The sun shone brilliantly in the sky, casting its rays on the village hidden in the leaves. I smiled, tying back my long, black curls. I squinted my amber coloured eyes at the sun, breathing in the fresh morning air. I had been enrolled in the ninja academy for years now, and liked to consider myself one of the better students. Granted, I didn't do too well on tests, but that could be forgiven on account of my skill in battle.

I loved to fight too. I loved the adrenaline that rushed through my veins, so I was something a thrill-seeker.

So naturally, I was close friends with Naruto Uzumaki. I turned my head as I heard yelling down the street, followed by the loud, obnoxious laughter of my friend.

"Hitomi!" Naruto yelled, waving his hand, a paint bucket in the other. I laughed and saw the two ninjas after him, growling in frustration.

"Get back here!" They yelled. Naruto grinned and pulled me along.

"Hey, I don't wanna get in trouble too!" I objected.

"You dared me to do it!"

"What's your point?" I rolled her eyes, and moved my own legs so they would move faster. My long legs carried me easily over the buildings of the village, which I had spent most of my childhood hopping over in an attempt to escape from bullies.

I easily over took Naruto, winking at him as I passed. He glared at me, and sped up. The two behind us didn't stand a chance until…

I yelped and tripped over a leg that had appeared in front of me. Naruto skidded to a halt, looking behind him to see the two pursers catching up. I rubbed her hurting head and glared at the owner of the foot, who was Kazuko Tanaka.

The blonde smiled down at me with a glint in her brown eyes. She shrugged and mouthed the word 'oops' and leapt away from the roof. Naruto's blue gaze followed her angrily and he quickly helped me up.

Almost as soon as I stood back up, we were running again. They would've caught us if it was a second later. I stuck out my tongue, and waved before I spun around and started to run full speed.

We went to the streets, closely followed by the two. Naruto and me exchanged a glance before we both "disappeared" behind blankets against a fence. They ran past, not knowing were their prey had gone.

We dropped our blankets in synchronized movement, snickering to ourselves.

"Hey you guys." Iruka-sensei said, causing both of us to jump ten feet in the air.

"Where'd you come from?" I asked, my heart beating out of my chest.

"What are you doin' here?" Naruto finished. He rolled his eyes, putting his hands on his hips.

"No, what're you guys doing here? You're supposed to be in class." Iruka-sensei told us, dragging us back to the academy.

/

We, the two doomed students were thrown into class, where we were scolded in front of the whole class.

"I'm at the end of my rope with you two! You both failed the final exam and as punishment the whole class will be reviewing the transformation jutsu!" Iruka-sensei declared. They all groaned, glaring at the two that stood in front. I laughed awkwardly while my friend just sulked.

"Okay, Sakura first." He asked, waving forward the pink-haired girl. She performed the jutsu, becoming a perfect replica of Iruka himself. He smiled and praised her, which she happily thanked him for. She looked back at Sasuke, another student for his approval. I looked at Naruto with mischief sparkling in his bright blue eyes.

"Sasuke Uchiha, you're up." The bad tempered boy walked forward calmly, his dark eyes looking around the room with total boredom. I narrowed her eyes slightly. I was never really a fan of his, he was cruel, and didn't talk much which bothered me.

He too, transformed into Iruka-sensei. Sensei nodded and waved him on.

"Hitomi Suzuki." He called out, raising a brow at me when I skipped up, happy to show off my skills. I put my hands in the correct position, and focused my chakra, transforming into Naruto.

"I'm Naruto, BELIEVE IT!" I shouted, holding out my fist like my friend. Sensei smiled and said, "Good work, as I expect from you." I smiled back and turned back into myself. I stretched my arms and walked on, sparing Ino and Kazuko a glance.

"Naruto Uzumaki." Ino and Kazuko sneered at him, both with arms crossed over their chests.

"Thanks from the extra work, Uzumaki."

"Yeah, you're such a screw up." He glared at them in response, taking his hands out of his pockets and holding them at his sides in tight fists.

"Whatever." He grumbled and stepped forward. The blue eyed blonde smirked and transformed into his signature "sexy jutsu". Naruto winked and blew a kiss at Sensei who had a major nose bleed, causing the two trouble-makers, (a.k.a me and Naruto) to laugh our butts off.

