Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto!
For all you people out there reading this story, here's some more for you!
Kaoru went out the next day, showing many people a demand she'd written in large print.
'TELL ME WHY EVERYONE HERE HATES UZUMAKI NARUTO!'
Most people ignored her, other scoffed and shook their heads, while some said, "It isn't your business, Kid."
One person, a ninja, actually placed a hand on her head and rubbed her hair. "I'm sure you're curious, but it's not something outsiders can know about."
I'm not some random kid! You'd think they'd be able see the difference between an angel and a human kid! It's not like I'll exploit the fact! This sucks entirely too much. All the adults are so tight-lipped about it, and I'm sure none of the kids know. Why can't anyone tell me?
"It's useless Sakurai-san," Neji deadpanned.
She turned and glared at him. Are you trying to start a fight with me?
"I'm sure many of the younger generation who don't explicitly hate Naruto have tried to find out from the adults why everyone hates him so, but none have succeeded. I'm sure Hokage-sama has made a law that no one can talk about whatever's wrong with him."
Oh, he's trying to get me to give up because it's illegal for anyone to speak of this terrible thing. I still want to know, but I'm sure it'll get me nowhere unless Naruto-san himself finds out.
Her ears picked up Naruto's voice yelling from a short distance away, and she perked up. Maybe I can go talk to him, whatever's happening to him right now. I hope I don't have to beat up more kids, because I'm gonna have to become a delinquent if it gets too bad. I'd hate to become that, even if he's someone I want to protect.
"—GONNA GET THE BETTER OF YOU SOMEDAY, SASUKE-TEME!" Naruto exploded, just as Kaoru came onto the scene.
A boy with dark hair spiked up in back with bangs hanging to his chin on either side of his face smirked, his arms crossed as he scoffed, "You don't have a chance, dobe. Just shut up and accept the truth already."
Naruto growled and clenched his fists. "Don't call me that!"
Kaoru knew "dobe" meant "dead last", and that made her angry. Who does that kid think he is, calling Naruto such a mean name? He deserves a good punch in the face!
She was about to step in, when Neji grabbed her shoulder. She gave him a death glare, struggling against his hold. Why is he stopping me? He didn't care I beat up those other kids! Why does he care now?
"I wouldn't try to fight him if I were you. That's Sasuke of the Uchiha Clan. If you start a fight with him, you'll make an enemy of his entire family, if not clan, he being the second son of the Clan Head."
She bared her teeth and stopped pulling, letting out a frustrated breath. I'm sure he thinks he can get away with it, being the spoiled brat of some almighty "clan". I'm sure socking the kid would bring more trouble than it was worth. She suddenly realized something. But why hasn't Naruto-san gotten into any trouble for picking fights with this brat?
"I can call you what I want, because you know it's true, dobe," Sasuke mocked, Naruto seething as he began to walk away.
"Someday I'm gonna punch that smirk off that pretty boy face of yours, Sasuke-teme! Just you wait!"
"Heh. I'm trembling so bad I can hardly stand it. See you later, you loser."
As Sasuke passed Kaoru, she hit her shoulder against his, hard. He turned to her, and she did something that no one had dared to. She raised her fist as if to flex her muscles and put her other hand on her bicep, a look of hate in her whole face.
Neji sighed and shook his head, hand covering his face as he muttered, "I warned him, but now he's done it."
Sasuke grabbed her by the front of her shirt and hissed, "Did you just do what I thought you did?"
Kaoru gave a deliberate nod. What're you gonna do about it, huh? Punch me? If you do, I'll punch you back, but harder.
His eyes flashed with anger before he punched her in the stomach, and she discovered that it hadn't hurt a bit, didn't even knock the wind out of her. His eyes widened in amazement and shock as she just stood there before retaliating. She hit him straight in the nose, making him fly several feet and sliding on his back several more. He sat up, blood gushing from his nose, it askew as he raised a hand to it.
"You boke my nuse, bestard!" he shouted as Naruto stared, dumbfounded.
She folded her arms and gave him a look that told him that if he wanted a fight, she'd fight back and beat him. Yeah, you baby. Go home and cry to Otou-chan and Oka-chan! Let's see you fight me on your own!
He stood as blood dripped onto his clothes, a death glare in his dark eyes as he growled, "Yew'll pbay."
