Hey everyone, I know this was updated a little while ago, but it was the only thing that I could think to update because I had nothing else written! OMG! Lol. Yes, I'm aware that I should get something else to amuse myself. Lol. Anyway, this is kind of a short chapter, but they're getting kind of boring, I'm aware of that. I SWEAR that they're going to get better. More action. :D Lol. Anyway, thank you all to those who have read and reviewed. :D You all make me so happy, even on short chapters. Lol. Well here's your update, please enjoy. :D:D

Graduation

The week had passes by slowly and the final day of the academy was approaching; the day that we would see who was going to become genin. Everyone was excited to see if they had passed or not, and I was waiting to see Hinata's face when she found out. 'I bet she'll be happy this afternoon when she finds out. She'll be so pleased with herself.' I thought as I made my way to the academy. I wanted to see how happy it would make her to know that she passed on her own.

"I'm excited and it's not even me who's getting it," I mused with a wide grin.

"Don't get too comfortable living like this," a voice said through a memory, "You never know who's out hunting for people like you."

I shook my head to make it go away. I wanted to actually let my guard down for once instead of always watching my back. It was memories like that that kept me on guard. For being thirteen, I was really tired of that.

"How old is Hinata?" I wondered randomly.

I knew that I had started to go to the academy a year or so late, so I didn't know how old she was.

"Once the cat's out of the bag, you're going to be hunted…"

"Shut up!" I growled hatefully.

Some people in the street stared and I glared at whoever's eyes caught mine. 'What are they staring at? There's not one of them out there that's perfect!' Clenching my fists, I walked on, not paying attention to the stupid voice in my head.

As I got into the academy, I took my seat and looked at Iruka Sensei's desk. It had a pile of head protectors on it. It was a small pile, only about six there. 'There are supposed to be seven…' It confused me a little and made me wonder who had been decided they couldn't pass. 'Maybe it's Sasuke!' I thought with amusement. It was a hopeless belief because he was an Uchiha. Everyone knew what an Uchiha was capable of. What the 'last' one would be able to do was a mystery that everyone wanted to know. Even I was becoming curious. The new head of the family, what could he possibly achieve? I wanted to know, but didn't know when I would find out. 'I'll find out eventually I'm sure…'

The door opened and Iruka Sensei came in quietly. 'Then again, maybe one of us won't live that long…'

"Hello Suzu," the sensei said pleasantly, "A wonderful morning isn't it?"

"I guess so," I shrugged, looking towards the windows, "depends who you are."

"You don't like sunny days?"

"Depends on what kind of mood I'm in," I stated, narrowing my eyes at the windows, "Just anxious to see whose team I'm on I guess."

That was a lie. I didn't get a team; I got myself. There were 'odd' numbers for the teaming system.

"We'll see," Iruka Sensei laughed slightly, putting something in his desk.

This was graduation. Of course a sensei would feel off. I could tell by his expression that he was nervous. He had even jumped slightly when Sakura had come in.

"You ready for today Suzu?" she asked me with a wave.

"Yeah, I'm just ready for action," I lied with a small laugh.

I liked Sakura… she just wouldn't be considered a best friend in my eyes. It must have been the way she fawned over Sasuke; her girly 'He'll be only my boyfriend' attitude.

'A ninja doesn't need a boyfriend. A ninja shouldn't reveal their feelings.' I told myself. I had been telling myself this all week after watching Sakura, Ino, and over three quarters of the class watching Sasuke. Nobody else seemed to matter to them, just this boy… or boys in general. It was driving me insane. 'Maybe that's why I don't trust a lot of them... I'd be thrown aside for a boy.' My eyes narrowed at the thought. How many friends became enemies over a boy?

"A lot," I mumbled to myself.

'Who needs them anyway?'

Suddenly the desk in front of me was occupied by Sakura sitting on top of it.

"So who do think made it?" she asked quietly.

"I have no idea," I lied with a small laugh.

"Well, I know Sasuke made it," she giggled happily, "and I think that Kiba made it… I'm really hoping that that Ino pig and Naruto didn't make it. They're so annoying."

'You have no idea.' I laughed inwardly at the though.

"You're right, they are annoying."

"Ino thinks she's so great but I don't think she is. I mean, she thinks she can take Sasuke," Sakura scoffed.

