Beating The Odds
Chapter 02: Deadly Aim
By: MikeJV37
----Day 2, 7:00 AM, The Academy----
Naruto sat at his desk with a big smile on his face. When he got there that morning everyone looked at him, many kids even respectfully stepped aside, even older kids. The look everyone gave him wasn't the same hate he was use to.... he wasn't sure what it was, but he liked it. He was the center of attetion, but for a different reason this time. Kissing all the girls yesterday had been fun, most didn't like it, some didn't seem to care, and few seemed to like it afterwards.... one girl stood out though, Hinata Hyuuga. She was last in line to kiss him, she'd fainted four times trying to kiss him, and finally did with Iruka-sensei holding her up.... then fainted again. He thought it was really funny, but for some reason couldn't bring himself to laugh at her, it was like someone was holding him back. When Iruka-sensei came in he saw him immediately look right at him and smile.
Iruka picked up his clipboard and stood in front of his desk. "Everyone, we have a new student. She should of started last year but was unable to for personal reasons.... please come in." Iruka said as he turned to the door and waited a moment for her to enter. "Everyone, please say hello to Tenten."
Naruto watched her enter, and when she did his eyes bugged out. Naruto was the smallest kid in his grade, but the new girl, Tenten, was even shorter than he was, and she was a year older! She had black hair in little buns on the sides of her head, a dark blue shirt, black pants and sandles. She looked around then when she saw him she seemed to get angry at him, he had no idea why though, he'd just met her.
"Tenten, please take a seat." Iruka said.
Tenten gave Iruka a polite bow and headed for the only empty seat, but all the way there she glared at the little blonde boy with the three marks on each cheek.
----Lunch, Academy Cafeteria----
"Here's your Ramen from Ichiraku's.... Naruto-sama." Sasuke said politely as he sat the one quart white box in front of Naruto, but it was obvious he was really mad. "May I eat lunch now Naruto-sama?" Sasuke said politely through clenched teeth.
Naruto laughed. "Thanks Sasuke-teme.... dismissed." Naruto said casually and wved his hand, he'd seen the old man do that a lot and practiced imitating him until he did it perfectly.
Sasuke gave Naruto a forced polite bow and walked away. He gritted his teeth angrily as he heard Naruto laughing behind him. He wanted to use his fireball jutsu on Naruto, but he didn't, not because of the Academy, but .because of his parents. His father could only kill him for breaking his word as a shinobi and an Uchiha.... his mother would do far worse, he'd get 'the look' from her, that glare of total dissappointment, he simply couldn't wothstand it, and once even saw his father humbled by an almost identical glare. He figured it had to be some special jutsu they teach women at the academy, because only women and kunoichi ever used it.
Naruto had just dug into his ramen when two chopsticks pierced the box. Everyone froze and turned to look, Naruto had a mouthful of noodles, half which hung out of his mouth. Fifty feet away, on the other side of the Cafeteria, stood a very angry little brunette, her right arm still extended from her throw..Naruto slurped down his ramen and swallowed them with an audible *gulp* as he watched her storm across the room to him.
That lunch period was used by all the grades, and as Tenten crossed even the final year students twice her size stepped out of her way.
No one noticed the on duty kunoichi shushin away, or return just before Tenten reached Naruto.... she had a guest that stood behind her hidden from the students, he rubbed his scarred nose.
""Hello.... uhm Tenten.... is something wrong?" Naruto said nervously and gave her a big friendly smile.
"You think you're better than me with kunai?" Tenten asked angrily.
Naruto thought a moment, shrugged, and said what he hoped as the right thing. "Maybe.... I've never seen you use them."
""You will today....weapon class, the target range, I challenge you to a contest to decide once and for all who has the best aim!" Tenten said loudly, grabbed Naruto's chopsticks from him, twirled them at high speed in her right hand, and without even looking threw them, both pierced the center of a chunck of barbeque pork Chouji had in his chopsticks ready to bite.... he was thirty-five feet away. Tenten turned and stormed out of the Cafeteria.
"I'm going to have to assign him a bodyguard if this keeps up." Iruka said as he gently shook his head, then vanished.
"And I thought doing him this favor was going to be boring." Anko whispered to herself behind her henge and smiled.
