I think this is my fastest update ever. A combination of being unable to get this story out of my head, half term and my siblings talking about their own Naruto projects has lead to this.
Most of my other stories have fallen by the way side somewhat but they will be updated eventually. Again my little sister NamiNavigator Beta'd this story. Anyhow enjoy.
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Hand Signs"
'Inner Sakura/Taizen"
"Tailed beast"
Ano replaces err or erm
I claim no ownership of Naruto
3 Months later.
Naruto let out a grunt as he did his 132nd push up of the day. Hamano had more than proven himself the hard taskmaster; with training till dinner then back to training until well after sun down. Only on the weekends would they stop, dedicating the time to food, shopping and recuperation. Naruto didn't complain though, as it was all towards being the next Hokage and, of course, beating Sasuke.
Though, to be honest, his main concern right now was his scarred friend. Hamano had been pushing himself just as hard if not harder than he'd been pushing Naruto. However, the brunette lacked his ramen loving friend's incredible stamina. This had led to him passing out on several occasions during the training and Naruto having to carry him home.
Naruto had of course tried to convince the brunette to stop pushing himself so hard, but Hamano was just as stubborn as he was.
Somehow though, he'd managed to get his friend to take the day off from training.
Naruto looked over at the current set of scrolls Hamano had 'acquired' for their training. He highly doubted his friend would be resting though.
Just as Naruto suspected, Hamano was not resting. He was walking around the smithy block of the market thinking. The smoke and smell from the nearby tanners ensured no one stayed around here longer than necessary. It gave him space to think.
'3 months and I have gotten nowhere. No clues as to Naruto's parents, nothing on bloodlines and nothing on why he is treated as how he is.'
'You could try the restricted section of the library.' Taizen's interjected into his thoughts.
'You need to be at least a Chunin to be allowed in there. Ergo, I'm not allowed.'
'Since when have you allowed that to stop you?'
'Fair point.'
"Hey kid." Called one of the Smithy's, pulling him away from his thoughts, but he ignored it. They probably weren't calling to him anyway.
"Kid in the jacket and jeans." Pressed the voice.
He stopped looking. There was no one else around. So he turned to the source of the voice.
"Me?" He asked, now looking at the middle-aged man with slightly greying black hair who had called him. It was clear the man was a blacksmith from his attire.
"Yeah, you. Kid, what are you doing out in the smoke? Come on, get inside." Said the man.
Hamano was stunned. He'd expected the man to yell at him or insult him, not offer kindness.
Gathering his wits, he met the man's green eyes, searching for any deceit, but he found none.
"Err. Thanks." He half mumbled out, entering the man's shop.
The Smithy watched him intently as he cautiously scanned the shops interior. "Not used to other peoples hospitality, are you?" It was a rhetorical question but Hamano still answered.
"You could say that." Finally slipping back into his sleepy persona and facing the man properly.
"That's a pretty impressive scar kid." Commented the man, causing Hamano to scowl.
"I apologise, I shouldn't have mentioned it. The name's Takama Ryushi. What's yours kid?"
Hamano now took a moment to study the blacksmith properly before replying.
"Kazanari Hamano." He glanced at the forge that was still burning gently. "Not to be ungrateful, but why did you invite me in Takama-san?"
Ryushi gave him a funny look. "Kids your age shouldn't be out in the smoke like that. Speaking of which, why were you out there anyway Hamano?"
Hamano was floored. This man was treating him like any other kid even when he'd told him his clan name.
"J-just thinking. There's not many people around so it's one of the better places." He said, barely managing to compose himself.
Ryushi smiled, something it was clear he did a lot from the soft wrinkles that repeating the action had left on his face. "I see. I won't press why or what about. You are training to be a ninja after all."
"It's ok Takama-san. I was thinking about my friend. I have clues as to who his parents were and I want to learn if his clan had a bloodline or not… But I haven't been able to get anywhere."
Ryushi raised an eyebrow. "Your friend. Is he the Uzumaki kid?"
Hamano shifted his stance, quickly becoming defensive. "Naruto? Yes. Why?"
