academy day-2
Next morning, I woke up early and went for a jog. After completing my run, I dressed in a simple chain mail and a white shirt that resembled a kimono, paired with black ninja pants. As I made my way towards the academy, I couldn't help but notice the more experienced students and shinobi effortlessly leaping from one building to another, while I continued to walk. Frankly, I preferred it this way, enjoying the tranquility of the morning, where the beauty of Konoha truly came alive with birds singing and trees dancing in the breeze
"you...pestt!! i said i have no food for a monster like you"
However, my serene morning took a dark turn when I witnessed Naruto lying on the ground, his left cheek bruised, and tears streaming down his face. The shopkeeper, an old man in rugged clothes, had lost his temper and struck Naruto when he tried to buy some milk and bread. Shockingly, instead of helping him, the surrounding people were hurling insults at Naruto, adding to his distress.
Naruto looked around searching for help until his eye met with mine. I avoid him and went on my way. my heart ache but there nothing i can do to save him, if I do, I be named demon follower, they will outcast me too, but that not the main problem, i want to remain unknown for as long as possible, Donzo can abduct me when ever he want, however he wants as I don't have any backing or strength to protect myself.
With heavy heart i went toward academy. after reaching class I found that I'm first person to reach here. i sat near window at backbench and decided to take nap. My nap was broken when door was open, and person who entered the class was surprisingly Shino. he sat on middle bench.
he moved his hand over to bench a beetle like insect appeared this got my interest i went toward him.
"wow that pretty cool looking insect what's it's name"
i stood in front of him. he moved his head up and looked at me and replied.
"this Nato tribe insect it has ability to completely blend with environment and become invincible"
I stood in front of him. he moved his head up and looked at me and replied. he placed that insect at bench after that it become complete Invincible.
"Woh that totally cool."
I was genuinely fascinated by the insect's ability to blend into its environment. Shino appeared a little embarrassed, a faint red tint on his cheeks, as we continued talking about insects, classes, and other topics. However, I noticed that more than half of the class had filled up and that the class was about to start.
"Damn, Shino, your clan's abilities are so cool. Looks like class is about to begin. I'll catch up with you later," I said to Shino before heading towards my seat.
As I settled down, I noticed Sasuke also taking a seat on my bench. Surprisingly, I smiled at him, and even more surprisingly, he smiled back. After this brief exchange, I took my place by the window.
"Good morning, everyone!"
Iruka and Inuzuki entered the classroom, and Iruka greeted us warmly.
"Most of you already know me from the first day of the academy. For those who don't, I'm Iruka, your class teacher. I'll be responsible for teaching shinobi history, basic taijutsu, and strength training."
He pointed to the instructor next to him.
"And this is Inuzuki, who will be teaching basic chakra control, ninja running, and chakra theory."
Iruka then proceeded to take attendance, asking each student to stand up and give a brief introduction.
The introductions continued for a while until Iruka called out, "Naruto!... Naruto Uzumaki..."
Iruka's voice trailed off as he assumed Naruto wasn't present. A flash of resentment and frustration crossed Iruka eyes. Just as Iruka was about to mark Naruto absent, the classroom door swung open, and Naruto walked in wearing his signature green glasses.
"I, Naruto Uzumaki, the future Hokage, am present, sir!"
everyone started laughing at him. Iruka just sighed and asked naruto to take a seat unlike how Iruka was in anime he didnt shout or gave punishment to naruto, it was as if he was ignoring naruto.
Naruto's attempts to find an empty seat were met with bags on chairs and dismissive gestures from other students. Eventually, he ended up sitting next to Sasuke, who seemed unfazed. I, on the other hand, occupied the seat next to the window, with Sasuke in the middle and Naruto at the other end.
"Haru Tsukamoto!"
As my name was called, I stood up. Feeling the weight of everyone's gaze, I took a deep breath and met Iruka's eyes.
"I'm Haru Tsukamoto. My dream is to be the strongest man i guess. My hobbies include reading."
Iruka's expression momentarily displayed surprise before he managed a response, "That's... an interesting dream."
