A/N: Hello everyone, I would like to start off by explaining that I did not create or own Shirakumo since he is a character that is mentioned in BNHA: Vigilante and is mentioned in passing in BNHA. I also want to thank everyone that added this story to their favourites and follows as well as everyone that reviewed the last chapter.
What is the point of getting out of bed?
It was a question that Naruto rarely faced. She had never liked staying at her apartment, not when there was no one to talk to and no one to actually take care of her. But there were a few days where she did not have the energy to get up from her bed and face the day. Once she told the Hokage about her problem and he sent her to the medics to get a check up.
They told her that she was just being lazy and should just suck it up.
But I can't suck it up today. Naruto tried to force herself out of the bed. She needed to go to the training field and wait for Kakashi-sensei with Sakura and Sasuke. Not that there would be much of a point, when Kakashi-sensei is three hours late and Sakura just talks to Sasuke. If she goes then she would just either be ignored, yelled at or glared at.
Yeah, Sakura would be overjoyed at the fact she has more time with her precious Sasuke-kun. Beside if Kakashi-sensei did turn up and they did a mission then he would end up scolding her for some silly mistake. It is like he thinks I am the problem when we have a bigger problem. Naruto tried so hard in her missions. She tried to keep her more rude thoughts to herself and pretend it didn't bother her how much those old ladies glare at her.
Sure she makes it a competition with Sasuke but he looks down on her. He has everyone fawning over him from the girls, who have crushes on him, to the boys that wanted to be him. If Naruto could just win against him then people might start to acknowledge her.
It never helped that Sasuke taunted her about being slow when it came to their missions. How he constantly reminded her of how she made the silliest of mistakes. Naruto hated him so much for it.
When Naruto looks back, she knows it wasn't hate that she feels but frustration. She knows Sasuke has always been the more talented one, the more loved and the better one between them. She hates being second best because Naruto wanted to be perfect in her work. She spent more time focusing so much on the big things that she forgets the tiniest details.
But right now, she just felt exhausted and furious with the boy. Why did Sasuke always tells her about her mistakes but never tells Sakura about her own weakness? Sakura might have scored higher in their theoretical exams but she was the problematic one. One day Sakura would get them killed because…it is always about Sasuke with her.
They needed to rely on her when it came to their missions and Naruto doesn't think she can rely on Sakura.
It was not about the lack of clan that worried Naruto. She never gave a shit about the capabilities of what a clan kid could do and a civilian kid could do, but Sakura always focused on her pretty-pink hair and her brains. Yeah because she got admirers and she wants to keep them. Naruto doesn't resent her for that part. She doesn't understand how crushes or love works but…Naruto still remembers what Sakura said to Sasuke.
'She always come between us,' Even now the memory plays like a movie in Naruto's mind. She never meant to listen in but she wanted to tell Sakura that it hadn't been Sasuke, but her. Her teammate deserve to know the truth so she doesn't have a rose-tinted view of what Sasuke was like. "It is because she was brought up right."
Even though it had been weeks since the incident, Naruto still feels the pain and anger from those thoughtless words because…who the hell are you to talk about my upbringing? And do you know anything about your precious Sasuke? Naruto took a deep breath and furiously shook her head at her negative thoughts. She brought the blanket over her head and closed her eyes.
"It is because she doesn't have any parents," Naruto felt the ache in her heart get bigger and she wanted the memory to stop playing in her head. If it continued then she definitely would never go to the training field. "She doesn't have to answer to anybody even, and it makes her completely selfish!"
Even now Naruto failed to understand what did she do to deserve those cruel words. All she knew was that the girl she wanted to be friends with, was a complete and utter monster. Her stomach rolls as she recalls the envy in Sakura's voice.
Because it should have been her complaining and not Sakura!
Naruto thinks it was fine. Sakura was just a girl that didn't understand a damn thing about her life but…it hurts so much to be reminded of her orphan status. She wants to make excuses and she does. Sakura was pretty and smart. She probably did not know better and that it was wrong for Naruto to be so furious and hurt.
Beside, Sakura's mother would be angry if Naruto smashes her to the ground and ruins that hair Sakura took pride in. Kakashi-sensei would have scolded her. Don't be childish. Naruto knows that was what they would say. Teammates don't hurt each other. That was what Kakashi would tell them.
