SUMMARY

Ah yes, Sai's officially in and the first thing he does as usual is to cause trouble. It's time to say goodbye to the Akatsuki and hello to more school drama.

Enjoy...

Tenten was totally psyched for the upcoming competition. She had gotten the preliminary stage down, now she just needed to win the qualifying stage and get the grand medal at the finals. Really, gold would be a very pretty colour around her neck.

Her old radio played the retro song her grandmother loved the most and she danced to it. She wasn't practicing, she was just doing what she loved; allowing the memories of her beloved grandmother to flow unrestrained beneath her eyelids.

"My little dancer." Her grandmother would say after Tenten had danced for her. "Go out and become famous. Let people from far and near come to watch you dance."

After Tenten's parents passed away in an accident, her grandmother was all she had. However the old woman was ill and it was only a matter of time till she left the world. Tenten, in an effort to maintain her grandmother's health to keep her alive if only for a few more years, took on various part time jobs that cost her education.

She repeated a grade because of absence and low specs and it was a struggle to graduate from middle school due to how slow she learnt academic things. When Tenten finally graduated from middle school, she dropped out of school altogether to focus on working for her grandmother's hospital fees.

There was one thing Tenten loved to do. She loved to dance a self written routine to her grandmother on days when the old woman was feeling down. It lifted both their souls up. And after every dance, her grandma would run her wrinkly frail hand through her hair and tell her to be famous.

She was the reason Tenten danced and the reason she applied for KSA's talent scholarship. Her grandmother had died that summer, leaving Tenten devastated but determined to do as she said. Enrolling in KSA was the first step to that goal.

Tenten used the money she had been saving up for her grandmother's hospital bills that year and rented a small apartment not too far away from the school and not too far away from the local dance studio either. She had not been there for quite a while but she guessed there was no harm in practicing at a studio.

Tenten often teamed up with other street dancers and engaged in many local dance battles to win cash prizes that she used for expenses like food and rent. Sometimes the competitors went wild over results and ended up causing a riot. In mild cases, she was only threatened to back out and in bad cases, she was ambushed.

Those were the source of the injuries Neji found on her on occasion. She wasn't technically lying when she told him and Anko that they were dance related injuries.

This summer competition was Tenten's ticket to achieving her goal and she was confident that her dance would draw many to her. She was going to be the best dancer in the summer tournament and everyone that came to watch would know her name!

Tenten was interrupted by a harsh pounding on her door. Really, that door was on its last hinges already and whoever was pounding on it would break it down on the next series of barbaric knocks so Tenten hurriedly killed the music and ran to attend to the person.

Her mood soured at the sight of her landlord's son. She could almost slam the door at his face but she held back. "What is it?" She asked instead.

The boy's eyes raked over her sweaty body, not that she noticed, before speaking. "Your music is too loud, boy-girl."

Tenten blanched. "Really? Because 35 decibels is so loud, I'm disturbing the whole neighborhood." She bit sarcastically. Tenten knew how just 35 decibels was because her grandmother always insisted on that volume. It was just as loud as an average person's voice.

"You're disturbing me, smartass and your rent is long overdue." The boy, Ryoga, snarked back and Tenten sighed. Even the landlord did not pester her for rent as much as the son did. He obviously just wanted to get on her nerves.

"I would pay it by all means so you don't have to worry. Now if you would excuse me, I have to practice." Tenten slammed the door closed but Ryoga's leg got in the way. "What now?" She asked exasperatedly.

Ryoga smirked in a way he must've thought looked handsome on him but to Tenten he just looked like one of the goats she had seen on a farm when she was younger. "You're not so boyish underneath those rags you wear after all, eh boy-girl?"

Tenten suddenly became hyper aware of her clothing that moment. She was in a pair of leggings that nobody would normally catch her wearing and a fashionably big shirt that really didn't hide her figure but brought it out in a cute and innocent way.

Her collarbone peeked from where the shirt hung off her shoulder and she was sweaty and rumpled from her earlier exercise. Tenten scowled at Ryoga and kicked his leg away from the doorway. "Go die in a ditch."

