Author's Note: Heya everyone!! How is everyone? Good? Not bad? Breathing? Well I know that I have started two other stories while I save money for my video card and I know this isn't one of them. A Father's Legacy will be updated in a couple of days, most likely Wednesday. I ran into a few road blocks but it's all good now. Push is at a standstill right now but I am writing out my plan for it. It is a lot more work than I thought and I really want to do it justice.
This story is a Giftfic for my dear roommate. She is currently having family problems and is feeling pretty down. So I asked her what could make her feel better and this story is what she said. I had her pick everything out and she is the one that gave birth to the idea. When I asked her to plan it and I would write it she said she wanted to be surprised. There were only a few things that she wanted to happen for sure and I will see to it.
So with that said Emi and I both don't think there is another fic like this out there. I mean I have seen people do crossovers for it but never something that I am working on now. This story is inspired by Harry Potter. It is not the story but a lot of it will touch on the ideas from the Harry Potter series. You will NOT see any characters from the Harry Potter world in this story. It is all going to be the people from the Naruto series.
WARNING: This story is going to be YAOI! If you don't like that kind of thing then get out while you still can. There will be violence, love, supernatural things, humor, angst, character deaths, and anything else I can think up or Emi says. It is her fic after all ^_^ Oh! And most likely OOC. I will keep it a minimum but it is AU so it's bound to happen from time to time.
Italics – thoughts
/…/…/ - scene change
//\\//\\ - flashback/dream
Mini Note: This first little scene is in First person because it is a journal entry.
Konohagakure Academy for Shinobi and Kunoichi
Chapter One
Have you ever looked up at the stars and wondered what life would be like if all your 'what ifs' and 'I wish' were to come true? I know I have. I mean what person wouldn't if they had my life? Now I'm not someone who cares what people think of me but it would be nice to have someone; well really anyone who understood me.
I am a fifteen year old guy, well almost sixteen, and I live in Saint Phillip Orphanage in a small mountain town call Lochridge. It is beautiful here but I am an orphan. My parents died or left me before I could remember and no one seems to know who they were, trust me, I know, I've asked. Plus whenever I try and bring them up people look like I slapped them or something. My guess is that they weren't liked. Must be a gene or something because no one likes me either. Hell I've even been walking down the street and they have crossed the street to get away from me.
Anyway like I said I'm an orphan. I was named Uzumaki Naruto but I don't think anyone knows that. Everyone in school calls me 'Fox-face' on account of the whisker like marks on both of my cheeks. Or 'idiot'…well I'm not the smartest person but I'm not an idiot. The teachers all think I'm dyslectic because I don't understand the work. I tried to tell them I can read just fine but how do you explain that you don't think English is your native language?
But the worst thing is the last name that they call me. Some of the bullies, okay so all of them, call me 'demon'. This all started because when I was younger I got really angry and the kid I clobbered said my eyes turned red. The little gnat called me 'demon' and the damn name stuck. Now this usually wouldn't bother me but strange things happen around me that I can't explain. The town crazy homeless guy says its 'chakra' but the guy also tried to sell me an aluminum hat once so I don't really take his word at face value.
Right so weird shit happens and it always seems to happen when they call me 'demon'. I try, I really do, to remain calm but something always triggers it. Someone tripping me, water being thrown at me, someone taking a swing at me. Then out of nowhere something weird happens.
Like just two days Justin, the pain in my side since I was like four, decided to throw his pop at me in the hall after school. It was like slow motion. He called me 'demon', I turned around, and a stream of fizzy black something was coming at me. Well a normal person's reaction would have been to duck and cover but not mine. I couldn't help but think that it was happening again. I remember blinking my eyes and suddenly the pop froze solid and fell to the ground. It shattered, sending pieces of frozen something everywhere, and Justin took off yelling about 'demon powers'.
But now I have even bigger problems. My birthday, which anyone would cheer about because it is the sixteenth birthday, is two days away. Now normally I wouldn't care but the town won't pay for me to live in the orphanage anymore because I will be an adult. I have been trying to find a job but this is a small town and everyone knows who I am. So, surprise surprise, I don't have a job and to add the candles to my amazing birthday non-cake I have no one to take me in.
The really strange thing though is that I have heard that for the past month I have been receiving letters. The bitches who run this place refuse to give them to me but last week, while wondering the halls at night, I overheard them talking about these strange letters.
Now I didn't hear a lot but I did manage to hear that it was a school, a person named 'Iruka' and something about scrolls and text books. I would have heard more but the damn janitor caught me out of bed. Needless to say my interest has been peaked. I don't remember applying for any schools as I still have three years left of high school but hey if it gets me away from this hell hole why not?! I really don't want to have to live with the homeless guy. I'm already enough of a freak so there is no need to add an aluminum hat.
