A Fox's Love
Chapter 3: The first day
"Demon Speaking"
"Normal speech"
"Thoughts and emphasized words"
Thanks for the reviews and all my new followers. This chapter is where it gets more exciting. I've finally settled on what Naruto shall be wearing for most of this story. I remember watching the anime when it was all fillers and I remembered an episode where Naruto was wearing a hoodie like jacket. Now I know there weren't many hoodies or vests during the 1800's (which if you readers haven't realized is the techno setting for this story) but I think I can make a few exceptions, fashion wise.
Anyways enjoy the story I was excited to write this chapter and I hope my faithful readers will enjoy it too.
Sil'lae, Mizu no Kuni Empire
Mei Terumi stayed silent as she walked along the narrow streets of the canals. Her knee long auburn hair and assets drew the attention of boys and men alike as she passed by them. The smell of cinnamon mixed with jasmine followed her every step. Bright green eyes reflected a shade of orange as she passed by street lamps on either side of the sidewalk. Despite wearing knee high armor guards and thick heeled sandals, not a sound was made.
Night fall was descending upon one of the largest port cities of the Eastern world. Sil'lae a city of a million and a half people. Unlike most cities of Mizu no Kuni, (Water Country) Sil'lae had the wonderful sights of thousands of intricate canals. Beautiful buildings dating back to over a thousand years all spread out across the city. Clubs, parks, gladiatorial areas, casinos, and the best wine in the world were all contained within Sil'lae.
As much as Mei would have loved wasting the money in her purse at an area match, an urgent matter needed her attention more. With the rebels losing battle after battle in the civil war her mission was ever more dire.
Intel stated that a meeting between important individuals would be going down tonight. The only problem was that no one knew who was going to be at the meeting. This only made Mei Terumi puff out air in annoyance. There were two issues with this predicament. The first issue is that Intel often received similar claims which led to the deaths of many rebel agents and spies. The second issue is that there were unlimited possibilities for whoever these important individuals could be.
She shrugged her shoulders and made her way to the Hiemali Casino. She arrived an hour later nearly out of breath. After checking the time from a pocket watch, just to make sure it was a quarter until 9:00 PM, she took in the sight of the casino. The name Hiemali fit the casino well, sculptors crafted transparent glass statues in the form of ice, fake snow covered mahjong tables, and blackjack stands were adorned with pale white velvet. Customers roamed the casino in thick clothes due to the low temperature caused by arctic seals on the walls.
Mei walked past gamblers all the way to the second floor of casino. She handed an envelope to a heavy bearded man wearing an orange wrist band. Orange wrist bands were the most widely known sign of a rebel sympathizer. The bearded man smiled at her, pulled out a cigarette, and said, "Let's keep this quick. The group has already started the meeting. So no fighting. Killing. And leave the casino without being noticed."
"I promise nothing is going to happen. If it does, that envelope has enough cash to get you to the nearest safe house. So hopefully nothing will happen. Hehehe!"
Mei quickly followed the man through several corridors until they came to a closet door.
"Inside the closet is a vent that leads above the conference room. I'll leave you to figure out the rest sweet heart."
Mei smiled at the compliment and made her way into the vent. After slowly making her way through the vent for five minutes, she slowed down to look outside of the rafters. A group of ten people were sitting around an oval table in a barely lit room. She could barely make out who was who.
"So this... Naruto Uzamaki. He is being watched by the legendary Wind Burner. As much as the jesters would love to take this contract. As a high ranking representative this would be too risky."
"Come on. Unlike most assassins in the world, you all boast that you are the best."
Mei quietly gasped. The men in the room were Black Jesters. An organization of assassins that numbered in the thousands. The Black Jesters mostly comprised of legendary rogue shinobi, deadly magicians, sharpshooters, mercenaries, and even normal civilians. In order to join you had to pass tests that only the Black Jesters knew of. They were as mysterious as they were feared especially in Mizu no Kuni where the vast majority of the group resided.
"We are the best, but even the most feared predators are cautious. Not only are you asking us to kill a seven year old boy-"
A different voice spoke up, "He is actually six years old the last time I checked. The thing is that the boy is very powerful. Many families in Konoha have all been trying their best to adopt him for that power."
"Did anyone hear anything?" Said one of the figures causing five other figures to laugh.
"What!"
"Clin! Please, for the love of the Ten Divines, stop fucking talking!"
The same high ranking jester then said, "Your name is Clin. Hmm... as in Clin Nohara. The younger brother of Rin Nohara, also known as the former container of the Isobu (three-tailed turtle). Very sad what happened to her. She was after all given the worst curse of all. A demon's love. Tell me Clin, legendary shinobi of nothing, known far and wide as the boy who murdered twelve Kiri genin. Is a jinchuriki's brother cursed with the same shame as his sister?"
