Another update! So I guess my updates will be sporadic and close together? Quite honestly, I think I'm just scared of taking too long with the next chapter for fear of not going back to it. That seems to be the case whenever I start a story.
Anyways, I sincerely hope you guys like the sporadic and quick updates. (:
Thing is, I'm not too happy with this chapter. It's more of a filler chapter than anything else. I just needed to get Kagome into the academy and introduce the other main characters as well as establish that first connection between them all.
Hopefully you don't hate it too much. I'm working on the next chapter as you read this anyways! :D
Lazy, calculating eyes took in his surroundings within the rowdy classroom as all the shinobi-in-training awaited their sensei who was uncharacteristically late.
"Man, what a drag," Shikamaru said, more to himself than anyone else though Choji had turned to him in confusion.
"Hmm? What do you mean?" Choji questioned before popping yet another chip into his mouth and munching happily on it.
"Iruka-sensei is late," Shikamaru said simply as he leaned back on his chair, his arms cradling his head as he closed his eyes in hopes of blocking out the loud noise.
"So what?" Choji asked, not seeing what was troubling Shikamaru so much.
"He's never late, Choji."
Just as he said this, the door at the bottom of the room slid open and in walked in their missing sensei. Of course, no one took notice of this besides himself - and maybe the Uchiha as well. Shikamaru chanced a look to the prodigy himself and took note that his eyes were indeed on their sensei.
Turning back to the front, he was surprised to see a young girl their age follow closely behind and into the room.
He took in her features and while she seemed plain enough - compared to some of the other females (pink hair, really?) - it was her eyes that drew him in. While somewhat dull in color, it was what shone so brightly that caused him to lose his train of thought.
They shone bright with unveiled innocence.
It was then that Shikamaru realized that this girl - this mysterious newcomer - had a whole mystery hidden behind her eyes. One that he wouldn't mind figuring out.
Hopefully she isn't like the rest of the female population.
"How troublesome," Shikamaru sighed out as he resumed his relaxed position never noticing a pair of stormy eyes flashing to him in slight irritation and annoyance.
'No way! It's her. That- that girl from the market!' Naruto thought in shock as he took her in. He had never thought he would see her again thinking it was a one time occurrence. It was only natural seeing as most of the children his age were in the Academy and he has never seen her before. 'I would remember if I had.'
"Hey, Iruka-sensei!" Naruto yelled out catching the attention of his favored teacher as well as the girl next to him. "You're late! What gives?"
"Ah, sorry Naruto," Iruka answered with a sheepish laugh. "I had other matters to attend to. Anyways," Iruka turned to address the rest of the class only to realize that they still have not settled down.
Groaning in annoyance, his body tensed up as his head faced the ground. He honestly did not want to deal with them acting up today. Looking up, he growled quite impressively for a human. "Everyone, sit down and be quiet!"
Kagome blinked at the immediate reaction and could not keep the smile off her face at what had transpired just now. "Wow! Iruka-sensei that was impressive!" Kagome exclaimed, not at all embarrassed of her outburst despite having all the attention on her being.
"Ano, Iruka-sensei," A voice called out to their teacher and Kagome turned to notice it was a pink haired kunoichi with a slightly larger than normal forehead but pretty emerald green eyes. "Who is she?"
"Well, now that I've managed to gain your attention finally," Iruka stated sarcastically before clearing his throat, "this is Kagome Higurashi. She is a very late transfer but the Hokage believes her to be more than capable of joining the academy late."
Almost immediately, whispers flew around the room though Kagome barely noticed as her eyes were locked onto a figure. At first glance, it seemed as though she was looking at the Uchiha but really, her eyes were locked onto a lone student with bright blue eyes.
Kagome moved on her own towards the boy, her eyes fixed in a somewhat trance. "You," She whispered.
Sasuke was many things - a prodigy, top of his class, an Uchiha - but patient wasn't one of them. So, when his sensei decided to be late on their first day back to the academy, he was a little more than ticked.
It didn't help that their time was being wasted on introducing a female transfer. 'Where is she even transferring from?'
He was all for ignoring her when the room quieted down and all eyes fell onto the girl's transfixed form. Her whispered word made him think she was talking to him as her eyes seemed trained in his direction and he had to hope to any sort of God out there that she wasn't another one of his annoying fangirls.
However, as she started to move, ignoring all the stares and whispers, he watched as she moved past him completely only to stop at the table just behind him which was occupied by -
"You're the boy I ran into a week ago!" The girl exclaimed, the sentence loud enough to break his train of thought.
'Great,' He thought in more irritation, 'another Naruto.'
Naruto had tuned out everything around him as he turned his head to watch outside as he contemplated leaving the classroom to just run around outside. Of course because of this, he never saw the girl coming towards him until he heard her.
Turning in shock, he saw that she was much closer than he thought and reflexively jumped out of his chair. "W-what are you doing?" He questioned her.
He watched as she leaned a tad bit closer before pulling back with a laugh. She laughed so joyously and he realized that possibly, for the first time, someone wasn't laughing at him.
"I'm Kagome Higurashi," She introduced herself to him with a smile, her eyes lighting up, "Sorry for bumping into you like that. I was kind of excited and in a rush."
"Uhh," Naruto had no idea how to respond to that as his mouth opened and closed, his eyes wide with shock. "I'm N-naruto. Naruto Uzumaki - future Hokage! Believe it!"
Kagome reeled back in surprise at the sudden change in his demeanor before grinning wildly back at him.
Oh, she liked him! He was interesting!
A throat was cleared snapping the two back to reality. "Well, if you two are done with your self-imposed introduction. I would like to ask Kagome-san to please take a seat."
Kagome blushed heavily at being caught in her own world before she took a quick look around. There were a couple of seats open that she could take but turning around, she noticed that while the other tables had two or three students to it, Naruto's only had him.
Without saying a word, Kagome pulled the chair next to the blond shinobi and sat down with a plop. She didn't look at him, just kept her head and focu straight ahead at their sensei as he started the first day with what the year was going to consist of.
Naturally, she never noticed the three pairs of eyes watching her with a range of mixed emotions.
Kagome yawned as she laid back on the grassy hill that overlooked the academy. It was now lunch time on her first day here and already Kagome was bored. She thought it was going to be slightly more entertaining - all the shinobi students always made it seem so! Instead, everything Iruka-sensei taught them, Kagome found herself knowing already. It was like a dam of information just flooded through the second the actual lesson started.
Kagome sat up abruptly with a frown on her face, her brows furrowed in and her eyes dimming even more than what they already naturally were.
'Is this one of my missing memories? This… information? Just who was I?'
"E-excuse m-me?" A small voice broke through the silent atmosphere that had settled around the troubled kunoichi.
Kagome looked up at the stuttered question only to find herself face to face with the Hyuuga heir, Hinata. "Ah, Hinata-san! What can I do for you?"
"A-ah, I j-just wanted to - to know if I could…" Hinata had stuttered out the beginning sentence only to trail off with a sigh.
Kagome could not help but think of how dejected and sad the Hyuuga heir looked. She took pity on her fellow kunoichi and smiled. "Ano, Hinata-san, you can join me if you want?" Kagome asked warily before patting the patch of grass next to her.
Hinata's eyes snapped up in shock before a smile etched itself onto her face, no matter how shy it was. 'A smile is a smile no matter what!' Kagome thought as she watched the girl take a seat.
It was a quiet affair but not uncomfortable. Something about Hinata calmed her down and allowed her thoughts to rest.
Leaning back to lay down, Kagome looked at the cloudless sky and smiled. 'Never mind, I could get used to this.' Kagome grinned before closing her eyes shut.