OMG I'm so sorry I could not update earlier. I hope you'll like this chapter.
I still do not own the manga... sadly
Thanks for the reviews :P
The meeting on Monday was the first even of the week. My English project was not even started and the due date was set on the end of the week. I agreed with Deidara to meet after school to talk, start and finish that damn thing. The subject: a local author. Our town is not big enough to have a local celebrity. On the few that actually write poems or texts when they are not drunk only a few of them could be studied. Everyone would have the same boring project and if I could not make a miracle so do us. Naruto would also be with us. He had some late homework to do and some quite atmosphere would be welcome. This is why at the end of the day I've found two blond head waiting against my locker. They were not really talking to each other but did not look uncomfortable. Once I arrived at my locker and took my things, we all decided to go at my house. Staying at school was too depressing and Naruto did not want to hang out at his place. His uncle was home and he is kind of awkward with everyone who dares to pass the door.
We had to walk a bit until we arrived home. At my door, Ino was waiting with her school stuff.
- Hey nerds. I'll join you for your study session.
- Fine, but you have to be quite until we are done. said Naruto.
- Then I will say nothing for the rest of the week if I'm waiting for you.
It went on and on until we all sat in my room. I sat in front of Ino to keep an eye on her; she is not the type to do her work in group. She is probably here to mess around and have some fun while we work. I took my laptop and started to search who in town is a writer of some sort. Deidara was no use since he did not know the town better than me and Ino. We spent almost an hour looking up until I completely gave up. Most of the local writers are either into dark stuff which cannot be presented in class. The other half did not write anything except their testament for the last 50 years.
- Ne, Sakura-chan I don't understand this maths problem. Help me please…
- Fine Naruto… wait, isn't your uncle a writer?
- I guess, don't tell me you read those books Sakura-chan. They're horrible books…
- Wait, said Deidara. What kind of books does he write?
- My uncle is Jiraiya; he is the author of the Icha Icha series.
- We cannot work on those books but I guess that I must have written another book before those one. One that does not talk about how to pick-up women.
Deidara and I took our books and everything we needed to go find Jiraiya. I knew that Naruto and he lived together in a small studio near school. We would be done in an hour or so and I was impatient to finish that project. I don't really like group project, especially when I'm paired with someone that does not really talk. I know that he could not really help with the research but I could not stop feeling like I was doing everything here. I just hope that he will be useful later on…
After ten minutes of walking in silence we arrived at the studio. I knocked on the door and a voice asked me who was I. I've never met Naruto's uncle before and I hoped that he would be willing to help us for our homework. I did not have the time to answer that Deidara said: "we're Naruto's friend; we need to talk to you for a second." The door opened a bit, the man behind was just staring at us, not really sure if he wanted to let us in or not. From where I was I could only see some long white hair. I never thought that Naruto was living with an old person… The door opened and he led us in. I was surprised, Jiraiya did not look more that 45 years even with his white hair; I guess he bleaches it…
- So your Naruto's friends… what's your name? he asked.
- I'm Sakura and he's Deidara.
- Ho, the famous Sakura… Naruto talks about you all the time. So how can I help you?
- Well, I started, you're a writer and we need to write an essay on a local author. However we can't really talk about the Icha Icha books. Did you write other books aside those one?
- A school project… well there is a book… it's not a best seller but I guess it does not matter, right.
He handed us a small book; it was old and dusty. I doubt that someone read it for the last couple years but it was in good condition; actually it was in perfect condition; no pages were folded on the corner, there were no trace of dirty fingerprint or accidental spiting water on it. "The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi" it says on the red cover of the book. As a habit I start reading the first page, completely forgetting about where I was. I could hear some mumbles around me; Deidara was asking information to do the project, taking notes and discussing with Jiraiya. We spent maybe 15minutes in the studio but I could not really tell, the book was not the best book I ever read but it was not the worst either. Suddenly Deidara started to shake my shoulder; we had to go.
- Deidara-kun, do you want a copy of the Icha Icha book? I know that it is only sell to adults but if you want I could give you a copy...
- Thanks but no thanks. I don't need them. he said with a big smile while Jiraiya nodded.
Great now they are discussing flirting techniques.
I handed back the book to its author but he refused to take it.
- You can keep it for a while and finish it if you want. I won't be reading it anyway.
- Can I ask a last question? The main character…
- Yeah, Naruto's father decided to name his son like the main character of my first book. Which he called "the best book I've ever read".
*** Back home ***
We divided the work between us two; he would write the paper and I would proof read it. I was not really enjoying the fact that I would have to wait until he was done because Ino and Naruto left while we were out; probably bored to wait for us to return. I was then alone with Deidara typing fast on my computer; still in silence…
- So… you did not come at the party last week…
- I was busy. He answered. Hidan and Itachi went anyway…
- I thought it would have been cool to see all of you to get to know you.
He looked at me from behind my computer with a smile.
- What's the smile for? I asked.
- Why do you want to know us?
- Cause I'm curious… look everybody knows everybody here. I just want to get to know you.
- Well making up rumors about us won't get you anywhere. I could sense a bit of humor here but still he was serious.
- Excuse me, I said sarcastically, next time I will make rumors about you, don't be jealous.
- I'm not jealous, he started even more sarcastically, I'm just disappointed that the first rumor that circulates was not about me.
We both started to chuckle.
- Well if there are any rumors about you and me tomorrow we'll have to blame Ino. She's the queen of the gossip network.
He nodded with a smile and gave me the computer. The essay was well written and I could not improve it.
Of course the next day rumors were already launched. I was now a whore and Deidara and Itachi were fighting to win my heart.