-Chapter 1—My World—

'Another day in miserable paradise…' I thought to myself as I pull on my clothes. I decided to skip the fancy ninja clothes mother bothered to buy for me when I went shopping with her and the twins. She felt embarrassed about me when the store owner didn't see anything for me as I looked like I was supposed to be entering the Academy soon. She bought the first fancy looking outfit that was my size and I stuffed it into the back of closet the second I got home, left in there to collect dust.

I breathed in the air deeply, practically heaving half of my body out my enormous window. I had a nice view of the village. I was bracing myself for the physically, mentally, and emotionally tiring day it would probably be today. It always was.

I could already hear the annoying squeals of laughter from the two boys, twins, who didn't appreciate what they stole from me 7 years ago. They stole my parents.

Junsei and Shinzou, the prodical sons of legend, our saviours from the terror of the nine-tails, and blah, blah, blah…. Honestly I could've cared less. They're just a pair of spoilt rotten brats with bright tomato coloured hair.

I headed downstairs quickly to make breakfast. A year or so ago mother and father made me do breakfast every morning. They used the "wanting our son to have more responsibility" excuse. I don't know why the bothered since all three of us knew they just wanted to be lazy in the mornings.

Finishing up some eggs and bacon I made the twins' favourite teddy bear shaped waffles. It was their damn birthday today and I can already see the thirty-five different families coming up to greet them and boost up their already over-sized egos that have been developing, them and our parents both.

To be honest I haven't really thought of my parents as my parents in a long while. On second thought, I haven't thought of my family as my family in a long while. The only family I really have is the family I made in the Academy and Ichiraku's.

The squeals from upstairs started, it almost surprised me. But I hear their annoying, high-pitched squeals every other hour of the day so I'm used to it.

Pretend airplane noises ringed through the upper hallways, down the stairs, and into the dining room. I almost pretended to smile in greeting before I changed my mind and grabbed a bowl for my cereal. 'They wouldn't have noticed me anyway.' I thought. I should probably eat with my 'family' for this 'very special morning'. It was, after all, Junsei and Shinzou's birthday today.

'And what do I get for my birthday? A 5 dollar bill {let's pretend they have Canadian money, ok?} and a free bowl of Ramen at Ichiraku's. And that free bowl was not bought by my father. It was given to me by Teuchi-san.' I kept quiet as my mother came in with Shinzou in her arms, the little brat giggling to no end. Mother dropped him on his high chair just as father came in with Junsei on his shoulders.

"Presenting…one of the most precious boys created in this fine village, one/half of the saviours who sealed the Nine-Tails….!" Father's voice was thunderous, honestly boisterous and excited for his boys' birthday. 'What…what I wouldn't give to be treated…be treated like that by him.' I thought, enviously staring at Junsei's spot on father's shoulders. I'd always wanted a ride on his shoulders like I've seen a bunch of boys and girls have in the streets of Konoha.

Kushina and Shinzou started drum-rolling while I pour some milk into my bowl of cereal.

"Introducing…Namikaze Junsei!" Minato came into the dining room, cheering with Junsei.

I looked at my father and I frowned just a little bit. I was the carbon copy of Minato and I hated it. It sucked whenever someone, thinking that they're complimenting me, told me I looked just like him. Probably the reason why I hate it is because my parents hate me, and the feeling was pretty freaking mutual.

'Well, it might not be hate per say…I mean they still allow me to live here.' I thought. 'They just don't love me.'

"Cake! Cake!" the two brates started chanting, one after the other. Both twins were thumped their chubby little fists against the tray table on their high chairs and I almost groaned at the annoying sounds. 'Maybe sitting here was a bad idea…? I knew I should've just packed some breakfast along with lunch and ate at Ichiraku's. There at least I'm welcome.'

"No, no, sons. The cake come later at the big party we're throwing." Kushina silenced them. "But we can get Naruto to make some extra waffles, right boy?" at the words 'right boy' Minato looked at me with a commanding tone, his eyes challenging me to defy him. I almost rolled my eyes and protested but I knew that it would be futile today. So I stuffed the rest of my cereal in my mouth and down my gullet as I went to make an extra batch of waffles for the twins. I washed the dishes before I went upstairs, not a single word shared to my parents.

'You know…I don't think they've heard my voice in the last couple of months.' I thought to myself, pondering whether or not that was true. I never really talked while I'm at the house. I'm usually out all day, only coming back an hour or two after sunset. But of course the parents didn't care, just as long as I didn't wake the boys up or disturbed them or anything when I did come back home.

Whatever…

I headed out without even a single word, or look, of acknowledgment from my so called "family".

And it's so stupid that after all these years I still get a little disappointed over it.

I get a little depressed writing this… I blame Louise, she challenged me. Hope you like…?

-Jamie