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"Gyahahaha!" A certain blond obnoxiously laughed while painting the Hokage Monument with ridiculous designs; if someone could even call it a design. "Hey, stop causing trouble!" A shinobi yelled down on top of the Hokage Tower. "You'll pay for this!" The blond turned around, twisting the rope he used to suspend himself mid-air.
"Shut up, idiots," he exclaimed with a bright grin on his whiskered face. "None of you could do something this horrible but I can!" Just as the blond twisted around to continue painting, a voice he's all too familiar with startled him.
"What the hell are you doing during class time?! Get down here, you moron!" The cerulean-eyed boy sweatdropped, a frown adorning his lips. "Yikes, that's Iruka-sensei!" He silently exclaimed in shock to no one but himself. He struggled to maintain his balance but alas, the knot he tied went loose and he slipped through the gap of the loop.
Iruka facepalmed. Just what the hell did I do to deserve this? With a dejected and infuriated sigh, he saved the rascal from falling to his doom. A few minutes later, the blond found himself tied up in front of the class. "Tomorrow is the ninja school's exam and you have failed the last two times! This is no time to be causing trouble!"
However, the blond's indifferent attitude made the older man snap. "Time for a review test for the transformation jutsu! Everyone, line up! Transform perfectly into me!" A chorus of groans went around the room but the students lined up nonetheless. Everyone blamed the blond but the latter could careless.
Man, I wish Ren was here, 'ttebayo. It's boring here. "Next, Uzumaki Naruto!" Instead of transforming into Iruka, Naruto transformed into a naked girl version of himself with a mischievous glint in his eyes. Naruto obnoxiously erupted in laughter when Iruka suffered severe nose bleed.
His best friend had suggested having his transformation naked just in case he was dealing with perverts. He didn't understand why though. The curly-haired boy would always reprimand him about avoiding alleys during the night or even talking to strangers. His best friend was weird but it was what made him, him. He wouldn't want him to change just because of that.
The hazel-eyed boy was currently away on a mission and he couldn't help but miss him. They rarely talk these past few days because the younger boy was always busy doing paperwork or was too exhausted to do anything. Did Naruto forget to mention how they rarely talk these past few days? Well, they rarely talk these past few days and it was starting to bug him.
Sometimes, he would think that Ren forgot about him but he knew the brunet wasn't like that. He had trusted Ren since they were toddlers and he still does today. The only person, other than Hiruzen and Iruka, to acknowledge him was him; Nohara Ren. He wouldn't forget that fateful day; that day when Ren stood up for him.
"YOU DUMBASS! DON'T INVENT STUPID SKILLS!" He was snapped out of his train of thoughts when his sensei suddenly scolded him. The blond huffed and pouted. But Ren told me it was genius, dattebayo!
(••••)
"I won't let you go home until you clean all of it!" The blond frowned as he wiped the paint off the monument. Thankfully, he didn't use permanent paint and instead, used a bucket of washable paints. He knew he was going to be punished for his actions so he came prepared. It made cleaning easier. "It's not like I care! Ren's away on a mission and no one's at home anyway!"
Silence hung in the air as he cleaned up his mess. He was right, wasn't he? It wasn't like he has anyone to go home to other than Ren but right now, his best friend was busy taking care of a mission. His father was away as well because of a mission so who will he go home to? No one. It was difficult to think how lonely he was without Ren and Kakashi.
It made faking a smile much more difficult.
"Naruto..." Said boy groaned. What did he do now? He was cleaning his mess, wasn't he? Don't tell him he has to do more cleaning other than this. "Now what?" He shot his sensei an annoyed look but his expression softened when he saw Iruka looking away with a sheepish expression on his face. "Um, well, if you clean all these up, I'll treat you to ramen tonight."
It was as if a flip had been switched. His face brightened when Iruka mentioned free ramen. Well, not in that context but you get what I mean. "ALRIGHT! I'll work harder, 'ttebayo!" A few hours later, Naruto found themselves eating dinner at Ichiraku's. "Why did you do that to the monument? Don't you know who the Hokages are?"
"Of course I know," he exclaimed with eyes filled with burning determination. "Basically, those that receive the Hokage name are the strongest ninjas in the village, right? Among them is the fourth; a hero who saved everyone from a demon fox." The first time he heard the tale of the fourth Hokage from Ren, he fell in love. He wanted to be the strongest ninja in the village and surpass everyone else.
