NOTE: Hi there guys (InnerGM: What do you mean ,guys"? There is just one guy reading and reviewing your crappy story.). Alright: guy. But this is about to change (InnerGM: Yeah right.).
Anyway, about Mizuki: I'll make him go through torture (literally). But he can't die yet. They're gonna need him to get some information out of him.
About Sasuke's dad: I wouldn't call it stupid. Let's say he's gonna get concerned about the way his son treats women and put him under pressure to change it (I'll skip the details, it's supposed to be a surprise).
Plus, one big mistake I made: the action starts in April, so Sakura (born on March) is already 13, not 12, as I wrote. Sorry for that.
I'm glad you like it, I hope the future chapters will grow to your expectations.
,21st Century Shinobi" by GreatMarta
Episode 4- Love according to UchihasAs we all know, talking to strangers can turn out to be dangerous. However, Naruto didn't consider his teacher to be dangerous. He also didn't consider his teacher treating him to McDonald's suspicious. Afterall, it sometimes happened that his other sensei, Iruka, would treat him to ramen. So why not Mizuki, even if he has always seemed suspicious and was very hard on his students? Especially when he knows, how to get Sakura-chan.
– So, Mizuki-sensei! What shall I do? –asked excited Naruto in between bites. He didn't even notice there was no cheese in his cheeseburger, he was so excited. Mizuki smiled in a friendly way. He wasn't going to make it long or complicated. The explanation had to be simple, or else the kid won't get it.
– Well, Naruto. Sakura likes the Uchiha guy, because he is strong, right?
– Right! But I am stronger! He's just more lucky, that's all!
– Right, of course. It's because his family has spectacular jutsus. If you had a spectacular jutsu, you'd be just as good, or maybe even better. –better than Sasuke. Better than the bastard. In his imagination, Naruto already had this wonderful vision. Of himself, standing in the spotlight, with the hokage hat on his head, giving autographs. Sakura-chan would be waving at him from the crowd, and he would run to her with red roses. As for Sasuke bastard… Heheh, he would be kneeling on the ground, tired and forgotten, completely ignored by everybody. Or better, he would die, crushed by the crowd of fans, aiming to get the autograph of hokage, the great and only Naruto! Hah! Beautiful!
– Yeah! Spectacular jutsus! How to learn them, Mizuki-sensei? How? –Mizuki smirked. This poor, little, naive brat. Perfect for the job.
– Well, there is a special scroll. –Mizuki leaned closer to Naruto –A scroll of most powerful jutsus. Hokage-sama keeps in hidden in his house, so nobody unworthy would get it. But if you manage to steal it, it would mean you're worthy of using it. And that girl will be dying to go out with you. –Sakura-chan dying to go out with him. Pure heaven. No better motivation was needed.
– Alright! I'm gonna get that scroll! –Naruto decided with shiny eyes. Mizuki pulled out a map of hokage's house.
,Uhuh, kiddy, don't you think this guy is a bit suspiciously well prepared for this whole ,quest"? –the voice in young ninja's head appeared again. If Naruto was smart, he would listen to it. He would consider what he says. But currently, there was just as much place in our hero's head, as it was needed to concentrate on Mizuki's plan.
XX
In hokage's house, there was a huge safe, hidden behind the bookshelf regal. In the safe, old Sarutobi would keep money, scrolls, documents, all important and valuable things. He was very proud of his safe. He paid quite a lot for it, but it was best quality. Just as good as the ninja leader needed.
Only two people knew the code. The Sandaime himself and his son Asuma. Some time ago however, the elder Sarutobi noticed, that his son has a bad habit of ,borrowing" his father's Yamaha motorbike without permission and running races with his friends. As far as mission go, Asuma could go on any, and his father wouldn't be worried. But riding the motorbike? Let's be truthful, Asuma drove like a drunk hare.
Therefore, the keys of the motorbike landed in the safe, and the code would now be changed every week, just to prevent the young Sarutobi from driving and killing himself. Not to mention, his tickets costed a fortune, and the image of ,the road pirate" was damaging his father's reputation.
