Broken Youth

(Life of Konoha Academy Teens)

Ch. 4.1.1:U Can Do It

The last couple classes flashed by. The class that followed (for most of the students that exited out of Lady Chiyo's science class) was art. Art was taught by Jiraiya, a perverted old hermit, yet a very respectable man. Jiraiya didn't seem like the adequate person to teach art, and truly that assumption was correct. Skillfully he was more suitable for being a Literature teacher; he had manged to publish a few books in his life time (one of them a masterpiece and the rest...well, the readers can decide that on their own). In the end the only characteristic that made him an decent art teacher, was his appreciation of art in whatever form it came in. Other than that he was basically an amateur, which the students could easily surpass in skill.

Following art was the last class of the day (excluding ninja arts(that was canceled that day) which was more like training than an actual class). The last class was P.E which was taught by the eccentric over-energized Maito Gai. He made every activity from the start of his class to the end of it, an exercise challenge. For example: All the students had to dress down into their gym clothes and be in the gym within a minute (from when the last bell rang) or else they would have to do some bizarre exercise, while doing a lap around the track.

It was a good thing for the students, that Gai didn't teach that that class period alone. He was accompanied by Yamato, the student teacher, and who students called: Yamato-taichou. Yamato taught with Asuma half the day (for the wood shop part of his class) and with Gai the rest of the day. He didn't hesitate to stopped Gai before he went a bit too overboard with his exercises, and the students were very grateful for it. Yamato for the most part was a nice guy, but someone whose evil glare you wanted to avoid, because of its nightmarish affect.

The P.E class had already ended and the students were back in the locker rooms, changing back into there uniforms and recovering from the overexertion of the class activities.

Girl's Locker Room:

Konan who had P.E that period, along with the other members of Akatsuki; Stood in front of her locker dressing back up.

"So Sakura, is it true that you got kissed by Sasuke-kun?" Konan asked Sakura, with her back turned to her. She hadn't had time to ask her sooner.

"What? You know about that!" exclaimed Sakura. She stopped halfway (almost getting stuck) in her blouse as she put it on.

"So. It's true?" replied Konan, putting on her vest.

Sakura pulled down her blouse, her face was reddened with embarrassment.

"Where did you hear that?" asked Sakura.

"The gossip is spreading all over the school, I don't think this is one soul left that doesn't know about it." answered Konan. "But that's still not answering my question of if it's true or not."

"It's true, I saw it with my own eyes," said Ino, who stood besides Sakura. "I was only a few rows back, when it happened!"

"Wait, so your saying he did it during class?" asked Konan confused. She turned to face Ino.

"Yup." replied Ino, fixing her skirt.

"What are people doing kissing in the middle of class?" exclaimed Konan.

"Well, we were playing a game-" answered Ino.

"What sort of game? Spin the bottle!" replied Konan interrupting her.

"No-" Ino began before getting interrupted yet again.

"Enough Ino! You're only making matters seem worse with your explanation!" Sakura said in almost anger.

"I'm sorry Saku-chan, I was only trying to help," said Ino with a pout.

Sakura took a deep breath.

"I know, but the way your explaining it to Konan..." Sakura's voice became a whisper. "Made it sound like we were making out in the middle of class."

"So, what really happened?" asked Konan still confused.

"Well, we were all playing an interview game in Chiyo-baa-sama's class." stated Sakura. "When we were introducing ourselves, he knelt down and kissed my hand."

"So, it was only your hand?" replied Konan. As she was putting on her bow.

"Yeah?" replied Sakura. "What have you heard?"

"Let's just say... the rumors were blown a bit out of proportion." answered Konan. Fixing her hair.

"What!" cried Sakura, banging her head on the locker. "Why is this happening to me?"

"You should be happy it even happened to you," muttered Karin under her breath, who was eavesdropping from a distance.

"I still find it weird that he did something like that." said Tenten joining into the conversation.

"Tell me about it. It's so unlike him. I still can't believe it really happened." answered Sakura rubbing her forehead.

"I still can't believe I missed it," said Temari, while putting on her shoes.

"I can't believe it wasn't me," whispered Karin, leaning cross armed against the locker.

"It looks like someone's still jealous," teased Shion as she approached Karin. "I would be too, if I were in your shoes, but luckily I'm not."

Karin remained silent.

