Chapter 3

"In addition to paintings and sketching, we will be covering sculpting-"

Naruto sat in the back of the art classroom, texting as Anko was busy lecturing.

The party's on Friday after school. –Sasuke

Where is it? –Naruto

There are these chicks from the next town over. One of their rents will be out for the week. –Sasuke

Who's going? –Naruto

All of us. And a few kids from their town. Don't worry about them, though. –Sasuke

Cool. Spread the word. –Naruto

Yeah. And don't forget to talk to Gaara about asking Kankuro to buy some drinks. –Sasuke

"Uzumaki!" Naruto quickly dropped his phone into his lap and looked up at the angry Anko.

"Yes, Ms.?" He smiled.

"If I catch you texting in my class one more time-"

"What are you talking about? I see no texting going on around here." Naruto said, looking around the classroom in mock-confusion.

"I'm warning you, Uzumaki." Anko glared, turning around to write something on the board.

Naruto laughed and Gaara shook his head from the seat next to him. "Idiot…"

"See you at lunch." Naruto said as he walked away from Gaara.

"Have fun in history." Gaara called back.

"You know I won't!" He heard Naruto shout from behind as he continued walking to his next class.

"Hey, Gaara. You've got journal, right?" Tenten bounded out from the literature classroom.

"Yeah. Finally. I've been wanting that class for years." Gaara replied casually.

"Really? I didn't know you were into journalism." Tenten said.

"I like graphic editing and layout designs."

They continued the small talk until they reached the journalism classroom.

"Who the hell is that?" Gaara asked as they stopped by the door.

"The journalism teacher… you didn't know who he was?" Tenten said, walking in and taking a seat.

Gaara walked after her and took a seat to her left. As he continued staring at the teacher, he couldn't help but feel unsettled. Why didn't he know who the teacher was? He's been wanting this class. It seemed idiotic not to know the person who taught it.

He looked up at the board to see a few things written down.

Welcome to Journalism!

-Maito Gai

Gaara grimaced as he looked at the teacher once again. He had on a khaki trousers, with a tucked in white button up. Over that, he wore a light green vest. And Gaara wasn't positive, but Gai's shoes looked like they came out of an Italian men's boutique. Not only his attire, but his faced also irked Gaara… There was something about it.

Was it his awkwardly cut bowl-shaped haircut? Or maybe it was the intensely bushy eyebrows. Gaara was sure this reminded him of someone who annoyed him equally as much. He just couldn't put his finger on it.

"Excuse me. Is this the journalism room?"

Gaara looked up at the door and dropped his jaw in shock. He looked back at his teacher, then back at the boy standing in the doorway, then back at his teacher, and back at the boy.

"No fucking way…" He mumbled to himself.

"Welcome! This is indeed the journalism classroom! Please take a seat, and I will begin role call shortly." Gai said enthusiastically. "And might I add, young man, what an extremely lovely haircut you've got on yourself."

Gaara's eyes followed Lee as he walked to the other end of the classroom and took a seat. He watched as the boy settled himself in. Gaara couldn't tell why, but everything about Lee annoyed him. From the second he saw him, he didn't like him. Maybe it was the way he dressed. Lee had come to school in a dark green and black stripped, pullover hoodie, skinny jeans, and orange high-tops. The problem is that Gaara didn't hate it, he actually liked the style. He liked it so much, he actually almost wore the same kind of thing today.

He looked away from Lee and shrugged uncomfortably. He fiddled with his dark-red and black high-tops and loosened up the leg space on his jeans. Thankfully, he hadn't decided to wear a pullover and instead chose a simple gray jacket. It wasn't the way he dressed, he thought finally. He did admit that he didn't like that someone else dressed similarly to himself, though. So what was it? What was it about Rock Lee that Gaara hated so much?

The ring of a bell brought him out of his thoughts and Gai started to talk.

