IT IS NOT EASY GETTING USED TO LIVE IN NARUTO VERSE.
When dawn breaks, the chirping birds work as my alarm clock. The past couple days, it was Kakashi who budded himself into my apartment every morning. At the end of the days, he would deliver some bedsheets, pillows, and his "old" microwave to my place. Complained that he needed new ones anyways. I questioned the price tags that he left on those things, and he dismissed my curiosity.
I sigh, curling deeper into my sheets. Was Kakashi actually… nice? This will make it only hurt much more if I'm not placed on his team. A new fear.
I step up to peel my curtains away from my windows, I am always stunned at the sight of the towering stone sculptures of the Hokage. As of now, four of the past Hokage face the village, as if they watch over the village like silent guardians.
I always give myself a small moment to soak in their presence. Even though I have to act like I have no idea who they are, I find myself admiring their statues. Now that I'm the Naruto plot line, I have to try my best to stay in it. Otherwise, I would just be a side character with a boring life, and what fun would I get out of that in Naruto? That would be the same as being back in my own reality.
A sudden ache presses on my temple and my fingertips reach in a poor attempt to subdue the pain. Today is graduation, and I barely got two hours of sleep. I trained on the jutsu Kakashi gave me. My biggest success was the Transformation, the Replacement Jutsu, and learning the Shadow Clone all by myself. Surprisingly, they were easy to do, but I wasn't able to perfect them all in one day because every time I did, it made me feel like my head was going to burst.
I wonder if the village carries something like advil?
I eye my apartment. It's still a bit empty. Kakashi told me that once I start missions, I'll be able to get money and use it however I like. I guess that's what I should be aiming for, right? Finally, make something my home... whatever that is. After the shock of being in the Hidden Leaf settled down, I concluded that I should happily make it home. Not just because I want to stay in the plotline or graduate to make money for my empty apartment, but I felt like I can finally do something for myself. Live like I want to.
I get up and quickly wash my hands and my dishes. I was used to living by myself most of the time, so I knew how to keep the apartment clean. I leave the front door and freeze once I notice a person locking their door in front of me. My neighbour...
"Naruto."
I knew it! I knew I had to be living in front of him. The apartment complex looked all too familiar. I internally smirk to myself, giving myself a thumbs up. Well, what else do you do when you're trapped in an anime? You make friends with them, of course!
He freezes and then looks behind his shoulder. I don't know if his eyes widened because he recognized me or if he was just in shock. His cheeks suddenly go pink, and he turns around, stammering in reply. "You! You're… you're…!"
I interrupt him. "I'm Juno. The new kid you asked to get some ramen with yesterday." I remind him, smiling. He still seems a bit nervous, so I assume he probably doesn't remember me. "I… guess you don't remember me." I say, rubbing the back of my neck.
Naruto stands up straighter and quickly speaks up, "No, I remember you! I just… I didn't know you live here."
"Say, how about we go to class together today?" I ask.
"Wha-? Actually?! Yeah!"
I laugh at Naruto's enthusiasm.
When we sat together in class, I had to pretend I didn't notice curious gazes and the hushed questions about why I was with Naruto. Naruto ignored it as well, pointing out the rest of the people in the class for me instead. "Beside us is Shikamaru and Choji. Over there, that's Shino. He's real quiet, just like Hinata. Oh, and that's Sasuke." Naruto grumbles, "He thinks he's so great." He crosses his arms with a huff. I snicker at that before Iruka catches my eye. He stands at the front of the class, and I see him pulling out a white piece of paper from his flak jacket.
"Good morning, class. We will now start the final exam. When your name is called, proceed to the testing room. The final test will be on the clone Jutsu. But before that, we have allowed you to have at least thirty minutes of self-study before the exam! Good luck!"
Naruto's hands clasp onto his face, and he turns to me. "Argh! What am I going to do?! That's my worst Jutsu!" he tells me. I offer him a sheepish smile, patting his back. "Don't worry about it, Naruto, I'lll give you my scroll for you to study with."
As we studied, I realize that bullying is a common thing in the Leaf.
I sigh, glancing up at the trio in front of me, Ino and two other girls, tittering about the unfortunate girl beside them. I was sitting right behind them, Shikamaru and Choji to the left of me. Shikamaru had dozed off while he was staring at the clouds like he was a Shonen MC or something. Choji was actually doing his work, and Naruto was reading out loud.
