Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto!!
Announcement: C'est l'anniversaire d'Itachi. June 9th. Happy B-day, Love! x3
The fuck.
This was too much. It was like gravity just reversed, and everyone was hanging onto their rooves with their pants over their heads. Couldn't the world freeze for one itty-bitty damn second for a kid to catch his breath?
Naruto twitches slightly at the intimate sight before him. Finding that your new friend's an "immortal"--whatever that means--is bad enough. But then seeing your Goddamn teacher practically groping this stranger. Now, that's too much.
Visitors were normal. And so Kakashi and this stranger's visiting hadn't been strange. Sasuke had at least mention the lazy teacher to be involved.
It was the most he'd said of anything, in fact. Naruto had spent the night, falling asleep on the kitchen counter, and still knew almost nothing about his situation.
So the stranger--a brunette with short hair in a tie and two sizzling scars crossed between almond eyes--walked in and gave Naruto this look, a friendly look. And before he could react to this, Kakashi-sensei just--
Naruto grumbles to himself, queasy from picturing the scene twice already. Had the idea of "bad-influencing" reversed, too?
"It's the real world," Sasuke contributes, spotting Naruto's horrified expression, "whatever you consider to be 'real'. Never figured you to be a prude."
"I am not!" Naruto shoots back reflexively. "But that's just--Well--" The blonde ducks down, flushed.
Sasuke and Naruto sit at the grand stairs in the mansion's foyer. The steps' wood groans beneath them, threatening to cave in. A very light sheet of dust blends with the wood's fibers, clean compared to the house's outskirts. Across the cracked marble floor, Kakashi and the stranger stand together, by the wide entrance. To the side, a hurrying servant dusts the old walls.
Sasuke starts. "That's--"
"U-Umino Iruka." The brunette emerges forward. He coughs, as if it would wipe the crimson from his cheeks. "I'm sorry about that."
"No problem, dude," Naruto says, scratching his ear, "Sensei totally took you by surprise. Most people directly go for the butt, but he had a battle plan, sketched, planned, and colored."
Iruka laughs uneasily before removing his shoes and walking farther into the mansion. He appears about Kakashi's age, the late twenties look. By now,
Naruto knows better than to trust appearance. Kakashi ensues closely, but Iruka hops out of the way. "I guess that you're Naruto," he digresses skillfully.
After a nod of affirmation from the boy, Iruka continues. "Well, I suppose you can call me Sensei, too. I'll be taking a job at your high school." He smiles evenly, and his voice is friendly enough. Naruto cocks over his head.
"You mean if scary freakshow man let's me live," Naruto says thoughtfully. He picks at a splinter at the stairway's feet. "I'm gonna guess you know the tragic story."
Iruka nods with that same honest smile. "You've nothing to fear, Naruto."
And for some reason, Naruto believes him. He sits back, cooled.
"And--forgive me for the delayed greeting--Good day, Uchiha Sasuke," Iruka bows lowly. Kakashi bows a little as well.
Naruto whistles. He addresses Sasuke, "Hey, pretty boy, why's your greeting so much fancier than mine?"
"He's royalty," Iruka offers.
Kakashi adds, "As you should have noticed."
"Whoah, what else didn't you tell me?" he exclaims. Naruto watches his glaring friend with an innocent grin. Sasuke opens his mouth to retort back but a mellow tone interrupts.
"Sensei?" Sakari descends from the grand, twisting stairs with her school bag. Her auburn hair is loose and ruffled; half of it is tied back and the other half sprawls messily. Her voice sounds even more tired then yesterday.
Iruka looks up and approaches cheerfully. He stands at least half a foot taller and, although small, he seems to stretch broad in comparison to the girl.
"Sakari," he says before briefly hugging her, the embrace of a father. Sakari struggles a little before becoming still. She shifts uncomfortably.
Naruto pokes Sasuke irritably. "You didn't tell me Sakari was here. You fancy little liar!"
"I didn't lie," Sasuke replies, watching the thin girl. "Just didn't tell the whole truth."
Iruka releases her but examines her more closely. "You haven't changed at all."
"I can't," she mumbles, looking down.
