Finally an update! Ugh, sorry it took so long to write.

It had taken a while but there he was, in a classroom sitting in the front right corner of the room. His father had refused at first, but after a few days he had decided to let him saying, 'you'll be doing something useful with your life.'

I'm going to be a shinobi! I'm excited, I'll have something to do and be of use. I don't care what they say I'm going to be strong!' He thought excitedly. True, all of the children had moved as far away from him as possible and some had even dared to insult him, but he payed them no mind, he could only think of how great it would be to be a shinobi like Atsumaru. He pulled out a book he had been reading called, Basic Ninjutsu for Beginners as the class chatted away and goofed off. Suddenly the door slammed open and the chuunin teacher walked in with an armful of papers.

"Settle down kiddies, this is the beginning of your training and you need to take it seriously!" he barked. At the sound of his rough voice the children instantly closed their mouths and went back to their seats. Putting the book away promptly Zetsu turned his attention to the man putting the numerous papers away.

"Okay let's get started."

For Zetsu, going to the Ninja Academy was the best thing that happened to him. He got to wear awesome ninja gear, throw things at logs, read tons of books and socialize with other people, even if they didn't want to socialize with him. His teacher only acknowledged him when it was test time or if he wasn't paying attention, other than that, like everyone else, he acted like that if he just pretended he wasn't there he would go away. But after a few weeks of training, Zetsu started to excel in stealth exercises and strategic lessons, causing him to be near the top of the class and gaining some positive attention from his father. However, when it came to hand to hand combat and fighting, he wasn't doing so well, when he lost the others would sneer at him and say rude things about him. Despite the fact that no one even tried to be his friend he enjoyed his life and accepted himself on the better days as a boy who just didn't fit in. He would sit on the roof of his room on sunny afternoons soaking up the sun with his large leaves and watching the clouds float by, and that was probably the best time of his life. But when he became a genin,things became different.

"...Krish, Natila, and Zetsu will make up team 12," Shouted the teacher. Zetsu had just passed his test and wore his headband proudly around his bare neck. When his father had heard he just smiled and told him that he could have some sweets later in the week, which was a rare thing for Zetsu to have. He looked over at his new teammates and smiled, who in turn cringed at his appearance. Krish had stunning blue eyes and black hair tied into a small, low ponytail. He had been exceptional in the ninjutsu department but lacked in tactics. Natila was small with brown hair ties into pigtails behind her head and plain, brown eyes. She was a taijutsu type who didn't do as well in with ninjutsu. They forced smiles on their faces and turned their heads away, it was obvious they did not want to be teammates with him.

"..And your sensei is Gendou Atsumaru."

Zetsu abruptly turned his gaze away from his teammates, staring in shock at his chuunin teacher

'No way, Atsumaru is going to be my teacher!' he thought happily. In all his life Atsumaru was the only one who had ever treated him with kindness, and he hadn't seen him since the incident in the garden.

"All right, everyone report here tomorrow at eight to meet your teachers, dismissed!"

Sitting in the crowded classroom waiting for his teacher, Zetsu sat studying a new scroll of plant jutsus he thought he could use. Kids ran about free in the classroom throwing paper and chatting with friends and teammates. Little by little the squad leaders would come and pick up their students until there was only one other squad in the room. It had gotten deathly quiet and everyone sat in an aqward silence. Hearing the sound of footsteps, he turned his head and met the eyes of his two teammates, who were both giving him a look that gave him chills.

"Okay, seeing as we're teammates we're going to have to sort out some issues." Krish said in a commanding tone. Politely, Zetsu put down his scroll and turned his attention to his teammate hoping it wasn't anything bad.

"First, just because we're on a team, doesn't mean we're friends. Which means only talking to us when necessary or if we talk to you first." Natila sent him a warning glare that practically screamed 'and I'll kick your ass if you try anything funny!' He cringed and nodded in reply, looking at the floorboards.

"I didn't expect you to like me anyway," he mumbled.

"What was that punk?!" Krish yelled grabbing his neck and pulling him up to eye level.

"W-what? I didn't say anything about you."

"I know you said something, what you think because you're freakish that you're better than us?"

He was confused, he hadn't said anything mean, so why were they making up excuses to hurt him? Anger flooded his body as a voice in his head whispered quietly 'They're just like all the others.' Then, Zetsu did something out of his character, he spat in the other boy's face.

"That's it asshole!" He screeched. He punched Zetsu in the face and sent him flying back into the benches. Before he can get in another good hit a large hand lands on the shoulder of the other boy.

"Now what's with all this rough-housing among teammates?"

Zetsu looked up, it was Atsumaru who looked half mad, and half amused. It had been almost five years since he had seen him and new scars decorated his arms and face.

"Atsumaru sensei, I'm glad to see you again!" he piped happily.

"Zetsu, it's been quite a while! How have you been?"

"What, you mean you two know each other?" Natila questioned.

"Why yes, we met a few years ago! I'm pleased you made it this far Zetsu, I'm sure you'll make a great shinobi, you two as well." the older man said grinning and patting the other two on the back.

"Now, shall we head out?"

This is probably a really crappy chapter and it took me forever to write, but I had writers block!

I blame that fact that schools coming up and I have other things to do.