She rolled her eyes as he left. Naruto ran over to her and clapped her on the back. "You were so cool, Kaoru-kun! I don't have the ability or guts to hit him, with his fan club and older brother who'd come after me!"
She shrugged and wrote, 'No biggie. He was asking for it.'
"You don't understand! Forget his fans, his older brother, Itachi, loves him more than I've seen any sibling love another! Once he sees what you've done to Sasuke, he'll be out for your blood! He'll kill you! He's the genius of the clan and an ANBU besides!"
She snorted. So the brat has an older brother that's overprotective. Shows how much of a baby he is, even if I broke his nose. She wrote, 'We'll see if something happens. Maybe he'll thank me for knocking his baby brother down a few pegs.'
Naruto shook his head and sighed. "I still think you're in for a beating."
They began walking and Naruto grinned. "But that was great, seeing him hit you and you took it like he'd hit you with a feather! I mean, he's the most talented one in the academy and you broke his nose with a single shot! Not just anyone can beat an Uchiha like that! Are you a ninja and you never told me?"
She shook her head. It seems that I'm a lot tougher than I look. I'll have to see how much I can stand. Let's just hope it isn't tested on a deathblow.
"Then you must be special, with those wings of yours. I think when you flew…it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen. You looked so happy, like you were in heaven."
I was. Flying is a gift I'll never take for granted. It'll also be good for if I need to flee and up is the only way. And I'm sure I'll be in for at least one of those in the near future.
"Are you hungry? I wanna go get some ramen!"
She shook her head.
"You're not hungry again? Are you like…on one of those weird diets girls do to lose weight, or worse, are you anorexic?"
She shook her head again, writing, 'No ,I'm just not hungry.'
"I hope so, because believe me when I say it, you're anything but fat, unlike Choji in my class. Now that is what you call fat. Well, you wanna talk while I eat, because I'm starving!"
Her nod was all he needed to grab her by the hand and pull her to Ichiraku Ramen. "Teuchi-san, I want a shrimp ramen!"
"All right, Naruto!" the older man replied, and then turned to Kaoru. "Welcome back, young man! What can I get for you?"
She shook her head.
"All right, but tell me if you want anything."
She gave a nod as he turned away to cook. Naruto put his chin on his hands as he commented, "You're sure missing out, not eating a bowl of Ichiraku's ramen. You should at least try one bowl, even if you're on a diet!"
She shrugged. If I ever feel hungry, I'll try a bowl.
"Naruto, good luck on your fourth time retesting!" a young woman behind the counter encouraged him.
"Ayame-chan, you don't have to say that."
"Practice and pass this time, I'm rooting for you!"
Kaoru raised her eyebrows and wrote, 'Retesting for what?'
"I'm retesting for the final exam in the ninja academy. Why is it always my worst subject? It isn't fair."
She wrote, 'Good luck. I hope you graduate this time.'
"I do, too."
She smiled and patted his shoulder. It would be a major blow to his confidence if he failed again.
He finished his ramen and they went out wandering the village, before she heard Sasuke's voice behind her.
"That's him, Aniki. He slugged me right in the face."
Itsounds like his nose is back in place. She grinned as she laughed inside. It was funny hearing his muffled whiny voice, he sounded so pathetic threatening me.
A new, deeper voice questioned, "Him? The way you described him, I was expecting a muscled boy my age, Otouto. That boy is hardly bigger than you and much thinner."
"But I punched him with all my strength and he didn't even flinch! He's tough, Aniki! Teach him a lesson he'll never forget!"
"What were you doing before he came up to you and hit you?"
"I was arguing with Naruto, but I've never seen him with Naruto before."
"He's with him now, Otouto. I believe those two are friends and this other boy doesn't like that you were talking to Naruto like you always do."
"No one cares, Aniki! This kid challenged me to a fight!"
"So you called me to stand in for you."
It looks like the big brother's a lot smarter than the younger, so I won't have to run away this time around.
"But Aniki—"
"If you're not man enough to handle your own fights Otouto, then you don't deserve my help. I thought someone was bullying you, not defending a friend's honor. I'll meet you back at the house."
Sasuke sputtered before grumbling, "Fine, I'll beat him on my own."
