Chapter 7 - Black Dogs guide to getting guys!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Boarding School Juliet

Author's Note:

Names convention

People from Touwa and Naruto:-

Lastname Firstname

Example:- Inuzuka Romio

People from the West Duchy:-

Firstname Lastname

Example:- Juliet Persia

In the Black Dogs dorm library

Komai Hasuki was a diligent student, the smartest of the bunch you could say out of all the Black Dogs. Give her a problem and she'd either solve it or prove it couldn't be solved. Being a top scorer in every test until then, it was kind of understandable that it miffed her that tests themselves were canceled.

"Uzumaki," she growled out the name, grinding her teeth as she picked out the books from the shelves. Frowning at her lackluster selection she clicked her tongue and shoved them back in.

Inuzuka had no more reason to seek her out. The very thing that birthed their friendship no longer existed.

What use was she now?

She couldn't be his girlfriend.

She couldn't be his tutor.

And she couldn't even be the one he confided in.

She scowled.

A White Cat had to tell her that the Uzumaki knew Inuzuka's secret.

Oh, she was sure that Inuzuka had the best of intentions. Probably didn't want her dragged into his mess. She frowned as she left her present aisle and made her way to another. But it still stung.

"Damn you, Uzumaki," she found herself saying as she crossed her hands and gripped her fists, "make me more irrelevant, why don't you." Her eyes fell upon more rows of books as she sought out their titles.

Seriously, what the heck did she even have now? What could she call hers?

Her test scores? Well, they were just memories now.

She helped out the other Black Dogs… they loved her for that. Did that count as hers?

She wanted, and still wants, Inuzuka to be hers. Hasuki bit her lip as her heart started aching. She couldn't even wish for his relationship with Persia to end. She barked a humorless laugh and shook her head.

She could never wish sadness upon him.

Not even if it made her insides throb with agony and jealousy.

Inuzuka-kun was her best friend.

How could Hasuki be happy if Inuzuka-kun wasn't?

Hasuki glared at the bookshelves, her finger gliding over the hardbacks.

Persia would have it coming if she dared make Inuzuka-kun cry.

Hasuki chuckled. The big baby cried rather easily after all.

Her finger stopped over the hardcover of a book which'd seen better days. The binding's thread splayed out, with the pages seemingly worn with age.

She read the title out loud, "Black Dogs guide to getting guys! - 100% idiot proofed! - by Chiwa and Turkish!"

She cracked a grin at the title and opened the first page. It read-

'I had nothing to do with this -Turkish.

'What do you mean? You're the idiot I'm talking about :P -Chiwa.

'…were you not my girlfriend you would find yourself at the end of my blade. So exasperating -Turkish.

'Whip it out, big boy! Let's see what you're packing! XD -Chiwa.

'Oh. My. God. I don't know you. Please don't associate with me anymore. -Turkish.

'Ya know you love me! :) (hugs) -Chiwa.

'…(not blushing) -Turkish.'

Hasuki giggled at how adorable they sounded and took the book over to a desk. Sitting down, she began reading it in earnest, flipping through the yellowed pages.

Her lips curled up with resolution as a spark lit in her eyes.

So the Uzumaki liked taking what was hers huh?

Well then, she'd just have to take him instead. And make a nice Uzumaki stew out of him. Would be nice for a change. Let him stew over her and see how he liked it…

The Princess' words came to her unbidden.

"Seal his lips with yours!"

Hasuki palmed her face as a blush threatened to invade her cheeks. She grumbled under her breath. That Princess had way too much time on her hands.

"…wow, I expected more resistance."

What? Who else could she trust other than herself? Someone had to get close to the blond. And Inuzuka-kun seemed more concerned with making moony eyes at Persia than looking after his own butt.

And the Princess?

…the less said about her the better.

"First, you gotta find what makes him tick. And then voila! You say jump and he'll ask how many times! Haah, it's cute when they resist at first."

Seriously, she was doing the Uzumaki a favor by volunteering herself.

"The trick is to make them like it. After that, they'll be hanging on to your words like they were divine commandments. It's a cinch when they start kissing your feet and calling you mistress. Hehehe."

Aaand that was when she decided that girl talk with the Princess probably wasn't a good idea. Not unless she wanted to make a masochist out of the Uzumaki.

He was kinda funny just the way he was.

"Are you an angel? 'Cause you musta fell from heaven."