----Weapon Class, Outdoor Target Range----
As he listened to Iruka-sensei ask Tenten if she was sure she wanted to bet on this, he thought about what had happened. He'd heard a very quiet voice in his head lately that had given him these ideas for the bets, and other things, but he thought it was normal. Besides, everything had gone his way and now he'd just found out that Tenten's Dad owned the best weapon shop in Konoha, his little voice had suggested that be the bet, and Tenten had agreed right away. "I'm ready Iruka-sensei, so who goes first?"
"Since standard targets won't settle this, you see I have ten small targets set up around the field, you'll both get ten kunai. You'll get one minute to run the course I laid out, since you made the challenge Tenten.I'll let Naruto decide who goes first." Iruka said then looked at Naruto.
"Okay.... Tenten can go first." Naruto said.
Iruka subtly raised his eyebrows when Naruto said okay, as if someone had said something to him. He had a feeling he knew who it was. As long as he didn't see any red chakra he'd let anything Naruto said or did slide.... as long as no one was in danger and it wasn't trying to escape. "Ready Tenten...." Iruka took out a stopwatch. "Go!" He said as he clicked it. He watched her dash through the course at impresive speed for her size and age, and she threw her kunai with a very practiced hand, which didn't surprise him considering who her parents were. He clicked it as she crossed the line. 'Forty-two point three four seconds, very impressive Tenten." Iruka said, then walked the course, removed her kunai and recorded her score. "Hmmmm, looks like you scored a nine point nine Tenten, your last hit was a milimeter to the left."
"The wind blew the target, I was dead center... that's not fair!" Tenten yelled.
Iruka could hear it in her voice, she's scored better than most high level Chuunin, and she was actually disgusted with her performace. 'She's a perfectionist. Her file was right, her whole identity is wrapped up in her near perfect natural aim with thrown weapons. If Naruto beats her I hope it doesn't break her spirit, she'll make an excellent kunoichi and weapon mistress some day.' Iruka thought. "Sorry Tenten, your turn Naruto." Iruka said, and as Naruto picked up the ten kunai he felt that same subtle chakra surge he felt yesterday. 'If Naruto is the kind of person I think he is, if he does hurt her feelings he'll make it up to her some way.... I hope.' Iruka thought.
Naruto got his kunai ready.
"Go!"" Iruka said as he clicked the stopwatch..He watched carefully as Naruto ran the course at ful speed, he didn't even look at the targets, he just threw his kunai as he passed them, and like before he didn't aim but hit the target on pure luck, it was like a bloodline-limit almost, he couldn't believe it even as he watched it happen. He checked his watch and knew he had her time beat easily. When Naruto crossed the line he stopped it. "Thirty seconds even. I'll be right back." Iruka said and ran off to check his aim and collect the kunai. When he got to the last target he knew it was over before he even got close.... like the first nine, this one was dead enter, in fact the frst nine were in the same hole made by Tenten's kunai. He composed himself and returned to the anxious kids, two in particular. "Naruto's score was.... perfect." He said almost nervously. The instant he started to say perfect he saw Tenten's face, behind her eyes her self worth was falling like a lightning bolt from the sky.
'I lost...." Tenten whimpered pathetically as her eyes teared up
Iruka watched intently, he saw her emotional mask was about to shatter but before he could act it happened.
Tenten froze up, her whole body stiff.
"Don't cry Tenten, you're way better than me, I just got lucky." Naruto said as he hugged her. "You like Ramen? After Academy I'll take you out to eat all ya want and I'll call us even, what do you say? Sasuke-teme is buying!" Naruto said happily, then for a reason even he didn't understand, he kissed her cheek..
Near the front, Hinata silently whimpered when she saw him kiss her.... but it had been ON HER CHEEK, NOT on the lips. She still had hope.
Sasuke clenched his fists and jaw, but didn't react otherwise.
Tenten was stunned, she just stood there a moment and stared at him. "I love ramen.... uh, thank you.... Naruto-kun." Tenten said almost timidly, when he'd kissed her all her pain had faded away almost instantly and been replaced by something else that made her all happy. She whipped around facing the crowd. "From now on anyone tries to pick on Naruto-kun has to go through me first!" Tenten exlaimed.
'Well I'll be damned.... how the hell did he do that?' Iruka thought, highly amused, but kept it hidden.
"Naruto-kun, after we eat I'll take you to our family shop to get your new weapons.... I hope dad lets me anyway." Tenten said as she realized she'd bet him free weapons from her dad's shop without permission.