The blacksmith scratched his head. "So his name's Naruto. No one would tell me his name, they just called him the Demon Brat. All I could learn was his clan name. Do you know why they call him that? Looks more like a kid who's looking for recognition to me."
Hamano relaxed. Ryushi thankfully didn't have anything against Naruto either. Shaking his head he replied. "No I don't. It's an S class village secret."
"I see. One thing though. Why weren't you surprised when I knew that you're at the academy?"
Hamano grinned. "Your left leg. It's a wooden replacement controlled by chakra. You used to be a ninja too. Right Takama-san?"
Ryushi's eyes widened in surprise then he chuckled. "Ok, you can drop the sleepy act now. Hamano-kun."
The brunette grunted in amusement but complied.
"Nice act. It had me underestimating you there." Said Ryushi, moving to sit on one of the anvils.
"That's the idea. I think it has everyone at the academy fooled as well. I appear to sleep through the lessons."
The older of the two chuckled. "I can see that."
Silence hung between them as Hamano considered what to say next.
"You know who I am. My clan. So why do you…"
"Trust you?" The words were said with soft assurance and a smile. "I don't put much stock in rumours and like to learn for myself. People shouldn't judge someone by their clan. Am I wrong Hamano-kun?"
The boy looked down at his lap. "No you're not." The sound of something falling with a clang cause him to tense, a hand shooting to his Kunai pouch.
"Relax, it's just my daughter." Spoke Ryushi calmly. "Riyu, you can come in. He's a friend."
At her father's invitation, a girl about Hamano's age, maybe slightly younger, entered from a back room. She was about the same height as Hamano with her father's emerald eyes and flowing black hair down to her waist. She immediately went to her father, sitting on his lap.
"Riyu, this is Kazanari Hamano. He's training to be a Ninja, like you want to." Said Ryushi.
The girl looked at Hamano and smiled. "Nice to meet Kazanari-Sempai."
Hamano's mind went blank. He really didn't know what to do in this situation and his personal experience with girls was close to nil.
"Err. Nice to meet you too. Riyu-san." He replied deciding it was best to be formal.
'Smooth.'
'Shut up. This would be easier if she wasn't so cute.'
'… Did I hear that correctly?'
'Not now.'
Dropping the mental conversation Hamano focused back on Riyu, cocking his head to one side.
"I assume you will be entering the academy later this year then (1) Riyu-san."
Riyu nodded politely. "Yes I want to be a strong Kunoichi to protect my dad and friends." She declared, suddenly becoming very determined.
The brunette smiled at her. "I look forward to working with you in the future then." He said looking back up to her father.
"Back to what I was thinking about. I want to look into the restricted section of the library but I can't, as I'm not a Chunin. Could you look for me?"
Ryushi looked incredibly amused.
"Well, well, asking favours already. Though, you are correct. As a former Jounin I do have access to the restricted section. Though I didn't expect you to ask so directly."
Hamano narrowed his eyes. "I will do something for you in return just name it."
Ryushi looked at his forge. "I do good business, but it is a lot of the same, kunai, horseshoes, shuiriken. I want to be challenged to work on something different. You give me interesting things to make and I'll happily help you and make them for free."
Hamano couldn't help but stare at him open-mouthed. Ryushi was saying he would help him on the condition that he would help him more. Well, with a condition, but still.
"Why?" He managed to utter out.
Ryushi shared a smile with his daughter. "You're a good kid I can see that. Your friend Naruto is the same from what I've seen. I just want to help make up for the bad hands you two have gotten."
Hamano forced his mouth closed. "I cannot thank you enough Takama-san." He said, bowing.
Ryushi waved him off. "It's fine. I suppose I'd better let you go huh?"
Hamano shrugged. "It's not like I have any place to be right now, but I should probably get some rest."
Ryushi nodded and Riyu waved.
"I should see you soon then. I'm sure Riyu would like to see you again."
The brunette nodded as well, moving to leave, only to pause at the door.
"I have something interesting for you to make. Full body hybrid training weights. 2 sets." With that he left.
Ryushi shook his head in amazement. The boy was fast, he'd give him that.
"Dad. I like him. His scar's cool." Said Riyu innocently.
"I like him too Riyu. Now, I believe I have some training weights to make."
