Hey everyone,

First off, thanks for the interest! This chapter has now been beta'd (thanks goes to Hikari M666 and operagirl76)! If you've read the original, you don't need to re-read this one unless you want to. Aside from the overall quality and a few minor details, not much has changed.

As for the rating, it's subject to change. There's a tiny bit of language throughout the story and a future boy x boy paring.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

How the Universe Really Works

Yeah, so you know how everyone has their own set of rules regarding how the universe works? Well, here is one of mine.

Rule 56: Say good things to everyone. Treat everyone with total respect and it will all come back. Never worry about what you are going to get; just concentrate on what you can give.

Or at least, that's what I try to tell myself every time I leave the house in the morning. My parents might have raised me well, but high school can be a bitch, and it gets to even me sometimes.

"Naruto, if you don't leave now you're going to be late!" my mom screeches from upstairs.

"I know; I'm just putting on my shoes!" I shout equally as loud, leaning against the wall with my elbow for balance.

Sometimes I feel bad for the neighbors. Between my mom and me, our house sounds more like an airport runway than it does a modest dwelling in a peaceful community.

"Don't forget about this evening," a voice says softly from behind me.

After straightening out the back of my shoe's heel, I look over my shoulder. My dad is leaning against the banister in his sheriff's uniform, sipping his usual morning coffee.

"I won't. It's not like we don't go every year or anything."

I can see he is trying not to roll his eyes at my sarcasm, "I was just simply reminding you."

"Thanks. I gotta go, though." Standing up and slinging my black and orange backpack over my shoulder, I practically fly out the door, yelling "See you later!"

"Bye, be safe!" comes the reply as the door shuts behind me.

Running down to the red sports car parked in front of the house, I open up the back door and hop in.

"About time," Sakura calls from the black leather driver's seat, looking at me with the rear view mirror and taking the car out of park.

"Sorry, couldn't decide if I wanted to wear orange or blue today," I breathe out, trying to calm my racing heart from all the rushing by inhaling the relaxing strawberry scent of the car's air freshener.

"But the shirt you have on is black," observes Ino from the passenger's seat.

"Yup, I decided I wasn't going to wear either of them."

"Okay …"

"What?" I ask, trying to decipher the strange look that comes over the fellow blonde's face.

"Oh, nothing."

"Naruto, put your seatbelt on already. I don't want to be pulled over," Sakura says as she turns out of our neighborhood.

"Huh? Oh, yeah." I reach behind me, take a hold of the metal piece and latch it into its counterpart by my hip.

"So, are you excited for your field trip this Friday?" Sakura changes the subject.

"I guess. We're just going on the north side of town and taking a tour of some business complex."

"At least you get to go on a field trip. The last time I went on one was in primary school." Ino pouts.

"That's because you're unlucky when you sign up for classes. You get all the strict teachers," Sakura teases her with a small giggle.

"Shut up, Forehead."

"You first, Pig."

"Make me!"

"If I wasn't trying to on focus driving, I'd …"

Okaaay, I inwardly think, tuning the two out. I don't think I'll ever understand girls. One minute they can be best friends and the next they're trying to rip each other's throat out. Er, metaphorically speaking, most of the time.

As Sakura drives up to the parking lot of our huge school, I let out a small, "Hey look, we're here." Usually I try to stay out of their arguments, but I see my chance for an escape and take the risk of interruption. "Thanks for the ride, Sakura."

"It's no big. It helps that you live just next door. Unlike Ino, who lives down by Shikamaru and Choji," she replies while I undo my seatbelt and grab my backpack.

"At least -"

I close the red car door before I hear the rest of it and try not to run. It's nice to have a ride to school and all, since I don't have my license yet, but I always have to question myself if it's worth putting up with Sakura and Ino. Sometimes they aren't that bad, but every once in a while they go over the edge and drive everyone crazy. Can't believe I used to have the biggest crush on one of them a couple years back.

"Naruto!" my friend Kiba shouts at me, standing near the school's south entrance with a hand cupping the side of his mouth and the other in the air.

I smile and can't help but return his enthusiastic wave before maneuvering through the other parked cars on my way over.

Once within normal hearing distance, I reply with, "I haven't seen you since yesterday."

"I know, it's been way too long," he says dramatically, and stretches his arms out for a hug.

"Ahem."

The sound draws my attention to the other two people waiting by his side.

