Chapter 3

He drank the bitter liquid as it burned his throat when it slithered down. He sighed contentedly as he eyed the fuzzy image his apartment gave him. He had just talked to the Hokage a while ago regarding how he knew about the demon and it wasn't hard to lie when he already came up with the story when he was nine years old.

Naruto told the old man that he heard others call him a demon behind his back when people thought he wouldn't hear and since he was born the day the Kyuubi attack, he suspected something. Then he saw the seal when he was practicing the Academy jutsus which prove his theory right.

The blonde knew that the Hokage knows he left some details left unsaid but didn't question any further. But that didn't stop him from being hurt when the old man's eyes became suspicious, as if he didn't trust Naruto.

Naruto knew that look. He sees that suspicious glance in the mirror when he examines his reflection.

He didn't trust people. But he trusted the old man, and the only reason that's stopping him from the telling him the truth about the demon was because Naruto is scared.

Naruto knew that the old man is the Hokage and his responsibility is to the village first. But it didn't mean that he can't trust Naruto, the blonde knew that the old man knows he is very loyal to Konoha despite its misgivings. It was even the old man that kept him tied here, that made him love this place, and that made him learn to forgive these people…that made him want to be Hokage and strive to get acknowledgement.

But the distrust in those dark eyes was forever burned in his memory. Naruto knew that the moment he saw those eyes, something just snapped in him.

And it hurt.

It hurt so much more than the glares he receives every day because it came from someone the blonde trusted, the one Naruto believed in…even if the old man is the Hokage, but still… Naruto shook his head as he refilled his cup with the foul liquid and immediately, almost hungrily, drank it.

The goddamn drink is his best medicine right now. Always is. "You shouldn't be drinking…it would be more satisfactory if you make them bleed yourself…" She whispered huskily, as if she was just sitting next to him.

With his system overloaded with sake, he was able to ignore her. Ignore the hatred, ignore the pain, and ignore everything that weighs him down.

Naruto discovered this life saving drink from one of his senseis in the academy. It was a bit ironic, really. Naruto was walking home late that night because he didn't want to go home early yet and tended to watch the village from the Hokage Mountain on the Yondaime's head.

Then, Tsubari-sensei stumbled out in an alley. Naruto figured that she was just going home from a bar because she reeked of sake. But as she saw Naruto, the blonde expected to be glared at, like how she used to do in their class. But she didn't…

She smiled at him, hugged him, and then cried her tears on him.

Naruto's first thought was that it was a ploy to kill him, but it wasn't…she kept on mumbling that she was sorry. That night made him feel good, he thought that maybe Tsubari-sensei forgave him for what she's done.

But the next day in class, Tsubari-sensei was the same; glaring at him with her cold eyes. As if nothing happened, as if she didn't apologize to him.

Naruto then realized that maybe sake had to do with it. Because Tsubari-sensei doesn't drink in the Academy, but when the boy sees her drunk, she waves at him…she smiles. He always watched out for her when she drinks and follows her home to see her safe…

…even if it means getting treated rightfully only when his sensei was drunk. It still felt good.

Naruto also realized that maybe sake brings out the good in people. He can't finalize that statement because there are other drunken people who can still see him as the curse, but it wasn't hatred that was in their eyes…it was grief.

Then the blonde discovered that there are three types of drunken people when it comes to him. The first is, the drunken people who see the poor boy in him, that made them realized that he was just one of them, a human. The other sees the demon that slaughtered their loves ones, as if they were reliving the memory.

But as he drank the burning liquid, he realized that he's the kind of drunk that belongs to the third type. The drunken people who wanted to forget is where Naruto was categorized.

The blonde just wanted to forget about everything. It was easy to pretend that things were normal when drunk because it was hard to tell what is wrong from right.

