THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR ALL THE KINDS WORDS! Feel free to criticize my writing though. Tell meh if you think its going too fast. I'm always looking to improve! This seriously blew up and I didn't think it would. This is the first story I've written that's been steadily increasing every couple days! I'm so proud of this one and there's still so much more to come, so stay tuned!
Chapter 6: Bitter Words
Naruto wasn't sure why Iruka had told him to wait after class but he didn't like it.
What? Iruka's not as bad as the others a couple nights ago? You were in no hurry to get out of there quickly?
"You know it's better if I don't fight back," Naruto whispered, waiting for his teacher. Iruka was doing something else currently. He wasn't in a hurry to find out what he wanted.
Sounds like you're scared of him.
"I can tell what I'm fee-"
Naruto cut off as Iruka entered the room. He moved up to the last row and sat in the desk right below his.
"Hey there Naruto, sorry about making you wait that long. Had to do something first."
His voice was soft, like he was talking to a child.
He IS talking to a child. You are one.
It really didn't feel like it.
"I was just wondering if I could ask you some questions."
"About what?"
"About you."
He wasn't serious. He seriously wasn't serious. There was no way in heck he was gonna talk about himself to his teacher.
"Why?"
"Well, I want to know all my students better so I can help them succeed. You're passing but you could be doing better."
Well now, he's just rubbing it in, isn't he?
"Alright, ask away."
"What do you wanna be when you grow up?"
Naruto paused. If there was any question he was unprepared for, it was this. He hadn't even thought of that. A ninja, I guess? How was he supposed to know?
He wanted to get a job so he could eat regularly. Did that count?
Crap, think quick. He's expecting an answer…
Hokage.
Hokage?
I'm just trying to help. Since you're too dumb to be creative.
"Hokage?"
Iruka jumped back at that response. Wrong answer apparently. Why did he even listen to Kurama?
Because you're an imbecile.
Right.
"I mean, ninja is fine."
"No! I think making high goals is good! Nothing's impossible if you put in a little elbow greese."
"Okay." Naruto didn't actually care but okay.
Iruka cleared his throat, "Alright, next question, what do you do with your free time?"
Wow, he's just hitting all the loaded questions, isn't he?
Oh, you know. Just the normal stuff. Trying to sleep, working yourself to exhaustion, starving yourself in order to pay rent, carving into your own flesh. That is, when you're not getting beaten to a pulp because you can't fight back.
"Train, I guess?"
It wasn't a lie. He worked out a lot. But it obviously wasn't showing.
"Is that all you do?"
Oh great. He was getting tired of this already.
"I mix with some studying I guess…"
"What are you interested in? What do you like to do just for yourself?"
'Oh, I like to talk with my friend, he's VERY fun to be around'.
His mocking voice gave Naruto a splitting headache. He tried to think of something, anything, to say but he just came up flat.
"Reading is nice."
He was a filthy little lair.
Iruka just kept asking more and more questions. Naruto had never wanted to leave a room so badly as he wanted to leave this one.
His headache just got worse and worse. He was so tired, all the time. He didn't wanna do this anymore. He didn't wanna be here anymore. This was just too much.
Crap, no. Don't drift. Keep answering. Keep it generic. Keep your eyes open worthless little-
…
Iruka's patience was wearing thin. Beside the 'Hokage' thing, he was just giving him typical stock answers.
It had already been more than thirty minutes. Iruka still knew next to nothing about the kid. He kept avoiding the questions like he didn't wanna talk about what he was doing.
Which was only a little suspicious.
"Okay, do you really not like talking to me this much?"
The question was a little harsh but he couldn't help it.
Naruto jumped a little but only slightly.
"No, sorry."
"I just need you to be honest with me."
Iruka sighed and he glanced at the clock. He had a meeting soon, he needed to wrap things up.
"Is there anything that's bothering you? Something that might be distracting you from your work?"
"Nothing important."
"What do you mean by 'nothing important'?".
His eyes widen, and focused, like he had just messed up or something.
"It's nothing."
"Doesn't sound like it."
"I gotta go."
He quickly stood up but Iruka grabbed his wrist and held on tight.
"No, you don't! You're staying right here until you answer my question!"
"What question?"
"Don't play dumb."
Iruka felt his blood boiling. He didn't need this right now, especially when he's been trying so hard to be considerate and not judgmental.
"I said it was nothing, I have to meet someone for an appointment. I gotta get going-"
"I'm giving you a chance. This is it right now! And you're blowing it! We've been sitting in this room for almost an hour! I have tests to grade and meetings to go to! I don't have time to kill and I'm wasting it with you! So treat me with respect and answer my question. I'm your teacher, not your friend."
If his words had any reaction, Naruto didn't reflect it.
"Sorry."
Iruka watched as Naruto quickly left the room.
…
"No! NO! LET ME GO! MY PARENTS- MY PARENTS ARE BACK THERE!"
Someone was holding onto him as the entire village was being evacuated. People screamed and shouted, their voices so indistinguishable. But the only thing he could see, the only thing that mattered was the massive, giant fox.
Monsters were always described in such a large way that you, for you sure, thought you knew what they meant. It gets to the point where you aren't scared of it anymore and the descriptions feel like useless filler.
That is, until that description comes knocking on your doorstep.
Iruka had never seen something so big. Its paws were the size of houses. Massive flinging tails mashing into trees, leveling the ground. It emanated a burning red.
But the worst thing.
The worst thing was its massive grin.
Foxes always sorta looked like they were smiling, but the Nine Tails's was unnaturally wide, showing off sharp sets of teeth.
Big red eyes filled with sheer enjoyment. Or at least, it looked like it.
It was a tailed beast. A monstrosity. Not only that, but the worst one. The most dangerous one of all. It was terrifying.
The story mothers tell their children to make them behave. A nightmare.
But it was real.
And it was here.
"LET ME GO! I HAVE TO HELP THEM, I HAVE TO- I HAVE TO-!"
But just as he uttered those words, the world swirled away into blackness.
Iruka jumped awake, sweat beading down his face. He grabbed a coat and went outside.
He sat on the bench. He was out again, at night. Couldn't help it. Couldn't sleep.
He kept thinking about what he'd said earlier.
'wasting it with you'.
That was such a cruel thing to say, especially to an eight year old. Especially for making him stay behind even though he clearly didn't want to. The stress of school and his parent's death was getting to him.
It was only two days until that day. Two days, he'd be fine after that. Good thing October 10 was a day off. He could work on school work and keep himself busy through the day.
No more being mean.
He had to start being a teacher and not letting his own emotions get to him. He needed to be someone his kids could look up and come to for support. Sasuke needed a guiding hand; he'd already stopped talking to Shikamaru and Choji.
But the only way he could help others was if he helped himself. Self reflection and analyzation. But that wasn't easy. It was so not easy.
He wished more than anything to hear what his mom would say. What advice she'd give him? How could he become a better person? What'd he need to do? Where should he start? And how do you begin apologizing for what he said.
The kid didn't seem to care. Like they hadn't even fazed him.
Crap, he'd messed up.
Big time.
Maybe it wasn't too late.