Count On It
Episode 4: "I love You"
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto nor do I make any profit from this story.
A/N: Fair warning, there is some disturbing imagery ahead but nothing graphic. If it offends you I apologize but it is integral to the story. All I ask is that if you read chapter 4 please continue on to 5 they are meant to be read together.
Naru had a great big smile on her face as she walked into the classroom and over to her seat. She even smiled at Sasuke as she took her seat beside him. "Hiya Sasuke!" she said cheerfully. Sasuke responded with a "Hn…" Naru leaned back and let out a sigh. "Always the talkative one aren't you Sasuke" the blonde said in annoyance. Sasuke just gave her a blank look. Naru was about to say something to Sasuke but she was distracted by the return of Iruka-sensei.
Much like his excitable student Iruka entered his classroom with a smile. "I want to congratulate all of you for passing. You have shown that you have the capability to be a Genin of the Leaf." Mizuki got up from his seat and walked over to his fellow instructor a smile on his face as well "Now that you have passed you will be placed in squads of three with a Jonin instructor. These assignments will be given to you tomorrow. Until then you are free to do as you like." Iruka gazed fondly at his class "Alright graduates meet back here tomorrow at noon to receive your team assignments. Class dismissed!"
The 15 newly graduated Genin stood up as one and bowed to their two instructors. Iruka and Mizuki returned the bow and had to suppress their laughter when the class let out a collective shout of joy and began to dash out of the classroom. Naru followed her fellow graduates outside where the parents were waiting to congratulate their children.
A frown adorned the newly minted Genin's face as she passed the joyful families. She could see and feel the dirty looks she was receiving from the adults who would pull their children closer to themselves as she passed. Once Naru had left the gates of the academy she leapt to the nearest rooftop and headed towards home.
A short while later Naru landed on the road in front of her house. She walked up the steps to the top floor where her apartment was and reached into her pocket. Grabbing her keys she unlocked the door and stepped inside. As soon as she was in her own home and the door was closed her frown was replaced by a happy grin. The young blonde removed her sandals and placed them besides her various other footwear by the door.
Naru walked through the small hallway to her bedroom and flopped down on her bed. "I did it. I passed" she said happily. Naru stood back up and walked over to her mirror. She stared at her reflection trying to burn the image of the hitai-ate on her forehead into her memory. A few minutes passed before she let out a contented sigh and reached up to untie the hitai-ate.
Naru placed her hitai-ate on her dresser and stared at it fondly "Thank you Iruka-sensei." Naru unsnapped the button on her skirt and pulled down the zipper as she walked back over to her bed. She pulled off her shirt as the skirt slipped off her slim hips and pooled at her feet. Naru took the two pieces of clothing and folded them before placing them on a chair beside her bed. The young girl laid down on her bed her head nestling against the pillow. She reached over and shut the blinds before covering herself with a thin blanket. Naru let out a yawn and a minute later was soundly asleep.
Darkness surrounded her, darkness and the loud roar of churning water. The child could not see but she could hear. She followed the sound looking for the source. It seemed like she was walking forever before she saw a light in the distance. The girl bolted towards the light hoping to escape the suffocating darkness. The closer she got to the light the louder the roar became.
Finally the girl reached the source of both the light and noise. Her eyes opened wide and she let out a gasp as she gazed at the swirling vortex of blue light. The girl had never seen anything so beautiful in all her life even if she didn't know what it was she was looking at. While trying to figure out what the vortex was a word popped into her mind. "Whirlpool" she whispered.
The girl may not have known what a whirlpool was but she did know that whatever this was it wasn't made of water. "Its chakra" the child said to herself. The girl's awe soon turned to fright though as the blue light began to change. It started at the center. A sickening flow of vile crimson energy was enveloping the pure blue chakra. The girl was frozen in fear until she realized that the red chakra was overflowing and heading towards her. She let out a whimper and spun around. The girl ran as fast as she could away from the now pulsing red light. She let out a yelp as she stumbled and fell to the ground. The girl turned around and was blinded, the roar of some ancient beast filling her ears.