I've already made up my mind. I have two days until my birthday and I will get one of those letters. It is my only chance of survival. The letters seem to come every day. It can't be that hard to get just one…can it?
/…/…/
The blonde haired boy scrunched his face up slightly as he fought off waking up. It was Saturday and it was early and he knew that he needed sleep. But life, and the sunlight, seemed against him. Sapphire eyes fluttered open with a dazed unfocused luster to them. The reminisce of slumber still clinging to his vision. A large yawn forced his eyes closed again as he rolled over. Uzumaki Naruto was usually a morning person but with two days till the end as he knew it it was enough of a snooze button for him.
He opened his eyes once again and stared at the crooked and leaning bed side table. His journal was laying precariously over the edge and his pen was nowhere in sight. Naruto huffed out a laugh as he wiggled to the edge of his small bed and flipped his head over. His eyes scanned the floor and soon he spotted his lost pen. He couldn't help but laugh. This was a regular morning event for him. He was a wild sleeper and more often than not he would end up knocking into the table and sending the contents flying.
Naruto pulled his arm from the thin blanket and reached for his pen. His finger tips brushed the wayward pen and rolled in slightly further away from him. Naruto growled slightly and he leaned a little more over the edge of his bed. Again he reached for the pen and once again it rolled a little more away from him. Naruto huffed out a frustrated breath that ruffled his bangs as he shimmed his torso off the bed and placed his other hand on the ground as he reached out with the other hand.
Naruto gave a yell as something collided with his bedroom window. The noise startled him so much that his hand, which was holding him up, slipped out and he tumbled out of bed to land in a ruffled heap on the floor. "What the hell was what?!"
With more curses and a lot of kicking of his legs Naruto managed to get himself free of his blanket and roll over onto his back. He turned his head towards the window but all he saw was the bushes that lined the outside walls of the orphanage. His brow furrowed as he pulled himself into a sitting position and ran a hand through his disheveled hair. He sat in silence for a few moments before shrugging and standing up.
Naruto wasn't very tall for someone his age and his gender. It stood at five foot seven inches. He was thin. But he knew that it was more to do with the little he got to eat and the fact that he had to run a lot to keep ahead of the bullies at his school. His blonde hair was soft, silky, and looked like melted gold. His sapphire eyes were always so full of emotion and the matrons always said they could see his mischievous ways within in. His skin was an overall bronze and knew that a lot of the girls envied his skin.
Naruto stretched as he walked towards the door. He was awake now so there was no time like the present to have a shower. It was early enough that no other orphans would be in the shower room. He may be the town 'freak' but that didn't stop the fact that a lot of people liked his body. There were many times in the shower that he had to beat off the other males when they would get a little to grabby.
Naruto scratched at his stomach as he reached the door. With his free hand he grabbed his towel that was hanging off the hook on the back of his door. With another yawn he opened the door and stepped out. The whole time he was thinking about the hot water, smoothing bubbles of his soap, and the nice tingling of the shampoo he failed to notice the strange brown owl that was perched on the ledge of the window with a scroll in its mouth.
/…/…/
Naruto shoved his hands into the pocket of his faded grey hoodie. It was cool out today and he was wearing the warmest clothes he had. He hated all the clothes that the orphanage gave to him. They were donated because money was scarce but that didn't bother him; no, what bothered him was the fact that all the other orphans got a say in what they wanted to wear and they got the right size but Naruto was given whatever was left over. Meaning he usually looked like a beggar because the clothes were always about three sizes to big for him.
The worst part was this gave the kids at school all the more reason to make fun of him. He could usually brush it off like he always did but the words always hurt to hear. This is why he was so glad it was Saturday and it was colder outside. This meant that when he got to the park there would be no one around. Naruto shivered as he glanced over his shoulder. He had the strangest feeling that someone was following him. His breath puffed out in a cloud of smoke as his eyes scanned the vacant street.
Great now I'm starting to feel things that aren't there. One more weird thing to add to the list of things that make Uzumaki Naruto a freak. Naruto chuckled to himself as he shook his head. He was being weird. He didn't really care if someone was following him. They could follow him all they wanted but if they tried anything they would not be too happy. After all Naruto wasn't in school right now and there were no teachers to protect the bullies.
