Chapter 2: Want to be Friends?
"Are you sure you want to attend the academy, Naruto?" Hiruzen asked the young boy that nodded. Naruto still has his hair looking dirty, bags under his eyes, red eyes, and long nails. "Why, if I may ask?"
"Father told me to join." Naruto answered and Hiruzen nodded.
"Did... he told you why you should join?"
"No."
Hiruzen sighed as he signed the papers. This will make some council members unhappy, but it is the logical decision. Naruto has all the tools to become a great shinobi, with the influence of the Kyubi or not, he will become one.
*1 Week Later, Academy*
Naruto was sat at the back of the class, red eyes scanning everyone and everything. They were so loud, talking about useless things, according to Father at least.
There was a strong smell in the room, that bothered him, it came from a platinum blonde girl who was chatting with a pink haired one. He hated that smell. He hated it and father did too.
He was in the corner of the class, and next to him, sat a girl with black hair, made into a spikey ponytail, with two bangs framing her face. She also had sharp eyes.
Naruto doesn't like being anyone. Everyone is against him, everyone is trying to harm him, everyone but Father. The girl once sat down laid her head down to sleep, but couldn't probably noticing the glare she was receiving from Naruto.
She turned around and asked to him "Yeah?"
Naruto didn't answer or even blink, he kept glaring making her gulp "Something wrong?"
"Go away." Naruto demanded in a hostile tone and the girl raised a brow.
"Is the seat taken?"
"Go away." Naruto said again, and the girl noted that he was cutting the desk with his nails.
She nodded "Fine, name's Shika by the way." She said as she stood up and went to sit somewhere else. Naruto kept glaring at her back until she sat down. After that, he kept staring at the front.
*Next Day*
"Okay class; today we are going to have a spar, to see how each one is in that area." Iruka Umino said and the class nodded, Naruto didn't care for this. All in here had a weak smell, nothing to worry about.
He spaced out, as Father was talking to him, not noticing the curious glances that Shika send in his direction from time to time.
"Alright! Next match is between Jon Uza vs Naruto Uzumaki..." Iruka said losing the excitement in his voice when reading Naruto's name. Jon jumped into the area, and Naruto walked much slower.
"Ha! Afraid!?" Jon boasted and Naruto simply glared at him, not answering. "What!? Cat got your tongue!?"
"..."
Jon smirked "Fine!" He said as he rushed to him, fist in the air. Once they were one foot away, Naruto punched him at the stomach, making Jon spit and crouch over in pain.
Naruto kicked him in the side of the head sending him out of the circle. Iruka frowned "The winner is Naruto Uzu-" He stopped when Naruto jumped to land on top of Jon, stomping his leg, breaking it. "Naruto! Why did you do that!?" Iruka demanded.
Naruto glared at him, his red eyes making him take a step back, before he went back to the group.
The kids avoided him like a plague.
Good thing he is already used to it.
'Good, they fear you... I'm proud my son...'
"Thank you, Father..." Naruto said, creeping everyone, except Shika, that was even more intrigued on him.
Jon never came again to shinobi classes.
*That Night, Nara Compound*
"Something wrong, Shika?" Shikaku Nara asked her daughter as they played shogi.
"Nah. There's just this weird kid that looks angry and all." Shika said and her father nodded.
"Is he blonde by any chance?" Shika raised a brow and nodded.
"Yeah, and his eyes are red too. Look like a wild animal."
Shikaku nodded and smiled to her daughter "Why don't you become friends with him? Maybe you can calm him down."
Shika yawned "What a drag. Why should I do it? Doesn't he have parents or-oh..." She realized the truth.
Shikaku nodded with a sad smile "That's right. He is an orphan." Shikaku explained and Shika placed her hand on her chin.
"But he talked to someone. He called him Father. Maybe an imaginary friend?" Shika said and Shikaku shrugged.
"Maybe. So, what you say. Will you give him a chance?"
Shika shrugged "As long he doesn't harm me or Choji, I'm fine."
Shikaku chuckled "Great, by the way, checkmate."
*Next Day, Academy*
"You sure this is a good idea, Shika?" Choji asked his best friend that shrugged.
"Probably not. But dad wanted me to have more friends."
"But why him? Didn't you see what he did to Jon?" Choji asked in fear, but Shika sighed.
"Let's just try."
Shika and Choji sat in the same row as Naruto. Naruto turned to them and started to glare. Choji stopped eating and Shika gave him a bored look. "What?" She asked.
"Go away."
Shika bored look didn't flatter. "No."
Naruto's nails made a noise as he cut the wood with them "Go away. Now." His tone was low and it didn't promise anything nice.
"S-Shika, I think we should-" Choji said before Shika interupted.
"Why? No one else will sit here, and we think this is the best place to avoid attention. We won't bother you." She said and Naruto narrowed his eyes, he stopped scratching the desk. His face got close to Shika's and started to sniffed her.
