-Some Guy's Backyard-
-Morning-
Naruto was weeding some schmuck's garden, still not understanding how weeding or painting fences could be considered work for ninja. Even with him being a genin, the D-ranks he had seen seemed almost juvenile. Logically, couldn't civilians do the work instead? Perhaps they might not be able to handle catching cats, like he did yesterday, as they could be too sneaky and fast, but that didn't stop them from handling all the weeding and fence painting for the village.
Heck, Naruto knew for a fact that some of the village's orphans would be more than willing to take on the work. And wouldn't it save time for ninjas like him to do more important work, or at least train?
Although, thinking on it some more, Naruto couldn't quite figure out what sort of work would replace the missing D-ranks for genin. Maybe escorting less important merchant caravans? The more advanced genin could probably even help with training the academy students. Sure, he, himself, didn't really comply with the needs for that role, but surely someone like Lee could teach them Taijutsu.
Speaking of Lee, the training session the day before was brutal, and Naruto's muscles still ached. The guy was no less than a machine, Naruto struggled to keep up with exercises he was doing, and that wasn't even factoring in that Lee had chakra weights on the entire time.
It was just one exercise after the next, over and over again for hours on end. Naruto had never appreciated his unnaturally high stamina so much as he did during the workout. Even as tough as it was, he did not regret the experience, however, as he could imagine how strong Lee must be if he trained that much.
Heck, if he trained that much, and still couldn't beat that Neji guy, Naruto felt chills imagining having to fight him. It also made Naruto feel weak, in a way, as both Lee and Neji, as strong as they were, were still genin, like him. If the gap between himself and them were so high, despite the same rank, he couldn't imagine the difference between himself and the Hokage.
Thinking back on it though, he had bested Mizuki, who had been a chunin, in a fight just a couple days prior. So, was Mizuki just really weak for a chunin? Or were Lee and Neji just unreasonably strong genin?
Honestly, it was probably both. After all, weren't chunin more valued for leadership skills and experience rather than strength and raw talent?
Regardless, thinking about his peer's strength and D-rank work wouldn't aid the Naruto of the moment in the least. No matter what, he was still stuck in the garden, weeding. And as a bonus, after he was done weeding, he also had to repaint the fence. Both sides, too!
It was gonna be a long, tough day of work, but he had to do it if he wanted to be able to save up to afford some chakra weights like Lee.
Having finished his mission and received his pay, freedom was restored to Naruto. Fortunately, that weird lady was not working the mission desk that day, so he didn't need to deal with her ogling.
The issue was, he didn't know what to do with his extra free time. The mission he had done had taken up so much of his day that he didn't really think it would be possible for him to do another. Not to mention, that his teacher, Kosuke, was off on a C-rank mission and he wasn't expected to return to the village for at least a couple days, so that option was bust.
Iruka was probably busy with prep-work for the classes he taught, and it was still a couple days until they would meet to check Naruto's ability to read anyways. Another option bust.
Thus, Naruto decided to gamble, heading off to a particularly quiet and hidden rooftop. If he was right, he could probably find Choji and Shikamaru there, hanging out, provided they weren't doing a mission themselves…or training. It's not like he'd miss out on anything by heading to check.
Covering the distance in a relatively short amount of time, Naruto silently celebrated, his memory and luck hadn't failed him. On the roof, just before him, was Shikamaru gazing at the passing clouds, with Choji sitting next to him, eating an apple.
The apple somewhat surprised Naruto, until he got a bit closer and saw the pile of empty chip bags on the ground near the pair. Choji had run out of supplies, just how long had the two been there?!
Shrugging his shoulders, Naruto approached the pair, keen on talking the pair.
As if able to sense him, Shikamaru nudged Choji, who spun around as Naruto approached. Choji, upon seeing it was Naruto, whispered to Shikamaru, "We're good, it's just Naruto."
