Author Message: Hello everyone, another chapter here we go and hope to hear what you think.

WORDS STYLE:

Flashback

Thinking

[Tv/Intercom]

SHOUTING

TwIsTeD


Chapter 3

LAST CHAPTER

Naruto was walking next to Ms. Inuzuri, the two were rather silent as they appeared in thought yet simultaneously they had spoken.

"I'm/I'm—" The two stopped walking as they appeared surprised, they stared at each other before suddenly smiling and laughing a little, the nervousness and awkwardness suddenly started to vanish between them as the taller of the two extended a hand.

"My names Naruto, no last name and I'm from District 9." He hit looks from those walking by but like Naruto, she also ignores the loos and she shook it while giving him a gentle smile.

"I'm Inuzuri, Hisana Inuzuri and I'm from District 78." With that single introduction, a new friendship had formed as both had made their first friend since coming to the academy.

CURRENT CHAPTER/1 YEAR LATER/ONE DAY IN THE SPRING, DURING ONE HOUR OF FREE PERIOD

"And…there." Spoke a smiling Hisana, sitting outside the academy building within the garden located at the center for studying purposes, the Inuzuri had a brush in hand and was practicing her Calligraphy. It was a bright and sunny day but Hisana sat in the shade, under a Sakura tree that was in full bloom.

(ルキア)

As she stares at it, slowly the smile disappears and in its place was regret.

"I wonder…if you're ok…?" As she muttered that, she started to look even more depressed as tears form in her eyes.

"Ah, Hisana." This got a jolt from the girl who almost drops her brush but she quickly grips it and wipes her face a little with her sleeve, turning with a smile to see a smiling Kaien Shiba approaching her but she frowns upon seeing her face yet stops when he saw her weak smile as if reassuring him.

"Oh, hey Kaien." She puts down her brush and gave a wave to the young man who responds as he returned the smile, his gaze looking in all directions.

So where's whiskers at?" This got a small almost snort from Hisana at Naruto's nickname. "He's usually hanging around you, sleeping when you're doing Calligraphy or lazing around when you try helping him study?" She merely shrugs while lifting both her hands.

"You know him, he's probably doing the usual." This got him to chuckle as he looks away smiling as he spoke.

"After he discovered what Ramen was he was pretty inseparable from it more so the fact the bill he racked up." Laughter was gained from Hisana, recalling that memory quite well as Kaien was crying at the bill he had to pay yet the laughter starts to die down, Hisana thinking about the expression and words.

(I don't know why, but eating this makes me so happy yet so sad.)

As she recalled those words, a frown forms on her face yet pushes that aside.

"I heard your graduating," This caught him by surprise. "Rumor is your a prodigy who in a mere two years has completed the curriculum of the Shin'ō Academy." Hisana looks at him with a sad smile while the man just looks away with a weak smile.

"Naruto was shocked, to say the least when he heard, I tried to tell him it was a rumor but he didn't believe it." Her words caused him to frown once again.

"What did you expect," Mutters Kaien. "We're his first friends so of course he would act like that, he doesn't try making more friends, just us. Either way, once he graduates we'll be able to see each other and hang out again. Tho…might be a lot sooner when it comes to him." He mutters the last part with Hisana looking at him questionably, not hearing him fully yet he just smiled and waved his hands.

"I'll talk to him later, so how goes the teaching?" This got her to sigh.

"Unlike Hakuda, he's having lots of issues with Kidō. So far, any time he's tried using Kidō, whether it is Bakudō, Hadō, and Kaidō, it just self destructs." This got a look of surprise on his face.

"I know he's having problems but exploding? Isn't he doing the incantations first?" She nods and places a hand on her chin.

"He is but I don't know what the problem he's having is, he's doing everything right but the moment he chants, it ends badly." This got the genius to look away with wonder.

"So how goes his Zanjutsu tra—"

"TAKE THAT BACK!" That sudden shout got their attention, coming from outside the garden, leaving the two to make their way towards the entrance of the garden to find a small crowd gathered, and in the center was Jirōbō Ikkanzaka, a large man who was a fourth-year. The man was being grabbed by a certain blonde tightly, glaring at the taller and larger one who didn't seem bothered, more so he was visibly yawning.

"THIS ISN'T A JOKE, TAKE IT BACK IKKANZAKA!" He once again demanded yet he just looked at Naruto with great annoyance before turning and raising a hand.

"Huh, can't hear you from down their District 9 trash." This seemed to anger the blonde more at the one who just smirks which Naruto starts to raise a fist when Kaien gets between them, a hand on Naruto's raised fist and another stopping his hand gripping Jirōbō's kimono which has him letting it go.

