Thank you so much for reading and reviewing!
Dear Guest, I am aware that the Japanese don't have two last names, everyone that reads this book is aware. However if you've noticed, this book is not in a real world setting. I didn't specify on a language in the real world they're speaking, neither did I use real places hence, the rules of the real world doesn't apply here. The rules of the real world doesn't apply to any fiction, really.
I hope that explains why you've been seeing Uzumaki-Namikaze Naruto a lot in this book and in any fan fiction really, and besides I have my reasons for giving him two last names in this book. I didn't give him two in my other stories. Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Chapter warning: mild violence.
Enjoy...
The once rowdy hallway became graveyard silent once he stepped into the highschool building. It was expected. They parted a way for him through the middle like the red sea and he walked through it like a mafia boss.
His vibrant crimson hair could make blood jealous but that was beside the point. His eyes were seafoam green surrounded by dark rings hidden with eyeliner but that was beside the point. His didn't wear his blazer and chose to wear the dark green sleeveless sweater of the school uniform instead.
His sleeves were rolled to his elbows and his tie lay askew on his neck but that was beside the point. He had a kanji tattoo matching the colour of his hair on the left side of his forehead but that was beside the point.
What made everyone part ways for him was not because of his appearance but because of his reputation. He heard the names they called him. The red devil was the most popular of them all. Sabaku no Gaara was his name. Top of KSA's blacklist and the most hated students' list, he stood at the small height of 5'4 feet but his small stature fooled nobody.
Gaara was a transferee from a neighboring city called Suna and was teased a lot because of his stature. That was until he stabbed a fork through a senior who decided that bullying the new kid would teach him his place in the school. Fortunately though, the fork was plastic so the only serious injury Gaara could inflict was a bad eye.
It had taken a lot of influential manipulation to keep Gaara in the school but since then, the redhead made a reputation for himself as the red devil. That happened in middle school.
He opened the door to his supposed class and looked around at the familiar faces of his classmates. As usual and expected, they were all afraid of his presence except Hyuga who only looked up from his book and resumed reading, uninterested and Uchiha who only glared at the sudden intrusion and continued solving some problems.
"G-Gaara! Y-You came!" The blond bimbo stuttered. She yelped and mellowed when his green eyes met with her blue ones. Hn. Pathetic.
"I am afraid that you are in the wrong class, Sabaku." Hyuga announced from his seat. His pale eyes never left the book he was reading as he spoke. "You have been demoted to a recuperative class. I suppose you know what that means."
Gaara looked at his classmate's faces (the lot of which looked away or gave him pointed stares) and he instantly regretted it. They could never make their hatred for him more obvious. The redhead spun on his heels and walked briskly away even though he had no idea where his new class was.
Back at the first year class, the tense atmosphere in the air dissolved as soon as the redhead left. Ino heaved a sigh of relief and dramatically fanned herself with her fingers. "I thought I would die just by the way he glared at me!" She exclaimed like a damsel in distress.
"I am really happy that he is no longer in our class. The years spent with him was torture." Sakura mumbled from her seat and everybody agreed to what she said.
"The look on his face when Neji told him that he was demoted was priceless though." Suigetsu laughed. "I was tempted to rub it in but that's just asking for an early funeral."
"Shut up, you're annoying." Sasuke growled from where he sat.
"Hai, Sasuke-sama." Suigetsu mock saluted with a laugh.
Iruka was in his way to class when he saw a familiar redhead walking aimlessly down the hallway. The man walked over to the wandering boy with a smile.
"Hello Sabaku-kun. I am glad that you finally came to school." The boy raised his head to look at the teacher and Iruka could not deny the goosebumps that prickled his skin. Iruka knew not to let the boy's hard glare bother him too much so he continued talking. "I am Iruka, your new class teacher. Follow me will you? Classes are about to start."
As Gaara followed Iruka to the classroom the teacher could not help but notice the bruise on his face. It had faded but was still a little bit visible. It didn't take too long for Iruka to figure that Gaara must have gotten into a fight again. How was somebody so small capable of delivering big blows and escaping fights with barely a scratch?
"Good morning students!" Iruka announced as he entered the classroom. As usual Naruto, Kiba and Lee were playing paper soccer, Choji and Omoi were sharing snacks, Shikamaru was asleep, and the girls were chattering. In was a very noisy class. Once their teacher made his presence known however, they stopped whatever they were doing and returned to their seats.
"Good morning Iruka-sensei!" They chorused with Lee's voice being the loudest and Shikamaru's voice being non existent.