Following my introduction, I felt two sets of eyes on me. Naruto's gaze felt intense, possibly stemming from my lack of help in the morning. The second person was Ino seemed lost in thought, looking at me with a distant expression.
"ok we will study about waring era and start of konoha.."
Iruka pleased with everyone introduction started his class, me not finding his class interesting or useful looked outside the window.
Classes dragged on for what felt like an eternity, each hour stretching out as if it were years passing by. As the final bell rang, signaling the end of the day, I made my way towards the academy gate, ready to escape the confines of the classroom.
However, just as I was about to step through the gate, a loud shout pierced the air, causing me to turn my head abruptly.
"You, white-haired prick!"
The words echoed, and for a moment, I scanned the surroundings to understand who Naruto was addressing.
Then it clicked – the realization dawned upon me that he was actually talking about me. With a slight hint of disbelief, I pointed at myself, seeking confirmation. "Did you mean me?!"
"Yeah, you fucker! Stop acting like I don't exist!"
Before I could fully process his words, Naruto was charging toward me with a fiery determination. Instincts that had been honed through countless battles for food and other necessities during my time as an orphan kicked in. Swiftly, I sidestepped his approach, my body moving on its own accord. In a seamless motion, I extended my leg at just the right angle, effectively tripping him up.
His fall was met with a soft thud, and for a fleeting second, there was silence as all of us processed what had just happened.
"you..you..you"
As Naruto seethed with anger, his frustration rendering him momentarily speechless, he clenched his fists in an attempt to find the right words. His face contorted with emotion, he appeared poised to charge at me once again. however, suddenly someone hit both of us. when i looked up i saw a guy in his early 20ies with wavy straight hair and rough face, standing between me and naruto.
"Both of you, head to the headmaster's office,"
he ordered sternly, disappointment in his eyes. We were guided to the office where we waited for an hour. Eventually, the venerable Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, entered. The accompanying sensei stood, indicating for us to follow suit. Hiruzen motioned us to sit, his demeanor wise yet understanding.
Naruto, unable to restrain himself, blurted, "Hey, old man, what brings you here?"
Hiruzen chuckled, his eyes twinkling, "Hahaha, Naruto, I also oversee the academy as head master."
i guess its one of the reason he is called professor. I thought.
"so, hato what bring u here"
hiruzen asked the accompanying sensei whose name was hato.
"Lord Hokage, these two were fighting in front of the academy door," the sensei reported, his tone serious. Hiruzen, the revered Hokage, burst into laughter, a hearty sound that filled the room and resonated with warmth. His eyes crinkled with amusement as he looked at us, his laughter gradually subsiding.
"Ah, the enthusiasm of youth," Hiruzen mused, his gaze distant for a moment. "You know, fighting is often how the strongest friendships begin." He leaned back, his expression reminiscent, as if lost in the memories of his own past.
But then, his demeanor shifted, and the room seemed to take on a more serious tone. "However, breaking the rules is also one of the gravest crimes for a ninja," he stated firmly, his eyes locking onto ours with a stern intensity. The weight of his words hung in the air, a reminder of the responsibilities that came with being a shinobi.
After a moment of contemplation, Hiruzen's expression softened, and he leaned forward. "To teach you a valuable lesson in discipline and teamwork, I've got a task for you," he said, his tone measured. "You will clean and organize the classrooms. A ninja must learn to respect their environment and work together harmoniously."
I shot a glance at Naruto, my expression tinged with a hint of contempt. It was his impulsive outburst that had dragged me into this situation. now I will definitely miss launch.
The sensei led us to the cleaning materials stored in a corner of the room before departing to attend to his own duties. As he left, I couldn't contain the frustration simmering within me. "What was that?" I snapped at Naruto, my voice edged with irritation.
Naruto winced slightly, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "I got overexcited," he muttered, his tone apologetic.
Letting out a sigh of exasperation, I begrudgingly grabbed a cleaning cloth and started tidying up the classroom. As I wiped down desks and swept the floor, I couldn't shake off my annoyance at being roped into this situation. But as I worked, I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye.
