Chapter 2

Those fuckers closed the door.

I tried knocking and yelling but aside from an old matron yelling at me for coming late, I got nothing.

Now what to do, I thought as I sat next to the doors of the orphanage, ignoring the small growl coming from my stomach. I could ask for food but knowing now why people hated me, something told me the vendors wouldn't be as generous as to offer me free food.

Wait.

There were ninjas who know better and didn't hate me, I only had to find them!

Didn't Ino have a father who owns a flower shop? I could search for it.

With new energy, I walked like a person with a purpose, mostly my hunger guiding me, at the moment. I tried to ignore the glares I received but damn if they weren't nasty and made me worried for my safety. So hunching my shoulders, I looked down to hide my whisker marks and went to a nice empty alley. I took out my long-sleeved shirt and being careful to not stretch it too much, I tied it around my head like a turban in order to hide the brightness of it and then when I was sure no hair showed, I grabbed a bit of dirt from the ground and spat at it until I had a bit of mud. Then I proceeded to shove it on my cheeks and some on my bare chest, so I would look like a kid playing with the dirt.

… Damn if I didn't feel dirty after all that. And I hate feeling dirty.

Oh well.

(I still felt like they were watching. Their ugly gazes on me. I felt exposed with my naked chest even if I was a little kid at the moment. I wanted to run and run.)

Stepping out of the alley I walk around with my head still tilted down (just in case) while holding a branch I found out on the ground, completing the look of a careless child. I went to ask around for a flower shop and was pleasantly surprised that while annoyed, the people at least acknowledged my existence and gave me some help.

Alas, after three hours of walking and two flower shops, I haven't found the one I was looking for. I already tried asking for food with my disguise myself but it didn't work as I looked too much like an urchin for the people to give me more than a couple of directions. I was lost, tired and hungry and just wanted to sleep. Talking to those people didn't help my humor at all, either.

Tears formed around the corner of my eyes and I didn't know why. Hunger? Stress? I didn't care. It was already late, the sun almost has hidden completely from the sky, making everything take an orange tint. There were people starting to light up small lamps, bustling around and being busy.

It wasn't until an hour later when the color of the lamps changed from white to other colors. Blue, orange, and red. It was all very pretty.

It was while I was across a street where most of the lamps where red that I started to see more women around. They were all pretty, even with all the makeup and the revealing clothes.

It took me a couple of seconds for my mind to associate the men entering to the shadowed windows where giggling women could be heard with the red lamps hanging in the street.

A-Am I in the famous red-light district?

With renewed enthusiasm, I looked around, marveling at something I only heard in stories and movies. I was fascinated.

Still, I was slightly anxious. While there were a couple of men who dismissed me without even giving me a glance, there were others whose gazes lingered and that creeped me out.

I went to an open alley, ready to run if necessary so that I could go away.

That was when I heard faint grumbling coming from somewhere above me. I looked up just in time for water to come down pouring towards my position. I didn't have the time to dodge, too stunned for that. I spluttered and tried to not breathe. When the water stopped coming, I ran a hand through my hair to put my bangs away from my forehead.

I then looked up again, feeling more than a little annoyed.

"Hey, watch before you throw some water!"

I heard a surprised, "huh?" and then a metal bucket was crashing against my head.

Fucking Hell.

I was gingerly cradling my head, sitting in a fetal position as I cried silently. I didn't know how long I remained like that, just that I didn't bother looking up until I heard hurried steps coming towards me. And lo and behold, some pretty girl was standing there, in front of me. She took a couple of breaths before leaning down to my height. I couldn't see her face well because of the lack of lights but I could still tell she was concerned.

"I'm sorry, are you okay?" she said before realizing her error. "Of course you aren't. I'm sorry, do you want to come inside to check you up?"

I shook my head, not being able to talk as the pain was still too much for this little body. Then, my stomach decided to betray me as it growled quite loudly. I glared down at my belly.

"Oh, do you want some food? I could give you some to apologize for…" she trailed off, looking towards my right where the bucket still was.

