"Talking"
'Thinking'
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
The Ichiraku Ramen Bar was a quaint little bar which was open from morning to night. It wasn't a big place, only having seating for around six or seven, but that did't mean it wasn't popular. It was known to have some of the best ramen in all of Konoha and managed to do quite well for itself. The only reason it was never expanded was because the owner, Teuchi, wanted to keep it solely a family run business. And right now that business was to serve the two young boys who just entered great food.
"Well if it isn't little Naru-chan. How was your first day in a new class." A young brunette girl with brown eyes asked the red head from behind the counter with a smile.
"It wasn't too bad." Naruto said as he took a seat. "The classes are fun and Kurenai-sensei seems really nice. Hey nee-chan could you make us some ramen please."
"Us?" Was her confused reply. Looking to her left she took notice of the other boy for the first time. "Oh, and who are you?"
"My names Kyo, I'm in Naruto's class. So can you really make ramen as good as he says?" Kyo asked.
"Aw, thats cute, you brought a friend over for lunch. My names Ayame by the way, and as for the ramen... well how good does he say it is?" Ayame asked with a question of her own.
"He said that it's the best food in the whole world." Ayame giggled when she heard this.
"He thinks that about all ramen, not just ours." She clarified.
"But it's true," Naruto defended, "ramen is the best food in the world. And you guys have the best ramen, so it's the best of the best." He reasoned.
"You haven't tried anywhere near all the food in the world. And as for ramen, we're the only ramen you've ever had besides instant." Ayame said. This caused Naruto to pout, but before he could say anything Kyo beat him to it.
"Can we talk after you make us our food? I'm really hungry and talking about food isn't helping." This was followed by a growl of his stomach, driving his point home. Ayame heard this and let out a couple more giggles before getting serious and taking their order.
"Of course we can. Do you know what you want?"
"I've never had ramen before so I'll have what reds having." Frowning for a moment at the nickname she heard, she replaced it with a smile right away. Turning around she yelled into the back of the bar.
"Hey otou-san, two miso ramen please!" Hearing a sure from the back, Ayame returned her attention to the two boys and addressed the raven haired one with a smile still in place. "Otou-sans a great chief, so it should be done pretty quickly." A little bragging can be good for business after all.
"Thank Kami. I didn't have much for lunch and I'm really hungry." Kyo said with some relief in his voice. Hearing lunch caused Ayame to remember something she's been waiting to ask Naruto.
"Speaking of lunch, how'd you like that bento I packed for you Naru-chan? I made sure to put in some extra pork." Ayame asked.
"It was great nee-chan. Everything tasted really good and it filled me right up. The rice tasted funny though. And can you stop calling me Naru-chan." Naruto asked his nee-chan with a frown. Ayame gave him a big smile as she answered.
"Nope, your always going to be little Naru-chan to me. I am glad you liked it all though. As for the rice, I cooked it a little longer and put some seasoning on-."
"Pleeeease stop. I can't hear anymore about food." Kyo whined out loud causing the other two to laugh a bit at him. "There's nothing funny about me being hungry." Was his pout filled reply to the laughs.
"Sorry, but I think it is." Naruto said as a few more laughs escaped him. He then remembered the book that he was reading during lunch and decided to ask Ayame about it now. "Hey nee-chan," seeing her give him her attention he continued. "I was reading that book jiji gave me during lunch and I'm having trouble with some of the words. Can you help me out with it?" Naruto asked. This got Kyo's attention and he decided to add in his own two cents.
"Yeah, I tried to help him out but that book is really hard. Even together we don't understand half of it."
"Makes sense, you are just kids." Ayame said which caused Kyo to pause. That was the same thing he said to Naruto at lunch. Frowning for a second Kyo asked her a question you are never supposed to ask a woman.
"And how old are you that you can understand everything that we can't?"
Ayame answered without missing a beat. "I'm fourteen, so I'm a teenager not a kid. There's a big difference between the two you know."
Before either of the two could say anything back a man that looked to be in his forties came into view. He had dark grey hair and he seemed to be squinting his eyes. The most important thing about him, concerning the two boys at least, was that he had two steaming bowls of food in his hands. He smiled as he set them onto the counter and greeted the red head.
