The Matron manage to catch me when making my lunch and now I go without lunch and dinner. Great. My hair manages to grow and is now down to my butt. Iruka-sensei is now worried about my grades and if I'll pass the test to become a ninja. Like I ever wanted to be a ninja. I walk towards the Academy ignoring my surrounding and wondering what to do for today since I also skipped breakfast. "Hey, Mabel." I hear a voice behind me.

I look behind and see Choji and Shikamaru. "Hey, guys," I said waving at them.

"Did you missed up your lunch today?" Choji said smiling.

"Is that all you care about her?" I hear Shikamaru say.

"It's fine Shikamaru. At least I'll be able to get rid of all my failures. Sadly the Matron caught me cooking and she took away my lunch. It was actually coming out like I wanted it too." I said sadly.

We all walk towards the Academy together. We ended up being good friends because of Choji. Turns out being friends with them is actually the highlight of my life. Without them, I would probably be a lifeless zombie studying recipes. "Well, since you don't have lunch you can have some of mine," Choji said.

"Choji actually offering someone some of his lunch. You should be honored." Shikamaru said.

I giggled a little. "No thanks, Choji. I would rather watch you guys enjoying your food." I said.

"Then how about coming over to dinner at my house?" Choji said.

I stop in my tracks. "W-What?" I said looking at Choji in front of me.

"How about having dinner at my house? My mom is a really good cook and maybe she can teach you a few pointers." He said.

"Really? Won't I be a bother?" I said

"No, My mom actually wants to meet you since you're not Shikamaru. She actually wants to meet you. How does tomorrow sound?" He said.

"I-I have to ask the Matron for permission but hopefully she'll say yes," I said a little more excited.

"What time do you want me to come over?" I ask walking beside them again.

"Well since you like cooking and I told my mom that, she wants you to come by around 5. Is that alright?" Choji asked.

"It's a perfect time. Thanks, Choji." I said.

"Also the next day my mom wants to meet you too so can you come over for dinner at my house too? My mom's so troublesome." Shikamaru said.

"Thanks, I'll ask the matron. Hopefully, she lets me go to both." I said with one of the biggest smiles I ever had.

"Mabel, I'm actually a little worried about you?" I hear Choji say.

We walk inside the Academy and go to our seats. "About what?" I ask curiously.

"Well, you. You look bad." I hear Shikamaru say.

"Well thanks for the confidence," I said my voice filled with sarcasm.

"That's no what he meant. What we mean to say is that you look too small and it looks like you need nutrients." Choji said.

"I just look like this though," I said.

"What do they feed you in that orphanage?" Shikamaru said.

"Nothing of your concern," I said quickly and defensively.

We all stay quiet. Both of them looking at me and, well I couldn't look into their eyes. I've been skipping meals since the day I went into that orphanage. Ever since they told me I can't cook. "I'm sorry," I told them.

"You're such a troublesome girl, you know that." I hear Shikamaru say.

"We're just worried, Mabel." I hear Choji say.

"I know," I said.

After that Iruka-sensei came into class they began to pay attention while I was studying my books. I ignore my other classmates and was so ingrown into my book. The book that my parents left me. The only thing I have left from them and I will continue to revive them through food. I hope to make them proud and see how good of a chef I am. I know the studies. I can help ninjas recover their chakra faster by eating food that I make. I can recover whatever they need. It's like medicine and even with our food, we can actually use Chakra to help others. My village wasn't just a regular village. We would help ninjas for generations and generations making people feel better and stronger. We were powerful considering we weren't ninjas but now I'm the only one of my village alive. I will revive my village someday and we will help ninjas once again for generations. That was why Orochimaru wanted us and destroyed us. He slaughter us like we were cattle thinking if he ate us he will gain more power. The way blood scatters everywhere and then his tongue. IT gives me shivers. The way his tongue would flick and touch people. Grabbing them like a third arm and the way he killed them. Their screams and pleads all in my dreams. Their pleads going in vain and their hollow screams.

"Mabel!" I hear Iruka-sensei scream.

I look up and see him fuming. "I'm tired of you always not paying attention and always doing something other than learning this!" Iruka finally snap. "What do you have to say?"

"I don't want to be a ninja," I say.

I could hear most of the students gasping in surprise and also confusing. "Than why are you even here!?" Iruka-sensei yelled.

He finally had enough of me. "The Hokage told me I had to do it even though I didn't want to," I said.

"Then get out!" Iruka-sensei scream pointing to the door.

Everyone was quiet and I stay in place knowing that if I were to go back to the orphanage I would get yelled at by the matron. "It's not the time to go," I said.

"I don't care! Get out and never come back! I'm tired of you always ignoring me and treating me like I don't exist! If you don't want to be a ninja then don't come back!" He finished his rant.

I stood up gathering my stuff I walk out the door giving one last glance to Choji and Shikamaru seeing them a little sad that I had to go. Once I got out I could hear Iruka-sensei sigh in relief. It didn't hurt me or make me feel unimportant. I'm used to being a pest to most people. I walk out of the Academy and headed towards the orphanage and smiled again remembering about the offer Choji and Shikamaru. I can't wait to go. No matter what the matron said I am totally going to go to Choji's house.

I walk down the path with a huge smile people around me confuse to know why I wasn't at the Academy but I simply ignore them. Then my smile quickly vanishes seeing the head matron standing in front of the orphanage with a terrible face. "Go to my office now." She said in an angered voice ready to explode.

I simply walk to her office seeing her retreat and following me. I open the door and sat on the same chair I have been doing for the past 6 years of my life. She sat on her side with her elbows on the desk staring at me with an ugly stare. "What happen?" She said through gritted teeth.

"Iruka finally snaps and told me to not return to the Academy," I said.

She slams her hands on the table then I see her swung her hand at me. Her hand collided with my cheek forcing my head to look away and causing a loud snap. The pain searing in my cheek throbbing and pondering. She finally hit me. I'm suprise she lasted this long. "You're useless. Be grateful Orochimaru killed your parents."She said.

Now that hurt me. My heart welling more pain than the slap, emotions always hurting more than physical pain. Tears started to well up my cheeks and the way she said it, she doesn' t regret it. I got up and ran out of her office and out of the orphanage. I hate it. I hate being here, I hate everyone for not listening to me! And I hate this goddam world!

I ran till I stop at the park I'm supposed to meet Choji when we go to his parent's house. I sat on the swing with my head down, not feeling being seen. I couldn't stop the tears from falling on the ground.

I hate it here. I wanna go away and find someplace where I belong. I hate it. I hate it. I don't want to be a ninja. Is that so bad? What's the point of living if all you ever feel is pain and loneliness.