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New Life, Same Habits
"So you knew I was there because you could smell me?"
"Well, that and I could see you fidgeting, but yeah, I smelled you first. Ramen isn't the stealthiest food to have on your breath."
"Huh… good nose. Either way, at least it's still tasty," Naruto said, slurping down another mouthful.
"True," the thief agreed, pulling more of the noodles into his mouth with his chopsticks, "but you might want to eat something bland after a meal to hide the sent. Mints only replace the smell, but foods like bread help to wash it out of your mouth."
"Good, I like garlic bread," beamed the blonde.
The redhead rolled his eyes, "I think you're missing the point here…"
The skinnier of the two boys had given up trying to understand why he was having this conversation. He'd also given up on figuring out why the girl from the other day had kept bringing him lunch, or why, a few minutes ago, this blonde-headed kid had walked in, introduced himself, and thrown the thief a can of self-heating ramen through the bars. He'd simply shrugged, opened the can, and pulled the tab on the bottom to heat the noodles. The boy, Naruto was apparently his name, had handed him a set of utensils before doing the same to his own can. The two had been talking about nothing in particular ever sense.
The thief swallowed and asked, "So why did you want to know?"
"Because," the blonde explained, puffing out his chest, "A good ninja needs to know his weaknesses if he's going to improve himself. Your instructor must have taught you that."
The lanky pickpocket shrugged, "What instructor?"
"So you trained yourself?" pried Naruto.
The thief looked up at him suspiciously, "Why do you want to know?"
Naruto waved his hands defensively, "Hey, hey. I'm just curious, alright?"
The prisoner kept his stare, "Bull. You people bring me food, make nice, and then ask me all these questions. What's going on?"
The blonde sighed in resignation and looked his dining partner in the eye, "Okay look, some of the more paranoid people in the village think you're a spy. I'm just trying to prove them wrong. I don't want some petty thief locked up forever for something he didn't do."
The thief's scowl relaxed and he returned to his meal.
Finishing another bite he began, "Okay then, yeah, I've trained myself since I was little."
Naruto continued, "How did you learn jutsus and all of that by yourself?"
The redhead grinned with a little pride, "Mostly by watching and imitating. Also, you'd be surprised what you can teach yourself with a few lifted training scrolls. Buy the right shinobi a few drinks and they'll give some basic tips too. As for fighting, spend some time in half the bars I've been to and you'll pick it up real quick. Either that or you'll get the crap kicked out of you."
Naruto scowled, "You go to bars?"
The thief shrugged, "They're a warm place to sleep. Buy a drink or a meal and bartender will usually let you catch a few hours of shuteye in the corner."
The thief noticed the flash of pity in his guest's eye but ignored it, "You can usually pick up useful information in the background chatter while you're there too, like where the wealthier estates are in town."
The blonde nodded, "So you are just a common thief."
"Of coarse not. I'm an exceptional thief," the thin boy smirked, emphasizing the last part.
"If that's true, then why did we catch you?" shot back Naruto.
The thief's brow furrowed.
"Yeah, and it took four of you to pull it off too," he spat back.
Naruto gave a sly grin at knowing he had gotten to the boy, "Ever thought of a line of work that doesn't run the risk of landing yourself in here?"
"I don't know. I haven't eaten like this in months," The redhead gave a sarcastic smile, slurping the last of the noodles to punctuate the statement.
"You might if you had taken more than food. The family you robbed was clueless. You could have cleaned them out," the Genin commented.
The thief shrugged, "Nah, I'll pass. I know what it's like to be starving. I mean really starving. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. I steal when I have no other choice and only what I need from those who can spare it."
"Hah," Naruto declared with a triumphant look in his eyes, "I knew you weren't a bad guy."
The prisoner gave a puzzled look, "What?"
The blonde realized he had just said this out loud, and his face flushed.
Naruto gave a dismissive and nervous wave as he babbled, "NothingNothingAnywayCyaBye." With that the Genin turned and bolted away, a smile plastered across his face.
