Just to Survive
By: Xzotic
Chapter 1:
Always in Trouble
"Yo, check it out! Uzumaki has some new threads!"
"'Bout time! I'm tired of him always dressing like a bum!"
"He still probably stinks like a pig, though, has he ever heard of a shower?"
Naruto ignored all of the comments he could overhear and slowly made his way to his locker. His droopy blue eyes were heavy and unfocused as he tried to remember the combination he'd been issued just a few weeks ago.
First period with Mr. Asuma… what class is that again?
Naruto couldn't force enough energy into his tired limbs. After running damn-near 18 miles non-stop the night before and then crashing onto his favorite park bench only 2 miles away from his high school, the 16-year-old had woken up sore all over and feeling like he hadn't slept at all.
"Naruto. Better hurry or you'll be late to homeroom. Everything all right?"
Old man Sarutobi!
Naruto jumped and swung around to see the principal of Green Leaf High School staring at him shrewdly. He quickly plastered on one of his patented (but fake) happy grins. "Fine, fine, old man… I-I mean Principal Sarutobi, sir!"
He quickly grabbed his books out of his otherwise barren locker and slammed it shut before nervously scratching the back of his head. "I was just heading off to class, sir!"
Principal Sarutobi just stared at the young man as though searching for some sort of sign. But eventually, he just nodded his head. "Keep your head up, Naruto, and try not to get into trouble today."
Naruto mock saluted with a mischievous smile. "Sir, yes sir!" he shouted as he walked off, legs still sore and eyes still droopy.
He understood the principal's concern. After all, no one else in the school was likely to be as intimately acquainted with the administrative staff as Naruto was. He was constantly getting into trouble be it through acting up in class, talking back to teachers, playing elaborate pranks on staff members, or even fighting with other students. The problem was that Naruto's legal guardians were never available for meetings and Naruto never seemed the least bit repentant for his actions. Mr. Iruka insisted that suspending the blond troublemaker was not the answer, however, so Naruto was a constant fixture in the after-school detention hall.
Sarutobi sighed and sadly watched the boy go. He knew in his heart that there was something very wrong with that boy's home life. But what could he or anyone do if the boy wasn't willing to talk about it?
***
Red hair, and a cross-shaped scar on his left cheek. Naruto just knew that Mr. Himura must've led a pretty interesting life. So why did the scrawny little man keep talking about this boring history stuff like it was so cool. He'd rather hear about how his teacher had gotten that cool scar!
Suddenly, Naruto felt something flick him on the back of his neck. Turning sharply, the blond saw nothing but innocent faces but he knew immediately who the culprit was. Resolving to be on his best behavior today since he was still too tired for trouble, the blond turned around with a lazy roll of the eyes.
Mr. Himura was staring directly at him when he turned back around and the teacher smiled proudly at him before going back to his lecture. Naruto's blue eyes were wide. This guy had eyes like a hawk!
Resolving to never again put anything past his teacher with the cool scar, Naruto opened his book and started to pretend that he was reading along with what Mr. Himura was lecturing about.
Not five minutes later, something heavy smacked into the back of his head and Naruto jumped out of his seat, rubbing the sore spot angrily. He turned on the boy sitting two rows behind him and pointed his finger. "Kabuto, if you throw one more thing at me, I'm going to beat you to a bloody pulp!"
The boy with the silver glasses raised his hands innocently and slowly stood up. "Naruto, I have no idea what you are talking about. I have not thrown a single thing at you." His eyes were wide and innocent but the slight curve at one corner of his lip immediately set the blond off.
"Don't lie to me you jerk!" Naruto shouted.
"Hey, hey, Naruto let's just calm do-" Mr. Himura tried to say.
"It's not my fault if poorboy keeps feeling stuff crawling all over him," Kabuto drawled. He fixed Naruto with a jeering stare. "That's what happens when you don't take regular baths, after all."
The rest of the class erupted into laughter and the blond seemed to deflate for a minute. A moment later, the sadness in his blue eyes turned to fierce anger and before Mr. Himura could move to stop him, Naruto launched his entire body over two rows and straight into Kabuto's face, fist first. The entire classroom erupted into pandemonium as the two hit the floor, Naruto on top and pounding into the sneering boy's stupid face.
"Naruto! Naruto!" Mr. Himura forced his way through the crowd of crazed students and grabbed the blond by the scruff of his shirt to yank him away from the other student.
Kabuto's face was covered in blood from his gushing nose and it looked like his right eye was starting to swell up but the silver-haired boy was still grinning and sneering at the blond as though he was nothing more than mud.
