Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Prince Naruto
Chapter 4: answers and questions
Naruto thought before his family was worth studying. But now... He wasn't so sure anymore... Queen Sari had just told him the timetable for the next weeks - politics (huh?), history (crap), geography (maybe even useful, if he wanted to run from his classes), etiquette (what is that?!), riding (for what would he need this?) and a whole lot more. It took all he had, not to start crying or trying to run away!
So Naruto did the only thing he could think of. He argued, "But, but, can't you let me have a bit more time for myself?! I still want to learn some cool new jutsus! I never found the time to learn more than Kagebushin from my scroll!". "You know Kagebushin?", jiji interrupted surprised. Naruto answered carefully, "Yeah, ... ?".
This gave the king an idea, "Then, how about this? You make as many clones as you can - and the clones go to your lessons. That way you can do what you want and still learn everything when your clones vanish. As long as you make more than one clone, you could even learn more that way, because the first clone can learn about one thing while another learns something different. Thought the original you should still train strength and stamina and such, because you can't receive physical training from a clone. How does this sound?".
Naruto was ecstatic! He can leave the boring parts to his clones and have far less work. No doubt: His family was the greatest ever!
So the Queen informed all of Naruto's teachers, that they would get a clone each and very likely work at the same time. None of them had a problem with this, it would work just the same after all. The only people not very happy with the arrangement were Naruto's clones. They wouldn't even be able to sleep through their classes! (Private lessons were the worst.) And so it began.
While Naruto trained with his weighs or ran laps around the training hall, most of his clones were taught about various subjects. He made more clones than he had teachers and so the extras could learn new jutsus from the forbidden scroll. Finally.
Meanwhile both clones and teachers were beyond surprised: The clones, that learning this stuff was actually fun, when teachers weren't being mean to him. And his teachers about the prince's obvious lack of education. He couldn't even read! Sure, he knew a few Kanji and most Hiragana and could understand what the text was about through the context. But he really couldn't learn that way! The boy was 12 for heaven's sake! He should have been through at least six years of school by now. Surely, someone of his former teachers must have realized this and should have helped him! It couldn't even be the prince's fault! He was very clever and learned things easy, as long as they were explained. It was all very strange.
The teachers decided what to do: If possible they would make it a practical lesson, like playing shogi for strategy or dancing for etiquette. Some classes like ninjutsu, taijutsu, riding, kenjutsu and a few others were mostly practical anyway. If this wasn't possible, the teacher would just explain the subject to the prince, instead of having him read about it. The history teacher, though, was the one, who would teach Naruto how to read.
And after classes they would ask the queen, who had taught the prince before. To ignore a student, that couldn't even read! What were they thinking? And what were the officials thinking, to let those persons teach any child, let alone the prince of diamond!
Regardless of this setback, the prince's progress amazed all of them. He learned reading in half an hour, writing in another, eight Ninjutsus in one day, as well as three dances, two kenjutsu katas, five taijutsu katas and basic math, that would usually take two weeks to learn. In his other classes, he did great as well.
Naruto himself was just as amazed. This stuff was easy! And fun! No boring lectures of reading texts, that didn't make sense. No explanations, that nobody could understand without asking a parent or teacher for an easier version. No waiting outside, because he answered wrong. No other students, who laugh at him, because he made a mistake. Nothing like that! Just talking and listening about fascinating topics! Even etiquette was surprisingly interesting. He never imagined, that people would start a war over someone holding his dancing partner five centimeters too close.
Strategy was quickly becoming his favorite subject. They just played a game the entire day! And Naruto even got praised for it! Hell, he couldn't remember the last time he got praised in Konoha, if he ever was. But his teachers praised him a lot - even for playing a game. Another subject Naruto liked already, was leadership. Most kids probably never learn things like that, but he could hardly wait for the next lesson. Before, he never thought, he would see the day, when he waited for a lesson to start!
Today, he and his teacher had started on reading faces. So he could realize, when someone tried to lie to him or use him. And Naruto finally understood! He understood, why Sakura would smile at him one second and punch him the next. He understood, why Hinata would get a red face whenever she saw him. Oh, how wrong he was, for his previous assumption!
(flashback)
The leadership teacher - Suzura - pointed to a specific picture, "What can you see on this scene?". There was a girl around 15 and really pretty. She smiled at a boy, who offered her some flowers. Somehow her smile reminded Naruto of Sakura. The boy looked embarrassed, but also hopeful, so he probably likes the girl and asked her out. Since she was smiling as well, she would probably accept.
The Hokage had told him once, that a girl smiles a lot at the boy, she liked. Even if she doesn't admit liking him. "Most young girls", he had explained, "fear rejection so much, that they cover up their interest. For example, they are mean to the one, they like, especially in public. Sometimes they even go so far, as to pretend they're interested in someone else, just to hide their feelings." That was also the reason Naruto had asked Sakura out so much.
She often smiled at him, but then seemed to realize others were looking and punched him. Naruto tried to let her know, that he liked her back and that it was ok, to be friends or more, if she wanted. Back then, he had wanted a friend so badly... Not, that it ever worked...
