Naruto walked slowly towards the Academy, dressed in his new Shinobi outfit. He couldn't deny that he was excited for today, he would see Sasuke again. But he also had doubts. Despite what had happened yesterday between the two Nine year olds, he had no idea if Sasuke actually cared about him or not. True, the other boy had tolerated his presence at the pier, but what if in Sasuke's mind, what happened meant nothing? What if he didn't feel the same unexplainable bond that the blond did towards the Uchiha? What if he pushed him away?
As the blond boys thoughts progressively became darker and darker, he didn't realise that he'd reached the Academy until someone called out to him. "Naruto?" the person asked. The boy snapped out of his thoughts just in time to spin around a pole right in front of him, and avoid smacking into it. Turning to the voice, this time much more aware, and making a mental note to work on that later, his eyes caught sight of his teacher, Iruka Umino. The boy scratched the back of his head sheepishly and laughed slightly, "sorry Iruka-Sensei, I was lost in my own thoughts and didn't realise where I was going" he said with a slight chuckle.
The scar-faced Chunin sighed, "Naruto, you know if you don't improve, you'll never become a Shinobi, right" the young man asked. The blond looked down, "yeah, I know, I'll try to work on that" he replied, before looking up again, "hey Iruka-Sensei, am I the first one here?" he asked excitedly as his hand dropped to his side. Iruka tilted his head to the side, "no, I believe Sasuke is the first one here, like usual, but why are you so early Naruto? Normally you are not only last to get here, but you arrive late as well?" he asked curiously. The Uzumaki shrugged, "I didn't see the point of showing up late to class, after all, I have nothing else to do" he replied. The teacher raised an eyebrow, "nothing else? What, no pranks this morning Naruto?" he asked jokingly.
Naruto only nodded seriously, "I decided it was time I start taking my Shinobi career seriously- after all, if I want to become the Hokage, I can't slack off" he replied, before waving with a grin, "well, I'll see you in class Iruka Sensei!" he exclaimed, running off and leaving a gobsmacked Iruka in his wake. The teacher could only stare at his blond students retreating back and mutter, "what?"
ŃĚĤ
As the Uzumaki entered his Classroom, he easily spotted Sasuke sitting alone up the back. The boy grinned and walked up the steps, "hey Sasuke!" he called happily, waving as his friend looked up. Sasuke looked surprised, "Naruto? It's not like you to be so early" he stated. Naruto sat down next to the other boy, "yeah, I've decided to start taking my training and studies seriously, so I came early- besides, I was hoping to get some time to talk to you as well this morning" he explained. Sasuke raised a brow, "oh," he asked curiously, "what about?" Naruto turned his gaze to the table, "well, I wanted to know- we are friends now, right?" he asked quietly.
The other boy raised an eyebrow, "and why wouldn't we be?" he asked curiously. Naruto blushed slightly, "well, it wasn't exactly finalised yesterday, and- I just wanted to make sure. If we are-" he looked up at Sasuke slightly, then down again, "if we really are friends now, you'll be the first friend I've ever had- so I wanted to know" he replied quietly. Sasuke was silent for a moment, during which the blond shifted awkwardly, "Naruto, you don't have to worry about me leaving- after all-" he smirked slightly, "I haven't even had the chance to get annoyed at you yet" he replied. Naruto looked up and saw the Uchiha's slight smirk, before he grinned, "yeah!"
ŃĚĤ
That day during the theory portion of the class, Naruto dutifully took notes in every lesson that he could. Iruka noted the drastic change in the boys work ethic and wondered how he had changed so much. Meanwhile, the young Uzumaki was writing down everything that he could, resolved to study it more later. At the back of the class a girl with Hime-cut dark blue hair and pale pupil less lavender eyes, shyly peeked at the boy. He seemed to have changed, and she didn't just mean his clothes. Hinata Hyuuga, the girl, had watched Naruto since she had first met him, and he had always been her inspiration.
But now his entire personality seemed to have changed. He was still bright and cheerful, but he seemed more calm, composed, and intelligent, 'no offense Naruto-Kun'. The fact that he was sitting their diligently taking notes from text books and the board and actually seemed interested in what Iruka-Sensei had to say, was not something that she expected the blond boy to do. But there he was, sitting next to Sasuke Uchiha, copying notes into his workbook was the complete opposite of the boy she knew. But, if he had managed to change himself, then she would be happy for him. Her Cousin still went on about fate to her and constantly put her down, saying that a failure would always be a failure, and she would never be able to change herself. 'But, if Naruto-Kun can do it, then I know that I can too- I will become stronger, and I will not let something like 'fate' stop me!' Hinata thought in determination.
Meanwhile, Naruto was struggling to understand some of the texts. 'What's Equilateral Trajectory mean? Man I wish I had started paying attention in class sooner, I don't know what half the stuff in this book is talking about!' he thought to himself. Taking a deep breath, he decided to either check in the library, or maybe even ask Sasuke for help later. Right now he made a note of it and moved on. Soon, Iruka called a halt to the theoretical class, "alright, it's lunchtime now, when you come back, we will be studying history" he said, making almost everyone groan. Everyone except three people. Those three were Naruto, Sasuke and Hinata. The blond stood up and packed his supplies away, "yes, history, I can't wait!' he thought as he grabbed his lunch, which was just some rice balls and Pocky for a snack.
