AN: This is what happens when I have two hour breaks in between classes… I fall into my fanfiction notebook and am able to update within a week
The Glass
Chapter 4
And since
you know you cannot see yourself,
so well as by reflection, I,
your glass,
will modestly discover to yourself,
that of
yourself which you yet know not of.
William Shakespeare
"Hiya, asshole!" Tarim greeted Fuwa as he waited outside for the preliminaries to end. "Whatcha doing?"
"None of your business, wench…" Fuwa turned away and started to ignore her.
"Damn, you're a bitch today. So… what's with the cloak?" When she didn't get any answer, Tarim started to poke his shoulder. "Hey… you alive in there?"
"Yes, now go away." Fuwa ordered dully.
"I love you, too." Tarim replied and sat down next to Fuwa, who remained standing. "Okay… so if you won't tell me what you're doing, will you tell me why you're here?"
"I'm waiting for Naruto. Now will you shut up. I'm trying to concentrate." Fuwa glared down at her before closing his eyes.
"Oh!" Tarim started. "Oops… sorry." She shut her mouth and started to look around. It wasn't long before she started fidgeting but she didn't leave.
Tarim stood up and was about to speak when the door to the arena opened up. She waited until Naruto came out with some of the other rookies before running over and started chattering.
"Naruto!! I'm glad you made it! Did they have some sort of fight in there? I saw medic-nins. Did you make it to the finals? Why aren't you talking? Are you ignoring me too?" Tarim was cut off by Naruto putting his hand over her mouth.
"Damn! Did someone give you sugar or something?" Naruto laughed, removing his hand.
"No! It's just that the asshole has been keeping me silent for a half an hour already! I'm bored!" Tarim whined, getting a pissed off look on her face.
Fuwa scowled. "You could have left, wench. I would have enjoyed the peace."
Tarim looked ready to punch him. "What…?"
Naruto cut her off. "Hey! Enough!"
"Naruto?" Sakura piped up. She and the other rookies had stayed to watch the exchange. "Who are these people?"
Naruto looked confused. "Friends of mine. Why?"
Tarim put a hand to her temple and shook her head. "I think she wants an introduction, dumbass."
Naruto swiped at her. "Damnit! Stop calling me dumbass, idiot, or anything else that means stupid! Bastards!"
Tarim moved out of range and looked to Fuwa. "Hey! This is because of you, isn't it? Were you harassing Naruto again?"
"What!? Why is it my fault?" Fuwa exclaimed indignantly.
Tarim rolled her eyes. "Because you're a bastard and that would make sense."
"Stupid bitch…" Fuwa moved to attack her, but Naruto pulled him back before he could get to her.
"Uh… Sakura-chan… Why don't you meet them when they're nowhere near each other… they're more pleasant." Naruto used his free hand to scratch the back of his head. Without waiting for an acknowledgement, Naruto pulled Fuwa away leaving Tarim to follow happily.
"Why is the wench still following us?" Fuwa growled.
"Because I want to. Got a problem with that?" Tarim chirped.
"Tarim, why do you go out of your way to piss off Fuwa?" Naruto cut in before they could fight again.
Tarim shrugged. "It's just fun, I guess. Anyway… where are you guys going?"
"Home."
"Do you have a disguise for the asshole there?" Tarim gave a knowing smirk.
"Huh? A disguise?" Naruto stopped and looked back and forth between Fuwa and Tarim.
"Yeah… Having two Narutos around is kind of suspicious. Shouldn't he, you know, hide. At least get rid of the scars."
Fuwa sulked. "Hate to say it… but the wench is right."
"But there isn't anything at home." Naruto pointed out.
Tarim grinned. "Then let's go shopping."
Both Naruto and Fuwa shied away from the eerie glint in the female's eyes.
Naruto and Fuwa escaped with only an hour of shopping. Tarim and Naruto were seated under a tree while waiting for Fuwa to change into his new clothes.
"Damn," Naruto sighed. "Are all girls so insane about shopping?"
Tarim thought for a minute then smile. "Yeah… I think so."
Naruto shook his head. "Anyway… how come you weren't at the preliminaries?"
Tarim glowered. "Didn't make it… the two numbskulls that call themselves my teammates decided to open the scroll while I was away."
