Thoughtfully I sat on the sofa in my apartment. My bent legs were embraced by my arms, while I rested my chin on them. I had pulled a cozy blanket lightly over my body in case sleep would overtake me at some point.
After Genma had confided in me about my family's past, I had withdrawn, needing time to process what I had heard and experienced. I had an uncle. Genma was the only relative I still had. My father had long since ceased to be part of my family. Because I did not feel a single positive feeling for him. Only anger, fear, and dislike.
And Genma. Well, yes. Until recently, he had only been my sensei. In any case, I liked him very much. I also had respect for him, and he would certainly be able to teach me a lot. That he had the same gift as I did was the most interesting thing. How many more jutsus he could teach me that not even Kakashi knew. I was already looking forward to this part of my training. I would really miss Sensei Kakashi as a Sensei, I had closed his crazy way so much in my heart. And also, his constant tardiness had somehow become a part of his training. Without that, Kakashi was not Kakashi. That was part of what made him outstanding.
Whether Genma would continue to train me alone, or together with someone else. Although ... hadn't Kakashi even mentioned something ... that something would change for us after the exams? Yes! Of course. All too clearly, now I remembered the words, which he addressed to me at that time in his typical manner.
„Oh, that you may not know yet."
This one sentence had confused me at that time equally and in rage brought. Typical Kakashi just. First making curious and then pretending not to know about the whole thing.
I straightened up a bit and looked out the window. The morning was already dawning. Slowly the red sun crept from the east over the roofs of the houses and let them light up with its timid rays. How long had I been sitting here? Certainly, a whole time. Before loud considerations I had apparently completely disregarded those. Nevertheless, I did not feel any tiredness. Well, to be honest, that was also no miracle. If one looked at once all that had happened in the last night.
But what I was really interested in at the moment was what had happened to Naruto. I somehow had the feeling that Sensei Iruka wanted to tell him something good. I would certainly not have to wait long for it, the blond Uzumaki would come to me all by himself. But now I had to get some fresh air, I had been sitting in my small, dark, stuffy apartment all night, brooding to myself.
I opened the window and climbed cleverly onto the roof of my apartment. Only, someone was already sitting up there. A small, thin, dark silhouette drew itself there at the edge. When I recognized the tangled hair sticking out, I immediately knew who it was. But actually, it was unusual that he was already awake at this time. Or had he slept at all?
Determined, I pulled myself all the way up to the roof and approached him cautiously. When I settled down next to Naruto, he actually winced a little inside. His eyes found me, and he began to smile.
„Aren't you cold Tora?" he asked.
I looked down at myself. All I was wearing was long comfortable pants and a shirt. But as far as cold was concerned ... my many years as a thief had hardened me. I would not freeze that quickly. Which was a good thing, I thought. Advantageous it was in any case, only I should not become too cocky.
„I'm a genin now," Naruto murmured softly, shaking his head slightly.
I paused. What had he just said?
„Repeat that again," I said, befuddled, but the blond only nodded slightly, as if to give expression to his words.
An irrepressible feeling of joy flowed through me, making every part of my body tingle, as if it were electrified. He had done it. Really and truly. And then they came out, all the feelings that had been building up in me overnight. I threw myself around his neck and cried. No longer able to stop all these emotions that had arisen because of all the events of last night.
Naruto returned my embrace strongly, as if he never wanted to let go of me again. His hands clawed into my shirt. Tightly embraced we sat on the roof, while the sun rose higher and higher. Howling and at the same time infinitely happy to have put all these things behind us. And even when our tears had long since dried up, we were still in each other's arms. Enjoying the shared unbridled joy of what we had accomplished.
„I still can't believe it, really now."
The corners of my mouth lifted into a small smile, due to both the ever familiar saying and the meaning of the words. As if in confirmation, he hugged me a little tighter before finally letting go of me and furtively wiping his moist, gleaming eyes. I grinned wryly. He was trying to hide the fact that he had been crying, even though he had long known that I had noticed.
„I believe you Naruto. Every single word. You wanted to make it and you finally did. After all, it's part of your ninja path, isn't it?"
