"Wha- Who are you talking about guys?" Naruto said, instantly shoving his hand in his pocket.
"We mean-" Choji started as Ku walked over to them " we'll tell you later…"
"Where the hell were you? You disappear for all of gym and leave me to deal with all of that?!?" Ku yelled
"What are you talking about? I-"
"I nothing! If your gonna leave for that long tell me or take me with you!"
"Come on your overreacting! It was just gym! Besides, It couldn't of been that bad, could it?" Naruto said rolling his eyes
Ku gave a cold hollow chuckle "Not that bad? It was just gym? Even thought we were split up into boys and girls, the girls were all over me! With there annoying giggles and screeches, there excessive saying 'He's mine! No mine' and the pulling!"
Ku, by now, had gone through the motions of what had happened and was pulling his hair. Grabbing Naruto's shoulders he said very calmly "Never. do that. again."
Naruto sweatdropped "Hai…" They all laughed and went through introductions and started to walk to class.
"So… what's this about a class party?" Ku asked
Shikamaru scratched his head and started to explain "Every year, each homeroom class competes ,within their grade level, in different feats of accomplishments such as highest averages on the final, races, games, ect. It's basically like a giant school competition/ festival that officially goes on for about two months."
"What do you mean officially?" Maki (Naruto) asked.
"What he means," Choji said, opening a bag of barbeque chips, "is that by school regulation the competition officially goes on within that set date even thought actually everyday the students compete, sabotage, intimidate, do whatever it takes to whittle out and get rid of the competition."
"But that's…" Ku started "the teachers don't do anything?"
"Not really." Shikamaru said
"Out of sight out of mind eh?" Maki said in a bittersweet tone
"Yeah some teachers do that, but there are some that even join in the 'fun'" Choji said grimly.
"But what if a student dies?" Maki said harshly
"That's the only major rule. You are not allowed to kill your fellow pupil. A seal on the school and the school pendants prevent this by lowering the power of the blows when the student is either unable to move without help, closing in on death, physically unconscious meaning not caused by a self induced jutsu, and if the opponent truly yields the jutsu stops the blow completely. But this isn't foolproof. For one it doesn't stop weapons, two physical jutsus still can kill you such as the sharingan, the divine palms, element jutsus, all the seals do is lower the power but not stop it if the opponent is about to die, and three….."
"What's three?" Maki asked as the walked into the classroom and sat down.
"Three is-" Shikamaru said when everyone in the class fell silent. Maki looked toward the door as four people walked into the class. The first on was a girl with long black hair that was slightly spiked in the back. She wore a short black and grey skirt, a black shirt and black sandals. She had a black a red plaid jacket on and a black skull belt on. Her glasses had black narrow wire frames and she had jet black, smart calculating eyes. A well built boy walked in behind her. He had light blond hair that was almost white and grey blue eyes. He had on black pants, a white shirt with a black suit jacket over it. He seemed on edge sort of as he walked into the classroom and afraid of something. The next person was also a boy but not anywhere near as big as the other one. He was toned but really skinny and pale. He had long grey-white hair and crystal blue eyes. He wore a crafty grin on his face that showed his sharp teeth. He had on a black tank top and grey pants. On his waist was an orange belt with a white beaded necklace hanging off of he right hip. The final person was also a boy. He was, to a person that was from outside the Leaf Village, not seemingly special at all. His skin was a creamy white and he had really long black hair that went down to the bottom of his thighs that was spiky at the top in the back but smoothed out towards the bottom. You could tell he was rich by the black suede suit he wore and the way he carried himself. He wore a hardened, smug expression on his face that almost challenged anyone to cross him. His eyes were a deep black with a hint of red in them. The only things that stood out were two thick black wristbands he had on. They were thick and looked heavy and Maki could not discern the reason why he would have such ugly and bulky things on. He looked around the class, his eyes stopping on Maki and Ku.