Outside Taizen was having a field day with what Hamano had 'said' to him.
'So she's cute then?'
'So what? It's true.'
'Ah, young love.'
'Now you're pushing it.' Anger slipped into Hamano's tone
'I wonder what the wedding will be like?'
'I'm so going to kill you.'
Hamano felt the mental folding of arms 'I'd like to know how you'd do that.'
'…'
'Seriously though she could be 'the one' for you.'
'Who on earth finds 'the one' on their first shot?'
'Your friend Naruto pretty much did. At least, that's how I see it.'
'…I'm not that lucky."
'You sure about that? You've got me.'
'My point exactly.'
Taizen sighed. 'You're such a pessimist sometimes.'
Tired of the argument and in need of rest, Hamano headed home.
Later that day Naruto was rather surprised to find his friend asleep in his home resting.
Sunday 1 week later
It was a calm day. Hamano and Naruto had been shopping, though Naruto had used his recently learned Henge jutsu to appear as his friend. The two had then visited different shops at the same time in order to get their supplies quicker.
Having taken the supplies home, the two were now hanging about the town.
The two were animatedly discussing possible Hamano's meeting with Ryushi and the possible advantages they got out of it. That was when they heard laughter. It wasn't of the friendly kind.
They shared a look, knowing someone was being picked on and, having seen it at the academy they both had a good idea as to who was being targeted.
Hamano sighed when he saw the determined look cross Naruto's face. He couldn't stop the blonde now, so he might as well help him.
The pair took to the roofs. Sure enough, a certain pink haired girl was being picked on by 3 girls. The long purple hair of the ringleader allowed the two to recognise her instantly as Ami. Or, as Hamano referred to her, 'The resident bitch'.
Hamano quickly placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder, restraining him when Ami pushed Sakura over.
Naruto looked at him, allowing the brunette to employ some simple hand signs they'd began working on between them. "Mask off, but keep a lid on it."
Naruto nodded, showing he understood as part of the confrontation drifted up to them.
"What can you do about it, forehead, Ino's not here. You should give up being a Kunoichi if you're this weak." There was a pause which from their viewpoint the boys could see Ami's face twist into a sadistic smile.
Hamano released his friend as Ami moved to kick the vulnerable pink haired girl.
She didn't get one step.
Hamano wasn't sure who was more surprised of the girls when Naruto suddenly appeared between them and took stance.
"Don't you dare hurt Sakura-Chan again." Naruto declared.
Ami nearly fell over but was caught by her two followers.
She quickly recovered herself to avoid looking bad.
"Aww, how cute. The dead last is here to be forehead's samurai in shining armour. (2)" Said the purple haired girl with a twisted smirk.
Behind the blonde Sakura blushed slightly.
Ami's smile almost instantly transformed into a scowl.
"Anyway, what makes you think you can stop me dead last." She hissed.
Naruto just smirked.
"You'd be surprised. An old farmer protecting his home can fight better than a ninja hired to destroy the same." Said Hamano, causing everyone to look up the roof where he was now lying on his back, sleepy routine in full swing.
Ami obviously didn't like being lectured. "Oh yeah? How would you, know you sleep though all our classes. Scarface."
"How original." Hamano muttered before flipping himself off the roof, catching and swinging on a clothes line, using the momentum from that to jump onto a low fence before jumping off to land next to Naruto, much to the surprise of all the girls.
"Yeah, I don't care if I'm out numbered I won't let you past me." Declared Naruto.
Ami and her two followers took a step back.
"Now, please leave. I'd rather not have to fight a girl." Said Hamano, pulling a few kunai out of his knee pouch. Naruto rolled his eyes at his friends wording. He left that opening on purpose.
"Scared you'll loose to a girl?" Snapped a suddenly more confident Ami.
"Against your followers? Hardly." Responded the brunette. Sakura and Naruto both winced when they realised what he was implying (3).
It took Ami a moment to figure out what he had meant, but when she did everyone present could almost see the steam coming out of her ears.
The fact that Hamano had turned around and started to walk away only added to her fury.
"Aaaahhhhhrrrr!" The purple haired Kunoichi in training sounded like an enraged cat as she leapt at the retreating brunette. She didn't get far though, as Naruto slid across and blocked her.
