Disclaimer: I do not claim all of Naruto's characters, they belong to Masashi Kishimoto. Except my other character, they're mine.
Thosa: Thank you for review, Thosa. *ThumbsUp*
Sorry for the delay because I had to take care of my sister in the hospital. Well anyway enjoy the show!
You're an idiot."
Naruto stopped walking and looked up to gaze at the sole eye of his mentor, leaning against the brick wall of the academy. The huge doors were already shut and locked, but a vampire like himself could easily run up the wall without the help of his hands.
"That so, sir?" the blonde asked, nonchallantly starting the climb up the wall when the older vampire pulled him back down. Naruto turned around, only to get punched in the face by Kakashi. His nose straightened itself automatically and he chuckled, pretending to be emotionally hurt.
"Oh come on, what did I do this time? I just came back a little too late. No big deal, is it?"
"You bit a human, you fucking idiot!" Kakashi hissed. "And not just some human, you bit one of the chosen humans for the Sand Nobles! Do you have any idea how much those things are worth to those vampires?! It's like the needle in the haystack, found specifically for them!"
Naruto shrugged. "So another vampire has drunk from his neck, big deal. He's still alive."
"Of course he's still alive, you never kill humans! And it's only because we know you not to, that Tsunade lets you out when the others are out! Never forget that you are a pureblood!"
"So what?"
His mentor slapped him across the face, which resulted in the blonde colliding with the ground from the impact. He just looked up at the more experienced vampire curiously, though.
"So once you lose it, only Kami knows what you're capable of destroying! Do you have any idea what this academy strives so hard to improve?!"
"The intelligence of vampires and the bond between vampire and human?"
"And the ability to live together in peace!"
Naruto snorted. "Peace. As if you come across that nowadays. Even the humans are turning on each other."
"Don't deflect. You know damn well that biting humans is not allowed. Outside the academy or not."
"What else was I supposed to do? I am, like you said, a pureblood. I need more and better than you guys."
Kakashi sighed bitterly before putting his hand on the back of the blonde's head and making him face his neck before pulling his mask down and revealing his pale neck. Naruto knew very well that he didn't want him looking at his face, but that wasn't a problem at all. The veins he could see extremely clearly were intriguing enough for him to ignore the older vampire's looks completely and pierce his neck with his sharp little fangs.
This was the first time the silverhaired vampire had ever allowed him to drink from his neck, which meant double score for him in one night. Even though that human guy's blood was sweeter than his mentor's, he enjoyed it thoroughly. It was more powerful and mixed in with his own blood easier. It coursed in so quickly and he couldn't get enough of it. It was harder to quit drinking from his Mentor than from a random girl.
He had always been grateful that Kakashi was his Mentor, cos if he had to choose a male Mentor, he would've gone for him straightaway. Even if he gave him less blood and sometimes just ignored him completely and didn't give him any at all, Naruto usually didn't like male blood in the least. Female blood was way sweeter and he really was a sweet-tooth. Kakashi was the only male vampire that he knew of with sweet blood.
His attitude just wasn't the sweetest. But Naruto had to live with that.
The sound of the blood getting swallowed was loud and the Hatake had trouble restraining himself. It was true that purebloods have better, stronger blood than normal vampires. Every vampire in the school would kill to get some of Naruto's. But they also knew that he had an extremely clean reputation of not letting just anybody suck from his body and that he only gave blood to those that repayed him the favour.
"Your wrist, Uzumaki."
Naruto's eyes opened slowly and he brought his arm up to his Mentor's mouth, still not looking at the man's face. If it was one thing he had to hand to Kakashi, it was the fact that he had extremely good, sharp fangs. It hurt when they pierced him, but it was another thing that came with the guy. Don't tell anybody, but Naruto wouldn't have wanted anyone else.
When his Mentor released his arm, he understood that he was supposed to stop as well. With an echoing breath, he pulled his fangs out of the vampire's neck and stepped back, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
Kakashi's mask was already back up when he looked at his Mentor, who pointed at the wall at said, "Don't let it happen again."
