Chapter 35
Hidden Connections
"Destiny is not a matter of chance; it is a matter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."
― William Jennings Bryan
Sasuke yawned as he entered the classroom. He had no idea why he was tired, he then realized he wasn't. He just knew this day would be boring without Priya. She had gone on a mission with Kakashi. Normally, he would be jealous if another kid that hadn't graduated yet had an opportunity. But, he was hoping whatever she did in Suna would put in her in a good place for the future.
As he sat down he noticed Naruto wasn't at his seat. It was odd because, for a flunky, he was usually one of the first to arrive at the school. It was a conundrum that Sasuke couldn't quite figure out about Naruto. He watched as the students trickled in one by one and, to his annoyance, Sakura and Ino came in with an argument about him. He glanced at the door waiting, but his intense look must have signaled something else, as both girls blushed. He quickly glanced away as the school bell rang.
Was Naruto skipping school? Sasuke gritted his teeth in slight annoyance as he hadn't skipped school for a while. When Naruto usually did, an impending prank was on the horizon. He sighed as he glanced in his backpack and it held Naruto's present from Priya.
When lunchtime came around he went to his silent area and waited to hear anything about Naruto.
"Hiya!", Eulalia had a slight happy cadence coming from her as she made her presence known. He was pleased as it was a sign that she was adjusting to her new schedule.
"Have you seen Naruto", he asked as he knew that she walked around town during the school day. She shook her head and gave him an "improved bento box" that she deemed worthier than his basic tomato sandwich. He noticed that some of the herbs were very fragrant meaning that they were just plucked from a garden. She then placed a loaf of soft bread on his lap. It had a note which had Naruto's name.
"Although I did hear the villagers talk about him, why do you ask?"
"Haven't seen him today", he said simply. Eulalia looked at him as if he was hiding something.
"You got him a present didn't you?", she asked, delight coming across her eyes.
"No I didn't", Sasuke blushed in embarrassment.
"I remember him getting you some tomato ramen, it's only fair that you remember his birthday as well", she countered. "Kakashi says there is nothing wrong with making friends",
"Naruto isn't a friend", mumbled Sasuke.
"Oh yeah? If he's not a friend, what is he then?" Eulalia asked. For the first time in a while, Sasuke felt his face warm up from embarrassment as he felt he was being caught in something he couldn't quite put his finger on.
"...because," Eulalia went on, "I'm confused.", she placed her hand on her head and scrunched up her head and then started to tap her head in almost a rhythmic beat. " You two bicker, but clearly have admiration for each other. You are around each other all the time, kinda like Hestia and Priya - - wait!" Eulalia put her hands up signaling she was putting something together. "Do you like, like him?", she gasped. "Of course! It makes sense. This is a hetero-normative town, and you have to face these forbidden feelings inside, and you can't-
"WAY OFF", shouted Sasuke standing up. "Even if I did have feelings, which I DON'T", he said looking dead in her eyes so it would be clear. "My mom told me to go at it full force, even when it's hard", he sat back down and crossed his arms. "Even when it goes against your primary instinct", that part he said softer, but it was a tone that seemed to echo from someone, like a direct quote.
"I don't understand then why you can't just admit that he's a friend, Priya's your friend", she said.
"You say all the time that you aren't my friend", he countered. "And you feed me food", he started eating her bento box. "Very good by the way"
"Oh I consider you like a brother or a cousin", she clarified. "Somebody that I'm responsible for" Eulalia didn't really feel like telling him that black folks had a knack for picking up people and calling them family or making a deeper connection with people already related. "Like Soraya, although she is cousin, she really does feel like a sister, and when she has children I'm their Auntie"
"Oh", he was surprised that it didn't trigger anything from the past. Her explanation felt warm. "So you feel responsible for me", he asked.
"Yes", Sauske noticed she answered without hesitation. Honesty was a trait that he loved. But there was a bit of sadness in her eyes. He sighed. "Nothing that's happening is your fault, you know that right, I know you cook for me because you feel guilty"
"..." Eulalia didn't say anything because he was exactly correct.
"Don't tell Kakashi-sama", Eulalia gazed at him with total disagreement in her eyes. "I mean it, Eui-chan", he said in finality. He hated that he couldn't pronounce her name correctly, but he didn't recognize her by name often so maybe that was enough. "If that gets out, it will cause big problems for you and Kakashi-sama, it could even interfere with the adoption proceedings, I'm begging you to stay quiet, please, do nothing" Eulalia looked at her hands in thought.
