Red Hot Habanero

"Look at the color of her hair."

"How can anyone have hair like that?"

"How do you get it that red?"

"Her hair's really weird!"

"I wouldn't go out with hair like that."

My classmates snicker and whisper to one another as the teacher introduces me. I can't put into words how much I hate my hair. It's just a giant sign on my head screaming "outsider". All I want is to call the Hidden Leaf home and feel like part of the family, but no one will accept me until I make them acknowledge me.

"I'm going to become the village's first female Hokage!" I proclaim as the class stares, mouths gaping. All except one kid, second row from the back, that stands up with a genuine smile. His hair bright blonde and spiked with eyes as blue as the sky.

"I want to become a great Hokage who will be admired by everyone in the village, too!"

I stare coldly as the anger of the jokes and bullying boil inside me. But the way he looked at me, the smile that lit up the room and his soft, genuine voice made me feel more at home than I have in a long time. There was no way this kid could become Hokage, but he is the first person to acknowledge me without teasing me about my hair.

•○•○•○•

"Tomato! From today on we're going to call you Tomato! You have a fat round face with red hair. Just like a tomato!"

My fists clench as I stand in the back of class surrounded by boys laughing at me. My blood begins to boil with anger again. Why can't they just leave me alone? Suddenly my eyes meet those sky-blue eyes. He doesn't smile, he doesn't laugh, but he doesn't come help. Just sitting there like a mouse waiting for the snakes to leave.

"Look, she's getting redder and riper! It's time to harvest for the Tomato Festival!" the boy mocks as he pulls on my hair. Gripping his arm and shaking with anger I pull his hand from my hair.

"Now you listen, I hate tomatoes too, ya know!" I say pulling the kid to the floor. I climb onto his back and start swinging, "Keep calling me tomato, and you're going to get it, ya know!"

Pausing from the chaos to look up at the rest of my class, my eyes lock yet again with that boy. This time he's got a huge smile on his face and my anger rises further. I know my hair is bright red and ugly but why does everyone have to constantly laugh at me! Don't you have anything better to do?

"What are you laughing at?" His eyes widen in fear and he quickly turns to face the front of the class. Just as I thought, a mouse hiding from predators. Well I won't be like that; I'm going to keep fighting until the boys stop picking on me. Then, I'm going to become Hokage!

Once the teacher breaks us apart and settles the class down, he teaches us about Shadow Clone Jutsu. It's a basic jutsu, and I mastered it a while ago. I can make three perfect clones of myself at once. I wonder how many that boy can do. With all that talk about being Hokage, I would think he can make a few. I glance at him from across the room, his eyes are full of curiosity. He's actually quite cute, but it's a shame that he's so quiet and doesn't seem to have strong will.

When classes end, I walk back home trying to remember which roads I need to take. People stare at me and the murmurs of whispers fill my ears. I hang my head low and walk quickly away. Before I know it, I have no idea where I am. Standing there confused and frustrated, one of the boys from class walk up.

"Hey, you look lost, do you want some help?" I recognize his face and realize he's the one I fought this morning. I can't imagine this kid actually wants to help me, he's probably just trying to trick me and pick on me more.

"What do you want? I know you're not actually trying to help, and I'm sick of being made fun of! Just leave me alone!"

The boy's face softens, and he drops his head, "I'm sorry I was making fun of you today, honest. I just wanted to try to make it up to you, and I know the village well."

I ponder what he said for a moment and realize he may be the only person that will help me. Finally, I tell him where I live, and he seems to know exactly where I'm heading.

"Wow, you really got yourself lost! Don't worry, I know a short cut, follow me!" he grabs my arm and we head through the woods behind me. It isn't long before we run into another, older boy.

"This is her! This is the girl that hit me this morning!" he pushes me back and runs to the other boy.

"So, you're the girl bullying my little brother, huh? Well do you see this?" he points his thumb to the headband on his forehead. The hidden leaf symbol in the center. "This means I'm a genin, and I have to teach a lesson to anyone bullying my kid brother!"

My eyes narrow and brows furrow, it's his brother that was bullying me! But I can see that there isn't any way for me to talk to them and sort things out, so I leap up to the closest tree and start running. As he's chasing me, a kunai flies past me, sticking into a tree. A real kunai? This boy isn't messing around. I flip myself around and lunge after him and defend myself. Lifting my right arm and pulling it up to his neck we collide, knocking him straight to the ground.

The body flashes into a cloud of smoke revealing a log, Substitution Jutsu. I stand up just in time to hear him land behind me. As I glance back, his right hand chops the left side of my neck and I go falling forward. He kicks my back and flings me into the ground, and I take a moment to get back up.

Before I can get on my feet, a firm tug of my hair yanks my body up to my knees. "You can't even recognize a Substitution Jutsu? You're still just a kid! And your hair's so red, and stiff like thread! Hair like this is ugly!"

Tears stream down my cheeks as frustration and anger overwhelm me, "I don't like my hair either!" I jump to my feet and pull away as hard as I can. Strands of hair tear as I pull free from his grip. I turn and punch him in the gut, then bring my foot up to meet his face immediately following. I jump into the air the land a flying axe kick to his head before climbing on him and punching just like I'd done to his brother this morning. I will keep fighting until they stop picking on me. I refuse to lose to a bully, and I will never give up on my dreams, no matter how much the village looks down on me.

Word spread that I fought the genin and won and continued to fight off bullies. It wasn't long before they stopped calling me Tomato and I became the Red-Hot Habanero.