"Clan head! I'm a clan head now!"

Nodding absentmindedly, I continued reading about the village's founding, a glass of water in my hand.

"Are ya even listening to me! This is going to take up all of my free time!"

Not taking my eyes off the page, I took a sip from my cup, "Didn't you want something to occupy your time a few days ago?"

"Well yeah, but I was hoping it'd be more fun!"

I bookmarked my page, looking up to her frazzled appearance, brow raised, "You're an adult."

She huffed, "So? I want to have fun too!"

Shaking my head, I stood up, "Great, if you don't mind I'm going to go practice outside."

She crossed her arms, cheeks puffed up.

Sure, adult my ass.

I wondered out into the street, I thought about what to do.

Probably should've thought of something to do before I left. I already practiced today.

I walked aimlessly through out Konoha, no rhyme or reason to my ambling. A smaller version of Might Duy walked pat me on his hands, yelling about youth. Like father like son I suppose.

Nothing to do once again huh Ton'neru?

I looked up as I walked.

Finished those books, studied every page extensively, practiced my taijutsu after the academy.

Looking down, I realized my hands were clenched. I sighed.

Boredom. A vile thing indeed.

Out of the corner of my eye I spotted Hayate and Anko eating peacefully at a food stand, Hayate's sword at his side.

I did say I was going to practice before I left…

I stalked closer to them.

Am I really going to do this? So soon after that last debacle?

Analyzing him from the side, I saw Hayate smiling.

Might as well.

I prepared a genjutsu once more, slipping it into his chakra paths like a virus. A fun one though, A, really, fun one.

It's odd seeing someone react to something that no one else can see, but so far, I've enjoyed doing it.

He froze.

"Anko."

She looked up from her dango, "Yes Hayate?"

"There's a spider in your hair."

Anko paled. Silence overtaking the table.

"GET IT OFF-GET IT OFF-GET IT OFF!"

She jumped out of her seat, swiping her hair for the imaginary spider. It seems to be going as planned because Hayate's freaking out now too.

"WHY'D YOU THROW IT AT ME! IT'S HUGE!"

I snickered behind my gauze.

Didn't think they'd both be arachnophobic. Small world.

"Release!"

I ambled up to them, "Hey guys."

Hayate panted for a second before turning to me, glaring, "Ton…"

Anko had a much different response, sweating a little bit, "Oh," She sank back into her seat, "Hey Ton."

She's still weary of me huh? Can't really blame her.

Hayate put a hand to his chest, "Could you stop using me as a test subject for your genjutsu?"

I put a hand up to my chin in thought, "Maybe."

He sighed, hanging his head.

"Anyway, "I sauntered up to the table, sitting next to Hayate, "How has your guy's days been?"

Hayate brought his head up, "It was going pretty good 'til you tried to kill me."

I turned to him, an inquisitive look on my face, "Really?"

He frowned, "Death by heart attack is more common than you think."

I shrugged, "How about you Anko?"

She seemed startled, "Uh, pretty good I guess."

I leaned back to give her some room. Anko looked surprised but grateful.

"Do either of you have any plans for today?"

They both shrugged.

Although I didn't show it, I was screaming on the inside.

"Well, if you guys want to do something, I'll be at the library."

The two of them nodded and resumed their meal.

The familiar smell of old paper calmed me as I entered the library, the same man their as he always is.

"Hello sir, I was wondering-."

"What I would suggest?"

He turned to me, a small grin on his face, "Sorry for interrupting, but you always ask the same thing when you come here."

I smiled, "I guess I'm pretty predictable huh?"

He chuckled, "Yes, well I suppose botany might interest you?"

I stared up at the man, confused, "Why?"

"Well," He pulled out multiple sheets of paper, "You've already read about genjutsu, taijutsu, ninjutsu, the history of Konoha, the base history we have for the other villages, the kage, the-."

"You can stop, please," I looked up to the man, a strained smile on my face, "I understand."

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH-

"I'll be going then. Have a nice day sir."

-HHHHHHHHHHHHGGGGG!

I started out the door.

"What am I going to do for the rest of the day?"

I was mumbling to myself, like a healthy person, wondering where I'd go to distract myself.

Why is the amount of stuff I can read about limited? I mean, I can understand dangerous things, but there's no way everything in the restricted section is dangerous.