"Well, well, well. Look, more trash has wound up in my world. Hnn! Really, one day" he said as he walked over to Naruto's desk and drew close to him "I really ought to dispose of all of it shouldn't I ne?" he said as his eyes flashed red. Naruto held back his anger and looked up and smiled "I'm sorry, did you say something? I could of sworn I heard a fly around here….." The boy sputtered as the rest of the class tried to hold back their laughs. "Why you-" the boy said as he went to hit Naruto "That's enough Sasuke." A voice said. Stopping, Sasuke said without turning around "So you would rather stand up for some stranger than you own blood. How noble of you to follow the villages' directions like always."
"It was from my observation that you had started it that's why I stopped you, not because I was ordered to." Itachi said walking up behind Sasuke
"Che!" Sasuke turned and left the class, completely ignoring Itachi and glaring and Naruto as he, and his friends left. 'I guess Sasuke is the same…..' Maki thought
"That," Said Choji putting his hand on Maki's shoulders "my friend is number three."
"How so?" Maki asked
"Well it's been said that there are individuals in this school that can exceed, trick, and even completely remove the seals placed on them. In his case, with the information we've gathered, he can exceed the seal to the point it breaks." Shikamaru stated
"Hm…. Wait everyone doesn't have one then right?" Ku said
"Right. Everyone get the seals placed on them according to rank and training but only certain individuals get a limiter object or LO. Your lucky that you came here even though I'm sure you would of heard of this considering it's the first one that we have had in about twelve years because of attacks by the Nine Tails, Akusuki, random wars and everything else. This competion is held after school ends during our month long Midsummer's Festival and is usually held every four years but as I said before attacks and all. This tournament is not limited to just this school, village, or country either. Apparently every village everywhere sends out three to four teams to compete but not all villages compete due to mistrust, the want to keep jutsu secrets, blah blah blah. I just think that the whole thing is troublesome. So far the only team that went had to come back due to war"
"Who's team?" Maki asked intrigued
"Who else? Itachi-sensei's of course!" Choji answered putting on his apron. The chubby boy looked excited and happy here. Shikamaru, on the other hand, look looked like he was dreading this class, not his normal annoyance but he actually looked like he seriously would rather be getting an earful from Ino, Sakura, and Temari than be in this class. Maki chuckled at his two friends. They were so different and yet the same in every way. He was glad that those two had been the first ones (besides Tsunade-baachan of course) to find out who he was. He put on his apron and went and sat next to Choji as the class quieted down.
"Well it seems we have two new students today. What are your names?" Itachi said
"Good morning Itachi-sensei. I am Makuro Namaki and this is Kuro Saraki."
"Yo just call me Ku and him Maki" Ku said
"Ah you are the two new transfers received this morning. I seems that you have already met my upstart brother. I apologize for his behavior."
"Oh it's nothing! I had a feeling that he was a duck-butt…" Maki said concealing his anger at Sasuke.
'Duck-butt… but that something that….' Itachi thought looking hare and Maki and Ku.
"Well anyways class lets begin. The cooking classes are in charge of the food for there class and the two individuals that were picked in homeroom decide the dishes."
"Ano Itachi-sensei I have a question." Maki said, raising his hand
"Go ahead." Said Itachi
"Since I have just transferred here and I don't know everyone really well and I don't know the foods everyone wants can the two people picked become three?"
"Well I suppose so….Class President is this ok?" Itachi asked
Temari looked at Maki and sighed "Yes. But whoever you pick you will have to help out with there duty as well."
"I understand. I choose Choji then." Maki said
Choji, blushing, stood up "But she chose you and besides you don't want to help pick up the trash."
"I'm fine with it. I have heard that you're something of a cook yourself."
"Well, I do dabble" Choji said turning a deeper shade of red "but you're probably better."
"You'll be fine!" Maki said patting Choji on the back.
"Then I accept." He said turning even redder.
"Oy Choji. Your face matches your headband." Kiba pointed out laughing, which of course, made Choji turn even redder.
"Well then let's get started." Itachi said as everyone moved to the kitchen.
The students were well in to cooking when Maki started to walk around. Walking over to Temari he said "Is there a specific type of food that everyone is making?"