"Naruto, it's good to see you." He then turned to address the only girl there. "Ayame, you should of told me Naruto was here. And whose this young man with him?" The chief asked the waitress.
"I figured it would be a nice little surprise tou-san. As for the kid, that's a classmate of Naruto's." Ayame answered her father. Said man turned to Kyo and introduced himself.
"Hello my boy, my names Teuchi. I'm the owner of this bar and since this is the first time you've not only eaten here, but even tried ramen, consider it on the house."
"Wow, really! Thanks Teuchi-san. My names Kyo by the way." Kyo said to the bar owner in excited gratitude. He then picked up his chopsticks, but before he broke them he got a confused look on his face. "How did you know I've never had ramen before?" He questioned Teuchi as he heard Naruto say itadakimasu.
"I heard bits and pieces of you three talking from the kitchen." Teuchi answered as he went back to the kitchen.
"Oh, that makes sense." Kyo said as he broke his chopsticks apart and said an itadakimasu of his own. He took a bite of the ramen and his eyes widened in surprise as he turned to Naruto. "Whoa, you were right red, this is some goo-" Kyo stopped mid sentence when he saw Naruto. It wasn't Naruto that made him stop though. No, it was the empty bowl in front of him that did the trick. Taking a quick look to the floor to see if he dumped it, he saw nothing. He then refocused his stare on Naruto as he tried to figure this out.
Turning to look at the other boy Naruto just had to ask. "What?"
Blinking a few times Kyo responded. "Holy Shit! There's no way you could of finis-" Bam! "Itai! What was that for!" Kyo said as he glared up at Ayame who was holding a ladle. One she just used to hit him over the head with.
"You shouldn't use that kind of language in front of a lady. Besides, I don't want to hear Naruto start talking like that." Ayame answered as she glared right back.
"Who cares how I talk? Do you see that empty bowl, how is that even possible?" He asked as he just stared at Naruto. Said boy just blushed in embarrassment before he responded.
"I said I really like ramen." Que the awkward silence... followed by laughter.
After a good laugh at Naruto's expense, the two boys finished their meals. They stayed there for awhile as Ayame helped them read and understand the Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi. Naruto wanted to keep reading, but the bar started to get busy so they had to stop; Ayame did have a job to do after all. The two decided to walk around and look for something to do seeing as neither felt like going home just yet. It was then that Kyo asked a question he wanted to ask since lunch.
"Hey Naruto, I know Kurenai-sensei told us a bit, but what did you do to let you skip a grade? And how did you get in early anyway?"
"Getting in early is easy. All you have to do is love your village and help it grow. You also gotta be able to train your mind and body and be strong in both." Naruto answered. Kyo gave him a funny look.
"That's it? Love your village and be able to train."
"Yeah, I think so. That's what they told me anyway. How did you get in?" Naruto asked a question of his own. Kyo pondered for a moment.
"I don't know. I was just told one day that I was going to the academy to be a ninja. I thought it sounded cool so I never gave it a second thought." Kyo admitted. "So how did you skip a grade again?"
Naruto looked down at his feet for awhile. He didn't even seem to realize that he had stopped walking. The two had ended up in a park. The silence continued and when it seemed like he wasn't going to answer he suddenly spoke up.
"The tests were always really easy for me. I never had any trouble getting what the sensei was saying and I got Ayame nee-chan to help me read ahead in the books. It was all just so interesting and good that I didn't want to stop. Before I was allowed to move up I had to take a test to see if I could handle the stuff they were teaching. It was harder, but not to bad. I passed and was allowed in." Naruto said as he kept looking at his feet.
"That can't be it though. If it was all the smart people in our class would move up, but none of them are. I wonder what else it was." Kyo thought out loud. Naruto then looked up and at the other boy.
"There was something else." Naruto said getting Kyo's attention once again. "Before I ever took that test, I got into a fight with someone in that class." Kyo's eyes widened when he heard that.
