Because I'mma loser and I don't know what to do with my life, here's a NaruHina AU that's been roaming in my head like a migraine for a while now. I feel like this AU will be interesting and fun, since I'm like one of those people who would totally go into a haunted house/building just to look for ghosts...and probably trip and fall unconscious while everyone else gets attacked or something.
I'M KINDA NERDY LIKE THAT, HONESTLY.
So, here's the first part, so I hope you guys will enjoy it. Feel free to Follow, Favorite, Review or do none of the above! Enjoy your day and please have a wonderful one! Be nice to someone today and help yourself to a treat!
=xxx=
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Poppies
Herbaceous plants with variety of color, the Poppy flower was used since Ancient Greece and Rome as offerings to the dead to bring them peace on their tombstones. The flower itself can symbolize sleep, death, remembrance and even peace.
Poppy is an odorless flower, though many like to fictionalize that they smell similar to roses in literature.
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The sound of car doors slamming shut woke a teenaged boy in the back seat, making him snort awake and stare with blurry, blue eyes to the velvet ceiling of the car he has been trapped in for the past five hours. Blinking a few times, he slowly reached a hand to his chin to wipe off the little dribble of spit that was leaking out of his mouth, swallowing the dryness of his throat in the process. He was bothered by the bright light of the sun hammering itself through the windows of the car, making him grumble tiredly and roll to his side, burying his face into the discarded sweatshirt he had taken off a long while ago...whenever that was, he didn't remember.
"Kyaaa! We finally made it!" hearing an enthusiastic voice that was all too familiar - his mother - chimed into his ears. He always found his mother's voice rather inviting to join in her happiness whenever she was happy, instead of all those times she would become dark and angry that he had slept through his alarm clock and would be late to school…
He figured her childhood nickname as the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero fit her perfectly during those scary moments of his mother.
He heard her make a snickering laugh. "I'm so glad I got you that energy drink, Mi-na-to. Otherwise, we all would had to sleep in that cramped car. I swear, if I had to sleep in the same car with Naruto and his horrible gas from that stupid burrito he ate, I was gonna go insane, 'ttebane!"
"Ahh, Kushina," hearing the voice of his father, Minato, made the teenager force himself to sit up. He peeked boredly out of the car window to see his parents back to him, his father's arm swinging out to wrap around his mom. "Don't be too hard on Naruto, ne? You know you both have the same problem when you eat anything too spicy."
"Yeah, well, at least I give a warning when it's about to happen. I'm just happy to be here, anyway," Kushina hummed as she snuggled the side of her head against Minato's shoulder.
Seventeen year-old Uzumaki Naruto, the one slumbering away in the back seat of the car, gave a lopsided grin at the sight of his parents being close. After going back and forth of directions and taking restroom breaks, he could tell that both of his folks were getting rather tired of being trapped inside a hot car. Earlier, when it was so early in the morning, it was cold and raining in the city that they originally came from that everyone had to huddle themselves in sweatshirts to be able to see the road easily. Naruto could remember pulling the strings of his sweatshirt to make the hood consume his whole face, only exposing his nose and starting his nap for the long road. Somehow, along the car ride, the rain let up and the heat of the August sun returned to it's melting glory, and Naruto removed his sweatshirt and continued on laying down until now…
Looking up to what was ahead of his parents, Naruto saw the stone steps that led up a small hill to a traditional Japanese teahouse. It was small in size, but the perfect size for a small family.
Naruto could remember being a kid, running up and around the lawn of that old house and his grandfather would sit on the porch, watching him. He remembered how the both of them would play catch and chase each other, and his grandpa would get them a popsicle that he would split evenly for them to share before going inside to find his parents lounging around. Sometimes he would see his grandfather writing, and he would try to sneak up to him from behind and tackle him…
Turning her head, Kushina noticed Naruto had awakened, making her smile bigger as she spun around. "Narutooo! Wake up, ya little squirt. We made it!" she called, making her way over with a little hop in her step to open the door for him, making a load of fresh air hit him in surprise. "Come on, stretch your legs a bit. I bet they're sore from sleeping in a ball like that, huh?"