I tried to not look too surprised, but I knew I was failing if her look of understanding was anything to go by.

"When was the last time you ate something?" she asked me with an understanding smile.

Oh whelp. I probably looked worse than my situation was because of my dirty clothes. I now felt kind of bad.

"This morning," I answered honestly. "I'm fine, really."

She nodded with a small smile and stood up. "Still, come on."

I was wary but still not jaded enough to ignore her. She seemed honest enough, so I decided to follow her.

"So, what's your name, nee-chan?"

She giggled at the name I gave her as we used the backdoor of what I was sure was a brothel.

"I'm Yuzu, nice to meet you."

I nodded but didn't say my name in case she knew it and decided to then act like all the other people I've met so far.

The brothel may have looked plain from the outside but damn if it wasn't pretty. I only caught a glimpse, but it was still enough for me. Yuzu led me to the kitchen where she gave me some bread and milk before going to where the first aid kit was. In my previous life, I hated milk with passion, but I couldn't afford to be picky in this one, so I drank it with the face of a man ready to face punishment. Luckily, it wasn't as bad as my memories suggested.

Still wasn't good, though.

"Who are you?"

I looked up from where I was shoveling my face with bread to see a black-haired woman in her mid-forties, looking beautiful in a sort of mature way with her pristine crimson clothes with gold embroidery. Her posture was confident and severe. And a part of me couldn't help but awe at the grace she possessed with her tight bun and dark makeup, though most of me was simply too anxious at meeting such a dominating personality. It didn't take me long before I snapped out of it.

"Hi, ma'am," I said, refusing to meet her eyes, feeling too much like a bug under that gaze. I tried to ignore the way my hands were sweating and how shallow my breath was turning. I only focused on the floor.

"Look up, kid." I did as she said, briefly meeting her eyes. "Now answer my question, who are you?"

"Yuzu-san brought me here after she accidentally hurt me."

"I said: Who are you, kid?"

Oh. What to do? I could tell her my name but if by some reason she talked to the matrons, she would realize they never told me my name and I would be in trouble. I looked down with what I hoped was a convincing sad expression, before mumbling, "They call me demon brat."

She huffed. "Please if you're trying to lie, at least act convincedly."

I narrowed my eyes at her. "I wasn't lying."

She nodded. "I know. But you're still hiding something or you wouldn't have bothered in acting."

Huh. Well, isn't she sharp?

I shrugged. I didn't have to tell her the truth, though I—wait. She said 'I know'. That must mean…

I slowly touched my cheeks, feeling a bit panicky. I wasn't really surprised to feel most of the dirt gone because of the water Yuzu threw on me before.

Sighing, I looked up at the woman, waiting to be kicked out any minute now. Instead, I found her looking at me with a curious expression.

And that's the moment Yuzu decided to show up.

I was unsure but when she only gave a bow at the woman before giving her an abridged version of what happened, she continued her path towards me, as if I wasn't the demon brat the matron and other people liked to think of me. She was careful as she touched my head and went to feel up my bump. I cringed in pain when she found it and even hissed when she poured some alcohol, but other than giving me a too cheerful smile, I was treated with care.

Damn, but my hope in humanity just restored itself a little, then.

The old lady remained standing close, having taken out a thin pipe to smoke from. I got to admit it, she looked like a painting come to life like that. It made me want to draw her, to be honest.

After my bump was covered in a bandage and my face was clean, the old lady once again opened her mouth, "Why are you out so late?"

I shrugged, not bothering to exaggerate my actions too much for it to be noticed but enough to look like a kid. "I was kicked out."

"Why?"

"I was on a fight. I won."

"I see," she said, puffing out a small cloud of smoke. "Would you like to sleep here?"

My eyes opened so wide it hurt. I wanted to ask her to repeat herself in case I hadn't heard it right, but I didn't. Instead, I asked, "Why?"

This time it was her who shrugged, though to call it a simple shrug would be insulting. Damn, but that lady had grace. "Why not? You'll most likely hear things someone your age shouldn't, but it would be better than to let you roam alone at this hour."

