Iruka sighed and wiped his brow.
Another day, another pile of worksheets to grade.
"So Iruka? How's your first year as an Academy teacher going?"
Iruka turned around. "Ah! Daikoku!"
Daikoku was Naruto's previous homeroom teacher. Naruto barely passed his class and had to transfer into Iruka's class a month late.
Daikoku smiled. "Naruto isn't giving you too much trouble, is he?"
"He pulls pranks daily. But he's not too much of a hassle to deal with." Iruka had ignored Naruto and left him to his own whims, just as Daikoku had advised him to. Honestly, it made his work a lot easier, considering who Naruto was…
What Naruto was…
"Iruka! Daikoku!" Aki entered the faculty room.
"Aki? I thought you were on maternity leave?" Iruka remarked.
Aki laughed. "I wanted to pay the Academy a visit to relax. Exercise is good for me and the baby."
"Aki! How are you and the baby coming along?" Daikoku asked.
Aki's baby bump had grown bigger over the past month. She rubbed it with a smile. "Oh, don't you worry, Daikoku! My baby is in good health!"
A mischievous smile appeared on Aki's face. "If you ask me, the one we should be really worried about is Iruka!"
Iruka was taken aback. "Huh? Why?"
Aki giggled. "You're still fresh out of the Instructors Program! Academy children can be quite the handful! It's only been the first month. You haven't seen anything yet!"
Iruka smiled and his shoulders slumped jokingly. "Wonderful. I can't wait to deal with those adorable little bundles of chaos."
Daikoku patted Iruka's shoulder in pity. "Poor you, Iruka! You even got those two Problem Children!"
Aki's smile dropped. "Just what is the Third Hokage thinking? Putting those two in the same class together? And with Iruka, a first-time Academy teacher? Not that you're not capable, Iruka. But it's off-putting for the Third Hokage to hand you those two, especially since the Kyuubi..."
Aki trailed off as Iruka stiffened. They had both lost family that fateful night...
Then Aki asked, "So how are you dealing with Haru, Iruka?"
Iruka was grateful to take his thoughts elsewhere. "Haru is very well-behaved and quiet." The girl was so quiet that it was much easier for Iruka to ignore her than Naruto. It was almost as if she wanted him to ignore her back. "Well…except when she cries during training."
Aki sighed. "That girl is so skittish. I'm not surprised." She gave Iruka a significant look. "Remember, Iruka. Just continue ignoring her and she'll leave you alone well enough."
"I know," Iruka said.
"Just how are those two getting along, Iruka?" Daikoku asked.
"Not very well." Iruka had noticed how Haru and Naruto avoided each other. Naruto would sharply turn away from Haru with a huff while Haru pointedly made sure to avoid Naruto's gaze whenever possible.
Aki relaxed. "Good. It's best that those two don't get chummy with each other."
Daikoku agreed. "Yes. One troublemaker is bad enough."
All the teachers glanced at the clock.
"I should head home," Aki said.
"Same here," Daikoku said.
Iruka sat down in front of a stack of worksheets. "I'll just stay here and finish grading papers."
"All right then. See you, Iruka!" Aki and Daikoku left.
Iruka sorted the worksheets and marked down scores with a red pen.
Then he paused.
He looked down at the worksheets placed side-by-side with each other, Haru's on the left and Naruto's on the right.
Haru had adequate grades while Naruto's grades were horrible.
But Haru was also a bundle of jittery nerves who hid in the back while Naruto was fiery and recklessly charged headfirst at anything that was thrown at him.
Very unsuitable characteristics for aspiring ninjas.
Just how were those two going to make great ninjas? Would they even be able to graduate from the Academy?
Iruka sighed.
He didn't know.
He can only hope he survived the rest of his term as their teacher.
The Third Hokage let his brush make broad strokes on the mulberry paper.
Calligraphy calmed his mind when he wasn't in his office.
His family was doing well.
His grandson, Konohamaru was growing up to be a strong and healthy boy.
His son, Asuma was fulfilling his shinobi duties and training to become a jounin sensei.
Now as for the rest of his family, the children of Konoha…
Many of the children orphaned by the Kyuubi's attack had found families or became self-sufficient.
But Naruto and Haru were still dealing with the brunt of the villagers' disdain.
Back when Haru was first enrolled in the Ninja Academy, she was placed in Aki's class to keep her separated from Naruto.
After the loss of her child, Aki resumed her Academy duties and spent time with the children attending.
But Aki did not become Haru's surrogate mother and ignored her.
Daikoku had also ignored Naruto and the boy continued to pull pranks even as his grades plummeted.
For the first two years, Naruto and Haru did not have a single encounter to befriend each other.
The Third Hokage grew tired of waiting for them to meet so he decided to place them in the same class. Umino Iruka's class.
There was hope that perhaps Naruto and Haru could form a close connection with Iruka, another person orphaned on the night of the Kyuubi's attack.
But Iruka ignored them both.
The pain was still too raw in everyone's hearts for them to treat Naruto and Haru kindly.
And when Naruto and Haru finally did meet, Haru pushed Naruto away.
The girl must've been so used to being guarded and alone that she didn't want to risk making bonds.
The Third Hokage was distraught.
No matter what he tried to do, Naruto and Haru could never seem to stay together.
Were those two condemned to loneliness by the Kyuubi's influence forever?
No…he mustn't allow that to happen.
The Third Hokage placed his calligraphy brush down.
Perhaps he should go for a walk outside.
"Hello there, Haru."
Haru froze.
Oh great. Why was the Third Hokage even bothering to talk to her? Shouldn't he be with Naruto instead?
Naruto is the Child of Prophecy. The guy who'll save the world and become Hokage. Leave the spotlight on him, thanks.
