Disclaimer: I own neither Naruto nor Danganronpa.
Chapter 7:
The Ultimate Camping Experience Part II
The camp set up by the class of Ultimates was filled with silence. After Naruto had come with the injured fox in hand, the others didn't know what to do. Naruto was just standing in front of the tent Mikan had disappeared into, not saying a word. Chiaki was standing next to him still, only she was playing another game. Gundham also stood nearby with his arms crossed. His hamster, Crimson Steel Elephant, Maga-Z had returned to him, not that Naruto had noticed. He was far too fixated on the entrance of the tent to notice anything else.
Teruteru had led Nekomaru, Akane, Nagito, and Peko to retrieve whatever else he needed for their food supply. While that was happening, Sonia, Fuyuhiko, Kazuichi, Ryota, and Ibuki were setting up a fire and seats around the fire. The seats were actually just tree trunks, but it was still exciting nonetheless. Well, Ibuki was excited at least.
"I don't get it," Hiyoko said as she watched Ibuki start to decorate one of the tree trunks with glitter and other stuff she had brought with her. "Why does he care so much about that random fox anyway?"
"Hmm, hmm. Naruto-chan has always been a weird one," Ibuki said with a nod. "No one else has taken a liking to Ibuki this quickly."
"Huh?" Hiyoko wanted to vomit. "What the heck does that mean? Are you really suggesting that he already likes you?"
Ibuki grinned. "Ibuki knows."
"Don't be an idiot. There's no way-"
"Now, now." It was at this point that Mahiru decided to intervene. There was enough trouble already going around for her liking. They didn't need more. "Let's not start arguing over something so petty. Besides, Naruto-san invited us all to this trip. Do you think it's okay to be arguing over whether he likes us or not?"
The photographer didn't notice, but she was already calling Naruto by his first name, unlike with the other boys.
Hiyoko would have picked up on this, but she was too focused on giving Ibuki a side glare to do so. As for Ibuki….well, she was all sunshines and rainbows. In her mind, she was totally right about what she had said. On the outside, she looked like the type of person who couldn't understand something as intricate as someone's emotions, or feelings. But that wasn't the case. More often than not, Ibuki was able to sense these things, faster than others too. The thing is…...her personality made it hard for others to pick up on that. Since she was so loud and usually chirpy, it gave the impression that she was clueless. The truth was, Ibuki was just trying to help in the only she knew how.
By keeping the spirit alive.
Right now, she knew that the best way she could help in this situation was by doing her job and getting their little setup complete. She lacked the delicate touch needed to cheer Naruto up right now. But later…...
Ibuki continued decorating her little tree trunk with excitement.
This was the state of the camp for the next ten minutes, with no one else exchanging any words with one another. Hiyoko and Mahiru decided to help the others with the tree trunks, although the former complained the whole time. Without Naruto to lead their exchanges, they didn't know what to say to one another. The awkward atmosphere only grew when Teruteru and the others returned. The situation only changed when Mikan finally emerged from the tent. She had latex gloves on, stained red from blood. She really had come prepared, huh?
"Well?" Naruto was right in front of her in a flash, looking anxious. He still didn't know why he was anxious, but he had never been one to dwell on such things. He acted first. That was the kind of person he was.
"H-He's going to be okay," Mikan said slowly. She was finding this side of Naruto to be…...interesting, to say the least. The desperation in his face was clear. It was different from the happy-go-lucky boy that she had come to know so far. "Thankfully, the bullet was only lodged at his side. He lost a lot of blood, but with rest and food he should be back to normal…...t-that's what I think."
Again, she was no veterinarian. Her knowledge on animals was very limited.
Regardless, Naruto didn't hesitate to hug her. This made Mikan go red in the face almost immediately, as she was not used to this sort of physical contact. She had felt the warmth radiating from Naruto's body before, but that was from a distance. To be engulfed in it now...it not only comforted it her, but it also made her feel safe.
She still flushed in embarrassment.
The others all looked on with a mixture of shock, amusement, and, in Teruteru's case, arousal. But let's all just ignore that last one.
"Ohohohoho, now this I didn't expect." The cook was all giggles as he patted his chest. "Uzumaki-kun sure doesn't waste anytime, does he?"
"Stop being such an idiot," Mahiru said, rolling her eyes. "You just don't understand delicacy, do you?"
"Oh, mademoiselle, I can certainly be…...delicate, if you wish."
Mahiru wanted to smack him, she really did. Only her strong composure kept her from acting out her wishes.
Naruto either ignored or didn't notice the reactions from his classmate, or Mikan's embarrassment, and wordlessly stepped into the tent. Chiaki followed, her curiosity getting the better of her. Gundham was the only other to join the two.
Mikan stayed rooted where she stood. Parts of her clothes were now red from Naruto's hug, but she was far too embarrassed to notice it.
"Um, Tsumiki-san?" Sonia tilted her head. "Is something the matter?" She did not understand the expression Mikan was currently making.
Nagito walked up to the nurse and patted her on the shoulder. "I believe it's best if Tsumiki-san gets cleaned up. Being covered in blood probably isn't sanitary."
You think?
"The stream or the lake should suffice," Peko suggested.
"Eeeeeehhh?" Hiyoko didn't like the sound of that. Not for Mikan's sake, but for her own. Bathing in a lake out in public like that…...it just wasn't right.
Kazuichi suddenly swallowed, his cheeks red. "I-Is that really a good idea…...?"
Teruteru giggled perversely, a small trickle of blood flowing down from his nose. "Oh, I do believe it is."
"I swear, there are perverts everywhere." Mahiru was not going to amuse them, though. "Come with me, Tsumiki-san. We can trek back to the facilities. I'm sure they must have a shower there for campers."
"So we're going to have to walk tomorrow to bathe?" Ryota didn't like the sound of that.
Mahiru rolled her eyes. "Well, if it's too much trouble for you, then you can just get cleaned up in the stream. I'm sure that would you suit you better anyway."
"Ouch." Even Kazuichi was flinching at that. Mahiru really had a mean streak to her, huh?
Mahiru, Sonia, and Hiyoko led Mikan to the camping facilities they had seen earlier during their trek over here. The Ultimate Nurse didn't say a word the entire time, though. Her brain was still trying to cope with the fact that someone had hugged her, and with no malice either!
Just what was this strange feeling in her chest…...?
Fuyuhiko h'mphed from where he was standing. This whole trip was not going the way he had hoped. It was just one problem after another.
'Being part of a group is a lot of work…...'
