Kimiko groaned as her door creaked open. "If you are coming in, come in. If not then go away." Kimiko growled.
If there was one thing she hated it was being sick, other than that she hated when people picked on other people. Kimiko's door closed as Kimiko pulled her head out from underneath her bed sheets. Sakura had entered Kimiko's room mainly just to talk about the graduation exam that was in two days. Kimiko really wanted to be able to take it; however she had been out of commission for the last few months and wouldn't have enough strength to take it anyway. Sakura had half way hoped she could surprise Kimiko by graduating with her, yet someone in her class held her back from actually graduating early.
"How are you feeling Kimiko?" Sakura asked as she pulled up a chair.
"Just peachy." Kimiko sarcastically answered as she sat up. "Look if this is about you trying to figure out whether you should take the graduation exam now or wait another year to graduate with your class, I'll tell you my answer to that question."
Sakura glanced down at the floor, "I know I can pass it. It's just that I really want to be in Sasuke's squad and Sasuke won't graduate until next year."
Kimiko weakly scoffed at her cousin, "Forget Sasuke. He doesn't see you right now because you haven't proved yourself to be strong enough yet. I say show him that you are stronger than he thinks. Take the graduation exam and graduate with my class. The top rookie from my class is…"
"Neji Hyuga, I know." Sakura finished Kimiko's sentence for her. "And there's also a Himoto in your class, and he is just like Sasuke the last of his clan. As well as a pretty good Izumi, but what about that Rock Lee guy?"
"Don't underestimate Lee. He'll shine when his time comes, I'll promise you that. Besides you are most likely to pass out of everyone in you class that's willing to try early. Take it; you can so pass it, Sakura." Kimiko told her, "The exam is in two days, and what basic jutsu can't you do? You're the top Kunoichi in your class and I was the top Kunoichi in mine."
Two days later, Sakura took the graduation exam with Kimiko's class. She did pass just as Kimiko told her she would. That night, Kimiko was training with her father as Sakura watched from her bedroom window.
"You're looking much better, Kimi." Natsuki praised his daughter.
"Aw thanks dad." Kimiko gave him a strong smirk, "So this means I can go back to the academy in a few week and pick up my ninja training right?"
"Always sticking to your goal, you are my girl. Of course, I've already talked with the Hokage earlier this afternoon. It seems you will be replacing Sakura in her class since she has already graduated from the academy."
Kimiko gave her father a surprise kick to the stomach, "That's awesome!"
Kimiko's next few weeks of recover flew by as she worked on returning to her training. At last the day came for her return to the ninja academy. Kimiko woke up early ready to go and learn with her good friends. She pulled out her light green shirt out of her closet.
'Just one more year, I'll make up for those months I was out sick! And I'll be with friends not feeling so alone in class.' Kimiko thought as she pulled on her shirt.
She grabbed her white arm warmers and put them on as she walked out of her room. Kimiko's strawberry brown hair was longer than she really liked it, but she found that people liked it longer than short. It came down to the middle of her back when it was down, and to the bottom of her shoulder blades when it was pulled up. Kimiko walked into the kitchen and gave her father a kiss on the cheek as she grabbed a riceball off the plate in front of him.
"You're stealing my food again." Natsuki teased his daughter.
"Naturally, I'll see you later." Kimiko told him with a mouth full of riceball.
'Finally I'll have a sensei who really wants to be here teaching us rather than someone who is bad at acting like they want to be here.' Kimiko thought as she sat in the back of her new academy classroom.
The door to the classroom opened up again and this time it was a few of Kimiko's buddies. Kimiko turned and waved at the two who had just came in. The first one was a quite chubby light brown haired boy. On his cheeks were swirls and around his mouth was chip crumbs left from his last snack. This boy was Choji Akimichi. He was wearing a pair of grey shorts with a white and green shirt that had the Akimichi clan symbol on it in red and a white scarf around his neck. His hands and lower arms were wrapped up with bandages. The other boy had spiky brown hair that was up in a short ponytail and a bored expression on his face. This was Shikamaru Nara, Choji's best friend and Kimiko's good friend. His outfit consists of a pair of light green grey paints, a chain mail shirt with a short light grey vest that had the Nara clan symbol on the sleeves.
"Hm?" Shikamaru questioned the girl waving at him and Choji as they walked over to her.
"Hey Choji! Hey Shika!" Kimiko greeted them.
"What a drag, I told you I don't like being called that, Kimiko." Shikamaru muttered.
"Whatever you say." Kimiko smirked at him as they sat down next to her.
"Hey Kimiko I thought you were suppose to have graduated with the class ahead of us?" Choji questioned her while he stuffed his mouth full of chips.
"Yeah why are you here?" Shikamaru added his own question.
Kimiko sighed, "You know how I was really sick a few months ago." The two nodded, "Yeah well I couldn't take the exam, so I'm here with you guys until I can pass the graduation exam. And you two should be happy I just replaced a Sasuke fan girl in this class, who I happen to be related to."
"Well this year is starting to look a little brighter." Shikamaru muttered as he and Choji sat down next to Kimiko.
