The Keeper.
WARNING: Sakura is extremely OOC in this. If you thought Ino was bad, check her out. The couples are as follows: NaruSasu KibaHina SakuLee NejiTenten InoShika. I'll mention other's along the way.
Chapter three: Naruto Uzumaki
He'd been watching the entire argument from his locker, and wasn't impressed.
Naruto didn't like the way Melissa Nolovoska spoke to the new girl at school - like she was some piece of worthless garbage in need of tossing out, and if it weren't for Ino Yamanaka's heroic interference in the nick of time, then Naruto, regardless of the conversation he had just had with Principal Tsunade earlier on that morning, would have done it so himself.
It wasn't like the new girl had done something awful to offend Nolovoska. If anything, it seemed like she was just trying to figure out where she had first period. Which was weird. Didn't teachers usually assign some nerd or whatever to help the new students find their way around? Why wasn't the old hag -
'Howdy'
Averting his gaze from the scene, Naruto twisted his body around to face his best friend, Sakura Haruno, who greeted him with a lazy smirk. Sakura was gorgeous, smart, and popular. She also happened to be incredibly lazy. So despite not showing it, seeing her face came as something of a surprise to Naruto.
'Didn't think you'd be showing up on the first day'
'Yeah, well there's a first for everything. Who's the new girl?' She asked without much interest, noticing for the first time the scene unfolding down the corridor.
Naruto looked over his shoulder. 'Dunno. But Nolovoska's already trying to make her life a living hell' Bitch he added in his head 'You're really goanna need to be putting a leash on her one of these days'. At West Macquarie High School, Sakura Haruno ruled as Queen of the Bitch Squad. Which meant, unfortunately, having to share her with Nolovoska.
Sakura seemed unfazed by this bit of infortmation. 'She's like that. I'm surprised though you're not in there defending the new girl's honour. You usually make a production out of these things'. Naruto watched as she leant up against the locker next to his, and allowed himself a moment to take in her nice pink hair.
He would never date her, because that would be weird. But Sakura would always be a hottie to Naruto, and he wasn't finding fault in her choice of attire today. The arm panels on her white blouse had been rolled up, and her navy blue skirt was hypocritically short. How anyone that short had legs that long was beyond him.
Ah Dayumn.
He noticed her eyes linger over towards the blonde now acquainting herself with the new girl and followed her gaze. The cat fight was over now.
'Can't. On probation. Granny would have a fit if Nolovoska turned nasty and we were caught arguing in the hallways' He answered with a shrug, hoisting his black Dickies bag up. Brilliant green eyes suddenly narrowed in on him.
'You gotta be kidding me, Naruto. You got in a fight on the first day of school? That's a record, even for you'
Naruto frowned at this. 'Hold ya horses, I didn't do squat. The old hag put me on probation before I even got a chance to scratch my ass. She probably hopes it'll like, serve as a warning or something before I go beat some dweeb up'
From the time he had started High School, Naruto had been sent to Principal Tsunade's office almost once a week for one reason or another. Usually though, this was because he had gotten into a fight with someone. But this year, he'd been put on probation before he even got a chance to do anything. Which sucked, because Naruto had been looking forward to landing one on a certain bastard's face.
He heard Sakura let out a distinct scoff.
'Right. Like that'll stop you from exchanging fists with Emo boy'
One of the reason's why Naruto liked Sakura so much was because of her immunity to the Asshole, AKA Sasuke Uchiha. All the girls here practically swooned over the anti-social bastard, what with his apparently 'drop dead gorgeous' looks, and silent, mysterious personality. Naruto just thought he was a stuck up Emo in desperate need of a punch to the face.
Since the very start of high school, he and Naruto had been bitter rivals. Sasuke Uchiha had fast proved himself to be everything Naruto was not. He was a tall, pale, black haired, even blacker eyed, overly conceited bastard who thought he was holier than thou with anyone he crossed paths with. Naruto on the other hand was a blonde (and proud), vertically challenged, tanned, blue-eyed, totally chillaxed guy who loved being surrounded by people and attention.
Despite being total opposites, they nearly always got into fights with one another. Naruto would say something, then the bastard would say something right back - usually a remark at Naruto's intelligence, or something - and then they'd go at it for ages until Naruto got sick of this and violently launch himself onto the douche. One time, he'd even managed to make contact with the raven's ugly face.
'So you goanna befriend her?' Sakura's voice cut over Naruto's thought's like a thick knife. That, and the sudden sounding of the bell. Holding her timetable casually in front of her, which was almost identical to Naruto's, Naruto could have sworn she almost sounded curious.
He closed his locker. 'Maybe. But it probably wouldn't be such a good idea since it seems Yamanaka's already called dibs on her'.
Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka had once been the very best of friends, but for some reason they had a falling out. Naruto didn't know the exact details, as this happened long before they had become mates, and Sakura didn't seem to like touching the subject as she would lock her lips and refuse to speak until the topic was changed, but to him Ino seemed like a cool enough chick. Cool enough to stand up to Nolovoska, anyways. And with class, at that.
