aight, mi bois. I knu i said i'd only publish once a week, but Chapter 4 was short and i can't help myself. I already have up the chapter 11 written and mi can't do dis. Here's ya goeses.
CHAPTER 5: The Issue Child.
Iruka closes his eyes. He squeezes them harder, but the fox won't go away.
The nightmares had been worse since he started teaching him.
It wasn't the kids fault, but he couldn't help it. Even as a full grown adult, Naruto was a little intimidating. He was quiet, mumbled a lot, and never seemed fully there. It was a lot how Sasuke would sometimes act but this was more… sinister feeling. He just felt unsure about the kid.
Which was unfortunate considering that he was tasked with looking out for him.
Iruka leaned back in his chair, the wood pressing against his back reminding him that he was, in fact, awake. The tea was a little cold, but that was how he liked it.
Jasmine tea was his favorite, as well as his mother's. His dad didn't care for it that much. He preferred Oolong tea. When your mother runs a tea shop, you get to try a variety of different types.
She had retired from being a ninja when she had him. Said that was her best decision ever since Iruka was apparently a full time job.
His mother would sometimes hand-make tea, just for his birthday. It always tasted better that way. She was so proud of him when he was learned to be a ninja.
Said he was following his father's footsteps. Iruka had fond memories of his father. Big, strong, and kind. Giant hands that were incredibly gentle.
Iruka put his hands up to the window, the pale light passing through his fingers. They would never be that big.
The moon shone through the clouds, illuminating the dark room. It had been raining a lot lately. It had let up enough for the full moon to be on display. It shone brightly, reminding him of an illustration he had seen in a children's folk tale. About the moon. About a legendary battle.
But recently, the moon had been blocked out by the dark clouds. Which was weird since June was usually when they got the most rain. They were too inland to be real typhoons so it was probably just the backlash.
It just seemed a tad depressing, all the rain. Especially how close it was getting to that day. Only a week. Hope the rain let's up before then.
The anniversary of his parents' death was coming faster than he'd like. And he'd have to sit in class with a constant reminder staring at him.
The thought seemed way too bitter for Iruka. It kinda surprised him how much malice there could be by just...thinking.
Iruka didn't think he hated the boy. After all, all he did was be born. And that wasn't his fault either. But it felt like it was. Maybe his mind was just filling in the holes. It wanted someone to hate, someone he could focus his anger onto. Since the fox isn't here.
He had to constantly remind himself that the kid isn't the fox.
The kid isn't the fox.
The kid isn't the fox.
The kid is…
What was he? Well, a jinjuriki, but what else? What else was he?
Was he quiet all the time or only at school? What did he do after school? What does he wanna be anyway?
Who was he?
Iruka came upon the sudden realization too bitter to swallow.
He didn't know him.
He doesn't know a kid who he's spent two weeks teaching.
That was crazy. He's spent days upon days with the kid and he barely knew anything past his name.
That was weird.
He should fix that.
…
"FREAK."
Ohhhh noo.
Let's break their legs. Give them a real beating. They won't mess with us again...
Ohhhh noo.
"Turn around, so we can see your worthless face."
Maybe if Naruto ignored him, they'd leave him alone. Maybe he could just will them out of existence. That'd be nice.
Yeah, that'd be nice.
"I SAID TURN AROUND! WE TOLD YOU TO LEAVE!"
Come on, just this once? We'll make them leave, won't we? Just a punch, or a kick? We could just scare them… Stop being a baby!
Kurama was getting excited. They really could've picked a better time. It was gonna be hard to ignore him.
"SAY SOMETHING YOU WORTHLESS FOX!"
I won't kill them. Just let me stretch, why don'tcha?
"YOU FREAK!"
They pushed him down to the ground, his face smaking hard against the pavement. Naruto groaned a little. His nose was definitely broken.
Someone kicked sharply into Naruto's gut. Pain seared from the impact. That hurt. A lot.
Worthless, pathetic. You're supposed to be a ninja, fighting back when someone attacks you should be instinct.
Another kick, this time, his back. The static pain was unbearable. Each blow felt like fire but Naruto restrained himself to groaning. No need to disturb the peace. He did enough of that already.
The kicks kept coming. They got more and more aggressive. Hitting to hurt. But not enough to kill.
They're afraid of murder. That's what separates us from them.
The constant pounding was starting to take its toll. Every hit released a pitiful groan. They seemed to get heavier and slower, but somehow hurt more than the ones before.
Naruto wondered when they'd eventually get bored and leave him alone.
But they just kept coming.
And coming.
And coming.
And coming...
He was so tired.
Tired?
That was such a funny word.
You worthless little bug, get up!
Worthless? That was a funny word to say. If you slurred it, it kinda sounded like a…
A what?
He wasn't sure.
But it sounded funny.
It was so funny, how tired he was.
So funny.
So tired.
So…
So…
Soooooooooo…
T
I
R
E
D
.
Naruto's head shot up from the garbage bag, soft rain padded down on his head, which was soaked. The alleyway was slightly lit by the light of lanterns, yellow emanating palely.
Naruto felt his nose. It wasn't broken anymore. But the blood was still there. It had dried. He felt around his body. He felt a little sore but nothing he couldn't handle.
He felt something that had been tucked into his vest. It was a crumpled note that read, 'Take this as a warning'.
He walked home in the rain.
Walking through the village wasn't as bad at night. Mostly because no one was there to watch him. It was quiet, the whole world seemed asleep. Even the sun itself looked lazy and droopy as it tumbled into a sunset. The only thing awake at this time was the stars and the moon.
And Naruto.
Though he couldn't see the moon out now. Only gray clouds gathering, swirling as a dark threatening mass. Waiting for someone to dare question its authority so it can obliterate them without hesitation.
Like him.
Like me.
It felt peaceful at night.
But he didn't know one thing about peace, did he?
No, you don't. You're me. We were born from chaos and we live to bring chaos. Don't you hate following all these stupid rules?
"I don't care."
You never do.
"Thanks for stating the obvious."
Not even going to thank me for healing you?
"I didn't ask you to."
How could you ever REPAY me?
"Fine."
Good boy. Good worthless little boy.