"You're a fucking asshole! You fucking know that! Just because someone is a jinchuriki doesn't mean they are terrible people!" Yelled Clin Nohara while grabbing what looked like a revolver or a kunai.
"I don't give five fucks if your mama was a jinchuriki. What I care about is what my fellow jesters might expect when they slash the boys neck. If he's protected by the Legendary Wind Burner then he must be very important. And please leave out the details for why you want the boy dead. Who knows who or what may be listening."
Mei widened her eyes as the jester finished. The man known as Clin Nohara was forced to leave the room. His companions soon apologized after she heard a door slam shut. One of the men then said in a near whisper, "Naruto Uzamaki contains the Kyuubi Kitsune. We have zero knowledge of him knowing any jutsus. We do know that he is dangerous enough to brutally murder eleven people all by himself. If he's killed before who's to say he won't kill again."
"So... we're dealing with a jinchuriki. The jesters haven't received such a contract in over a hundred years. I think we would be honored to end the boy's suffering. The only thing we would need would be a substantial amount of coin."
"How much coin?"
"Twenty five thousand gold pieces of eight should be enough."
"F-f-fine! Let's say I want this contract to disappear."
"Then you would have to pay us half of the said price. Also we would need the name of a new victim. Once a contract goes in the air, the only way to get rid of it would be to give another life."
"What a fucking rule. Well, I guess we accept. We have a fourth of the money here. You'll receive the rest when the act is done. Should I come bac-"
"No! Never come back to this casino again. We have agents in Konoha that will contact you when the act is accomplished." As soon as the jester finished talking Mei felt a spike of chakra.
"How long until you kill the demon?"
The spike of chakra quickly disappeared but Mei knew she had to leave as soon as possible. One of the jesters turned his head up towards the ceiling and said, "It can take a day. A week. A year. Five years. But it will get done. We are the best assassins in the world. We are the greatest predators around, especially when we find prey snooping in on us."
She had no time to react when all of a sudden one of the figures finished making hand signs and yelled, "Suiton: Fosukurasshu!" (Water release: Force Crash)
The vent rumbled and vibrated like it was caught in the middle of an earthquake. Mei tried to crawl backwards out of the vent but then she heard explosions all around her. It all happened within the spam of fifteen seconds. Bright yellow sparks appeared through the sheet metal of the vent all around her. Water flowed from half a dozen pipes into the vent. Mei began to move backwards but found the water that was overflowing the vent to weigh her down. This lasted for about four seconds until the vent crashed down beside the conference table.
There were eight figures moving towards her with eight katana in their hands. Mei chakra thrusted from the ground to her two feet. The earthquake continued to shake th-? No! She shook her head quickly from left to right. The world became still as she quickly flipped backwards avoiding the slash of one of the katana wielding jesters.
She made several hand signs and bolted from the dark room. Two of the jesters followed her down the bright hallway. They were both wearing black armored pants, black leather jackets with the imprint of a comical jester on their sleeves, and demonic looking masks. After feeling chakra surge through her she yelled, "Doton: Koishi no kaibutsu!" (Earth release: cobble monster)
She slapped the walls of the hallway with her right hand as an animated being made of mortar crawled out the wall and ran towards the jesters. Mei ran out of the hallway and through corridor after corridor until she made it to the balcony of the second floor of the casino.
She began to quickly catch her breath when half a dozen suit wearing casino guards pulled out .44 caliber baby dragoon revolvers. As much as she wanted to take the men out, she had to get the information about this Naruto to headquarters.
"Stop or we'll shoot!"
Mei jumped from the balcony in a near blur, past dozens of gamblers and casino henchmen. The smell of gun powder and the bursts of dozens of gunshots filled the Hiemali casino. Mei Terumi on the other hand made it out onto the streets of Sil'lae without a single scratch.
"Choose what is right, not what is easy."
-Iruka Sensei
Naruto
Six months had passed since my first day at the academy. The grey clouds in the sky were giving in and I couldn't help but cry. I had in my possession a knapsack on my back full of supplies and what food the apartment had in the pantry. The cheap factory made duffle bag by my feet was filled to the brim with clothes that dad… I mean Amasa bought me. A cold wicked breeze penetrated through my red hooded vest.
The hood wasn't up and I truly didn't care about the cold snapping my ears off. I was wearing a light blue long sleeved shirt under my red vest, a pair of industry made green cargo pants hugged my legs, several pairs of black socks hugged my feet, and a pair of dark brown leather wellington boots finished off my outfit.
