Author's Note: Hey guys, WDM here. So this will be my first time posting on this site and I'm learning the process of it. Although it's not my first time writing a story, I am still developing it so constructive criticism is always welcome.
Anyway, not a lot really read this AN so it's just very short.
Nevertheless, let's get on with the tale.
Disclaimer: I don't own any characters from either Naruto or Danganronpa.
Story Begins
Hope's Peak Academy, an exclusive, government-sanctioned school that only accepted students with exceptional abilities. The campus is in the center of a large city, where it appears quite prominent.
Hope's Peak Academy's stated goal is to raise the future "hope" of the nation, earning it the moniker "The Academy of Hope". Average high schoolers envy the students of the Main Course, as these Super High School-Levels are almost guaranteed success in life by being a Hope's Peak graduate. Certainly, many Hope's Peak graduates were employed in high positions in every field of the professional world, so that statement was not an exaggeration.
Hope's Peak Academy is not a traditional learning facility like other schools. It provides education for the talented, while at the same time researching those talents. The teaching staff are not simple teachers, but also scientists who researched human talent.
There are two requirements to becoming a Hope's Peak main course student: One must be currently enrolled in high school and one must excel at their field of expertise; in the case of Ultimate Lucky Student, their "talent" is determined by winning an annual draw. Should the invitation be lost, a redraw occurs, as losing the invitation indicates their luck is not worthy of becoming an Ultimate.
Blah, blah, blah, blah, you know how it goes.
However, what if there was some big event that happened years before the Biggest, Most Atrocious Despair-Inducing Incident In Human History occurred? Like say, a dimensional tear appearing and spitting out a certain blonde-haired, whisker-marked youth?
What if a new piece was brought into the board?
What if a new challenger rose up that was bathed with both Hope and Despair?
What if this new player had the power to change the outcome of everything?
What do you think would have happened?
(Somewhere in the Underground)
The smell of smoke wafting through the air.
The cheers of success and the roars of defeat echoing around the room.
The clinking of beer bottles ringing and the pounding of fists on wooden tables.
Such familiar sounds now and ones that make him feel at home.
"Call," he said, throwing a few chips down at the table. He blew a cloud of smoke out his mouth, forming the figure of a nine-tailed fox. His impassive eyes softened at that image, the memory of his companion playing in his mind.
"Turn," the dealer declared, showing the fourth of the five cards on the table.
His orbs that were once blue, now red, looked at his own hand for a second, no emotion and no change in his body language, before shifting over to his enemies. Such tough, dangerous looking people and certainly high up in the social ladder of the surface world. They sized each other up like a pack of hungry animals, looking for the sheep in wolf's clothing so that they can pounce and tear them apart.
One of the buff men, the second-in-command of the Japanese Police Force, threw down some more chips on the table, causing for the others to tense. But not him, not the whiskered blonde with the red slitted eyes. Oh no, he merely stared at the man with an immovable, stony façade.
"I fold." A beautiful woman sighed, dressed in the finest of clothing and wearing the most expensive of jewels. Two of her humongous bodyguards stood behind her, making sure that nobody was trying to do anything their employer wouldn't want.
With the surrender of the woman, now only 4 of the 9 players are left.
"Call," an old, yet distinguished, man stated, pushing through a mountain of chips. "Your tactic doesn't scare me, Deputy. I have played this game longer than you have."
"So you say, Setchi-dono, yet I'm the one with the higher chip amount," the cop retorted, taking a shot of gin.
"Men and their pride." An old woman shook her head, her diamond earrings glinting as she did so. "I fold as well. Knowing who's going next, I'd rather not take the risk."
The others immediately tensed at her statement and their eyes flickered over to the blonde smoker.
Said man did nothing, merely enjoying his vice while a black chip twirled around his fingers. Though he could feel their stares, intense and intimidating as they may be, it was nothing he hasn't seen before. He then flipped the plastic circle into the air before raising the pot to twice the amount.
Other men choked on their own spit at seeing this and the only two women at the table sighed in unison at the predictable move. The two other remaining players growled threateningly at the man for his action, but they were met with only a blank mask.
"Bold move, boy," the cop sneered. "Raising the total pot while the cards are seemingly to your advantage. I've seen players older and more experienced than you do that and have it backfire on them!"
The blonde didn't bother in replying.
"I call your bluff," the Deputy declared, pushing through his own chips.
The entire table went silent at this.
A pot that has now become 30 million yen.
Currently the highest ever recorded.
And it was staring at each and every one of them in the eyes.
Such glory, such magnificence, such majesty, and it's right in front of them. The total amount was even bigger than the largest 1st place reward of the WSOP!
"I fold," Setchi grumbled, adjusting his glasses.
"River," the dealer declared, turning over the last card.
The blonde kept the monotony of his action, with no change in posture or body language whatsoever. He only glanced at his hand and determined its strength before concealing them once more. He knocked on the table twice, signifying a check.
The Deputy laughed loudly at this, boisterous and cocky. "What? The last card not the one you wanted it to be, boy? Maybe you regret raising now, don't you?" He pushed in the remainder of his chips, going all-in. "Unfortunately for you, I'm not merciful." he smirked diabolically, his sights set firmly on the mountain of chips.
The crimson-eyed gambler didn't even bat an eyelash at that, looking like he didn't even hear his enemy's words. He looked back unflinchingly at the other man, smoking his cigarette and blowing out the excess, in the form of the Konoha insignia this time. Without a word, he matched the offered raise with a call of his own.
Whistles of astonishment sounded in unison.
"The total pot is now 75,450,000 yen," the dealer stated, unable to keep the amazement out of his voice. "This is the highest amount on a table ever recorded in Poker history, and even almost reaching the largest Prize Pool of the World Series! Maybe the winner could give me a tip next round?"
That made a round of laughter erupt from the table.
Clearing his throat, the dealer knocked on the table. "Now, reveal your cards."
The ones that were given were The Ace of Hearts, the 9 of Hearts, the Queen of Hearts, The Jack of Hearts and the 10 of Hearts.
Already, it was a Flush. If nobody had a winning hand, everybody still in the game would split the pot evenly. Even then, it would still be a large amount of money. They would go home happy men with the cash that they would gain. Truly, the only ones that would be considered losers in this situation were the greedy ones that wished to win everything.
However, the atmosphere in the room told everyone that there was going to be only one winner this round.
And of course, the Deputy revealed his hand first.
"8 of Hearts and an 8 of Clubs with the Ace of Hearts as the kicker! Straight Flush from 8 to the Queen! Beat that, boy!" The cop said that with such a huge amount of confidence that it caused for the blonde to pause in his smoke and raise an eyebrow.
The other players nodded their heads in acknowledgement. That was certainly a very strong deck, a Straight Flush is the second strongest hand without the Joker getting involved. Now, they turned to the whisker-marked blonde and awaited his own revelation with baited breaths and pounding hearts.
"I give you praise, Deputy," the youth began, blowing out a cloud of smoke. "To have such a hand, truly you would think that you had won. What, with 9 people in the room, the chances of it being beaten are small, especially since such a specific card is needed to do so, wouldn't you agree?" The insignia of the Uzumaki spiral formed in the air.
