Chapter 19 – Academy Life I

"Talk"

'Think'

Flashback

A/N: Thank you Zeozio for your support.

Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto sensei. So…yeah.

It was early in the morning when an excited Naruto and a sedate Noriko were walking with Shizuka for their first day in Academy.

"I am so excited! I wonder what we'll learn? I wonder if I'll make new friends?..." Naruto chattered excitedly. While Shizuka smiled indulgently.

"Why so quiet Noriko?" asked Shizuka.

"I just wonder if our teachers will like us?" said Noriko.

"I assumed your teachers will be professional enough to put aside personal feelings and do their job" said Shizuke, seeing Noriko's doubtful look and remembering Keiko, she added "if you think they don't, why don't you give them a chance? If they remained unprofessional after a certain period of times, then you can report you teacher for their unprofessional conduct"

"Report to whom?" asked Noriko "If I reported to Shisui-ojisan, people may accuse him of nepotism. I don't want that"

"It's okay Noriko" said Naruto cheerfully "Even if our teachers don't like us, we can still learn. Even if we don't make new friend, I got you and you got me. We helped each other, right Shizuka-obasan?"

"That's right Naruto" Shizuka said with a proud smile.

The first few months flew very fast. Naruto was horrified to learn that half of their lessons were from books. His protest can be heard up to Hokage office which earned a chuckle from Shisui.

Meanwhile, Noriko enjoyed her lessons. She pointed out to Naruto a passage in their textbook about Uzumaki clan which made him very happy, and very sad when he read about their demised.

Their teachers were as professional as they can be though their favourite was a young chūnin named Umino Iruka. Initially he was cold to Naruto and Noriko, but he slowly thawed out and warmed up to them while the others preferred to just ignore both of them. Naruto was unperturbed by that whereas for Noriko, as long as they did not hinder her from learning, she's okay with that.

Practical lessons were their favourites, especially Naruto. During these lessons, Noriko saw how far they have progressed compared to her classmates in general, except for a few, mainly Hinata and Sasuke. Hence during Taijutsu class, Hinata was always matched against Noriko while Sasuke was matched against Naruto.

First sparring session

"Next is Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto" called Iruka-sensei.

Both Sasuke and Naruto walked into the ring and made the Seal of Confrontation. Sasuke started by aiming a punched at Naruto, who blocked his punch with his arm and made his attack. Naruto looked at his arms and said "You are strong, Sasuke" before he grinned and attacked Sasuke who evaded and counter-attacked. Their spar went for a while before Iruka-sensei called it a tie and asked them to make the Seal of Reconciliation.

"Now is Hyūga Hinata and Noriko"

Hinata and Noriko walked into the ring together and made the Seal of Confrontation. "Let's give it our best, Hinata" said Noriko spiritedly before she attacked Hinata. Hinata evaded and quickly, she pushed her palm forward which hit Noriko. Noriko countered with a punch but Hinata smoothly pushed Noriko's hand to another direction and Noriko responded with a kick. "Both Hinata and Noriko managed a single hit on each other, so it's a tie" said Iruka-sensei.

After made the Seal of Reconciliation, Noriko approached Hinata "Hey Hinata, your stance was unusual, was that the Hyūga style?" asked Noriko.

"Yes, but I'm not very good at it"

"Why? If it's Jūken, you would have hurt me and won the fight" said Noriko.

"You know about Jūken?" asked a surprised Hinata.

"Yeah" Noriko rubbed the back of her head "It's a long story".

Noticing the awkwardness, Hinata switched the subject "Your taijutsu is good. You practiced a lot?"

"Ummm…" Noriko paused, not sure how to answer without telling about her dōjutsus "Yeah, you can say that, but I have Naruto as sparring partner. We sparred a lot"

After the first session, Naruto and Sasuke competed for top places in taijutsu lessons. For Naruto, Sasuke served as a sparring partner since Noriko had to do a different training. For Sasuke, competing with Naruto pushed him forward on Itachi's footsteps.

At the end of their first year of Academy, Naruto and Noriko were asked to go to Hokage office after class. When they reached there, they saw Gaara with Yashamaru, Kazekage, a man with half of his face covered, a boy with brown hair and a girl with four ponytails.

"Hey Gaara!" Naruto yelled happily.

"Gaara!" said Noriko with delight.

They both run to him and simultaneously, aimed a punch which was blocked by Gaara's sand. Then the three of them laughed together. The boy and the girl watched the scene with curiosity.

"Naruto, Noriko-" this break their laughter. Embarrassed, they stand up and looked at everyone sheepishly while Shisui got a twinkle in his eyes.

"I see you've meet your friend. Why don't you bring them out for lunch, then show them around Konoha while Kazekage and I have something to discuss. Then you bring them to our house because I've invited Kazekage and his family for dinner"

"Yeay! You're the best Shisui-ojisan" cheered Naruto while Noriko just beamed.

"Come Gaara-kun. Let us bring you to the best ramen in the world" said Noriko. Gaara followed her with Naruto.

"Come Temari-sama, Kankurō-sama. I see they've forgotten about us" said Yashamaru happily.

Ichiraku Ramen

"Naruto, Noriko, this is my sister, Temari and my brother, Kankurō" said Gaara. After they have exchange greetings and sat down, Kankurō asked "What's good here?".

"Everything!" replied Naruto enthusiastically "Teuchi-ojiisan made the best ramen in the world!"

Uncertain, Kankurō looked at Noriko questioningly.

"He just likes ramen that much, but Teuchi-ojiisan's ramen is the best in Konoha" clarified Noriko.

Over ramen, they talked about growing up in Konoha and Suna, their similarities and differences, about schools, and everything while Yashamaru watched contently. Nevertheless, he noticed the glares and mutters being thrown in their directions since they left Hokage Tower.

At first, he thought the hateful glares and angry mutters were thrown at him and Kazekage's children, seeing that they are from Sunagakure no Sato. Then he heard "Is it wise to let Kazekage's children mingled with them? We don't want another war" "Urgh, it's them again" "They should not be seen or heard. Why don't they just die"

Yashamaru looked at Naruto and Noriko chatter happily with the three siblings 'Them too? Konoha was not known for having two jinchūrikis. Its either Konoha has acquired on in secret or one of them is the jinchūriki. Why camouflaging the identity between two individuals? To create bonds between them? Won't the non- jinchūriki feel resentful? It doesn't makes any sense, unless Konoha does have two jinchūrikis? But there is no news about that…" a puzzled Yashamaru debated with himself.

After lunch, they were brought to Academy where Naruto introduced to a chūnin named Umino Iruka who Naruto claimed is the best sensei in the world, making the chūnin blushed to the tip of his ponytail. Then they were brought to the playground where they spent the whole afternoon there before Naruto and Noriko brought them to their house.

Dinner was a cook-out at the brook behind their house by Kosuke. If the Kazekage was surprise by how informal they are, he kept it well hidden though he complimented Kosuke on his food, which pleased the old shinobi.

After dinner, before they left, Yashamaru shook hand with Naruto and Noriko, and said "Thank you for being Gaara-sama friends".

End Chapter 19

Obasan – aunty

Ojisan – uncle

Ojiisan - grandfather