Chapter Text
3rd, April 1999
"It's nice to have a crush on someone. It feels like you're alive, you know?"
I turned on my side in my lumpy bed. I can feel my stomach begging me for food, but that wasn't going to happen today. After all, the third Hokage doesn't come till night. Just to give me expired Ramen. "It's better than nothing..." After laying there for a few more minutes, I got tired of listening to my hunger and decided to get up. I needed to distract myself but with what? I could mess around in the village again but...
A heavy sigh left my lips as I thought back on yesterday's events.
"That village..." I just wanted to joke around a bit. Maybe make some friends along the way but nobody wanted to be around me. The stares and whispers from everyone and their parents...
'Don't you come around that demon boy, you here me?'
'He's a killer!'
'Why isn't he dead yet?'
'He should be ashamed to show his face here!'
The same things were said every time but why? I don't understand what I did to deserve the stares and insults. I asked the Hokage about it one time but he wouldn't say no matter how hard I pushed. I just want to know what exactly I did. Maybe if I apologize...maybe if they can see me for me...maybe I won't be alone anymore. I whipped my face harshly before any tears fell. I don't want to feel like this today, I need a distraction.
The only light in the house came from the sun outside but since there were trees all around me, barely any came in. That's okay though, I know the layout by now. After all, I've lived here for almost ten years now. Everything was so...dark. So...gloomy.
As I roamed the house, I noticed a flyer on the counter. I took it during my adventures in the village last week but I never read it. I don't even know what it is about, only that it had the Hokage on it, so I took it. I took the paper from the counter and read it in full.
'Come down and register your child in The Academy! Your child will be able to learn the basics of what it means to be a Ninja and become one as well! Classes start in the fall! Sign up today!'
"The...Academy..? Maybe I should-"
grrrr
"Oh. Maybe I should eat something... Maybe Ichirakus..." I put on my orange jacket, grabbed my wallet, and put on my blue headband, and headed out. I didn't want to go the usual way with the open path and instead opted for the forest path. It should give me some time to sightsee before I get there.
The forest path is one of my favorite places to go to when I need to think. So many different things are out here and I'm always noticing something new. The birds are so majestic and free it makes me jealous. Not to mention the tall trees that surround me. It makes me feel less..alone. " Maybe I can be friends with nature." I laughed to myself.
HA! CHA! HA!
"...What the hell was that?"
HA! SHANNARO!
I stood still for a moment before curiosity got the best of me and decided to follow the voice. As I got closure, I could hear another voice. In order to not get noticed, I hid in the bush.
"There you go Sakura-san! You're doing better!" one blonde girl said.
"R-Really? I think I can feel myself getting stronger.." The other girl with pink hair said.
"That's a good thing! Maybe then you won't need me to help you with those bullies anymore."
They looked..familiar. I think I've seen seen them in the village before. Maybe with their parents? One girl had platinum blond short hair with bright blue eyes. The other had pink hair with bright green eyes. I wonder what they are doing so far out here?
"If you keep going like this, you'll be ready for The Academy and graduate in no time! You're already smart, you'll just have to work on your skills. I mean, not everyone can be born in a talented clan such as I." teased the blonde.
"Shut up Ino! I may not have been born into some super powerful clan but I will become a Ninja one day! ...at least I hope I do.."
"Aw Sakura, you know I'm just teasing." The blonde ruffled the other's hair. "In all seriousness, I think you'll get far. You have the drive and potential. I just know you'll be a great Ninja.'
"Thanks.."
"Anyway, I have to get back home. I'm supposed to be helping out at the flower shop today. I was supposed to come in earlier but I convinced them to give me some time to hang out with you. Are you coming with me?"
"No, I'm going to keep going. I need to get my skills ready in time for the fall."
"Okay, see you later then. And good luck!" The blonde shouted as she jogged away.
Ino and Sakura huh? And they're training for The Academy? Is it really that hard? I wonder...
I turned my attention back to the pink-haired girl and got a good look at her. She wore a green dress with pink cherry blossoms coming up to the top from the bottom of the dress. She had short hair which was adorned with a green ribbon pulling her hair back and exposing her forehead. she looked...
"cute." I mindlessly whispered.
as soon as I realized what I said, I clasped my hands against my lips as I could feel myself blushing. Cute? I don't even know her! But even so... No! Stay focused! What were you doing before?
"HA!"
Her shouting ripped me from my thoughts once again. She was kicking at the trees now. I can tell she was getting tired but it was as if she didn't want to stop. Like she didn't want to quit..."
