Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
When I Need Him the Most
For one week Akio and I fought. We are still fighting, but this fight is different from the physically, rolling around in the dirt, one we had that started the whole thing. Instead of throwing punches, we act like the other one does not exist. I think I would prefer it if we did throw punches. I understand what being punched means. I do not understand what he means by ignoring me. I think it means that he either wants nothing else to do with me, or that he wants me to be the one to apologize, but I do not know which one. I want it to be the second option, but I also do not want to apology for having a bad day. It is not my fault that I turned ten, it is not my fault that two scary men killed my family and now I get to grow when they do not. For one week this has been going on, and it is also in one week that Naruto finally comes home. And the first thing he decides he needs to do is knock on my door to tell me all about it. I am slow to open the door as I had just spent another day at the academy trying to ignore Akio as he tried to ignore me, so I was contemplating how to be friends with him again without admitting that I had some fault in our fight. However, as soon as I open the door Naruto lunges forward, grips each of my shoulders with both of his hands, and shoves his face extremely close to mine. "Manami!" He exclaimed as if he has discovered something that will change the world as we know it. I guess his training went well. He has been gone for a long time simply for going to train.
I could not fight off the urge to flinch and immediately close my eyes for a second at the close proximity, before answering in a forced deadpan voice, "Naruto nii-san".
Looking straight into my coal black eyes with his clear blue ones he said, "I think about you Manami."
I blink a couple of times, trying to figure out if I heard him right, before feeling slightly nervous and very confused at this sudden exclamation before I slowly said, "what?"
He then starts to shake my shoulders with every word he says. "I think about you so you have a home. Because your home is where someone's thinking of you", and then he grins.
The nervousness subsides as full blown confusion takes over, "Thank you", I said unsurely.
Somehow my responses causes Naruto to invite himself into my apartment, sit at my kitchen table and start this long tale about how he had gone training with the 'pervy-sage' only to get sent back to the village when the sage got sent on some mission. But he never came home to the apartments, and instead went straight to training, which had something to do with some pair of toads, which I did not understand in the slightest. But that is when I decide that he is not going to be done with his story anytime soon, and close my front door and get us both a glass of water. Then he goes on about how he was sent on a mission himself. He gives little away about the mission details, not because he is choosing to be secretive, he just got distracted by this boy he met and keeps going on and on about the importance of how a home is with those that you care for. This whole series of events ends with Naruto saying that the mysterious boy went off with the person he cared about.
All I could think to say is, "That is nice" as I slowly sip my water, wondering if all ninja missions are weird like this one or if those are just the type of missions Naruto gets.
Of course Naruto, being Naruto goes a step farther. He suddenly stands up and slams his hands down on the table, knocking over his glass in the process. "We need to spend more time together!" he exclaimed, making me choke on my water.
It takes me a few seconds to stop choking before I half cough half laugh out, "What?" because, honestly, what idea does he have in his head that makes him want to spend time with a ten year old.
Naruto has already walked around the table to my side and pulls me away from my spot. "I'm your big brother, but I haven't taught you anything. So how are you going to know this is your home when you don't know that I think about you?" He said as he pulls me to the door. Ah, so all of this has to do with that mysterious boy from his mission I think as I try to fight off Naruto.
"Where are we going?" I ask as my struggling against him fails. "I do not have my shoes on". I complain when he does not answer me, and the front door keeps getting closer and closer.
Randomly he lets go of my arm, and from the sudden release of tension I go stumbling backwards. "Get your shoes then, and we'll train and get ramen. Then I'll be the best big brother ever!" He declared with a wide grin on his face as I regain my balance.
My right eye twitches as I said, "The best brother ever would clean that up first", pointing to the table where his knocked over water glass lies.
"Buts it's your apartment", Naruto mumbles, as he goes over to do the task.
"You are the one who knock it over", I argue back as I grab my shoes. Looks like we are both appeasing each other.
Once the spilt water is cleaned open and I have my shoes on we leave, and end up on the training grounds that Akio and I always go to. Although it is the right time of day, as the academy has been out for a couple of hours there is no Akio present, but Neji is. He is going through his usual motions, looking as intense as ever. I wonder if he enjoyed not having Akio and me here when he trains. He probably can get a lot more done without us distracting him. "Alright Manami!" Naruto exclaims loudly, drawing my attention to him, only to see that he is standing in front of my with his hands on his hips, and a serious expression on his face. Is he seriously going to teach me something? I ask myself as I instantly stand up straight, and make eye contact with him due to his sudden change in behavior. "As my little sister you have to learn how to be as awesome of a ninja as I am!" Naruto pauses for dramatic effect. Out of the corner of my eye I see Neji stop in his practices, no doubt scowling at the loudness of my brother. "So I'm going to teach you the super, awesome, one of a kind Uzumaki barrage technique!" And all seriousness goes out the window with those adjectives.
