Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Authors notes: Hey there! Just so you know I'll be using the same format as the previous chapter for all chapters here on out. If there's any changed or very different aspects of characters or plot that don't fall in 100 percent with the actual storyline I will inform you in these notes. For example, here's the first one. Neji Ten-Ten and Lee are 1 year older than the other teams in the series. In this story however, they were just merely in different classrooms. Also Gai was Lee's coach and not his teacher. Also the first few chapters will introduce you and give you a feel for the story, and it will start getting REALLY interesting once we get to the Uchiha manor. :) If you see an error please do tell me! I thought of bolding actual conversations, italicizing certain specific words comments and inner thoughts, and leaving the rest normal, to help you in your reading. Please tell me if I should change this! Thank you all so very much for reviewing and putting the story in your alerts, I deeply appreciate the confidence you are giving me.

3 years and 30 days

Chapter 2

Dreams can't completely substitute reality

Dawn was slowly creeping upon those lost in dreams. The golden light of the new day trickled through the make-shift curtains in the dark room's old window and splashed life and color onto the boys peacefully sleeping face. A bluebird fluttered to the outer window sill, and proceeded to preening its feathers. Once pleased with itself, the creature began to sing its morning symphony until it was chased away by another bluebird, and they made their way into the shining skies of the sunrise. The movements had caused a break in the stream of light pouring onto the boy's face, which summoned ocean like eyes to open and squint at the present from the sun. The boy sat up on his bed and stretched his long and slightly muscled arms upward, exposing some flesh from his tender stomach from under the rather short sleeping shirt. He then ruffled his lush and bright blond hair into a fuzzy mess, exactly how he liked it, and let out an airy yawn. He then slumped down and let his hand slowly creep onto a stuffed animal that was placed on his nightstand.

He grabbed the plush toy with loving care and gazed upon it with a tender and kind expression. It was an orange fox, one with a cute shape, a fuzzy feel to it, and was priceless to him. On the back of the fox was a shiny zipper, which glinted in the morning light, almost calling for someone to open it and reveal its hidden secrets. The boy knew well what was inside. The boy knew all too well. It was an irreplaceable picture, a frame to remind him of an important memory. The memory was of a time when he and precious best friend were still within one another's presence. The picture was taken when he was young, on the day of his birthday a long time ago. He and his friend had always been childhood rivals, but of much more value they were like irreplaceable brothers to one another. His friend was the only other person other than his caretaker with him on that day, but he wouldn't have had it any other way. The blond knew well what the picture inside the fox looked like.

The boy resisted opening the zipper, if only for a little while, to stare at the picture. Instead he let out a lonely sigh.

"Not much else I can do other than cheer up and ignore the pain for another day right?" he whispered these words to the toy and after gazing at it for a little longer, he put it back down on the old wooden nightstand. He then took one long look into his messy room.

Just as he was about to get up, a rather loud voice startled him and spoke from the other side of his front door after a series of knocks that resembled a jackhammer pounding on concrete.

"Naruto! Come on, wake up and let's go you're going to be late!" Naruto already knew who was outside making all the noise.

"ehh… coming Sakura!" he replied in a sleepy voice.

"Coming?! You better be out here in 5 minutes or I'll show you what you get for making me angry!"

Naruto immediately sensed the danger and he quickly got dressed after his morning routine, wearing a tight orange jacket with black designs and baggy black pants. He promptly picked up his frog themed bag and after checking his face in a mirror, grinned brightly and proceeded outside to meet up with his friend. He shyly opened the door and saw the pink haired girl Sakura fuming over his lateness.

"eh heh… sorry… I kinda overslept-"he was rudely cut off by a loud screech, one Naruto would later describe as "demonic".

"Kinda!? Whatever, let's just get going!" she lunged out and grabbed his wrist, and ignoring the yells and complaints from the boy she would later describe as "blond airhead", she rushed themselves to their destination.

