By: CrystalinElf
Chapter 5: Say Goodbye
"I hate you."
The voice was sullen and filled with anger, but held no real hate, so he ignored the boy glaring at
him in favor of reading the papers his father had given him. He was able to read five pages
before a pale white hand snatched them from his grasp.
"Stop ignoring me, dobe!"
Naruto sighed and stood up - stretching his arms above his head - before looking calmly at Sasuke.
"You know, doing petty things like that is probably the reason you don't get to go to school."
Sasuke scowled at him, fists clenched. "This isn't fair! Why do you get to go to school and I don't?
Why are you more like Itachi-nii? I'm older than you, I should be the one who gets to go to
school!"
More like Itachi? Huh… so that's the problem… I get to go to school early, like his idol.
He nodded slowly, and before Sasuke could blink had taken his papers back. "Look, I need to go
to school more than you, Sasuke-nii. You know way more than I do… I'm sure once mother
and father send you to school, I'll have caught up with you. I'm going to learn the things you
already know. Understand?"
"So…" Sasuke blinked as his scowl faded away, expression brightening as he considered Naruto's
statement. "So, I'm more like Itachi-nii than you, and I don't need to go. Good. That's good.
Work hard, Naruto!"
Naruto repressed a sigh as Sasuke patted him on the shoulder for encouragement, jealousy
forgotten. He's so simple to please at times…I have to remind myself a lot that he's a human
child, and not kitsune - that it's natural for him to be less mature then me. Still… bet I
catch up, and surpass, Sasuke-nii in no time.
But he smiled - added a touch of gratitude to his expression - then nodded and said softly, "thanks
Sasuke-nii, I appreciate the support. Someday, I'll be as good as you!"
Sasuke laughed, "Sure, try and catch up."
Then he left the living room, leaving Naruto to peacefully go back to his reading.
Just two days, he thought, and then I get to go to school. This is going to be so fun! With a
strong sense of anticipation, he applied himself to his books and papers, determined to learn as
much as possible before his first class.
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I don't like this.
I really don't like this.
Initially, he had been very happy. He loved learning, and had been trying to convince the Hokage to
enroll him in the Ninja Academy - without any success. So when his mother had told him he
would be attending the Ninja Academy starting today, he had been ecstatic.
Be careful what you wish for Naruto…the Mother just might give it to you.
He was now sitting in a room with twenty-nine other children, all older than him, all staring at him as
he sat stoically in his seat. He was at the back of the classroom, fairly high up, which only
made him more nervous. All those eyes, looking up at him…
He suppressed a shudder and prayed the teacher would arrive soon. He didn't mind learning. In
fact, he loved learning how to do new things. But he certainly didn't like the way everyone was
looking at him, trying to judge what he was capable of. I hate being watched like this.
His prayers must have been heard - a few minutes later, there was his instructor, standing in front of
the class and looking as if he'd been there the entire time. A young man with white hair and
black eyes, he introduced himself as Mizuki-sensei and immediately began taking the roll.
Mentally, Naruto breathed a sigh of relief as everyone's attention focused on the teacher. Rabid
monsters… staring at me as though I'm some new and interesting prey. Makes me more
sympathetic with the animals my littermates hunted for fun.
"Today is just to get to know one another, lessons will begin tomorrow," he heard Mizuki say.
He repressed a groan and slumped forward slightly in his seat as he refocused on his sensei.
Introductions?
He really didn't want to give his classmates another chance to stare at him…
"And we'll begin with Uchiha Naruto. Naruto-kun, tell us your likes, dislikes, dreams and hobbies."
He wanted to tell Mizuki to stop smiling at him encouragingly, but stood up and nodded obediently.
"Hai, Mizuki-sensei."
He paused a moment, then continued. "My name is Uchiha Naruto. I like a lot of things. I dislike
being stared at. My dream is to become a good ninja. My hobby is training."
He stopped there and sat back down, noting Mizuki's disappointed frown. What else did he want
me to say? Whatever, I'm not divulging more than I have too, just like Itachi. But Mizuki
didn't ask him for more, and went on to the next student he wanted to hear from. An hour later
- as some people really seemed to love talking about themselves - once everyone's
introduction was made, they were dismissed from class.
Now he was disappointed as well.
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He walked quietly back home - shoulders slumped slightly. None of his classmates had seemed
particularly interesting, and Mizuki had given made him feel very… odd. As though there was
something dark and tainted hiding behind the outwardly friendly appearance.
"How was your class, Naruto-kun?" Itachi's voice interrupted his train of thought before he could
properly analyze his teacher's oddness, but he had to smile. He was only halfway home, so
apparently Itachi-nii had planned on picking him up after class.
He looked up at Itachi and smiled slightly. "So-so. All we did was make introductions for about an
hour, and then he let us leave. I was disappointed."
"Hn. Who is your instructor?"