"If you can admit, that you care for Naruto"
"Of course I care", he snapped. "But it's like what I feel for Priya okay, not that romantic crap you and Kakashi read"
"So you feel responsible for them as well", she smiled. "And just so you know I read nonfiction as well", she grabbed the book and started reading. Sasuke knew that it was the end of the conversation
"Tell the teacher I'm sick", said Sasuke, Eulalia looked up from her book, and Sauske looked at her as if he was asking for something. Eulalia thought about it, trying to see if she missed a social cue. But then it clicked to her, he was asking permission to skip school to find Naruto. She rolled her eyes and shooed him away.
"You may go", he left and Eulalia did not look up from her page to see him go. However, she did sense a glare from Sakura. She glanced up only to flick her off.
Sasuke left the school grounds and went searching for Naruto.
Naruto hated that he had to go back into the main district of the village. He never knew why but on his birthday, the villagers targeted him more. Over the years, their attacks had become more aggressive. He learned very quickly on his birthday, not even his home was safe, as rocks had been thrown. There was one instance where villagers rioted outside his apartment or the more extreme case someone breaking inside and taunting him. He couldn't help that his birthday was the day that Konoha got annihilated by the nine-tail fox, and he was the only child born that day. It made him an automatic outcast. Nevertheless, he was used to it.
Luckily, the attacks have lessened over the years. Only two incidents happened last year. One of them wasn't there because he knew to hide on the outskirts of Konoha during his birthday. A few villagers visited his home and tried to vandalize it. He wasn't there as he was with the current Hokage, and then the next day he visited Soraya. He glanced at the art supplies he carried. He beamed at the memory of her giving him the items. Since then he hadn't skipped school, although he never gave up on his pranks.
Sasuke watched as Naruto stealthily went through the alleyways. After a few minutes, he recognized that he was going to the school, but noticed it was the long way around.
" Why is he even going back, it's past school hours", thought Sauske. It didn't make sense to him that Naruto would skip class, then come back. He noticed Iruka-sensei emerge from the back of the school.
Naruto came to a halt when he saw Iruka-sensei. He bowed respectfully to the only teacher that seemed to respect him, even through his pranks. Naruto felt that Iruka was quite clever, as he caught Naruto the majority of times before his pranks start. Iruka had a solemn look and Naruto's heart quickened thinking he was upset that he skipped school...again. Instead, Iruka patted his head.
"I'm glad you're safe", uttered Iruka.
"You're not yelling at me?" inquired Naruto.
"If I scolded every student that skipped on their birthday, I would have a lot of angry parents", Iruka chuckled. "I hope you enjoyed fishing",
"Yeah...didn't catch nothing", said Naruto in disappointment.
"Listen, I have to go on a mission for the next few days, so I won't be able to take out for ramen tonight, but have this", Iruka gave him new goggles as his old ones were torn and dirty. Instead of green, these were blue. "I've seen steady improvement from you, think of it as a good luck charm before you earn your real headband"
"Oh sweet", chimed Naruto.
Another ninja approached them both and Naruto was surprised to see his teacher Mizuki.
"Quit stalling, we have to go", Mizuki yelled at Iruka. Iruka gave a tap on Naruto's shoulder.
"No pranks go straight home", urged Iruka. Naruto nodded and for once did what Iruka told him to do.
"I can't believe you waste that time with him", muttered Mizuki.
Iruka glared at him and gave him a look that signaled that he wanted to choke his teammate. "Remember he is your student", he said before both leaving for their mission.
Sasuke watched the entire interaction and was surprised how much appreciation had for the gift, and that Iruka had a deeper relationship with Naruto than any of the other students. He was happy for Naruto, as he had an adult that cared for him. However, the response from Mizuki was troubling to him. Either way, he knew that Naruto had trouble following orders so he decided to follow him, and tease him if he got off track before he returned home. Nevertheless, he maintained some distance away from him.
"Hey there's that kid", Sasuke heard a bystander say who was in his early twenties. He thought the bystander was talking about him as sometimes people gawked at him for being the last of his clan. So he was going to tell them in a polite way to piss off.
"The demon kid, let's go", Sasuke felt it was ominous by the way the men quickly rose, and he knew the look in their eyes. The look of a predator toying with their meat. Against his better judgment, he followed them. Sasuke watched the group from afar eavesdropping on their conversation. It was four males. Two out of the four were still genin and the oldest one was chunin.
"Let's show him where he belongs", he heard one of them say. Sasuke slightly panicked but followed them with a little more haste in his step. Naruto was a few blocks ahead of the gang, but went through an alleyway and the gang started to pick up their pace. Sasuke was sure of it now, Naruto was about to be attacked by the scoundrels.
Sasuke grabbed a rock and threw it with precision to the leader's head. The man yelped in pain and turned around. "Well, if it isn't the little Uchiha", he said, sauntering up to the boy. "Want to join in on the fun?"