Someone scoffs behind me and I do not have to turn around to know that it is Neji. "How is that move one of a kind?" He asked sarcastically as I turn slightly and step back so the three of us form a circle.
"But out Neji", said Naruto as he loses his serious stance so he can express his irritation more clearly. "I'm teaching my little sister how to be a super cool shinobi like me!"
Neji raises one eyebrow. "Little sister? Who would let you be a big brother to anyone?" He asked in an amused tone that suggests that he is only questioning to get a rise out of Naruto.
And it worked. Naruto proceeds to go off on a rant about how awesome he is as a big brother, and how I am so lucky to have him as a brother. That part I agree with, I am lucky to have Naruto, but not because of his awesomeness as he puts it. I am lucky to have him, because it means I am not always alone. As his rant continues I have time to turn to Neji and ask, "What do you mean by that move not being one of a kind, Neji-sensei?"
Neji turns towards me to answer, and my question even broke Naruto out of his rant as he asked, "Neji-sensei?" in the back round before Neji answered, "It is not one of a kind as he learned it from his old teammate".
I interrupt him, "Sakura or Sasuke" I asked, immediately picturing the picture that Naruto has on his night stand by his bed.
Neji shoots a glare over my head at Naruto, and I hear Naruto take an intake of breath, so it must have been one powerful glare. I guess I just gave away something I am not supposed to know. "Sasuke", Neji finally answers. "And Sasuke learned it from Rock Lee, and the actual name is lion's barrage", and with a pointed look at Naruto, "Not Uzumaki barrage".
"Nuh Uh!" Naruto exclaims, and I turn to look at him, only to see that he is pointing at Neji accusingly, even though he is the one being accused. "I made it one of a kind when I added shadow clones!"
"And how are you going to teach that technique to an academy student who has only been taught to make two shadow clones? As I recall you used quite a few clones to execute that move."
I look back and forth between the two of them. Neji is standing tall with a smug satisfaction on his face, and Naruto is staring blankly at him with his shoulders slumped, and arms dangling at his sides. Looking solely at Naruto I ask, "Does that mean you are not going to teach me anything Naruto nii-san?"
As Naruto continues to have a blank look in his face, Neji sighs, and steps in. "Manami run fifty laps and then work on taijutsu. You need to be faster".
Shaking my head at my adoptive big brother, I said, "Yes Neji-sensei", and take off running to complete my laps. A couple of seconds past before Naruto breaks out of his stupor and yells out, "No fair! I wanted to teach her!"
"Then you should have thought of a technique that she is capable of", Neji said in a must more even voice.
"And why does she call you Neji-sensei?" Naruto continued, completely ignoring Neji's point. "She has me as her brother to teach her super awesome stuff! She doesn't need you!"
When I woke up this morning this is not how I pictured my day going. After my laps are done, Neji had me going through different and common taijutsu strikes, while Naruto pouted and did his own training a little ways away from us. Occasionally he would say something about Neji not teaching cool enough stuff. In response to Naruto's actions Neji would alternate from instructing me about my form to ridiculing Naruto about his form. Apparently I am not extending my left arm enough when I punch and Naruto is all talk and no skill. In which Naruto would respond to with another insult about Neji not being cool, that Neji did not find insulting at all. It went on like that for hours before Naruto and Neji finally had enough of each other. The sun was just setting as Naruto started leading the way to the ramen stand, leaving Neji to his own devices.
I was slightly surprised that I did not see Akio at the training grounds. I was under the impression that he went every day. However I am very surprised that he is at the ramen stand, sitting in between a man and woman who both have kunai pouches strapped to the legs, head bands tied to their heads, and are sporting ninja vests. The women I recognize as his mother, so the man must be Akio's father.
"Ah Naruto, welcome back", the shopkeeper said as Naruto Pushes me forward into the stand, obviously in a hurry to get his ramen.
"Thanks old man" Naruto said, gaining the attention of the family as he slides into the sit closest to the wall, and I next to him, and Akio's father. "One miso ramen with everything on it!" Naruto orders happily. "What do you want Manami?" He asked.
I order shrimp ramen said as I hear Akio's mother lean over and tell him, "Look honey there's your friend from school". I look in Akio's direction, and we make eye contact for a few seconds before we both break it.
"So this is the famous Manami that our son's been talking so much about", Akio's father said as he puts down his chopsticks, and turns to face me. "The first time Akio met you he came home late and told us he finally found someone from the academy who knew how to fight. And now I have a face to attach the name. It's nice to meet you", he said with a smile.
