Michelle woke up slowly.
"That was kind of a cool dream," she muttered out loud, her eyes still closed, "So that's what happens when you skip school."
"Young kids like you shouldn't skip school," came a slightly familiar voice to her left.
Michelle sat bolt upright and looked at the speaker.
"It's...it's..."
"Ok, I saw that look, and heard those words before; don't faint again," said Kakashi.
Wow... thought Michelle, This is so cool...hey, where's Denise?
"My name is Hatake Kakashi, and-"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Where's my friend?" demanded Michelle, "And while you're at it, where am I?"
"You're in the Hokage's home," the man said patiently.
"Your friend, Deniizu, came to hours ago," said a kind voice behind Michelle.
Michelle turned, and of course it was the Hokage.
"Sorry to intrude, Hokage-sama," Michelle said quietly.
OH MY GOSH IT'S THE HOKAGE! I'M IN THE WORLD OF NARUTO!...and that means...
"Do not worry, Michiko, it's only your first day here," the Third Hokage smiled.
"How long have I been out?" asked Michelle, glancing backwards to see that Kakashi had left silently.
With the new dimension and clothes comes a new name. Michiko? It sounds kind of like my name...
"Just a couple hours," he answered, "It's still early afternoon; you haven't lost too much time."
"Michiko!"
Michelle didn't move for a split second, then remembered that her name had changed. She turned around and saw Denise was in the room.
"Hey...Deniizu!" Michiko gave her a grin.
"Hokage-sama already saw our passports," Deniizu said, pointedly removing hers from her pocket and showing it to her friend, "So we're ok. We can go to that apartment we bought now."
"Ok, great," Michiko made her grin bigger.
"Ok, so let's go, cuz," Deniizu grabbed Michiko's arm and half dragged her out of the room
Cousins? Do we have family here? ...Are we related suddenly? Michelle thought..
"Um, bye, Hokage-sama! Kakashi-sama!" Michiko called over her shoulder.
Once they were back outside, Michelle yanked her elbow out of Denise's grasp.
"So we're cousins now," Michelle growled.
"No, I just like pretending we're related. You know, like we've known each other so long, so it's like we're the same blood or something. And we're staying here to go to ninja school. We're both foundlings from the Tea Villiage," added Denise, "Check your passport."
Michelle pulled out a booklet from her pocket, surprised that it was actually there. Right on the passport, there it was: Her name (just Michiko), her picture (they always look so bad), her age (suddenly she was 12), her hometown (the Tea Village), and that she was applying for citizenship in Konoha.
Denise pulled out her own passport, and showed it to Michelle. It was similar to Michelle's: her name (Deniizu), her picture ("My nose looks so big..."), her age ("Haha, we're the same age now!"), her hometown (same as Michelle's), and that she was applying for citizenship too.
"So, Deniizu," Michelle started.
"Hey, Michiko," Denise said, "Did you notice that giant zit on your forehead in your passport photo?"
SMACK!
"Hey, you hit me!" Denise complained, rubbing the back of her head.
"Let's just go find our new apartment," Michiko said, then stopped, "How'd we get an apartment?"
"If you don't mind, I'll show you the way," said an increasingly familiar man's voice from behind them.
"How do you keep sneaking up like that, Hatake?" Deniizu demanded.
"I was once an Anbu," Kakashi grinned as he held their backpacks, "But please, just call me Kakashi."
"While you were out, I got the Hokage to give us a place to stay," explained Deniizu, "So we still need a guide."
"If you could show us our new place, that'd be great," Michiko smiled.
"Follow me."
The man walked ahead, and Deniizu and Michiko fell in step right beside him.
"Here, I'll take by backpack," Michiko said, reaching up for it.
"It's no problem," Kakashi said, keeping the bag out of her reach,"But it's a bit late to start ninja school, don't you think?"
"Well, the villagers liked their token orphans," Deniizu explained, "It wasn't until we found out about ninja school that they let us go."
"I see," said Kakashi, "Well, I hope you can keep up with your studies."
"Oh, we're fast learners," Michiko said.
And we read all the manga, so we know the stuff already, she thought.
"I only hope you're fast enough," said Kakashi, "There's only one month left of school until graduation. And kids at your age usually graduate this year."
Deniizu and Michiko sweat dropped.
We read the manga, we're ok, thought Deniizu.
This is what really happens when you skip school, thought Michiko. (A/N: Don't skip school. Skipping is bad.)
"Well, nice meeting you. There's a young boy that lives next door. You should meet him; he's about your age, and an orphan too," Kakashi said as he put down their stuff, waved, then walked away.