Naruto fell into step with Itachi and the proceeded on home together, keeping one eye on his
surroundings and one eye on his brother. "Mizuki-san. He seems friendly - though he kept staring at
me like he expected me to say or do something. Seemed disappointed when I didn't give out
anything but the most basic information."
"Mizuki… been a chuunin for a couple of years, I think this year is his first teaching." Itachi paused
a moment, thinking. "He probably just wants to know more about our clan - we don't give out
much information about ourselves. Everyone is curious about us."
"And me, since I'm adopted?" Naruto asked shrewdly.
"That, and because you're as mature as you are. Your mentality and capabilities definitely aren't
those of a child." Itachi ruffled Naruto's hair as he said this, smiling at his 'little brother's'
indignant 'humph'.
"Work hard Naruto, and you can surpass me," he added in a low voice, face darkening for a moment.
"Surpass you? Nahhh, I'll never surpass you, Itachi-nii. You're the best at everything." Naruto
stated firmly.
"Not at everything Naruto… not at everything."
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As he exited his class that Friday, Itachi was once again there waiting for him - and Itachi has been
there everyday this week, not just Naruto's first day.
He was both pleased and annoyed by this.
He was glad to see Itachi - the afternoon appearances by the older boy had been all that Naruto
had seen of him this week. As expected, Itachi was dedicating a lot of time to missions and
training. Naruto appreciated Itachi's continued interest in him, and was flattered that the stoic
boy took the time to see Naruto, and answer whatever questions Naruto had after class. At
least, until Itachi had to go and train more, which Naruto accepted readily enough as
something he, too, would one day have to do.
Train, train, and train some more.
So he wasn't in the least surprised to see Itachi waiting for him by the door of his class when he
exited the room that afternoon, and he greeted his brother with a warm smile and nod.
"Naruto, I can't stay, I have mission, but Hinata had a note dropped off for you, saying she'll be a
little late for your regular meeting," Said Itachi, before Naruto had time to call a greeting. "And
mother says to be home in time for dinner, as usual."
Naruto nodded and smiled again, giving Itachi a brief hug before he could pull out of Naruto's
reach. "Ok, thanks for passing on the message Itachi."
"Aa."
Then Itachi was gone - presumably off to meet up with his team and go on their mission. And
Naruto didn't mind, not at all. He never had liked people being around when he was spending time
with Hinata… other people made that precious time go by to quickly, or tried to claim the time
for themselves, shortening his already short time with his first and best friend.
He hurried to the park where they always met, secluded away from the main hustle and bustle of the
village, away from people and prying eyes. The week had passed by rather quickly, once
Mizuki actually started to teach his students.
He hasn't assigned us homework, per se, but those quizzes every day are annoying. I don't
mind them, but I can tell the others do. Probably because they get bad marks on them.
Hehehe. They've had the benefit of belonging to a ninja family and community for
years, and I still do better than them.
Aren't their parents teaching them anything?
So far, the only person Naruto had encountered - from his own age group at least - that knew as
much about different jutsu as he did was Hinata (especially if he included what he knew of
Kitsune techniques). Sasuke didn't seem to know any, and Itachi was too old to compare to,
but Hinata… she came from a family as advanced as the Uchiha's, and obviously studied.
I like Hinata. She's quiet and shy, and very gentle, but she's far more mature than Sasuke is.
And more fun. Sasuke may be more mature than most of the other children our age that
I've met. If Itachi-nii so much, I would probably be wishing that I had been sent to live
with the Hyuuga's instead. Then I could have trained with Hinata all the time.
And speaking of Hinata, there she is!
Hinata had arrived sooner than her note had made him anticipated, and her cheeks were red from
exertion. She had obviously run here to meet him on time.
"Naruto-kun, gomen. I didn't want to be late…" she said worriedly, once he was within hearing
range.
"Ahh Hinata-chan!" he said, bouncing up beside her and giving her a big hug, "you're not late at all.
In fact, I'd said you're early, since the note you sent me said you'd be late."
"T.. true, but… but I wanted to meet you even earlier… you're my best friend Naruto-kun, and…
and I so rarely get to see you," Hinata stuttered out, looking awkwardly at the ground.
He frowned. Something was obviously bothering her…
"Hinata-chan, what's wrong? You're upset, I know it." And I can smell it, he added mentally,
hugging her a little closer.
"I… it's just that… Father… and Neji-nii-san… and my uncle…" she trailed off, and refused to
look up at him.
"Explain, Hinata. Maybe I can help," he said softly, reaching up to pet her hair, and being thankful
once more that she was as mature as she was. She would be able to explain why she was
upset, with few of the irrational fears that plagued most human children.
She buried her head into his shirt, trembling slightly. "On my birthday, Neji was made a branch
member of the family. He has to protect me, and do whatever I say! And he's better than me
at everything… and also on my birthday, someone tried to kidnap me! Father killed him. But
the person was someone important, and his village protested… and Neji's father was… sent
to 'appease' that village. He's dead."