So much for camaraderie. What kid grows up here wanting to protect each other when they're always fighting witheach other?
I sigh, stuffing my nose into one of the books Kakashi offered me. It was intermediate knowledge about wind and lightning jutsu. I have reached the chakra point section, which is a lot harder to read, especially when I have a distraction in front of me.
"That's what the she gets! Asking Sasuke out like that!" One of the girls whispered.
It irked me. Glimpses of hatred and sour looks I can only shield people like Naruto with is comfort. But with things like these… I have to put in much more effort. I clench my jaw, my nails digging into my palm. With the final constant chirping of laughter, the exchange of insulting remarks, and then pasting the little post-it note on her back, I decided I was more inconvenienced rather than courageous.
In a smooth moment, I step up and steal the post-it. The victim churns around at the brush of my hand, her bright eyes curious to my touch. I rolled my eyes with an answer, "Something was on your back."
"...Thanks." The girl whispers before resuming her work. I decided to do the same. "Why would you do that?" The two kunoichi confronted me, their disdainful eyes framing me as the intruder. "Because you're annoying me." I state simply, crushing the piece of paper in my hands. Who knew the Naruto-verse even had post-it notes? "Some of us are studying, and you're bothering us."
They don't lash back. Instead, they turn to Ino to share their complaints instead. In my experience, people like them get embarrassed quickly when they're corrected. The other fair share got me in trouble. Either they would construct a plan for me to get detentions from my "smart" remarks, or I would be shunned by… everyone.
Just like now.
"She's so weird, isn't she, Ino?"
"Yeah, who does she think she is?"
Great. The one girl that helped me with my Jutsu, and now she's going to hate me. I prepare myself for the sting that will come with her response. Whatever, I got thick skin. I can deal with no one liking me. "She is weird." Ino dismisses. "But at least she got her priorities straight. Quit it and focus on studying, Ami."
Huh. That's weird. Was Ino… always like this?
"Juno, sit down!" Iruka calls from the front of the class, slapping down his files. "You should be studying, not prancing around!" His remark causing a profound hush amongst the crowd.
"But I—"
"Juno!"
"I didn't do anything!" Not yet at least.
"I! Don't! Care!" He snaps. "You came to this class with poor jutsu skills, so you should be studying the most! Why don't you make it your responsibility to get smarter rather than disturbing the rest of the class?! Even Naruto is studying! Unbelievable!"
This casts a cluster of laughter from among the hall, all targeted towards me.
"No wonder she hangs out with Naruto!"
"She is going to fail, for sure!"
Tears prickle on my eyes and I settle down. I feel a couple eyes on me, and peer beside me. Both Choji and Naruto stare at me with wide eyes, slack-jawed. Only Hinata, watching from across the hall, mirrors emotions. Her eyes water, and so do mine. Silent tears escape me, and I quickly scrub them away.
So much for making friends with people in an anime. The Leaf village is cutthroat. I'm sure I am the newly dubbed weird girl now. Everyone watches me silently cry out of frustration. Humiliation burns in me, choking my throat. If he thinks I am such an awful student, I will demonstrate a couple shadow clones. I don't care if I get in trouble again.
Fine, I can accept being the weird girl again, but I won't stand for being thought as a failure. I'll prove it. I'll show him and the rest how much of a failure I can really be.
"Juno… Juno!" Choji's voice calls me, and I realize I have been staring at the board for a long time. I pull myself back to my surroundings, realizing Naruto is gone. I glance back at Choji, blinking away my tears. "They called you up." He tells me, before shooting a look at my hands. "What did you do?" His accusing voice forces me to look down at me hands. I realize my palms have been bleeding from the pressure of my nails.
"What did you do?" Choji repeats.
"I didn't do anything." I blubber out. "I should go."
I walk into the hallway, passing by a few students who mutter bets on my Genin status. I escape into the testing room, gathering my breath as I meet both Iruka and Mizuki's eyes. They're sitting behind a wooden desk with a couple of headbands on display. Usually, I do Jutsu with a quick spike of energy if I want to get it done quickly. Perhaps in battle that will be efficient. But with Shadow Clones, I must focus. Putting all my attention on focusing and gathering my Chakra, I do the Jutsu in a precise, systematic manner to split it all evenly.
"…four, five, six..." I hear Mizuki's voice count. "There are seven of them." He points out. I look up, noticing all the clones surrounding me.
