I stirred awake at the sound of my mom yelling at my dad. I groaned and sat up, checking the time.

Rude awakening, but I guess I had to get up anyway.

What are they even yelling about anyway?

I stretched and then got up off my bed to get ready and to see what the commotion is about. I walked halfway down the steps and looked over in the kitchen. Mom had her arms crossed with a blush on her face.

"You're just like your father," She gave him the death stare. "And I don't mean that in a good way either,"

"Oh come on, you know I learned from the best," Dad grinned.

Mom continued giving him "the look."

Dad laughed sheepishly. "I'm just kidding Koharu. I love you,"

I made a face when I realized what was going on. Gross. 

I went back upstairs and pretended as if I didn't hear any of that. I quickly got ready and then got my clothes on. Which was just a black spaghetti strap tank top, a grey hoodie, and then black pants. I went downstairs after finishing getting ready and saw that Mom was serving breakfast on plates in the kitchen. 

As I sat down at the table, I couldn't help but grimace at my dad, remembering what I heard earlier. 

He laughed seeing my expression. "What's up with that face, Kaori?"

"Nothing, just sleepy," I lied.

He kissed Mom's cheek and then ruffled my hair. "Okay well, I gotta go now Lord Hokage summoned me earlier. Good luck today, Kaori!"

"Be safe," Mom said to him as he left.

My younger brother and sister walked downstairs and joined the table. They were about two years younger than I was and were twins. 

"Good morning guys," Mom said as she poured herself some coffee, then sat down with us.

"So, you're going to be assigned to a team today, right?" She asks, sipping her coffee.

I nodded as I ate my breakfast. 

"Well I hope you're not on the same team as that Naruto kid," She sighed. 

I rose an eyebrow at her. "Why does it matter? He's one of my best friends,"

She gave me a questioning look. "You're still talking to him? I thought I told you not to after you two got in trouble for pranking people. I thought Kiba and Ino were your best friends anyway,"

I started to grip my chopsticks. "I can have more than two best friends, you know. You don't get to force me to stop talking to someone. Also, that prank wasn't even his fault, it was mine. I told you this,"

"He's nothing but trouble and got you in trouble with your teachers. I don't want him losing control of himself and hurting you in the process," She replied sternly.

I hated the way she thought about Naruto. She was just like every other adult in the village. She hates him and refuses to tell me why for some god-forsaken reason. 

I never listened to her. One day when we were kids, I saw him playing alone and that's when I met him. I invited him to play with Kiba and I, and we ended up becoming friends after that. Kiba never minded him but was always competitive with him. Shikamaru even joined us sometimes. 

Mom also blamed Naruto for me being a "troublemaker" because of how I pranked people. I pranked people on my own and only if they deserved it, like that grocery store manager. Mom pushing me to be "perfect" like my sister only made me want to do it even more out of spite.

"Naruto had nothing to do with that prank against Mizuki-Sensei. He deserved it," I said snarkily. "So you have no right to blame Naruto for MY actions,"

"Yeah, your actions that were influenced by him," Mom retorted. "That's my point right there. He's nothing but trouble. You need to stay away from him,"

I rose my voice at her. "Stop telling me that! Naruto is my friend and that's never changing!"

She stayed silent and sighed. 

"Kaori-"

"I don't know what your problem is with him, but you need to get over it!"

I slammed my chopsticks on the dining table, startling my brother in the process. My sister just looked down, picking awkwardly at her food. I started storming outside, ignoring Mom calling my name, and let out a groan of frustration once I was outside.

God, why the hell is she so difficult? I love her, but I can't stand the way she acts towards Naruto. I wish she was more like Dad. Mom and I argue constantly and it's not just because of Naruto, but because she's always telling me to be like my sister, Anzu.

Dad was more laid back than she was. He never cared that I was friends with Naruto and even though he disapproves of me being somewhat of a prankster, he doesn't talk to me the way she does when he lectures me about it. I've always had a better relationship with him than I do with her. 

I looked down at my thigh and realized I forgot my ninja pouch. Damn, the one day I actually need it. I should've grabbed it before I left, but I refused to go back inside after storming out of the house like that. That'll just make me look stupid. 

I sighed and waited for Kiba to meet up with me. I saw him in the distance and immediately ran over to him.

"What's wrong?" He asked, noticing my expression.

"Nothing," 

"Are you sure?" He rose an eyebrow. 

"Yeah, I'm fine," I insisted.

Akamaru jumped down from Kiba's head and barked at me for pets. 

"Don't worry, I didn't forget about you," I chuckled and squatted down to pet him.

Kiba changed the subject as I petted Akamaru. "Anyway, I heard about an angry grocery store manager yesterday. You wouldn't happen to know anything about it, would you?"

