That morning Tsukune showed him around the school. He pointed out the library, the cafeteria, the gym and took him to his morning classrooms. As they walked the corridor Tsukune also took the time to point out people he should avoid. From lizard men to a carnivorous mermaid to a scary looking guy in a black school uniform it was a depressingly long list. As they were walking along a hot teacher with glasses and some tight fitting clothing came up to Tsukune and told him he was a, 'bad boy' before continuing ion her way.
Naruto looked at him seriously impressed. "Whoa! A teacher? What's the deal between you and her?"
"You don't want to know," Tsukune said glumly. "Oh, and if she ever offers you some private tutoring say no!"
Naruto glanced at him questioningly. If he ever got that offer he would definitely have to say yes. "So what was that little scene in home room? Does that guy have it in for you or something?"
Nodding wearily Tsukune rubbed his neck; it had been bothering him all morning. "Yeah, more or less. His name is Saizo we had a run in right at the start of the school year. He was trying to bother Moka and I wound up having to try and stop him."
"Is Moka your girlfriend?"
Tsukune looked immediately nervous. "No, no, we're just really good friends."
"Uh huh, so what happened with Saizo? Did you beat him up? Don't uh, take this the wrong way but you don't seem very intimidating."
"Something you need to learn about this place is that looks can be really deceiving," Tsukune said seriously. "No one here is who they appear to be."
Yeah, that's something I know about. "So, that mean you did beat him up then?" Naruto asked.
"No, someone else did, but I'd rather not say who."
Somehow or other, despite her many battles, most of the students were blithely unaware Moka was a vampire. By a strange twist of fate he kept getting all the credit for Moka's victories. The sweet outer Moka preferred to keep it that way for as long as she could.
"Since it's lunch time you want to eat together?" Tsukune asked changing the subject.
"Sure." Despite first impressions Tsukune seemed like a good guy.
XXXXXXXXXX
Almost as soon as they sat down at an outside table two girls approached. One looked like a grade schooler and had on a pointed hat. The other was a seriously cute girl with light blue hair, a yellow sweater, and the biggest chest he'd ever seen. (Except for baachan's of course.)
"Tsukune!" The big chested girl greeted him by grabbing his head and burying it into her chest. "Let's have lunch together!" Tsukune waved his arms about like mad as he slowly suffocated.
Naruto watched this with a sense of wonder. He had never seen any girl be so forward in public. Even Sasuke's fan girls had never tried anything like this.
While still holding Tsukune in place the girl noticed him. "Oh hello, you're the new transfer student. I'm Kurono Kurumu, I'm in your homeroom, but then I'm sure you noticed me."
Naruto rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry, the only girl I really noticed was the one with pink hair. She… reminds me of someone."
For some reason his answer seemed to make the girl unhappy. She even let go of Tsukune as she glared at him and huffed.
The little school girl laughed. "You have good taste, that was Moka, the most beautiful girl in the while school and Tsukune's girlfriend."
"She is not his girlfriend!" Kurumu said loudly.
Tsukune neither confirmed nor denied, he merely blushed and looked uncomfortable.
"You know denial is the last refuge of the desperate," the little girl said smugly.
Bam!
"Owie," the little girl said from the ground.
Naruto stared at the furious Kurumu whose fist was still shaking. Whoa! These people here really are dangerous! Actually her sudden violence when upset reminded him of Sakura.
XXXXXXXXXX
Eventually all four of them were sitting at the table eating lunch. The little girl had been introduced to him as Yukari.
"I'm a witch!" She said with a playful smile.
"You're not supposed to tell people that Yukari." Tsukune chided her lightly.
"Desu! It doesn't matter, everyone knows anyway."
"What kind of monster are you Naruto?" Kurumu asked sullenly. She was still a bit upset at having him notice Moka but not her.
"I'd rather not say," Naruto answered.
Kurumu frowned but Tsukune jumped in. "Kurumu-chan you really shouldn't ask that. You shouldn't try to get people to break the rules."
"I'm sorry Tsukune," she said lightening her mood. "You're such a good example to everyone else. No wonder you were elected class representative."
Tsukune's head dropped. "Don't remind me." How did this happen? How did the only human in this whole school end up a class rep? If any one finds out the truth about me I'm dead. Last semester Kuyou had found about him and almost killed him. He'd survived only because his friends had fought for him and Moka had given him some of her blood.
That thought made him rub his neck again.
