-Naruto-
If the classroom incident was like dropping off a cliff, Mizuki-sensei's words were like being suffocated in boiling hot water. Those words rolled over him as ferociously as he imagined an ocean would've, making him feel violently dizzy and nauseous- he feels scared and so terribly uncomfortable- cold yet hot at the same time.
Who knew about it? Who doesn't?
"You see, the Yondaime Hokage hadn't actually killed the Kyuubi per se-"
Would people care? Stupid question. Of course they would.
Would Tsunade-baachan still accept him? She was already one of the first people to treat him like human.
What about Iruka-sensei? How did Mizuki-sensei know anyway? Why did no one tell him if the Senseis all knew?
What about his classmates? Did they know? Probably not. His peers were already all horrible and they didn't even know about this.
Gosh, is this why all the Villagers hated him? How did they know anyway? Or maybe they don't and this would just be another reason for them to kick him out of Konoha.
He doesn't even want to begin thinking about his strange relationship with Sasuke. But it was finally heading in a direction he wanted, yet this secret-
"-That 'hero' sealed it into you." Mizuki-sensei had given a nonchalant shrug as if that man hadn't been Naruto's idol, "The Village over the life of an unwanted, abandoned brat, right? I totally get why he had done what he did."
Why did Hokage-jiji keep him alive?
So his suspicions were confirmed. All of the kindness from the old man was fabricated. How the highest authority would visit him- a hated, ignored orphan- was always beyond him. Now Naruto knows that it was probably to keep an eye on the Kyuubi-
"A Hokage wouldn't want a demon running rampant across his Village now would he?"
It wasn't fair.
Why would the Yondaime curse him with this hatred?
"That's the job of a leader, right?" Mizuki-sensei had turned a blank eye onto Naruto. But as if Mizuki-sensei could compare to the Yondaime, who was he to talk about leadership? "You want to be Hokage, am I correct, Naruto-kun? So surely, you must know that it was the best decision."
It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair.
Why was it NARUTO? Why him? Couldn't it be anyone else?
Maybe his classmates were right. (Maybe the bitter voice in his head was right.)
"Traitor."
Maybe his parents were horrible traitors and that's why he had to deal with this. But then that wasn't fair! He didn't even know who his parents were because that stupid Hokage old geezer wouldn't tell him anything!
It wasn't fair it wasn't fair it wasn't fair it wasn't fair it wasn't fair it wasn't fair it wasn't fair it wasn't fair it wasn't fair it wasn't fair it wasn't fair it wasn't fair it wasn't fair it wasn't fair it wasn't fair it wasn't fair it wasn't fair it wasn't fair it wasn't fair it wasn't fair it wasn't fair it wasn't fair.
This is why he was hated? Because of the Yondaime's stupid decision?
Because of the Yondaime's decision he had to wrestle off a drunk middle aged man who was screaming- "Give me back my daughter!"
Because of the Yondaime's decision he had to map out the areas with less people or else he'd have to suffer through so many people 'accidentally' shoving or tripping him.
Because of the Yondaime's decision he had to deal with all. That. Stupid. Hate.
Itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair itwasn'tfair
All the burden, all the hatred... ALL OF IT. The stares, the whispers, the murmurs, the side glances, the clattering of the mask as the shopkeeper glared down at him.
('That mask was a fox mask.' There was that voice again.)
"Sorry, we're sold out. Go somewhere else."
"Again-ttebayo?"
"This restaurant is full. Too bad for you."
"This place is half empty-"
"Who told you you were allowed to come here?"
"Why aren't I allowed here?"
"Get out."
"Why?"
"You aren't welcome here."
"Why?"
"You aren't welcome in this Village-"
"WHY?"
"Shh, you're drunk, Mai. Don't talk to it."
"Who let you out of your cage?" Their eyes bored down onto him, "Little demon?"
('You know-' The twisted voice had a curl of permanent distaste. '-Those Villagers should just fucking die.')
If it was only someone else- If only Naruto was born earlier or later or away from Konoha.
('Konoha doesn't want us. Why should we want Konoha either?')
ITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIRITWASN'TFAIR-
'Since when has things gone your way, Naruto?' A dark, hateful voice rang right beside his ear and he stiffened. Why did that voice sound just like his?
"It's ok though, Naruto-kun," Mizuki-sensei's face instantly switched to a soft and amiable one. "Even if everyone hates you, I accept you."
Naruto hates how he automatically chases after those words because surely, if everyone knew about...that, then they'd hate him, ignore him, talk about him. Just like the adults had and still are.
"I know hearing the truth is painful, but always know that I accept you and your circumstance. I know it's not your fault," Mizuki-sensei's voice was smooth and calming- and so unlike those resentful words he had spat at Naruto just moments before.
