Chapter 2: Befriending Nature
[ Y59 / M12 / D18 | 12:13 AM | D7-Shinobi Housing Complex ]
—Naruto Uzumaki—
"Don't be a baby… you can do this Naruto," I mumbled into my pillow, my face buried deep in its comforting softness. My arm throbbed, bent wrong—a reminder of today's beatings, one that couldn't be ignored, and needed to be…fixed. "You're the future Hokage, the strongest there is! You can do this!"
"Come on… come on… if you go to the hospital, they'll just poke and prod at you again. The doctors don't even use the green chakra stuff to heal you, they'll just oOoo and ahh as your injuries heal by themselves."
I inhaled deeply and held my breath, then exhaled slowly. I did that again and again but I knew that what I was about to do would hurt. I was nervous and it made it feel like my intestines were writhing around in a panic, trying to find a way out before the pain hit.
Maybe I could leave it to heal as is.
I shifted my head a little, pressing the top of it into the pillow, looked at the arm under me, and planted my face back into the pillow with a sigh.
Ya no chance. The doctor said my regeneration would take care of almost anything, but wounds needed to be cleaned and bones… needed to be set.
"Wish I could just go to the old man, he'd know how to do this painlessly, he knows everything." I breathed out into the pillow, then shook my head against it. The old man said that we could only meet a few times a year, my bloodline limit is rare, and it would be dangerous if bad people noticed me talking to him.
He's the Hokage anyway, he doesn't have time for me… I thought before shaking my head. I took a deep breath and lifted myself a little, rounding my back a bit more to give myself room to move.
"Who cares, I can take care of myself anyway, I don't need anyone. I am Naruto Uzumaki, Konoha's one and only human beast, the freak of nature, and the future fifth Hokage, and they better believe it!" I said feeling myself smirk a little. "And if they don't believe it, I'll teach them to have faith" I growled out the promise before using my knees to clamp down on the hand between them, then forcefully twisting my torso, pulling my right shoulder up, and making my arm straighten out with a CRACK!
I didn't hear it though because pain, blinding, searing pain consumed me whole. A scream erupted into the pillow as tears streamed down my cheeks. But it was done.
A few kids who weren't even in the academy yet beat me up, no more. I need to get stronger.
I held the uncomfortable position for a minute, the arm I was using to stabilize myself trembled as I panted. I carefully got on my back when I felt it was enough. Not moving my broken arm, I found the least back-breaking position to sleep in and prepared myself for a long night. Lying on my back and staring at the ceiling was almost peaceful after today's events. My mind was solely focused on my injuries. I could feel them, every scrape and cut, they throbbed rhythmically with my heartbeat.
It almost feels nice, warm…
[ Y59 / M12 / D18 | 8:34 AM | D7-Shinobi Housing Complex ]
"argh…" I articulated intelligently as I woke up. I knew that I'd be better after a good night's sleep, but each time I sleep away an injury I find a new sense of appreciation for my bloodline. I sat up from bed and tried to shake off the morning grogginess, doing little stretches in bed to relieve stiff muscles. Falling asleep without moving was no easy task but I managed well enough. I swung my legs off the edge of the bed and stood up, the movement smooth and absent of any of yesterday's pain. Finally, fully awake I blinked away the blurriness from my eyes and looked at my arm.
Not bent, good sign.
I clenched and relaxed it and noticed no issues. I used my other hand to feel up the spot where my arm was bent.
"Like it never happened," I said with a slight frown.
But it did, and I won't forget that any time soon. I thought before the distant sound of footsteps disrupted that line of thought. The other apartment on this floor is vacant, new tenant?
My curiosity got the better of me so I got out of my bedroom, and passed the hallway ignoring the bathroom and living room in favor of the apartment door. My ears twitched as I heard the footsteps near my door so I leaned and put my ear on the rough wooden surface…
"AH, SHIT! THAT HURT! WARN A GUY BEFORE KNOCKING ON HIS DOOR!" I screamed while cupping my ear, the ringing making it hard to hear what the person on the other side was saying. Stupid sensitive ears. I huffed, got off the floor, and opened the door.
"Can I help you?" I said tartly, still a bit peeved. I looked at her and then sniffed at the air lightly, catching a familiar scent.