Even as the next heir of his yakuza organization, Fuyuhiko had never had to truly deal with partaking in the business, so to speak. No, his father took care of that, and now he was beginning to see why the man was always so busy and stressed out. A group was like a machine. Every part needed to be maintained in order for the whole system to work.
The short heir sighed in slight defeat.
"Ah, Owari!"
He turned back to see Nekomaru trying to stop Akane from eating the dead deer that had yet to be cooked up while Teruteru looked positively aghast. Nagito was smiling, Ibuki cheered, Kazuichi was grossed out, Peko looked away, and Ryota didn't seem to care.
It would take a madman to lead a group like this.
Inside the tent, things were a lot more quiet. Mikan had left the fox to sleep in the middle, giving it a small blanket to keep it warm and cozy. She had also wrapped its torso in bandages, which was where it had been shot. Now, the small fox looked at peace, its chest rising up and down in a calm manner. It was the exact opposite from before, when Naruto and Gundham had first found it.
Mikan had talent, that was for sure.
"It's just as Tsumiki-san said." Chiaki decided to speak up first, surprisingly. Her small voice boomed in the otherwise quiet tent. "It doesn't look to be in danger anymore."
Naruto knelt next to the fox and placed a hand on top of its head. "You really are small…..."
"I'd say it's a normal size for its species and age," Gundham said, his arms crossed. His four Dark Devas all peered down at the fox with curiosity from his scarf. "Although, without that healer, its life would have surely been cut today."
"Um." Chiaki looked at the breeder. "I don't think that last remark was necessary."
"What do you mean?"
The gamer gestured to Naruto, and Gundham understood soon enough. Instead of saying anything else, he simply looked away. There was a brief spark of regret in his eyes, though.
Naruto knew Gundham wasn't trying to be purposefully malice with his comments, so he didn't react to it. Besides, this was his problem, not Gundham's. For Naruto was starting to understand why he had reacted to strongly to seeing the wounded fox.
Kurama was dead.
It was something Naruto had purposefully tried to keep from his mind. Just like the issue with his chakra. Somewhere, deep in his heart, he understood that these were problems that needed to be addressed. But he never did. Why? Because he was scared to find the answers.
It was no use. In the projections ran by Jun, it had shown that the object traveling through the dimensions would be torn apart unless it was sufficiently shielded. Even though Jun had failed to mention that little detail, Naruto had been able to pick up on it while the physicist had been typing up his little simulation. But once again, Naruto had ignored it completely, like it didn't exist.
In other words, Kurama was his shield. The bijuu must have given it his all to make sure Naruto survived the journey. That's what Naruto thought at least. And in this world, chakra was not a thing. At least, chakra as a power source. Here in this dimension, it was just a concept in some religion. Based on that, his chakra had most likely been stripped away in order for him to adjust to this world. Then again, all of this was nothing more than conjecture on his part. Naruto had no way of knowing what had truly happened.
And that's what scared him.
He didn't know what would happen to all the others trapped in the Infinite Tsukuyomi, or if Sasuke, Kakashi, and Sakura had survived the blast. Or what if they had been trapped in the same explosion as him, but had been torn apart during the journey? None of them had the kind of chakra that Naruto possessed. So then…...what if they were dead too?
The Uzumaki had tried his darndest to run away from all of these questions. Maybe that was why he had suggested this camping trip at all, using the others as an excuse to continue running away from his problems.
It was pathetic really. And it disgusted Naruto, how weak he was being.
"You're sulking again."
Naruto nearly screamed when he noticed Chiaki's face staring right at him. The usually quiet girl was kneeling next to the fox as well, only she was looking at the blond.
"W-What?"
"I said you're sulking." She started to poke him in the cheek like Ibuki, finding that his cheeks were very soft. No wonder Ibuki liked doing it. Not only that, but she could feel his whiskers twitch, like a cat's.
How very cute.
"You should stop sulking," she told him.
Naruto blinked for a few seconds, trying to register what was happening right now.
"I find your current attitude to be…...quite distasteful as well," Gundham said in his usual powerful tone. "I do not understand why someone as you would care so much about this familiar. I thought you were beyond such practices."
Naruto looked down at the sleeping fox. Its ears twitched a little, no doubt from their voices. They were curious about him?
"I guess…...I was just projecting my problems onto this little guy, just like I was doing it with you guys. I've been failing to deal with a lot of stuff, and I don't know how. That's why you guys have been my scapegoat. And I have to apologize for that…..."
"Hm?" Chiaki thought about it for a moment. "You think? I think you're wrong."
"What?"
"I said I think you're wrong." Chiaki began to run her hand across the fox's head, enjoying the way its fur felt on her hand. "You have made our experience at Hope's Peak a little more fun than what it could have been."
Naruto remembered Nagito saying something similar to him before. At the time, Naruto had shook it off because he didn't feel that he deserved those words. Now he knew why he had felt that way.
Chiaki still carried on. "You see, Uzumaki-kun, there is something different about you. All of us, we're all tied to our talents. From the moment we found them, we have been stuck with them. We can only rely on our talents. No matter what we do, we can't escape that. That…...is our fate."
Naruto frowned, but he allowed her to continue.
"You don't seem to have those limitations, and it's…...comforting." Chiaki began to smile. "Perhaps I can find something else that isn't tied to my games. Perhaps, just perhaps, I can find the same level of freedom as you. That's why…...I'm sure you can overcome your problems. And if you can't do it alone, then you can rely on me…...if you want."
While Naruto had never expected to hear something like that from Chiaki of all people, he still took her words to heart. Like it or not, this was the situation he was in, with no answers and with no way to return to his world. A part of him had still been holding out, even after Jun had told him to forget about it. And, honestly, a part of him would probably always be hoping that one day all the questions he had would be answered.
Ignoring them or sulking certainly wasn't going to help, though. He just had to keep going, for all those who had risked their lives for him.
'Yeah…...that's right. That's my motto, my ninja way.'
He couldn't go back on his word now, not after the bonds he had started to form here.
"Thank you for that, Chiaki."
The girl watched as Naruto got back to his feet, looking like a huge load had just been lifted from his shoulders.
"Honestly, I'm surprised to hear all that," Naruto said. "I guess those with talents have their own problems to deal with. But if it's any consolation, I don't think that about you at all." He glanced to Gundham. "I don't think that about any of you all. You're all more than just your talents. You don't need me as your crutch for that. You can do it on your own, I'm sure of it."
"Well, that should be obvious." Gundham smirked and cackled. "I haven't fallen so low to the point where I need to be consoled by the likes of you. Kekekeke."
Naruto and Chiaki looked at one another before laughing together.
How very Gundham of him.