Asuma would not give up easily. He would break the code and eventually get his hands on the keys. Nothing could stand between him and the motorbike. Absolutely nothing.
– Hmh… 8…3…right… –the young jounin was fully concentrated on the task. Smoking cigarette after cigarette, trying out various combinations, he would eventually find the good one. It was a game. A game between him and his father. Who is smarter? More determined? Who is the boss?
KLANK!
– YES! I DID IT! –this time, the son. He finally opened the safe. Quick look at the watch. It only took him two hours and 43 minutes. Hah. He's getting better and better. 25 million possible combinations? Really, old man should demand his money back.
Now, the keys. Where can they be? Asuma took out the uninteresting stuff: scrolls, documents… gush, sure a lot of trash. Oh, there they are. Heheh, and now he'll get his reward.
– Hands up! –somebody yelled. Asuma turned. His father? Oh. It's just some kid.
Mizuki was smart to send a kid on the mission. Not only Asuma (who opened the safe already) wouldn't treat such a brat seriously (wouldn't fight, wouldn't lock the safe at an instant), but nobody would suspect him, Mizuki, the brain of the operation. Plus, Naruto knew a jutsu, that was extremely dangerous.
– Oh. What do you want, kid? –young Sarutobi asked.
– Sexy-no jutsu!
PUFF!
– WHAAAA!
THUMBS!
What a horror. I am not able to describe it. Somebody, cover my eyes.
XX
The apartment of the Uchihas was a luxury one. At least for those, who liked tradition. Traditional tatami mattings, traditional paintings on the walls, wood and paper all over. Of course, there was a telly, there were kitchen devices. But Uchiha Fugaku made sure, that his children don't get addicted to modern technology. TV and PC: not longer than one hour a day. Itachi and Sasuke were glad that they had the PC. After years of begging their father for it. They were not allowed to play games on it, it was for learning only. They would play anyway. Games which Sasuke borrowed from his friends. Plus the playstation he got for his last birthday. In total secret. Usually at night, when the parents were asleep. With no voice. No special sounds. So far, they never got caught. As they say in Tartuffe: It's no sin if you keep it quiet.
The dinner was served on the traditional, wooden table, and the family sat on traditional tatami mattings on the floor. One thing that was unusual, was the presence of the head of the family.
– Dad? What are you doing here? –Sasuke asked seeing his father at the dinner table. Usually, he would be home at evening. He was the captain of the Police Forces, a ninja organization which replaced the traditional police. Police Forces were responsible for fighting crime and vandalism, leading the traffic and taking cats off trees.
– I'm having dinner with my family. –replied the Captain.
– Shouldn't you be at work? –Sasuke took his place.
– No. We're having a rather peaceful period. They don't need me.
– Cool! Daddy free time! Daddy free time! –Izumi exclaimed. True, Fugaku didn't spend much time with his family recently. He always had some business to do. The times when he actually could be with his wife and children were to be celebrated.
Mikoto came from the kitchen, carrying a vase full of soup. She placed it on the table and started purring it into everybody's plates.
– Besides… There is something I believe we need to discuss. –Fugaku's expression got serious. Goodbye, leisure family dinner. It's a business talk and it's rather not pleasant. They should have known it. –Itachi. –the man turned to his eldest son. –I've heard an distressing rumor. One of my colleges told me, that he saw you at the ,Sinners' Paradise". Is that true? –,Sinners' Paradise" was a night club with a bad fame. A typical wicked place, where the city scums gathered to run dirty business and have fun.
– ,Sinners' Paradise"? But Sinners go to hell, and good people to paradise. –Izumi was confused.
– Yes, Izumi, that's how it is. The ,Sinners' Paradise" is just a club, where bad people do bad things. –Mikoto explained and looked at her eldest with concern. What could he be doing in such a place? Itachi had a grave face.
– Even if so, then what? You know I'm too smart to damage myself with drugs. –he said simply.
– But Nii-chan can't go there! Nii-chan is good and Nii-chan can't go to places for bad people! –Izumi protested, clinging to Itachi.
– Chill out, sis. Your brother knows how to deal with bad people. –Itachi smiled at her and petted her head. He was happy to have someone to admire his power, and kid sibling was perfect for that. She had to know, that her brother is undefeatable and almighty.
