Where, where am I? Am I dead---'I thought. I weakly strained myself to sit up and open my eyes. And who was there next to my bed stand? Naruto with a package of flowers. I thought I was hallucinating!

"Heard you got in a bit of a fight, eh?" Naruto teased. His tone was serious, yet humorous. I shook my head, unable to tell him the truth.

"Nah, don't worry about me. I just well, sorta collapsed from stress, you know?" I replied, half lying. I didn't want him to worry about me. His grades were low enough. He couldn't afford to take another blow. Pretty soon after talking along time to Naruto, he made an excuse and left. Then everything else was, well, plain. I just ate and took a nap. When I was about to end the harsh day with my 10 hour sleep, I heard footsteps outside my door. I quickly got up; alert and ready if any intruders were in. I grabbed the kunai next to me. Slowly, the door creaked open. Who was it going to be? A dark enemy? Who?

"S-sorry for c-creeping up on y-you like t-that, O-okato-chan," said the familiar voice.

"Hinata! You nearly made me jump out of my skin!" I sighed as I put down my weapon.

"I tried to convince her to see you tomorrow because you'd probably be sleeping by now. But, well, you know," Tenten stated to clear up any confusion. It was just like them to scare me when I'm injured.

"Haven't you guys got homework to do?" I asked. "Or did you come to ask me to do your homework?"

"Y-yes, you are r-right, O-Okato-chan. We do have h-homework. B-but when we h-heard you w-were in the h-h-hospital, we d-decided to come s-see you first," Hinata stammered.

"Yep. I luckily convinced Gai-sensai to let me off early. You should have seen the look on Neji and Lee's faces!" She teased. She did the perfect imitation of Lee complaining how they were in the springtime of youth. We all giggled. It was a treat to have a good laugh again ever since what happened yesterday.

"Man, I wish I was there to see the look on his face! Anyways, we all have to get some rest, so you should be heading home before it turns morning," I quickly suggested when I realized what time it was. We all said our goodbyes and I quickly lay down. Who knew what tomorrow had in stores for me. Would people reject, or possibly even fear, me after what happened? With all my heart, I reassured myself that everything would go perfectly fine.

In the morning, who came to pick me up for school? Naruto did! He said he would tag along with me as a "bodyguard". I stared at him. Something suspicious was going on, and I don't know what.

"I'm watching you," I said as I quickly packed my things up. I had pre-dressed the other night so I slept in my school clothes. He looked bewildered from the sudden question. I still allowed him to eh, "protect" (in his term that is; more like escorting though) me to school. I had to admit, I was just a bit scared about what Iruka-sensai was going to do to me. I mean, he was overtaken by 5 simple students. That was been truly embarrassing, All of a sudden, Kiba Ambushed Naruto. It was a surprise attack.

"Hurry Okato! Dodge!" Naruto shouted to me, as if he didn't know the people ambushing was our friends. I merely just stood there, since I knew nothing would happen to me. I mean, one was lazy; one was too intent on eating potato chips, and the last one who had the most energy already attacked. I just merely stood there, knowing that no harm would come my way. All of a sudden, Shikamaru came out of the bushes with his hands in the air and stupidly growled like a grizzly bear. Now THAT was what surprised me. He actually got his lazy ass of the ground?

"What the hell did you do to Shikamaru?" I ordered Kiba. He smiled.

"So ya noticed, eh? Well, I actually got to convince him that we should give you and Naruto a nice warm welcoming," Kiba laughed.

"Oh come off it you guys. I will not get a laugh about you guys giving us a sneak attack. Anyways, come on! We'll be late for class!" I said. They all stared at me like I was stupid or something.

"Ahh, Okato? Today's Saturday, ya kow?" Shikamaru explained to me. I was FURIOUS,

"WHAT THE HELL!?!" I screamed, making them all quiver in fear. "WHY THE HELL DID'NT YOU TELL ME??? DO YOU KNOW WHAT I COULD BE DOING RIGHT NOW???"

"Well, we thought that Naruto told you to get outa bed and come join us for a dip in the beach. We never knew he didn't tell you!" Kiba stammered, obviously afraid of what I would do to them. I faced Naruto.

"And you?" I demanded from Naruto. "What's your story?"

"How Troublesome," Shikamaru sighed.

"Umm. Well, you see, um, I was afraid that you wouldn't get out of bed , well, I couldn't let them down, Because, well, we still don't um, know how to swim," Naruto quietly explained. "You promised to um, teach us. And because, well, I uh don't know how to put this, but tomorrow, we. Oh forget it. Shikamaru, explain please?"

"Huh. How troublesome. Tomorrow we are going to get sorted into our classes and the day after that, gradution. Then the day after THAT, separation," He sighed. "Oh yeah, by the way, have you seem Choji?" The color drained from my face. Tomorrow is our classes??

"Oh my god! I have to go now! I'll teach you how to swim today at 4 pm sharp! Meet me at my house!" I screamed as I ran off. I had completely forgotten! I needed to finish my outfits before it was too late! As soon as I got home, I took out the unfinished outfits and my sewing kit. Quickly, I started to sew.

4 pm arrived too early. I had barely finished 30 outfits when they arrived. I quickly changed into a bathing suit, packed extra clothes and towels, and hid the outfits. I quickly stepped out to be greeted by my eager team dressed in bathing trunks. I sighed as I led the way to the beach.

How did I ever get myself into this mess---' I thought.