Naruto cringed. "Ow…"
Tarim shrugged. "The bastards got what they deserved. Morons… speaking of which," she raised her voice, "How long does it take to get dressed, anyway? You suffocating yourself with a shirt in there or something?"
"Shut up…" Fuwa walked out of the trees looking slightly uncomfortable. He was wearing a high collar, zip-up red shirt, which easily covered up his whisker marks, and a simple pair of black pants.
Tarim jumped to her feet and circled around Fuwa. "It's ok, I guess…" She stopped in front of him but continued scrutinizing him. Fuwa raised an eyebrow causing Tarim to grin. "I got it!" She untied Fuwa's forehead protector and rearranged the cloth so that the metal remained around the forehead, but Fuwa's hair was covered. (Like how Ibiki has his) "There! Spiky blond hair tends to be really noticeable."
Naruto snickered. Fuwa didn't show it too much, but he had started to panic once Tarim got close to him. See something you like, Fuwa? Naruto singsonged.
Fuwa stiffened then glared at Naruto, causing Tarim to look between the two of them in confusion. Get bent.
Naruto laughed out loud but changed the subject. "Hey! I gotta find Kakashi-sensei. I need to get him to train me. Where would he be…?"
"Probably at the hospital." Fuwa commented, still sounding peeved.
"How do you know?" Tarim tilted her head towards Fuwa.
"There was a fight there earlier. Sasuke's chakra signature was near the area so I would be checking on him." Fuwa glared at Tarim. "I'd know for sure if someone hadn't distracted me when I was concentrating."
"So that's what you were doing… Hey! Don't blame it on me! I was perfectly quiet after a while. Stupid asshole, making it my fault." Tarim pouted slightly.
"It's your fault because you're a wench and that would make sense." Fuwa gave a mischievous smile as he threw her words back at her.
"DAMNIT!" Tarim punched Fuwa in the face, starting a minor scuffle.
Naruto just shook his head at them and started to head towards the hospital. "Bye, guys."
Fuwa stopped, just barely stopping Tarim's knee before it connected with his groin. "Hey! Don't leave me with her!" Fuwa released the girl and hurried after Naruto.
"Hn…." Tarim glowered and calmly walked after the boys. Then a thought hit her and she grin. "Heh heh… I win."
Naruto ran into the hospital. "Hey! Where's Sasuke's room?"
The woman behind the desk jumped in surprise. "He's not accepting visitors today."
Naruto moped. "But…"
"Naruto, quiet down. This is a hospital." Kakashi strolled into the lobby.
"Kakashi-sensei! I have a request!" Naruto started but was cut off.
"I know what you're gong to ask but I have some things I have to take care of."
Naruto crossed his arms. "You're going to teach Sasuke, aren't you?"
Kakashi looked guilty but was about to protest when Fuwa and Tarim wandered in.
"He's useless. Shouldn't a teacher be promoting teamwork instead of breaking a team apart?" Fuwa said cuttingly, giving Kakashi a disappointed look.
Tarim frowned. "What's this? He won't train you? That's so stupid: a teacher who won't teach. Hey, Naruto! Forget him and train with me!" Tarim grinned and pointed to herself.
Fuwa gave her a skeptical look. "What can he learn from you? You didn't even make it to the preliminaries."
Tarim hit Fuwa upside the head. "Shut it, asshole. That was my teammates fault. And besides… my specialty is kind of unique, so I'm fairly certain that you two don't know it already. Also… I'm dying for a skill on skill match… the only other person I know that fights like I do is a jounin and I'm so outclassed."
Naruto gave Kakashi a long look then reluctantly walked over to the pair. "Alright… See ya, Kakashi-sensei."
The trio left the hospital, leaving a rather stunned Kakashi behind. "They didn't even let me say anything… I guess I have to dismiss Ebisu…"
Outside, Tarim was patting Naruto on the back. "Poor Naruto-kun. You have a sucky teacher."
"Hm…" Naruto grumbled before changing the subject. "So what are you going to teach us?"
Tarim smiled proudly. "Kenjutsu and medicinal jutsus."
Fuwa looked surprised. "Kenjutsu? I didn't think anyone used that skill anymore."
Tarim gave him a dull look. "Yeah? Well I do."