– My college said, you were with the GIRLS. –Fugaku continued, proving that in this house, he is the most almighty guy. He couldn't call the things the way they were in Izumi's presence, but the force he put into the word ,girls" left no doubts of what kind of girls he means.
– With girls? So Nii-chan has a girlfriend? –Izumi asked happily.
– No, I don't. –Itachi said.
– But Nii-chan! All good guys have girlfriends! –the girl protested.
– Where did you find that? In ,Mommy, read to me"?
– Itachi, you haven't answered my question. –Fugaku said sharply. And the anger in his eyes said, that he was deadly serious. His son sighed.
– Yes, I was with the GIRLS. So what?
– So a man-to-man chat after the dinner. And now, eat up, before it gets cold. –the Uchiha leader ended the talk, taking a spoon and pulling his plate closer. Itachi did the same and started eating, as if nothing happened. He inherited his father's talent to ignore everything around, if needed. Mikoto sighed. That Fugaku. Of course, he couldn't wait till they're done eating, he had to destroy the atmosphere. And Itachi… She hoped, that her husband won't be too hard on him. Afterall, his still just a teenager.
– Ooh… Nii-chan in trouble. –Izumi got sad.
– Don't worry, he's gonna be fine. You know he knows how to deal with bad people. –Sasuke whispered, to calm her down.
– I've heard that, Sasuke. –Fugaku said.
– I only meant you're angry, dad. Not bad for all the time. –Sasuke explained.
– Oh, everybody, please stop that and eat, or I'm not giving the dessert to anyone. –Mikoto got angry. This was the final argument. The family gulped in fear and concentrated on the soup with such might, as if their lives depended on it. They had their reasons. Mikoto would usually remain calm for all the time, but when she made it to turn mad, she had no mercy for anyone. She was even ready to bring on the worst possible torture. Denying them the pleasure of eating her sweetest, most delicious, melting in the mouth, juicy, loved by everybody apple cake, made according to a top secret recipe passed down from mother to daughter in her family for two hundred years already, was the most touching punishment she could have inflicted upon them.
XX
– Hmh, let's see…. Shadow Replication… Oh, come on! It starts with the jutsu I suck at!
XX
After the dinner (and of course the apple cake), Fugaku fulfilled his promise and took Itachi on a man-to-man chat. What's suspicious, he took the biggest cucumber he could find in the kitchen with. The father and son locked themselves in the parents' room. Knowing there's no use in waiting by the door, Sasuke went to the room he shared with Itachi and took a short nap, listening to an MP3-player. Actually, it was Itachi's MP3-player, which he bought for his own money, earned by doing missions (Fugaku would never give his children such a modern gift), but Sasuke would use it too, when he had a chance. The room was originally Itachi's too, but the birth of Izumi forced Sasuke to give his old room to her and move to his brother. He didn't mind living with Itachi. As long as he kept his dirty underwear away from him.
After about 20 minutes (assuming from the length of the songs), the elder Uchiha brother came into the room.
– What did father tell you? –asked Sasuke, pushing the ,pause" button.
– None of your dirty business. –Itachi replied and took the MP3 player from Sasuke.
– Hey! I was using it! –the younger Uchiha protested.
– I need it more than you do. –Itachi put the headphones on and pushed the ,play" button. Sasuke growled. Elder brothers. –Oh, and Sasuke.
– What?
– Don't eat that cucumber.
XX
– Oh! It's Sasuke-kun!
– Sasuke-kun! Nice to see you again! –Oh God. Those annoying girls again. They noticed his mom's car as soon as it appeared in their field of vision. This stupid, green Daewo Matiz. He should ask his mother to change it or at least change the color.
– Oh, it's Sakura-chan and Ino-chan. They're waiting for you. –Mikoto noticed happily. What was so good about that?
– I hate them. They're nuts. Always jumping around me, acting like idiots, talking nonsense. It's annoying.
– Well, I think they like you, Sasuke-kun. –Mrs. Uchiha explained. She was so proud of her little man. He was so extremely popular with the girls. If he only was a bit nicer for them. Well. Perhaps it's not the time yet.