'Hn. Probably' Was all his best friend said. Silently, she draped her arm into his like she always did and they turned to walk in the direction of first period, which was Advanced English. It was the only smart class that Naruto took, as English happened to be his niche. Or maybe it had more to do with the fact that he was a good bull-shitter on paper, but he wasn't too sure. Following the crowds of students who were heading in the same direction they were, Naruto saw a few familiar faces along the way.
'Sup, man'
'How's it going, Subaaku?'
'Shit. They let you back on school grounds, Aburame?'
'Hey Akimichi, it was a mean as party on Saturday'
'Hey, beautiful, didn't see you on Saturday'
They managed to make it to the stairs going down to the first floor before they were joined by Naruto's other best friend, Kiba Inzuka. Despite looking a little winded, the dog boy spread a wide toothy grin at the sight of them.
'Sup, Naruto. Haruno'
Pulling himself away from Sakura's grip, Naruto and Kiba exchanged a hand gesture. By now the crowds were starting to dwindle down, leaving just the three of them. Kiba was tall, athletic, and easy going. He was very similar to Naruto in terms of persona, and for that they got along like a house on fire.
Sakura cast a small sideways glance over towards Kiba, and that was about it. Naruto mentally groaned at the awkward tension that was now cast over them as Kiba and Sakura had always had this weird..."thing" going on between them. It was like they had feelings for one another, or something, but were both too stubborn to admit it out loud. Given the circumstances, and the fact that he wasn't in the mood for anymore drama today, Naruto decided to ignore it.
'Dog Breath. You're late'
Suddenly, something blue flashed past behind Kiba's head. Naruto blinked. It was gone.
'Yeah, I know' The dog boy said, running a hand through his light brown hair. Naruto, who had for a moment forgotten what was going on, quickly snapped back into reality. He decided that whatever weird thing had just zoomed past his best friend's head, was nothing more than a trick of light, or something.
'Me bloody car's stuffed again, aye. Had to pester mum for ages this morning to drop me off at the train station in the freezing cold, and so by the time the old lady finally relents, what do you know? I miss my train'
'Sound's real tragic' Said Sakura sarcastically, rolling her eyes
'Aye, do you know where we collect our timetables?' Kiba suddenly piped up, and Naruto got the distinct impression that the dog boy had only asked him the question so as to ignore Sakura's bitter comment.
'Ah, well, I got mine from the Office, buuuut I think you can just ask Wakefield for one. I'm sure he's got stacks, dog breath' Naruto said, playing along as he pointed over his shoulder to where the Office was. Mr. Wakefield was their year advisor, whose own office was in the same direction.
Kiba grinned. 'Oh, alright then, cheers. Well, I'll catch you guys later. Youse'll be late to class if we stand here any longer'
'Hey, it's not like Richmond's thrilled to be seeing me anytime soon, dog breath' Naruto said dryly, remembering fully well the last time he'd been in his English teacher's classroom. It had involved a certain duck butt haired prick, a snide remark, and a compelling need to beat the crap out of him. 'But see ya. Oh! And don't forget, there's the basketball try out's at lunch' he added over his shoulder, watching as Kiba casually waved his acknowledgement over his head.
Basketball try outs were goanna be wicked this year. Naruto couldn't try out last year, or the year before because his boss had been a tool who wouldn't let him swap his shifts around. For the past three years, Naruto had worked at their local New World supermarket to help his Uncle Jiraiya (who was a complete perv that made his money off the erotic novel's he wrote) pay the rental and bills. He had moved from South Auckland when he was twelve to go and live with him here in Konoha; right after the funeral of his grandmother, Sora Uzumaki.
He still had parents who lived up those ways, but they were still fairly...young, and...light-weight sort of people; the type who hung around with the wrong crowd. Naruto didn't like thinking or talking about them much. As far as he was concerned, they were skeletons he'd rather keep hidden in the closet.
One thing he liked to brag about though was the Topaz Stone his grandmother had given him before her untimely passing. It was carved in the shape of the Infinity symbol, and Naruto proudly wore it everyday in remembrance of his Nan. It was a good chick magnet, too.
When the Dog boy was well out of sight, Naruto cast a glare over towards the pink haired girl he called his best friend. She stood in her spot absently playing with her nails and had a distinct expression of boredom plastered on her face.
'You didn't have to be such a bitch to him, you know' Naruto admonished quietly, feeling his hands make their way into his pockets.
'You don't have to be such a jerk towards Emo boy' Sakura shot back, narrowing her beautiful green eyes up at him. 'But you are'. Okay, now that was just a cheap shot she had used on him, and Naruto frowned at pink haired girl's sudden defensive stance before realising that they were really getting late to class. Pulling his old Sony Ericson out from his pocket and checking the time, Naruto's eyes's widened.
'Shit. We better get moving. Richmond gets all pissy and sarcastic when we rock up real late'
