Two weeks into the academy and I was already bored out of my skull. I like school, really I do. But I had already learned half the stuff Iruka-sensei was going on about at home. I know WHY he's talking about it, for the civilian students. They don't have the resources that clan born kids like me do. But the library does and they could easily go there instead of wasting time at school. We can't even do anything fun, like chakra control exorcizes or practicing surikenjutsu. All we could do was study the theoretics and forms, both of which I already learned. Asking Hana-neesan did provide some help thankfully. When Iruka-sensei or Mizuki-sensei started teaching things I already know, she told me to close my eyes and focus on my chakra. She firmly reminded me to not mess with it, instead she told me to observe it. Feel the way it courses through my body, the way it ebbs and flows. She told me this was a good way to start working on my control early as it didn't risk straining my developing coils. And so I did just that, taking every opportunity I could to get a feel for this foreign yet familiar energy. I more than once got in trouble for 'sleeping' in class, though it was mostly just a light scolding from Iruka-sensei. I never told mom that though and neither did Hana-neesan. We both knew she wouldn't like me 'slacking off' in class, even if it was for training.
Other than that my only solace was that Hinata sat next to me most day and let me complain to her, even if her attention was often taken up by one hyperactive blond. Speaking of Naruto, I simply couldn't understand why so many people dislike him. Kyuubi aside, he's just like any other kid. So how anyone could hate an innocent little kid who lost just as much that day as anyone else is beyond me. I stifle a sigh. 'Honestly, everyone in this village is an idiot.' Shifting in my seat, my eyes flicker over to where Naruto was sitting. 'He looks as bored as I am.' The blond is slumped over in his seat, barely paying attention to our teacher's lesson on... something. Leaning closer to Hinata, I quietly whisper to her. "Hey... What's he goin' on about?" She whispers back to me without taking her eyes off Iruka-sensei. "The h-history of K-Konohagakure." 'Oh right, I think we went over the first shinobi war yesterday.' Before I could thank her, the room filled with chatter as Iruka-sensei dismissed us for lunch and made the terrible mistake of going somewhere else, leaving almost thirty little hellions to their own devices. As one such hellion, I simply had to make use of this opportunity.
Quickly stuffing my books back in my bag and turning to my shy friend, I latch onto her arm. "Hinata-chaaaaan. I'm boooooored!" I whined at her, earning a soft giggle from her even as her face flushed a light red. "I-I'm sorry K-Kiba-san." She was clearly trying to pacify me, but I would not be detoured. Looking her in the eye, I give a toothy grin even as I lower my voice. "Let's sneak out!" Her eyes widened, as those my very words were blasphemy. "S-sneak out? L-like... S-skip c-class!?" She squeaked out and I have to suppress a chuckle at her scandalized face, even as I nod. "Yeah!" Putting my hand on her shoulder I gesture to the school books in front of her with my head. "Come on Hinata-chan, I know you're as bored with this stuff as I am. It'll be fun!" She didn't seem convinced, but it also didn't look like it'd take too much more. Taking stock of the room, my grin shifts into an equally toothy smirk. "We can invite Naruto." Like with Hana-neesan a year ago I can almost see her resistance break down. When she muttered a quiet "Naruto-kun..." I knew it was done. I did wait for her meek nod before grabbing her hand and leading her over to her crush.
The blond in question was digging through his bag, grumbling about something. It took a minute of us standing there and me clearing my throat for him to notice us. "Eh? What do ya want?" Hinata had devolved into a stuttering mess, incapable of speech, though thankfully she hadn't fainted. Lightly sighing, I take a small step forward. "You looked bored during class. I-We were wondering If you want to ditch with us." He perked up instantly at my suggestion, his grin mirrored by my own. "Sure, let's go now dattebayo!" I had to catch him by the arm as he bolted to the door. "Wait! We can't go that way!" He turned to face me, a confused look on his face. "What? Why not?" I couldn't stop myself from rolling my eyes. "We don't know where Iruka-sensei is. We could get caught if we just walk out." I carefully explained as I lead them over to the window. After taking stock of the room, the only other person present was a sleeping Shikamaru, I quietly slid it open enough for the three of us to slip out. Closing it was more difficult, being only a few months from my fifth birthday, but with Naruto's help we managed it. Turning to my fellow runaways with a clap of my hands, I let my confident smile shift back into a smirk. "So, who wants lunch?"
