I sat down and looked around anxiously. From what I could see the teacher had not arrived yet but sometimes it is what you can't see that is more important than what is. Unconsciously I started fumbling with my threadbare pants before realising what I was doing and stopping. Damn! I really needed to get rid of my nervous habits.

I moved my hand away and half sat on it. A temporary solution but the best one I could come up with at such short notice. Hopefully, the teacher would arrive soon else I might snap. Not that I could do anything. I wasn't very strong, just a thin underfed weakling really.

I don't think I was the only one who was nervous though. There were a couple of other kids in the corner who was twitchy, as if they expected the table to turn into a human and jump at them- which, from my knowledge of shinobi, could actually happen.

Most kids seemed to be banding together into groups from what I could see. They were gathering around the sparse tables and either talking animatedly or sitting silently looking like bunnies while being hunted. I, personally, felt no reason to go over to either group. I learnt from an early age to be wary of alliances and people who seemed over friendly. No- it was safer to be alone.

It seemed like my actions of sitting on my lonesome had caused suspicion. I could see the other kids looking at me out of the corner of their eyes. I looked blankly back at all of them. I did not want to cause arguments. It seemed like it was unavoidable because next thing I know my chair has been knocked down and one of the bigger boys in the class was standing over me.

"You fink yer better than us, do ye?" he sneered, spitting on the floor beside him. I mean yes- but I wasn't going to tell him that. No need for a death wish after all. Instead, I looked at him blankly, refusing to show my fear. This, instead of placating him like I hoped, angered him further. He raised a fist and I grit my teeth preparing for a world of pain because there was no way in hell I was fighting him back.

And, of course, the teacher chose that moment to walk in.

He couldn't have come in a few minutes earlier when I was simply sitting on my lonesome. No, he had to come in when I was on the floor, fist poised to attack over my head and a crowd of kids looking on in excitement. Great. Just what I wanted.

So, I was stuck on the floor in despair when the teacher (note: shinobi, SHINOBI, teacher) calmly walks over and pulls the other boy away. The boy didn't even struggle, and I felt a tiny bit sorry for the boy because of the look of fear on his face- But I don't really care that much. I don't know him. I'm not helping.

"What's going on here?" the teacher (What's his name? What's his name?!) asks calmly and I think I could detect a thread of amusement in his voice. Because of course, he does. He has fought in wars and a spat between two civilian children is nothing in the grand scale of things. I just look on in slight shock as the boy precedes to tell the shinobi why he was about to attack me. What a little rat. I feel anger rise as the tattler tries to make it seem as if it is all my fault but I don't take action on the anger. Instead, I take the time to look over at our sensei for the next two weeks.

He has dark brown hair and eyes, which are not that note-worthy. He is dressed in the ninja garb that I see them wear while on duty from time to time. His plate was on his forehead, a place where most shinobi put theirs. Really if not for the garb I would've not thought much of him except for the scar on his face.

It ran from one cheek to another in a straight line. It was obviously a cut from a kunai as I had seen the results from knife wounds and they were much less…clean. It made me wonder where he had got it. It wouldn't have been around the village, so he must have fought in the war. It was probably painful, and I wondered if it throbbed and when it did what memories it brought with-

"Ahem." I look up sharply in the direction of the voice. I look straight into the ninja's eyes. He smiles sheepishly. "If you're quite done looking at my face," a loud ooh sound comes from the crowd and I look down, my cheeks flushed red, "do you know why Enki here attacked you?" so Enki was the rat's name.

I look up blankly and before I can stop myself my mouth answers for me. "Do you think I am fooled to believe a shinobi like you would even give a shit?" I can see his eyes widen and I quickly slap my hands over my mouth. Well great. Well done mouth. It was nice knowing you. I flinch back slightly but to my, and I'm sure the other's, surprise he laughs. I look up at his eyes slightly wide. Nice. I had to talk to the insane ninja.

He pats me on the head, an action which I quickly shrink away from, and wipes a few tears from his eyes. "It's been awhile since I met a civilian kid with spunk!" he lets out one last laugh and turns around to the rest of the class. "Okay everyone, come and sit down…" I space out for a second, in disbelief I even survived, then shake my head and quickly hurry to find a seat.

