Chapter 12- Pain

Alexa's POV

Right, episode 1 starts today.

I sighed once again as Naruto was thrown to the wooden floor all tied up by Iruka-sensei. I just sighed once again as they shout at each other then leaned myself on Shikamaru's shoulder. 

I felt him tense up and I smiled. 

"Hey, Shika...wanna play shogi sometime?"

"Troublesome...y-yeah...", I laughed softly and looked at him who is all red.

"Since Naruto here missed the lesson. We will all review the Transformation Jutsu.", a series of groans erupted and I just sighed.

I looked at Naruto who was grinning and I smiled back at him. I ruffled his hair, feeling his soft hair on my palm. 

"Really, Naruto you cause another problem.", he just laughed it out like I was complimenting him.

"Hehehehe."

We lined up as they blame Naruto for doing stupid things. I just creased my eyebrows they were right, but they don't have to take it on the kid.

"Uchiha Sasuke."

The duckbutt transformed cooly into Iruka-sensei.

"Hm. Good."

He transformed back and he felt my stare and we locked eyes for a second. Sometimes I got lost in those black orbs. We never really talked, we just glanced at each other.

"Haruno Sakura transform!", another Iruka-sensei.

She did it almost right just a few mishaps. She transformed back and I love her hair, by the way, it's so naturally pink, just like cherry blossoms. The only downside is that it stands out way too much, not a perfect hair for a shinobi.

"Did you see that, Sasuke-kun?", He ignored her. I wonder if she does like Sasuke or she's just obsessed with him.

"Takeda Alexa.", I formed the ram sign and imagined yellow hair, blue eyes, slightly tan skin, shinobi clothes.

*POOF!*

I felt everyone's eyes on me even Iruka-sensei had his eyes and mouth wide agape as he stare at my transformation. Naruto had his eyes sparkling in admiration. In a male voice I spoke, "Iruka-sensei, how is it?"

He was pushed out from his distraction and looked down to his checkboard then wrote something.

"Excellent, Yondai--I mean Alexa.", I smiled at him then poofed back. "You even got his voice right."

I just smiled and waited for Naruto's turn as I give him a thumbs up. Then the idiot ruined his chance as he transformed into a blonde busty woman with her privates covered with smoke. I sighed once again as Iruka-sensei fumed with blood as he was thrown backward by the impact. Naruto transformed back and grinned.

"That's my Sexy Transformation Jutsu. Hehehe. Got you!"

He got smacked by Iruka-sensei who's head grew large. "Idiot. Don't go around inventing useless Jutsus!"

'Well, he managed to save the entire world using that jutsu.'

The next day, it was already the graduation exam. It's amazing how fast time flies.

"Takeda Alexa, come to room 101. You're the first one to do the test."

I stood up and replied. "Hai!" 

"Good luck Lhexi-chan...!", I turned to Naruto and nodded.

I walked to the room and saw Mizuki-sensei and Iruka-sensei with headbands of different colors displayed on the table.

"Alexa, you just have to do at least 3 clones then you pass.", I nodded my head.

And poof I created 5.

"Very good."

"Congratulations you pass, you're now a genin. Here pick one headband of any color."

I chose the black one and I wrapped it around my forehead. 

"See you. Iruka-sensei, Mizuki-sensei.", I bowed before I left the room.

'I did it.'

'I really became a kunoichi.'

I closed my eyes and breathe in slow and deep before I went back to the classroom. I opened the door and felt everyone's stare, especially on my headband.

"You have to do the clone Jutsu.", I said and they all sighed in relief.

I walked towards Naruto who was pulling his hair muttering something under his breath.

'I forgot. It's his worst Jutsu.'

"Hey, Naruto.", I nudged him slightly and he looked up.

"Lhexi-chan...what do I do?", I just ruffled his hair.

"Don't worry you'll be fine.", he looked down unsure. "You might not become a genin now, but I'm sure you'll become one sooner or later. Just trust yourself. Never give up. Okay?"

He nodded with determination and slight fear in his eyes.

