I present to you: Chapter 5~ I'm still feeling uneasy about the last 2 chapters and how they were written, so I'd greatly appreciate it if you guys review, please! I guess that my pessimistic-ness passed on to this chapter, because it's shorter than the 4 other ones... Any-who~ This chapter is where the 'age 12 arc' begins, so enjoy~

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, neither do I own any other of Masashi Kishimoto's works. I only own my characters who've been incorporated into the story!

I walk out of the well-lit, peaceful, cool fan-conditioned comfort of the bookshop. Immediately, I was hit by a blast of hot air from the street. Ah, the difference is so great. Out on the five-foot way I break into a sweat, but I continue strolling down the path.

Next to the bookshop are two sundry shops. The smell emanating from these shops tingles my nose and floods my senses. The mixture of onion, garlic, dried fish, pepper and spices make a potent combination. I hold my breath for a moment as I walk quickly past the various markets. I have always wondered how the people working inside the shops can stand the smell. Perhaps they are used to it.

The streets were bustling with crowds and crowds of citizens. It's about one o'clock in the afternoon and numerous Jounin are out for their lunch break, running down the roads in their green vests scurrying towards the small food courts further down the path. I need to cross to the other side but one look tells me that it is too hazardous to do so since lunch hour finds it insufferable to do so. People were walking in conflicting directions and did not seem to be in the mood to make way for any other pedestrians. I decide to cross via patience.

I wander over to one of the less thronged zones of the streets as I pass many other shops. They were mainly shops selling clothes, shoes and equipment.

I passed by the supermarket where throngs of people can be seen at the entrance. A beggar sits on the steps, arms outstretched, eyes leading for alms. I drop 5 coins into his unwashed palm. I can't help but feel sorry for people like him, but he reeks of cheap sake.

I was a small patch of people lingering unwearyingly by the flank of the road while others were rushing back and forth, so I waited for the chance to cross with them. Even though the area smells of strong spices and the voices of thousands of individuals is ringing though the air, not one of us flinches. A bit of a hold up is not going to prevent anyone from crossing the street.

Soon, a brief opening was crafted as individuals began to slow down to let others walk by. I cross briskly to the other side.

Once across I make a bee-line for the weaponries plant. There are too many people trying to crowd under the shade of the stand. There is no place for me so I stand under the sun; it's bright rays pounding down on me.

The fragrance of food wafts over to my current location from the food stalls nearby. My stomach growls in response. The smell came from a near-by ramen store. I've never seen it before and I wouldn't mind grabbing a bite or two... But father expects me home by 1:30... Ah well, I'll hurry and make it quick, just a short trip in and out of the store, right? Wrong.

My arms swayed, simultaneously, back and forth. Unconsciously, my legs began carrying me from point A to point B. As I neared the small store, I could make out the words 'Ichiraku Ramen' printed on the small square pieces of cloth that hung off the edge of the buildings roof.

The closer I got, the stronger the scent became, and the more my stomach seemed like a hollow empty vastness that extends to the edges of the universe that yearns to be filled.

With just a couple of more steps, I cautiously ducked under the fabric off the edge of the roof and took in my surroundings. The first thing to catch my eye was a pile of stacked-up upside-down ramen bowls. The remaining liquid, which had been in them, was slowly dripping down and onto the table below, as well as tiny pieces of noodle strips hanging out of the dishes, creating a huge mess.

And that was not all. Near the wall of the stall, you could hear the sounds of obnoxious slurping emitting from a blonde boys mouth. I scrunched up my nose at the utterly repulsive sound. Hasn't this boy been taught any matters?

"Welcome to Ichiraku Ramen! How may I help you?"

I jumped at the sudden voice, quickly turning my head towards the girl that had called out to me.

"Oh! U-Umm,"

I hastily pulled out a stool from near the counter and sat down, warily placing my weighty bag along with the books onto the floor beneath me. I turned to face the lady once again, flustered.

"One Miso Ramen, please."

The lady nodded and got to work. I let out a deep sigh, and began rummaging through my bag, checking to see if I had actually bought everything.

"Hey! I haven't seen you before!"

I directed my gaze up, just to be faced with someone's index finger pointed directly at me. Gently, I took a light hold of the hand and moved it away from my line of sight and onto the table. How rude.

The boy who pointed at me was the exact same one who had been slurping the whole time. The spiky blonde hair, the energetic blue eyes, the striking orange jumpsuit, and that scratchy voice.

Naruto.

"You do not remember me?"

Then again, I supposed you don't just remember a stranger you ran down on the streets 2 years ago.

In thought, the boy had gone cross-eyed and was staring at the ceiling. I could just hear the gears turning in his head. He lowered his eyes back down and onto me, his gaze darting from my eyes, to my hair, and finally on the blue flower amidst my locks of red. Suddenly, his eyes snapped back to meet mine.

"AH HAH! You were that girl who I ran into!"

I smiled slightly, nodding. He grinned back, chuckling nervously and rubbing the back of his head; just like he had done when we first met. Behind him I could see a Jounin watching me, the same one who had been chasing Naruto down the streets.

"Heh, yeah. Sorry about that."

"It is alright."

A bowl of ramen had been placed in front of me during our conversation, so I picked up the chopsticks, removed them from their wrapping, and with a 'crack' I tore them apart and dug into the food.

I could still feel Naruto's eyes on me as I ate. I shifted in my seat uncomfortably, as if to show him how uneasy I was feeling under his intense stare.

"I haven't ever seen you in academy. Aren't you a ninja? I mean like, you're carrying around all these dumb boring books and that equipment, so l-"

Cutting him off by placing my chopsticks on top of my bowl, I cleared my throat lightly and then turned my body towards him.

"I am homeschooled by my Father."

Naruto scrunched up his nose, a confused expression on his face.

"So, you ARE a ninja?"

This time, it wasn't me sighing, it was the Jounin behind him.

"Yes, Naruto. She is a ninja, she just doesn't go to academy."

The blond boy turned to face the Jounin, a perplexed expression still on his face.

"But WHY?"

Both of their gazes turned towards me; both focused on me.

"The academy would gladly accept you in. There's still space for plenty more children to join."

Stated the man in the green vest, thoughtfully. I paused. I had always wanted to join the academy yet never got the chance to. I contemplated over it for a second but then shook my head as soon as I thought of how mad Father would be at me if I had signed up for Academy. Without uttering another word, I leaned down to pick up my bag and books before jumping off the stool after placing money onto the booth. It was already 1:20, and I only had 10 minutes to get home.

"HEY! Wait, you never told me your name!"

I paused, then looked over my shoulder and faced Naruto.

"Kaori Nagatomi."

Without any further hesitating, I exited the store. Naruto's and the Jounin's gazes burning onto my back. The last audible thing I heard was the kind lady behind the stall shouting a 'good-bye' directed towards me.