Kaoru prepared for the assault on her person and was as cool as a cucumber when she was tapped on the shoulder. She turned and didn't even move when she was hit straight in the nose. She copied his move from their last scuffle and hit him straight in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. He growled and gave her a fierce uppercut, only for her to copy him again, making him fly through the air and hit the ground, where he sat up, but couldn't seem to get up. She pulled her eyelid down and stuck out her tongue to add insult to injury, Naruto laughing at her immature action.
"You so deserved that, Sasuke-teme! That's for all the times you called me 'dobe'!"
"Wh-what's your name, bastard?" Sasuke stuttered, eyes burning with anger.
Kaoru wrote her name in kanji and turned the pad of paper to him. "Kaoru" is such a genderless name, much like I am. I could dress as either and still pull it off. But for now, I like my current outfit. Perhaps when I get older I'll change, but not now.
"Sakurai Kaoru…now I know the name of my enemy…I will learn your weakness."
Have fun trying to find it, because I don't even know it. I might not even have one, for all I know. But if you find my Achilles' heel, it'll be something I'll know to protect.
"That guy beat up Sasuke-kun!" a shrill girls' voice accused.
Naruto snapped around and stared in horror. "Um…Kaoru-kun…I think you'd better run."
Kaoru turned to see a bunch of girls around Sasuke and Naruto's age, fury in their eyes. She knew she was in trouble now. Oh crap, here come the fan girls.
"GET HIM!"
She snapped her wings shut and sprinted away, Naruto and Sasuke getting trampled. Kaoru ran faster than she ever thought she was capable of, not even having to breathe hard to keep going. The girls fell behind quickly, but Kaoru kept running until she could no longer hear their pursuit. She looked around and saw herself alone, not even Neji having had caught up with her yet, so speedy had been her flight. Safe for now…thank goodness. I didn't want to run forever.
"Hey Kid."
She looked up to see a taller man who wore all black, down to his sandals, steel gray hair tied back in a low ponytail, pale skin, black eyes, wearing one of those strange forehead plates where most ninja would wear them. He came up to her and looked down at her.
"You're the one who incensed my little brother, am I right?"
So this is Uchiha Itachi. He doesn't look like he's going to attack, but I'll be ready just in case. She nodded in affirmation.
"Thank you for focusing him on something other than putting Naruto down further. He tends to want to be the best and likes to anger Naruto to assert his dominance. He needs someone else to challenge him, and although you didn't do it for his sake, I hope you can keep doing so. He needs to learn that he isn't all-powerful and to be knocked down several pegs to humble himself. The Uchiha are prone to be arrogant because of their excellence in skill and technique."
If that's so, then why aren't you grouping yourself with them? She tilted her head in question, but didn't write it down.
"Something confuses you?"
He sure is perceptive. I wonder how old he is, since he doesn't look too much older than I am. She nodded again.
"What is your question?"
She wrote on the pad of paper and turned it towards him. 'You referred to your clan's arrogance without including yourself. You consider yourself different?'
"Yes. I don't think of myself as 'elite', even if I am the genius of my clan. I know my limits and do not flaunt my abilities. More often than not it is the complete opposite with anyone else of my blood."
He's quite refreshing after interacting with his bratty younger brother. I like him, I think he'll make a good friend.
"I have a question for you now."
She nodded her assent.
"Why is an angel descended from the heavens mute?"
She hesitated. Should I tell him?It's not like I'm embarrassed by it, it's just bordering on a sensitive subject. She nibbled on her lip before writing her answer. 'In my former life I was forced to be a heavy smoker from a young age by my parents. I got throat cancer and had to have all my vocal cords removed.'
"What kind of parents did you have if they did such a cruel thing to you?"
Pain shone in her eyes as she clutched the pad of paper to her chest and looked at her shoes. I knew he was going to ask that. He seems to be a trustworthy guy that wouldn't blab my innermost secrets, and he seems to resonate with me like Naruto did. She hesitantly wrote down what she thought would be right to say. She turned the pad to him and he read it with growing understanding yet anger in his eyes. 'They're the same kind who would murder their own child.'
He placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure no one here could understand such a thing, let alone myself. Would you like me to be your confidant?"
She pressed her lips together and nodded. Thank you, Itachi-san.
