Unedited and unbeta'ed. (The last one 'cause I don't have one.) Shorter than the standard chapters I dish out, but I felt bad for the long wait.
Check the other chapter for the disclaimer and warnings.
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"Mou! Haku! Why do I have to go to school?! Why can't I stay here with you and Zabuza-san?!" a loud, currently whinny voice cried out in distress. The voice belonged to a young boy with blond hair and bright blue eyes, who was currently trying to plead his case with a young man with long black hair and a very feminine face. The man was the boy's current guardian and right now, someone with a slight headache. And it was all in thanks to the blond boy standing in front of him.
"Complaining to me is not going to get you anywhere Naruto," Haku stated firmly, trying not to let his emotions show on his face or in his voice. Haku prided himself on not letting the worse of his emotions show, always portraying a gentle and kind air, but right now, the blond was really testing his skill. "You're going to school with Tenmari and Gaara whether you want to or not."
"Demo!"
"No buts, Naruto," Haku cut in firmly. "You're going to school. We don't need the law after us for truancy if you get caught."
The tone that Haku used for that last statement drove the case to its grave and closed the lid. Naruto shut his mouth with an audible snap and stared at his guardian. Naruto knew that the last thing Haku needed was any involvement with the law. If the police came over and got any word of what was being planned between Haku and Zabuza, they would most likely end up in prison. Which would mean the separation of the little family that Naruto had gotten used to over the two years that he had spent with them. True, Kankuro was old enough to be legally considered an adult, but that would just mean that he might end up in jail with Haku and Zabuza on the grounds that he was an accomplish. He, Gaara, and Tenmari would either end up being put in foster homes or sent to juvenile hall, depending on the mood of the police and judges. The last thing Naruto wanted was to be the one responsible for sending his family to jail.
So the blond understood that this was something that he HAD to do, regardless of how he felt about it. So, muttering under his breath, Naruto nodded. Seeing the blonde's agreement, however hesitant it was, Haku smiled kindly and patted the young boy on the head. Ever since they had adopted Naruto into their little family, they hadn't really tried to set rules for him, so he understood that the thought of going to an institution where rules were the law would chaff to Naruto.
"Don't worry Naruto," Haku tried to reassure him, smiling the whole time. "I'm sure it won't be as bad as you're making it out to be. Maybe you'll find someone you can get along with there."
"And maybe I'll end up killing someone and it'll be the torture that I think it's going to be!" Naruto retorted, throwing up his hands in protest. Yes, he had agreed that he would go to school, but that didn't mean that he wasn't going to complain about it all the he could in the meantime.
"Tenmari and Gaara have been going to school for years," Haku pointed out to the irate blonde. "What makes you think that you're experience is going to be any different from theirs?"
"It just is!"
Haku couldn't help but chuckle at the look on Naruto's face. The 15 year old was still prone to childish behavior now and then, and it was that particular trait that both drove Haku and the others into insanity and endeared him to their hearts.
"Naruto, I'm sure things will work out. Now, why don't you go practice with Gaara or something?"
/Adults talk waaaay too much about the stupidest things./ Naruto thought grumpily. Haku had come with the three teen today to finish the processing of their paper; posing as their mother to make it seem more official and real. Naruto had snickered when the lady behind the front desk had complemented Haku on being able to keep 'her' figure after having so many children. Tenmari shared a wry look with Naruto in agreement, while Gaara remain as expressionless as always, but the two could tell that even he was amused.
After all the papers were taken care of and schedules had been issued, Haku had been them each a farewell and had left. The lady had called over another person from the offices behind her and instructed the new person to take each of them to their classes. Tenmari and Gaara had already been taken care of, so now, Naruto was the only one left. After the aide had called out the teacher from her classroom, the two had launched into a discussion of sorts. About what, Naruto didn't care to pay attention to, though he did notice that it was the aide who seemed to take control of the conversation with the other teacher not looking completely comfortable.
Finally realizing that they were probably taking too much time away from the students with their chitchat, the teacher and the aide turned towards Naruto.
"Well then Umizaki-san. This is your teacher, so I'll just leave you two to get acquainted and be off then. I'll see you around, Tachibana-san," the aide said in even tones, with the fake cheesy smiles that Naruto hated. Nodding to the other teacher, the aide turned on her heels and strode off in the direction that she and Naruto had just come from. Naruto resisted the urge to stick his tongue out at her retreating back, and instead angled his head to look at his new teacher.
"Hello, and welcome to our school…" the teacher greeted, trailing off so that Naruto could give her an answer from his own lips. She didn't have a cheesy smile on her face, but rather, a polite and interested expression instead.
/No crappy, fake, smile. Huh. Maybe I'll give her a chance./ Naruto thought, eyeing his teacher up and down. She looked rather young, with shoulder length, light brown hair and bright eyes a pretty mix of gray and dark blue.
"Naruto. Umizaki Naruto."
"Please to meet you, Umizaki-kun," Tachibana greeted, bowing slightly. The blonde sketched a bow as well, thinking that, while the aide had been a prick, this teacher may not be so bad.
"So what do you teach?" Naruto asked, eyeing the classroom. The teacher he was willing to give a chance. The class, however, he was not. No matter what Haku and the others had said.
"I teach Health for all grade levels," Tachibana answered. "It's required to pass, but the year that one chooses to take it is entirely up to the student. Do you have any other questions, Umizaki-kun?"
"Na. Not really," Naruto replied, crossing his arms behind his head. Tachibana smiled and put a hand on the doorknob.
"Then lets go back and meet your classmates, ne?"
Naruto shrugged and took a step back, to allow room for his teacher to open the door. Giving him one last smile, Tachibana turned the doorknob and entered the classroom once more. Naruto followed her, putting up his guard as Tenmari had told him to. Teachers would be easy to fool, but the best way to deal with the student body would be to not eve let them in. It would also avoid unnecessary complication when they had to get moving once more. Naruto had taken in those words of advice and decided that there would be no harm in actually listening to the older girl for once.
Walking in as the teacher shouted to get her class's attention, Naruto stood besides the desk and scanned the classroom and its occupants. Naruto eyed each person till black eyes the color of midnight met his …
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Evil cliffhanger, I know. But as always, I was up too late to finish the any other way. I just had to write to for all those people who flooded me with reviews. Sankyuu, by the ways! There's only one person I really, really, want to reply to, though. It's not that I don't love all the review that everyone's been giving me, but there's a reason why I have to reply to this one person. I'm sorry minnas!!! I promise that I'll thank everyone soon enough!
Naruke: I'll think about it. Just send me some of your stuff beforehand so that I can check them out. And to your friend; *wink* We'll just have to see what happens in the future, won't we?
There was a mini- cameo in this fic. If anyone can spot it, tell me who they are, and where they come from, I'll do a special or something for them. I'll tell everyone who it was in the next chapter. I think that's it…
Review and make my fingers fly!