Naruto wonders if Kakashi considered emotional pain as another form in which teammates could hurt each other. Did he ever realize that Team Seven only comprise of him, Sasuke and Sakura? Naruto never felt like she mattered to them.
Naruto did not know how long she stayed in bed but it must have been more than three hours. It must have been a very long time since her doorbell rang. Naruto barely lifted her head up from the pillow, only staring above at the ceiling.
The doorbell rang and it was not long before knocks followed.
"Naruto! Get up you lazy bum!" Naruto does not even blink at the cruel words of Sakura. If it had been yesterday then she would yell at her. No, never yell because she was supposed to like Sakura. She can't let anyone know about her pain since they don't care. No, she would have made some kind of joke but she had no desire to do it now. "We have got some training to do! Are you really going to act like a baby because Sasuke-kun did better than you?"
Training? What training? Kakashi would just make us do some D-rank mission and if we do have training then you certainly aren't doing your part. The words were on the tip of her tongue but Naruto held herself back from spilling out her negative thoughts. Naruto knows Sakura like the back of her hand.
Make any tiny comment about her lack of capabilities of being a kunoichi then Sakura pulls out her grades, reminding her about who was the dead last and who was not. So what if she scores better than me in theory, genjutsu and ninjutsu? I don't try because no one wants me to do well. Naruto thinks if teachers give a shit for her then she tries hard.
But what is the point of good grades when you don't observe your teammate? Even till this day, Naruto wanted Sakura to ask her if she was fine. She wanted Sasuke to actually say the words and not just throw a worry look, but not say something.
Till this day, Naruto doesn't understand why Sasuke keeps quiet. Teammates care for each other. Friends care for each other…and they were each other first friends.
Naruto wanted someone to care about her.
She thinks that there was a chance her Team might fully accept her. She thinks that it would not be long before they would care for her. This was just the first step or so Naruto convinces herself as she changed into her orange jumpsuit.
She clung to that hope even when Sakura scolded her for taking her time while Sasuke just stared at her.
It was just four years later that Naruto come to a self-realization of what was wrong with their dynamics…of why Team Seven had always been doomed from the start.
She just didn't know who to pinpoint the blame.
"So Eri-chan, do you want to watch some videos on my phone while we wait for Uzumaki and your father?"
Eri stood right in front of the doorway, looking utterly hopeful as if any moment now Aizawa-sensei would come back with Uzumaki. It worried them or rather, Shouto supposed, it worried Midoriya. His classmate kept staring at the anxious girl, teeth nibbling at his bottom lip while he looked frantically at him and Bakugou to help.
Or rather at Bakugou because Eri seemed to be fixated with the furious boy.
Maybe it is because he looks a little bit like Uzumaki. The longer Shouto spent with Bakugou, the more and more he saw the slight resemblance between them. The shape of their noses seemed similar, the way they scowled but most of all…their temperaments.
Bakugou scowled at him, daring for him to make some kind of comment, before looking around the messy apartment with annoyance. The boy was constantly reaching out to take something, only to stop himself in the last minute.
Shouto glanced at the clock. It seemed like as each hour passed by, the sound of the clock was becoming louder and louder as if to remind them that Uzumaki was gone for so long now. The fact her phone was on the coffee table made Shouto uneasy. Even if someone had her phone number, no one would have been able to contact her.
He wondered if maybe they should try harder to find clues on her whereabouts.
Ring.
The sound of the doorbell echoed throughout the apartment and without a second delay, Eri swung the door open. The bounciness of the little girl slowed down as her back hunched up and her head dropped down.
Did something happen? Shouto ran his hand through his hair as he stood right behind Eri. Mismatch eyes blinked at the sight of their numerous classmates standing in front of Uzumaki's apartment with basket of fruits and smiles playing on their faces. Well the smiles dropped and turned to looks of surprise at the sight of him standing there.
"Todoroki-san? What are you…" Yaoyorozu trailed off as her black eyes grew large. He tilted his head, turned around and blinked at the sight of a scowling Bakugou and a nervous Midoriya standing right behind him.
"Isn't it obvious? They came to check up on Uzumaki!" Ashido declared. Her amber eyes flickered between the three of them and a flash of amusement shone in her eyes, making Shouto almost worried about what was going to happen. "Aren't they sweet? I never expected Todoroki and Bakugou to do this."
