I really don't know why, but I had the urge to start a new story. I was driving home from work when I saw an old man sitting on his porch earlier. And an idea popped in my head. So I will see how this turns out.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto or any of the characters from the series, belongs to Masashi Kishimoto and all the other companies.
Chapter One
Undeclared
Mother always said, "Everyone has a purpose, whether its operating amusement park rides or falling in love with a total stranger." I would have believed that was true, if it wasn't for my mother leaving the family two years after she told me this philosophy.
Now I sat in a crowd of many other students who have just received or is receiving their high school diplomas. I looked down the line to my right and saw Sakura Haruno laughing quietly with the people around her. In back of me to my left, I saw Ino Yamanaka texting on her phone. I sighed everyone had something to do, but me. Everyone had a purpose but me. It wasn't fair, but what was I to say. Life wasn't fair.
I looked up to notice that the principal had finished handing out all the diplomas and was announcing that all the students rise to declare us an official graduating year. My body moved on its own with everyone else.
The fathers clapped, the mothers began to weep, and the children were beginning to get cranky from being up too late as all the students threw their black and white caps into the air. I didn't bother I just removed mine from my head and straightened my hair out. This was a ridiculous tradition, that didn't even have a purpose within itself.
Soon students were racing to the exits, trying to find their families so they could run to their cars and beat the traffic. I walked. I didn't have anyone to find or even had a ride home. Luckily I scrapped some change together before I left the house to take the train and bus home.
"Hinata!" I turned back to see Sakura and Ino running towards me. I waved at them only to be trapped in a bear hug by the two girls.
"Can you believe we graduated?" Ino pulled out her phone once again to text.
"Yeah, where did the time go?" I coughed nervously. Honestly where did it go. It felt like yesterday when I first started high school, now I'm leaving.
"I know, I thought I was going to cry during my speech" Sakura laughed, "Did you guys think it was good?" She asked after.
"I guess, it didn't make me fall asleep and I only sent two texts during it." The statement earned her a knock on the head by the pink haired girl.
I rolled my eyes, their adults and they still act like children. Sakura noticing my distance turned back to me. "Do you want a ride with us, our parents are taking us out to eat in celebration" Sakura smiled at me.
"No I'm not really hungry right now" I lied, I was starving. I didn't eat anything all day.
"Come on, it will be fun" Ino joined in also. "My little brother is going to be there, and he loves you." She nudged my ribs. It was a tempting offer, but I couldn't intrude. And her brother was five, he loved everyone.
"They are your family not mine. It wouldn't be right." I concluded the conversation there. Nothing else to say.
"Alright, but we will see you tomorrow. We are hanging out with in our favorite café. You have to go" Ino whined like a child at me. I nodded saying I would be a little late. But it was enough. We said our good-byes and they ran off to their families. I turned the other way to prepare for the long journey home.
To put my travel home in a few sentences I would say. The train smelled like pee and shame. And the bus ride was filled with hookers and pimps. Of course I only had enough money for the 'coach" bus as the lady at the front desk called it. Then I had to walk a mile and a half from the ghetto to the rich part of town.
I looked up at the huge mansion to find all the lights off.
"I guess they didn't bother coming to graduation after all" I pushed through the gate, and walked to the front door. When I opened the door, I found that my theory was correct. All the lights were turned off and all the bedroom doors were locked for the night.
I didn't care, I didn't expect any of my family to come in the end. I walked up the stairs quietly, not wanting to wake up any of my aunts or uncles. Especially my Uncle Hizashi who is still haunted by his army days.
I continued on to my room, stripping myself of my white graduation gown and threw it on the floor next to my bed. I didn't need it anymore. I threw on some old shorts and shirt and landed in bed, staring at the ceiling. Looking around in my enlarged room, I found that it was indeed too big for just one person to live in it. I had a queen size bed, with a desk next to it. With a small laptop and stereo on the side. Other then that my room was filled with bookshelves with books that I never knew existed. Sadly adding to that, I only had three pictures hung on my wall. One of me and my friends when we were in middle school. The second one with my ex-boyfriend and I when we dated at the beginning of high school. And the last one of my previous counselor, Kurenai Yuhi, who was shoving cake in my face after I won a track race. All hanging in a row over my desk.
My desk began to vibrate from my cell phone. I checked to find it was my mother calling. I didn't answer it. There was no need to talk to her. It rang a few times before she finally left a voicemail. After two hours I decided to listen what she had to say. I punched in the password and I was soon controlled by my mothers sorrowful voice.