He was able to get his own stash through his unique henge. Naruto knew that the Kyuubi gave him the ability to transform when using the Henge. The technique should only be able to cast an illusion over someone, not transform them. But Naruto can…and it made him unique, and no one is the better. Naruto only used this ability to buy his drink, and sometimes groceries. But he didn't use it so often, it made him disgusted with himself by becoming anything similar to her.

Tic. Toc. Tic. Toc.

Naruto didn't know how many minutes or hours passed.

He just sat by the side of his bed, drinking as if there was no tomorrow.

Then there was a knock. He didn't get up, for he already knew who would be the only one to come at his apartment at this hour. It was still 3 AM in the morning after all.

Naruto could faintly hear the shuffling made in his living room. There were silent footsteps that pounded his carpeted floor as it stopped in front of the door of his bedroom. The intruder didn't bother to knock, he just opened the door and went inside.

The figure then gave a long suffering sigh when he saw Naruto, as if this was a daily occurrence. And it barely reached Naruto's mind that it is.

His visitor didn't bother to say anything as he trudged to where Naruto's sitting and sat down in front of the blonde. He then pulled out the shougi board underneath the owner's bed and set himself to arrange the pieces while he stared at his classmate.

Naruto narrowed his eyes to scrutinize the figure in front of him then grinned. "Yo, Shikamaru…you came to play shougi again?" He slurred a little over his words, but the Nara could understand it to give a proper answer.

Shikamaru looked hard at the drunk blonde in front of him and sighed. "That's what I always came for, right? Troublesome." The brunette said, more of a statement than an inquiry.

Naruto bobbed his head up and down exaggeratedly as his dull blue eyes looked at his alarm clock, then at Shikamaru. "You know Shika…you're the only person I know that wakes up at this ungodly hour just so you could play shougi with a loser like me. I didn't even pass the genin exams…" Naruto mumbled as Shikamaru put down the last piece.

"Lying to him won't make it easy…his eyes already saw the hitai-ate on your bedside table…" She warned as Naruto frowned slightly, his vision a little blurry to notice the things that aren't that subtle.

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow at the information, "Oh…is that so? Well, it must be my imagination then when I bumped into Iruka-sensei on the streets and told me that through an unorthodox method…you just passed the test tonight." He informed in a lucid manner as he leaned his elbow on the board, his palm supporting his chin as he looked at his opponent.

The blonde decided to ignore the sarcasm as he moved his first piece. "Yeah…doesn't change the fact that you still come at this blasphemous hour though." Naruto whined as he snorted, putting his bottle of sake aside in favour of giving the game his attention.

Naruto heard her snort and growled internally. She talks as if they were the best of friends when they weren't even acquaintances… "You're like to talk…you also wake up at this horrendous hour boy…" She stated truthfully and Naruto decided to pretend he didn't hear her.

The Nara's lips twitched upward as he moved his piece, taking it on himself to ignore the foul smell of sake. "That's why I always fall asleep in class." He reasoned as his dark eyes narrowed when Naruto moved a piece he wasn't really expecting.

"Typical of him to put the blame on you…pathetic." She remarked with a feral growl, and Naruto struggled to keep her killer intent from leaking out. He forced out a laugh as Shikamaru narrowed his eyes on him.

Goddamnit, shut up! The blonde shouted mentally, but she only laughed…happy that she was having effect on him.

Naruto decided to do the best thing he did every time, ignore her. "But why me? I mean…there's lots of people whom are geniuses that could play with you right now. I'm fucking drunk, Nara." Naruto growled but there was no hostility in his words. His hands moving a piece instinctively but he barely looked at the board.

"It's because you're the only person besides my dad that I can't beat. I'm going to play with you again and again to win. It's nice to have a challenge once in a while also. And don't give me the reason that you're drunk, it's nothing new." Shikamaru retorted as he furrowed his eyebrows in concentration. His eyes were never leaving the game to discover how the blonde kept on defeating him.

Naruto could feel her grin, and it made him scowl inwardly. "Nothing but a challenge…or close to being a friend. You're a hypocrite, Naruto…" He slightly jerked at that, never once had she called him by his name, always boy.