"Welcome to Journalism! I am Maito Gai, but please call me Gai-sensei." Gai said, smiling brightly at his class. "I'm very excited to have you all here. Journalism is a very interesting subject, and is also a difficult career to pursue. I'm happy to let you all know that this class will be in charge of the school's newspaper this year. With all I teach you, I hope we make an interesting and hard-hitting staff who gets the news out to the people!

"First off, does anyone have any experience in journalism?" he asked, looking around.

A few hands shot up, in which included Tenten and Lee.

"Yes, young lady with the blue hair streak, which I must say is a great way to express yourself. Expression is important in writing!" Gai-sensei said, walking over to Tenten's row.

"I've submitted a few picture to the school's newspaper last year." Tenten said.

"Ah, yes!" Gai said. "I remember your photo from the last year's spring formal. Sparked quite a controversy, which is always interesting. I think we might've found our assigned photographer. Next, boy with the handsome haircut."

"Uh, I was in the school newspaper staff at my last school as a reporter. I did a lot of the interviews." Lee said.

"And what is a newspaper without the reporters?" Gai smiled down at Lee, and moved on. After covering the rest of the class, he returned to the front of the room.

"All of you who don't have any experience in this field, don't worry. We can always find something you'll excel at as we learn. For now, please fill out these forms on what position you'd like to take in our staff. Also, your first assignment. I want you to go out there today and come back tomorrow with answers." Gai turned to the chalkboard and began writing down the assignment. "What do the students and faculty want to see in the paper? And your thoughts on a name for the paper."

Gaara stood as the bell rang signaling the start of lunch.

"Thank god." Tenten said. "This class is going to be hard to keep up with. First day, and already we have assignments that involve us getting out there."

"Yeah." Gaara said, as they walked out of the room. "Let's go to the senior lounge."

"Actually, I'm going to get lunch in the cafeteria. I'll be there later." Tenten said, then took a turn down another hall.

Gaara continued walking to the senior center. He was hoping to get there earlier than the rest and take up the whole couch. Journalism had really tired him out. Gai-sensei was just so energetic… And not only that, he had become close friends with the new student, who seemed to be able to double the amount of energy in the room. It was like they were sucking it out of everyone else.

"Excuse me!" came the unmistakable voice of Lee from behind.

Gaara groaned and started to walk faster, but the crowded hall did him no good. Soon, Lee had caught up with him. Lee started walking with Gaara, who tried his best to pretend he was alone.

"Fun class, right?" Lee said to spark a conversation. After no reply, he tried again.

"So, you're into art?" The red-head still refused to answer.

"Uhm… Gai-sensei is really amazing, huh?" Lee tried once more.

"You say amazing, I say crazy." Gaara mumbled under his breath.

"It talks!" Lee said cheerfully.

Gaara glared at him, opened the door to the senior lounge, walked in and closed it behind him.

"Someone looks like he's had a great time last period." Sasuke commented from a chair across the room.

"Shut it." Gaara said, throwing his bag into a locker and plotting himself on the couch, closing his eyes. "I'm going to sleep."

The door opened again and others walked in.

"Hey, Kiba. Get my text about the party?" Sasuke asked.

"Yeah, I did." Kiba replied.

"Right in the middle of trig, too." Ino added. "Idiot forgot to turn his phone to silent."

"There's nothing like the sultry tones of the Baha Men during a lecture on trigonometric functions." Shino said.

Tenten walked into the room. "The cafeteria's totally hectic right now. I was with Neji, but lost him in a sea of freshman."

"It shouldn't be hard to find you. Who else in the school is weird enough to have blue hair?" Sasuke smirked.

"Sakura, kindly tell your infatuation to shut it." Tenten said as she sat at a computer.

"This isn't an infatuation, Tenten." Sakura giggled. "It's love."

Gags were heard all around the room. Smirking at his peer's disapproval, Sasuke took Sakura's face in his hands and began to passionately kiss her.

"Can't go an hour without having to eat each other's faces off?" Neji asked as he and Shikamaru walked into the room. "I swear… all through physics, those two were all over each other."