…kinda cute too.

She blinked. Why did she start hearing his voice?

"If I can make you smile, even just a tiny bit, it makes my entire day."

Hasuki coughed lightly and glared down at the book. He said that to everyone, and only to the White Cats… Not like he peeked a glance at her when he said that or anything…

Hasuki palmed her face and a low whine came off her. Blood gushed up the freeway known as her face, lighting the skin pink.

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki, I'm new around here."

No. No. No. No.

"And I know we just met and this may sound crazy."

Shut up. Shut up. Shut up.

"But marry me maybe?"

"Aaaah!"

Hasuki slammed her head against the desk with a loud thud. Blushing in full force. "Damn you, Uzumaki!" She dug her head into the wood, scowling.

You do not propose to a girl and expect her heart to sit still.

Hasuki growled.

She wanted her still heart back, thank you!

She was just doing this for Inuzuka-kun!

Embarrassed, and hoping to clear her thoughts, she twisted her head up and started reading the first chapter of the book.

'Chiwa's step 1: You gotta be honest with your feelings!'

Hasuki's eyes widened, and her heart, to her dismay, started beating faster.

"Aaaaah!"

She screamed, cupping her face into her palms.

Screw that Uzumaki for making her emotions go haywire!

"Oh my god, would you shut up! This is a library!" said a group of students sending her angry frowns.

Hasuki gave them a nod in apology and continued losing her mind under her breath.

Her eyes narrowed resolutely.

That bastard thought he could do this to her and get away with it?

She'd have him pining after her by the end of the month!

…of course, she was just doing this to protect Inuzuka-kun.

She grinned to herself.

It totally made sense.

Her grin wavered.

Right?

Kurama's domain

Kurama stared down at the child running her hand over his tails. He stared at his idiot of a container. He stared back at the girl who started rubbing her face against his tails with shy giggles. He stared at his nincompoop of a container.

All in all, Kurama could just stare in amazement.

Naruto gave him an embarrassed smile, rubbing the back of his head.

Slapping his face, Kurama dragged his palm down his maw. Ladies and gentlemen, the first among idiots, Uzumaki Naruto.

"So fluffy!" Teria squealed and threw herself into a cushion of his tails. Hugging them with a happy smile.

Kurama glowered. When did he go from a natural disaster to a plushie?

He turned his miffed eyes to his container. Who winced under the judging stare.

"Really?" said the tailed beast.

"W-What?" said his idiot. "I-I thought you'd like to make a friend?" The idiot said it like he was unsure himself.

"Really?" said the beast, not acknowledging his container. "She finds out our secret and you bring her straight to the source?"

"You're a secret?" said the girl, poking her head out of the red tails. She smiled, "you're a pretty fascinating secret." She stared up at the tailed beast without a hint of fear.

Kurama glowered at the look of awe being sent his way. He missed being the terror of the nights, and the father of nightmares. Maybe he should eat the little human. Just to prove a point. He narrowed his eyes and gave the girl a devious grin.

He bent his giant head down and opened his jaw wide enough to cover her height.

Naruto's eyes shot wide open, having seen the glint in the beast's eye. He ran forward, his arm outstretched.

If the beast expected the girl to shriek in fright, he was sorely disappointed.

With no sense of self-preservation, Teria poked her head into his open jaws, and said with her hands cupped around her mouth, "hello!"

Her voice echoed back at her.

"Hello… hello… hello…"

"That's a deep mouth," she said absent-mindedly, knocking her fist against the fox's teeth. "How do you support all that weight?"

Naruto gave up on understanding her and lied down for a nap. Deciding that his partner could deal with her. The beast could use someone to yap at other than him.

The Kyuubi drew back sharply. Glaring at the small human. "You calling me fat?!"

Teria sat down on one of his tails. "Not really, you're an adorable bunny." She giggled, hiding her mouth behind her sleeves. "What a strange dream," she said to herself gazing at the sewer's plumbing.

"I'm a fox. Not a rabbit."

Teria froze. "W-W-What?" she said, quivers entering her bones.

"Yeah? Can't you see my snout?" Kurama turned to give her a good view. "Beautiful, innit?"

"Y-Y-You're a dog?" she said, slowing inching towards the snoozing blond.

Kurama smelled the fear off her, and his lips twisted up into a wicked grin. Now that's more like it. "Yeah, dog's are my dumb cousins." He hunched down on all fours, and started circling the now shaking girl, cutting her away from his container. He prowled around her, seeing every inch of her terror.