"Well we thought of that but then it wouldn't be a party then would it?" Temari answered smiling. She looked like a true cook, sweaty, she had flower on her face, tomato paste and a mix of other ingredients on her apron. Her work station, however, was a different story. Oddly enough it was neat but busy. She had some Nabe bubbling, the steam and aroma from it rising and joining everyone else's. Vegetables frying in a wok, cookie sheets filled with dango, fish cakes, daikon, and yakitori. In another pot she had started sukiyaki and she had also started some tonkatsu to fry.
"Why are you making all of this now when the party is at the end of the week?"
"End of the week? No the winners are announced at the end of the week but the party is in two days. That reminds me, during lunch and training, we will be setting up our part of the building for the party and we don't have school tomorrow or Thursday but instead we will be setting up the rest of the decorations and tables and stuff like that. Also we will be cooking Thursday. This stuff today is for lunch for everyone and practice."
"Oh. Then if it's going to be everyone doing everything then why did you assign jobs?"
"That so the people make sure that the job they got assigned gets done. Also the people assigned to the job have to work together."
"Ok I get it. So some of this is preparation for the next two days and the rest is the food for everybody else."
"Yes. Now since you said that you don't really know anyone else and what they would like and stuff why don't you go and check them out too. Oh and….."
"And…?"
"Well, um if you have any q-q-questions or need to p-p-p-practice then maybe…come over? Y-you that is."
"Sure. After school is fine?"
"Yes!"
"Well then, take care." Maki said, waving her goodbye as he walked over to the other stations
'I can't believe that I asked him over! What should I wear? Is the house clean? Oh my…' Temari thought as she absentmindedly stirred her pot.
"Oi. Temari-chan. Oi. Oi." Konkuro called out to her.
"WHAT CAN'T YOU SEE IM BUSY!!"
"K-Kawai…. But"
"But what!"
"Your apron is on fire Temari." Garra said not taking his eyes off of the shrimp he was shelling.
"AHHH! HELP! HELP! WATER! WATER! PUT IT OUT, PUT IT OUT, PUT IT OUT!!!"
Garra nodded and stuck his hand out towards Temari. Sand gathered on her apron and smothered the fire.
"T-Thanks Gaara."
"No prob." He said, his eyes still on his shrimp.
Maki made his way around to all of the tables, amazed at the skill of each student. He walked back to his station, which he shared with Shikamaru, Choji and Ku of course. He watched Choji cook, dazzled at the way he cooked.
'It almost looks as if he is dancing with the food' Maki thought amazed at the boy. Choji had on a simple apron, an head band to hold his hair back (think addicted to curry) To Naruto's amazement Choji had his eyes closed, smiling and cooking. He suddenly opened his eyes and grinned "There done!" Turning to Maki "What? Is there something on my face?" Startled, Naruto blushed stuttering "N-n-no y-your fine! I-I mean nothings there….." he trailed off, looking away. "Ok. Well then come try!" Choji said, holding out a plate of dango that where dipped in chocolate. Taking one, Maki and Ku took a bit of theirs. "It's good!" they said surprised at the amazing texture and flavor. "The strawberry is still cold! How, a jutsu or something?" Maki said savoring the juice from the strawberry in the middle mixing in with the warm chocolate.
"NO! No jutsu. A true chief doesn't use jutsu on something like this. We chiefs try and use as little jutsu as possible in our cooking. We put our heart into making our dishes and only use jutsu when necessary and we almost never use jutsu on dessert."
"So how did you do it?" Ku asked.
"It's a Se-cr-et!" Choji said winking. Turning to Shikamaru he gave him one.
"Why aren't you cooking? I know that it's not because you don't know how. Choji is your best friend so I know some of his skills rubbed of on you." Naruto asked.
"Eh, too much work. I'm not that bad of a cook but there isn't enough incentive and I'd rather sleep." He said yawning. "Class is almost over anyways so lets clean up and put the lunch in the fridge and get ready for music."
They started to put the food away and clean up when it dawned on Maki "Everyone has the same classed for the start of the day right?"
"Yes." Shikamaru said
"Then why did you say that Choji has a different class then us next?"
"Oh that. Well he does and yet doesn't. The music class and choir class have the same classroom and same teachers so it is considered one class but you get to choose which you want do."