"How long was I asleep for, Ma?" Naruto mumbled as he followed his mother's orders and stretched himself out of the car. The relieving feeling of moving his limbs and cracking his back was wonderful. Rolling his ankles and then his neck, he yawned to regain his breath.
"You slept most of the time," Kushina replied with a cheeky grin, reaching up to pat her son's blond hair affectionately, before fixing it from his bedhead. "I don't blame you, munchkin. I know you hate waking up so early, but you know that the traffic would have pushed our schedule sooo late with the weather, 'ttebane!"
"Uh-huh," Naruto nodded in understanding. Looking past his mom and dad, Naruto looked up to the horizon line of the small house with a somewhat somber look.
Noticing this, Kushina gave off a sad smile and reached for Naruto, who was now a few inches taller than her at this point, resting her head on his shoulder. Snuggling her red hair under his chin, Kushina offered more softer, gentle words to her child. "It's okay, Naru-chan. Just think of all of the wonderful new memories we can make here, ne? It'll be a lot more peaceful here than it was back in the city. No more headaches, no more traffic! Just think of all the stars we can see at night!"
Minato strolled over, placing his hand on top of Naruto's head and offering the same smile of reassurance. "Your grandpa would've wanted you to be happy; remember how you always told him you wanted to live here and help him write books?"
"Yeah," Naruto grinned toothily, recalling the written messages he would send back and forth with Jiraiya, since his grandfather prefered hand-written works over the emails and text messages.
Last year his grandfather, Jiraiya, passed away at the age of fifty-seven from struggled heart-failure. In his will, he left his home and property to Minato, his son, for his family to live in and to get away from the busy-nonstop life of the city.
Minato is a businessman for a big industry for international publishing, being one of the head bosses for the past twenty years while Kushina stayed at home and took care of the household with joy. With his work, Minato had helped many people translate books, even his father's work, to be published in many languages and sent around the world for people to read. Although Jiraiya went under a different name and prefered not to be involved with the fame of his books to live simply in his little town, he remained close to his son and his growing family. Every summer, the family would spend the summer in the little town, in the middle of the urban residence called Konoha and shared the small teahouse with their favorable family member…
And now, this was their permanent home.
It took a little while for them to get everything situated for their move; Minato settling things back in the city for a new office in Konoha, where he can answer phones privately and work in a professional setting. Kushina had helped with storage for Jiraiya's possessions, as requested by the lawyer, and will wait until after moving to decide what to do with them. Withdrawing for a transfer for Naruto's schooling took longer than expect, with his grades borderline failing.
But, they're here now, and that's all that should matter, right? Starting over someplace new.
"Wanna go in and pick out a room?" Minato suggested to Naruto, who blinked with confusion. "Let Ma and I handle the last of the boxes while you pick out a room." Jerking his head towards the car, where a few large boxes sat atop of the roof. A few things that they didn't send ahead with the moving truck like some clothes and necessities.
"Go on," Kushina urged with a gentle nudge to his back, causing Naruto to take a step forward to the stone stairs. "But don't take the kitchen, m'kay? That's my place!"
"Okay, Ma," Naruto offered a half smile and went on forward, taking the first step upward to his new home that was filled with old, cherished memories.
=xxx=
The house was Jiraiya's grandparents establishment for a tea place, Naruto remembered being told. Jiraiya's grandparents raised their kids there, who then grew up and had Jiraiya; the cycle went on to stop at Minato, who went to the city for college and met Kushina, where they married and had Naruto.
The front door was the only thing with a lock on it, Naruto noticed, for safety but he knew fairly well that burglary is a very, very rare occurrence in Konoha. All the doors inside the teahouse slid open, which would be an adjustment Naruto will have to get used to waking up everyday; walls were painted white and they had a sitting spot for where you can take off your shoes and slip on your indoor slipper. Not having any onhand, Naruto slipped out of his sneakers and proceeded inside with just his socks on.
It was kinda weird roaming in his grandpa's home with the previous owner not present. It was also odd to see the once-crowded walls of photos and little ornaments hanging around also packed away someplace - all of the photos of Jiraiya as a child, growing up and Minato's childhood photographs weren't where they belonged, but rather absent.