"What are you getting at now?" the cop narrowed his eyes. "If you're stalling for time to cheat, then don't bother. My time in the Force taught me to see even the most smallest of actions."
The blonde smirked ever so slightly. "Who is the special guest that will be arriving here again, Hana-dono?" he ignored the police and turned to the beautiful woman.
"The Queen of Liars herself, my King," she answered with a bit of boredom. She rested her cheek on her knuckles and played a bit with one of the plastic circles, sighing to herself. He's obviously going to go on one of his acts again.
"And who will she be looking for, Setchi-dono?" the blonde turned to the old man.
"She will be looking for you, your Majesty," the old man answered, also with the same amount of deadpan. He leaned back in his chair and took a few puffs of smoke. The blonde always does this whenever he was about to crush someone and the elder had grown used to it.
"And what am I called here again, Yasha-dono?" turning to the old woman, he asked his question.
"The King of Deceit, your Grace," she stated this with a small smile, obviously catching on to what was being implied. She took a sip of her jasmine tea, trying to enjoy the show that was being put on. As always, their companion had a thing for dramatic plays.
"Learn from those around you, Deputy. They know how to honor Royalty," the blonde declared with that monotonous visage.
"Enough of this!" the cop exclaimed, having ran out of patience. "Show your cards now, child, before I rip them out of your hands!" He banged his fist on the table, causing for all the guards to reach for their hidden weapons.
"What I am getting at, peasant, is that the Queen…" he pointed to the Queen of Hearts. "… is looking for her King." And with a single flick of his wrist, the blonde's two cards were revealed to the entire table. "And the King does not disappoint."
…
The King of Hearts and the Ace of Spades.
…
…
A Royal Flush of Hearts.
"As such, thou shalt know thy place," he stated. "There is a reason as to why I am King here, commoner." Without any haste, he pulled in the chips with a total of 75,450,000 yen to his side. "I wouldn't worry too much, Deputy. I'm sure the money you spent to get these chips were dirty anyway. Surely you can easily get some more."
The people at the table shook their heads in amusement.
The defeated man was shocked into silence.
He wasn't new to this kind of game. Hell, he could be considered to be one of the oldest, in fact. Yes, he saw that the King of Hearts was the only needed card to defeat his hand. Yes, he was well aware of the reputation of the man in front of him. Yes, he knows that the King of Deceit is, like the Queen of Liars, also undefeated.
But he was counting on the fact that his enemy wouldn't have it. A deck of 52 cards, Jokers not included, with two pieces given to 9 players. A 1 out of 26 chance to get the King of Hearts for one player, 34 cards are left on the table and the 8 other players, himself included, had a 1 out of 6.5 chances to get it.
The luck that was needed to get the needed card for this particular round, for the cards to be distributed in that way, for the five on the table to be the ones shown, for him to receive his deck only to have false hope and for the hand of the King to be a Royal Flush was simply… Godly.
This blonde must have the fortune of Lady Luck herself, surpassing even the Devil's for this to happen.
He was betting on the fact that the young man wouldn't be in possession of the most crucial piece of the round.
And he lost.
He lost that bet.
He lost every single piece of coin that he had, leaving him with absolutely nothing.
. . .
. . .
. . .
And so, the dirty cop felt anger.
Immense rage.
Massive humiliation.
Humongous resentment.
Great shame.
Lust for Blood.
Ultimate Despair.
With a furious yell, he pulled out a hidden gun from his boot and pointed it at the stoic blonde. In response, the guards of the VIPs took out their own weapons and pointed it at the Deputy.
"Such is the result at the end of this Texas Hold'Em Poker, then?" the whisker-marked youth questioned, the only one who had no protection.
In a flash, he pulled out a crimson projectile and threw it, right in unison just as the trigger was pulled.
"DIE!"
BANG!
The sound of a gunshot, the noise of flesh being torn apart and then the thumping of a body.
Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze sighed as he plucked the bullet out of mid-air. Seriously, this world was supposed to be years more advanced than his own, yet even Genin could defeat these guns of theirs. So slow moving projectiles, so predictable lines of paths, such dependent users on their weapons as well.
The headless body of the Deputy fell to the ground and blood immediately gushed out of it. A pool of crimson liquid started to surround the corpse, staining the dead Officer's uniform. The occupants of the room showed no surprise or even disgust at the event. All too used to this happening to be even considered abnormal.
Naruto snapped his fingers and men immediately jumped to their feet, carrying the body away, cleaning the blood and sanitizing the floors and other stained areas of the room. They were quick, they were efficient and they were effective. Not even ten seconds later, the room was back to how it usually looked.
"And that puts the tally to what, my King?" Hana questioned.
"That's the 45th time that they attempted to kill me after a game." His voice was emotionless, not even moved by the deaths anymore. "I believe today is a special day."
"Special day?" Yasha raised an eyebrow. "What makes this attempt so different?"
"Was he, perhaps, someone you wanted to get rid of?" Setchi blew a stream of smoke.
"Nothing of the sort." Naruto's eyes flickered to an approaching woman. "The numbered attempt is merely a sum of a combination of numbers that I hold dear in my heart." He killed his cigarette and gestured for the dealer to begin a new game. "I was wondering when you'd show up, Substitute Homeroom Teacher. Good afternoon."
Chisa Yukizome desperately tried hard to ignore the reality that she just saw someone die right in front of her very eyes. Even more so the fact that the people at the table didn't even bat an eyelash. Or maybe the fact that a gun was fired straight at her new student but he seemingly looked unharmed.
She forcefully swallowed the fear and anxiety that was threatening to take over her body.
She smiled nevertheless. "Good afternoon to you, too, Namikaze-san."
The blonde glanced at the teacher's other companions. "Peko-san, Fuyuhiko-san, good day. How goes Harumaru-dono?" He received his two cards and he took one peek at them. Memorizing the number and the suit, he concealed his deck and turned his attention to his visitors.
"Hey, Naruto-san." Fuyuhiko Kuzuryū, the Super High School-Level Gangster. One of the few people that the ninja respected enough to not treat like they were unimportant. "My Father is still pissed that he lost the Poker match last week."
The shinobi hmph'ed. "And you are still mad at your Father, I take it?" He tossed some chips at the table to Call someone's Raise.
Fuyuhiko's eye indirectly twitched. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists at the question. "I am but it has lessened to a degree, somewhat."
"How goes Natsumi-san in your household, Naruto-san?" Peko Pekoyama, the Super High School-Level Swordswoman. Included in one of the few the blonde respected enough to be considered a companion.
The event that they are talking about was when the Kuzuryū Clan Leader, Harumaru Kuzuryū, bet his own daughter in a desperate move to win back 35 million yen. The terms were that if Naruto won, Natsumi Kuzuryū had to stay in his house as his "personal guest" for a year. If Harumaru won, he wins back double the money he lost and the services of the blonde for 6 months.