"How dare you say I'm not a girl!" Screeched the purple haired girl.
Hamano stopped walking. "You may look the part but underneath you're far too ugly to qualify." He retorted, barely glancing over his shoulder at her.
"How dare you speak to me as if you are superior you clanless bastard."
In that instant the temperature seemed to plummet. The colour draining from Naruto face made it clear she had just said something very stupid.
Hamano's grip tightened on the 3 kunai he had drawn earlier. Ami's followers had already disappeared, while the purple haired girl had retreated against the street wall.
"Leave. Now." Hamano hissed through gritted teeth.
Ami tried to retort, only to have two kunai pin her hair to the wall either side of here head. Hamano had half turned, looking down his arm, to face her. The last Kunai he had drawn still in his hand pointed directly at her.
"Leave. Before I really hurt you." He growled eyes cold and focused like a predators.
Ami nodded once and ran, leaving behind a notable portion of her hair. She was completely terrified out of her wits by the slight killing intent Hamano had unintentionally released.
The three still remaining watched her run. Hamano took a deep breath to compose himself before retrieving his Kunai.
"That was a more than a little scary." Commented Naruto watching his friend.
The brunette shrugged. "Sorry. She deserved it though. The little bi-ahgh." He was cut off by Naruto stomping on his foot
."What the fu-ach." Another stomp, the same foot.
"Fu-Kahhh" And another.
"What the….Hell!" Hamano snapped at his friend.
Naruto shot him a disapproving look.
"Don't swear around Sakura-chan." He rebutted.
Sakura was confused she had no idea what she just witnessed. Though, she could say one thing. These two boys were weird. Cool, but weird.
Hamano nodded slightly at what Naruto had said. He tended to swear more than just about anyone when annoyed.
He then looked pointedly at Sakura who had yet to stand. Naruto got the hint.
"Ano. Are you ok Sakura-chan?" Asked the blonde, offering his hand.
Sakura looked at his hand for a moment before taking it. "I'm ok I guess." She said, hesitantly glancing warily at Hamano, in particular his scar.
Naruto noticed the glance and moved himself into her line of sight, smiling warmly. "Don't worry about him, he's harmless… Well, as long as you don't make him angry he is."
Pocketing his kunai, Hamano smiled to help assure her.
"Ano. Thank you for helping me." She said, bowing.
"Don't worry about it." Said Naruto, grinning widely.
"What was that all about anyway?" Asked Hamano, having decided that there was little point in slipping back into his usual act.
"It's because my pink hair and large forehead make me ugly. I'm not a very good Kunoichi either." Replied Sakura, quietly looking at the floor.
Naruto had heard this once before. Maybe it was time to remind her of that time.
"I think they're jealous of you." Said Naruto.
Sakura head snapped up. That hadn't been the reply she'd been expecting.
"I think your hair makes you look pretty and your forehead is cute. It makes me want to kiss it."
Sakura's eye went wide at the last line, recalling when she'd hear it before.
"You're that boy. You said it that time those boys picked on me."
Naruto scratched the back of his head, grinning. "Yeah, 2 years ago."
Sakura started fiddling with her fingers. "I never got to thank you for doing that." She muttered.
Naruto shook his head. "As I said. Don't worry about it."
"No, I want to thank you properly." Determination suddenly lacing her voice and burning in her eyes.
Hamano looked at her surprised. 'I appear to have misjudged her.'
"You…" That was as far as Naruto got before she wrapped her arms around him in a hug. "So thank you." She murmured.
The scarred brunette watched this with considerable amusement until Sakura let go, leaving both participants blushing.
"Cute." Said Hamano smirking, deepening the shade of their cheeks slightly.
'Exactly.'
'Fuck.' Fortunately Hamano managed to hide his annoyance at his tenant.
"As nice as this has been, I'd rather get inside before someone finds us." He said, partly because it was true, partly because it made it easier to hide his annoyance.
Naruto agreed, "My apartment or yours?" He asked.
Hamano grimaced. "Mine, but keep to the roofs."
Then something occurred to Naruto. "You can jump from roof to roof, right?" He asked Sakura.
