The Substitute - Chapter Ten

Unexpected Allies

*gasp* Another chapter? So soon?

Rejuvenated by the kind reviews and encouragement from you all, I have decided to take this story a bit more seriously. Step aside, homework, I have more important things to do.

Thanks to Shyhinata144 as usual for all the help.

*Ring ring*

Naruto slammed a hand down on his phone and turned the alarm off, one arm raised against the sunlight to shield his eyes. The sun had been shining in through his window since 5:40 a.m, so sleeping since then had been a losing battle. He rubbed his eyes and ran a hand through his unruly hair, freeing his forehead from the tangled mess and drew a long, deep breath.

After checking his Instagram and other social media for a few minutes, he finally decided to get dressed. The forecast had promised sun, and - looking out of the window at the clear blue sky- he thought it seemed like it might just turn out to be true.

In other words, just another sunny day in Tokyo prefecture.

Following his daily routine, Naruto brushed his teeth, struggled to style his hair for about fifteen minutes before giving up and then started to leave the apartment, shutting the balcony door behind him. He stopped by a FamilyMart near the station and picked up a tuna mayo-filled onigiri and an ice cold lemon tea to compensate for the breakfast he didn't have. Small beads of condensation developed around the tea carton and sank into his fingertips. At this point the time was barely 6:25, yet the coming heat had already started making its way into the early spring morning.

"Look…" He heard a girl whisper from behind him. "He's just my type!"

"You should ask for his number!" Another one whispered, but Naruto - who had grown accustomed to these types of events - feigned ignorance, scrolling aimlessly through TikTok.

"No way! He definitely has a girlfriend…"

"Yeah, but what if he doesn't? You can't let this opportunity slip!" Just then, he felt someone bump into his back and turned around, a little apprehensively. At about his chest height was a small girl with long brown hair and a facial complexion that would put her at about his age. Naruto raised a brow, pretending not to have heard their conversation.

"Hm?"

"U-uhm…" The girl blushed furiously, looking as though she could explode at any given moment. Naruto tilted his head to the side, then smiled curiously. "I was wondering if I could have your number!" She bowed with her entire upper body, probably to hide her embarrassment, then held her phone up, as if presenting him with an offering.

"Sorry." He raised a hand apologetically. "I'm already seeing someone."

Her body slumped in disappointment and she slowly started to raise her head, the blush quickly fading from her cheeks. She looked back to her friend, then back at him.

"I see… I'm sorry."

Naruto cast her yet another soft smile, then quickly stepped out of the store and headed for the train, giving his watch a quick glance.

The train was close to empty at this time. Rush hour was between 7 and 9 and Naruto desperately tried to make it a habit to take the 6:29 train so that he could be at the school at around 6:50 and finish preparing whatever work he'd left for himself the day before. He stepped onto the empty school grounds, lifting his gaze to the cherry blossom he'd seen Kiba and Hinata under the day before. He stopped, his eyes planted on the grass where they sat. I wonder how she is, Hinata.

He sighed inwardly to himself. I don't even know what I'm doing. Not only did I kiss her, but I seem to actively be pushing her away from me. When I kept to myself she would always make her way into my life, but I find myself looking for her more often than not these days. Did she not… Like the kiss? Did I force her to do something she didn't like?

He lowered his gaze and started to walk again, a heavy feeling growing in his chest. She said she liked me, but maybe I came on too strong. I don't know what's gotten into me lately, why I haven't been able to think about anyone else. Maybe I should just… Mind my own business. Maybe I am too old for this shit. I'm twenty-one, for crying out loud.

"Good morning, Naruto!" A voice he was hoping not to hear rang out from down the hall but he continued to walk as if he hadn't heard anything. "H-hey, Naruto!" Shion's walking turned into jogging as she made an effort to catch up to him.

"Leave. Me. Alone." He said in as clear of a voice as possible. "I want nothing to do with you."

"Oh, but you can't just keep hating me like this, Naruto." She whined, almost as if she was trying to seduce him. Naruto rolled his eyes, but tried to remain professional at the workplace. "I know you better than anyone else…" She reached for his hand, but he quickly pulled it away from her.