What do you want, Kyuubi? He addressed her with the same complement that she did. He may not like her, but he knows gratitude when it came.

She sniffles mockingly, "You've finally shown little old me some attention. Such is the heart of a human…but you're different. I really like you…why don't you come to me?" She inquired playfully.

Naruto growled internally and outwardly making Shikamaru looked at him oddly. That will be the day I'm desperate enough… He retorted and his mind suddenly became eerily quiet. Something Naruto didn't quite expect but grateful all the while.

It started when they were nine years old. Shikamaru was playing shougi with the older boys from another class and always won. He was starting to get bored then Naruto offered to play with him. At first, his thought was to say no. It was natural, Naruto was the deadlast so Shikamaru didn't really have high hopes for the blonde but he relented anyway. Then after one game, through unpredictability and unorthodox strategies…the blonde won.

From then on, he always played with Naruto at this hour to defeat him because Naruto didn't want Shikamaru to be seen with him. Shikamaru doesn't know how, but Naruto always won.

Naruto hiccupped as he moved another piece, his half lidded eyes bore to the back of his hand but said nothing.

The silence was uncomfortable, only tensed as the game went on.

"I know I asked this a lot of times already…but why do you drink? You're underage, and can barely handle your liquor but you still go for it…why?" Shikamaru asked distractedly as he moved another piece, sweat glistening in his brow.

Naruto's hand hovered over a piece then raised his hand as he looked at Shikamaru with sad eyes. "And the answer will always be the same because…it dulls the pain here…" He answered as he pointed an index finger on his chest, where his heart is. "It dulls reality…" He then pointed at his blue eyes, "And it dulls everything here…" Naruto then tapped his temple as he chuckled. "Makes me forget about everything…" He mumbled as he finally touched the piece again and made his last move.

"Checkmate." Naruto said as he looked at Shikamaru triumphantly.

Shikamaru's eyes went wide as he realized that the blonde won yet again. But his mind wasn't on the game now, it was focused on Naruto's answer. It almost sounded that Naruto wanted to get away from everything, as if the whole world was against the blonde.

Shikamaru then sighed forlornly as he looked at the board, no matter how many times he goes back through the scenarios, he couldn't tell how the blonde defeated him, always. He looked at the clock and grumbled.

It read, 4:45 AM. The game went on for almost two hours, shorter than the last time Naruto defeated him.

The Nara then stood up as he dusted his pants, "Well, I got to go now. The Genin orientation will be at 10 AM, I guess I'll see you later." Shikamaru bid as he walked out of the door, and out of the apartment.

Just like that, Shikamaru was gone.

Naruto smiled sadly as he looked at the hitai-ate on his bedside table. As soon as Shikamaru was out of his apartment complex, they do not know each other. That's one of Naruto's conditions if Shikamaru wanted to play with him. The last time he called someone his friend from the orphanage, the matron slapped his friend. So it should apply outside, right?

What if the villagers transfer their hate on Shikamaru? Naruto didn't want that, especially be blamed by the boy's parents if something did happen to the Nara because of his involvement with the blonde.

They may not be friends, but Naruto was sure that might happen someday.

Someday, where shougi isn't what made them know each other.

OooOoOooO

"…work hard, because there are no shortcuts." Naruto chastised as he flicked Konohamaru on the forehead. He grinned as he looked at the awe and admiration on the young Sarutobi's face.

Naruto met the young boy as he talked with the Hokage regarding his picture for his information as genin. He painted his face in a Kabuki designed painting to make him look unfamiliar, he didn't want anyone to recognize the whisker marks and be able to tell that he is a jinchuuriki, or that someone would be able to look at that face which Naruto had problems laying his eyes on.

Then Konohamaru barged in, demanding the old man for a fight. He even accused Naruto for setting up a trap when the boy tripped on his own scarf. It was one of the most hilarious sights that Naruto had seen since the time he used the Oiroke no Jutsu on Iruka-sensei.

