"Come on!" Naruto ran forward and Shikamaru followed him, Choji not far behind. I was walking slowly after them, not really wanting to hang out that much. Sometimes my antisocial self appeared and in those moments I was better off in my own little world inside myself.
As they ran Shikamaru turned back and signaled to me to run after them, but I signaled back, that I was going home. He didn't question me, but his face turned serious, I signaled, that I was all right, and then the others went away. Perks of knowing sign language.
So I stopped at a bench and sat down, got out the book I started some days ago, and began reading the last pages of it.
The book was amazing, after the father lost his family he became a samurai and began fighting for his people, he was loyal, fierce, brave and he never faltered. He did it so, that others would not get his tragic backstory ever again. As I was reading through the man died in the book, but by dying he protected those that he swore to protect and finally joined his family.
Suddenly I felt a presence next to me and when I turned I saw Kakashi sitting next to me.
"Yo!" he greeted.
"How did you-" I looked around then at him, he was in his ANBU attire. "Never mind." I closed the book since I finished it. "It was a good book." I told him and he nodded.
"I liked it as a kid." he answered, well, I figured that much.
"Shouldn't you be after Naruto and not me?" I asked him and he chuckled.
"Ever so patronizing." I scrunched my nose, I wasn't patronizing him! But before I could retort an answer he continued. "Actually I just came back from a mission and reported to the Hokage, I was heading home to get some hours of sleep, but then I saw a lonely child reading on a bench. I was curious if she was reading my fabulous novel or something of a lesser ranked book." I watched him intensely and he eye-smiled at me.
"Are you feeling alright?" he opened his eye and tilted his head in curiosity. "You keep playing a role and not fooling me." I told him awaiting a reaction.
"I'm not playing any role!" he sounded offended, but I knew better.
"Yeah, sure, and I'm Batman." Heck!
"Bat man?" gaaaah, no no no, I screwed it! Think!
"It just came to my mind, never mind that. You know why I said it!" Geez! I really have to be more aware of my mouth.
"Why do you think I'm acting?" he asked instead and I shrugged.
"I'm good at reading people. Your face mask helps you, plus the fact that you wear your hitai ate (forehead protector) on your eye, your only visible part is your eye, but you know, eyes can tell everything and cannot hide anything." I explained under his gaze. "So, I know that something is bothering you, you act all strange and smiling, making jokes and trying to manipulate the conversation. I'm not blind, you know?" I told him solemnly and he nodded.
"I know, and you are a smart girl." I slightly blushed, well, I didn't expect to be praised by a prodigy. I didn't ask him, about his problems, I knew that he wouldn't tell me, so I didn't press him at all. "I'm really surprised you were not put in the Academy earlier than the usual, but knowing Shikaku, I shouldn't be surprised at all." I nodded.
"He wants us to have a childhood." I added and it was his turn to nod.
"A wise decision." I leaned on my elbows.
"I know that you entered earlier, I heard mother and father arguing about that Shikamaru and I was turning into either you or Uchiha Itachi." I didn't need to turn to know that he wasn't that surprised. "And the council was pressing father to make a move." I snorted. "Father outplayed them."
"Back then, you did good." Kakashi commented and I snorted (again).
"He let himself be caught." I argued.
"You scratched him as two children. It was his decision to let himself be caught, his error to underestimate you." well, I didn't think about that possibility… huh. He looked up at the sky, which began to darken. "I should be going." he got up. "See you later, Shikanai." he waved and I waved, then he puffed away.
It was the first time he said my name.
And another moment with Kakashi, you know why? Because he'll have a bigger role. Oh, and keep in mind the Uchiha Massacre didn't happen, we're not there...yet. When I mention Itachi, don't think about the Massacre, we're approaching that part slowly though.
I managed to find a little bit of time to post another chapter this week. I just hope you enjoy it.
I still don't own Naruto.
VaneM: Thank you for your review, honestly :) I'm really grateful for your review, it made me smile. Don't worry, I'll keep posting. When I wrote this story I promised myself that I'll post all of it even if people won't like it, I just wanted to know that I'm still capable of starting something and then finish it. Now, I just really want to know what your reaction will be when there'll be some twists in the story, but until that moment I'll just keep building the storyline.
Have a nice read!