All characters belong to Kishimoto-san.
Chapter 6: Friends, Rivals, and a Lazy Ass
The bell rang, indicating the end of class.
"Gaara-san, you have history next, right?" Sakura asked.
Gaara nodded and Naruto jumped out of his seat excitedly.
"Hey, me, too!" Naruto said, waving his schedule around. "Come on, I'll show you where to go, dattebayo!"
Sakura shook her head at him. "You don't even know where it is, do you?"
Naruto shrugged. "I'll find it eventually!"
He ran out before Sakura could respond, dragging a startled Gaara with him.
.
Contrary to Sakura's predictions, Naruto had no trouble finding Kurenai-sensei's room: room eight of the social science building.
Gaara followed him into the classroom and spotted Shikamaru already there, sitting at a seat near the back, facing the window. Gaara wondered if that was a thing Konoha High students did—sitting in the back, near the window. Did they learn better in those spots?
"Hey, Shikamaru, you're in this class, too?" Naruto called out.
Shikamaru turned to them at the sound of Naruto's voice, an irritated expression on his face. "Oi, Naruto, come here! Do you have any idea how troublesome this—" Shikamaru stopped, his expression changing to one of forced politeness as he caught sight of Naruto's new friend. "Oh, uh, hello, Gaara-san."
"Gaara-san?" Naruto burst out laughing. "Man, Shikamaru, he's, like, the same age as us, dattebayo!"
Shikamaru shrugged and Gaara noticed how nervous he looked, his attitude contrasting sharply with Naruto's cheerful vibe. This was nothing unusual, though; everyone back home had done the same thing. Now that Gaara thought about it, no one had ever wanted to be friends with him before. Until Uzumaki Naruto.
"Come on, Gaara!" Naruto said, patting the seat next to him. "Take a seat with me and Shikamaru!"
Gaara sat down, studying the other boy while doing so. So this was Uzumaki Naruto, the son of the late Namikaze Minato. Gaara wondered why Naruto didn't share the same name as his father, and why he didn't know about his heritage, and then immediately dispelled such thoughts from his head. The current Hokage had his reasons. Besides, Gaara was here to follow orders, not question them.
"Hey, Gaara, can I see your schedule?" said Naruto, interrupting Gaara's thoughts. Gaara took it out and handed it over.
"Aw, man," Naruto pouted. "We don't have any other classes together-ttebayo! Though, we can always have sixth period together. Do you have any idea what club you might want to join-ttebayo?"
"No," said Gaara. "I don't know anything about the classes here."
Naruto nodded thoughtfully. "Well, there's always lunch. The clubs will be out and stuff and we can go check 'em out together! As for me, though, I'm gonna join the fight club!"
"The fight club?" Gaara asked. It sounded dangerous—not something he would have expected Konoha High School to have.
"Well, we just call it that," Naruto explained. "It's officially the self-defense club-ttebayo. They practice all kinds of stuff. It's great practice for someone like me who's going to be the Hokage one day. Also, Sasuke's gonna join it, so I gotta join it, too! I can't let him beat me, dattebayo! Unlike me, though, Shikamaru here is in the shogi club. Like, don't only old people play that?"
Shikamaru glared at him. "Shogi is a perfectly fine game for even kids like us."
"Maybe if you were smarter you'd be able to understand it, Naruto." The girl sitting behind Shikamaru said. She had long, light blond hair tied up in a ponytail. A chubby boy holding a bag of chips seated next to the girl nodded his head in agreement.
"Hey, that's not true!" Naruto exclaimed. "I'm smart enough as it is-ttebayo!"
The girl rolled her eyes and noticed Gaara for the first time.
"Oh, hey, there," she said. "You must be one of the Sunagakure exchange students, right?"
Gaara extended a hand. "Yes. I am Gaara."
"Ino," the girl said. She gestured to her friend with the chips. "And this is Chouji."
Chouji nodded his head in greeting and continued eating.
"Geez, how are you still eating?" Ino asked. "Weren't you done with that, like, fifteen minutes ago?"
"I took out another one," Chouji said, as if it were obvious.
Ino sighed. "Why am I stuck with the idiot boys. I kind of wish Sakura were here. Do you know if she's in this class?"
"She's not," Naruto said. "She's got some advanced class or something. With Gaara's sister."
"Oh," Ino perked up. "Are you the youngest?"
Gaara assumed the question was directed at him, considering how the four of them seemed to know each other very well already. "Yes."
"What's that like?" Ino asked. "Most my friends don't have siblings so I wouldn't know what it's like. Are they annoying? Because Naruto is annoying enough as it is, and he's not even my brother."
"Hey!"
Gaara frowned. He had never really thought about it before. Were his siblings annoying? All his life, they had just been his older siblings. There were no feelings attached. Sometimes he felt like they were incompetent nuisances, but most of the time he didn't really feel anything towards them, as long as they did their jobs and weren't in his way. Which they never were.
"They… are alright." Said Gaara. "I would not exactly call them annoying."
Just then, Kurenai walked in and the class got quiet.