Naruto hopped off the sidewalk and crossed the empty street. The trees to the park were blowing gently in the breeze and the soft sounds they made caused a smile to come to Naruto's face. He loved the trees. There was something about them that calmed him. It was like he was always meant to run through them, climb them, and sit in their shade on a warm afternoon. The broken heal of Naruto's left sneaker flapped against the concrete as he stepped up and continued towards the entrance of the park.
But that feeling was back. The feeling that caused him to once again turn around and look for someone that would be following him. And, once again, there was no one there. Blonde brows furrowed slightly as he shrugged his shoulders while he turned and entered the park.
This was Naruto's favorite place to come. It was a rundown park that was in heavy need of repairs but the town didn't bother with it because it wasn't a great neighborhood and people had stopped coming to the lonely playground. Well everyone except Naruto and some high school kids that wanted to drink. But right now it was blissfully empty. A sigh escaped Naruto as he spotted the lone swing. It was the only thing in the playground that still worked. It was hardy, resilient, and seemed to always laugh in the face of the kids that tried to break it.
Naruto, though as strange as it sounded to him, felt that he was kindred to the swing. No matter what the kids at school did or said to him he always stood up proudly and continued on. He knew that one day he would get out of this place and when that day came there would be no one who knew who he was and then he would be able to have a normal life.
Naruto flipped his hood up over his head as he sat on the swing. He wrapped his hands in the long sleeves of his hoodie before he grasped the metal chains of the swing. With a fox like grin on his face he pushed off. He wasn't trying to go high or even fast he just loved the feel of the wind against his body and the weightlessness that came with the gentle rocking of back and forth.
"Uzumaki Naruto-kun?"
Naruto stopped swinging as his head flew in the direction of the soft, yet deep voice of a person standing to his left. They were completely covered in a black billowing cloak. A flash of silver caught his blue eyes and drew them to the flap that was sealed closed by a silver leaf like shaped pin. Naruto tilted his head as his eyes narrowed. He never remembered seeing someone like this in the town and the person was giving off a strange feeling. It was like waves of controlled energy and it stirred something in Naruto.
"Yeah who wants to know?"
A cloud of heated air escaped from the large hood of the cloaked person and Naruto could only guess that it was a sigh. It was hard to tell. The cloaked person started to walk towards Naruto and the blonde jumped to his feet and backed away. "Woah there buddy. Who the hell are you?!"
The person stopped and raised their covered arms towards the hood. Naruto suddenly had visions of the hood leveling and a strange lizard man would be looking at him. Once the hood was down Naruto couldn't help but gawk a little. He had been envisioning someone hideous and that was the reason that they had a hood on but this person…well they looked normal.
"My name is Umino Iruka. I am a sensei at your new school."
A blonde eyebrow rose as Naruto stared at the man. His hair was black and pulled up into a ponytail on top of his head. A long scar ran the length of his face over the bridge of his nose. His skin was an ivory shade and his black eyes were filled with care. Wrapped around his forehead was a deep blue bandana with a metal plate over the forehead portion and the same leaf like shape was etched into it.
"My new school? What are you talking about?"
Iruka sighed as he took a step forward. Naruto stepped back and the man stopped. Naruto wasn't born yesterday. Even kind people could stab you in the back. "I knew you weren't getting the letters but I didn't think it would be this bad. Hokage-sama said that a letter was pinned to your blanket when you were left here."
Naruto blanched. He was left here?! No wonder no one knew about his parents…or maybe they read this 'letter' and found out they were murders or something and were just waiting to see when Naruto would follow in their footsteps. "Hokage-sama? Letters? You aren't making any sense sir."
Iruka nodded, "I know that now. Please forgive me," Iruka bowed and Naruto's jaw dropped. He had never seen anyone bow before and least of all to him. Something in him was telling him that this was a sign of respect, "If I knew that it was so bad here I would have come for you sooner. We don't deal with the Ningen that often and as such we were unaware of the conditions you were living in."
This guy is on crack, or meth, or some other high end drug that I have no idea about. Maybe this Iruka guy and the homeless man are cohorts… Naruto gave his head a shake as Iruka was staring at him like he had lost his mind and not the other way around. Naruto sighed as he rubbed his cloth covered head. "Look…uhmm…Iruka…I have no idea what you're talking about and if it is money you want well I don't have any."
Iruka's eyebrow rose, "Money? Why would I want Ningen money? I am here to give you your letter." With that said Iruka reached into one of the many folds of his cloak and pulled out a thick looking scroll that was bound with a red seal. The older man held it out to Naruto who looked at it.
"My letter? Oh! The one that the matrons were keeping from me!" Naruto grinned as he took a tentative step forward. He was still a little wary of the man. It wouldn't be the first time that he was tricked by someone and then punched, or kicked, hell one time he was almost stabbed.