The implication of Midoriya was loud and clear to anyone with a brain.
"Call me sweet again and I will kill you!" Bakugou yelled.
Ashido just laughed at the threat while Midoriya grabbed hold of Bakugou, trying and failing to calm down the irritated boy.
"Ooh, did the two of you have a thing going on during Middle School? Were you secretly in love with her and so you want to be her Prince Charming?" Ashido teased, leaning further away when Bakugou attempted to grab hold of her.
The blonde settled with a glare that could have even killed the undead but there was also a greenish look to Bakugou's face, almost like he wanted to puke at the very thought of being in love with Uzumaki. Shouto wondered how anyone could think Bakugou liked Uzumaki in that way when he made an expression like that.
Yaoyorozu blinked and looked at Eri, who had suddenly decided to hide behind Bakugou's legs.
"Um boys, who is the little girl? And where is Uzumaki-san?" Yaoyorozu asked. She tip toed to get a better look of the apartment since there were four people blocking their sight. "And where is her parents?"
Midoriya took a deep breath. "This is Eri. I think she is Aizawa-sensei's daughter."
Everyone just blinked and gawked at Eri before swirling their head at him and Bakugou. He shrugged. There was no resemblance between the little girl and their teacher, but Shouto knew not every family had to be blood-related. Families could be made from an adult willing to take in a child.
"Now that is one thing I never expected from Aizawa-sensei," Ochako tilted her head. "But now that question is answered…where is Uzumaki? And where is her parents? We want to…"
Midoriya began to shift and sway at the question, green eyes avoiding the curious eyes of their classmates. If his classmate was trying to make sure no one knew what happened to Uzumaki then Shouto guessed his classmate was doing a terrible job. Everyone seemed to be growing anxious, demanding to know where was Uzumaki and her parents.
"She got herself kidnapped," Bakugou finally snapped.
Silence reined for a few seconds before chaos took over. Shouts of denial was directed towards them before they begin pushing them away to see if they were being serious. Shouto hang in the corner, mismatch eyes uncertain of what to do as Midoriya tried to explain to them about what was happening right now.
He did not acknowledge the concern look from his classmate as he walked towards the one shelf that had been left unbroken. There were not many books on the shelf, maybe two or three but there was one book that caught his attention. It was a book that seemed like it had been read a thousand of times, looking older and worn out then the other two, more famous books.
Shouto picked up the book and tilted his head to the side when he read the title. The Tale of the Gutsy Shinobi? It sounded childish and not the kind of book he pictured Uzumaki to like. He opened the book, noticing just how worn out the book was. Words seemed to be slightly faded and marks were on the book as if Uzumaki read it everyday for the last three or four years.
He wondered why she read it so often.
Shouto blinked when he read the name of the character in the book. Naruto. He sat down on the floor, ignoring the distress whispers of his classmates. He should join in but maybe Uzumaki left a clue in her book. Maybe he would understand Uzumaki better if he read the book that she seemed to enjoy the most.
He wanted to understand his friend.
~X~
Think, Naruto, think!
Naruto chanted those words to herself as she forced herself to stick to the ground. There were several spikes on the ground, reminding her of how not only could Overhaul destroy a damn floor but rearrange it into the image that he wanted. Not fair! Naruto wanted to cry those words so badly. This kind of Quirk was just too powerful. It might not compare to the Sharingan in terms of capabilities, but the attack it could make was not easy.
Can I even beat this guy by myself? I know everyone thinks I am cocky and full of myself, but even I have doubts.
Red, teary eyes flashed before her eyes and Naruto slapped her cheeks. Focus. The battle was not about her trying to get some self-recognition. This battle was for Eri-chan. A battle to let the innocent girl live a life filled with happiness. Do whatever it takes to win and kill that bastard. She chanted to herself while avoiding looking at the lives already taken during their battle.
"You can't stay up there forever." The man taunted.
I know. Naruto nibbled her lip and fingered the last of her smoke bomb. It needed to be saved, one wrong move and she would have no more tricks up her sleeve. If she wanted to win then she needed a distraction. Maybe I can use the sexy jutsu? She regarded her opponent, noticing the way he moved and recalled the location of his eyes when he did his interrogation. Nope, he is like Sasuke. He is probably an asexual piece of shit. After all Sasuke had never been affected by her jutsu, so the chances of this guy was even lower.
