Chapter.7
Haku loved the mornings. They were always quiet, a wonderful time to ponder. It didn't usually matter what was being pondered, because it never had any value in real life.
In the morning, before consequences of the day weight down on you, was the best time to think about silly nothings. The young man loved the complete lack of urgency. It was a welcome relief from his roommate. Gaara, a young man from the Country of the Wind, was always anxious about something. The worst part of it was, most days he didn't even notice his tension. Perhaps he could live that way, but Haku needed some time to be frivolous.
At least, that was his excuse for showing up at the conference room early. He knew this was a mistruth, but who would question him? It wasn't beyond him to believe something like that- he did, in fact, prefer a few minutes every day in serenity. These weren't some of them.
He could also say he was waiting here to meet the new students. This wasn't absolute lies either. He was interested in the new students. However he was, and always had been, more interested in the teachers. A certain teacher, by the name of Momochi Zabuza. He, like Haku, was from the Thunder Country. Apparently it was a show of good faith, that Momochi-san would be his teacher- letting foreigners stick together, or something equally foolish. In any event, Haku wanted to meet him.
The effeminate boy's father had taught at Kono several years ago, but he abandoned the rigorous job to raise a family. It was rather amazing his father had managed to survive as long as he did. Teachers also worked as bodyguards for the diplomats in the normal academy, and most ninja never made it past 30. On top of that, tension between the Countries was escalating, and for a few years ninjas had been used as weapons. That was how all of Haku's extended family had died. Since then ninjas had vanished out of existence, and were commonly thought of as evil incarnate.
When Haku's father left Kono, he figured that was that. At least until Haku showed disturbing proficiency in ninjutsu. Haku's mother had divorced his father then, but his father had gained custody of the child. Both males acknowledged that this was better than being sentenced to death.
Eventually the black eyed boy had ended up at the academy, but before he started the school year, his father had warned him about Momochi. His father had called his replacement a demon, but Haku had never truly believed this. So here he was, waiting around in the teacher's quarters, for a man he now knew well. Over the last few years his instincts had proven correct. This teacher, and in many ways role model, Zabuza.
The ice boy sniffed. These were rather heavy thoughts for early morning!
He became aware of shuffling to his right. Instantly on guard, he remembered everything Zabuza had taught him about enemy spies.
'Appear like you didn't notice anything' He repeated to himself. He glanced down at a small table with candle resting on it, trying to unfocus his eyes and remain vigilant. How difficult it was, in real life! He gazed into the polished glass.
"It looks like ice..." He whispered. He mildly disapproved of his expression, it was far too nervous.
"Huh?" He heard a voice ask. He sweatdropped. Could it be that his supposed watcher didn't even know he was in the room? He guessed the voice had come from behind a thick, informal couch. He walked over to it, and right as he was about to lean over the side, a mop of gray hair appeared. Watery blue eyes stared into his own beetle brown orbs.
"Hello." He murmured, and the other boy snapped to life. First a blush crossed his face, quickly followed by panic and fear.
"Ah... ano... hey?" He stuttered. Haku couldn't help but smile at his antics.
"Did I catch you at something?" The older boy said in his melodious voice. This must be one of the new students. Perhaps it wasn't as pleasant as conversing with Zabuza, but it wasn't horrible. This one looked funny.
The gray haired boy raised an eyebrow at Haku, deep in wonderment.
"Yeah, I guess so. It's just... you remind me of someone."
"A friend?"
"... yeah." He answered sadly. "One I never expected to see again." Haku nodded sympathetically.
"However, I am afraid I am not that friend." He stated in his oddly blunt manner. The gray boy smiled at this, and pulled himself over the couch.
"Yeah, because I'm really mad about the last trick he played." He muttered. "Daniel." He held out his hand, and Haku shook it.
"Haku Koori." He replied.
"Well Haku... want to help me with a prank I'm playing?" Daniel jumped up, suddenly a writhing ball of energy, freed from inaction. Haku almost laughed at his shift.
"I would love to." He said happily. Daniel smiled at him, reflecting the early sunlight and amplifying it with his joy.
"All right then, we had better find a chalkboard eraser."
"Why?"
"For the door, of course. Silly." Daniel pointed to the doorway, as if this was the most obvious thing in the world. "We'll stick an eraser at the top, and when someone comes in, they'll get hit in the head!" Daniel gestured to the doorway, pointing out how the door slid out. Haku shrugged.
"If you say so." He pointed to eraser resting by the chalkboard. "Will that work?" He supposed he shouldn't be surprised. If this was a conference room, materials to illustrate concepts would be required. Daniel's face broke into another record-beating grin.