"Well, I think, the boy just asked the girl out, because he has flowers for her and looks at her expecting and hopeful, but also a bit embarrassed. The girl seems happy to get asked and will probably agree.", Naruto finally guessed. "Almost my prince. You're absolutely right about the boy, he just asked her out on a date. But the girl's smile is artificial. Look, her jaw is very stiff and her eyes as well. That happens, when somebody forces an expression on his or her face, that would not be there naturally. She will reject the boy for sure. Most likely in a very blunt and brutal way.", explained Suzura.
Naruto was confused, "Then why pretend to be happy about getting asked out?". Hesitantly his teacher answered, "Hmm, I'm not sure... Maybe to give the boy hope, before shooting him down. Or maybe, to pretend to be nice without making the effort to see things from his point. It depends on their relationship before."
Well, so much for Sakura liking him. She probably had a good laugh whenever he had asked her out. And that was almost everyday for two years. What a waste of time! Anyway, it didn't matter anymore, he doubted he would see her ever again. That was probably for the best...
Suzura didn't know, that she had just thrown the prince for a loop and simply took the next picture. This time of a girl, who watched a boy train. The boy either didn't notice or didn't care, he just focused on throwing kunai. The girl watched him with a very red face and pressed her hand over her impressive décolleté. She reminded Naruto of Hinata. (Similar shades of red)
"Um, ... the boy trains and doesn't mind the girl. The girl wants to train too, but can't because off her fever", the prince more asked than answered. Suzura bite back a smile, "Not really. The boy probably hasn't noticed the girl and the girl doesn't have a fever. She is blushing, because she likes the boy. See? She pays more attention to him than to his kunai and put her hand close to her heart. She is probably rather shy. When a girl sees a boy, that she loves, her eyes become really soft, like she loses her focus. And her gaze follow the boy everywhere, as if nothing else even exists. That also applies to confident girls. Some shy girls quickly look away, when their special boy notice them. So you should look for expressions to read, when the person think you aren't looking. That way, it will be far easier to get an opinion of a person. The results will also be closer to the truth this way. Not only with girls and their feelings."
"So ... What would she be like, if the boy asked her out, Suzura-Sensei?", Naruto asked, thinking of Hinata. "Hmm? ... Interesting question. I think she would turn completely red, maybe even get weak at the knees... But in the end she would agree for sure!", she answered.
By now, the prince was rather confused: Hinata had no reason to be shy. She could have easily become his first, best and maybe only friend. Back then, he had wanted a friend so badly... Ok, it was official: Girls make absolutely no sense!
Naruto was still stunned about all this news, but class wasn't over yet. So he put these thought in the back of his head for later and just took the next picture.
(flashback end)
What for revelations! The only thing more surprising to Naruto was, that he actually enjoyed school and that reading was fun, when the text makes sense.
In Konoha, Shikamaru had questions over questions. Many adults had never really made much sense, when it came to Naruto. But this was insane! The majority celebrated losing him like an achievement! Seriously, his pranks weren't that bad! Most were even quite funny.
Shikamaru had been thinking about Naruto's departure and the strange reactions for two weeks now - and he still hadn't made any progress! Heck, so far, not a single theory, he had come up with, could explain Naruto's friendship with the Hokage and his trouble with most of the village at the same time! It drove him crazy!
Even his own father was acting weird. Sure, Shikamaru expected him to be worried about any Konoha-Ninja. But despite being a jonin, it was almost as if he was scarred of Naruto ...? That just couldn't be? Right? After all, Naruto was only a genin. Hell, he wasn't even a genin! Since he failed the test, again.
At first, Shikamaru thought the adults were that scarred, because Konoha had lost an important scroll. But this believe went out of the window, when Iruka-Sensei informed everyone, that only jonin or Anbu are allowed to confront Naruto. Everyone else should tell him, that Mizuki's scheme had been discovered and Naruto can just go back to the Village. In case he didn't believe this, they are to let Naruto go and report back where they had seen him. Under no circumstances are they to fight him or even restrain him.
This was ridiculous! For heaven's sake, the guy was the weakest of the whole class! Even with the scroll, Naruto couldn't be dangerous. The scroll was written for Anbus. Most likely he wouldn't even understand what the text was about.
So, why? Why was everyone so on edge about one little boy, that wasn't even a genin? And why on earth was he still not found? Shikamaru had seen the search party. Pretty much all jonins, Anbus and hunternins, that were in Konoha at the time. The first time, he had seen the large group, he just thought, that he wanted some of the stuff, the Hokage was smoking.
And later he believed, he actually did smoke that stuff, when the group came back without either the scroll or Naruto. Seriously, what the hell!? Half of each the Inuzuka, Aburame and Hyuuga clan weren't able to locate one little boy? Not to mention the Anbus and dogs. He had always thought the ninjas, chasing Naruto around after a prank, were just playing with him. Well, apparently not.
Shikamaru told his father about all this, but he couldn't get anymore out of the troublesome man. He would have asked Hinata for more information, but after the yelling she put the Hokage through, he really didn't want to get on her bad side. This was all so far beyond troublesome!
