#9 First Date

4 weeks later, today is my and Shikamaru's first day at Konoha's Ninja Academy.

We were joined by Mom and Dad and the Hokage gave a much too long speech about the will of fire, which caused some of the children including Shikamaru to fall asleep. However mom kept knocking him awake what annoyed him.

I just smiled and thought that Hiruzen doesn't really believe that this speech would motivate someone at all.

After the speech was over, the parents said goodbye to their children.

Haru: Dad give me my scroll.

Shikaku: Here Haru I almost forgot about it.

We were then introduced to the School grounds and us were given our Syllabus.

Then we were then taken by the principal to classroom 1A, where I quickly sprinted to the third row right rear window seat. Maru wanted to sit next to me, but was stopped by Ino in the last moment. She pushed him away and he just moaned. He sat then down next to her. Choji and Naruto sat in front of me in the 2nd row next to Kiba. In the left back corner sat Sasuke next to Shino and in the middle row Hinata sat next to Sakura. I didn't know the others in the classroom by name. After a moment a man with brown hair and a scar on his face walked into the room, wearing a green chunin vest. He shouted: "Quiet please" and wrote his name on the blackboard.

Iruka: Hello my name is Iruka Umino and from today on I will be your new Sensei. Please call me Iruka Sensei if you have any questions! We will start by having everyone come forward and introduce themselves and you can tell what your dream is. Let's start with the third row on the right, please step forward. I went forward and stood there with a straight back.

Haru: Hello my name is Shikaharu Nara and my mother died a few weeks after I was born in the kyuubi's attack on konoha. My father died before I was born on a mission to defend the fire daimyo. I was adopted by my uncle and aunt after the tragic death of my mother who defended me and others that day with her life on the line. I have a little brother named Shikamaru Nara, he is the biological son of my adoptive parents and is also in this class. My goal is to restructure Konaha economically, so that the people here can lead a good life. I will strengthen it's defenses and allow shinobis to work with a positive mindset. Of course I have to establish good connections to the different clans, so that the system can flourish for all of us. I will train hard, so that one day I will become the strongest shinobi in Konoha, even eclipsing Hashirama Senju.

I then saluted and shouted.

Haru: Hail Hokage! Hail Konoha!

Iruka after a short inhalation, began clapping and the class followed and cheered.

Iruka had never heard such a good name performance before, so he said to me:

"I hope you will reach your goal, your speech was the best performance I have ever heard. You did well, Shikaharu. Now go back to your seat, so that the next one can introduce himself."

Everyone introduced themselves and Iruka finished the Class, but before everyone left the room, I pulled the scroll out of my pocket and placed it on the teacher's desk. I opened it and there was a puff. Many bags with candy appeared and I gave one to each of my new classmates. Everyone was happy about the candy bags and left the classroom with them in their arms. Outside they were all wecomed by their parents.

Haru: Naruto, you can come to the celebration of the Nara Clan?

Naruto of course accepted my offer.

Dad had discussed everything regarding Naruto with the clan and the Hokage in the past month. We then went home together and had a big celebration where many other clan members came and the prejudices against Naruto were dissolved.

The next day.

The regular lessons began, in which I usually wrote down everything neatly and neatly because I knew that Naruto would have problems and so I planned things ahead to help Naruto later on.

Shikamaru: Ino why did you really want to sit next to Haru?

Ino reacted embarrassed.

Ino: I just wanted to sit closer to the window, because otherwise it would have been too stuffy for me at the other end of the room.

Shikamaru: Yes of course Ino.

I was starting to get the feeling that Ino had a crush on me, when I heard their conversation. And wondered what to do, should I talk to her about it or just ignore it.

I decided to ask her later, but only after school. Iruka entered the classroom and told us to gather in the yard to start our Taijutsu and Shuriken lesson. First everyone should stretch and then run 10 laps on the track.

I had no problem with that. I was already running my second lap and overtook Naruto on his first, Shikamaru and Choji followed shortly later, but this wasn't the end and I runned past everyone in my second Lap. Sasuke couldn't believe how fast I was and tried to get faster, but I was superior. I had completed all my rounds and Sasuke was only on his fourth. Iruka was very impressed by this, but I had been training this for years and the 10 laps were only 2.5km.

I ran 50 km/h every morning, which corresponded to about 40 laps around the Nara compound.

After 15 minutes everyone else was done and Iruka then led us to throw Shuriken.