"That's enough you two, no need to start anything less we anger our superiors—" Naruto just points at Jirōbō again.

"Not until he apologizes." This caused Kaien to raise an eyebrow and look at Jirōbō who merely turns away and scoffed.

"All I said is that Inuzuri girl isn't cut out for being a Shinigami." This caused Kaien's eyes to narrow a little while Naruto was gritting his teeth with the crowd watching before their attention turns to someone approaching the scene said person stops behind Naruto, placing a hand on his shoulder which he turned to find Hisana there, giving him a smile that causes the blonde to breathe out and turns away from Jirōbō.

"Let's get going, I got better things to do than argue with you Ikkanzaka." Mutters the blonde as he starts walking away with Hisana following with Kaien doing the same as he pats Jirōbō on the back.

That was a close one, almost ended quite badly." This got the man a smirk as he crosses his arms.

"Of course, it wouldn't look good if I were to—" He stops mid-sentence when he shook his head, turning away from him as he started following after the two of them while the other students were leaving the scene.

"That's not what I meant." Was all he said, confusing the Shinigami in training who watched the three retreat, leaving him frowning while Kaien and Hisana stood on either side of the annoyed blonde.

"That was a close one, you would have gotten in trouble with Chiriku-Fēng." Hisana said, giving him an all-knowing smile that just makes him look depressed at not thing able to do anything.

"She's right you know," Kaien raises a hand while the three made their way back into the garden where Hisana's supplies were at. "If you had punched an upperclassman, you would be on the receiving end a lot me than just disciplinary action." This just got him to grumble in annoyance but in the end, he sighs while Hisana picks up her supplies.

"It's just a punch, they should be the ones getting disciplined if a lower classman beat them." This merely got Kaien to cross his arms.

"Wouldn't that just make them want to harass you more if you beat them?" Questioned Hisana who had gathered her supplies in hand and turned to Naruto who just looks away with annoyance before turning his gaze over towards Kaien.

"So, heard you're graduating early…" This sudden question got his eyes to widen. "You're turning it down, right?" This question just got his eyes to widen a little before they soften, staring into the eyes of his friend.

"Naruto, I—" Was all he could say as the eye contact was broken by Naruto who suddenly turns, surprising the two of them while his arms were behind his head.

"No need to explain, go for it." This took him and Hisana by surprise, seeing Naruto's expression wasn't happy or sad, but neutral. "Your graduating early which is a big accomplishment after all so you should take it without a second thought." As he heard that, Kaien smiles just like Hisana.

"Pretty uncharacteristic of you—" He stops when he saw Naruto start to smile evilly.

"Since you'll be graduating early, you'll be making a salary so once you graduate, Ramen's on you for the years you missed." Kaien's eyes almost bugged out.

"WITH YOUR APPETITE, ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR DAMN MIND?!"

"I'll take that as a yes."

"YOU'RE A BOTTOMLESS PIT! YOU'LL DRY MY FAMILY FORTUNE!"

"I need sustenance to grow."

As they went back and forth, Hisana just smiles at the two yet slowly it turns sad.

"Rukia would have gotten along with them," Slowly she looks down. "If only I hadn't abandoned, I would be able to see how she's—" Her thoughts were silenced as a flick to her forehead happened, causing her to look up as she found the two staring at her, Naruto having flicked her before standing up straight next to Kaien.

"You ok Hisana, you looking pretty down like you wanna cry?" This got an elbow from Kaien, the two making eye contact with odd gesture's happening which Hisana just smiles at the duo communicating with Kaien punching Naruto on the head, leaving the blonde crouching as he held his head.

"Ignore the idiot, you've been looking down lately, anything wrong?" As soon as he asked that, he found himself in a headlock with the blonde giving him a vicious noogie with the soon graduate trying to desperately free himself to no avail.

"Yeah, whenever we see you after being alone it happens?" His words caused her eyes to widen before she looks down at her feet.

"I…—" She was cut off as a hand rests atop her head, causing her to look up and meet Naruto's smile and he shoves his thumb into his chest.

"Don't need to say anything till your ready, just remember we're always here to help." Hisana's eyes widen at hearing those words while Kaien breaks free, scratching his head and giving Naruto a side-glare while the blonde just gave him a smug ass smile before turning his attention to Hisana.

"Whiskers right," This caused the blonde's eye to twitch. "just ask and we'll help you as best we can, after all, we're friends." Their words had caused her to look at her feet, slowly tears start to form that caused the two to go wide-eyed and look at each other like they just screwed up.