The beast barked out a malicious laugh, as she crouched on the floor and huddled into herself, warding him off with her hands.

Kurama drew nearer and nearer with each circle. He smirked. How fitting. For a child of man to be cowering before him.

He was the nine tailed fox.

He was a demon.

An abomination born out of a cursed tree.

He should be respected.

Feared.

Reviled.

Did centuries of contempt for a species as pathetic as humans wash away just because he made peace with one of them?

Not a chance.

They trapped him the death god's stomach for Sage's sake.

One doesn't forget being in the belly of a deity.

He looked down at the girl with contempt as she began hiccuping.

What would she do when she grew up? Probably suck the life of the planet. Just another parasite.

Them and their stupid wars. Them and their stupid lies.

Round and round, like their merry-go-round.

This girl was smart. She found him out.

Left alone, she would have made weapons for money. Or chemicals to kill. And oh no, she'd kill the crops and trees as well. It was strategy after all.

Kill. Murder. Genocide.

Kurama sneered.

He'd seen it all.

And now having found a source of power far greater than anything she'd ever know…

What would she do now?

He wanted the answer.

Training his senses on her negative emotions he crouched on all fours, bending forward.

He asked her.

"Why did you seek out Uzumaki Naruto."

Teria looked back with frightened eyes. Her mouth sewn shut.

Kurama growled. He plodded over to the blond who was still asleep. He ground out, raising a fist over him.

"Tell me, or I'll smash him to paste."

"N-No! Don't hurt him!" Teria took shuddering breaths as she tried to calm herself. "I-I want to know more about the red energy."

"What will you do with it?"

"I don't know what it can do yet. But…" the girl frowned, "it can generate a strong pull, if I can make a generator out of that…"

Kurama gave her a sardonic smile.

"We can sell it to the highest bidder right?"

Teria looked back with confusion.

"W-What?"

The Kyuubi grinned.

"I'll tell you a little secret. With the red energy, all your loved ones can be protected." His tails lazily waved in the air. "Nothing of consequence shall touch them."

"R-Really?" The girl gained some cheer, looking hopeful.

The beast gleefully crushed that hope.

"Who can harm you when all your enemies are dead." The nine tails laughed. "Shall we do it?" He gave her a penetrating stare. "We can blast the West Duchy to smithereens. They'll never threaten your home again."

The girl had horror written all over her face. Her face pinched in and she mustered a cutting glare at the beast.

"Y-You're horrible!" She gripped her fists at her sides. "You take something amazing and pervert it! That's just awful."

"I learned from the best," said Kurama, rolling his eyes. "What will you make out of it?"

"I-I don't know-"

"Just use your imagination."

"Oh," Teria furrowed her brow, "flying cars? Hover boards?" She pursed her lips, "maybe it can act as an invisible prosthetic?" She glanced at the Uzumaki, who had yet to open his eyes, "a-and given Uzumaki-kun's stamina… maybe it has biological applications as well? …drive insurance down." She gave the beast a shrug, "we can grow bigger and healthier trees?"

"What will you do if your creations are stolen and used in service of death bringing?"

"You're extrapolating-"

"What. Will. You. Do." The beast interrupted her with a hard glare.

The girl stared down at the sewer waters with a frown. Before she looked back at the beast with steel in her eyes. With not a quiver in her voice, she said.

"I'll take full responsibility."

Kurama's eyes sharpened. There! That was what he was looking for. Grinning with malice, he focused all his senses at the girl's negativity, hoping to find the grains of lies.

.

.

.

Teria shifted uncomfortably, rubbing her ankle with her foot. The fox staring at her with an evil smile was beginning to get awkward. She said, "I said I'd take full resp-"

"Yeah, yeah. Just shut up for a moment," said Kurama, his stare becoming more confused by the moment. Where the heck were the specks of dishonesty? "Okay, just to be clear, what do you mean by taking responsibility?"

Teria gained her determined look again, "I won't sit idle when something I made will be use-"

"Yeah, okay," said Kurama, waving her off. Horror slowly dawning on his face. He mentally yelped. Oh shit.

He sat down on the ground, put his head on the floor, and covered his snout with his hands. He began grumbling miserably, shaking his head in disbelief. His ears flopped down.

Small hands prodded at his paws. "A-Are you okay, d-doggy?"