"…hello, I am chunin Yūgao Uzuki, I just moved into the vacant apartment on this floor." The purple-haired girl said with her arms crossed. The girl spoke in a tone that reminded me of the Hokage's secretary, it felt like she was about to tell me to straighten my back. "I wanted to introduce myself."
So, it was a she...
"That so?" I said, leaning on the doorframe. "You wanted to introduce yourself?"
"yes?"
"… you wanted to introduce yourself to me Naruto Uzumaki, because you happened to move into the empty apartment on my floor." I frowned. People didn't just introduce themselves to me. She had to know that.
"That's right." She nodded.
I sighed as I looked her over. Fine, we can play pretend.
"All right, now that you did that, anything else?"
She looked at me for a second before she replied "I'll be busy with missions most of the time so I won't be here a lot. But I wanted to tell you to seek me out if you need help with anything, all right?" I stood up straight and looked up at her with wide eyes. Yūgao stepped a bit closer and looked at me, her eyes tight, and her brows furrowed. "If you find yourself in need of something, don't hesitate to knock at my door." I stiffened as she put a hand on my shoulder, and frowned deeply. "I won't pry into why they let you stay on your own but I don't like that a child is living alone across from my apartment, so I wanted to let you know that if you needed someone I'm here."
…
My mind blanked having made no preparations for this kind of response. Scenarios about an evil shinobi revealing himself and laughing maniacally went out of the window as she stared at my face with a sincere expression. I kind of stood there opening and closing my mouth before she nodded to herself, and let go of my shoulder.
"Have a good day." She said simply before turning around and going into her apartment.
"…you too?" I replied towards a closed door in an empty corridor.
That was different… I thought to myself, recalling the way her eyes held care that was devoid of the usual pity, those came hand in hand when nice people like Mister Teuchi looked at me. The thought of knocking on her door came and went as I shook it off before looking down at my clothes, the same ones I'd been wearing yesterday.
"I need a shower…" I whispered to myself as I rubbed at my stained clothes. "These need a thorough cleaning." I looked back at the door of my apartment, then at Yūgao's door. "…the river will do."
[ Y59 / M12 / D18 | 9:32 AM | Training Grounds #41 ]
I grinned madly at the sight in front of me, rubbing my hands together. "Riverside training ground, it's empty and dirty sure" I looked down at the pile of rusted weapons, rotten wood, and junk I gathered from the area and sighed before grinning again. "But It's not irreparable, and most importantly it's within walking distance!" I laughed shaking my head. "I get the hint old man. I shall put these grounds to good use." I clicked my tongue as I recalled the old man telling me "Naruto I don't want to hear that someone has seen you in those training grounds, you are not to step one foot in them until you've graduated the academy! NO! Naruto look at me! Naruto—".
"Gramps turned out to be a sly dog saying that and expecting me to act like a shinobi, to see beneath the beneath." I shook my head again, thinking about the covert methods of shinobi communications, thankfully I was smart enough to catch it. "Old man is saying that I should not be seen using these grounds, he's letting me break the rules." I nodded to myself before running and jumping into the river.
"SHIT! It's c-cold!" I stuttered out, it turns out things are cold in December. But I toughed it out and rubbed myself clean with a bar of soap I brought, cleaning the clothes I took off while I was at it. When I felt clean enough, I got out, hung the clothes on tree branches, and let them dry in the sun. "…I should have brought spare clothes…or a towel." I sighed and lowered my head as I stood there in my boxers.
As my clothes dried, I walked around to familiarize myself with the area, cleaning as I explored. I'm going to have to train hard if I want to get stronger, I'll be spending a lot of time here. I thought to myself. It's still early, I don't have anything else to do, I might as well start now. I felt energized at the thought of getting stronger, I clenched my fists and walked on soft, wet grass with a confident stride. When I got to the middle of the section, I cleaned I…
"How do people train again…" I palmed my face, feeling a bit frustrated. "I really should have thought ahead…" I murmured. "Well, I just need to punch harder, kick harder and run faster." I looked over to where a nearby training post stood. "It isn't complicated! I'll punch, kick, and run until no one can stand against me!" I nodded to myself, feeling quite satisfied with my quick thinking.
Now that I had a plan of action, I walked up to the wooden post. It was pretty worn, cracked in a few places, and it's clear that this isn't the first beat-down it's received in this life. I'm sorry for this, I hope you have a better life next time, as a ship's mast or something cool like that. I thought before getting into a lower stance and punching with as much force as my muscles would allow. I winced as I felt my fist make impact, the force of the strike traveling back through my arm, rattling my bones.
