A.Note: Sorry it took so long for this. I hope everyone enjoys it.
Part II – My Dream – By Falcon-Rider – POV 1st person naruto
I have a dream.
How spectacularly wonderful, yet obvious and cliché does that sound? After all, everyone has a dream.
Mine, however, is just a tad out there. You see, I have made it my dream, my goal, my purpose, to be the Hokage. Ever since the old man told me what was so special about the position when I was eight, I knew I had to become the Hokage.
"The Hokage is a title given to a shinobi who has been acknowledged by the entire village to be the best-" The old man had begun.
To be honest I don't really remember anything else that he told me about it, after: "acknowledged by the entire village" had been stated, my mind had tuned out the rest of the world and had become a maelstrom of thought.
To be acknowledged by the village is all I ever have really wanted and if becoming the Hokage would give me that... then I would become the Hokage.
But, I have a problem. This problem has managed to interrupt my goal- to at times make it seem impossible, to both me and on lookers.
This problem is a mask. A bright, cheerful, outgoing, loudmouth, idiotic, and annoying mask- which is why my orange and blue jumpsuit had fit it to a 'T'.
The goal with that orange and blue jumpsuit had been, as all my goals were, to gain attention. It worked too; though, in hindsight I realize that the attention I had gained with both my jumpsuit and my mask may have been the wrong type of attention. For, all I had succeeded in doing with it was putting doubt in everyone's mind about my abilities.
Eventually, I had enough of the lies, the deceit my entire life involved. I grew tired of my perfect act, and so, the day before my day, I made a decision. A decision that I knew would change my life.
I made a decision to be myself, to drop that mask.
On my birthday I had placed on a brand new outfit, one that I hoped fit me better than my old one. And, on that day, I threw away the old jumpsuit, my old life.
It took me forever to do. My fingers seemed to refuse the command my mind sent their way.
Drop it.
My fingers had refused, lingering and memorizing the feel of the worn orange cloth. Eventually, somehow, they managed to comply and the bright garment fell into the dark silver sided container- a single tear had followed it into the dark depths.
My hand clenched at the memory; though, I know I'll get over it eventually.
My eyes were closed, and I was balancing on the railing of the bridge team seven met at every morning.
"Uncharacteristically" I had arrived two hours early. I had spent most of that time working on my taijutsu. My new goal for the moment- one that I knew would help me to achieve my dream- was to make all the moves I could reactions rather than responses.
After an hour of practice I had eaten the sandwich I had made this morning with the leftovers from my birthday shopping excursion. The cheese and ham had tasted as good as ever- and managed to fill me up, unlike ramen.
When I had gotten rid of the sandwich bag I had moved to my current position, sitting on the railing, my feet dangling over the water.
Only twenty minutes later Sasuke had arrived. His dark eyes had moved over me, for once filled with an emotion- surprise and curiosity both dwelled in the depths.
"Nani?" I muttered, I had turned my head toward him. His eyes met mine and he shrugged.
"Did you shrink your clothes, dobe?"
I rolled my eye in my mind and just turned around, replacing my gaze on the glistening water. "Iie."
I guess he wanted to ask more, but his stubborn personality wouldn't let him. Not that I really wanted to answer any questions anyway, which was the one thing I was going to dread about my sudden change.
Almost everybody would want to know why.
At that moment, I just ignored it, I didn't want to deal with him- and he had never shown much interest in truly dealing with me.
A few minutes went by, silent but for the sounds of rushing water and birds chirping.
"Ohayo Sasuke-kun!" A way too alert and happy voice announced the arrival of the last gennin member of my team.
Haruno Sakura, a girl I used to vie for the attention of. Now, I chose to ignore her.
Sasuke didn't even make a sound; I guess he was still a bit perplexed over my change. Sakura's running feet slowed, the pat pat of her shoes coming to a stop not far from us.
I could almost feel her gaze upon me, surprised and questioning. A slight rustle of cloth came a second later, one I was used to hearing. Sasuke had shrugged, probably in response to a look from Sakura.
"O...hayo?" Sakura began slowly- her voice confused... perhaps a little concerned. "Naruto?"
"Ohayo," I answer slightly flippantly.
"Ano... you changed your clothes," the comment came out more like a question and I shrugged.
"I got bored." They were both silent then, I guess my lack of enthusiasm and energy scared them a little.
A good hour or two later, full of silence but for a few awkward questions or comments from Sakura, our sensei finally appeared.
The ever late hentai of a sensei, Hatake Kakashi appeared in front of us his visible eye closed, "Gomen, I was helping a dolphin with some rowdy-"
"LIAR!" Sakura yelled, pointing her finger at the gray haired jounin.
Kakashi frowned behind his mask and opened his eye, glancing at all of us. I noticed his gaze settle on me and I slid off the bar to land on the water below. Sakura was peeking over the edge, worry and shock on her face when I looked up. A moment later Kakashi and Sasuke appeared to look down at me.