She furiously shook her head at the walls and floor surrounding her. All of the goons were dead, killed off when the bastard formed his spikes, so disguising as them was a no go. As much as Naruto wanted to continue to complain about her lack of knowledge on long-range jutsu attack, it would not solve her problem. It was just be a waste of time.
Naruto dashed to the side of the wall as a spike rushed towards her. Summoning jutsu? The toads have some cool jutsu. Images of dead toads flashed before her eyes and as soon as the thought came, it was dismissed. The toads were her summons, almost like her friends, and they had a family between each other. If one of them died then it might cause the ache in her heart to get bigger.
I need to work with what jutsu I have and my brains. Another spike rushed towards her and a memory plays out right in front of her. The Wave Mission. That could work, right? If the plan had been enough to fool Zabuza then it could work for a Yakuza. She just needed to improvise.
She took a deep breath before jumping down to the ground. The ground immediately crumbled before forming several spears around her. A kunoichi must be flexible. She twisted one half of her body as several spears enclosed her. Her back screamed slightly in pain, reminding her of the importance of maintaining her stretches…even if the damn Kyuubi kept healing her pain.
This is the perfect opportunity, isn't it? Naruto flashed her hands through a familiar hand seal. Thousand of clones appeared. They smashed through the spears, allowing the original Naruto to grab one of the broken pieces while they charged straight at Overhaul. Overwhelm him. That was what they needed to do for now. Only one clone stayed back, looking almost excited with the plan that Naruto came up with.
Hopefully, I have dumb luck by my side.
She took a deep breath, held out the spear and looked straight ahead at the crowded clones. Not that heavy. Naruto juggled the spike in her hand as the man attempted to destroy her clones. He placed his hands on her clones, destructing them into millions of pieces if they were actually her actual self. Call me reckless all you want, but I ain't that stupid.
Her hand itched and a part of her thinks she should hesitate. No matter how evil this guy was, he was still another person. That was what the law stated and Naruto understood it. To a certain extent, she believed in it but…
You are a monster.
You don't deserve to cry.
Cats. I like cats.
Naruto closed her eyes and hurled the spike towards Overhaul.
"Haven't you learn anything?" Overhaul declared, placing his fingers against the spear. The spear disintegrated, crumbling into tiny pieces. He blinked, swirling his head at her and Naruto just smirked. A second spear zoomed from the shadow. A cloud of smoke enveloped it to reveal the clone, who smashed the villain on the gut and sent him flying towards the wall.
She ripped a nearby spear and stared at the man clutching his stomach in pain. Naruto knew she should hesitate. She should consider him another human being but he caused so much suffering for a little girl. The Hokage never did anything about the matron, but I will do Eri right. A monster like Overhaul does not deserve to live or so she thought.
So Naruto hurled the spear at him without any hesitance. The spear flew and pierced Overhaul in his stomach, pining him straight to the wall. Blood stained his shirt and dribbled down his mouth. Slowly, his eyes began to lose life.
The only person left standing was her.
The adrenaline that had been coursing through her veins was now slowly dying away, allowing Naruto to clearly see the damage that she had done.
All Naruto could feel was her bile going up her throat and a small heavy lump forming in her throat. Blood decorated the room, some of it had been her own doing while some had been done by Overhaul.
Why do I feel so sick? Being a kunoichi demands that I kill! She wanted to choke at the sight of those lifeless eyes. Even though it had been all for Eri-chan and for the greater good of all future kids…Naruto felt like a monster.
She just wanted to hurl out the food that she ate yesterday, but Naruto clutched her stomach and grinded her teeth. Puke might contain DNA and it might be traced back to her in some way. There was no way she would allow her actions to be caught.
I would just go to my apartment to hurl, and maybe I need to make a quick pitstop of getting some new clothes.
She probably needed to scrub her hands clean of blood. She wanted to get rid of it, of anything that reminded her of the terrible deed she did. It had always been one thing to be told that a shinobi's duty required killing, but it was another thing to perform the act.
Naruto felt like a part of herself died today.
