NOTE: I HAVE MADE A MISTAKE! INSTEAD OF 'MIZUGAKURE' IT SHOULD BE KIRIGAKURE! WARI NA!

ENJOY!

Memories of Nobody

Chapter 2: The Academy and Anoke-sensei

Natsu woke up, her eyes stinging like hell. She rubbed them and sighed, thinking about last night's activities and flashbacks. She bit her lip, feeling suddenly ashamed. She then shook it off, "I have to be strong, because no one else will."

After looking around the house, Natsu washed herself. She had gotten a few buckets of semi-warm water and getting a wash cloth and soap. She would have taken a shower, but when she had looked in, she had nearly barfed. The shower was filled with mold, spiders, and cobwebs – the stench was terrible, too.

After finally washing herself after the first time in a long time, she dried off with a small towel. She then rummaged through some of the drawers to see if she could find anything to wear – success! She had found a clean grey-purple shirt with a tattered fringe and some dark teal (almost green) pants that puffed at the ends. Also, pushed to the back of a drawer was a pair of dark purple shinobi sandals. Natsu looked at them in awe and put them on – they fit! Another thing that she discovered was a dark red ribbon.

Natsu gasped, "Th-this was… okaasan's!" She immediately reached for it and held it in her hand. She smiled, wrapping the small ribbon around her head and tying it at the back of her neck, "Ikuze-yo!"

Just like her grandparents had told her, they accepted the poor little girl. One of the academy teachers looked down at her and sighed, taking pity on her. He had dark blue hair that had long strands that cupped the sides of his face and short little strands that rested just bellow his forehead. The rest of his hair was pulled into a small ponytail that rested at the base of his neck. He had his blue hitai-ate (forehead-protector) over his right eye. Natsu could see a small scar where the hitai-ate did not cover. He had warm red-brown eyes and a caring smile. If Natsu were older, she probably would have found him very attractive. He looked to be around in his early twenties, probably 21.

The man crouched down at her level so that she could see him face-to face and said with a light, gentle voice, "The Academy classes don't start 'till tomorrow, Natsu-chan. Do you have any place to stay?"

Natsu shook her head, looking at her feet, feeling suddenly ashamed, "I-iie, I don't-dayo." She could feel her cheeks grow warm from her blushing.

The man nodded, "So ka, you can stay with me then, if that's alright for you. By the way, ore wa Fusashi Anoke da. Hajimemashite." He held out his hand for her to shake it. She did.

Natsu couldn't help but feel her curiosity get the better of her, "Demo, why are you being so nice to me?"

He chuckled, "Because you and I are the same."

Natsu looked up at him in confusion. But, after a little while, after it set in, she finally understood. She looked up at him and nodded, "So ka, Anoke-sensei."

Natsu followed the young man to a rather nice-looking apartment that had an unbelievable amount of space. Natsu couldn't help but gape at the size. Weren't apartments supposed to be small? – because this one wasn't.

Walking in from the door, there was a good amount of space that acted as a kitchen and dining area along with a couple of chairs and a bench with a few cushions and a blanket on it. To her left was a separate room that (to her guess) held a bathroom. To her right, there was a grand bedroom that had a dark blue navy colored bed, grey walls and floor, swords and kunai thrown around, papers scattered on the bed, a nice desk that set in front of a window that had a nice view, and a mat on the floor that could be used for praying or stretching.

Natsu's jaw almost dropped to the floor. She couldn't help but saying aloud, "S-sugoi, Anoke-sensei!"

He laughed a light airy laugh and grinned down at her, "You don't mind that you'll be sleeping on the bench, ne? I really don't have anywhere else for you to stay."

She shook her head, "Iie, I'm just happy that I have a place to stay." She bowed low at him, "Arigato gozaimasu-yo, Anoke-sensei-dayo!"

Anoke smiled, shaking his head, "Do itashimashite, Natsu-chan." He pivoted on his heel and mentioned for her to follow him. "Let's get you something to eat, ne?"

Natsu skipped after him and followed him to the kitchen and opened the fridge.

Anoke stroked his chin, eyes narrow in thought. He reached in and smiled, "I still have some rice-balls that I made this morning, how 'bout some of those? I'll get some tea, too."

Natsu nodded, "Ee. That sounds good to me-dayo."

Anoke prepared the tea, Natsu standing on tip-toe looking at him with an unknown wonder. When it was ready, Natsu carried the large plate of rice-balls, while Anoke carried the rather-hot black cups full of soothing-smelling green tea.