I placed my hands behind my head and glanced up at them, "Oi, Sensei, do we have a mission?"
Kakashi tilted his head at me, his eye glancing at me with a bit of interest. "Iie Naruto. Today we train."
In a flash Kakashi stood before me, his hands in his pockets and a bored expression on his face.
"Sakura, Sasuke, join us."
"D-Demo!" Sakura sputtered. "We don't know how to walk on water! You never taught us!"
Sasuke snorted and jumped up to land on the railing. "It can't be that hard, if dobe can do it. Sides, it's probably just like climbing a tree."
I laughed inwardly, it was a lot different from climbing a tree... and the teme was assuming just because I could do it that it would be easy.
I guess I should have expected that, after all, no one really thinks I'm capable of doing anything. Except, perhaps, Ero-sennin or Iruka-Sensei... after all, Ero-sennin had taken the time to train me during the chunnin exams, and on the mission to retrieve Tsunade-baba. I guess that makes four then, Tsunade did give me the necklace that rests below my forehead protector... and Shizune treats me like a little brother.
I frown as I watch Sasuke jump. He was gathering charka at least... but not the correct amount I note just before he hits the water... and falls though.
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura shrieked from above and I cringe. Hopefully she'll be smart enough to try coming from the shore.
After a moment I note that Kakashi-sensei had moved to the shore where a wet and disgruntled Sasuke was getting the worried attention of Sakura.
It was going to be a long morning.
By lunch time Sakura had managed to walk around, with only a few small lapses of control. Sasuke on the other hand, was having a bit more trouble.
The Uchiha could, perhaps, walk a few feet but then his control would waver- causing his feet to slip beneath the water. It didn't surprise me at all... and I doubt it surprised Kakashi-sensei much. If I hadn't known how to walk on water all ready I would probably be as bad off as Sasuke.
As it was I was reclining against the water, lying down across it- which pissed Sasuke off to no end.
An hour after noon, Kakashi announced the end of practice and the three of us made our way back up to the bridge.
I was watching the ground, which was probably why I didn't notice the person approaching until Sakura said something.
"Ohayo Hinata-chan!"
I snapped my eyes up, and glanced at the dark haired Kounichi a few feet away. Her hands were behind her back and her eyes on the ground.
"Ohayo," her soft voice spoke up.
"What are you doing Hinata?" Sakura asked. "Doesn't team 8 practice on the other side of the village?"
"Ano..." Hinata looked up and blushed. "Ano, Naruto-kun, g-gomen... my family had a l-large g-get together and I-I couldn't get a-away... ano... this is f-for you."
This gathered my interested, what was she apologizing for?
Then, she held it out in front of her. My eyes widened in surprised.
It was a small rectangular box, wrapped in a simple light blue wrapping paper. A gold ribbon was wrapped around it.
I stared, I was shocked to silence... not even a thought entered my mind.
Before me Hinata fidgeted, "Ano..."
Her voice broke me from my thoughts, "A-arigatou gozaimasu, Hinata-chan."
I reached out and took the gift from her outstretched hands.
"D-Dooitashim-mashite." She stammered, I noticed a blush rose on her cheeks.
"Ano, may I?" I slipped a finger beneath the side of the paper. I admit I was a bit impatient. But, having never received a gift from anyone before... I couldn't help but want to just tear it open.
"H-Hai," at her nod I carefully began to unwrap it. I was going to savor this moment, just in case it never happened again. Under the wrapping paper was a white box, opening it I moved aside some blue tissue paper.
My eyes widened again, "Sugoi! Arigatou Hinata-chan!" I lift one of the black hand protectors from the box. "I'll always wear these!" I smile slightly, genuinely, as I slip them on, being careful not to drop the gift box. I didn't notice till later the swirl engraved upon them, which only made me love them more.
Off to the side Sasuke and Sakura stood, surprised, shocked, any thing similar to these words describes the way their mouths hung open and their widened eyes.
They never thought about me, but maybe they were beginning to. Maybe they, and everyone else, will begin to see that my dream may have some merit.
I smile and glance up at Hinata-chan. "I'll never forget this!"
Her cheeks turned a darker red, and the tips of her fingers touched nervously, "H-Happy B-belated Birthday, Naruto-kun."
Fin.
Arigatou Gozaimasu or Arigatou – thank you formal, thanks
Dooitashimashite – you're welcome
Sugoi – cool, awesome, neat, spiffy...
Iie – no
Hai – yes
Ohayo – Good morning, or a slang way of saying hi all day (I spent two weeks in
Japan from July 21st to August 4th , and they used it this way, trust me).
Gomen – Sorry
Ano – Um
---A.Note---
A few of these I thought were obvious... but I thought I'd add that list anyway. I may write a few more chapters... I have a list of titles and thoughts about plots... but they are all going to be short pieces. I wasn't very happy with this one... I rewrote it several times... mostly during finals week during June... but this is the happiest I have been with it. Please review; and I hope you enjoyed it! (I like Sasuke, I do... but I felt that he would react that way... . )