"Where am I going to-to go?"
Amasa's glasses were fogging up but he didn't cry. The sky finally gave in causing white flakes of ice to fall to the earth. The Hokage monument in the distance was overtaken by white clouds of snow.
"I don't know… but I can't take care of you any longer."
Six months ago
The first day of school was a day that could take almost anyone anywhere. The first day of anything seemed to be important. So I did my best to dress nice and make a great impression. I traveled to the academy unaccompanied by any of my caretakers. It saddened me that none of them had the chance and time to take me to my first day of school. All three of them somehow by some sort of fling of fate weren't able to go. Amasa had to attend a hearing with judges at the capital city. The capital city was fifty miles north of Konoha and I was jealous to hear he was going to visit the capital by train.
Ida was busy with something. Whatever dragged her out in the middle of the night had to be an emergency of some kind. From day one she was always the one that had the time to watch me constantly. (Hell I'm being truthful by saying I was glad she wasn't taking me to my first day of school.)
Arti was busy at his forge like always. I found him to be more pointless at his job than Ida. Ida at very least had the time to make dinner for everyone. She at the very least knew a thing or two about cleaning. Arti on the other hand was only useful around a forge. I knew not a thing about my caretakers except for the fact that they were being paid to watch over me.
"Ever wondered why an orphaned piece of crap like you was given three caretakers. Most kids in your position would have been left out in the street to rot with the rest of the opium heads."
"So what are you saying...? You know what, hearing a voice in my head is not a great way to start the first day of the academy."
I passed by a crowd of parents telling their children to be good and to have fun. As I was passing by hateful looks were sent my way from grownups and teachers alike. Loud chatter turned to whispers. A growing pit of loneliness overtook my earlier excitement as I entered the large red military facility.
A mammoth cloud of realization entered my head at the prospect of me being the only new student unaccompanied by a parent.
I felt as if I was missing something. A great big hole of sadness filled me at the prospect of what every kid needs. Those needs aren't caretakers, they aren't streets, they aren't work stations, they aren't…
"You're needs are the thoughts in your head. I'm the only one you need to trust. Don't you remember near the beginning of the summer the first night you spent at that retched apartment? The words I told you were along the lines that things are only going to get worse."
"Yes, and you also promised me that you were going to reward me for dealing with Ryoko. Deals are deals."
"People promise many things… go and find your classroom, now!"
"I'm not moving until I settle this with you! So about that reward."
"Promises are meant to be broken. Your reward was the experience of being cheated for what you are."
"Yeah well next time I have to deal with another Ryoko don't look to me for support."
"Don't look to you? I am you!"
I took a seat in far back corner by the window. I waited until the classroom filled up with new students waiting for their sensei. I scanned the room for Kiba or anyone that I knew from the orphanage. None of them were here.
A pretty girl with soulful green eyes and shoulder length blond hair took a seat beside me. She smelled of roses and lavender. Her purple dyed outfit matched her beautiful fair skinned body. There weren't many girls in the orphanage that I could recall who looked as beautiful as the girl right next to me.
She turned her head in my direction and she gave me a confused frown.
"Are you alright you look sick?"
"No-no I'm alright." I said smiling my blush away.
She giggled then said back "You look kind of cute smiling like that."
I was about to reply until the door to the classroom slammed shut causing all of us new students to quiet down.
"My names Daikoku Funeno and I will be your sensei for the next two years."
Daikoku Funeno was a chubby bronze skinned man that felt empowered by his impressive brown haired goatee, which he rubbed as he stared at all of us. Unlike most shinobi I've seen up to this point he wore his hiat-it like a bandana over his hair. I smiled the biggest smile in the class. I shifted in my seat with excitement because I knew I was going to become the greatest shinobi in the history of Konoha.
Great expectations turn into great disappointments.
The first day of class went by in a boring breeze. After everyone in the classroom introduced ourselves, I quickly realized by some divine entity that school sucked. For the first three hours of my first day of school Daikoku tested our knowledge with simple algebra exercises. Like 2+2=4. How many sharp ends are there on the typical shuriken? All of this sounds easy. Well it was easy. However, when it came time for everyone to begin reading simple verses did a problem arise.
The Konoha Academy was the most prestigious school within Konoha if not all of Hi no Kuni. All of the students here were already moderately intelligent. They all already learned how to read by the age of five. How to write simple sentences by six. Most first year students even knew multiplication and division. They knew the novice taijutsu forms. Some even already knew how to perform ninjutsu.
I could barely keep up with the rest of the class when we sang the alphabet. I was not fortunate enough to have any parents. I was never taught by a tutor. I did not possess any gifted abilities. I was as sharp as deflated rubber ball.