The Namikaze won with a 4 of a kind against a Full House.
"She has finally settled in," Naruto assured them. "She has taken a liking to my Manor and has began exploring it to her leisure. Just yesterday, she told me that she had finally found the swimming pool. If I had to hazard a guess, she would be by the poolside right now, abusing her position as an Honoured Guest." He did a once-over at the three cards shown on the table before raising to a million yen.
That made Fuyuhiko breathe a sigh of relief. "At least you're treating her well. I wasn't able to visit because Father upped my work to regain back the funds he lost."
"My doors are always open for you, Fuyuhiko-san." He knocked on the table twice.
"Thank you," the Kuzuryū bowed. "But to the matter as to why we're here."
"Yes, yes, I know all about Yukizome-sensei gathering the 77th class," Naruto revealed, surprising the three.
"What? How?" Chisa asked in slight bewilderment.
"My birds chirp at every opportune moments, sensei." The blonde's crimson slitted eyes shifted to the instructor, sending a cold chill down her spine. Those weren't the eyes of a normal student.
"You have spies?" Peko blinked in slight astonishment.
"Don't you?" he quickly retorted. "But of course, I have. My talent wouldn't be in full effect without them." He tossed a few million worth of chips as a raise.
"Talent?" the two students questioned in unison, hidden interest and curiosity in their tone.
"Ah, yes!" Naruto snapped his fingers as if he just remembered something. "You still don't know what my talent is, do you?" He looked at the four cards shown and upped the pot.
"You never revealed it to us. Even your records don't say what it specifically is," Peko stated, a bit disappointed and irritated that her skills as a hitman couldn't help.
"If you were desperate enough to go as far as looking at my profile, then perhaps it is better if it stays hidden." The fifth card is revealed. "I shall remain as the Super High School-Level Mystery still."
Fuyuhiko tsk'ed. "You and your love for mind games."
Seeing that her students were getting off topic, Chisa decided to insert herself into the equation. "As wonderful as your interactions are, you should also talk to the others, Namikaze-san," she suggested kindly. "They're right outside your Casino. You wouldn't waste your youth that way."
For a second, Naruto stiffened.
Youth...
"Why should I leave now?" The blonde revealed his card and showed it to be a Four of a Kind. "The Queen is on her way here. Tonight is the moment where the Ultimate Gambler will be crowned. There can only be one ruler, after all." He raked in 10 million chips, causing his gambling friends to grumble and sigh in dismay.
"The Queen?" Chisa cocked her head to the side.
"The Queen of Liars is the only person in the Underground that is undefeated, aside from the King of Deceit," Hana decided to speak up, twirling a chip between her fingers. "Their match will be the most grandiose of all and will be considered a Legend, a story that will be told for years to come. This is their only window for the next few years." She turned to the people and flashed them all a charming smile.
However, before anything else could be said, news suddenly came in. A man dressed in a tux strolled into the VIP room, his appearance attracting the eyes of everyone there. He approached Naruto with a gait of nobility in his step and a certain urgent beat in his walk.
He bowed respectfully.
"Your Majesty, a letter from my Queen." He handed the blonde a piece of paper with a red rose stamp on the bottom, the woman's personal sigil.
The Namikaze took the parchment and read the message silently.
There was a minute full of tense and slightly awkward silence as the blonde immersed himself to the letter. There was no visible reaction from the male, aside from the slight raising of his brow. After what seemed to be forever, he put down the missive and tucked it in his pocket.
"I see. Perhaps I shall go with you, after all, sensei." Naruto signaled for some servants and ordered them to cash in his winnings. "It seems the Queen is facing family matters. A dear member of her house has fallen ill and as such, she has to nurse them back to health personally."
He pulled out a briefcase from under the table and gave it to the messenger. "Send my regards to Celestia and my well-wishes to Grand Bois Chéri Ludenberg. May he again meow healthily soon. Additionally, give this to her as a 'Get Well Soon' present. She may decide on the new schedule of our match. She can find my contact information inside."
The servant bowed. "Her Majesty will be most pleased. Thank you, your Grace." He pulled out a thorny rose with a blood red hue, a black kiss mark on one of the petals. He then presented it to the shinobi. "An apology token from her Highness."
And with that, he left.
Peko approached the blonde. "Was that a wise thing to do?" She narrowed her eyes at the sudden tensing of the bodyguards. "There is a possibility that he could steal it and you wouldn't know about it."
Naruto then poked the swordswoman's forehead without warning, earning him an annoyed glare. "Au contraire, Peko-san. I shall know if the package has been delivered or not, believe me." He got off from his seat and wiped off the imaginary dust on his tux. "Carry on, gentlemen and ladies. Setchi-dono, you're in-charge of getting my winnings to the Vault." He turned to his teacher and classmates. "Shall we?"
"Um, I guess so." Chisa was a bit puzzled with all this Royalty talk and the way they used certain words and sentences. Already, she could tell that Naruto Namikaze will be an interesting student, one that will hopefully befriend the others easily. His King complex and his vice of smoking may prove a bit of a problem but none that she couldn't handle.
"Alright! Only two left!"
(Hope's Peak Academy)
Excitement.
Exhaustion.
Loud noises.
The three most prominent elements that surrounded the former Jinchūriki.
How it irked him so.
His blood red eyes gazed at the other individuals in the room, the slitted irises showing nothing but indifference and emptiness inside them. His fanged mouth twitched downwards, a tiny amount of disapproval and annoyance showing. His whisker marks, now deepened to the point of inky blackness, glowed a minute red.
He shifted in his chair, the wood groaning in response. Not because of his weight but rather, because of his positioning. He was situated in a way that, if someone unwelcomed suddenly appeared, he could explode right out of his seat and take down the intruder before they could know what hit them.
Which would be a bit odd, seeing as he was in a school surrounded by fellow students, right? Well, tell that to the victims in America's School Shootings. Hell no was he taking any chances here.
Giggles, panting and other excited chatter tore his attention away from that subject. The racket his classmates were making made his eye indirectly twitch.
He ran a hand through his golden blonde hair, brushing away a few stray strands from his eyes.
Of all the people that could have been his classmates, why were most of them annoyances?
Hiyoko Saionji, the Super High School-Level Japanese Traditional Dancer. Her unfiltered mouth made peace and silence hard to achieve. She continues to blather and spit on and on about breaking this guy, torturing this girl, ruining this person's reputation…
He disliked it immensely.
Why couldn't she just keep her mouth shut and do all the things she says she would do instead? One of these days, he just might stand up and wring the life out of her, consequences be damned. If it wasn't for his self-control, the girl would already be dead.
Sonia Nevermind, the Super High School-Level Princess. The blonde held back a growl. She was more annoying than the first girl. Always pestering him about how his eyes were of the occult and how she was interested to know more about it. At least Hiyoko left him well enough alone. She, on the other hand, bothered him nonstop during the first week of class and then the weeks following that.
It's a good thing she was respectful when talking to him or else she would've… disappeared a long time ago. Her interest in things morbid and supernatural caused her to continuously poke him about his origins and abilities. The blonde was sometimes tempted to show it to her in the best way possible, to send her into her worst illusionary nightmare with death being the only escape.