"Leave Naruto alone, whatever he did just tell Iruka-sensei", he demanded.
"That kid's very existence is a nuisance", the leader retorted.
"My mother died because of him, today of all days the night he was born", responded another. The others started to say similar grievances but Sauske didn't care what they were.
"Idiots, the Nine-Tails is what killed your families, not Naruto, he can't help that he was born on the same day", he retorted darkly. He could feel a familiar burn starting to pulsate in the back of his eyes, and he couldn't control it from stopping because of his anger.
"Whose the-", the leader grabbed his subordinate's arm and shook his head. "Remember the law"
"Why don't you listen to your senpai's and go back home, and leave us", one of the lackeys said.
"I was about to say the same thing", countered Sasuke.
The man laughed at the ten-year-old. "You gonna be like Itachi and protect your friend, or are you going to turn out crazy like him too" Sauske's eyes started to tingle, and then it felt strained.
"Oh look at the Sharigan appears", Sauske's eyes along with his red and black eyes were full of rage. "Fine we will do it your way you want to fight-
Sasuke charged at them and his knee went into one of the subordinate's face. A tooth escaped and fell to the ground. He took a bar on the ground and hit one of them in the back. He saw the leader about to use a jutsu. Time seemed to slow down as he could tell what type of jutsu it was and began to copy it himself. However, he stopped as if he instinctively knew that wouldn't work.
"Fireball jutsu", he said a flame escaped his mouth. He dodged an attack from his left, but he missed the man that found himself behind him and he was grabbed from behind. He headbutted the man, but he didn't let go. He grabbed the kunai in his pocket but before he could slice the man's finger, the man groaned and fell to the floor as the man felt a hard kick in the back.
"SASUKE?", he turned around to see Hestia. "Why are your eyes red?", she questioned.
"Thanks, but let me take care of this", Hestia nodded as she saw a fierce angry aura around him.
"You think you can take us-", Sauske didn't let him finish as he charged back into the fight. Hestia watched as in seconds all four men were on the ground in a matter of seconds. Sasuke only took a few punches to the face, but it seemed that it was purposeful in the sense. Hestia watched as Sasuke repeatedly punched the leader in the face, blooding his own knuckles.
"Tell anyone who ever thinks of touching Naruto, I will come and murder them in their sleep", he shoved the man's head on the ground before spitting the blood out in his mouth on the guy. Hestia grabbed Sasuske's arm and rushed out of the alleyway before any onlookers came by. "Wait", Sasuke shrugged her off and calmed himself down, and rubbed his eyes. The sensation was gone and his eyes were back to normal. He did a final exhale before turning back.
"What was that?", she asked.
"My Sharingan", he answered. "I'm not supposed to have it yet, and because of that if I use it for a prolonged time I can actually go blind, which is why I never use it"
"Then why was it used now?"
"Usually it's activated when the user has intense emotions", he stated as if he was quoting from a textbook. Hestia looked at him looking for more clarification. "I was angry, they were just going to beat up Naruto for no reason."
"Aww you were going to protect your friend", said Hesita in admiration. She patted Sauske's head.
"Don't tell Naruto", whispered Sauske.
"Tell Naruto what?", asked Naruto. "Why are you by my apartment? And what the fuck happened to you"
"I beat his ass in training", said Hestia cheerfully to Naruto. Sasuke gave her a look of pure shock.
"Really?", he squealed. " I told her not to tell Naruto, not to completely embarrass me" . Hestia raised her eyebrows twice in a teasing manner, knowing exactly what she did.
"I heard from the upperclassmen that you are strong and quick to", Hestia smiled at the compliment. She was glad that her hard work was being noticed, especially after constantly being overshadowed by her other sisters.
"He didn't want me to tell you, but as a birthday present I should tell you next time you train with him, you should definitely attack from the back", she said.
"Hestia you know as an upperclassman you are supposed to go easy on us right", he sighed. "Soraya would scold you", Naruto muttered to herself.
"No, if I can't beat her then I can't beat-", he stopped himself. Not wanting to say his brother's name and he wasn't ready to tell Naruto about his past just yet. "A powerful shinobi".
Hestia knew the hesitation hid something else but something Naruto said distracted her from making a comment. "Soraya, you know my cousin!"
"Yeah", said Naruto nonchalantly. He grinned. He grabbed her hand. "Let's go to my place, she left plenty of first aid stuff for me, we can patch up Sasuke"
"Let's clarify, I don't need anything", grumbled Sasuke.
"You were going to his house anyway", interjected Hestia. "As was I, we have gifts for you", Hestia smiled. Naruto beamed at the thought and was so excited.
