Chapter 6
Quite a predicament I got myself into. Even though I know befriending Naruto will get myself into a hell lot of trouble, I didn't realize just how fast the trouble would come.
I can proudly say I understand myself better than most, and accept it as such. I know I'm not good at handling stressful situations, and I'd put a lot of effort on avidly avoid it than confronting it.
Such as, this mass of shrieking and giggling destruction is something I'd rather not get tangled up in.
Didn't I write a list of people-to-avoid somewhere...
"Now go to your seat."
So... What am I doing here?!
I hear Iruka urging me, but my mind refuses to acknowledge or respond to the devil that had dragged me into this sticky web.
Calm down, everything will be okay! See, I'm so bland that I can practically blend in with the wall. Oh, look! A few rows of kids that look an exact carbonize copy of myself!
On second thought, that sounds creepy, doesn't it? With so many copies of myself here, won't I think they're clones? Not the Clones Jutsu, of course. Heck, I barely know how to mold chakra! But a real life clone that's mass-produced?!
Oh look. There's me number 1 urging me number 2 to play together. There's a girl me giggling and sneaking glances at the boy me. The boy me is trying to act cool, but he gets scolded by Iruka and embarrasses himself in front of the girl me. She giggles at the boy me and thus the self-cest is born.
Later I'll have to wonder what's wrong with my head.
And conclude that everything was just a figment of my imagination as it fades and I end up facing a very annoyed looking Nara.
"This seat is taken."
I twitch at the rudeness. Oh boy, I thought Naruto was out of character. But Nara? I never thought Nara would be a brat at this age!
Before I even say a word, Naruto has cut me off.
"It's been empty since morning! And I wanted to see if we could be friends..."
He ends up mumbling the last part.
"No, now go away and find another seat."
Naruto wouldn't be Naruto if he hadn't been persistent, now would he?
"It's only for today! Come on."
"What a troublesome blonde. No."
"But I want to be your friend!"
"Do I look like I want a friend?"
That sounds suspiciously like Sasuke dialogue...
I stare at Naruto and Shikamaru as they continue to bicker back and forth, busying themselves. I take a glance at Iruka, he seems a bit busy trying to calm the argument between puppy boy and insect boy. Although Shino was only being verbal, Kiba seemed to make a point by pouncing. I continue to look at the other kids doing their own things with their own group of friends.
Blabbering about god-knows what. Ugh, socializing is so not my thing.
And thus, this is the reason why I didn't want to come to this chaotic place. Though my initial nervousness seems to rapidly decrease from my slightly deranged imagination, I still feel a bit jumpy.
Until I see the telltale sign that the Nara boy was at his limit and wanted to pounce on Naruto, I did something I would have never done in my own world.
"Look, Naruto always holds his word. And it'll only be for a day."
For one, I never thought of myself as a peacemaker. Not now, not ever. Even while I may seem calm, I can feel my hands shaking. From what? Nervousness? Excitement? I don't dwell on it. I'm not one to initiate anything- or even voice anything for that matter- unless asked for.
But just this once, I wanted to help. If anything, it was to quell my own guilty conscience- from before- and not from the goodness of my heart. Far from it.
I'm not a good person. Everything I do is- more often than not- for my own benefit. If my demented imagination didn't give it away already, my slightly loose morals probably will.
But I'll be damned if I don't try to help Naruto a little, at least to have a stable childhood. Besides, I don't think I can endure any more of Naruto's childish whining. It's so not because of that itch called fondness.
I notice earlier that the tick is showing, but I also noted he didn't whine as much.
Call me a cynical bastard all you want, I admit I do have a tiny miniscule bit of soft spot for the kid with his persistency. Who doesn't? But I still can't get attached.
While I may be iffy and slightly more than skeptical at the thought of going home- or to be frank, I don't even know where to start, and everything is too overwhelming for my mental capabilities to handle, notice my more than just one hysterical thoughts? That's so normal- but Naruto's earlier encouragement had tugged me back and pulled me out of my own misery.
He's just that sort of person, to encourage and inspire people.
That got me thinking,
While it may be full of daisies and sunshine when I'm here, since I was his only constant friend, what would happen after I got back? Would he revert back to being a mass of annoying tangerines? Or even worse, would he go loco? And go missing-nin?
Frankly speaking, I feel like I've already changed something, even though I don't quite have a clue of what it is. Oh wait- did Naruto try befriending Shikamaru in the original plotline? If I remember correctly, they did. But, just as ordinary friends. They weren't close until the time skip. Or was it in the 4th Great Shinobi War arc?
"Tch, Troublesome." Nara promptly ignores the both of us as he tries to feign being asleep. Like Naruto and I didn't know any better.
"Ne, ne, why didn't you want us to sit here?"
