"Why does Facebook even give me the option to like my own status? Of course I'll like my own status. I'm hilarious. And sexy."

-Anonymous

Disclaimer: Not mine.

Warning: Fluff overload.

Beta: Kalafina94

Beta: silverseed

Edit: 1/1/2018

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

We began the academy today.

It had been a little over a year since the discovery of my specialized kekkai genkai. True to their words, I had been placed in a different training schedule when concerning chakra. While Ino and I still shared the same basic physical hand-to-hand combat schedule (we were equals in that now), Ino continued her training for the mind transfer, while I further practiced my own.

Ino was very good with her training, but she seemed to be losing her motivation for it.

Why do you ask?

Because of her dear friend, Sakura.

Sakura was a pink haired girl with (what I've been told) a wide brow (though I found it perfectly normal). Ino had been friends with her even before I came home from the hospital; but it would seem their friendship had developed immensely over this last year due to the fact they were both now old enough to 'hang out' without parental supervision.

I did not understand the need to go out of their way to show off their friendship instead of train.

Perhaps, though, my view was tainted from my quiet jealousy.

My sister and I were together all the time but now, with Sakura more active in their relationship, it would appear she was more interested in her than me. In the beginning I was fine with this—it was perfectly normal for friends or siblings to branch out.

Then Ino started losing interest in training—the only time we spent together since Sakura came along.

It frustrated me that the one time we were able to 'hang out', she was no longer interested in the subject we both used to love. It frustrated me even more so that instead of focusing on the training (me) she chose to daydream about what Sakura and her would do next.

I understood I was being petty and selfish in wanting my sister all to myself. It was completely childish and irrational of me but that did not stop me from feeling it.

However, it did stop me from voicing my opinion and actively sabotaging their relationship.

Besides, Sakura herself was a very sweet girl, though she was quiet. I would feel guilty in harming their relationship, for it seemed Sakura had very few friends.

Mayhap I would have liked to become her friend if it weren't for my silly jealousy.

Though it was impossible to tell.

When Academy enrollment came around, Papa offered me to join Ino's group.

If I were a normal child I would have been enrolled at seven—like Ino and Sakura.

I was not a normal child. I kept up with Ino and could hold my own. Some people whispered the word prodigy around me.

That was not accurate. At least, for whatever reason I thought it was not. A nagging feeling in the back of my head told me that I was not a prodigy. That I was unique in the way prodigies were, but I was not a true prodigy.

I could think of no reason behind that voice, so I dismissed it.

Returning back to the main point though, I was able to join class with my sister and that pleased me, so naturally I accepted.

Which brought me (finally) to where we stood today.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

I held Ino's hand in my own, my shyness getting the better of me. Ino tugged me along, a pretty smile on her face. I hid behind her, the hood of my hoodie pulled up high and my arms shoved into its pockets—with the exception of the hand that was being held in Ino's.

There were lots of other students at the academy and very few teachers. The parents, it would seem, had dropped off their children and moved onto the parent-teacher meeting. Papa and Momma were among them.

Ino's eyes searched the crowd for what I knew to be her best friend.

I felt a pang of jealousy, but I bit my lip and pushed it down. Ino's eyes lit up upon seeing her.

Sakura was maneuvering through the crowd, her gaze searching and uncertain until she finally locked eyes with Ino.

Ino's grip around my hand loosened and I did not bother holding on. My hand dropped to my side before I pushed it into its pocket. Ino rushed forward to Sakura, not sparing me a second glance.

My eyes trailed downwards as she became lost in the crowd. A wave of sadness mixed with mild anger came over me and I turned my back towards them abruptly. I did not like being lost in the crowd alone and I did not like being (ditched) left behind by my own sister.

So instead I moved through the crowd, eventually finding my way out and heading over to a small empty area.

Though it was not entirely empty.

A boy—about Ino's age—was sitting on a swing tied to a tree. His gaze was searching and hopeful amongst the crowd—as if he were hoping for a friend to come out and greet him. At the same time there was doubt in it, as if he didn't believe such a friend existed.

I recognized his stance, his hunched shoulders and curled hands. He was defensive and lonely. Unsure of others yet longing to let them in.

I looked back at the crowd, at where my sister and her friend were and felt a fit of defiance wash over me.

If Ino could have a friend, couldn't I?