Kurumu noticed. "Is something wrong Tsukune? You seem kind of low energy today."
"Heh, it's nothing," he said with a weak smile. He didn't want to worry anyone.
"Oh, I found you!" Moka called and hurried to join them. "I'm so glad I didn't want to eat lunch without you."
"Yay! Moka!" Yukari said.
Naruto looked at her, the beautiful girl with pink hair and green eyes. Sakura.
"Please excuse me," he said and got up from the table. All eyes turned to him. "I think I'll do some exploring during the rest of lunch. It was nice to meet you all." He then left.
Moka stood there a little surprised at his sudden departure. She looked at Tsukune. "Did I do something wrong?"
"Of course not Moka-san," he assured her. "Naruto is probably feeling a little overwhelmed being at a new school and all."
"Desu! He's probably in love with you and can't stand to see you with your boyfriend!"
Both Tsukune and Moka blushed and struggled to answer that.
Kurumu though watched his departing back with interest.
XXXXXXXXXX
Naruto made it to the rest of his classes and got through the day without any issue. He's gotten a depressing amount of reading assigned to him along with a small mountain of homework problems due by the end of the week. It would have seemed impossible if not for his ability with kage bunshins. He would get everything done tonight and impress his teachers. Not that it really mattered. School work, grades, learning, none of that mattered to him. The things he wanted to learn were in his duffel bag. So far as he was concerned the only thing he was doing at this school was killing time.
After the last class he didn't feel like going straight back to his tiny dorm room. He instead began to wander about the campus. Witches, mermaids, lizard men, and teachers with tails this place sure was full of strange creatures. I guess I should fit right in. me a jinchuuriki with a fox demon in his belly. He didn't honestly know if he wanted to fit in though.
When he'd been a kid at the academy he'd been desperate to gain acceptance and make friends. Now though he wasn't sure what he wanted. After watching Sakura die and seeing Sasuke's betrayal he wasn't sure he could stand one more loss. It hurt too much to make those bonds with people only to have them broken and those precious people lost to you forever. Maybe I really should be alone.
He was walking around the back of the school when he spotted Tsukune and Moka by what was probably an incinerator. Seeing the lovely Moka again reminded him of Sakura. It gave him an ache deep inside his heart to see her and remember that Sakura was really gone.
He was just about to turn around and go when he saw Tsukune pitch forward and collapse.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Hey, is he o.k.?"
Moka looked up to see Naruto approach them. Tsukune was lying on the ground with his head cradled in her lap. He was groaning weakly and running a temperature. "I… I don't know what's wrong with him. I… I think my blood…"
"Moka-san," Tsukune spoke in a scratchy voice. "I'm, fi… fine, don't worry." With her help he managed to shakily get back to his feet.
Naruto got to his side and placed a hand beneath an arm to help steady him. "Is there a hospital or at least a nurse's office nearby?"
Moka nodded. "There's a school infirmary not far from here."
"I don't need to go there," Tsukune said reassuringly. "I just need a little rest."
"Tsukune you're running a fever," Moka told him. "You should definitely see a doctor!"
"Awww, what's wrong Tsukune? Not feeling well?"
"Sai… Saizo?" Tsukune gasped.
The menacing blond grinned at him. "Today's not going to be your day." Behind him a boy in a wool cap began to giggle and prance a bit.
Not now, Tsukune thought.
"You know Tsukune instead of looking at me you really should watch your back."
My back?
From behind him a boy appeared, his arms transformed into two long blades. "Nice to meet you Tsukune-san!" He said in a cheery voice. "I'm Moroha of the outcast ayashi. Sorry for the surprise attack. No hard feelings o.k.?"
"Tsukune look out!" Moka screamed.
"Move!' Naruto shouted and pushed both Tsukune and Moka to the ground. Moroha's blades missed their intended target but instead sliced deep into Naruto's chest in a huge 'X.' Blood poured from him as he staggered and fell.
"What an idiot!" Moroha crowed. "What are you a hero or something?" He turned back around, his bladed arms coated in Naruto's blood. Naruto was down in a pool of it, Tsukune was lying on top of Moka unhurt. Well that was about to change.
Saizo was suddenly frightened though by this unexpected reprieve. "Moroha! Get him quick before…"
Saizo snapped shut his mouth and the other two gaped at where a frightening amount of demonic energy was gathering.