"Yeah," I said unenthusiastically, "How could she think that?"

'Only every girl in the class would be thinking the same thing right now…'

"You don't like him do you?" she asked suspiciously, nearly glaring at me.

"What would make you think that?" I asked her with a cocked eyebrow, rather interested.

"Well your hair is long and the only reason Ino and I grew our hair out was because of Sasuke."

'You have got to be kidding me.'

"So what's your reason?" she asked again.

"I'll be sure to chop most it off when I get home," I assured her without emotion.

It was only hair, it would grow back.

"No! Don't do that! I mean, it's so pretty that it would be such a waste!" Sakura protested.

"Too late, it's going."

With utter shock, Sakura got off the desk as other students started to come into the room. 'Freedom!' I laughed slightly at the expression on Sakura's face when I told her I was cutting my hair. I honestly didn't care on way or the other. It was time for a change anyway, but I would talk to Hinata first. 'I'll see what she thinks.'

"Hey Hinata!" I said as she came into the room.

"H-hi," she stuttered when she sat down.

"What's the matter? Nervous?" I asked her, poking her side playfully.

"J-just a little," Hinata admitted, "A-aren't you?"

"Nope," I laughed, "I don't get nervous… No wait… I do. Just not right now."

"L-lucky y-you," she mumbled.

"Don't worry Hinata, you'll make it and we'll all go out to celebrate, okay?"

"W-what are you getting at?"

"We pass, and I want you to cut my hair; you and Tenten," I laughed.

"W-what?!" Hinata nearly shrieked, "B-but your hair!"

"It'll grow back," I told her with a small smirk.

Kiba came in and knelt down in between Hinata and me.

"What's going on?" he asked, noticing the blush on the dark haired girl's face, "You guys aren't talking dirty talk, are you?"

I smacked him over the back of the head with annoyance, "Wrong thing to joke about."

"S-Suzu's going to c-cut off her hair!" Hinata protested, still shocked.

'It's not that big of a deal…'

"Oh really?" he asked with a cocked eyebrow.

"No Hinata, you and Tenten are going to cut it," I said with a wide grin.

"N-no!" she protested, "I refuse."

"Okay, I'm sure Tenten will agree," I went on with amusement, "Or Kiba will do it for me, won't you puppy?"

"I'm not your dog," he said dully before getting to his feet and going to his seat.

'Someone's grumpy.' I laughed in my head.

The rest of the class came into the room and took their seats impatiently. Everyone was either excited or nervous, but there was always Sasuke to ruin the moon; Mr. Unemotional. He was no fun.

"Okay everyone, today is your last lesson for a while before wee continue on with lessons for the students to remain," Iruka Sensei explained.

'Oh man… I just want to get out of here…' I thought with annoyance. I didn't have to be there, but I was for Hinata and Kiba. That was as far as it went.

"We're gunna cut my hair," I quietly sung, "We're going to cut my hair."

Hinata gently shoved me to get me to stop.

"We're gunna cut my hair," I chanted one last time with a laugh.

"Suzu," Hinata laughed slightly.

"Sorry, sorry."

Iruka Sensei went on and on through the class, getting the odd person to do a demonstration or a minor technique. It was very uneventful until he said the words everyone was waiting for.

"Everyone go outside and check the list of names that are written there. Then come see me."

I watched as almost everyone jumped to their feet and ran out the door.

"Come on Hinata, let's go see," I urged with an excited grin.

I grabbed her wrist and pulled her along quickly. I really wanted to see her face.

When we got outside, Naruto was sitting on the swing and parents were waiting outside for their kids. 'Naruto must have been a first one out here… Was he the one who didn't make it?' I looked at the list and saw all the names. His name wasn't present, but Sasuke's was there and Hinata's was near the top, before Kiba's.

"O-oh wow," Hinata whispered when she saw the list.

"See?" I asked her with a grin, "I told you, you could do it!"

"B-but what about you?" she asked with worry.

"I'm right there," I stated, pointing to three quarters of the way down.

"Oh."

Her eyes were still scanning for someone; looking to make sure someone else was listed. Her face fell to disappointment and then she turned to look at Naruto. 'Oh… we're going to have to do something about that…' I placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Come on, let's go see Iruka Sensei and get your head protector," I told her pleasantly, "then you, Tenten, and I will go out for lunch before hunting whoever else down. We'll have a blast."