"We don't start spars until the third year. The first two are us learning the academy taijutsu and doing exercises. So when you say fight you really mean a fight, huh." Kyo says. Naruto nods his head.
"Yeah. The other kid just kept going on about how I wasn't good enough to be there and that I should just leave. I ignored him even when he said he'd prove it. That's when he took a swing at me. It hit, I got really angry and punched back. We fought for a long time, at least I think it was a long time. I ended up winning, but I hurt the other person pretty bad. I still feel bad about it."
"That's not to bad. I mean you don't seem like a fighter, but lots of kids get in fights and just get detention. What's so special about that fight. And as for the other kid, well he started it so he got what he deserved." Kyo said to the red haired boy in front of him.
"I don't think so. I mean it felt good to let go like that, but when I punched the other guy in the eye he ended up bleeding from it after the hit." Naruto said, going into a bit more detail.
"I still don't get it." Kyo said, still not see the big deal.
"The other person was a Hyuga." Naruto clarified. Kyo was stunned.
"You mean you not only beat a Hyuga, but hurt one of their eyes. Damn man, that's big. Hyuga's get funny when it comes to their eyes"
"Yeah they do. I did get in trouble for the whole thing, along with the other guy, but apparently beating a Hyuga is something special. Even if he wasn't trained that much yet everyone was still surprised that I won. A couple weeks later they asked me if I wanted to take a test to move up a year. That's really it." Naruto said finishing his story. Kyo seemed to think about it as he leaned against a tree. Naruto wondering just when they got anywhere near a tree.
"That sucks for the Hyuga, but the story is kind of cool. I mean you actually beat up a Hyuga, you must be stronger then I thought." Kyo says to Naruto before grinning. "Guess you really didn't need to worry about Daichi after all."
"If he had his friends with him I would. I don't even know how strong he is, so I might even if it was just him."
"He's not bad, but not that good either." Kyo informs Naruto. Naruto thinks about it for a second before looking up and noticing that the sun was starting to set.
"I didn't know it was this late yet." Looking back at his current company he addresses him. "I got to go, I promised nee-chan I'd help her in the garden today." Kyo blinks at that as he gets up.
"You really garden. I thought you were just kidding earlier." He says as Naruto smiles.
"Nope, I really do. But I don't really do anything, nee-chan does most of it. I just kind of help her out with the easy stuff." He said continuing to smile the whole time.
"Hm, alright. I gotta get going to. Don't want that old man to get mad. See ya later red." Kyo was already walking and waving before he even finished talking. Naruto waved back before looking around to find out where he was. Once he figured it out, he too started on his way home.
As he was walking Naruto started to think about Kyo. He was a fun guy and he seemed really nice. 'Other people seemed nice to though.' Naruto thought to himself with a frown. It was true. Other people have pretended to be nice to him to get him to do something or try something against him. The latter was very rare and only happened once. Before anything could even happen someone dressed in black with a mask on stopped it. Whatever it was. Point is this has happened before, 'And I don't want it to happen again. Kyo seems nice, but I'll wait awhile before I decide anything about him.' Finished with that line of thought, he looked up to see he was at Ichiraku. He walked in, took a seat, and waited for his nee-chan to finish so they could go and do some gardening.
The next day at the academy
It was about fifteen minutes till the start of class. Not many people were in the classroom yet, not even Kurenai-sensei. Naruto was currently sitting in the same seat he was yesterday, which was at the top row two seats away from the window. He was just waiting for class to start since he didn't really have that much time to do anything. A few kids would look at him and he would stare right back before giving them a slight smile and looking out the window again. That's when he saw a group of people out there. It looked like a couple of girls and... Kyo. 'Wonder what they're talking about. Eh, it's not really my business.' Naruto thought as his attention drifted elsewhere again. It was a little after that moment that Daichi and his friends walked in and started to cause a commotion.
"Where the hell is he? I'm going to beat that loser for yesterday." Daichi yelled out to everyone. Naruto got a bit of a sinking feeling in his stomach but kept his calm. One of the other kids then pointed up towards him.
