A Ninja's Guide to Surviving High School
By: JAJapster
Copyright Notice: Ninja Guide is mine but Naruto isn't. 'Fo rzzle.
Summary: AU- High school is tough, but it gets a lot tougher when a demonic fox lives inside you and all your friends are ninjas. It's a world of angst, rivalries, friendships and romance inside the halls of Konoha High, but outside, trouble is brewing. A dangerous world awaits a new generation of ninjas after graduation…assuming they all don't kill each other first.
Chapter Thirty Eight: Suspicions
Tsunade had always been good at analyzing her student's faces, unearthing whatever subtle emotions they were feeling no matter how well they attempted to disguise them. As a young girl she always knew when her friends were sad, angry; she knew when they were hiding a secret about a crush on a boy or when they were lying to protect Tsunade's feelings. It was all about reactions and the glaring messages that even the most subliminal facial gestures gave off. Three years as an instructor at Konoha High, and then another two as headmaster of the academy had placed her in a plethora of situations which pitted her face to face with her students, and these years of experiencing dealing with chronic liars and sneaky cheaters helped hone these already innate abilities. She was so good, in fact, that she could give most of her specialized interrogators a run for their money.
For instance, right now, she knew Uchiha Sasuke was angry. Well, perhaps angry was not the right word. Resentful perhaps, though he hid it quite well. The way he held himself, standing relaxed in front of her large, wooden desk suggested nothing other than that he was politely indifferent to her presence. That was what he wanted people to think –that was he cold hearted Uchiha Sasuke, immune to emotions and uncaring about anything. But no matter how hard he tried, Tsunade could see the irritation broiling beneath those onyx eyes of his, as if this meeting with the Hokage of the entire village was boring him.
"I've spoken with your teachers, Sasuke." Tsunade said. "And though we frown upon your truancy, we also have taken into consideration your stellar academic performance as well as these recent incidents concerning Itachi…"
She had used Itachi's name on purpose, just to see if it elicited some sort of reaction in the younger man. Tsunade smiled. It did. For the barest fraction of a second, Sasuke looked furious, as if though Tsunade was invading on something private to him. It only lasted a moment; the next Sasuke looked as uninterested as normal, but Tsunade knew she had not imagined his brief anger.
"Conclusively, we're willing to excuse your extended absence from class, but only if you complete the work you missed as well as take your final exams on time." Tsunade finished.
Sasuke nodded stiffly and picked up the large pile of papers sitting on Tsunade's desk.
Tsunade eyed her pupil critically. Something had changed about Sasuke. He had always been a quiet, angry boy the day he walked through the doors of Konoha High shortly after his parent's murder, but now something was different. His meeting with Itachi played a significant part in it –it had unhinged the normally confident Sasuke –but there was something else that Tsunade could not pin point. Sasuke was hiding something from Tsunade, but that was the most the Hokage could discern.
What do you not want to tell me? Tsunade wondered. There was one thing she was certain of. Sasuke had not spent the last few weeks sitting in a dark corner pouting. He had some sort of agenda in mind, one which undoubtedly was related with his older brother, and subsequently incredibly dangerous, stupid, and warranted stopping as soon as Tsunade found out what it was.
"Is everything, OK?" Tsunade asked. "This isn't like you, Sasuke, to miss school."
Sasuke shrugged. "I've been busy."
"But not too busy to help Naruto last night." The Hokage observed shrewdly.
The Uchiha tried not to look surprised that the Hokage had known. Tsunade knew the kids had been careful to hide their tracks, and while their rescue of their loud mouthed comrade had managed to go unnoticed by local authorities, very little escaped Tsunade's attention. It was her job to know what every ninja in the village was up to, and Naruto was certainly high on her priority list of people to keep an eye on. The riot had gotten ugly last night, but it was something that the kids could take care of. Tsunade had been confident of that when she released Naruto, and last night had only confirmed how dedicated, talented, and loyal her students really were.
"I just happened to be passing by," Sasuke muttered.
"Right." Tsunade said simply with a smile. "That is all. You may be excused. I'll be expecting you back in class tomorrow morning."
"Thanks," Sasuke said. He turned and left the office, feeling the burrowing glare of the Hokage on his back as he walked to the door.
On the way out of the office, at the top of the winding stair steps leading back toward the rest of the academy, Sasuke ran into Neji. He nodded at the Hyuga with the intent of passing by and going about his way, but Neji did not move out of Sasuke's path.