"Bet you fifty bucks the guy next door is Naruto," said Michiko.
"I was just thinking that," said Deniizu.
The girls walked into the apartment together. It was just an empty room, with a small closet in the right wall, a window opposite the door, a door beside the window to their balcony, and a door to the bathroom on the left. Beside the door to the outside was a small kitchen with a wood stove, an oven, and an empty cupboard.
"Well, it's a place," said Michiko optimistically.
"We seem to have mats attached to our backpacks already," said Deniizu, already going through her stuff, "Those people in the Tea Village were nice."
"They were. Remember your eighth birthday?" asked Michiko.
"Oh yeah...hey wait," Deniizu frowned, "We never met them."
"...So where are these memories suddenly coming from?" asked Michiko.
"...Parallel dimension. Let's not question it," said Deniizu, "Only...it's weird. I'm Denise in one world, and Deniizu in this one."
"Speaking of worlds, how do we get back?" asked Michiko.
"Why would you want to go back?" asked Deniizu.
"We've still got friends back there," Michelle said thoughtfully.
"Let's not worry yet," said Deniizu, kicking her rolled up mat on the floor so that it opened, "Let's get unpacked and check out the town first."
"Fine, fine," said Michiko, "How about we go to Iruka first, to sign up? We can ask Naruto to help us out."
"That's an idea," said Deniizu, "But we have to practice ninjutsu as soon as possible. We should ask another kid that hasn't graduated yet."
"But we know what the exam is on already, remember?" Michiko said, remembering volume one, "Make three doppelgangers of yourself."
"Yeah, but it's not like we know how," Deniizu pointed out.
"Oh yeah...We also have to fake not knowing anything."
"Right. If we just randomly knew everyone's deepest, darkest secrets...yeah. Like that's not suspicious."
The girls quickly unrolled their mats, then grabbed the paper bag they still had from that morning, to eat on the go. Stepping outside, Deniizu knocked on their neighbour's door, while Michiko ate her chicken bun. The door opened after a few knocks, and indeed, it was a boy with an orange jacket and pants.
"Um...hi," said Deniizu, "We just moved next door. My name's Deniizu."
"Ne...konnichiwa," said the boy, "My name's Uzumaki Naruto."
Big surprise, thought Michiko, still chewing on her bun.
"Hey," she waved, "My name's Michiko. You want one?" she offered the contents of the bag to Naruto, "We're going to find our teacher so we can sign up for ninja school."
"Wait!"
Deniizu grabbed the bag and took her hotdog bun before letting Naruto pick one.
"Do you know who we have to go to?" asked Deniizu.
"Yeah, that's Iruka-sensei," Naruto said around a mouthful of almond bun, "I'll take you to him if you want."
"We'd appreciate that," said Deniizu.
He ate my almond bun, thought Michiko sadly.
Soon, at the Academy...
"I don't know...this is very unorthodox."
Iruka rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Naruto and the two girls put on their best begging faces. They were all in Iruka's classroom in the ninja academy, where they had found Naruto's teacher.
"Come on, Iruka-sensei, give them a chance!" Naruto said.
"Our village went through so much trouble to send us here!" Michiko added.
"Just give us a few basic scrolls, and a tutor, and we'll be fine!" Deniizu ended.
Iruka thought for a little longer.
"Ok, how about this," Iruka said, pointing a finger in the air, "I will show you the most basic ninja technique, the 'Art of Substitution', and if either of you can get it right in three tries, I will consider you to have enough talent to join ninja school."
"Yes!" Deniizu exclaimed, sharing a high-five with Michiko.
"But if you don't..."
Iruka waited until the girls looked at him again before continuing.
"If you don't, then you may not come into the school. Whether you stay in Konoha with the other person if she succeeds, I don't care. You may come back at the beginning of the next school year; I don't mind, but I won't let you join this year."
Michiko nodded, and Deniizu crossed her arms determinedly.
"You have yourself a deal, Iruka-sama," Deniizu said.
"Good. Now these are the hand seals you must make," Iruka said, demonstrating for them, and their mini-lesson began.
It started out as well as could be expected. Both Michiko and Deniizu had taken music lessons back home, so she was already quite deft with switching between hand seals. They also easily memorized their names, and what they stood for. But then there was the question of chakra. As Iruka left the room to get logs to act as their 'substitutes', Naruto congratulated them for their chance.
"This is great, ne?" the fox-demon boy grinned, "You two are learning so fast. Much faster than I did!"
"Thanks," Michiko grinned, "I just hope it's enough."
"You two will be great!" Naruto exclaimed, giving them two thumbs-up, "Even Sakura-chan didn't learn that fast, and she's the top girl in our class."