Naru sat up with a gasp her eyes wide open and her skin slick with sweat. She shuffled to the edge of her bed and tried to get up but became tangled up in her blanket. The blonde yelped as she fell off the bed. She just laid there trying to regain her breath and calm her racing heart. Naru having finally been able to calm down began to untangle herself from her blanket.
Once she was free she moved to get up when her gaze fell upon a pair of sandaled feet. Naru's eyes widened as she scrambled back until she hit the edge of the bed. Her arm went under the bed and came back out with a kunai clasped in her delicate hand. All Naru could see of the figure was its' silhouette due to the darkness that filled the room. "Who are you? Go away!" She shouted.
The figure stepped closer to the girl and kneeled down so it's eyes were level with the frightened girl's. "It's alright Uzumaki-kun. It's just me" the figure said softly. Naru was once again startled when the figure got close enough for her to make out "Mizuki-sensei! What are you doing here?"
Mizuki let out a small laugh and reached out placing his hand atop Naru's head. The grey haired instructor lightly stroked her sweat dampened hair "Sorry if I frightened you Uzumaki-kun. That wasn't my intention." Naru pouted, her face turning a rosy shade of red "I wasn't scared!" Mizuki's hand moved down cupping the girl's cheek "I'm sure you weren't."
Naru not being used to physical contact couldn't help but lean into her instructor's touch. Mizuki responded by gently stroking the whisker like marks with his thumb "I have to go away for a while Uzumaki-kun but I didn't want to leave without saying goodbye." Naru's blush darkened at her instructor's actions and the realization that the only thing she is wearing is her underwear. "But why are you leaving?" the young shinobi asked a confused look settling across her face.
Mizuki let out a sigh and pulled his hand back "Because I borrowed something and I need some time before I can return it." Naru's head tilted to the side in confusion "But if you borrowed it why would you need to leave to use it?" Mizuki looked a bit sheepish at that "Well they don't know that I borrowed it just yet." "You stole it!" Naru said accusingly.
Mizuki let out a chuckle and ruffled the blonde's hair "Yeah I guess that's what I did." Naru frowned at him "Stealing is wrong. You should return what you took and apologize." The grey haired man shook his head "Unfortunately that isn't an option at this point."
"I don't understand" said the girl in her confusion.
Mizuki gave her a sad smile "There are going to be a few things that you won't quite understand by the end of tonight but I hope that one day you'll be able to forgive me." Naru gave him a worried look "What do you mean Sensei?" Mizuki reached up and unzipped his flak jacket "Well you see it began a little over 12 years ago when the Yondaime Hokage supposedly killed the Kyuubi."
Naru's blue eyes were filled with confusion as Mizuki began to crawl towards her. "You see what your generation believes is wrong. The Yondaime could not kill something as powerful as the Kyuubi" Mizuki said. A feeling of dread formed in the pit of Naru's stomach. "If you remember your lessons than you know that the Yondaime was a master at sealing and so he sealed the Kyuubi into a newborn child" Mizuki continued his story while shedding his flak jacket as well as his shirt.
Mizuki leaned over the shaking girl and grabbed the hand that held the kunai. He slowly pried her fingers from around the weapon and took a hold of it before tossing it away. Mizuki grabbed a hold of Naru's wrists and forced the girl onto her back "You see Naru you are the Kyuubi and that is why the village hates you, but I'm not like them. In fact it's quite the opposite. You see I love you Naru" The last thing Naru remembered was the nauseous feeling she got when Mizuki pressed his lips against hers and shoved his tongue in her mouth.
Iruka sat at his desk, his eyes wandering over to the clock at the back of the room. It was nearly noon and all but one of the graduates were gathered for what might be their last time in this classroom. Iruka wasn't too worried however. Naru had been late before and probably would be late again. It was nothing new for the annoying blonde.