"I was joking," Iruka says lightly. "But you look more tired. You have been sleeping on occasion, haven't you?"
"On occasion," Sakari answers lowly.
"She can't risk sleeping. She could end up missing school days!" Kakashi approaches the two, jerking little Iruka closer to him.
Ew. Naruto turns back to Sasuke.
"You're one to talk," Sasuke says, regarding Kakashi.
Bending his neck and whispering loudly, Naruto leans closer to Sasuke. "What does he mean about the sleeping?"
"Let's just say we tend to oversleep."
"Sasuke, I'm gonna head out early," Sakari calls. Her voice, Sasuke notices, is scathed.
Iruka broads over her like an umbrella, but he stands not in her way. "I hope you've been taking care of yourself," he says with a quilt of concern.
"Yeah..." her voice trails, and she looks at Iruka, a little hurt in her gaze. Iruka pats her head with a thin-lipped smile.
"Leave well," he nods.
"I'll go with you," Sasuke volunteers, standing and pulling his bag from his side.
From under, Naruto glares. "What, I'm getting left alone?"
"Nope, you're under our wing," Kakashi slumps next him. "Why else would we be here?"
"To visit them," Iruka regards Kakashi sternly.
"Are you guys actually older than Uchiha, here?" Naruto asks skeptically.
"Older than you."
"See you, dobe," Sasuke grunts on his way out.
Sakari nods to Iruka minutely before leaving the same way.
After a silent walk to school, collages of conversation are almost soothing.
Sakari slumps into her customary back seat, already eyeing the clock. Today would be insufferable, she knows it.
The slow saunter there had undermined all half-hearted hopes of arriving early, so gossip and conversation flood earshot once again. Sakari looks beside her to Kisame, sporting pointy shades and a heart-winning grin. His arms are sprawled around the girls from the other day and a couple of newcomers.
He nods to Sakari with his cheshire expression before turning back to his party.
Amused, Sakari looks back to her notepad, void of curiousity to his sudden disinterest.
"Satoshi--" someone calls blandly.
She ignores the caller until the emerge in front of her, their hands slamming on her desk.
"No, Sakari," Kimimaro says softly, bending lower to be level with her face. Biting her tongue, she leans back with a frown.
From beside her, Kisame turns. He eyes Kimimaro distrustfully. "Hey, what the hell do you think you're doing?"
Kimimaro replies lowly, "No worries, Hoshigaki. I'm just getting to my seat." He makes a sharp turn to Sakari's other side and his hand jerks to her shoulder.
She yields forward like a rag doll, finding it troublesome to fight back. She glares and murmurs, "What do you want?"
"Meet me in the 100's corridor, next period," he whispers. "I'll explain everything."
"What's there to explain?" Her voice is hostile. She shoves him back, and he falls away, heading toward another area of the class. Sakari moves her gaze only to see Kisame staring at her intensely. She points her glare to him before looking back to her hands.
So the blonde boy had awakened.
Kabuto growls deep in his throat. He can barely keep up his facade today. Beside him, Suigetsu laughs a gutteral laugh. Kiba had apparently told some joke. Manifesting an easy smile, Kabuto rounds glances with the rest of his party. Karin, a popular if not loose girl in his year, flutters her long lashes to him. His smile hints no cynicism. Suigetsu and Kiba both clap him on the back, and another grinning girl--no, boy eyes him happily.
The group sits atop the desks in classroom 104, a circle of the "popular" group, the people to envy. For Kabuto, it was top priority to attain the highest status possible while assimilating into societies. Even if they were humans, Kabuto always strived for the best. When he reached the top, he could control everyone around him on puppet strings.
It was a reason why he'd ended up in the Uchiha-run coven. Previously, he had wandered a century alone, a rogue. That was before he'd stumbled upon Sunagakure. Immediately, he'd sensed great energy of his kind and he'd rushed to the source of the power.
