I went into the room with a giant grin on my face and clapped my hands together happily.

I'm so excited!

Strangely, my three teammates didn't seem to feel the way I did.

"Hey, stupid? You okay? You look like you ate some of my cooking. Wait, did you! I told you not to eat it if it breathes!" I said.

"I didn't eat it, Ketei. Actually, I think it ate the sink... "

I looked at all the people around me glaring at us cause of course they have nothing else better to do. Ha.

But it's kinda of annoying to me.

I'm not used to so many eyes on me...

So I did what anyone else does when they're backed into a mental corner.

"What the fuck are you looking at! Did I kill your best friend or whatever! You're supposed to be studying right! Then direct your attention away from my gorgeousness and glare at the real enemy! Tests! " I shouted.

Everyone immediately darted their eyes away from me to anywhere else in the room.

Well, everyone except for the red head.

What's so special about me! All I do is slap him and he watches me like a hawk!

Wait, isn't this how most romantic comedies start out?

The two main characters hate each other from the very beginning with an animsoity that soon turns into flirting which always ends to a conclusion of romance and a cute wedding! Filled with light hearted laughs and touches of drama to even the story out. There's probably a cute ass animal in there too.

Bleh. I think I just threw up in my mouth.

I sent a glare right back at him.

He stared.

I stared.

Must not lose staring contest...

I so would've won if it wasn't for...

"SASUKE-KUN!"

Blond hair. Annoying voice. Neck that could be easily strangled... Ino.

If I had to pick a person that I despised more than Sakura when I hung out in Naruto's class it would have to be her.

Especially when her and Sakura had their hourly fights over who gets to get knocked up by duckass.

Now, I have to hear it again...

Blah, Blah, Blah, Sasuke's mine, Blah, Blah, Blah, No he's not!, Blah Blah Blah, Something that was meant to be an insult but just sounded like a kindergartner saying "We're not friends anymore! "

I do miss something about being invisible.

Being able to speak my thoughts out loud without anyone hearing except Naruto was great. Now, I just have to keep a lot of my thoughts to myself in order to keep the somewhat peace.

That sucks.

I sighed and tried blocking everything out.

Noise. Noise. Noise. NOISE.

Why can't everyone just shut up!

Ugh. Now, I want to slap myself.

It's my fault. I attract attention because I'm a natural attention hog. It's kinda of my thing.

The reason I demand attention? Maybe it's because I've always had the worst fear of disappearing and I get this sick feeling in my stomach that says if I don't do something, no one care about me.

That no one will think I'm special or want to talk to me. And that's the true reason.

No bullshit.

I was jerked out of my thoughts once more by Naruto's words.

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki and I'm gonna beat all of you! Believe it! " Naruto shouted to the entire class room.

I'm not the only attention hog though...

Everyone glared at Naruto and I stepped in front of him and growled.
They turned their eyes away quickly and I smiled.

I like being intimidating. Makes people shut up. Makes em listen. Makes me look badass.

I need to do this more often...

"Hey, Kon! " I shouted in my head.

"Yeah? " he said.

"Write this down somewhere. Be intimidating more often, okay? "

"You seriously need me to write it down for you? You can't just remember it? " Kon said.

"What if I suddenly decide to "just remember" that I don't want you in my brain and evict you? " I said.

"Let me go find a mental memo pad." he said and I grinned.

I opened my eyes to see Sakura strangling Naruto for his outburst and explaining to the entire class how he isn't cool.

I grinded my fists together and flashed her an evil smile.

"Hands off the idiot, bitch. " I said and tripped her so she would fall on the floor.

"Ketei! Aren't you my friend! " she screamed as I prepared for a body slam.

"Of course I am. " I said.

She visibly relaxed.

"But I'm also stupid's friend! And I've been itching to do this to someone ever since I discovered wrestling on stupid's TV! " I shouted and with a heroic *cough* sadistic *cough* war cry I body slammed Sakura into the floor.

I stood up slowly from the carnage and wiped the dust off my pants.

1, 2, 3...

K.O.!

I win! I win!

Sakura got up shakily and gave me a weak glare.

"I really hate you, Ketei... " she mumbled and I grinned.

"Then my work is done. " I said.

-minutes later-

I cracked my knuckles and grinned as I sat down in my seat. Except, I ended sitting on something.

I stood up for a second and picked up a small package with my name on it.

It's Christmas already?

"Are you that stupid? " Kon said.

"Shut up. " I said and sat down and opened it quickly. Inside was a large metal slingshot that was made to fit on someone's entire arm, a leaf village headband, and a note.

I read it inside my head, eyes growing wider as I did.

Dear Ketei,
This is hardly a present. I'm just returning some items back to you. They've been sitting in a box in storage for a long time and I thought you might need them.
- Hokage

These used to be mine?

I put the headband on my head and put the gigantic slingshot on my arm and moved it around.

Seems to be in good condition.

But... the old geezer knows about me. I have proof, I think. Why won't he tell me?

Figure it out for myself he says...

Babies don't just figure out how to pee in the toilet!

Did I just compare myself to an infant wetting their pants?

"You did. " Kon said.

"Shut up and stay out of my monologue! " I shouted inside my head.

This dude named Ibiki had come in and was telling us all the rules when I snapped back to reality.

But unfortunately, reality must be a boomerang from the way it snapped me back out.

So, my new stuff triggered a memory...