Everyone got 5 Shuriken and should hit the red dot on the target.

I saw the distance of 10m and went back 20m more. I took my 5 shuriken in one hand and threw them all at once in the direction of the target and hit it precisely in the red dot with all 5 of them.

Everyone freaked out and yelled: "Wow".

At least everyone except Maru, who was used to my achievements.

Sasuke slowly lost hope of beating me and got more and more angry, but he also hit his shuriken in the middle of the target. Iruka was now enthusiastic about me. He wondered if he should let me graduate from the academy sooner, but then he would have to discuss this with the Hokage. Iruka pulled himself out of his thoughts and continued with the others. Everyone was done now.

Iruka: Everyone, please form a circle to show your taijutsu skills in a fight! For the first fight I choose Sasuke Uchiha and Shikaharu Nara.

Both please Go into the middle of our circle, but before the fight begins, please cast the seal of confrontation.

Haru: Sasuke It's nice to meet you. I'm Haru let's have a fair fight!

Sasuke: I'm an Uchiha, we always fight fair, but that won't do you any good against me.

We both stretched out our hands and made the seal of confrontation.

We jumped away from each other and looked at each other for a moment.

Sasuke: Do you want to stand there all day?

I smiled and disappeared in front of Sasuke's eyes. I reappeared in front of him and rammed my elbow into Sasuke's sternum.

I could hear Sasuke's chest breaking, Sasuke struggled for air and then just collapsed on the ground and Iruka ended our fight declaring me the winner.

Haru: Sorry Sensei Iruka, I thought Sasuke was an Uchiha and I thought I could fight with him properly, but apparently I was wrong

Then Iruka took Sasuke to the infirmary.

Ino cheered: "Haru is the coolest!"

Shikamaru: Wasn't this a bit too hard, Haru?Haru: I think it was not. Sasuke needs to realize, that there is always someone stronger than himself.

Sakura came to me at the next moment and slapped me in the face.

Sakura: Please leave Sasuke alone you meanie. You're mean and what you did to him was unfair.

I tried to stay calm.

Haru: But life as a shinobi isn't fair, it's a fight for life and death and there's no place for arrogance in this world.

Sakura then left offended.

Ino: You are just jealous, because Haru won and Sasuke fell like a stone after a single hit.

Whereupon the two started pulling each other's hair and yelling at each other.

Iruka came back and let the others start their Fight's. After everyone had a fight, Iruka ended the training for today.

Iruka then went to the Hokage to tell him about me.

Hokage office.

Knock knock.

Hiruzen: Iruka I've been waiting for you. I'm sure you're coming to bring me your report on the new students, so what's up?

Iruka: I think Shikaharu Nara is overqualified for the academy. He hit his shuriken all at the Same time perfectly and that from 30m with just one hand.

He took down Sasuke Uchiha with a single hit that broke his sternum and three of his ribs and I think his educational level is above mine.

Unfortunately, we're only on the first day of the school year, so I haven't been able to teach the three basic Jutsus yet, so it would be a problem to let him finish anyway.

Hiruzen smiled.

Hiruzen: I thought this would happen, so when it comes to basic Jutsu's, show them to him once and he won't have any problems to do them. He was able to do the water jet Jutsu with only 4 years on his first try.

Iruka couldn't believe what he was hearing.

Iruka: So should I prepare everything for his Graduation?

Hiruzen only grinned.

Hiruzen: I'll come up with something special for him, such a talent shouldn't be wasted. Tell him today that I'll schedule his exam in a week and you'll show him how the three Jutsu's work.

Iruka: Understood Lord Hokage, I'll do my best.

School was already over and I wanted to talk to Ino before she goes home. I asked her in class if she would come to the schoolyard after school is over.

She was already there, waiting for me.

Ino: Hi, Haru.

Haru: Hi, Ino, I, I wanted to ask you if you would like to spend some time with me, but only if you have time, of course?

I blushed just like Ino.

Ino: Um a soo like a date?

I blushed even more.

Haru: That's what I mean.

Ino: Yes, I want to go on a date with you.

Haru: So now we're kind of together?

Ino said "yes" and hugged me which I accepted. We both said nothing for a few seconds and our cheeks slowly turned white again.

Haru: Will you meet me in two hours at my place. Sensei Iruka wanted me to come back to him after school is over.

Ino: I'll come to your house. See you later then Haru.

Haru: Yes, see you later too Ino.

