"Eh?!"
"Ehh!"
"What?!"
Everyone in class B looked at Gaara with awe and admiration. They were all huddled at the notification board to check out their recent exam scores and positions. Naruto scowled at the 21 out of 22 position that glared at him. He was always stuck at second to the last! But hey, his average increased!
Yukata was the last position this time but her average was above 50% compared to last year's 30%. This just meant that the tutors were doing a great job of helping them out. Kiba came third to the last and he was topped by Tenten. Curious to see what the last members of their dance group would score, Naruto, Kiba and Tenten began searching from the top of the list for Shino's name.
As usual Neji was first position followed by Sasuke followed by Sakura then Hinata and then Haku. Shino came after Haku, being the sixth position and he was followed by Ino who passed Jugo with just three points. Karin came after Jugo as the ninth position amongst the top ten and Shikamaru followed her. He didn't try for this exam, it seemed.
"Gaara, Gaara, Gaara..." Kiba chanted as he looked for the redhead's name from the bottom of the list since he was not one of the brightest students in their grade. But he could not find the Sabaku anywhere among the last five! Okay what the hell?!
"Gaara, I can't find your name dattebayo." Naruto mumbled to his friend.
"It's here." Said redhead pointed at his name which came under Shikamaru's.
"Oh wow, eleventh position. That's smart." Tenten mused. Wait. That sentence was wrong on many levels! As if just registering her words, Tenten and Kiba and Naruto shrieked at the same time.
"ELEVENTH?!"
The three of them crowded the notice board to check if it was not their eyes playing pranks on them. How?! But Gaara was always the last position!
"There must be a mistake somewhere! Did you cheat? Did you?!" Kiba asked accusingly. If he did cheat, why didn't he share with him?!
"He did not." Shino's calm voice made heads snap towards him. The boy adjusted his shades and continued speaking. "I know because Gaara-kun has been my classmate since middle school. He had to have a high brain capacity to enrol here in the first place. And besides I am his tutor, not that he needed much help."
Naruto groaned but there was no bitterness to it. "It's easy to forget that Gaara did not come here on a talent scholarship dattebayo." He mumbled.
Gaara just shrugged. He used to come third after Neji and Sasuke when they were in middle school. His average was reduced this time because of his numerous failed on purpose tests and delinquent habits. Now that Naruto knocked sense inside him, he focused on this academic session and made it to the eleventh position. It was only a matter of time before taking his place as the third or fourth best depending on Shikamaru's mood that exam period.
"Ne, isn't it strange that Sasuke-chan is not brooding over the notice board as usual?" Haku observed that their dark haired classmate was not among them stressing over his overall position.
"He's brooding over the grand piano in the music room right now." Suigetsu commented as he made his way over to check his position. He was the fifteenth out of twenty-two, not bad.
"Uh? What got his panties in a twist?" Kiba sneered, still bitter that Sasuke just left their dance group without as much as an explanation.
"We honestly do not know. He's been for lack of better words... touchy lately." Karin mumbled. She was clearly worried about her crush.
While everyone threw in their own two cents about Sasuke's development, Naruto eerily stayed silent throughout the conversation. Yes Sasuke was being more of a jerk than usual but there was a certain light in his eyes that made the vulpine blond uneasy. Spending years in a Juvie filled with many broken teenagers had sharpened his blue eyes to see what was lying beneath the persona people put up.
For Sasuke, the raven just looked like he was trying so hard for something. There was pent up frustration in his eyes and if you looked deep enough, the sadness behind them was hiding behind his dark irises. His friend was edgy right now so Naruto could not have proper conversations with him.
Whatever he was going through, Naruto just hoped it would pass over along with the spring break.
The EsDee lost to the Sound five which was so disappointing as well as disheartening. Tenten was clearly not fine with her loss but she managed not to breakdown in front of the others. "It's just a local street battle, it's not important if we don't win, right?" Kiba tried consoling her but his attempts only fueled her frustration.
"It is not just a local battle for me!" The brunette snapped at the surprised boy and stormed off.
"Was it something I said?" Kiba asked confusedly, eyes following their leader's retreating figure.