"Don't touch me." Their eyes briefly met and Shion was temporarily rendered frozen to the spot by the hatred in his glare. "You were a mistake." He hissed, leaving her behind. I regret ever meeting you.

Shion bit her lip angrily, staring through the floor. Why won't you just do as I say?!

When he got to the office, Naruto dropped his bag onto his desk and got to work, correcting essays, eating his breakfast and preparing for the day trip. Time passed quickly and he soon found himself spotting the first students to enter the grounds at 7:40. At 7:43, Hinata finally showed up outside. His heart skipped a beat when he first glanced at her, then did a double take, only to then completely forget what he was doing and instead watch her as she greeted her classmates. He smiled, remembering when he'd brought her to his apartment when she was sick, how she'd apologized to him for "being a nuisance" over and over again in her feverish state, and how she'd held his hand in her sleep while he studied. He'd tried to pull away countless times but she would either tighten her grip or begin to stir. She seemed like someone who thought she was in the way of everyone around her, but the company she'd given him in his small apartment that evening had meant a lot to him. Since then, he found himself wanting to spend more time with her, to learn more about her.

Suddenly, the bell rang.

"Eight o'clock already?" He mumbled somewhat distraught, hurriedly packing his things back up and making his way outside. After a few seconds of walking, he realized he'd forgotten his sign and spent a few seconds contemplating on whether or not it was worth retrieving it before deciding against it and continuing to the entrance.

When he emerged, he stole a glimpse at Hinata, who was standing around with Kiba and Sakura before pulling up his list of a mere six names and pretending like he needed to go through it. It can't hurt to… He looked up and found that his eyes had met with Hinata's. Of course, she was the first to look away while he suppressed a grin.

He gave up on the list and motioned for the bus that happened to pull up at that very moment.

"Let's get going, they're waiting for us." He spoke calmly, but on the inside he was nothing short of excited. Finally, he could show his real side, if even just a glimpse of it. He might be a teacher, but it wouldn't be so weird to act a bit more like the student that he was at his own school, would it?

He watched as Sakura, Sasuke, Shikamaru, Sai and Kiba stepped onto the bus and followed shortly after Hinata entered. Just as she stood looking like she would have to settle for sitting on the floor, he spoke up from behind her.

"Can't find anywhere to sit?" He smiled, but some student nearby interrupted him.

"Oh my god, he's so handsome..!" He had tried to offer his seat, but the whispers were painfully audible and Kiba, who had a much louder voice, overpowered everyone as he called out to her, waving frantically like some kind of panicked chicken. Tone it down like five notches, man…

He gave up, rolling his eyes and throwing himself into his own seat at the front, mumbling "Tryhard" to himself without much regard as to if someone else heard it or not.

"What programme are you hoping to get into, Hinata?" Kiba suddenly asked after what seemed to him like an eternity of silence, but in reality had been about ten seconds.

"Medicine, I think…" She replied a little hesitantly. "To be honest, I'm not entirely sure. I'm hoping I can figure it out today…" Kiba grinned at her words.

"That's a great idea!" He nodded, acknowledging her choice. "Mom wants me to do engineering, but I'm gonna take a look at the Veterinary Medicine program." Hinata's eyes lit up.

"That would suit you!" She smiled brightly, also nodding at him. Surprised by her sudden engagement in their conversation, Kiba couldn't help but blush. "It's so admirable that you follow your dreams, Kiba-kun. I've always liked that about you."

Is this… A confession!? I need Sai's expertise here! Kiba - with his brain currently running on 110% and near implosion - could only reply with a slow "Oh… Thank you."

Hinata looked down at her lap and twiddled with her fingers. "I wish I could do that, too…"

"Well, what's stopping you?"

She remained silent for a while before answering. "I… Think my f-father wouldn't be so happy… if I did what I wanted to do."