See, Naruto is not Naruto if he isn't persistent. Give up already Shika-Chan, you won't get him off your back even if you turn traitor and go missing-nin on us.
"Why're you mad?"
Silence.
"Do you not want to be friends?"
Silence.
"Why're you so quiet? And don't pretend to be asleep. I can tell you're awake since you're stiff."
Wow, Naruto's sharp.
"Will you shut up if I tell you?" Naruto nods his head and I hear Nara sigh.
"I don't see if you nod."
"Ah, yeah okay!"
"You talk too loud."
Naruto just grinned but I know by the glint in his eyes that he felt accomplished.
"I... Promised a friend that I would save a spot for him next to me if we ever join the academy."
Oh. I blink as I raked my brain to list Nara's friends.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Ah, shit. I just remembered there's another boy who's supposed to be here! Chouji Akamichi. Was it? I wonder what had happened to him? It's not like they showed it in the anime how the kids interacted on the first day of their school life, did they?
"Ano sa... Why isn't he here?"
"He got into an accident."
We went silent for a few minutes, as Naruto may be feeling guilty about asking. I feel troubled and more than slightly hysterical to the point that I just wanted to start shouting and kicking for answers from the lazy boy. Considering Chouji is still alive in the manga, this can't be right. Oh wait; did I just assume he's already dead?
...
Oh my god, I'm so sorry Chouji. I just killed you off in my slightly demented head.
"How'd he get into the accident though?" Naruto asks. Wow. It left me speechless. If it were me, I would've already left it alone. If the kid wants to brood, let him brood. Sheesh the Uchiha brooding disease is so infectious.
"Why do you want to know?"
'What do you think on why he wants to know, genius?'
"Well, you look like you're guilty about something..."
What? I blink and stare at the Nara boy since he was facing us. Well, I admit I may be not as sharp,- but do tell Naruto which part is it you notice he looks guilty
"..."
Silence can be counted as agreement don't you know?
"I was the one who was supposed to fall, but he took the fall for me..."
Wow. I never knew Chouji and Shikamaru's friendship ran so deep. Actually, I don't actually know much about the detail in the manga or the anime.
Other than the fact that Naruto and Sasuke have a love hate relationship. Frenemies?,Kakashi tardiness and perversion, a~nd Sakura fangirl tendencies. Actually, where is she? I don't hear any shrieks and giggles from the so-called brooder fanclubs. Did they finally realize that they have lives and disbanded the clubs? Or maybe they haven't hit the fangirl phase yet.
Well, it is their first year. Maybe it'll come later.
"I'm sorry!"
I blink, what? What had I missed?
"I'm sorry, I made you break your promise and I know breaking promises is really bad and I-I-I... understand that you might not want to be friends with me anymore."
Naruto... He lowers his head and his bangs cover half of his face. I frown and glare at the Nara boy.
"Naru-"
"-Troublesome." My glare intensified.
"You!-"
"-Want to be friends right?"
"I... Yeah..."
I twitch. Damn you! I was about to give important, inspiring and comforting words but you just had to butt in and cut my well thought out speech!
"He... He did ask me to make some friends anyway.. So why not?"
Naruto looked so startled that the Nara boy answered. I too didn't expect it. I stare at him for a very long time, assessing him. There was a tinge of red at his cheeks. I see.., he honestly wanted to try and be friends with Naruto.
Hmm... I suppose it was because they're young and still kids. They doesn't know the meaning of holding a grudge, do they? Making friends is a lot easier if you are still pure at heart. Unlike me. I look around and see the kids had quieted down and were staring at the mini drama between Shikamaru and Naruto. Even Iruka had had stare at it.
But as a teacher, I suppose he wants all his students to get along. He clasps his hands to dispelled the sappy atmosphere and announces the schedule.
While in the morning, before lunch, the class would only consist of theories and basic lessons. But in the afternoon, they would breach into the more physical part, like physical education, ninja style.
While it may have peaked my interest and curiosity, I don't think I want to risk it. Considering my physical state, I'd be mauled over and flattened like a pancake. Yeah, not a very appetizing one too.
I take a glance at Naruto and notice how happy he is to have gained a friend. I'm so not jealous, even if I'm not his only friend now. Pft, what?
Shikamaru even got Naruto to tone down his volume while talking.
Even though I can hear a few 'troublesome' being said, I'm confident that Shika-Chan would find Naruto's company tolerable. Well, my work is sort of done here. Now time to sneak out without anyone noticing.
While Iruka was busy ushering the kids into a properly formed line, and Naruto wasn't paying attention to me- I'm not being jealous!- I try to be as inconspicuously as I can be. Which isn't very hard.
"Now where are you planning on going?"
Shit, Mizuki! I totally forgot about him. I forgot since you're so totally not worth my fabulous attention and you'd rot in the near future anyway.
"Well.., I- Erm.., Ah.., I'm not a student here."