"You know, you should teach her a lesson," said Shion.

After a pause Karin answered. "Even if it kills me to say it, I can't."

"Why not?" asked Shion.

"Sakura is not to blame, she did nothing, Sasuke-kun is the one who kissed her." replied Karin "The only one I can blame is my lousy fate. Besides, that little kiss on the hand meant nothing."

"Thinking so naively, is only get Sasuke-kun stolen from you," said Shion shaking her head.

"That's not going to happen," said Karin enraged.

"Think as you like. Just don't come crying to me when it becomes reality." snickered Shion.

Before Karin could retort, the bell rang. Everyone began exiting the locker room and heading to the auditorium. Karin followed the crowd (behind Shion), with a frown on her face and her arms still crossed.

Sometime Earlier in the Boys Locker Room:

"I still can't believe you did that, Teme," said Naruto to Sasuke. As his head popped out of shirt, which he had left buttoned.

Sasuke ignored him and continued putting on his shirt.

"Hey, don't ignore me!" yelled Naruto.

"I don't understand why you're making such a big deal over something so trivial," replied Sasuke.

"I am, because it is a big deal! What you don't realize is how many guys wish, no dream, to be in your shoes right now."

Sasuke did not reply.

"You kissed Sakura Haruno," Naruto said. "Sakura Haruno!" he emphasized. "And you didn't even get punched!"

"It was just a little touch on the hand, again it's no big deal," replied Sasuke.

A row of lockers back:

"Did you hear that? Sounds like the rumors that been going around are true," said Deidara as he nudged Sasori with his elbow. "Which means I was right about you having some competition after all."

Sasori did not respond.

"And what makes matters worse, is that you competitor (Itachi's little brother, like a predicted) is a bit conceited. Even I wouldn't take it for granted, if I manged to get my lips on that babe." continued Deidara.

"As I said before, I'm not worried," said Sasori in a calm and collected manner, as he put on his jacket. "The 'competition' doesn't intimidate me."

'That Uchiha Jerk! How dare he be so full of himself, when it concerns Sakura!' Sasori really thought, silently grinding his teeth.

"So, why did you do it?" asked Naruto. "And don't tell me it's none of my business."

"No reason, Itachi-nii does it all the time." Sasuke said putting on his black overcoat. "It shouldn't be any different if I do it."

"But it is!" expressed Naruto. "Because that action is so unlike you!"

"Yeah, whatever," said Sasuke walking away from Naruto.

"Hey, don't walk away from me!" said Naruto about to go after him. "I'm not done with-"

"You!" said a voice behind Naruto, which kept him from advancing forward.

Naruto turned around and saw Kiba."First you steal my seat at lunch and then you steal my dog's food-"

"Hey, I've already told you, that spot's not yours! It has my name on it!" said Naruto. "What do you mean? I didn't take your dog's food!"

"Don't lie! Hinata-chan, being the sweet girl that she is, apologized to me. She told me that she had saved some scraps, for Akamaru, but had to give them to someone who didn't eat lunch." replied Kiba.

'...Oh, wait this about the sack of food Hinata-chan gave me? Now it makes sense why she called it scraps,' thought Naruto.

"How do you even know it was me?" said Naruto.

"I know, because you didn't have lunch. Plus Hinata-chan would definitely have given you the food," answered Kiba.

"That's not even good enough evidence," said Naruto. "... yet in my defense, I would I want to say it was delicious."

"So, you admit eating it!?" said Kiba, getting up in Naruto's face.

"So, what if I did!?" replied Naruto, doing the same to Kiba.

("So you think you can always do and have whatever you want, huh?" replied Kiba, but was muted by the ringing bell).

"Oh, I couldn't hear that dog-breath." Naruto moved away from Kiba, with his hand cupping his ear. "That's too bad," he said sarcastically. "but I guess it's time to go. We wouldn't have time to finish this stupid argument. What a shame." shrugged Naruto as he walked toward the exit.

"I'll get back at you someday, Naruto, for always taking what is rightfully mine. Just you wait."

Naruto turned back his head."What ever you say, Poochy-boy."

Kiba growled in anger. He slammed a locker with his fist, making them all rattle. After letting out his bottled up steam, he followed Naruto and the other boys to the auditorium.