"Yes, sir."
-R-
There was still school in the weekends, it just didn't take as long. All their schooldays were short, but they happened every day of the week. Personally, Naruto would way rather have a couple of days off and have longer schooldays, but it was easier this way for the vampires.
Sasuke was away when Naruto woke up and Ino had come knocking at the men's dorm door to ask for Shikamaru. When Naruto managed to drag the black-haired teen out of their room and into the boys' dorm, he listened in on the two.
"Temari hasn't come back last night," Ino told the raven.
"Yeah, Sasuke neither. What do you think they're doing?"
"Well, all I know is that Sasuke-kun doesn't need Temari-chan's blood, so perhaps it's other way around?"
"No. Temari told me she isn't like that. She drunk my blood before and she said that it wasn't as good as the meals she's used to."
Ino chuckled. "Well that was very nice," she remarked, sarcastically.
"It's true, though. I've always known I don't have very good blood. But still, even if I did have good blood, it would never be like what she's used to. You know who her brother is, right?"
"Who?"
"Sabaku no Gaara."
Ino fell silent and Naruto walked over to them, interested.
"You mean that she has been drinking off the blood of those who are meant to be only for the Sand Nobles?"
"How do you know that?" Shikamaru replied.
"Kakashi-sama. Anyway, I didn't know they were nobles!"
"They are the children of a couple of nobles. Gaara's, Kankurou's and Temari's father is the head of the Sand Nobles. So of course they get the best of the best. They're truebloods, after all."
"I thought Kankurou wasn't a trueblood."
"No, he isn't. Gaara and Temari are, though."
"How is that possible?"
"It happens often enough when trueblood vampires get children. Most of the time, the children are truebloods as well. But sometimes, when the female's body is weak and she hasn't had enough blood for a while, the child can become a halfblood."
"So that's what happened to Kankurou?"
"Probably."
"So what do you think they needed Sasuke for?"
"I don't know, but I don't think Temari wanted a drink. I think the Nobles have other ideas for him."
"Is it because of his gift?"
"Perhaps."
"His gift?" Ino asked.
"Sasuke can go for a long while without blood because he's from the Uchiha clan. The Uchiha clan is therefore stronger and more capable of doing things other vampires can not. His eyes can see even better in the dark and he can see farther than everyone, run faster than everyone, smell more, feel more, and is all in all more talented than most."
"But, since you're a trueblood-"
"I can do all of the above and if I'm stronger, I can do more. But that isn't the point. The point is that they have plans for Sasuke and we need to stop them."
"So what do you suggest?"
"Since Gaara is the only trueblood son, the mission was probably assigned to Gaara specifically. Temari just helped out cos she's his sister. But if I can persuade Gaara not to take Sasuke..."
"How are you gonna pull that off?"
"You know how they always want the best blood there is, right?"
"Well, duh. Else they wouldn't want Sasuke's."
"So if they get mine.."
"But you're already helping out with filling the plasma packs. If you lose any more-"
"I'll just skip it tonight. I've only been to fill the plasma packs once. If I skip the second time, I can survive. You've got to help me get my blood into some kind of container, though."
Ino pulled a disgusted face. "Do you pay any attention at all during Biology? Your blood with coagulate and become thick and crusty. Unless they drink it directly, you'll give them a bloodcookie."
"Ugh, whatever. We'll figure that out later. Shikamaru, get dressed; we're going to find Gaara."
-R-
"Gaara!" Naruto called the moment they caught sight of him behind the tree he had been at the other day as well.
"Uzumaki Naruto," he greeted, letting go of the girl's hair he'd had in his grasp earlier. She fell to the ground with a 'thump' and Gaara stood up slowly, brushing himself off nonchallantly.
"Where's Sasuke?"
"Uchiha-san?"
"Yes!"
"I will not lie to you, Uzumaki-san. The higher-ups are interested in him. They believe that they will grow stronger if they drink his blood. I invited him over to see them later."
"Where is he?!"
"He should be in town by now. Temari took the car to bring him there."
"Shikamaru, get him."
"He will never catch up to them in time."