Akane was in heaven right now…...or well, about to be. Her eyes were watery, and the drool coming out of her mouth was like a waterfall that Sonia couldn't help but remark about.
Why was she like this you might ask? Well, the answer was simple. Teruteru was preparing the finishing touches to his meal, the very first one they would have together as a class. And it was under a starry sky out in the woods with no one to disturb them. It couldn't get better than this.
After Naruto and Chiaki had had their little talk, they had exited the tent with Gundham in tow. From there, they had helped the others finish setting up their camp. It was after that that Naruto had gotten changed from his bloodied clothes. No one wanted to see him like that, and he didn't want to be in them either. Unlike the others, he had no problems getting washed at the nearby stream, a fact that would haunt Mahiru, Mikan, Hiyoko, and Sonia when they returned.
...technically, more like embarrass them, but that was beside the point.
Ibuki found the whole situation extremely hilarious, as did Teruteru for that matter. Only Kazuichi had sulked, since he was certain he had seen Sonia blush at first. Nekomaru had admired Naruto's muscles, remarking that they were more refined than any athlete he had seen before.
Naruto took the compliment.
Now, the blond was seated with his class around the camp fire as Teruteru began to serve them their meal. Deer, with a side of mushroom soup. Even though the ingredients were very simple, the Ultimate Cook had been able to transform them into something extraordinary. Even Naruto could feel his mouth water.
In their circle, starting from Naruto's right, it was Mikan who was all cleaned up as well, followed by Fuyuhiko, and then Peko, Chiaki, Kazuichi, Ibuki, Sonia, Gundham, Teruteru, Ryota, Akane, Nekomaru, Mahiru, Hiyoko, and then finally Nagito who was sitting on Naruto's left.
There was more member in their circle, and that was the young fox Naruto and Gundham had rescued. It was napping peacefully on Naruto's lap. Mikan had been worried about him moving so quickly, but the fox had taken his spot on Naruto's lap after awakening from his slumber. No one dared to move him, and Naruto was content with this.
"Wow, I can't believe this turned out so delicious!" Mahiru exclaimed after taking her first few bites from her meal. From the very beginning, she had had her doubts about this whole thing. But thankfully, she had been proven wrong.
Even Hiyoko had to admit that the food was delicious.
"I want seconds!" Akane shouted from her spot.
"Ha!? Already!?" Teruteru looked wide-eyed at that. The gymnast had eaten even faster than before! What the hell?
"I guess waiting all day for this took its toll, huh," Nekomaru guessed.
"It's just sooooooo good!" Akane was ready to cry.
Nagito chuckled. "Such excitement. But I must agree. It's as if I'm tasting hope with every bite."
Ryota sweatdropped. "Ah, is that so."
There was nothing else to say to that really.
"Do you think we should wake him up to feed him?" Naruto wondered as he looked down at his new friend.
Mikan looked unsure. "I-I do not know. Rest is important for him, but he'll also need food to get his strength back."
"H'mph, give him his rest," Gundham said from where he was sitting. "Once he has properly rested, he'll seek food on his own."
True. The fox had survived on the wild so far. That was the part Naruto was worried about. Then again, Gundham had informed him that the fox was still very young, enough so where domestication was not an issue. The fact that he had been on his own when they found him meant that his mother was more than likely dead now. Leaving him on his own in this situation would most certainly be a death warrant.
At least he and Naruto had that in common, as terrible as it was. They were both without mothers in this world.
"Oh, but what shall you name him?" Sonia asked with curiosity.
"I hope it's not another weird name," Hiyoko muttered. The names Gundham had given to his hamsters were just so weird to her.
"Oh! Oh!" Ibuki raised her hand. "Ibuki has a perfect name for him!"
Fuyuhiko was compelled to ask, "And what would that be?"
"Red Star Fox!"
Cue a collective sweatdrop.
Ibuki pouted at their reaction. "Awww, think about it! We're under the stars, and his fur is red…...!"
And he was a fox!
"That's totally denied," Kazuichi said under his breath. He couldn't believe just how much of an airhead she was.
Naruto looked sheepish. "Sorry, Ibuki, but…..I'm not going with that name. I already have one for him."
"Oh?" Peko raised an eyebrow. "I'm curious. What name is that?"
It couldn't be worse than Ibuki's, that's for sure.
Naruto smiled. "Kurama."
Cheesy, but appropriate. It was a shotout to one of his closest friends.
"Kurama." Sonia tested the name, and smiled. It warmed her heart for some reason. "I believe that is a beautiful name."
Gundham h'mphed again. "A grand name indeed."
Ibuki pouted some more, but she still saw the beauty in the name. "Kurama-chan it is then."
Naruto was happy to hear that.
"Then this is a celebration to the new addition of our group!" Ibuki cheered, nearly jumping out of her seat. "We now have five animal friends!"
On Gundham's shoulders, the four Dark Devas did their own little celebration, glad to see that they had a new companion.
Nagito smiled. "It is splendid, is it not?"
Hiyoko curled her lip. "Calling each other friends now? That's so sick."
"Eh? But you're our friend too, Hiyoko-chan~" Ibuki sent a pout the dancer's way. "Don't deny it!"
"T-That…...don't call me that!" the blonde snapped, embarrassed.
"Hiyoko does raise a valid point, though," Naruto suddenly said.
That caused the others to pause. Naruto of all people was saying that to them?
"Ah." Hiyoko was at a loss. She didn't think the Uzumaki would take her seriously.
Nagito studied the blond for a moment…..and then smiled. "You have something in mind, Uzumaki-kun?"
Naruto nodded. "Yeah, I do. I call it…..the meet and greet camp adventure!"
Only Ibuki cheered at the tittle.
"What exactly are you talking about here?" Mahiru asked.
Naruto scratched his cheek as he chuckled. "Well, it's basically just us introducing ourselves." He looked at everyone around him. "Back during the first day, we only gave each other our titles given to us by the school. But we're more than that. To become friends, we're going to have to know more about one another. That is why I propose that we properly introduce ourselves now."
"I get what you're saying," Fuyuhiko said, "but how do we do that?"
"We just share our likes, dislikes, and what our hopes and dreams are for the future," Naruto explained. It was what Kakashi had done with them back in the day. It was a simple idea, but Naruto found it to be an effective one.
"That sounds kind of embarrassing," Hiyoko muttered.
"Well, I think it's a splendid idea." Of course, Nagito liked it.
Kazuichi had an idea. "Yeah, but if Uzumaki wants us to do it, then he should go first!"