Walking outside, the Uzumaki claimed his regular spot of the swing and opened his lunch. He began nibbling on a rice ball as he thought over how his day had gone so far. He arrived early to class, got to make sure that he and Sasuke were friends now and did pretty well in Theory this morning. Next was history, one of the few things that he enjoyed, and afterwards they were doing kunai practice. Naruto grinned to himself, if things were like this every day, being in the Academy for the next three years might not be so bad. As he finished his first rice ball and started on the second, he let his mind wonder. Kyuubi. He had honestly known about the fox sealed inside his body for quite some time, but had never tried visiting- it? him? he wasn't sure which one it was, he would have to ask when he met the fox. He also wondered what had caused the Nine Tails to attack the village the way he had. The way everyone talked and the books were written, the Kyuubi just seemed like a malevolent mass of hatred, but there had to be more to the story than that.
He didn't know why he was so sure of this fact, but he was. The Nine-Tailed Fox was not just destruction incarnate. It was something else, and he wanted to find out what it was. But he was also wary. It was supposed to be completely evil and hate-filled. Well, it was supposed to be a demon also, but that didn't matter. Nothing can only possess hatred, otherwise the villagers wouldn't love their own families. He had to find out the truth- somehow. "Hey" a familiar voice said from behind him. Naruto turned around and grinned slightly, "hey Sasuke, what's up?" he asked curiously. The Uchiha walked up, "nothing, what's up with you? You seem troubled" he replied. The blond closed his eyes as he contemplated something. Sasuke stared at his curiously.
Finally, the boy opened his eyes again and sighed, "it's nothing really, just a- moral dilemma that I am trying to solve" he replied. Sasuke raised an eyebrow, "and this would be?" he asked. Naruto shook his head, "no, nothing, don't worry about it, more to the point, how are you doing, I heard about what happened a few years ago, but couldn't ask, I know it happened a while ago, but I want to know- are you alright?" he asked, watching Sasuke's face with a deep frown on his own. Sasuke's face dropped and he turned away, "I don't want to talk about that" he replied in a cold tone. The Uzumaki frowned but obligingly dropped the subject. They sat in an uncomfortable silence for a moment with Naruto mentally beating himself over the head. Finally the blond spoke up again: "I'm sorry" he said quietly.
Sasuke sighed and turned to look at the remorseful blond, who seemed miserable. "It's fine, you were just worried about me- you're one of the only people in the village who actually does" he replied. At Naruto's curious prompt, the other boy elaborated, "aside from you and the Hokage, no one else genuinely cares for me- the civilians are constantly trying to suck up to me, while the Shinobi only see me as a commodity- the last Uchiha, last of the 'elite' Clan. They expect me to bring them greatness, when I'm barely on my own feet again as it is," he explained and sighed deeply,
"to tell you the truth, I'm not even sure who's side I'm on anymore" he said. Naruto raised an eyebrow, "what do you mean?" he asked. "What I mean is, the Uchiha Clan were my family, but they weren't exactly friendly towards the village if you know what I mean. And the village is my home, but it's not really all sunshine and rainbows either, despite the propaganda we're fed here at the Academy, you know?" Sasuke asked his friend.
Naruto nodded, "well, we are a Shinobi village, we're bound to have our own darkness" he replied. The black-haired boy looked down, "I know that, but I'm still torn, you know?" he replied. The Uzumaki nodded, "well, the way I see it, nothing is perfect. The Uchiha were your family, yes, but this village is your home. It is a place where people of all kinds can get along, or so I read from the Shodamine's writings," he began, while Sasuke just listened. "Both the village and your Clan have their own secrets and darkness, but despite that, the Uchiha Clan was a part of Konoha, just like we all are. One tree can't make a forest, just like one Clan can't make a village- but together, they can. This village is home to all of us, and as such, we all belong here. But if the village falls, everyone falls. We are not separate Clans, we live in this village together, and as such, the village, the people, the family as a whole- that is what is most important" Naruto finished.
Sasuke looked deep in thought. The people- are all a family? Did that men that they could become his family too? Not to replace his old one- but to help rebuild it? what difference was their really between the Clan and the village anyway? They were both families. They both relied on each other. They trusted one another and believe in one another. They shared a bond and drew strength from it in order to protect what was most precious to them. Sasuke took a breath, "Naruto- I think, I want to learn to see this village as you do. I want it to become my new family, not to replace my old one, but to rebuild it. I want- to share a bond with everyone and draw strength from it," he looked up at his friend tentatively, "will you- will you help me do that?" he asked, unsure quite yet, but willing to try. Naruto beamed and placed his hand on Sasuke's shoulder, "of course I will, and I promise, no matter what happens, I will not abandon you Sasuke" The dark-haired child stared deep into the blonds cerulean orbs. He nodded slowly, "I know you won't" he replied. Afterwards the two finished their lunch in a comfortable silence, both feeling just a little bit closer to the other.
To Be Continued