"Will it ever!" He whooped and scurried about, setting up his trap. Haku smiled indulgently from the couch. It was incredibly stupid, the whole plan. But who cared? The outcome would be funny. Currently the boy was standing on a chair to secure the eraser.
"Are you sure this will work?" Haku asked offhandedly.
"Of course it will! It worked in my- at my last school." Daniel said without turning around. After he had finished and pulled the chair back to it's spot, he turned to face the other boy.
"Why wouldn't it?" He asked innocently. Haku laughed.
"Oh, I don't know. Perhaps because this isn't the same?" He added. Daniel looked oddly serious.
"You know, it isn't. I keep forgetting."
They sat in silence for a few minutes.
"Hey, Daniel."
"Yeah?"
"What were you doing behind the couch?"
"Looking for frogs."
Haku snickered, and that was the end of that.
They both waited in uneasy silence, until Haku heard footsteps walking down the hallway. He grinned in anticipation, and turned to exchange glances with Daniel. He was confused to discover Daniel had already turned away and was glancing nervously at the door. Could Daniel have heard the boy coming first? That was absurd, Haku had three formal years and far more informal years of ninja training; how could Daniel's senses be keener?
Perturbed, the older boy turned back to the doorway just to see a pale hand snatch the eraser out of the air. Daniel let out a wheeze of disappointment before jumping onto the couch and pointing dramatically at the young man who was walking in. Haku froze when the agile young man made himself known as Sasuke Uchiha.
Haku didn't hate the boy, but he had never attempted to get to know the boy. He was brash and wild tempered, hardly suitable for a ninja. Anyone who could allow their anger to control them so easily shouldn't be allowed near pointy objects. Besides, both bishonen in the same room together never led to anything healthy.
Screaming could be heard in the distance. Daniel covered his ears.
"So loud!" He complained. Sasuke barely raised an eyebrow, and Haku pulled Daniel off the couch by his pant-leg. Daniel landed in a pile on the seat next to him, and Haku turned all his attention to the boy.
"What do you mean? I can barely hear them coming."
"Them?" Daniel asked, obliviously. Sasuke rolled his eyes, finally able to react.
"The Harpies."
"Oooh-uh, what?"
"Fool. The women." Sasuke explained angrily.
Daniel nodded in understanding.
"Right. Your fan club." He glanced at Haku, giving him a quick once-over. Haku blushed, feeling mildly creeped out.
"I bet there are enough kunoichi after the both of you combined to take over the world. What was baa-chan thinking, letting you be in the same school?" Daniel mused, the last sentence to soft to hear. Haku's blush intensified, coloring his delicate cheeks red.
"Was that a compliment, Daniel-kun?" He asked carefully. Daniel grinned, his trademark fox smile.
"It was indeed." He answered. Sasuke grunted and turned to walk out without another word, heeding the screaming which seemed to be getting closer. Daniel noticed him leaving, so he turned to Haku at stuck out his hand to shake. Haku pulled him into a hug. He supposed for anyone else he would be uncomfortable in such a position, having lived with very little physical contact. However, when Naruto hugged him back, something in Haku sighed happily.
"Friends." He whispered. Daniel pulled back, and agreed,
"Friends. Now, if you don't mind, everyone seems to be gathering in the room down the hall. I was told to put the sign up down there. And, I am one of the guests of honor..." Daniel rambled, before rushing out the door. A moment later his head appeared again in the doorway.
"You know, I'm glad things are different."
Haku bent to pick up the chalkboard eraser, which had been completely forgotten, puzzling. If Daniel had set up a sign indicating where the meeting was going to be, what was he doing down here? And, more interestingly, why had he been convinced someone would come?
His new friend was certainly an enigma.
". . . and according to the new recruits students and teacher alike, the teams for your age group have been rearranged. As it stands, Mizuki Kabuto will be leading Uchiha Akane and our exchange students Yakushi Kankuro and Ishikawa Gaara-" Iruka was cut off when Akane started complaining.
"EHHH! But I want to be with Sasuke-kun! Not with the foreign kids!" She shouted, glaring at Iruka. The new teacher rolled his eyes.
"You where placed with the boys from Wind Country because we were sure you could show them the customary Uchiha kindness. Apparently I was wrong?" Iruka asked. Akane pouted.
"Fine. But when are they getting here?"
"Kankuro will be here tomorrow, and Ishikawa-kun two days later." Kakashi spoke up. He was impressed- not even her siblings could get the chatterbox Akane to shut up, much less manipulate her into being kind. This Heiran could prove worth talking to.