The clones were all there, giving me the same feeling I had gotten from the first-ever shadow clone I had made; admiration and disbelief. Depending on who you are, your ego can either deflate or blow up like a balloon.
"Whoa, I look good from the back!"
"Thanks!"
I look back at Iruka and Mizuki. Iruka pauses, whispering, "... Congratulations. You pass." I gulp as I glance at my clones, who quietly watch me for my next actions. I walk up to the headbands, and I pick up one up. Sure I earned this headband, but was it worth it? I did the Jutsu out of anger… out of spite. I glance up at Iruka and Mizuki, who seem to be analyzing me.
"Careful, Juno, there's blood on your hands." Iruka murmurs, "It'll stain your headband."
I let out a breath, messily wiping away the blood on my skirt before pocketing the headband. I passed, but at what cost? Did my anger get to me?
"You're not going to put it on?" Mizuki presses, his eyes steely.
I don't answer, feeling the air get tense.
"Juno Watanabe, correct?" Mizuki smiles at me, sick and sweet. "You have great potential as a Genin. Perhaps you can come see me, so I can teach you a few things–"
My grip tightens on my headband, hurting my palm. "Shut up." one of my clones answered coldly, earning an odd look from Iruka. Idiot! I tell myself and command them to shut up. Some of my clones can be more stupid compared to the others, and I learned that after one they tried escape my damn apartment. Curious little critters were just as excited about the Naruto world as I was.
"Juno–" Iruka starts.
"Sorry, that was really uncalled for. So sorry, I have to go now." One of the clones apologizes quickly, pushing me out of the room. I stand outside the door, giving them a glare. One of them clicks their tongue at me while the others groan and complain. I shake my head at them, wondering if Kakashi may have been right about me being a little dim. Am I fighting with myself? Do I really do it that much?
A Chunin comes up to me, telling me where I can find my friends or family. My clones decide to poof away at the moment. Even though I didn't have anyone waiting for me, I didn't argue and follow his directions.
When I reach outside, I manoeuvre past the crowd of people outside of the academy to avoid all the glimmering eyes of graduated Genin and proud praises from their families.
Sure, it's graduation. But it doesn't feel like it. I don't have my family around, and I barely have friends here yet.
I see Naruto sitting on a swing not too far off from the academy. My chest tightens at the heart-wrenching expression on his face. I can practically feel his sadness envelop me.
This was a show that I had watched as a kid. I knew he was going to be fine. I knew I was going to be okay. This was just a show. It's all supposed to be okay at the end of the day. I mean it's all fake and planned out anyway, right? But I've seen the glares he's been getting all day, I've seen how his eyes light up when he thinks about becoming the Hokage, and right now, I see how alone and hurt he is.
This was just a show.
But to me… it felt all too real. And everything he's feeling felt all too familiar. This time, I didn't want to watch anymore. This time I can actually do something. "Naruto!" I call, running towards him. He doesn't even look up. I reach to touch him, but he moves away from my hand, moving his swing as well. "Go away." His voice wavers.
"Fine," I say, causing Naruto to peer up at me through his lashes. I frown, looking away from him. "…I just wanted to tell you that it will be alright." I tell him, flickering my gaze at him. Naruto's face crumples, and he looks away from me. "Don't you get it?" Naruto says, "I didn't pass! Now I'm never going to become the Hokage!"
I pause at that, swallowing. How do I make him feel better? Maybe... I should make him feel less alone. That's what I would want right now. "Naruto…" I begin, pulling out the headband from my pocket. "Hey, listen, I'm not going to wear this headband until you pass." Naruto looks up at me, finally meeting my eyes. "W… what? Why would you do that?" He asks, his voice soft.
"Because I believe in our future Hokage. Duh." I answer, "This headband… in that test room, it didn't mean much to me. I felt like I was just an imposter holding onto it. I can't put it on. Not until I feel like I have friends that can wear it with me. Until I feel like this headband means that we are together."
You think bright-eyed Naruto would break into a gleeful smile. This guy doesn't give up, right? This guy is the hero of the main story that lights up at the mention of his flowery future. Yet, he looks completely confused. As if he has never seen a person, a girl like me, tell him that he is about to become the Hokage. I watch in real-time as his face shifts from curious shock to sceptical anger.