In the Auditorium:

The Konoha Academy auditorium was an enormous facility, it was about the size of one, in an average opera house. It had three levels, one on every floor of the main edifice (the high school building). Each level was full of dozens of rows of seats, and each level was designated to a different school rank (elementary, middle and high school). The top level, was where the high school kids usually sat, during all school assemblies; but on days when a guest speakers came, they sat on the bottom level.

They sat on the bottom level because they were the only ones in the auditorium. The reason why they were alone, was because the different school ranks were isolated on these occasions. They were separated for two reasons;1) so the guest speaker wouldn't get overwhelmed by thousands of kids, and 2) to make the presentation a bit more of a personal experience with the students.

The students that had just left the locker rooms, ended up sitting towards the middle section, of that bottom level. It was a good thing for the members of the Akatsuki, because it was the perfect location for them to be seated; they could easily keep an eye on all the students, because they had 360° vision on them from the inside.

The locker room boys sat in the rows in front of the girls, because they got there first.

"I hope the guest speaker isn't an old geezer," yawned Deidara. "Because that would just bore me to death."

Deidara sat in the last row of boys, that arrived from the locker room. He sat towards the middle of the row and was seated between Sasori (to his right) and Naruto (to his left).

"I just hope the presentation starts on time," replied Sasori, sitting with his arms crossed.

"Of course, you're the only one that would wish that," stated Deidara. "I only wish it ends soon, I have things to do, and babes to see."

Sasori rolled his eyes and shook his head.

Naruto bounced eagerly in his seat, waiting for the assembly to start.

"Why are you so excited?" asked Sasuke, who sat on the other side of Naruto.

"I can't tell you, or else it'll ruin the surprise," answered Naruto.

"Whatever,"said Sasuke, turning his attention to Neji, who sat to his left.

"Hey, did you notice that your rival is sitting only a few seats away?" whispered Deidara in Sasori's ear. He had right hand cupped over his mouth. "And that your beloved cherry blossom, is seated right behind us? Well, technically behind me."

"Grrr! Can't you just shut up and drop it already!" exclaimed Sasori, stomping on Deidara's toe.

"Ow! Sheesh you don't need get so upset," said Deidara, grabbing his stomped toe. Sasori glared at him for his remark.

In the meantime in the row of seats behind them:

"I really hope the guest speaker is a girl this time," said Tenten. She ended up in a seat between Temari and Hinata.

"Me too," answered both Temari and Sakura simultaneously. Sakura sat on the other side of Hinata.

"If it's not a girl," said Ino. "I at least wish it's a cute guy." Ino replied. Who sat by Sakura.

"I thought you were over your boy-crazy phase," said Sakura.

"Oh, I am," reassured Ino, with a nod. "I just think it would make the presentation more bearable."

Sakura shook her head in shame.

Backstage:

A tall blond man with spiky hair, peeked through the curtains to his loud young audience. He wore a white overcoat with a red flame design and letters running down its back.

"This is the third time I'm presenting today, and I still don't feel an less nervous than the first," said the man, looking away from the curtain, and turning around.

"Don't worry honey, you'll do fine," said a long red haired woman. She gently touched the blond man on the cheek with her right hand. "You're probably just anxious because this time, you have to present in front of our son and his friends."

"Yeah," the man said with a sigh. "...I'm afraid, I'll be an embarrassment to him."

"Don't say that, dear." she replied, as she tenderly gazed into his eyes. "Our son admires you very much. There is no way he'll ever be embarrassed of you."

The man smiled. "I guess you're right." He placed his left hand, on the hand the woman had on his cheek. "Thank you for the pep talk, dumpling."

"My pleasure, my love." she smiled and kissed him. "Just remember, if you ever get stuck during the presentation, quickly come get me and I'll gladly assist you," she said taking a step back.

"Sure thing, love," he said with a grin.

Microphone feedback sounded on stage and echoed throughout the auditorium. It made everyone cover there ears.

The feedback soon went away and was replaced by the loud voice of Tsunade that boomed through the microphone. "Settle down, ladies and gentlemen," she said in the middle of the stage. "It's time to start the presentation. Today's guest speaker is an extra special person in this village."

"I guess that's your queue," said the redheaded woman backstage.

"Let me introduce you to-" began Tsunade.

"I guess it is, wish me luck," said the blonde man with a wink, as he vanished from backstage with a yellow flash.

To be continued...