Secretly, he just didn't have the guts to talk about his dreams in front of Sonia. So if Naruto chickened out, then he could be spared. Unfortunately…...that did not happen.
Naruto shrugged. "Sure, I don't mind."
Fuck.
"Now let's see." Naruto took a second to mull his words over. "First off, what I like…..well, there's ramen. It's the food of the gods." Cue group eye roll. "I also enjoy training, and gardening too."
Now that caught them by surprise...again. Naruto seemed to do that a lot to them.
"You like gardening?" It was Mahiru who asked.
Naruto nodded. "Yeah. It's pretty relaxing. I used to do it a lot when I was younger. Unfortunately, the older I got, the less time I had to take care of my plants."
With the Akatsuki, Sasuke, and trying to stop a war, things had just escalated for him. Life had just gotten so troublesome, as Shikamaru put it.
'I guess you really can't judge a book by its cover,' Mahiru thought, amazed.
"I don't really have anything in specific that I dislike," Naruto continued. Except for how long it took for instant ramen to get done. Even in this world, it was still three minutes. What an injustice. "I guess I'm not too fond of vegetables."
"Y-You shouldn't say that," Mikan said softly. "Vegetables are good for you!" She silently hoped the blond would take her suggestions more seriously. She was his nurse now, after all.
Nekomaru had to shake his head here. "Just how someone like you managed to get that incredible physique is beyond me."
Naruto grumbled. "Don't be so harsh, sheesh. I eat vegetables now, I'm just not overly fond of them. They're weird looking, and they don't taste right!"
Fuyuhiko was at a loss for words right now, as were many others.
Chiaki was agreeing silently with Naruto's words. Vegetables were evil. Tasty but unhealthy snacks were a gamer's best companion during the night. It was a sentiment that was also shared by Ryota, but for different reasons.
"You're like a little kid, I swear," Mahiru said with a sigh. "It must have been tough on your parents, trying to change your ways."
Ah.
Naruto did his best to not look down. "I'm an orphan, so I kinda had to learn this all by myself."
Jiraiya, Tsunade, and even Kakashi all came later into his life, after all.
Mahiru looked confused for a moment, like she didn't understand what he had just said. But when she finally registered his words, she looked mortified.
"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean-"
"It's alright, Mahiru." Naruto already knew what she wanted to say, and he didn't hold it against her. "It's not like you knew, and it's not a big deal to me anymore. I'm all grown up now, after all."
Gundham closed his eyes. "That's a strong remark, not easily made by the weak-willed."
"Thanks…..?" Naruto decided to just accept the compliment. At least, he thought it was a compliment.
"But that must have been terrible," Sonia remarked. "Living all by yourself…..."
"It's really no big deal. I had a lot of friends back in the village who supported me, just like I do here now." Naruto didn't want to spend too much time on this. To him, it was a non-issue. At this stage of his life, he had grown to accept all the bad in his life with the good. It was part of being a shinobi. To endure it. "Can we get back on track now?"
The others agreed.
"I guess all that's left to talk about is my dream." Naruto folded his arms and thought about that for a moment. He had always meant to follow Jiraiya's teachings and unite all of shinobi after the war was over, but he couldn't very well do that now, could he?
'Well…...Ero-Sennin said he wanted for people to come to understand one another…...'
It wasn't just shinobi-kind. And just because he was stranded in another world, it didn't mean that he had to forsake his master's teachings. Not only that, but with what little history he already knew, he could tell that there was much conflict in this world that needed to be resolved. That's part of the reason why Hope's Peak Academy had been founded, in order to create a brighter future in this country by bringing together the top of the cream in every imaginable field. That's what Tengan had told him at least.
Naruto began to smile as an idea started to form in his head.
"My dream is a simple one…...I just want to create peace and bring about justice and hope to this world."
To say the others were shocked was an understatement. Even Nagito looked stunned for a moment, but he recovered soon enough.
"Hahahaha! That's incredible, Uzumaki-kun! To think you were aspiring for such heights…...!"
It made Nagito's heart beat with excitement! His instincts had been right on the money all along!
"What the hell?" Kazuichi was more pessimistic, though. "What the hell kind of dream is that?"
Both Mahiru and Sonia shot the mechanic a glare, making him falter. Hey, he was just curious. Don't chew him out for it!
Naruto didn't take offense to the question. "I understand your reaction, Kazuichi. For someone as small as me to say something like that…...it does sound silly." He shrugged. "But I don't really have a choice. It's what my master entrusted me with, and I can't let him down."
"A master?" Fuyuhiko was curious about this. "You had a master?"
"Of course. How else do you think I gained my skills?"
"That does make sense," Peko admitted. Being self-taught could only get you so far. Even she had had several teachers in the past. Of course, she surpassed them all over time, but that's beside the point.
"But if you're going this far, then you must have cared a lot about him," Nekomaru said.
Naruto nodded at this. "Yeah…...he taught me a lot of things, some helpful, others…...not so much. Point is, my master wished for peace in this world. And I'll make sure to deliver it."
"B-But such a goal….." Mikan bit her lip, troubled. "Don't you think it's too big for one person to accomplish on their own…..?"
"Oh yeah, it would be impossible for me alone." Naruto then patted the girl on the head again. "But who says I'm planning on doing it alone? I have all of you guys to help me."
"Oi, oi, oi! Don't just sign me up onto this!" Kazuichi exclaimed, mortified.
Hiyoko snorted. "You're such a loser, god."
"I-I respond better to praise, ya know!"
Hiyoko ignored him of course.
"Hmm, such a bold statement indeed." Nekomaru rubbed his chin in thought. "You're so certain that we'll help you with this."
"Don't make it sound like that," Naruto said sheepishly. "It's more like I'm asking you guys for your help. I can already tell. Together, there's nothing we can't do. That's why, even achieving my master's dream would be a possibility if we're all united."
"I admire your spirits, Naruto-chan!" Ibuki shouted. "If this were a song, I'd titled it, 'Wish under the Starry Sky!'"
Naruto had to admit, that was a beautiful tittle.
"I for one have never given something like world peace much thought," Teruteru said with a thoughtful look. "But if I were able to make everyone smile with my cooking…..." He laughed softly. "Mhhmmm, yes. That would be incredible."
It was one of the few times Teruteru was showing his more serious side, and the others were glad for it.
Akane smirked. Her fight with Naruto had been put on hold because of the whole business with the fox, but surprisingly she didn't feel angry about it. Instead, her blood was getting pumped up with all of this talk about peace and whatnot.
"I don't really get how you can create peace, but it doesn't sound too bad to me."