Kurama began crying with despair.

Why?

Just why did he have to meet another genuine idiot?

Now who would be his chew toy? He had to be her friend now.

Sage dammit, he just wanted to flex his power. Was that too much to ask?

He turned his giant eye to the girl, standing near his paws and still shivering, and giving him a concerned frown. Kurama groaned, dear Sage he was threatening her and she was worried about him. He turned his head to her with a glare, wanting to make one thing perfectly clear.

"Little human," he growled out. She jerked to attention looking at him with wide eyes, "afraid of dogs are you?"

She gulped in response and looked ready to take flight at the slightest provocation.

Kurama sighed, as he felt his scare factor evaporate at his next words, "I'm a bunny." His ears rose and moved from side to side. "I was just messing with you." Kurama looked pained. "And, uh… sorry." The beast glowered at the floor. Oh Sage he was becoming a wuss.

A girl shaped bundle immediately dove into his fur. "That wasn't very funny, Mr. Bunny." Came her muffled voice. The fur came off wet where she'd rubbed her face against it.

Kurama winced at the wimpy name. Oh Sage, what did he just do. At least there was no way his siblings would ever know of this.

Snort.

The beast's eyes snapped to the source of that exhale.

A blond ninja gave him an amused grin, staring at him with a mischievous smile. He said, "aww, did the big scawy nine-tails make a widdle friend?" He clasped his hands and asked with an earnest face and shining eyes. "Can I be your friend too, bunny wunny?"

Teria lifted her head and said, "can he, Mr. Bunny. Can he?" An excited gleam in her eyes. "We can be the bunny bunch!"

Naruto parroted her, "can I, Mr. Bunny. Can I?" A face splitting grin on him as he quivered with suppressed laughter.

Eyes twitching, the beast swore to get back at his container. He then released some of his chakra a fair distance away and said, "little human, what's that over there?" He pointed with his finger.

Teria looked where he was pointing and gasped, seeing a floating blob of the nine-tails' chakra. "I-I'll be right back!" she said as she scampered away with an excited face.

Kurama scowled at his container. "You're an asshole, you know?" He flicked the ninja with his finger, making him yelp and crash into the ground. "Making me do your dirty work," bit out the beast.

Rubbing his head with a wince and sitting up, Naruto said, "sorry. But it's your chakra she found out, not mine." He shrugged. "Figured it's your decision whether to trust her." He grinned. "Ain't that right, Mr. Bunny?"

Mr. Bunny growled.

Naruto continued, "also… she's kinda scary." He said, looking at Teria observing the red chakra with a clinical gaze and noting things down with a pen on her palm. "Remember that thing calling out to your chakra?" The beast nodded. "Turns out she can make tracking bullets out of them." Naruto shuddered, "she has other crazy ideas as well."

Kurama's brow furrowed. "She can kill you if she catches you unawares?"

"Yup," said Naruto, jumping to his feet. He lifted his shirt to show a thin rubber vest, "she gave me this to wear, it insulates your chakra or something." He grinned. "She's a good kid, even if she's scary."

The two of them stared at the girl in silence, watching her work.

"You gonna tell her your name?" said Naruto.

The nine-tails shrugged.

Naruto grinned. "Maybe she'll call you Ku-chan?" He started towards the girl in a merry jaunt. "I'll be right back."

Kurama growled. "I will end you."

Naruto cupped his hands around his mouth. "Oh, Teria-chan~"

Kurama roared and began charging a bijuu-dama.

Much scuffling and roughhousing later, Teria scolded Ku-chan and Uzumaki-kun for wasteful use of their chakra.

A bruised Naruto beamed at her throughout the lecture, elbowing the beast's paw whenever she called him Ku-chan.

A ruffled Kurama covered his face and whined pitifully whenever she called him Ku-chan.

The wagging tails behind him were another matter however.

Kurama swore they had a mind of their own.

Black Dogs guide to getting guys!

Huddling behind a tree, and peeking a glance at her prey, Hasuki observed the Uzumaki seated lazily on the park bench and yawning. His knees folded over the other and his hands behind his head, the smiling Uzumaki made small talk with the elementary kids as they played around him.

Some wanted him to jump on their sand castles, and others wanted him to be the cheating wife in their house play.

She observed with surprise that the kids were a mix of both Black Dogs and White Cats.

Hasuki glanced down at her book.