"He shouldn't decide over your life, he should just mind his own business!" Kiba furrowed his brows. "If my mom tried to tell me what to do with my future, I would run away from home!" Hinata chuckled a little bit at his matte-a-fact tone.

"But… You did say you were going to study engineering last time I asked?"

"Yeah well, I put some thought into it and decided that; if I'm gonna be stuck in school for another five-something years and then have to work with what I studied there for the rest of my life, I might as well do something I'll actually enjoy."

Hinata nodded again. "That's very true." Maybe I should take a look at the business program, after all.

"Hey, have you heard that song, Yura yura by YeYe?" He said, suddenly changing the topic.

"No..?" Kiba dug into his bag, pulled out an earphone case, opened it and handed her one earphone while putting the other into his ear.

"It's pretty good!" He scrolled through his playlist and picked out the song. "I usually listen to it when I'm studying."

"Hmm.." Hinata barely responded, instead focusing her attention on the music. "It's nice."

The bus eventually pulled up outside of The University of Tokyo campus, where two figures were already standing and waiting for them. One was a lady with light blonde hair tied into a low ponytail, the other, a tall man with sage-like white hair in an elegant black suit. Both had a certain air of wisdom and authority to them, even as they gave a low bow in unison when the doors to the bus opened and students started stepping out.

"Welcome to Tokyo University!" They both said, then gave each other a look as if they weren't supposed to say it together.

"You can call me Tsunade." The lady respectfully bowed again, her elegant features emphasized by her fashionable attire. Do all professors at Tokyo dress this well?

"And you can call me Jiraiya." The man said without bowing. "The fact that you're visiting Tokyo University means you're among the few in your class who have a chance at getting in. Congratulations!" Hinata watched as Naruto gave him a quick wave and he returned it.

"We'll help you navigate the school so you can find the stations relevant to the program you want to apply for. The professors teaching those programs along with first, second- and third year students will be at the stations, ready to answer all your questions."

While the lady named Tsunade was busy answering everyone's questions, Naruto was approached by the tall white-haired man, who was now grinning from ear to ear.

"How are the studies? You know you've got to submit your draft next week, right?" Naruto sank into himself, clearly in discomfort.

"Yeah… The school's making me do a lot more work than I was expecting." He said, bracing the back of his head for some reason. Shortly after, the white-haired man named Jiraiya slapped him on his forehead with unexpected force.

"Idiot! Focus on your studies first!"

"Agh, that hurt! Why'd you hit me there!?"

"'Cause you were covering the back'a your head, obviously!"

"How about this: you don't hit me at all!?"

"Where's the fun in that?!" Hinata stared in shock at the discourse between them. He's getting scolded... Like a student. She giggled to herself, catching Sakura's attention.

"What're you giggling at, Hinata?" Sakura approached her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Oh - it's Uzumaki-sensei! And he's being… Scolded? Haha!" She quickly burst into a fit of laughter as well.

"You guys!" Tsunade called out. "What programmes were you interested in?" Sakura instantly collected herself and straightened herself.

"Medicine!" She accidentally yelled.

"...And you?" Tsunade looked to Hinata, who grew small before such an authoritative figure.

"U-um… B…" Can I really say what I actually want to? Can I… Follow my own dream? She took a deep breath, but felt that the words wouldn't come out of her mouth no matter how hard she'd try. Normally, she would regret looking at the person she was talking to when her stutter grew incomprehensible, but as she looked up and met the eyes of the lady before her, she was only met by sheer surprise.

Tsunade's features softened and she gently approached Hinata, laying a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, take it slow." She said reassuringly, smiling softly. Wow… Hinata couldn't believe her eyes - or ears, for that matter. It wasn't everyday that her stutter had the opposite of its usual effect. They would always grow irritated, frustrated or finish her sentences for her, but this lady had just done exactly what she needed: given her time and reassurance.

"B… Business…" She whispered, still staring at Tsunade in awe. I did it.

"Alright, that's…" She drew on one of her many papers with a map of the campus on it. "Over here." She said, marking her destination. Hinata took the paper carefully, but Tsunade didn't let go when she pulled at it, so she looked back up at her. She gave Hinata a small wink. "That's my department. See you there."

