Chapter 1
Look back to prologue for disclaimer, alright?
The room was silent, save for the quiet slurping of noodles. Scrolls, kunai, and shuriken were scattered around the room, on the counters, hanging out of cupboards, and the floor. The only clean place in the room was on the table, where two boys sat eating instant ramen. I was hunched over my cup, not even looking at, engrossed in a new scroll. My brother was also hunched over his cup, but he barely looked awake. Like every morning they each had one empty cup by them that they were eating, an empty one next to them, and one steaming cup in the middle of the table.
We both finished our cups at the same time and reached for the remaining cup in the middle of the table with our chopsticks. Our chopsticks encountered each other and backed off in defensive stances. Then the chopsticks started attacking each other viciously, trying to get to the remaining cup of ramen before the other. I didn't raise my eyes from my scroll, knowing I would will this battle like I do every day. Suddenly, a hand reached out and snatched cup. I raised my eyes to see my brother grin at his victory.
"Cheater," I said as the he dug into the cup. "You aren't supposed to use your hands, Naruto."
"Well I was hungry after cleaning the Hokage monument yesterday." He replied, finishing up the cup. "If you hadn't been so engrossed in that scroll you would have noticed."
"And I used to wonder why today will be your third time taking the exam."
"It's your third time too," he spat, finishing the cup, standing up. "Anyways, I get the shower first, you can clean the table." With that, he took off up the stairs.
"Oh no you don't!" I shouted, taking after him. We raced each other up the stairs, kicking, punching, and grabbing each other's clothes trying to be the first to the shower and the hot water. Getting to the door, Naruto leaped in and slammed it behind him, nearly smashing my fingers as I tried to pull them away.
"Yes, I win again!" My brother laughed, as I walked back downstairs. I slowly started cleaning the table as the shower upstairs started to run. I shook my head. This happed everyday, and in everything I do. Naruto, my older brother, always was one step ahead of me in everything. I finished up cleaning the table and I picked up my scroll and went back into my room. The right wall of my room is covered in shelves of scrolls of all kinds. I placed my new scroll in a section called 'Water Seals'. I smiled to myself. This was one thing I had over my brother. He barely knew what a sealing jutsu was and I know fifty. A few of the lower level ones I've even gotten to work.
I walked over to a small mirror I had on the opposite wall. Staring at myself, I realized again how much similar we looked. Naruto had his whisker marks, and his hair always stood up spiky, I had no marks and my hair always wanted to fall down over my eyes. We were so similar, yet somehow I was always in his shadow. I looked out the window at my home, Konoha. I can't stop thinking about how the town sees us. Naruto and I have talked about it, but not in years. When they look at him, they see anger, and hate. But when they see me, they see pity. It bugs me so much. What could they pity about my life? That I had no parents? What about it? Haven't they seen how my brother and I survive? And if that was the case, why don't they look at my brother the same way as me? I punched the wall. I need to stop thinking about this, it only makes me angry.
"Janus, the shower is yours! I'm off to the academy, later!" I slowly collected my things as my brother closed the door as he left. As I stepped into the shower, luke warm water greeted me. This is a change; usually Naruto takes all the warm water. That either means he was in a hurry or actually tried to do something nice for a change. I hope it was the second. Today is an important day. I will pass the Genin exams today. We both will.
Look back to prologue for disclaimer, alright?
The room was silent, save for the quiet slurping of noodles. Scrolls, kunai, and shuriken were scattered around the room, on the counters, hanging out of cupboards, and the floor. The only clean place in the room was on the table, where two boys sat eating instant ramen. I was hunched over my cup, not even looking at, engrossed in a new scroll. My brother was also hunched over his cup, but he barely looked awake. Like every morning they each had one empty cup by them that they were eating, an empty one next to them, and one steaming cup in the middle of the table.
We both finished our cups at the same time and reached for the remaining cup in the middle of the table with our chopsticks. Our chopsticks encountered each other and backed off in defensive stances. Then the chopsticks started attacking each other viciously, trying to get to the remaining cup of ramen before the other. I didn't raise my eyes from my scroll, knowing I would will this battle like I do every day. Suddenly, a hand reached out and snatched cup. I raised my eyes to see my brother grin at his victory.
"Cheater," I said as the he dug into the cup. "You aren't supposed to use your hands, Naruto."
"Well I was hungry after cleaning the Hokage monument yesterday." He replied, finishing up the cup. "If you hadn't been so engrossed in that scroll you would have noticed."
"And I used to wonder why today will be your third time taking the exam."
"It's your third time too," he spat, finishing the cup, standing up. "Anyways, I get the shower first, you can clean the table." With that, he took off up the stairs.
"Oh no you don't!" I shouted, taking after him. We raced each other up the stairs, kicking, punching, and grabbing each other's clothes trying to be the first to the shower and the hot water. Getting to the door, Naruto leaped in and slammed it behind him, nearly smashing my fingers as I tried to pull them away.
"Yes, I win again!" My brother laughed, as I walked back downstairs. I slowly started cleaning the table as the shower upstairs started to run. I shook my head. This happed everyday, and in everything I do. Naruto, my older brother, always was one step ahead of me in everything. I finished up cleaning the table and I picked up my scroll and went back into my room. The right wall of my room is covered in shelves of scrolls of all kinds. I placed my new scroll in a section called 'Water Seals'. I smiled to myself. This was one thing I had over my brother. He barely knew what a sealing jutsu was and I know fifty. A few of the lower level ones I've even gotten to work.
I walked over to a small mirror I had on the opposite wall. Staring at myself, I realized again how much similar we looked. Naruto had his whisker marks, and his hair always stood up spiky, I had no marks and my hair always wanted to fall down over my eyes. We were so similar, yet somehow I was always in his shadow. I looked out the window at my home, Konoha. I can't stop thinking about how the town sees us. Naruto and I have talked about it, but not in years. When they look at him, they see anger, and hate. But when they see me, they see pity. It bugs me so much. What could they pity about my life? That I had no parents? What about it? Haven't they seen how my brother and I survive? And if that was the case, why don't they look at my brother the same way as me? I punched the wall. I need to stop thinking about this, it only makes me angry.
"Janus, the shower is yours! I'm off to the academy, later!" I slowly collected my things as my brother closed the door as he left. As I stepped into the shower, luke warm water greeted me. This is a change; usually Naruto takes all the warm water. That either means he was in a hurry or actually tried to do something nice for a change. I hope it was the second. Today is an important day. I will pass the Genin exams today. We both will.