'Chiwa's Step 2: First things first. Congratulations on admitting that you're head over heels for the boy you're after! You pass Step 1 with flying colors!'

Hasuki bit her lip and grumbled with pink cheeks. She just wanted to seal his lips.

…and no. Not in that way!

She shut her eyes and shook her head hard. Having sufficiently untangled herself from that line of thinking, she continued reading.

'I bet you want to capture his lips now don't you ;). We'll get there don't worry!'

Hasuki gave up on putting a toll gate before her face's arteries.

'Now, you gotta approach him! Don't worry about embarrassing yourself, the important thing is even if you mess up he'll notice you. And that's a start!

'Note: This is not advice to become a stalker -Turkish.

'Hey, stop writing over my tips! -Chiwa.'

Shutting the book, Hasuki took a deep breath and smiled, pouring all her emotions for the blond into it.

It looked like a slasher's grin.

With a skip in her beat she sauntered towards the gaggle of kids and the teenager.

Feeling the menacing aura rolling off the girl, the kids all stiffened and shot her wary looks. Stopping their play, they all crouched before the Uzumaki in two lines leading up to him, and shoved lollipops into their mouths and wore shades before their eyes. They all pouted like hardened delinquents.

Ignoring the weird kids, Hasuki began, beaming at the whiskered blond who was holding his stomach and chuckling. "Hi there! Nice weather-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," said a Black Dog kid, giving her a skeptical frown. "Who's da hoe?"

A White Cat girl gave Hasuki an unimpressed scoff and said, "you think you can just approach gang-leader? You new to town, chica?" She put her hand forward expectantly, "pay up the tribute!"

"Tribute?" Hasuki blinked at her. "What tribute?" She gave the Uzumaki a disbelieving stare. Did he make a gang out of little kids? "Uzumaki…-kun, what are they talking about?" She added the honorific as an afterthought. Might as well make him feel special.

Two Black Dogs kids, a boy and a girl, sitting on either side of the Uzumaki on the bench started speaking between themselves.

"Wow, look at that, Kai. She doesn't even know aniki is the King of the block."

Kai snickered. "Don't be too hard on her, Kuri. Not all old people are as smart as aniki." He shook his head at Hasuki, "all those wrinkles makes them dumb."

Kai and Kuri laughed at the high-schooler.

The high-schooler glared, "what wrinkles you brats?" She swept her gaze over all of them, "just what the heck is going on?"

Kai and Kuri grinned. Kuri said, "I'm glad you asked! Kai! Let's take it from the top!"

Nodding with a smile, Kai began, "a long time ago, in a playground far far away-"

Kuri joined in, "the rebel dogs were fighting a losing war against the imperial cats. With every battle lost, more and more toys were forfeit-"

"But then, out of nowhere, came a shining star from the unknown reaches of the park, offering his help in retaking the jungle gym-"

"The doggies didn't trust the newbie, a wolf in sheep's clothing is what they thought-"

"So he won their hearts by giving them what they always wished for but never thought could really happen."

Kai and Kuri spoke together in a reverent tone giving the Uzumaki looks of awe, "he freed them from exams!" They dove into his sides and hugged him with squeals, making the ninja smile.

All the kids became teary eyed at that and raised their lollipops in a toast to their gang-leader.

Hasuki grumbled at the reminder.

Kai continued, "after that, the imperial cats wanted aniki for themselves, offering up all the conquered toys-"

Kuri continued, "but aniki was having none of it. So he challenged the cats to an all or nothing, high stakes game of laser tag for the turf-"

The White Cats kids began speaking. Some of them sniffing with tears as they gave the Uzumaki, who was scratching his cheek in embarrassment, looks of respect.

"It was over in seconds."

"You're amazing, gang-leader!"

A White Cat girl began bawling.

"He gave all our toys back even after he rightfully won them! I love you, boss!"

Kuri continued, "and there was peace forever!"

Kai finished, "the end!"

The brother and sister high-fived and giggled as the Uzumaki ruffled their hair.

Hasuki gave them all disbelieving looks, blinking her eyes and shaking her head. She didn't remember elementary school being that… intense.

Sending a grin her way, Naruto said, "so Komai-san, what brings you to my turf?" He leaned forward with his hands clasped and looked at her with a twinkle in his eyes.

