BEYOND THE WORLDS
Yami JK: *looks around* well it seems that JK has been missing since the Maito Gai incident. You have me now *grins evilly*
Naruto: *catches and tosses Yami JK into a closet* ignore her. Anyways thanks to all the wonderful reviews and people who are finding this story enjoyable. I want to give a shout out to someone special to me that has helped to hash out things. Thanks Lady Laran *huggles lots and lots*
Itachi: *rolls eyes* why am I always stuck doing this. Here is the next chapter…. Read and review or else I will sic Kisame on you.
Chapter 4: All's Fair in Love and Pranks
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-Flash back dream-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Haruko stayed in the shadows as he watched his great rival and major pain in the backside Uchiha Itachi once again work on that stupid fire ball jutsu of his. How hard can it be if that jerk can do it? He focused his eyes upon the hands as they flashed through the seals quickly. If he was his brother he could memorize them with the sharingan nearly instantly and be able to do it perfectly after one try. The 8 year old turned away with a look of disgust at the thought that the Uchiha annoyance was surpassing him quicker than he realized it at first. He growled and stomped away from the clearing where a small lake was situated within. The young genin kicked a rock that went flying deep into the woods and hitting some poor animal he had no doubt. He flushed and groaned, just his luck he would injure some poor innocent bunny or something. But it was not the growl of a bunny that he heard behind him when he walked into the woods. No it was the growl of a very ticked off bear that was looking like it wanted to make Haruko it's next meal for the insult of the bump that was now forming on the forehead of the creature.
The genin gulped as he turned and faced off against the bear, "I am so dead" he muttered suddenly then blinked as the hand seals of the fire ball jutsu flashed before his eyes suddenly, "oh no way. I am like nii-san" he said cockily not realizing just yet that just because he had them memorized did not mean he would be able to perform the jutsu.
The bear reared up on its hind legs letting out a snarling roar that made the young man's blood run cold. It then began charging for Haruko, the young genin still standing there as he saw this. Haruko began making the hand seals quickly after pulling down his cowl and then inhaling before crying out "Katon: Endan!" and letting out the breath.
He was grinning as he did so, but he didn't expect that the fireball he was aiming at the bear would instead back lash at him as well. The boy cried out as he was singe by the fire that had come back at him when he inhaled. The bear snarled out as it was hit by a fireball from the opposite side. It ran into the woods making whimpers of pain. Haruko had tears falling down his lightly burned cheeks, turning to see who was there and flushing with embarrassment when he saw it was the bane of his very existence. He waited to hear the laughter he was expecting as he sat there on the ground hurt and embarrassed that the jutsu backfired on him badly. What he didn't expect was that his rival kneeled by his side and smiled a bit wryly.
"Hatake-san that technique took me months to even control. What made you think you could do it after seeing it one time?" Itachi asked as he took something out of his pouch, "the burns aren't that bad, but I am afraid you will be a bit lopsided in the hair division"
Haruko blinked then realized that all of his eyebrows were gone and half his hair had been burned off, "oh man… Nii-san is going to kill me" he said and flopped back on the ground wincing as his face twinged and even his hands, "Why are you being nice to me anyways? You are usually a world class jerk to me."
Itachi gently took Haruko's hands into his own and then began spreading the salve over the burned areas, "Not sure. I guess your insanity and stupidity is catching" the Uchiha heir said. He then began spreading it over the cheeks of the younger boy.
Haruko yelped as the cool salve hit the burned skin, "that hurts!"
"I know it does" he said coolly, "Stop being a baby and just suck it up" he added.
The young Hatake glared at the older boy but didn't complain again, "And I am not stupid or insane. I saw those hand signs and knew them after one time" he said, "So I assumed I could do it like nii-san could"
Itachi laughed softly, "You have a photographic memory that's all… it is probably better than most because of your genius but you still have to practice the jutsu" he then poked his forehead, "On Mondays and Wednesdays if I am not on a mission come see me here and I will help you. Call it my good deed for life…teaching the insanely stupid to play with fire" he said standing up and tossing the jar of salve at Haruko, "put that on at night and the burns will heal with no scarring"
Haruko caught the jar and blinked as the Uchiha vanished into the woods leaving him alone with his thoughts and smirking suddenly. Well then seems the Uchiha wasn't such a jerk after all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~- End Flash Back -~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Haruko frowned in his sleep as he felt something touch his shoulder. He reached under his pillow and instantly had the culprit of the touch pinned under him to the bed, the kunai to the throat of a very wide-eyed 17 year old Ravenclaw. Haruko swallowed as he finally woke up fully releasing his roommate slowly so not to scare or even mentally scar him further. His roommate jumped from the bed, stumbling backwards a moment with a hand to his throat where the strange sharp blade had been pressed just moments before. The dark haired teen watched him carefully to see if he would run from the room screaming about what had been done or not. What he didn't expect was the sudden grin that broke across the face of the other male.