But Ryoga was faster and he full on entered her house uninvited. Tenten pushed him back but he grabbed her arms with a lopsided grin. "I have an idea you would like. Spend this afternoon with me and I'd convince my old man to cut you some slack on your rent."

The way he leered unabashedly at her and the suggestion in his words disgusted Tenten. "Uh? Have you ever looked into a mirror? You can make a pass on somebody as ugly as you when you do." She broke free from his hold. "Now get out of my house."

Ryoga saw red. How dare this little-! "Cocky bitch!" He raved and slammed Tenten into the nearest wall before she could react. The girl wheezed from the impact but she was quick to regain her bearing. "I'll shut that nasty mouth of yours up when I stuff it full with my-!"

Tenten didn't allow him to finish the sentence as she headbutted him. He stumbled a few steps back, disoriented, and that was all Tenten needed to fall him and rain blows upon blows on his stupid face.

"If- you- think- you- can- talk- to me- like- a- common- slut, you're- incredibly- wrong!" Each word was accompanied with a punch. "Touch- me- and- I- would- rip you- apart!"

Tenten did not stop delivering punches after punches to Ryoga's face even when her fists cried out in protest and even when Ryoga passed out. It was the landlord's wife, Ryoga's mother, that stopped Tenten when she came to check out what the noise was about.

Tenten was currently sitting in the holding cell of a police station with bruised fits and a bitter frown on her face. Ryoga's mother had called the police on her. It was not fair that Ryoga got away with what he did while she was held for 36 hours all because he had a fractured nose, two broken teeth and a damaged eye. He deserved more.

"You can't do this to me!" Tenten gripped the bars tightly. "I have a competition to go to, I can't miss it! Please let me go!"

"You should have thought twice before doing what you did if you really wanted to attend this so called competition. You're lucky you're only getting off with detention. Now shut your mouth or you are staying in that cell for four extra hours." A police officer silenced her. They all believed Ryoga's lies. It was so unfair.

Tenten was going to miss the competition. She held back tears of frustration. She wouldn't cry because of that scum. She wouldn't cry. She wouldn't cry. She wouldn't cry. But it was so hard not to cry! Her body trembled with silent tears of anger. This was so unfair!

Anko came to pick her up after her detention was over as her guardian. She was the only one that came to mind when Tenten was asked for her guardian's details for some reason. "Hey kiddo. I was worried about you."

"Thanks for picking me up Anko-sensei. I will be on my way now." Tenten was about to walk the opposite direction to her house when Anko held her back.

"Oh no you don't. Did you seriously think I would just let you leave after you worried me with a call from the police? Get in my car." Tenten didn't even argue as she lifelessly entered the army green Mazda. Her gaze didn't leave the window throughout the ride and Anko didn't bother her until they arrived at her house.

It went without a saying that Tenten was not going to leave Anko's place without her telling the woman everything that she had been hiding from her.

Anko provided Tenten with a change of clothes and directed her to the bathroom for a shower after they had gotten to her apartment. The place was a modest place that smelled like sweets but Anko's eerie taste in home decor ruined every notion you could sleep in peace there.

For one, a katana hung over the door and almost every wall was lined with a dangerous weapon. The place was definitely not child safe and Tenten half wondered how and where Anko got her weapons. For some strange reason though, Tenten liked the place weapons and all.

She told Anko about what happened the day before with Ryoga and the woman was royally pissed. "That lying son of a-!" Tenten had to stop Anko from marching out of the house with a spear but only because she didn't want her to violate any animal protection laws. "Wait. Don't tell me he was responsible for your injuries all this while!"

The woman looked at Tenten for answers and the girl shook her head. "He really isn't the cause of my injuries, sensei." She reaffirmed when Anko looked at her disbelievingly. Tenten sighed. She didn't really want anybody to know about her personal life but she had not choice but to tell Anko. And she did.