Shikamaru nodded and Naruto grinned. "Shikamaru has got the power of his clan behind him. He can run as fast as a deer can. Now, I've got a proposition for you. If you agree upon letting Sasuke go, I'll give you my blood."
"Why would I want your blood?"
"So you can give it to the higher-ups. Isn't a trueblood's blood more valuable than a halfblood's blood?"
"It is. Still, I do not understand why you would do such a thing for a halfblood."
"Sasuke's my friend."
It was silent for a while, until Gaara nodded and sighed weakly. "I shall stop the car myself."
Naruto watched as Gaara disappeared into a cloud of dusty sand and return five seconds later with Sasuke in his arms, pushing him toward the blonde, who caught the raven quickly.
Sasuke, furious Sasuke, turned to face Gaara and punch him in the face. "You bastard! Nobody's getting my blood, you leeching traitor!"
"Relax, Uchiha Sasuke. Uzumaki Naruto has agreed upon giving us his blood instead of yours."
"Huh? Why would you do such a stupid thing, Naruto?!"
"Because they just want to become more powerful. They can have my blood, if they want."
"You're not like that! You don't like giving your blood away to just anybody!"
"Well, at least you're still here, right?"
"Very well then, Uzumaki Naruto, hand me your arm."
Naruto chuckled. "What a sentence. That's a funny one; Hand me your arm."
"Do it," Gaara growled, pulling out a needle with a little vial attached to it. "I will be able to deliver it to the Higher-ups in time. If they approve of your blood, the Uzumaki clan shall earn a nice title."
Naruto stretched his arm out, muttering, "I don't give a damn about titles."
At 16 O o'clock
The class filed out of the Chemistry lab like a bunch of mice and Naruto waited outside in the hallway for his friend. Sasuke was explaining the deal to Itachi and his Mentor was not in the least bit pleased by the fact that Gaara had managed to nearly-succeed upon drawing some of his Uchiha blood.
Mentors usually just didn't enjoy the knowledge of the fact that their charges don't give blood only to them. They like to believe that they are the only ones who get the nice, young blood.
"Naruto! I've got a plasma pack right here, you wanted one, right?"
"Chouji? You're a life-saver!"
"Huh? Why?"
Naruto grabbed the pack and smiled like a lunatic. "Last time I had to fill three. At least now that's one less!"
"You're just gonna give it to them? That's stupid, Naruto. They won't believe it's yours."
"Why not?"
"You walked in with it."
Silence.
"Well, what if-"
"You're gonna fail."
"And what if I-"
"Nope."
"But what if-"
"Wrong."
"FINE! Don't have faith in me! See if I care."
Sasuke walked out of the class and joined the two.
"Naruto, what're you gonna do about the plasma packs?"
"I've got an idea! You! You go to them with this and tell them I've already filled two others, but you bought one at that exact moment and to make sure that they don't think I only filled two, you came to bring them this one."
"They won't believe me."
"Dude, it's a young vampire nurse that works there. She'll believe you. Trust me."
"And what if Kakashi-sensei is waiting downstairs for you?"
"He won't be."
"Why not?"
"Cos he's not like that. He doesn't care as much as other Mentors do. So come on, chop-chop! Get to it, then!"
Chouji laughed, probably predicting Naruto's failure, but the blonde ignored him completely and went downstairs with his raven friend.
"And what if he does care?" Sasuke asked as the two of them walked through the stoney hallways in the underground part of the school.
Their sneakers clacked and squeeked on the marble stone and the dim lights hanging from the ceiling didn't awaken a warm atmosphere.
"Then he'll catch me. Which he won't; cos he doesn't. So quit worrying about it."
"Of course he'll know what you're trying to do. He's gonna catch us, Naruto. He's not an idiot."
"Why would he waste his time checking up on the trouble maker? Trust me, Sasuke, he's busy feasting on Kurenai-sensei right now."
"Her blood isn't as sweet as everyone thinks, you know."
Naruto and Sasuke froze, turning around slowly to take in the sight of Naruto's Mentor.