Sighing, I propped my head up on my hand.

Should I sneak in?

The thought forced its way to the forefront of my mind.

No, of course not, it's more than likely heavily guarded, and the consequences would probably be regretful at best.

Closing my eyes, I considered what I could do remedy the plague that is boredom.

Where would I go to study?

My eyes shot open.

Kami I'm an Idiot. The academy!

I jogged into the academy, headed towards my classroom.

Sliding the door open, Meinu turned to the door surprised, "Ton'neru? What are you doing here?"

I hardened my face, "I would like to learn more about the ninja arts."

Her face went blank for a few seconds, "Well I don't think I can help you with that."

I blanched, "W-why not?"

She sighed, "Because that would be me showing favoritism to a student."

I stepped forward, "We're ninja, doesn't that nullify the need for babying?"

Now she looked confused, "What do you mean by that?"

"Based on the amount of paperwork on your desk, you don't have any apprentices or students after class, right?"

Her eyes narrowed, but she nodded.

I'm right?! I mean, of course I'm right, nothing to do with the fact that the class thanks she's a sadist.

"Then you have time, and no one's taken the initiative anyway, so doesn't it only make sense to teach me?"

She crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair, "And what do I get from this?"

"You get," I looked around, trying to think of a reward, my eyes finding nothing useful, "Experience in apprenticing, teaching past general studies, you're a chunin instructor so you might be able to advance to tokubetsu jonin in training ninja."

We stare at one another, tension filling the already relatively choked room.

Her eyes stayed narrow, "You're very well read for an eight-year-old. I accept."

I nodded.

WHAT THE HELL!? THAT WOR- you know what, never mind, just go with it Ton'neru.

"When do we start?"

She turned to the papers on her desk, "After this week ends, we'll start after class each weekday. We'll start with taijutsu and we'll progress from there. Understood?"

I nodded once more.

"Dismissed."

As I walked out of the room, I couldn't help but smile.

I don't know what she can teach me, but at least my boredom will be abated for a while. After just a week.

My smirk disappeared.

Once again, I found myself at home, in my room, contemplating my existence.

Boredom. Still infesting every crevice of my mind.

I shifted in bed, looking out the window.

Boredom. Still keeping me awake at night.

Sitting up in bed, I pulled myself out of bed, shuffling to the window, still covered in gauze, only my pants over it.

Boredom. Still bringing me to the damn brink.

I unlatched the window, sliding it up and welcoming the moonlight directly into my room.

Boredom.

The only thing left in my room was the moonlight, and a soft breeze from outside.

I found myself floating up through an ajar window in the back of the library, no hesitation. Anything to distract myself.

No one was patrolling the inside of the library, hell, no one was in this section of the library. Dropping down to the floor, I surveyed the shelves surrounding me.

What am I looking for?

I had no clue.

Let's start with a more advanced guide on nature release.

I nodded to my own thoughts, stalking through the aisles. This section wasn't ordered alphabetically, it wasn't even organized really, outside of being on the shelves, everything was random.

Where am I going to find something like that…

I reached the end if the aisle, and I snuck around the side into the next one. A book was sticking out precariously over a stack of books and scrolls. I reached up to grab it, but the pile lurched suddenly, the scrolls and books sliding into me in such a way that if I moved back or reached up to grab the book, the stack would fall all over me.

Shit.

I pushed them back into place, snatching the book on top out of curiosity.

Really? Wind release?

I sighed, placing it back on top.

This is going to take a while.

~30 Minutes later~

FINALLY! A book on earth release, kami.

Elated, I shifted the books on the shelf around to hide the slot it was in. Now all I need is chakra paper, but where am I going to find it before I graduate?

Is there a guard?

I haven't seen a guard during the day, but maybe there's one at night. I crouch ran over to the main door. Luckily, it was unlockable from this side, creeping the door open, I saw a chubby chunin sitting just to the left of the door.

Can't believe my luck today.

Transforming into smoke to avoid making any noise, I floated to the teenager, shuffling through his pockets.

Let's see, some money, I'll take that, some…soldier pills maybe? We'll take that too, aaaaand, chakra paper! Finally, a break!

I floated away, rising to the window, my prizes in hand. Or smoke, whatever.