I then made my way to Iruka, who is surely already waiting for me.

Knock knock.

Haru: Iruka Sensei you still want to speak to me?

Iruka: Shikaharu come in, I was talking to the Hokage about you and your achievements here and he said if you learn the 3 basic jutsu's, you could do your graduation exam in a week.

Haru: Isn't this all a bit too spontaneous Sensei, it's only my first day at the academy?

Iruka: Yeah I know, I said that too, but the Hokage insisted, so would you be interested on graduating earlier?

Haru: Gladly, but I can't do any of the jutsu's?

Iruka: Don't worry about that, I'll just show them to you. Let's go to the Training Ground.

After 20 minutes of training, I was able to do the transformation Jutsu, the clone Jutsu and the body replacement technique and said goodbye to Iruka Sensei, who had completely underestimated my talent, but i myself couldn't completely understand how i could lern them ,so just like that.

I arrived at home and told my parents and Shikamaru about the graduation exam in a week, they had already expected it and congratulated me.

Another 30 minutes later.

Ding Dong.

Mom opened the door and saw Ino in a red dress which went down to her knees. Ino blushed slightly.

Ino: I wanted to pick Haru up for our date.

Mom's eyes widened.

Yoshino: What did you say, Ino?

Ino: I said, I want to pick Haru up for our Date.

Mom got a gigantic insidious smile on her face.

Yoshino: Come in Ino, I'll tell Haru that you're here.

Ino was waiting in the living room and mon made her way upstairs to my room.

She opened the door and saw me searching for clothes in my wardrobe.

Yoshino: Hey Haru your date is here.

Mom said this words in a devilish tone.

I flinched and blushed.

Haru: Tell her that I'll be right there.

Yoshino: But of course I will tell her that, my little casanova.

Mom went back down and sat next to Ino.

Yoshino: Haru will come down any moment, you're wearing such a pretty dress?

Ino: Yes I chose it with mom, she keeps her fingers crossed for my first date with Haru.

Yoshino: So what do you actually want to do on your first date?

Ino: Haru asked me and I don't know what he's planning? I'm always so nervous when Haru is around me.

Yoshino: So are you in love with him?

Ino: If that's that feeling, then yes, I think i love him.

Yoshino: I think Haru is in love with you too, but I think he might not say this so openly. The way he looked when I walked into his room. I think he's very nervous. Haru is coming, let's talk some other time. It's best you go to him.

I went down the stairs and saw Ino standing in the hallway.

Haru: Hi Ino your dress is really pretty.

Ino: Thanks Haru, I put it on especially for you.

We both turned red.

And mom had a permanent grin on her face.

Haru: Wait a minute, I'll go get something from the kitchen and then we can go.

I went into the kitchen and got a picnic basket, I then grabbed Ino's Hand and said in her ear "run!"

We ran together out of the house and mom got tears in her eyes.

Yoshino: Why isn't my husband more like Haru?

Ino: So Haru what do we want to do?

Haru: That's a surprise, follow me.We walked through the streets of Konoha holding our hands for good 10 minutes.

Haru: Put this blindfold on from here.

Ino took the blindfold from my hand and put it on.

Haru: Don't be alarmed, I'll take you on my arms now.

Ino only nodded and turned red.

I carried Ino for good three minutes.

Haru: Now you can remove the blindfold.

Ino did so and couldn't believe her eyes.

She stood on the first Hokage's head and was afraid to look down and moved closer to me to avoid falling down.

I stroked her hair and then reached into the picnic basket and pulled out a blanket.

I draped it over Hashirama's head and pulled out a candlestick and some cheese, strawberries and two cups, that I filled with orange juice.

We then sat down together and Ino laid her head on my shoulder.

Ino: It's beautiful here.

Then she gave me a kiss on the cheek and I kissed her too.

We were there for half an hour.

Haru: Ino, I unfortunately have to tell you that I have to leave our class very soon.I'll finish the academy early and probably must go on missions.

Ino got tears in her eyes. I wiped them away and gave her another kiss on her forehead.

Ino: But you've only just started the academy?

Haru: I know and Iwill visit you every day, unless I am on missions outside the village.

Ino: Promise me.

Haru: I promise you.

We watched the sunset together and then I brought Ino to her home.

When I entered the front door of my home, mom stood right there in front of me with a smile and wanted to hear everything that had happened.

I told her what happened and mom howled: "Why isn't your father more like you?"