"Thanks…guys—" As she looked up, her tearful eyes were met with the scene of the two idiots in the middle of fighting, Kaien pulling Naruto's hair while Naruto was busy pulling Kaien's cheek, both trying to push the other away but had stopped when Hisana noticed them yet she just laughs which causes the two to look at each other before they laugh along with her.

"So," Kaien began. "how about you two come to my place after classes?" This got the two to look at him with surprise.

"Your place," Hisana appeared unsure of the idea. "are you sure we're allowed, we're not noble." This merely got a shake of the head from Kaien.

"It's fine, your my guests and friends. We've been hanging for over a year, ever since Naruto swung his sword in class while forgetting the scabbard was still on." This started to make Naruto sweat. "Which hit me in the forehead."

"You're not gonna let that go, are you?"

"Which reminds me," Kaien gave Naruto a deathly glare. "how goes your Zanjustu classes?"

"…"

"He uh…lost the grip of his sword…mid swing…." Spike Hisana, looking away uncomfortably while Kaien's eye twitches.

"Ahaha, at least it didn't hit anyone…this time."

"NARUTO YOU IDIOT, WHAT WAS THE POINT OF THE LATE-NIGHT LESSONS I GAVE YOU?!"

"IT SLIPPED OK," He crosses his arms in annoyance. "not my fault that stupid bokken is breakable, I hold it too light it slips but if I hold it too tight I end up crushing the thing, it's annoying to adjust." He mutters the last part with Kaien appearing to calm down.

"Even now," As Kaien thought that, Naruto's back turned towards them with Hisana as well. "his strength is just shocking, if I hadn't interfered in all those fights he would have sent them all to the infirmary with just a single punch." He stared at Naruto's back, knowing for a clear fact from day one he heard about Naruto's abilities. It was with these thoughts, he started to smile at the future Naruto had as a Shinigami.


"This is the place." Mutters the blonde as he stood next to Hisana at the gates of a large manor, the two seeing large houses inside the gate from just up close to the front. Slowly, Hisana raises a hand and knocks yet almost immediately from behind the gate jumps out to men, causing the two to step back upon the sight of two large and bald men, both wearing a red hat, one having yellow clothing and the other grey.

"Halt strangers," One spoke as they cross their arms. "I Shiroganehiko!" As he began the other spoke.

"And I Koganehiko!" They stepped forward. "Can not allow you entrance!" Both entered a fighting stance with Hisana taking a step back, unsure before Naruto got in front of her, surprising her.

"Begone!"

"Or advance and be killed now for your insolence!" As he said that, the two stood before them with intimidating expressions yet Naruto appeared unbothered.

"Ok, but Kaien invited us." This caused their eyes to widen. "I'm Naruto and this is Hisana—" He stops to see they were now sweating like ghosts.

"Uh, is everything—" He was silenced at seeing the two suddenly bow.

"WE'RE SORRY,!" They shout simultaneously. "PLEASE FORGIVE US FOR OUR FOOLISHNESS!" As they shouted that, the two were now looking unnerved before they heard footsteps and look at the gate opening.

"The hell is going on?!" Demands someone with a softer tone yet stern. "I can hear shouting from my room." Stepping out was a youthful-looking woman, appearing around the age of Naruto. She looked like she had just woken up due to her long messy black hair despite her clothing, the red kimono she wore being neat. The three stare at each other for a few seconds, more so Naruto and her, green eyes meeting blue and she just takes in Naruto's appearance and the fact his casual wear was an odd choice for it was

a Keikogi, taking the form of a sleeveless top with matching baggy pants, and a short-sleeved orange undershirt, along with black sandals, and an orange obi tied in a knot over the waist.

"Your outfit looks like shit."

"…"

All she got in response was an eye twitch, resulting in the next few minutes of nonsense happening until Kaien arrives at the front, given quite the sight of the guards watching in despair next to Hisana who was facepalming, what was happening had gathered a small crowd, some actual low nobles whispering amongst themselves and it was the sight of the woman arguing with the blonde.

"CUT YOUR HAIR, YOU LOOK LIKE YOU CAN'T AFFORD A DECENT BARBER!"

"AT LEAST I DON'T LOOK LIKE I GOT RUN OVER BY THE KŌTOTSU!"

"ORANGE IS A SHIT COLOR!"

"OH YOU BIT—"

"NARUTO! KŪKAKU!" The two jolt. "ENOUGH ALREADY!" As they turn, they see the Kaien standing at the door before he mimics Hisana and face palms, the sight causing the two to finally take in the crowd and start to sweat.

xxxxxCHAPTER ENDxxxxx