"speech"

'thoughts'

Disclaimer~ I wish :-P

Chapter Two

This is not what Naruto expected. One would think training to be a ninja would be more hands on. Iruka-sensei seems ok, but man is he boring!

When Naruto first entered the classroom she saw that she wasn't the only one excited about starting the academy. The class didn't start for the next thirty minutes and the room was packed. The only seat available was one in the back, next to a sleeping boy with a spiky-haired ponytail. Careful not to wake the sleeping boy up Naruto sat next to him.

Glancing around taking in the faces of her classmates for the next four years. Tensing she felt like someone was watching her, now searching the crowd Naruto spotted her, an oversized hoodie, navy pants with kunai holsters and short midnight hair, white eyes widening as she has been caught staring. A deep blush staining her face she quickly turned away.

'Very weird, but not as weird and as cool as a girl with pink hair. Whoa definitely want to be her friend.'

'Maybe as classmates, she would want to hang out with me' Naruto thought.

Sitting next to her was a blond, they seem to be fixated on the emo kid in the corner with a strange stuck up hairdo. How does one get their hair to be stuck up like a duck butt? "Duck Butt" seems to be a fitting name for him. Giggling at the mere thought of a duck sitting on someone's head she gets caught, Iruka-sensei suddenly calls on Naruto taking her by surprise.

"Anything you want to share with the class Naruto?" shrinking into her seat with a low murmured "No..." the class snickered as sensei continued to drone in front of the class.

Everyday class seems to drag on forever, how much information they needed to know about the Land of Fire trading network. It has been a month since school started and the library seems to be the only place where some decent scrolls about ninja are located.

The most fascinating scrolls are about chakra and how to use it, "Chakra is the resulting energy produced when Physical and Spiritual energies become mixed together. Hand Seals are then used to harness this energy and expel it out of the body; usually in the form of some kind of attack." fascinating.

So far they were only taught the Academy taijutsu style and had weekly spars. Of course, Duck Butt whose name turned out to be "Sasuke" is the best at taijutsu, but he won't hold that position for long.

After school, Naruto sneaks off into the many woods around the village to practice a new taijutsu style she had found in the library. Whirlpool style, like the name suggests, it's a very chaotic form and it bends, twist, and flows like a whirlpool. The basic kata involves bending at various angles, nothing too extreme. Doing several tumbles leading to handstands Naruto practices her flexibility. Walking around on her hands only to bend backwards onto her feet then back to her hands once again. The crab walking exercise is very disorienting but it will pay off in the end.

"Hey, Naruto!" yelled a familiar voice, causing Naruto to flop to her back.

Kiba runs over laughing, "That was an epic fail man. Why are you bent over anyway?"

Over the past month, she began to look at Kiba as one of her friends, doesn't really if he saw her as a friend as well or just someone to hang out with when he was bored.

"I am teaching myself a new taijutsu style to kick Duck Butt's butt," Naruto explained.

"How about we go prank some chunin instead?" said Kiba.

"So happy you asked!" Naruto grinned.

Six months since she started the academy, and Naruto was proud to say she can hold her own against Duck Butt, "Sasuke", she has yet to beat him but has come pretty far from where she was.

Now a week before her birthday she finds herself skipping class or hanging out around the training fields. It wasn't like anyone would care that she was missing school, the teachers try to make her life a living hell anyway, except for Iruka-sensei of course.

Being used to the outside of her apartment being vandalized and the odd time a drunk would break in around this time of year, she spends most of the time in an empty training ground or simply in the forest.

That is where Iruka found Naruto, what surprised him the most is that Naruto was attempting to run up a tree. From his hiding spot he couldn't help but to be amazed, the class only learnt their first technique last month, Henge no Jutsu, yet here was Naruto not only trying to improve himself but using a genin level skill to do so. Tree climbing is supposed to be taught to you by your jonin sensei, yet Naruto taught it to himself. He only made it about ten feet up the tree but that alone was remarkable.

"So this is where you have been," Iruka said emerging from his hiding spot.

"Iruka-sensei how did you find me?!" exclaimed Naruto.

"Ehh I just knew where to look, but the real question is why you haven't been in class since last week?" Questioned Iruka.

Naruto responded with a miserable tone "Iruka-sensei, I have been having a bad week. You know what time of year it is."

"Oh yeah! It's your birthday next week!" Iruka said with a grin.

"Thanks, Iruka-sensei, I can't believe you remembered," Naruto said with a watery voice.

"Of course it's not every day a young man turns nine."

Naruto caught the 'young man' but as much as she thought Iruka as a great person, she didn't trust him enough to share her secret yet. It was appreciated however that he did remember her birthday.

"How about as an early birthday gift I will treat you to some Ichiraku Ramen, what do you say?"

As Naruto has only had cup ramen and has never been to a ramen shop, she said yes.

"Great, you are going to love it, you will never find ramen this good anywhere else," Iruka stated.

Arriving at the stand Naruto expected to be treated with the same cold eyes she has become used too, instead, a friendly smile and a warm welcome left her slightly shocked. Playing it safe she ordered a beef ramen while Iruka-sensei ordered miso ramen. It was love at first bite, how can ramen taste so delightful.

'Iruka was right this stuff is made by the gods or old man Teuchi behind the counter, but that's up for debate.' Naruto thought.

Old man Teuchi told Naruto to come back whenever she wished! Wow, another person who doesn't despise her, how did she get so lucky!

The only problem is now that Iruka wants to see her in class starting tomorrow, reluctantly Naruto agreed hoping she can jump forward in time till after her birthday, pity so such travel exists.

"Naruto, what you were doing back in the woods was very impressive. Not many kids your age know how to focus their chakra to that extent, tree climbing only using chakra at your age, wow. I'm proud of you keep it up." Iruka said with a smile.

"I promise Iruka-sensei I won't let you down!" Naruto promised.

It feels good to have someone believe in you.

Review, review, review!

I accept all critics good or bad, as I use them to better my writing.

~ Reina