"Excuse me," Sasuke growled irritably.
Neji looked at Sasuke, his pearl colored eyes unblinking as he studied Sasuke not unlike Tsunade had earlier in her office. Resting his hands on his hips, he said, "You may have the rest fooled, Sasuke, but I know better."
"What?" The Uchiha snarled.
Neji's serene expression did not change, regardless of the deathly glare Sasuke had directed at him. Calmly, he continued, "You may have Sakura thinking you're some kind of reformed saint, but I know you did not come to help Naruto out of selfless motives."
Sasuke snorted. "What's your deal, Neji? I've never had a problem with you."
Which was not really true at all. Everyone knew that the rivalry between Neji and Sasuke was no less intense than the antagonism Sasuke shared with Naruto. Even if they were two of the smartest, coolest, best looking, most talented boys in all of Konoha and automatically subject to comparison, Neji was a Hyuga and Sasuke was an Uchiha. Rival families with rival blood limits. The Sharingan versus the Byagukan –for generations their ancestors had longed to fight to claim clan and blood limit superiority. Sasuke and Neji were just the latest generation, and subsequently, had inherited the ancient rivalry between their two families.
They might be allies of Konoha, and they had even worked together in Kakami, but at heart, the rivalry would never die.
"But I have a problem with you," Neji said. "You're a liar, Uchiha Sasuke, and I think it's only fair that everyone should know that."
"I'm a liar?" asked Sasuke incredulously. "For helping you guys when I should have minded my own business, you arrogant asshole?"
"I know you did not help us out of the goodness of your heart or because you thought Naruto was a friend worth protecting," Neji replied, unfazed by Sasuke's anger. "That was why we were there, but not you."
"So why was I there then? Huh?"
"I'm not sure. Why don't you tell me?" Neji asked. "Why would the cold, unfeeling, friendless Uchiha Sasuke suddenly turn around and help a classmate?"
The long haired Hyuga tapped his chin thoughtfully. "To impress Sakura? Or was it to impress an idea on all of us? That you were no longer the pretentious asshole you've always been? What was it, Sasuke? An enlightening epiphany? An angel from heaven?"
"I don't have to explain anything to you, Neji."
Neji smiled. "You're scum, Sasuke."
Sasuke tossed the papers on the ground and clenched his fists together. "One more word out of you, Neji –"
Neji's smile never wavered, his icy, cold eyes never blinking. "Bring it, Sasuke. I'm not afraid of you."
Sasuke actually thought about throwing a punch right then and there. Both were equally talented in hand to hand martial arts as well as chakra based skills. Neji was faster and more precise, but Sasuke had the advantage of agility and foresight with his Sharingan. All things considered, both boys were evenly matched, not only in raw talent, but also in intellect. Fighting Hyuga Neji, even for a prodigy child like Sasuke, would not be an easy task and not one he would blindly walk into.
"Boys?" Tsunade said, peeking her head out of her office doors. "Is everything alright?"
"Fine." Sasuke said, picking up his scattered papers. He stormed past Neji, shoulder checking the Hyuga as he passed.
"One of these days we'll settle this," Sasuke snarled in Neji's ear.
"One of these days," Neji assured him. "I'll be keeping an eye on you."
Sasuke did not look back, but he was certain Neji and Tsunade were watching him as he descended down the stairs. At the bottom, he paused and looked up the spiraling staircase. Both were gone from sight. Only then, when he was certain that no one else was spying on him, did he slowly exhale and allow himself to relax.
It was rare for something to bother Sasuke; to allow anyone to agitate him or otherwise disturb his otherwise neutral personality was usually reserved solely for Itachi. But Neji's accusations annoyed him enough for him to scowl at the memory of the Hyuga accosting him minutes earlier. Sasuke had swallowed his pride and risked tarnishing his reputation by helping Sasuke, and now Neji was calling him a liar. But for what reason?
The simplest explanation was that Neji felt threatened. While he was gone, Sasuke imagined Neji had been making the most of his rival's absence by attempting to enlarge his sphere of influence over the school community, cementing himself firmly as Konoha High's number one pupil. That all changed, however, with Sasuke returning after his long absence, and maybe this was just Neji's way of telling Sasuke he was not happy about it. Not happy at all.
