Hidden Villages

I: Wilting Flower

Life suddenly felt like a dream come true. Sakura was delighted at finally making a friend. Despite having only one friend, Ino proved cheerful, but she knew how to cheer Sakura up when she was down. The time spent at Ino's after school was enjoyable, but when they were given homework they studied together at the kitchen table.

Sakura found herself most excited about one class in particular. Iruka announced the class would start the next week, yet the girls would be taught by one teacher and the boys by another. The classes were focused on the social customs of various hidden villages. She already wondered which village they would start within the once a week class.

The morning of Sakura found herself on her knees looking at her bookshelf at the book her parents bought for her. The books had beautiful illustrations, but detailed some exciting details about the different villages and places one could go and see. As such she was excited to see what she would learn in the actual class regarding the same subject.

The pink-haired child awoke early in the morning and looked over the book until her mother called her down for breakfast. She ate with great gusto. "You seem quite excited today? Do you and Ino have plans."

"We have kunoichi class today." Sakura spoke with a soft tone of voice, but spoke a bit louder than usual. A smile flickered across her face. "It's a girls-only class."

"Where are the boys?" Her mother smiled, yet already knew the answer.

"They have their own class."

"What are you most excited to learn about?"

Sakura's eyes went wide and then she declared. "I want to learn everything!"

Her mother's hand reached out and ruffled the top of her head. "That's my Sakura."

The pink-haired child smiled up at her mother, but the wrinkled on the woman's face didn't bother her. "You are my beautiful little angel. Have I told you how lucky your father and I to have you?"

"Very lucky." Sakura spoke as if she actually believed these words, which made her mother smile even more.

When Sakura finished her breakfast, she hurried out the door towards the academy. She headed straight for the class rather than waiting outside where Amy and her friends preferred hanging out and instead headed to where Ino always waited for her.

Ino came a bit later. "Hey. You didn't come early because you wanted to avoid those nasty girls did you? You don't have to be afraid of them, you know."

"I know. I'm excited about kunoichi class."

"Oh, that is going to be a lot of fun. My mom says it was her favorite class." Ino held a finger into the air. "That is how one becomes a proper young lady, but the class for the guys is how they become proper gentleman." A thought crossed Ino's mind and she leaned over so she could whisper into Sakura's ear. "My mom tells me my dad and his friends failed that class. They're not really gentlemanly like."

"Oh." Sakura started pulling her school supplies out of her school bag and set them on the table. A loud burp made her look up to see the boy with blond hair and strange marks on his cheeks. He started laughing, but didn't excuse himself. Instead he sat with his arms folded behind his head. "Gross."

"I know. Guys are so gross."

Iruka came in eventually and started class. They covered a few basic lessons on math and writing before he announced they would be dismissing for the focus classes. "Leave your things there at the table. The girls today will be staying in this classroom while I take the boys into another class."

A woman with curly black hair walked into the classroom and pushed up her glasses as she did so. "Hello girls. I am Suzume sensei. I will be teaching you girls how to act as proper young women regardless of the village you are in. Do any of you know anything about any of the villages, particularly the hidden villages of the five great nations?"

Sakura raised her hand.

"Yes dear."

"Each of the hidden villages of the five great nations has a Kage. Ours is the Hokage, but the others are the Kazekage..."

Ami and her friends sat a few seats ahead. The violet-haired girl turned so her brown eyes glared at Sakura. She opened her mouth and spoke in a manner which prevented Sakura from speaking. "Nobody wants to hear about the outside from an outsider."

Sakura found herself freezing, yet confused regarding why Ami interrupted her like she did. Sakura felt her throat tighten, yet no more words came out of her mouth. A smirk spread across Ami's face while Ino tensed up beside Sakura. Out of the corner of her eye, Sakura saw Ino grit her teeth together.

"That's not very nice."

"Now, now," Suzume spoke. "I don't need you fighting girls, but I can very well handle the situation."

Ami stood and turned towards the teacher. Her thin finger pointed accusingly at Ino. "Sensei! Ino is speaking out of turn."

"Now..."

Ino stood up as her small hands pressed at the top of the desk. "Excuse me! You spoke out of turn first! You interrupted Sakura!

"Who? I don't see an ugly billboard brow here."

Sakura looked down as a few of the other girls giggled, but she knew none of these girls were in fact from Ami's group meaning Ami was getting more girls on her side. She hoped Suzume would do something given the fact she was a teacher, but instead the woman let out a sob. Glancing up slightly she saw the teacher burst into tears before running out of the room. "Iruka sensei!"

"Wow." Ino glared after the teacher. "She just made the teacher cry."

"Of course she did. After all, she has an ugly billboard brow." A few of the girls laughed.

"Stop being mean!" Ino said, her eyes glaring at Ami.

"Yes. Stop being mean girls." Iruka's voice came from the doorway. Suzume clung to him. "If you're not nice to each other we'll not let you have this class, and I know how a bunch of you are looking forward to it. Shame on you for making Sazume sensei cry."

Ami turned to glare at Sakura, as if she blamed her for what just happened even though everything was in reality her fault. Suzume suddenly hiccupped and started hugging the door frame instead of Iruka's arm.

He turned towards her as his facial features twisted in frustration. "What now Suzume sensei?"

"You're sweaty." This made quite a few of the girls giggle.

"And..."

"Thus covered in germs."

More laughs came from the girls, particularly Ami. Sakura felt ashamed, yet knew she shouldn't feel that way. Ino opened her mouth to say something about what happened, only for Iruka's stern voice to interrupt what she had to say. "Nope. I don't want another word from any of you girls today."

Sakura didn't see Ino glare at Ami and her friends who seemed elated at the reaction they got from both Sakura and the teacher.