Shoving his hands in his pocket, Naruto slid across the polished floor down the hallway, passing the kitchen area that was large and spacious; a large oven, fridge and a huge island in the middle often reminded Naruto of how Kushina would gush in that room, telling Jiraiya that he was blessed with a spacious and beautiful kitchen that even had a view of the flower field right outside the window with the town in the distance. Jiraiya would fill his fridge and cabinets up during the summer for Kushina to bake and cook all to her hearts content, and reward her family with great meals.
Kinda feel like he would just walk right in right now with arms filled with groceries, Naruto smiled at his thoughts, making his way around the corner of the hallway to pass by open doors of where Jiraiya explained customers would sit and have tea, which Naruto thought of as a dining room during his childhood years. Now that he thought of it, it may serve as a good livingroom where he and his folks could relax after a long day and watch TV together…
Three separate doors remained closed in front of Naruto. Naruto recognized them as the three rooms where it held the master bedroom, also once Jiraiya's room, Jiraiya's old office and old childhood bedroom, and the guest room that used to be where his parents would sleep in during their visits.
Naruto tilted his head to the side, feeling some kind of magnetic pull towards the door farthest down the hall, the office. Sliding the door open slowly, Naruto stepped into an all-familiar space where he would find his grandpa in the summer nights.
"Ero-sennin!" Naruto grumbled as he thrust the door open at the age of four. Fire in his eyes, he launched himself at the broad back and the mess of pearly-white hair that hung in a ponytail. Climbing to the thick shoulder, Naruto grabbed his grandpa's cheeks and pulled. "Ero-sennin! Ero-sennin!"
"Little brat," Jiraiya chuckled darkly and flipped the kid over his shoulder and onto his lap, digging the tips of his fingers into the littlest exposed flesh of Naruto's belly, tickling him for a moment. "You almost made me mess up. Why are you up so late, huh?"
"What'cha doing?" Naruto demanded instead, sitting up and peeking to the floor-set of a desk, where a simple sheet of paper laid on top, and the set of pens and nibs that he used to write with sat patiently. The paper had some written words on it, and Naruto picked up the paper and observed it.
"This doesn't look like you're writing for a book, Ero-sennin," Naruto frowned boredly. Even though he couldn't read that well yet, he definitely knew the difference between Jiraiya's book paper and simple paper. "What is this for?"
"Just notes I need to put on paper, buddy," Jiraiya sighed and ruffled the top of his grandson's head. He plucked the paper out of the kid's hands and set it back in it's place.
"What kind of notes?" Naruto asked, looking up to observe the elder's relaxed face.
"They're for my friends. I'm taking some notes for them and, when they need it, it'll be ready for them to look at."
"Will you make me notes, too, Ero-sennin?" Naruto smiled, noticing the twitch in Jiraiya's brow at the old nickname he donned since a child. "Can you take notes on things I need to know, like you're doing for your friends?"
Jiraiya didn't bother to try to hide his smile, nodding. "When you're old enough, they'll be ready."
"I'll get notes, 'ttebayo!"
There was a box inside the room. Near the window and shoved into the corner of the room.
Naruto went further into the room, noticing how much space there was now that the desk, cabinets and stacks of paper were removed. It felt lifeless, empty and a piece of Naruto himself was taken out of here much like the contents.
Kneeling down in front of the box, Naruto noticed the lack of tape sealing away whatever was inside, making it much more easier for the teenager to open the flaps and peek inside. Piled neatly in towers of hardcovers, titless books sat there in variety of colors. On top of the pile was an envelope, small in usual size and Naruto proceeded to pick it up, flipping it over to see if there was an address.
For Naruto
Welcome home, buddy.
-Ero-sennin
Frowning, Naruto felt weight shift within the envelope, showing signs of an object, rather than just a piece of paper. Prying the corner open, Naruto ripped an opening and shook the folded paper to release the contents into his waiting palm.
