AN: Hello Empire, What up? How was your day? Mine was fine thank you for asking. I didn't get any reviews to mention for the last chapter, but I have got a bunch more alerts and favorites and some more author alerts (still don't know how that's supposed to work with one story, but whatever I am definitely not complaining), the only thing that's lacking is reviews, so try and review this one (can't have my empire getting lazy now). Cause I really like to know what you guys think. So Read and enjoy and don't ever forget that I love your faces.
Fixing the scarf around his neck he gazed at himself in the mirror, some children called him weird for wearing something like a scarf in Konoha's daily weather but it didn't really matter much what they thought they didn't know anything about his life. Looking away from the mirror with his fist clenched tightly he walked out the bathroom, he needed to get something to eat, his graduation exam today, so he forced himself to calm down. Pouring juice into a glass he decided to just simply have cereal today, placing a carton of milk and a bowl on the table he sat down staring at his reflection on the spoon. His fist instantly clenched, he hated the way he looked, or to be more specific he hated those whisker marks. They were the cause of all his misery, all the pain that he went through, they were the reason he got called demon brat, monster, and the reason for all the constant glares of hatred. Why did he have to be the Kyubbi container? Why did he have to go through all of this? Throwing the spoon across the room appetite gone he stood up prepared to leave the house on an empty stomach.
"You know gaki getting yourself so worked up before a important test is never a good idea" looking up in shock Naruto watched as the figure strolled across the room placing two plastic bags on the table.
"A-Anko-chan"
"You disappoint me Naruto, I thought we went over this already" looking away head down in shame he didn't even notice Anko leave her spot until he felt a her hands snake around his waist from behind her head resting on his shoulder.
"I-I'm sorry" his tone was one of complete defeat.
"Why do you keep putting yourself down Naruto? Have you forgotten what I told you that day, what you promised me?"
He could never forget that promise he made her, after all it was because of that promise because of that day he fell in love with her.
FLASHBACK, FLASHBACK, FLASHBACK, FLASHBACK, FLASHBACK
A 6 year old Naruto was in a small clearing inside of Konoha's vast forest, he was vigorously punching and kicking at a tree, tears streaming down his face, it was all because of stupid whisker thingys on his face; he wanted them gone. He began to violently scratch and claw at his cheeks hoping that they would either just disappear or a worse scar would appear over it making the whisker marks unrecognizable, whichever way he just wanted them gone for good.
Unbeknownst to him a figure was looking down at him from that very same tree giving that person a clear view of what was going on. Upon a closer inspection one would see that the figure was a girl that looked to be around ten or eleven. Not being able to stand what she was seeing any longer the girl jumped out of the tree and landed on the boy below.
"What are you doing gaki, clawing at your face won't be good for your skin later on in life when you get older" the girl stated while crossing her legs comfortably on his back.
"W-Who are you, what do you want?" Naruto stated in a panicked voice.
"Forgot me already gaki?" the girl jumped off his back, grabbed his blindingly orange jacket and hoisted him up so that he was eye level with her. Something seemed to click in his young blond head, this was the girl that stood up for him when the villagers cornered him and was calling him mean names 2 weeks prior.
"You're the girl that helped me out" the girl gave him a grin.
"Oh? So have not forgotten the great Anko-sama" Anko huh what a nice name.
"Thank you for helping me" he mumbled his mind still in a state of depression from earlier.
"Gaki if you're really thankful tell me what is going on, why would you be doing that to yourself?" she pointed at his cheeks. He turned away, what did she care.
"None of your business, just leave me alone!" he shouted at her not registering the brief look of pain that passed through her eyes.
"You're right it isn't my business, but you did say you were thankful so if you really are thankful you would repay me by answering my question." She was right; he owed her for helping him out with that horrible situation besides she can't be a totally bad person if she helped him the one other's view as a plague. Maybe he should trust her, trust this person only if for a little bit.
"These whisker marks make people hate me," he saw her eyes widen in realization before they narrowed, great now she was going to call him names too.
"I see, well that's something, I think I can help you hide those whisker marks, well that is if you promise me that you won't try to purposely hurt yourself or get down on yourself about those whiskers again and always remember one thing…people are idiots" shock was written all over his face, she actually wanted to help him. Nodding his head vigorously at the request he saw Anko stick out her pinky finger.
"Then it's a promise for life then" she said grinning when he wrapped his pinky around hers.
She pulled something out of her pants pocket, "I was going to give this to a friend but here you can have it, you need it more," she walked up even closer to him and began to wrap a golden scarf around his neck that covered the bottom half of his face.
"See its all good now," she was grinning again looking extremely satisfied.
"Well later gaki see you around sometime," she left him there in shock the only thing that he could do was touch the scarf the thing that tied his promise to her, the thing that made him love he;, he would forever cherish it.
Flashback end, Flashback end, Flashback end, Flashback end, Flashback end
"I could never forget that promise hime, it won't happen again" he said turning to meet her eyes, she had tears in the corner of them, he hated himself right now, how could he make his hime cry. She hit him lightly on the shoulder.
"Don't ever do that again you idiot" tears was still streaming down his face.
"Of course not, never again, anything for you hime" she smiled before pointing at the plastic bags on the table.
"It's the day of your test so I decided to buy you some breakfast" looking through the bags that had ramen and dango in them he quickly grabbed two plates placed them on the table and sat down to eat with the woman he loved.
The day of the graduation exams was here and he was reminded that he was loved, he didn't know how long it would last; after all being loved is new to him.
AN: That sounded suspiciously like a conclusion to the story, no worries my empire it's not; I was just pointing that out. Well what you think, I messed with my writing style a bit. Anyway as you saw earlier I was going to do the graduation scene but I got sidetracked halfway through writing so I hope you enjoyed some more developmentation (don't hate on the word). Make sure and review and tell me if you liked or hated the slight switch in writing style, also how do you think the story is progressing so far? (Don't worry though it's not permanent) Let me know so I can continue writing. I'll be looking out for your opinions. Next chapter: Graduation.