"NARUTO THIS IS YOUR LAST WARNING!" Iruka-sensei yelled and ordered us back to our seats. We snickered and took our seats no problem.

After class we were both dragged in front of the Hokage, who ordered us to clean the graffiti.

/

"Remind me, why am I here?" I asked sensei, who replied, "You dared him too do it."

I groaned and rolled my eyes, glancing at Naruto, who was in an even worse mood. Our hands were soapy and the paint was starting to color the clear water of out buckets. My fingers ached from scrubbing and my shorts had gotten wet, causing them to chafe where one should not have chafing.

I started to think to myself, not listening to Naruto and Sensei who were yelling back and forth. You shouldn't be hear.

What, and leave him to do it?

Yes.

No, that's not what a friend would do.

Would he do the same for you?

No…I mean of course he would! He's my friend, isn't he?

Why are you asking me? I looked at Naruto out of the corner of my eye. His brow was furrowed and he was moving his mouth like he was talking but I didn't hear his words.

"Hey, how 'bout after you finish, we go out for ramen. The good stuff." Iruka-sensei offered. I beamed up at him and started to work harder.

"Now that's motivation!" Naruto shouted, and scrubbed twice as hard, earning a chuckle from me and sensei.

/

We slurped our ramen, enjoying the hot noodles and savoring their taste, who knows when we would get good ramen again?

"Hitomi, Naruto?" Iruka-sensei asked, holding his chopsticks in his hand but not touching his food. I raised my eyebrows expectantly, as my mouth was full.

"Why would you do that to the hokage faces? I mean, you know who the hokage are don't you?" He asked. We both nodded.

"They were the best of the best. And the forth hokage saved the village from the nine-tailed fox. He was the greatest." Naruto said, and I simply nodded in agreement.

Sensei's eyebrows furrowed in frustration.

"Then why did yo-"

"I'm gonna be greater than them one day. Me, Naruto, the next hokage. Then everyone will stop disrespecting me and look up to me! Believe it!" He said, putting down his empty bowl. Not everyone disrespects him, I like him. Aren't I enough? In a lot of ways, me and Naruto are very similar. We both were shunned when we were younger, and that's when we became friends.

I had parents, but Naruto was the only one that noticed me. I did look up to him. He was really brave to have been through so many hardships and still be who he is. I don't know why he doesn't see what's right next to him.

I nodded in agreement. I might not have the same drive he does, but I want him to succeed. I just want to be happy, and have friends, and be a great ninja. I don't think I would make a great hokage, but I'm just happy doing work. I love life being unpredictable.

"Yeah, and I gonna go down in history as one of the greatest female ninja ever!" I said, pounding my fist on the table. Sensei smiled.

"Another bowl?" He asked us. I shook my head up smiled innocently up at him.

"No thanks, but can ask you a favor?" I said softly, making sure my eyes were a little watery. Sensei blinked at me.

"Can I try on you headband?" I asked as sweetly as I could manage. He shook his head with a gentle smirk.

"So that's why you took off your headband." I usually have a blue ribbon holding my bangs out of my face but it was currently around my wrist like a bracelet.

"Sorry, you can only wear the leaf headband when you graduate from the academy and become a ninja. You've gotta pass the test tomorrow." He told you. I pouted and crossed my arms.

"No fair." I whined and looked up at him, hoping he had changed him mind. He just smiled and laughed. Naruto nudged me with his elbow.

"Told you."

"Shaddup!"

/

The next day came quickly, the weather the same as the day before. But, as today was test day, we were stuck inside, where we couldn't enjoy the cool breeze. I sighed and dreamily stared out the window. I was called into a room with a few other teachers and Iruka-sensei. He smiled encouragingly and said, "Okay, Hitomi Suzuki, can you perform a clone jutsu for us?" He asked, holding a pen in his hand.

I nodded, putting my hands into position. I focused, feeling the chakra moving inside me and I created three other clones of me with a puff of smoke.

The teachers' eyes sparkled with delight.

"Good work. And it looks like your skilled in your other jutsus as well…You pass." A white haired man said with a smile. I squealed, getting a weird look from all of them but Sensei. They gave me my headband, which I happily took, a smile stretching across my face. I bowed respectfully and hopped out of the room. And almost as soon as I left the room, a thought struck me full force. Clone jutsu? That's Naruto's worst jutsu!