Falling out of the envelope and into his hand was a key. It was like those old keys that he would see in movies that unlocked large doors that held a secret room, or a treasure chest; it's silver color was tied to a string, making it look like a poorly-made necklace. Scrunching his face, Naruto looked to find a slip of paper hanging out halfway. He didn't hesitate to open that next to see his grandfather's nice writing.
Wear this at all times.
Naruto blinked once, twice. Looking between the key and the letter and envelope separately. Feeling obligated to follow the order, Naruto set the note back in the box and slipped the necklace over his head, looking at the key for a moment before flipping it into his shirt, keeping down the surprised peep of the coldness the metal had against his heated skin.
He was about to pull out a book, to flip through the pages, when Kushina's head popped into the doorway, looking around before meeting her son's eyes.
"You find the room you want?" she asked with a curious smile, making Naruto return it a little with a quirk of his lips. "You sure you want the office? I figured the guestroom was a little bit bigger, hm?"
Naruto didn't hesitate so nod. "Yeah, I want this room, Ma."
Kushina did a cheeky grin and stuck out her tongue. "Well then, get your boxes and start setting up, mister! We're having my homemade ramen for dinner tonight!"
"Kushina, honey, can you help me with this-" Crash! "- Uhm...Kushina?" Naruto and Kushina sighed in unison at the sound of Minato's voice echoing from the entranceway. With his mother offering an encouraging wink, Naruto watched as his mother spin and began making her way out of sight.
"Honestly, Minato, what am I going to do with you?" she sang out with fake sadness. "I walk in here with three boxes and here you go unable to properly hold one. Even after I told you that the bottom would most likely break!"
"Gomen, Kushina," Minato lamely chuckled, making Naruto shake his head at his parents behavior.
Naruto didn't waste another moment to look back to the box, getting on his feet to follow his mom to retrieve his boxes and try to build his bed by himself. It didn't take long for him to lose the box he found in his room under the pile of his own possessions, which took away any distraction and possible trouble with Kushina, if she were to see him lolling around in the box that was mysteriously left behind.
Naruto pushed the dresser to the corner, putting his clothes in every drawer properly and setting the school uniform he received in the mail on top, folded neatly. Building his bed didn't take long, setting up in three easy steps and plopping the mattress on top. He lazily threw his blankets and pillow on his bed situated next to the dresser, taking a bit more room.
He was about to pull out his personal belongings and then go back to Jiraiya's box when his phone buzzed in his back pocket. Blinking, Naruto pulled out his phone and looked to receive a text message.
Teme:
So are you here, or what?
Grinning like an idiot, Naruto plopped himself on the ground and began texting away. It's been a while since he took a break, and his bedroom was coming to being almost complete. He could smell dinner starting to emerge into his room, reminding him that he should also be listening for his mother's voice to tell him it's time to eat.
RW:
Yeah. Just unpacking! :D
I start school tomorrow. Will
you be there?
It didn't take long for a response to come back on Naruto's cellphone. He was actually surprised that his friend was responding quickly. Naruto remembered how his friend said that cell reception in these parts would take a little time, since it usually took about a few more minutes for a response, even with full signal.
Teme:
I graduated last year, idiot.
Uchiha Sasuke, Naruto's childhood friend and the only soul he would ever play with during his summers in Konoha was graduate from the high school Naruto will be attending as of tomorrow. At the age of seventeen, Sasuke and his elder brother, Itachi, lived alone in an apartment due to not wanting to move with his parents to the city; Sasuke was pretty independant at that point in age, and would usually take care of himself with everything. Cooking, cleaning, financial expenses and even fixing things that have broken in the tiny apartment he shared with his brother.
Now, having turned nineteen in July, Sasuke is a graduated young adult, so having him at the high school was probably out of the question for Naruto.
RW:
Don't be a bastard, Teme!
Will you at least be free by
the time I get out?
Teme:
I'll be outside your place
in the morning. Make sure
you don't sleep in.
Grinning even more brightly, Naruto began to laugh to himself in excitement. Despite still feeling saddened by the emptiness of his grandfather's house without him here, but at least his best friend was still around to be there.
Teme:
You don't even know
where the school is,
do you, Dobe?