"He's up there Daichi." Said boy and his friends looked to where the kid pointed and spotted Naruto. They all frowned/sneered at seeing him but didn't do anything else.
"I don't care about the tomato right now, I'll get him later. I want to know where Kyo is." Daichi said, confusing everyone in the room. Naruto had to wonder just what it was that Kyo did since he was with the other boy for most of the day yesterday.
"Did someone call my name?" Speak of the devil and it shall appear. Kyo walked into the room and looked around a bit before his gaze stopped on Daichi. A grin then worked its way onto his face despite the glare the small group was sending him. "Well if it isn't Chiri-san (1). If your looking for me then you must need me for something. I'll be glad to help you however I can." Kyo said with sarcasm rolling right off his tongue. This just caused Daichi to glare even harder at him; in turn making him smirk more and leaving Naruto to wonder what the hell was going on.
"Help? You were supposed to help by telling that tomato up there to get ready to fight after school yesterday during lunch." This caused said tomato's eyes to widen in surprise, but Daichi wasn't finished yet. "Instead you snitched on me to Kurenai-sensei after school when I went to get him. What was that about, huh?" He finish as he looked Kyo dead in the eyes.
The entire class was watching this now, waiting to hear what was going to be said next. None more so than Naruto who narrowed his eyes as he tried to figure this all out. He was slowly starting to see the picture to.
"Well for one, I just like messing with you. I really don't know why you'd even believe me stupid, hehe." At this Daichi's friends had to stop him from charging Kyo right there. "Second, I was just evening the score from last week when you got me detention with those stupid frogs of yours. So really we're even." Kyo finished with a big smile. Daichi got his friends to let him go and was now approaching the black haired boy.
"Your dead Akachan (2)." Daichi said while Kyo narrowed his eyes at the nickname.
"Is he really now? Just what were you planning on doing Daichi?" A voice said from the doorway. Everyone froze before turning to the door, and seeing Kurenai-sensei standing there with her eyes focused on the two boys who had the spotlight a moment ago.
"It's not what it looks like Kurenai-sensei." Daichi tried to explain but she wasn't hearing any of it.
"I saw and heard it for myself so don't even bother. That's another day of detention for you Daichi. And Kyo, you better behave yourself because I'm watching you today. One slip-up and your in here right next to Daichi after school. Is that clear?" She said to the two of them.
"Crystal Kurenai-sensei." They both said at the same time.
"Good, now everyone get to your seats so we can start class." Everyone quickly did as she told them. With a sigh escaping her lips she started her class.
Naruto was walking through the halls right now to get out of the building. It was lunch now and he had something to talk to Kyo about. He saw him head outside to eat and was going to follow him out. He finally made it to the hall leading to the doors, but before he got out he saw a couple of familiar girls standing next to the door. They were all in his class but he was sure he saw the three somewhere else to, he just couldn't think of where. The three finally saw him and waved at him. Deciding to see what they wanted he stopped in front of them to talk.
"Is there something I can help you girls with?" The red head questioned as he looked at the three. The middle one had black hair and equally black eyes. The one on the left had brown hair and blue eyes. Finally, the one one the right had green hair with brown eyes. 'They're all really pretty. It's weird though, I didn't think anyone had green hair. Then again I can't really say anything about hair color.' Naruto absently thought. The middle girl decided to take charge and speak.
"Actually we were wondering if you could answer a question? And just so you know, I'm Kazumi and these two are Misaki and Fumiko." Kazumi said. Misaki was on the right and waved when she was introduced, Fumiko doing likewise.
"It's nice to meet all of you. If you want to ask something then go ahead, I'll try to answer it." Naruto said smiling at the three girls. They smiled back as Kazumi asked her question.
"So is it true that you beat a Hyuga in a fight?"
That was one question that he definitely didn't expect. After all the only person he told that to was Kyo. 'Wait a minute. They're the girls that were talking to Kyo earlier.' Naruto remembered. That meant that Kyo told them, but why? He narrowed his eyes as his figures dug into his palm in anger. He needed to talk to Kyo right now.
"You heard that from Kyo, right." It wasn't really a question seeing as he knew the answer. The other three gasped when he said that.