"Then why?" Grinning brightly, Naruto told him his reason. "I'm going to surpass all previous Hokages and then, and then, I'm going to make everyone recognize my strength, 'ttebayo!" Iruka gave him a dumbfounded expression, one of which he found annoying. "Well, to do that, you need to graduate from the Academy first, Naruto."
The blond's face blanched at the thought. Man, he has a lot of work ahead of him. "Oh, Naru-chan, Iruka-san, the both of you are still out?" The blue-eyed boy's face brightened at the sound of his best friend's voice. "REN!" He was about to tackle him into a hug but a hand snatched him by the collar. Upon realizing who it was, he glowered. "Lemme go, you bastard!"
"Are you sure I can't pound this brat, Ren?"
"Kanata, how many times should I tell you to please stop harassing my best friend?"
"... 289 times... 230 including what you said just now..."
"What the- how did you-you know what? Never mind."
Naruto smacked the older guy's hand away and bounced towards Ren. "Ren, I missed you, dattebayo!" His friend chuckled and wrapped his arms around him as well did he. He missed the younger boy's presence and he wouldn't admit it but he also missed the way how Ren would lecture him about his over-the-top pranks.
"I missed you as well, Naru-chan but I'm curious. Why aren't you at home resting? It's already eight in the evening." He nervously chuckled, pulling away from the jounin and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Hehehe, well, you see-" he stiffened once Iruka interrupted him. "He painted the Hokage monument in a ridiculous manner and his punishment was to clean it all up."
He sent a glower at him but his sensei simply looked smug. If there was another known fact about Naruto aside from being the jinchuriki, it would be that he was deathly afraid of angering Nohara Ren. Once, Naruto did something that not only angered the villagers but also Ren because of his reckless actions. On that fateful day, Ren's furious face reminded him how scary the younger boy could be.
"I-I can explain, Ren!"
"Pft. Just accept the fact that he'll get angry, gaki." Naruto shot Kanata an annoyed look, hoping to get him to shut up. Alas, his efforts were in vain. His expression wasn't enough to scare off the older teen. Then again, the only person the older Uchiha was afraid of was Ren as well. The bastard was just enjoying his suffering since the former would always be in the direct path of Ren's anger, usually.
"Naru-chan," he froze upon hearing his name leave Ren's lips. "Good idea for using washable paints. How about I treat you to more ramen?" He blinked. He was expecting for a lecture; for an angry Ren but seeing him smile instead of a frown made him sigh in huge relief. Grinning, he cheered. FREE RAMEN! Cerulean blue eyes landed on the Uchiha.
The latter was frozen, his entire body white and his jaw reached the ground. Smirking, he stuck out his tongue to mock Kanata. Ha! That shows him! Honestly? He was just ecstatic to talk with the younger boy again.
(•••••)
"Ren. Ren. Wake up."
He tried for the tenth time that morning but his efforts were in vain. Kanata had spent the past ten minutes trying to wake him up but the brunet was sleeping like a log. Uchiha Kanata fondly stared at Ren's sleeping face. He had given up in his attempt of waking the boy up. He used to think Nohara Ren was an anomaly he never liked but look at him now.
He ran his fingers through his messy curly locks, and traced the delicate shape of his eyebrow. Even though Nohara Ren was eight years younger than him, he was absolutely mesmerized. He was a twenty year old guy and might be considered a pedophile. Yikes, I gotta keep this to myself then. His reason for barging into Ren's room?
Well, it was night already and Ren really needed to wake up. Then, there's the fact that the blond brat disappeared with the Scroll of Sealing and everyone's searching for him all over the village. Yeah, nothing too drastic was going on. He really didn't want to be bothered but he knew Ren would flip once he heard of what Naruto had done.
Staring at Ren's sleeping face once more, he bit his bottom lip in contemplation. He was tempted to lie down beside the sleeping boy and cuddle him in his arms. Then again, he needed to wake him up to inform him of what was going on. Ugh~ Why is it so hard to make decisions?! He messed up his hair, inwardly sighing in irritation. He rested his chin on the bed, his face dangerously close to Ren's.
