Class was out and the sun was shining high in the sky. Kenji started his way through the courtyard and was heading home. The village looked beautiful this time of year. The birds were chirping in the trees and the flowers were beginning to open. When he rounded a corner of the building he saw that kids were running out of the academy grounds. It was at that moment that several of his peers were standing in the way of the exit of the academy grounds. He stood glaring at them as he knew what was about to happen.

"Get out of here freak!" One of the students yelled.

"Yea, you don't belong here!" Another yelled.

"Go back to the mist village where you belong!" The final one yelled, his name was Saijuro and was the leader of this particular group.

As they yelled at him they had picked up rocks and were throwing them at him. The thing was that Kenji's skin was scaled like that of a crocodile. A trait that only showed itself in shinobi of the village known as Kirigakure, or the Village hidden in the Mist. However, Kenji was born here in Konohagakure, the Village hidden in the Leaves. After a while of them pelting him with rocks a young girl had come running up. She stood between the other boys and Kenji.

"Leave him alone you bullies! He has done nothing wrong and doesn't deserve your bullying!" She said.

"Get out of the way Shizune, we aren't going to hit a girl." The oldest of the boys said to her.

"Ha ha! Kenji has to be saved by a girl." One of the boys laughed out loud.

Kenji bowed his head down in embarrassment, but he was also pleased that someone was actually looking out for him. He looked up and saw that the boys walked away. The young girl turned to him and saw that despite how many rocks were thrown out at him he wasn't bleeding. His scaled skin apparently wasn't just for show.

"You alright?" She asked.

"Yea I'm alright." He adjusted his pack and looked at the young girl.

"I'm Shizune and you are? She smiled, while looking at him.

"I'm Kenji, I just started here a couple of weeks ago, and the third Hokage said that I should be enrolled."

"Wow, you know the Hokage? That's a great honor, wait, why did he say you should be enrolled here? What about your parents? Don't they have a say in it?"

Kenji looked at his feet, tears welling in his eyes. He ran past her and down the hill into town. She watched him as he took off. It must be a touchy subject, she thought to herself. She shrugged and walked to her home to do her homework.

Kenji got to the small apartment that was his home. It was paid for by the village so he could live there. He had no parents, well he knew his mother was dead. Why did she have to ask such a personal question? Oh well no time to dwell on it now, he thought to himself. He set his bag next to his desk and pulled out his homework. First some geography, then some math. After he finished his written homework he focused on meditating, trying to channel and control his chakra. After about an hour he stood up and started doing some exercise, push-ups, sit-ups, some squats. By the time he was done it was about six o'clock, he smiled and walked into his shower. After a while in the shower he backed up his block and tackle and decided to head to his favorite stream to fish by.

He ran across the rooftops and jumped over alleyways to get there, always improving his skills and training. He didn't have time to play silly kids games, or socialize. He even took fishing as training. A way to improve his patience and thought control. As he arrived near the stream he heard some voices coming around the corner. It was the three boys from earlier.

"Man why did Shizune have to step in?" One of the young boys chimed.

"Yea I was hoping to really cream that Kenji." Another said in a sing song voice.

"Yea he doesn't deserve to be in this village." Saijuro finished up.

As they came around the corner they ran right into him. He glared at them and started walking to his fishing spot. They started following him and he started moving faster. He got to his favorite spot and set his stuff on the large rock he liked to fish from.

"Hey Kenji! What do you think you're doing? This fishing spot is only for people of Konoha, you don't belong here!" He picked up a large rock and hurled at him.

"Yea there's no one around here to stand up for you now Kenji. We will show you what happens to spy's in Konoha."

They started pelting him with rocks again and Kenji just stood and took it. He knew if he attacked them or fought back it would just reinforce their belief that he was a monster or enemy. He would allow them to take their hatred and anger out on him. He would prove one day that he belonged in Konoha. Just as one of the kids was about to throw another rock his arm was grabbed and stopped. Kenji could barely make out who it was since his eyes were swollen.

"Don't you think you should leave this young man alone? He is in your class correct? Go get out of here, if you have the energy to bully, then you have energy to be training." Said a feminine, but older voice.

"Mendari Sensei?!" The three boys yelled out.