Relaxing himself at the information, Shikamaru let out a sigh of relief before saying, "Hey, what's up Naruto. You scared the shit out of me, thought you were my mom coming to get me or something."
Confused about why Shikamaru would be so scared of his mom, Naruto shrugged it off as a Nara thing. The men of the clan were known for their laziness, so it might've had something to do with that.
In any case, Naruto made sure to exchange pleasantries with the pair, before finding himself a spot to sit down near them.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the quiet, before an unpredictable event happened, Shikamaru, the Shikamaru, broke the silence.
"Say, Naruto?"
"Yeah?"
"I gotta ask, what's the deal with the scar?"
Choji stopped himself mid bite, 'Wait a minute. What's this about Naruto and scars?' Cautiously Choji continued his bite into his apple, as he turned and inspected Naruto.
Black shoes? Check. Black pants? Check. Black and orange tunic? Check. Chainmail? Check. Headband? Check. Naruto was fully clothed, covering up most of his body, not exposing any possible scarring…
…Although, looking closer, beneath Naruto's headband, barely peeking out, was what looked to be a scar.
Realizing that Naruto did have a pretty gnarly scar, Choji burst out, "Holy shit! I never noticed that you had a scar on your forehead, Naruto! Although I suppose it would've been covered by your goggles, right?"
Although somewhat uncomfortable to talk about, Naruto wanted to answer his friends' inquiries. Of course, he couldn't exactly tell them everything, but just the fact he'd been hit in the head with a rock shouldn't be a big deal.
"Oh this," he said, removing his headband to reveal the much larger scar, "During the chase the other day after the prank I totally did not commit, someone hit me with a rock, and this is the result."
Nodding their heads, Shikamaru and Choji didn't think much deeper into it. Putting aside whether or not Naruto was responsible for that day's prank, they'd often seen how mad people got at Naruto's pranks. And honestly, it could be expected that people that mad might throw a rock or two at you.
The two were a bit surprised at just how big the scar was, considering it was just supposed to be a rock thrown out of anger considering a prank. It's not like they had any other grievances with Naruto.
More importantly to Shikamaru, however, was that he had only just looked at Naruto for the first time when he pulled his headband off to reveal the full scar. Something was off about him, and it was obvious. It wasn't just the elephant in the room, it was the whole goddamn circus!
Honestly, the curiosity Shikamaru had for Naruto's scar was nothing in comparison to the curiosity he was now feeling, even if the world was going to end, he had to know.
"Naruto? What are you wearing?"
Absolutely puzzled, Naruto looked down at himself, he was still just wearing the clothes Kosuke had picked out for him.
'Don't tell me? Maybe Kosuke was the one with the bad sense of fashion the entire time?! Shit, I can't believe he tricked me into buying these clothes!'
Starting to fume, Naruto thinking about how he could teach Kosuke a lesson for this transgression when Choji followed up on Shikamaru's question.
"Yeah, Naruto. When'd you get into fashion? I didn't think you had it in you with that orange jumpsuit you always wore around."
'Never mind, I guess I'm still the one with the bad sense of fashion.'
Answering his friends' doubts, Naruto sadly replied, "Oh, these? Kosuke made me get them, they're supposed to 'invoke a better image for Konoha,' and 'no, you cannot wear that orange abomination.' Honestly, I thought it was bullshit, but the clients so far have been treating me pretty good, so I guess there's something to it…"
Nodding his head, Choji readily accepted the answer at face-value, Shikamaru, however, only had more questions in his mind.
"Ok, makes sense. Those are more presentable, but what do you mean the clients have been treating you well? Doesn't your jonin instructor deal with them? Oh, and who's Kosuke, is he a teammate of yours, or maybe your jonin instructor?"
Realizing that he hadn't spoken to his classmates since before that night with Mizuki, Naruto began to see why they had so many questions for him.
"Long story. I'll give you the quick rundown first, I suppose. Don't got a jonin instructor, so I gotta deal with the clients myself. And Kosuke's the guy who's teaching me the ropes of being a career genin. You might also know him by the name, the Eternal Genin."