Mahiru Koizumi, the Super High School-Level Photographer. She is definitely better than the first two, that he can say truthfully. She never bothered to approach him and doesn't talk too loudly that it would disturb his peace. The only problem he had with her is that damned camera of hers. Or more specifically, the flash.
Whenever she takes pictures, there's a single instant of bright light that assaults the blonde's corneas and blinds him momentarily. It didn't help that his vision at the current moment was 45 times better and more sensitive than the average person's. Someday, he'll take that device and shove it down her throat.
Kazuichi Sōda, the Super High School-Level Mechanic. If there is anything that Naruto hates more than Fangirls, it's Fanboys. At least it's in the nature of women to act all cute and obsessive. But for men to act like that? That's just downright disrespectful for his gender.
The blonde cannot believe he used to act like him when he was younger. He looks so lovestruck whenever he talks to the Princess that Naruto is tempted to charm the woman himself just to spite the mechanic.
Mikan Tsumiki, the Super High School-Level Health Committee Member. She's one of the few that Naruto liked and someone who he didn't really plan to kill. Maybe it was because of her clumsiness that made him reminiscence of Konohamaru in his younger years? Maybe it was her shy, kind attitude that made him think about Hinata? Maybe it was because of her talent in healing that made him compare her to Sakura?
Whatever it was, Naruto liked it. She's just a girl with low self-esteem who wants to help people. That made her someone good in his book. Of course, the fact that she keeps getting abused didn't sit well with the shinobi. On the other hand, the news last night spoke about the sudden disappearances of "random" individuals.
How… completely terrible and not connected to him in any way shape or form.
Akane Ōwari, the Super High School-Level Gymnastics Club Member. The blonde has a neutral relationship with her. She's a fighter kind of girl, which the shinobi admires, but she's also very loud and gluttonous, a trait that he would've liked in the past but doesn't anymore. Her hunger for food would've rivaled his hunger for Ramen and no doubt, they would've been great friends during his younger years.
But now, it just serves to annoy him. She bothers him occasionally, which the ninja doesn't like, but so that she could test her limits against him, to which the blonde approves of. Nothing like a girl who could hold herself against a man. That's why she's a neutral, for now.
Nekomaru Nidai, the Super High School-Level Team Manager. Naruto respected the man greatly. He helps people attain their goals, motivates them to do their best, is a role model for weaklings and is an all-around nice guy. Never mind the fact that he's prone to destroying the surrounding area when he teaches people.
He reminds the ninja of Gai, always pushing those he trains to the limit and trying to make them as strong as they possibly could. He helps them out of the goodness of his heart without expecting something in return. Now that's something that Naruto could get behind on.
Teruteru Hanamura, the Super High School-Level Cook. He reminds the youth of Jiraiya, and not in the good way. The chef was so perverted that almost everything he says is an innuendo. Now, Naruto doesn't have a problem with perverts, with all of his teachers being one, but what he couldn't stand is when they cross the line and abuse their right.
And Teruteru is someone that constantly crosses the line. If he doesn't reign in his perverseness, then the shinobi will have no choice but to… scare it out of him. Like say, an illusion of his privates being cut off and then forced to make him eat it, have his entire kitchen burned down with his mother inside, perhaps a taste of his own medicine? Something that will scar him for life.
Gundham Tanaka, the Super High School-Level Animal Raising Committee Member. The guy is also a neutral, but barely. He cares for animals, which is a good thing, but he's way too overdramatic. Naruto may be theatrical, seeing as he has a King complex, but not to the extent of Gundham's.
There's also the matter of the man treating him as if the ninja was a hostile. He could apparently "sense the demonic power inside him" which, in his eyes, is a big threat to his own dominance. The breeder isn't wrong, since the Namikaze is the brand new Jūbi, but his statement was overheard by Sonia and that had made the girl be more enthusiastic in her pestering.
Ibuki Mioda, the Super High School-Level Light Music Club Member. Surprisingly, the former jinchūriki likes her. She has a unique character that he finds refreshing, something that would seem like a luxury nowadays. Of course, she's a bit touchy when she talks to him but nothing that can't be tolerated.
Her music isn't half-bad either. It's emotional, in a loud and different sort of way, but it's one where he could feel her emotions. She wears her heart on her sleeve and that made Naruto compare her to himself way back when. As long as she doesn't play any of her songs when he's resting, then he won't find her as someone he'll kill immediately.
Nagito Komaeda, the Super High School-Level Lucky Student. He… is a mystery to the blonde shinobi. His talent is supposed to be about being lucky but Naruto just can't see something like that happening. How can someone control luck? Of course, in order for the Lucky student to be lucky, he must be unlucky first.
At least he's not using his talent for nefarious purposes or anything of the sort. The ninja's not too sure how to deal with someone like him, someone who has the power of luck on their side. Naruto has immense luck during gambling, no doubt about it, but it only extends to that. Even he can't use it for combat purposes… yet.
The new Jūbi sighed and reigned down the malice that threatened to take over. Ever since he was sent here and forced to absorb the chakra of the nine Tailed Beasts, his entire demeanor and appearance had changed.
Dead was the idiotic, dense and knuckleheaded ninja that couldn't see Love even if it was literally staring at him in the face. Gone was the blue-eyed, kind-hearted and loving individual that became the Ninja World's Hope. Missing was the Naruto that everybody came to know and admire.
Now, there stood a man with countless millennia worth of memories and knowledge stored into his brain. The absorption changed his eye color to the Bijū that he originally contained, Kurama the Nine Tailed Fox. The emotions of the Tailed Beasts, both negative and positive, blended in with his own, causing a drastic change in attitude. Sometimes he was evil, other times he was good, every time he was deadly.
It was like he became this person that was fifty percent Savior and fifty percent Destroyer. Of course, being the original good guy that he is, he tried hard to suppress the darkness inside him, using various sorts of method like meditation, drinking tea, and even using his newly gained mastery of Fūinjutsu.
So far, no innocent blood on his hand.
And so that the humans wouldn't drop dead when around him, the shinobi also sealed up 99% of his power, limiting him to the skills of Kakashi Hatake. Which, in his mind, was good enough for this world. Nobody could even threaten a Chūnin-level ninja in this dimension, much less someone comparable to his sensei.
But of course, that wasn't all. There was one last thing. The most important detail that couldn't be left forgotten. The one most significant change in the blonde that was left last to be indicated. The imperative little detail that completed it.
After all, one does not simply absorb 9 superior beings without some… superior drawbacks. It didn't need complex thinking as to what that was.
Now as to how he ended up in this dimension.
It was simple, really. There was no deal made with any God, like others would think. Fūinjutsu wasn't involved in any way, though that would be a good reason. No intricate seals or blood-related pacts with the Devil or any other demons in the Lake of Fire. Not even any magical runes or wishes from a star.
Nope, nothing of the sort.
All you needed was a Princess, the Eye of a man considered a God and a dimension sucking vortex.