"O-Okay," Hinata nearly whispered.

Iruka Sensei was standing outside the door with the head protectors in his hand. Most of them were gone already.

"There you are Miss Hyuga," he said with a smile, "You did very well this year. Good luck as a genin."

"T-thank you sensei," she said with a bow before taking her head protector.

"See you around sensei," I said with a wave before we went on out way to find Tenten.

Hinata's light eyes fell on me with confusion and curiosity.

"Where's your head protector?"

"There's a long story," I said nervously.

"It was five minutes ago," she protested.

'I should have known that his was coming…' I let out a sigh and looked up at the sky. I wasn't sure on how to put it into words.

"Well… you know when I woke up after that whole Land of Waves thing?" I asked with a cocked eyebrow as I watched the sky.

"Yeah…"

"Iruka Sensei thought that I wouldn't make it back to the academy on time so he kind of… gave it to me early…"

"I see," Hinata whispered, "T-that's good, right?"

"I guess," I laughed, "not that it really matter though. I wasn't going to let you know until I knew you guys had yours too."

"D-did you know?"

"Know what?" I asked, looking at her with come confusion.

"That we were getting ours."

"Oh… yeah, I had an insider tell me. Haha," I mused at the thought.

Hinata looked at the ground and was playing with her jacket a little. 'Something's bothering her and I don't like it when something's bothering her… Damn it, what do I do?'

"Is that thing about Naruto bothering you?" I asked her with some worry.

Felling bad sucked and I knew that more than anything. Why did she ever have to feel that way?

"Uh… just a little," Hinata admitted with a slight blush, "I-I just don't think that it's fair…"

"Everyone had the equal chance of passing or failing," I told her thoughtfully, "It's how they portray their skills during their chances that cuts it off… He just needs a lot more practice."

"So do I," Hinata mumbled.

"Hinata, look at it this way," I told her, "You can do a clone jutsu. Naruto can't. He needs a lot more practice than you do."

"I-I guess…"

"Come on," I said with a smile, "Let's go find Tenten and go to one of our houses to do something."

Hinata nodded and we walked on, going to the ramen shop. Tenten had agreed to meet us there after everything was over. 'I want to start training. I want to start being a real ninja… I want to be able to protect those close to me…'

As we got to the ramen shop, Tenten was already waiting. She seemed rather fidgety and impatient; excitement. That's what that was.

"Hey! Tenten," I called with a wave.

"There you guys are!" she replied with a wide grin, "Hinata, you did it!"

"Sure did," she said with a blush and small smile.

"She did good. We all did," I said proudly, "What about you Tenten?"

"Flying colours," she grinned, holding up her head protector.

"Good job," Hinata and I told her.

I stood in front of both of them with a wide grin.

"Okay, let's go to my house. We can have something to eat and then your two, "I said, pulling out a rather sharp kunai, "are going to cut my hair."

Tenten's jaw nearly dropped as her eyes widened.

"No!" Hinata protested with furrowed eyebrows.

"Well it's either you guys do it, or I do it right now, standing in the middle of the street, in public where everyone can see," I stated with a smirk.

"No," Tenten said, coming out of surprise.

"Okay, well here it goes," I laughed, grabbing a hand full of hair and raising the kunai to it.

"I mean no, don't do it here Suzu," Tenten said nervously, "We'll do it at your house."

"W-what?!" Hinata asked with surprise.

Her voice was nearly a screech, which meant that this was really a surprise.

"Yay," I laughed with victory, "And to settle the troubles, I'll make us some food."

"You can cook?" Tenten asked me with a cocked eyebrow.

"I think I'd either be dead or poor if I didn't know how."

Hinata laughed slightly and Tenten shook her head before we headed towards my house.

End of Chapter 11

So, so, how was it? Was it friendshipy enough for everyone? Lol. I'm thinking that this chapter and the next one to come is more to build on Suzu, Hinata, Tenten, and Kiba's friendships together. Things will be getting better later on, the chunnin exams are coming! Woohoo!! Too many ideas that I can't wait to get them out! They're going to be so much fun to write!! Woo hoo! Lol, anyway, please R&R and I'll try to update whenever I get the chance. :D:D