Get Lost

Chapter 1

Kazue Ige sat at a desk in the Ninja Academy. The desks were wide enough for three people each. No one sat to her direct left, but Hinata sat in the next one over. 

It was still a few minutes before class started. Lots of kids were trickling in. Sakura and Ino barged in, causing a commotion about who had won, then they moved on to fighting about Sasuke.

Sonomi Kuon jumped over the back of the desk and slid into the seat next to Kazue. 

"You're not supposed to do that," Kazue whispered.

Sonomi waved her off. The two giggled. Sonomi looked over at the group of girls making a fuss over Sasuke. She rolled her eyes. "I don't see why they bother. If they all like the same boy, then there's more competition. You've got to go for someone you know will only have eyes for you. Plus, it's obvious he doesn't like any of them."

Kazue shrugged, picking at the desk with a nail. "Yeah, but you've got to admit, he looks alright."

Sonomi watched her from the corner of her eye. "You like whoever you want, Kazue."

Sonomi's clan, the Kuons, all had white hair. Most of them kept it long, even the guys, but Sonomi liked to have hers just above her shoulders. She was always tan, even in the winter. She had harsher facial features than Kazue. If she wasn't smiling, she looked angry. 

Kazue on the other hand had black hair she usually kept in a braid. She was comparatively pale with a few freckles on her shoulders and nose. 

Sonomi turned back to watching the commotion while Kazue watched the clock. "Huh," Sonomi said. "Naruto is all up in Sasuke's face again. Oooh, I bet they'll fight. You wanna bet?"

Kazue ignored her.

A moment later, Sonomi was slapping Kazue laughing like a maniac. "Kazue, Kazue, look!"

Kazue looked over to see Naruto and Sasuke kissing. She also burst out laughing. "What?" she managed.

The two broke apart a moment later and started gagging. Sonomi and Kazue couldn't stop laughing. They watched through tears as some of the girls started threatening Naruto. He tried to talk his way out of it.

"There's no way, no way," Sonomi rasped. She kept flopping her hand, trying to get enough air to breathe.

"What was that?" Kazue asked, hunched over the table from laughing.

Sonomi took several deep breaths. It didn't help much. Kazue sat up, rubbing her stomach and wiping her eyes. 

"Someone pushed them. I-" Sonomi took another breath, trying to not burst out laughing again. "I think it was an accident."

Kazue looked past Sonomi to see Naruto getting beat up. Sasuke was wiping his mouth with disgust.

"Oh," Sonomi slumped into her seat, grinning. "That was the best thing I've witnessed all week."

---

Iruka Sensei stood in front of the class, giving a lecture. He was talking about their next steps in the Academy. Or, more accurately, what would come after the Academy. He mentioned something about Genin and Jonin. Kazue wasn't really paying attention. Sonomi kept scribbling notes to her, making it more difficult.

Someone from behind tapped Kazue's shoulder. She looked up as Iruka Sensei glanced over her. She looked back and thanked the kid.

"We want each squad to have a balance of strengths and abilities," Iruka Sensei was saying, "so that's how we set them up." In a louder voice, he continued. "I will now announce the squads.

Sonomi was still scribbling. Kazue nudged her. She sighed as she also started paying attention.

Iruka Sensei went down his list, numbering the squads then listing off the three members.