I started to smirk and he shook his head at me.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I shrugged nonchalantly. "You think little old me would have something to do with that?"

"Don't give me that," Kiba rolled his eyes. "You and Naruto are the class pranksters. What did you guys do?"

I snickered at his reaction. "Well, I can assure you that he deserved it. He saw my dad walking by while he was off duty and demanded that he helped him, telling him that it was his job to do it whether he was off duty or not. So I decided that he needed a little glitter bomb to fix his attitude,"

"No way," Kiba laughed. "That explains why he was covered in glitter. Did you guys get away with it?"

I grinned and nodded. "You bet I did,"

"I can't believe you two actually got away with that one. How did you pull that off?"

"Ino always covers for me," I replied. "Naruto and I ran to the flower shop and we hid behind the front counter. He went inside looking for us and she played innocent, telling him that she didn't see us,"

Kiba snickered. "You know I went to that store yesterday and the guy asked me where you two were. He was still trying to clean the glitter off the counter,"

We started walking to Ino's house after that, talking about how excited we were to become ninjas. Once we reached her house, he decided to part ways with me. 

"I'll see you at the academy," He smiled.

I smiled back at him. "Yeah, I hope I end up on a team with either you or Ino,"

He left once I knocked on her door. He doesn't hate Ino, but he prefers to keep his distance since he finds her annoying due to her crush on Sasuke.

Ino's mom answered the door and smiled when she saw me. "Oh, hello Kaori! Ino's in her room,"

She let me inside and I walked to Ino's room. She was sitting on her vanity chair, brushing her hair, and looked visibly annoyed.

"Are you alright?" I ask her.

"My stupid hair won't cooperate," She huffed.

"Here, I'll tie it for you," I said and she handed me the brush. 

I brushed her hair and then carefully started putting it into a ponytail, brushing the top as I bunched the hair up.

"Thank god you came when you did. I could not get it to cooperate with me today," 

I brushed the ponytail once I was done and she pulled her bangs out. 

"Ready?" I ask.

She nodded and we left her room. Her mom stopped us and insisted she gets a picture of us before we left.

"Mom, you're embarrassing me!" Ino exclaimed.

Her mom laughed. "You'll thank me for this photo later, Ino!"

We posed next to each other and her mom got the picture. Ino grabbed my hand and rushed me out of the house to avoid any more embarrassment. 

"Give me a copy!" I called as she rushed me out of the house.

Ino and I walked to the academy.

"I really hope we end up on the same team," I said to her.

"Yeah, me too," She replied. "And you know what? Me, you, and Sasuke would make the perfect team! I have this plan too to get close to him,"

She started going on about her plan about how she plans to get close to him. Then she told me I was a part of the plan too because then she'd set me up with someone to go on double dates. Her eyes sparkled as she daydreamed about it. 

I sighed at her fangirling, but let her continue. Ideally, I'd want to be on a team with her and Kiba. I'm not sure if their dynamic would work though. They're both my best friends, but they weren't close to each other as I was with them.

Thankfully, Ino changed the subject and I told her about my morning and how my mom made me mad because of the argument about Naruto.

"Honestly, I don't even understand why she's so against it. It's not like she can change you two being friends," Ino said. "And-"

She cut herself off when Sakura walked out of her house in front of us. 

"Good morning Sakura," Ino changed her tone.

"Good morning Ino," Sakura narrowed her eyes. "Kaori,"

"Oh, lord," I muttered. "Here we go..."

"Morning," I said to Sakura, trying to be civil. 

Sakura rose an eyebrow at my reaction but quickly changed her focus to Ino. I was glad the heat was off me now. 

Sakura started walking with us and she made it a point to stand on the opposite side of Ino.

"So, they actually let you graduate? What a surprise." Ino smirked smugly at her.

"Those classes are ancient history. We're both ninjas now and we're both equal," Sakura retorted and looked at her with her eyebrows lowered. "I won't lose to either of you anymore."

Lose to me? I had nothing to do with their quarrel.

Sakura then stepped further ahead of us and walked like that. Ino did the same, and I was forced to do so just to keep up with Ino. Sakura scowled at both of us and stepped further ahead, once again. 

I sighed as this went on. I knew Sakura thought I was trying to compete with her, but I was just trying to keep up with Ino. I don't even understand why we all can't be friends anymore. 

Ino and Sakura then bolted off together trying to get to the academy before each other. 

I shook my head as Ino left me behind. I should've walked with Kiba instead if Sakura was going to pull this.

I started speed walking to the academy so I could at least get there on time. 

As I walked to the academy alone, I was lost in my thoughts about who I would be teamed up with and if I would be teamed up with the one I kind of liked in the crush way.