"Ino, here's your purse. You forgot it in homeroom." Shikamaru said, handing the blonde the blue purse. "Something wrong?"

Ino blushed and looked away as she took it. "No. Nothing. Thanks."

"When'd you get her purse?" Sakura casually asked Shikamaru.

"Oh, I was hanging out in homeroom since I didn't really have anywhere to go." Shikamaru responded as he sat on the arm of the couch.

"I thought you said no one was there when you went back?" Sakura asked Ino.

"Oh!" Ino stammered, avoiding the sudden stare from Shikamaru. "Uhm… I must've tried the wrong door. You know how the doors all look the same."

"You're so hopeless sometimes, Ino." Sakura laughed. Shikamaru, however, continued to stare at Ino.

"I think I'll get something to eat." Ino stood and quickly walked out of the room.

"Wierdo…" Kiba commented as the door shut behind her.

"I think I'm going to get something to eat, as well." Shikamaru said, standing to walk out.

"No one go anywhere!" Naruto said as he bounded into the room.

"I'm getting lunch." Shikamaru said, trying to pass.

"I've picked up lunch for everyone. Sit down. We have a party to discuss!" Naruto said, shoving a bag-full of sandwiches into Shikamaru's arm.

"Tch, troublesome." Shikamaru said as he was forced back to the arm of the couch.

"First off, everyone got Sasuke's text?" Naruto asked quickly. Everyone nodded, grabbing sandwiches out of the bag.

"Also, since it's a town over, we'll need transportation. Who's volunteering?" Naruto asked, grabbing two sandwiches.

"I can only take two people." Sasuke said.

"I talked to Ino about it, and she can take seven in her SUV." Sakura said, biting from Sasuke's sandwich.

"I'll take whoever's left." Neji said.

"Awesome. Someone wake Gaara up and tell him about it. Also, ask him about drinks. Kankuro should be able to get them." Naruto said, walking out of the room.

"Hey! Is that it?" Sasuke yelled after him.

"Yeah, I've got something to do. See you later!" Naruto said as he ran down the hall.

"So… who wants to wake Gaara?" Kiba asked.

"Ah, sorry about the wait." Naruto said as he walked into the nurse's office. "I had to stop my the lounge. Here, I brought you a sandwich."

"Thanks…" Hinata said as she took the sandwich.

"And sorry again, about knocking into you. Is your ankle okay?" Naruto asked, rubbing his head in embarrassment.

They had been in history class. Naruto had fallen asleep while looking out a window. The teacher had not been happy with it and yelled Naruto awake. Out of surprise, he shot up and knocked his desk over to the left. Unfortunately, Hinata had been sticking her left leg out into the aisle and the desk fell on her ankle.

"It's alright." Hinata said. "Just sprained…"

"Oh, thank god. Where'd the nurse go?" Naruto asked, as he unwrapped his sandwich.

"To get bandages, I think." Hinata replied.

After an awkward silence, Naruto tried to start a conversation.

"So, how's it being back in school?" Naruto asked.

"Fine."

"It's great that you're back." Naruto said. "History was awfully boring, wasn't it?"

"How would you know, you slept through half of it." Hinata smiled.

"Oh, you're right. I can't help it, though." Naruto grinned sheepishly. "So, did you hear about the party on Friday?"

"Oh, yeah. I received a text from Tenten a while ago."

"Awesome. You're going, right?" Naruto asked. "I've never really seen you out with us. You should definitely come."

"I've never really been out to a party, though." Hinata said.

"You're missing out." Naruto said, leaning back in the chair he was sitting in. "There's nothing like dancing 'til you drop to help you forget all the stressful things in life. And something funny always happens."

"I've never really danced before." Hinata blushed.

"Don't worry about that. After you see Neji's dancing, you'll definitely feel more confident." Naruto laughed.

Hinata giggled. "Maybe I'll go."

"No, you're definitely going." Naruto grinned. The nurse walked in and wrapped Hinata's ankle up in bandages. When it was over, the two teens left the office and headed down to the senior lounge. After a while of comfortable silence, Hinata blurted out a question.