Turning my head, I saw Naruto energetically grabbing cleaning supplies and diving into the task with unexpected enthusiasm. He was cleaning furiously, almost as if he were trying to prove something. Despite my irritation, a small smile tugged at the corner of my lips. His determination was undeniable.
And then, in a turn of events that I hadn't anticipated, Naruto's competitive spirit ignited. He glanced at me, a mischievous grin forming, which irritated me and suddenly, a spark of rivalry lit up between us. Without a word, I found myself swept up in the competition of cleaning classroom.
As the minutes ticked by, Naruto and I cleaned with fervor, our movements quick and purposeful. The classroom began to transform under our combined efforts. There was an unspoken challenge in the air, a shared determination to outdo each other while simultaneously completing the task.
Every so often, we'd exchange glances, our eyes locking in a silent battle of wills. It was a peculiar mixture of frustration and camaraderie, our shared annoyance at the situation turning into something resembling teamwork.
By the time we finished, the classroom sparkled. Both of us stood back, panting slightly from the exertion, but a sense of accomplishment radiated from the freshly cleaned space. Naruto flashed a grin, his earlier overexcitement replaced with a triumphant expression. I couldn't help but smirk in response.
In an odd way, this unexpected competition had transformed the punishment into a shared experience. It was as if Naruto's impulsiveness and my irritation had converged into a strangely productive partnership, leaving behind a classroom that was cleaner than either of us had initially intended.
just as we were catching our breath both our stomach made noise.
We both found ourselves chuckling at the situation, realizing that we had both missed both breakfast and lunch.
"Hey, you know it's my fault you missed lunch, so I'll treat you at Ichiraku."
Naruto sheepishly rubbed his head as he made the offer, and I couldn't help but be tempted. The legendary ramen from Ichiraku was something I had always wanted to taste. Growing up in an orphanage, we barely had any pocket money to spare for such luxuries. However, deep down, I knew that accepting Naruto's offer could jeopardize my carefully laid plans.
After a moment's hesitation, I reluctantly replied, "Okay..."
In the end, I gave in to temptation and accepted his offer. I was aware that this decision might have long-term consequences and potentially harm my plans, but in that moment, the desire to experience the legendary ramen outweighed my concerns. I convinced myself that it would be just this once, hoping that it wouldn't have a lasting impact.
~~small time skip~~
"Man, ramen is like food from the gods,"
Naruto exclaimed with genuine enthusiasm. As we strolled out of Ichiraku, he couldn't help but gush about how amazing it tasted. To me, someone who had tasted the delicacies of Earth, it was "alright."
While I appreciated the flavors and recognized that Ichiraku's ramen was a cut above average, it didn't quite reach the level of culinary transcendence that Naruto described.
"Haru!"
As Naruto and I continued walking for some distance, my name was suddenly shouted from behind. I turned to see Emi, with her friend beside her, wearing a betrayed expression on her face.
"whaa-.."
Emi was so taken aback by the sight of me with Naruto that she couldn't find her voice. Her shock quickly turned to anger as she rushed toward me, grabbing my hand, and pulling me away from Naruto. Without resistance, I allowed Emi to guide me back towards the orphanage. Emi was one of the few people I was close to, and I didn't want to hurt her by causing unnecessary conflict.
After reaching the orphanage, Emi didn't utter a word and simply headed towards her bed. At dinner that evening, Emi sat opposite me, and an oppressive silence settled over the room, with no one daring to speak. Suddenly, one of Emi's friends broke the tension by asking, "Hmm... how was the academy?"
I replied, "It was okay," but the conversation quickly fizzled back into an awkward silence. Emi's blonde friend, unable to bear the tension any longer, blurted out, "Can you two reconcile already? This is getting annoying."
Emi's response was unlike her usual kind self; she shouted, "Shut up, Aki!"
she said sorry to me the next day for her behavior. I forgave her, but things changed between us after that. Time passed, and as Emi reached her final year, we started growing apart. We still talked and ate together, but it wasn't like before. Our talks felt different, and there was something between us that we didn't talk about, making our friendship feel distant. Her graduation approaching only added more complications to our strained relationship.