Natsu grabbed a rice-ball hungrily and chopped down. She moaned; these tasted delicious! It had been so long since she had had real cooking. The main way that she had gotten food for the longest time had been rummaging through the trash cans. She then took a sip of tea, closing her eyes in pleasure as she felt the warmth shoot through her entire body. After she finished her rice-ball, she greedily grabbed for another, stuffing her face.

Anoke laughed, watching the child cram herself with food. He guessed that this had been the first true meal she had had in a long time. He pushed the rest of the rice-balls in her direction.

Natsu was shocked, "Anoke-sensei? Naze-"

He shook his head, taking a sip of tea, "You need your strength more than I do. Also, you're starting in the Academy tomorrow, remember?"

Natsu's eyes grew wide in shock – she had been so excited about staying with Anoke-sensei that she had forgotten! She swallowed the rice-ball whole and coughed heavily, nearly choking. When she regained composure, she looking at him in alarm, "What do I do to get ready, Anoke-sensei?!"

He put a hand on her hers, causing her to blush, and smiled, "Don't worry about it, Natsu-chan. I'm sure you'll do fine. Just get a good night's sleep and try not to worry about it, ne?"

Anoke's reassuring smile brought the eight year-old hope. She nodded. All of a sudden, a yawn escaped her. She blushed.

Anoke chuckled, "Time for someone to go to bed, ne? I'll go arrange the sheets and pillows, ne?"

After he had called for her to come over, Natsu went to the bench and smiled – it looked like a real bed!

Anoke smiled, "Oyasumi nasai, Natsu-chan! See you in the morning!"

Natsu was about to climb in, but suddenly realized, "Chotto matteru-yo, Anoke-sensei! I don't have any sleeping clothes!"

Anoke threw her an old, large shirt for her to put on. He laughed nervously, "Gomen nasai, Natsu-chan!" And with that he bade her 'good night' and retreated into his bedroom to get some sleep.

After she put the faded t-shirt on, Natsu climbed onto the bench. She had to admit, it didn't feel all that bad. Anything felt better than sleeping on the streets. And, before she knew it, she was whisked away off to sleep.

Natsu awoke to a shaking sensation. She looked up and saw a blue blur who was telling her, "Get up, Natsu-chan! Today's your big day, remember?"

She sprang up, wide awake, almost hitting Anoke in the nose. Lucky for him, he sneezed at the time and pulled away.

Anoke smiled at her, "So you're finally awake, ne, Natsu-chan?"

Natsu pouted at him, "Don't mock me-dayo!" He laughed at this while Natsu rolled her eyes and looked around, "Are we going to have breakfast?" She got out of bed and yawned.

Anoke shook his head, yes, "I'll go and make something up while you get changed."

Natsu went into the bathroom and put on her usual outfit of a grey-purple shirt and teal-green pants. She sat down to see in front of her and nice bowl of noodles with pouched egg, fish, beef, and pork in it. She inhaled the sweet aroma and snapped her chopsticks, "Itadakimasu!" It tasted delicious.

In between large gulps of ramen, Natsu managed to utter, "I – didn't know – you were – such a – great cook!" She sighed pleasantly, she had finished.

Anoke laughed, "Well… I learned." He gasped, "We should get going now or else you're going to be late! C'mon!"

Natsu nodded, "Wakarimashite-yo!"

Natsu had arrived on time to the Academy and was now being glared at other children her age.

A blond girl pointed to her and shrunk away, "She looks like a monster!"

Another one joined in, "Look at her eyes!"

"Get her away from me!!"

"She's gonna suck your soul out if you get too close," spat a boy with dark brown, curly hair and green-hazel eyes that looked almost like hers. He was rather on the heavy side. He approached her and laughed at her, "Nani? Kowai desu ka?" He snarled at her with venom filled malice.

Natsu's eyes began to fill with tears. She was about to run out of the classroom when Anoke came into the room. He looked at the students and all jeers stopped. He looked at them with a slight disgust, "Please stop." He looked in the general direction of the boy making the most fun of Natsu and shook his head. The boy rolled his eyes.

Natsu wiped her eyes, she was so glad that Anoke would be her teacher. It would make her stay here seem at least a little bearable. She couldn't help but stick her tongue at the boy who had been calling her names. He responded with another roll of his eyes.

Anoke cleared his throat and announced to them in a clear voice, "Ore wa Fusashi Anoke da. You may all call me Anoke-sensei, or, if you must, Anoke-sama."

The students nodded their heads.

"Great, so… let's begin shall we?"

As Anoke was writing something on the board, the boy whispered into Natsu's ear, "Ore wa… Davashi Rotonu da, don't forget it."

Natsu smirked, "Kisetsu Natsu-dayo, don't forget it either."