Basically the cause was a combination of three Space/Time techniques being used on a single person.
(Flashback)
"Naruto!" Sasuke yelled, terror gripping his heart. He was panting hard, his chakra was becoming taxed and his reserves were starting to run on empty. His body ached from the continued assault on his person, but he pushed through the pain.
"Damn it!" Obito cursed, holding his one broken arm gingerly. It was a self-inflicted pain, a costly but necessary sacrifice. He did not want to become a puppet dancing to tunes of lies and deceit again.
"Sensei, what should we do?" Sakura whispered, trying desperately to keep her heart from bursting out of her chest. Tears formed at the corner of her eyes. Why was she always so useless during times when it counted?
"I don't know, Sakura," Kakashi answered back, despair bleeding into his tone. "I honestly don't know." He was on his knees, the aching of his legs unable to be ignored anymore.
The situation was dire, to say lightly. Earlier, Zetsu had separated from his Mother, in an unexpected bold move, and tried to take over Obito's body once more. The man cried out in surprise when it latched onto him, making everyone shift their attention momentarily to the black being. And that single instant of distraction cost them their victory.
Kaguya Ōtsutsuki wasted no time and teleported right in front of an unexpecting Naruto Uzumaki and seized his throat. Without giving him any chance to retaliate, the Goddess broke both his shoulders and legs, rendering them useless, before producing the All-Killing Ash Bones technique and prepared to drive it straight through to his skull.
"You have performed well, human," Kaguya stated, tightening the grip she had on the Uzumaki's neck. Her beautiful, cold visage turned murderous for an instant. Her teeth were bared, her throat vibrated as a threatening growl materialized itself and her milky eyes had a dangerous fire in them. "But this fight is over."
In a flash, she struck.
However, without any warning, the Naruto in her grasp suddenly disappeared, making her hit nothing but air.
"Kage Bunshin?" Zetsu muttered, slithering back into his Mother's arm. "No. The teleportation technique of the Uchiha," he deduced, those yellow eyes of his flickering to Sasuke. "I think it would be better to separate them, Mother. They cover their weaknesses a bit too well."
Kaguya didn't dilly-dally, quickly activating a rift and sending her arm through it. "Do what must be done, my son."
The other end appeared right behind the Uzumaki. "Shit!" Naruto cursed, trying to quickly fly away. If he dropped his guard again, he was dead. As much as it irked him to admit it, he would probably already be dead by now if it wasn't for Sasuke.
"You're not going anywhere, boy!" Zetsu suddenly exclaimed, leaping out of the portal and latching himself onto the blonde. In a surprising show of strength, the black entity began to pull the jinchūriki into the rift with ease. "Mother will deal with you later!"
"Fuck!" Sasuke yelled out. "We're dead if we get separated!"
"Obito!" Kakashi turned to his old friend. "Sasuke cannot use his left eye's ability, yet!"
"I got it!" The scarred Uchiha gathered as much chakra as he could into his eye. "Kamui!"
"Dobe!" Unknowing of the actions of his companion, Sasuke, forcing himself to perform over his limits, activated his left eye once more. The strain caused it to cry blood but he was able to use his ability in quick succession.
When the two ocular techniques hit the blonde, just as he was about to be transported to another location, the screams of the Bijūs inside him rattled Naruto's very soul before blackness was the only thing he knew.
(End Flashback)
'Bad news, I'm immortal now. Good news, I'll stop aging at age 25, so I don't have to worry about old age getting in my way,' Naruto mused with a grunt. 'And now, here I am, all alone in this chakra-less world. I had been forced to stay underground for, at least, two years as I recuperated and trained back the control that was lost after absorbing a literal Godly amount of energy.'
Naruto leaned back in his chair, placing his hands behind his head. 'Then I wandered the earth for some years, pushing myself to go to school again just to learn about this new dimension and I even acquired some associates along the way. A Genjutsu here, a lie there, and voila, here I am.'
The ninja smiled bittersweetly at that. 'Heh, Genjutsu… If there had been a good thing that I got from absorbing Kurama is that I am now able to do illusionary techniques. Who knew the Fox was secretly a master in them?' He looked at his palm. 'It's because of that newly unlocked ability that I was able to learn the new Japanese language.'
A laugh coming from Nagito interrupted Naruto's thoughts. The blonde's brow raised slightly at seeing the multiple stacks of soda cans on his desk. Does he even want to ask? "You wanted to meet scum like me? What a wonderful teacher!"
Chisa smirked. "You aren't scum." She placed her hands on her hips and leveled everyone with a stare. Then, in an empowering move, she pointed straight at the smiling student. "You're a rotten orange!"
That served to have the opposite effect. Nagito continued to laugh, as if he supported the teacher's comment.
"Rotten orange?" Naruto muttered. Okay, what did he miss?
"Neither one is any good," Fuyuhiko stated, also leaning back in his chair. "It is still an insult." He sent his instructor a look.
Chisa only grinned brightly in response. "Alright! 14 down and two more to go!" She slammed her hands on her desk, a determined smirk on her face. "Everyone, get your butts in gear!"
Chisa was getting pumped! They only needed a couple more and then they'll finally be complete! Think of the adventures they will go on! Well, adventures around the school, that is. But think of all the fun they're going to have! Well, as much fun as you can get in learning. But… but… think of the bonding experience each and every one of them will experience! Yeah, that's it! They will feel closer to each other and they're going to become friends and they won't waste their youth!
Starting tomorrow, class 77-B will become the best class in the entire school! And with her as their substitute instructor, until Kizakura decides to takeover, they will have fun and get closer to one another! They will be like what she and Munakata and Sakakura were!
"Huh? I'm exhausted!" Hiyoko complained, interrupting the Yukizome's thoughts of her fantasy classroom. The dancer was sprawled on her desk, her body not used to handle the constant strain. "My legs are broken-"
"Broken!?" Mikan suddenly exclaimed, alarmed. She approached the traditional dancer with immense worry in her eyes. "A-A-Are you okay?" Broken legs are not good, not good at all! If not treated immediately, it may cause for the person to go completely paraplegic! If pushed, it will make the damage irreversible! She needed to tend to her, quick!
However, the small blonde didn't appreciate the nurse's action or her sudden concern. She glared darkly at her. "Stay back, you rotten orange!" she snapped threateningly.
Mikan flinched and stepped back in fear. That sentence sent sharp pains to her heart, like a knife stabbing her repeatedly. She was only trying to help. Why must she be rejected so harshly? Why must EVERYBODY reject her so harshly? Why isn't she ever wanted!?
"That's so mean!" the Tsumiki sobbed, tears beginning to cascade down her cheeks.
"Tsk." Naruto shook his head at seeing this, feeling the emotional struggles the nurse was currently going through. She was a kindred spirit and as such, he felt for her. "I'll go with you, sensei." He suddenly stood up, attracting all eyes to him. "It would be much better than staying here."
Chisa smiled at that, wiping her hand on her apron. "That's great, Namikaze-san! Thank you for volunteering!" She turned to the rest of her class. "Well, the two of us will go get the other students, then. Could the rest of you clean the classroom?"
