Satsuki Uchiha could remember the first time she met him.
It was after a long day in the academy. She ventured to the outskirts of Konoha — through fields of tall grass & a stretch of woods. Her journey ended at the foot of a pond, catching sight of the brightest blue eyes she had seen in her life.
A boy was dancing on water.
For a moment Satsuki could do nothing but stare. She could walk on water — her brother had taught her that much, but she had seen no one her age even tree walk.
The boy seemed to have noticed and turned to her, and she finally caught a glimpse of his face. He would stand out anywhere in Konoha, with his very bright red hair, very white face with pink, rosy cheeks and canines sharp as any Inuzaka.
''Oh, hi.'' He said, the remnants of sunlight illuminating his face. ''Thought it was just me out here.''
''Who are you?''
Satsuki demanded, in the usual cool, Uchiha way. He had to be from a clan. No one from a civilian family would know how to water walk this early on, but she had not seen him in her life. Not at the academy, not anywhere.
''Naruto.'' The red-haired boy said brightly. ''I'm Naruto.''
''Naruto.'' She replied, still studying his every feature. ''What is your last name?''
''Just Naruto.'' He said. ''Don't have a second name.''
She frowned. As if anyone would buy that ''What clan are you from?''
''Clan?'' He asked, and blinked at her.
''Yes. What clan?''
''Well, I'm not from one.''
She frowned again. ''You are. You have to be.''
''But I'm not.'' He insisted.
This time she felt a stab of irritation. ''If you aren't from a clan, then how can you walk on water?''
''Just can.'' He said, grinning ear to ear. He was enjoying this.
''I know. But how?'' She asked, this time not able to keep the annoyance out of her voice.
''Just can.'' He repeated. ''Are you a ninja?''
''No. Are you?''
''Nah.'' He said, his bright blue eyes twinkling.
And that is how it went on for some time. He skirted around all her questions and riled her up more than she would care to admit.
''I'm really not from a clan though.'' He said.
''Then how can you walk on water?'' She demanded for what felt like the thousandth time. ''But maybe you aren't. your parents could be ninjas from a civilian family.''
When Satsuki looked back at the boy, she almost thought he looked sad.
''No, not that either. Don't know them.''
''Oh.'' She said, and cleared her throat. ''I'm sorry then...'
''It's okay.'' He told her, and his smile returned. ''Not like I ever knew them.''
Perhaps it was the last bit that urged Izumi to say. ''I didn't know mine either.''
He gazed at her. ''Are they dead?''
''Are they dead?'' She clipped and stared back at him coldly. ''Why would you ask that? I already said that they were.''
''You didn't though.'' He pointed out. ''You just said you didn't know them. Doesn't mean they're dead.''
''What?'' She hissed. ''My parents didn't abandon me.''
''Didn't say that. Maybe they just live far away...I don't know.'' He said, and Satsuki wondered if she heard him right.
''I know what you said.'' She said, face dark. ''You have just been trying to annoy me.''
''I haven't.'' He said, and sounded like he meant it. ''I was just a little curious.''
''Curious?'' She asked coldly and turned on her heel. ''This is useless. You aren't going to tell me anything, and I don't care now. I'm leaving.''
''Oh.'' He said, his smile finally fading. ''I didn't mean t-''
Satsuki didn't let him finish before leaving. She leapt several feet from the ground and swung from tree to tree, zipping over buildings in the main district, so quickly that the civilians did not notice anything but a black blur.
10 years ago, a demon tried to destroy Konoha, and if not for the fourth Hokage sacrificing himself, would have succeeded.
Though Satsuki could not remember it, she knew Konoha's population was cut in half that day.
Her parents had not abandoned her, they had died on the lines of battle.
It was a cold, chilly night, and Satsuki lay under silks but was still very much awake. It was not just because of 'Naruto', but that didn't help either.
It was just so strange. Nobody in her class could water walk, yet some random civilian boy could?