"Let's go!" Naruto started to drag her in excitement and she grabbed onto Sasuke's arm to follow. "And shut up Sasuke and let me fix you". Sasuke perched his lips together but followed.
The first thing Hestia and Sasuke noticed when entering Naruto's home was the size. It was smaller than most apartments. Sasuke noticed a calendar of when certain bills were due, and assignment due dates. He was surprised that Naruto was organized. He wanted to make a comment about why his assignments were always late but decided not to ruin his birthday with a friendly scolding. Hestia glanced at the calendar and the look of pleading made him realize that he made the right decision.
"Hey I didn't know you draw", said Hestia pointing to a small corner with a table that had paint, paintbrushes and multiple sketchbooks.
"An artist never really reveals all his secrets", boasted Naruto loudly.
"That's not a saying", remarked Sasuke, walking over to Naruto's art corner. He rummaged through his drawings. He was pleasantly surprised that they were actually good. A pleasant memory of his mother crossed his mind drawing and smiling at him. One of the sketchbooks was dedicated to actual portraits he held it in his hand and noticed a girl that looked similar to the other Ruis that he had come to admire. She looked closest to Talise but had Priya's complexion.
"Hey you know Soraya?", Hestia asked Naruto with interest.
"Yeah, she bought me most of the art supplies, and she cooked a lot of good food!", Naruto's voice got loud with excitement on the subject. Naruto went to grab some books. "And she bought me these so I would improve my technique, whatever that means", he said.
"It means improving your technique", said Sauske in a deadpan voice. Sasuke continued flipping backwards in the portrait sketchpad. He not only had self-portraits, but scenery as well. He picked up another sketchpad, that seemed older and flipped to beginning pages. He stopped his flipping when he noticed a familiar woman.
"Hey you know her?", asked Naruto. He was worried as Sasuke went silent.
"She's pretty. Who is she?", asked Sasuke in an even tone pretending to not know who it is as he wanted to hear from Naruto how he knew her. Did he know his mother? Why didn't his friend tell him? Also, his mom was a quiet private person, and although a good mother she made it clear on occasion that her children were the only ones she liked. Hence, why internally he was puzzled.
"A woman who taught me how to paint", said Naruto. "She was hardly a talker, but she listened to me, but she never told me her name, but she disappeared about three years ago", a sad pensive look escaped Naruto for a brief moment. "But, what she taught me was a gift for a lifetime", a laugh escaped him. "Not bad for a future Hokage huh", he said holding up her picture. Naruto went back to his goofy smile, but the sadness never quite left his eyes. That look made Sasuke realize that maybe wasn't the best moment to tell him that she died. Especially, how she died.
"Anyone that can teach you is a saint", mocked Sasuke. Hestia caught the slight strain in his voice, but a smile came across his lips. "I bet Iruka-sama is going to be a rich man in his next life the amount of time he puts in a dweeb like you"
"Same to the mother who tried teaching you manners", retorted Nartuo
Sasuke tried to hide the laugh that wanted to burst through him. However, Hestia saw it and started to smile at him and he couldn't help but laugh very loudly at the situation. Hestia continued to look through the numerous pictures and noticed that there was a picture of her sisters and Kakashi at dinner.
"I want this one", she urgently said. She then cleared her throat. "Sorry can I have this one"
"Only because your Priya's sister", shrugged Naruto. I got other sketches of you guys. Naruto started digging and he found one where Kakashi was explaining something to them and the girls sat around them pensively listening. "I think you would like this better, I actually got to color it", he informed. Hestia noticed it mimicked Sasuke's nonchalant tone a bit.
"I'm taking this one", he snatched the hand drawn picture of his mom.
"Wait!", Naruto tried to grab it from Sasuke but he took it protectively. "That's one of my best works"
"Here", Sauske grabbed cash out of his wallet. "As a present, I'm your first customer"
Naruto grabbed the cash and Sauske turned to leave and exited before he could say anything. Hestia and Naruto looked at each other dumbfounded at Sauske's exit.
"Just to clarify, I'm not paying you", said Hestia as she didn't have any money. Naruto gave her a befuddled look. Hestia waved and left before words would register in his brain. After the
A few hours later Sauske returned home. He went to the fridge to heat up some food and looked at the sketch, that was now in a mundane frame. His mother had an enthusiastic smile that he had never seen before. He smiled at the picture as if seeing something of her for the first time. He remembered that she did art when time was permitted but most of his memories with her were her cleaning, cooking, and other household duties. Naruto got a glimpse of her that Sauske never knew. He wasn't jealous. He was happy that he saw something new for her for the first and probably the last time.
"I'll avenge you", he whispered. "For you and Naruto's sake"
