"It's okay, Occhan," Naruto reassured, "I like walking."

"Are you really sure? You can use Bella's truck after you get your license ― "

"Oh, no, no," Naruto held up her hand, "The truck will be her gift when she'll move here in January, right? Moreover, I don't need it. I can always teleport to school."

Charlie still looked troubled, a slight frown marred his face, but he let the matter slide. "If that's what you want," he reluctantly said.

Naruto smiled up at him, "It is."

"At least, let me drive you to school today."

Naruto paused, finding nothing wrong with it. "All right," she gave in, seeing that Charlie had not offered it because he felt obligated, but because he wanted to.

During the month of waiting for Charlie to finish enrolling her to school ― something that she somewhat regretted now ― she locked herself up in her room and crammed English, Geography, trivial things about this world as much as she could into her brain by reading books and listening to music, sometimes conjuring a bunch of Shadow Clones to help her.

She had arrived in this world in August 2004 and would be attending school today, September 2004. Naruto only chose to go to school in this world because she wanted to experience the feeling of being a normal kid ― well, a normal girl. Back home she couldn't because she was... a genin, a hero who saved the world with personal problems she just didn't want everyone to know.

Well, because, everyone knew her back home ― as a boy, even. She had to use henge and plaster a permanent smile whenever she got out of her apartment. Here? Well, she could frown whenever she liked, wore something girly for once, even though she sometimes felt like a boy wearing girly things.

Trying to prepare herself for the undoubtedly English-filled days ahead, she tried not to speak her native language for a month ― even with Kurama, she forced him to learn English with her.

Morning till lunch, she learned all about adjusting to the foreign things in this world. She surfaced the internet, learned how to use a laptop she had bought with her own money ― she exchanged some of the gold she brought from Konoha to American Dollars ― learned that humans in this world could fly by things called Planes and Helicopters. Sometimes, she even made efforts to greet mothers and old ladies alike when she went to the grocery store. In the evening, she made simple ― she quickly got sick with the foreign take-ins ― dinner and watch the television with Charlie and talked about mundane things with him.

All in all, she could picture herself at least surviving in this world with her now mediocre English. She still lost track of what Charlie was saying when he was speaking fast, but she was happy to say that even when he did that, she could understand the gist of what he was saying.

Naruto munched on her breakfast which consisted of cup ramen from Konoha and a toast with blueberry jam. She had tried cereal but found that she couldn't eat it as breakfast. Maybe as a snack but definitely not as a breakfast menu.

"Ready to go?"

"Just a minute!"

Naruto responded. She stuffed the toast she hadn't got the time to eat yet to her mouth and launched her backpack on to her shoulder.

"Why is everybody staring?" she asked when they arrived. Naruto wasn't shy, but the stares and the whispers were unnerving.

"Dunno about that," Charlie knew why ― it was because he drove her to school with his cruiser ― but didn't want to say it, "Go straight to the Secretary's office to get your schedule. And... well, good luck," he gave her shoulder a brief pat.

Naruto shot him a grin and got off. Once Charlie drove off, she breathed in, drawing her confidence. Her grip on her backpack tightening, she strolled the road confidently, ignoring the curious stares she got from the students that saw her getting off of Charlie's cruiser.

"You have to get each teacher in your classes today to sign this little slip of paper. Do you understand?"

Naruto nodded at Miss Cope, briefly annoyed at the woman for speaking too slowly. Instead of nursing her annoyance towards the woman, she checked her schedule.

English, Mason, Building 3

Trigonometry, Varner, Building 5

American History, Hauss, Building 2

Gym, Clapp, Gym

~Lunch~

Biology II, Banner, Building 4

Spanish, Goff, Building 7

Art, Trelawney, Building 8

Naruto furrowed her brow. Seven subjects? Compared to the fake Japanese high school academic reports Charlie's acquaintance had made, her junior year academic report would be a complete disaster, that's for sure. She could almost see it.

Sighing internally, she sent her fakest, widest smile to the person behind the desk, "Thank you, Miss Cope."

Walking while looking at the map to know where building three was, she thought about the subjects. She feared her second class because she didn't even know what Trigonometry was about. But the rest of the subjects were something she did know ― even for a little.

She had chose Spanish because the sounds were close to her native language. History would probably lull her to sleep ― like the clock sounds in her room always did. Well, at least she looked forward to English. Gym? Nah, she didn't look forward to downplaying her physical strength.