Naruto glared at me "She's not even from around here why can she just come in here and

be all special?!"

Iruka sighed. "She's been through a lot in the past month." He looked over at me almost as if he wanted permission to tell a bit. I nodded softly keeping my eyes on the ground before me. "She lost her entire family, but by her choice she wanted to continue to be a ninja. We can't deny that Naruto. She's no different than you and I it's true however she

should also get the same chance."

Naruto "hmphed" and sat back down. Iruka sighed and chuckled quietly to himself. "Okay then everyone I'll be introducing you to your instructors this afternoon. Until then

you're all free to go"

The class rushed out of the room leaving me alone with Iruka. They left in groups chatting about the night before happy moments. They had friends. I had a team that acted like I was a fool. Iruka bent down now even with my face. " Hey, don't listen to what Naruto said. He's not the brightest student and has horrible people skills when upset but he really didn't mean it." she muttered reassuringly.

I smiled softly. "It's alright really. I'm sure everything will work out and everyone will grow to love everyone else on the team."

Iruka nodded and smiled warmly at me. "Now I'm suppose to discuss your living arrangements for the remained of your childhood. The village has set you up a simple apartment. Seeing as you can't pay bills with no money, they will take care of the utilities and rent for you. You just have to keep it clean and not burn it down or flood it alright." He chuckled softly.

I giggled in return. "I'll do my best to not bathe with the hair curler or anything. And what about food and stuff?"

"You'll get paid by the mission. We'll set you up with food until then however."

I nodded. "Ah I see. Iruka-Sensei I have a question. Do you happened to know how long I was out for?"

Iruka sighed. "I figured this would come up. You were in a comma for a few days and you came in and out of conciseness for a few weeks. It's been about a month. In return I also have a question. Why are you not mourning as you should be?" Iruka looked at me puzzled.

I sighed and looked down at my feet., "Mother told that no matter what happens, even if you face death, it keep smiling because it would make you feel better even if just a little. Besides she's never far," I touched the top left part of my chest where my slow beating heart lie.

Iruka smiled and nodded almost understandingly. "Before you're free to go I need to get you your apartment information." He reached into his Chunin vest and pulled out a slip of paper neatly folded into a square. "In there you'll find directions to get there from here and all the information you'll need to find your room and get settled in. We provided you with what we could salvage out of your old home and given you the basics," he smiled "You should go relax until this afternoon, it'll be good for you"

I nodded and turned to leave but stopped just before leaving the room. "Iruka sensei, thank you."

I reentered the classroom a bit later than everyone else. It took me longer to navigate the village than those who had lived here all their lives. Upon my entering I noticed that many of the teams had left leaving a few to stand and chat. I looked around and found a desk close to the door open and so I sat silently watching the groups laugh and argue.

Not long after many of the remaining students were ushered out by their jounin leaders. All that remained were me and three others. The four man team, cell the hyper active blonde. I figured Sasuke had to be the silent raven haired boy, and Sakura was the pink haired female.

Watching them being so friendly made me lonely and I sighed sadly. I was afraid of what would if I tried to join the conversation. They could totally reject me like Naruto had earlier. However I did have one idea. I felt around in my side pouch for something I had ignored after leaving the first time. I stood and quietly approached the group. They stopped their conversations and turned to face me.

"Um..excuse me," I began shyly, "I forgot to put on my headband and I'd like some help tying it." This was of course a lie I could very well do it myself but it gave me an opening. I rubbed the back of my head with a gloved hand awkwardly.

The female ninja spoke up "I'll help just tell me where you want it."

I thought about it for a second. "My waist please?"

She nodded and took the headband moving to the backside of me and began tying it into a knot.

Meanwhile, just as he had many times before, Naruto poked his head out the doors and looked up and down the hallway. Sakura finished adjusting the headband and turned leaning up against a nearby desk. "Cut it out Naruto!"

Naruto turned to face us. "But why are we the only cell whose teacher hasn't shown up yet? He crossed his arms clearly annoyed. "All the other teams have already gone off with their teachers. I mean even Master Iruka left! He hmphed and head towards the blackboard. He stopped before grabbing something and running to the sliding doors grabbing a nearby table and pulling it in front of them. He stood on it and chuckled.

"What is he doing?" I asked quietly.

Sakura voiced my concern. "Hey! What are you up to Naruto!"

He stood there pinning a blackboard eraser in between the door panel. He jumped down from his post and pushed the table back. "That's what he gets for making us wait!"

I giggled finding it too be humorous but Sakura was opposed to his actions "Oh cut it chat. I want no part of it!"

Sasuke finally spoke, also against his odd prank, "Hn..no way a superior shinobi could be caught by such a simple booby trap"

I frowned and muttered. "You guys need to learn to lighten up a bit."

Sasuke looked over at me darkly, however his attention, as well as ours, was directed outside the classroom as we heard approaching footsteps and the sound of the sliding door opening.

'He didn't see it!' I thought holding back yet another giggle.