"It doesn't matter if it's the last week of school Naruto, you can't just go and come late, and it will just transfer over to your next year!" Sakura stated.

Naruto walked in between Sakura and Sai, his hands behind his head, not caring in particular about the stares around him. Sakura and Sai were Naruto's best friends, the people he could and did depend on the most. Sakura had been the first one other than Sasuke to acknowledge him. Sakura had been seated next to Naruto in class and eventually, after many fights and problems due to Naruto, she grew enough patience to withstand him. To a point. Sai however, was and still is, rather strange and mysterious. He is a quiet boy who's attitude had annoyed Naruto, mostly because it resembled Sasuke's a bit, and so from rivalry their close friendship grew. However Sai was still… socially challenged in a way. Despite this he really did appreciate them. They did make him feel alive and happy in the end. Sakura for example, after being sick of Naruto either smelling like garbage, dog or other weird odors or looking like he'd been assaulted, walked Naruto to and from school on most days. Sai, who was always in school before anyone, always met up with the duo and tagged along. For this and much more, Naruto was really glad he had a pair of amazing friends. Other than Sasuke, he'd never had anyone else as a friend. And with him gone, he was very alone, for a time.

Naruto picked up on Sakura's comment and answered in an annoying tone. "But Sakuuuuuuura, it's boring!"Naruto pouted and made a face.

"Fine I'll admit to that, but won't you at least say goodbye to everyone before summer break? It is a friendly end of the year tradition after all!" Sai nodded and Naruto went into thought about that for awhile.

'I have other end of the year traditions too…' after the sullen though Naruto agreed with Sakura.

The late bell rang just as the trio walked into class. After Naruto greeted his friends and took his seat, Kakashi lazily strolled into class, same as ever, with a folder under his arm attempting to hide the same orange book he always brought to, well, just about everywhere. Kiba noticed this and a cunning smirk overtook his expression.

"Ha, late as always, even on the last days and still trying to sneak the same book into class. You know stuff like that shouldn't be brought here. Will you ever change sensei?" The class giggled quietly at Kiba's remark. Once the class settled down Kakashi grinned and spoke calmly.

"Really now? I could make a whole list of things you're not supposed to do: like speak to your teacher like that, come to school smelling like a dog most every day, sneaking that same source of dog smell into the school and using that same dog to sneak love notes into Hinata's desk. Do you see yourself doing anything to change that?" he finished calmly and a smirk graced his face as Kiba sunk down into his chair, blushing, after his bag had barked, causing the whole class to erupt in laughter. After the class had finally calmed down, and Hinata had stopped blushing, Kakashi started class.

"Now that that's out of the way, today your class work, along for tomorrow, is to bond and enjoy each other's company. Oh! But this is our class's little secret, no need for Iruka to find out and chew me out later…" he then sat down in his chair and started reading his book as the class stood up and moved around.

However, just as Naruto was getting up, he felt a sharp pain on his butt. Really sharp.

"OWWWW!" just as he screamed out in pain, Akamaru the dog let go of his ass and ran away, Naruto not far behind him.

"Kiba I'm going to kill your dog!"

It had been a few hours since class had started. Naruto now stood in a massive line for lunch, holding a red and checked plastic tray firmly in his hands. His rear end was still throbbing in pain and he most likely had a bruise on his left arm, due to Kiba's motherly overprotection of Akamaru. That aside however, he'd had an extremely good time with his friends. He managed to force Chouji to share some snacks amongst the group, Shikamaru was awake and having a good time and Kiba was still trying to impress Hinata. Hinata only blushed and hid behind Ino, who was bickering in a friendly way with Sakura over who would be the one to star in Brad Pitt's next movie. Even Shino was involved in the bonding, though he was mostly having a quiet conversation with Sai. Lee, Neji and Ten-Ten, the trio of friends from Iruka's class, had snuck out and joined in on the fun later in the day as well. Looking back at that moment not too long ago, Naruto felt his chest glow with a certain warmth of happiness.