"Sure Tenten-chan." Naruto said happily, then turned to the crowd when he heard an almost squeaky voice. He looked around and saw her face was all red. 'Dus you say something Hinata-chan?" Naruto said casually, not really realizing he'd called her chan accidently.
Hinata's head snapped up and her face turned bright red. "He called me Hinata-chan." Hinata said to herself, then nodded her answer to him purely on instinct. "C,c,c,c,can I j,j,join you for r,r,ram,men?" Hinata stuttered out badly, she'd never been so nervous in her entire life.
Naruto smiled happily, he'd just made two friends in one day. "Of course you can Hinata-chan!" Naruto exclaimed.
Iruka glanced at Hinata and saw it in her eyes. 'She loves him, she's just too shy to tell him.... uh oh, if Naruto hugs Hinata her blood pressure might kill her.' Iruka thought. "Everyone back inside, except you Naruto.... you're going to help me clean up." Iruka said.
Naruto whined and pouted a moment, then nodded. "Hai, Iruka-sensei."
"Can I stay and help Naruto-kun clean up?" Tenten said hopefully.
"I think we can handle it Tenten, but you can take the kunai back in and put them away for me, I know I can trust you with school property. With the extras there's too many for one person, hmmm.... Hinata, would you assist Tenten please." Iruka said.
Hinata calmed down and bowed slightly. "Hai, Iruka-sensei." Hinata smiled at Tenten, then quickly helped Tenten load the kunai into the box with the others and carry it inside.
'That should get them talking, if she'd just open up Hinata could be a top student. She lacks confidence.... Tenten doesn't, and both need friends. Now I just need to have a little talk with Naruto.' Iruka thought.
----2:20 PM, Ichiraku Ramen----
"So that's six beef ramen for you Naruto-kun, a pork ramen for you Tenten-chan.... and a miso ramen for you Hinata-chan." The sixteen year old girl said and gave Naruto a sly smirk, then turned and headed for the stove. "So why haven't you brought your girlfriends in sooner Naruto-kun?" Ayame said playfully, then heard a thud and turned suddenly back to them and gasped. Naruto was looking at the floor surprised, Tenten was bright red and she couldn't see Hinata. She ran back to the counter and looked down over it.... Hinata was on the floor out cold, her face neon red. "Oh Kami I'm sorry!" Ayame said and ran around to help Hinata as her father came out of the back.
----Naruto Age 8, 2:38 PM, Ichiraku Ramen----
Sakura Haruno sat on the stool next to her friend trying to become invisible.
To Sakura's left sat an angry Ino Yamanaka. "I still can't believe you did this to me forehead.... how could you make that bet with Naruto.... you ruined my reputation. Look at us!" Ino almost yelled, jumped off her stool and did a spin. "Thanks to you we have to wear these ugly orange jumpsuits for a week! Sasuke-kun will never look at me again.... and you...." Ino said, hmphed shook her head and got back on her stool.
"I' Ino.... I really didn't think he knew the answer." Sakura said meekly, she hoped she hadn't lost her best friend.
Hinata sat quietly at her normal stool on Naruto's right, and ate her miso ramen, but inside she was laughing her head off. She didn't see what the problem was though, she thought orange was a good color, especially onher best boy friend and crush Naruto. She glanced over at Tenten who was giggling almost out of control.
The now nine year old Tenten didn't see what the big deal was, she thought they looked good in orange jumpsuits, Naruto did. She was barely able to eat her pork ramen she was giggling so hard.
----11:56 PM, That Night, Naruto's Apartment----
Naruto threw off his ragged, worn blanket and got out of bed in his orange pajamas and scratched his head. "Stupid cat.... up screeching all night." Naruto said annoyed, reached between the headboard of his bed and the wall into a hole and pulled out an old, slightly rusty but recently sharpened kunai. He had new ones from Tenten, but this was his first one and his favorite. "This time I'm gonna kill that stupid cat." Naruto said with a big, slightly dark, foxy grin. Had he looked at the side of the kunai he'd of seen his eyes turn red for just a moment as he said it. Naruto went to his window, deactivated the alarm he'd recently made for it to keep people from breaking in to trash everything yet again, checked to be sure the coast was clear then climbed out, kunai in hand. He'd chased it dozens of times during the last six months and memorized its patterns and hiding places. He snuck silently through the alley and down the side streets, from its 'singing' he knew where it was and had a plan. He'd use what he'd learned at the academy and sneak up it from behind. He'd tried the direct attack a dozen times after it'd first appeared, but as fast as he was that stupid grey cat was faster. 'Okay Tora, this time I got ya and you won't....' Naruto thought as he crossed the rooftop to the edge for he 'death from above' attack, then stopped when he saw something unusual. He was use to seeing the occational ANBU blurring across the rooftops, or a shinobi out on the street patroling.... but this person sneaking through the shadows had a big bag over his shoulder, and it had an odd shape to it, then he saw it move. 'He's kidnapping someone!' Naruto thought, then for some reason the direction the man came from botherd him, so he turned and looked. It only took him a moment to realize who lived in that direction that was worth kidnapping. "He has Hinata-chan." Naruto whispered, unaware his voice had changed or his eyes had turned blood red and now had vertical slit pupils.
