Naruto © Masashi Kishimoto.

Author's note: This one isn't that original, but bear with me…

Bully

Ino Yamanaka took a big bite out of her rice ball and chewed it thoughtfully. Today was her first day at school, and already there were so many interesting people to talk to! How cool was that? Just thinking of all her new friends made her smile.

The sound of laughing girls distracts her. Were her fellow students done eating already? Were they playing a game? Curious, she wraps up the remainder of her bento and goes to see.

Rounding a corner of the Academy building, her bright blue eyes fall on a small group of female classmates, all standing in a rough circle. Cruel, off-key singing reaches her ears: "Fatty, fatty, two by four…"

Ino is surprised to find that these girls who had been so nice to her are teasing someone, and when she shoulders her way into their midst, she is even more shocked to find out that it is a boy. And one she knows, although not well; Chouji Akimichi, the son of her father's good friend.

Whirling on the other girls, Ino cries out, "Leave him alone!"

Some fall silent, but others just giggle. One asks smugly, "Why should we? He's too fat to be a ninja!"

Ino glares, and points at the rude girl. "He might be fat, but he can exercise and lose weight. You, on the other hand, are ugly. And that's something that can't be fixed."

The homely ringleader runs off sobbing, and her entourage follows her.

Chouji hiccups and wipes his moist eyes. "Thanks."

Ino Yamanaka smiles, and thinks that maybe this friend will be better than the others.