"I... HA...I have to...CHA...get better! I have to get stronger! SHANNARO!" she kicked the tree with such force that she herself fell back clutching her shin. "Dang it...that one...hurt" she breathed out. "But I have to keep going."
Her determination put me in a trace. The way she got up again and again. I could at her and see she felt fatigued but it didn't matter to her. Nothing mattered but getting stronger...
"Amazing!"
"Huh? Who was that?"
Crap! She heard me! What do I do? I can't just walk out there, that'll be weird! What if she runs away? Or beat me up? Those punches look like they hurt... Man, I'm in trouble! I got to think of something before-
"Uh...hello?" I could hear the girl's voice behind me.
crap
"U-uh h-hi hi! Ah...hello."
"W... What are you doing in these bushes?"
" Oh, I..I was just...looking for...berries."
"but there are no ber-"
"That's because I already picked and ate them all! I have to look for some more but uh yeah, I cleaned this bush of berries just now!"
"Oh..okay. W-well you uh..enjoy that." The girl awkwardly turned away. Though it was a weird situation, I wanted to talk to her more. At least tell her she looked so cool earlier.
"W-wait! I...also saw your training. It's for becoming a Ninja right? At the Academy?"
"So you were watching!" she looked at me accusingly.
"N-no! I mean not at first! You just looked so cool that's all! I promise!" I tried to explain to her the best I could. Though I don't think it made the creepiness of it all disappear...
"I looked...cool?" she said almost in disbelief. "...yes. I am training for the Academy. Why are you asking? Are you going?"
"Oh uh... I don't know if I'm allowed to..."
"Oh, are your parents against you becoming a Ninja?"
" Eh... something like that yes."
" Well, you aren't alone. I was in the same boat a month ago. You see, my clan isn't...all that special. I don't...possess any family Jitsu or anything like that. My parents are just...regular citizens. But I want to be a Ninja! I'll work just as hard to become one! It was hard to convince them to sign me up for the Academy, but they finally accepted that it was something I really wanted to do!" I could feel her passion overflowing through her words. Her determination to become a Ninja despite her obstacles... It's motivating to me.
"Maybe if you convince your parents..."
"Yeah.. maybe." I could feel my cheeks heating up again the more I talk to her. What is wrong with me? and why am I acting like this? What is this feeling?
"Well, good luck with your berry hunting. I have to go. See you!" she said before running off.
"See...you..."
After that encounter, all I could think about is her. Her words really got me thinking. Even though she was a regular citizen, she wants to become a Ninja. She'd have to work really hard but she didn't care. If I apply what she said to myself... If I try hard enough, maybe I won't be so alone anymore. Maybe everybody will start to accept me! Maybe..just maybe I'll finally have friends like everybody else. But I will admit, her words weren't the only thing I kept thinking about. She really was cute. Her beautiful eyes and her smile. I caught myself smiling to myself throughout the day. It was as if I couldn't get her out of my head. The way she spoke to me...she wasn't mean... She didn't call me names... She was...nice.
I want to see her again.
"Hey Hokage." he was here to give me some more instant ramen for the week. He always comes at 8 pm and leaves around 9:30 pm never staying too long or leaving too early. I guess he was alright for doing that. "You think I could become a Ninja? All the way at the academy?"
"..What made you think about this?" I dug in my pocket and gave him the flyer. "Where did you get this?"
"I saw it last week and got one. It looks fun. You think I could go?"
"I don't know... I don't think-"
I cut him off before he could say another word, ranger already seeping through my words. "I'm here by myself all day every day! I can't stay here all day and do nothing but eat instant ramen every day! I want to do something different. I want to prove myself. I don't want to be alone anymore! I want to become a Ninja!"
"Alright alright!" he looked at me with his tired droopy eyes in silence. Tears were rolling down my face at this point. I meant everything I said. I didn't want to be alone anymore. I wanted to be free from the prison of loneliness. If can go to the Academy, maybe I'll make new friends so I won't be by myself anymore. maybe even become her friend as well..
"Naruto... If want me to put you in the Academy, you are going to have to work really hard. No slacking, no messing around, and no painting the Hokage monuments! All your focus will be on perfecting your skills as a Ninja of the Leaf. Do you understand? Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, I understand."
"....Then get ready for the fall. You are going to need it."
"Thank you! I won't let you down! Believe it!" I gave him a huge hug and gave him a thumbs up. I meant what I said. I won't let him down, not for him and not for myself. And defiantly not to see her again.
" Don't make me regret it, kid."