"Hello", I said politely, though I keep glancing at Akio, trying to understand how he is feeling about this, because I am feeling awkward.
"Your friend?" Naruto asked, drawing everyone's attention to him. Naruto leans forward, on the counter to pear around me and Akio's father to get a look at him. "Oh yeah I remember!" He said. "What's his name again? Akito?"
I shake my head at him, as Akio looks at him irritated, and his parents look confused. "Akio", I mumble at my surrogate brother.
"Oh right Akio! And you're his parents. Hi I'm Naruto Uzumaki. Manami's brother!" Well, at least he did not call Akio a brat this time.
Akio's mother's eyes widen. "Brother?" She exclaims in surprise before looking at her son. "I thought you said Manami", and then she trails out, obviously not wanting to mention the fact that I have no family in my presence.
"She doesn't", Akio mutters into his bowl of ramen. "He just calls himself her brother".
"Oh, well that's nice", his mother said with a smile, redeeming herself.
The shopkeeper returns and places one large bowl of miso ramen with everything in it and one bowl of shrimp ramen in front of Naruto and me. "Alright!" Naruto cheers as he grabs a pair of chopsticks and digs in, before I follow his example more slowly. Naruto is sure to finish quickly, and soon we can leave and get out of this awkward situation. For the rest of the meal Akio's parents try to keep a conversation going between Akio and me, even scolding Akio one time for not being very sociable with his friend. His father even offered to move so we could sit next together, but Akio quickly told him that he did not need to.
Finally Naruto slurps down the last noodle, and swallows the last of the broth. "Man that was good", he said has he rested a hand on his full belly. "There's nothing like ramen after training!"
"Are you ready to go?" I asked him as I put my chopsticks down after only eaten half of it.
Naruto looks at me like there is something off, but he slowly nods his head and fishes in his pants' pocket for his wallet. "Thanks again old man", he said has he places the money down for our meals. And then he turns to Akio and his family. "It was nice to meet you Akito's parents", he said.
"Akio", I corrected under my breath.
"Akio's parents", Naruto said again before we make our way back to the apartments. As we passed other villagers Naruto stretches his arms up before resting them behind his head. "I thought you'd want to stay with your friend for longer".
I kick at a loose pebble, and shove my hands in my pockets. "He is mad at me right now", I said as Naruto looked down at me, with one or his rare understanding expressions. Like the one he had when we realized we were neighbors and he found out I was alone.
"What did you do?" he asked, with all of his bluntness.
I sigh as we turn a corner to our apartment building. "I did not do anything. I just did not want to hang out with him because it was my birthday".
Naruto interrupts me. "It was your birthday! Why didn't you tell me! What type of little sister are you? I would've taken you out for ramen".
"You were gone", I said exasperated. Naruto makes a 'oh yay' sound in the back of his throat. "And", I added on, "I did not want it to be my birthday". I mumble as I stare down at my shoes and let my hair block my face from his view.
"Why Not?" Naruto demands. "Birthdays are fun! For my birthday Iruka-sensei would take to get ramen and I didn't have to pay for any of it!" He finished as we reach our apartment building and start up the stairs, Naruto leading the way.
"Because my family is dead", I whispered. Naruto flinches and turns to look at me. I am surprised he heard me. "I do not want to change without them. It is not fair". I said a little louder.
Naruto faces forward again and finishes the trip upstairs. He waits for me to be standing in front of him and his door before telling me, "I think your family would want you to change. They'd want you to be happy. Not like you are right now, with your friend mad at you and all. So stop whining and change already", he said with his usual attitude. I take in a sharp breath and slowly nod. I do not want to, but I guess I cannot decide if I change or not. It will happen, whether I want to or not. And maybe changing is worth it if I can be friends with Akio again. "Ok then!" Naruto exclaimed, suddenly sounding much happier. He turns to face his down, gets his key out of his pocket and opens his door. "Let's go celebrate you birthday! I think I might have some candy or something. Or we could eat ramen again". He mutters to himself, which is good because I am not really listening.
Instead I decide to let go just for a minute and throw myself at Naruto, wrapping my arms around his waist making him tense at the sudden contact. "Thank you" I whisper. "For always being here when I need you, Naruto nii-san".
A few seconds pass before he hugs me back with one arm, laughing as he said, "I told you that I'm the best big brother ever".
I let go first, and step back so I can smile up at him. It is true. Naruto is gone a lot but he always appears at the worst of times. Like when he came home the first time and prevented me from being lonely, when I needed to ask him where Kakashi was, when I woke up in the hospital, and just now, when I am fighting with my best friend.
"So", Naruto started as he entered his apartment with me on his heels. "How old are you now? Six?"
And the moment is ruined. "I am ten you dope", I said as I closed his front door behind me.