Naruto jumped up.
„Exactly. There will come a time when everyone knows my name, all over the world, for real now. I, Naruto Uzumaki will make sure of that."
Smiling, I looked up as he held out his fist to the rising sun, as if to promise it what he had just said. And somehow the thought sprouted in me that it would come exactly to that.
Cautiously I circled my stiff shoulders and finally stood up.
Naruto was still standing on the edge of the roof, watching the sun, which was now quite high in the sky. It had become mid-morning, so it was time to get something to eat and then do the shopping.
„Come on Naruto. It's going to be a long day and we still have to go to the photographer afterwards. Sensei Iruka said something about passport photos."
What would await me, I did not know yet.
„Ehh ... wait a minute Naruto. Are you sure about this?"
„Of course, I am, for real. I certainly didn't do all that preparation for nothing. Do you have any idea how long it took?"
„No. But honestly, do you think the Hokage would be okay with you looking like this in the photo?"
„Young man, if I could say something, I think your friend is right hmm? Not that you'll regret it a few years later."
„Pah! Me and regret. Naruto Uzumaki is my name and I have no regrets, for real now."
Sighing, I massaged my temples. The day had gone so nice and calm, almost too calm. But of course, a Naruto Uzumaki had to ruin that wonderful hope. But fine. It was his business if he absolutely wanted to look like that in his passport photo.
Although he had also wanted to persuade me to do so, but I had refused. Such a thing was nothing for me. And so exaggerated, as Naruto pulled it up not at all.
He looked as if he would like to go to war.
White makeup spread all over his face and hands, paired with red circles and curls that stretched all over his face and hands.
Actually, nothing more should amaze me with him, but still he managed to surprise me again and again. Where he took this ingenuity from, was a mystery to me...
Whereas at times, when I was still a thief, I had always had to come up with something to escape from the guard, which had not always been easy. Nevertheless, it had been fun for me again and again to see Daichi's first stupid and then angry look, only to take the legs in hand again after that.
I smiled slightly. Yes, somehow, I missed this time already. Living without rules and laws had been nice, but it had also had its downsides. I had not been able to trust anyone. As far as trust was concerned, I still had a bit of a hard time today, because I wasn't as open and impetuous as Naruto. Sometimes or actually quite often he was pretty much the thick opposite of me.
But still. We were friends. Very thick even. And I was more than grateful to him for that, he had made me the person I was now, brought me out of my closed shell a little, shown me friendship and all the beautiful things that were worth living for. And all that with just a few simple little gestures. And that was the important thing.
„Tora?" said Naruto, thus directing my consciousness back to the present.
Expectantly, he and the photographer looked at me. I nodded and stood in front of the camera.
Since Naruto started grimacing behind the man, it was impossible for me not to grin. And thus, I had a, for me, perfect picture, as a result.
When the photographer was already about to pack up his things, I held him back.
„Wait. Can you do me a favour?"
Surprised, the latter looked at me.
„What is it?"
„Can you take a picture of Naruto and me? It would be very important to me," I explained, looking expectantly at my counterpart.
The man finally nodded.
„Alright girl."
Satisfied, stowing the photo in my jacket pocket, I walked with Naruto to the Hokage's office. This photo would always remind me of the friendship between me and the Uzumaki. If I ever felt sad, it would definitely contribute to a better mood on my part. It stood for friendship and the fact that I was not alone.
Satisfied, the Hokage looked at my photo and put it aside, turning his attention to that of Naruto. I bit my tongue to prevent a big grin as I watched the abrupt change in Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression. Sensei Iruka didn't seem too thrilled with the picture either. Finally, the Hokage took a breath.
„All right. Tora, you may go. We have something to discuss with Naruto."
Briefly, my eyes wandered back and forth between the blond and my superiors. Naruto was blithely talking about how he had come up with the idea of putting on makeup. He seemed to notice nothing of the displeased looks of the Hokage.