That somewhat resolved Shikamaru's question from the other day regarding Naruto, and it also made sense that he'd be dealing with clients with him having no jonin to do it for him. Once again, however, that raised another question that Shikamaru had been wondering about, just how did Naruto graduate after having failed the test?
"Well, I suppose that makes sense why you were the odd one out when we were getting our assignments. But that still doesn't really explain why you don't have a jonin instructor? Wouldn't you still need one? Not to mention I'm still curious, didn't you fail your exam? How'd you still graduate? And is that related to your lack of jonin supervision?"
That was a lot of questions at once, but they felt similar to ones Naruto had heard before…Didn't Lee ask a similar line of questions the day before?
"All your questions are related in a way. You're right that I didn't pass the test, however, I still graduated, just in a different way. The details are sealed, so I can't tell you the specifics, but I ended up receiving a field promotion. And due to that field promotion, apparently, I completely messed up the whole three genins with a jonin instructor system they had going. So, their solution to the problem I created ended up being making me a career genin. Since that wasn't exactly fair, the Eternal Genin was put in charge of teaching me."
Shikamaru could wrap his head around that answer, but it really got him thinking. Naruto was called a screw-up by many people, maybe they had jinxed themselves into being at the forefront of one of his screw ups? But seriously, it was weird to think that a sole genin could screw up the entire graduation system the village had going. It was honestly impressive.
At the same time, Shikamaru found himself maybe slightly respecting Naruto, the dude had failed the graduation test and still found a way to get promoted.
That intense round of questioning, however, did leave things a bit awkward, it wasn't like they could just go back to sitting in silence after that…
Luckily for Shikamaru, he would not have to think about the awkwardness for long, as soon after Naruto answered the last question, Choji's stomach growled.
In response, the big-boned boy said, "Hehe, I guess its time to eat? I already know your answer, Shika, but Naruto, wanna come with?"
Spending time with friends? Naruto could not turn down that opportunity. Quickly agreeing to the proposal, and tagging along, already wondering what they'd be eating.
Choji skillfully led the way, with Naruto behind him, and Shikamaru trailing some further distance behind, moving at a sluggish pace.
The trio walked on in silence, eventually arriving in front of Barbeque Akimichi, which Choji and Shikamaru promptly entered.
Naruto lagged behind, trying to process that he had just been led to his friend's family-owned business. The guy had literally just unashamedly found more business for his own people.
Shaking his head, Naruto entered the building, quickly finding the table where his friends were already seated. Interestingly, the table was already filled with meats and vegetables, although they had only just entered the restaurant a couple seconds prior. Furthermore, it looked like they were eating…hotpot? Naruto wasn't quite sure, he hadn't eaten hotpot before, but he was pretty sure that's what it was.
Skillfully, Choji and Shikamaru began cooking their preferred foods, with Shikamaru gingerly putting in some meat, whereas Choji looked like a tornado, grabbing multiple different items, and putting them in. It didn't really look like he was being picky, just picking up whatever meat or vegetable he could the fastest.
It was a new experience for Naruto, and sitting down, he began to copy what Shikamaru was doing with his food, not daring to attempt Choji's strategy.
As if sensing Naruto's hesitance, Choji asked, still continuing his tornado of food prep, "Yo, you okay Naruto? Ya look kind of awkward, have you never eaten hotpot before?"
Somewhat dejectedly, Naruto shook his head, saying, "No, never had the opportunity. I usually just stick to ramen…"
That shocked Choji, sure he was an orphan, but to have never eaten hotpot, that just seemed weird. Shikamaru, on the other hand, just brushed it off, it wasn't that strange to him, he only really ate hotpot with Choji, after all.