Running her fingers through her ponytail, Hasuki said, "umm, I was just passing by and saw you so-"

Naruto jerked back with shock, his eyes widening. "Aha! I knew it! She's a spy from the high-schoolers!" The kids gasped and shot up to their feet. "Get her, kids! Before she reports back to base!" The kids pulled out guns from behind their backs, removed the safety and took aim.

Hasuki gawked.

Naruto threw his hand forward, "fire!"

Hasuki shrieked, throwing her hands before her, covering herself.

Jets of water hit her as the kids unloaded their water guns on her with peals of laughter.

Hasuki shrieked louder as the cold water splashed her all over. Sending jolts of shock through her skin.

The first wave of attack subsided as the kids ran out of water and hurried to the nearby fountain for a refill.

Grimacing, Hasuki looked at the drops the dripped from her drenched uniform and hair. Then she found the handle of a water gun being offered to her, she looked up to see the whiskered blond grinning at her. Her eyes narrowed, make a joke of her will he? Well she'd turn the tables on him.

She gave him a bashful smile and put her hand on his cheek, her smile widened as he stiffened. "Aww, did you want to see me wet that badly, Uzumaki-kun?"

The blond's eyes widened and he sputtered as he began backing away, "w-what? N-No!" He shook his head rapidly, his breath becoming labored as the girl kept closing the distance between them. "J-Just wanted to p-play-"

The girl giggled. "You wanted to play with me? Rawr." She winked and made pawing motions at him with her hand. Giddiness filled her as she saw the boy blushing up a storm and stammer a response. His big eyes were focused on her and only her, sending a thrill through her whole body.

She grinned. This was fun.

The boy gulped as his back hit a tree and he ran out of ground behind him, only an advancing girl before him. If she started stroking his cheek, things would get very awkward for him. He stared mesmerized at her smiling and mischievous face. Just what the heck was happening? Oh Sage, she was really, really close.

And her clothes were sticking to her body, showing off her figure in explicit detail. He gulped, trying to keep his gaze focused on her eyes. Though looking a bit lower was quite tempting.

Naruto shivered. Crap.

He had to distract her!

"Look! Crossdressman!" He pointed behind her, pretending to look excited.

The girl didn't bat an eyelash. "Yeah, you do look good in a dress." She said, giving him a once over and grinning. "Crossdress-who? I only wanna crossdress you."

Well shit. Naruto laughed with embarrassment. He didn't know crossdressing was a turn on. Plan B then.

He careened his neck towards another direction. "Yo, hey wassup, Inuzuka? Ready for our rematch?" He said, punching a fist into his palm.

Hasuki's eyes widened and she jumped away from the Uzumaki like he were live wire. She whirled around, with a panicked face, "I-Inuzuka-kun! This isn't what it looks… like…" Her face blanked as she saw nobody there. She turned to the Uzumaki with flat eyes. "Really?"

Panting and regaining his bearings while squatting on the floor, Naruto frowned at her. "Look, I'm tired of cheating on little kids who're pretending to be my husbands!" he said with frazzled eyes. "I didn't want to see you w-wet or anything! Water guns were all I had!" He said, averting his gaze and shuddering. "J-Just play along for a while? I'll make it up to you!" He proffered her a water pistol.

Hasuki gave him a shark like grin and crouched before him with half-lidded eyes. "You can make it up to me now." She grabbed his hand and leaned closer.

Naruto yelped and fell on his butt. "S-Stop that!" he complained, with a sulking face.

Laughing, the girl took the water pistol. "Sure, I'll hold you to your promise." She then helped him to his feet, delighting in the skittish grasp with which he held her hand. She snickered. Good to know she had leverage on him.

"She's attacking the boss, get her!" the kids roared, coming back from their refill and charging at her with their guns at ready.

Naruto grabbed his own water gun, pointed it at the kids and said, "oh no! The pretty witch has charmed me with her beauty!" The kids yelped when he shot at them, making him snicker. "Save me, gang!"

The 'witch's' cheeks heated up at his comments.

Scowling at being so easy to rile up, Hasuki took out her frustration by splashing little kids with cold water.

As the game went on, Hasuki wondered how her day devolved into playing water tag with the elementary school children and her target.

She giggled as she watched Naruto get dog-piled by the kids while having water splashed at his face.

This was definitely not how she pictured things would go.

She smiled.

She didn't think she'd have this much fun.

"Oh god, not the face! Not the face!" Naruto cried from underneath the pile as the kids began slapping sense into their gang-leader.