Even after Tsunade had left and moved on to other students, Hinata was still unable to overcome what she had just experienced. If she's my teacher, I feel like I'll be able to do anything!

"How's it going?" Hinata jumped a little when someone spoke from behind her.

"A-ah, Na-na-Uzumaki-sensei!" He scowled for just a moment before returning to his normal, calm expression. "I-I mean-"

"Which department are you off to?" He asked, dismissing it.

"Um…" She blushed. He smells so nice… "I mean… Uhm... "

Naruto watched as her mental battle ensued. She's so nervous, it's as if we met yesterday. Ugh, what if I'm making her uncomfortable?

"Bu… Business…"

"Business?" He replied, confused, but quickly caught on. "Oh, you're gonna study business? But on your University list, you'd written that you wanted to study Medicine."

"I-I.. I changed my mind…" She exhaled after finishing her sentence, having subconsciously held her breath. Naruto raised a brow, interested.

"Oh? Why's that?"

Hinata's eyes darted to the floor. I can't look at him! I'm so nervous, and I-

"Hey, your band-aid's coming off. Here-" He lifted his hand to her cheek and pulled off the bit that was still stuck, revealing the wound that Shion had inflicted upon her. It had been a few days, but it was nevertheless clear as day to him.

"..." That cut… Could it have anything to do with why they were skipping class? "How'd you get that cut?" He finally asked. He'd wanted to know since the second he first saw it. Hinata grew visibly upset and looked like a little creature pressed into a corner, trying to look for a way to get out.

"I… Um…" Naruto immediately felt his stomach sink. Something wasn't right.

"Hinata." He said her name slowly, almost like a whisper. "If anyone did that to you, I need you to tell me."

"I…"

"Hinata!" Naruto stepped away from Hinata and looked over to Kiba, who had unfortunately materialized and was jogging over to them - or her - from some irrelevant location. Naruto stopped himself from rolling his eyes again. "We're in the same building! Let's go there together!"

Naruto pursed his lips. Veterinary medicine and Business are not in the same building. He stopped to think. But I wonder if someone really did do that to her. It couldn't be Inuzuka, he's far too head over heels for her. Maybe he knows something, though, since he fabricated that terrible excuse as to why they were out there in the first place.

Hinata only saw Naruto once or twice after that, and he was always busy talking to teachers and students. He seemed liked by everyone there, and university seemed so much more laid-back than high school. Instead of uniforms, notebooks and bento boxes, most people wore comfortable clothes, brought their own laptops and bought their lunch either at the cafeteria for like ¥500 (approximately $4 and fifty cents) or at the school's very own 7 Eleven.

"..so the admission fee is ¥282,000 (approx. $2,500), plus the annual tuition fee which is ¥535,000 (approx $4,800)." Tsunade informed Hinata and the other students all the preparatory information they needed. "Don't be too afraid of the costs, there are scholarships. Good luck studying!" Hinata took one of the papers with the tuition costs listed on it, bowed and thanked Tsunade for her help before making her way towards the exit.

"Hinata!" Sakura called out and Hinata turned to see her walking towards her. "How'd it go?"

"It went well!" Hinata smiled. "I hope I get in."

"Me too, but-" Sakura groaned. "It's so expensive!"

"Oh yeah… It's more expensive for med students."

"Yeah, I hope mom and dad can afford it… They set up a savings account when I was born but I have no clue how much money they have there…" She sighed. "Well, at least you don't need to worry about those things, your family is rich after all."

"I guess…" Hinata's eyes trailed silently to the floor.

"Though, I guess money isn't everything. Should we head back to the bus?"

"Okay."

Kiba, having learned about the tuition costs, had stayed behind to ask about the possibility of acquiring a scholarship. Just when he'd finished thanking the teacher for their time and was heading back to the group's designated meeting spot, he could swear he felt like someone was following him. He looked back once, twice, three times - then to his left and right. Nothing. He kept walking, more confused than before.

