Hi everyone.
Hope everyone is enjoying the summer so far.
So here's the next chapter, and It's going to show a bit of Hikari's observing skills, since she's supposed to be hiding her intelligence.
I don't think some things would actually happen in the manga like i chose to show in this chapter, but I figured it shouldn't hurt.
Enjoy, don't own Naruto
Chapter 6
Waking up to the sunshine on my face, I opened my eyes, just to squint a little as the suns glares were strong. Looking at my alarm clock, it read 5:24 am, earlier than when my alarm was set to go off. Even though I probably slept for no more than 5 hours or less, I felt rested. Getting up, I realized that I was holding something close to my chest. Looking at it, it was the picture of an older Gaara since the last time I saw him.
'That's right, last night I had gotten a letter from him, the first one. Wait, I didn't even read the scroll' I began to look on my bed, just to see the mess on my floor.
'Urg, that's definitely getting cleaned up' picking up the papers, I saw that one of them was the scroll. I placed the papers on my desk, unrolled the scroll, and began to read what was written:
Hikari
It's Gaara. I'm fine. I am Training to get better control of my sand. My brother, sister, and I get along better. Dad still doesn't like me, but has stopped trying to kill me. People still don't like me, but doesn't seem to bother me as much as before. No friends yet, but I still try to be good. If you're trying to become ninja as soon as possible, then I'll do the same. Hope to see you again soon. Wish you lived here too, but happy it's at a village were alliance to. Send me soon as you can, and I'll do the same.
Gaara
Staring at the scroll after reading it for a moment, I began to laugh. It appeared that Gaara was as shy as ever. It was too short! But, something did catch my attention; he didn't mention anything about his uncle. How curious.
Rolling it back, I decided that for the next letter, I would let Gaara know about Naruto. Besides writing one, I and Naruto would have to get our picture taken for Gaara to see him.
Placing the picture frame on my desk, I decided to do my daily exercise early, and then freshen up.
Finishing my workout, I started walking home. People were starting to get up and prepare the vendors around, so I decided I would stop at one of the bakery's and get some Danishes. I got a dozen mini cherry ones, and a dozen mini cheese ones. I figured I would give Naruto one once I got home.
Once I got home, I placed the bag of Danishes on kitchen table, and went to shower. After I finished, I saw that my parents were awake, all dressed, eating breakfast.
"Hikari, did you go to a bakery today?" Mother asked me.
"Hai; after I finished my workout today, I saw a bakery, and decided to grab some." I heard a knock on the door, "I'll get that."
Opening the door, I saw it was Naruto, "hey, see I can get up early. Are you ready to go?"
"Let me grab something first" I grabbed my bag and the bag of Danishes, "Naruto's here, bye mom, bye dad" I closed the door, and the two of us proceeded to walk to the academy. We left pretty early so we got there half an hour early.
Once we settled down in our seats, I began to eat the mini Danishes, "hey Naruto, want one?" I offered him.
"Really, thanks Hikari-chan" Naruto began to eat with me. When did he add the chan to my name?
As we proceeded to eat our Danishes, the class slowly filled. I saw Sasuke enter, and our eyes locked. I smiled and gave him a wave; he just scowled, and walked to his seat.
Naruto saw our interaction, and I knew he was about to say something, so I whispered to him first, "Shh, I know how you feel about him, but one day we'll have to work with him as ninja's, so I'm trying to get him to open up, even if he's rude about it. The more one isolates themselves, the greater the explosion will be."
"What does isolation mean?" Naruto asked.
"Means 'wanting to be alone', they try to shun people away from them" I explained
"But, he's supposed to be my rival" Naruto mumbled.
"Couldn't I be your rival, seeing as I beat him in a spar?" I asked.
That got him to widen his eyes at that, then smiled, "Hai, you did beat him, and as long as you keep beating him, I'll mark you as my rival. You more fun to have as a rival anyways."
I just giggled at that. The class had almost filled up by that point. I observed the class, and noticed that most of the female population were looking, and giggling, towards Sasuke's direction, while he purposely tried to ignore them. I couldn't help but laugh at this. 'Fan girls eh? If they act like that, most of these girls won't make it as ninjas.' Maybe it wasn't fair of me to say that, but traveling, and getting trained the way I did, couldn't make me see how they could possibly become one. Naruto gave me an odd look, but then shrugged, and continued to eat his sweet breakfast.
I continued to look around the class, and noticed that a student, who recently entered the class, was staring at my direction, and then blushed. I turned to look at who she was staring at, only to see it was only Naruto next to me, still eating. That was interesting, she would file that for later; the class was about to start. I looked forward to see the blackboard, and saw Sasuke staring at me. I just smiled back at him, and he scowled. I decided to be a bit playful, and stuck my tongue at him, Naruto copying me, and this furthered his scowled, making him turn away. Giggling, Iruka-sensei began the lesson for the day.
Class was practically the same as yesterday. History and rules of ninjas, then lunch, then sparing, this time me and Naruto faced different opponents. Naruto faced some other civilian, who appeared too slow that Naruto won the round and I was faced with a civilian girl, who I beat in one move. After class was done, I told Naruto that I would meet him at the same training ground at 5; I wanted to talk to the hokage this time. Before I left, however, Sasuke had approached me.
"Fight me" he said.
I blinked, before remembering that I was supposed to think that he was a mute.
I feigned surprise, "Ahh, you talked. Why didn't you say anything yesterday? now I feel bad!"
He scowled once he realized that a lot of students were circling from that outburst, "shut up, I don't talk because I don't like talking to people. Now, fight me." He never usually showed his emotions, but it looked like I was able to push his buttons. He started to get into a fighting pose, causing cheers of 'fight' to come from the circle around us.
"Why do you want to fight me?" I asked. I was really curious why anyone would want to fight like this.