"How would I do that if I didn't pass?!" he cries out in a fury, hopping down from the swing as he shouts, "You're making fun of me aren't you?!" My stomach drops as I stare back at him. Behind me, I start to hear the older ladies whispering about "the demon child" and how it's natural for him to act like this after a poor girl like me is trying to help him.
"N-Naruto-" I begin to stammer until Naruto knocks my headband out of my hands. I watch it fall on the grassy ground and hear Naruto demand, "You're doing it again! Budding in! Just leave me alone like everybody does! I don't need your pity, so quit budding in!" I glance back at him, watching him turn his back to me.
I guess even Naruto didn't believe that.
This world is more than what was shown on the TV. The people here are unwelcoming. It was only natural for him to be suspicious. I sigh, feeling my heart shatter as I pick the headband up.
I turn to walk away as I say, "I was just trying to help."
Once again, I spot Hinata among the crowd, watching us with tearful eyes.
࿊
An orange glow was cast over the land, announcing the new day. There were a few people up and walking, but they didn't have as much energy as they usually do in the afternoon. The village is quiet and lazy in the morning, which was nice. The academy didn't have many people there when I reached the front doors. As expected, many kids my age would rather sleep in.
Today, the ninja ID pictures were being taken on the roof. I found Hinata wandering down the stairs. I was about to smile at her until she blushed skittered past me, leaving me to stare at her back in confusion. I greeted her retreating figure but she squeaked in reply and then slammed the door shut.
When I make it to the top, I'm surprised to see that the cameraman is already taking a picture of someone. I wonder who else would be up this early other than Hinata and I? I crane my neck to look behind the camera.
Oh, of course. Who else would it be an early riser?
"There we go. Go ahead and take the card."
After slipping the card into his pocket, he passes by me without sparing me a glance. I turn around, watching him walk away by himself. I felt nothing for him through the screen because that was when I knew he wasn't real. He was a fake, and he had no feelings. But when I spotted his eyes glancing over his shoulder to make brief contact, I saw all his hurt and anguish, and I knew it was nothing like that anymore.
I know when I looked at Naruto, I knew everything was going to be okay for him. He is destined to be a symbol of hope and friendship or all the good in this show. But when I saw Sasuke, I realized the other path of pain and suffering from misinformation and betrayal. The two paths of the Naruto plotline and the timeline that I had to train to be in.
Reality shifted. Everything was real, and everything had happened.
Sasuke's metallic footsteps echoed throughout the stairwell, bringing me back to reality.
"Hey!" I call.
Silence. He stopped walking. I gulp, wondering why I had suddenly decided to do this. I inhale, walking towards the stairwell. I look over the railing and see Sasuke looking up at me. There was no look of annoyance on his face, but he was definitely skeptical. I'm unsure of what I wanted to say, but I continue anyway.
"What do you want?" He's angry. By the quick lowering of his eyes, it was like he already knew what I was going to say, and he wasn't in the mood for whatever it was.
"Will you train with me?" Realizing I had squeezed my eyes shut, I opened them to observe Sasuke's reaction. He's frozen, his eyes slightly wider than before. I already know the answer. I think we both do. But what he doesn't know is that I'm going to get him to say yes.
"No," Sasuke answers, sending me another glare. "You don't even have a headband on. Are you even a ninja?"
My jaw drops. No way. I think as I watch him turn around. Think. Think! How can I persuade him into training with me? What grinds on his nerves? I grip the stairway railing, calling out to him. "I guess I just have to ask Naruto now!" I state loudly. As expected, he stops right in his tracks. I smirk to myself. Gotcha. "Of course, he passed without having to do a test. It must mean he's a really great ninja."
"If you're asking someone to help you out, Naruto isn't exactly the person you want." Sasuke replies. "Oh, well then, I wonder who it is." I say sarcastically. I see Sasuke stare at the space in front of him, possibly considering his choice.
He sighs, "...whatever."
Sasuke waits behind the camera as I took my picture. Since there wasn't anyone waiting for their turn, the cameraman let me take as many pictures as I wanted. Sure, Sasuke and the cameraman were obviously irritated after I made them print out several cards until I was satisfied, but at least I was satisfied.
"Please tell me you like that one." The cameraman pleads, rubbing the bald spot on top of his head. "I think this is the seventh picture you made me take." He mutters, sweatdropping.
I nod happily, staring at the card in my hand, placing the other four cards in the pocket of my sweater. In the corner of my eye, I see the cameraman sigh in relief. "My pleasure." The cameraman grumbles as I walk past him.