"Oh. So Choji…"
"Yes he sings. Surprising isn't it?"
"No, not really. I mean I can kinda picture it."
"Actually he is really good. He is among the top in the class. Kurenai-sensei keeps asking him to learn sound genjutsu, the same with me."
"Eh… So what instrument do you play?"
"Piano, violin, flute, clarinet, viola, panpipes, bagpipes, guitar, drums-"
"Ok, ok I get it. Why so many?"
"I don't know. I just know how to play them. I was told by my father that I've always had a talent for music and it like whenever I touch an instrument; I know how to play it. Creepy huh?"
"That so cool! I wish could do that. I can play my fair share of instruments but I wish I could play them all without practice." Maki exclaimed wistfully
"No I still practice. I not perfect on them at all. I just know the chords and finger placements. I can play but it's not like I could pick up an instrument that I'd never seen and play a perfect Beethoven on it."
"But still you have to admit, it is pretty cool." Ku said
"Yeah. I don't mind it, but enough of that. Choji here is a natural born singer. On his first day he had all the girls in class entranced by his voice. It was pretty funny." Shikamaru chuckled
"Oh the way the girls just stared?"
"No, how deeply Choji blushed and fell off the stage when he was trying to run away!" Shikamaru laughed
"Shut up pineapple boy! You think that's funny, on his first day he- MUPHMMM!!!"
"They don't wanna hear about that!" Shikamaru said nervously, covering his plump friends mouth.
"Ehh….?" Maki was curious. What did Shikamaru do that would embarrass him? He decided to press on the matter later. They walked into the class and sat near the back. A few minuets later, Gaara walked in and sat next to Maki. Greeting him Maki wondered if he should tell him about him being back.
"Gaar-"
"If you are going to reveal something important, you might want to wait till after school. There are always people watching Ramen boy." He said in a low voice, not turning to look at him
"Wha-"
Gaara turned and gave him a hard look, making Maki want to ask him even more but he decided to wait until after school.
"Well I guess you will be coming over as well. I will see you after school." With that Maki turned towards the front of the class but his mind was still preoccupied.
'How? What happened? Why does he know?' Maki thought wondering if someone else knew, or saw what had happened earlier. Dismissing the problem until later, he went back to talking to Shikamaru until the bell rang.
"Hello class!
"Hello Kurenai-Sensei!" The class responded in chorus
"As you all know, Asuma-sensei is still recovering and he wont be able to teach so I have been put in charge of both singing and music."
"Yes." They all said again.
"And of course you know that I have been able to get a prefect from the higher grades to come and help."
"What?" "Why can't you do it?" "Aww man."
"Ok, ok quiet down. You know that I can't do this all by my self, especially with me being….you know…."
The class quietly giggled. Kurenai still was uncomfortable with saying pregnant.
"So with that in mind, I have gotten Tayuya-san to help me this week."
"Aww man not her!" "I heard that she once beat up a 4th grader for sneezing during one of her speeches." "Really I heard that she single handedly took out Pein."
"Now children. I expect you to treat her with the same respect that you treat me. How are you going to become respectable ninja if you don't respect who's in charge?"
"…… sorry Kurenai-sensei."
"Good. Be nice ok?"
"Ok…" they said disappointed but glad she wasn't pushing herself too hard, especially with her husband in the hospital and her due date drawing near.
"I'm Tayuya. You can call me Tayuya-san or Sempai. I am here to teach the music part of class because I specialize in sound genjutsu. I know that most of you think that I am mean and cruel. Well I can be mean but I'm not that way on purpose. I am strict so most people think I'm mean all the time. I do however expect you to play your best and nothing but your best. You do want to be the best don't you?"
"Hai." They said
"Then I will make you the best."
The class started whispering excitingly. They were wrong about Tayuya being really mean and beating up people.
"Ok let's get started then. The dance party is a big part of the school festival and each class is in charge of there own dance floor and everyone knows that this class always gets the biggest floor in this sector so lets make it the best too. Who is in charge of the music sector?
Shikamaru and Konkuro raised there hands.
"Do you have any ideas about this?"
