It was sunny afternoon at Konoha. All the young students at the Ninja Academy were outside either finishing up eating their lunch or running around, playing with one another. All was perfectly fine… or so it seemed.

Little twelve-year-old Kitsune stifled a giggle as she crept closer towards the unknowing victim.

“Kitsune are you sure we won’t be in trouble…?” Whispered her best friend Hari, who followed close behind her. Kitsune grinned.

“Of course I’m sure!” She whispered back, “I do stuff like this to Shikamaru-sensei all the time!” Kitsune sneaked one final step closer behind the half-asleep Shikamaru, and placed some sort of sticky note on his back. She couldn’t help but giggle at the thought of what was going to happen to him very soon.

Hari, despite herself, smiled broadly. She could never muster the courage to do these things herself, but was always enthused to help Kitsune in whatever scheme she planned.

A majority of the class started coming back in from lunch, even when not called. However, this could've taken hours anyways, Shikamaru was always sleeping.

“I think Shikamaru-sensei is asleep… again.” Hari commented.

“He’s always asleep if he finds something else too ‘troublesome’… wait…” Kitsune smirked, “That would be EVERYTHING!” She then started to mimic their sensei’s voice, and stance, “I’m Nara Shikamaru! I’m the smartest lazy ass in all of Konoha. I’m very boring and too lazy to find a real job.” She grinned when she saw Hari was starting to laugh, and continued, “I also find everything very troublesome, and am I pain in the --!”

“AHEM!”

Kitsune stopped in mid sentence and smiled nervously, “Uh… hi sensei!”

"Kitsune, I'm really tiring of your and my niece's pranks. Could we keep them to a minimum today? I'm especially tired of Mondays."

Kitsune snorted. "Last I checked, Monday didn't last all week."

“But Uncle Shikamaru, mom says you’re always tired.” Hari said

“No.” Kitsune corrected, “She said that he’s a lazy ass. My mom and dad said it too.” She grinned.

Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "Hari; your mom is my sister. You can't believe anything she says about me."

Hari giggled, and Shikamaru's eyebrow twitched.

"And Kitsune; you... just... keep out of trouble, mmkay?"

"Only if you stop being a lazy ass first." Kitsune stook her tongue out at him and ran towards the classroom, "Lets go Hari!"

Hari nodded, and followed Kitsune dutifully. The two took their seats, awaiting the other students to return from lunch. After a few minutes, their fellow partner in crime, Karen, took her seat on Kitsune's left.

“Hiya Karen.” Kitsune grinned.

“…Okay what did you two do?” Karen demanded.

“Why whatever do you mean?” Kitsune asked all too innocently.

Karen narrowed her eyes. "You know exactly what I mean. What did you do to my dad this time?"

Hari tried to stifle a giggle, but failed, giving away their innocence. "Well, Kitsune was imitating Shikamaru-sensei, and he caught us..."

Kitsune beamed. "It was brilliant! He came in at the perfect moment, the look on his face was hilarious."

A ghost of a smile danced on Karen's lips, even as she scolded them "You guys know he's our teacher right? We're supposed to show respect."

“And he’s supposed to be watching us, and not falling asleep on the job.” Kitsune pointed out, “But no matter. He’s going to have a kick at what’s gonna happen soon.” She said with another grin.

“More like a few kicks.” Hari giggled.

“Shh! Shh! Don’t tell! It’ll spoil the fun!” Kitsune said.

Karen raised an amused eyebrow. She was tempted to question further, the but the determined look on Hari's and Kitsune's face told her that she should just sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.
“Ooh! Here he comes!” Kitsune whispered right as their sensei walked into the classroom. The sticky note was still on his back, and some of the students were already starting to read what it said.

"Okay class, today we'll be- OOF!"

"Uh sorry sensei." said one of the young students after kicking him.

Shikamaru furrowed his brow. "What do you mean 'sorry'? How about you not kick me in the- OUCH! What the %^$^$??"

All the young students gasped, “Shikamaru-sensei said a bad word!”

Kitsune pointed an accusing finger at him, “Sensei! You’re supposed to be a good example for all us!” She yelled, stifling back a laugh.

"Well maybe you guys shouldn't be the ones who are kicking me!"

"Sorry sensei! I'm just doing what I'm told!" a boy said, smiled nervously, and scampered off to his desk.

"Doing what you're- what's going on here??"

Kitsune, Hari, and Karen all groaned in unison as a blacked and pink haired girl raised her hand. Her clothing was a sickly mix of sweet pink and emo black. "A delinquent has placed a note on your back, sensei, ordering those who read it to kick you!" And she sat dutifully back down.