Iruka smiled softly as he raised the scroll. Naruto thought he something glow on the man's hand before he let the scroll go. Naruto took a couple of steps quickly forward before stopping. "What the…!" The scroll was flowing in midair! That's right in the air with no one touching it! Naruto worried at his lip as he looked at it and then at Iruka.
Iruka smiled softly as he reached up and pulled his hood over his head again. "I will not harm you Naruto-kun. I never will. I will leave the letter with you. It is your decision or not to take it. But I will meet you here tomorrow at noon. I will explain everything to you at that time."
Naruto nodded silently as he stared at the floating rolled parchment. He gave his head a shake and blinked his eyes a few times as to stop his staring and when he looked up the man was gone. "This is just messed up…" Naruto scanned the area but there was no sign of the man.
Naruto huffed out a sigh as he walked towards the scroll. It couldn't hurt to take it right? I don't think he was going to hurt me. He could have done it a million times before. Plus I really wanted to get the letter from those bitches at the orphanage. Naruto glanced around and when he was certain that no one was watching him he grabbed the scroll and darted off towards the orphanage.
/…/…/
Naruto sat crossed legged on his bed as he stared at the scroll. As far as he could tell it was perfectly normal. There was nothing out of the ordinary about it. It felt like paper, it looked like paper, and, when he smelt it, it smelt like paper. He had tried a few times to make it float like Iruka did but it always fell to the ground when he let it go.
He had decided to wait to look at the scroll until everyone had gone to bed. The one bonus of being thought of as a 'demon' was the fact that none of the other orphans wanted to be in the same room as him so he was given his own room. So a long as he didn't make a lot of noise there was no reason that the matron would come in and check on him.
Naruto rubbed his hands together as he bit his lower lip. It was a habit he had developed over the years when he was nervous and it was something that he couldn't break the habit of. "This is stupid Naruto! Just open it and find out what it says!"
With a nod to himself he reached forward and grasped the scroll. With a few flicks of his fingers the seal broke and the scroll unraveled itself. His blue eyes widened slightly as the paper completely smoothed itself out and if Naruto hadn't seen it all rolled up he would never have guessed that it was to begin with. His eyes widened the more he read the first sheet of paper.
Dear Uzumaki Naruto,
It is my pleasure to invite you to Konohagakure Academy for Shinobi and Kunoichi. Please find enclosed a list of school supplies.
Make sure you on the platform at noon as the train leaves at one o'clock sharp. You will also find your train ticket enclosed within this scroll.
Classes will resume on October 12th so make sure that you have all your supplies before this date. Please also note that a new list of forbidden items has been added and it is wise to follow the rules that these items are not permitted.
Please respond by owl or carrier hawk before October 10th. We look forward to having you attend Uzumaki-san.
Sincerely,
Godaime, Hokage
Sannin Tsunade
Naruto read and then reread the letter a few more times. None. None of it made any sense! What the hell was a Shinobi? Or a Kunoichi? Travel by train? Supplies?! Naruto laughed nervously as he ran a hand through his hair. This was all too much. He had been wondering about what he was going to be doing because he was going to be kicked out of orphanage on Monday and it looked like he now had his answer. Well maybe…
A small grin played across his face as he turned to the next page. It was a smaller piece of paper that was written in red metallic ink. The leaf symbol that Iruka had been wearing was on the ticket as well as four other symbols that he had never seen before. Naruto figured this was his train ticket as it stated a departure from Aurous Platform at one o'clock.
He placed his ticket with the cover letter as he scanned the next page. He started to laugh before he could stop himself. It was stating some of the weirdest things that he had ever heard about. The text book list alone caused a tear to escape his eye as he tried to hold back his laughter.
Chakra Control – Level I by Fugioka Sora
Poisons, Antidotes, and Potions – Beginners Guide by Mishomoto Midori
Incantations and Charms – Level I by Makoto
Transformations, Henge, and Kage Bunshin – by Namikaze Akashi
Naruto just shook his head. It sounded like he was going somewhere where he was going to be using magic…Naruto's eyes widened slightly. That Iruka guy made the scroll float…I froze that pop that was coming at me…the homeless guy mentioned Chakra… Naruto's hands started to shake as he quickly gathered the papers and throw them onto the table beside his bed. He had lost it. It was official. There was no way that all of this was happening.
He was just a normal guy who got handed the shitty end of the Fate stick. There was no such thing as magic, or chakra or charms or any of the stuff mentioned in the scroll. He was Uzumaki Naruto and he was an orphan kid of two parents who either didn't want him or they were dead. He wasn't a Shinobi or a Kunoichi or anything from what the letter said.