Naruto looked back and forth between the two. "Kenjutsu? What's that?"
Tarim blinked. "You don't know? It's fighting with a sword. It's a bit more complicated then taijutsu."
"Alright! Let's start!" Naruto was pumped.
Tarim held up a hand. "Wait! I'm not training you until we clean up. I don't know about you two but five days in the forest without a decent bath makes me feel nasty. Besides… the public baths are on the way to my house." She grabbed an arm from each of the boys and dragged them to the bathhouse.
"But I want to train." Naruto whined.
Tarim frowned. "Geez.. if you want to train, try walking on water or something. Just make sure you get clean too. " With that she walked off for the women's side of the bath.
"Walking on water?" Naruto turned to Fuwa, who shrugged.
"I don't know…Maybe it's like walking up a tree?" Fuwa started forward. "Might as well get clean while we think of a solution."
The boys headed towards the hot springs. Once they entered, they quickly cleaned up and then started to train. By acting like it was tree walking and modifying the skill as needed, the boys didn't take long to figure out how to walk on water. They were about to head outside to wait for Tarim, when they heard a loud crash coming from the wall of the hot springs followed by female screaming. Naruto had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit as a large white-haired man flew past him. Fuwa looked to the wall, which now sported a rather large whole in it, to see an extremely pissed of Tarim wrapped in a towel.
"PERVERT! How dare you spy on women when they're bathing?!" Tarim stomped forward then noticed Naruto and Fuwa and blushed, pulling the towel tighter. "Uh… hi guys."
The pervert picked himself off of the ground. "Damn…. She almost hits as hard as Tsunade…" He mumbled under his breath. He composed himself and grinned at Tarim. "I am the legendary sennin, Jiraiya! I was only doing research for my book. Say! Would you be willing to pose for me?"
Tarim's eye started to twitch. "What…?"
Fuwa cut her off. "Sennin, huh?" He got an evil grin. "Hey, old man. How about a deal?"
Tarim's eyes widened. "WHAT!!??"
Jiraiya looked interested. "What kind of deal?"
Fuwa grinned. "Teach the three of us and Naruto and I will keep Tarim from killing you."
Jiraiya got angry. "Eh?! What kind of deal is that!?"
Tarim got a homicidal glint in her eyes. "A smart one."
Fuwa sidled over to Jiraiya and whispered in his ear. "If you train her, you might get some inspiration even if she isn't naked. And if not…." He turned to Naruto. Hey Naruto… Do your sexy no jutsu.
Why?
Just do it.
Jiraiya's eyes bugged out as Naruto turned into a naked woman then grinned and looked at each of them in turn. "Fine. As of now, you three are my new students."
Tarim glowered. "Just wait until I'm decently dressed…. I'm going to hurt you all…. AND DAMNIT, NARUTO, DON'T EVER DO THAT JUTSU AGAIN!!!"
To be continued…
AN: I'd like to note that I really don't hate Kakashi… it's just that his actions at this point of the story were inappropriate and I played the reactions as I thought they normally would turn out. Both of the boys were disappointed, though Fuwa showed it more… for more reasons than just than one might think(hint hint) and Tarim was disgusted because she sees Kakashi as inept.
About how quickly Naruto and Fuwa got the water walking thing. I'm going to say that the seal that Orochimaru put on Naruto ended up on Fuwa and therefore, does not matter. The fox is only in Naruto. However, the connection between the boys allows Naruto to heal Fuwa without the use of a jutsu. Yes, this means that Fuwa is a normal human with fairly normal chakra limitations. They were quick on learning the water walking because once the seal was gone, Naruto picked up the skill almost instantly, if I remember correctly.
Oh yes.. I keep forgetting to mention this. I didn't just make up Fuwa's name. I got it off of a character from Kagerou: Nostalgia. It wasn't the character itself that made me choose the name (though when I think of it, there's a bit of a resemblance physically) it was the fact that it means "unbreakable" which I found appropriate for an offshoot of Naruto.
Ah yes… I added a little Fuwa/Tarim. I still haven't decided on any pairings but since those two remind me of Naruto and Sasuke and I love SasuNaru, I added a little in. I can't write romance though, so any pairings will only be hinted at, if I put any more in at all…
