We lined up to do the transformation jutsu. I was behind Naruto, toning him out as I watched Sakura's back as she stepped forward after her name was called.

"Alright, Sakura here. Let's do it! Transform!"

And with that cringe line a puff of smoke came from her and when it cleared, there stood a copy of Iruka. Or, well, I only saw the back though.

"Transformed into me? Good."

Iruka said and wrote something on his clipboard. Another puff sounded as Sakura was back to her normal appearance, her fists clenched in success on either side of her chin and with a ridiculously happy look on her face she jumped up and down.

"Yes! I did it! Yeee! Sasuke, did you see that?"

I rolled my eyes at that. Like, u serious gurl?? Whyyyyyy. Toooo desperaaaaateeee.

"Next! Sasuke Uchiha!"

When Iruka called out Sasuke, Sakura calmed down and went to the back of the line while Sasuke walked up. Before I even saw him do anything the puff of smoke had already cleared to show Iruka.

"Ah, good."

Iruka glanced briefly at Sasuke before turning back to his clipboard. Meanwhile, Sasuke poofed back and I just watched him. Seriously, even though I have a strong dislike for Sakura mostly because of her fangirling, I could faintly understand her. I mean, he was hot in 2D. With bad animation. But I'll tell you now. IRL, he, is, hot. Actually, I don't think hot is even the right word. He is drop-dead gorgeous.

But I wouldn't become a fangirl in any scenario. I'm waaay too lazy for that shit. Plus I actually want him to genuinely like me. And for that, it's best to give him some space. Sighing quietly, I faintly heard Iruka's voice again.

"Next! Naruto Uzumaki!"

I elbowed him gently, and when he turned to me, I gave him a small smile.

"Just give it your best."

He gave me a signature Naruto-grin, before turning back and walking up to Iruka.

"Transform!"

As he shouted, you could see the chakra gathering around him. I watched with amused eyes, knowing what was going to happen, but looking forward to it anyway. He's an impressive person. So strong, despite everything life has thrown at him.

I'm proud of him.

Just as I thought that, a puff of smoke sounded, and in Naruto's place stood a naked and posing female-Naruto, with small clouds covering the most important parts. Then, Naruto even threw a blow-kiss in Iruka-sensei's direction. Iruka basically turned to stone, before a fountain of blood coming from his nose made him shoot backwards and fall.

I smirked.

Ah, all the innocence everywhere...

Puffing back, Naruto pointed at Iruka and started laughing. I giggled slightly too.

"HAHA, got ya! That was my sexy jutsu!"

Instantly, Iruka's big head jutsu was back full force, tick marks and everything. Oh, and some kind of tissue in his nostrils to stop the bleeding.

"CUT THE STUPID TRICKS! THIS IS YOUR LAST WARNING!!!!"

I sweatdropped, and waited for Iruka's head to deflate. While Naruto went to the back of the line, Iruka looked back at his clipboard, now more or less calm, if not for the still present tick mark.

"Next, Ceiren Yami."

Unlike when he called the ones before me, he seemed tired. I guess dealing with Naruto takes a lot out of him.

Stepping forward, I prepared to transform before I froze. Totally, and completely, froze.

In the next instant, I was screaming profanities at myself inside my mind.

Am I stupid???? Seriouslyyyyy Ceiren you freaking imbecile! You spent all that time training to cast "jutsu" without your shadows and black mist being seen, but forgot about the absolutely most painfully obvious component to pulling off such a lie. WTF HOW COULD YOU FORGET ABOUT THE HAND SIGNS YOU DUMMY!!!! You don't even know how to do a single one, forget which combinations to use for which Justus!!!!! ABSOLUTELY IDIOTIC. I'm so stupid. DAMN.

While I was having my mental breakdown, my face remained completely composed, the smile still there. But the silence was dragging on kind of awkwardly long, and a few of the students started to whisper. Iruka's face looked worried.

"Ahhh, she only started today, afterall. She doesn't know how to do it."

Sakura gloated and I would have slapped her real hard if she wasn't, technically, right. I DON'T HAVE THE SLIGHTEST CLUE ON HOW TO DO THOSE DAMN HAND SIGNS.

"Is everything okay, Ceiren? Are you feeling unwell?"

The worry in Iruka's voice brought me back to the present.

"Oh, I'm sorry sensei... it's just, this is my first time doing it in front of so many people, and I'm really nervous. I'm sorry for being such a ditz..."

I cast Iruka and then the students a sad look with my teary eyes upturned, and my lower lip quivering slightly. They all instantly blushed, and a few even pinched their noses, turning away from me. Murmurs of "no, no, no problem", " that's completely natural", "of course, of course" and "please, take your time" reached my ears, and I shot them a relieved smile which had an instant effect as almost everyone was now facing away from me pinching their noses.

YOSH, diversion tactic: successful. Now, think fast. I have two options.

Option 1: Do the jutsu without using hand signs.