It was soon his turn and I waited for him for a while but he never came back. Soon everyone left except for me but, I was still waiting for Naruto when I saw a shadow on my desk and excitedly looked up thinking it was Naruto.

"Sa...suke?", he looked at me not saying anything.

A clean blue headband was tied around his forehead as I saw my reflection on it. I blinked my eyes then he spoke.

"Congrats."

'Woah! Really?! The great Uchiha Sasuke is speaking to me?!'

"Thanks. You too. Congrats.", this is the first time we spoke to each other. 

I kinda like the vibe around us.

He turned around and started walking away.

"Hey, wait!", he looked back at me. "Wanna eat kimchi with me?"

"Kimchi?", he must be thinking what is it.

"Yup.", he pondered it for a moment before nodding. "Then see you tomorrow!"

I run outside the academy looking for Naruto and saw him alone by the swing. His eyes were lifeless as he stare at the ground. My heart ached and I was about to walk towards him when someone called my name.

"Oi! Alexa!", it was Kiba who run up to me. 

"Kiba-san? Is there any problem?", he pulled something from his pocket and gave it to me. 

"Here. A gift.", I took the box and opened it up to see a keychain. 

"Thank you so much.", I placed my other hand on my back and clenched my hands as I make a necklace from ice. I placed it in front of him and opened my hand. He got slightly startled. "Here. A gift for you too."

He took it and grinned widely with a slight flush on his cheeks and ears.

"Cool!", I turned around from him and looked for Naruto to see him gone. 

"Are you looking for someone?"

"Oh, no one."

"Hey Lhexi, wanna celebrate tonight?"

'Tonight, huh?'

"I would love to, but sorry Kiba, I have other plans for tonight, so I'm kinda busy. Maybe next time.", he pouted and Akamaru whined slightly.

He grinned and gave me a thumbs up.

"Alright! Then next time okay?!", I nodded. "Then I and Akamaru are leaving now, bye!"

I waved my hand at him who was running towards the streets.

I sighed first when I remembered about Naruto. I should not get in their way, right? I'll just have to let them be. That way, Naruto and Iruka would create a stronger bond.

Walking inside my apartment I quickly took out a pen and a paper before writing a letter to mom and grandpa. Smiling to myself as I finish the letter halfway, my heart pounded its sounds resonated throughout my whole body. My right wrist felt like ripping apart I clutched hard onto it.

I slightly pull the sleeve up to see black veins appearing, slowly spreading to my skin. 

"Argh!", I fell off the chair to the floor screaming in pain as my heartfelt like being clenched like it was about to burst out.

Trying to stand with my elbows supporting me, sweat rolled down my chin dripping to the wooden floor. I mustered all the strength I have and stood up, holding to the side of the table for balance.

Gritting my teeth, I opened my drawer, looking for painkillers.

Injecting the fluid to my arm, "This should wor--! Argh!"

The pain scorched throughout my whole body I stumbled from side to side. My body feels like being burned.

"Hot...", I muttered as I strip off my clothes, heading towards the bathroom to turn the cold shower on.

I closed my eyes feeling the cold water making contact with my burning skin. My head was throbbing in pain and my vision was turning hazy. I opened and closed my eyes shaking my head from side to side. 

The pain was unbearable I screamed in anguish. I caught sight of my reflection on the mirror that was shifting to a different person.

My eyes widened in horror when my eyes were flashing golden and my black hair was turning brown. I looked away and took a strand of my hair to my hands but it was still black.

"Wha--AAHHH!!!"

I was like being pierced by thousands of needles as I was being skinned alive.

Gripping my head, I pulled to the roots of my hair before punching the wall breaking several tiles. Wrapping my body with a towel, I rushed to my bed and lay upon the soft mattress. 

I gripped the sheets as I bit my lower lip, drawing some blood. I turned to the side and curled myself into a ball, hugging my knees to my chest as my hair was sprayed all over the bed. I dug my nails on my arms, scratching its blood poured out from the cuts. 

Tears brimmed on the corner of my eyes as I whimper.

"Save...me...someone..."

In the stillness of the night, my screams of anguish echoed.