Naruto blanched in disgust.
RW:
You're mean, you
know that? Don't make
me feel stupid-
Naruto wasn't ready for the large receive of messages from Sasuke, which were popping up every few seconds.
Teme:
Look, I need to
go. I'm busy with
some stuff back home.
Teme:
Just get
outside by 8,
okay?
Teme:
My battery is dying
already so don't
expect a response.
Naruto didn't send his message after all, feeling bad that Sasuke's phone was about to go out and he was probably out somewhere he couldn't charge it in time. Naruto has known Sasuke long enough to conclude that he was probably out in the middle of the night for a walk, which he usually does to help him sleep and relax after a busy day.
It was at that time when Kushina called for him, where he ate dinner and went on to bed, since he has a horrible time trying to fall asleep anyway.
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Dropping Poppies
Uzumaki Naruto never thought he would be so happy to see the familiar black hair of his old, childhood friend, Uchiha Sasuke. From Naruto's memory, Sasuke looked a little different from the last time he was able to see him in person. His hair, that used to spike in the back like a rear of a duck (an inside joke Naruto constantly teased him years for), has seemed to grow an inch or two, and the weight of it kept his spikes down, looking like normal hair. His bangs, too, seem to brush across his face and over his left eye. He's taller than Naruto remembered, but still around the same level as he is.
Sasuke is wearing a black, short-sleeved button up with a grey shirt underneath with jeans. Hands shoved in his pockets, Sasuke tilted his chin upward in silent greetings to Naruto who, dressed in his school uniform, jumped off the steps and prepared to launch himself to give a big bear hug when-
"You're late," Sasuke's low, emotionless tone stopped Naruto in his tracks. With his arms wide open, Naruto suddenly remembered what happened the last time he tried to have a bromance moment with Sasuke, he got pretty bruised up. Raising a dark brow, Sasuke 'tch'-ed in boredom. "It's five minutes past eight, you Dobe."
"Temeee," Naruto whined, dropping his arms. "I haven't seen you in, what, two or three years? And this is the attitude I get for moving here? Do you hate me or something?"
With his trademark smirk that Naruto instantly remembered, Sasuke rolled his eyes and began walking down the quiet street where his house stood. "Welcome home, Dobe."
Jiraiya's long driveway is more like a road to the town. Neighbors around his home are wildflowers and occasionally vegetation are on either side of the house, and across the trail would be thick woods, where Naruto really never wished to wander too close to, even with the wired fence that kept unwanted visitors out. When Naruto finally caught up to Sasuke's side, they were making their entrance into Konoha.
Shops were opening, Naruto noticed right away, some he remembered and some that looked extremely new; cafes, a large library building, a strip mall of little shops for clothes, shoes and bakes goods. A bank building and tiny houses that formed a small, family-business outfront of the house, Naruto was half surprised at the new things, yet happy how things still looked the same as it was when he was a little kid.
"So, what's the hotspot to hang out at, Teme?" Naruto asked once passing an elderly couple walking, glancing his friend's way to see him not acknowledging the citizens with a simple hello, which was pretty normal for Sasuke.
Sasuke peeked at the corner of his eye to Naruto before looking back ahead. "There's that ramen stand that your grandfather would take you to. Ichiraku's? It's still owned by the same family and I guess a lot of guys from school like to go there. I usually see them at the cafe, though. That just opened."
"You think they'd give me a good deal if I pop in and remind them I'm Jiraiya's grandson?" Naruto grinned, making Sasuke snort and shake his head. "So, what do you do with all your free time now that you graduated?"
"None of your business," Sasuke replied flatly. Naruto blinked in confusion, taking notice of Sasuke's strained sigh. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Sucky job, I guess?"
Sasuke shook his head. "No, I enjoy my job, but things have been difficult since Jiraiya's death… You know he was a popular guy in Konoha, right?"
"Yeah, and he helped you and Itachi get that apartment, too, 'ttebayo!" Naruto smiled at the memory of how his grandpa helped Itachi get a job at the meat market and rent out a small, but comfortable space above for him and his brother to live in. Jiraiya was an active participant in the town, and everyone loved him for his humor and kindness...even though he had the habit of drinking and flirting with women, they always forgave him for it.