– Like me? How foolish. They should concentrate on their training, not bother me for all the time. If they keep on wasting their time for such stupid love things, they will never become good ninja, and even if they do, they gonna get themselves killed at the very beginning of their career. –Sasuke said. To his shock, his mother rapidly parked the car at the pavement, blocking the way out from some garage and turned to him from the front seat.
– Are you saying, that love is stupid, Sasuke? –she asked. So suddenly. Sasuke couldn't tell if she was sad or angry. But he knew, that when she called him simply ,Sasuke", it meant he is in some kind of trouble. But why?
– Mother, a ninja must focus on his duties first. And love just keeps him away from the duties.
– Oh, really? Well, I thought that you can only become truly strong, if you have somebody to care for. Somebody, for whom you want to be strong. –it was sarcasm. He could feel it. But why was she making such a big deal? But, after considering it… be strong for somebody. Neh. –Well, Sasuke? Why do you want to be strong? –easy question.
– I want to be strong, so I could match Itachi and make father notice me.
– And why do you want father to notice you? –she kept on asking. Her son thought about his answer for a moment.
– Because I look up to him, and I want him to know that I can be just as good as Itachi. I want him to be proud of me.
– Why? –Jesus. What does she want? What is he supposed to say? How weird, she's just asking ,why", just like Izumi. It's stupid. But she must have a reason. She wants him to find something out. But what? Come on, Sasuke, think, move your head. Why do you want your father to be proud of you? Simply, because he's your father. A father should be proud of his son. It's the most normal thing that children want to make their parents proud. Yes.
– Because I'm his child and children always want to make their parents proud.
– Why? –Now it's REALLY getting annoying.
– Mother, for Christ's sake. I'm gonna be late for the classes.
– You still have over five minutes. Come on, Sasuke-kun. Why do children want their parents to be proud of them? –at least she's adding ,kun" to his name. Sasuke sighed. He had no idea. Geez… What was the first question? What was the start of it all? Oh yes, love. Love. He said love is stupid and she said that love makes people strong. Or something like that. So it must be something about love… maybe…
– Because… parents are always proud of their children… even if the children are clumsy, weak, or stupid… parents trust the children… and children don't want to disappoint the parents… because… because… because they love each other and this love is the basis of their relationship. –the younger Uchiha brother was not sure of how much truth there was in what he was saying, but he figured out that was more or less exactly what his mother was willing to hear. And assuming from her expression, it was a good shot.
– Bravo, Sasuke-kun. See? Everything is about love. That's why you want your father to acknowledge you: because you love him and this love keeps on pushing you up, it makes you strong. –she said. So love was making him strong? How weird… but his mother seems so sure of it… and he had to admit, there was a bit of truth to it… or maybe even more than a bit… –Those girls are like you: they're seeking attention. Perhaps if you stop ignoring them and start treating them as friends, they would start to respect your private space. What do you think, Sasuke-kun? –what? Start treating them as friends? But they are nuts. They would kill each other for him. But… so far, what his mother said made sense. He had always trusted her. She had never once given him a bad tip. So why not try to listen to her? Afterall, she was a girl. She knew more about girl than he did. Sighs. Okay. He would do this for her.
– I… I think it won't kill me to try.
– Now that's my smart boy. –she leaned closer and kissed him on the forehead –So, are we going?
– No. There's no use in driving such a short distance. I'll walk.
– Okay. See you later, Sasuke-kun.
– Bye, mom. –so, Sasuke elf the car and his mother drove away. Sighs. Now he had to confront Sakura and Ino. Relax. Go to them. Pretend you do give a dam about them. At least say hi.
Miss Haruno and miss Yamanaka were worried. Sasuke-kun's mother stopped the car so suddenly. And Sasuke-kun wouldn't go out for a very long time. What must've happened? Maybe he felt sick? Or worse? But he was coming here. And he seemed rather okay. Well, maybe a little depressed… or no, he has just smiled. Or was it?