Sidestepping the outspread limbs, I stand in front of Shino and Hinata. It's not a big surprise that I didn't spot these two at first. Out of all of my friends, they are the quietest. "Sorry, I couldn't see you behind Kiba's huge—"

"Hey!"

"—body. How's your morning been so far?"

A hand grabs my shoulder and twists me around, nearly making me stumble. The brunet flexes underneath his dark leather jacket to emphasize his point. "I'll have you know, this is all pure muscle."

Obviously I can't see underneath his jacket, but I know he's not lying because of all the time we spent at the pool this summer. He is built. Although I'd never admit to it aloud, I may be just the tiniest bit jealous of his six-pack. He worked hard, though, so I guess he deserves it. I don't know anyone who is as dedicated to football as Kiba is. Or to dogs, for that matter.

"My morning was pleasant." Ah, Shino. One thing about him is that he doesn't like to be ignored. Must be an only child thing (I'm not a fan of it, either). So I face the two again and continue with our conversation, justifying to myself that I don't have to feel guilty about teasing Kiba; he's used to it by now.

"Really? And how about yours, Hinata?"

"It-it was good," she squeaks. Poor girl must be flustered from all of Kiba's showing off. "Yo-yours?"

"Aside from the waking up part, not being able to find my shirt, and almost being late, it wasn't too bad." I grin.

"Hinata, if we don't leave now, we won't be on time for our history course," interrupts Neji, holding open one of the nearby glass doors. He has to be the most overprotective cousin I've ever met.

"O-okay."

Just as I follow Shino inside, I hear two familiar girls laughing behind me. Relieving the door from the person in front of me, I smile at Ino and Sakura as I hold it for them while they go past. I guess they're back to being friends again.

"Thanks. I'll see you in math, Naruto," Ino says before she and Sakura rush off in the direction of their lockers.

I nod and let go of the entranceway. If you stand there for too long, you'll become the official door holder with all the people rushing by. Although I like helping others out, I learned my lesson last week and don't have time for it this morning.

After making a quick stop at my locker and going up a flight of stairs, I go into homeroom and take my seat in the middle row, ready for the class to start.

Rule 87: Stay as close to your family as you can, especially parents and siblings. If they have issues with your 'lifestyle,' stay hopeful. People change.

I could say the rest of the day rushes by, but it doesn't, really. English Lit. is slow; we read aloud the whole time. Geometry is horrible; enough said. Then lunch comes and it feels like it only lasts a second while I sit, eat, and laugh with some of my friends. In Intro to Business, the class watches some awful documentary, and P.E. tops the day off with us getting lectured on rules and "the consequences if we break them" for a new game we're going to play next week.

I sigh as I finally step into my house and take off my shoes. "I'm home!" I call out, and am met with no reply. Parents must still be at work then.

Shrugging, I drag my homework-loaded backpack across the wood floor and onto the tan carpet. I step into the family room and flop down onto the matching memory foam couch.

Ahhh, that's better. I love this thing.

Closing my eyes and stretching my legs out, I take in the citrus smell of home, feeling completely relaxed. Thoughts begin to buzz in my brain. That meeting we have is in three hours. I always feel so awkward and out of place at those things. I've been admitted as part of the group by default because of my father's position, but it still doesn't change the way people look at me.

I guess I should clarify. See, both my parents are technically psychics.

I know what you're thinking: 'OMG, they can tell the future?!' Right? Well, no. They can't, not really. With all the crap in the Dark Ages (the Black Death, witch hunting), Christianity and rising technology, all 'magic' has pretty much faded and become a thing of the past. Sure, you have your theatrical palm readers, California phone lines, magicians, et cetera, but most of that is just for show.

So my parents aren't really psychic. That's just the official term everyone likes to use. My dad just has a knack for being wherever he wants when he wants it (that's why he's so good at his job). My mom's gift, well, as ridiculous as it sounds, has something to do with her hair. I don't remember what exactly though. I, on the other hand, have a knack for never getting sick, with my tenacious immune system and all. That, and I've noticed my five senses are a tad sharper than other people's.

But my parents both come from extremely strong bloodlines, so it came as a shock to pretty much everyone (including myself) that I didn't have something more impressive after puberty. Why couldn't I have gotten something cooler, like being able to spit fire or something?

All this sounds crazy, right? Well, think of it this way: for every person who is talented at something, there is also another person is who equally bad at it. If all the people on the planet instinctively could play the piano perfectly, it would be normal and not a novelty. That's why there is a balance scale, so humans can be more appreciative of their talents. Or something, that's just how it was explained to me.