"Don't say 'our' yet," Deniizu said, "You'll jinx it."
"Right, right," Naruto nodded solemnly, "Forget I said that."
Michiko grinned, and Deniizu managed a half-smile, but they both faded when the two friends caught each other's eyes. They were both thinking the same thing.
Do we have chakra in this world?
"Ok, now the test really begins, ladies," Iruka said, walking in carrying two large logs.
He handed one to each of the girls.
"Who wants to go first? The light brown-haired one, or the brunette?" Iruka asked, trying to keep the mood light as he place the logs on either side of him. But he and Naruto both felt it. The two friends were freaked beyond anything.
"Konnichiwa!" came a voice at the classroom window.
"Hey, who're you?" Naruto exclaimed, pointing at the white-haired man.
Oh yeah...they haven't met yet, Deniizu thought.
"My name is Hatake Kakashi," he said, giving them a friendly wave, "I was just wondering how the two newcomers were doing."
"Hi!" Michiko forced a smile on, waving to the jounin, "We were just going to have a test."
"If we pass, we get to join ninja school," explained Deniizu.
"Ah, I see. Do any of you mind if I watch?"
Iruka merely shrugged and Kakashi sat on one of the desks.
"Just pretend I'm not here," he said, pulling out a book.
"Hey, what is that?" Naruto asked, trying to peer over Kakashi's shoulder.
"Nothing of interest to you," Kakashi replied, pushing Naruto away without even looking at him.
"Well? Who wants to start?" Iruka asked.
"...I will," Deniizu said after a pause, glancing at Michiko and stepping forward.
Do your best, Denise, Michelle thought. She felt a little bit queasy herself.
Denise took a deep breath, and quickly performed the seals. Kakashi blinked.
She certainly looks like she knows what she's doing, the copy-ninja thought.
A puff of smoke appeared, and when it settled, the rest of the room saw that the girl and the log had switched places; she was now beside her teacher. Denise breathed a sigh of relief.
"Easy," she said to Michelle, giving her an uneasy grin.
"Your turn, Michiko," Iruka said, nodding to her.
Michelle took a deep breath, feeling her stomach knotting up.
Ok...here goes nothing. Or everything, Michelle thought.
She performed the seals, very slowly. Too slowly.
I am so not ready, the girl thought.
There was no puff of smoke.
"Come on, Michiko, you can do it!" Naruto encouraged, a little too loudly.
There's too many unfamiliar people, Denise realized, She's scared to fail in front of everyone...which is why she's doing it now.
Michiko balled up her fists for a moment, then performed the seals again, a touch slower than Denise had. There was a puff of smoke, and all four spectators held their breaths. It cleared and...
Oh my gosh! I'm going to die right here Michelle thought.
She had substituted with the wrong log. Denise had been standing a little bit in front of her and to Michelle's side when she had substituted, so that's where her log had ended up. Michelle turned and saw that she had switched places with the log that was just a pace away from her, instead of the one by Iruka; she looked like she was going to be sick.
Uh-oh Kakashi thought.
"You have one more chance, Michiko," Iruka said softly.
Michiko glared at the log she was supposed to go to, then shut her eyes tight.
I'm doing this if it kills me! I have to get into the academy, she thought.
Eyes still shut, Michiko created the seals in a blur, and then there was a pufff of smoke...
"Hey, you can open your eyes now," Denise said, and Michelle knew her voice well enough to know she was smiling.
"Did I...?"
Michiko opened one eye, then the other, and realized where she was.
"You did," Iruka said, giving her a smile, "Welcome to the academy."
Michiko stared at him, stunned, then smiled wide.
"Arigato, Iruka-sensei," she said.
"I knew you could do it!" Naruto yelled, punching the air with a fist.
This guy is so energetic...I pity the guy he gets for his team leader, Kakashi thought.
"Well done," Kakashi said out loud, "Looks like you're doing well for your first day in Konoha."
"I guess so," Deniizu said, then to Michiko, "We can be ninjas!"
Michiko laughed, and hugged her friend.
"Yes we can! Yay, haha!"
Iruka watched them silently, a small smile on his face.
Now who to assign for their tutors? he thought.
And then they went home, and stuff, and then it was Day #2...
Morning light streamed into the two girls' window. Michelle sat by it, at the edge of her mat, remembering the day before.
Check me out, I'm in ninja school, she thought happily to herself, stifling a yawn.
"Hey, Denise! Denise!"
The brown girl nudged her friend's shoulder with her foot.
"Get up! Our first day at the academy, remember?" Michelle said in a low voice.