"I can hear footsteps coming this way!"
Shouto looked away from the book and focused his eyes on the door as Jirou pulled out her ear jack from the door. Everyone scrambled away from the living room, darting towards the small hallway and waited anxiously for the door to open. Was it going to be Aizawa-sensei? Was it going to be another Hero? Or was it going to be Uzumaki?
The door swung open to reveal a trembling blond-haired girl staring blankly at them. For a brief moment, there were no words spoken between them. There was no action to indicate his friend was furious. It was almost like she was a zombie and that scared Shouto more. He might dislike her fake smiles, might desire for her to trust him but he never wanted to see her like this.
Slowly, blue eyes started to grow wide and Uzumaki just blinked and blinked as if surprised that they would be here for her.
Five seconds later and the girls were charging straight towards her, hugging her tightly and telling Uzumaki about how scared they were for her. The boys hung away, uncertain of what to do with their female classmate. Shouto saw Mineta inching forward, beady eyes excited for a chance to take advantage of Uzumaki.
Bakugou must have noticed it too, because he grabbed hold of the tiny teen and glared hard at him.
For someone who claims not to care about Uzumaki, he is acting protective over her. Shouto would have done the same thing as Bakugou, except he probably would freeze his feet. Uzumaki was not in the mood for this type of things.
"We were worried sick for you!" Uraraka cried, hugging Uzumaki tightly.
Blue eyes grew slightly large at the confession as her whole body stiffened at the contact made. Uzumaki hesistantly hugged back, blue eyes scanning the room of relieved students and her eyes landed on him. They stared at each other for a long time before Uzumaki tore her eyes away from his and focused on the crowds of students.
He thinks he see Uzumaki gulping at the emotions being displayed towards her.
Eri pushed the teens away and charged straight towards Uzumaki. "Naruto-neechan!"
The little girl launched herself onto Uzumaki and without a second delay, his friend opened her arms and captured the girl. She swung her around for a bit before putting her down on the ground. Eri smiled slightly before hugging Uzumaki tightly, clinging to her like she was afraid that Uzumaki would leave her.
Uzumaki burrowed her face against Eri's hair and hugged her tightly. Trembles vibrated against them and Shouto felt himself growing really uncomfortable when his friend pressed her nose against Eri's hair, breathing it in and out as if to calm herself down.
Blue eyes slowly looked up and Shouto saw the guilt and the reassurance in her eyes.
Warm grey eyes flashed right before his eyes and he felt his breath hitched along with an ache in his heart.
Don't think about it. Shouto took a deep breath and pulled out his cellphone. There were several missed calls from both his sister and father. He probably would answer his sister but his shitty old man could go to hell. Right now, he needed to call Aizawa-sensei to tell him that Uzumaki came back.
"Where are you going, Todoroki-san?" Midoriya asked.
"I am going to call Aizawa-sensei." His classmate blinked and flushed a light shade of pink as if he just remembered what their teacher had told them to do if Uzumaki came back. He excused himself, taking one last glance at Uzumaki. A small frown played on his lips at the sight of the trembles coursing through Uzumaki's slender body.
She was trembling even though she was giving everyone a smile and telling them that she always left her apartment messy. Something happened. An image popped into his mind and Shouto felt his stomach becoming slightly queasy at what Uzumaki might have actually gone through.
He did not believe for one minute that she just conveniently forgot her phone while skipping class to do her part-time job.
Shouto stared at her just a minute longer and Uzumaki must have noticed it because her eyes met his, before she looked away from him.
Shouto sighed and made his way to the kitchen. He closed the door until it was just slightly ajar, allowing him to observe Uzumaki and his classmates. He pulled out the phone and dialed the number that Aizawa made them put down on their first day of school.
"Hello, Todoroki. What is it? We are really quite busy at the moment with…" Aizawa sounded calm but he heard the tiredness and frustration leaking out of his voice. There was noise in the background and Shouto thought he heard Present Mic talking in the background.
Shouto stared at his trembling friend. "Uzumaki came back just now but something happened to her."
"Is she injured?" Aizawa demanded as several voices in the background demanded for answers of Uzumaki's well-being. The second person that seemed to be concern for Uzuamki, who was not Aizawa, was All Might.