Still... "Why not simply ask somebody to accompany me there?"

She scowled. "Do you think I have got the people to do that? All my workers are women who now are quite busy; they don't have the time to escort you."

Oh. Okay, that was understandable enough even if it still felt a little fishy, though—Wait. I was Naruto. That should mean I had some creepy stalkers following me around, right? I mean, I was Konoha's jinchuriki and the son of the Fourth. I must have some pretty good surveillance following me around. People who wouldn't let any harm befall me, like unseen guardians ready to help me if things went wrong.

That small revelation would relax most if they were in the same position I was in, everything considered. Not me, nuh uh. Not at all.

See, in my previous life, I suffered from mild paranoia. I always had the weird thought that there were cameras spying me or that there were people stalking me whenever I went out. Luckily, my world had pills for that and with time I learned to ignore that little voice saying 'There is someone there', so while I still thought there were cameras or people spying on me, I just didn't care anymore.

(Or at least not much. I still made sure to not do anything too suspicious alone or to put a show for fun, in case someone really was watching.)

So yeah, one could guess what my problem with this was. I mean, I was in a world where being a super-powered ninja was normal. People could be in the same room I was in and I wouldn't notice.

That freaked the hell out of me.

I wanted to panic. I was ready to panic, actually, but a snap of fingers sounding in front of my face stopped me from doing so.

"Kid, what's going on?"

I swallowed as I saw the concerned expression of Yuzu close to my face. I finally could look at her face and could tell she was a pretty woman in her mid-twenties with light brown hair, the same color of her eyes. She wore a yellow yukata with blue markings that went along with her makeup. "N-nothing. I just… realized how scary the world is at night."

All day, actually. Overpowered ninjas existed and I was someone very important. Not only important, but I was also the freaking protagonist. An emotional protagonist who made friends by giving speeches and beating the crap out of them. Someone strong-willed and stubborn.

I wasn't cut for that.

I could count with the fingers of my hands the times I've won an argument. I mean, I was awkward and had the empathy of a teaspoon, what the hell I was going to do?

No matter. That line of thinking is something to leave to the me of tomorrow. The present me needed to stop freaking out the worried Yuzu.

I tried to smile, though it felt like a grimace. I then looked at the old lady and accepted her offer.

"Sure, kid. You can sleep on my couch for today. Name's Rika, by the way."

Waking up without a matron shouting at you was incredible. Also, the couch I slept in was made of clouds and rainbows and no one could convince of the contrary. It probably said a lot of the hard mattress I used, but I ignored it. I also ignored how this was the best night I had in this life, even with all the moans and groans going on around me. I didn't want to think of my poor sleeping conditions, period.

So I sat, yawning as I did so. The room I was in was small and slightly rectangular. Enough for a desk with books neatly aligned against the wall and a couch where a kid of my age can easily fit into. The walls were a nice cream while the floor was made of wood. There were a couple of decorations like scrolls filled with words on the walls and one plant, but no windows. Simple and pretty, really.

The first hour I stayed awake (because of the sounds), Rika was busy filling some paperwork. At one point a girl came in but they spoked in hushed whispers so I didn't hear anything, but afterward? Blissful sleep.

The door opened and Rika came in. She was dressed in comfortable clothes so unlike the exotic one she was wearing yesterday. She still looked like a goddess.

"Are you hungry, kid?" she said with a hand resting on a hip. When I nodded, she added, "Okay, breakfast will be ready in a bit. I only need to know something."

"Uh. What?"

"What's your name?" she asked, her gaze intense.

Half truths for the win was my new motto, so I carefully said, "the matrons never told me my name."

She nodded, her gaze unfocused a little bit as she looked at the side. "Your name is Uzumaki," she said softly with a small fond smile. "Uzumaki Naruto."

Oh my god. That fond smile.

Was my dad a client here? Or did my mom work here?

"Did you… know my mom or dad?"

Probably seeing the bemusement on my face, Rika laughs. "Perhaps one day I'll tell you about it."

I did notice how she didn't say no.

