A/N: In the last chapter, I mentioned that Gen's parents own a bicycle shop. I wasn't sure if bicycles actually exist in the Narutoverse, so I said it was "Konoha's first ever bike shop." But it's still up in the air whether it fits. Anyway, I figure it's my story, so there's a lot of leeway for what I can and can't do. Enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 2: Contact with Classmates

Gen paced around nervously on the grass. He was standing about 30 feet away from the Academy, hesitating to go inside. What should I do? Gen thought. Fake an illness and say that I can't come in today? But no, that wouldn't work. What if the Academy thought he was getting cold feet over becoming a ninja? It wasn't unheard of. In basic shinobi school classes, it's all just theory and practice in a safe, sterile learning environment. Once students graduate from pre-Genin newbie level, there are occasional students who realize that they hadn't taken seriously their teachers' warnings of a dangerous, death-ridden shinobi lifestyle.

So, he couldn't afford to be mistaken for one of those people. You know, a "I changed my mind about my entire future" guy. No take backsies. God, if he wasn't tough enough to face Kohaku, how on earth could he face a fellow assassin? Am I even cut out for this life?! Gen bit his lip.

I can't do this, I can't do this, I can't do this...

He was weak. Pathetic. And he made it all this way, put so much time into Academy schooling. What a waste. His parents probably would be secretly relieved that he wouldn't be put in the heat of battle and therefore in harm's way. Were they surprised he actually graduated? No, he couldn't think these thoughts now.

Gen was having a hard time breathing. Staring right at the Academy looming over everything, standing on his grassy field.

No, no, no. I can't do this, I can't do this, I CAN'T DO THIS, I CAN'T—

"Boo!"

A childish girl's voice popped in his ear. Gen jumped and turned around to face an old classmate of his, Junko Ono. She was a short, pigtailed girl the same age as him, wearing a pink tank top and beige shorts and looking typically adorable.

"Hey, Junko. What's going on?" Gen asked, brows furrowed.

"I'm here to find out who my new teammates are. Duh!" Junko said rather sassily. She put her hands on her hips. "Are you going in or not? I saw you standing there for, like, thirty minutes, at least! Are you scared? I can hold your hand if you can't handle it alone," she teased.

"I—I'm going in," Gen stammered. "I just... well, it's just... Never mind. Okay?" He couldn't even think of a half-decent excuse.

Junko raised her eyebrows. "Oookaaaaaaay? You're a weirdo." She brightened. "I hope they have snacks there to celebrate our graduation. Wouldn't that be cool?! Let's go!"

"But I—"

Junko grabbed his hand. "Let's go nooooow!" She grinned and pulled his arm, surprisingly stronger than she looked as a girlish waif. Gen struggled with trying to pull his arm back, wanting to free his arm from Little Girl Imprisonment from Hell, but Junko was notoriously stubborn.

"Come on, Junko, I just need my arm back," Gen groaned, wriggling his arm around, trying to be slippery after figuring he was too weak to overpower a 90-pound girl.

"No! We're going in NOW!" Junko insisted, tugging his arm.

She started to forcibly drag him toward the Academy, succeeding quite well. It was getting close to starting time. If they didn't hurry, they'd be late for the announcements. As Junko and the unwilling Gen reached the doorways, Gen latched onto the door handle and refused to let go.

"Leave me!" Gen pleaded. "Go on without me! I'll be right inside after you. I just need to take care of something, okay? I forgot to feed my fish. They're probably getting pretty hungry..."

Junko screamed, "YOU DON'T HAVE ANY FISH! I've been to your house. No fish!"

"Yes, I do!"

"No, you don't!"

"We just got some! PLEASE!"

Junko growled, "We're going in now, 'kay? MM-KAY? I'm getting really hungry!"

She ripped his grip off from the door handle and dragged him down the hall, her renewed strength all thanks to the wistful thought of curing her hunger pains. Once she got to the right classroom, she swiped the door open violently and stomped into the room.

"WE'RE HERE!" Junko yelled to everyone sitting in the room, as if anyone had been personally waiting for their blessed arrival or something. She dropped off Gen into one of the empty spots and then plopped herself down into her own seat.

Everyone's here, Gen thought as he scanned the room. All of his old classmates, same as usual, as if they were all still in school, taking classes on shuriken throwing and shinobi history. Even his old teacher was here, Nagamine-sensei, who was standing in front of the class, staring at him intently.

"Well, I'm glad everyone could make it, even if you are just barely on time," Nagamine-sensei smiled one of her vague half-smiles and turned away from Gen's gaze. She addressed the class, "Welcome to your new teammate orientation. As I'm sure you've all heard before from your family and friends, congratulations again on graduating from our Ninja Academy. Not only will you find out which two of your classmates will be on your very own Genin squad, you'll also be meeting your sensei for the very first time. Does anyone have any questions?"

A guy raised his hand. "Yeah, I have a question. Are all the sensei as hot as you are, Miss Nagamine? Just asking."

"Quiet, Oki." Nagamine-sensei's voice turned sharper. "That's not appropriate for this class. And I'm not Miss Nagamine. You may not even call me Ms. Nagamine, which I prefer to Miss. You'll address me as Sensei like you're expected to."

Oh, that's right. Oki Matsushita. Gen hadn't known him that well, but like everyone else in the room, he graduated this same year as Gen and was quite known for being a pervert, a pickpocket, and a practical joker. Triple-P Man, the scourge of girls everywhere but somewhat popular among the guys in the class.

Gen glanced around the room more. Naoko and Naomi, the Twins. Ryou, the guy obsessed with samurai swords and his hair looking good. Akira, the serious young man who hasn't opened up much to anyone. Let's see. Then there's himself, Oki, Junko, some others he wasn't very familiar with, and... Kohaku.

For the first time, Gen remembered Kohaku's promise to beat his ass profusely if he'd shown up. He'd been so distracted by Junko's silliness and brute strength, his lack of confidence in his ninja abilities, whether he was cut out for the thug life (wait, ninja life!), that he'd forgotten the main reason why he was supposed to stay away.

Kohaku.

Kohaku was glaring at him from across the room. He looked even angrier than before. Silently, he raised his fist, knuckles white from clenching so hard. He was saying something. Mouthing something.

You're dead, fag.

A/N: Just so we're clear, I'm having Kohaku use "fag" and such because he's an asshole. I want the issue of homophobia to be explored in this story at least a little. Hopefully it's not too upsetting to read about!