– Hi, girls. We're having a very warm spring, aren't we? –shock. Did he just say ,Hi, girls?" Did he just smile at them? A quick prickle. Nope, it's not a dream. OMG, at last, the God has listened to their prayers.
– Oh, yes, indeed, Sasuke-kun. –Ino said, bursting with excitement.
– Right, it's so hot, that I have to keep the fan in my room on for the whole night to get some sleep. –Sakura added, with just as much excitement.
– Me too, and I have it even worse since I have to keep on fighting for the fan with my uncle.
– Your what? –Sakura spotted the suspicious word in Ino's speech. Oops. Not good. Think, Ino, think…
– Umh… my cousin, yes, my cousin. You see, his mother is in hospital, due to she stayed in the sun for too long and he is staying at our place, yes, heheheh… –Ino said nervously, laughing stupidly. It was possible to happen. They should believe.
Sasuke couldn't believe it. The plan actually worked. None of the girls has interrupted his personal space so far. It's a miracle. Oh, mother, you genius. I will never doubt your wisdom again.
– I'm sure it's a very interesting story, Ino. But if we're late for the classes, we'll end up writing sentences after classes, so we'd better be going now.
– Oh course, Sasuke-kun! –both girls said, and the three walked into the Ninja Education Centre. Sakura and Ino each caught Sasuke's arm. He didn't like that. Be nice, be kind to them…
– Umh, ladies, could you please release my arms? It's kinda uncomfortable.
– Sorry, Sasuke-kun. –they released his arms and simply walked by his right and left. He smiled to himself. Yes, he now knew how to deal with them. He was going to survive.
XX
– Kage Bushin no jutsu!
PUFF!
– Drats! Why won't it work! Kage Bushin no jutsu!
PUFF!
– Huh! Gasps! No time for breaks! Kage Bushin no jutsu!
PUFFF!
XX
– Uchiha! Haruno! Yamanaka! One minute late! –Mizuki yelled at the three students (one third of the class), who entered the taijutsu classes training field.
– We're sorry...
– You are just going to be. You're staying after the classes and writing 50 times,,I will never be late for school again, since the classes are short and every single minute of education is priceless". –Mizuki announced. He was right. A ninja class only lasted for thirty minutes, and it had to be well used thirty minutes.
– But…
– No buts! Today's subject: combats in pairs! Since one person is absent, it's exactly 8 people for the fights! The pairings are: Uchiha with Hyuuga, Haruno with Nara, Yamanaka with Aburame and Inuzuka with Akimichi! Plain taijutsu, no genjutsu, no ninjutsu, no weapons, no animals, no special eyes! And now, move it! –Mizuki ordered. The kids followed his commends. They didn't really like him. He always called them by their last names, made big deal and put great punishments for small things. Of course, the teachers needed to be strict, especially those who taught the final year students. But they could be strict in a fair way. And Mizuki wasn't fair.
Naruto didn't come. Everybody assumed it's because he's afraid of the punishment for damaging the hokage figures. It was a reason. Mizuki smiled to himself. Now he just had to wait. He still had about five hours before the old Sarutobi would return home. Asuma will of course tell him it was Naruto, who stole the scroll. Then, everybody will search for Naruto. And he, Mizuki, was going to find him and get the scroll from him. The kid sure is going to be exhausted after trying to learn the forbidden jutsus. He is going to finish him off and get rid of the body. Everybody id going to think, that Naruto escaped with the scroll. Afterall, he is the demon fox. Everybody hates him. Yes. Perfect plan.
But there was one thing Mizuki didn't consider: that the boy might actually learn the forbidden jutsu. But he is just a kid. No chance. That's what Mizuki thought. And was going to regret it.
XX
–KAGE BUSHIN NO JUTSU!
PUFFFF!
XX
good...
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Marta: Alright. It's getting longer and longer. I know this chapter focuses mostly on the Uchihas, but I can't help it: I just like them too much. Next one is obviously a Naruto-centric one, with Anko and Iruka (InnerGM: You're making this up as you go, don't try to make the impression of all-knowing genius.). Anyway: R&R. Please (InnerGM: Those of you who read it, we're not killing for saying the story sucks.). I hope the story is still good enough to read.