"Dang mate that is some reflexes you have there," the other young man said, "you have got to teach me how to do that. I mean it."
Haruko blinked and then let a smirk come over his face at hearing this, "Only you could think have a kunai at your throat was something you have got to learn" he told the boy heading for the ensuite bathroom and shower, calling back to him, "You should have learned by now not to touch me when I am asleep."
Terry laughed at this, "You would think anyways" he called to the now shut door, "so how was your summer?"
The sound of water drowned out any response from the other male. Haruko shook his head as the water rained down upon his head wetting it fully before sliding down his body to then slip down the drain. Haruko lathered up his hair with a shampoo that smelled similar to his home back in the Elemental Countries a soft contented sigh leaving his throat as he took in the scent. He knew that he would have to pick up more over winter break because Terry would no doubt be using it as well. Every year he always did so and after the past few years he had learned to bring extra and to send Terry home with some at the end of the school year. He finished washing his body and grabbed a towel hanging as he began drying off his body, scars littering his chest and back from the various injuries he hand received on missions. One scar though on the back of his right shoulder was one not from a mission but instead his onetime screwing up majorly when working with Itachi on a jutsu they were coming up with together. It went horribly wrong and he ended up in the hospital and Itachi ended up having to hide out away from the village for a good two weeks due to his brother being on a war path.
Haruko chuckled as he tossed the towel into the laundry basket after toweling his hair dry. He threw on a pair of pants that were definitely not the school issued style but his own. He stepped out of the bathroom, a lightly scented cloud of steam following him. He looked over at Terry as the other boy was messing with something in his trunk. The dark haired ANBU member blinked as a creature was pulled from the trunk, a soft hiss renting the air in the process. Haruku was curious as he walked towards the hissing and the boy who was holding the hissing item. When he finally came into view of it he saw it was a…well what looked like a dragon yet it wasn't.
"What in the great Kages names is that thing?" he asked surprise painting his words.
Terry grinned as he stood up, "oh this, it's a Chinese dragon" he told him as the creature took to the air and flew around before perching on the top of Terry's canopy, "isn't it great? My brother got her for me over the summer."
"if that thing sets anything of mine on fire it will be dinner" he said with a smirk.
"That's so mean Haruko" Terry said with a pout then grinned, "Man I can't get over your tattoo. It's amazing. I wish my Brother would let me have one. Anyways you never answered my question of how your summer was."
Haruko grabbed a mesh shirt and pulled it over his head before answering, "It went well enough. Missions and meeting up with Itachi-kun" he left out the part of Naruto killing Sasuke, but then again that was not his to tell.
"So you and Itachi are going strong?" he asked as he grabbed out his own clothes.
"As strong as we can considering we hardly see one another due to our different missions" Haruko told him as he sat down on his bed then frowned as the Chinese dragon decided to investigate his hands that were on the bed. "you bite me and I get to use you for target practice" he told the creature.
Terry rolled his eyes, "Stop threatening her. You will give her a complex or something" he said suddenly, "When will that mission end? You need your boyfriend something fierce I can tell"
"There is not an ending date for his mission" he told him as he sighed and reached down to pet the dragonling's head gently, "He is a spy after all for an organization that is bound and determined to end the existence of jinchuurikis and steal their bijuus"
"wait… that's the hosts and their demons right?' he asked trying to remember the Japanese that Haruko had taught him.
"Yes that is very good" he complimented his best friend, "you have been practicing."
"Whenever I can. But back to this mess. So it still has not been resolved. Why doesn't your village just end this organization?" he asked as he leaned against the wall next to the bathroom door.
