Chapter 8: Rumors and Gossip
News spread like wildfire over what happened with Umbridge's office being vandalized. Almost everybody was talking about it as if this were the next big thing. Naruto was happy with the whole thing, as he provided the necessary steps to show that people can rise up from this torment. Of course this whole event pissed off Umbridge as she was hellbent on finding who the culprit was. Now with an event like this, people started to come up with outlandish rumors and theories as to who the masked assailant was. Heck they even made up silly rumors over this guy. Naruto decided to lay low for a while as if he kept going, he was bound to slip up, which could compromise his crusade. Some of the teachers were actually cool with this so-called rebel, which goes to show how even the professors were really fed up with Umbridge and the last time they were fed up with a professor from Defense Against the Dark Arts was with Gilderoy Lockhart, wonder what happened to the guy?
Over at the Gryffindor common room, the group was discussing the masked rebel who has stolen the hearts of many. "I'll tell you what I think," Ron started, as everybody looked at him. "I think he's a bloody legend. Nobody has the bollocks to stand up to Umbridge and he's doing everyone a favor by rebelling," he stated, with a lot of excitement. Harry also agreed as well, "This guy is doing all of us a favor by getting revenge. I mean we got the backlash of her first hand Naruto." Naruto nods, "I have to admit, this whole thing has surprised me quite a bit. I mean probably this guy has a vendetta against Umbitch here, but how did the masked rebel get into the school, that's the question?" Naruto asked, lying of course. The three turned to Hermione, who seemed to be reading some book. "What do you think Hermione?"
"Hmmm?" she said, turning to the three boys. "About the masked rebel?" They nodded, as they were curious about what their usually rule-following friend was thinking about. "If anything I can stand him getting at Umbridge, but what's to say he won't start attacking teachers and students? He could be a threat to this school, we just don't know," she stated. Naruto could understand, even though the masked rebel was him, who's to say there is a copycat out there who is trying to tarnish his reputation. "Anyways guys, I gotta head out and do some training, I'll see you later tonight," Naruto said, as he left the common room.
Over at the cabin, Naruto and Itachi were practicing sword combat as usual. But as they were training, Itachi noticed that Naruto wasn't being focused as he was starting to get sloppy at certain points. "Ok Naruto, stop for a minute. What is the matter with you?" he asked the blond. Naruto sighed, "Well it's just that, with the whole situation that happened regarding me vandalizing Umbridge's office, it's making me worried." Itachi raised an eyebrow, "Oh really, why is that?" Naruto explains how he was worried that he keeps hiding this secret away from them, and it was making him worried that what if they found out and had a negative reaction towards him for hiding the truth from them or if someone found him out, they could weaponize that secret and use it against him, putting his friends in harm's way. "I want to tell them so much, but at the same time I want to keep them safe from Umbridge, as who knows what she could do to me and the others, what should I do?" he asked.
The ex anbu captain sighed, "Honestly Naruto, I thought the same as you before, back when we were still in the village. I placed my duties to the village first over my clan because while I couldn't kill my family, let alone my little brother, I had to do so in order to prevent another catastrophe. What I'm saying Naruto is that, you can't live both lives, you have to pick one over the other. But some advice I can give you is to come clean, tell your friends or rather your group the truth, as they could be trusted and are the only ones. It's better to do it when you feel ready before it's too late. Sure they might feel offended that you didn't come clean early on, but they will understand, I hope." Naruto was thinking about that advice and nodded. "Anyways let's continue training," Itachi stated and the two went back to sword training.