She watched with a lop-sided grin. Maybe she should help the poor blond?

Hasuki laughed. Nah, she'd rather charm him again and see him slapped around.

"Oh, Uzumaki-kun~" She sang as she leisurely made her way towards him.

In the Prefects' room

"Your underclassman, he will be dealt with I presume?" said the Black Dogs head prefect, standing up from his desk, gathering his papers.

Rolling a pen between his fingers and reading the document before him, Cait waved him away, not bothering to look at him, "things are in motion. You needn't concern yourself."

"Good. I look forward to seeing less of him," said Airu, pushing his glasses up. "Enough troublemakers as it is," he said, shaking his head as he left the room, opening the door and closing it behind him.

Cait smirked and leaned back in his chair.

"Sorry, dear Airu. I'm afraid you'll be sorely disappointed."

Before the White Cats Dorm

He'd given it a week, staying away from the dorm and only sleeping in the woods or his study shack. Naruto let out an uneasy chuckle.

Rows of unhappy, angry White Cats greeted him.

He grimaced at their glares. Maybe he should've given it a month. He tried to find Persia and Scott among the crowd but couldn't see them anywhere.

The crowd started their jeers.

"Well, well, well. So the dog lover's back?"

"Where's your little doggy? Tired of her? Got a new one?"

"Give us your uniform, you're wearing the wrong colors."

Naruto scowled at them. Was this all it amounted to? Being related to a Touwan was enough to be condemned? Sage, he was happy it was him being ridiculed and not Persia.

His face hardened. This just motivated him even more.

He wouldn't let Persia face this shit.

The same bloody shit Vermie had to face.

So far, he was able to knock sense into the elementary kids. He rolled his neck, now time to do the same for the high-schoolers.

But first, he had to get it out of their heads that they could afford to lose him. It'd make his life much easier.

He began with a cocky grin.

"Ya want me to pack my bags, you tough guys and gals?"

The White Cats in the front sneered in response. But the ones at the back looked stricken, unsure whether to come to his aid or not. The ones in the middle couldn't care less and just stood around for the show.

Naruto continued. "You must love exams, huh?"

The White Cats frowned.

"Imagine what's gonna happen if I leave." Naruto's razor sharp grin washed over them. "The Principal loses his ace in the hole." He gave them a mocking laugh. "What do you think will greet you with a happy hug when that happens?"

The White Cats' mouths dropped in realization. They saw the blond before them with new eyes.

Naruto chuckled. "That's right. So get this through your thick skulls. You can't afford to-"

"Kitty! You're back!"

Naruto blanched, he turned his head sideways just in time to see a blond missile headed his way. Diving towards him and sailing through the air, the missile caught him around the stomach and crashed the both of them to the ground.

Straddling him, Somali laughed as she pinched his cheeks and made modern art of his face, with playful twists and turns of his skin. "Where were you, Kitty? Aby and I missed you!"

Through the pain of his cheeks being ripped apart, Naruto saw a red headed boy step closer and look down on him with a mocking smirk. "My, are those wedding bells I hear?"

Somali stopped messing with Naruto, turned to the other boy with a pout, and punched him in the gut, knocking out his breath out and doubling him over. "Leave the jokes to Kitty, Aby."

Rubbing his cheeks with a groan, Naruto said to the wheezing boy, "t-thanks, man." He looked at the girl sitting on him, who smiled back, seemingly having no intention of getting up yet. "Um, I'm kinda having a dramatic confrontation right now… So if you could just?"

"N-No, keep him there," said Aby, coughing and taking deep breaths. He shook his head once as he regained his composure. He crouched down and resumed his supercilious smile at the Uzumaki. "Have my lessons taught you nothing, Naruto?"

Naruto frowned in response. "What? You just taught me history for the mid-terms."

Aby nodded, "and that didn't inform you better?" He lifted his head and saw the White Cats closing in on them with confused scowls. "You have no finesse, Uzumaki. You're supposed to make them want you here. Not fear you leaving,"

The red headed boy smirked, as he shone under the scornful attention directed their way. He said, "You made a good mess of things. But no matter." He stood up and rolled his shoulders. "Every crisis is an opportunity, and we shall grab it." He gave Naruto a predatory grin, "I'm about to help you now."

Naruto instantly went on guard. "What are you trying to pull, Aby?"