Ryota scowled. "You make it sound like it's an easy thing when it's not. Saying we'll all work together…...do you really think that's possible?"
Naruto looked at the animator. "It's true that my words right now don't carry much weight to them, but I'm the kind of person who proves himself through his actions, not his words. That's why, even if you don't accept it now, I'll make sure to prove myself worthy of your trust."
For some reason, that only infuriated Ryota more. "Don't say it so readily. Not all talents are for the greater good. Some talents only bring pain and misery to everyone involved."
"You think so?" Naruto shook his head. "I'm of a different thought. No matter the power, it's only the intent that matters. Even power based on darkness can be used for good if the intent is there. It's no different with talent. And that's what I see around me. That includes you too, Ryota."
Ryota kept his eyes on the blond for a few seconds before looking away. He didn't seem entirely convinced still, but for the time being, he was able to understand Naruto's point.
'And there's that feeling again,' Naruto said to himself, keeping Ryota in his line of sight for the moment. It was the feeling that he was speaking to someone else entirely. But why would he ever feel something like that? Just why?
"Still, I sincerely believe in Uzumaki-kun's words," Nagito said, drawing the attention to him. "I think it's a wonderful goal to work towards, especially with everyone here. With your talents combined, the hope born from this union will shine more brightly than any star."
That made Fuyuhiko smirk a little. "Wonderful or not, it's hard to think that a goofball like Uzumaki can achieve a grand goal like that on his own. So I guess lending him a hand is the only thing that we can do."
"Oi…..." Naruto was happy the boy was on his side, but did he have to call him a goofball?
"Yeah, well, it's not a terrible goal," Kazuichi muttered under his breath. He hated feeling this way, feeling that he wanted to help Naruto. He didn't know why, just that he was slowly being drawn to being around the blond. It was very frustrating for him.
"Alright, alright. That's enough from me for now." He had been embarrassed enough. Naruto glanced to Mikan. "You're up next, Mikan."
"E-Eh?" Being put on the spotlight like this…...Mikan was not handling it well.
"You can do it, Mikan-chan!" Ibuki cheered for her. "It's not like Hiyoko-chan is going to bite."
The dancer's eyebrow twitched, but she didn't say anything.
"U-Um….." Twiddling with her fingers, Mikan mustered what courage she had and faced the group. "W-Well…...my likes include anything that have to do with treating people-"
"Huuuuuh?" Hiyoko cut in, her face annoyed. "Don't you do anything else other than be a creepy stalker?"
Naruto was about to say something, but surprisingly Mikan spoke up to explain herself.
"I-I devout all my time in trying to help people. That's because people always rely on you when they're sick. And being congratulated for a job well done…..it's a nice feeling, I think."
Teruteru giggled. "Oh my. Who would have thought…..that Tsumiki-san had a side like this."
"Don't make it weird," Fuyuhiko glared at the cook who was serving Akane her fourth plate.
"Being depended on is a nice feeling," Sonia said, recalling her status as a princess. She had a whole country who depended on her. While it could be stressful, she was more than happy to fill the role…..granted, there were times she wished she was just a normal girl too.
Mikan fidgeted, silently wondering if she had said too much perhaps. She didn't want anyone to hate her…...
"Anything that you dislike?" Naruto asked her, keeping her introduction going.
"U-Um…." Mikan figured she could reveal that. "Being ignored…..t-that's what I don't like."
Now that Naruto could understand. Solitude was a hell he wouldn't wish upon anyone.
"You don't have to worry about that anymore," Naruto sent her a reassuring smile, one that Mikan instinctively returned.
"M-My dream for the future…..would be to fill all the hospitals in the world with wonderful medicine," Mikan declared with more confidence than usual. "That…...and h-help Uzumaki-san with his goal of course…."
How thoughtful of her. Naruto appreciated her words, for sure.
"H'mph, guess I'm up next, huh?" Fuyuhiko placed a hand on his tie to readjust it. "I have a lot of things I like, and a lot of things I dislike-"
"Boooooooo!" Ibuki didn't hesitate to strike him down. "That's no fun, Fuyuhiko-chan! You have to put more feeling into it."
"Ibuki's right," Naruto agreed. "It would be unfair to Mikan and me if you half-ass this."
"MAN UP, KUZURYU!" Nekomaru shouted at the top of his lungs.
Fuyuhiko t'sked. Looks like he was going to have to do this, after all.
"I love my clan. As the next heir, I will do anything to keep it safe. Most of my time is kept occupied for this task, so I don't have a lot of experience in many other things. I…..I do have a little sister that's also important to me…..." God, that was hard to admit. "I heavily dislike…..milk." Even saying the word was enough to make him angry. If only he could drink that damn liquid…..!
"Pffft-ahahahahaha!" Hiyoko couldn't help but laugh at this. "You don't like milk!? No wonder you're so short!"
Fuyuhiko fumed. "Say what, you little bitch!? You of all people have no right to say that!"
"Huh!? What did you just call me!?"
Naruto facepalmed while the others all let out a collective sigh. These two were always going to be hostile toward one another, weren't they?
"This is about our introductions," Peko reminded them. "Please don't get carried away."
Hiyoko huffed and looked away.
Fuyuhiko decided to let it go and just continue. "My dream is a simple one. To become the best clan leader the Kuzuryu have ever seen and bring the family to even greater heights never seen before."
Kazuichi looked a tad nervous about that. The strongest yakuza gang in all of Japan getting even stronger? Not exactly something that many people would want to see...
Nagito was just ecstatic. "That's a grand goal, Kuzuryu-kun. It's filled with so much hope!"
Right.
Peko crossed her arms and said, "I enjoy training with my sword more than anything else. I guess…..." Her cheeks had a slight red tinge to them as she spoke. "I-I guess I also like petting cute animals."
Talk about being blindsided.
"Awwwe, that's cute," Mahiru gushed.
Peko coughed to regain her composure. "Yes, well, even if I say that, animals tend to stay away from me when I get too close. I do not know why. But because of it, I have never been able to pet one before."
Now that was just sad.
Nekomaru picked his ear. "Isn't it because you have the aura of a warrior? The animals must sense this, and trust their instincts to stay away."
"But we have four hamsters that aren't normal," Mahiru pointed out while looking at Gundham. "I'm sure they wouldn't run away from you…..maybe."
"Say what?" Gundham looked outraged. "Are you telling me that you want to pet my Four Dark Devas of Destruction!? You, a mere-!"
"It would be nice," Sonia said, joining in. "They're just really cute!"
Rather instantly, Gundham began to blush. He raised his scarf over his face to hide this, but everyone could see it. "I-I suppose…..it wouldn't be such a terrible thing….."
