Rain. It seems to solve many problems, doesn't it? Tough luck, this isn't one of those stories where rain solves anything; instead, it makes the scenery look like a mud puddle. Kiba had just gotten through with explaining the ruckus at school for what seemed like the millionth time rather than the third, and the ones he was explaining himself to were nothing compared to Iruka. No, rain doesn't solve a brawl at school or an argument at home. If you think I'm fooling, ask Kiba Inuzuka. He's my friend and you'll know what else he is to me as we progress further into the story.

Oh, my name is Naruto Uzumaki, by the way. I'm the guy who has been telling the story so far. The first section of this story is based on my perspective of how I got the game all wrong. You might not know how exactly I got it wrong, but we have a ways to go before that's figured out. Right now, I'm just going to relax and enjoy telling you a long story... ... Well, actually, this part of the story isn't that long at all.

"Kiba Inuzuka, what gave you the nerve to pull off a stunt like this on the last few weeks of school!?" Tsume shouted, demanding a reason.

"I was defending my best friend from some weak chump! It wasn't on purpose!" Kiba pleaded.

"If you're such a hero, why didn't you ask for someone else to break it up? Who exactly is the weaker chump when it comes to expulsion?" Hana calmly asked.

Kiba scrunches his nose in anger, growling at the truth. "Who calls on five older guys to beat on someone their own size?"

"Save it for later when your father comes home!" Tsume argues, feeding her dog, Kuromaru. "We'll discuss the punishment for this soon enough. Until then, go get ready for bed!"

"But mom--"

Tsume stands to her feet, glaring at Kiba. "I will say it again. Go get ready for bed!"

Kiba storms to his room in complete frustration of the entire scenario with his mother and older sister. He slams his door, locks it, and slowly slides his back against the wooden surface until he is seated on the floor. His puppy, Akamaru, slowly walks towards him and licks his slump hand to comfort him. Kiba cuddles his puppy for a few minutes before talking to him.

"Hey there, boy. Have you been eating all right?" Kiba asked, saddened.

(grr-bark) "What's wrong, Kiba?"

"Nothing..." Kiba growled, glaring at the door as if someone were there in place of it.

Kiba and Sakura used to be really good friends in school. She was the only girl he felt comfortable being around, and he seemed to be the only boy she entrusted all of her secrets to. He was the only person she told the truth about dating Kankuro to, and now he was taking heat for something he couldn't sit back on and watch! Where's the justice? That Kankuro was something else.

Sakura just thought it would be nice to start a relationship with someone responsible, but the wind must have blown her in the opposite direction. Kankuro held responsibility, obedience and intelligence, but he couldn't keep control of his life since he was going to be kissing up to his younger brother for a job--a job only the city would kill for--and he was probably being dogged around a lot. Sure, Kiba would have understood the hook-up. Sakura was a tormented, lonely orphan and Kankuro was a tormented, lonely soon-to-be servant to someone whose hormones haven't kicked in enough for the length to...lengthen. That's understandable: a girl who has freedom of choice with someone who apparently doesn't; it's kind of romantic. Too bad Kankuro just screwed the dating game up. Sakura was finally breaking up with the guy after almost a year and what does he do? He aims to punch a wall then missed that and jabbed the back of Sakura's neck? Who the hell misses a wall?

Kiba was getting angry just thinking about the events that happened, but Akamaru soon silenced that frustration and it made him realize how put-down Naruto felt and how put-down he's feeling now. Moments later, he was reminded of Naruto's song and figured Akamaru would like to know since he tells him just about everything.

"Hey, wanna know something cool, little buddy?" Kiba asks, slowly grinning.

(aurf) "Certainly!"

"I learned my friend can sing today. He sounded like a rock star, except he was playing acoustic rock."

(whine-ruff) "You can sing too, can't you?"

"No, I can't. I prefer humming...or growling since I'm half-canine," Kiba sarcastically tells himself.

(bark bark bark ruff) "I've heard you before and it sounded pretty good to me."

"I was giving you a bath at the time, pup. Water relaxes the larynx and makes sound come out more smoothly," Kiba tries to explain, using his biology lessons.

(ruff ruff bark) "Right! And you were singing to me so I wouldn't be so afraid of the water."

Kiba smiled. "I guess I did, huh? What am I gonna tell Naruto when he figures that out?"

(bark bark grr-ruff, ruff ruff) "He's gonna like it or get a nice package from me! Take that to the bank and count on it!"

"I'm a terrible owner. I taught my dog how to catch an attitude with people."

(bark bark, grr-ruff ruff bark) "You're not terrible at all. But I really think you should tell Naruto."

"That's nice advice coming from you. But how and when am I going to tell him?"

(bark bark) "You can call him tomorrow while everyone is off."