Sighing, I rose from my chair. Good, then I should probably turn the corner. I wanted to catch up on some sleep anyway. I hadn't had any last night and it would do me good now. Tomorrow would be a long day for me, when I thought about the fact that we were now Genin and did not know what would come to us. This uncertainty could be really terrible in the long run. It began to eat away at you, from the inside out like... I shook my head. No, there was no time for such thoughts now. Everything would be all right.
At least that's what I hoped.
The next morning, I was awakened by a stormy ringing at the door. Sleepily, I rubbed the sand out of my eyes and plodded towards the front door.
Naruto, who had been leaning against the green wood, almost fell into the hallway when I opened it. Staggering, he caught himself again and tugged me by the arm.
„We have overslept Tora. Class starts in ten minutes."
I grinned wryly.
„Since when are you so eager to get to school on time?"
„I just changed."
„Oh yeah?"
„Really now."
Gasping, we arrived at the academy, even overtaking Ino and Sakura, who were charging through Konohagakure like two bulls gone wild and rushed into the classroom.
„Not the last," Naruto said, raising his fist in the air, which only earned him a look from Shikamaru that was, for once, not annoyed but confused. Grinning, I patted Naruto on the shoulder and joined the Nara.
„Say Tora ... where's your headband?" were the first words the latter addressed to me.
„My what ...?", I asked, confused. „DAMN!"
Panicking, I ran my hands through my hair and began rummaging through the bag, but it was nowhere to be found. My pulse raced and beads of sweat began to form on my forehead. Had I left it at home? Had it fallen out of my pocket?
Countless possibilities rattled through my head, so I didn't notice Naruto until he bumped my shoulder a little harder and held something in front of my nose.
Something blue flashed at me and I realized within milliseconds. My headband. Naruto had taken it with him. Gratefully, I blinked at the Uzumaki. I had the feeling a huge stone would fall from my heart. Grinning, he raised his hand briefly and rolled over to his place next to Sasuke and Sakura.
Just at the right time, because Sensei Iruka entered the classroom, loaded with a thick pile of leaves. Impatience prickled deep within me and I clasped the headband with my hands and unceremoniously tied it around my head, just like Naruto. Now the annoying strands could no longer fall into my face. Another problem was solved. Satisfied, I leaned back in my chair and listened to my teacher's words.
„So, my dear students. Right now, you are genin and will be assigned to a jonin in groups of three and one group of four."
Loud murmurs sounded in the classroom, the most likely to be heard was the quarrel between Sakura and Ino, who were once again fighting over Sasuke. I rolled my eyes. That was apparently the biggest problem of the two. Mine was that if I were in a group, I would rather be with Naruto or Shikamaru. Of the others, I didn't really know anyone ... except Kiba, but I didn't want to think about him.
„That's exactly why, I'll never fall in love," Shikamaru growled, pointing in the direction of the two fighting hens with a slight nod of his head. A smirk crept onto my lips.
„That would be pretty funny if you got in a group with Ino or Sakura."
Shikamaru groaned.
„Sakura's okay, but Ino, she's mega exhausting and annoying."
„So, please listen again," Sensei Iruka said. „I've tried to show a balance of power between each member of the group, so I hope you can understand my decision as well." He paused for a moment before clearing his throat.
„Well then, let's get started."
One team after another he called out. Every now and then, cheers could be heard, or annoyed murmurs. However, my excitement rose all the more to what felt like immeasurable levels.
„Team 7: Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno." Naruto jumped up screaming with joy. No wonder, he was a little in love with the pink-haired one. But when the next name rang out, it wasn't Naruto who jumped up, but Sakura. Sasuke Uchiha was the last one on the team.
Team 8 was then Hinata, Kiba, and Shino, while Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji made up Team 9. But I was left. Confused, I looked forward at Sensei Iruka and was about to inquire if he had forgotten me, when he turned to me and grinned slightly.
Please give me a good team, I begged him inwardly.
„Don't worry Tora. I haven't forgotten about you. Admittedly, I really thought about this decision for a long time and I also wanted to send you to Naruto's team first, but you would distract him too much from his tasks, so you're going to team 8."
And I froze.
He couldn't be serious!