"Good morning, students," Kurenai said. "Welcome to history class. I will be your teacher for this year, Yuhi Kurenai. This class will be focused on the formation of Konohagakure, as well as its early years."
Naruto groaned loudly. "We already learned that last year, though!"
Kurenai narrowed her eyes at him. "And what is your name?"
"Uzumaki Naruto!" Naruto said proudly, unaware of the danger he was in.
"Well, Naruto," Kurenai said slowly. "Why don't you come sit in the front?"
"But I like it here!" Naruto said.
"I'm not giving you a choice."
Naruto grumbled and got up. There was a loud snicker and Gaara located the sound coming from a boy with wild, brown hair and red markings on his face, which reminded Gaara of Kankuro's similar markings. Kurenai turned to the other boy. It seemed Gaara was not the only one to pinpoint his location.
"And why don't you join him, too, Inuzuka-kun?"
The boy started, nearly falling off his chair. "M-me?"
"Unless there is someone else from your family here, then yes."
The boy sat down sullenly next to Naruto.
"Now, if there are no more interruptions, I will begin class."
.
As Kurenai continued teaching, Gaara had little trouble following along since he had learned the basics about Konohagakure back in Sunagakure. Soon, first period ended and Shikamaru and Naruto walked off in a different direction, back to Kakashi's room for literature. Chouji, noticing Gaara had the same class as him next, offered to walk with Gaara to their next class, algebra II with Ebisu. Sakura was also in this class, and she relayed Temari and Kankuro's message to meet up during break. Just like first period, second period passed by quickly and the bell rang for break to start.
Sakura led Gaara back to the English building, where Temari and Kankuro were already waiting. Shikamaru was also there, leaning against the wall next to Kakashi's room. He looked half-asleep; as Gaara approached, he jolted awake, looking confused for a moment before returning to his usual bored expression.
"Oh, hey, Gaara!" said Kankuro. Gaara acknowledged him with a nod before addressing his two guides.
"If you don't mind, may we talk privately for a moment?" Gaara said, indicating himself and his older siblings.
Sakura nodded and Shikamaru did the same, looking way too eager to leave.
"So, what's up?" Kankuro said.
"How are things on your end?" Temari asked.
"Uzumaki Naruto doesn't seem to be aware of his heritage at all," Gaara began. "He also does not appear to be very bright."
Kankuro rolled his eyes. "Yeah, we can tell."
"However, I did not spot anyone suspicious," Gaara continued. "Though, I think it will be hard to protect him. He is very energetic."
"Yeah," said Kankuro. "We didn't see anyone suspicious either. I don't think the Akatsuki would disguise themselves as students, though. Aren't they too old for that?"
"Which is why we should keep an eye on the teachers and adults," Temari suggested. "And also Kakashi-sensei. What's a former ANBU doing here, teaching literature?"
"He's a former ANBU?" Kankuro asked, and Gaara noticed his sister sighing impatiently.
"Yes, he is, which you would know if you paid attention when Baki-sensei taught us about the ANBU last year."
"As long as he does not harm Naruto, then it does not concern us," Gaara asserted and his siblings nodded in agreement. "Now, let's rejoin our Konoha guides."
.
The day had passed by uneventfully so far, besides homeroom with the one and only Uzumaki Naruto. Temari had gone to advanced biology and was surprised to discover that Sakura was also in that class, even though she was only a freshman. Kabuto the senior had also been there, as their TA. Their teacher, Mitarashi Anko, had gone over the syllabus as well as lab procedures and rules.
Second period had been literature with Funeno Daikoku. He seemed like an ordinary teacher, one of those boring ones that the students didn't care about. Kankuro had fallen asleep and somehow not been noticed, further confirming Temari's suspicions about the teacher and Kankuro's assumptions about how slack Konoha High was. Neither of their guides had been in this class, which was filled with mostly juniors, and a couple sophomores, one of which she noticed was Hyuuga Neji, who she had heard about from her father when he had been discussing Suna Corporation's relationships with Konohagakure's second largest company, Hyuuga, Inc.
And now it was time for her third class of the day, physical education. Unlike the people around her, Temari wasn't worried about this class. Athletics was something she exceled in. She couldn't really say the same of Kankuro, though, who preferred to stay indoors and play with his puppets. He had even forgotten to bring his uniform today, and, along with Naruto, to no one's surprise; had been forced to borrow one from the P.E. office. Their teacher, some man named Gai or Guy or something, kind of reminded her of Naruto. He was an excitable person, who shouted out everything enthusiastically. He was always followed by a sophomore who looked exactly like him, dressed in the same hideous green jumpsuit. Temari didn't understand why he didn't just wear the P.E. uniforms like everyone else.
"That's ugly," Kankuro whispered. "How is he even allowed to wear that for P.E.?"
"Just don't question it," Temari whispered back.
"That's Rock Lee," said Shikamaru, having overheard them. He had physical education with them, and looked as if the world were about to end. "He always wears that for this class; it's one of the two classes he's allowed to wear it in."
"Then what's the other?" Kankuro asked curiously.
Shikamaru made a face. "Don't ask."
"How do you know so much about the upperclassmen anyways?" Temari challenged. "Aren't you a freshman?"