Naruto rolled over and flopped onto his bed. He didn't even bother to change out of the clothes he had been wearing that day. He would sleep, hopefully, and when he got up in the morning he would head to the park and prove that it was all just some sick joke. Iruka wouldn't be there. No one would be there. He would fine himself alone in the park…But for some reason Naruto was hoping it didn't end up that way.
/…/…/
It was colder today than it was the day before. Naruto had barely slept and since he couldn't sleep he decided to go to the park as soon as the matrons said it was time to get up. His eyes burned as he stared around the park. He knew he was early but if this 'Iruka' really did exist he was not going to be caught off guard when he just randomly appeared.
"I thought you would come early."
Naruto yelled out in surprise as he whipped around to face the man that the voice had come from. Standing in the same billowing cloak was none other than Iruka. The man was smiling gently and Naruto had the feeling he was trying not to laugh at Naruto's reaction to his appearance.
"Don't do that!" Naruto clenched at his chest.
Iruka bowed slightly, "My apologies. You were looking everywhere but behind you."
Naruto stuffed his hands into his pockets and kicked at the graveled sand with his beaten up sneakers. "So I read that letter…Is this some kind of sick joke?"
Iruka's brow drew together in confusion. "Sick joke? I'm afraid I don't understand. Are you not feeling well?"
Naruto's jaw almost dropped because, one, the man was being completely serious, and, two, because there was actually concern in Iruka's voice when he thought Naruto was sick. "No. It's a saying. I want to know if this is real."
Iruka sighed in relief, "Hokage-sama would be most displeased if you were sick. She had been looking forward to seeing you for a long time."
Naruto shook his head softly, "None of this makes sense…"
Iruka's soft laughter caused Naruto's eyes to narrow. He didn't like being made fun of. He had to deal with that every day of his life and he wasn't going to take it from a guy who was clearly off his rocker. Iruka stopped and smiled at Naruto as he pulled something from his pocket.
A gasp escaped Iruka's lips, "I didn't realize this was the time. We can make an early departure if will leave now."
Iruka didn't say another word as he turned around and started to walk towards the trees that filled the back portion of the park. Naruto gapped at Iruka as the man walked right past him. "Hey! Oi!! What are you talking about?!"
"Follow me. Quickly now!"
Naruto growled under his breath as he turned on his heel and ran after the man. Jeez he is fast! Naruto stumbled and tripped his way after Iruka as the older man bobbed and weaved his way through the trees as if he was a part of them. Naruto watched his form as they continued to the very center of the trees. He couldn't help by envy the way Iruka moved. It was graceful, posed, and fast. It was as if Iruka had been trained to move that way.
Naruto jumped over a perturbing root as Iruka can to a stop within a small clearing within the trees. The man was bent over and Naruto could just see him bending to pick up what looked like a dog's old chew toy. It was a teddy bear but one of the arms was missing, an eye was handing from the socket by a thread, and it was impossible to tell what colour it was because of all the dirt and grime that was sticking to it.
"Iruka you shouldn't be picking things like that up! It's garbage and it could make you sick."
Iruka turned to face Naruto as the blonde walked over to him. "This is not a piece of garbage. It is a Portkey."
Naruto looked at the bear and then to Iruka's face, "A what now?"
Iruka smiled softly, "I don't have talk to explain. I will tell you everything while we are getting your school supplies."
Naruto's jaw dropped, "It isn't a joke…"
Iruka gently placed his hand on Naruto's shoulder, "No. If you want to know the truth and to find out who you are," Naruto stared into Iruka's eyes in awe, "then grab a hold of the bear and I will show you your world Naruto."
Naruto reached his hand out, "My world?"
Iruka nodded, "The world of the Shinobi."
Naruto's hand grasped around the teddy bear and it suddenly felt like someone grasped his navel and pulled. The world tilted, spun, and blurred into jet streams of colours. It was the oddest sensation. Before he could stop himself he opened his mouth and yelled out in surprise, in wonder, in terror.
With a soft pop Iruka and Naruto vanished from the trees of the park. The echo of Naruto's yell caused the birds in the trees to squawk and take flight in anger. The rest of the town of Lochridge were just getting up and ready for the day as the orphan boy Uzumaki Naruto started the journey of his lifetime.
/…/…/
Author's Note: There you have it everyone!! So it is like Harry Potter but very much different. Emi has only planned about three things that are going to happen for sure and the rest is going to be a surprise. Please review and like me know what you think.
Love you Emi!! I'm here you babe! Tal =^_^=