"Really...?"
"Why would I lie?"
Because I don't want to die so soon.
"Hmm." He narrows his eyes at that.- I wince, did I step on a landmine there?
"I'm being honest, I'm not a student here."
He watches me with suspicious eyes, but makes no move to protest when I walk past him. Until his words stops me.
"You know.. I can always report back to the Hokage; there's a suspicious looking kid wandering around impersonating as a student.."
My heart nearly leapt out of my throat. Damn it! Thump, thump, thump. Shitty heart, you're going overdrive there.
"I was accidentally mistaken as a student and forcibly taken here by Iruka-san."
He grins- that grin doesn't look very user friendly- What the fuck?! Why doesn't anybody notice this shit?! I glance back.
Apparently they're too busy to form a proper line. Help meee!
"Now that's odd. If you're not a student or a... spy... How'd you know his name? I'm here the whole time, and not once did Iruka-san mention his name."
This guy... This guy is scary. I unconsciously take a huge gulp of air to calm down my nerves. Is this his bad day?! I mean, isn't he supposed to,- oh,I don't know pretend to be nice?!
Thump, thump, thump.
Damn it heart. Shut up!
…
Silence
…
Silence
…
Wait... No... WAIT A MINUTE! I'LL DIE!
No, focus! I'm in trouble here!
"My friend calls him Iruka."
His grin turns delightfully vicious. My head practically screams at me to run. Run while my limbs are still intact!
"By friend, you mean the demon brat, don't you? I see you being all friendly with it."
...
Snap.
...
What was that 'snapping' sound effect I hear?
"Naruto is not an 'it'. He's a human boy."
I growl with an oddly protective feeling I apparently have.
"What's going on here?"
I blink. The tense atmosphere dispels itself. Mizuki waves his hand in a good-natured way.
"Nothing to concern yourself with, Umino-san. I just caught a student that wanted to skip class."
I didn't bother to voice anymore of my protest. It'll probably get me in more trouble than it's worth.
"Ah! Hey~ Grumpy! I was searching for you!"
"Troublesome, don't shout Naruto."
Ah, befriending Naruto would be the death of me. It's not good for my health, that's for sure.
"Hey, you look pale… Is something's wrong?"
"Nothing. I just choked on air, hard to breath here, ehem."
Neither Naruto nor Shikamaru looked convinced but they both left it alone.
What the fuck, that guy! Mizuki, the one that manipulated Naruto into stealing the forbidden Jutsu scroll on the first episode had somehow try to threaten me?!- I am perfectly capable of sensing that blatantly ill intent of his.
Scary as fuck, not that I'd know what it is but the intent is there and am sure as hell is not anything good. It's weird enough that their voice is scarily similar to the person voice dubbing them. Never in my normal twenty or so life have I ever experienced this sort of shit.
My hands are still shaking from that confrontation alone. My heart's hammering like it's in a rock concert on steroids. Not a good combination there.
Well... That certainly escalated quickly. I sourly think. It's only my second day here!
A/N: Holly shet!? I surprised myself for updating and I dried up all my muse ! and look what happen narrator-san end up stuck at the academy O.o Poor narrator-san I overly tortures narrator-san mental capabilities. I wonder if narrator will end up being slightly more than less sane.. ehe.. right xD do you notice thou this chap had a lot of dialogue going on?
anyhow I'm so sorry for a 'slight' ooc-Shikamaru.
I had actually want to test myself and build up Shikamaru and Chouji friendship and not just because its their clan thing either that made'em automatically click together xD
Beta ~ thank you for hard work Ms Editor! ~ Maple
Review section(?) if anyone bother to read that is xD
Narrator: suck it up author try learning fixing your own mistakes!
*sulk* why can't you be nicer to me*mutter*mutter* Anyway,
Kitsu questions for genders... hu.. I don't think it will matter much(?)
Narrator: *twitch* WTF!? u want me to be genderless for the whole story?
well at least until wa~y later chaps by then I've probably decided what to do bout it xD
Darkdust27 awh thanks! , narrator-san ego sure is being well feed XD (Narrator: feels my overflowing fabsness!) anyway I don't mind your rant nice to know what you think of the matter and truth be told i am more than slightly disappointed at the end pairing of the canon myself *cough* and for narrator-san future plan.. if you hadn't notice narrator and planning doesn't work so well xD so let us roll together and see how it goes from here ;D
Summertimefun34 I think Narrator-san had went slightly insane at that.
Narrator: Boss.. *mutter* boss. HELL YEAH I'LL BE A FREAKIN BADASS BOSS! I'LL MAKE HAREM! WAIT NO.. WORLD DOMINATION! *cackles*
RIGHT THAT'S IT HOPE Y'GUYS ENJOY CHAP 6! criticism is also appreciated and review makes me happy :D so thanks who had taken time to review ^.^