Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.


Bathing in Blood

3. Smiles All Around

Of weapons I am the thunderbolt,

And of cows the cow of wonder...

I am the cleverness in the gambler's dice.

I am the goodness of those who are good.

-The Bhagavad Gita

The pink-haired girl glanced at the application form, her face as expressionless as the paper. Green orbs shifted benignly up to down, side to side, reading the plain, simplified modern text. Well-meaning, straightforward characters, they were. Maybe too well-meaning for her taste. And almost hilariously straightforward; more like a child's make-believe secret code than an actual, real-life language.

She skimmed through the text, eyes finding a focus on the blanks at the bottom of the page. Drawing out a primitive-looking pencil, she scribbled a quick signature in the first space. Almost smirking, she briefly fantasized about what would happen if she wrote her name in the old characters instead of the clumsy, angular new ones.

However, whatever amusement she'd drawn from the idea vanished quickly—it was best not to attract attention. Best to appear harmless, appear normal. And 'normal' genin didn't know two languages.

Sakura's vision strayed to the last line. 'Parent/Guardian Permission'. A current of unsolicited disgust roiled under her calm façade. Why did they always have to do this—say it was a 'choice' left 'entirely up to you', and then respectfully request 'parents/guardians' to make the final decision? Didn't they trust the future 'guardians' of Konoha to do what they thought was right?

An expression similar to a sneer crept over her face. She scratched a few characters onto the dotted line.

Dead.

Maybe this would get the message across?

Satisfied, the girl folded the paper, hiding it away in a hidden pocket. With a meaningless shrug, she faded into the forest, dematerializing specter-like until all that remained was a wisp of unseen mist.


Naruto sighed and patted his stomach as he strode away from the ramen shop. He'd told everyone at Ichiraku about his good fortune, and while there were always the few that only gave aggravated scowls, he'd succeeded in earning whole-hearted congratulations at best, or at worst a wan smile, from most of the diners.

It made the rare good things in his life last so much longer, to share them with others, willing or not.

He sighed again, taking in his surroundings. Who would have guessed that a cloudy sky looked so beautiful, gray against shades of gray? The sound of birds calling raucously, the wind blowing, the large rock scuffling a few feet behind...

Naruto stopped mid-step, comically shocked. Glanced over his shoulders, eyeballs straining to the corners of his sockets. Absurdly suspicious. Indiscreetly discreet. The box-like structure slid clumsily across the uneven cobblestone. Loud whispers, smothered giggles of risibly visible stealth, wafted out unchecked. Wide brown eyes peered mischievously from two circular holes, then quickly vanished.

The blonde-haired boy couldn't help but let out a laugh of his own.

"Here's a hint—rocks don't have perfect angles, perfect corners...or eye holes! Big clues, don't ya think?" He pointed an accusing finger, laughing again and hearing muffled squeaks from his surprised stalkers. Cautiously, the edge of the box lifted. Three short, scruffy figures untangled themselves to stand. A dark-haired boy, a light-haired boy, and a girl in pigtails.

In spite of himself, Naruto gave a disappointed grimace. Who else? It was only Konohamaru, bratty grandson of the Hokage, and his gang of misfits. Those kids treated him like a god on earth, but damn, were they annoying. "Oh...it's just you guys. What do you want?"

Konohamaru ignored his idol's obvious disenchantment. Naruto was the only one that treated them half-decent anyways—the few glares and less-than-enthusiastic words he and his friends received from this respected figure were more than worth it. He grinned. Naruto was valuable. Worth the trouble.

"You promised to play with us today, didn't you?" All three whined together. "How could you forget something like that!"

Naruto looked sheepish. He remembered all too well. Trying to fight the guilt that lapped at his feet, he reminded himself that he had to train. Train for the Chuunin Exams. Cram in everything so he'd be half-ready for tomorrow.

But he couldn't. He couldn't let them down, these kids that looked up to him, praised him, revered him. And he wouldn't let them down. The training could wait. It always could.

Feigning a groan of edgy acquiescence (gods forbid that they think he actually wants to play with them), the blonde-haired boy smiled in spite of himself. "Alright. What exactly do you want to do?"

"Let's play tag!" the girl in pigtails squealed with worshipful eyes. The other two seconded the motion.

And so the game began.

"You're it, boss!" Konohamaru screamed at Naruto. A subtle way to sort-of get back at their leader, for being so falsely hesitant. The boss glowered, but made no objections.

"Eeek! He's it!"

"Can't catch me, slowpoke!"

"Hah—slower than a turtle!"

Konohamaru looked behind him as he scrambled madly towards nowhere. Naruto was right behind him, catching up all too quickly. His short child-legs were losing strength, he was going to fall, he was going to trip. Not like it mattered; this was all a game, but it mattered so much—

He felt his shoulder crunch up against something. A tree? A black, cloth-covered tree wearing boots? He glanced upwards, though there was no need. The tree tugged his collar, pulling him from his slumped position. His feet dangled a sickening distance above the cobblestone, hanging like a human piñata in the grasp of the branch-like arm. At least he had the good sense to keep silent.

For the game was far from over.