Breakfast was a lively affair. We went down where the room to greet the clients was. It was large and full of small tables where all the thirteen girls sat, along with the bartenders, forming their little cliques, eating a typical Japanese breakfast. It was delicious and no longer unfamiliar for my palate, so I enjoyed even with the milk they gave me. They all drank the same tea and when I asked to try they told me it was for women only, so I guess it was something to prevent pregnancy.

It was homey and I liked it even if the smell of smoke and alcohol was still strong, even with their windows wide open to let fresh air inside.

I turned to where Rika was sitting at my left and asked, "Why there aren't guards?"

She hummed from the papers she was shuffling. "We live in a ninja village. They are only just a scream away."

"Still, what about if something serious happened?"

"We call the police."

Oh yeah. The Uchiha were alive at this time period.

"What about those masked guys? Do they help, too?"

She briefly looked up with narrowed eyes. Crap. Did I say something weird? "The ANBU can only come inside a place like ours if they have the permission of the Hokage."

So that meant those creeps weren't inside the building, looking at me. Nice. Now I wanted to stay here, where the glares of the people weren't there to bother me and I could eat nice food every day. But nothing is free so I looked at Rika and said, "I would like to work here."

She didn't look up from the papers she was reading, she only made a vague gesture for me to explain myself.

"I can clean and—and I can help to prepare the food. I learn quickly, too."

She finally looked up. "Why?"

I tried to not squirm on my seat at the intensity of her gaze; I always had a problem meeting other people's eyes. "I like it here."

"This is no place for a kid like you, sorry."

I could feel my eyes tearing up, the stress of the day finally getting to me. Whoa, but having the hormones of a kid sucked. "Please. I don't like how the matron treats me. Or how the kids are." Actually, I didn't like to interact with children who thought I was a child demon. "I don't like it how the people glare at me and whisper. I—I don't like it outside."

And wasn't that the truth. Before, when I felt I was being watched, I could ignore it by using my phone or thinking 'No one's watching you, relax', but now. People were watching me. It was like feeling an itch I couldn't scratch, but in all my body. And I hated how my skin prickled with every glare and how I just wanted to run, run and hide.

Rika gave me a considering look, then she asked if I already started the Academy, with the tone of voice that let me know she already knew the answer. She never once doubted I wouldn't go, as if I hadn't had an option. I still explained I was just learning how to write and in two years I would go to the Academy because I understood.

I was the village's jinchuriki. I was their weapon.

"Well, you can stay here until the Academy starts and help around to get the place ready for the night."

I smiled because that was what you did when one was glad, but if anything that only made Rika huff in amusement. "And we will help you learn how to act. You're good enough to mislead a civilian, but a ninja would never fall for that." Did that mean she was a ninja? I couldn't ask, however, as she continued talking, "And we will help you learn how to blend yourself and make disguises. That will help with your problem of being outside."

I blinked. "How—?"

"While most of our clients are looking for some company, most of them are ninjas wanting to learn our art."

Well, color me curious. "Art?"

"The art of seduction. And, while we are not geisha, we do know the art of being an excellent consort and have some of their skills."

"What kind of skills?"

"Skills that we will teach you, as you're too young to learn other things. Writing, dancing, singing and serving are the main topics."

Oh crap. I hated dancing. "But—"

"Do you want to stay here or not?"

I meekly nodded my head, a small smile growing on my face.

A/N: Who am I and what am I doing with the author, you say? Well, nope, don't worry. It's me! I'm just updating because I had the chapter ready so why not. Also, for those who will ask why I choose SI!Naruto to live with prostitutes is because, well, I've only seen it done once and I liked it. I wanted to write a story with Naruto growing up as an akasen child but I never got the inspiration for it, so when I decided to write this, I said, why not?

Also, I wanted some help with the next chapter. You see, I don't like writing OCs, not because I haven't got the creativity or something, mostly it was because I grew too attached of them.

So! If you have an OC that could work as a prostitute (Female) send them all to me with a brief description of their skills, physical appearance, and personality. I will then say your account names alongside the new OCs.