"You know, you really need to get a life," Naruto said, feeling terrible and angry at once.
"And you really need to learn how to show respect to your superiors. Especially those who keep you alive."
"You mean those who get me into trouble."
"You get yourself into trouble, Uzumaki, I'm only fulfilling my duty as a teacher in this school."
"Oh come on, you don't even care about the subject you're teaching. Do you even remember what it is?"
"Something scientific. Now keep moving. You're almost there."
Naruto growled despite himself, but obeyed. Sasuke turned from his friend to his friend's Mentor, but decided to give him a quick pat on the shoulder and leave in the end.
-R-
"Ah, Naruto-kun, you made it."
"Yeah, I wonder why." Naruto rolled his eyes before glaring at his Mentor, but sat down on the little chair as expected of him and held his arm out.
"Oh?" Shizune gasped. "Isn't this your second time?"
"Yes. Why?"
"It appears there's a needle-hole in your arm over here as well. You're a vampire, right, Uzumaki-kun?"
"Yes."
"So it can't be from any longer than a couple of hours ago or so."
"What are you suggesting?"
"Somebody pierced you with a needle not too long ago."
"Yes. I am aware of that."
"Care to explain what happened, Uzumaki?"
Naruto turned to his Mentor, who had been leaning against the wall in the corner of the room, arms crossed infront of his chest.
"Gaara-san needed my help with something. I gave it to him. That such a bad thing?"
"You gave him blood, I assume, Uzumaki-san?"
"What's your name again?"
"Shizune."
"Well, Shizune, I don't see why this concerns you in the least."
In a flash, his Mentor was standing behind him, pressing his head down and hurting his neck. "I'm sorry, Shizune-san, he's just cranky from the loss of blood."
Shizune smiled apologetically, shoving a needle in Naruto's arm and clicking the button on the little tube. The plasma pack that had already been filled with other fluids now bloated up a little and Naruto's blood mixed with the brown and yellow liquids.
"Are you sleeping well, Uzumaki-san?"
"Yes. I am sleeping very well. Why?"
"You seem tired. You've got bags under your eyes. That doesn't happen often to vampires unless they're stressed."
"Once again, does this concern you at all?"
His head got pushed down even lower than the last time and he groaned.
"My sincerest apologies, Lady Shizune," he ground out through clenched teeth.
"No, it is I who was wrong. I shouldn't have asked such a personal question."
"Indeed you shouldn't have."
Kakashi now whacked him up the head and he sighed in defeat. "I'm sorry, Lady Shizune, I don't know what's come over me."
"Uzumaki-san, your eyes, I-I think we should stop."
"Huh? What? What's wrong?"
"The bags underneath your eyes aren't from fatigue. I didn't see them before, but there are veins running through them. That indicates extreme loss of blood or just too little blood coursing through your body, causing it to thin out. Have you been feeding properly?"
"Oh yes, he definitely has," Kakashi answered for him.
"Then whatever happened before physically drained you."
"You say you were helping out Gaara; he's the son of one of the Sand Nobles. If you gave him your blood, I'm sure he drained enough to feed the others in his pack," his Mentor explained.
"Well, yeah. He filled a couple of vials."
"How many, Uzumaki?"
"I dunno, seven or eight."
Kakashi whacked him up the head again. "You imbecile! When you lose as much blood as that, how can you even begin to consider filling up a plasma pack?!"
"Hey! I never said I liked doing this! I'm doing this against my will, am I not?!"
"I sure hope you are. And you're gonna keep filling up these plasma packs until you've reached your limit."
"Hatake-san, if he loses that much blood, he'll suffer severe pain."
"Good. That was the original intention."
"Aww, you're cruel, Kakashi-sama."
"Get over it, Uzumaki."
-R-
Since Naruto kept briefly passing out and pulling the needle out in pain, time passed extremely slowly and it was only eight PM when they left.
Winter was near and it was already dark when Kakashi and Naruto came above ground and Naruto fell to his knees in the Garden of Hope, just like last time. He thought at least his Mentor would go easy on him like last time and give him some blood, but this time the man just sat down and watched him suffer.