It ate at Choji though, as he thought back to all the times, he'd seen Naruto eating. Naruto had said he'd only ever really eaten toast in the morning. At the academy, Choji had never seen Naruto eat even a snack. And the only time Choji had seen him at dinnertime was at Ichiraku's when he occasionally went. Heck, thinking back on it, hadn't Naruto been there every time he went to Ichiraku's.
Choji almost brushed it off, but food was his bread and butter (pun not intended), and things weren't adding up. Stopping the tornado, he asked, "Naruto, what do you usually eat, besides ramen?"
Honestly, Choji had never thought about food in relation to Naruto before, but he was a bit worried about what he might hear as an answer. Naruto was an orphan, but surely…
"Outside of ramen? I don't know, toast in the morning with a glass of milk. I think that's about it."
It was so much worse than what Choji thought. That was bad, like, really, really bad. Sure, he always had a bag of chips with him, but that was purely for caloric needs relating to his jutsu. He much preferred more well-balanced meals, with a mix of meat and vegetables. To be honest, it was a miracle that Naruto had managed to survive thus far with a diet of essentially only ramen. Realistically, it shouldn't even be possible.
"Please Naruto, please tell me you're joking," Choji pleaded with Naruto for the truth.
Shikamaru turned to his friend, surprised by the desperation in his voice. What was the big deal?
Choji pleas went unanswered, "No, why would I joke about that?"
It took several deep breaths for Choji to calm himself, which deeply concerned both Naruto and Shikamaru. What was the big deal?
"Uh, Choji, are you doing okay?"
Rubbing his head, Choji waved his friend off, saying, "I'm perfectly fine. What's not fine, however, is Naruto?"
At a loss, both Naruto and Shikamaru unconsciously let out, "Me? / Naruto?"
Struggling to remain calm, Choji continued, "Yes, you, Naruto? You and Shikamaru don't realize it yourselves, but what you just said to me, a food expert, is one of the worst things I've heard in my life."
Naruto, doubtful, despite the conviction in Choji's words, asked, "What do you mean? Surely, you're exaggerating? Plenty of people like to eat ramen, I just happen to love ramen. I don't see what's the big deal about that."
Choji could see that Naruto didn't understand, so he patiently explained, "Naruto…the problem isn't your love of ramen. I like it myself. The problem is that you only eat ramen."
Shikamaru caught onto Choji's words, but Naruto was still looking puzzled, thus, Choji continued.
"You see, people have needs. Nutritional needs, ones that cannot solely be filled by ramen alone. To be fully honest with you, I don't know how you're alive right now, it's that serious."
Although Shikamaru knew about proper nutrition, it wasn't something he ever really thought about. And it was only when Choji had pointed it out that he began to realize how strange what Naruto had just said was. How was he alive?
Sheepishly, Naruto tried to laugh it off, "Well, if I'm still alive, then I suppose its not that big of a deal, now, is it?"
He chuckled, finding it amusing, that is, until he noticed the lack of laughter coming from his two friends who were having a silent conversation with their eyes.
Sighing, Shikamaru said, "You know more about it than me, Choji, you should explain it to him."
Choji had wanted his smarter friend to explain it, but what Shikamaru said did convince him to do it instead, he did know more, after all.
"Naruto, putting aside your miraculous survival. One of the reasons why proper nutrition is so important, and thus, your ramen-only diet being so bad, is that your body requires various things to properly grow and develop. Ignoring any humor in you being so short, your diet is probably why. Not to mention, it's not really possible to put on muscle or get stronger without a well-balanced diet."
Choji paused to let the information sink into Naruto's brain, before continuing.
"Look, I wouldn't say anything if it wasn't a big deal, but it really is. And as your friend, I'd hate to see something preventable cause your death, whether that be from lack of nutrition, or from the hands of shinobi you'd have beat with a better diet."
Choji had hit him where it hurts, his height and his ability as a shinobi. Now with more understanding, Naruto sat in silence, thinking about all that he'd just heard.
"Naruto, I'll cut you a deal," Choji said, unsealing a book from a scroll he had on him, "Here's an Akimichi-based cookbook. I'll give it to ya for free, just promise me to use it, and stop eating only ramen."