"there are still too many unknown factors at play to be able to do so." Haruko told him before picking up the dragonling creature and setting her on his lap after he readjusted to sit crosslegged on the bed.
Terry frowned a bit, "That's insane" he said, "if you ever need help mate I am here for you" Then the other had a thoughtful look cross his face, "The masked guys and girl last night, they are from your village aren't they"
Haruko laughed at this, "Yes they are" he told him then became serious, "I trust you not to tell anyone this. Their identities are a strict need to know and I am going to allow you to know. If Dumbledore ever cornes to you for information you remember how to alert me right?"
Terry nodded, "yup I do. And I still have that scroll that you gave me too."
"Good," Haruko said, "now Ookami is my brother Hatake Kakashi…"
"Wait…he's the porn reading lazy ass you always talk about? The very one that you got your lateness from?" he asked.
Haruko laughed at the description of his brother, "yes that is him. Now the second in command is Mantis. He is Umino Iruka and yes that is my brother's lover. Though I wish they would just stop dancing around and get together permanently" he said with a sigh, "The next one is the medic of the team Mongoose better known as Hyuuga Hinata. And the last one is their melee fighter Kitsune Uzumaki Naruto."
"Wow… sounds like an interesting bunch" he said, "and I will make sure not to call them anything but their code names. So you are like they are? I saw their tattoos and they are exactly like your own"
"you are quick and very observant." Haruko said as he set the dragonling to the side, "and yes I am a member of the same organization. I normally have my own team I lead but since I am to play the part of student I am not allowed to actually wear the uniform, though I do have it here with me"
"Really? Can I see it? Do you have all the awesome weapons that go with it? Do you think I can have one of your kunai?" Terry asked him rapidly. He had been trying to get one of Haruko's kunai for years now and each time he had been denied.
Haruko chuckled as his friend did this, "how about first you get your shower and then maybe I will think about giving you a kunai…maybe" he told him.
Terry pouted but then sighed, "you are so mean some times Haruko" he told his best friend then smiled as he grabbed his clothes, "See you in a few mate" he then vanished into the bathroom leaving Haruko alone with the dragonling.
Haruko shook his head with a smile as he headed to his own trunk and opening it up. He then bit his thumb and smeared the blood on the small seal on the inside of the trunk lid and a pop could be heard softly through the room. He pulled out a few kunai and a pouch for them, setting them on the bed before grabbing out his summons scroll and debating. He shook his head and tossed it back into the hidden part of the trunk and laughed softly a moment at the thought that ran through his head. Just because he could mould chakra did not mean that Terry could especially given his age and the fact that his chakra coils were already developed and set. But perhaps this year he could test him to see if he can do any kind of basic jutsu that could very well save his life if the need arose. The young man gazed down at his ANBU uniform and frowned a bit at not being able to wear it or be a part of what his brother and his team could do.
Haruko listened as the water continued to rain down in the shower indicating that Terry was still in there. He then stepped away from the trunk to the window and smirked, "Nii-sama you do not have to spy on me" he called out.
"Ne Ne my beautiful otouto" came the reply, "you seem to be very talkative this morning"
Kakashi slipped in through the now open window and removed his snarling wolf mask. He reached out and ruffled Haruko's hair before sitting down on Terry's bed and eyeing the strange little lizard thing a moment before refocusing his attention upon his little brother. Haruko rolled his eyes and attempted to fix his hair though he had yet to pull it back into the customary tail he usually wore the longer locks in. He then frowned and quickly snatched the book away that had appeared in his brother's hands as usual. He swore that his brother was far too addicted to these bloody books and one day it would get him hurt or killed. Kakashi just pouted at him then pulled out a back-up book but then slid it back into his pouch at the look that Haruko had given him. Haruko tossed the book into the trunk with his ANBU uniform.
"Feeling nostalgic otouto?" Kakashi asked with a tiny smirk that ghosted over his covered mouth.
"Just thinking is all" Haruko responded, "Besides if I have to fight I am going to fight whether it is in uniform or not."
Kakashi chuckled at this, "I would expect nothing less of you" he then saw the pouch and kunai on the bed, "Are you finally going to give in to him?"
Haruko nodded his head briefly, "It is time he is prepared. I do not like what I am feeling around here and I am sure if I had a cup of tea it would of cracked by now."