"Who would've though I'd meet such amazing friends? And to think that now we are closer than ever…" The thought of ever having to move on from such incredible friends just dawned on him like an icy waterfall, sending shivers of sudden realization down his spine. To him, the fact that he has made such priceless friends proves he's living up to his standards in life. However, since time never stopped moving on and taking every single living person with them, where would they all end up? Would they still, hopefully, be intact and whole as a group after being thrashed around by the waves of time? Naruto felt a bit sick at the idea of starting all over again.

'Whatever, the idea is to make the most out of what you've got, now' Naruto though inwardly. He was suddenly taken back to reality and eyed the lunch lady who had cleared her throat so as to wake Naruto up from his daydreams. Ever since the first semester, the cafeteria had been banned from serving ramen, due to a suspicious food shortage. Ever since then Naruto had been forced to eat normal helpings of other foods. He paid for some pizza and then made his way to the table where most of his friend were eating and chatting. He eventually picked up on their conversation.

"…and then she threatened to put me in a military school! How cruel can she get?" Kiba finished rather loudly and fed some dog treats he'd brought from home to his furry friend hidden in the front pouch of his jacket. Just as the shy maiden Hinata was about to add something, Naruto, as usual, interrupted.

"Hey, where are you guys gonna go after here?" Naruto questioned, still chewing a chunk of pizza.

Shikamaru perked up and kindly informed his friend. "We were just talking about that right now Naruto. Firstly, here are everyone's goals. Ino and Sakura want to become doctors. Chouji is going to become a chef, Hinata a psychologist, Shino an entomologist, which means he's going to study insects, and Sai is going to become an artist. Kiba wants to become a vet, and I want to become an author or a photographer, whichever one is less work. My mother however, wanted to put me in an intensive school for the gifted. Pfft as if, I am definitely anti-intensive. Thankfully she left the paperwork to my father, which means I get to choose my school. So that means, unless Kiba doesn't piss his mom off, we are all going to the same high school." He finished in a calm tone, though it was ruined as was startled by the sudden yell Naruto made followed by a strange sort of victory dance. Before Naruto could finish though, something or someone resembling a very creepy green lizard got him in a chokehold and loudly added to the conversation.

"Yosh! Don't forget to include us in this gathering of youth!" Lee pumped a fist into the air, giving Naruto a chance to escape and he saw from the corner of his eye Neji and Ten-ten slowly walking behind Lee. After the trio found seats, Lee happily started speaking.

"The three of us will be going to the same school as well! Ten-Ten and I want to be coaches or something like that and Neji is going to study medicine! Isn't this great though? Our youthful group will persevere for another four years! Gai would be so proud of our fountain of youth! And then-"He was cut short however by an annoyed Ten-Ten who smacked him on the head.

"That's enough! I've had enough of you talking about your old coach Gai!" After Lee recovered from the pain, he promptly proceeded to speaking with Naruto.

"Hey, what about you Naruto? What are you going to be?"

That simple question made Naruto's cheeks get a little pink as a large excited smile overtook most of his face. He giggled playfully, obviously having something up his sleeve. He struck a pose and loudly announced his goal in life.

"I, Naruto Uzumaki, am going to be…!"

The air of suspense got to everyone as they all nudged closer to him in their lunch seats and waited excitedly for his answer. Everyone was quiet and still, and the only sounds heard were those of rushed heartbeats. Finally the moment of truth arrived, as the first hints of sound escaped his mouth.

"… A ninja!!"

Coming up on Chapter 3: Naruto's reality check! Naruto's past is revealed as he and his caretaker reminisce on an honorable albeit perverted old man. The dawn of the day of his graduation slowly creeps upon him, and soon, the calm before the storm is over and the full power of whatever it is that brings Naruto and Sasuke to meet once more is unleashed! All coming up in Chapter 3!

:)