The pink haired girl blushed slightly, but nodded.
"Follow me." Said Hamano, jumping straight up to the roof.
"Show off." Muttered Naruto before he and Sakura took a less direct route to the rooftops.
It took a bit longer to get to Hamano's apartment than normal as Sakura was not as competent as to the two boys at traversing the rooftops. Though, she did improve somewhat thanks to the boys' advice.
"Right. Now we're here, we should probably introduce ourselves." Said Hamano, who, having managed to clear his head on the way back, was now acting much friendlier.
"Yeah. I'm Uzumaki Naruto. I'm going to be the next Hokage. Believe it!"
Hamano rolled his eyes, causing Sakura to giggle when she caught it. Naruto would always be Naruto.
"Kazanari Hamano." Said the brunette; ignoring the slightly annoyed look Naruto sent his way.
"Haruno Sakura. I thank you again for helping me." She said with a curtsey.
Hamano was slightly surprised when Naruto began to speak.
"You don't have to put up with them you know, Sakura-Chan."
For the first time, Sakura noticed the Honorific and felt a slight glow tint her cheeks. But how had he known her name before hand? Perhaps he had heard it when they first met and remembered.
"He's right." Added Hamano. "If they say you're a weak Kunoichi prove them wrong and become stronger."
The pink haired girl looked at the two with something resembling awe.
"How?"
"Training." Said Naruto. "Not just studying, you need to train your body and eat well so you have the energy for it. At least, that's what Sleepy here says." He continued, nodding his head towards his brunette friend.
"Just because you don't like studying, Orange, doesn't mean it's wrong."
Naruto just stuck his tongue out at his friend.
"Is that why you were so strong earlier?" Asked Sakura, deciding to ignore the exchange between the two friends.
"Pretty much." Said Hamano, having brought his fist down on Naruto's head.
"Would I have enough time to be with Sasuke-Kun?" As soon as she said that she realised she'd said something wrong, as Naruto's smile vanished and Hamano's became a frown.
The two friends shared a look and Naruto looked at the floor.
Hamano took a deep breath and looked her in the eyes. "Sakura. Why do you like Sasuke-Teme?"
Normally Sakura would have protested the honorific, but after witnessing Hamano's anger earlier she had no desire to provoke him.
"Well… Ano. He's cool, handsome and kinda mysterious." She replied, her gaze flicking away from Hamano's as she spoke.
Hamano let out a sigh. Naruto wouldn't like this, but it had to be done.
"Those are neither your words nor you feelings are they?" It wasn't a question.
It didn't stop Sakura from trying to protest. "Yes they… but…you're…" The brunette shot her a look. "Right." She finished.
The disgusted look Naruto had been giving him suddenly stopped.
"I'm guessing you just wanted to fit in right?" Asked Hamano, his expression softening again. Well, as much as it could with his scar.
Sakura nodded, looking down her feet.
"Fitting in doesn't matter as long as you have friends." Said Naruto, grinning at his scarred friend.
"We definitely don't fit in, but we have friends in each other, so we don't care." Agreed Hamano, nodding his head.
"I see… Then why do you pretend in the academy?"
The banter between the two friends stopped again, but at least this time it they weren't focused on her.
"It's complicated." Said Naruto.
'The adults don't like us. They didn't trust my clan and we don't know why they hate Naruto."
"Because of that, no one will help me at the academy. So we train in secret and pretend that I'm what they want me to be. The dead last in the year." Said Naruto, surprisingly serious for once.
"That's stupid! You're both really nice, they just haven't got to know you." Said Sakura, anger slightly evident in her voice.
Hamano shrugged. "That may be, but there's nothing we can do right now. We'll prove ourselves by protecting the village as Ninja."
"Believe it!" Added Naruto, earning him another eye roll from his friend.
"Anyway." Said the brunette, his head snapping back to Sakura. "I think we'd better get you home before you mum begins to worry."
That seemed to remind the pink haired girl of something.
"Ano. Where are your parents?" She asked before Hamano could leave the room.
"They're dead." Hamano's words were emotionless and blunt, causing Sakura to gasp and cover her mouth.