"Katase Kurenai will be teaching Dosu Tenten, Hyuuga Kiba and Hyuuga Shino." No one commented, except Kiba's dog, who let loose a joyful howl. Ino, the resident Inuzuka clan rep, glanced from Kiba to Shino and snickered. Kiba fought back a blush.
"Anyway, Momochi Zabuza will be in charge of Umuino Daniel, Uchiha Sakura and Koori Haku." Iruka said quickly, daring any of the Genin to utter a squeak. Haku only bit his lip, and Iruka was able to continue.
"Aono Gai will be leading Maito Lee, Aburame Hinata and Neji." Iruka added. Hinata nodded politely to Neji, and he nodded back. Lee did a little dance at being on the same team as his rival.
"Hatake Kakashi is in charge of Yamanaka Temari, Umuino Jacob and Uchiha Sasuke." Iruka glanced up this time, waiting for a comment. Much to his pleasure, the room was perfectly quiet, and so when he glanced back to the scroll he missed Jacob's grin.
"Yuuhi Asuma will be training Akimichi Choji, Inuzuka Ino and Nara Shikamaru." Ino, loud as ever, glared at Iruka.
"How come I have to be with these lazy kids, and not Jacob-kun?" She shouted, throwing her hands into the air. Shikamaru and Choji exchanged 'looks' before the Nara boy leaned over and whispered something in his best friend's ear. They both chuckled a little, able to completely ignore Ino's ranting. Iruka, standing in front of the crowd of ninja, did not have that luxury. At least, Kakashi didn't think he did. However Heiran-sensei managed to surprise and amuse him once again.
"Alright, that's all for today! I leave you in the able hands of your Jounin Instructors! Remember, any important information will be posted on the door of the teachers dorm. There will be another meeting here in one week to give you information on our field trip!" Iruka shouted, before jumping out the window. Ino rushed after him, but stopped about five feet away from the meeting room, having already lost the man.
Kakashi waited while the other teachers gathered their students together, and Jacob politely told Ino that he wouldn't mind getting some Rammed later, say around six? Finally only his new pupils were left in the room. He considered testing them, but all three children looked irritable. He might get abused.
"Hatake-sensei, what country is Mizuki-sensei from?" Jacob asked curiously. Temari answered for him.
"He's from the Leaf. However, he has quite a few friends in Sound." She said. Jacob turned his eyes on her.
"Sound? I am familiar with the country, but what are they to Leaf ninja?" Jacob asked. Sasuke was still pouting from the lack of his female admirers, so he interrupted Temari's explanation.
"They say their village is peaceful, but we've noted ninja movement." He said, all arrogance. Jacob nodded in acknowledgment, but Sasuke ignored him. Jacob brushed it off and turned to Kakashi.
"I don't trust that man. He smells like a snake." He stated. Kakashi smiled.
"Oh?"
"Foxes hunt snakes, you know." Jacob added.
Kakshi smiled. This year was going to be fun!
TBC. . .
A/n- (smacks brain) Damn, damn, damn. This took far too long, and sucks far to much. I don't feel like editing it though. . . so here it is. Have fun. I'll get more out soon, and in two or three chapters I'll get to their trip. That's where the plot really gets going. (nods) (runs in circles) What am I doing with this story, anyway?!
Hof- (shakes head sadly) Koori, when she finds some sanity to cling to, would like to thank her reviewers. Not to mention her readers. Bless their souls.
Jenniyah- That's right. The only character you'll have to run about for is Naruto, sorry if you were looking for suspense. . . Thanks for reviewing!
kurapy- (nods) I hope this chapter helped with your naruto/kyuubi action! (laughs) Aw, Kiba's not gay! Just cuddly cute and dorky for Shino! (ponders) I guess that does make him gay. (snickers) I would love to meet these people on the street. I would glomp the lights out of Lee-san.
:) - (bows) Just for you, I'm so sorry I haven't updated for so long. If you really want to know how's who, I can tell you. It's just, I don't want to ruin it for anyone else. If you want to poke me at my email address , please do. I shall apologize much. There will be more talk about the past, but not in this chapter. Once again, I'm making sure everyone gets mentioned. In Naruto, there are so many characters to account for! (whipes brow) Yeah, sometimes I have a reason for that. I made sure Neji and Hinata weren't part of Hyuuga because I thought they would only be reincarnated because their clan had held them back from something- so this time they get another chance.
VGJekyll - (smiles) That's observant of you. You're right, Jacob is nothing like Naruto- he's the perfect ninja, in my mind. And sometimes, when Naruto's caught in the heat of battle, he pulls things that you would never expect from him. You know, ninja-type sneakiness. (smirk) I think Naruto has the potential to be the perfect ninja, but hopefully he'll never allow that to take over his good nature.