Naruto's eyes shined in mischief when he saw this. 'Well, well…..'
He had some material to work with later.
"I thank you for the opportunity." Peko bowed in genuine gratitude.
"You can do that later," Hiyoko said with a disgruntled face. "We have introductions to continue!"
"O-Oh." Peko looked down in sadness. She really wanted to pet them now, but Hiyoko had a point. She needed to finish here. "I don't exactly have anything I dislike per say….but I suppose if I have to name something, it's candy."
Hiyoko nearly gasped. How could anyone not like candy!? Especially Japanese ones!? It was heresy!
Peko closed her eyes. "I have never given my future much thought, so I can't say I have a dream. But….I will fulfill what is required of me until the end. That is all."
For some reason, her final words did not sit well with Naruto. As with the Ryota situation, though, he had no idea why.
"Hm?" Chiaki noticed that all eyes were on her. So she was next, huh? "My likes….are video games. I like every genre, but I struggle with one the most."
Woah. Even someone like the Ultimate Gamer had games that were too tough? Now that certainly made Naruto curious. What kind of games could they be?
Unfortunately for the blond, Chiaki didn't seem keen on sharing which genre she struggled with the most. "I don't like waking up early…..but that's rarely an issue since I stay up most nights playing video games anyway."
Mahiru sweatdropped. "You know, Nanami-san, I think you spend too much time on games."
"Hm? You think so?" A small smile graced Chiaki's face. "To me, it's the opposite. People who know nothing about games are the ones missing out."
No one knew what to say to that.
"Um. I don't have a dream for the future." Chiaki tilted her head. "But I guess Uzumaki-kun's dream sounds nice to me."
Truly, Chiaki was the kind of girl who went things at her own pace. If nothing else, Naruto had to admire that about her. It reminded him a lot of Shikamaru. That guy got all fired up when it came to shogi, but not much else. It was just like Chiaki with her video games.
"It's finally my turn, huh?" Kazuichi smirked and gave the group a thumbs up. "My likes are all about tinkering with machines, especially engines, when I have a chance. Motorcycles are a special treat to me. In fact, I'm real close to cracking one that can reach up to 585 mph!"
Holy shit.
"T-That sounds awfully dangerous," Mikan commented.
"More like, could you even ride that thing?" Fuyuhiko said with a shake of his head. "I bet the police would confiscate it in an instant."
"Of course it's not street legal!" Kazuichi exclaimed. "It's not like I would ride it anyway. I get motion sickness real easy."
"Huh?" Hiyoko blinked. "Then why are you even building a bike that you can't ride?"
Kazuichi smirked again. "Because it's just nice to tinker with engines, ya know? Disassemble, reassemble, see what makes it tick…..stuff like that. It's what gets my brain moving!"
'Well, everyone has their own thing,' Naruto thought. He was the same way when it came to training.
"My dream is a real big one too!" Kazuichi continued, excited that he had the spotlight for once. "Since I'm a mechanic, and I gotta reach for the stars, my dream is build a rocket that can go to space!"
That was…..ambitious.
"But….you cannot ride it, correct?" Peko asked with uncertainty.
Kazuichi awkwardly laughed. "Y-Yeah….."
What a funny guy, this Kazuichi was. But a dream like that….Naruto felt like it really suited him. It was a beautiful dream for someone like him.
"Oooooooh, it's Ibuki's turn next!" No one beat Ibuki in the excitement department. "As promised, Ibuki will grace you with a most spectacular introduction!" Wait, when did she promise? "Ibuki enjoys doing a lot of things! Truly, there is not a single thing Ibuki will not enjoy doing. Ah, but standing still is a big no-no! There's nothing more boring than standing still! Your brain won't be stimulated that way! That's why, you always need to be on the move! Ahahaha, that's what Ibuki says anyway! As long as you can overcome boredom, you can overcome anything!"
So, basically, she disliked being bored. And to Ibuki, one of the easiest ways to become bored was to do nothing at all.
Gotcha.
"Ibuki's dream is rather elegant," she continued with a wide grin. She sounded so sure of herself. "That dream is to form a band with everyone here!"
Fuyuhiko deadpanned. "Yeah, that's never happening."
"And with the way you play, we'd be more likely to die first," Kazuichi added, recalling the song she had played for them yesterday. It was just terrifying.
Ibuki sulked. "Boooooo. Show more guts, you gutless!"
It was a matter of survival, not guts!
Sonia stood up from her seat and bowed to them. "Hello. It is my turn now, correct?"
Yes.
"Ah, Miss Sonia." Of course, Kazuichi was already a blushing mess.
Naruto still found the whole situation humorous. How could Sonia not notice Kazuichi's affection towards her? Naruto was proud that he at least wasn't that dense.
"There are so many wonderful things to enjoy in glorious Japan, that it is difficult for me to pick one," Sonia began with her hands next to her face. "Crime dramas, and dramas in general, are some of my favorite! 'The Summer Story of Seven Men and Women' is a special favorite of mine, as it began the era of trendy drama that we know today! It was such a romantic story, but also very tragic! Of course, there are many other dramas that focus on different facets of human lives. It is-"
"We don't need a lecture on your stupid dramas," Hiyoko snapped. "Seriously, talk about something else already!"
"Hey! Don't be so rude to Miss Sonia!" Kazuichi, jumping to Sonia's defense. No surprises there.
"No, it is my bad." Sonia, of course, was more than willing to be the bigger person here. "I got carried away. I do apologize for that."
"Na, it's alright." Naruto wasn't annoyed. It's not like he knew anything about these so-called 'dramas' anyway. "You can continue, Sonia."
The princess was more than happy to do so. "Aside from that, I enjoy all the many things I have come to know here in Japan. It's like a whole new world to me! That includes this camping trip, as I have never been able to do something like this with people my age. That is why I feel like I have been blessed with a wonderful opportunity."
"That's Miss Sonia for you," Kazuichi gushed even further. "Always so admirable."
"Idiot," Fuyuhiko said while shaking his head.
"I don't know about anything I dislike that is truly worth mentioning," Sonia continued. "As for my dream, I hope to lead my country with clarity and grace one day, as well as achieve Naruto's dream for the future!"
So Naruto had a princess of a nation that was willing to support him? Sweet.
Kazuichi felt down in the slumps a little. Why? Because Naruto was the only one Sonia referred to on a first-name basis. That had to mean something, right?
"Kekekekeke, coward, you fools, for the great Warlock, Tanaka Gundham, has finally arrived!" The Four Dark Devas all positioned themselves on Gundham's shoulders as the boy posed as well.