The eraser fell from its original position and hit the head of a masked silver haired ninja sending a cloud of dust into the air around his head.

Naruto was the first to respond "Ha! Gotcha! Good one!"

Sakura whined in return, "I'm sorry sensei. I tried to stop him but Naruto.." she trailed off.

I entered a small giggle fit. The man bent to pick up the eraser looking at it, chuckling softly, "Hmm how should I put this?" he began holding his chin in a thinking position. "Based on my first impression, I'd have to say… I hate you."

The aura in the room became heavy. All of our sprits dropped. "Regardless, if you'd all follow me." he turned and exited the room, heading down the hall with all of us in quick pursuit.

We sat on the roof of the academy. The day was bright and sunny with a slight comfortable breeze. The man began "Now, I'd like you all to tell us a little about yourselves."

"Like what?" Naruto asked.

"You know ,the usual. Your name, favorite things, least favorite, hobbies and dreams, things like that."

Naruto sighed. "Help us out sensei, you go first. Show us how it's done."

Sakura agreed. "That's right after all you're a complete stranger to us."

I nodded, "Even just knowing what to call you would be nice."

"Oh me?" the man began, "My name is Hatake Kakashi. I'm the kind of person who doesn't like talking about his likes and dislikes, my dreams are none of your business. I have lots of hobbies."

Sakura grunted. "All he told us was his name"

"Now it's your turn, starting with you on the right." Kakashi said.

"Me right?" Naruto started us off. "My name is Uzumaki Naruto! What I like is instant cup ramen! I liked it even more when Iruka-Sensei treats me to ramen at Ichiraku noodle bar! I hate the three minute wait after you put the water in the ramen. My dream…is to be a better shinobi than the hokage, then everyone will have to acknowledge my existence. My hobbies are pranks and practical jokes.

I smiled at him 'Such a big dream'

"Next"

Sakura smiled, "I am Haruno Sakura. My favorite thing is…well it's not a thing it's a boy and that boy is…Uh let's move onto my dream.." She squealed and blushed. "I Hate Naruto! And my hobbies are…"

I raised an eyebrow at her and sighed shaking my head.

"Next"

Sasuke spoke quietly as everyone turned to look at him, "My name is Uchiha Sasuke. There are plenty of things I hate but I don't see that it matters considering that there is almost nothing I like. It seems pointless to talk about dreams, that's just a word. What I have is determination. I plan to restore my name and there's someone I have sworn to..kill."

I gulped, he seemed a bit scary to me. "And lastly?"

I nodded. "I am Fuuya Emiko. I suppose I like taking walks. I dislike when people are rude for no reason other than to hear themselves talk. My hobby would be listening to music. And well…my dream is to become a high ranking ninja, maybe not hokage, but something to prove to my father that I'm not a failure." I smiled pleased with everything I had said.

"Enough of that then, "Kakashi said. "I believe we all understand each other. Formal training begins tomorrow."

Naruto put his hand up and saluted Kakashi. "Yes sir! What will be out duties be? Our first real shinobi mission!"

"Our first project involves only the members of this cell."

"What is it"

Kakashi shut his eye a bit, the other being covered by his headband, turning his relaxed look into aa dark one. "Survival exercises."

Naruto stared in awe, "Survival exercises?"

"How is that even a mission?" I asked.

Sakura nodded, "Back at the academy that's all we really did."

Kakashi sighed, "But you'll have to survive against me. It won't be your normal practice."

Naruto tilted his head confused. "Then what kind of practice will it be?" To this Kakashi just laughed.

"What's so funny?" I asked.

Kakashi stopped and cleared his throat putting on a grin, "Oh it's nothing if I told you you'd chicken out."

"Why on earth would we chicken out?" I asked. Slowly becoming annoyed with him.

Kakashi leaned forward, a now serious face replaced his happy act. "Of the twenty-seven members of your graduating class, only nine will be actually accepted as junior-level ninja. The other eighteen will be set back for more practice. The test we are about to perform has a 66% chance of failure."

The aura in the area could have beat the one we left back in the classroom. "See you're chickening out already!"

Naruto growled and lashed out, "That sucks! We've been through hell! What about the graduation tests?!"

"Oh we wanted to eliminate all the hopeless cases from your ranks. The ones left are the ones with the most potential. In any event, we'll meet tomorrow morning on the practice field so that I can evaluate each of your skills and weaknesses. Bring all your ninja tools and weapons. And don't have breakfast before hand. Unless you enjoy throwing up." Kakashi stood and handed us all papers. "The details of your assignment ae in this handout, memorize it and don't be late!"

I quickly scaned the handout and looked down, crumpling it up in a fist. "something wrong Emiko?" Kakashi asked raising an eyebrow.

I stood quickly, pivoting on my heel and toe to face away from him. "I refuse to fail." I started leaving the scene.

"Don't get too cocky or you WILL fail."

I bit my lip and threw the wad of paper over the side of the academy roof and headed down the stairs leaving my onlookers in a state of awe.