He wrapped his arms around his waist and struggled to stay conscious. His body squirmed into every direction and he felt his organs twisting inside of his body. He crawled through the grass, body twisting into other directions without his permission. He felt like a worm, only existing so someone could crush him and he actually wished for it.
"Kill me!" he ordered throatily.
"Not a pleasant thing, is it, extreme blood loss?"
His lower lip quivered and his arms flapped about rambunctiously.
"At least now you understand how your victims feel."
"KILL ME!" the younger vampire howled.
"I would want nothing more. Unfortunately, I'm your Mentor, so I need to make sure you stay alive."
"B-blood then." He tried to get up, but his shivering body crashed back down to the ground, hugging the earth much like a worm would.
"That what you want?" the older male teased.
"YES," he nearly screamed, reaching his arm out to his Mentor pleadingly. "P-please, sir."
Kakashi took the hand that had extended to him and bit his thumb, allowing a droplet of his blood to fall on the blonde's hand. He watched as his charge's bright blue eyes extended and he could see the fastening beat of his heart on his face as he brought his hand to his lips and licked the droplet up quickly.
"K-Kakashi-sama," he begged, voice hoarse and dry.
"You're starving for blood."
Naruto's body started flinging itself in random directions again.
"You're craving for it."
The boy's nails dug into the earth beneath him and his back arched as he cried out in pain.
"You have so little, your heart is too weak to make more."
He pulled at his hair with his one hand as his other clamped around his knee, scratching it as it trembled.
"If you promise to never bite another human again.."
Naruto looked up, hopefully.
"..I will allow you to drink my own."
The blonde dragged his body over to his Mentor with his arms. His legs weren't coöperating and he was having trouble moving himself.
"I...I promise. Please, sir. Please!" He sounded so pathetic and desperate; it was clear that he was dying. He was about to die within a matter of minutes, actually.
Kakashi took the boy's head in his hands and came a little closer to him, placing Naruto's head on his shoulder and pulling his mask down when the blue eyes couldn't see it.
The older vampire tapped the bitemarks that Naruto had given him before as a sign that he was only allowed to bite him in the same place.
Naruto didn't care about that at all and did as his Mentor wished, but more importantly, as he wished, and impatiently hooked his fangs into Kakashi's pale neck, drinking from him as though he'd been travelling through the desert for months without a droplet of blood. He had been completely drained thanks to this man and he was planning on making his Mentor go through the same.
When he was sure he'd drunk at least half the blood in his Mentor's body, Kakashi pushed him away and lifted his mask back over his face, only allowing Naruto's eyes to see the bridge of his nose before it covered it completely.
"I assume you've had your fill?"
"It is your fault that I wound up without any, you know."
"It's your own fault that you got yourself into that situation and didn't your kindhearted Mentor just save your life?" He reached out for the blonde's chin and dragged his glassy finger across his jawline. "Be a little more appreciative."
Naruto slapped the vampire's arm away and growled, "You saved it cos you had to. I never gave you that obligation."
"Oh no? I was so sure it was you, begging "please, sir". Or perhaps that was just the after-effect of "Kill me"."
Naruto scowled and cursed himself for acting so weak earlier. "Well, you didn't."
"I didn't because I shouldn't. But the next time you're in such a situation, I will."
"Then do."
The silverhaired vampire grabbed his neck and flung him against the wall, hovering in front of him. "I'm serious, Uzumaki. If you ever bite another human again, I will not hesitate to kill you."
"If I ever bite another human, I'll be too strong for you to kill," Naruto stoically replied.
"I'd watch my words, Uzumaki. You may be a pureblood, but I am still a fullblood."
"I'm a fullblood as well. You're still no match for me once I've drunk pure blood."
"And when do you think that will ever happen?"
"The next time I meet Gaara, perhaps? It can happen at any time."
"Gaara has gotten himself into his own trouble today. And so has Temari. They won't be back at this academy for a while."
"How long?"
"Dunno'. A couple of months, perhaps?"
"Where are they?"