'Always with the dramatics, huh?' Naruto thought absentmindedly as he petted the now named Kurama, who was still sleeping.
"There is nothing in this world but my Four Dark Devas of Destruction that could possibly interest me!" Gundham declared with his usual gusto. "The measly life of humans is not worth my time!"
Naruto had no idea what that meant.
Nagito smiled and translated, "I believe he is saying that he likes his hamsters above else. Considering he's willing to to raise them in his scarf, I don't think that should be surprising."
Naruto was definitely not surprised.
"Of course, that said, I am host to many other creatures that I must keep at bay for this world to continue to exist," Gundham carried on. "Without my power, this world would have been engulfed in chaos long ago!"
"I really am getting embarrassed just listening to this guy talk," Hiyoko said. "You're just a breeder, remember!"
"I think it's best if we let people be who they are," Mahiru said, throwing in the towel. Her class was full of weirdos. She was just going to have to live with that from now on.
Gundham was devoted to his animals. That's basically what the guy was trying to say. That's where his hopes and dreams lied. Naruto knew there was more the guy than just that, but if that was all he was willing to say for now, then so be it.
"I suppose it's time for everyone's favorite chef, hm?" Teruteru started to comb his hair. "My story is truly a grand tale, I can assure you."
"We're not here to hear you narcissistically talk about yourself, dumbass," Fuyuhiko said, annoyed.
"Oh my~ You're always so tough on me, Kuzuryu-kun~"
Mahiru really wanted to smack her head against something hard right about now. "You're covering way too many bases by yourself, Hanamura."
"Well, I suppose I can give you the shortened version," Teruteru said as he finished combing his hair. "I was born in the great Azabu district, and was raised in southern Aoyama. That's why I carry such an air of sophistication around me. This is also why I vehemently hate anything junk food related."
Ryota and Chiaki both took offense to that.
"Food must be prepared from scratch, and each dish must be handled with great care," Teruteru explained. "The chef and his ingredients, all brought together in harmony. That is why junk food fails on every level! It's thrown out like any trash you see in the city! Those so-called restaurants don't care one bit about the standards they want to set, and people eat it all up! It is ridiculous to call something that grotesque food!" His nostrils were flaring in anger now, showing just how much he disliked junk food.
It was rather surprising to the others, as from the beginning, Teruteru had appeared to be someone who only cared about sex or making innuendos. But this…...this was something else.
"You shouldn't insult junk food like that," Ryota said with a glare. "It too has its place in this world!"
The Ultimate Animator was technically supposed to go next, so this worked out, maybe….?
"I would never have imagined that someone would say such a thing!" Teruteru sounded offended. "Junk food has a place in the world? It does not!"
"It's all about a new era!" Ryota was not going back down, though. "It's common knowledge that fast food has forever changed society! From the upper class to celebrities all over the world, they're all gaining weight from fast food. Many professional athletes even eat an unbalanced diet!"
As the two began to bicker back and forth, Nagito was taken back by the fire in Ryota's words.
"How strange. I never considered Mitarai-kun to be this kind of character…..."
Naruto had to agree. The guy must really love junk food, huh?
Mikan looked put off. "I-It is not healthy to eat only fast food…."
The girl took her duties seriously, huh?
"All this talk about food is making me hungrier dammit!" Akane yelled. "Am I going to get another serving or what!?"
"W-What?" Teruteru looked at the gymnast with further shock. "I've already given you seven servings! And you want more!?"
"Hell yeah I do!"
"How can anyone eat so much?" Mahiru wondered.
Naruto knew how. It was easy. You just had to really like food. It was like him with his ramen.
"Forget about that for now, Owari," Nekomaru told her. "Since Mitarai and Hanamura have taken their turns to argue with one another, it's your turn next."
Well, Ryota didn't technically go, but at least everyone now knew what he loved. Junk food. What did he not love? People talking badly about fast food, or junk food in general.
It was a start.
"Huh?" Akane didn't seem too thrilled to participate. "It's not like I have much to say. I work hard to take care of my younger siblings. I love food, and I don't like it when people are keeping me away from my food."
"You don't like being a gymnast, Owari-san?" Sonia asked, curious to know more.
"Eh, it's not that I don't like it," Akane replied, shrugging. "I'm just indifferent to it. Some old geezer told me I could make good money doing it, and I did. That's all."
For the Ultimate Gymnast to be so laid back like this….it was incredible, and not exactly in the good way either. But…ugh, Naruto didn't know. Trying to classify Akane was much harder than it seemed.
"I guess it's come to me at last." Nekomaru grunted as he flexed his arms. "What do you guys want to know?"
"Um, what we've all been saying so far?" Kazuichi said, confused. "What you like doing, what you don't like, your dreams. All that."
Nekomaru began to laugh. "Hahahaha! Oh, right! I should have realized it sooner!"
This guy…..
"Hmm, let's see now." Nekomaru began to seriously consider his words. "I guess, as a team manager, there's nothing I like more than seeing the athletes I've worked alongside achieve their dreams. For me, that is what I like most, and is also my dream. To help others overcome the obstacles in their path, it's what I live for! That is why none of you should hesitate to come to me for help! I'll even grant you world peace like you want, Uzumaki!"
Naruto laughed. "That would be a huge help, thanks."
Nekomaru smirked. "But of course." He then frowned. "I suppose what I dislike most is lazy people. Those who do nothing but complain about their situation when they could be doing something productive in order to attain their goals. That's what I can't stand most."
So even Nekomaru had his serious side, huh?
'I'm glad I did this,' Naruto thought. He was seeing different sides to his classmates that he hadn't been privy to before. It was an eye-opener, and it was sure to help everyone understand one another better too.
Mahiru stood up straight as the attention shifted to her.
"As many of you know already, I like taking pictures of people, more accurately their smile. To me, that is the best thing you can possibly hope to capture in a photo. It also makes me happy when I see that these pictures of mine, filled with smiles, make other people smile as well. It's like a snowball effect, with my pictures at the center of it. What I don't like is deleting a picture." She smiled as she looked down at her camera. "To this day, I have never once deleted a picture that I have taken. To me, it would be like trying to deny that that moment ever existed. And I could never do that. Every moment of your life should be important to you. That's what I believe."
There really was a bigger story to her pictures in the end. Naruto had already guessed as much. From the looks of things, Mahiru had a special admiration for normal, everyday events. One might this to be boring, but not Mahiru. In her eyes, it was beautiful. On the flip side, she loathed war, if her reaction to his reading material had been anything to go by. Naruto knew he was still missing some context, but he was already building a greater understanding of the person known as Koizumi Mahiru.