But no, that explanation was far too simple. As much as Sasuke was beginning to dislike Neji, he had to respect the other boy's many talents. Neji was too smart to resort to such aggressive behavior for such a trivial, immature reason as school popularity. In fact, Sasuke imagined Neji found the entire popularity contest as tiresome as he did. No, Neji had a genuine reason to be hostile towards Sasuke.
Neji had said he was going to keep an eye on Sasuke, but it was Sasuke who was going to have to keep an eye on Neji.
What do you think you know, Neji? Sasuke wondered.
Sasuke was still fuming when he arrived home at his estate. Angrily, he kicked open the front gate and stormed off into the towering, stone mansion that had housed the Uchiha clan for centuries.
Despite being the sole occupant, the large mansion was still in relatively good care; Sasuke had seen to that. Despite being incredibly busy between his training and school work, Sasuke had always made sure that he took the time to keep the Uchiha estate in good condition. He could have hired gardeners to maintain the estate's sprawling gardens or maids to clean the countless rooms in the Uchiha mansion; after all money was no issue for a boy who had inherited enough money to last him numerous lifetimes. However, Sasuke had always elected not to, and instead invested one day a week to dusting and tending to the garden. After all, the Uchiha estate was really the only part of his family that he still had. He had loved his mother and father, his uncles and aunts –all of whom had been murdered by Itachi –and he would honor them by keeping their home a place they would be proud to live.
Sasuke kicked off his shoes, ignoring the dirty snow that sprayed across the clean, wooden flooring, and plopped his papers down on the dining table. He looked about the expansive dining room, and sighed. It was at times like these did he realize just how very much alone he was. The Uchiha estate was designed to house the entire Uchiha clan –at least twelve families and their servants. It was far too large for only one person to live in. Sasuke seldom ever bothered to explore beyond the first floor, and spent whatever little time he was at home between his bedroom and living room.
It was quiet. Sasuke remembered as a child how Itachi and all his cousins had raced at dinner time to see who could secure a seat closest to the head of the table because everyone knew the head of the table was always served their meals first. Itachi had always won of course; even as a child he had been stronger and faster than even Sasuke's older cousins.
Sasuke had always tried to beat Itachi, but to no avail. He would purposely position himself as close to the dining room before dinner was called, but no matter how much planning he put into it, Itachi always managed to beat him.
"How do you always manage to beat me, big brother?" Sasuke asked before dinner one night.
"Because I'm faster than you." Itachi replied with a grin.
"Then how about Toji? He's the fastest runner in the family."
"I'm stronger than he is," Said Itachi.
"Then how can you beat Madara?" wailed Sasuke. "He's the strongest of any of us!"
"That big lout?" laughed Itachi. He tapped his forehead. "I'm smarter than he is."
Sasuke frowned, unsatisfied by Itachi's answers. "It's not fair, big brother."
Itachi smiled and kneeled down in front of Sasuke. "One day, Sasuke, when you grow up, you'll be faster, stronger, maybe even smarter than me."
"Really?" Sasuke asked, surprised. Itachi was the most talented ninja the Uchiha family had ever seen, surpassing even the prodigious Madara that had only years ago been the Uchiha clan's golden child. Everyone said Itachi was destined for great things, but Itachi was saying he would be even better!
"Really." Itachi said. "I'll teach you."
"You're gonna teach me, big brother?" Sasuke looked at him shrewdly. "Promise?'
Itachi held out his index finger and gently poked Sasuke in the forehead. "I promise."
They had sat down to dinner that night. Itachi of course was sitting at the head of the table, beside their father. Their father had always been so proud to see Itachi sitting there. He had never said it, but Sasuke could see the pride in his eyes when he looked upon his favorite son.
You were always so proud of him, father. Sasuke thought bitterly. Everyone was proud of Itachi. He was the one who was supposed to show all of Konoha that the Uchiha family was the most powerful clan in Fire Country, or at least stronger than their arch-rivals, the Hyugas. Instead, six months later, Itachi had murdered his entire clan and become the target of every ANBU agent in the entire country.
He sat down at the table, two seats away from the head of the table. Sasuke was the head of the Uchiha clan now, but he would never take the seat reserved for his father. And the seat beside the head of the table…that was Itachi's. Sasuke would not deserve to sit there until he had earned the right to do so. And the only way he would be able to do that would be to kill Itachi.
One day. Even it took him his entire life, one day he would have his revenge. For a father who ignored him, for a clan that overlooked him, for a mother who loved him not for being Itachi's little brother, but for being who he was, Uchiha Sasuke.