Shit! It really hurts. I stood up straight again, and stared at the post, the thought of punching it again making me feel apprehensive. I looked down at my knuckles before I shook my hand and clenched it again. I'm not this weak. I frowned as the pain made me want to give up and go home, frustration built as hesitation tried to weasel into my mind. A bit of pain isn't enough to make me back down. I lowered my stance again, shifting my right leg back a little, like academy students did when I saw them fighting.
A freak, a beast, a demon—that's what they call me, what the village expects. I thought before punching with my left arm, my hand hesitating before it reached its mark, the slowed movement making the hit weaker. A freak isn't normal so I won't be. I clenched my jaw and threw another punch with my left hand, this time hitting the post with full force. It really really hurts, but a beast attacks relentlessly, thoughtlessly until the hunt is over so I won't stop. I picked up the pace, punching faster and faster, shifting a little between each punch, trying to deliver more force as my knuckles screamed at my brain to stop, but I didn't. Those bastards called me a demon, I will show them hell. I recalled the faces of scorn, and disgust I got in the village. The faces of Takumi, the pair of first years, and the trio from yesterday flashed in my mind.
I can't stop, I won't stop, not until those bastards are forced to look up at me in fear, you better believe it. I screamed my anger at the post, raining punches at it. I kept at it until I started to lose feeling in my hands, my knuckles were bloody, and they stained the wood as I struck it. I will become Hokage, then they will respect and acknowledge me. I thought as I stepped back and started kicking the post. Even if I have to force them.
After what felt like an hour of abusing the wooden post, I collapsed next to it. I panted into the dirt and overgrown weeds for a minute then directed my fatigued burning muscles, dragging myself to the post. I looked down at my bloody and probably fractured knuckles, then at my shins that were not in a better condition. "I'll need to jump into the cold river again…" I whined as I relaxed against the post. Slow, deep breaths filled my lungs as my chest rose and fell, the peaceful clearing spreading out before me.
"I like it here…" I breathed out before taking another deep breath. The pleasant smell of wet dirt and grass accompanied each inhale, it was nice. The place felt easy on the senses. It was a bit overgrown but in a way that made it feel more natural, like it wasn't a training ground but a neglected park. I closed my eyes and allowed myself to fully sag against the wooden post as the sound of the flowing river and fluttering leaves washed over me.
I was ten minutes into my relaxing break when my stomach grumbled. I sighed, the sound reminding me of the mistakes I've been making this month. It was my first time living alone so I didn't know what I was doing. One big problem is that I had misjudged my spending power and bought expensive ramen packets that ran out a week ago. I've been eating instant ramen that also ran out this week.
"I don't have any money left, and my allowance isn't for another… three days, damn!" I said, grabbing my head with both my hands and anxiously scratching at my hair. "I'm going to starve—" I stopped as I recalled what I'd been hearing and smelling since I got here. Soft rustling and the smell of poop stood out more now that I'm paying attention.
"Hares can be eaten can't they…" My mouth watered as I spoke lightly before shutting up. I turned my head as my ears picked up the subtle sound of a bush nearby being disturbed; the leaves shook lightly in a rhythm that my whiskers told me was abnormal, it didn't match the area's airflow. I forced myself up, my muscles resisting every action. I looked down at my shaking thighs and bloody shins before I shook my head.
I won't be able to chase it around, I'll need to sneak up on it.
I kept my distance as I stepped around the bush to try to see the hare. It was eating— then became alert, nose twitching and long ears standing tall on its head, turning slightly in different directions. I crouched and fell back before it spotted me. I lightened my steps and stepped out again but it happened again. It must be my smell. I thought as I watched it sniff around. My own whiskers twitched as I felt the airflow, keeping my steps light as I walked carefully to ensure the air currents didn't carry my scent to the hare. I didn't want to risk it getting away, my tired body wouldn't win me that race, so when I got close enough, I lowered myself further. I kept my eyes trained on the hare and tensed my thighs, feeling them protest as I demanded more from them. With a sudden, violent, and painful contraction, my tense legs launched me at the hare as I extended my arms towards it.