Shouto knitted his eyebrows and observed Uzumaki. Her clothes looked clean, almost brand new even and it almost fooled him into thinking her story checked out. But her eyes looked like she was in a state of pain and her usually soft hands looked like it had been scrubbed a thousand times.
Shouto wanted to know who caused her to scrub her hands.
"She scrubbed her hands." He wondered if that was helpful. There was no answer behind the phone screen and Shouto wondered if he did something wrong again. Uzumaki kept telling him not to meddle but Shouto really felt uneasy seeing his friend like this.
"Todoroki, thank you for telling me that," Aizawa said tightly. "Can you please stay with Uzumaki and Eri until I come back? Uzumaki is in no place to be by herself."
Aizawa-sensei didn't have to tell him to stay by Uzumaki's side. Shouto knew it would be wrong of him to leave Uzumaki when his friend seemed to be in pain. It was better for him to stay here until their teacher could get a handle of the situation.
He closed his phone and watched silently as their classmates slowly leave the apartment, returning back to their homes. All of them looked apologetic and Uraraka offered to stay but Uzumaki just smiled, shaking her head.
The only people left in this apartment was now him, Uzumaki and Eri.
"You can go, Todoroki." Uzumaki declared, taking a seat on the couch. Eri climbed after her and tilted her head at them, red eyes flickering between them.
He shook his head. "I will stay here till Aizawa-sensei comes back. You are in no state to be left alone, not when you are shaking like a leaf."
"Look Todoroki, if you think this is a way of repaying for what I said to your Dad then you don't need…" Uzumaki narrowed her eyes at him, blue eyes flashing with a variety of emotions that Shouto could not fully comprehend. The fear in her eye was one that he could make out of.
"What if I am here because I give a shit?" Shouto took a step forward to the couch and Uzumaki stared at him with wide eyes. Her blue eyes looked everywhere but at him. "Uzumaki…"
He wanted her to focus on him.
Uzumaki furiously shook her head and looked at him with so many emotions; emotions that Shouto could not read. She took several breaths as if trying to calm herself down but something seemed to be preventing her to do it.
Because she snapped.
"Why the hell do you give a shit, Todoroki?" Uzumaki finally yells. "I haven't done anything to deserve it. We only worked together once and sure we eat lunch together so why do you do this? They never gave a shit and…"
Eri flinched and scooted away from Uzumaki. His friend hunched her back, opening and closing her mouth to apologize to the little girl. He shook his head at her and walked towards Eri. The girl flinched at the sight of him and Shouto hated how much he looked like his father. He took a deep breath and handed his phone, hoping the girl would get his silent message.
She took his phone and scurried to the other room. Eri closed the door, finally leaving him alone with his friend. Shouto focused his eyes on Uzumaki and took a deep breath.
"You don't have to pretend that you are fine! I know you are not fine, Uzumaki!" Shouto was never the type to plead, not the type to get angry but it was frustrating that his friend was trying to keep so many walls. He waited for her to snap, to deny his words but she surprised him.
The fury disappeared like a ghost and the fake smile faded. The trembling became more pronounced and a few seconds later, tears began to stream down her eyes. What do I do with a crying girl? He looked around before looking at the book that he just finished reading. I can't avoid confrontation. The character in that book did not and Shouto wanted to at least emulate one characteristic of that character.
So he took a seat right beside her, allowing himself to focus straight ahead on the wall. Hugs would have been a better answer but hugs made him freeze up and memories played before him. Accidents happened and Shouto did not want to make one here.
Why the hell do you give a shit?
Maybe answering the question was the best that he could do. Shouto did not have a way with words, hugs made him uncomfortable and he knows Uzumaki values the truth. Shouto wanted to be like Uzumaki in a sense of just being honest about what he thinks of people.
So he answered:
"For the same reason that you spilled your milk in the canteen."
Uzumaki blinked and blinked before finally gawking at him. She kept her head on top of her knees and her blue eyes flashed with an emotion that Shouto was familiar with. Hope. His friend didn't at him but she didn't tell him to get out.
It made him think that maybe this was the first step of Uzumaki trusting him.
A/N: What do you think of the progression of Naruto and Todoroki's relationship? And of the general pacing of the story line? Also of the flashback? Please review and tell me what you think about this chapter.