In an irrationally bold movement I stomped forward towards the boy and locked eyes with him.

Our contact lasted perhaps a second or two before I lost my nerve and my cheeks flamed. Feeling incredibly self conscious and shy, I lowered my gaze down to my feet and shuffled. "Hi."

The boy stared at me a moment before offering a tentative smile. "Hi."

I shuffled again and kicked at some dirt. "I'm Nao."

"Naruto," the boy said with a large smile.

I looked back up, the name causing a sense of familiarity to wash over me. My hands dug further in my pocket as I nodded in acknowledgement to his response. My cheeks still felt hot. "What class are you in?"

"1-B," Naruto said.

A smile graced my lips. "Me too. So is my sister."

"Really?" Naruto asked.

I nodded my head and lowered my gaze again. "D-Do you, um, wanna walk to class 'gether?"

Naruto's face lit up, his beam so bright and his smile so sincere it forced me to wonder if it was really directed at me. The warmth from my cheeks spread across my face and I nodded my head, unsure of what else to say or do.

How long had it been since I had contact with anyone else aside from family?

"You wanna go now?" Naruto asked me, still smiling.

I nodded my head once more and held out my hand.

Naruto stared at it, confusion coming across his face.

A frown dipped my lips down. Had I done something wrong? Was it not normal to hold your friend's hand and walk around together? Ino and Sakura were insistent upon doing such things so I had merely assumed...

Was the boy perhaps offended that I had made the bold insinuation that he and I were friends?

"What do you want?" Naruto finally asked.

I stared at him, my eyes widening. "Y-You're supposed to take it. Sister always holds hands with her f-friends."

"Friends?" Naruto echoed, his eyes widening to match mine. "Are you saying we're friends?"

Uncertainty and hesitation had me pause. "Do you, um, not want to be?"

Naruto shook his head eagerly. "No! I, uh, didn't know."

I nodded my head and held out my hand closer towards him. After hesitating another minute he took it.

His hand was smooth and very warm, almost hot, to hold. I kept my other hand tucked inside it and took a tentative step towards the academy building. Naruto hesitated before following behind me. Slowly and quietly, we walked to class.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

Naruto and I sat in the far back. Ino and Sakura had come in earlier and claimed their seats next to each other. Ino had motioned for me to join them, but it was only three to a seat. I had motioned Naruto to her and she gave me a warm smile and nod.

I was pleased she did not try to hinder my new possible friendship with Naruto.

I was even more pleased when I did not feel as jealous over Ino's attention as I normally would have.

Naruto was hesitant and shy at first, as if he were afraid I would run away from him the next second. Which was ridiculous in of itself.

Though part of me was glad for his shyness as it comforted me in a sort of roundabout way knowing that others were shy as well. Ino seemed forever outgoing, as did most members of my family. I always felt sort of odd that I preferred to hide myself away from the world and they did not.

The first part of class was relatively uneventful.

At lunch Naruto and I sat by the tree we first met at, sitting under its shady area. The rest of the class had moved to have lunch behind the school, so we were alone.

I pulled out my lunch and set it out, noticing how Naruto didn't bring anything out with him.

Frowning, I looked at him. "Where's your lunch?"

Naruto shifted uncomfortably—nervously?—and said, "Don't have one."

My frowned deepened and I motioned to some of my own lunch. "You can share with me then. Momma always tries to o-overfeed me anyway."

Naruto's eyes widened and he gaped at me. "A-Are you sure?"

I nodded. "We'll have to share chopsticks though. Ar-Are you okay with that?"

Naruto nodded his head firmly and I broke the chopsticks. After taking a bite for myself I offered them to Naruto.

Naruto took the chopsticks carefully.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

After school, Ino told me she was going to 'hang out' with Sakura for a while and asked me to come along. I politely declined. Not because I had Naruto now, but because the prospect of watching my sister and her friend giggle on for hours upon hours about things I did not understand did not appeal to me in the slightest.

So instead, I bade Naruto goodbye and promised to see him tomorrow and headed home without Ino.

It would appear my academy days weren't going to be terrible in the slightest.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

Answer: Dragon. I kid, I kid. If I could, then I so would have a dragon. But on a more serious note, probably cat or fox. Fox in honor of Kurama, and cat for the sass.

Question: Worst movie you've ever seen?

Reviews are love.