"Oh!" Kiba stood up, realizing his promise for tonight."I gotta call him today, actually. Thanks, boy!"

(bark) "Your welcome!"

Kiba pulls out his cell phone and calls Naruto.

Naruto was busying himself with Itachi's guitar again. He wanted so badly to just rest his head on that toned chest and run his fingers through that gorgeous, shiny hair, or maybe it would be best for him to just not think of him while doing guitar lessons. He tended to play his emotions out unconsciously quite often. For instance, when he has admiration for someone like Itachi he'll play Latin Jazz or Mayan lullabies, or, when he gets angry because Iruka calls him away from Itachi, he plays notes in marcato in allegro form.

Itachi had actually caught on to his student's pattern of playing when Naruto mastered "Black Magic Woman," and he realized that when he walked away for a few seconds he would change the arrangement to match his footsteps. As he watched Naruto obediently follow the music sheets he had given to him, Itachi looked through Naruto's application for Konoha Gakuen, or Gakuen Konohagakure, but was soon interrupted by an awkward techno ringtone. Naruto showed his confusion through much slower, steadier notes and when he answered the phone the voice was recognized as Kiba.

Hey, Naruto, did anyone else call in yet?

"Nah-uh. I've been holding a guitar the entire time. Well, half the time at least," Naruto answered, quickly glancing at Itachi. "But why the sudden want to call me?"

Oh, I just wanted to know why you were hiding something that big. I don't know why Shika and Cho wanted to call you.

"Well, I'm still skeptical," Naruto says, holding the phone between his shoulder and ear. "Singing isn't an everyday talent, you know. You gotta have mad skills for stuff like that."

Congrats, you've got mad skills in kicking some notes.

(bark bark) "Hey, what about you? Spill the beans, mutt!"

"Hey, Akamaru," Naruto greeted.

(bark! ruff ruff) "Hello, person on the red box that sounds a lot like Naruto! Now, tell him Kiba!"

Uh, Akamaru said 'hey.' Oh, speaking of notes. Where are you going tomorrow?

"Probably running errands for Iruka-sensei. Got grounded until after graduation," Naruto says, drooping his head as he watched Iruka grin in victory.

Better than me. I gotta wait for my dad to come home and tear me a new one.

"Oooo...feel sorry for you already..." Naruto sympathetically says, rubbing the nape of his neck. "Don't worry, Hound. Hopefully, everyone will get through this with their heads held high and a smile brighter than the sun!"

Sorry, I think you stole that light of hope through your natural charm.

"Oh, ha ha! It'd be nice for you to smile every once-in-a-while, too, but you're probably trying to hide the fact that you eat Kibbles and Bits from all of us!" Naruto argues.

Why you--!

"Shouldn't you be practicing instead of talking on the phone, Naruto?" Itachi questioned, turning a page of the application.

"Oh!" Naruto shouts, quickly grabbing the neck of the guitar and positioning it. "So what do you think you'll be doing tomorrow?"

Probably cleaning the house from the ground floor and up. What about you?

"Hopefully, this stress-relieving exercise with this guitar can be done by the bridge," Naruto says, playing a few chords. "I want to finish the song and practice some more. Hey, you're good in picking out sounds aren't you?"

I don't wanna brag or anything, but yeah. I'm that awesome.

"Dude, you gotta help me with this song," Naruto says, pleading. "I can't think of any more words!"

Is that a distant cry for help I'm hearing?

"YES!!! Now say you'll help me and I'll bust you out!" Naruto shouts.

"Bust who out?" Iruka questions, threatening Naruto with a glare and skillet.

"No one, Dad!" Naruto says, frantically shaking his head.

Sounds like Iruka's got his eye on ya? That's some expensive surveillance you got there, you know.

"Pfft! Tell me about it," Naruto says, scratching his head in annoyance. "Hey! I've been meaning to ask you. What school are you applying for next year, Hound?"

Hm... Mom wants me to go to Apprentice Academy or something, dad wants me to go to Suna High, and Hana's just silent on the whole thing. I applied to both, but I don't wanna go there at all. I'd rather work in a factory than attend those schools; the average GPA is a 3.3 in Suna High and 3.6 in Apprentice Academy! The highest I've ever made on a good day is a 3.1, my average is a friggin 2.7!

"Damn...wow..." Naruto heaves, rubbing his eyebrow. "Can I suggest a school?"

Why not? I'm probably grounded until I start school again, Kiba says running bath water.

"What time is it? You normally don't shower until 8, right?" Naruto asks, looking for a clock.

It's almost 6. I told you, I have to wait for my dad to tear me a new one. That's probably gonna come right around now if I put my foot in the tub. What's your suggestion?