This left the thief once again thoroughly confused and with a full stomach. He gave a small chuckle at the absurdity of his current life and decided to take a nap.
A different nap entirely was interrupted by the clanging of the door to the cellblock as someone entered. The redhead looked up drowsily to see who had arrived, hoping, because it was lunchtime, that it was the Haruno girl or the Uzumachi fellow. He was surprised therefore when a black-haired boy about his age sauntered into the room and approached the guard, announcing that Uchiha Sasuke was here to visit a prisoner. The thief was even more shocked when the guard actually looked at the boy with respect, something he hadn't done for the prisoner's previous guests, going so far as to even glare at the blonde.
The new arrival didn't seem to care as he turned to approach the redhead's cell without so much as a thanks to the guard. He then dug into a pack on his hip and threw the contents through the bar. The thief caught the pear neatly and sat up to meet his visitor.
"Here, eat," were the only words the boy offered the prisoner.
The thief raised an eyebrow at his "meal", "A pear? Try not to break the bank."
The raven-haired boy simply snorted and turned to leave, saying over his shoulder, "You aren't worth my time. I have no patience or money to waste on a thief foolish enough to rob the same place for an entire week."
"I outsmarted you didn't I? What kind of ninja snores on a stakeout mission anyway?" the prisoner called after the Genin, taking pleasure in watching the boy tense at the mention of his mistake.
The thief took a bite out of the pear before adding, "Besides, I would of moved on, but the Hyugas have terrible cooks, so I went back to the Nobends."
It was this statement that caused the Uchiha to spin on his heel and approach the cell again, giving the thin redhead a hard stare, "You mean you've robbed the Hyuga estate as well?"
The thief met his stare with mellow eyes, "Yeah, but they can't cook to save their lives, so I hit the Nobend compound again. Why? Are the Hyugas big shots or something?"
The raven-haired Genin leaned against the bars and looked the boy up and down in an appraising way, leaving the thief feeling rather awkward under the inspection.
The boy seemed to make up his mind on something before straightening up and beginning to leave again, telling the prisoner, "Do me a favor and stay alive. I want to see whether or not you're all talk."
The prisoner was left staring after his guest as he left. The thin boy then thought for a moment, counting something out on his fingers, before calling out to the guard, "Hey Frank! That guy only said fifty-five words to me and he still managed to confuse the hell out of me. These people are getting efficient Frank."
"Shut up! And my name isn't Frank!"
"Are you sure? You look like a Frank…"
Sasuke Uchiha smirked to himself as he stepped back into sunlight. Kakashi had been right after all. This kid did have some promise to him. He couldn't wait to test it.
"Do you know who I am?"
"Well, judging by the weird hat, I'd wager that you're this village's Kage. Either that or a clown. Of coarse, some don't really see a difference there. They both have a thing for funny hats right?"
The Hokage sighed and rubbed his temple while taking a drag on his pipe, "Then do you know why I'm here?"
The thief continued to give the Sandaime little attention as he reclined on his bed, staring at the ceiling, "There's been a mistake, I'm innocent, and you're here to release me with an apology and a hearty handshake? I've been saying it all along, ask Frank."
"I'm here because you have served your sentence," continued the Hokage, ignoring the boy, "You are free to go."
The thief snapped up in bed and retorted, "You don't say." To be honest, he really was surprised. Somehow he had forgotten to escape. Maybe not so much as forgotten as put off until it was too late. He was a little disappointed. There was nothing like a good jailbreak.
"Yes," the Hokage answered, "Despite the best efforts of those you robbed, you get to leave now. We're even going to let you keep your hand."
"Neat, I like my hand. We've been through a lot of good times together, and it would kill lefty to see him go. Those two are inseparable," the boy stated, hopping up and walking over to the cell door, "Lets get this show on the road."
The Sandaime didn't move.
The soon to be ex prisoner looked at the Kage, confusion written on his face, "Sooooo, are you gonna let me out now?"