"Somebody tap Shikamaru awake please." Iruka sighed. He regretted giving that instruction because as soon as he finished, Kiba and Karui punched holes through the poor sleeping boy's back.
Shikamaru groaned as he sat up and glared at the offenders. "What a drag. You guys are insufferable." The pineapple muttered, rubbing his aching back or at least where his hand could reach.
"Quiet everybody. We have a new student among us." Iruka gestured to Gaara. "Sabaku-kun, please introduce yourself." Iruka gave him a marker to write his name on the board with.
The small redhead accepted the marker and spelled out his name with a surprisingly beautiful calligraphy. "Sabaku no Gaara." Was all he said before going to the empty seat beside Naruto's. Iruka only smiled patiently at his rudeness and began the lesson for the day.
• moments before Gaara and Iruka's arrival... •
"Hey people!" Omoi sang as he barged into the class with his twin following behind him. As usual, a lollipop was stuck in his cheek and his tie was knotted roughly on his neck. Ties were not made for people like him but that wasn't the point here. "I got gist-!" He started only to be interrupted by Karui's rude interception.
"I got hot gist!" The burgundy haired girl announced, effectively catching the attention of her classmates.
"Oooh, what is the youthful news you have for us?!" Nobody needed to see to be able to tell that Lee just said that sentence.
"What is it?" Matsuri asked curiously.
"Is it a competition?" Tenten asked.
"No. The infamous red devil is in our class!" Karui announced. The girl frowned when she was met with silence. "Wait, wait, wait, you guys are tellin' me y'all don't know tha red devil?!"
"I've heard rumours about him but I don't know who he is." Matsuri said and Yukata and Tamaki nodded in agreement.
"Okay, lemme explain to y'all." Karui plopped herself on her table while Omoi sat on his chair in a way that his chest was facing the backrest. Everybody turned to give her attention as she spoke. "So our brother, Darui, told us of this guy. He has a tattoo on his forehead..."
"A tattoo?! That's dope!" Kiba exclaimed from where he sat on Naruto's table. The both of them had become rather close because of Yota and put their awkward first meeting behind them.
"Shut up moron." Tenten chided. "Does he dance?" She asked Karui.
"I don't know about that but get this guys. He is your worst nightmare. He stabbed a senior with a fork on the first day he transferred here and he's gat a shit ton'a detention tickets. He is the perfect description of a bad boy."
"Other than the stabbing, how bad can he be?" Choji mumbled between crunches.
"Choji, this guy is a demon especially when he's angry. Trust me, when Darui says something is spectacular, it is spectacular because that dude finds everything boring." Omoi answered.
"Oh no and he is in our class! I hope he doesn't murder anybody in anger- ouch!" Yukata yelped as Matsuri pinched her. It was then she realized what she did wrong and bowed apologetically to Naruto. "I'm so sorry Naruto, I didn't mean anything by that!"
Naruto only gave a closed eye smile which radiated fakeness and dismissed her. "No it's okay, I know you meant nothing dattebayo." He said in an overly cheerful voice but nobody noticed.
"Really? Oh that's good!" Yukata smiled and then the girls formed a group around Tenten's table to talk.
Naruto's smile broke only for a moment before he picked it up again by saying something stupid and suggesting a paper soccer game. Though his classmates were talking to him now (unlike before when they pointedly ignored him) he still felt estranged among them.
The only ones that were comfortable around him to some extent were Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba and Lee but even among them, he felt isolated.
When Gaara took his seat beside Naruto, the blond could not help but hold his breath at the overwhelming aura that the guy radiated. Gaara was just a tad shorter than Naruto was, both of them being the shortest boys in the class, but the aura he had was stronger than even that bastard's aura that he met at the rooftop on the first day.
When the twins were describing him, Naruto had imagined Gaara to be huge and burly with a goatee and bloodshot eyes. He had imagined a repeater who had been in the school for five years and never graduate but this Gaara exceeded his imagination.
Short, blood red hair, green eyes, black eyeliner, red tattoo and to crown it all the 'I would kill you if you breathe near me aura'. Naruto decided not to have anything to do with the redhead there and then. He decided that so why was he looking over at Gaara's lone table during lunch?
Unlike Naruto when Gaara approached a table everybody deserted it and the tables surrounding it. Gaara was not bothered by it though, he just continued eating without a care.
"Why are you looking at him?" Kiba asked, effectively startling him awake from his thoughts. Naruto scowled in response. They were going to the elementary block to meet Yota and ensure that no bullies stole his lunch again.
