Time For Trial
"Because of you
I find it hard to trust
Not only me, but everyone around me
Because of you, I am afraid
I lose my way..."
I wake up in a cold sweat, and have to force myself to get out of bed. My dreams consisted of my memories of the past, and how I ran barefoot through the horrible underbrush to my new sanctuary, the leaf village. 'I was taken to their Hokage when I passed out in front of their guards, and gave him the same look I gave the Kazekage, but he returned my look with sad eyes and a kind smile. He further surprised me, on that faithful day, by claiming that I had seen too much to be baby-sat by ANBU squad captains and have officials hold meetings in my home every-so-often. I had been given a home, and right as I was settling in, one of the adults warned me about a boy named Naruto. I still had dirt and twigs in my hair; It actually looked like my hair was brown instead of blonde. So, when I looked in the mirror, I was surprised to see myself with the dark hair settled around my shoulders. That's when I had the idea, to change my appearance, so that no one from my past could find me again. I dyed my hair black and found an old Hunter-nin mask in my closet. I started wearing it wherever I went, and I couldn't help but attract the curious attention of the blonde outcast. Because of my mysteriousness I had been avoided by most of the other children, mostly because they feared me. But, Naruto wouldn't stop until he was my friend, and that's exactly what he did... That's what happened back then.
I look over at the time, and sighed "He'll be here soon." I brushed and braided my long black hair that reaches to my lower back and put my clothes on. I don't bother putting on my new mask until I've finished my breakfast. When breakfast is over, Naruto bursts into my apartment flustered. "We're going to be late!" is the only thing I can understand in his craziness. I slip on my mask and drag Naruto out the door. Halfway to the academy, he gets the idea and starts running with me. Somewhere along the way, I lose Naruto like I always do when he wakes up late. This happens every day. I make it to the academy and into Iruka-sensei's class in time. One quick glance, tells me that Iruka-sensei isn't in the classroom yet, so Naruto is off the hook if he can make it before Iruka. As I walk to my seat the usual occurrence happens, the sea of conversing students and raving fan girls parts for me. Some people stare, some look away, and the rest cower in fear of my, quote, "unholy demonic powers". I ignore their idiotic ways, and plop down in my seat. 5 minutes later Iruka walks in and as everyone scrambles to their seats I notice Naruto still hadn't come in yet. Right when Iruka starts his daily lecture, the door slowly slides open, and Naruto pokes his head in with a sheepish grin plastered on his face. I watch as he starts to tip-toe behind Iruka-sensei and towards his seat, and from the moment he opened the door I knew he wasn't going to make it past Iruka-sensei. "You're late again Naruto." Iruka-sensei abruptly said while pinning Naruto to the blackboard with shuriken. "Uh-eh, Hi sensei." Naruto weakly stated. Then Iruka-sensei went in a full-blown tirade directed at Naruto. As Iruka-sensei yelled at Naruto, I put my head down on the table, and fell into a catnap. Now, I know what you're thinking, you're paranoid and don't like showing your face and yet you take a nap? Well for one, it's not a nap, it's a catnap. All the sleep of a regular nap, mixed with the hyper-awareness of being awake, so if someone touches my mask while I'm asleep, I wake up immediately. I've napped for 10 minutes when Iruka-sensei has given up on Naruto and decided to punish the entire class by making us perform transformation Justus. Iruka-sensei orders everyone to line up and transform into the Hokage. We're lined up in pairs, to my right is Hinata. We're in the back of the line. She's here because she's timid; I'm here because I generally don't like people. Hinata sits in the right side of the room and I sit on the left. Of, course I knew this would happen. Halfway through the line, Naruto goes up with Sasuke alongside him. As usual, Sasuke transforms into the Hokage perfectly, but when Naruto tries the jutsu, he decides to be funny and transforms into a shorter, uglier version of the Hokage instead. "Naruto! That was not the assignment." Iruka-sensei yells. "Ah, geez! I was just kidding!" Naruto replies after he releases the jutsu. But when the nut-ball tries again, he gets the same result. Everyone starts laughing except me, Hinata, and Sasuke. I'm not a Sasuke-supporter; he's just not a laugh-er. With laughter sub-sided, and Naruto cowering in the corner, me and Hinata take a turn and both end up with the Hokage. As I release the jutsu, I can feel Naruto's eyes staring at me with his dead-set determination. He' going to make me train him, I knew this would happen.
Today, I actually woke up to my alarm clock, but that's because my subconscious knows that I've dreaded this day for a while now. Today is the day everyone takes the graduation test. I've dreaded this day ever since I befriended Naruto. Don't get me wrong, Naruto's my best friend, I just don't want to see him fail, I like to see those close to me succeed, not fail. Especially after, No! Not going to think about it, Nope! I got in the shower, got dressed, and ate breakfast. Naruto was late again, but this time, I didn't lose him, he's getting better. At the academy everyone was lined up in front of the classroom door waiting to show off what we learned. We were called by alphabetical order of our last names. Basically, I just sat and let Naruto and Hinata play with my hair until they called my name. I walked in the class room and stood before my sensei's and my Hokage sitting at a table. "Ahh, Arisu, I've been waiting for this day." Sarutobi-san said. I bowed my head and spoke what little I rarely do, "As have I, Sarutobi-san." This surprised both my sensei's and caused them to start shouting but I just ignored them. "Hahahaha!" Sarutobi-san laughed at their idiocy and started my test.
As I expected, I didn't like this day at all. When the crowd parted enough for me to see the other buildings, I immediately walked over to the swing-set that was currently occupied by my blonde friend. "Go away, Arisu, go brag to your family." Naruto moaned in his depression. "I'd brag to Yuri if I could." I told Naruto and that's when he realized what he said. "Oh! I'm sorry Arisu, I-I forgot! It's because of the test a-and the other graduates tha-" "it's okay Naruto." I stopped him in his exasperation, that's when Mizuki-sensei came up to Naruto and shooed me away.
Yay! I updated! And I told you that the beginning was just so I could explain some things, there is not going to be that many time skips in every chapter. But, I hope I can update faster, I sneak on to write, and I have to practice for an upcoming chorus concert I have. High school is a pain in my ass. Oh, and sorry for the lack of dialog, I'm getting there soon, I promise!
Quietly yours,
Ninja