"So, what's your job? You working with Itachi at the meat place?" Naruto asked, trying to strike conversation after a long minute of silence. It was awkward to not talk while everyone waking up and getting ready were chatting away with joy.
"No," Sasuke said. "It's more...personal."
"Oh. Well, do you work today?" Naruto pressed. "Come ooon, I bet you're good at your job, 'ttebayo! You gotta at least like something about it, right?"
"It's rather boring sometimes, but it has its moments." Sasuke's chin jerked upward, making Naruto look forward to see a two story brick-building with iron gates. It looked pretty old, but the activity of teenagers in matching uniforms as Naruto's own attire made it more energetic. He could see a couple of teens throwing a football around, girls chatting away as they gossiped and teachers carrying stacks of paper into the building.
Naruto gave a snarky grin before looking to Sasuke with hope in his eyes. "You gonna go in with me, Teme-chan?"
"No."
A cloud of sadness swept over the blond teen. "Temeee," he whined, catching the attention of a few passerby people and students. "Don't be an assbutt. What? You're too cool to go back there, huh?"
"I don't feel like going there today. I have to get back," Sasuke explained, looking to the open sky where the sun was rising a bit higher. "I told them I wasn't going to be gone for too long but, of course, you were late getting your sorry ass out of bed."
Naruto whined, but exhaled a half-smile. "Well, I'll see you afterwards, right? I'm not too sure I can make my way back home without getting lost…"
"Konoha is not that big, you moron."
"Yeaaah, but I missed you, Temeee," Naruto smiled and took off across the street to the schoolyard. "See ya, Sasuke!" He waves behind him, seeing how some of the townsfolk looked surprised at his excitement. Sasuke himself rolled his eyes and proceeded to walk away, leaving Naruto alone for his first day of school.
=xxx=
The inside of the school building was clean, yet very plain, Naruto noticed. White walls and wooden floorboards that either creaked or made a clicking noise when you stepped on it; the hallways were opened very widely, and lockers were set against the pearly walls, but not embedded into it, like Naruto's old school, suggesting that this building was probably not originally a school itself. He did see the brick with the year 1932 etched into it, so he could assume his theory was correct. The doors still has sliding to them, and the classrooms were large and little desks or tables on the inside.
He waited by his teacher's desk, as instructed in the email that was sent to him before he moved (which reminded him that he should look for his laptop in the last few boxes he has yet to unpack). Watching students stream in and take their seats, Naruto remained curiously observant of his new classmates. A small cluster, two boys and a girl, sat with their bodies facing each other and chatting away animately; some students were doing a last minute study session to themselves, their faces buried in textbooks and notebooks that they borrowed from a neighbor and some just kept to themselves on their cell phones or IPods.
One, he noticed, sat in the very far back of the room, away from the other students. Dark, blueish colored hair that reached to her hips and bangs brushing just above her large eyes sat a teenage girl. Her complexion was fairly pale, unlike the other girls in his new class were either peachy-colors or have rosy cheeks of happiness and hyper events; a single hand cradling her cheek as she peered out the opened window of the room, looking outside with her own curiosity. Her eyes, at least from Naruto's perspective right now, are a lavender shade - a faint shadow underneath her eyes were evidence of someone who is tired, yet still working to stay awake and be here. She looked very much awake, though, unlike the brown haired boy who already fell asleep with a hoodie on with the hood over his head.
Her pale eyes peeled away from the window and looked at Naruto looking at her, making her brows scrunch a bit. Naruto, feeling a tad bit uncomfortable being caught, offered a half-smile and scratched the back of his head. She frowned in response and sat up straight, making Naruto freeze and hold still.
"Alright everyone, time to cut the gossip!" a authoritative voice echoed in the room, making Naruto look away from the pale girl and see an adult, tanned skin and a scar across his nose stroll in with rolled-up stack of paper. He has a friendly smile on his face, even when he cut into the aisle and lightly smacked the sleeping teenage boy awake, who snorted and was surprised to get laughed at by everyone else. "Kiba! What have I said about trying to get to sleep on time, huh?"