He's so adorable. No wonder he had fangirl even though he had only been five. A scowl suddenly replaced the frown on his lips. Stop with the random thoughts, Kanata! Just wake him up! "Ren. Wake up. Naruto's done something again. We need to look for him." Alas, nothing happened. Kanata groaned as he shamelessly lied down on the bed beside the younger boy. Oh screw it, I need my sleep and I need my regular dose of Ren.
Frankly, Kanata already crossed over the line to obsessiveness and insanity. Well, not the extreme kind but you know what I meant. Ignoring his embarrassed self, he wrapped an arm around Ren's small figure and hugged him close to his chest. The smell of mint invaded his sense of smell, and he wasn't even embarrassed when he took another sniff. Yeah, we already lost Kanata on the sane side.
The Uchiha took another deep breath as he relaxed. Missions after missions were exhausting but it was worth it though. Rem had taken the lead again but he wasn't jealous. No, he was far from it. He idolized the Nohara ever since he showed what he was truly capable of. Ren was a one of a kind shinobi that a few people might encounter in their life. What it was that made him that way, Kanata won't say.
The next day, Kanata woke up and the first thing he saw was hazel-brown eyes staring at him in curiosity. Startled, he fell down from the bed with a loud thud and a groan of pain escaping his throat. Not the best way to wake up in the morning. "Kanata? Why were you sleeping in my room?" Ren asked the question he was dreaded to give an answer to. What would he say?
That he came to wake him up and inform him of Naruto's act but gave up because he wouldn't wake up and just decided to lie down beside him and sleep? Haha, NO WAY! "W-Well—" He was cut off by a blond bargin into the room. "Ren! Look! Look! I got my headband!" The Uchiha sighed in relief. Naruto was fine (which he was indeed glad to know even if he was a brat) and he didn't have to answer Ren because the blond kept him occupied.
Uchiha Kanata had never been so nervous and thankful of the blond in his entire life.
(•••••)
Nohara Ren watched from behind the foliage as the trio waited for his father. He was glad he had free time to laze around and he was bewildered when Kanata offered to do his paperwork. It was shocking and incredulous. He was wary of what the Uchiha had in mind but seeing the soft luminescent glow, Ren knew he had no ulterior motives.
Currently, he giddily waiting for Kakashi to show up and watch Team Seven become an official team right before his eyes. (In all honesty, he just wanted to watch his Oyaji be cool and all as he explained the cenotaph) He had woken up way too early this morning but who says he was complaining? This day marked the day when everything officially starts. He was anxious and ecstatic.
Anxious because with him here, something was bound to change. Ecstatic because he was going to meet everyone! By everyone, he meant just about every one of them. "Sorry I'm late. There was a black cat on the path and I had to take the long way around." The brunet stiffled his laughter. His Oyaji's excuses were always so hilarious to hear.
The brunet comfortably leaned against the trunk of the tree, and watched everything unfold before his very eyes. Everything that happened went accordingly to what he remembered. Although, he was sure Kakashi wasn't supposed to wave at him when everyone hid but whatever. By the end of their test, Ren's heart pounded in excitement. This was it, he thought with a grin.
"Ren-chan!" He stiffened. "Come down here for a moment!" Gulping in nervousness, he had no choice but to show himself. Naruto and Sasuke were surprised to see him and — Ren paled — Sakura was staring at him with a bashful expression. "Did you enjoy the show?" There was a certain gleam in that single beady eye of his that unnerved Ren.
His Oyaji wanted him to motivate his students. "U-Um... er, well... you guys, well, have horrible teamwork and um, but that's, well, alright since, you know... you guys are a new team and all that and um... but you guys have potential and er, that's all, really."
Why was Oyaji giving him a deadpanned look?! "Bwahahaha!" Ren sent a flustered glower towards Naruto, the latter ignoring his look. On the other hand, Sasuke was coughing to hide his laughter while Sakura giggled in her hands.
HE HATES THIS! (He belatedly realized that his Oyaji only called him to humiliate him.)
(•••••)
OMAKE
Shusuke glared down from where he was as he saw Kanata lie down beside a sleeping Ren. "You bastard! You're taking adavantage of Ren!" And kept ranting about how it made him a pedophile and all that.
Beside him, Shisui tried to calm him down. Man, who knew Shusuke can be this loud.