"Yeah, but he's a really smart freshman," Naruto, who also had this class, along with Sasuke, burst out. "Shikamaru's been taking advanced classes here for years!"
"You make it sound like he's been here for more than two years," Sasuke said. Temari was surprised he was willing to join in the conversation.
Shikamaru sighed. "Look, that's not important. Can we please just focus on whatever it is Guy-sensei is saying?"
"Not that you ever pay attention," Sasuke sneered.
Shikamaru shrugged and looked away. Temari got the feeling he wasn't too fond of Uchiha Sasuke.
Guy finished talking, and started them with some laps around the track. Sasuke, Naruto, and Rock Lee immediately started running, with Rock Lee leading the pack.
"You won't beat me, Sasuke!" Naruto yelled, frantically trying to catch up. Sasuke ignored him and ran faster.
Kankuro shook his head. "What's up with him?"
"They're rivals," Shikamaru revealed. "Or, Naruto claims they are. He takes it upon himself to beat Sasuke in everything they do."
"That's stupid," said Kankuro.
"Look who's talking," Temari said. "You're pretty competitive yourself."
"So are you," Kankuro retorted.
"Come on, move it, folks!" Guy yelled and the rest of the students began their run. Hyuuga Neji, and some girl with black hair tied up in two buns, went first; soon they were trailing close behind Naruto. Temari followed after them, with a complaining Kankuro, and a girl she recognized as Hyuuga Hinata, the heir to Hyuuga, Inc. Shikamaru brought up the rear, looking like he was going to die.
"I take it you're not too good at athletics?" Temari teased as she slowed down so she was running next to him.
Shikamaru sighed and said "troublesome" under his breath, but Temari heard him.
"What's your problem?" she snapped.
The freshman frowned at her, giving her his customary blank look. "What?"
"You keep sighing and saying 'troublesome'," Temari accused, wanting to strangle him. "Do you have a problem with me or something?"
Shikamaru sighed—again, Temari noted. "It has nothing to do with you. I just don't want to be here."
"Then stop sighing at me as if it's all my fault," Temari said angrily. "You've been doing that since this morning! I'm just being friendly here, but no, you have to go and sigh and say 'troublesome' as if it's my fault you're now running laps!"
Temari ran off before he could respond, taking her place next to Kankuro again, who gave her a questioning look.
"What happened?"
Temari shook her head. "Nothing."
.
Unfortunately for Temari, Shikamaru also had fourth period, calculus, with her.
"Why does he keep following me everywhere?" Temari demanded. Kankuro stared at her.
"What?"
Temari sighed, and then noticed how she was doing the same thing Shikamaru would normally do, and got frustrated again. "Augh! He's everywhere! He's so annoying!"
Kankuro wanted to ask who, but didn't. He knew his sister well enough to know not to ask.
"Forget it," Temari said. "Let's just focus on class."
"Okay…"
Temari took a seat near the door, far away from the windows and a certain infuriating freshman.
"Good morning, students." Their calculus teacher turned out to be Sarutobi Asuma, who smiled at the two Sunagakure citizens. He took attendance and then began class, talking about functions and reviewing pre-calculus concepts. Compared to Daikoku, Asuma wasn't a boring teacher. He had a lively voice and often forced the students to participate by asking questions. He also seemed to be the friendly and open sort of teacher, and Temari was sure she wouldn't hate this class. Or at least not the subject and teacher. The students were another matter.
"Shikamaru!" Asuma called out suddenly.
Temari looked up from her notes and turned in Shikamaru's direction. She wasn't the least surprised to see him dozing in his seat, his head resting on the desk in an uncomfortable position.
"Shikamaru!" Asuma called out again. "Wake up!"
There was no response, and Asuma threw the whiteboard marker in his hand at him. Shikamaru looked up lazily, deftly catching the oncoming object one-handed.
"You can't keep doing this, Asuma-sensei," Shikamaru said, sounding genuinely annoyed. "It gets old, you know."
"Well, maybe if you didn't sleep in class, then I wouldn't throw it at you," Asuma said. Although his words implied he was angry, Temari noticed how he didn't sound mad at all. "It's only the first day of school, Shikamaru. Try paying attention."
Shikamaru smiled and Temari stared. Did Shikamaru just smile? He was showing emotion for the first time today.
"It's because it's only the first day that I can sleep with no worries," Shikamaru justified.
Asuma sighed, smiling slightly, before turning back to the board and continuing his lesson. It was obvious this was a reoccurring scene between the two of them.
"Man, he's got skills," Kankuro whispered. "Did you see him catch that?"
"Yes, I did," Temari said impatiently. Apparently, there was more to Shikamaru than she first thought. "Now be quiet and pay attention."
Kankuro shrugged as he drew on his paper. "The kid makes a good point, you know. It is only the first day. What is there to learn, anyways?"
Temari glared at her brother. "We're here to learn. You can at least pretend like you're a good student. We're not here simply as students, remember?"
"Yeah, yeah, we also represent Sunagakure and the Kazekage," Kankuro recited. "Geez, this is troublesome."
Temari swore she was going to strangle someone by the end of the day.