"I just have a bad feeling towards him, that's all." Naruto muttered.
"Yeah me too. There is a bruise on his face, do you think it is from a fight? That guy gives me chills." Kiba shuddered to prove his point.
"What a drag. Are we going or should I just go and sleep on the roof?" Shikamaru groaned. He was way ahead of them with Choji at his side.
"Hai, hai we're coming." Kiba picked up his pace to meet them. Naruto spared a last glance at Gaara's table and picked up his pace too.
"I guess he really is a monster."
Xxx symphony xxX
The taxi stopped in front of the fancy apartment building and a man stepped out of it after paying the fare. It was a weekend so there was no activities for Iruka. He had left Naruto with a lot of prepared food at his apartment so that the boy didn't get mischievous and try to cook by himself.
He wanted his apartment intact by the time he came back, thank you very much.
Iruka went into the building and pushed in the digits of the floor he was heading into the elevator button. Genma had given him this address and had wished him luck. Even Gai failed at what Iruka was about to do and that was saying something. Gai was a cockroach, no offense to the man but he was always bouncing back up no matter how many times one tried to push him out.
For Gai to fail, that meant that Iruka would do no better but the brunet was not Umino Iruka if he didn't try.
He knocked the door to the apartment he was going to and waited for a response. The door opened and a bush of unruly silver hair peeked in through the gap. Onyx eyes widened at the visitor on his doorstep but steeled over again.
"Hello, Iruka-sensei." The man greeted and stood up straight to his towering form over the smaller man.
"Hello Kakashi-sensei." Iruka smiled. He had no doubt that Kakashi knew what he was here for already.
"Come in." Kakashi ushered in politely. As usual, a surgical mask covered his facial features and his silver hair stood aloof on his head just like his personality. "Do you want anything to drink?" He asked, making his way to the kitchen.
"Just water is fine." Iruka said as he looked around the apartment. It was plain with grey walls and dark furniture. No picture lined the walls and there was not even a wall clock in sight. Kakashi came back from the kitchen with a chill bottle of water because the weather was still warm. "Thank you." Iruka appreciated.
"You're welcome." Kakashi took a seat across the couch Iruka sat and crossed his arms over his chest.
"I suppose you know why I am here, Kakashi-sensei." Iruka started.
"Yes. Please stop calling me sensei, I am no longer a teacher." Kakashi politely refuted. "And I am not going back to teaching." There was a note of finality in his voice.
"I know that. I just don't understand why you would stop teaching. Didn't dance and teaching it make you happy?" Iruka was confused as to why Kakashi decided to drop something he loved so much.
"It is not your business, Iruka-sensei." Kakashi said firmly. "If you are done, please excuse me. I would like it if you didn't come back again." The silver haired man escorted Iruka to the front door and slammed the door close softly. He missed the grin on Iruka's face during the process.
Iruka smiled to himself. If Kakashi thought he would just accept that half assed reason and sit put, the silveret just thought wrong. He had never met somebody as stubborn and persistent as Iruka yet if Kakashi actually thought Iruka would drop the case just like that.
Xxx symphony xxX
Gaara was alone at his table again, Naruto noted as he queued to take his lunch. He decided to eat at the cafeteria today instead of the rooftop since the girls were going to check on Yota today.
Naruto took a seat next to Shikamaru who was lazily munching on an apple. Shikamaru's laziness was on a whole unearthly level. That guy was too lazy to blink so he'd rather keep his eyes shut in sleep, that was how lazy he was.
Choji was stealing his chicken nuggets but Shikamaru didn't mind while Kiba had already wolfed down his nuggets and was going for a third round. Yes third. Freaking carnivore.
The hall suddenly exploded in hushed whispers as a second year boy walked over to the table Gaara was at. He must have been dared to do it or something because nobody in their right minds would stalk over to the Gaara's table like that.
Gaara paid him no mind and continued chewing his nuggets but the boy was certainly seeking his attention because he slammed his hands down on the table. Gaara's food jumped and his water was upset so it poured across the table. Mint green eyes looked up at the offender and the hall silenced in anticipation of a strike.
"Get out or I'd kill you." Gaara's raspy voice echoed through the dining hall. The boy, bigger and buffer than Gaara was, sneered down at the redhead as he continued eating.
"So demons eat!" He mused. "I thought you ate human flesh and drank blood. Say, isn't that what your name means?"
Gaara's hand froze on its path to his mouth. The second year noticed this and was spurred on by the fact that his words had affected the red devil.