No, he was not a civilian. Satsuki knew for a fact. But she had not seen him at the Academy.
Maybe he was already a Ninja and had just graduated early, but she doubted that. You couldn't graduate early anymore, and she still should have at least seen him in her first year.
And if he did Graduate early, then she would have too.
The more she thought about it, the stupider she felt.
But if there was anyone who would know, it would be her brother. Itachi Uchiha.
Unfortunately, he was on a mission.
But that was always the case. More often than not, he was away, leaving her alone in the mansion.
When very young, Satsuki could remember her brother being a chunin, though he never advanced further. She wasn't stupid. He was too talented to stay at that rank.
She could only wonder if he'd ever tell her the truth.
When she woke up the next morning Itachi Uchiha had returned, cleaning his kunai in the kitchen.
''Satsuki-chan,'' Itachi said. He didn't smile, he never did. But his eyes very slightly glimmered in her direction. ''Did you sleep well?''
''Hn, fine.'' She said, but still couldn't stop herself from smiling faintly. ''When did you get back?''
He looked at the clock. It was 7:03. ''Only in the past hour.''
''What was the mission anyway?'' She asked. ''You didn't tell me.''
Itachi twisted the tap, the blood cleaned from his kunai. ''Satsuki-chan, I am afraid that is classified information.''
Satsuki was no longer smiling, but she understood. ''I know.''
The question was on the tip of her tongue, but she didn't ask.
Not immediately, at least.
''Can civilians walk on water?''
''Is there a reason why you are asking this?''
She pressed her back against the kitchen walls and folded her arms. ''No, I'm just curious. Can they?''
''It is not impossible.'' He said and scrutinised her. ''You likely already know this, but everyone capable of materialising their chakra will have no choice but to attend the academy, even if their parents try to forbid it. So a civilian water walking is...unlikely.''
''That's what I thought.'' She admitted. ''Has anyone graduated early in the last few years?''
''Not that I am aware of.'' He admitted, still scrutinising her. ''Is there a reason for your sudden curiosity?''
''I'm just curious.'' She said, ''But do you know anyone called Naruto?''
''I do not.''
He gave no major indication that it was a lie, but his gaze lingered on her for a moment longer than usual.
To not raise his suspicions, Satsuki dropped it. She went to the Academy for another boring day. She sat through a lecture, and sparred twice, both ending in a few moments.
Near the end of the day, a pack of girls who she had forgotten the name of, had asked if she wanted to hang out.
''No,'' Satsuki said, her tone as polite and courteous as she could manage. ''I'm busy tonight.''
Not long after, when Satsuki started to leave the Academy, she overheard the same girls whispering among themselves.
''She thinks she's so much better than us, doesn't she? Only because she's an Uchiha, doesn't mean anything. This is why no one likes her!''
Point proven, she thought. Uchiha this, Uchiha that. She was very proud of her clan, but when it was her second name and not her skills that did the talking, it was different.
Once, she remembered one of the elder Uchiha's saying, ''It doesn't matter. Even if you become an esteemed Jonin, you will only ever be an Uchiha. Be proud of that.''
That was a problem.
Still, what Satsuki said wasn't a lie. She was busy.
Satsuki went to the same spot as yesterday and waited by the pond for longer than she would ever admit out loud.
It was curiosity that brought her here, she decided. She would get to the bottom of this.
But no matter how long she waited, he never showed up.
Only because he was here yesterday, didn't mean he would be today. Konoha was absolutely massive. It was called a village, but that wasn't doing it justice. There were miles of forests, towering buildings, several districts and everything in between.
Satsuki left and returned the day after. She made a vow. If he isn't here, then I'm leaving. She went to the same place as yesterday and caught sight of him. A face was framed by bright hair, a vibrant shade of red that could only belong to one person.
Naruto lay in the pond, almost as if he were levitating. He rolled off his back, onto his side, before suddenly springing to his feet
''Satsuki!'' He called out from across the pond, his lips curling into a grin. ''I was really hoping you'd come here today, didn't think you actually would though.''