"Probably went back to Sand Village. Back to the matter at hands; I hope it's clear you will never bite a human again."
"Right."
The Mentor grabbed his charge's neck once more and shoved him back against the wall. "You were saying?"
"Yes, sir."
"Better." He released the blonde and waved with his hand in a dismissive fashion. Naruto left as ordered and climbed up the wall to his dorm.
The Next Morning
"This sucks. It sucks. It sucks. It sucks. It sucks. It sucks. It sucks."
"Could you relax? I'm sure it isn't as bad as you imagine."
"Sakura," Sasuke sighed, "he isn't imagining anything. It's the truth. He's stuck in a sucky situation."
The word 'situation' brought Naruto back to the night before and he instantly felt a wave of nausea hit him where it hurts.
"I can't show him this!"
"That's what happens when you don't study," Sakura lectured him.
Naruto swung his reportcard around in his hand, adding to the effect, "I can NOT show him this!"
When the red-plastified document suddenly slipped from his grasp, he gasped and turned to find Kakashi walked by him in the caffeteria with a cup of coffee in his hand. The man didn't even turn around, yet kept walking and flipped the booklet open on his way to the front, where the teachers and Mentors sat.
Naruto's eyes went big and white and he started biting his nails and shaking his friend like a madman. "Aaah!" he shrieked, "I'm doomed! DOOMED, Sasuke, DOOMED!"
"Well, whatever happens, it's too late to change anything now. Look at it from the bright side; at least Sasuke's got good grades!"
Naruto turned to look at Sakura. "How is that the bright side?"
"Oh. Well, when you look at it like that, I guess that doesn't change anything for you. But it does for me!" She glomped Sasuke from behind, giggling. "Now we're gonna go on vacation together, right, Sasuke-kun?"
"No. I'm going to spend the Summer at my family's in Hiroshima."
"What?! But I thought you were staying here; like me!" Naruto accused him, shocked.
"Shoot! I'm going all the way to Iwate! That's like all the way on the other end of Japan!" Sakura complained.
Naruto felt like sinking into a puddle of tears on the floor. "Great. Just perfect."
"Quit whining," Sasuke sighed, getting up. "We've still got two weeks to spend here. I'll give you the pass to get to the Uchiha district and you can come and visit me. So stop complaining."
"You-you'd do that for Naruto? You're so nice, Sasuke-kun!"
"Ugh.." the raven groaned, dragging the rosette along as he tried to get upstairs.
-R-
Naruto had to leave his friend behind after Chemistry, since every charge has to talk about their reportcard to his/her Mentor after the lesson he/she gets from him/her. If you don't see your Mentor that day, then you're supposed to talk to them after classes are over. The only good thing you get out of seeing your Mentor sooner, is that you miss a part of the next class or sometimes even the whole next class if your Mentor takes a long time.
Which is why Naruto felt terrible and trapped every time Kakashi looked his way during Biology with that threatening charcoal eye of his. The man just went on with his teachings like any other day, but Naruto could feel the anger pulsing through the guy's veins and he felt it in his chest that there was a huge lecture coming up.
He tried to blend in with the crowd when they all walked out of the classroom, but the name, "Uzumaki" held him nailed to the ground and he wondered why the room suddenly went cold.
A purplish aura swarmed around the silverhaired vampire and Kakashi ordered, "Sit."
Naruto did as requested of him and felt like a tiny bug trapped in a glass when his Mentor's demeaning stare pierced his manlihood and weakened his mental state.
His reportcard slapped down on his sensei's desk and he found himself staring at it to avoid the look in the older male's eye.
"You failed every subject. Even arts and crafts!"
"Well, in my defence, Konan-sensei isn't very-"
"You failed ENGLISH, JAPANESE and HISTORY."
"Those aren't easy subjects, you know!"
"You got a zero for French and a two for Maths."
"B-but look at the four! The four, Kakashi-sama, the FOUR!"
"And it's for my subject! I wonder; do you pay attention during Biology cos you know I'll kill you if you don't or because you want to make something of your life?"