"Well everyone has been talking and we have decided to feature a school band and a couple underground DJ's." Shikamaru started
"Still it is hard to get the DJ's to actually come considering that they don't just take every request. We have sent the requests to the DJ's that everyone agreed on, DJ Shadow Girl, DJ Puppet Strings, and DJ H1RO. We are pretty sure that Shadow and Strings will accept but we aren't sure about H1RO." Konkuro explained. "Also if anyone knows any other DJ's then please tell us. We might need a back up."
"The dance is going to be mainly a rave party but there will be remixes of other non-rave songs. There will also be a contest for the best raver so dress accordingly and have fun. We have already sent out flyers and put up posters with this information and pre-tickets have been sold out. They can buy tickets at the door but for a slightly higher price. Of course this class gets in free and teachers pay a low price but considering you're not a teacher….. I guess you can get in free as well" Shikamaru said
"W-well thank you! If I have time I'll show up!" Tayuya said happily. She was glad that this class wasn't full of wimps who were scared shitless by her being there and sat there like frightened bunnies. 'Although' She thought evilly 'I really don't mind that. Them squirming like worms that is. Squirm worms Squirm!' Tayuya started to chuckle evilly as the class watched, laughing nervously and sweatdropping.
"Ok. Is it alright for you to only have one band? I'm sure that everyone in this class has a talent or something. Why don't you have more people doing this?"
"Well we do have talented people but we're not sure-"
"Cut the crap. You get more people by asking or 'persuasion'. Get them"
An uncomfortable silence fell over the room. Everyone looked at everyone else, not wanting to show off there talents for other people.
"W-well I have a song." A timid voice said, cutting though the silence. Everyone looked for the source of it.
"Well it's not just my song. Ten-ten and I have been working on a couple songs when we are bored." A purple hair girl stood up and said.
Whispered conversations broke out all over the room. "Hinata?" "She sings?" "No way, she's to quiet" "Eh….." "I'm not sure if I want to hear her sing, not that here voice could get that loud anyways." Hinata stared at the floor, embarrassed at her self for being so stupid. 'Of course no one wants to here me sing. It's the same as home….'
'Hinata….' Maki thought. Standing up he said "That's cool Hinata!"
Startled by her name, she looked at Maki blushing. "That's awesome! I know that I've only been here for a day but I have an idea. We could set up a karaoke on the stage and then everyone can sing and have fun. Also if you need a band if it's alright I might be able to get my friends band to perform here."
"You could? Thanks Maki! If they can that would be great! There isn't a rule against people from other people from other villages coming and helping, you just have to fill out the paperwork." Konkuro said grinning.
"I guess that we could have a little competition or something. The best singer gets a kiss from whoever they want or something like that. Well not really a competition but more of a challenge. Who ever sings on stage gets to kiss who ever they want. Teaching staff included." Shikamaru said, his eyes glittering mischivously.
"Yeah!" "That sounds cool!" "Awesome!" Everyone started talking about the dance and what they would sing. Hinata blushed to a deeper shade of red 'A k-k-k-kiss!?' 'B-b-but why?' She looked over at Maki blushing again. 'What is it with him? I get this feeling like I know him or I should, I don't know….' She grabbed her chest, her heart beating as fast as it did when Naruto was around.
"Good job Hinata!" Someone said, clapping there hand on her shoulder, making her jump. CRACK! Her forehead hit her friends chin hard
"Ittttai… Are you ok Ten-ten?" Hinata said, holding her hand out to her friend who was now on the floor.
"Yeah… You have a hard head Hina-chan." She said rubbing her chin. Grabbing Hinata's hand she stood up laughing. "Anyways, I'm glad you said something, I had completely forgotten that we were supposed to sing this year. We finally get to sing your song!"
"I-it's not really my song…"
"Yes it is. You wrote it so it's yours."
"Well…. How about it's our song. If it weren't for you I wouldn't be singing in the first place. Anyways you sing better than I do."
Ten-ten smiled at Hinatas kindness. She didn't usually sing in front of people and wasn't that confident in her abilities. Someone saying that she was good was the best complement ever. "Ok, our song.' She said hugging Hinata.