"Hinata, I wanted to congratulate you on graduation. I will be in town for a little this week, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out or go out to eat. Just call me back when you get this message. I love you, sweetheart" Her voice clicked off at the end of the message.
I wasn't going to call her back. I never did. She didn't deserve any pity either. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep, trying to get tonight's events out of my head.
XX
I woke up later then I expected, but it didn't stop me from completing today's goals. I took a quick shower and threw on normal blue jeans and black and white elbow sleeve shirt. Walking down the stairs I was only noticed by my younger sister, Hanabi. She sat with my father both eating eggs, bacon, and toast. With coffee and tea on the side.
Hanabi looked up at me, "Good morning sister" It sounded like their was some hope in her voice for some reason.
"Morning" I said in a slurry voice, I was still tired from waking.
Her head went down slightly, "How was graduation?" She asked softly.
"Good" Was all I said and began to walk to the door.
"Your mother called earlier, she said you didn't call her back last night" My father's voice spoke out.
"I didn't get her message" I lied again, and he bought it as usual.
"Well be sure to call her back soon" He raised his newspaper once again, blocking himself off from the world. I would be lucky if he even spoke to me again the rest of the day. It was never a good morning, or good-bye. Or even an "I love you". In the end, he chose this not me.
I took the bus downtown, to meet up with Sakura and Ino in our usual café, Leaf Café, I found I was once again late by an hour. But this time I had an excuse, I woke up late. And the bus went in the wrong direction.
"So what are you guys going to do this summer" Sakura took a bite out of her fries.
"Well, I have to pack for my trip in the fall, don't want to procrastinate." Ino laughed while pulling out her stupid cell phone.
Sakura turned towards me, "What about you, Hinata?"
I stirred my spoon around in my tea trying to think of the perfect thing to say.
"I don't have anything planned" It was short and honest. I truly didn't have anything to do this summer before my first semester started in the fall.
"Don't you have to go shopping for school, or look for an apartment. I thought you said you were moving to school" Sakura questioned my schedule.
"I haven't looked at anything. I have the whole summer to do all that stuff. I just have nothing to do that's all" My phone vibrate on the table. I checked to see who it was to find it was my mother again. I placed it back in my pocket, not even bothering to answer it.
"Momma drama again" Ino said while leaning over the table.
"No, its not." I hissed. Sakura turned towards Ino and mumbled sure.
"What's your problem?" I snapped at them.
"Hinata, no offensive or anything. But you have been a slug lately" Ino laughed at me.
"A what?" I mimicked her.
"A slug. All you do is drag yourself around, not making any plans. Hanging out by yourself. Cutting yourself off from your family. Hell you don't even know what you want to do with your life" I stood up after Sakura's little speech.
"You know what Sakura I'm sorry that I'm such a slug" I air quoted the slug part, "I'm sorry that I'm not accomplishing stuff in my life like perfect you and Ino"
"Oh come on, Hinata we didn't say that. You have …accomplished …some stuff" Ino forced the words out of her mouth.
"I have accomplished stuff," I said sarcastically, "Sakura is going to an ivy league school to become a doctor at one of the best hospitals in the world, and you are leaving for France next month to attend a fashion school. Your dresses that you created are actually going to be used by real life models. Where am I going? I'm going to a university in New York City, I'm undeclared. I don't even know what classes I'm going to take. Hell I haven't done anything good in my life" I plopped back down in my chair, depressed.
"You have done great stuff in your life." Ino tried to comfort me. "You …you"
"You were the best juggler in the juggling club in high school," Sakura finished her sentence.
"Yeah and you broke the state's record for the 3200 in girls track. That's something. That's like Olympic material right there." The blonde girl added.
"Thanks but I don't think juggling is a full time supporting career. And the Olympics and high school track are two different things." I sighed deeply. "I'm going for a walk" I pulled myself up, ignoring my friends protests while I walked out the door.
XX
I walked through town into a small private neighborhood. It was probably for senior citizens or something. I continued down until I heard a man yell from across the street.
"Miss, can you help an old man cross the street" I looked both ways to notice there was absolutely no traffic. Why would he need help? But he was an old man, so I guess it was my job to help him. I quickly crossed the short street to help him.
"Thank you very much you kind lady" The white haired man said. I took his arm and looped mine with his and gently lead him across the street.
"Can you walk me up my porch stairs, please. My house is right over there." He pointed, and once again I obeyed. I walked him slowly up his creaking porch stairs and he gestured to be let down on his porch swing.