My cat pounces onto my sprawled legs, bringing me back to the present. Smiling, I can't help but pet the soft thing. It's not very often that Gamabunta curls, purring, on your lap to cuddle. Not two minutes later, he bites my hand and darts away, leaving noticeable traces of orange hair on my shirt. Cats are so fickle.

After automatically attempting to brush it off, I decide I need to finish my homework before we leave. So with a sigh, I heave my backpack onto the cushion next to mine with a bounce and extract a Geometry book stuffed with papers.

About a third of the way done with the assigned problems, my mother steps through the front door. After yanking off her heels, she stops when her eyes meet mine through the open archway.

"Welcome back," I greet her.

"Thanks, it's good to be back. The company kept me longer than usual. Speaking of which, are you going to be ready to leave soon? It wouldn't be good if we made your father late."

Surprised and pulling out my Samsung from my pocket, I check the digital clock. It's almost time to go.

"Sure thing." I comply, even though I desperately want to stay home. It doesn't matter how many times I've told her I don't care to go to these stupid functions, she always insists, saying I should make more friends or some other nonsense. I personally think she just wants me to make more connections. Pfft. Like she and Dad don't have enough already.

She gives me this surprised yet suspicious look at my cooperation and says, "I just need to get dressed; I'll be down in a minute. Your father is already waiting in the car."

"Okay." Closing the thick book, I toss it onto the floor with a loud thump and stand up, stretching. I can finish the problems when we come back.

Going to the entranceway, I shove on some shoes and head out the door. After climbing in the back of our white Volkswagen Jetta, I buckle up.

"Hey kiddo, how was school?"

"Boring as always. How was work?"

"Same. Mostly did paper-work today ... So you have that field trip on Friday?"

"Yeah, I'm glad to be getting out of my classes for the day, but we're only taking some stupid tour. It's not like we're rock climbing or anything cool like that," I contribute to the conversation.

"You probably shouldn't go rock climbing around here, anyway. It's not very safe."

"I seem to recall stories of a certain someone doing that very thing when he was younger."

"This certain someone has no idea what you're talking about. And it has definitely become more dangerous since then."

"Uh-huh, sure, Dad."

Mom conveniently opens the car just then and takes her seat. "Right, let's go."

Using the excuse, Dad shifts gears and pulls out of the driveway.

Rule 68: Everybody deserves, just once a day, for someone else to somehow make them feel significant.

We must be some of the last guests to arrive, because we have to park in the far back of the line of vehicles. Then, it takes forever to walk to the Hyuugas' lake house. Weaving our way through conversing people on the front yard, it doesn't help that my parents have to stop every few seconds to say hello to someone. These 'BBQ parties' are always so crowded.

Yes, I said a barbeque party (invitation only). It's used as a guise. You think if we went around saying 'meeting' all the time it wouldn't make others suspicious? We don't want the community thinking we're a cult or anything … because we're totally not. Not really. We're just humans looking for comfort in those who have similar … characteristics.

Finally knocking on the front door, we are let inside and my parents immediately bail on me. Fine, I can take care of myself anyway. Plus, it's not like they don't do the same thing every year. I understand my father is an important part of these functions, so he doesn't have a lot of time to socialize with me.

Looking around the expensive foyer, I decide it's more crowded in here than it was in the front yard, if such a thing is even possible. I push my way to the open double doors at the back of the room and head down the buzzing hallway to the patio entrance. Following the usual routine, I go out into the backyard and quickly get in a line for food. After about fifteen minutes of standing, fruitlessly looking around for people I want to talk to, I eventually get to the front and put a plate together. Now for the hard part-finding a place to sit.

Surveying the area, I can't help but look straight out and admire the setting sun on the lake. To the left of the panoramic scenery is a spot completely packed with tables that are pushed together, crowding the grassy area. To the right, all the gazebo's seats are filled up as well. So I walk to the edge of the yard where the grass becomes replaced by steep, downward-sloping rocks, and sit with my plate of food, looking into the deep water.

"Na- Naruto," a timid voice calls out behind me.

Turning my head, I find Hinata standing and pushing her fingers together.

"Hey," I greet and, raising my plate of free food at her, continue, "Have you already eaten? The Akimichis always make the best food."

"Earlier, yes. You lo-looked lonely so I thought that I would come and say hi." She finished in practically a whisper.