"You're a strong girl, Tenten. You stand tall and proud with your head high, and you don't allow where you're from hinder your efforts to becoming something." Anko began after hearing her story and how she struggled financially. "But Tenten, there's nothing wrong with receiving help once in a while especially when I'm the one offering it."

"I don't want to bother or owe anyone." Tenten admitted and an unusually soft expression crossed Anko's face. Then she chuckled. Tenten questioned the laughter with a look. Was her decision stupid? She didn't think it was.

"You just reminded me of myself, sorry for laughing." Anko reassured that she was laughing because of something else; a distant memory it seemed. "I used to be headstrong just like you and didn't want to bother anyone or owe anybody. It always feels like that when you need help. But then what can you do? Receiving help is the only way to solve your problem, there's no choice.

You have to receive help at one point in your life or the other, it's just being human. Sometimes help comes from the wrong person and you end up regretting ever asking and sometimes you meet someone that keeps helping you unconditionally. This is why it is important to know who to ask for help and not.

I met a good person and they helped me. Now I want to help you unconditionally because you are my student and a girl that reminds me so much of my younger self. The question is, Tenten, will you let me help?"

Tenten pondered on Anko's words from earlier as she lay in the guestroom. She had been dismissed after their talk and left to think over her options which were either to move in with Anko and allow her to pay her outstanding debt or to go back to her shabby apartment and allow Anko to give her weekly allowances.

It was obvious which option was the best for her but Tenten wasn't sure she could accept the help just like that. Could she really accept Anko's offer without being a burden? Maybe she could. That would be really nice.

It was awkward but Tenten accepted to stay with Anko. She had to admit that living alone sucked and she really didn't want to see Ryoga ever again. It was a quick process. In one day, Anko wired the money Tenten owed to her former landlord and she moved out. It was easy because she had nothing to take except her clothes, picture frames, radio and phone.

Tenten checked her device for notifications after it was fully charged. It was left behind at her now former apartment when she was arrested so she didn't have much access to it after she was released.

She had several missed calls and worried messages from Naruto and Kibaand from some of her classmates. She would have to reply their messages to alleviate their worries. Tenten was about to click on Kiba's number when she saw what she thought she would never see in her life.

Neji actually texted her!

"Whoa, I'm dreaming!" Tenten exclaimed disbelievingly. Sure Neji called and texted on occasion but those were just to remind her of their study sessions and nothing else. It was always the same message every time but this? This was new.

Rapunzel: You should at least live up to your gloating and not actually miss your competition.

Tenten was flummoxed enough to overlook his snarky words and type a reply fast. He came to watch her?!

Ohhh ? Did d princess actually come 2 watch me dance?

Neji's reply was so immediate that it startled Tenten. Guess she caught him at a good time. Good because she didn't want to wait two days for a one word reply.

Rapunzel: Don't call me that and don't be mistaken. I was just passing by. You were missing, did something happen?

Aww u worried!

Rapunzel: You're crazy! Like I'd worry about you. I'm just inquiring as your co-captain . On a more serious note, did you get injured again? Were you restricted from attending the competition? Why weren't you there?

His message made Tenten smile a bit. Try as he might, Neji could not hide that he was worried and it made her happy that he did for some reason.

Notin much. Gt detained by police 4 breakin some jerk's face.

Rapunzel: Should I be afraid?

Tenten laughed at this.

Wut ? Worried ur nxt ? Dnt worry, I wnt bash u up 2 bad.

Rapunzel: As if you could.

It was very uncharacteristic of Neji but he chatted with Tenten into the night and it made her happy for some inexplicable reason.

Xxx melody xxX

Tsunade adjusted Naruto's tie around his neck and brushed down his suit. She was also in a suit and Naruto didn't see why. It was just a press conference, not a grand meeting for crying out loud!

This was it. Naruto breathed in and released the breath in a strong exhale. "Just say everything that is on your mind, gaki. I would be handling the questions from the press so don't be nervous. Also keep an eye out for Nana Mizuki in the crowd, he could be at the conference without us knowing." Tsunade advised/encouraged.