"Don't speak that way. We won't let anything happen to anyone here you know this" Kakashi told him seriously, "Though I do not think the teachers here nor most of the populace are going to be happy with us" he said with a smirk.
"After last night's display I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't try to oust you four" he said with a laugh, "You would think that you being an ANBU captain you would be a little less flashy. That's usually Naruto-kun's job is it not?"
Kakashi looked a bit contrite at this comment, "I felt it was needed to make these witches and wizards realize that not everything is black and white"
"I think it was bloody brilliant" came Terry's voice as he left the bathroom his hair still damp from his shower.
The teen was dressed in his school uniform minus the robe as he headed for his bed where Kakashi was sitting down at. He grabbed out a pair of socks and his shoes and sat down on his trunk after closing it to put them on. Haruko smirked a bit as he took in his best friend and his brother both in the same room and never having truly met outside of his stories he told one another. Haruko waited until Terry was finished before picking up the pouch and the kunai.
"You must be Terry-kun…my sweet otouto's wizard friend" Kakashi said ignoring the glare that Haruko was sending his way.
Terry grinned at this, "Well I guess that's one way of putting it. I'd like to think I am his best friend here and in your village" he said.
Haruko rolled his eyes at this, "You are and please just ignore my nii-san's idiocy. It tends to be contagious to those not immune to it" he told him then held up the two kunai, "I have decided that you can carry around two kunai this year"
Terry perked at this, his face lighting up at the mention of the sharp pointy things he has been eyeing for years, "You mean it!"
Kakashi laughed softly at the reaction, "hmmm seems that even here in this world the reaction of boys and sharp pointy things are pretty much identical" he commented.
Haruko ignored his brother and nodded to Terry, "I am trusting you to only use them if your life is in danger. If any of the teachers knew you carried them they will not only confiscate them but possibly punish you for carrying them before finding out where they came from"
"I know Haruko. I won't be flashing them around. Besides you are the only one I am closest to, to even thinking about doing so" he told Haruko honestly. He may be friends with the others of their year, but not as close as he was to the shinobi.
Haruko nodded at this and stepped before him, "alright put this on your belt at the small of your back. It will take time to get used to it, but it is best hidden there especially with the robes we have to wear" the word robes came out with disgust.
Terry laughed as he took the pouch and slipped it onto his belt before fixing his shirt to accommodate the pouch, "come now they aren't that bad" he said.
"Ugh…they are worse than wearing a kimono for special occasion. They have absolutely no room to fight in, even the kage robes that each leader wears is better suited for fighting if needed" he told him, "I swear wizards are idiots most of the times"
Terry rolled his eyes and laughed. It was the same argument every school year. If it wasn't the robes then it was the clothes, but it seems that Haruko had decided to forgo the usual clothes for something different. Kakashi watched the pair a moment before moving smoothly to his feet, bowing to Terry a moment before watching his little brother. Terry was startled by this show of respect and did a slightly clumsy bow in return.
"I wanted to check on you otouto before heading down to make the teacher's lives difficult" he said with a smirk, "We are each taking a house and following them around for now. We spent last night setting up seals and the such so that only those keyed to it can break them. The students are keyed to it to an extent but if they travel outside the barriers we will know instantly and go and retrieve the cute little kiddies" yup there was the smirk that usually sent and genin running for the hills.
"Just don't punish them too harshly nii-san" he said, "After all they are not shinobi"
"come now I would never do that." He then laughed as he put his mask back on and vanished out the window.
Terry shuddered a bit, "your brother is evil you do know that right?" he asked him.
"you should try living with him." Haruko said and slipped his sandals on and tossing a shirt over his mesh one before donning the robes he had ordered. They were lighter weight than the normal school issued ones.
Haruko then paused a moment before tossing one to Terry. They were about the same size so it would work well. Terry caught it, only fumbling a slight bit before looking up at his best friend curiously.
"What is this?" he asked the other.
"if you are going to be carrying around kunai you need to wear clothing that will work for using them," he told him simply, "After all the heavy material of the normal school robes do not do well for fighting. These are specifically designed for me and being able to use my ninjutsu and taijutsu."
"thanks mate!" Terry said as he donned the piece of clothing, "Wow…it's as if I am not even wearing a robe. Man we are so going to tick off a few of the teachers…especially Snape" he said with a grin.