"I'M UP! I'M UP!" Denise exclaimed, bouncing to her feet suddenly.
"Whoa..." Michelle put her hands up before her, shielding her head, "Easy there."
"Ninja school! C'mon, let's go to the academy early!" Denise urged, speed-changing into her outside clothes, "C'mon, c'mon!"
"I've never seen you so excited," Michelle laughed, and got up. She was already changed.
"Think we should check on Naruto?"
"Um...I don't know...Knock on his door, see if he's up," Denise answered, walking into the kitchen.
Michelle nodded, and walked to the door.
"We still have some bread that we bought yesterday," Michelle said as she opened the door, and saw Naruto, posed as if about to knock.
"Ohayo, Naruto!" Michiko grinned, "I was about to check if you were awake."
"Ohayo, Michiko!" Naruto grinned back, "Would you and Deniizu like to walk with me to school?"
"Sure! Wait up!" Deniizu called from the kitchen.
"She just got up," Michiko explained.
"No problem," said Naruto.
"Oh, do you know what we should bring to the school?" Michiko asked.
"Just bring some money," Naruto said, "You'll get your scrolls and everything from Iruka-sensei, since it's your first day."
"We don't need pencils or anything?" Michiko asked.
"No. You get everything from the teacher," Naruto said.
"Ok, let's go!" Deniizu said, running out of the apartment with a slice of bread in each hand.
"Ne, Michiko," Naruto said, as they walked to the school.
"Nani?"
"How will you catch up with all the work?" Naruto asked, "You missed a lot of stuff."
"We'll be at the bottom of the class, but we should be ok," said Michiko, "We'll work hard and do well on the exam at the end of the year."
"That's a good attitude," Naruto said, smiling, "You'll have to work very hard to catch up to me. I'm the best in my class," he boasted.
"Since when?" came a boy's voice from behind them.
The three turned and saw a boy about Naruto's age, wearing a big, hooded coat and with a dog running behind him.
"You're the best in the class?" laughed the boy, "More like the worst!"
"Who's right?" asked Deniizu, thinking, No duh, Naruto's at the bottom.
"He's right," said Naruto, shamefacedly, "But...Kiba's the second from the bottom!"
"No, that's Shikamaru," corrected Kiba.
"Ok, third from the bottom," said Naruto.
"Ne...Ohayo! Who're you?" Kiba asked, finally noticing Michiko and Deniizu.
"My name's Michiko," said the shorter girl.
"Yo. I'm Deniizu," said the taller girl, finishing her bread.
"My name's Inuzuka Kiba, and this is Akamaru," he greeted, picking up the puppy.
"Ruff!" said Akamaru.
Michiko gasped.
"He's so cute! Can I pet him?" she said.
Akamaru's so much cuter in real life, she thought.
"Sure. Go ahead," Kiba said, holding Akamaru out.
"Hey there, little guy," Michiko said softly, scratching the puppy behind the ears.
"Huh. It's just a dumb dog," muttered Naruto.
"Michiko loves dogs," Deniizu explained, "She took care of the strays back in the Tea Village."
Where did that come from? the girls thought. But it was true, somehow.
"That's cool," said Kiba cheerily, "My clan is made up of dog-users. Akamaru says you smell nice, by the way."
"Um...thanks?" Michiko said, a little confused, then laughed. Kiba grinned, and put the dog down.
"Shouldn't we be going to school?" asked Deniizu.
"Right! Let's go!" said Naruto, leading the way.
"Oh, and about school," said Deniizu as they walked, "You guys won't be on the bottom anymore. Michiko and I have just joined, so we're at the bottom now."
"It's going to be hard for you to catch up," said Kiba, and Akamaru barked in agreement, "But so long as you pass the exam next month, you'll be ok."
Michiko nodded, and Deniizu shrugged.
"Oh well. We'll be ok. Iruka-sensei says that he'll give Michiko and I tutors."
"You'll probably be assigned Sasuke, Sakura, Ino, or Shino," guessed Kiba.
"Who're they?" asked Michiko. As if she didn't know.
"Sit near me in class and I'll point them out to you," offered Kiba.
"That works," said Deniizu.
"Here we are!" Naruto exclaimed, throwing his arms wide to display the entrance to the ninja school.
"Here we are," agreed Deniizu, and Michiko gave her friend a hug.
"Good luck," Michiko said.
"You too, kid," said Deniizu.
Side by side, the two friends followed Naruto and Kiba into Konoha's ninja academy.
A/N: I need reviews! Someone tell me what I'm doing wrong/what I can improve! ...And someone else can tell me how good I am. :P