Naruto's personality was literally preordained. It was a prophecy that he would be mischievous...
As much as I like clones, I really wanna try and get a sibling story. Siblings, even abused ones, are not always super close. I know many twins that hate each other. Many abused kids that cannot stand each other... I cannot stand my siblings.
Kagami loved his brother, he always had. Naruto was his best friend, his partner in crime... but today, today was going to be rough. Today was graduation day, and Naruto was nowhere near ready. Kagami had trained hard, studied daily, exercising and mastering all he could and was allowed to. No one that knew the two boys could be shocked really at that his difference.
Unlike Naruto, who spent his days pranking others, defaming people and property, Kagami turned inward when people started to hate them as babies. Naruto craved attention, loved any form of it, good or bad. Kagami was quiet and trained. Naruto wanted to be great to make people like him, Kagami wanted power to make sure no one could hurt him like they had for so many years.
It was this difference that coalesced into something severely different in both siblings. Naruto tried the genin test twice despite neither boy being ready or able to do that stupid clone jutsu. Naruto painted people's homes, making a nuisance of himself. He intentionally made his fellow students hate him. Kagami stayed to himself, training and studying and plotting to one day leave the village.
Hell, yesterday was a perfect example of the differences between him and Naruto. Naruto skipped class and painted the Hokage monument, forcing the rest of their class to have to repractice the clone jutsu. To be entirely frank, it was such things that burned away a fragment of Kagami's love of Naruto ever so lightly. He knew that when the time came, he might have to drop Naruto if that meant getting his own salvation...And as much as that thought hurt...
He knew he would do it... without fail.
He had to put himself first, since no one else would ever bother to do...
Not the village. Not the Hokage that creepily helped them halfassedly... and not even his brother.
When it came to his turn to practice the clone jutsu to prove himself worthy of being a ninja, he barely, barely managed it. He fell to his knees, focusing so hard he almost passed out. But damn it, he did it, ten perfect if slightly pale clones appeared. Iruka, who loved the rambunctious Naruto, gaped. "Amazing, I thought you'd be like Naruto and be unable to do this!"
Kagami scowled. "You know that Leaf Sticking exercise you made us do?" Iruka nodded." "I noticed it was a great exercise to control my chakra, so I practiced it alot. I stick leaves to my entire body when I train. Naruto is lazy, I love him but we all know it to be true. He seeks attention, not results. I also have more balanced chakra, I read a lot and I exercise, so my chakra is more balanced spiritually and physically. He just doesn't do any of that..." Kagami shrugged.
"Well, good work. You pass...um... did you happen to teach Naruto that?"
"Naruto said it was boring and proceeded to go paint the academy orange, about a year ago actually. Remember?"
Even Mizuki groaned, they all remembered that.
Kagami walked, seeing Naruto's wide eyes as he carried his headband, putting around his waist. He had nowhere the love to carry if around his head. He sighed, hoping some miracle happened and Naruto passed...
But knew well enough it would never happen...
Naruto rushing to his swing about ten minutes later only proved that. Kagami, unable to face his brother, hurried to his apartment, which was actually three doors down from Naruto's ( A big fight, the only time he complained publically brought about that change). He sat there, smiling at his headband, pleased despite everything... he was one step closer to salvation... and that was everything.
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was a joyful chapter.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.