Morning came and I was now staring at myself in front of a mirror. My face was disfigured from scratching my skin last night. I sighed before healing them, my skin slowly reverting to normal, unscathed. 

Wrapping a grey scarf around my neck to prevent anyone from seeing the black marks spreading on my neck to my chin.

Now that I remember, we would be assigned to a jonin teacher today. Holy mother of cow, what if I end up with Kakashi?

No.

Of course not.

Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura.

Asuma.

Kurenai.

I don't want to be entangled with more characters.

Those fanfictions about the 4-genin team squad don't happen in reality, right?

Right?!

I jumped out of the window when my right toe got stuck on the window sill and I fell on the ground with a heavy thump, faceplanted. 

'There's a door for a specific purpose.'

I quickly stood up and looked around to find no one noticing me, yet. I sighed in relief and made my way towards the Academy.

I heard two elephants running towards me and I look behind me to see Ino and Sakura racing as they glare at each other. They went past me and I sighed. 

Kids.

I quickly walked and went inside the academy as kids my age filled the classroom. I saw Naruto sitting next to Sasuke who was being surrounded by fans. I sat on a seat above Naruto and leaned my head on my arms on the table. 

I feel like I'm gonna puke up. Sweat dripped to the wooden table and I heard some shuffles in front of me. I looked up to see Sasuke and Naruto lock lips. 

I laughed at them as my fatigue slightly go away. They gagged at the same time and fangirls fumed at Naruto. A punch was about to collide on Naruto's face when I caught it. Sakura was slightly stunned at me and I let go of her hand.

"Calm down, Sakura-san...girls...", I tried to reason out with them when one of the fangirls screamed at me.

"Go Away!", this bitch.

I was on the verge of killing them because I wasn't feeling so well.

"Cal--...", a slap was about to make contact with my face and I felt their watch. 

The Hokage's crystal ball again.

I swiftly caught it and Ino and Sakura immediately interfered. 

"Why the hell are you butting in?! Naruto stole away Sasuke's first kiss! Now get out of my face!"

"Yeah yeah! Just because you're pretty and all you think you can do anything!"

This bitches.

I love Sakura's hair so I don't want to hurt her but, Ino. Well, I love blue eyes, guess I'll spare them.

"Lhexi-chan...", this boy gets into trouble every time I take my eyes off him. "I'm totally fine, dattebayo!"

Thankfully Iruka-sensei arrived on time and I saw Sakura looking at me with an ashamed expression. She immediately looked away as she sat in between Naruto and Sasuke.

My eyes were drooping and my fatigue is getting worse. Iruka-sensei was talking about teams of three with a jonin teacher.

"...Team 7, Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura, and Uchiha Sasuke...your Jonin teacher would be Hatake Kakashi."

I heard Naruto ranting about something before I lost consciousness and I passed out after hearing my name get called. 

"Team 13, Takeda Alexa, Kaito Itsuki, and Fujiko Kenma. Your Jonin teacher would be Yuake Aiko."

For now, I have to rest so I won't pass out.

I feel so tired.

I felt someone shrugging my shoulders and I woke up to see Naruto, Shikamaru, and Choji with a worried look etched on their faces.

"Lhexi-chan...are you alright?", I rubbed my eyes.

Like hell I am. 

"I'm fine.", my body feels so warm. 

"Are you sure?", I nodded at Akimichi's question and stood up only to fall into someone's arms.

"Oi! Lhexi! Shit. She's burning up.", I heard Shikamaru cursing as Naruto carried me to the infirmary.

"She caught a fever but, she'll be fine once she takes the medicine.", I heard the nurse say.

"I'm fine.", I said once again and these three almost smacked my head if not for I was sick.

"Lhexi-chan you better rest for now. I'll stay with you.", Shikamaru agreed as they eat and play poker in front of me.

I drank my medicine and watch them as Naruto kept on losing and Shika kept on winning.

"Tsk."

"Damn it. I lost again."

"One more time!"

"Alright!"

Moments later, they were kicked out by the nurse for being too noisy.

After feeling slightly better I sneaked out from the window and walked around to see Sasuke glaring daggers at me. 

"Woah. Sasuke, calm down."