"Well considering it's Tenten, I think the dance battle meant more than just winning the cash prize." Gaara helped to find what in particular was wrong with Kiba's consolation attempt.
"Oh." The tattooed boy said dumbly.
The EsDee were not the only ones to lose their competitions. Although the ballet dancers for the school won the group ballet competition, Hinata performed poorly (in Hiashi's eyes) in the individual competition. The inkette knew just then that she had no hopes of catching a break during the short holiday.
Xxx melody xxX
It was the beginning of the final and longest term of the year; the term whose exams determined whether the recuperative class got to stay in KSA or not. It was also the term of Summer Competitions. For schools like KSA, the summer competitions were their greatest chances of becoming known nation wide.
Many tournaments were held for various sports and arts, and music was not exempted. Naruto in particular was ecstatic. The Summer Tournaments was where his father began to make himself known to the world. He was determined to enter the dance competition and win it, which was why he was signing up for KSA dance team with Kakashi.
Now that he had regained some of his memories of Kakashi being like an older brother to him, Naruto could not help but feel somehow awkward. He hadn't told Kakashi or Iruka that he somewhat remembered them yet because he didn't want to rush things.
His memories of Orochimaru was still fickle but from what he could remember, it was difficult to tell whether the serpentine man was a good guy or a bad guy.
Naruto had finished signing up and was walking aimlessly around the big school. There were not too many students in KSA because only the wealthiest and smartest were enrolled into it. The most amount of classes a grade had were three classes and that was because of the recuperative classes.
In his grade, there were only two classes; A and B. Although the jerks from class A kept calling them class D for 'Dumb' so the name 'class D' or 'dumb class' stuck.
The blond was now at the theatre where the dance group had booked for their practices. It was huge like many other parts of the school but it was missing something. Or someone. Naruto had not seen Sasuke throughout today, neither had he seen the school president.
It was impossible for the Uchihas to miss school even if it was the first day and everybody would most likely be jobless. Naruto had never heard of Sasuke getting sick in the short period of time he knew the raven for so it couldn't be a sick break, right?
The squeaks of sneakers on the floor reached his ears as he entered the theatre. As expected Kiba, Shino and Tenten were there though he did not expect to find Gaara among the people that wanted to be a part of the KSA dance team. Various people were practicing dance routines and showing off their skills so naturally, Naruto wanted to be among.
Only, he was stopped by a giggle.
"Uh?" Naruto wondered how he heard the obnoxious sound of a grown up man giggling stupidly over the noise coming from the theatre but the blond followed the sound only to find a white figure latching unto the windows. "Who's that creep?"
Said creep was a man with long white spiky hair that reached his knees. He had red streaks– paint or tattoo, Naruto wasn't sure which– marking a straight line down his cheeks and the most perverted grin Naruto had ever seen. Yes, he was not innocent.
The boy walked over in curiosity and stuck his face to the window panel to see what the man was gazing at. A sharp gasp escaped his mouth at the wonderful sight of some girls doing belly dances and twerks. It was probably for fun but they kept gyrating their hips and doing sexy dances, unaware of the two perverts at the window.
Naruto was frozen still for a moment before remembering that he had to be a gentleman. "Ahem!" He fake coughed a few times to catch the old pervert's attention. "You're too old to be peeking at girls half your age, ero-sennin."
Ero-sennin?
The man turned to Naruto with a pouty scowl. "It's not peeking, it's research!" He defended. "You must have heard of my books. I am the legendary author of Fire Nation's Best Seller; Icha Icha series!"
"You mean those boring smut books?" Naruto deadpanned dryly. Somehow he felt like this man was familiar. Even their conversation now was so familiar. Maybe that was why his nickname for the man came naturally.
"Eek!" The white haired man gasped dramatically and full on faced Naruto. "Boring?! Boring?!" He repeated. "You, my boy, has no idea how great of a masterpiece my work is."
"I didn't even get a boner while reading it, it's not special!" Naruto argued back.
"That's because there is a problem with your dick. It's not my book that's the problem." The man argued back.
"Tell me why you're reading porn in the first place."