Mr. Himura sighed and turned to the junior class president, fearfully standing off to the side of the commotion. "Miss Sakura, please escort Mr. Naruto to the principal's office. Tell Principal Sarutobi that I'll be there as soon as possible."
The pink-haired girl nodded her head nervously and watched as the blond boy shook himself out of their teacher's grasp and angrily stomped out of the classroom.
"Make sure he goes straight to the Principal. Understood, Miss Sakura?"
"Y-yes, sir," she replied before quickly hurrying after the boy.
***
Naruto was angry. So angry! With Kabuto, with his teachers, with himself. Kabuto was one of the richest kids in the school. The spoiled son of a very famous doctor. Kabuto was also an evil little bastard who loved to play mind games with him just to see him snap. And he fell for it every time.
"Hey!"
Naruto paused in the otherwise empty hallway and turned to see Sakura Haruno hurrying to catch up to him. Class president, perfect little Sakura with her perfect grades and a tendency to be every teachers' pet. He'd never really spoken to her before but here she was jogging up to him in the middle of the hall.
"Mr. Himura asked me to make sure you reached the principal's office okay," she explained when she finally reached him.
Naruto didn't want company right then. Not when he was feeling like such crap. He plastered on a fake smile and scratched the back of his head self consciously. "Don't worry about me, I've been to the old man's office so many times I could probably find it blindfolded." He let out a nervous laugh and turned to continue on his way.
Unfortunately, the pink-haired girl fell into step beside him with a no-nonsense look on her face. "Well, regardless of whether or not you know the way, Mr. Himura asked me so I have to escort you."
Naruto didn't comment but let the smile slip from his face as they walked in silence. Sakura stole a few curious glances his way before finally deciding to broach a subject.
"You know, you really shouldn't let people egg you on," she stated in a know-it-all tone. "They're only looking for a rise out of you so you should really just ignore them."
Naruto didn't feel like talking so he said nothing.
"Kabuto's a real jerk, though," Sakura finally said as they reached the door to the front office. "Part of me was really glad when you threw that first punch at his lying face!"
Naruto paused just before walking through the door and turned to the girl in amazement. "Wha?"
Sakura grinned at him, glad to have gotten a reaction out of him. "Kabuto's always looking down on people. I hate people who pick on others less fortunate. He's lower than scum, if you ask me!"
Naruto blinked at the passionate girl as she propped her hands on her hips and a slow grin came over his face. "Yeah, he is a major jerk. I thought I was the only one to notice, though." He cocked his head at her curiously before walking into the office.
Sakura didn't know why she felt so good about making the odd boy smile a real smile but she felt bolstered as she followed him into the main office and up to the secretary's desk.
The secretary took one look at the blond standing before her and shook her head. "Go right on in, Mr. Naruto. How are you today, Miss Sakura?"
Naruto grinned sheepishly at her and Sakura exchanged a few pleasantries before moving straight to the office at the end of the hall. Sakura was about to knock but Naruto simply pushed the door open without preamble.
"Hey old man! Thought I'd pay you a visit!"
Sakura felt her eye twitch at the disrespectful way the blond was speaking to their principal.
Principal Sarutobi let out a sigh and shuffled the papers he'd been reading through. "What have you done now, Naruto?" He received only a fox-like grin in response and the old principal wearily shifted his eyes to his other guest. "Ah, Miss Sakura, to what do I owe the pleasure?"
Sakura smiled respectfully. "Mr. Himura asked me to escort him here, Mr. Sarutobi, sir. He says he'll be here as soon as he can."
"Well thank you, Miss Sakura. Please tell Mr. Himura to take his time."
Sakura nodded and quietly made her way out of the office.
"Bye Sakura! Thanks for the chat!" Naruto shouted after her.
Principal Sarutobi picked up his phone and dialed a familiar extension. "Iruka? Yes, I require your presence in my office. Thank you."
Naruto let out a groan. "Not Mr. Iruka again…"
The principal calmly placed the phone back in its cradle and fixed the blond with a piercing stare. "Naruto, until you can learn to control yourself you should consider Mr. Iruka as your strongest ally. He is the only reason you are even still attending this school. I get complaints from parents about your presence at this school every day. You do not help matters by getting into trouble all the time. Now what was it this time?"
Naruto sunk into his seat in front of the principal's desk. He was in for it now. He would probably miss lunch thanks to Kabuto. And they were going to serve ramen today!
A/N: Well? What do you think? Is it interesting?