As we walked our way down one of Konoha's main street, arguing over what to get for lunch, I've slowly come to realize how poorly thought out this plan was. As if three tiny children walking down the street alone wouldn't be suspicious. Just as I was starting to get nervous, Naruto tugging on my arm brought my focus back to him. "Com' on! Ichiraku Ramen's this way dattebayo!" He was pulling me down the main street, grinning as though he won the argument. Frowning, I start tugging him down another street. "Ok, but the barbeque shop's down this way." With that, we were back to arguing, this time at a standstill. It only ended when Naruto turned towards Hinata, startling the girl with his sudden attention. "Hey Hinata-chan, where do you want to eat?" Oh that is not fair. Glaring half-heartedly at the back of his head, I barely caught Hinata's apologetic look before she responded. " R-ramen sounds n-nice, N-Naruto-kun." The cheer that erupted from our blond companion left me momentarily dazed, though I was able to recover fast enough to catch him by the hand before he bolted off. "Oi! Stay with the pack!" It took me a moment of further recovery to note their confused look to realize what I had just said. Biting back a groan I grab Hinata's hand and pull them both closer to me. "Stick together, I mean." I couldn't stop myself from rolling my eyes at Naruto's exaggerated look of understanding. Once we set off again, with a hyperactive blond as our guide, I breathe a sigh of relief. 'I can't believe I used Inuzuka lingo, no wonder they were confused.'
Hinata nudging my shoulder brought my attention back to the real world. "Sorry." She whispered, her face as apologetic as her tone. Before I can even formulate a response, an idea forced it's way past my lips. "So..." I step closer to her, bumping her shoulder with my own. "I'm Kiba-san, but he's Naruto-kun?" I made sure that my tone remained playful, even as my frown shifted into a small smirk. Naruto, ever the oblivious hero, saved the Hyuuga heiress from my teasing. "Com'on, we're almost there dattebayo!" He was practically bouncing in place, an excited grin plastered across his face. "Alright, alright. Keep your hair on, we're coming." I had expected him to run off to the ramen stand, what I didn't expect was for him to dash over to the two of us and snatch up both of our hands, pulling us towards the eatery with a constant stream of "Com'on!" flowing past his lips. "Calm down, would ya? I told you we're comin'." My words seemed to have no effect on him, seeing as he kept pulling us until we stood in front of the small ramen stand. His excited grin was simply infectious, an identical grin split my face and I could tell that Hinata was mirroring his excitement too. "Heh, alright. We're here now, so let's eat."
"See! I told you ramen's the best dattebayo!" He's been saying that for, or something akin to it, for the past five minutes. Curse his boundless energy. "I never said it would be bad, ya know." I managed to say when he paused for breath. "All I was saying was that the barbeque shop would've been a better choice." He didn't seem to hear me, distracted by his own inner monologue I assume. A tugging on my sleeve once again brought my attention to Hinata. "Ya know, you need a new way to get my attention Hinata-chan." My teasing was brought to an end by a soft shake of her head. "N-never mind that. L-look." Following her pointing finger brought my gaze to two middleaged women, housewives by the look of them. They look perfectly normal, smiling softly as they talked. Heck, I even recognized one of them, a kind civilian lady who married into the Inuzuka Clan. I was about to ask what she was pointing at when they spotted Naruto and their sweet smiles faded into scowls of disdain and their conversation turned to harsh, and loud, whispers. "Look, isn't that the demon brat over there?" One of them asked, failing so utterly at being quiet that I wouldn't be surprised if the Hokage heard her. "Ugh, really? I thought Hokage-sama had finally gotten rid of him, I hadn't seen him in a while." The other wasn't any quieter, not that I'm surprised. "Oh no, the opposite really. I heard he was enrolled in the academy." The Inuzuka wife was clearly into gossip, or maybe her husband was. "Really? Well, I hope he stays well away from MY son. I don't want that demon influencing him." Chill lady he's just a kid. "Right? I am so glad my daughter is older than him. Did I ever tell you that she hit Chunin" By this point they had pasted all three of us, thankfully they didn't notice me or Hinata. "Really? Tell her I said congrats! Oh, and how is little Ryoma doing? I heard he was seeing that one apothecary girl...uh, what was her name again?" The two of us share a look as their conversation turns to a more mundane topic.