Instead I had three caretakers. Instead I had a voice.
"Naruto! I haven't called on you today. May you read the next two sentences of the Shinobi Code."
I stared at the piece of paper in front of me with dread. The Shinobi Code was a code created by the Shodai Hokage roughly six hundred years ago. Daikoku and the whole class stared at me patiently for me to continue where we left off.
"Come on! I've only just started to learn how to read."
"I would offer my help but you have been acting very cold towards me today."
"I'm sorry. But you have to help me. This is my first day here an-"
"Naruto Uzamaki! Is there a problem?"
I had to think fast, "Uhhh… you see when I was younger I ended up getting sick with this disease called gastonidious. It ended up causing me to go nearly blind. So I had to spend the last few years learning how to read brail and see with knees. So you understand that it's very hard for me to-"
Daikoku stared at me with utter confusion before he yelled, "Oh I'm deeply sorry. I didn't know. Wait you idiot!"
A second later the whole class nearly fell from their seats in laughter. I sighed in relief when Daikoku shrugged his head and called on a new student. I sighed again because I knew I was going to get a talk at the end of school.
"I really need to get better at reading."
"I think you mean everything."
"You could have helped me back there."
"As much as I would love to read everything for you… even I don't have that much patience. If you ever want to improve yourself then you need to simply keep working hard at it."
"Can I ask you something?"
"When you ask a request, the correct grammar is always 'may' do you understand you pathetic idiotic disgrace of a human. So you should say, 'May I ask you something,' if you want people to think you are polite."
"Good to know, mom! I was just going to ask you why you hate me so much. If I'm such a pathetic stupid person. Why do you keep talking to me?"
Daikoku was busy listening to students stumble along big words of the shinobi code to notice my frown. The pretty girl who sat next to me noticed though and she tugged on my and whispered, "Is something wrong?"
I quickly smiled at her and she reassuringly smiled back while I said, "Nothing is wrong. I'm just overwhelmed with all of this. I-"
"Naruto Uzamaki! As much as I would love for you to disrupt class even more I-" Daikoku was about to say something when a light blue haired teacher opened the door to the classroom and happily said, "Daikoku! As much as these kids would love to spend their whole first day of school reading, you do realize that lunch started ten minutes ago."
"Oh. Well yes…ugh… anyways I want all of you to follow Mizuki single file to the lunchroom and then to recess. Remember the rule about being nice and respectful to your fellow classmates."
I was at the back of the line following this Mizuki dude to the lunchroom when the voice said, "Naruto. About that question, I just don't know how to answer it. I don't hate you, I despise you. You are everything I hate. You are stupid. You are pathetic. You have cried yourself to sleep the past five years. You are so unlucky it's a surprise you have even lived this long. It's just-"
"Why are you still talking to me?" My fists clinched and turned white.
"Hahaha! Because Naruto I'm the only friend you have. Naruto, do you see any of those kids ever really liking you for who you are."
I thought about Amasa, that Danzo dude, Might Guy, and even Ida.
"What do you mean?" I said aloud.
"Hey blondie! Do you have a question?" Asked Mizuki while the rest of the class went to the lunchroom.
"No. Forget it."
"Hmm. Well alright. Go ahead and eat."
I know I had to be grateful to this mysterious Danzo for paying for my years at the academy. I'd probably still be making military sandals at a working station if not for this opportunity. Seven more years I thought.
"Yes! Seven more years memorizing shit people thought up hundreds of years ago. Sounds like a whole lot of fun."
"Then I'll have to make it fun!"
"Hahaha! Well I guess we'll have to wait and see. Won't we."
School ended and I was saddened that Kiba was nowhere to be found during recess. From what I heard from Mizuki, classes for first year students were separated into three groups. I was walking the full four miles back home, trying my best to ignore the glares and murmurs of the various villagers I passed by. I was passing an opium house not far from the Mazashi apartments, when the voice felt it needed to say something.
"Do you think you will actually learn anything in that rat trap?"
"It was the first day of school, were you expecting me to become Hokage in a day?"
"You as Hokage? The Uchiha pig in your class has a better chance at that dream."
"Well maybe I'll prove you wrong. Everyone has always told me I'd never become good at anything. But I'm now one step closer to becoming a shinobi."
"So your dream is to become a killer. How noble."
"Yeah well last I checked, shinobi save people. They help people. They protect people. They make the world a safer place. They also perform super cool jutsu."
"Let's debate some philosophy then."
"Well whatever this philosagwee stuff is you can't excuse the fact that shinobi do all of that."