Naruto returns to see that his friends were by the fireplace, as they were done talking to something or rather someone. "Hey guys what's up?" Naruto asked as they turned to him. "Oh there you are, sit down, we'll explain everything," Harry stated. Naruto sat down as the three explained their conversation with Sirius. "So Fudge thinks Dumbeldore is forming an army to fight against the ministry, and the order isn't doing so well, and Voldy is on the move again, am I right?" Naruto asked. The others nodded as that sums things up. Thunder claps outside as rain drops hard against the window, which describes the mood as of now. "He's really out there, isn't he?" Hermione stated, as she formulated a plan. "We need to be able to defend ourselves and if Umbridge refuses to teach us, then we need someone to show us how." The others nodded, as they needed to step up to the plate or else it was too late.
The Next Day
The group was in Hogsmeade to discuss the plan. "This is mad, who wants to be taught by me?! I'm a nutter, remember?" Harry complained as they walked in the snowy little town. "Look on the bright side, you can't be any worse than old toad face," Ron said, as Harry gave him the bruh face. "Thanks Ron," Harry said sarcastically. "Anyways, who's supposed to be meeting us?" Naruto asked. "Just a couple of people," Hermione said as they opened the door to the shack. The goat's bells rang as it ran away from the owner of the bar. Soon familiar faces appear along with some people they haven't even interacted with much. Cedric, Luna, and Daphne arrived and they brought their friends here. It was awkward alright as it seems some of them didn't want to be here. "Ummm…hi…so we all know why we're here as we need teachers, proper teachers. Teachers who have had experience defending themselves against the Dark Arts."
"Why?" some random boy asked from the front. "Why? Because you-know-who's back you tosspot!" Ron said aggressively. "So they say and Dumbledore says because they say. The point is where's the proof?" the same guy replied…what a dick. "If Potter or Uzumaki could tell us more about how Jiraiya got killed…" another started looking at the two boys. "I'm not gonna talk about Jiraiya so if that's why you're here, then get the hell out! Come on guys, they're here because they think we are a bunch of freaks," Naruto said, as he looked like he was about to leave. "Is it true you two can produce a Patronus charm?" Luna asked the two. "Yes, I've seen it," Hermione answered for the two. "Blimey you two, I didn't know you guys could do that," Dean said, sounding impressed. "And both Harry and Naruto killed a basilisk with the sword in Dumbledore's office," Neville added. "Naruto also fought Gaara last year, and defeated him when Gaara was just a beast," Ron said, supporting his friend. "And they really did see you-know-who in the flesh last year," Hermione added.
"Look it all sounds great when you say stuff like that," Naruto said getting up, "but the truth is that most of everything that happened, and I think Harry can agree with me on this, is down to luck. We've always had help, even when fighting Voldemort and Menma last year…"
"He's just being modest."
"No Hermione I'm really not," Naruto said looking at her with a serious face before he turned to the group. "Facing this stuff in real life is not like school. In school you can make a mistake and then try again tomorrow or later that day, but out there, when you're sitting there, hopeless and weak in front of these threats, watching those you love fight in the hopes that you can live another day, watching those you love die…it's impossible to know what that's like. Because soon a war may come, and war does not come with a guarantee. No wizard gets the promise of safety, survival, or victory, if we don't step up and learn to fight to live and die another day. I don't care what house you belong to, what your social status is, etc because out there…those threats we face, they are indiscriminate and cruel and will not offer any mercy."
"Naruto is right. That's why we need your help. And Harry's. Because if we're going to stand a chance at beating…Voldemort…" Hermione said, struggling to get his name out. "They're really out there aren't they," Nigel stated, receiving a small nod from Naruto. "Where do I sign?" Cedric asked, standing up. Soon Neville, Daphne, Astoria, Luna, the Weasley twins, and everyone in the shack signed the sheet. As everybody left the shack, Naruto overlooked the area as snow kept falling, while he was thinking of something. Harry stands next to him, "Looks like we got everybody to sign it, huh?" Harry stated, but noticed that Naruto was silent. "You ok Naruto?" he asked. Naruto sighed, "The world is changing Harry, our days of innocence are over ever since what happened in the tournament last year. It's time we changed too, come on, we've got a job to do." The two walked back to the group to discuss the plan.