Consequences: best case scenario, possibly be viewed as a genius. Worst case scenario, suspected of being a trained, most likely enemy, ninja on an infiltration mission.

Option 2: Try using hand signs, albeit they will all most likely go wrong

Consequences: best case scenario, my passing is viewed as a fluke. Worst case scenario, I get called on my bluff and the consequences become the same as for option one, except leaning towards the suspicious side because I tried to hide it.

Hm.

Hmmmmmmmmm.

In the end, the choice was clear. Since I am the devastatingly lazy potato that I am, the option that will require the least work from me is the obvious choice.

I lowered my head, making my hair, that was in a ponytail, swish around me and cower my hands that I had put together, effectively covering whatever hand signs I might have made. Then, I let my shadows flicker over me and let my mist out in a believable puff of smoke.

When it cleared, I should have already taken on the appearance of Iruka.

Everyone turned back around when they heard the puff, some of them still holding their noses. Iruka smiled encouragingly at me, and I sighed in relief. Making my mist go out in a puff again, I turned back. Iruka gave me slight praise on how I did well on my first day, and I went to the back of the row, seeing an eager Naruto waiting there for me.

His enthusiasm, made me smile.

I watched as Ceiren went up to Naruto, high-fiving him before they started to talk, Naruto as loudly as always and Ceiren just smiling at him, giggling softly from time to time.

I narrowed my eyes.

What was that.

I could have sworn I saw something black flicker over her. I don't' know how to explain it, but before the smoke from the jutsu went off I could have sworn that she was covered in a shadow? Even though it was sunny? And her eyes seemed to have become a darker, more vivid purple than her usual pastel-purple eye color for a second there. But maybe that was the shadow? I'm so confused.

When she first walked into the classroom, I was stunned. We had just been sentenced to extra work because of that dobe, and just then she came. The most beautiful being I had ever seen. Her long, white hair was in a ponytail, softly swaying as she walked. It looked so soft, and I had the sudden urge to run my fingers through it. Her skin was so pale, it seemed to almost sparkle like newly fallen snow when the sunlight hit it. She wore an adorable, pastel pink dress, that reached just above her knees, and she had on a pair of high heeled shoes, probably to boost her rather diminutive height. She was actually the most nicely dressed person in the entire room. Though technically she was the most naturally pretty too so...

Her face was just something else. It was like the gods spent centuries on sculpting the most beautiful face they could possibly imagine. And her eyes, they were such a pretty, light purple colour. Similar to Hinata's, now that I think about it...

When she introduced herself, I found myself hanging on her every word, addicted to her voice.

Her voice.

It was strange. Enchanting, melodious. But like the rest of her, it seemed to be hiding something. Still, I wanted to hear more of it. These feelings, they made me feel flustered. I didn't understand.

What is happening to me.

I had frowned, and when I came to I saw Naruto on top of her, on the ground. And somehow everything froze. When they got up, I heard someone say:

"So basically you're just another dead last joining in on the fun"

I was just about to comment 'idiot', when I realized, that the one who said it, was me. But why?

I would never do that.

But seeing her beautiful eyes focused on me, her mouth opened slightly in shock, I felt a strange feeling of satisfaction and smirked. That seemed to do something to her as her eyes flashed briefly.

"Ohohohohoo, well, what have we here~"

She covered her mouth with her hand, and her face softened into a closed-eye smile.

"The emo look and duckbutt hair... Let me guess. An Uchiha, are we?"

She tilted her head innocently to the side, her features still in a closed-eye smile.

I was slightly annoyed and glared at her, but soon my smirk widened. She was so cute.

We just continued to smile/smirk at each other, and I was enjoying myself immensely.

I can't remember the last time I had, well, fun.

"Ceiren, be a dear and sit by Naruto. And by the way, we'll be taking the exams tomorrow. Are you sure you want to take it too?"

I was annoyed at Iruka-sensei for breaking our moment, and shot a small glare at him. Ceiren turned to face him and her closed eyes opened slightly as she gave him a charming smile.

"Of course, sensei. It's not like I'll lose anything by trying."

"Except your dignity and our respect."

I said, wanting, no, needing her beautiful eyes back on me. Only me.

She slowly turned back to look at me and instantly my mood soared.

"First, the opinions of brats will do absolutely nothing to damage my dignity, and second, are you implying that I actually have your respect to lose? Wow, thank you. Your words are misleading sometimes. I didn't realize I had made such a deep impression."

She covered her mouth with her hand again and let out a soft giggle.

I just stared at her.

Did she just call me a brat? Me, Sasuke Uchiha?

Another shout, who else can it be but Naruto, woke me up from my recap. Looking back at him and Ceiren, I saw he was gesturing wildly to her while she looked lost in thought.

Ceiren Yami, huh...

I smirked slightly as I looked away from them, closing my eyes as I rested my chin on my intertwined fingers. Recalling the darkness I thought I saw on her when she did her jutsu, a corner of my lips curled.

Interesting.