Sarutobi looked down, directly into the boy's eyes, "Let me ask you something young man. Where do you plan to go after this?"
"Away from here. Why?" the thief didn't know where this was going.
"What are you going to do?" the Hokage asked.
"I don't know. I'll figure it out," answered the boy, getting frustrated.
The Sandaime continued, "Do you even know where you're going to sleep tonight?"
"Here if you don't get out of my way," complained the redhead.
The Hokage stroked his chin and nodded, "Hmm. Would you like an answer to my questions?"
"What are you talking about?" demanded the thief.
"I'm offering you a new line of work, a new life," Sarutobi explained.
"A new life?" the boy questioned.
"Among the people of this village, as a leaf village shinobi," the Sandaime continued.
The prisoner gaped at the man. What had he just offered him? More importantly, why had he offered it to him? The boy looked down, trying to understand.
"Why?" he asked weakly, "Why would you offer me this? What do you want from me?"
"Want from you?" the Sandaime echoed, "Young man, you have grown up in a world no one should have to. Because of that, you have become… different from most children your age."
The Hokage got down on one knee, bringing him face to face with the boy, and reached through the bars, placing his hands on the redhead's shoulders, "Because of this, many want to label you a criminal, a delinquent, or a thug. They dismiss you so that they don't have to think about your life and what you've been through. But you aren't any of those things are you?"
The thief couldn't speak. He couldn't even move away from the strange man in front of him. It had been so long since someone had looked at him like this. Like… like he mattered somehow.
Sarutobi continued, "I've watched you as you spoke to the Genin responsible for your capture. You aren't what many people think you are. You aren't street trash. You're just a scared youngster who didn't ask for this life. I'm offering you a way out not because I want something from you. I'm doing it because I think there's a place in this village for you. I've watched over it's people long enough to know that they would have you if you gave them a chance. That's all I'm asking from you. Will you do this? Will you become part of my people? I'm almost certain it feeds better than your current work."
The young man in front of the Sandaime hung his head and didn't speak. His mind screamed. He didn't know what to do. He could barely think. The boy didn't want to do this. He wanted to leave. He wanted to go back to his life, but a voice in the back of his mind asked, "What life?" The thief knew part of him didn't want to do this, didn't want to believe it was true. He'd tried to believe before and remembered what happened. The thief had trusted the last man and… No. No, he knew he shouldn't trust this one either. But he also knew he had to. She'd want him too.
When he finally did speak up, it was with a shaking voice, "Where do I sign?"
Sarutobi grinned and stood up, "That's a good lad, now just let me get the key and we can go. We have much to discuss."
"That's okay," the boy interrupted, lifting his head and quickly wiping the corner of his eye, "I keep it unlocked." The thief then reached over and slid the bars back, stepping out calmly and shutting the door behind him. The Hokage was astonished and considered commenting on the act, but decided it was best not to encourage him.
"I don't suppose this new citizen has a name does he?" asked Sarutobi.
"Hmm?" the boy looked up, a little confused, "Oh right, I haven't mentioned it yet have I? Arata, my name is Arata."
The Hokage smiled as he thought about it, "It suits you. Welcome to my village Arata… You do know you have to give the guard his wallet back right?"
"You're no fun."
It took me how many chapters to get a name? Oh well. The story is growing in popularity apparently. A few more reviews between So.Just.Smile and top. They are thoroughly appreciated. I also notice even more are putting this story on alert status, so I'm feeling pretty good about this. To think it started as a friend asking me to write around her favorite show. Also, any advice from you, the reader, would be happily accepted. I'm returning to a two-week update pattern. I may be able to go faster, but I would like to maintain a "cushion" of extra chapters should inspiration desert me for a short time or should I get caught up in a few of my private projects. See you in two weeks, and thank you all for agreeing to be an audience.
P.S. Self heating soup cans do indeed exist. Watch Modern Marvels. Ain't the history channel a kick?