Different

Academy

There were excited murmur as students and their guardians began to filter by the Academy entrance, all but three. They had arrived at the academy an hour earlier than the others though no one talked apart from a certain pink haired girl who had tried to gain a certain raven-haired boy's attention. While she was doing this, Naruto was also trying to gain her attention while glaring daggers at the Uchiha.

Realising the dangers of fangirls, Sasuke ran, Sakura hot on his tail. Naruto was left alone as he sat on the swing, keeping his distance away from the others. It was his third time in the academy, he was a year older than the others but it was ok. His Sensei said that age didn't matter when you're a ninja.

The bell rang, being the last one inside, he found that Sasuke had already taken a seat near the window, whilst Saukra sat behind him talking animatedly to a girl with platinum blonde hair, that was tied to a single ponytail. As he entered class, and noting that there were no teachers yet, Naruto couldn't help himself, he wanted to start making a name for himself so he... began to draw.

Onto the blackboard.

And by the time the teacher has arrived, a picture of a boy with whiskers standing victoriously next to a pile of, what was suppose-to-be, the rest of his new class. He was scolded by his teacher, laughed at by the students but by the end of the day, they knew who he was.

***

Three academy students relaxed in a wooden house/cabin on top of a tree just outside of Konoha's gates. "That was so stupid, you deserve an award", cried Sasuke as the trio mused over the day's happening, ie: Naruto's antics. "Yeah! The best-in-class award." Cried a delighted Naruto, who was currently lounging on the sofa, that they somehow manage to carry to their selfmade tree house, two years ago. He was looking at the other occupants of the house, Sasuke who stood leaning on the counter with a glass of clear liquid in his hand, while his other hand covered the top as to hide its contents to the curious Sakura, who was sitting on said counter. "More like class-clown-of-the-year award", Sakura retorted, her head now very close to Sasuke's head as he tried to drink from the cup, "Technically, it's half a year, since the exam's in 6 months" cried Naruto whose excitement begin to waver as they began to mock his fame during class. "Shut it, I'm suppose to be the smart one"

"What does being smart have to do with you fangirling again?" Mocked Sasuke who, no longer able to stand Sakura breathing down his neck, and in his irritance, decided to move away and was now leaned on the window.

"I needed to tone it down, remember?! We can't have the prodigy to be outsmarted you know?" She smirked,

"Like you can"

"Puh-lease, Sasuke. Think you can beat me?"

"Wanna try and see?" Sasuke and Sakura changed into their fighting stances and were about to attack each other when, "Guys!" Cried Naruto, who was staring behind Sasuke as the sun began to set, "Sasuke, you're suppose to not care as you think everyone is beneath you, so from now on, ignore everything that Sakura says unless you-know-what." He turned to Sakura, who had her tongue stuck out at Sauke. "Sakura, fangirl? ringing any bells? And aren't you suppose to be getting home? Don't you have a curfew?" Sasuke snickered at the thought of the pink-haired blob being his fangirl. "We have to be careful." Faces became serious as Naruto's tone change. "If higher-ups start looking and see the 3 of us together. We're all in trouble." Sakura's eyes widen as she saw the setting sun, she ran at full speed towards her old home, hoping to get there before her guardian does. At the same time, Sasuke made his way towards the same the direction as the pink-haired blob that just left, though he walked, slower. A lot slower. Naruto stood and watched his friends head towards their houses, a few minutes later, he made his way towards Ichiraku Ramen Shop.

***

Sakura reached her bedroom door just as the front door opened, revealing a non too happy Ibiki Morino, walking into her bedroom before Ibiki saw her, her thoughts were quickly taken over as she mulled over possible reasons why Ibiki looked ,irritated would be an understatement so pissed?, yeah that was it, oh no. Am I late? No, it's still 4:49, did somebody see us? Not me, I made sure no one noticed I left, Naruto wouldn't have been followed right? Neither would Sasuke. The tree house was in the middle of the forest, as far away from any known paths as possible. So, oh God. Just as Ibiki knocked on her door, opening the door, she quickly inhaled, "I am so sorry, I was talking to Ino and I forgot all about lunch, and when I remember the bell had already gone and as you know, due to protocol, I can't really skip the first day of class or any of my classes for that matter, specially when it's so close to graduation", explained a now panting Sakura, Ibiki narrowed his eyes,"yes, I waited an hour and a half on my own, looking like my date hadn't shown up. It also didn't help the fact that, I swear half the shinobi in the village was in that God Damn barbecue restaurant, even Anko showed up, and that stupid snake woman hardly eats anything other than Dango" fuming at the memory and somehow still able to narrow his eyes even more at the girl.

"I said I was sorry!"

"Sorry's not enough. Your cooking for the next two weeks. And I'm adding more weights on you"

"What! I already have 400 kg on me. I clean, I train, I go to school. More weights will kill me!"

***

The leaf that he hid behind the door as he closed it in the morning had a crease in the middle. Someone had opened his door, he doubted that it was his landlord, if it was why would he put it back? It must have been another ANBU. Every now and then they would check on him, probably making sure Itachi wasn't hiding here. He dropped his bag on the sofa before turning on the lights, as the door closed behind him and his bag dropped onto the sofa, he felt a presence just outside his window. His body visible stiffened but he quickly surpressed it, making sure he did things normally, trying not to alert them that he knew of their presence.

After the quick dinner he prepared, Sasuke lied on his bed, his muscle, as much as he tried to surpress them, were still slightly tensed and his senses were sharper than usual, as he closed his eyes, his hand instantly drifting underneath his pillow, where he hid a set of kunai and senbons, feeling that they were still there, he held a kunai in his hand. He began to think of reason why anyone would be watching him, or at least be just beyond his window, can't be the ANBU, can it? No. Those guys tended to have close to zero presence. Unless of course they did it on purpose, but then again, who would do that?

He waited for the attack, but the it never came; a few minutes after feigning sleep Sasuke felt the presence disappear. Sasuke shoved it to the side of his mind, he needed, no, he wanted his sleep, no sleep add Sakura's irritating voice easily equals headache. Naruto or maybe Sakura, doubt it, might have some ideas on who it could be.

***

"Yo! Ayame-chan, Teuchi-jisan!"
"Hey Naruto. the usual?" Ayame asked, "yes please."
"how's school. we heard from Iruka that you're taking the graduation test again." stated Teuchi while placing the hot beef ramen in front of Naruto. "Yeah, and I have to take the whole class again."
"Sucks for you", Ayame
"Its not that bad, they already know how amazing I am", Naruto said laughing as he ate his third bowl. The two shop keepers looked at each other, then at Naruto, then they began to laugh. It was contagious, he always seem to have a smile in his face no matter what was thrown at him. It was something that made him who he is. Something that made him strong.