"You said we would eat this thing called kimchi.", he mumbled in an angry tone.

'He expected it.'

"Oh right. Sorry, I forgot.", I smiled. "I'm gonna get it. Wait for me here.", he nodded.

I walked back to the classroom to get the two bento I prepared earlier this morning. I was about to walk out when I heard girls laughing and talking about me.

"She's so full of herself thinking she can do anything."

"Right? That Alexa is just from outside the village. Who does she think she is?"

"Hmmph. Why are boys so into her? I'm prettier than her."

"She's such a bitch."

"Yeah!"

They laughed and I just sighed and walked out. 

If you're ugly, you get bullied. If you're too pretty you get bullied too.

What's wrong with this society and way of thinking?

I looked for Sasuke back to where I last saw him to him nowhere. I used my sensory skills and found him sitting on one of the branches.

"Sasuke!"

"Took you long enough, loser.", he said and jumped down from a height.

Why are there so many brats anyways? 

"Sorry.", we sat under one of the shades of a tree far from the academy so no one spots us and assume something.

I removed the lid and showed the food to him. 

"You love tomatoes, right?", he looks at me with suspicious eyes.

"How did you know that?", I just chuckled as I gave him the chopsticks.

"I always see you eat one.", he nodded yet still not satisfied with my answer.

"Itadakimasu.", I said and we dig into the food.

I watch him slightly get startled after tasting it and remove it from his face as he continues eating.

"Hey, Sasuke."

"Hm?"

"Why did you agree to eat with me?", he chomped on the food first before swallowing.

"You're not annoying.", he said bluntly.

"And?"

"And what?", he looked up at me.

I shrugged my shoulders as he sigh.

"You're not noisy.", I smiled and looked down at my food.

The wind blew as we ate in silence.

"Hey. Now that I remember, we never spoke to each other in the past two years, right?", he nodded. "I'm happy we finally get to talk."

"Hn."

"Hey wanna hear something from me about your jonin teacher?", he looks a little surprised.

"Worry about your team first, loser.", I just chuckled at him. 

"But, I'm worried about you for having a teacher like him."

He just continued eating.

"I heard he never passed a team of genin before."

He looked up curious.

"What do you mean?"

I tilted my head to the side as I remove the end of the chopsticks from my mouth.

"Don't you know, each year only 33% of the graduates get to become official genins.", he leaned in slightly to learn more. "In the case of our class, only 9 would probably pass."

"How do you know that?", he asks with questionable eyes.

"I did my research I'm a ninja after all", I pointed a finger gun at him.

"Tell me more.", he said after gulping some water.

"Hatake Kakashi-san always had this relaxed and bored attitude, comes late to meetings of no particular importance and only shows up whenever he wanted to.", Sasuke got slightly annoyed for getting a lazy teacher like him. "But, don't get blinded by this personality for he is a high-ranked jonin, one of the best elites Konoha ever produced and is rumored to be capable of taking a country by his own."

He parted his lips slightly in awe and returned to his cool attitude.

"What else?", he asks in curiosity.

"I guess you should find it out yourself.", I replied as I fix our lunchboxes.

He suddenly grabbed my arm. I sighed and looked at his hand as he immediately remove it.

"Alright, there's a test he always conducts called the bell test. Pass it and you become a genin.", he nodded as we both stand up from our seats. 

We walked side by side and from a distance, I saw Naruto walking alone towards the academy. 

I smiled and turned to Sasuke. 

"Here's an advice. Try to eat together with your teammates, it will improve your teamwork. I'll go now. Bye!", I waved at him and started running towards Naruto. 

"Hey Naruto!", I wrapped my arm around his neck as I grinned. 

"Lhexi-chan! What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in the infirmary?", I removed my arm and smiled at him.

"I'm fine. See?", I twirled around.

He brightly smiled and I squished his cheeks.

"Lwexi-chwan...", he cutely tried to stop me from pinching his cheeks. "Schap it."

"My cute little pumpkin!", I saw a slight blush creep up to his cheeks and he stepped back a couple of meters away. "Naruto?"

