I own neither Naruto nor Watchmen
I'm much happier with this chapter. Just a little character fleshing out.
It's lunchtime when footsteps approach quiet, serious, stand-offish Walter Kovacs. He's eating a chicken and cheese sandwich he made and packed this morning.
"Hey, um. Walter?" The voice is shy.
"Hmn?" Walter wonders, and his fellow classmate twitches a fraction. Who is this? Dark spiked hair, green eyes, skinny but taller. Yeah – Katsura Hideki. Ninja family. Weak stance in Forms, good at paperwork. Wears too much mesh and not enough clothes, indecent, not good for protection.
"So, uh, I've been having trouble with taijutsu, and you're really good at it. Could you help me out? And how did you break Jiro's nose with just one punch cuzitwasawesome!" Katsura finishes breathlessly.
Walter shrugs the compliment off.
"I hit hard. And aim well." Katsura flushes in embarrassment. "You need to deepen your stance, that's why you get knocked over so often."
"Thanks, man." The brunette sighs, "Is there anything you need help on? Make this a fair exchange?"
He considers this, frowning. He's one of the better students, good all around. Not the best – he has no ninja parents to help, no money to buy more books and decent equipment, no bloodline to provide a free advantage. But good, balanced.
"Need help with mission report protocol, field interrogation records." He offers, though he doesn't really need the help.
But Katsura brightens.
"Dude, I know all about interrogation! So, uh…" That helpless blush again. "Wanna be friends?" He offers his hand. "You do the fighting, I do the torture?"
Walter's never had a friend before. His long-gone stuffed cat never counted, not really. Back in the capital no one wanted to be friends with a quiet, awkward whoreson. He's tried his best to take advantage of his second chance here in Konoha, but poor social skills are not easily improved, regardless of effort.
It does not help that Kara DeWitt is his age, and quickly gaining in popularity. She spews to anyone who will listen the second-hand hate of Walter Kovacs she receives from her mother, effectively and ruthlessly darkening Walter's already dim hopes of rewarding companionship and firm personal alliances.
"Hm. Deal."
It's the beginning of a beautiful, tentative, if brief, friendship.
Walter will guide and mentor Katsura through the rough parts of the Academy, while the taller boy will hang out and generally tolerate Walter's social faux pas. It's a good deal.
Three years later Katsura will cut all ties with Walter in the hopes of earning a place in Kara's heart. He will tell her all he knows about the quiet boy, and Walter will get his first glimpse of betrayal.
He will feel guilty but vindicated when Katsura Hideki, fair weather friend, flunks out of the academy at the next exams.
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