Silently accepting the book, Naruto looked through it. Only to be confronted with the damned code, of course, he'd forgotten about his dyslexia. What use would a book be that he couldn't read anyway? Everything he'd heard at the restaurant was bringing him down, and the code in the book, that might've been the last straw.
That is, if Choji wasn't there to save the day with some good news.
"Now that I'm thinking about it. What's wrong with you?"
That was a bad way to put it though, as Choji realized and quickly corrected his words as he watched his friend's face drop.
"I don't mean it like that! What I mean, is one, you shouldn't be alive with your diet. That's impressive on its own. But also, you're well-known for your insane stamina, like, you always would get your ass kicked by Sasuke, and you could just brush it off and get up."
That fired Naruto up, "Hey! Those fights were close! I never got my ass kicked; he's lucky Iruka-sensei would save him every time!"
Unconvinced, Choji continued, "Well, regardless of who kicked whose ass, and who was saved by who? It stills stands, you're lucky to be alive, much less able to run around nonstop like nobodies' business. Not to mention, you're one of the stronger guys from our class. That shouldn't be possible with your diet, and here you are."
That got both Shikamaru and Naruto thinking, that sure was strange. Shikamaru, in particular, noted it down in his mind as another weird thing about Naruto, before he turned back to paying attention to what Choji was saying.
"Continuing with that train of thought, wouldn't you be practically unstoppable with a better diet? Heck, the wound where your scar is healed quickly, right?"
"Yeah? Pretty much overnight."
"That's really weird as well! If me or Shika got hurt like that, it'd be at least a week before it really started healing up. Overnight, it'd only scab up at most. With proper nutrition, your wound might've completely healed overnight instead. Shit, the more things I list off, and the more things I hear about you, the stranger it gets."
Naruto nodded his head, wondering whether it might be the Kyuubi's work. Mizuki had said something about him being the Kyuubi, which did not really make sense, because wouldn't the village have killed him then? Still, it had to be related to that, after all, if that wasn't considered, then he was just a normal orphan.
Shikamaru, on the other hand, knew nothing about the Kyuubi being sealed in Naruto, and everything Choji had said while at the restaurant was very weird. Making notes in his mind about everything he had heard, he resolved himself to look into it at a later time.
"Screw it, all this thinking is working up my appetite, I gotta eat. But look here Naruto, I still wanna hear you promise to eat better from now on before you leave here today. And in that regard, I'd also say you should study up on the Nutritional Sciences, its surprisingly useful for ninja like us."
Excited at the possibilities that would open up from a better diet, Naruto quickly saluted, "Hai, Choji-sensei. I will do as you say."
The trio broke out into a laugh at the comedic salutation, before going back to eating.
"Oh yeah, Choji, where'd you pull the cooking book from anyhow?"
"Oh, I got a storage scroll full of food that had it in it."
"What's a storage scroll?"
Taking over Shikamaru began to explain, "A storage scroll is an application of Fuinjutsu..."
Author's Note: Haha, kind of late for me to put out a chapter, but I actually went to class for once. Think I was sick earlier in the week, so at least I had some form of excuse, but really couldn't put off class any further. This chapter is my longest yet, once again dialogue heavy, and by my count, eight and a half pages in Word. Took me a couple hours to write, but I'm happy with how it came out.
To be honest, I can't live with that ramen-only diet Naruto bullshit, had to get rid of that early on. And who better to do that than the master of food himself, Choji. Not gonna lie, Rock Lee and Choji are two of my favorite characters in the series, and I'm hoping to use them more in the future.
We also got Shikamaru in on the weird happenings surrounding Naruto, who knows where that might go.
In any case, its late, don't know whether I'll start the next chapter tonight or wait till tomorrow. Regardless, I got the next couple of chapters roughly planned out, so shouldn't take too long.
Hope you enjoyed reading. :)
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