"Of course I'd-!" Naruto was about to retort when he realised that the voice belonged to neither of them. A gulp tore its way down his larynx as he slowly turned around to face his currently very angry grandmother. "B-baa-chan!"
Fire burned around Tsunade as she cracked her knuckles. "I asked why you're underaged and reading porn!" She growled.
"Eeek!" Naruto's yelp was overpowered by the white haired man's whom Tsunade was now hounding.
"I told you to keep your literature away from Naruto! Jiraiya I swear if he's not a virgin anymore, I'd kill you! You hear me?!" Tsunade turned to Naruto, looking like a feral beast. "Are you a virgin?!" She growled.
"Y-yes ma'am!" Naruto eeped. Suddenly it was as if the sky opened and sunshine began to flow through. Tsunade had a beautiful but equally threatening smile on her face.
"Good, let's go to my office. Shall we?" There was no place for argument as the woman dragged the both of them across the big school. Naruto was mostly embarrassed because there were spectators watching the way Tsunade hounded him and the man he'd come to know as Jiraiya.
They were finally inside the principal's office after a long walk. "Ne Tsunade, how did you find me?" Jiraiya grumbled as soon as the busty woman set him down upon the high chair along with Naruto.
"I just knew you would be peeking, it wasn't so hard." Tsunade huffed.
"It's research, not peeking. And besides I have my eyes on only you." Jiraiya smirked.
"Please, I really don't want to watch my grandma flirting with an old man so stop." Naruto shakily announced his presence. "By the way, Ero-sennin, who are you?" He asked.
"You really don't remember your own grandpa? Now I'm hurt." Jiraiya shook his head dramatically.
"No I don't. Wait, grand...WHAT?!" Naruto screamed.
"I'm remarried to this idiot." Was Tsunade's only explanation. "He was traveling around the world but now he's here to teach at Konoha School of Arts."
Naruto placed the jaunting news that the ero-sennin was his grand father aside and excitedly turned towards him. "Ne ne, what are you teaching?" He asked.
While Jiraiya perked up, Tsunade visibly deflated into her seat as they both chorused. "Sex education."
"Oy vey."
Xxx melody xxX
Tobi and Deidara were currently in the former's room studying for their school diploma exams and college/university entrance exams. As you might have guessed, one was the tutor and the other was the student. In this case, Deidara was the student and he was still sour about it.
"I can't believe that you're smarter than me, un." The blond grumbled, words obscured by the end of the pen in his mouth but Tobi heard him either way and pulled his lips into a Cheshire grin. At least Deidara imagines he was grinning smugly by the deep crease at the corner of his eyes. Why was he even wearing a mask still despite being in his own house? Germatophobe!
"Tobi is Senpai's senpai!" Tobi loudly declared. Somehow, hearing the idiot claiming that he was his senpai made Deidara annoyed for no reason in particular. To make his point known, he used his foot to push Tobi out of his bed (they were both cross legged on it) and watched him fall with a satisfactory smile.
"Un."
"Owie! Senpai is so mean." Tobi bawled, fake tears falling from his obsidian eyes. It moved Deidara none, who just lied on his stomach on the bed and faced his math book.
"Let's see if you're- you're a better teacher than Itachi- jerk- un." Itachi was Deidara's student tutor but for some reason the raven had not breathed down his neck to study throughout the holiday. Even worse was the fact that he had not been in school for going on a week now.
Don't get Deidara wrong, he didn't miss Itachi neither was he worried. He was just...concerned for his academic future, yeah! If Itachi didn't teach him how was he supposed to graduate highschool?!
"By the way, why is Itachi-jerk not in school un?" Deidara found himself asking. If Tobi was his cousin he should know something, right? To make things clear, he was NOT asking out of concern. He was just curious. (Yeah right, you tsundere)
"Tobi does not know." Tobi pouted. "Tobi misses Tachi-tachi!" He wailed obnoxiously but Deidara only laughed at his nickname for Itachi. It was funny but what was funnier was the irked look on Itachi's face anytime Tobi called him that. It was a new nickname, by the way.