"Like the rest of my clan. And possibly Naruto's clan as well." He added, right hand coming up to trace his scar before he left.
"He'll need some time alone." Said Naruto for Sakura's benefit. "If you want I'll take you home." He added.
Sakura smiled. "I'd like that."
Hamano dashed across the rooftops. Trying not to think of his clan; how he'd seen them butchered. How he'd received his scar. Clans had been brought up too much today. He needed a distraction. He stopped, noticing that in his random dash he had ended up in the Smithy block again.
'Visiting Ryushi to see if he has got hold of what I asked about should take my mind off things.' He thought, jumping down to floor level in order to enter his friends store. Little did he know how much it would take his mind off things.
20 minutes later outside the Haruno residence
It had taken Naruto and Sakura quite a bit longer to get home than it should have. The blonde had deliberately taken the back street route, allowing the pair to chat comfortably as friends, getting to know one another. Eventually they arrived at Sakura's house.
"I guess I'll leave you here. I hope we can hang out some time." Said Naruto, scratching his neck awkwardly before turning to leave.
Sakura wondered why he would leave so quickly for a moment, before remembering what had been said earlier. Determination filled her eyes. She would help him even if she had to stand up to her mother.
"Wait!" She called, stopping him. "Stay."
The blonde frowned. "But…" Her look caused him to trail off.
"Trust me." She said with a thin smile before knocking.
Almost as soon as she knocked, the door was yanked open by her mother, Sayuki Haruno, who proceeded to wrap her daughter in a tight hug.
"Sakura, where have you been? I was worried." She said, failing to notice the rather nervous Naruto till she looked up.
"You." Sayuki's tone suddenly became venomous. "What are you doing here demon brat? Stay away from my daughter. I…"
She trailed off when she realized that Sakura had not only stopped returning the embrace but was now pushing her away.
"Sakura, what are you…" That was all she managed before the pink haired girl ducked under her arms and looked at her with disgust.
"He's not a demon!" Sakura yelled at her Mother, tears forming in the corners of her eyes.
"Everyone treats Naruto so badly, yet they don't even know him." Her voice got quieter as she went on and the tears started to fall.
Sayuki looked down at her daughter in amazement for a moment before an explanation came to mind.
"What did you do demon?" She snapped rounding on Naruto. "How did you brain wash my daughter?"
Naruto just stood there, not knowing how to respond. However, Sakura did that for him.
"He didn't do anything!" She yelled, now beating her fists against her mother chest as tears streamed down her face. "Naruto and his friend protected me from Ami."
Sayuki tried to stroke Sakura's hair only to be batted away, returning the mother's focus back to Naruto.
"Damn demon! The Fourth should have killed you when he had the chance."
"That would never have happened." Said a new voice, causing everyone to look up at the top of a nearby telegraph pole where Hamano was now perched.
Sayuki was suddenly frozen as she noticed something most would miss. Even with the distance, as she looked into the blue eyes of the boy above them she noticed something and uttered a single word.
"Kaisuugan."
Hamano's eyes widened and his normally extensive vocabulary abandoned him as he stayed on top of the telegraph pole, stunned. Leaving him with only a simple one-word response. "What?"
(1) I don't think that the ninja academy would be like normal schools. There would be one group starting at the beginning of the year and the other half way through. Naruto, Hamano and that lot are in the first class and Riyu will be in the second.
(2) No knights in Naruto so Samurai take their place.
(3) For those of you that didn't get this Hamano was implying that he did not consider Ami a girl.
Thanks for reading. I have a few points to make before I go. Ami is not an OC you know the purple haired girl who picks on Sakura and then has Ino throw the flowers in her mouth during Sakura's flashback in the preliminaries when drawn against Ino. That's Ami. On a similar note Sakura is not OOC as the same flashbacks show Sakura to be a lot less confident.
As for my other stories well I've given all my currently ongoing ones a bit of thought and I'm going to keep all but Rebellion going which will be put on indefinite Hiatus. I liked the idea of the crossover less than I thought I did and the ideas simply aren't coming so I' m not going to try at least for a while. I may put a list of the Mecha designs that people will be able to request.
I have already started the next chapter and it will hopefully appear soon.
But for now please review.
