Two years passed almost uneventful for Sasori. He was very shy in meeting new people and had soon become one of the most unpopular people in his year. He didn't mind it too much. His best friend Baki was the complete opposite. Bieng outgoing and strong for his age he had quickly made a lot of friends. Even with the newfound popularity Baki still remembered Sasori. Sasori remembered one incident where a boy in his year had called him a loser. He had missed the next two days of school and came back with a cast. All he could say was to never insult Sasori again, words that had been burned into his memory by Baki. Sasori sat in his seat as he waited for another boring lecture. The teacher came in and surprised them all by saying that class was outside today. Sasori relunctantly went out into the heat as the teacher gave them a brief summary on chakra. The teacher quickly explained the assignment. They had to walk onto the side of the academy, using chakra to stick, and stay there for the longest to win. They had already been taught the theory of it but this was for them to actually apply it. Sasori focused as he concentrated his chakra near his feet. He put one foot on the wall. He hesitated before putting his other foot on the wall. To his delight, he was now horizontal and sticking to the wall. He noticed the other kids, falling and that gave him a small measure of happiness. He was finally good at something. Morning passed into afternoon as Sasori found that he was the only kid on the wall. The teacher gave him a nod.
"Good job, Sasori."
Sasori was ecstatic. It was not every day that someone got complimented by a teacher. He wanted to run and be congratulated by Baki, but some of Baki's friends were eyeing him hatefully. They didn't like being beat by the shy kid. Time then passed slowly for Sasori and when the end of the day came he was almost the first out the door. His parents were going to be so proud. Before he left walk home he heard his name being called.
"Good job Sasori, you're really something at the whole chakra thing." He said with a smile.
Sasori beamed. He was glad his best friend had said that. Sasori mumbled a thanks and turned to go home.
"Wanna come over tonight?" Baki asked quickly.
"Yes!" Sasori said enthusiastically.
They agreed to meet in the evening. They would have a sleepover and play ninja almost all night. Sasori was very excited. When he got home he immediately asked his dad what a sleepover was like.
"Sleeping is rare," Was his reply as he packed Sasori's bag.
Sasori soon was at the door to his friend's house. He rang the doorbell and almost rang twice in anxiousness. The door was soon opened by a nervous Baki.
"Listen Sasori," A girl's voice came out of the house asking him if it was the other party guests. It was Etsuko from his class and Sasori was pretty sure that she was crushing on Baki.
"It's nothing." Baki replied.
Sasori opened his mouth to protest at being called nothing.
"Change of plans, I'm busy tonight so maybe you can come by later." Baki closed the door without waiting for Sasori's reply.
Sasori stood there, staring blankly at the door. He backed up slowly.
"I should've noticed the signs. The nervous looks whenever he talked to me." Sasori thought on his way home.
The sad realization came. Baki could never truly be one of the cool kids while Sasori was his best friend. Sasori made a mature and sad decision to try and break off contact with Baki so he could finally be whoever he wanted to be, he deserved that. Sasori arrived home and told his parents a brief explanation that Baki and his family were busy. Sasori quickly went to bed but found sleeping a hard thing to do.
"If I was talented, I could be friends with Baki and his friends." He thought over and over again.
Sasori made a silent oath to become stronger, to be the strongest ninja in Sunagakure.