There were only 30 seconds till noon when Naru walked through the door. "Wow you just made it Naru" said Iruka with a smile. Naru made her way over to her usual seat beside Sasuke and sat down slowly "S…sorry S…Sensei." Iruka didn't notice Naru's wince of pain as she sat but Sasuke did. He was going to question the blonde about it but was interrupted by Iruka.
"Unfortunately I have some bad news" Iruka said with a hint of sadness in his voice. "It seems that last night while we all slept Mizuki broke into the Hokage's office and stole the forbidden scroll." The class erupted into a loud mix of questions and statements. Iruka allowed them to continue for a minute before asking them for quiet. In all of the confusion not one caught the tortured look on Naru's face, no one except Sasuke who was becoming worried about the blonde beside him.
Once the class had mostly quieted down Sakura jumped in to ask the one question that was bothering her most "Sensei, What happened to Mizuki-sensei?" Iruka sighed sadly "Not only was Mizuki caught on camera stealing the scroll but he had it on him when he was captured by ANBU. Mizuki was charged with treason and was executed for his crimes early this morning." Gasps of shock were heard throughout the classroom but no more questions were asked.
Uchiha Sasuke didn't care much for this world or the people in it. His sole focus for the last few years has been the eradication of one man. For this goal to be achieved he has sacrificed every friend he once had to turn his heart to ice. In all of that time there has only been one person that has been able to get under his skin. That person was currently sitting beside him. A frustratingly annoying and hyperactive blonde that somehow managed to antagonize him with every word she spoke.
The raven haired boy didn't like change. So when their teacher drops a bombshell on them like that and Naru's only reaction is to pale and look as if she is going to faint the last Uchiha actually becomes worried. "Hey what's wrong with you today dead last" Sasuke said to her quietly. Naru gulps and takes a few deep breaths before turning slightly towards him "N…Nothing, I'm f…fine S…S…Sasuke." Sasuke almost believed her except he saw the pain in her bright blue eyes. He would have questioned her further but he was thwarted by Iruka once again.
"Alright enough about Mizuki" Iruka said with finality. "You're all here today to receive your team assignments so let's begin. Teams one through four are still active so we'll begin with team five" Iruka said as he grabbed his clipboard from the table. "Team five will consist of Setsu Kamiko, Bokuto Sara, and Satoru Sanosuke. You will be lead by Jonin Hitokiri Mana. Team six is also on active duty so team seven will consist of Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura, and Uzumaki Naru. Team seven will be lead by Jonin Hatake Kakashi."
Sasuke didn't pay attention to the rest of the team assignments. He was too busy contemplating his own teammates to care. Naru he didn't mind too much. Sure the girl was annoying but she was a capable fighter and if he was being honest with himself she was rather easy on the eyes. The other female teammate of his was a different story. Haruno Sakura was the bane of his existence. She was just as loud and obnoxious as Naru but she had none of her redeeming qualities.
Sasuke had plenty of issues with Haruno but the most glaring fault was her fan girl attitude. No matter how many times he ignored her or told her to go away she insisted on following him around and acting as if he belonged to her.
Sasuke was broken out of his musing when he felt a poke on his shoulder. The young Uchiha turned his head to face his blonde teammate "Yeah, what is it?" Naru bit her lip gently for a moment before speaking up "I…Iruka-s…s…sensei h…has d…dismissed us for l…lunch. W…we n…need to be b…b…back in an h…hou…" The blonde shut here eyes tightly and tried to concentrate. "In an hour" Sasuke interrupted. Naru nodded quickly and opened her eyes.
Sasuke would normally ignore his teammates but for some reason the weird way that Naru was acting was stirring up these protective instincts within him. "Come on dead last let's go up to the roof. We can eat our lunch there and wait for Hatake-sensei" Sasuke said gently. Naru gave him a worried look but nodded and stood up before heading towards the door. Sasuke followed her. Both the blonde and raven haired Genin ignored the yells coming from Sakura as she ran after them to catch up.
"Hey! Sasuke-kun wait for me!"
Once again thank you for reading and please review!