I have not had much interaction (any) with ninja and especially not the insane kind. I feel some tension leave my body. Maybe this lesson could be interesting after all.

-0-0-0-

Ok yeah, scratch that. This lesson was even more boring than Hagimori-sensei's. At least with Hagimori-sensei, I learnt something. Here all "Iruka-sensei", if that was even his real name, talked about was how great shinobi were and how great it was to be a shinobi. Which, judging from what I had heard and the scar on his face, didn't seem to me to be true.

The worst part about it was that some of the kids were believing it! In fact, it wasn't even "some" kids it was most of them! Only the most street smart and cynical ones remained unconvinced, sitting like me- completely uninterested. I was ashamed of the amount of kids that I had previously heard fearing the shinobi, now interested in being one. Maybe it was the fact I had been brought up on horror stories that I didn't believe any of it but still!

I can still remember the most horrific one I was told. One of the main reasons for my distrust. The shinobi had convinced one of their own to die.

'Settle down kids. Okay, okay. I'll tell you a story if ya be hearin' of it. It ain't a nice un but I be thinking that it is time you hear it.

Once, about 20 ago if in I be remembering correctly, there was a man. He was a famed shinobi. They called him the "White Fang" coz he was said to be as powerful as a wolf in battle. He was as powerful as the Hokage and just as well known and adored. But then it all changed.

It was a time of war. The villages had become increasingly hostile t'wards each other. Hostile meaning, they hated each other. It was a time of great distrust. Loyal shinobi left, and right were becoming traitors. The Hokage chose White Fang and a couple of other shinobi for a v'ry important mission. I dunno what it was coz it is "classified." However, from what I 'eard White Fang chose his fellow shinobi over completing the mission.

Now have ye ever bin to one of the 'okage's speeches. Yeah, it is linked to the story. Hold yer horses. D'ya know what he always talks 'bout. Yer right. The Will of Fire.

What is the Will of Fire? It's hard ta explain. I'll tell ya another time. But one of the main things about the Will of Fire is teamwork, that sometimes completing a mission is less 'portant than yer fellow man. Keep this in mind fer the next part.

When White Fang returned from his mission he hadn't completed it, His teammates were on the edge of death and he saved their lives. But the mission hadn't been completed.

Let me explain somethin'. Our villages were on the brink of war. There was no way around it. Not with the shinobi raring for war. Speaking their words n' such.

White Fangs mission was a coupla months from the start of the war but it was the closest important mission to the start of the war. So he became the scapegoat, the person everyone blamed. Even the teammates he saved turned on White Fang. It got so bad that he couldn't even shop. His own son turned on him.

Us civilians didn't care. Only the most important civilians cared but they were only ones that White Fang saw. Keep this in mind as well.

One day his son found him on the carpet of his office dead. He killed 'imself. The man that had done nothin' but serve the village was killed by the shinobi he worked so hard to protect. There was a massive funeral for the man. Every shinobi that'd hurt him said their prayers. They acted like they 'ad done nothin' wrong. So with the shinobi pretendin', it weren't them who was blamed. They blamed the civilians of course.

I didn't go to the funeral so I dunno what happened but one day I could walk in the street with shinobi no problem and the next day I wasa bein' pushed 'round and called a murderer, which is ironic really.

It seems they made a conscious effort to forget the man. Y'all won't see no shinobi mention the man and when you do ya can tell by the glares at yer back.

I can see you are all saddened by ma tale but don't be. T'is nothin' ta be sad about. It's jus' a fact of life. Listen ta me. Yer can't trust the shinobi. Whatever they say means nothin'. They will be yer friend day and then call yer a murderer the next. Ya don't mean nothin' to them. Simple cannon fodder. Be wary around shinobi. If nothin' else, you learn that…'

I still have a vivid memory of that day. I had thought about it all night but even with indignation fired in my stomach, there was nothing I could do. I glared around the class. They were as foolish as the shinobi in the story. Believing words at point blank with no thought about looking underneath the words, underneath the masks that people wear.

I was obviously getting attention by glaring around the room. A quiet muttering started as kids looked at me with questions clear in their eyes. I didn't notice until Iruka-sensei called out my name.