"Oh, thanks for the concern." I smile at her thoughtfulness, glad that I'm not the only young person who gets forced to these boring parties. By default, Hinata and Neji have to go to them because of the location.

In fact, they once told me that almost everyone in their family can tell by looking at a person if they have a 'knack' or not, which is one of the reasons we hold our get-togethers at the Hyuugas' vacation house each September. Not to mention this joint has a great view and the property has the privacy of being enshrouded by trees and all.

But yeah, most of the other 'children' (including a few of my friends from school) get to stay home and relax.

"It's-it's no problem." She blushes, having another shy moment that I've become used to. "I've got to-to go before my father scolds me for not entertaining the guests."

"Alright, I'll see you tomorrow in school, then," I reply. I could argue that the man probably wouldn't have even noticed, but I don't want her to get in trouble with the strict guy in case he does.

"O-okay." And with that, she turns around and disappears back into the chaos.

Polishing off my plate as I ignore 'discreet' glances, I stand up and brush crumbs off my pants with the hand that isn't occupied with Styrofoam. After venturing through the sea of constantly-moving people, I make it to a green trashcan near the side of the house and throw the used object away.

It's as I'm elbowing my way back to the house to look for my alcove to hide in and text some people when something in the corner of my eye catches my full attention. My knees choose right then to lock up, making me freeze; it's surprising I don't trip.

Ignoring the jostling of others as they pass, I focus on a teen sitting straight as a board at the end of a table, not ten feet in front of me. Maybe that isn't so unusual, but this guy has the most … symmetrical … features I've ever seen. His pale face is framed by chin-length black bangs, an eccentric hair style, and obsidian eyes impassively gazing at the lake and completely ignoring his surroundings.

So what if he's one of the rare teens here? Other than that, it's hard to decide which aspect exactly makes this person so interesting. Possibly it's because he looks so irritatingly perfect. Or maybe it's his way of sitting there, acting as if the turbulent environment doesn't affect him at all. Despite the humid temperature, he isn't sweating, contrary to most of the guests outside, including myself. Not even the least little bit. Almost like he's a ghost, or is enshrouded by some invisible shield. Maybe a knack, possibly?

I suddenly want nothing more than to go over there and ruin the perfect façade, make him react to something, anything really. But the display of indifference also brings back feelings of how out-of-place I, too, feel at these social gatherings.

I used to go to these things with the intention of making as many friends as possible. You know, see how many people I could get to talk to me. But I always had an incredibly difficult time with the older generation. Even though I've been coming to these things for years, no one over the age of twenty talks to me unless I'm standing near my parents.

Without even noticing it I've become immune to the looks and to being ostracized, little by little. After arriving, I'd eat by myself, find a corner to hide in and play with my cell phone until my parents found me so we could go home. The realization that I just allow people to treat me this way is frustrating. I should go out there and make others accept me. Starting with this cocky jerk.

Then again, why should I care if I'm treated like an outsider? It doesn't even bother me that despite my blatant staring, I'm being ignored. Just by observing him, it's obvious that he more than likely has a snobby personality.

Yeah, I know that staring isn't very polite, but I'm not the only one doing it. Even though I'm facing the other direction, I can feel others studying me, dissecting me, like they'll find something that would ruin my father's reputation. If my eyes were to meet theirs it would only be for a second before they looked away, not because they were embarrassed, no. More like I'm not good enough to talk to, just a disappointment.

But it's not like I have to go to these events every month. I shouldn't let myself get depressed. I have friends in school, understanding parents, an alright-looking body, a moody cat, a famous cousin and an awesome house. All in all, life is okay.

A shove against my side has me stumbling and rips my gaze from the untouchable stranger.

"Watch it!" I shout in my rising determination not to be so passive anymore. Of course, I am ignored as the older woman continues on her way.

Rolling my eyes, I happen to find them roaming back to one of the many tables, and my heart jumps into my suddenly dry throat. I can't help but swallow.

He is looking at me. Not with the same disapproving stare that everyone else gives me, either, but one that looks more like amusement and curiosity. Maybe he's entertained by the fact that I almost got bowled over? Or it could be that he's curious about my facial scars, which I've had since I was a baby? Whatever the reason, it doesn't matter. The point is that I had gotten my wish; I made it through his seemingly impenetrable wall.

A/N:

~Yes, I used Hinata's stutter. Please don't hate me :(

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