"Oh, uh, how about Konoha Gakuen? You can study for vetenarian stuff!" Naruto says brightly.

Isn't that school like a thousand a year?

"Well, yeah, but they have summer programs you can do for scholarship money. I'm going for music and political science!" Naruto cheers.

Iruka spits out his cup of coffee in clear shock of Naruto's choice in careers: political figure or musician. Itachi simply looks at Naruto, both eyebrows raised and impressed by the bold choices.

Kiba nearly dropped his cell phone in the tub as he listened but luckily Akamaru caught the electronic device in his mouth.

"Kiba!"

"Coming, dad!" Kiba answers, regretfully. "Hey, Naruto, I gotta go. I'll see you around if I live."

Okay. Oh, and Kiba?

"What's the matter?" Kiba asks.

I'm real sorry, okay.

"... just keep practicin' your guitar, kid," Kiba scoffs, smirking.

He hangs up his cell phone, turns off his water and walks out of his bedroom calmly. About an hour later of receiving his mild discipline, Kiba took a long, long, long bath to relax his body from two fights: the riot at school and the riot from his dad. As if it wasn't bad enough he had to fight three guys off his back, there's his dad being an asshole and beating him up. He didn't want to have a flashback on anything that occurred today. All he wanted to do was let the bruises and cuts heal, even though his legs and arms were screaming in jolting pain. What was his punishment this time? Oh, clean the house from the basement to the attic (hence the usage of "from the ground floor and up"), make the groceries, tend to the dog yard, clean out the garage, mow the lawn, and read about repairing and cooking then demonstrate what you read. Yeah, that would be the most fun he'll have with his family for a long time...

Wednesday, May 18

6:48 a.m.

Hana awoke to the smell of eggs and meat coming from the kitchen. She looked at the time on her clock and groggily arose from bed. Once she made it to the bottom of the stairs, she hid herself behind the wall to see her little brother making coffee and skillfully snatch toast in mid-air to put on three plates.

Kiba...? How long has he been up? Did dad wake him up just to cook? Hana thought.

"I know you're there, Hana. You can eat if you want. There's juice on the table since I know you don't drink coffee," Kiba called, not caring enough to look to or at Hana.

"Don't get all cocky with me, brat! I was just wondering who was down here," Hana says, sitting at the table.

"Look who's talking. Dad was wondering the same thing before he left about an hour ago."

Hana gasps, looking at Kiba. "So you woke up early on your own to cook?"

Kiba remained silent. Hana wanted to get up and embrace him for comfort, but this was what he had to do. You don't go disobeying pops all willie-nillie. Still, waking up before dad, who goes to work at a quarter to six exclusively, is rather impressive. In actuality, Kiba got up at four-something to clean the basement. Dad came in once he was done with the ground floor.

"Well, well, well. This isn't like you," Tsume commented, scratching in her messy hair. "I'm proud of you, but since you usually hate having to do anything to the house I guess that doesn't mean shit to you."

"It's fine. Hungry, mamma?" Kiba asked, pointing to the table.

"Indeed," Tsume answered, sniffing then letting out a strong cough.

"Geez, mom, just spittin' all over the table," Hana remarks, rubbing a spot with her long sleeve.

Tsume smiled. Kiba placed two plates on the table, turned off the stove and coffee-maker then went out in the dog yard to feed the breeds. Hana was about to question Kiba for not eating until Tsume touched her arm to explain.

"That's for your daddy. He didn't leave for work yet."

"Dad's home?" Hana asked, eyes widening.

"Said he was curious to know how well Kiba can cook. I told him he was pretty good with a skillet, so he stayed to see."

"Is he done?"

"Well, speak of the alpha male. Yeah, he's done," Tsume says.

Kiba sat outside, petting the dogs and putting food in the bowls. Once finished, he started cleaning out the large dog house and shed that was about the size of an entire barn on a farm.

"That's good. He's pretty handy around the house to say he hates working on it."

"Did you ask him why he was up so early?" Hana asked, drinking some juice.

"He couldn't sleep last night, so he went on ahead and got to work. By the time I caught him, he was done with the basement. I swear that boy's like Mr. Clean. He knows how to clean a room spotless with a spit-shine finish. Anyway, he said he wanted to enroll in Konoha Gakuen and asked if he could. I told him go for it if that's what he wants. So long as he continues to go to school, I'm fine with wherever he goes."

"Konoha Gakuen, huh?" Tsume asks, drinking some coffee. "I'll go look it up later. Anything with gakuen in it is bound to be expensive."

"Actually, Itachi Uchiha goes to that school. I think he'll be a senior next year," Hana responds. "If he goes to Konoha Gakuen, he'll have his work cut out for him but I think he'll do great."

"I hope so..."