Chapter 1

"Setsuki! Turn that heat down!" Kaede demanded. I faced her, Kaede is my supervisor, at the curry spice shop in which I work at.
"Why?" I asked, looking at the flame on the stove which was high above the surface - 'dangerous'.
"Because it will catch on the gas and explode!" She exclaimed, trying to push me aside so she could 'fix' it. I frowned and pushed her back.
"Noooo don't be silly Kaede-senpai, I got this." I said, then I grabbed a big pot from the other side of the kitchen and placed it on top of the flames.
"GET THAT OFF!" She screamed, reaching for it.
"WHY?!" I questioned, so eager to know why she was so worried.
"Because those flames will burn a hole in it!" She panicked.
"... You have an answer for everything.." I said, staring at her. She looked at me and her eye twitched. We stood there for a few moments, silently..
Before I knew it, the flame put a hole in the bottom of the pot. "SEE? WHAT DID I TELL YOU?"
"Ack!" I regrettably grabbed hold of the handles on the full metal pot. "OUCCCHHHHH!" I wailed, immediately letting go. My hands felt like they were on fire!
"You're such an idiot." Kaede grumbled. "Go put your hands under ice cold water now." I ran to the sink and turn the cold water on full, making water splash everywhere, then I tipped a bag of ice in the sink too and burried my hands in it.
I let out a sigh of relief. Kaede, after turning the stove off, turned to me and folded her arms. "You don't mind making a mess, do you?"
"It hurtsss." I whined.
"Do you know how tempted I am to fire you right now?" She inquired, firmly.
"I-I'll clean it up! I promise!" I implied, my hands beginning to grow cold from the ice.
"I don't think so Setsuki, your hands could not possibly handle such a big task. And lets not forget to mention you need to pay for a new pot." She mentioned, nudging her head to the bottomless pot. I sweatdropped and pulled my hands from the ice, and quickly make a jutsu sign.
"Water Clone Jutsu!" I chimed, creating two clones, then I immediately burried my hands back in the sink.
"Start clea-"
"Owww!" My clones cried in unison, then pushed me away from the sink to bury their hands in it.
"Hey!" I huffed, and pushed them out of the way.
"Setsuki." Kaede says.
"Yes?" Me and my clones answered. Kaede frowns.
"You're fired. And I still expect you to pay for a new pot." She growled. Me and my clones cried. "And it was a very expensive pot, so pay me 3,838 yen, then you can leave."
"What! But I don't have that much!" I cried. She sighs.
"I'm deducting it from your income, you get 8,444 yen per week anyway, and as for the remaining 4,606 yen.." She stopped to think. I display big, pleading eyes. "Well you did do a good job creating that super spicy curry on Thursday, so I will give you the rest." She said. I mentally danced.
"I'll get you some burn cream and bandages before you leave." She grumbled. I nodded.
"I would like that very much, thank you Kaede-senpai!" I called as she left the kitchen.

I walked down the street with my clones, because I can't bear being completely by myself, it's too scary, especially at this late hour. My hands were wrapped in bandages up to my forearms and I found it embarrassing.
"How could you do something so stupid Setsuki?" One of my clones asked.
"Stupid? I was on a roll! You should've seen me! I was gonna make the spiciest curry in the world!" I exclaimed.
"Haha, you still on that?" I heard. I turned around.
"Naruto-kun!" I cheered, seeing the orange boy approach me.
"Hey, what happened to your arms?" He asked, eyeing my bandages.
"Errr, nothing at all!" I exclaimed, then got a smug smile.
".. She burned herself." My clone answered. I frowned. Naruto burst out laughing.
"Oh Setsuki, that's the funniest thing I've heard all day, dattebayo!" Naruto said between laughs. I whined.
"It's not funny!"
"Oh Setsuki, you really know how to make someone's day, I'll give you that dattebayo." He said, wiping a tear from his eye, laughing still. My clones joined in laughing. I released the jutsu, so both clones collapsed into puddles of water.
"Yeah, that's me!" I replied, smiling.
"So.. where are you headed this late?" He asked.
"Home. I.. just got fired." I sheepishly admitted, lowering my head.
"Burned and fired? Heh, get it? Fire?" He sneered, then laughed. I blinked.
"No?" I answered. He sighed.
"Don't worry." He groaned. "Well, my place is that way, so I guess I'll be seeing yo-"
"No! Naruto! Please come back with me to my place!" I pleaded.
"Why?" He asked, very confused.
".. I'll make you some ramen!" I exclaimed. His eyes turn to gold.
"Really!" He inquired. I smiled and nodded.

At my house I enter, Uncle Takashi was just about to sit down in the recliner when we enter through the front door.
"Setsuki? Back so early? Didn't you say you were working late tonight?" Takashi asked, stopping in midair in a squatting position. He stands up straight. "And what's with those bandages?"
"Hey Uncle, can you make some ramen for Naruto-kun?" I ask, completely disregarding all those questions. Takashi looks at Naruto with an uncertain look then goes into the kitchen. Takashi is yet another person who believes Naruto is dangerous, so he would rather avoid him. I know he's just ignorant because Naruto is a great friend.
Naruto and I sit at the dining table, talking about our day. He said he spent most of the day waiting around for Kakashi-sensei to arrive, then afterwards they did a bit of taijutsu training. I told him about how I trained my ninjutsu with my squad for the day then went to work in the afternoon.
Uncle Takashi comes out with a bowl of ramen (which I could've sworn it was one of those instant ramen in a cup things) and he sets it in front of Naruto, who of course, begins eating straight away.