Haruko chuckled at this, "Be glad I am not trying to get you to wear one of mine and nii-san's cowls" he said, "And anything I can do to make Snape-sensei's life difficult makes me happy" he said, "Let's head down to breakfast. We have delayed long enough" he told him.
Terry laughed as he headed for the door, opening it and heading into the small corridor that led to the stairs and the main common room. Haruko followed behind him, making sure the cowl was secure and tying his hair back as he walked behind the other. He had to admit that the robe looked good on the other male's form and if he didn't know that Terry was quite the ladies' man he would try and get him and Naruto together. He pondered perhaps maybe him and Hinata-chan would be good together. But the one problem he would see with any of these options is that Terry would have to live in the Elemental Countries and he wasn't sure if that would be something he would agree to. After all he would have to leave his life behind here to live there. He shook his head to clear it of these thoughts and instead decided to focus on the here and now for the moment. He followed Terry out of the common room and down the stairs to the Great Hall. Once the pair arrived there they headed to their table where breakfast was already in full swing.
Haruko glanced to the teacher's table and smirked as he saw that most were still either upset or disgusted at the thought of the four ANBU members being allowed there in the school. Not to mention that Kakashi had specifically stated that anyone that tried to remove their masks would be killed. Yup that wasn't going over too well with the teachers. But if they hire on shinobi especially the elite ones they must expect that they will do whatever it takes to protect their clients. Haruko sat down and grabbed some fruit and toast to eat that morning. He would have eggs for the protein but he found out his first year there that they used far too much saturated fat in cooking them and in turn it not only upset his stomach but they were far too heavy to eat. So he experimented with certain fruits and toast plus on a few occasions some of the meat that was offered. He smirked as Terry filled his plate with quite a few options then turned to stare at him. The 17 year old as well as many others have been trying to figure out his secret to the quick and fast eating.
Haruko smirked as he cast over himself a small genjutsu to make it appear to the others he had finished eating quickly when in reality he was eating at a normal pace with his cowl down. He didn't mind if his friends from ANBU saw his face, but it was part of the mystery that he portrayed that he didn't let his fellow classmates see him do this. Terry shook his head and laughed before focusing on the head of their year handing out their timetables for the year. He looked it over and blinked before groaning.
"we have potions and DADA with the Hufflepuffs again" he said as he set the timetable to the side, "Why must they always pair us up. I would like to be with the Gryffindors or Slytherins just once before I graduate" he said.
"It is because they are blind and do not realize that by not mixing the houses up equally they will lose any possible camaraderie that could potentially be found" a female said suddenly, "And it is a way to keep up the constant fighting and bickering between the Gryffindors and the Slytherins. If they would just realize that by constantly doing this they are only making the problem worse."
Haruko and Terry looked over at the speaker and saw the gently blushing Hermione watching them. She had been sorted into their house on the first day and since then most have realized she was not only a muggle born but brilliant in all aspects of her schooling. She and Haruko were tied for the best of their year. She and Luna were best friends and the girl barely spoke to them so this was a rare occasion when she did so. Seems that she was just nervous around Haruko and his odd behaviors. Haruko canted a brow at this and then smirked as she blushed but didn't look away.
"So you think that is it?" he asked her.
Hermione shrugged, "I think that is part of it. There has been a constant battle between Gryffindor and Slytherin since the founders created Hogwarts" she told them, "But why keep this particular fire kindled is a mystery to me"
"it could be because they think it is the proper thing to do" Terry said, "But I doubt that"
A hush fell over the Great Hall as the four ANBU members appeared and each headed to a table of students. Haruko smirked as he watched the awe and fear wash over the different faces of the other three tables. His house's table seemed to take on a mix of curiosity, awe, fear, and interest. He noticed that it was Mantis that was going to guard his house. Kitsune was with the Gryffindors, Mongoose with the Hufflepuffs, and finally Ookami was with the Slytherins. The looks of disgust and fear that were coming from most of the faces at the Slyterin table was comical. Little did they know that it would not change the fact that they had guards there to watch over them for the rest of the year. Granted this was going to be interesting to see just how his brother's team would watch over the various years once they split up to head for their classes.
