He was different.
He knew that very well. The villagers had not left one opportunity to make him feel unwanted. But his looks demanded attention. With blood red, shoulder length hair, golden iris and purple markings below his eyes, he stood out like a sore thumb. But he was proud of himself, he was proud of not shedding a tear in front of anyone, he was proud of his independence and if anyone believed he should think otherwise, they could lick his foot. But, being proud would not fill his stomach, he had to swallow his pride and use the transformation jutsu to eat anywhere other than a few selected stalls, and he did not mind that. After all, "Survival is your priority" was a shinobi 101.
Today he had mastered the transformation jutsu. It did not take him much time to do that. It was the first jutsu taught in the second year of the academy and Naruto could perform it easily enough. As simple as the jutsu was, it was a major boon for Naruto. Now, he could walk without being noticed, he could experience a normal life or, at least, a mockery of his ideal life.
X-X
"Must you bring me here unannounced?"
For a few moments there was pin drop silence. Then, a deep voice, almost growling in a mocking manner spoke. "Ironic, is it not? You do not even have the freedom to enter your own mind without my consent."
"What do you want?" He questioned the voice.
"Freedom is what I want, but this world is hardly fair. I believe even you would agree with me on this." As this voice echoed in the dark chambers of his mind, a large eye, whose slit pupil was alone as tall as Naruto himself was, opened.
Naruto was not afraid. This has happened before. He had played this game before, but it was not going to happen again today.
"If the world was how you wish it to be, it would be dust and debris, would it not?" he countered.
"Hardly." the voice scoffed, "We bijuu were perfectly content in living our lives in peace, it were the humans who hunted down the bijuu for their own benefits." The gigantic creature replied.
"Regardless, I am as much a victim here as you are, why must you seek to make my life harder?"
"Entertainment, why else? What else am I supposed to do here?" He questioned him mockingly.
"As I said, I have work to do, let me go from here." He demanded.
"I thought you would understand my misery as a fellow slave, Naruto." The voice was full of mockery.
"I am hardly a slave."
"What else are you, tell me?"
Naruto did not reply. He had not cried in front of anyone and he did not want to cry in front of the Kyuubi.
X-X
It had been 3 years since he had Joined the academy. He was undefeated. Nothing to be proud of, their hits just did not hurt him and he knew a lot more than others. His birds told him about everything. He was easily able to master the academy three, he knew the questions of the test before the test was given and he knew how to use his chakra to enhance himself. He wanted to graduate early, but he could not. After the tragedy, now termed as the "Itachi Uchiha fiasco" early graduation was not permitted anymore. Anyways, the graduation was on the verge of happening and he could not have been happier.
X-X
Ah well, he was not happy right now. It was the graduation day and he had been in the class since the morning. Since the roll numbers were based on the first alphabets of the clan name, he had a long queue ahead of him.
Today was the first time that the whole class was quite without any supervision. Everyone was anxious. Naruto lazily glanced over everyone. He did not know the name of a single child. He had pummeled almost all of them in the ground at least once, yet he knew not one of them by their name, and he did not really care.-
Before he could continue with his thoughts, a voice came from the door.
"Uzumaki Naruto."
He stood up. It was the first time he was walking down the stairs of the academy while there were people behind him. He was always the last one to leave without any exceptions. Well, today was an exception but it was a mandatory sacrifice.
His red hair had maintained their length. His golden eyes were still unnerving. The purple shadows below his eyes were still there, except for the unique natural eye shadow, his face was flawless. Not a single scratch or mark. To compliment his shadows, he wore a high-collared, light-coloured kimono held closed by a purple slash and the kimono had red accents to compliment his hair. He looked like a proper noble looking down on peasants.
X-X
Leaving the room with a red hairband, there was nothing that could make his day any better. He was now officially an adult. He could now have his own house, not sponsored by the village, in which he could allow as many birds as he liked. Seeing him so cheerful, all the birds in the surrounding area started chirping and this, in turn, made him even happier.
X-X
An: yes, Naruto's design is based on Indra. He looks so cool that I could not stop myself.
Well, do share your thoughts!
Until next time!