Naruto High School

Chapter 1 ~ Ino's Tears

I pack my school books, P.E kit and bento box into my rucksack.

"Going already Hinata? It is quite early..." My mum draws the curtains in the living room. A faint glow of the sun shines through the window.

"Yeah... well... it's better than being late." I give a small smile as I slowly put my rucksack on.

"Well, ok then. Have a nice day." She kisses my forehead and hugs me. I walk out to the porch to see my bike leaning on the side of the wall with my helmet on the seat. I put my helmet on and bike to school.

* * *

I arrive at school and see few students around (I prefer it when there's not much people around because it's more peaceful.) I lock up my bike and walk towards a bench and sit down, waiting for Ino and Temari to arrive.

Looking around I see a small group of people near the basket ball court. Amongst the group I can see my cousin Neji Hyuga standing next to Rock Lee. I hear Rock Lee's voice scream, "She shoots... AND SHE SCORES!" Everyone on the court cheers for Tenten as she quickly strikes the basket ball through the hoop.

"Hahaha! Try'n beat that!" Tenten shouts and does a cartwheel to celebrate.

Neji, Tenten and Lee are 1 grade above me. They are very good at sports and they always get chosen to represent the school in sports competitions. I am not very good at most sports myself.

A couple of years ago Neji volunteered to join the school's sports team with Tenten and Lee to help win the badminton competition against another school and they did win. Ever since then Neji has been hanging around with Tenten and Lee a lot (training for other school competitions.)

I look up and see that the sky is clearer and the sun is glowing through the wispy white clouds.

"Hey Hinata! Over here!" I hear Ino's voice call me. She is walking towards me with Temari, Choji Akimichi and Shikamaru Nara.

Ino Yamanaka and Temari Tsukino are both chatty and pretty (unlike me...) I have been friends with them since the beginning of High school. Ino's mum owns a flower shop called the 'Yamanaka Flowers.' And Temari has two older brothers (Kankuro and Gaara Tsukino) who are a few grades higher.

Ino has been friends with Choji Akimichi and Shikamaru Nara since she was younger (before she knew me and Temari.) They all live near each other and Ino sometimes walks to and from school with them. Their fathers have been friends since they were younger, so I guess they wanted their children to be friends as well.

I wave, get up and walk to them whilst avoiding eye contact with Shikamaru because I always feel myself heat up and blush uncontrollably.

"Hi Hinata. How are you today?" Temari smiles at me.

"Oh, I am fine thanks... How are you two?"

"Were all good thank you!" Ino says enthusiastically.

"What time do you get here Hinata? I swear you're always at least a whole hour early!" Choji says whilst crunching on a cookie that's about the size of his fist.

"Well I... I am not sure what time..." I look at the ground feeling stupid for some reason.

"It doesn't really matter does it Choji? I guess its better than being late." Shikamaru says as he tucks his hands into his pockets. He looks at me for a second, then his eyes shift and look into the distance. I feel my face burn like fire. Why do I always have to blush uncontrollably? I keep my eyes on the ground.

Choji and Shikamaru are best friends. Choji is friendly and he eats a lot. Shikamaru is very relaxed and also quite intelligent. I kind of have a crush on Shikamaru, but I've not told Ino or Temari yet, and that's mainly because I haven't found the right time to tell them...