I blinked fiercely to re-focus myself to the current time. I glanced over at Hinata, who appeared to be shaking from head to foot. Her pale eyes were stretched wide open. Her small, pale hands trembled.

I placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled at her. She turned and smiled back at me.

I nodded toward her to say. "You're going to do just fine".

I slid the door to our classroom open and strode inside with Hinata following closely. I noticed that the only occupant in the room was Sasuke. No surprise to me, he's always there first one there.

I looked at the blackboard. I saw the words 'GRADUATION EXAM TODAY' inscribed upon its surface in large, capital letters. I felt my stomach twist.

I noticed Sasuke move into the desk right below the one that we were sitting at. I peered at his face, hoping for some clues. His emotions revealed nothing, like usual.

Maybe he just wanted a change of pace from all his squealing fangirls. I know that I would.

Completely ignoring the fact, I put my hand into my schoolbag and pulled out a scroll that I had put together to study for the graduation exam. I began to look over it with Hinata, starting with the clone jutsu.

Everyone says that the clone jutsu is always on the test.

As I completely focused on studying the replacement technique, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I glanced up and saw a small piece of parchment, folded in half, sitting on the corner of my scroll. I opened it quickly.

All it said on the inside was, "I hope you pass, Naya." I scanned the paper again quickly for a name but there was none. Instead, at the bottom was, "meet me in down by the dock at six. Come alone"

Whoever had sent the note had good handwriting, I'll give them that. I noticed that the led to the pencil had been very fine and sharp, as though it had been brand-new.

But, no one has used the electric sharpener in the corner since I had come in.

A moment later, I realized that would hardly matter. Students brought hands-sharpeners with them all the time, not to mention that the note could've been written hours or days before.

I thumped myself on the head for forgetting that.

I glanced at Hinata to see if she'd noticed who'd tapped me, but she was looking at the classroom door again.

Standing on the threshold was no other then the number one knucklehead ninja. He was wearing his normal orange jumpsuit, which, in my opinion, made him look like a target. His normal, spiky, blond hair seemed even more spiky today.

I felt Hinata turn her head toward Naruto. I'd learned that she'd had a huge crush on Naruto since the day we met. I could feel her body heat up, and I could tell that Hinata blushing uncontrollably, as she would normally do whenever Naruto so much as looked at her.

Slowly, all the other students filed into the classroom, filling the desks. Soon, like normal, all the girls besides for Hinata and I were all swarming around Sasuke. Soon it became too loud to continue to study, so Hinata and me moved to the other side of the classroom.

"Crazy, aren't they?" I whispered to Hinata.

"So it would seem. They are acting kind of silly," she whispered.

"They're acting like a love-struck yearling doe," I muttered to myself. "Prancing around him like that. It makes me feel nauseous."

At last, Iruka-sensei arrived and began to address the class. From behind his small, raised podium, his voice rang out strongly. "Now today, the graduation exam will be on, the clone jutsu."

I heard a loud groan, and turned to see Naruto had banged his head on the desk at the mentioning of the clone jutsu. His eyes looked almost out of focus as they spun with annoyance.

"Leave it to Iruka-sensei to hit me in my weak spots for my graduation test," I heard Naruto grumble crossly.

Poor Naruto. He's always struggled with that jutsu… Not to mention the rumors that he's taken and failed it several times prior…

"Poor Naruto," Hinata whispered. "I wish there was some way to help him."

I nodded, only half listening. The hand seals for the jutsu in question were repeating themselves over and over through my mind.

I will pass today, no matter what!

My ambition filled up my lower stomach and sharpened my focus and drive for glory.

"When your name is called, please report to the testing room." Iruka-sensei finished. "For now, you may use this time to study, read, whatever, so long as it's quiet." He shot a warning glare at Naruto and Kiba. "I have to go the testing room. Good luck to you all." And with that, he left in a light puff of smoke.

I was way too nervous to sit still, called out Espeon, and began to groom her. The presence of my partner and her sound of her satisfied purrs and mews were just what I needed to calm my frayed nerves.

The first name to be called was Shino, who was followed five minuets later by Choji.

"Come on! Why does my name have be at the end of the alphabet!" I muttered irritably. My full name was Naya Uchiha. Though it gave me more time to study, I was too nervous to sit still and quiet like my normal self.

The third Hokage had just told me that my bloodline was pure Uchiha, and that my real parents had died, and I had been sent to an orphanage away from the ninja world. I slipped my hand into my satchel, and pulled out a small black box and opened it. Last night, the Third Hokage had called me to his home for a talk. He had told me of my entire bloodline trait, and my whole history. My real parents had been of the middle class. Since they didn't have any living family members, the elders of Konoha had thought it best for me to grow up away from all the aspects and dangers of ninja life. So I was sent to the Johto region.

The couple that had adopted me from the orphanage owned a small egg-ranch towards the outer part of New Bark town. They mainly bred eevees and it's evolutions, as well as ponyta and it's evolved form, rapidash. Then, when I turned ten, I started my journey with Espeon as my partner.

Inside the little black box was a small, gold locket. In the shape of the Uchiha crest, on one side it was delicately painted to the same colors that where on Sasuke's shirt's crest. Scarlet on the top part of the crest, and white on the lower part by the stick where one would hold and gripe it if it were real. I slipped it over my head, and began to think about the Uchiha clan.

"Hyuga Hinata!" Iruka-sensei's voice rang over the speaker in the classroom, scattering my thoughts.

"Good luck, Hinata!" I whispered to Hinata who slipped out of her seat by the window, and left.

I noticed that Hinata was shaking from head to toe. She had put her left pointer in front of her lip much like she did when she was uneasy or frightened. I completely understood this. Hinata was the heir to the main household of the Hyuga clan, and if she failed this exam, she'd never live it down. When I had visited the Hyuga complex to bring Hinata her academy homework when she was sick a few months ago. When she'd been there, she noticed many medics running about, and it gave her a slightest feeling that Hinata's future role would be vital to her clan. Then, she told me the whole future that was laid out for her. It seemed sort of unfair.

Shino, Choji, and Sakura where the only students that I could remember leaving the room before Hinata. I was frightened out of my wits for my turn. Would I do okay? Would I even be called at all? After all, I was the under dog to pass, and I hadn't nearly as much experience as all the other students. What if Iruka-sensei had just decided to have me do the whole course over again to get me ready for the next time? Would he do that? NEVER! Iruka-sensei would NEVER do that! But what if the Hokage ordered him to do so? That would be different!

I knew Espeon could feel all my unease.

I felt all my emotions whirling at rapid speed.

I felt Espeon's soft tongue on my cheek. She smiled at me.

I looked up, "Thanks, Espeon. You've always been there for me when I need you the most. You've always understood me. Thank you, my friend," I whispered sweetly into Espeon's ear. Espeon purred with satisfaction to these words.

As time passed, the seconds felt like minuets, and the minuets felt like hours. Five minuets after Hinata had left, Inuzuka Kiba was called to the testing room. Fifteen minuets passed, and Nara Shikamaru was called. Twenty more minuets, and then a voice rang out, "Uchiha Naya!"