Naruto woke to the usual sounds of birds chirping away already on their morning songs to signal the start of another beautiful day. The room was quiet- and the hallway strangely devoid the usual morning sounds of the other boys teasing each other and causing havoc while just waking up and getting ready for school. Rolling over lazily with a content stretch and a smile on his face, he saw his roommate had already left ahead of him. Well…that was usual considering the other boys mood lately. Nothing out of place there was there? But the quiet lingered. What about the general lack of noise disturbed him? Was he forgetting something?

Blinking his eyes fell upon the flashing glow of numbers of his alarm clock. Someone had unplugged it again. Looking up at the calendar his eyes took in the others writing. Today circled several times in red ink. School; First Day

"Sakuke!"

The blond froze as he entered the class room. Well over the half hour mark of lateness the classroom clock ticked away torturing loud. 9:32

His smile failed him. Thought failed him.

The entire class seemed ready to jump into the lesson before he had entered stared up at him waiting. Everyone exept for the ebony haired boy across the room in the back seat who was the reason for his lateness.

"Naruto, is there a reason you are tardy this morning?" Kakashi looked up from his desk, having just raised an eyebrow at the class disturbance a moment, finally deciding it time he broke the silence.

The blond couldn't be sure, but behind the turtle neck that covered half of his teachers face he could have swore he was smiling, enjoying this moment, as if he had already seen it coming. Impossible, right? He was a good student...mostly. At least he was never really intentionally late for class. So he got locked in the bathroom one day...and after that there was the back pack he had to fish out of the fountain making him about ten minutes late for class, without the assignment to turn in. And maybe there were a few others. He forgot okay? All of which had been Sasuke's fault in some fashion.

The teacher seemed to understand his weak smile, as he only rubbed the back of his head and shrugged and took pity on him.

"I see...Sasuke is up to his old tricks again?" He turned to the other he spoke of, looking up at him just for a moment at the mention of his name with a shrug. "You may take your seat, Naruto."

Kakashi stood up seeming ready to start class. Just as he had opened his mouth however and the blond had taken his seat the door opened yet again. The teachers eye seemed to almost twitch. He had come to almost expec Naruto's lateness every class, but lets just say he really was not one to find consent inturption any less irritating.

However, his eyes fell fast on the tall red head who entered and the twitch of fustration faded quickly, a wide smile taking its place, "Ah! Hello there, you must be Gaara."

The young man said nothing. The whole class was silent as he entered handing Kakashi a pink slip and walking by to find a seat. Oviously no wish for the usual introduction. Almost made it too, if not for the teachers quick reflexs. A hand reached out grabbing hold of his shoulder, though eyes never seemed to leave the pink peice of paper that explained everything. Who he was, why he was here.

Gaara sighed, knowing what was coming. His green eyes looked bored to the back of the room, seeming to look pass everything and everyone. Inside wishing he didn't have to be here.

Naruto knew that look all too well, and it made him almost curious about the boy. Despite the expression of boredome nothing else was apparent to what he was feeling. Locked away behind a mask.

"Hold on a minute," Kakashi told him, holding him firm in his place while he still reading the pink slip managed to tell the class, "Everyone, this is Sabaku no Gaara. He is from the desert region, which is why he is joining us a little later then usual. We know how hard it is getting use to a new place...so everyone try your best to make him feel welcome, alright?"

If he was paying any attention to the mumbles of welcome or otherwise gestures of greeting and exeptance he did not show it. In fact the red head did not meet the gaze of anybody. Moving to take his seat the minute Kakashi had released his hold, throwing his bag on the ground and remain silent.

Kakashi took a moment to clear his throat, seeming himself to be thrown off a little by the youths actions. But he didn't let it show for long, shaking it off to begin again with the lesson. Once he was sure no one else would interupt.

"Now then...let us begin...open your books to page 109. As you may recall from last year...this should all be reveiw for you...for most of you..."

There you have it, another chapter wrapped up and finished. Yay! I know this one is a bit shorter then the last but don't worry. I'm working on evening them out best I can. Should have the next chapter up soon. Hope you are enjoying it so far. And a thanks out to all of my lovely reveiws. There are more of you this time! Yay again! Thank you again to everyone!