"What are you doing with the rest of them?" A scowl curls on Sasuke's lip as we go down the stairs. I can tell he's immediately regretting his decision. "Because I want to keep memories." I answer, to which he just just shakes his head. This makes me regret this whole ordeal as well. Why did I do this? Why did he agree to this?
I clear my throat. "So do you have a training ground?"
"Something like that."
The walk is pretty quiet. Sasuke wasn't much of a talker, like Kakashi. But comfortable silence doesn't last long. The moment I saw the Uchiha Compound, the quiet is deafening. It was loud enough to scream at me. It was like I can smell the foul stench of murder in the air and feel the ice-cold hate shiver down my spine.
It made me sick.
I should be excited to be entering the Uchiha's house. Never in my life had I thought I would somehow enter the Naruto world and then get myself invited to the mansion. But I nearly stumbled. The moment I got here, I forgot there's more here than just sunflowers and daisies. I was slapped in the face with the reality of what this place really was.
A disgusting taste rose up in my throat, and I clasped my hand over my mouth. This is what the Naruto world is. This is the honest reality.
Betrayal.
Sasuke looks behind his shoulder. "What?" He asks. I look him in the eyes, wondering how easy it will be to tell him everything. I wonder how quickly that will affect him and change everything that's going to happen and fork his future decisions. I can simply just open my mouth and tell him... the truth.
"Uh... nothing." I manage out. I inwardly wonder why I choose to say nothing. Literally. Sasuke quirks a brow, "Are you a sensor?"
"What?"
"You don't know what a sensor is?" Sasuke drawls as if I was the stupidest person he knows. "Who trained you? How'd you pass?"
And in a mere instant, I stomp on the sympathy I have for him. I snap back, "Shut up. Why'd you agree to this if you're making fun of me? I asked for help for a reason."
"Because I want to see why you passed." Sasuke states simply, guiding me to the training ground. Stopping in front of tattered trees and a worn dummy, he takes a steady look at me. "You're terrible at jutsu, you hang around the dumbest student, you talk to everyone like you can see through them… and yet you passed in just a day. I want to know why."
For some reason, my cheeks heat up. This is the nicest thing that someone has told me the past two days. "Maybe I'm just that good." I smirk.
"Prove it."
In a few moments, we're staring at the shuriken lying on the grass, the symbols of my failed attempts of hitting the targets. "Unbelievable. These are simple techniques that our elementary students can do, and can't even throw?" Sasuke eyes peel back in shock. It was almost funny that I was so bad at this that it scared him.
"Iruka-sensei said I-" I pull out a shuriken, "-passed like a shooting star!" and flick it towards the target plastered on the trunks. I chuckle at my joke and watch as the shuriken dig into the dirt of the ground. My laughter dies with my dreams.
"A shooting star, huh?" Sasuke glowers, pinching the bridge of his nose, "Don't kid yourself. If you're lucky enough to notice one, you'll be able to get the wish that they grant. You? You're just bad luck." Sasuke deadpans.
"Bad luck?" I echo, gritting my teeth. Sasuke rolls his eyes, "People don't just walk into the Leaf Village and become a ninja. That's not how it works. You have to had gotten some help." he presses.
"I'm new, you idiot!" I bark, offended he thinks I passed as if I just merely asked for it. "I trained my butt off for this!"
"Yeah?! Then why aren't you wearing your headband!?"
"For Naruto!"
"Why are you friends with Naruto?!"
"Why aren't you friends with Naruto!?"
"Because he's annoying! Just like you!"
Sasuke and I pause, breathing heavily and staring at each other in frustration. I don't understand why Sasuke's angry and prying into my life. It's almost like he's accusing me of something. As if he thinks I know something he doesn't. Which is true but still! Out of anger, I throw a kunai at a worn dummy across him. It hit the dummy's chest, hard and strong.
"Hn," Sasuke sighs, "I guess that's a start."
Even after a day completed with laughter and exhaustion, I wasn't able to sleep very well. I kept thinking about what this place really is and realised one simple fact. This isn't some stupid kids' show anymore. This is all real, and I have no idea what I am doing here. I can't just ignore reality.
I am no longer at home. I am currently in Naruto. all the characters are real, and now I am a ninja that is living in an anime that is shrouded with shadows of hidden history and the option to help.
Someone please send a guidebook of rules on how to survive this place.