The ninja walked over to the crying female and produced an orange handkerchief.
Ever since he absorbed Kurama, his emotion-sensing abilities had skyrocketed. At his base form, he could feel the truest and deepest desire a person has within a ten thousand mile radius. So you can only imagine how much more potent and far-reaching it becomes in his Sage Mode, Kyūbi Mode, Rikudō Sennin Mode and his newly discovered Partial-Jūbi Mode, Full Jūbi Mode and Jūbi Transformation.
You won't even begin to believe how hard it was to learn to limit it to one person only for every single one of those or how many Shadow Clones it took.
Naruto knelt down beside the nurse and gave it to her. "Here."
The health committee member's crying paused. "Huh?" Mikan blinked a few times, sniffing and rubbing the corners of her eyes. Seeing the handkerchief, she traced the hand offering it until she came across the face of the Namikaze. She looked at him with a bit of confusion.
"Dry your eyes, girl. It's unbecoming of a nurse," he stated, his crimson orbs glowing eerily.
Mikan whimpered in fear at that, feeling her fight-or-flight response being triggered. Seeing her initial reaction, the blonde bit back a sigh. His eyes softened and he forced his aura to become less threatening. "Take it. Your eyes could get irritated if you keep rubbing them."
Why was he doing this again? Oh yeah, her situation made him remember the scorn and hate he received when he was a child. As such, he didn't want anybody to experience the same thing he did ever again. Curse him and his sympathy for the unwanted.
Feeling that the atmosphere had suddenly lightened, the Tsumiki forced herself to calm down. Hesitantly, she took the cloth. Slowly, she wiped her tears away, though with slight apprehension. She blankly stared at the floor, trying to think of the reason as to why he was helping her.
Did he want something of her? Maybe he was only doing this so that she would repay him later. Or maybe he was disgusted by her wailing, that's why he wanted her to immediately stop. And what did he mean by it was unbecoming of a nurse? Was she not acting like a good caretaker?
Did her weakness insult him? Was he repulsed by her appearance and presence? Did he want her gone? Did he want her dead? Was she unwanted in this classroom? She wasn't needed here, was she? She was never needed by anyone! Who would cry for her when she suddenly died!?
"Stop that."
Naruto suddenly took the handkerchief out of her hands, causing her to flinch, and wiped her tears away himself.
Her heart skipped a beat.
...
"Th-Thank you," she whispered after he was finished, disbelief and amazement in her voice.
Naruto handed her the cloth. "Keep it. And don't cry so easily next time." He raised his hand and gently poked her forehead. "Remember, a nurse should always be strong. If she is seen to be vulnerable, her patients will feel hopeless. You should be someone that people can look up to, someone they can trust. You shouldn't be so easily hurt." He stood up. "I personally believe that you can become someone strong, all you need to do is have courage."
The Tsumiki's eyes widened immensely at that.
Before anything else could happen, the Yukizome broke the atmosphere. "Namikaze-san, let's go!" Chisa called by the doorway, waving her hand in the air. "Let's not waste our youth a second longer!"
An eye twitch. "I'm coming, sensei." The blonde gave Mikan a ghost of a smile for a single second before he followed their instructor.
There, the message was given. The choice was now hers. Her future can only be molded by herself, not by other people. If she doesn't shape up after this, then the blonde wouldn't know what else to do. He won't hold her hand and spoon-feed her everything she wants.
He left the nurse on the floor, clutching the orange handkerchief as she stared at his back with wide, astonished eyes. Then, slowly, she brought it to her chest and she began sniffling. Brand new set of tears ran down her cheeks, and it looked as if she wasn't planning on stopping them.
Because she had a smile on her face.
Nagito clapped loudly at seeing Naruto's performance. "Such an emotional moment! It's so beautiful!" he laughed in joy, his own tears threatening to fall. "Words like those, they give me immense hope!"
(South District)
It was already sundown. The giant star was beginning to set, casting an orange-reddish glow upon the horizon. The clouds were bathed in its light, glowing with an almost heavenly radiance. Multiple hues of pink, yellow, orange and red blasted into the endless sea of sky, painting the giant canvas with its colours.
Birds flew above the two individuals, Naruto and Chisa, as they flapped their wings, heading home. The leaves of the trees around them swayed with an almost graceful dance, a light breeze caressing the branches. Their footsteps mirrored each other, almost in sync as they strolled down the cemented path.
"So, where are we going, sensei?" Naruto questioned, hands on his pockets and back slouched.
Chisa was humming to herself, a satisfied smile on her face. "We're going to the Old Student Dorms, Namikaze-san. It should be just past the new ones."
"One of our classmates is still staying there?" he glanced at her.
"Uh-huh!" she nodded happily. "Ryōta Mitarai, the Super High School-Level Animator, if I remember correctly. He must be working hard if he didn't even bother moving out."
"I see." Ryōta Mitarai, the Super High School-Level Animator, a persona that Naruto couldn't give a fuck about. However, the person playing that persona was another matter entirely. The blonde knows the Imposter like he was his best friend. The two of them had a past together, after all.
He met him on the streets imitating a guy named Byakuya Togami, only fatter. For most people, that wouldn't be weird at all. In fact, even Naruto would have been fooled. Unfortunately for the Imposter, the Namikaze had just met the Heir a week ago and he had recorded the Togami's life signature. As such, he instantly confronted the copycat and forced a confession out of him.
Then, a mutual friendship was born.
"And with any luck, we might encounter Chiaki Nanami," Chisa continued, snapping the blonde out of his musing. "I heard she would just be wandering around the Campus, playing her games." She skipped in her step and flashed the blonde a grateful smile.
"What is it?" Naruto narrowed his eyes. "You have been strangely joyful ever since we exited the classroom."
The Yukizome giggled. "Oh, nothing. I just find it endearing that you helped out Tsumiki-san like that. It was so nice of you."
He grunted. Of course that's what it was. Hopefully that single event wouldn't be the cause of any unwanted feedback. "Don't think too much about it. She just reminds me of someone I know, that's all."
"Oh?" That caught her interest. "Care to share your story to your sensei?"
"Hmph," the Namikaze grunted. Normally he wouldn't, especially to a stranger like her. But something about the female made the ninja believe he could trust her. "Tsumiki-san makes me reminiscence of my friend, Sakura Haruno."
The instructor's eyes glowed in wonder.
"She was also a nurse, already considered the best there is," he gazed at his own hand, looking back to the times when she healed him. "She was a tough, headstrong individual, able to take down anyone wanting to mess with her. But she also had a kind heart, willing to help people no matter how hard the task was," Naruto glanced at his companion. "I see that same kindness in Tsumiki-san."
The Yukizome caught the wording in his sentence and her smile immediately dropped. She looked down to the ground, hands folded over the other. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"
"It's fine, sensei," the blonde looked to the skies. "I'm over it. I've been over it for years now," he sighed emptily. The exhaling of air with no inner properties. It had no sadness, no anger, no pain… nothing. Just a blank sigh, with no emotion.