"... Neither, I do it to make you proud."
"Don't give me that crap!"
"Ewkay," the blonde squeeked, cringing his head down.
"The only subject you didn't fail is Gym! And you got a six for that!"
"Hey! That's just cos Gai-sensei's unreasonable!"
"It says: 'Tone down your attitude.'"
"That's just cos he doesn't like sarcasm."
"I'm sure you were worse than sarcastic to get a six!"
"Fine, so I told him that his outfit is ridiculous and he looks like a clown. And maaaybe I might've told him that if he were a cookie and I were stuck in the desert for months on end, I still wouldn't even consider eating him. And just very maybe I told him that it's no wonder he doesn't get any girls cos he's gay. But that's all, I swear! Well, besides hiding his gym-clothes in the girls' lockers. But besides that-well, no, that's not true. We played a couple more pranks on him. But besides the pranks, I'm as clean as a cat could be!"
The look of anger on Kakashi's face was so abnormally grand that Naruto could actually feel his blood boil and see the veins that were actually pulsing like mad behind the mop of silver hair.
"Do you understand that the longer you stay here the longer I'm gonna be stuck with you?!"
"Well don't think I enjoy that thought!"
"Then why are you doing this to me? You're killing me, you know that? If you fail the schoolyear, that's just another year I'll have to cope with you."
"I'm killing you?! You know that if you'd jump off a cliff-"
"-You wouldn't be bothered, I know. But it goes other way around, too. I really couldn't give a shit about you, or where you wind up in life. All I want is that you get through school so I can personally kick you out. I mean, erm, give you your graduation cap."
Naruto turned to look at Tsunade, who had been listening in at the doorway.
"Tsunade-sama," he greeted, standing and placing a fist on his chest before bowing. Kakashi did the same and she nodded.
"Uzumaki Naruto, I just stopped by to tell you you're going to Summer School cos your grades are way too low."
"SUMMER SCHOOL?!"
"Well, since you're staying here all Summer long anyway, I figured you'd rather spend it progressing for next year than sulking over the fact that you're going to redo the schoolyear."
"I'm gonna redo the schoolyear?!"
"If you don't go to Summer school."
"Summer school?!"
"You're staying here anyways, damn it!"
"Summer school?!"
"Kakashi," Tsunade sighed, massaging her temples.
He nodded and whacked the boy up the head.
"Thank you."
"No problem, Tsunade-sama."
"But, but, but, but you can't do that to me!"
"Who can't? I can't? I'm the head of this freakin' school, I can do whatever the hell I want."
"But, but, but, that's just so unfair!"
"Really? I thought I was being nice; giving you a second chance like that. Fine, if you want to redo the schoolyear, then go right ahead and sleep all Summer long."
Naruto groaned. "Fine."
"Now that that's solved, see ya'. Oh yeah, Kakashi, your new charge has arrived."
Naruto looked up, shocked. "What?!"
"Naruto, you're getting a new Mentor as well."
"What the fuck are you talking about?!"
"Well, Kakashi is getting another charge and you're getting another Mentor."
"Another one or a new one?!"
"Aw, you were afraid you were gonna miss me," Kakashi teased him.
Naruto flushed a terrible shade of red. "NO! Why the fuck would I?! I was looking forward to getting a new one!"
Tsunade sighed, but moved aside and a boy with straight-cut purplish grey hair stood in the door-opening.
"He's a halfblood, but they say he's a fairly good vampire. His blood's bitter, so watch out."
It was a joke amongst the vampires, one that Naruto honestly never really liked. He didn't think it was funny at all.
"What're you lookin' at, ugly?"
"WHAT?!" Naruto yelled. "WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU?!"
"His name's Sora. He used to stay at the Monks temple. Then a vampire bit him and he was forced to leave."
"Well, nothing is enjoyable nowadays, anyways, is it?" Sora commented.
"Aw, and we all deserve some tea and sympathy," Naruto said, rolling his eyes. "So who's my new Mentor?"
"A man called Yamato. His real name's Tenzou, though. He changed it when he became a vampire."
"Why?"