“Oh sure, spoil our fun, Hana!” Hari whispered glaring at the girl.

Kitsune also glared at her and stook out her tongue, “arty pooper.”

Shikamaru reached behind his back, and retrieved the note.

The note read: Kick me I’m a lazy ass!

"If I'm any judge," he sighed, crumpling it up and tossing it in a bin, "that was Kitsune's hand writing."

The class turned to face the culprit, who beamed proudly. Karen snickered to see Hana's disappointed look as everyone silently amended Kitsune.

Kitsune smirked at her, “Why is there something a matter Emo-Hana?”

Hana glared at Kitsune, but restrained from falling for Kitsune's catcalls.

"Okay students, now that that's over with, we'll begin the final part of the genin exams."

Everyone murmured excitedly as they lined up in the front of the class. "I really hope I pass," Hari said nervously. "My mom said that the last exam is usually Bunshin no Jutsu... I don't know if I'm good enough at it yet... and I don't want to let my dad down-"

"Relax Hari!" Kitsune laughed. "My dad says it's super-easy!"

Karen rolled her eyes. "My dad said Naruto didn't even pass."

"How did he become a genin then, huh?" Kitsune countered, and Karen shrugged, disinterested.

“Because he’s a baka with nothing but dumb luck” Hana answered.

Kitsune glared, “Hey we weren’t talking to you, nor were you even welcomed in the conversation! And don’t you dear talk crap about my dad!”

Hana rolled her eyes, "Tch. Like you could stop me. You know what they say, Kitsune. Like father like daughter."

Hari grabbed fiercely onto Kitsune's wrist as she drew it back to punch Hana, aimed for the jaw. "Not now," she murmured, and Kitsune lowered her fist reluctantly.

"We don't want to get in trouble right before the exams," Karen said, looking Hana up and down, and frowned with distaste.

"Besides," Hari soothed, smiling, "my mom was on Naruto's team, she said he became a genin because he saved Iruka and a sacred scroll from a rogue ninja by himself."

Kitsune seemed satisfied enough, and Hana slunk back, taking the hit gracefully.

"Would Uchiha Hana step up please?" Shikamaru called, glancing at the roll sheet and back up the black and pink haired girl.

Kitsune glared as Hana walked passed her, “I’m kicking her ass after this…” she murmured.

Karen nodded, equally resentful of Sakura and Sasuke's spawn. "You have my full permission to do so."

"This exam will be testing your ability to produce three clones. Okay Hana, you can start us off."

Hana clapped her hands together in a seal, and five clones appeared around her. Shikamaru nodded approvingly, and wrote some notes on whatever sheet of paper he was holding. Hana smiled smugly, and released the clones.

Shikamaru drawled on, and student after student performed the jutsu, only one or two of them underachieving.

"Next... Sabaku no Hari!"

Hari gulped discreetly, and stepped up. Shikamaru smiled warmly at his niece, hoping to encourage her. "Okay Hari-chan, let's see that jutsu of yours."

"H-Hai sensei." Hands together, concentrating... "Bunshin no jutsu!" Three clear, perfect clones puffed into existence, and blinked surprisedly.

"Well done Hari!" Shikamaru congratulated, relieved that he didn't have to explain to Shika why he had failed her daughter. Hari smiled weakly, dismissed the clones, and got back in line.

“See? I told you, you could do it!” Kitsune grinned.

Hari smiled warmly, her black-ringed eyes curving upward happily.

“Okay next up is…Inuzuka Kiki!”

A fairly tall girl stepped up, walking confidently. Her hair seemed both shaggy and silky at the same time, a brilliant shade of lavender-blue. Her pearly eyes were pupiless. Kitsune watched the estranged cousin interestedly. (they were both a bit Hyuuga - they had to be related, right?) Kiki was wearing a great jacket with black fur trimming, not unlike her father's, that ended just above her navel, the rest of her stomach covered in mesh. Dark red fang markings slashed across her defiant cheeks, accented with small red dots.

She put her hands together in the seal, “Bunshin no jutsu!” and four clones appeared around her.

Shikamaru nodded, satisfied. Each clone gave a triumphant snarl, and dissipated.

"Next... Shi Inuzuka!"

The shorter sibling gave a tiny gulp, walking forward. His hair was dark brown and was also little on the shaggy side, and he had the same eyes as his sister. Shi’s clothing consisted of a tan short-sleeved jacket, arm wrappings on his left arm, and black pants.

Shi hastily clapped his hands together, “Bunshin no justu!” three clones surrounded him.

Shikamaru took some notes and smiled. "Well done Shi."