She stopped there, and he frowned slightly. Branch family? Just what in the world was that? He
refrained from asking, knowing instinctively that he wouldn't like the answer. To Kitsune, all
family and life was precious. Certainly, that which was irrevocably tainted by the Worm should
be eliminated, lest more things became contaminated, but that didn't mean they never lamented
the loss of life.
"What else?" he asked a few minutes later, when it became apparent she wasn't going to unburden
herself further on her own.
"I… I want to spend more time with you, Naruto-kun. But…" she trailed off again.
"Yes?" he prompted once more, still speaking softly.
"Father doesn't want me to spend time with you anymore. He wants me to stop playing with you,
or socializing with you…"
He could tell from her voice that she was crying now, though the tears did nothing to stop her from
speaking.
"He says you distract me from my training, but you don't! You motivate me to train harder!" she
paused again, then forced herself to continue, "but I know that the real reason he doesn't want
me to be around you, is because you're an Uchiha now. He really doesn't like the Uchiha clan
too much…"
"I see," he said, continuing to pet her hair. "I suppose it can't be helped then…"
"But…" she protested weakly, stepping away from him a bit to look him in the eyes.
"I'll stay by your side as long as I can tonight, Hinata. But your father is the head of your clan, and
as such his word is law. If you disobey him and come see me, when your not on an errand that
involves seeing me, or I'm not with the Hokage… he could do a lot worse than just telling
you not to come see me."
He smiled sadly, noting her look of realization. "He could enforce it as well. Send you away from
Konaha for 'training', or locking you in your room, or having someone watch you all the time.
Even if you got to see me, you wouldn't be able to enjoy our time together. If you're punished
enough, you may even come to resent me for it."
He pulled her to him again, resting his chin atop her head. "Accept it for now, Hinata. And when
we're older, and we've both become shinobi, then we can see each other again. We can train
together, ask hokage to put us on the same teams, and you're father won't be able to say
anything about it. Alright?"
He felt her nod reluctantly, smiled sadly once more, and continued to hold her as close as he could.
He would miss his best friend dearly, but if Hiashi was gonna be an ass about things, he would
accept it for now and do the best he could to make sure he would be able to see her again, in
the future.
"It won't be forever. He can't make it forever. We'll see each other again, so for now, train hard
and hold on. I promise, We'll get to train together and play together again someday."
Oh, he shouldn't make promised, Mirra had warned him not to. What if he or she died between
now and the time they became shinobi? His promise would be broken, and likely he'd be
punished for it…
But he promised anyway.
"Ok? I promise." He repeated, shoving aside his thoughts and concentrating on comforting his
friend.
"Ok, Naruto-kun. I'll train hard, I promise. I'll… be ok." Hinata said reluctantly, though she felt
better for having told him, rather than just disappearing on him and making him think she was
too busy for him. And they would see each other again, she thought. He'd promised.
Naruto nodded again and closed his eyes.
Yes, I'm glad she's as mature as she is… but by the Mother, I'm gonna miss seeing her.
Together, they waited, still holding each other as night fell, until Neji came to pick Hinata up.
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To Be Continued:
Thanks again everyone for reading, and I apologize (very much so!) for the delay in getting this
chapter out. I planned on posting last Sunday, and an annoying amount of things came up.
Notes: Only main note is that Itachi and Sasuke's mother is called 'Itachi', according to my
sources. Naruke pointed that out, and I acknowledge it. HOWEVER! I dislike having Itachi-kun's
name being the same as his mothers, so I changed her name. I found writing about the mother
and the son too confusing when their names were the same, and I dislike naming a child after a
parent in general, unless the parent is dead. Don't ask why, I'm not sure.
I will TRY to post chapter 6 this week. Unfortunately, the things that kept me busy the last two
weeks are also occurring this week (my Aniki is getting married again, the baka. Two weeks
after getting his divorce finalized. So he says. He's said it was finalized before in December,
and it wasn't soooo.)
Anyway, you lovely people don't need to be burdened with my frustration.
I want to know, what do you think I should write about next? The Uchiha slaughter, or something
else? I plan on writing a few 'side stories,' including a belated Valentines Day one. Also, as
side stories, they might not match up exactly with the time line. For example, the Valentines
Day special takes place on LAST year's valentines day, when Itachi was six and still in school.
Eh, as the timeline goes, Itachi graduated in February. Please over look this.
Thanks again for reading my story. Feel free to flame me, as long as you're constructive about it.
Feel free to suggest anything you'd like to see in the story (no, it will NOT be Naru/Sasu.
Well… not reciprocated anyway). Also, suggest title changes for the chapters if you like =)
I'm horrid with naming things.
* hugs EVERYONE *
You're all the best!