Our blond companion had slowed almost to a halt, letting us catch up to him with ease. He was eerily still, and his smile was different. Less radiant and more... hollow. Hesitantly I reach out. "Naruto?" This proved to be a mistake, the moment my hand touched his shoulder he bolted down the street. "Naruto-kun wait!" I was even more surprised when Hinata bolted after him, following him into an alleyway. "Ah! Wait up you two." Stumbling into the alley after them, it takes me a moment to find the two of them. I spot Naruto huddled in a shadow with Hinata whispering to him with a hand on his shoulder. Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I immediately recoil when the smell of alcohol assaults my nose. Swallowing my gag, I slowly walk over a kneel next to him. "Naruto... Are you ok?" A stupid question but I had to start somewhere. He was quiet, but after a moment I got a simple shake of the head from the sullen boy. " Oh com'on Naruto, you can't let them get to you. Their just two women." I try to cheer him up as I place a hand on his shoulder, mirroring Hinata. We both jumped when he snapped his head upward. "But it's NOT just them! It's everyone 'tebayo..." His declaration wilted at the end, tears welling up in his bright blue eyes. "Every time I try an' make friends or play with other kids they all say the same thing. They say, 'my mom said I can't play with you' Or 'my daddy said I shouldn't be around you' or somethin'." He was periodically interrupted by sniffles or hiccups as he tried, and failed, to keep his tears in check. 'Crud! I don't do well with crying kids!' As if sensing my inner turmoil, and more likely just responding to Naruto's outer turmoil, Hinata spoke up with a simple yet groundbreaking thought.
"W-well... My d-dad never s-said anything like th-that." The world seemed to pause as a realization dawned on all three of us. "Come ta think of it, neither did mom..." Flashing a toothy smirk, I give his shoulder a soft squeeze to get his attention. "Ya know what, forget 'em! If they can't see how cool you are, then it's their loss." The look on his face, one filled with both hope and fear, was enough to break my heart. "Besides, ya won't need them anyways. Not with me and Hinata for friends. And we WILL be your friends, right Hinata-chan?" A soft but resolute nod is all we got, and needed, from the heiress. "Really? You... You promise?" He looks so hopeful. A memory presses itself to the forefront of my mind. A glimpse of this world as would normally be, with a friendless and lonely Naruto. My smirk shifts into a grin as that world in my head fades away before my eyes, never to exist in this reality. "Heh, I'll do you one better than a promise, a pinky promise." Holding up the mentioned digit, I have to suppress another chuckle at how childish I'm being. But given our age, I don't think that matters. "Everyone knows you can't break a pinky promise, unless you want to swallow a needle that is." Taking up Naruto's pinky with my own, Hinata poses an important question as she does the same with his other hand. "So... W-what exactly are we p-promising?" 'Ah right. A pinky promise has to be clear to all involved or else it's invalid.' Thankfully Naruto spares me from having to think of something. "Oh, I know! How about we promise that, no matter what, we'll always be friends dattebayo!" His statement is accompanied by one of his trademark smiles, one as radiant as when we reached Ichiraku Ramen. Just as infectious too, as a grin was even starting to form on Hinata's face. "That sounds perfect. Shall we?" A silent count of three later and what would be history was made. "Promise." Naruto started giggling after out synchronized declaration, though he quickly clarified why. "One heck of a place for a promise like this huh? The alley behind a pub dattebayo." 'Oh right, that reminds me...' Standing up, I quickly cover my nose. "Speaking of, mind if we move? The smell is killin' me."
We end up relocating to a secluded section of the park, seated at the foot of a large tree talking about whatever came up. From Hinata's favorite flowers to Naruto's favorite ramen flavor, we talked about all sorts of things. It was only when a shiver ran its way down my spine did I look up and notice just how screwed we were. "Oh, crud..." My quiet groan of despair managed to catch Hinata's attention. "W-what is it Kiba-san?" Frantic, I point to the sky. "It's almost sundown! If we don't get home soon we'll be in SO much trouble!" "Oh you're in trouble alright brat." I freeze, turning like clockwork towards my doom. Standing just a few feet away, looking beyond pissed, was not just my mom but also Hinata's dad and the freaking Hokage. "We are sooo dead."
Once again I'm stuck in one of moms lectures, have been for a few hours now. I have no clue what she's even going on about at this point if I'm being honest. I've spent the last half hour counting each line of wood grain on my chair. I'm at two hundred and sixteen so far. "Do you have anything to say for yourself brat?" Slowly looking up into her eyes, I rack my brain for a suitable response. "I made a friend- no, TWO friends today." Is what I say, holding up the appropriate number of fingers. It almost seems like I won when she sighs and slumps her shoulders. "That's nice, but yer still grounded."
It's my turn to sigh and slump, although it's mostly to hide my smile. 'Doesn't matter anyway, I don't regret a thing.'
A/N. It's finally done. After almost two months of writer's block, it's finally done. Writing Hinata was as easy and simple as ever, but Naruto? Trying to figure out his verbal tic while not overusing it was simply hellish. I tried my best to keep them in character but not only do we not have much about their personalities at this age, what we do have I can't watch. Also, most of this chapter was written late at night. So if you find and grammar problems that I might have mussed, please tell me and I'll fix it. I'll be responding to any reviews in the next chapter, so if you have any thoughts, advice or complaints please leave one so I can improve this story. Once more, Thank you for reading and have a nice day.