Behind her she heard Neji arrive and noticed that Itachi's eyes flashed to him before he murmured to her, "If you wish to have some privacy, I can tell him I'll finish his job for today."
She smiled and nodded.
Itachi went over to the Genin and Neji bowed to him. "Uchiha-sama."
"You can take the rest of the day off."
"What do you mean?"
"Your charge will be quite safe and I'll lead him back to where he lives when we're done for the day."
"The Hokage gave me this mission—"
"I won't tell anyone if you don't, Neji-san."
Neji glanced at Kaoru, who nodded. "Very well, but Sakurai-san, our schedule won't change otherwise."
She nodded again and waved as he left. Itachi led her along what seemed to be a forest path to a secluded meadow. She sighed at the quiet and sat down, him kneeling next to her. Isn't that uncomfortable? I've always hated kneeling, even though I'm sure it wouldn't bug me now. She settled her writing pad on her lap and he requested, "Tell me your story."
She began writing and took a little while to finish.
'I was the only child to parents who wanted a boy. They called me "Kaoru" because it was a genderless name. They often sheared my hair with a razor, to keep it short, dressed me in boy's clothing, gave me every drug that they could get their hands on, screamed at me how hideous I was, beat me nearly to death every night, gave me no medical care, even near the end, near starved me to death, used me for target practice for any new weapon they purchased, hardly let me out of the house except for school, and at the end, it was just too much for me to bear. I'm sure I did look hideous after all they did to me.
'The most horrible thing to me was that no one, not even my relatives, cared enough to step in and stop it. All because I wasn't a boy and wouldn't carry on the family name.'
She closed her eyes to try and shut out all the memories as he read her story, silent even after he handed the pad of paper back to her. He didn't say a thing, but he took her into his arms, her face pressed into his shoulder. He patted her back, even though she didn't shed a tear, she trembled in his hold. She sighed and lowered her head. This wordless embrace says more than anything that could've been voiced. To me, who cannot speak a word, this is more meaningful than anything in the world. He's like the big brother I never had, while Naruto-kun is the younger brother I wished I could've had during my first life.
They were silent for the whole time until they broke the embrace, where he lifted her chin. "I'll be here for you should you ever need a shoulder to cry on. People might think you're a tough boy, but underneath that you're a broken girl."
She nodded, giving his cheek a sisterly kiss. Thank you, yet again, Itachi-onii-san.
They spent the rest of the day together, Kaoru never feeling unsafe with him. Even if I might be virtually invincible, I've needed the emotional support from someone older, more stable. He knows all my secrets, but it'll take time to actually get to know all my quirks.
"Kaoru-san." He called her "san" because "chan" would've a large clue that she was really a girl to others. She turned her head towards him. "Would you want to come to dinner at my home? I want you to meet my parents. My father is stern, but my mother is kind. You already know what Sasuke is like, so I want you to behave."
Translation: No fighting whilst in the household of Itachi-onii-san's parents. I won't make a single aggressive move towards him until tomorrow, if I see him again, although it might be fun if… She grinned and he placed a hand on her head.
"What are you planning?"
She shook her head, a sheepish smile replacing the mischievous grin. I don't think he'd like what I was planning to do to the brat tonight.
They arrived at the house, Itachi slipped off his sandals and Kaoru sat down to untie her shoelaces before removing her socks. She hung up her jacket on an available hook when Itachi called, "I'm home!"
Sasuke came running, sporting a bandage across his nose and on the underside of his chin. "Aniki! Welcome ba—" He spotted Kaoru and snarled, "You! What're you—"
"Otouto, I've invited Kaoru-san to dinner," Itachi cut in, then murmured, "Be nice, or Otou-san will get mad that you're being rude to my guest."
Kaoru wrote a quick note as she passed by the younger of the Uchiha brothers without even looking at him. He doesn't deserve to be acknowledged if he can't be civil in his own home.
"Itachi, welcome home!" his mother greeted with a warm smile. "You're just in time for dinner. Oh, who's your friend?"
Itachi nodded to Kaoru, who turned her paper to the woman. 'I'm Sakurai Kaoru. I'm honored to meet you, Uchiha-sama.' She then made a deep bow in respect.
"I'm pleased to meet such a respectful boy. I'm Mikoto, Itachi and Sasuke's mother," she replied with a shallower bow. "Have you come over for dinner?"
