Author Note: Okay, so I'm sorry about last week. I got grounded before I could post. And my reason for ALMOST being late this week was simply, well me and my editor have really need to get our hats on straight about WHEN I'm going to send and WHEN he's going to send it back. It's been what, almost a month? And yes, we have yet to work out a system. We need to knuckle down and fix that issue. Anyways, I'm sorry it's so short. But just think how long of a story you got last time. I think that makes up for this. No promises about the length of the next chapter, though from what I have planned it will probably be long. Kinda like this note. Review, damn you.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, I do own all of the O.C's so bitch back off.

Arc One: The Legacy of the Beginning

Episode Three: The Mud Dragon

No. Way. In. Hell...

Hakari was slack-jawed in shock. There was the good news, Kana was on her team. How lucky was she that she had beat the shit out of her opponent in the exams? If her opponent had won then Kana would have Hakari's opponent as a teammate instead of her. Still there was the horrible news; Gaara was not on her team. While that may not be the most horrible bit, it did mean that another male was on her team. More importantly it was that disgusting pervert, Minoru. Glancing over at Kana, Hakari could only see pure rage on her face. This was not going to end well.

Gaara was placed on a team with his brother and sister. This was better than him being with some random strangers. Still, like a child being separated from his toy, Gaara did not look pleased. Hakari felt bad for whatever would be his outlet, or whoever. Feeling she'd better say something before someone was, brutally, murdered, Hakari leaned over to whisper to Gaara. She had heard that soft voices soothed animals, and Gaara well, Hakari did not want to risk aggravating him.

"It's no big deal Gaara," she murmured, "And be careful. If people didn't know you they'd think you cared about me," she added, trying to make a joke.

While Gaara did not respond well to jokes, it at least reminded him that he was a stone-hearted child who was not supposed to care about anyone but himself. This called him down.

"Boys are so strange…" She could not help but thinking.

Kana and Minoru walked over so they could 'be a team'. Gaara gave Minoru one long hard look and stated in his cold voice "Watch yourself." Then he got up and walked, (if a walk could be threatening Gaara's was) to his siblings.

Hakari lifted her eyes from Gaara's form over to Kana and Minoru, focusing mostly on Minoru, "He's just a little grumpy today…" she remarked, trying her best to be comforting.

Minoru just gulped in response.

XxX

Frustration was mounting up in the pit of Hakari's stomach. It was forty five minutes after their sensei was supposed to be here, and he still had yet to make his appearance. Everyone else was gone; it was just her team now. Kana was sitting in the chair that Gaara usually sat in her head in a face palm position on the desk. Minoru was sitting across from them looking rather pointedly at Hakari's chest. Raising her eyebrows slightly Hakari stated dryly, "What are you looking at?"

Minoru raised his eyes to her face, "Nothing..." he answered without a trace of sarcasm or anything to imply he was purposefully being rude. That made him all the more infuriating. Hakari turned several shades of red and bolted up from her spot onto of the desk. "What are you trying to say?" She hissed, trying her best to hold in her temper.

"You're chest is flat!" Minoru clarified, clearly confused by her reaction.

Hakari twitched, resisting the calling in her mind to pummel this boy into nonexistence. Kana had raised her head and was trying not to laugh.

"I am twelve years old, it's natural for me not to be fully developed," Hakari stuttered out, taken back at this boy's forwardness, and tactlessness.

"You're right," the boy said, nodding in agreement. Hakari let out a sigh of relief, and sat back down happy that this awkward and insulting conversation was over, "But I would expect you to have something there,"

"That's it!" Hakari screeched in a split-second her fist was connected to Minoru's jaw. Minoru was sent hurtling into the wall, head over heels. Hakari swore he flipped a few times. He slumped to the floor looking up at her confused.

"Wa-cha…" Hakari muttered turning her back.

"I don't know why you're so defensive." Minoru muttered. Hakari twitched. What was this boy's damage? Her blood boiled in rage, he needed to shut up now, or Hakari could not be held responsible for his welfare.

"I mean," Minoru explained, "Kana is a year younger, yes? But she has relatively well developed breasts. Maybe it's your baggy shirt?"

Kana's eyes widened. She had been watching the exchange with amusement, but now her eyes hardened against Minoru. Hakari twitched as well. Her shirt was not baggy.

Hakari was sporting her new ninja outfit. It consisted of: a light pink shawl like shirt that had a hood on the back for protection from the wind and sand, the standard black ninja pants, and the standard black ninja shoes, her headband was tied up as a hair band, though her two long locks of hair still hung in her face.

Kana was wearing a light purple sleeveless top that was a deep v-neck, underneath was a black shirt that sleeves ended at her elbows. She wore a sand colored skirt with lavender shorts underneath; her headband was tied around her neck. And of course, black stands ninja shoes.

Minoru, the jackass, was wearing a pale blue top with a sand colored vest over it, grey standard ninja pants, and black ninja shoes.

Minoru broke her thoughts about their wardrobe with, "Well if we want to know for sure, you'll just have to take off your top."

That. Was. It!

Hakari was going to break his neck. She turned on her heel and was halfway through her punch when the door of their classroom burst open. Hakari's fist stopped dangerously close to Minoru's nose.

In walked their teacher, "You're late!" exclaimed Kana and Hakari simultaneously. Minoru would have chorused in, but he was afraid of Hakari currently.

Their sensei had a mop of brown hair that reminded Hakari of their old teacher, Minoru. Her purple eyes scanned his figure. He was tall and lanky like Mamoru-sensei. Even his features were similar to Mamoru-sensei's. Except, while Mamoru-sensei's features were sharp, defined, and striking, this man's were more rounded, less defined, and almost lazy in appearance. While Mamoru-sensei attempted to tame his locks every day, it was clear that this gentleman had never bothered, probably in his life, to take a comb to it.

The man gave off the impression of laziness, laxness, and an overall carelessness concerning everything. Hakari took an instant disliking to the man. She preferred men of action, strong types. This man looked as strong as a reed by the waters of an oasis.

Still the similarities between Mamoru-sensei and this man where too many. "You're Mamoru-sensei's brother?" Hakari questioned, moving her hands to her hips. Minoru slowly got up, and inched away; glad to see someone had distracted Hakari from causing harm to his facial features.

The lazy looking man nodded, "Yes, I am Rusuban Okamoto." He grinned, his face brightened as he held up his hand, a small glass placed tightly in his palm. He tilted his head back and downed the contents of the glass. He hiccupped drunk. "Let's get started."

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Merry Thursday~