"If I have anything resembling a dream, then I suppose it's that I hope to fill people with hope and happiness with my pictures," Mahiru concluded softly.
Huh. So hers and Naruto's dreams coincided...
'Helping the idiot might not be so bad...'
Everyone felt uplifted by her words. The most "normal" one here, accomplishing that. Funny how that worked.
Hiyoko followed next. "I really like candy, and Japanese food of course! Rice, fish, miso, soy cause….I could totally live on Japanese food alone! It's the best if you ask me. What I dislike is how people try to import everything from stupid places like the West. Why do we have to do that when we already have such great things here?"
Teruteru said, "It's more about unity than anything else I believe….."
As a cook, he took inspiration from other cuisines from time to time. It was only natural.
"And that's why I think it's stupid." Instead of looking haughty or sneering, Hiyoko had a more calm and serious expression. "We should protect the things that are close to us, right? If we try to unite, we'll be losing all that is dear to us. I mean, it's pretty old-fashioned thinking, but what's wrong with thinking old-fashioned thoughts? I don't think we should be totally excluding everything and everyone….but just protect what's important to us, you know? That way, we don't lose ourselves."
How very unexpected.
"I guess even you can say some nice stuff sometimes," Fuyuhiko said with a smirk.
Hiyoko huffed. "How rude! I'll have you know I'm always serious!" She tapped her cheek. "I guess I just think this way because of the industry I'm involved in, which is pretty old-fashioned."
"There is something to be said about an old industry trying to adapt to a new changing world," Nagito commented.
"Traditional dancing, huh?" Naruto muttered. "I've never actually seen anything like that before honestly."
"Huuuuuh?" Hiyoko was aghast. "You really never seen one of us perform!?"
"Yeah…..not from around here, remember?"
"Still….." She then laughed. "Oh well. An idiot like you probably wouldn't get it anyway~"
She still liked to tease him, huh?
"I think it would be a good idea if Saionji-san performed for us right here," Sonia suggested. "That way, we could all see for ourselves."
Truth be told, Sonia had never seen one of these dances in person either, so she was excited to experience it firsthand.
"W-What?" Hiyoko began to blush. "But that's-…..I mean, I don't even have any music!"
"Leave it to the great Ibuki!" Ibuki suddenly pulled out a pair of drumsticks from behind her, as well as a small wooden drum decorated with purple glitter.
"What the-?" Nekomaru leaned in closer. "Did you bring those with you?"
"Na, Ibuki made these from the trees," she clarified. "Ibuki had time to kill after she finished decorating her tree trunk, so that is why she has these now!"
She had been able to make something like that? Nice.
Naruto watched on, along with the others, as Ibuki began to play a tune on the drum. It seemed her skills went beyond just the guitar.
Seeing this, Hiyoko had no choice but to stand up from her seat and indulge the "idiots" in what they wanted. It wasn't because she wanted to do it, not at all. She pulled out a small fan from the sleeves of her kimono, which she had on her almost always. It wasn't as big as the ones she usually used when she performed, but it would have to do.
The others all sat back and watched how Ibuki and Hiyoko began to perform together. They were clearly doing their own thing, but it still had its appeal, oddly enough. At least, it was enough to make their dinner a helluva lot more enjoyable than before. Ibuki wasn't as bizarre with the drum as she was with her electric guitar, so that kinda helped set the mood for them.
And so, the section B of the 77th class spent their first night on their camping trip together, eating and enjoying the show performed by two of their friends. There was a new addition to their group as well, a little red fox. It was a simple night, all things considered.
But damn if it wasn't fun.
I. Am. Back.
And boy do I have a lot to cover. I'm definitely proud of the interest this story has garnered, so thank you all for that. When I first decided to write this, I was sure that, like, only fifty people would be reading. Good thing I was wrong on that account.
Now onto other matters. There are several things I want to address. Firstly, someone asked me if Hajime was going to play a role in this story, or if I was cutting him entirely. And the answer is: of course I'm not cutting him. We gotta have our boy Hajime enjoy the fun too. When will he be introduced? Well, he'll make his official appearance right around when the twilight descends. I'm sure most of you know what that means. The 78th class will also have their time to shine too. Honestly, this first arc is just about Naruto going down the beginning stages of bonding with his class. And with this chapter, the whole issue with Konoha and the war and all that finally rests. For the time being that is….what do I mean by that? Who knows. Well, I know. But you catch my meaning.
Someone raised a complaint that Naruto was bonding too quickly with the others. I take several issues with this complaint. As someone else has already pointed out in a previous review, the members of the 77th class were all loners and starved for friendship. People either were too afraid to get near them because of their status, or were treated harshly in the past for various reasons. The only one this doesn't apply to is Mahiru, but her friendship with Sato is so toxic I'm willing to group her with the others too. Then here comes along Naruto, someone who sees them not for their talents, but just as themselves. He's actively trying to get close to them too, so of course they would all jump at that opportunity. Keep in mind that this is the same Naruto that was able to sweet talk Pain into betraying Obito, and then sweet talked Obito into betraying Madara. Naruto's charisma and ability to bond with others are some of the core aspects of his character. Not only that, but if this were Island mode, he would have two hearts, possibly three, with most of them. It's not like they're the best of friends yet. Future arcs with solidify that. Like I said before, this first arc is just the beginning stages. I will focus on each character individually as the story progresses.
This brings me to the next topic: who will Naruto start to bond more closely with? I have given myself some wiggle room in this matter to be honest. Sure, some character moments are essential and will have to take place at certain times over others (i.e. which girl Naruto will date.) But overall, I'm able to pick and choose. That's why I'll probably start with either Teruteru, Nekomaru, or Akane. Or maybe Mahiru. Why them? Because they're never touched upon in other Danganronpa crossovers, from what I've seen anyway. The other stories are more focused on Naruto just getting a harem and ignore all other characters, or have Naruto acting like a whole different person and derail so far that I'm not even sure why they even call their protagonist Naruto, and so on. I don't want to do any of that. Ultimately, if there's a character you guys want me to focus on first and there's enough support for it, then I might end up doing just that.
This brings me to my last topic. I had someone ask me who my favorite and least favorite characters were in the franchise. I had them guess based on the story, and they ended up getting my favorite character right. My least favorite…not so much. So I pass the question to you guys. Who do you think my favorite and least favorite characters are?
Damn, that was a lot. But that's all from me. And yes, Nagito not "introducing" himself was by design.
Hope you've enjoyed it.
Till next time.