Kaoru nodded as Itachi answered, "Kaoru-san has."
"Itachi, you've brought an interesting guest," an older man's voice spoke from behind them.
Itachi turned and bowed. "Otou-san."
Kaoru turned to see a man who looked like Itachi except with a sterner, squarer face and his hair short in the back. He wore a plain yukata with a patterned one over the top, his dark eyes giving Kaoru a thorough scrutiny. She bowed to him and stayed there.
"This boy must be the angel I've heard about. How did you meet him?"
"I met Kaoru-san through Sasuke, Otou-san. Those two met earlier today and I happened to come across them and introduced myself. I wanted you and Oka-san to meet Kaoru-san, so I invited Kaoru-san over for dinner."
Kaoru raised herself up and lifted the pad for the head of the house to read.
"As am I, Sakurai-san. I am Fugaku, head of this family and the Uchiha Clan. Welcome to my home."
"All right everyone, it's time for dinner," Mikoto announced.
"Sakurai-san, you take your place next to Itachi since you are his guest," Fugaku ordered, as Itachi knelt on one side. Kaoru followed, waiting until the head of the house began eating before partaking of her own meal. "Sakurai-san, how is it you met my youngest?"
Sasuke glared at her and she shrugged, mouthing, "happenstance".
"Happenstance? I see. Sasuke, do you have more details?"
"He decided to pick a fight with me," Sasuke deadpanned.
"Only because you were insulting Kaoru-san's friend," Itachi added to put Kaoru in a better light.
"Everyone does that to him, Aniki. I don't know why this kid is different."
Fugaku broke up a potential argument. "Enough. Sakurai-san, did you really hit my son?"
Kaoru wrote down her reply. 'He hit me first.'
Sasuke popped veins at that. "You flipped me off, just to make me mad!"
You bet I did, but I'm not arguing with you. You're trying to pick a fight with me at the dinner table, and this isn't a place for such a thing. She lifted her tea to her lips, taking a drink.
"Sakurai-kun doesn't seem the type to start a fight, does he?" Mikoto pointed out with a smile. "Sasuke, are you sure that it was him that started it?"
"I'd never met him before that, Oka-san!" the youngest Uchiha protested. "He's just playing innocent to not get in trouble! He broke my nose with the first hit!"
"Sasuke, that is quite enough," Fugaku reprimanded. "Calm yourself, and we will deal with this situation later." He turned to Kaoru again. "Sakurai-san, you've been only here two days and already you've made acquaintances with both my sons. How old are you?"
Why ask my age? Is he planning something? She wrote down her age and showed it to him.
"Hmmm, too old for Sasuke, yet too young for Itachi, but it would take longer for Sasuke."
Mikoto looked wary and began, "Fugaku, don't you think—"
Fugaku raised a hand and gave Kaoru a long look. "It seems that it wasn't obvious at first, but now that I have given myself some time to observe, now it is. Would you like to come under contract with my family, Sakurai-san?"
Contract? Kaoru tilted her head in confusion. What does he mean, "contract"? What has he realized about me? I don't understand what's going on.
He understood her confusion and explained, "I would take you in, you would become part of the family, and, in time, form a union within the clan."
Does this mean I wouldn't have to be alone in my apartment anymore? That Itachi-onii-san would truly be my older brother? But…I'm sure only he doesn't care if I like Naruto-kun. Would I be forced to not be friends with him? That would be terrible, since I said I would be best friends with him. This is all happening so fast, I only arrived here two days ago!
"After dinner, I will draw up the contract and you can decide for yourself if you wish to sign. It would be very beneficial to you, since you have hardly any connections or family to speak of."
Yeah, I guess I should think about it.
They finished dinner and Fugaku took her to his study and wrote a contract for her, stating the conditions and leaving space for her signature on the far left. He let it dry before handing it to her. "I'll expect a prompt answer from you. Read it well and consider your options, until then, good evening."
She bowed and walked out, the folded contract closed within her notebook. Itachi placed a hand on her shoulder. "We should go, Kaoru-san. I'll read it over with you so Otou-san doesn't pull a fast one on you."
She nodded and they went to the door, where she put her shoes and socks back on before pulling on her jacket. Before the night is through and after Itachi-onii-san leaves my apartment, I have something to do.