"To prove I'm stronger"
"Fine, I forfeit, now you're stronger"
"Not like that dammit"
"Like what then?"
"I'm truly stronger if I beat you"
"Why don't you just train with me if you want to be stronger?"
"I don't need anyone to be the best"
"Then you'll never win"
Sasuke had finally lost his temper, and charged at me. I just stood still, until he was at punching distance. I decided just to humiliate him this time instead of playing around. Just as he tried to punch me, I grabbed his arm, and flipped him over with my fast reflexes. I placed my foot on his chest, pushing hard for it to hurt. Sasuke grunted, and then started to wince in pain once he felt the pressure on his chest.
"That's the difference between us Sasuke. I train with others to get strong, you train on your own and that's why you're weak" I let go, and before Sasuke could get up and turn around, I had shushined away, getting a lot of gasps from the class. I stayed nearby to see how Sasuke would react; I felt if I kept putting down his pride, perhaps he would finally start to see his error. I know for a fact that I use to think like that, until I was constantly beaten to finally accept help. It's like a boiling a frog; you slowly let the temperature boil, and before the frog knows it, it's too late. It's the same with Sasuke; if he continues to constantly getting beaten down; slowly he'll finally accept help, and not notice that he's forming an unlikely bond.
It appeared that whispers had started spreading around the circle of people, making Sasukes scowl deepen. He ran as fast as he could to get away.
Well, it was a start, and I began to make my way towards the hokage tower.
He was not weak. He was the top of his class, an Uchiha. He had to catch up to that man no matter what. How was that girl strong? He thought that because he had underestimated her last time, he could beat her by taking her seriously. Was she only playing him during the class spar? Why? It made no sense, they were the same age.
He made his way home, and started practicing his shuriken throws, getting perfect aim. He would show that he was the best, no matter what. From now on, she was his rival.
Hiruzen was quite pleased that there were barely any paper works today. Apart from the monthly meetings, and assigning missions, he barely had any paperwork to do. It was one of the positives of having peace over the five nations for now.
'I should perhaps take a scroll in the village later on' he thought, until a knock at the door was heard.
"Yes?" He asked.
"Hokage-sama, a child from the academy wishes to speak to you, should we let her in?" The anbu asked.
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow at that; what would an academy student want with him?
"You may let her in" he stated, in which the anbu bowed, and left to tell the child that they may proceed.
The person, who entered, however, surprised him greatly; it was none other than the new child, Hikari.
"Well if it isn't young Hikari-chan. To what do I owe this visit" he said.
Hikari bowed, "Hokage-sama, thank you very much for meeting me. It's about Naruto."
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow at that; what about Naruto?
"What about young Naruto-kun? Has he done something?" Hiruzen asked.
To his surprise, she showed a bit anger, before hiding it behind a blank face, "no, he's very kind, and so far has been nothing but respectful to me as a friend. What I wish to know is why people look at him differently?"
Although he didn't show it, he started to get uncomfortable, "What look do mean by that Hikari-chan?"
"Everyone looks at him as if he shouldn't be there. Whenever we walk together, glares are pointed our way, but it's actually at Naruto. It doesn't make any sense" the blank face from before was slowly fading away, revealing the anger she was spouting.
Hiruzen sighed at this; it was like talking with her mother over again about this topic.
"I'm sorry, but it's forbidden for me to say. Just know that Naruto-kun is indeed a good person."
Hikari fidgeted for a moment, before talking again, "does he have a monster inside of him?"
This had Hiruzen widen his eyes for a moment, causing Hikari to nod once she noticed his reaction, "he does, doesn't he?"
Hiruzen coughed to clear his throat, before asking a question in return, "What makes you think that having a monster in him is the only way for people to look at him like that?"
Hikari hesitated for a second, before relenting on her answer, "Back when I was in Suna, I had made a friend who was looked at exactly the same way Naruto's looked at. He told me the reason people hated him was because he was a reminder of the past they wished to forget, a monster. Everyone gave him cold looks, including his father. He told me a monster was sealed in him. It's the same as Naruto isn't it?"
Hiruzen took a closer look at Hikari, and noticed something; her eyes didn't show any fear, just curiosity.
'Interesting for a young child to be so observant' Hiruzen decided to take a risk at revealing part of the truth, indirectly at least.
"What would you do if that was the truth?" he asked.
She shrugged her shoulders, "Wouldn't make a difference, just curious." and Hiruzen could tell that she spoke the truth. It also told him something else; Suna had a Jinchūriki as well hidden in their rank.
He sighed at this, but felt that it may be a good thing if Naruto's age knew and accepted him none the less, "He doesn't know himself, and I wish for him not to know until he becomes a ninja. I trust you keep this information to yourself as it is a secret no one should talk about, and is punishable by death if spoken. I know it doesn't fully answer your question, but if what you said about your friend is true, it's exactly the same thing in regards to Naruto" this got her eyes to widen.
"He's the same, and yet not the same" Hikari mumbled to herself.
"What was that Hikari-chan?" Hiruzen asked.
"Oh, just me mumbling Hokage-sama; thank you for answering my questions, and I promise to keep quiet about it" Hikari bowed, and then left the room.
Hikari really had surprised him; he never would have thought that she would figure out, at least a part of the truth, what made Naruto different. He guessed it helped that she befriended someone who was in a similar situation as Naruto in Suna.
'The question is though, whose Suna's Jinchūriki' he realized with a groan that he should have asked Hikari that piece of information. Well, only time would tell, seeing they have an alliance with Suna for the time being.
There we go.
I wish for feedback for this chapter. I don't really know how I feel about it personally, just that it will be the starting for how the story proceeds afterwards.
Major feedback will be appreciated this time around.
Thanks.
Cheers