"A-Anyway, I heard that Mitarai-san is a great animator!" Chisa exclaimed, trying to change the subject. "I wonder what his own Anime looks like? Is it better than the others I've seen?"
"I would believe so," Naruto replied, a bit grateful for her actions. "Seeing as his talent is making Anime, it would be safe to assume that his own creations would be the best."
"Ah! Speaking of!" she pointed at a building in the distance. "I believe that's it."
"So it is," he looked at her. "Shall we?"
(Path To The School Gardens)
Minutes later, there were now three individuals walking alongside each other down the stony path. Ryōta Mitarai had now joined their group. Chisa was leading the way, as she is the only one who knew where they were going. She was humming cheerfully to herself, relieved that only 1 student remained on her list. Naruto and Ryōta were lagging behind her, having a "casual" conversation.
"It's been too long, Ryōta-san," the Namikaze glanced at the chubby male.
"I don't know if I would consider two years long, Naruto-san," the Animator's voice lacked his distinct timid and insecure tone. Instead, it was now deep with a confidence that others would applaud. "If it was five years ago, maybe you could've used it during that situation."
"So you say," the blonde grunted. "So, how goes the impersonation? You finally mastered it?"
Ryōta crossed his arms. "I wish I could say yes." A frown formed on the Animator's face as he looked at the ninja. "I could impersonate whoever I wanted; their voice, their talent, their capabilities. Nothing was out of reach. I truly thought I had everything down," he smiled bittersweetly. "I never knew how wrong I was."
Naruto only kept his eyes on their instructor.
"I was at the top of my game… Until you came along."
The blonde said nothing.
Ryōta looked at his hand and formed it into a fist. "No matter how hard I tried, how long I worked, or how rigorous I trained myself, I still cannot impersonate you. Your voice, your appearance, your stoic expression, hell, even the way you walk cannot be replicated." The Animator suddenly smiled timidly and waved his hand as Chisa turned to look back at them.
"I thought I told you before. You cannot copy me," the shinobi stated, seemingly unconcerned.
"I had believed that that was a threat the first time I heard it," the Mitarai said. "But now, I am starting to think that I am physically, mentally and even spiritually incapable of impersonating you in any way," he turned to the Namikaze. "Why?"
Naruto shook his head. "Where's the fun in telling you?"
Ryōta immediately snorted. "Fun? Since when where you concerned about having fun? Last I checked, you were this serious, self-righteous man that didn't want to waste time in doing unimportant stuff."
The blonde shrugged. "People change."
"Yes, but not you," he instantly retorted. "I couldn't see you changing your attitude any time soon. It was impossible."
…
…
For a moment, Naruto was silent. He looked to be holding something back, as if a word that was wanted to be said was just dangling on the tip of the blonde's tongue. He opened his mouth and closed it a number of times, not too sure whether he wanted to reveal the information or not.
"I…"
That caught the Mitarai's attention immediately. Hesitation? From Naruto Namikaze? The most prideful of individuals and the man who self-proclaimed that he was one of the best? The Super High School-Level student never believed he would see that day.
In that single unfinished sentence alone, the male could detect something hidden deep, deep down. For a single instant, Ryōta could see something in the ninja's usually guarded eyes.
It was a storm.
A raging hurricane of fire, lightning and pain.
For a second, Ryōta Mitarai was subjected to a side of Naruto Namikaze that was never before seen in this world.
Something big had happened after they went their separate ways.
And the Mitarai was determined to find out what.
"I met a girl," Naruto finally managed to say.
"A girl?" Scratch that, maybe he didn't have to. "That's it?" As absurd as it is, the student didn't believe his companion was lying.
"That's it," the blonde confirmed.
Ryōta hmph'ed. "Must've been some girl, then, if she was able to have such an effect on you," he put his hands inside his pockets. "Whatever, it's none of my business. It's been great to see you again, Naruto-san," he then went on ahead, going to walk alongside their instructor.
Naruto wasn't having any plans to follow. Instead, he reached into his tux's inner pocket and pulled out a small object.
It was a hair clip.
A hair clip that was worth more than all the money in the world.
(School Gardens)
"Oh, there you are!" Chisa exclaimed, relieved beyond measure that her search was finally over. Right on time, too! Her legs were getting tired from all that walking.
Ryōta walked beside her, a small anxious smile on his face. He waved timidly at the people there, masterfully playing his role. He glanced behind him, his mask crumbling for a single moment, before he turned back to his persona.
The two individuals there, Hajime Hinata and Chiaki Nanami, turned to the direction of the teacher.
"You must be Nanami-san!" the Yukizome waved her hand in the air, trying to make herself as distinguishable as possible.
"Huh?" Chiaki blinked in slight bewilderment. Someone was looking for her? That's new. These past couple of months, nobody really spent any effort on trying to find her. "You were looking for me?"
Hajime stood straight, his posture becoming a bit stiffer. He was around more people with talent now! Slowly, he felt that he was beginning to look out of place. He silently gulped, the whispers of fear and shame coming back to him once more. He was intimidated, there's no hiding that part.
"I'm Chisa Yukizome!" the instructor introduced herself. "Starting today, I'm your teacher." Finally, she could rest now. All that walking certainly did a number on her legs. After she gathers them all, she can properly begin their first day tomorrow. She sent Chiaki a big, happy smile. "Nice to meet you!"
The Super High School-Level Gamer cocked her head to the side, blinking a couple of times. The situation was a bit perplexing to her, enough so that she actually paused her gameplay. She opened her mouth to ask a question, but her new instructor saw something first that caught her attention.
"Huh?" Chisa blinked, cutting Chiaki off before a word could be said. "That uniform… Are you a student in the Reserve Course?"
Hajime bit his cheek.
Of course she would recognize his attire.
He hated the fact that yes, he is from the Reserve Course, a facility designed to have students on standby ready to replace a missing Main Course student. He hated the fact that he doesn't have any talent, forcing his family to spend a lot of money just to have a brand name. He hated the fact that he is made fun of by other people, because he is a talentless person in a school of talented people.
"Yes…" Hajime nodded, a minuscule amount of hesitation slipping out.
"Reserve Course?" Chiaki repeated, unfamiliar with the words.
"It's a secondary branch of the school, one where they accept ordinary students as long as they pay a certain fee," Naruto made himself known, walking closer to the group as his red orbs glowed. "It had been introduced last year. It's more or less a place where the school can pick from a roster of ordinary students and then transfer them into the Main Course."
"Hmm…" Chiaki gave a sound of acknowledgement.
"N-Namikaze-sama!?" Hajime exclaimed with immense shock and surprise, totally not expecting to see the blonde. In a state of panic, the Hinata instantly bowed low and apologized profusely. "F-Forgive me, Namikaze-sama, for not noticing you earlier! I'm sorry for being inattentive! Please, show me mercy!"
That action caught the entire group flatfooted. Chiaki blinked a couple of times, baffled at the reaction of her new acquaintance. Chisa looked to be clueless on what to do, her eyes shifting from the bowing student to the indifferent one. Ryōta only narrowed his eyes and shot the blonde a suspicious look, one that was met with a silent stare.