As I awoke, my eyes were greeted by an angry Jak-Jak looking down at me, "Did ya stay up late again, Ton'neru?"

Deciding it would be better for my everything if I played along, "Sorry Jak-Jak, I got a new book at the library and I guess I lost track of time," I tried to look as pitiful as possible without overselling.

She sighed, "It's fine Ton'neru, it's just unhealthy to stay up so late," I heard her footsteps receding back to the entrance to my room, "I want to see you out of bed in ten minutes alright?"

"Of course, Jak-Jak."

She closed the door behind her. I immediately floated out of bed to the book across the room

Alright, time for the grand reveal.

I floated back over to the side of the bed, putting the earth release book on my bed stand. I finished it last night at the cost of my sleep. Worth it.

Lifting my mattress up, I grabbed the few slips of chakra paper I'd gotten.

All of my work and study relies on what I get. One in five.

I pulled one away from the rest, a nice square. Sighing I stared at the slip of paper.

If I don't get earth release, it's not the end of the world, but if I get lighting release…

Starting to sweat, I gulped.

I'm not an original inhabitant of Konoha so my chances of having fire release shouldn't be drastically higher than the others…I'm stalling.

Sighing, I steeled my resolve, channeling chakra into the paper.

It transformed into dirt in my hand.

Oh thank kami.

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, a massive pressure seemed to have left me. Now, now I had a chance to live past twenty. I transformed unwillingly, perfect timing. It wouldn't matter soon anyway.

Floating out into the living room, I whistled happily.

Jak-Jak turned from the paperwork in front of her to me, "What's got ya so happy Ton'neru? Ya seemed downright apathetic when I was in there a few minutes ago."

Pausing my whistling I turned to her, "Just enjoying living."

She gave me a cautious look, "Mmhmm, why're ya transformed now?"

I chuckled, "Calm down Jak-Jak, it's just one of 'those' ones."

She turned back to the paperwork, rolling her eyes, "Anyway, the reason I wanted you up was to let you know we're moving out of this dump. In about a week."

"What? Why?"

Jak-Jak grinned, "The higher ups decided that since we're a new clan to Konoha, we, and I quote, are to have sufficient housing until they grow further, as they are a possible asset now, and in the future."

"So, am I still going to the academy?"

She nodded.

"Alright, I'm fine with it," I grabbed one of my jackets off of our crappy sofas, "I'll be going now, going to the academy and all."

"Sure, just don't get lost."

Of course we're still on that.

As I've done countless times before, I sauntered out into the streets of Konoha, after I transformed back of course. A smile on my face, and rings under my eyes, although that's a given at this point.

Oh look! There's Might Duy and his Kid!...and Meinu... doing handstand races…they deserve eachother.

Strolling into the academy, I found my seat, and leaned back.

It seems I'm the first person here, granted, Meinu was…exercising?

I stared at the ceiling.

Might as well get a nap in, cause that went so well last time.

"Ton, wake up."

I raised my head up, still in a haze, "Anko?"

"Yeah, it's me."

Craning my neck around I noticed no one else was here, "Why're you so early Anko?"

She shrugged, "Nothing better to do I guess."

"Mmm."

The atmosphere grew more tense as we both stared forward.

Now or never I suppose.

"Look, Anko," She turned to meet my gaze, "That incident, just, these wrappings are actually pretty important to my survival, and after years having them, it's just, scary not having them."

She continued staring as I explained.

"I just wanted to let you know so you didn't think I was some sort of demon."

She kept staring.

Guess I should've waited a bit longer.

I turned to look forward again.

"You're pretty scary when you want to be Ton."

Really? Right after I explain myself?

Getting ready to defend myself, she started again, "But you're also a pretty cool guy."

I didn't respond for a few seconds, shocked, before I turned away again, "Thanks," I remembered the talk with Jak-Jak, "Oh, and also, I'm moving in about a week."

Anko's eyes widened, "Well that's sudden, why?"

I shrugged, "Clan stuff."

Her brow rose, "You're in a clan?"

I rubbed the back of my neck, "Yeah, my aunt just didn't want to become a clan to avoid politics, so she asked me to keep it a secret."

She stared at me.

"What? Is there something on my face? Besides the gauze I mean."