Drawing the door closed behind me I was greeted by a loud growl. Alarmed my eyes darted around the apartment searching for the source of the sound. The grumble voiced its anger again… my stomach. In the turmoil of the day I hadn't eaten since breakfast.

I looked at the clock not ticking away at a normal tempo. I saw it read despair-inducing 5:00. How many tests did I take?

Maying satisfying my hunger would ease my heartache… A welcoming looking cup of ramen caught my eye as I scanned the counter. Walking across the room I picked it up and examined the instructions. I would need to boil water…

It's just water, right? I couldn't possibly set water on fire, right?

Pouring water into a pot I commenced the hazardous process of attempting to boil water. Cautiously I turned on the burner and gingerly set the pan atop it.

Staring…

Staring…

I am doing this right, right?

I looked down into the water and saw tiny bubbles forming on the bottom. Is it ready now? Cautiously I poked the water…

Still cold.

.

….

…

.

..

….

A loud bang echoed across the apartment.

Ryuu?

Suddenly reliving the events of the previous night in my brain I drew my eyes from the highly engaging act of waiting for water to boil. I think it came from the bedroom… creeping down the hallway I made my way to the door. Peering into the room I didn't see anything out of order so I took a wary step through the entrance.

Another bang reverberated through the room. The window. My face wrinkled in confusion. There in front of the window was a snowflake hovering menacingly. It rammed into the window once again a very disproportionate sound to its size resounded… against my best of judgment I walked over and opened the window. As soon as the window cleared it, it smacked itself against my face. Maybe that sound was more proportional than I thought…." ow…"

Prying the attacker from my face I saw that I was in fact not actually snow, but a very solidly folded piece of paper.

Ryuu.

My brain wanted me to believe my letter had made it to her…

Tugging at the edges I started the intricate process of unfolding the snowflake.

Is that smoke I smell…?

…

.

THE WATER!

Rushing from the room I dashed back to the stove. Flames lept at the sides of the water threatening to jump out and make more fiery friends. I turned off the burner and pulled the pot off of the heat. The flames sadly dissipated once their life source had vanished. Crisis successfully diverted…

In the ceiling lights, I could see steam rising from the water… time for step two of the delicate instant ramen making process.

I carefully pulled back the paper on top of the ramen package and poured the hot water to the line… phew. Now we just have to wait for it to finish cooking. Checking to make sure everything that could possibly start a fire was off I circled the kitchen… Finding none I left the ramen to work its yummy magic and returned to the bedroom.

Sitting right where I left it, the paper, half unfolded awaited my arrival. I pull the sheet open expecting a heartfelt message or maybe a lengthy curse I was unprepared with the few short lines that greeted me,

"I hope this message found you in the most aggressive manner possible. Please note you will be receiving a much more severe punishment when I see you again. Thank you for sending an explanation of the situation.

Master says to work on regaining your memories and to remain on standby for the time being. He has some work that will need to be done in Konoha in the near future- we will retrieve you then. Until that time comes do not reveal your identity to anyone.

Ryuu"

My identity… Remembering that much is but a distant fantasy for now. But, I guess it solidifies the notion that my identity is not as idealistic as I hoped.

Master… the word invokes shadowy figures in my minds-eye..

A growl permeated the stillness of the moment… food.

Pulling the window closed and locking it I turned and made my way to the promised nourishment.

While Ichiraku ramen was far superior, the meal was a suitable replacement for the cost… What did Iruka say about real food? My stomach was full and my appetite satisfied was that something imaginary food could do?

A knock on the door drew me back from my happy moment. Wandering over I peeked through the peephole, on the other side, Naruto stood anxiously adjusting his goggles. I pulled open the door and greeted the blond, "Hi, Naruto".

"Ah- Hi, Sora. I heard you took your entrance exams today" he said nervously, "How'd it go?".

"Thanks to your help they went great!" I proudly informed him, "If I pass this year's classes I'll get to graduate"

"Wow! That means you'll be in my class next week," he replied happily.

"Yay, I get to have a friend in the class," I said excitedly before pausing, "...now that I think about it I don't remember ever going to school before… w-what's it like?" I questioned nervously.

He laughed, it was bright and warming, one couldn't help but smile, "Don't worry. You'll do fine! I'll teach you everything you need to know. Believe it!".

"Thanks, Naruto. I need all the help I can get…" I smiled, "Iruka-sensei said we should study together before school starts next week," I continued remembering what Iruka had said.

"Yeah, we can study every day until school starts ne-" he abruptly stopped his sentence, "SCHOOL STARTS NEXT WEEK!?" he finished alarmed.

'Y-yes? That's what Iruka-sensei said this afternoon?" I replied confused by his reaction.

"Oh, man.. I'm going to have to deal with that jerk Sasuke again next week…." he grimaced and smacked his head in frustration.

"What's a Sasuke?" I asked bewildered.

"We're gonna study so much that Sasuke will look like an idiot!" he declared, completely ignoring my question, 'Believe it!" he shouted before rushing back to his apartment.

I guess I'm not going to get my question answered today. Sighing at the bizarre situation I returned back to my apartment and locked the door.

Glancing at the clock I saw it read 8:00. I still had some time to study before going to sleep. Walking back to my room I saw that the letter had turned into a puddle of ink and water. I guess now I won't have to worry about anyone that shouldn't find it, finding it and reading it…

I plopped down next to the bookshelf and searched the titles for, "Shinobi Learning: Ninja basics for idiots". I figured if there was ever a place to start it would be this book. Finding it next to the rest of the "Shinobi Learning" books I pulled it from the shelf and began my question for knowledge.