"I know him," Kakashi said, "isn't he the one that used to be a trueblood, but then some kind of oddball drugged him and did something to him that made him human?"
"Yes. Apparently, he changed back into a vampire, though, and then he changed his name as a symbol to start a new life."
"That's stupid."
"'Kay, seriously, I've had enough of this guy!" Naruto anounced. "I dunno' who you think you are, little halfblood punk, but I'm gonna seriously snap your neck if you butt into business that isn't yours any more!"
"Hn. Tough words for an idiot who failed the school year."
"NNGRR!" The blonde was about to flash behind Sora and snap his neck, but just as his hand was wrapped around the other teen's throat, Kakashi had his hand on his wrist and his other hand in his hair, pulling at the blonde spikes.
"Ack! Damn~you!" But he wouldn't let go of Sora's neck, even as his Mentor pulled at his hair even harder.
Whilst Sora was choking, he was losing hairs and he honesly felt like killing the other boy.
"Calm the fuck down, Uzumaki!" Kakashi ordered, digging his nails into the blonde's skin deep enough to draw blood. Naruto instantly let go of the other teen and licked up the blood he'd lost, before Sora could even consider drinking any of his.
"You're a trueblood, aren't you?" Sora asked, rubbing his neck where Naruto's fingers had imprinted upon it.
"What of it?" Naruto grumbled.
"Your blood can make other vampires stronger. You can do things other vampires can not."
"I told you to butt out of business that isn't yours!"
Kakashi whacked him up the head and he turned around, angrily. "Whaaat? What did I do this time? It's true, isn't it?"
"It certainly is, but it isn't your role to remind him of that."
"Ugh. Fine."
They were about to leave the room when an older brunette vampire suddenly appeared beside Tsunade. He looked like he was just a year or two younger than Kakashi, with deep black pools of eyes that seemed to read right through your soul.
"Hello," he said, voice calm yet thorough and clear.
"Naruto," Tsunade started, "this is Ten-er-."
"Yamato, right?" the blonde said, holding his hand out to the other vampire. "I'm Naruto."
Yamato took the blonde's hand and shook it before bringing it up to his nose and twisting it so he could sniff at his wrist. "They told me you were a Trueblood... Had an accident, did you?"
Naruto looked at Kakashi's nail-marks in his skin. "Yeah, you could say that."
"Alright, I'm gonna leave you to your introductions." Tsunade disappeared from the doorframe and probably appeared in her office the next moment.
Kakashi tossed Naruto's reportcard to Yamato. "I guess this is partly your backache now, too."
Yamato merely chuckled and opened the booklet. Seconds later he was laughing again. "You failed arts and crafts?" he asked, still laughing.
"Ehe he he.." Naruto rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"Let's sit, shall we?"
Kakashi pulled out four chairs and they all sat down like proper little school kids.
There was an awkward silence before Yamato broke it casually. "Sooo.. Naruto, what should I call you? Naru-kun? Naru-chan? Or are you a very Naruto-san-ish person?"
Naruto blushed crimson the moment the older vampire had requested "Naru-chan", but shook it off and replied, "Well, usually I'm referred to as 'UZUMAKI!'."
He had copied the angry tone of his other Mentor and the new one chuckled.
"Really? Well, that isn't very nice."
Kakashi coughed and Sora started his own conversation, "You're the vampire who has drunk the blood of over a thousand other vampires, aren't you?"
"Yes."
"And you're the fullblood whose name is known all across the country, right?"
"Yes."
"So why are you teaching here?"
"Yes. I mean, uhm, cos I need a job."
Naruto poked Sora with his elbow and mocked his previous Mentor, stating, "He sucks at it."
Sora snarled at him, though. "Get off me, you filthy idiot."
"I think I like this kid," Kakashi said.
"Riiight. Well, let's start the day. Naru-chan, care to show me to my room?"
"D-wha-ah-uhm-kch-it-why"
"Oh, sorry. I mean; UZUMAKI! That good?"
Naruto wanted to tear the brunette a new asshole, but just said, "Perfect" instead.