"Hello, Lord Hokage," Haru greeted politely.
The Third Hokage smiled. "I heard you met Naruto."
"…Yes," Haru said. The Third Hokage was actually keeping tabs on both of them? Shit!
"Naruto. What do you think of him?"
Haru frowned. "He's really loud and annoying."
The Third Hokage chuckled. "But don't you think it's amusing that you share quite the resemblance with each other? You could be twins!"
Haru frowned. "I'd rather we're not."
The Third Hokage sighed. He took out his pipe and puffed it thoughtfully. "You and Naruto are both familiar with the pain of loneliness. If anyone could understand you, it's him."
Haru wanted to scream at the Third Hokage, "Naruto and I are nothing alike! He's a hero and I'm not!"
Instead, Haru gave him a strained smile. "With all due respect, Lord Hokage, I choose who I want to befriend with careful consideration towards my safety and mental health. That's really important in my training as a kunoichi, after all."
Haru bowed. "Please excuse me, Lord Hokage. I must hurry home. I have homework waiting for me." She turned her back to the Third Hokage and walked off.
The Third Hokage didn't say another word.
Haru balanced the pile of books in her arms.
Science, history, and adventure fiction.
Another awesome book haul from the library.
She placed the books on a table to start putting them into her backpack.
In her peripheral vision, Haru saw someone standing still at a table across from her. Whoever it was, this person was definitely staring at her.
Haru looked up.
Sakura jumped.
Realizing that Haru had caught her, Sakura fidgeted nervously.
Haru blinked. What exactly was Sakura paying attention to her for?
Sakura shyly waved at Haru.
Haru paused, unsure if she should acknowledge Sakura and wave back.
Sakura's hand faltered and her face began to sadden.
Well, shit. Haru couldn't be mean like this.
Haru silently raised a hand back in greeting.
Sakura's mouth curved into a small smile.
"Sakura!" Sakura's mother, Mebuki grabbed her hand. "I told you not to go near that girl!"
Mebuki glared at Haru.
Sakura sent Haru an apologetic expression before she was tugged away by her mother.
Haru stood there in silence. She took deep breaths even as her face felt hot.
She shoved the rest of the library books into her backpack.
Whatever. She was used to it.
"Hey! Leave me alone!"
The shout made Haru stop walking.
Someone was in trouble but that didn't mean Haru had to jump in without thinking and help out.
Haru crept over to where the shout came from and hid behind a tall wooden fence.
A group of boys was surrounding something. "Ha! Look at him! The germ is lame outside of class too!"
Haru recognized them. These were the same brats who beat her up last time!
Guess they had to find another target since she kept evading them for so long.
The bullies had formed a circle and trapped a little boy with spiky blond hair.
These guys were ganging up on Naruto!
"You're such a loser!"
The boys pushed Naruto, making him bounce around their circle.
"I'm gonna make you sorry for this! You bunch of asswipes!" Naruto yelled.
Naruto was shoved to the ground and the bullies kicked at him.
Haru trembled.
Naruto would be fine. He had the Kyuubi inside of him. He could take a beating, no problem.
Even so, Haru's feet just wouldn't fucking move.
Haru gritted her teeth and glared down at her feet. Fine, maybe there was something she could do to bail Naruto out.
But what?
If Haru showed herself, those brats would just beat her up along with Naruto.
They'll give me hell if they spot me. I can't be seen.
Haru looked around the ground. She picked up some pebbles.
All right! Just like shuriken training!
Haru flung them at the bullies.
Some of the bullies cried out as the pebbles struck them on their backs or shoulders.
Haru's aim wasn't perfect, but it was good enough!
Haru hid behind the fence again just as the bullies turned their heads in her direction.
"Hey! Who threw those pebbles? Come out!" The bullies ran over to where Haru was hiding.
Haru sweated. - Oh great. Now they're after me!
What to do? What to do? She had to hide somewhere! Somehow!
There weren't any trees or bushes for her to use. No buildings to run into either.
Wait. There were other ways a ninja could hide…
Yes! That was it! The Transformation Jutsu!
Haru made a series of hand signs.
Transformation Jutsu!
Haru became a pebble.
Being an inanimate object felt…weird. Her sense of perception was warped. Now that she was a tiny pebble on the ground, the world felt bigger to her than ever before. The ground practically rumbled underneath her as the bullies stomped toward her position.
Several pairs of feet stopped right in front of Haru's vision.
"Where did the punk who hit us go?"
"Ugh! They must've run off somewhere! Come on! Let's go get them!"
The bullies left, their footsteps fading away in the distance.
Just when Haru thought it was all clear, Naruto appeared. He turned his head left and right as if looking for something.
If Haru had a mouth and wasn't in the middle of hiding, she would have groaned.
What was Naruto even doing back here? He should be using this chance to get away!
Naruto seemed worried. "Hey!" he called out softly. "You could come out now! It's safe!"
Haru didn't respond, still keeping her pebble form.
Naruto took one last look around before he ran off.
When enough time passed that Haru was sure that Naruto was finally gone, she dispelled the Transformation Jutsu.
Haru patted her chest and sighed in relief.
Thank goodness that neither she nor Naruto got a beating.
No need to get a pack of ice and the first aid kit tonight.
It was a good thing Naruto didn't spot her. Otherwise, he would never leave her alone.
Haru nearly stumbled from wooziness and steadied herself with a hand on a nearby fence.
The Transformation Jutsu took a lot of chakra out of her though.
Transforming into an inanimate object was considered quite difficult compared to disguising as another person or animal. But Haru's adrenaline and desperation must've helped her manage it this time.
Haru's shoulders grew sore from the library books she was still carrying in her backpack.
She was utterly tired out.
No extra training tonight then.