Paying the ninja no mind, Aby stepped forward and swept his gaze over the other students with beatific smile. The students paused in their stride, affected by the red headed boy's gaze which seemed to stare into their very soul and say, 'what a beautiful person you are.'

Somali leaned down and whispered to Naruto, "Aby's doing his thing." Naruto thanked her for her commentary.

"Fellow White Cats," began Aby. "You have grievances against Naruto Uzumaki, but you're looking through an ill informed lens." He spread his arms wide, "bring me your arguments, and I shall enlighten you."

The White Cats began laying out their complaints.

"What ill informed? He had a Dog in his room."

Aby wagged his finger. "But of course he had. She was a prefect. Don't let her diminutive size fool you."

"What… what was a prefect doing there?"

"Prefect work obviously." Aby's smile became patronizing. "We have a sports festival coming up you remember?"

"The heck does Uzumaki have to do with it?"

"Thank you for asking." Aby chuckled. He raised his hand towards Naruto. "Ladies and gentleman, I'd like you to meet our head prefect's, Cait Sith's, servant. Naruto Uzumaki."

"…what?!" Naruto's protest of surprise was the loudest of the bunch.

Aby blissfully continued, "so let's cease with this nonsense hm?" The boy smirked, "unless you want to miss his grand surprise?"

"…surprise? What surprise?" The cats looked interested. Naruto tried to choke Aby with his mind. Somali choked Naruto with her excited hug.

"It's a surprise." Aby shook his head. "But given Naruto's track record, the track record of the exam-killer, do you expect anything other than sheer brilliance?" The red-headed boy chuckled. "I expect him to blow my socks off." He gave Naruto a prodding look, "like seriously, I really think he has a master plan far removed from the understanding of us mere mortals. Hahaha." He laughed boisterously, hands on his hips.

"But… but that lipstick-"

"Far removed from the understanding of us mere mortals!" Aby's laugh frightened away any other protests which might've risen.

The White Cats exchanged a glance among themselves. The majority of them had an interested smile. The gave the Uzumaki eager looks. "You better have something amazing cooked up, Naruto," said one of them, to which the rest nodded in agreement.

Naruto gave them a weak grin and a thumb-up.

Giving him a final smile the White Cats dispersed, some of them looking disappointed at the lack of the drama they'd signed up for.

And when the last of them cleared out-

"Aby," said Naruto, growling and glaring. "What the hell-"

Aby turned to Somali with an appalled face, "Somali! What are you doing!"

Somali blinked. "W-What?"

Aby gave Naruto a sad frown. "The poor boy was alone by himself for so long. Do you have any idea how much he must've missed you."

Naruto paled as he saw Somali's face become determined. "O-Oi, Aby. I'm just kidding. Haha. I'm not angry at all." He squeaked as Somali grabbed him.

"Don't you think hugs are in order?" Aby grinned like the devil.

Naruto's eyes widened as Somali picked him up and sat him before her. "N-No, Somali. I-I'm fine." Her arms went around him and she fell against him. "No-no-no-gaah!" Her arms tightened, giving him a bone crushing hug as she cooed at him.

Aby grinned and ruffled the groaning blond's hair. "Now cool off. 'Cause you better pull this off." He rubbed the back of his head with a worried laugh. "For both our sakes."

The red headed boy smirked. Alone he was a star. Together with the whiskered blond? They'd be a supernova.

He observed the other boy with a calculating gaze. He'd given him the spotlight. He was reluctant to do so, but he couldn't help himself.

He wanted to see him shine.

He needed to see his brilliance.

And whether it outshone his own.

He was aware that this risked his own plans, but looking at the blond duo hugging it out eased the sting. He sighed with relief.

Thank god for Uzumaki absorbing some of Somali's enthusiastic affection. He rubbed his shoulders with a wince. He wasn't sure what he'd do if the Uzumaki had been gone for a longer period.

He shuddered.

Hooray for friends.

He'd be darned if he let the Uzumaki leave the academy.

"I-I can see a light," said Naruto hanging off Somali's shoulder lifelessly as she hugged him.

"No! Don't go there, Kitty!" said Somali, panicked. "I'll hold you tight. Hang on!"

"O-Oh, oh Sage." Naruto wheezed as the girl tightened her hold.

Aby laughed.

Wondering if he should egg Somali on further.

Shaking his head, he decided against it.

He needed his agent of change alive after all.