"I was wondering how long it would take you to return home," said a voice from behind him.
Involuntarily, Sasuke drew a kunai from his thigh holsters and whirled around. Standing behind him was a young man with white hair, clad in a purple tunic and pants. He looked at Sasuke curiously through large, round spectacles, analyzing him as if he was looking at a specimen under a microscope.
"Kabuto." Sasuke said, lowering his kunai. "Ever heard of using the door bell?'
Kabuto shrugged. "It's been a while since we've last talked. I trust you've given some thought to my offer?"
Sasuke frowned. "If I knew exactly what your offer was, then I might be inclined to give you an answer."
The white-haired medical ninja laughed. "It's like I told you –I know what you're up to, and I know you have no hope of accomplishing it on your own."
Sasuke glared at Kabuto. "And it's like I told you before, that's none of your business."
"I found you in the mountains two weeks ago; training and training for a battle you do not have a prayer of winning." Kabuto pointed out. "All I offer is my assistance."
"You're going to train me?" Sasuke snorted. "No offense. But if I wanted to learn how to perform open heart surgery, then I would accept your offer."
"I provide more than just medical expertise." Kabuto said.
"What? Some sort of potion? Gene enhancement technology?" Sasuke asked. "Sorry, but I've seen what happens when those things go bad. People end up dying, and incase I'm mistaken, superhuman enhancement experiments are punishable by death."
Kabuto sighed. "Sasuke, I thought you were smarter than that. Of course it isn't a potion or gene manipulation. I may be a man of science, Sasuke, so rest assured I am not a fool."
"Then I do not see what you can offer me," Sasuke said with an air of finality in his voice.
"I know people, Sasuke. Powerful people who would be glad to help you on your quest."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"There are people out there who have committed their life to discovering power," Kabuto explained. "Power greater than anyone, even you, even Itachi, can begin to imagine."
"And you've found such a man?" Sasuke asked in disbelief.
"Indeed."
"Bullshit."
Kabuto smiled. "Many a fool has spent his life doubting the words of wise men. But, if you are content to living a life of complacent solitude," he waved his arm about the empty mansion. "Then so be it. Live content with the knowledge that you will always be inferior, not only to your brother, but also to your friend, Naruto."
"Shut up!" snarled Sasuke. "Don't say anything about Naruto!"
"Because it's true?" Kabuto taunted. "He is strong enough to defeat Itachi, but you, Sasuke, would not stand a chance."
"That's not true!"
"I can help you become more powerful, more powerful than even the demon powers Naruto controls. What do you have to lose by trusting me, Sasuke?" Kabuto asked.
Sasuke lowered Kabuto and stepped back, glaring at the medic suspiciously. As much as he hated to admit it, Kabuto was right. He was not going to become strong enough to kill Itachi on his own. He needed help. Kabuto was a renowned doctor around the village, loved by all; surely a man he could trust. There was very little to lose by trusting Kabuto; if worst came to worst, he could always walk away.
"What's in it for you, Kabuto?" Sasuke asked warily. "Why do you want to help me?"
"All will be explained in time, Sasuke." Kabuto said simply. "You can question me all you wish, and I guarantee you with your attitude of skepticism, I shall never convince you that my motives are pure and my intentions are only to help you. All I can ask you is for a little bit of faith."
Kabuto stepped behind Sasuke and gently placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Will you trust me, Sasuke?"
Sasuke did not answer right away, lost in his thoughts.
"You really gonna teach me to be as strong as you, big brother?" Sasuke asked.
"Sure, Sasuke." Itachi replied. "One of these days, you'll be even better than me."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
Slowly, Uchiha Sasuke turned around and looked at Kabuto in the eye. "Tell me more."
Author's Notes:
And so I'm back! Glad to be back and writing again, and let me tell you, after reading the translations (or potential translations –don't know if they're real or not) of the next chapter of the Naruto manga, the story is starting to get interesting again, FINALLY. I'm sorry, but seeing one LONG battle after the other without any effort to flesh our characters just does not cut it for me. In it, we find out whether or Naruto is really the Yondaime's son, and more! It's great stuff!
And yes I purposely left last chapter's cliff hanger unresolved. 'Cause I'm evil that way. And I want you to come back and read NEXT chapter which might/might not resolve the cliff hanger.
Thanks again for your support guys. Hope I didn't lose too many of you. Be sure to review!