She's not going to lie, that creeped her off a bit.
Once he was done, he turned back to the front and muttered "Fine."
Shika nodded "Good, why did you sniff me?"
"I wanted to see if you were lying." Naruto explained and his tone left no room for questions.
"Okay?"
The class resumed as normal and once it was lunch, Naruto quickly walked out of the class, to the roof.
"Okay, that went well." Shika said taking out her lunch box.
"You think!? He was about to kill us!?" Choji said taking out a rather big box and then a smaller one. "Are you sure you want to continue with this?"
Shika stood up and lazily walked to the door, that giving her answer to Choji, that grabbed both boxes and followed her.
At the roof, they found Naruto alone in a corner. Shika was about to tap his shoulder when he talked "Go away."
Shika stopped and took a step back, not out of fear, but caution. "We got you food." She said and Choji swallowed and took a step forward.
"Here." He stretched the arm he was holding the smaller box to Naruto. Naruto sniffed the air, turned around, sniffed the box and his stomach rumbled. He snatched from Choji's hand, glared at him for good measure, before he sat down opened it and stared at it.
It was sushi.
Naruto didn't hesitate. He grabbed one roll with his hand and shoved it into his mouth, grossing out Shika and Choji.
Naruto's eyes widened "W-Well?" Choji asked and Naruto glared at him still eating, mouth open. "H-How is it?"
Naruto's answer was to shove another roll into his mouth.
Shika and Choji shared a look, before sitting in front of him and started to eat. Shika's lunch are rice balls and Choji lunch is, pork.
"You know Naruto, there is a way to eat sushi." Shika said and Naruto stopped eating his third roll and turned to Shika, angry that she interrupted his meal. Shika grabbed the sticks to eat and showed Naruto how to use them.
Naruto looked wide eyed at that before he tried to do it himself.
He snapped the ticks in half.
Naruto growled in anger and frustration, but stopped once Shika offered her sticks "Here, you can use mine."
Naruto looked surprised at the act of kindness. He slowly reached at the sticks and grabbed them. "Now, you use them like this," And then Shika showed Naruto the correct way to use the sticks and how to grab the food.
After 6 attempts, he finally managed to eat a roll with the sticks.
Shika smiled at him, ignoring how grossed out she was with him eating with his mouth open. Maybe her dad was right. He just needs to have some good company.
"Say Naruto," Choji said and Naruto glared at him, as he slowly and carefully grabbed another roll with the sticks. "What's your favorite food?"
Naruto glare made him sweat, but he stopped when he said "Ramen. Ramen is my favorite food."
Choji nodded with a grin "Then tomorrow I will make you beef ramen! Would you like that?"
Naruto glare turned into confusion, then anger again "I don't know what you two are planning, but I won't fall into it." He said before walking away, leaving the food there.
For any sane person, that would be it. He doesn't want company, so he won't get it. But for Shika and Choji, it won't be it. Every day, they repeated the same routine:
Follow Naruto to the roof.
Leave a box of food made by Choji.
Watch him devour the food, while clumsily using the sticks.
Wait for him to leave to grab the box.
Repeat.
Until...
"You can come." Naruto said surprising both of them.
They walked slowly to the sat Naruto that was staring at them. Not glaring, but simply starring with a neutral look.
"Why you do this?" Naruto asked and Shika shrugged.
"You look like you need some friends. That's all."
Naruto nodded "I see." He said before standing up and walking away.
"Shika, does he like us now?"
"I have no idea Choji."
*Next Day*
"C'mon Shika! Why don't you dump this fatty and come play with us." Ino said, making Choji feel bad, and annoying Shika.
"It is too much of a drag to do that. I rather watch clouds with Choji." Shika answered and Ino groaned.
"I can't believe you! You rather hang out with that ball that with us! Are you dumb or something!?"
Shika was going to answer when Naruto appeared, and yanked Ino's hair and held to it. Ino stared into his eyes as he said "Beat it."
Ino gulped before she and her friends ran away.
Shika looked at him and smiled "Thanks."
Naruto didn't answer, he just took two boxes that looked old from his backpac, and handed one to Choji and other to Shika.
"What's this?" Choji asked and Naruto stared at them.
"Open them." They did and saw ramen, that it looked and smelled like instant ramen, with chopsticks inside.
Shika knew it was a gift. Just like they gave him, he was giving back to them "You made us food?" She asked and Naruto nodded.
"Yes."
Choji ate his first and grinned at Naruto "It tastes great! Thanks!"
Naruto nodded and was going to leave when Shika called him "Hey, want to watch the clouds with us?"
Naruto looked at her, then to the clouds and then to her "How do I do it?"
She smiled "Just lay back and watch them. It is kinda nice."
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