Disclaimer: I don't own the unparalleled Naruto.
A/N: Original completion date: 12/18/09. Ah, my very first foray into the glorious world of Naruto fanfiction. As such, this story may have inaccuracies which I profusely apologize for, should they be found. Set directly after chapter 1 of the manga. Please send me your glorious reviews!
Rated K+ for blood.
Not Hungry
Uzumaki Naruto danced and skipped and twirled his way to the ramen bar, practicing ninja moves and leaps. In fact, he did just about everything except walk. How could he do anything but? He was a ninja, a ninja! A cadet no longer—never again! After failing to pass three stinking times, he had finally graduated!
"Yeah!" he yelled, jumping high into the air to cross the last few yards to the restaurant. He landed with both feet on a stool before sitting down on it and reading the menu which he'd already memorized years ago. The restaurant attendant came over and regarded him with suspicion.
"That headband, Naruto—where did you get it?"
"It's my sensei's," answered Naruto with his eyes still fixed on all the wonderful choices of ramen. The waiter's eyes narrowed.
"So you stole it?" Naruto's head shot up, his eyes flashing angrily, but the conversation was fortunately interrupted when Master Iruka, who had been lagging behind for quite some time, finally arrived.
"The hitai-ate leaf headband was mine," he corrected Naruto with a grin, "until I gave it away. You, my good waiter, are looking at the newest graduate of the Konohagakure Village Ninja Academy—Uzumaki Naruto!" The restaurant attendant propped his hands on his hips and shook his head in good-natured amazement.
"He really graduated?" He shook his head again. "Well, that is something to be proud of."
"You got that right!" Naruto exclaimed, jubilant. "I'm a ninja now!" Iruka laughed and clapped his student on the shoulder.
"We're here to celebrate," he said. "I'll buy him all the noodles he can eat." The waiter's face stretched into an immediate grin.
"What would you like, Naruto?" he asked, holding up his pen and pad of paper. Master Iruka leapt lightly into the chair next to Naruto, but as gracefully as he landed, there was no mistaking the way his breath hissed out in pain. Naruto, who had been on the verge of ordering, whirled to gaze at his master, afraid. The restaurant attendant's mouth dropped open as blood dripped onto the ground beneath the journeyman ninja's stool.
"Master shinobi, those are awful wounds," he gasped. "You ought to be in a healer's care."
"Iruka-sensei?" Naruto asked in a small voice.
"It's all right," Master Iruka reassured them both through gritted teeth. "I've been through worse." He nudged Naruto. "Go on. Tell him what you want." Despite having just graduated to the rank of ninja, Naruto looked much younger and more vulnerable than his years as he stared at Master Iruka with wide, scared eyes. He looked uncertainly from his teacher to the waiter on duty, then slid off his stool.
"I'm not hungry, Sensei," he said quietly.
"Not hungry?" Master Iruka echoed, utterly flabbergasted. He swivelled in his seat and bent down until he was nose-to-nose with his student. "Naruto, are you feeling all right?" he asked with genuine concern.
"I'm fine, Master Iruka, but you're not!" Naruto said earnestly, his hands balled into fists. "Please . . ." He tugged at Iruka's sleeve pleadingly. "Please, let's go to see the healer. We can always come back later, right? When you're better?" His question was heavy with another question, unasked yet obvious—You will get better, won't you?
Slowly, Master Iruka smiled. He slipped out of his chair and laid his hand on Naruto's head.
"Yes, Naruto, we can go see the healer now. And we will come back—when I'm better."
= The End =