"You're not going to ask what happened?"

Naruto looked as her, confused. "S-sorry… It's just that… well, normally people ask what happened to me; why I left school, you know? I haven't really talked to anyone this much without having to explain…"

Naruto stared as Hinata cast her eyes downward. After a moment, he spoke.

"It's okay. You're not ready to talk about it, right? If you were, you would've told me earlier. And I don't think it's something you really want to talk about right now, right?" Naruto asked.

Hinata stayed silent for a while, then smiled. "Yeah, you're right. I'm not ready… I was just curious as to why you didn't ask. People usually ask."

"You'll tell me when you're ready, right?"

"Yeah, I'll tell you when I ready."

"Oh, where have you two been?" Sasuke asked as Naruto entered the room followed by Hinata.

"Nurse." Naruto casually replied, sitting on the coffee table in the room.

"Are you okay?" Neji asked Hinata.

"Y-yeah. Just a sprained ankle." Hinata replied, taking the chair Neji offered her.

"So anyways, I tell her that my name is Henry Shale and that I work as a lawyer in a different town, here on vacation. And she totally falls for it." Kiba continued a story he was telling.

"What are you talking about?" Naruto asked.

"His summer flings." Shikamaru said. "Apparently, we're on girl three out of seven."

"Whoa, someone's been busy." Naruto joked, punching Kiba in the arm.

"Yeah… just don't touch any of us." Gaara said from the couch. "I don't want to catch a disease or anything."

Everyone in the room laughed as Kiba blushed. "Tch, just jealous because I've got mad game with the ladies."

"Having mad game with the ladies isn't impressive if you lied your way to the win." Tenten commented.

"That's practically cheating in the game." Shino commented.

"Whatever." Kiba said.

The bell rang ending lunch. Lee walked into the room. He glanced at Gaara before leaning against a locker. He wasn't sure what he did, but it seemed Gaara really hated him. Ino walked in soon after, avoiding the stare of Shikamaru. She sat on the remaining space by Gaara on the couch.

"So, what do you think we'll be doing for student service?" Sasuke asked, playing with his phone.

"I don't know. Help out around the offices or something. File papers, organize cabinets?" Naruto suggested.

"I'd hate to get the library. Organizing all those book is going to be hell." Sakura said as she observed her nails.

"I'd rather organize books than work in the counselor's office." Tenten added in.

"Jiraiya's a total perv." Sakura said back.

"I think he's pretty cool." Kiba said.

"Of course you would, Mr. Shale." Naruto smirked.

Laughter was heard around the room. The door opened and in walked Tsunade, principal of Konoha Academy, and Shizune, her assistant.

"Okay, let's get this over with." She said, eyeing the students in the room. "As you all know, as seniors, you must complete a year of service to the school in order to graduate. As of now, there are six areas in the school that need help.

"The areas include the nurse's office, library, main office, counselor's office, the school beautification office, and my office. Since this year there are only thirteen seniors, two will work in each office. Since Mr. Akimichi will be absent for a while, he will be taken care of upon return. To keep it fair, you'll all be pulling slots out of this jar for placement."

Tsunade turned to Shizune and was handed a jar with a dozen pieces of paper folded in it. She handed the jar to Ino, who passed it after pulling her slip.

"Main office." Ino said.

"Principal's office." Gaara said.

"School Beautification Office." Naruto read. "What is that, anyways?"

"Students in the SBO will help improve the school through physical work." Tsunade said as she wrote down the assignments. "You'll be doing things like painting walls or planting flowers. Make the school look nicer."

"It's basically manual labour." Shikamaru said as he unfolded his slip. "Main office."

"Library." Tenten read.

"Nurse." Said Neji as he stuffed the slip in his pocket.

"School Beautification." Hinata read and returned the smile Naruto shot at her.

"I've got principal's office." Sasuke said.

"No fair." Sakura whined. "I have nurse. Gaara, want to switch?"