"There have been three shinobi wars. Do you think shinobi were protecting people and keeping them safe, while they butchered armies and civilians alike? Shinobi have left millions of families fatherless and motherless. As much as I love people with power, the path you're going down will leave you a tool in the hands of men etched onto that mountain!"
I looked towards the Hokage monument. The heads of four of Konoha's greatest Hokage's stood stoic, all four of them watching the village hidden in the leaves in ever lasting glory. I walked across the street spotting Ida waiting, her arms resting on the railing of the third floor of the Mazashi apartments.
"Well! I'll be different. As much as you would love to see me turn evil, I won't go down that path. I'll prove you wrong. I'll prove all the villagers wrong. Maybe then people will love me."
"You are a very funny boy. I don't think there has ever been a more stubborn blond haired brat in this village's history. A shinobi that won't kill anyone, ha ha ha, I don't know. You might enjoy the spill of blood!"
"You're sick! I wouldn't kill anyone."
"Maybe you already have… you just don't know it."
…. .. .. ….
The next few weeks passed by quickly. Kiba seemed to disappear off the face of the Earth. I didn't feel like Amasa needed to know my concern over this situation. Amasa was too busy tutoring me outside of class. He wanted me to catch up with all the more educated academy students.
I had to give credit to dad… or Amasa, he was doing a much better job at this than any of the teachers at the academy. Amasa was teaching me all these numerous languages and instead of him reading to me each night. He thought it would be great practice for me to read to him from now on. I was still rusty when it came to reading but I had to admit I was rustier when it came to writing.
Amasa couldn't hold his laughter when I showed him the letter I wrote to him while I was at the academy earlier in the day.
Deer Amosa,
I hop wee can be bestest friends fom hear on ot. Oull be lik a geat sinobi one day. Lik the forth hokga. I will dfet Kyobi to. Im goin to make u Amosa poud. I will mak evryon in konha poud. No one will in Konha will hat me or hrt me.
Yor bestest son,
Naruto
"Did you like it?"
"Naruto you're a special boy you know that. Of course I liked it."
The Hokage Tower
As soon as Hiruzen saw Danzo's chair empty, he knew perfectly well that this emergency meeting wasn't going to be about the new railroad or the rising number of opium addicts in the streets. Rather, not to his surprise, it was going to involve Naurto's wellbeing. Something that he hoped wouldn't have been brought back up again, since the massacre last summer. And just the fact that half of the people in the room were frowning, was more than just a sign that this wasn't going to be good for the old Hokage's stress.
Danzo wasn't the only one absent, Homura and Koharu weren't present either. Along with Hovi Waru, head of the city guard, and Kato Kizuna, head of the merchant guild of Konoha.
The usual chatter before every meeting quickly died down, and Clement Sasaki, a noble sent by the emperor of Hi no Kuni to keep an eye on Konoha, took the floor before anyone else had a chance to speak. With a broad forty year old smile and the tone of voice of a trustworthy man, he said with seriousness, "Hokage-sama I think that you know exactly why most of the people in this room asked for this meeting. And to get to the point it has everything to do with Naruto Uzamaki's current residency."
"So?" Questioned Hiruzen, while taking out a bag of tobacco, "Since Naruto's moved into the Mazashi apartment complex it's one less homeless boy running around the city causing trouble. And would you people rather me throw him out into the woods for the wolves to snack on?"
"Sarutobi, I'd be more than happy if you threw him with the wolves, but I don't think you've realized that you already did," said Arsene Iburi, leader of the powerful Iburi clan that possessed the Sumoku (smoke) kekkei genkai, "Of all the people you could have trusted the little fox with, you just had to choose the warhawk of Konoha to look after him!"
Many councilors enthusiastically voiced their approval as Arsene finished. It wasn't always like this though. The Iburi clan was notorious for being one of the few clans in Konoha to be held with as much respect as a terror cell. One of the reasons this was the case, was because of how often they would purposely beat any innocent civilian that lived around their compound for money or just for the fun of it. The other reasons are sort of icing on an already stale cake, most of the clan was filled with jerks, bullies, and cheapskates. And it wasn't until the clan jumped on the bandwagon of hating Naruto, not long after the Kyuubi attack that their dark reputation seemed to go away.
"If you're implying that Danzo is taking care of Naruto then you all are completely misinformed," said Hiruzen while stuffing his pipe full of tobacco.
"Hokage-sama," began Fugaku Uchiha, "We all know that you put Danzo in charge of Naruto's caretakers. The news has been around for the past month, and what is astounding about this isn't the fact that Naruto has a roof over his head. What is astounding is that you want to keep your control over the Kyuubi host. And in order to do that, you allowed your best friend to be in charge of this supposed humanitarian project."