A week had passed. Natsu was beginning to dread the Academy. No one seemed to like her because she looked like a 'monster' – it seemed that her haunting orange eyes and pale skin with dark magenta hair wasn't a good combination. Some of the braver girls would call her out for her bad fashion sense. Though Natsu had to admit her clothes weren't of the best quality, she didn't think it was nice of them to make fun of her if she didn't have barely any clothes to begin with. Of course she didn't tell them that, or else they would have something else to heckle her with. And that Rotonu… she didn't even want to think of him at the moment.

Rotonu was a living nightmare to her. He would make her life a living hell – making fun of the slightest things. He would go up to her and ask, "Have you showered today?, "You're ugly! No one'll ever like you," and "Where are your parents? I can see why they left you… you're ugly." (That one caused her to give him a bloody nose.)

It was now lunchtime. Natsu was huddled in a ball in the girl's restroom rocking and crying. One would say that she was in the fetal position.

The door opened. Natsu immediately ceased.

A shrill high-pitched voice filled the air, "That Natsu girl… what d'you think of her?"

Another girly-voice answered her, "She's scary! That and has no taste. And have you seen that pathetic red ribbon she wears? Is she a six year-old or what?"

Natsu winced, that had really hit home. She resisted the urge to bash their heads against the mirror and watch their blood spill out like fountains. She bit her lip and tried to block them out. She decided to stay in the restroom until the end of class – Anoke-sensei wouldn't miss her, would he? Only time would tell.

Anoke looked at Natsu and stamped his foot impatiently, expecting an answer from the little girl, "Where were you after lunch? You didn't come back to class."

Natsu frowned, looking away, "I… didn't want to."

"And why is that?" Anoke's usually gentle voice was rather sharp, every word causing her to wince.

"They… were making fun of me. They think I'm a monster, Anoke-sensei."

Anoke's posture and voice returned to normal, "N-nan deska, Natsu-chan? Who?"

Natsu fought back the tears building in her eyes, "Everyone. No one likes me, Anoke-sensei."

Anoke sighed, getting down on his knees again and looking at her straight in the eye, "Natsu-chan, some people in this world are cruel, some crueler than others. But you have to understand, you can't let them put you down. You are a talented individual. After one week of schooling, I can already tell that you will be a great shinobi. You are exceptionally talented in the Genjutsu field."

Natsu felt herself swell with pride, but suddenly remembered her fellow classmate's cruel remarks, "But still…"

Anoke put his arms on her shoulder and made her look him in the eye, "You don't need to listen to what they say, Natsu-chan. If you show them that their comments aren't working, they'll eventually stop. I know it'll be tough, but you have to survive and push through."

Natsu smiled, tears building up in her eyes – she was truly touched, "Arigato-yo, Anoke-sensei."

Natsu took what Anoke had said to heart and pushed through (even though Rotonu still got on her last nerve.)

Natsu couldn't help it but feel, at the Academy, that she was truly happy with herself. Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, Genjutsu – she felt that they and she were the best of friends. No one else befriended her, but she preferred it that way. She felt that friends would just get in her way.

As months went by, Natsu was blossoming into a wonderful shinobi – her speed and intelligence was improving and so was her strength.

Whenever Anoke would walk by Natsu, he would stop to look at whatever she was doing and smile and nod at her. One particular time, he walked away, thinking, 'At this rate, Natsu will become a Jounin or even an ANBU.'

It was now the exit exam so that the academy students could become genin. In this exam they had to test their skills against each other, the one that succeeded would become a genin.

Natsu sighed – this would be quite easy for her. When it came time for her and a few other students to come up, as soon as the proctor said for them to start, Natsu disappeared with a sudden speed and knocked them out one-by-one.

The elders who were watching were impressed at her speed and skill at such a young age.

Anoke smirked at them, "I told you all that she was good."

But Natsu wasn't done yet. She had left Rotonu for last. She walked up to him and whispered in his ear with her chilling airy voice, "This is for all you did to me… Davashi." With that, she kicked him in the place that hurts most… well, I think you know what I mean.

Natsu then walked up to the cabinet of people sitting behind a table full of hitai-ates. She had a great, big smile on her face – kicking Rotonu in the 'crown jewels' had really made her happy.

Anoke tried to hold back his chuckling. He nodded to her, "Chose one."

Natsu chose a purple hitai-ate and tied it around her neck. She looked down at it in awe; it shined so beautifully in the sun. She bowed to them and skipped off. She was euphoric, simply euphoric. She was now a genin, a true ninja – what she had always wanted. Now, she would have to work on getting stronger and stronger until she was the strongest. But first, she wanted something to eat.