Later on, Naruto went home, and I went to bed, ready for whatever the day throws at me tomorrow.

"Setsuki! Get up!" Takashi calls from downstairs. I open an eye slowly, then seeing the sunlight seeking through the window, I jump straight out of bed, get dressed into my ninja attire and groan in pain from my hands. I apply some more burn cream and rewrap the bandages, exactly how they were yesterday.

I run downstairs, grab the toast from Takashi's plate which he had set down on the table and gone to get a drink, then I run outside and look around eating the toast.
I sit down on the front step, waiting for either of my team members to walk past as they usually do. But no. I let out a sigh and finish the toast.

"Setsuki!" I heard from inside. I snicker and start running down the street, avoiding all the people walking the opposite way. Takashi burst through the front door, and looked around for me, I looked back to see of he could see me, then suddenly I ran straight into someone, pushing them over and landing on top of them.
"Ow!" I heard. I quickly jumped to my feet.
"I am so sorry!" I said, extending my hand to help the girl up. She took my hand and I pulled her up. My eyes widened.
"Ouch!" I whine, after pulling her up I gripped my hand.
"Oh, are you alright?" The girl asked. I bit my lower lip and took a deep breath.
"Mmhmm.." I replied, slowly exhaling.
"Are you alright Tenten?" I heard. I look to her side, seeing someone dressed in a green spandex, orange leg warmers, I look up to his face, his hair...
"Yes I'm fine Lee." The girl, Tenten, replied. The boy looked at me, those great big orbs called eyes shifted their gaze to mine.
"Uh, hi, my name is Rock Lee, what is your name?" He asked, stepping forward and extending his hand.
"You... you're.." I couldn't speak properly, I was just so intrigued. Lee tilts his head.
"I am..?" He asks.
"Your hair! It's the shiniest hair I've ever seen!" I exclaimed, pointing at his shiny bowl-cut. Tenten and the other boy sweatdrop massively. Lee seemed shocked at my words.
"I.. uh.. thank you very much!" He said, seeming extremely happy. "That is the first time someone other than Gai-sensei has complimented it! Thank you again... uhh.."
"Oh I'm Kuromizu Setsuki." I replied, taking his hand and regrettably shaking it. I wince and bite my lower lip trying not to whimper again. But his grip was strong.
"Setsuki-san." Lee says.
"I hate to interrupt your little meeting, but we have to get going." Says the other guy which I thought was a girl until just then when he spoke. Lee let my hand go and faces him.
"Oh yes of course. I am sorry." He said, then bowed quickly to him. Lee faces me again. "It was nice meeting you Setsuki-san."
"Yes you too.. Rock Lee-san!" I replied, almost forgetting his name. Lee gave me a thumbs up, then Tenten started to push him from behind. Lee stood there confused.
"What are you doing Tenten?" Lee asked.
"Get moving! Nnnggghhh." She said, trying to push him forward.
"Oh, right!" Lee runs off, making Tenten nearly fall forward. I jumped in front her her and stand her up. I smile to myself, I love being taller than other people, even if it is about an inch compared to this girl. It makes me feel superior.
"Thank you." Tenten said, snapping me out of my prideful thoughts.
"No problem!" I exclaimed. The other boy just walked away, and Tenten followed, jogging a few steps to catch up. 'What weird girls..' I shrug and kept walking, then I forgot what I was doing in the first place.
"Setsuki! There you are!" I hear Komaru-sensei's voice. I smile and turn to face my sensei and two squad members; Daisuke and Susumu.
"Komaru-sensei! What are we doing today?" I asked.
"Well, have I got news for you three. Lets go to our usual meeting place.. race you there." He said, then poof, he was gone. Us three Genin stood there for a second before realizing what he said.
"You're on!" Daisuke said, but I had already started to run. "Setsuki-chaaan!" He whined.

At the meeting spot which is near the bridge where Naruto's squad waits all day for Kakashi-sensei, I beat them both, but Komaru-sensei was already there.
"Where's the other too?" Komaru asked, a light growl in his voice..
"I'm too fast for them sensei, you should know that by now." I implied, grinning.
"What happened to you?" He asked, looking at my bandages. I blink a few times.
".. Nothing.." I drawled out. Just before he started talking, Susumu and Daisuke arrived.
"We're her- oh.. Setsuki beat us again." Susumu grumbles.
"That surprises you?" Daisuke asked. "It's only natural that-"
"Not at all." Susumu grumbled, cutting him off.
"Now, listen up you three. There's something major happening." Komaru grumbled.
"Would that explain all these foreigners everywhere?" Susumu asked. Komaru nodded.
"Yes, it's for the Chuunin Exams, and I have put in a good word for you three... You'd best be thankful." He said. "Now if you want to enter, take these forms and fill them out." The three of us take them straight away and fill them out and hand them back all within less than a minute. Komaru narrowed his eyes supsiciously.
"Right.. You need to meet at the academy tomorrow at precisely 8am, so don't be late." Komaru-sensei said. We nodded and saluted him.
"Yes Komaru-sensei!" We said in unison.