"No switching." Tsunade said. "What's the point of pulling slots if you're going to switch them?"

"Shino and I've got counselor's." Kiba said as Sakura huffed in disapproval.

"And I've got library." Lee said as he handed the empty jar back to Shizune.

"Well, then. Everyone is to report to the assigned offices. Uzumaki and Hyuuga, the SBO room is behind the gym. A volunteer from Konoha University will be your mentor. You've all got five minutes to get to wherever you need to be." Tsunade said and left the room, Shizune in tow.

"That woman's all business." Kiba said as he stood. "Well, then. Off to work."

"So really, all you have to do is answer the phones and sign people in or out. You'll be called upon to run errands once in a while. That's pretty much it." Shizune smiled as she explained to Shikamaru and Ino.

"Where are the other office workers?" Shikamaru asked, noting they were the only ones in the room.

"This is their lunch break. They can't take it during the student lunch because students are always coming in with things to be signed and verified. Don't worry, though. Barely anything serious happens during class hours." Shizune said, then walked through a door in the back to Tsunade's office.

The two teenagers sat there in silence for a good ten minutes before Shikamaru broke it.

"So, you're purse…" he started.

"Ah, yeah. Thanks for returning." Ino interrupted. "Really wouldn't know what I'd do without it. Has everything in it; my phone, wallet, keys."

"Did you really go to the wrong classroom?" Shikamaru said, staring at her.

Ino felt the stare and looked away. She blushed as she remembered what she saw earlier that day. "Uh, yeah. Of course. I'm pretty ditzy sometimes."

"Are you sure? Nothing happened that you want to talk about?"

"Haha, what are you talking about, Shikamaru?" Ino stammered as she organized the top of a counter. "I just went to the wrong classroom. What's there to talk about? Unless there's something you want to talk about…"

"Oh, no. You just seemed to act a little odd. There's nothing I have to say." Shikamaru replied, looking away.

"Oh, well, this just seems like a big misunderstanding." Ino said as she sat in a chair.

"Yeah… sure." Shikamaru said, doing the same.

And they sat there in an uncomfortable silence.

"So, what do you think they'll make us do?" Naruto asked as he and Hinata waited in the SBO room.

"I'm not sure…" Hinata responded, looking around.

They had been there for about ten minutes, but there was nobody else to be seen. The room was quite large, but filled with a lot of supplies that there was only enough room for a portable white-board, one table, and five chairs as a classroom area.

"There's some paint over there, so we might be repainting walls." Hinata noted, pointing to a corner of various paint buckets.

"And there are bags of dirt over there." Naruto said, pointing in the opposite direction. "So we really are planting…"

Ten more minutes passed and there was still no sign of a teacher.

"What're your next classes?" Naruto asked.

"Trigonometry, then gym." Hinata read off her binder on the table.

"Oh, awesome! We have all the same classes together." Naruto grinned.

"Yeah." Hinata smiled.

"You're really quiet, aren't you?" Naruto asked after another brief silence.

"Oh… sorry, is it bothering you?" Hinata blushed.

"No, it's not. Don't worry. It's just that I'm a loud and talkative person." Naruto laughed. "So, sorry in advance."

"For what?"

"For having to deal with me for a whole year." Naruto smiled.

Hinata laughed. "I don't mind. You're fun to be around."

"Really?" Naruto asked, blushing slightly.

"Uh… uhm…" Hinata turned red and looked away. "Yeah… you're easier to talk to than other people."

Naruto smiled and leaned back in his chair. "Awesome."

They continued chatting until the bell rang. The teacher never showed up, and Naruto was frustrated.

"I can't believe it. What kind of teacher totally ditches class?" Naruto complained.

"Don't worry. We've still got tomorrow. And if they never show up, think of this as another free class." Hinata smiled as they walked to fourth period.

Well, here's chapter three. Sorry for staying on day one for so long. Don't worry, though. The story will progress better as time goes on.

Feedback appreciated.

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