"Thank you very much" He sighed while relaxing into the chair.
"Um don't you want to go inside sir? It's probably cooler in there then out here" I asked. He shook his head.
"Nope, there is no air conditioning, plus I don't have the key. My grandson does." The man said like nothing was wrong.
"Where is your grandson?" I asked.
"Oh he is back at the supermarket, I left him there since he was too busy sucking face with his bimbo girlfriend. It sounded like macaroni being mixed." He laughed at my disgusted face.
"Uh, alright sure. If there is nothing else, I will be heading off" I said and turned around.
"Don't leave yet, take a seat and talk to me. I bet you have nothing better to do tonight" He was right, I didn't have anything better to do.
I sighed and took a seat on the porch steps. "My name is Jiraiya" He chuckled happily.
I didn't smile back, "I'm Hinata" That's all I said, he didn't give his last name. So why should I?
"How old are you, Hinata?" He asked next.
"I'm 17, what about you?" I fired back.
"Well, I'm 71 years old" He smiled back. Was he joking? He probably just took my age and switched the numbers around.
"Are you in school still?" Jiraiya continued to ask.
"I just graduated" I scratched the back of my neck.
"That's wonderful. What college will you be attending?" He seemed thrilled to be in a conversation like this.
"I'm going to New York University" I finally confessed.
"What will you be majoring in?" I wasn't use to this type of conversation. I haven't had one like this ever with my family.
"I'm going undeclared" The word was like a curse leaving my mouth. Expecting him to gasp and scold me for my statement, he chuckled.
"That's alright, get your basics out of the way. Then you can decide later." Jiraiya was the first person to tell me that, the feeling of burden lifted off my shoulders lightly.
Until I heard a car screech in the street.
"Jiraiya, where the hell did you go. I though you wandered off" A young man yelled behind me. I looked up to see a boy about my age. With wild blonde hair and blue eyes approach Jiraiya with anger. His appearance shocked me, he wore baggy blue jeans. A long sleeve shirt under a wrinkled black shirt covered his body despite the heat. Yet, his muscles were outlined through the outfit. A small necklace hung around his neck with a small turquoise jewel in the middle. I couldn't stop staring at him.
"I did wander off, you were with that titless bimbo you call a girlfriend" I could tell by Jiraiya's words that he was a pervert. I looked down and closed up my shirt slightly.
"She is not titless, and we were just talking." The man looked down at me. "Who the hell is this, are you paying her or something" My mouth opened in shock, does he think I'm a hooker.
"NO! She was helping me across the street" Jiraiya yelled back.
"I bet, well she has to go" He grabbed my shoulder and shoved me lightly off the steps.
"Naruto, you never lay your hand on a woman" The old man yelled at the boy.
"This isn't her house, she doesn't even live here. So go home" The boy named Naruto yelled at me.
Jiraiya stood up quickly, "Naruto go inside, now" He said in a powerful voice. Naruto huffed at me. He stomped up the stairs, only to pause for a second to stare out Jiraiya and then slammed the door shut.
"Sorry about that, my grandson gets edgy when he is frustrated." The old man went back to cheerful.
"Its ok" I forced out, still scared at just what happened, "I should get going now, I should get back to my friends. They might be nervous since I didn't get b-back to them by now" I stuttered slightly. Damn was I scared.
"Ok then. I hope I will you again tomorrow. It would be nice to have some company. My grandson leaves the house for hours on end. I get very lonely sometimes. Can I trust that you will return?" He gave me those puppy dog eyes.
"I will see what I can do" Was all I said, I waved as I turned to leave.
"Good-bye Hinata" He called out once more.
"Good evening Mr. Jiraiya" My eye caught something above me in the top window. I saw Naruto peering through the blinds at me. Our eyes caught each other, and wouldn't break until he roughly dropped the blinds and disappeared in his room.
I stumbled back before I took off running in the direction of the café. Why did I promise that man that I would go back tomorrow? Was it a sign? Maybe this would be good for me? I wouldn't have anything to do once Sakura and Ino move away soon, so I guess this would keep me sane for awhile.
But that Naruto guy, there is something different about him. I stopped in my tracks. Oh God, I was attracted to the guy that just assaulted me. What do I care? That I guy was hot. I turned in the direction of the house from where I stood. This was going to be an interesting summer.
Well I didn't think it would be this long for the first chapter, but how did you guys like it?
I will continue if you guys like me too.