Shi let out a sigh in relief, and his clones disappeared.

"Okay Karen, you're up."

Shikamaru smiled encouragingly as his daughter stepped forward. C'mon baby, you can do it, he thought.

Karen raised an eyebrow. As if reading his mind, she said, "Don't worry dad, this'll be easy." Hands were clasped in the seal, and she muttered the jutsu name airlessly. Three Karens appeared around her, their proud eyes blazing.

Shikamaru exhaled in relief. "Good job."

“Like I said. Easy.” Karen smiled.

“Next is… Uzumaki Kitsune.”

“Good luck Kitsune.” Hari whispered.

Kitsune nodded with a grin and walked up. She put her hands together in the needed seal, and five clones appeared, all of them grinning along with the real Kitsune.

The rest of the class continued to take the exams. They all passed - but that was expected.

"You are all expected to come to the Graduation Ceremony and Orientation tomorrow, to be put into your ninja teams.

There were murmurs of excitement. This would mark the beginning of their lives as ninjas!

"Okay, class is out. You can all wait in the playground for your parents to pick you up, unless you walk home yourself."

The very second Hana stepped outside, someone pounced on her, “What the hell!?” she yelled as she and the attacker hit the ground. She looked up at the person and instantly glared, “Kitsune! Get the hell off me you crazy fox!”

“DIE EMO-BITCH! DIE!” Kitsune yelled throwing a fist at her. Hana growled and caught her wrist, preventing the blow. Kitsune lashed out with her free hand, gripping a fist full of black and pink hair.

Hana yelped as Kitsune continued to pull on her locks, but kept an iron grip on Kitsune's other wrist.

"You're crazy!" Hana cried.

"YOU'RE AN EMO-BITCH!" Kitsune countered, and finally freed her wrist, and punched Hana in the jaw. Hana was dumbstruck. Kitsune had actually hit her.

Hana bit into Kitsune's arm, and growled deep in her throat. Kitsune's winced, but ignored the bite, and yanked Hana's hair one last time, especially hard. Hana cried out as her head was yanked back from Kitsune's arm.

"What's going on here?!" someone cried, but Kitsune's eyes didn't leave Hana. She recognized the voice of her godmother, Shika. She heard an amused grunt from Gaara, who had also come to pick up his daughter, Hari.

"Get this psycho off me!" Hana cried, and Kitsune snarled.

No one moved.

"Whoah! Is that.... my daughter?" another adult voice asked, and Hari looked up. Red-headed Pyre smiled proudly, and Naruto was speechless.

"You crazy… deranged... MONSTER!" Hana cried, making one last struggle to escape. At this, Kitsune flared.

"Don't you dare call me a monster!" Kitsune cried, and punched Hana again. "Don't you dare say that to me! You have NO IDEA!!"

"Pyre, make them stop!" Shika said, alarmed.

"Hn. Kitsune, uhm, stop?" Kitsune didn't even hear her. "I'm sorry there's nothing I can do," Pyre shrugged, smiling happily.

Shika sweat-dropped, “You didn’t even try…”

Soon all the students circled the two fighting girls. The girl students all rooted, most of which were rooting for Kitsune. While the boys started to chat, “Tear it off! Tear it off! Tear it off!” due to the fact that both Kitsune and Hana were now pulling at each other’s clothes.

The girls ignored the chanting students, continuing to shred apart each other and their clothing. It was finally when Hana was dangerously close from ripping off Kitsune's shirt altogether that Naruto intervened, scooping her up and holding Hana back with an outstretched arm.

The boys all groaned. Naruto leered at them, shuriken glinting. The boys fell silent.

"Nice scrap!" Pyre chirped, as Naruto set Kitsune down.

"You shouldn't be encouraging her," Shika tutted, but was smiling wryly.

"Mommy, did you see that??" Hari cried, running into Shika's embrace. "Kitsune was so cool!"

"I did," Shika sighed, and turned to look at Gaara worryingly, who was grinning wider than he had in ages.

“You crazy fox…” Hana muttered, readjusting her shirt, glaring at Kitsune the whole time.

Kitsune merely folded her arms crossed her chest, and turn her back at Hana, “Emo-bicth.” She countered and looked back at her sticking her tongue out.

Karen snickered, “Well that’s what you get when you trash talk about Kitsune and her dad, Hana.”

It was only after the fight that Shikamaru became aware something was going on. He stepped outside, and raised an eyebrow at the children clumped around the 'troublesome trio' and Hana, some with their parents.

Shika looked like she was about to explain, but Shikamaru stopped her. "I don't even want to know."