"Inuzuka." A voice that sounded like it came from all directions at once spoke up, and he damn near jumped out of his own skin.

"AH!" he shrieked. Naruto cast him a disapproving look. "Don't scare me like that!"

"A moment?" He stood, leaned against a wall and with one hand raised, his index finger motioning for him to come over. Kiba felt uncomfortable to say the least, but nevertheless did as Naruto asked.

"Where are we going?" He inquired, taking a quick look at his taller teacher.

"Somewhere else." Was all he gave away. Okay, he's definitely gonna kill me. As if hearing Kiba's thoughts, Naruto added "Don't worry, I just wanna ask you something."

They had gotten to a much more secluded part of the school. Kiba couldn't see anyone his age anymore, in fact, he couldn't see anyone. It was just him and Naruto. Alone.

Naruto bought Kiba a drink of his choice at a vending machine, then proceeded to sit by a window overlooking a group of trees.

"S-so…" Kiba said, trying to break the ice. "What'd you wanna ask me about?" Did I forget to send in some assignment? Is he gonna yell at me for skipping class with Hinata? Is he gonna fight me? I don't know how to fight! I mean, I know some things, but he looks like he'd kick my goddamn ass! And I just ate, my stomach's gonna be upset if I fight now! I gotta pass the time - gotta distract him!

"That cut." Naruto said. "The one on Hinata's cheek. Do you know anything about it?"

"Huh?" Kiba was struck dumbfounded for a second. "Oh, so that's what this is about." Naruto quirked a brow.

What else would it be about? Come to think of it, he looks like he was getting ready to fight me.

Kiba returned to his normal standing position after having assumed some kind of fighting stance in the midst of his mental panic.

"Yeah… I do." Kiba finally answered, and Naruto felt his heart jump in his chest. Kiba's dark, determined brown eyes met with Naruto's.

"Sensei, what's your relationship with Shion-sensei?" His question caught Naruto off-guard.

"Are you saying she did it?" He asked, trying to avoid the subject. Kiba proceeded to pull his phone out and play the recording to Naruto as proof.

Naruto listened, his eyes growing wider and wider by the second. It was like the air had been knocked out of him. Naruto felt his entire body go cold and his entire body froze on the spot. Shion said this… To Hinata..? She did this… To Hinata, because of me?

His breathing quickened. His jaw tightened. He could hear his own heartbeat.

Kiba's words were fading out. He stopped listening to everything.

Has this crazy bitch been threatening Hinata? For how long has this been going on? The cut, her nervousness, why she never came to the teacher's office anymore… It makes sense. What has that psycho been saying to her?! Who the hell does she think she is!?

"-Sensei!" Kiba suddenly raised his voice, snapping Naruto back to his senses.

"... Thank you." Naruto placed a heavy hand on Kiba's shoulder, squeezing it a little bit too hard. "I'll sort this all out."

"Look, I wasn't planning on asking you, I had my own plan." Kiba replied snidely.

"Let a teacher handle it."

"Teacher? Your fists are practically shaking. I wanna get my revenge too, you know."

"What were you planning on doing, then?" Naruto asked, half-mockingly. "Telling the principal?"

"Well, that's what a normal person would do." Just as Naruto was about to comment, Kiba continued, speaking through gritted teeth. "But I wanna make sure that she learns never to mess with Hinata again." Well, that makes two of us, you little shit.

"How about this," Naruto stood straight, having regained some of his composure. "We make a plan… Together." Kiba raised a brow, clearly interested.

"Together?" He repeated. Naruto nodded.

"We can catch her red-handed." Kiba's eyes trailed to the floor as he thought about Naruto's words.

"You mean-" Naruto nodded slowly.

"Exactly what you're thinking."

This time

I'll be there to protect you, Hinata.

Spooky! I'm scared.

What do you think Kiba and Naruto have in mind? How could they possibly want to work together on this?

Stay tuned for the next chapter! Should be up early next week if my chapter-prediction senses don't deceive me.

Don't forget to review!