"Cheree," I looked up suddenly, slightly startled, "is there a reason you're glaring around the room?" He pretended to look around, making some students nervously giggle. I made my face carefully blank. "Has the room done something to you Cheree?" he asked, his condescending glance making me tighten my knuckles.

"No, Iruka-sensei. Sorry, Iruka-sensei." My reply is terse, and I can hear the anger in my voice but Iruka-sensei turns around, satisfied and went back to talking to the rest of the class. I glare at my lap but refrain from glaring at anything but for the rest of the lesson, I don't want to be caught out again.

Eventually, he lets us go for the day reminding us that, yes, he'll be there tomorrow. When I get outside I breath in the fresh air and feel a bit of tension out of my shoulders. I can hear other kids talk about how "cool and hot that teacher was!" I do not partake in that and try and ignore the idiots. It seems I can't for long though as the next thing I know I am face down in the mud.

I can hear kids around me laugh as I wipe mud out of my face. I look up and see Enki sneering down at me. I just stare at him. This time he doesn't try to punch me he just walks off. I watch him as he retreats but I don't bother to try and stand. I stay in the mud and listen to the other kids walk off muttering about "that weirdo! Thinks she's so cool... What a bitch!"

When they are all gone I still can't find the energy to stand up. The mud makes my skin itch but what even is the point of standing up. I'll die one day. I'm not important or noteworthy, no history will remember me. Tomorrow I would have to face the same shit and I wouldn't be able to retaliate. I wanted to curl into the fetal position, but I still had some dignity.

"Why are you sitting in the dirt?" a bright voice asks behind me. I jump up instantly suspicious but when I turn up I see a blond-haired girl looking at me weirdly. I take her in for a minute. She is about 12/13.

She looks like a civilian, but my senses scream 'Shinobi, shinobi!' Her posture is too self-important. Most people around here walked slouch, as to avoid attention but she walked with her back straight and head held high. The second thing was her clothes. They were obviously expensive and well made. The third and most obvious were her eyes. They were weird and slightly creepy, with no pupils, not something I had ever seen on a civilian.

"Hello?" she says. I then realise I had been looking at her for a few minutes like I did with Iruka-sensei and- wow I really needed to stop that. I reddened and began twisted my jacket. I looked up and met her creepy eyes silently.

"Okay…" she said. I think she rolled her eyes, but I am not sure. I frown at her. Rude much? "Wow this place is a dump!" she exclaimed animatedly. I glared at her.

"Oh well, sorry your highness," I said dryly before I could think. She turned sharply to me. I had no doubt she heard me. 'Mouth, you and I are having a discussion later.'

"What was that?" she said indignantly. I closed my mouth and looked at her in silence. Oh, so now my mouth follows my orders.

Iruka peers his head out the door. "What's going on out- oh hello Ino why are you here?" he asks. So Ino was the snob's name. She huffs and turns her head towards him.

"Iruka when will you be back. The teacher we have at the moment is really strict and boring!" she whines. I look at her with a mix of amusement and horror. So this was the generation that would be taking over the village next.

Oh, joy.

"Ino I'll be back in 2 weeks. I think you can last until then." Ino huffs and then turns towards me.

"Why are you still here?" she asks, looking at me down her nose. I am beginning to hate her. The girls and boys in my class annoy me but they are better than this brat but she is still going to get more chances in life just because she is a ninja. But then again she is a ninja so I wisely don't say anything… is what I would say if my mouth didn't beat me to it.

"Oh my goodness. I'm so sorry your highness. I'll leave your holy presence." I spit the last bit out and glare at her. I freeze, however at the glare on her face. It looks like she might murder me. She takes a step towards me.

"Why you-" she begins. I look at her and then run away.

I don't think I have ever run so fast but my feet keep going, diving between streets. When I finally stop I sob slightly out of shock. I slide down the wall I am standing against and sob quietly. I just had to go against every warning I have received. I have two shinobi's attention. Why? Why was this fair that she got a better life than any of the kids I knew who would beg to have a life even slightly like hers.

As my tears start to dry my resolve hardens. Life is not fair but it does not mean I can't change it. Why should I sit and suffer while I am being squashed down beneath those who are not trustworthy? Why should I listen blindly? Why should I try and divert attention away from myself and try not to be heard? No. No more. I would change it.

I had to.