The two of them continued in their studying. After a while, both Deidara and Tobi's phones went off with their various tones for text messages. It was from their class group chat.
Shinra_Tensei:
Hey everyone! Who's online?
Human-doll:
What do you want?
Shinra_Tensei:
Sasori, ur so mean .
ArtIsABlast:
Hey, wassup?
Tobi-is-a-good-boy:
Tobi is online!
Kissme:
Paper_Angel:
I'm online.
Rinnegan:
Me too.
Shinra_Tensei:
Z dat all of us?
Human-doll:
Get on with it.
Shinra_Tensei:
So demanding!
ILoveToFuck:
Whoa! Hold d fuck up, suckers. I jxt gt on.
KissMe:
Hidan, your username is disturbing.
Money-is-my-hobby:
It's futile, just leave him alone. What are we here for? I don't want to waste my sub.
Aloe Vera:
I'm online.
Poop-is_good:
Hai!
Shinra_Tensei:
I tnk wr all hr. Gud. Itz abt Itachi, guyz.
Tobi-is-a-good-boy:
Senpai was just talking about him! Senpai!
ArtIsABlast:
Stfu Tobi!
Deidara made a point of kicking Tobi so that it stuck. "Owie!" The other complained though it was lost to the wind.
Paper_Angel:
I am also concerned about our school pres. Do you think we should drop by?
Kissme:
Actually I heard some shocking news from his mother.
ArtIsABlast:
Y r u jxt telling ds 2 us now?!
Rinnegan:
Deidara is correct. Why are you just mentioning this, Kisame?
Kissme:
I just heard it today. And besides I am still recovering from the news.
Paper_Angel:
Now I'm kind of afraid to hear the news.
Shinra_Tensei:
Me too.
Poop-is_good:
I'm excited!
ILoveToFuck:
So wats d news
Kissme:
Itachi is in the hospital.
He's in a coma apparently.
A full minute passed without new messages from anybody. Even Hidan, the lousy apathetic idiot of their class, had nothing to say due to the shock that seemed to freeze everyone to a spot.
Shinra_Tensei:
OH MY GOD! HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?!
Yahiko was apparently the first to thaw from the shock. As if on cue everybody started spamming Kisame with questions about what on earth happened to their school pres.
Kissme:
I was not told.
Paper_Angel:
Are we allowed to visit?
Human-doll:
You do not want to smother an unconscious person with our sheer number.
Money-is-my-hobby:
And besides only immediate family would be allowed to visit, right?
Kissme:
You're right. When his condition stables we would be able to go visit.
Poop-is_good:
This is horrible. How did Itachi fall sick?!!!!
ILoveToFuck:
Shld Tobi nt knw abt ds? He's his cuz.
ArtIsABlast:
He dsnt k anytin
Paper_Angel:
It's not his fault he wasn't told.
Aloe Vera:
Kakashi-sensei should know something, right? He likes Itachi after all.
Shinra_Tensei:
Don't make him sound like a creep, Kuro.
ArtIsABlast:
He's r8 tho.
Paper_Angel:
Tobi, you could ask Sensei for us!
Rinnegan:
I could ask if he doesn't tell Tobi.
Money-is-my-hobby:
If that's all I'm logging off.
*Money-is-my-hobby_ went offline*
ILoveToFuck:
Dnt 4gt 2 send us dtails Tobi. So long fuckers
*active 1m ago*
Deidara also decided to call it a day and logged off of the group chat. It was still kind of shocking that Itachi was in a coma right now. The blond dropped his explosion themed phone and looked at his partner who had been silent since Kisame informed them about Itachi.
Only then did he notice that Tobi was not quite himself. His normal obsidian eyes were blown so wide that they'd turned red and his breaths came in short harsh gasps. "Tobi?" Deidara called but he didn't answer. He just hugged himself while trying at the same time to get away from Deidara. "Tobi?!"
This was not the first time blond was experiencing somebody getting a panic attack so he knew what to do. Springing into action, Deidara moved so that he was in front of the gasping teen and rubbed his back in comforting circles. "Tobi listen to me un. You're not alone, yeah. I'm here with you yeah so breathe. You can do it un, just take a deep breath in like me yeah. In..."