"SHIT! SHIT- shit! What I'm supposed to do with it now!" I panicked as I hugged the hare, trapping it below me as it kicked and thrashed. I didn't have time to think as I felt it wiggling out from under me. Tired, panicked, and not thinking straight I grabbed its head when it peaked out from under my body. I screamed as I felt it bite my hand, and in a series of unthinking actions, I squeezed the hare's head, slammed its body on the ground, put my knee on its side, and twisted its head in the other direction…
CRACK!
I panted as I felt erratic movement still abruptly below me. I took my knee off the now-dead hare and fell on my ass as I continued breathing harshly. The focus it took to sneak around a single hare was more exhausting than I expected, punishing the post for being there felt mentally relieving in comparison. It's creepy how still it is. I thought, looking at the hare beside me. The little twitches it used to make with its ears and nose were completely absent. Then again, I'd rather it be still if I'm going to eat it. I chuckled for a second before freezing.
"I don't know how to cook…" I groaned in frustration, and annoyance. "OK! THAT'S IT! I DON'T DO ANYTHING BEFORE I PLAN EACH STEP!" I shouted and sighed as I looked down at the dead hare. "Don't worry little guy, I'll find a way to eat you." I picked it up and put it down next to the tree that held my clothes. I braved the cold waters of the river again to clean off the blood and grime, then went back wore my clothes, and picked up the hare.
I looked up at the sky, squinting as I saw the sun high overhead. It was midday already—I should be able to find a butcher who could cut it up for me. I thought as I began the trek back to the village center.
[ Y59 / M12 / D18 | 1:43 PM | D7-Markets ]
"Beat it brat, dealing with you is bad for business, you don't have the money to make it worth the trouble," The stinky, ugly fugly butcher said as he waved me away with his hand. I wasn't feeling patient, but I'd get in trouble if I punched him so I just huffed and walked away.
I was already in a bad mood from having to deal with people giving me the stink eye the whole way here, but I felt especially stupid as I walked back with a hare in my hands. I don't know what I expected, I mean why did I even come here? I clenched my jaw and looked at a guy dead in the eyes, startling him. Demon brat this, beast with no tail that. They. Just. Don't. Shut. Up. The guy I was staring at stopped whispering, grabbed his friend, and scurried away, making me shake my head as I continued walking back to the apartment. There's no end to them, I can't beat everyone up. I just need to become Hokage, then they'll bow down when they see me instead. I grinned at the thought, and that grin only widened as I noticed it making the people around me feel unsettled.
When I finally reached the complex my apartment sat atop, I slowed down my steps, enjoying the empty space as I went up the stairs. The building never gets noisy, even my sensitive ears have trouble picking up any noise. The residents are all shinobi, so most are out on missions, and the ones that aren't, are sleeping and relaxing, not making much noise. Much better than the orphanage. I thought as I reached the door of my apartment.
"I'm tired…" Finally, being back home filled my tired body with relief but as I reached up at the doorknob I paused and looked down at the hare in my hand. I sighed, leaned forward, pressed my forehead against the door, and let my arms dangle. I shifted my head, making my cheek press against the door to take a peek at the door behind me before letting out a petulant groan and shifting back. I looked down at the still hare in my hand and sighed again. "I took your life little guy so I'll take responsibility, I'll cook you right…" I told it before I pushed off the door and turned around.
I walked to the door, and stared at it for a minute, remembering the way she looked at me this morning, the sincere look in her eyes. I felt myself grow restless and more nervous so I knocked twice before the nerves got to me. I stiffened as I picked up the sound of movement inside, the light sound of slippers slapping the floor got closer as I stood there frozen.
Wait- wait I didn't make a plan again! I thought to myself in a panic, but the door was already open. Yūgao stood there in pajamas and cat slippers, she looked down at me with the same concern she showed this morning but didn't say anything, and for a minute neither did I, I just stared up at her with wide eyes. Eventually though, I grabbed the hare with both hands and raised it up for her to see.
"It's a hare…" I mumbled.
"I d-don't know how to cook…" I lowered the hare and looked down at my shoes, feeling my face heat up.
"…please help me nobody else would," I whispered hesitantly.
"Okay," her even tone felt softer than it did this morning.
"…really?" I raised my head and looked at her.
"Mhm… come in, I'll teach you." I tried to fight it but a smile made its way onto my face anyway.
"Okay…"