Kurama had been quieter, more at peace almost, since she and Sakura had started training.
The fox snorts when she sends a questioning thought his way, as though he expected her to figure it out already.
You engage in violence and see death on a daily basis, kit. Whatever your reasons for doing it, you sate the hunger my condition gives me.
So I'm helping you?
You could say that.
Naruto pushes a rush of love and warmth towards him, smiling when he growls half-heartedly and retreats back to his side of her mind.
She turns her attention back to the lesson, though her focus slips soon enough. Ibiki-sensei's already covered what the current teacher is telling them, albeit in much more detail and way more bluntly.
Her gaze wanders, stopping to smile at Sakura before moving over the rest of the class.
There-a mop of black hair and a scowl.
Naruto's heard about the situation with the Uchihas-from asking directly and eavesdropping whenever she can.
She knows it'll come to a boiling point soon enough, though how it will end is anyone's guess.
Naruto should stay away from him. She should wait for the coming conflict with the clan to resolve itself.
But Naruto's never been good at following the rules, and she likes what she sees in him.
He's top of the class, sure, but there's something else-something she can't quite explain.
It's the same thing she sees in Sakura and herself, the same thing that comes out when they hold a knife.
"Come on," Naruto whispers to Sakura once the lunch bell rings, making her way to Sasuke and dropping into the seat next to him.
"Sasuke-kun," she chirps, "how're you doing?"
The Uchiha boys blinks at her, like he's trying to place who she is, before it clicks.
"Why are you here, Naruto? Sakura?" he asks, turning his gaze between her and his former fangirl.
"We want to be your friends" she tells him, smiling wider at the look of confusion on his face.
"You have nothing to gain," he eventually tells them. "I know you are apprenticed in Torture and Interrogation, the Uchiha name will not open anymore doors."
She pouts before knocking her shoulder against his, smiling when he doesn't flinch back.
"Of course I know that! We want to be friends because you're you."
"Why?" the boy snaps out, patience growing thin, and Naruto smiles. Finally the mask of politeness is off.
"You're like us" Sakura speaks up then.
"And how" the boys says, disdain dripping from his words, "am I like you?"
Naruto settles down before criss-crossing her legs and leaning back onto her hands.
"You're a clan kid, you have to have held a blade by now."
"And?"
"Doesn't it feel good?" Naruto presses, "doesn't it feel good to sink it into something? To finish a spar and have your opponent at your feet?"
"Sasuke," Naruto says, "it feels good to hurt people, doesn't it?"
The boy pales.
"A shinobi takes pride in his work and nothing more," Sasuke insists.
"But you don't" Naruto counters. "It's more for you. You want more. You want to watch someone's blood flow over your hands. You want to make someone scream, don't you? You want to cause pain, you want to pull them apart and break them into little pieces."
Sasuke stares at her, breath caught, but makes no effort to move.
"I'm like that," Naruto nods at Sakura, "Sakura's like that."
"Sasuke," she starts, reaching out a hand and touching his shoulder, "there's nothing wrong with that."
"But-" he starts but doesn't finish.
"We've done it," Naruto continues, "we've broken people. We've broken their minds and their bodies, we've followed it up by killing them."
"And Sasuke?"
"Yes?" the boy breathes.
"It's even better than you imagined."
He stares as Naruto stretches out her hand, waiting patiently for his answer.
"Friends?"
Hesitantly, as though she'll fade away, Sasuke reaches out.
"Friends."