"Yes granny." Naruto received a knock for calling her granny and a series of 'I'm not that old!' complaints when he whined about it. The both of them fell silent when they were notified by Ibiki that it was time to go.

It was like the walk of doom passing through the sea of reporters that came to interview him. Cameras flashed and shuttered at every direction much so that Naruto had to shut his eyes against the flashing lights.

He and Tsunade successfully got to the front of the crowd and took their seats on a table where microphones had been set for audibility. Naruto's hands were trembling but it was with more excitement than nervousness.

'Come out from wherever you're hiding, my parents' murderer!'

He switched on the mic piece, locking eyes with the crowd in determination and he spoke. "My name is Uzumaki Naruto, otherwise known as Namikaze Naruto and I am about to tell you the truth behind my parents, Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kuahina's deaths."

'Come out from hiding. I want to see you and beat you up!'

Xxx melody xxX

There was a special event taking place in Konoha School of Arts at the moment. It was the graduation ceremony of the third years from the hell called highschool. Really, graduation is just jumping into a bigger hell called college/university and adulthood but let's not ruin some enthusiasts' dreams.

Prom night at KSA was always a lavish event because of how obviously wealthy the students were. It was too bad that Konan literally had no competition for being the prom queen because she was the only girl in the graduating class. Winning something by default wasn't always satisfying.

Yahiko got voted prom king but Konan suspected that her classmates had a hand in that. Not that she was complaining but if prom king was voted based on sheer popularity and looks, Itachi was supposed to win.

Prom king and queen aside, the night marked their freedom! So they partied, drank and did other adult stuff that they weren't normally allowed to do. Prom night passed, the graduation ceremony came, and the seniors had just one thing to say to the school's event planners.

They sucked.

Who the hell made prom night the night BEFORE the graduation ceremony?!

"I guess it's a crafty way to keep wayward students like Hidan from knocking several girls up." Kakuzu sassed and the silver haired teen...now adult...took offense to the statement.

"I use protection!" He retorted and the others face palmed. He wasn't even denying the implication of the statement.

After a speech by principal Tsunade came Itachi and Nagato's speech as school president and vice and after that came the certificate collection and the hat throwing and finally, picture time.

Fugaku was a little bit grumpy that Itachi didn't get into the Allied Shinobi Universities because of the whole family drama that happened a while back that rendered him in a poor mental state, but he didn't let himself be too disappointed. He had come a long way from being an overbearing old man to a father that actually understood.

The university Itachi did get into was a close second to the Allied Universities but there was ONE major problem with that.

Deidara.

The blond was sore that he couldn't defeat him in anything during highschool so he decided to follow him to uni and settle the score. Itachi cursed the ones that gave the blond an art scholarship into a school he was otherwise too dumb to gain admission into.

Unbeknownst to Itachi, he was not the only reason Deidara chose the uni he did. It was the same uni his younger girlfriend, Kurotsuchi (whom he was in a long distance relationship with), wanted to get into so he was setting the place up for her. How cute.

Hidan was obviously not thinking about college. Fuck college, he would freestyle! A freelance artist didn't sound too bad at all in his ears, it was where the fame lay. Kakuzu on the other hand was going to a college in his hometown to learn music on a more professional scale.

It was an investment, really. He planned on creating an industry in the nearest few years and requiting potential stars that would fetch him pretty money. It was a good thing that teens nowadays wanted to be celebrity stars; he would use their doll faces to become wealthy. HA!

Yahiko wasn't in a hurry to go to college, he just wanted to make his dream of opening a tattoo parlour come true. He got apprenticeship under a very good artist even before he graduated highschool. Konan, while she was going to study fine art in a university, was with him all the way.

Their relationship had to be stressed because of the distance but a promise stood between them. Konan promised to be his very first customer.

Kisame wanted to study marine biology so he went for it. Considering that he needed to pass a science related course to actually get the major he wanted, he got extra tutorship for biology and chemistry. Hey, his brain could handle it after all he passed.