"Before you start accusing me of witchcraft, Fugaku. I would like to say that I had to do something about Naruto. Should the leader of this just ignore the boy and leave him to the streets. The fourth Hokage would spin in his grave if he knew how much respect Konoha has for the savior of almost a million people. If you think there is some sort of manipulation or favoritism here the three caretakers are being paid by me. And I placed Might Guy in charge of overseeing them. So if you think that I'm in charge of some sort of mad conspiracy to hold control of the village then you are sadly mistaken. Now, if any problems should arise I'll gladly shut down this project." Said the old Hokage before lighting his pipe.
"Shut it down then! I say that the boy should be thrown back in the street or we should allow a dignified family to take him in." Said Khan Numa, head of the infamous Numa clan who were known for both genjutsu and controlling the small but important production of brass in Hi no Kuni. His outburst brought a wave of approval from most of the civilian clans and even a few shinobi clans too.
"Hokage-sama I'd like to have a say!" Said Inoichi Yamanaka while gaining the interest of everyone in the room, "I think that what you have been doing for Naruto has been a good thing. My daughter has become friends with the boy including several other children at the academy. I think that the boy will one day be a fine shinobi, but I do have to agree with everyone else that the Naruto should not be getting any special treatment. There are three choices here, send the boy back to the orphanage, get rid of these caretakers, and let one of the clans adopt Naruto Uzamaki."
"Why do you think I would consider making such decisions?"
"Because Clement Sasaki has already notified the king." Said Fugaku Uchiha, while grasping the arms of his chair, "The king has already voiced his agreement with the council."
"I think this meeting has been very unproductive," said Tsume Inuzuka while rubbing her forehead, "Next time anyone calls me down to the Hokage Tower at least make sure it is about something important!"
Several council members clapped in agreement.
"Alright! I understand the issue here. I even understand that you all went behind my back to discuss this with the king without even talking to me first." Said the old Hokage politely, after he puffed out the soothing smoke from his lungs, "Naruto's residency is in the Hokage's hands until he turns ten years old, those were the words written by the fourth Hokage before he died. Now, if I wanted to keep my hold on him then I would have raised him as a part of the Sarutobi clan. But I didn't, because if I did our clan would have had as much power as a whole legion."
"Shikaku, any sort of opinion on this issue?" Asked Clement Sasaki knowing full well that Shikaku's words were often more wise than even the Hokage's.
"I think that if you're not allowing anyone else to adopt him. Then you should either get rid of the caretakers or send him back to the orphanage until he is of the age for him to get an apartment. To be honest, this meeting has been too troublesome, and you should think this over." Said Shikaku while lighting a pipe.
Two months later
"Naruto what did you get yourself into this time?"
Ida's brown doe eyes peered deeply into my sapphire blue eyes with a look of concern plastered onto her face. She was dressed in a white, long sleeved, blouse that had a v shaped collar. She was also wearing an unusual black skirt that only went as far down as her knees. And for the first time since… ever… she was completely barefoot in the apartment.
I was at a loss of words for the fact that… this sure as hell wasn't Ida.
The apartment was radiating a sweet foreign scent. Was she cooking… cookies? Even so the whole place was freshly cleaned and…0
I was surprised by the warmth of her soft white hands rubbing my cheeks. That surprise turned to horror as she pulled my red cotton jacket over my head. She was about to do the same thing to my shirt but I backed away to the door of the apartment in shock.
She held my red jacket in her hands. Inspecting each stitch until her eyes settled upon a large dark red stain upon the back of the jacket. She pulled me from the door and lifted up my black, long sleeved, shirt, very forcefully. I felt my eyes water. Blood was trickling down the back of my neck. Bruises covered my arms and chest. The bruises were pulsing with a thumping pain with every movement I made.
"It was just a couple of people."
Ida sighed as if her job was as bad as most. She quickly made a few hand signs and without uttering a single word. Her hands glowed a warm yellow color. I was still shirtless and felt the need to bolt to the door. I started to squirm my way from her grasp, but Ida was surprisingly strong for a women or shinobi.
"You're an idiot you know that. Just stop moving, Ok!"
The open wound on my head closed up as soon as her hands hovered over it. Her hands soon traveled down my chest. She asked me what happened in a mad tone of voice.
"I-I-I… was walking home from the-the school and… then… a couple of-of… people started punching me. I was then." I stopped talking as soon as water fell from my face, too ashamed to go on. In Konoha it's hard to say this but showing weakness was about as bad as telling everyone you were from Kumo. I stopped crying as soon as I accepted this concept in the working station.
"Naruto I won't tell anyone about this. You know… you remind me of someone."