"The 'self loving demon'." The boy went on. "Say, your mum must've known how you would be like if she gave you that name. Wait, didn't you kill her?" Everybody knew that Gaara's mother was not alive anymore because he came from a very influential family. The news of her death and his birth went viral back then.
"Shut up." Gaara's grip on his chopsticks was tighter than a ballerina's corset. "Shut up." He repeated but his actions only spurred the second year on.
He laughed mockingly and fake cooed. "Oh did I hit a nerve? You shouldn't be so tense, you're a murderer after all." The boy cast a quick glance at Naruto while he said that. "Your mother hated you so much that she named you a self loving demon. Is that why you got your tattoo done? 'Love?' Who are you kidding? You kill, not love."
Gaara's fingers gripped his hair and pulled at it so hard that it looked like his skull would rupture. "Shut up. Shut up. Shut up!" He said repeatedly but the second year only laughed and turned to Naruto.
"And you who killed his own parents..." Naruto's eyes steeled over as he prepared for a fight because he be damned if he just sat back and took insults calmly. But that was until Gaara snapped.
A scream was the only warning everybody got before a blur of red knocked the buff second year down. Everybody around them scampered to avoid the crossfire but still gathered around them in a circle to watch the fight. Gaara was a mad man. He drew back his clenched fist and delivered a punch so hard that everybody heard the bones breaking at the impact.
Daimaru, the second year, managed to get his footing and flipped Gaara over till he was on top of the smaller boy and threw back a punch but Gaara caught his hand and sunk his teeth into the flesh of it. Daimaru's scream rang loud above the chants of other students spurring them on to fight.
"What's going on here?" Nagato asked as he entered the cafeteria with the rest of the third years. They were held back by a teacher so they could not come early for lunch.
"It's Sasori's cousin, that's what." Kisame replied. He was one of the tallest boys anywhere really, so he could see well above the sea of heads that gathered around Gaara and Daimaru.
"Oh, the little batshit is back again. I love that fucker, make way!" Hidan started pushing through the crowd to watch the fight.
"Hidan, you should be breaking fights not watching them!" Yahiko yelled after him and followed behind him while Nagato sighed. The responsible ones in their group had to stop this before it went haywire. Too late for that though because meanwhile, Gaara had straddled Daimaru and started strangling him.
Naruto's eyes widened when Gaara's fingers clenched around the sophomore's neck in a vice grip with no intent to let go until he was dead. Gaara was truly a monster!
"Gaara!"
"Gaara!"
Two second years suddenly burst in from the crowd. One was a boy and brunet and the other one was a girl and blond. The girl worked on unclamping Gaara's fingers around Daimaru's neck while the boy worked on dragging Gaara off him.
"Gaara, let go! LET GO!" The blond girl screamed. Her green eyes were wide with fear for Daimaru was already turning purple from suffocation.
"GAARA!" The boy grunted as he pulled Gaara off in vain.
Naruto was frozen in shock much like some other people around him. The redhead's mint eyes were shrunken with malice and murder intent as his hands tightened around Daimaru's neck. Naruto could not lie that he was afraid, very afraid of the boy that was his seat neighbour. This boy was a murderer and a mad monster. He was a demon!
"Gaara." The steel voice of Sasori calling his name made the smaller redhead freeze and lax his grip. Standing behind Sasori was the rest of the third years who had several looks in their eyes.
Sasori was as emotionless as usual. Nagato, Yahiko, Konan and Kisame held stern expressions while Itachi pierced Gaara with his reddish eyes in an unreadable way. Hidan was amused and Kakuzu looked bored, he could have made some money out of this fight. Deidara, being new, was surprised and shocked.
Daimaru coughed and took in oxygen greedily when Gaara let him go. "Why?" Sasori asked.
"He looked at me the wrong way." Gaara answered. Just then the teachers emerged, attracted by the noise and the fact that server called their attention, and took control of the situation. Daimaru was carried to the infirmary while Gaara was sent to principal Tsunade's office for judgement.
The crowd dispersed now that the show was over but Naruto still shivered. If the third years had arrived some minutes later than they did, Gaara would have killed Daimaru and felt no remorse about it. So this was the red devil!
Gaara was truly a monster.
I enjoyed writing this chapter. Why do you think Kakashi resigned? What do you think will happen to Gaara?
I do not own Naruto, neither do I make money out of this fiction. Original copyrights belong to Masashi Kishimoto.
Favorites and reviews serve to inspire as always.
See you next chapter, bye.
-Star.