''I didn't think you would be here either.'' She said quietly. The boy seemed too excited to see someone he'd only met once, especially with how their last conversation ended. ''I was just walking through.''
Naruto bolted up to her and looked her in the eye until it was uncomfortable.
''I'm sorry about last time.''
''What?'' Satsuki asked, not sure what else to say.
''About the other day.'' He said. ''I didn't mean to upset you like that.''
Satsuki crossed her arms and sent him a pointed look. ''You said that my parents abandoned me.''
''But I didn't.'' He said, deflating. ''They really could've just lived far away.''
Satsuki sighed. Even if she wanted to be angry, she just couldn't be. ''You're strange. Has anyone told you that?''
''I'm strange?'' He asked and looked more interested than offended. ''I'm really sorry though. I didn't mean to upset you like that. It's just well, you're the first person my age I've actually talked to.''
And suddenly it clicked. ''No one? I don't believe you.''
''I'm really not lying.'' He insisted ''I've watched some other kids, but I think you're the first person my age I've actually talked to.''
''I still don't see how I am the only person you have met.'' She admitted with a frown. ''Do you not go outside much?''
He hesitated ''You didn't tell anyone about me, right?''
''Why?'' She asked.
''Just curious.'' He said cheerily, but she knew better. He was chewing through his lip ''If my….keepers find out I'd be in big trouble.''
She frowned again. ''Are you telling me that you would be in trouble just for going outside? That is ridiculous.''
''Yeah.'' He mumbled and got so close to her that their faces were inches away from touching. ''They'd be really mad. So please, please don't tell anyone. I came here the other day cause I didn't think anyone else was gonna be here.''
Satsuki took a step back, for personal space. ''I won't if you tell me one thing.''
Naruto leaned in again. ''Mhm, what?''
''Were your keepers the ones who taught you how to walk on water?''
''Yeah,'' Naruto admitted and dropped back down onto the lake, where green leaves were scattered about. ''I'm gonna' be a ninja one day, so I have to learn stuff like this.
Satsuki followed, and the two of them stood atop the pond.
''Wow.'' He mumbled. ''I didn't know you could water walk too.''
''I've known how to for a while.'' She admitted. ''If you are training to be a ninja, then why aren't you in the academy?''
''Cause I'm not allowed,'' Naruto mumbled. ''I asked them if I could go, but they always get mad and say no.''
''Why?'' She asked, confused. ''Everyone is allowed to at least try to enter.''
''Not me.'' He grumbled ''So, I'm guessing they taught you there?''
''No,'' Izumi said, and almost smiled. ''You are the first person my age that I've seen walk on water.''
''Really?'' He asked, and blinked at her. ''But aren't you meant to learn how to be a ninja there?''
''You are, but the academy is very….simple.'' She admitted. ''Water walking isn't high-level, but they haven't even talked about it.''
''But water walking is really easy.'' He said. ''I've been able to do that since I was like, 8.''
''I know'' She said, nodding along. ''If I could, then I would graduate early. But you can't do that anymore.''
''What about tree walking?'' He asked. ''They've got to have at least taught that.''
''They have mentioned it once, but said we wouldn't be taught it until we are Genin,'' Satsuki said, snorted and shook her head. ''They treat us like children. You aren't missing out on anything.''
''Maybe, but to be honest, I don't want to go to learn. It just sounds fun, y'know?'' He said and tied his hands behind his back. ''If they didn't teach you there, then how can you water walk?''
''My brother.'' She told him. ''He taught me how to walk on water.''
''You have a brother?'' He asked with a slight tilt of the head. ''What's he like?''
''I don't know.'' She said, and that was the truth. ''He is just my brother.''
Satsuki trailed off. The conversation eventually spiralled, and before she knew it the sky darkened to an inky veil & the pale moon shone down on them, lighting their faces up in the pond.