"Who?" I said wiping away a tear.
"I had a son who looked just like you. He was a very handsome young man. He smiled like a goof head. I… I was always hard on him. I wanted him to be a strong young man, because those who are weak in this world. They're the ones who end up dying. Kids think their smart but trust me their all idiots."
"Ida… what happened to your son?"
Ida stopped her jutsu and had a look of confliction on her face. She then replied back without a smile "He's dead. He was one of the first killed in the Kyuubi attack."
Ida left my side and came back a minute later with a plate full of cookies and a glass filled with milk. I quickly ate them all up feeling better by the second. After finishing the glass of milk I felt Ida's warm embrace. My head was nuzzled in-between both of her large breasts. A minute passed and I was surprised when she kissed me upon my forehead.
Her lips parted from my head but the words that came from her mouth surprised me more than anything "Naruto… I hope you will have a painful life and an even more painful death."
She left my side without a further word.
October 5th
I was busy writing on the chalkboard I will not doze off in class. The phrase covered at least four black boards from top to bottom. Sweat drenched my right hand with every stroke of a letter. I frowned when I finished the last blackboard.
"Who in the hell comes up with this stuff!" I yelled while throwing the thin piece of chalk against a wall.
"Hahaha!" I turned to my right to see a tall tanned chunin laughing in the doorway.
The chunin instructor had a scar across the bridge of his nose. He had dark brown hair that was kept in a ponytail and dark eyes that were warm with amusement. He was dressed in a light blue long sleeved shirt, the typical shinobi flak jacket, dark pants, and high top sandals. He looked like the average Konohan citizen but for some reason he looked at me differently.
"Sorry teacher-san."
"Don't be sorry for anything unless there is a very good reason too. I do have to admit you need to cut down on the language if you ever want to be resected shinobi."
I looked down at the ground and grit my teeth, "Well since I finished I might as well go home."
"Naruto Uzamaki is it?" I turned around, "My name is Iruka Umino. I'll be your teacher in two years. I gotta ask have you thought about the type of shinobi you want to be."
I looked at this Iruka teacher fellow with focused eyes. Were there actually different types of shinobi?
"I don't understand."
"Right. You see Naruto, I know you are the dead last. I have always tried to help the dead last in the class succeed however I can. What I do know, is that even the greatest shinobi weren't always powerful. Depending on how hard you work, you may one day surpass the fourth Hokage."
"Yeah I know all about the fourth Hokage defeating the Kyuubi, but what made him so great?"
"The fourth Hokage was great at many things including tactics, economics, and most of all leadership. To be a leader means you have to make decisions. Most of the time those decisions aren't good decisions. If you want to be a good leader, try to follow in the steps of the King of Hi no Kuni. Choose what is right, not what is easy."
"So the fourth Hokage was a good leader then?"
"No. He was a hero."
"Is it better to be a hero than a leader?" I asked as I saw Ida begrudgingly walk into the classroom.
Iruka sensei turned around and shook her hand. Ida looked at me with a slight bit of fury, which did not go unnoticed by Iruka. I rolled my eyes as she walked up to me and said, "So they kept you an hour after school because you just dozed off in the middle of class!" She turned towards Iruka and yelled, "I can understand giving the boy detention over a mindless prank, but for sleeping during class. Half the kids in this damned school sleep during class!"
I was a bit surprised by what she said. Ida rarely ever took my side on anything. If there was a disagreement about the smallest thing she would be at odds with me. We both got along like water and oil. From what she said to me a few weeks ago I could barely look at her without glaring daggers.
Iruka sighed, "I'm sorry about this upset. From what Daikoku and Mizuki have told me, Naruto has been pulling off several pranks these past few weeks. I guess the principal just took this as the last strike."
Instead of slapping the back of my head like usual, Ida just hung her head low and said, "Don't they still use the paddle here? As much as Naruto would love to be paddled keeping the knucklehead afterschool is a little much."
"That fucking bitch!"
I glared at Ida coming to the same conclusion as the voice. Iruka looked at her sharply and said, "We still paddle the students, but that punishment is only dealt to the students who purposely get into fights with others or students who break the other two main rules. Such as stealing and cheating on tests."
"Fine. Detention it will be. However, if you give Naruto detention again for something as petty as sleeping during class, I promise to the Ten Divines I'll burn this school to the ground."
Iruka's laughed a light awkward laugh unsure how to respond to Ida's outburst. His laugh turned to a fear when he saw the look on Ida's face. He brought his left hand behind his head and said, "Ok I'll make sure to spread the word. I guess you two can leave. And Naruto remember what I told you ok."