Mendari Sensei, the Jonin? Kenji thought to himself. Why was she stepping in? Isn't this a little too trivial for a Jonin of her rank? Kenji immediately kneeled and bowed his head. He wanted to show his immediate respect. He looked up trying to see through his bruised up eyes. The boys had run off and sensei was standing there.

"Stand up young man, There is no reason to be so formal. What's your name?" Mendari Sensei had asked.

"Kenji…my name is Kenji sensei." Kenji said holding back tears.

"Well, Kenji, you never mind those boys. You just improve yourself and train yourself hard and one day those boys will look up to you with nothing but respect and awe." She said as he walked away.

"Sensei? If I may ask, before you go, what were you doing here?" Kenji asked hesitantly.

"Me? I was just on my evening walk through the village. I saw you in trouble and felt that I should step in." She put plainly.

"Yes Sensei." Kenji said with a bow.

"Don't let those boys bother you. Sure, you are different and your parents were from Hidden Mist Village, but you are of Konoha, so keep your pride and stick to your training understand?" She had said before finally leaving.

Kenji after a while of sitting in awe got up and dusted himself off. He went back to his tackle box and started fishing.

The next morning Kenji was walking to the academy and was admiring the sunshine when he heard footsteps behind him. He turned and saw two boys running up behind him. They were smiling and laughing and making jokes. He had a feeling of depression. He wished he could have a friend like that. As they passed him he watched as they playfully pushed each other back and forth. He was reminded of what Mendari Sensei said and held his head up high.

Training shall be my friend, One day I shall become an outstanding ninja and prove to them that I belong here, Kenji thought to himself. While he was walking thinking to himself he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to look who it was.

"Hi Kenji, how are you today?" Shizune had said.

Kenji looked her in the eyes and shook his head. "You aren't scared of me? Or hate me because I'm different?"

"Why would I do that? Everybody is different." She said with a cute little smile on her face.

With that they walked with each other to school. They talked about their favorite places to go and things they like to do. She told him about a little ramen shop on the corner called Ichiraku Ramen. He replied that he fishes to get his food, since he doesn't get any real money of his own yet.

They arrived at the academy and walked in to the class. The Sensei was already getting the lesson for the day on the board. They went to their seats and Kenji pulled out his pencils and paper, ready for whatever the day was about to bring.

"Hello Class. I'm glad that some of you have gotten to know each other. Today's class will be taking place outside as we will be doing a nature course, to prepare you for survival. So put away your pencils and paper and follow me." Sensei Yamiguchi stated opening the door leading out of the classroom,

The Class got up and followed single file out the door. Kenji walked with them and noticed that they were heading to his favorite part near the stream. When they got to the bank under the tree Sensei Yamiguchi turned to the class and told them to sit wherever they might like. Kenji climbed up to the top of his large rock and watched the class.

After a couple of hours they were led back to the class room and grabbed their bags. He dismissed the class and started straightening up his paperwork. As Kenji was about to leave, Sensei Yamiguchi called him over, which Kenji was slightly confused.

"Kenji could you come here for a minute?" Sensei asked waving him over.

"Yes Sensei, what do you need?" Kenji asked walking over.

"Kenji I was real surprised about you today. You are only six years old and yet you climbed that large rock on your own, not to mention that you knew the answer to almost all the questions today. Keep it up and you'll make Genin rank easy. Now go do your homework and work hard."

"Yes Sensei!" Kenji snapped to attention and left the class and ran on home.

When he got to his house he saw that Shizune was there waiting for him. They walked together and ended up at Ichiraku Ramen shop. They sat at the bench and Kenji bowed his head.

"I don't have a lot of money I don't know if I can afford it."

The young man behind the counter looked over at Kenji. He jumped back in shock, but soon realized that Kenji was a customer. He walked up and shook his head a little and apologized for his reaction. Kenji shook his head and told him that he was used to it. The man insisted that he was in the wrong and gave him a bowl ramen on the house.

"Thank you mister. Thanks a lot." Kenji said smiling.

"Yes mister Teuchi, thank you. This is Kenji's first time here. I was here for the grand opening remember?" Shizune said.

"I remember, so Kenji do you go to the academy?" Mister Teuchi asked.

"Yea I just started a couple of weeks ago. I'm going to dedicate myself to my training. Maybe Shizune would be willing to help me with it." Kenji said smiling.

"Of course I'll help Kenji, we can study together." Shizune said before they finished their big bowl of soup and leaving the restaurant.