"It's nothing. Believe it!", I smiled and held his hand as we walk back to our classroom.

"Hey, Naruto."

"Hm?", the boy turned to look at me.

"Don't you prank others again, okay?", he scratched his head and looked away.

"O-of course"

I don't trust this boy.

He sat next to Sakura and I saw Sasuke go to his seat after glancing at me for a second and began brooding again.

Soon the door opened and a man in his early thirties called for a team and they walked out. I sat next to my teammates Kenma and Itsuki who were glaring at each other. 

"Hey guys.", I greeted and they looked in my way as they blushed madly at the same time.

"H-hey!", a red-haired Kenma said slightly quivering.

"Yo!", Itsuki replied. 

"I guess we should treat each other nicely from now on since we're on the same team.", they looked away and nodded.

I stared at the door to see a blue-haired woman with a piece of paper in her hands. 

"Takeda Alexa, Kaito Itsuki, and Fujiko Kenma. Follow me.", we stood up and I bid goodbye to Naruto. 

We followed her until she stopped in front of a bench shaded by a tree. She smiled at us and motioned for us to sit. I sat in the middle of the two boys as they continue to glare at each other.

"Now let's introduce ourselves, shall we?. I'll go first. My name is Yuake Aiko, I love my husband, I like sushi and ramen, I hate selfish people. My hobbies are reading magazines and planting flowers. My dreams for the future are for you three to become outstanding shinobis and finally have a...", she trailed off as she rub her belly.

Don't tell me...

"Finally have a?", Kenma questioned and Aiko-sensei blushed madly and stepped back. 

"Finally have--have a pet!", she yelled in embarrassment and I laughed at her. "Then next, you red-haired boy."

'Wait a minute!'

My head snapped towards Kenma and I sensed his chakra signature. It was an average genin. 

'I was overthinking things...'

"The name's Fujiko Kenma. I like animals especially birds but, I hate insects. My hobbies are feeding animals, my dream for the future is to find my parents."

'Could it be...'

"Next.", Aiko-sensei pointed at me.

"I'm Takeda Alexa, feel free to call me Lhexi. I have a fascination for lizards and I like eating ramen. I dislike people who hurt my family and friends. My hobbies include reading and polishing my weapons. My dream for the future is to protect my friends no matter what and finally create peace in this world.", they all looked at me slightly bewildered and I saw a proud look on Aiko-sensei's face.

"Peace, huh?", I nodded my head and she smiled sadly.

"Alright, the last one."

"I'm Kaito Itsuki. I like sweets. I hate anything bitter. My hobby is training. I don't have a particular dream for the future.", we sweatdropped at his blunt introduction.

"Meh! the loser as always!", Kenma stuck his tongue out.

Sensei clapped her hands to shut him up and smiled.

"Now then. Let's get down to the real business here."

I narrowed my eyes slightly.

"What business sensei?", Kenma asks.

"Ara ara. Don't you know?", sensei taunted. "You brats aren't officially genin yet.", her personality turned a 180-degree turn from a seemingly kind teacher to a sadist.

"Sensei! What do you mean?! We already graduated from the academy."

"Brainless as always, Kenma."

"What did you say, bastard?!"

I sneaked in between them and pushed them away from each other.

"You two. Stop it already."

Lightning erupted from between their eyes and I just sighed once again.

"Sensei, could you please explain?", I returned to the main topic.

"Sure.", she pointed her finger. "Every year a new batch that graduates from the academy are placed on different teams to test their abilities before officially promoting them to genin. Well, quite a few only pass with a less than 33 percent rate of passing. Hear me out, last year, only 3 students passed.", she chuckled darkly as my teammates harshly gulp.

"What kind of test are you going to put us in sensei?", I asked breaking the tension as she blinked her eyes at me.

"Meet me at exactly 5 am tomorrow at training ground 4, I'll explain the details to you by then. Don't be late or I'll punish you okay? Jane!", she shunned away and I stood up from my seat and turned around to look at my new teammates.

"You two. Wanna go eat some barbeque? It's my treat.", they looked at each other first before nodding.

"Sure."

"Hm."

'What kind of test is it?'