The Birthday
The dark starry sky above Konoha would occasionally light up with the colors of white, red, green, and pink. Several seconds later the sound of explosions would mingle with the sound 'aww' from children. Thousands of people covered the streets in almost all parts of the village. Floats depicting various military units, floats depicting the fourth Hokage standing tall were flowing down the streets all across the village hidden in the leaves.
Bands marched down the streets from the Flats of the west side to the rich suburbs of the east side. Food stands from exotic lands were making money, dancers grabbed partners of the opposite sex, alcohol flowed from pubs, restaurants added to the chorus of jubilant noise, and shinobi walked the streets with smiles. The festivities of the Kyuubi festival were enjoyed by all except for one Naruto Uzamaki.
I stood by the window watching families laugh, friends joke, and people celebrating their survival of that night seven years ago. The Kyuubi festival was both a festivity for the survival of most of the people of Konoha that October 10th night and also a holiday for the shinobi, soldiers, and citizens who gave their lives on that day.
I was being watched by a squad of genin due to the absence of Arti, Amasa, and even Ida. They all three had their own excuses for not showing up for my birthday, but I still couldn't stop frowning. I looked away from the window that had seven tally marks etched lightly on it; and at the three genin busy eating various fried festival foods and pastries.
"Man I seriously should have done the full round last week. Mmm I would have been able to enjoy more of these fried dumplings." Said a buzz cut genin wearing a Kyuubi festival mask at the top of his head.
"Tsk, tell me about it. Everyone is having fun but us. And to top it all off we have to guard a seven year old kid." Said a short brown haired, khaki jacket wearing genin, who also seemed to be the team's mission leader.
I looked down at my feet feeling slightly ashamed. There were no lit candles in my room. I stood by the doorway masked in shadow. Frowning even more. Amasa promised me last week he'd take the day off to be here for me.
A tall, dirty blond haired kunoichi walked out of the kitchen and said quietly, "Something about that kid seems off. First off how many B-ranked babysitting missions have we gotten? Not only that but on the Kyuubi festival of all days."
"Tsk, you two really don't know do you?"
Both the mask wearing boy and the tall dirty blond kunoichi looked at their teammate confused.
"The reason why this kid is so weird is because he's some sort of freak. I heard from a girl that he's the monster of Konoha."
"Monster? I mean he's weird, but why do they call him the monster of Konoha?"
I shifted the weight from one leg to the other causing one of the floorboards to creak. All three of the genin looked straight in my direction with wide eyes. Knowing there was no point in standing in the shadows; I walked into the cramped and brightly lit living room.
I was wearing a white t-shirt with a red swirl in the middle and dark blue shorts. My sapphire blue eyes shined in the orange hue of the candles all around the room. While my short blond locks and whisker marks just added to the hurt stare in my eyes.
"So who is this monster of Konoha again?"
All three genin looked at me oddly. Their eyes widened upon them realizing I was eaves dropping on their conversation. The dirty blond haired kunoichi looked at me apologetically, "Look ahh, Nagato is it. We were talking about someone else."
"My name is Naruto," my eyes watered a little, "Someone else! The least you guys could… ugh. Forget it."
"Look Naruto we are sorry. We didn't mean to upset you. We wer-"
"Do you see me crying? I'm seven years old today, it's about time I start to grow up."
Fireworks and sparklers engulfed the room in periodicals of bright light as they watched me turn around. I could see from the corner of my eyes that the three genin were looking at me with complete fear in their eyes. I didn't care. I left them in the light and entered the shadow of my room again. I felt rage I hadn't felt in months engulf my body.
Was the rage catra or chakra? No it felt icy and more powerful. I opened up my bedroom window and climbed down to the ground without making a sound. I was told by Ida and Amasa that I had to stay in the lonely apartment for my whole birthday.
"Screw their rules. Enjoy the festivities!"
... ... ... ...
Unknown to Naruto the three genin were still standing at the same spot they stood at five minutes ago. They couldn't believe their eyes. More like Naruto's eyes thought the dirty blond haired kunoichi by the name of Dasa.
The bright crimson slit eyes of the Kyuubi, which were once thought extinct, were back. Seven years later on none other than Naruto Uzamaki.
I really loved writing this chapter. Read and Review. And follow if you can.
Q: It's really weird to read those church stuff in this fic. naruto and religion look like real world doesn't mixed good (excepted those fantasy sect like jashin)
A: Had trouble understanding this at first but after deciphering it slowly I can't help but say I'm sorry if the monastery scene made people feel weird. To be truthful I made up the religion of the ten divines as a polytheistic religion. I feel as though there are more religions in the Naruto world besides jashin, which is worshipped as a cult.