! You're late too!" Some student shouted from the back.
He ignored the comment. "Okay class, this is your new classmate, Ito Shiori. Go take a seat." I bowed to the class.
Oh my God. I can feel all of their eyes on me. I treaded through the classroom and to the empty desk in the corner, all the while not making any eye contact with the others.
I sat down, hastily brought out my Physics textbook and hid behind it.
Okay, I will just follow Konan's plan and everything will go smoothly. It must.
"Since today's the first day, I will let you guys do whatever you want. Just let me warn you, Physics isn't easy for University students." Kakashi-sensei then pulled out an orange book from his back pocket and sat down to read it.
Hey, that book looks familiar... Oh yeah! Pein brought a book like that back the last time! He said that its a gift from an old friend.
The other people in the room began to chatter. I could hear snippets of their conversations.
And most of them's about me.
"Hey that's the new girl! She's cute."
"Yeah. But she's a little, not gifted in the chest area, don't you think?"
"...O.M.G. She'd better not steal Itachi-sama away from me!"
"And Sasori-sama too!"
"Hmph, I think I've got a better chance than her. Afterall, who can resist my C-cups?"
I think I'll hide behind my book for the rest of the lesson.
Author's Note:
Hey all! This is my first fanfic, so its kinda, "not up there" yet. Reviews please! I'm okay with flames as long as they're constructive. :)
Some of you might find the plot a little familiar, cos' I got the idea from Hana Yori Dango. Or rather, the Korean Drama version of it. (Kim Joon~!) I was listening to the OST and imagining Itachi, Deidara, Sasori and Hidan as F4. Don't ask why because I don't know why too.
I hope noone's confused about the school's system thing! I'm not really good at describing and explaining stuff.
And another thing is, I plan to make this fic quite slow-paced. So if you don't like slo-mo fics, then I think you shouldn't read it. And there might be other side pairings too.