And lady luck shone favorably on him, as this power revealed itself to be none other than the famed Uchihas. It was a wake, for the lost souls in their war with the Senjus. And the wake for the lost clan leader, Uchiha Fugaku. For he and his mate, Mikoto, were truly lost, and no one knew where they'd gone. Some claimed they saw his body's destruction and the glow of his soul before running into the wind. Others claimed they'd seen him walking, physically present and well. Those particularly in the Uchiha's coven argued that Fugaku had actually died, that death was his reward.
Personally, Kabuto preferred his new master's version. Afterall, the eldest would have the greatest perspective on their parents' disappearance. And it was cleanest explanation of the three.
He'd finally entered the Uchihas' service just years ago.
Kabuto's hopes for "pulling strings" had not dampened after he'd met Uchiha's new leader, though he knew then that chances of obtaining absolute control were slim. Such power and prestige, the Uchiha's held. And who was Kabuto? Just a commoner who knew medicine. He barely had over 150 years.
"Hey, you two okay? You're just zoning out? Is something going on I don't know about?" Suigetsu shakes his shoulder.
Kabuto looks up and laughs. "Yes, but it wouldn't be the first time, now would it?"
Karin's laughter is an over-exaggerated shriek as she points to blubbering Suigetsu.
Kabuto uses this distraction to turn to the other boy Suigetsu had directed the question to.
To his farther left, Kimimaro broods to himself silently. A usual partaker in conversation, the silvery boy sits apprehensively, shoulders raised and hard collarbone flexed in discomfort. His expression is colder than usual.
Attending the school for three years, Kabuto had his suspicions towards the foreign adolescent, so he'd made it his task to social with him as often as possible. Truth to be told, he knew almost nothing about the true natures of his character.
"I'm fine, Suigetsu," Kimimaro says with a shake of his head. "Headaches."
"Well, class! Attention on me!" a high, authorative voice exclaims. Faces turn to the front of the room as Kurenai-sensei reaches her desk. "Sit, everyone!"
And people obey but not without dropping a couple of swift comments to their friends.
"Now!" Kurenai says, holding a cup of tea to her mouth. "The bell has rung, twice. And I see there are five empty seats. Can any of you enlighten me as to why this is?"
"They're late," Suigetsu jeers sarcastically. Kiba, beside him, snickers.
Kurenai narrows her eyes and purses her lips. "Thank you, Suigetsu. Now, class--"
It's then that the door swings wide open, arching noiselessly and pausing before slamming into the wall, as if in awe. A chill enters the student closest to the door as their eyes open wide. A stranger, appearing their age, wisps inside.
The newcomer stalks inside silently, and though a figure of undeniable masculinity, he is beautiful. His breath is inaudible, and his dark eyes, animalistic, burn to life amidst the day's gray. Midnight hair sweeps over his shoulder, binded carelessly, camouflaging in the stark black of his open collar. His strides rustle with borne grace, even beneath slashed jeans.
His face. His face sets off with a fine jawline, moving to hidden ears, and ending in the shadow of his hair. Loose strands fall past his eyes, over rugged lines and a white scar. His bloodless lips part as he regards the contents of the classroom silently; his gaze pauses over no one, until he reaches the shaking teacher in the front. His eyes yield, obviously finding the class's central authority.
His words are soft, "I apologize for coming late."
Karin squeaks.
Flustered and stammering, Kurenai sets down her tea to keep it from spilling. She stares at her hands before clenching them in fists and regaining control of herself. "I-I'm guessing you're the new student," she says, face red, "Uchiha Itachi."
Itachi nods, donning the appropriate measure of courtesy. "Yes."
"Well! Then take a seat over there!" Kurenai points aimlessly.
Smiling briefly, Itachi sweeps to the mean area of her directions.
"Oh," Kurenai looks back towards him, "you wouldn't happen to know about our other newcomer today? His name's Sasor--"
"Present, Sensei." A quiet figure slips through open doorway. Red hair sparks from his scalp, but his expression is dull and detached. He scurries quickly to sit beside Itachi, and they nod to each other unobtrusively.
Kabuto turns in the direction of the new students, feinting scrutiny. But Itachi catches his gaze quickly. Feeling his throat constrict and color rising to his cheeks, Kabuto's face falters, and he grunts to himself. Smirking, Itachi looks away, any sign of recognition soon void.