Family and Friends
While Killua reserved and prepared a spot in the training field for use, Gon had hunted down Naruto to bring him to the field. It had been a good idea since Gon had found him getting ready to dump bucket loads of red food coloring into the tubs. Apparently, it was Naruto's own potent version using a local herb. It was called the "Weeping Bloodrose." It had been easy to produce buckets full from a nearby field that had them for miles. Everything was all for the best. Gon figured the blood colored water might stir up post-traumatic stress disorder in more than one shinobi while simulatiously causing civilians to panic.
"I spent all week preparing those!" Naruto complained as Gon dragged him by his collar.
"It's the weekend now, so we have a training regime prepared. Killua is setting up the obstacle course right now."
"But I wanted to see the look on all of their faces…" he pouted.
"If you know about the flowers, does that mean you know a lot about their medical uses?" Naruto just gave Gon a blank face. "That's too bad. I'm sure Killua will quiz you over common plants. They may be different than where we came from, but I know you have some of the same plants too. I can smell them."
"Smell them…are you some kind of dog?" Naruto mused. Gon ignored Naruto's slight insult. To be more accurate, he was oblivious. He just continued forward with a smile.
"I'm not a dog, but I can smell a mile or so away."
"A-a mile!" Naruto stuttered in amazement. This guy had to be related to the Inuzuka clan! He pointed a finger in disbelief. "You're inhuman with that sense of smell! Do you use chakra or something to get it that strong?"
"Chakra? No, I just use it naturally. I was raised by my aunt. There wasn't really anyone else my age on the island where we lived so I was always exploring the forest." Gon grinned and placed his hands on the back of his head. "I learned all sorts of things from the forest!"
Naruto saw Gon's cheery face and returned it with his own genuine smile. He waited till Gon turned around to let his face drop. He stared listlessly at the ground. Gon was raised by his aunt, and he said there wasn't anyone else to play with. Did Gon know who his parents were, or was he an orphan like him? Did his aunt take him in several years after whatever happened to his parents? He felt a strange friendship forming with Gon, but it couldn't form all the way. It wasn't the same pull he had towards Sasuke. It couldn't be that way.
Gon wasn't raised by his parents, but he had an aunt who cared for him. He didn't have any friends his age, but he obviously had Killua. His aunt had probably told him stories of his parents. Gon most likely knew the name of his parents. Naruto had no one.
The thought of what he wanted but never allowed crushed his spirits again. "Naruto? You have a strange look on your face."
"Oh, uh, it's nothing!"
"You don't have to hide it you know." He put a reassuring hand on Naruto's shoulder. "I'm sure that your parents really cared for you even if they can't be here. You aren't alone." Naruto was feeling shock. Gon had read straight through him in an instant. "You have me, Killua, the Hokage, and even Iruka-sensei." Iruka-sensei cared for him? With the way he was always yelling, it never seemed that way. "He just doesn't want to admit." Gon whispered in his ear. Naruto chuckled and Gon backed up. "I'm sure if you train and work hard, you'll make lots of friends. You'll make friends who can be family."
"Gon, do you really think I can?"
"Ah! I'm absolutely sure! Oh! We're here! Killuuuaaa!" Gon waved and ran off leaving Naruto by himself.
"Aha! Gon! Hurry up! The course I built is amazing!" Gon paused and turned to Naruto.
"What are you waiting for? You're our friend too!"
Friends who are family. Naruto thought wistfully. It has a nice ring to it. He perked up his spirits and made a dash for the other side of the field where Gon and Killua were waving. It was a nice feeling to have people he could count on. It was nice to have friends.
Thunk,thunk,thunk!
Naruto slowly creaked his head around to see multiple shuriken embedded in the tree beside his head. He had been seconds from being skewered! "Sorry! I forgot to tell you that you have to make it over here without hitting any of the traps! It's the first part of your training!" Killua called a bit too cheerfully from the other side of the field. How did Gon make it look so easy?! There was wire decorating anything he could possibly touch!
"Good luck Naruto!" Gon waved and yelled from his spot on the sidelines. Naruto gulped and took a step forward. One wrong move and he would be dead.