Iruka moved to look over the table, his eyes pausing on Haruko for a fraction longer than many of the others. After a few moments of taking in and memorizing the faces of each student in the Ravenclaw house he smirked behind his mask. This was going to be interesting to say the least as he just sat there, not eating and giving a more than a few of the young teens a feeling of being creeped out. Haruko shook his head as he returned to his meal then feeling eyes on him he looked up and noticed that Snape was glaring his way as par the course. Apparently since he was not sorted into Gryffindor he could not torture him like he wanted to because it would look bad on him to do so to a Ravenclaw. But in other ways he has tried to get at him one way or another. Haruko just saluted the Slytherin head of house before smirking and getting up.
"I am going to head outside for a breath of fresh air" he told Terry, "It is getting far too stuffy in here for my tastes."
Terry looked up from his meal, "Alright mate. See you in DADA then?"
Haruko smirked, "Of course. I wouldn't miss the only class where I can annoy Snape-sensei with the mere thought of my presence" he said, "Don't fill up too much. You'll be sick"
Haruko then headed away from the table, nodding a slight bit to his brother as he passed within view of him. He wanted to get in a quick kata or two before being stuck in classrooms for the rest of the day. They didn't even have the decency to have a break beyond Care of Magical Creatures outside. Not even flying that he has found he may have the talent for to be natural at it but didn't have the stomach for really. Give him tree jumping or even flying on one of Sai's ink birds any day. But riding with a piece of wood between your legs being the only thing from keeping you from safety and certain splatterhood on the ground was not his idea of fun. The young man stepped outside and inhaled the cool slightly damp air before heading down away from the castle and just on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. He shucked off his robe and outer shirt before removing his sandals as well. He closed his eyes and opened his senses before falling into a stance that Itachi had shown him a while ago.
This particular one was good for one who was a bit shorter than the average shinobi. It used speed and the offender's own body against them to bring them down. It was great for someone who was larger and taller than the user. He smiled as he began the slow movements of the form. He always started slow before bringing the speed up slowly until he was nothing more than a blur against any opponent real or imagined he would go against. And at the moment it was no different than what he would normally do in the village back home. As he continued the kata, falling smoothly into a new one he began to lose track of time. He felt the person reaching for him before he realized what he was doing. Soon his leg connected with the other one's leg, bringing them down to the ground with an audible oomph. Haruko managed to catch himself before bringing the kunai down to disable them. Draco blinked up at his friend in surprise. They were not as close to day they were best friend, but they were close enough to be able to talk for the most part.
Haruko frowned down at him, "You should know better than to sneak up on me" he said.
"I was not sneaking up on you. I made enough noise to alert an entire gaggle of Gryffindors I was there" he told him with a frown marring his perfectly coiffed Malfoy features, "You were just not paying attention was all."
Haruko blinked at this, realizing that perhaps he did fall deeper into his own world to not hear the other approaching, "What is it that you want Draco?" he asked simply.
"You are about to be late for Professor Snape's class" he told him, "and you know that if you are late he will not hesitate to make your life quite miserable" he said.
Haruko swore softly before throwing on his shoes quickly then taking off for the castle. As he ran he tugged on his shirt then his robe as his feet ate up the ground. He slid around a corner after going through the entrance hall and up the first set of stairs. Haruko moved quicker than most students, a few paintings yelling at him to slow down. But the young man knew that if he did he would be really late for his class with Snape and that was not something he wanted for the first day of classes. As he came to a stop outside of the classroom he could hear the baritone voice of the professor talking already. He straightened his robes before stepping into the classroom. Silence was what he received as he did so, plus a glare from Snape. Just his luck he was late and Iruka was there to witness it as well…yup this day was shaping up to be one of his worse. Snape tapped his foot as his arms were crossed, then he raised his wand and pointed it at Haruko.
Japanese words:
Nii-san – big or older brother
Otouto – little or younger brother
Shinobi – ninja
Jinchuuriki – what demon hosts are called
Bijuu – what demons are called
Ninjutsu – techniques utilizing chakra
Taijutsu – hand to hand fighting
Genjutsu – illusions
Sensei – professor or teacher
JK: *ish saved by a friend* okay I have escaped the wrath and annoyance known as Maito Gai *giggles* please press the funny little button down there…review. *gives ultimate chibi eyes*