"Aah, Iruka-sensei, don't embarrass me like that!" the boy, Kiba, whined and threw his hood down.
Iruka chuckled to himself and went back to the front of the room, where Naruto stood quietly. He offered him a big smile, which Naruto returned a little before he spun around and faced the class beside him. "Everyone, you see that we have a new student joining our class as of today. This is Uzumaki Naruto," he explained, gesturing a hand to Naruto, who blinked. "He came from the big city, so I want everyone to show Naruto how hospitable we can be."
Iruka turned his head to the blond. "Why not introduce yourself, Naruto. Say something about yourself."
Naruto swallowed and looked back to the bodies of students staring at him expectantly. Blue eyes scanned around and landed back to the dark-haired girl who hadn't moved an inch since he looked away from her. "Uh...I'm Uzumaki Naruto, and I just moved to Konoha last night," he started out, trying not to make himself look stupid. "I'm seventeen years old and I like ramen...I hope to get along with everyone this year, 'ttebayo!"
None of his classmates said anything, making him feel even more uncomfortable until Iruka pat his shoulder with encouragement. "Well done, Naruto," he said with a bright grin. "You can pick out a spot anywhere that's open for now, until then - We have a quiz today!"
The whole class made a groaning noise, reminding Naruto of his old school. "Now, now, this quiz is just a practice right now. Naruto, you can take a look at this and try to answer whatever you know, okay? We'll see where you're at and adjust from there."
Naruto slowly made his way down the aisle, not really knowing where to go right now. He decided to the very back and sit by the dark-haired girl, trying his best not to meet her eyes anymore and bother her. When he was handed the test from the classmate in front of him, who whispered a polite welcome to Konoha, Uzumaki-san and found a pencil inside the sleeve of the desk.
He waited until everyone settled into the quiz, hearing the paper move and some student sighing under their breaths and Iruka sitting in his spot in the very front of the room. Looking at the first question, Naruto began to fiddle around with his pencil as he began thinking when a sound of feet clicking quietly on the wooden floor.
Looking up once more, Naruto saw the dark haired girl standing at the front-left corner and hovering over a student doing their test, running his hand through his dark hair in stress. Naruto looked to his right and saw that her seat was empty, unable to figure out how she moved so quickly and quietly. The girl, however, seemed to not be taking the test, and raised a delicate hand to rest atop the student's tense shoulder and seeming to whisper under her breath.
Blinking, Naruto watched from afar to see the male student sit up abruptly, looking that he came to realization of something and began to write down his first answer. He watched the girl straighten her back and move on to the next struggling student, going unnoticed by anyone else as she moved on to the next one, and the next one.
From Naruto's perspective, she was helping people with the quiz, and no one was stopping her.
This went one for another few minutes until she stopped walking, slowly turning her head and met Naruto's eyes again for that day, making him shiver suddenly at an odd feeling in his spine. She blinked a few times before looking around her, as if she thought something else was catching his attention, before looking back to him with a disbelieving look on her face.
She opened her mouth, closed it. Swallowing a lump down her throat, she exhaled and spoke in the silence, able for Naruto to hear her soft, delicate-sounding voice. "Can you...s-see me?" she asked, biting her lip and taking a step back when he silently nodded.
She looked frightened, he noticed. "H-how is that..?" she stammered, her voice shaking and cracking, as if she was about to burst into tears.
Naruto was about to ask her if she was okay, but she stiffened when his lips parted and took a launch towards the exit, where the door was slid closed by Iruka earlier. She was running and not taking a moment to stop and open the door, making Naruto stand up from his seat and stop her from hurting herself-
She, however, went right through the solid door and disappeared.
Naruto's eyes widened in shock as no one else saw what he had seen. "Uzumaki-san?" a student asked for his attention. "Uzumaki-san, are you okay? You look like you had seen a ghost."
.
.
.
=xxx=
AUTHOR'S ENDING NOTE - My face hurts and I'm sick, so take this and forgive me for being unhealthy right now.