Tobi shakily took a breath in.
"Out."
He exhaled sharply. Like that he and Deidara practiced breathing exercises until he finally stabilized and was breathing properly. Tobi's head hung after he had thoroughly calmed down. Hearing that Itachi was in a coma brought back memories that he wanted to keep in the deepest trenches of his head.
His orange mask had been removed somewhere during the scuffle but he didn't care about it right now. "You okay, un?" Deidara asked with more concern than he knew the blond liked to show towards Uchihas.
"Yeah. You're surprisingly good at this." The blond snorted at his reply.
"Fine way of expressing your thanks un." He said sarcastically though his words had no bite. "You've dropped the third person speech again yeah."
"Is it weird?" Tobi asked almost self consciously.
"If you're weird for being bipolar then I'm weird for being a pyromaniac." Deidara replied honestly. "I still want to- tell me- want to know what happened to you, un." He added.
"Only if you tell what happened to you." Tobi pointed at the gadget around his left eye hidden underneath his long side fringe. It was a fair bargain Deidara decided, so he agreed. Books long forgotten, the blond crossed his legs Indian style as he gave Tobi his full attention. It was like he was in group therapy all over again but this time Deidara was actually willing to participate and share his experience.
"I'm all ears un."
Tobi inhaled and began his story. "My parents were teen parents so it was tough raising me, I guess. Between trying to make it in ballet and studying, it was kinda difficult but they managed. Spent most of my life with my grandma but I loved my parents so much. You know the accident that happened at the Fire House Grand Opera?"
"Yeah..." Deidara already knew where the story was going.
"My parents took the full brunt of that accident. Knowing that put me off completely I guess, and coupled with that my grandma was dying. I think I just needed a way to cope with the barrage of news that raided me so my brain created me another personality that is carefree and oblivious. When gran died, I went crazy."
Tobi chuckled at himself at the memory of it.
"The locals actually put me in an asylum." He said breathily as if being put in a mental rehabilitation home was funny. Deidara knew from experience that it was anything but. "I took therapy well and fortunately uncle Kakashi became my legal guardian so here I am." He shrugged. "My parents are deep inside a coma and haven't shown signs of improving or getting worse."
Tobi hugged himself again.
"At least that's what uncle says. I have never visited them before. I get afraid that they would never wake up. So when Kisame told us that Tachi was in coma, I became anxious. What if he ends like my parents? Never improving, never retrogressing, just staying on one spot?"
"That's stupid un. Itachi is a stubborn prick yeah so he would surely wake up. So would your parents yeah." Deidara was not just saying the words out of sympathy, he actually meant and believed them.
Tobi saw this and smirked. "So you're saying my parents stubborn pricks?" He teased, already springing back to his normal self.
"You take after them so there's a possibility." Deidara taunted back. They both laughed at their jokes and went silent until Tobi spoke up again.
"So it's not random for you if I keep switching personalities?" He asked.
"You're not the only bipolar person I know. My girlfriend is one of them." Tobi loudly gasped at Deidara's statement.
"You have a girlfriend?!"
And he started laughing.
"I think I like Tobi #2 better un. He has respect yeah." Deidara muttered bitterly.
"Sorry, it's just surprising. I'm guessing you met her at an institution?" Tobi wiped a tear from the corner of his eye as he tried to stifle his laughter.
"How did you know I went to an institution un?"
"You mentioned being pyromaniac. Is that how you got your injury?" Tobi gestured to the blond's face.
"More or less." Deidara replied vaguely.
"Hey, I told you my story now it's time to know yours." Tobi complained.
"Sure sure." Deidara hummed and reached behind his head to unclip the device around his eye. "Here's my story un."
Fun fact!
There is a plot hole in between Tobi's back story I just noticed and nobody else did. I literally can't correct it again so I'd just be like JK Rowling and write a long ass round about story in an attempt to fill the plot hole. I did try to fix it though so it's not obviously noticeable.
The shippings officially begin in the next chapter! We need a bit of romance in our lives so yay for romance!
Please favorite and review!
-Star.