"Does that mean its true?" "I can't believe you beat a Hyuga." "How cool." The three were speaking at the same time. He could barely make out what they were saying, not that he cared at the moment.
"Sorry, I got to go." With that he quickly made his way passed the girls out the doors. There was someone he really need to talk to.
It took Naruto awhile to find him, but he finally did. He was currently sitting down and leaning against a tree while he finished what looked like a rice ball. Walking up to him he was seen by the other boy who waved him over.
"Hey red, over here. You wanna take a seat?" Kyo asked. As Naruto made it over to him he decided he'd get right to the point.
"What was that whole thing with Daichi about earlier?" Naruto figured he'd start with something he already had an idea about. This, however, threw Kyo for a loop.
"What?" His intelligent reply.
"Before class started, Daichi said you were supposed to tell me about a fight we were going to have after school." Naruto refreshed the other boys memory.
"Oh, that. I told Chiri-san that I'd get you to fight him after school cause of that thing in class yesterday. Then after the bell rang I watched him leave and got Kurenai-sensei so he'd get another detention. Ah, revenge is sweet." Kyo finish his little story. Naruto's eyes were like slits now.
"So you used me to get back at Daichi. And you didn't call out to get everyones attention back on me after school?" Naruto asked which caused Kyo to look at him in confusion.
"Why would I've done that? And Daichi was trying to pick a fight with you. It'll be even harder now with two detentions won't it?"
Naruto let it go for now. He'd come back to it but he did have another question to ask anyway.
"What about those girls? How'd they know that I fought a Hyuga?" This one got a weird look out of the other boy so Naruto clarify who he was talking about. "I ran into Kazumi and the other two in the halls."
"Those three. Well yesterday I heard them talking about how they wanted to know more about you. So I figured I'd make a deal. I tell them about how you jumped a year and they take all my notes for me so I can sleep in class." Kyo said.
"What?" Naruto said with anger deep in his voice.
"Well the exercises are fun, but the lectures are boring. This way I can sleep in class and still get all the material. They said they'd make notes for you to." Kyo finished with a grin.
"So you met me to get back at someone else and hung out with me to get info out of me." Naruto asked a bit harshly. Kyo flinched a little when he heard that.
"Not really. The Daichi thing was just spur of the moment and everyone would of heard about your fight with the Hyuga sooner or later. Hell, I'm surprised no one knew yet. As for the rest, I did like that book and really did have fun yesterday, so I don't see the big deal about all this." Kyo explained and defended himself. Naruto just continued to glared at him before letting off a big sigh and slumping his shoulders. He then looked up with tired, sad eyes that truly shocked Kyo. Naruto then simply walked passed him, talking just loud enough to be heard.
"I guess you don't see it. I'm not surprised, no one ever does."
When Kyo turned around, Naruto was already back inside the building. Just in time for the bell to ring. For the rest of the day Naruto avoided Kyo. Even after school when Kyo was waiting for him and asking to talk about it, Naruto just continued on. The only thing he was glad about was that he waited before making a decision about Kyo. But then again, should he really be glad that he was right to wait, or disheartened that he was indeed right.
And done.
1) Daichi means earth or land, and chiri means dirt. My attempt at a somewhat creative/mean nickname from a kid.
2) Kyo means either pride or cry, and akachan means baby. Another attempt at a somewhat insulting child nickname.
There are a few things I want to say.
- Sorry if the kids don't seem like kids. I'm having some trouble getting the mind and attitude of seven year olds down, but I'm trying.
- Even if Naruto's personality is different, there's no such thing as a Naruto that doesn't like ramen.
- For pairings there will be one, but not until after the academy, and even then there still needs to be build up and I need to figure out who. I will say that the pairing will be with someone close to Naruto's age, so no Kurenai, Anko, or anyone like that. Also no harem.
- To answer a question I got, Kurenai does wear wraps over mesh, but when she's a jonin. As a chunin she did wear the outfit I described.
- Once again sorry if it seems slow, I'm just trying to build up character right now and give some life to the OCs.
If you read this all then thank you and Peace Out.