A weak Tsukune rolled off of Moka, her rosario clutched in his hand. He crawled over to Naruto as a transformed Moka rose calmly to her feet. "I thought you'd learned your lesson last time little boy."
Fearfully Saizo transformed himself and looked at the other two. "We can take her, the three of us together."
"Ye… yeah," Moroha said and gritted his teeth. "We can do it and show the school how tough we are."
"No way man," the boy in the wool cap said. "You said this would be easy!"
"It's three to one!" Saizo roared. "We can still do it!"
"It's not three to one," a cold and furious voice spoke. Everyone stared as Naruto got up from what should have been a fatal, or at least crippling, wound. Everyone save Moka gasped as they felt demonic energy surround him.
Naruto looked directly at Moroha with red slitted eyes like the ones Moka had at the moment. He held out his palm and a glowing swirl of energy formed. "If you're going to attack a ninja you had better kill him."
Moroha froze in place as he felt killer intent hit him. His heart began to pound and his knees began to shake. "What… what the hell are you?!"
Naruto grinned with fanged teeth. "You know I've been wondering that same thing. But as far as you're concerned I'm the shinigami come to take you to hell." He ran straight for him.
"Dumbass! I'll kill you for sure!" Moroha ran at him.
Moroha aimed both blades at Naruto's chest again planning to cut him clean in half this time. He was surprised when Naruto simply leapt over him. He had no time to wonder at his opponent's athletic ability though.
"Rasengan!" Without a second's hesitation Naruto plunged his hand into his enemy's back and through his chest.
XXXXXXXXXX
Saizo stared as Moroha fell wordlessly in a bloody heap. How?! How had his plan gone this wrong?!
"Saizo!" Moka shouted after pummeling the nameless fool in the wool cap. "If you threaten me or Tsukune ever again I will end your life! Now for the final time KNOW YOUR PLACE!"
She delivered a merciless kick with all her might into his face. Saizo was sent flying through a number of trees and wound up in a small crater defeated and unconscious.
XXXXXXXXXX
With the fight over Naruto calmed down and quickly returned to his normal appearance.
Except for his uniform now being ruined and covered in blood of course.
Tsukune was standing again with Moka's help. Both of them were looking at him, Tsukune with fear, Moka with curiosity.
Naruto grinned. "'No one here is who they appear to be.' Right Tsukune?"
Tsukune slowly nodded. "Did you… did you have to kill him?"
"What do you mean?" Naruto asked. "He tried to kill me; he would have if I were a normal human."
"Just what are you?" Moka asked calmly. "I sense a great deal of power in you, but you are like no monster I'm aware of."
"I'd rather not say," he told her. Even in a school filled with monsters he was worried what they would think if they knew about Kyuubi. Especially if they ever found out what he had done. "Do you think I'll get in trouble for this?" He nodded to the body.
"No, I don't think so," Tsukune said. "Moka–san and I will both tell everyone you were acting in self defense."
"Well that's a relief," he said. "I'd hate to have to go on the run the same day I got here." He turned to go. "Well I guess I'll see you in homeroom tomorrow."
"You were seriously wounded," Moka called out. "Do you not need to go to the infirmary?"
"Nope," he answered. "I heal fast."
Tsukune and Moka watched him depart.
"Moka-san what do you think of him?"
She turned to Tsukune with a slight grin. "I think you are very lucky I met you first."
XXXXXXXXXX
In his room Naruto had thrown out his uniform. He would just have to go to school in his ninja gear tomorrow until her could get a replacement. He'd hidden away the jutsu scrolls as well as he could and put most of things away.
In his hand was his hiati-ite, the one Iruka had given him so long ago. He had specific orders not to mention Konoha or reveal the leaf symbol to anyone. Though it was unlikely anyone from his world would ever be able to come here everything that touched ninja or Konoha or the Kyuubi was classified. He'd thought of simply throwing the hitai-ite away, since he never excepted to wear it again. But it had been too precious to him. Iruka's gift, it was a reminder of the few good memories he still had of home. He left it at the bottom of a clothes drawer.
He turned his duffel bag over and shook it to make sure he'd gotten everything. One final item spilled out.
A necklace with a crystal.
She'd given it back to him.
He picked it up and looked at it. She wouldn't have given this back to me if it meant it would be lost forever. This is her way of telling me she believes I'll come back one day and be Hokage. He knew it would never be. That dream was gone forever. But it looked like someone still believed in him.
He felt warm tears run down his cheeks. "You're so stupid grandma."