Over two hundred yards away the Lighning nin stopped mid-step when he felt it, a sudden spike of chaka filled with more raw hatred that even he could imagine, he turned and scanned the area nervously. 'No human has chakra that strong or has that much hatred.... it has to be a jinchuuriki.... damnit why didn't they tell me Konoha had a jinchuuriki! I better get the fuck out of...' He thought, then dropped the sack and screemed in a very high pitched voice. It had come in faster than even he could react as a Jounin.... and buried itself in his crotch. He fell to the ground wailing, unable to eve focus enough to use his chakra. In the twenty years he'd been a ninja, he'd been injured many times, but never had he been struck THERE by a weapon. the next thing he knew smeone grabbed his collar and lifted him up to his knees.... where he looked into the slitted, blood red eyes of a little blonde bloy who had his fist raised to strike, red chakra was gathering around his fist almost like armor as it slowly covered his body. He caught a glimpse behind the obviously enraged jinchuuriki and saw a fox tail forming out of red chakra. He instantly knew which demon was imprisoned in the blonde boy. "Kyuubi No Kitsune...." He said now terrified. He could handle most shinobi, even Jounin, but Kyuubi was so far beyond him he knew anything he tried would be useless.
"I'm glad I haven't been forgotten....." Kyuubi said through Naruto, who he'd surrpessed to keep these memories from him for now. "Now mortal scum... you will burn in the fires of Hell!" Kyuubi said as his raised fist burst into red flames...
"Release him Kyuubi-sama.... let us handle this." A voice said from behind Kyuubi, calmly, but slighly nervous.
Still in control, Kyuubi threw the Lighning nin face down on the street, hard enough to knock him out and turned around, still in his one-tailed chakra cloak. He saw six ANBU, the three now unmasked ANBU from three years ago in the alley, and the Hyuuga twins, Hiashi and Hizashi, who kept looking past him to the still unconscious Hinata who's head and right arm now hung out of the sack, their Byakuugan active. Kyuubi was very angry, but still in control, he didn't want to, but he had to give Naruto control back, he didn't want another visit from her.... or worse. "Naruto is unaware of my presence within him.... for now you will keep it that way. Tell him of me before he's ready and I'll skin you all alive." Kyuubi said menacingly, he didn't want them to know he was bluffing. he then pulled back all his chakra, and Naruto returned to normal. The moment he did, Naruto fell forward, unconscious.
Kakashi crossed the ten feet in an instant and caught him. "Hiashi, Hizashi, take Hinata home. Anko, Asuma take him to Ibiki. You six take Naruto home and stand guard out of sight.... I'll report this to Hokage-sama. If anyone asks, this is an S-Rank secret for now.... dismissed." Kakashi said, handed Naruto to the ANBU, then he vanished in a swirl of wind and leaves.
Hiashi picked up Hinata, and now except for his brother they were the only ones still there. "That was the diplomat from Cloud." Hiashi said.
Hizashi sighed and nodded. "Hai. I also noticed that wasn't the same Kyuubi that attacked us six years ago.... he was protecting Hinata."
Hiashi nodded. "That's twice I owe him now Hizashi. First I allow him to visit Hinata and he trips a branch member bringing Hannah poisoned tea that would of killed her, and now he saved my daughter thanks to the demon.... I must admit I was wrong about them, especially Naruto, and have dishonored my friend's memory. I will make this up to his son no matter the personal cost." Hiashi said quietly to his twin, then ran off towards the Hyuuga Compound, a thousand thoughts ran threw his mind all at once at what just happened and what he was going to tell Hinata tomorrow.... and what he was going to telll Hannah when he got back, Hizashi was close behind him.
End Chapter 2