They walked to her apartment, where she unlocked the door and stepped inside, Itachi after her. She took off her shoes and jacket, and he commented, "Your apartment's sure sparse on furnishings. Do you have anything of value in here?"
She shook her head. It's not like I brought anything with me except the clothes I died in.
"Sasuke hit you, so he said. Where are your injuries?"
She shook her head.
"Show me where he hit you."
Shrugging, she lifted her shirt to reveal her unmarred stomach and touched her nose, which didn't even have a mark. He prodded for internal injuries, but found none.
"This is a miracle. He must've hit you because he was mad, yet not even a single bruise. Are you invincible because you're an angel?"
She shrugged. As far as I can tell, yes.
"If that is the case, it would explain why you retaliated when he punched you. Any other would've had a sizable bruise, had the wind knocked out of them and a bloody nose."
I guess, since I didn't know the significance of that while in my fury. I wonder if this is a gift since I was in constant pain and fear in my former life, now I'm brave and can feel no pain at all.
"We're getting off track. Let's read the contract."
She unfolded the paper and both began to read it silently.
I, (blank), upon signing this contract will be hereby take on the surname Uchiha, thereby becoming one of the clan members and raised within the confines of the compound until I come of age. At that time, I will be presented to the Council of Elders to be judged on how I act and a proper suitor will be selected to court me. Until that time I will be considered the child of the head family and treated properly, but also expected to act according to my station. As the second-born of the Clan Head, I will be required to attend clan meetings with my father and elder brother, wear the clan sigil at all times, continue with studying, and set a proper example for the rest of the clan to follow.
If by any chance I fail in any of these conditions, I will be immediately ostracized from the clan, never to be admitted again. I realize all the responsibilities I will shoulder and keep within my boundaries.
She put down the paper and put her chin in her hands. Well, that was pretty demanding. There are some things I don't quite understand, so I'll go over it again with him.
"Do you need anything explained?"
She pointed to "raised within the confines of the compound" and wrote on her pad of paper, 'Does that mean I'm forbidden to leave at any time?'
"With how Otou-san is, I'm sure its yes, but I'm sure that it can be misinterpreted."
She then indicated "a proper suitor will be selected to court me" then wrote, 'What's this mean? I don't understand it in the least.'
"After you turn a certain age, you will have a boy chosen to be your husband."
I won't be allowed to choose my own husband? That's not fair at all! In fact, it's stupid! Why should I sacrifice that freedom just to become an Uchiha?
"Arranged marriages are standard in any ninja clan, just so you know, Kaoru-san."
Standard, but if I'm told otherwise by my heart, I'll do as I please. All right, let's sign.
She wrote down her name in her best script and smiled. He hugged her and murmured, "I'll see you soon, Imouto."
He left promptly after that, and she placed the paper under her pillow. She then opened her window and grinned. Prank time.
Like a wraith, she lighted through the village until she reached the room of Sasuke, sliding open the door and stepping inside. He was fast asleep on his back, not the slightest disturbed by her entrance. She giggled in her mind and took out a pair of gloves, putting them on so they covered her arms to her elbows and an apron that covered her from her neck to her ankles, then took out a vat of hair dye. She lifted his head and began to run her fingers (covered with dye) through his hair.
When every strand was saturated with the slimy substance, she let it sit for a couple hours, completely still. She watched the clock and when time was up, she rinsed the dye out, drying the now-different locks and when they were dry, she smirked and placed his head back onto the pillow.
Have fun when you go to the academy tomorrow. I'm sure everyone will have a laugh. Enjoy trying to get it out while figuring out I did it. What kind of ninja lets such a thing happen to himself? LOSER!
She shook in silent laughter as she tossed the tools she'd used into a trash bin.
For you Sasuke fans, don't get mad, I just don't like him, so yes, I will be bashing him a lot! I think it's funny! Who didn't cheer when Kaoru flipped him off? Sasuke's beyond saving and he deserves more than bashing, if you ask me!
For those who are confused with the Japanese terms, I only use them for proper names, so it shouldn't be too hard to guess most things! If there are any questions about that, I'll be happy to answer them! Also if I used a term improperly, please let me know!
Kudos to whoever guesses what color Sasuke's hair is before the next chapter is posted!
Last, but not least:
Please review!