When Naruto knew that Konohamaru was the old man's grandson, Naruto first felt jealousy coursed through him. The blonde won't deny that, he was jealous because the old man was really the grandfather of Konohamaru.

Then annoyance when the young boy said that Naruto couldn't hurt him just because he is the Sandaime's grandson. It set him off…the sheer arrogance, that just because someone has something that they should be conceited about it.

He had to teach the boy a lesson.

It was just pure luck that Konohamaru followed him. Then the boy demanded for the blonde to teach him something. Naruto, being a prankster at heart, taught the boy his prized technique, the Oiroke no Jutsu, knowing that it could work even at their hardened leader. It took a few hours…but Konohamaru eventually learned it.

Now…he just told the boy that if wanted to be Hokage, he had to work hard. That he had to be strong. Because there are no shortcuts.

Naruto didn't have it in him anymore to tell Konohamaru that he wanted to be a Hokage too. He didn't think that he would even fit the position considering that he lost the heart to pursue the goal. Those suspicious, distrustful eyes…Naruto will never forget that.

"Okay boss! Just you watch, I'm gonna be Hokage and you'll be my right hand!" Konohamaru saluted as he dashed away from the blonde, grinning from ear to ear as he ran away.

Naruto sighed wistfully as he looked at the boy. The cheerful persona in use as he interacted and the boy was too young to notice the strength it took for the blonde to grin, to teach, and to laugh…

"You lied to him…" He heard her mumble but he ignored her words. Naruto heard her growl but she didn't say anything else. He knew he lied, but if Konohamaru is going to be a real Hokage, then he must have the right mindset for it.

Naruto just fixed it for him.

Shortcuts are given to those who held power, to those who held manipulation over minds.

And Naruto was dead set on having a respectable leader than a condescending one. It's the only thing that he could see that he will be doing in the future.

When he already sorted his thoughts out, Naruto walked in the Academy as he held his head high, making everybody see Iruka's shining hitai-ate around his forehead. Letting them see that he passed, that he was a shinobi and that he overcame them. It's his treasure, his symbol of opportunity that there is still a chance.

This was met by cold ignorance while others glared, showing how they felt about him with her being a ninja. He laughed gleefully inwardly, he showed them! He was actually a ninja…and it was at this time that the full implication hit him hard. He is a ninja. He made it. Naruto is a ninja and he made it.

Naruto grinned as he put his hands on the back of his head. Nothing can tear down his mood.

As he entered the classroom, Naruto saw that Iruka-sensei wasn't still there and only a few students were there. He looked at the clock and saw that it was half an hour before the orientation started, he was actually early this time and he didn't need the help of his alarm clock to make him punctual.

"Naruto…this place is for graduates only, what are you doing here?" Shikamaru asked from his perch as he looked at the grinning blonde, his face bored betrayed nothing as if they weren't talking moments ago.

Naruto scowled as he stood up straight. "What are you talking about Shikamaru? Are you blind? I have a hitai-ate!" He yelled in his usual boisterous voice as he grinned proudly at his hard earned possession.

Shikamaru scoffed as he laid his head back on his arms, "So troublesome…" He muttered under his breath as he closed his eyes.

Naruto only grinned brighter. Yes, nothing can ruin his mood today.

As the blonde walked past Shikamaru's place, one thought occur to Naruto, being strangers are much better…they hurt you less than a friend can.

"Your hypocrisy will be your downfall someday." She said but he ignored her.

Truly, nothing ruined that morning, but with the awaiting news of being placed in genin cells…he made the mistake of actually expecting everything to turn out alright just because he became a ninja as his last hold on sanity will eventually slipped away from his hands.

Because just like what Kyuubi meant, his own hypocrisy will kill him someday.

AN:

Thanks for the reviews and support. I decided to take the advice of one (or two?) of my reviewers...to make the chapter longer. THanks.