-memory-

"Hidikan? " I asked, panting heavily.

"Yes? " he said.

"Can we stop training now! " I whined.

"We can take a break. "

"Yes! " I said and fell down on the grass.

Hidikan came over and sat down beside me.

"You're getting better, Ketei. Especially with that slingshot of yours. " he said and gestured to the large metal slingshot on my arm.

I petted it like a cat.

"This is my baby, Hidi-kun. I can't believe you got it for so cheap! " I said.

"All I had to do was ask them to bring the price down a little... " he said and sighed.

I frowned.

They were intimidated by him. Just because of where he comes from.

I'm not scared of Hidikan. He's one of my few friends. He's really sweet and nice but just like Yoari, no one ever tries to get to know him.

I hugged him tightly around his waist.

"Don't let people get you down, Hidikan. They're stupid. " I said.

He smiled a little and patted my head.

"Thanks, Ketei. " he said.

I let go of him and laid back down then put my hands above my eyes and moved them around in the sun's light, casting shadows across my face.

"Ketei, aren't you scared? " Hidikan asked.

"Why would I be scared? "

"My parents. Of how people think of you for being around us. Of the risk you run being my little sisters bodyguard. "

I moved my head slightly to the right.

"Sort of. There are scarier things in this world though. " I said.

"Like what? "

"Bunnies of course. Loneliness, death of those I love, not being able to protect my friends,disappointment. Those are my worst fears. " I said.

"What about how people see you?"

"I don't care about other people's perceptions of me. Let them think what they wanna think. What really matters is how I think about myself and how the people closest to me perceive me. " I said.

"I still don't get how you can do that. " Hidikan said.

"Do what? "

"Be so carefree about things. "

"Life was not made for me to stress over. It's meant to be... "

I stood and twirled around.

"An adventure! " I shouted.

Hidikan laughed.

"I guess you're right. " he said.

I smiled.

"Oh, Hidikan? Guess what! I learned a new word from a werid gray headed dude in town today! "

"What was it? "

"Shit! I learned the word shit! "

Hidikan frowned.

"Ketei, you're way too young-"

"Isn't it so cool to learn new words, Hidi-kun?" I said.

He facepalmed.

"Just don't say that in front of Yoari. I don't want her to be influenced by you. You're only eight." he said.

"Okay. I know. I won't ruin her... for now... " I said with a grin.

He sighed.

I jumped on top of Hidikan and hugged him.

"You're like... the older brother I never had Hidikan. " I said.

"Really? "

"Uh-huh. You're so protective of me, you teach me new stuff everyday, you care about me... I love you Hidi-kun. " I said.

I saw Hidikan start to tear up and immediately freaked out.

"Did I say something wrong! " I shouted.

He wiped away his tears and smiled brightly.

"Stop melting hearts, Ketei. " he said.

"Huh? "

He hugged me tightly.

"You're going to be a fine woman one day. I hope I get to see you grow up. " he said.

I laughed.

"Why wouldn't you? I'm not going anywhere!" I said.

He let go of me and gave me a serious look.

"Ketei, work hard to protect Yoari. She is the only one in my entire clan to carry its power. People will try their utmost best to kill her or take it away. You have to protect her - at all costs. Even if it means putting your own life in danger. " Hidikan said.

"Hidi, I knew what I was in for. I'm not scared of my death. I'm scared of losing others more than myself. Death is just another adventure!" I shouted.

There was a long silence then...

"I'm supposed to not get attached to you. I'm supposed to just be your sensei but... I failed. I don't want you to die Ketei. I want you to live on no matter what. You're invincible, you hear me? No one can kill you and get away with it, okay? " Hidikan said.

I smiled as his words implanted their place in my mind.

"Got it Hidi-kun. " I said.

My name is Ketei and nothing can stop me.

These words that Hidikan said... made me, me.

-end of memory-

I suddenly heard a loud noise that kicked me of the Ketei's Life Story theatre and back into the real world.

I growled deeply and sat up from where I had passed out in my seat.

"Wake up blondie in the back! This isn't naptime, you're not in kindergarten!" the man named Ibiki shouted at me.

I'd advise you not to mess with me...

I stood up from my seat.

"Umm, Sir? My name's Ketei. I'm trying to enjoy a flashback here! You ruined it right when it was getting to the good part! So have some of my fine food for thought! Put your lips together to make a stiff pucker. Apply them firmly to my ass! " I said.

Just about half of the class loss control of their jaws as they plummeted down to their desks.

But instead of shouting at me anymore, he just - abilit begrudgingly - turned away.

The whole classroom looked to me in disbelief.

I just sat down, leaned back in my chair, and crossed my arms.

How should I describe this victorious feeling...

Ketei, FUCK YEAH!

But...

Why'd he leave me alone? I thought I was a good judge of character. He seemed like the stubborn type. Unless...

I looked down at the test in front of me and sighed.

Why was I excited for this anyways?

"Was it because of him? " Kon said.

"What do you mean? "

"You know what I mean. " he said.

I glanced at Naruto sweating like a hot springs as he looked down on his test and smiled.

"I just want to be his equal, Kon. I want to live. To go to school. To eat. To breathe. I've always missed random stuff like that. And now... "

I picked up my pencil.

"It's time to do something I've missed a lot..." I said.

"What is it? " he said.

"Cheat! "

-------

A/N
What's your favorite book?
(Desirata)