Sasori was going back to his hometown to study theatre arts. At least that was his plan until he developed a sudden fascination for human anatomy after a weird art session with Orochimaru-sensei where the serpentine man told them to depict emotions as human body parts.

Now he was going to follow after his hobby and study the human anatomy thoroughly. Deidara uneasily joked that he shouldn't turn into a psychotic killer that turned his victims to human puppets. The blond actively avoided Sasori when the redhead promised he would be his first experiment.

The Zetsu twins were following their mother's footsteps and studying history. Considering how, for lack of words to use, weird they were, they were among the only ones in their grade choosing a serious course of study. Guess they loved the ancient Shinobi and Otsutsuki stories their mother told them a little too much.

Nagato wanted to study political science. Considering his diplomatic abilities, the course was actually a good fit for him. He got into the Allied Shinobi Universities and was off to a very good start.

Tobi was the only one among them staying back in Konoha. He wanted to be available at anytime in case his parents chose to wake up on one fateful day. Or die. He was okay with both (ish) but he certainly preferred the former and wanted to be there on that big day.

Without the seniors in the school, it kinda felt empty. Now that the summer vacation was over and autumn was rolling in, it was the beginning of another school year for the rest of the school's population.

There would be a new set of student council, new competitions, new class representatives and best of all new faces, both freshmen and new students. Newcomers were supposed to make up for the gap left by the seniors and make things more interesting in the school but really, Naruto wasn't seeing how he could ever come to enjoy school with this guy.

Standing at and blocking the entrance to the second year block were Naruto, Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, Akamaru and a new boy all of them certainly disliked. He looked eerily like Sasuke with his dark hair and ebony eyes but he was even paler than the raven, as if he had never stepped foot outdoors in his life.

A smile was etched unto his face. A large, unnerving smile that could put horror thrillers to shame. So fake, so insincere even as his words, as unrestrained as they were, dug into the very soul of the boys especially Naruto and brought out the irritation in them.

"I just wanted to see Namikaze in real life after watching that press conference." The boy chuckled– they weren't sure whether this was fake or not– and Naruto bristled. "You're just as I expected. A dickless, loud and retarded little wimp."

Naruto growled in time with Akamaru who sensed the bad aura in the air and stepped forward, fists clenched in preparation to throw a punch.

"I dare you to say that again, bastard."

In case KSA's school system is not clear or is unfamiliar, let me explain it. I should have done this a while back but better late than never, I guess.

Anyway, the new school year starts by fall (around September) and ends in the summer (around August). School's divided into four grade schools; the elementary or primary school, junior or middle school and the senior or highschool. Elementary school has six grades after which one graduates into middle school which is three grades. Highschool also has three grades.

In highschool, the freshmen are the first years, the sophomores are second years and seniors are third/final years.

The classroom system is based on a stationary system rather than the American style where the students have to move between classes. An assigned class remains a students class for the whole year so it's safe to say that the class teacher means the same as the homeroom teacher. I used the words interchangeably.

In this story, I made the lockers stay at the back of the classroom instead of the hallway like most schools do. KSA is supposed to have nine periods of classes, 40 minutes for each with 5 minutes short breaks at two intervals. There are 5 periods before lunch break which is 50 minutes and 4 periods after. The short breaks are placed after the second and seventh periods.

School starts by 8am and closes 3pm. Exceptions to the schedule above are Wednesdays and Fridays.

On Wednesdays, the periods are 30 minutes and lunch is also for 30 minutes. There's a 2 hour period for extracurricular activities like clubs and council meetings after the nine periods and before school closes. Fridays are half days where school closes at 1pm instead of 3pm because of the weekend.

A school year is divided into 3 semesters/terms. There was supposed to be a flurry of activities other than the sport event like school festivals and homecoming but I didn't have ideas on what to write about those so I decided to ignore that they existed.

I think I've explained how competitions go in chapter 2 so we're good to go, yeah?

Don't forget to leave a favorite and review!

Bye.

-Star.