"It's really tough having to go through this, right?" Mizuki-sensei casually leaned against a tree trunk. "Come here now Naruto-kun." He beckoned over to him. "Even if no one is by your side, I will always welcome you."
Don't listen to him! He lied! He's lyinglyinglyinglying. He's a liarliarliar.
His face was hospitable and kind. "I understand that you're a normal, kind child. To have to deal with what you've been through, it's not fair, is it?"
"It's not!" Naruto burst out, an emotion more wrathful than mere indignation exploded within him. "Why me?"
(It was more sorrowful than the tears he had shed when the Hokage had first closed the apartment door in his face.)
"I didn't want this!" His mind didn't register the step he took towards Mizuki-sensei. "I didn't kill anyone!"
Step. "I'm not a monster!"
Step. "Why do they think I'm that?"
Step. "Why do they just- Can't they tell that I'm normal? Would-" Naruto's voice suddenly twisted in a malicious way, scaring himself even more. "-Would they hate their own child if the Yondaime had to do that to their kid?"
The noise cut off as Naruto felt his face pale from his own cold, harsh words.
('We're just being honest.' That same voice whispered and Naruto felt his heart drop. 'I'm the real you, Naruto. The only person you can rely on.')
(There was a bubbling of something in his stomach and if Naruto had been level-headed, he would've realised that it was more than just anger simmering in the pits of his stomach...
"Snake." A gravelly voice snarled before the echoes of the growl glitched and cut off.)
"I'm not a- I'm just-" Naruto fisted two hands into his hair, tugging panickingly, "I'm just-"
"-An annoying brat, right?" A figure appeared into the clearing and Naruto stumbled backward again, away from Mizuki-sensei. Her heels clicked dully against the hard dirt, green haori billowing as she swept an arm in front of Naruto protectively. "Jeez, I leave you alone for a little bit and you stir up all this mess."
"T-Tsunade-hime?" Mizuki-sensei started before there was a blur of action.
Naruto didn't even have time to register her words before the Sannin shot forward like a missile.
crrrghh- BANG
Two trees beside Mizuki-sensei exploded in a shower of splintered bark.
The one the Chuunin had been leaning against suddenly gave way under a smooth skinned fist.
There's a delayed gush of wind as the trunk rocketed backwards, knocking away the Chuunin and levelled the tree behind it... and another... and another... and another...
It brought upon a haze of dirt and soil in the air, rough breezes brushing at Naruto's hair.
There's a halted gathering of leaves that swayed hesitantly in the air above them. The air stopped, the sounds absent sans for the thudding and cluttering of broken branches. It was almost like the atmosphere itself was marvelling the superhuman strength.
The cloud of dust was forcibly swept aside as the assailant flicked her wrist.
Naruto blinked.
There was dust gathering on his eyelashes and he could feel a thin layer of dust particles resting on his clothes and face.
A split second.
It was only then when Mizuki registered the attack, giving a strangled yelp as he scrambled to his feet from where he had been knocked onto the floor.
Naruto blinked.
The heels clicked yet again as the Sannin landed elegantly, looking too dignified for the dirtied grounds. She crossed her arms against her chest and looked down at the Chuunin, not appearing the slightest bit ruffled.
Powerful energy was released in waves off of the figure. The overbearing presence sent whatever wildlife left running and birds screeching. Mizuki staggered for purchase, doubling over as he grasped his head.
Another second.
Naruto watched as Mizuki swayed to and fro like a drunkard, his figure appearing as a cornered rat. Weak and pitiful.
And another.
The Chuunin then dropped to his hands and knees, retching violently, one hand bracing himself, one hand clutching onto his dirtied hair. A small pool of bile, the grotesque shade of yellowish-brown, spilt down his mouth and across his front. Mizuki's face was pallid and a tinge of unnatural green.
"Wh- wha- w-was that...?" The man gasped, fingers scraping on the floor and gathering soil under his nails.
The Sannin looked utterly remorseless as a heeled foot slammed onto the back of Mizuki's skull, shoving his face into his own small puddle of vomit. The kunoichi's face was cold and ruthless, disgust and disdain radiated unrepentantly from her frame.
"THAT!"
She put more pressure onto her foot as the man scrambled blindly, sickening sploshes and gurgles echoing in the silent afternoon.
"That-" She repeated through gritted teeth.
Naruto dropped to his knees, clutching onto the stolen scroll like a lifeline as he leant against the trunk of a tree. He watched Tsunade-baachan snarl with the ferocity of a protective mother...
"-is what happens when you mess with my student."