"Raise your head, Hinata-san," Naruto ordered.
Quickly, Hajime did so. Sweat started to drip down his face as he unknowingly gulped. He tried to avoid eye contact, looking at either the blonde's nose or forehead. He knows that if he meets his crimson slitted orbs, he would fall down on his knees and bow like a servant.
Such was the immense power he could feel from them.
"You two know each other?" Ryōta quietly asked, gazing at the Namikaze.
"Yes, in fact, we do," the blonde answered. "I employed his Father as my Chief Engineer for my home, seeing as the man needed a job and I needed someone of his capabilities. He handles everything related to the safety and comfort of my place." He walked over to the fountain and leaned against it.
The others were beginning to get interested by his tale, their unblinking eyes and rapt attention being great indicators. "Unfortunately, he and his family lived quite far away, enough to pose a problem to his work hours. So I made them move in with me in my Manor, along with the other families of my other employees."
Hajime bowed once again. "A-And I cannot thank you enough, Namikaze-sama!"
Chisa let out a sound of amazement. "Wow, you must be a really nice person, Namikaze-san. I never expected that you're like this." She bit her bottom lip and looked down. "At first I thought you were gonna be a problem. Since I saw you do… you know?"
Naruto took it all in stride. "Never judge a person by first impressions, sensei." His tone never even changed.
The Yukizome brought her hands to her chest and leaned forward. "What other good deeds have you done?" Her eyes sparkled with fascination and curiosity.
But before the shinobi could open his mouth, Ryōta intervened. "N-Not to interrupt you, sensei, but the sun is beginning to go down." He knew quite enough to know that the Namikaze will be more than happy to brag about everything he'd accomplished. By the time they're finished, it would've already been morning. "The others might be waiting for us."
"R-Right." The teacher had the decency to blush. She cleared her throat and tried to save face. "Shall we, then?"
Naruto slightly lowered his head. "By all means."
With that gesture, Chiaki bid the Reserve Course student goodbye and went to her instructor's side. Wordlessly, she resumed playing her games, the sounds of digital explosions and laser guns breaking the serenity of Nature.
Chisa turned to Hajime and smiled apologetically. "Sorry to drag Nanami-san off like this…"
The Hinata raised his hands in response, smiling slightly with a bit of embarrassment. In his mind, the ones with talent shouldn't have to lower themselves to ask for forgiveness. "No, I don't mind."
And with that, the trio began their walk back to class 77-B.
"Nice! That's everyone now!" they heard the Yukizome exclaim successfully.
Naruto pushed off the fountain and sent the Hinata a chilling look. "After Dinner, see me later tonight at the Main Living Room, I have to talk to you."
The Reserve Course student gulped at that. "H-Hai, Namikaze-sama!"
The blonde only hmph'ed before taking his leave.
(Classroom)
The moment the group steeped foot in class, the more expressive ones of the group, namely Chisa and Ryōta, immediately let out sounds of awe. They couldn't help but bask in the wonder that was their sparkly cleaned classroom. The others certainly did more than what their instructor expected.
Wide, proud smiles greeted the four as the tired, yet pleased forms of the students stood in front of them with grace and delight. The Yukizome congratulated and showed them her appreciation.
After letting the moment sink in, and having the joy of being responsible take a hold of them, Chisa instructed them to return to their seats as she had one last thing to say before they could all go home.
"Okay, okay… You all waited!" Chisa was genuinely surprised to see it. Dismissal had already passed and they were well within their rights to head home. But instead, they chose to stay and wait for them! "That's incredible! This is a fine start to your youth!"
Not even a moment later, the bragging and the boasting was quickly put into play. Of course, not everyone had been happy about the work, evident by the complaints that were mixed in.
"When Ibuki does something, she does it right."
"Cleaning is the one thing I'm good at. I'm glad we now have a classroom that's suitable for others' talents to shine in!"
"Ugh, I'm so tired, I could die!"
"But you didn't do anything!"
"My hands are aching. How can I cook like this?"
"I must be in a proper environment that suits my stature!"
"My Four Dark Devas of Destruction did most of the hard labour!"
Naruto rested his cheek and looked out the window, opting to stare at the beautiful glow of the sunset instead of listening to their bickering. The blonde had always loved the twilight more than the daybreak. It signified the end of all his work, the time where he could finally rest and look back on his achievements.
Plus, it helped that the rays of the big star cast more orange during dusk than during dawn. It also made him feel calmer, more relaxed when he gazed upon it. On the other hand, when he looks at the sunrise, it gives him more energy, more determination to tackle the day. He would've preferred the latter during his younger years, but now, he just wanted for everything to be serene.
Such a beautiful moment in time when you can look at a giant ball of plasma and smile contentedly. One mustn't waste their lives looking for happiness in the future. Instead, they should always find the joy in the present.
"Namikaze-san?"
And thus, the peace was broken.
Naruto concealed the displeasure on his face. Why must there always be things like this that had to happen? Hasn't he suffered enough? He made sure that his visage wouldn't come off as rude before turning to face the speaker. "Hm?"
Chiaki Nanami examined the blonde beside her in a surprising amount of focus and interest. Her Nantendo Game Girl Advance was currently absent from her person, placed off to the side to indicate the importance of her state of askance. "Have we met before?"
The shinobi narrowed his eyes minutely. "Why would you say so?"
The gamer looked at the sun in wonder, a finger resting on her bottom lip. She blinked once as she dived into some deep thoughts. "You… seem kind of familiar."
The orange glow of the star painted itself on her form, a warm heat emanating from her direction.
Naruto merely quirked a brow at her words. Nonetheless, he delved into his memories anyway to try and recall her face. It must've been in passing or they might've spotted each other in some event or two. It didn't take the blonde long.
"I believe we met at a Game Store once," he explained, properly sitting up. "I was looking for an old strategy game and you were trying to reach a disk from a high shelf. I assisted you in retrieving it."
Chiaki waited for him to continue, to say something more and perhaps even go into detail. However, she was disappointed when she realized that that was the only thing the Namikaze would say. "That's it?"
Naruto was silent for a second, making the gamer gain a bit of hope that he would expound some more on the subject.
But then he nodded. "That's it."
The ninja turned back to staring at the sun, letting its rays soothe his soul.
Chiaki looked down to the ground in sadness, her entire body slouching in dismay.
"Oh."
Wordlessly, she took out her gaming device and began playing again.
"Class dismissed!"
So, that's the first chapter! Tell me what you think by leaving a review, I would really appreciate helpful comments. If you liked it enough, maybe also favorite or follow my story if you want to.
Also, if you found some incorrect words, misspellings, wrong grammar, etc. please notify me so I can fix it.
I'm on the process of writing Chapter 2 already so that's fun, but I do need some ideas from you guys, too. Tell me your suggestions and I'll be sure to give you proper recognition in my next story if I use your ideas.
'Till next time guys, WDM out.
Peace.