The Assassin's Flaw

The New Guy

The raindrops fell harshly from the sky, lightning cackles once in a while. In the big window from a study, a young boy no older than four stands on his tippy toes to watch the water drops, accumulated from the mist, race down the glass to the window sill. He watch them in fascination until he saw his Father's long black car climbing up the hill top on which their enormous place stood. He felt the rush of excitement and happiness course through his veins. He wanted to squeal and run towards the big doors but he remembered what his teacher taught him earlier that day. To be a dignified man, you must learn how to control your actions and emotions. You must not show too much and too little. And so, he remained standing on his tiptoes covered with polished black shoes, on his right hand is a well-loved plush toy touching the ground while his left hand holds unto the window sill.

After a few minutes of watching the fancy car climb the hill, he saw his beautiful Mother waiting at the covered front porch with anticipation written all over her face. Even though the window he is peeking from is far from where his Mother is, he can still see the excitement and happiness. Just then, the long car entered the solid iron gate, still a good distance from the iron wrought gates that is just below the house. Upon entering the black iron wrought gates, the car circled the marble statue before stopping at the front. He saw his Father stepped out and him and his Mother met with a hug and a kiss. It is obvious they love each other. Then he wondered, how can you tell if that person is the right one for you? Is there a test? A scroll that says they're the one for you? Or is there something in your DNA that makes you feel that they're the one? He may be young but he is smart. Before his young mind can think of other things, a knock sounded.

"Little brother, I think it is best if you just come with me to welcome Father rather than standing awkwardly at the window." He smiled when he saw his big brother. He loves his brother so much and his brother loves him as much. He is his playmate whenever Mother and Father is busy. His brother knows everything and he planned to ask him the question running in his mind but thinking about the presents his Father brought home from France was enough to forget about it.

He let himself go and ran towards his brother with a huge grin. His brother caught him when he jumped and together, they walked hand in hand towards the receiving area.

As the days passed by, the question was pushed to the depths of his mind until his Father had to go away again. This time, he stood beside his brother and Mother as they say their farewell to their Father. Once again, the question surfaced in his mind as Mother and Father shared a brief kiss. When their Father's fancy car passed the gate below their house, he turned to Mother and his brother.

"Brother, Mother, can I ask you a question?" His child voice drifted towards the two and they both turn to him with soft smiles playing on their lips as if encouraging him to go on. Without hesitation, he fired away. "How can you tell that the person is your 'the one'? I mean, how did Mother tell that Father is her one true love? Did you both took a test to see if you match?" No matter how he tried to keep his face void of any emotions, the curiosity is in his large eyes.

Such innocence.

Such naivety.

Such... ignorance.

He waited for their answers because he knows that they will give him what he desires. Mother ruffled his hair while his brother laughed.

"Actually sweet cheeks, you can't exactly explain how. You Father and I went through tests, but not the kind of test you know. We went through hardships together and together, we passed them. And then, through those obstacles, we became one. At first, you're just a match, until that match becomes one.." Mother run a hand through her hair. And let out an amused sigh. " You really can't explain it, you know baby? Because it's different for everyone. Almost everyone thinks that when you see that person, time slows down, kind of like slow motion, and it will feel like there's only the two of you in the world."

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Kiba looked beside him when the new guy's eye caught Sasuke's because he swore he heard the others breathe hitched. His brows furrowed when he saw Sasuke still staring at Naruto, the new guy. Sasuke is someone who is very hard to  please and impress and apparently, the new kid seemed to fit in Sasuke's term of 'impressive'. Kiba admits that the new guy really does look hot and he bet he can make a lot of straight guys turn to gay. He also can't help but envy the guy's appeal. He really is great looking and judging by the class' reactions, they agree with him. As he scan those pretty blue eyes, he can't help but feel scared and sad. The frozen and dead look on them looks much much worse than Sasuke's own eyes and compared to Naruto's, Sasuke's seemed livelier by a hundred miles. At least, his Uchiha friend's eyes looks menacing, angry, malicious and all those shit but it never looked so dead... So blank.. So...

nothing.

It's like looking at a dead man's eyes. And it makes him sad to know that a person can look like that when the eyes are supposed to be the windows of the soul.

'I will change that.' He told himself. Yes. He will befriend the new guy, Naruto, if only to just light up a spark in those eyes. And with his new resolve, he lightly stomped Sasuke's foot to take his eyes away from ravishing the blonde.

Sasuke went very very still when his eyes locked with Naruto for a moment. Those eyes are so blank, he can't even read what's behind the cold facade and he is great at reading blank faces. When Iruka touched Naruto's back lightly, he saw the torrent of emotions that Iruka's holding: pain, familial love, care, sorrow, anger, regret. Regret of what? Then he almost hurled his table to Sakura who broke their eye contact. 'Bitch.' She may be his friend but if she's going to ruin his moment, friend or not, he'll throw her to Samehada, the shark pet of Kisame, his brother's friend. He again turned to staring at the blonde god in the front who is currently being interrogated by their classmates.

Sasuke is very sure he isn't gay but right now, it felt like he has been his entire life. He felt attraction instantly to Naruto. An attraction he thinks will go deeper and he is willing to risk it. He felt his eyes rove that drool-worthy body as his mind supplies him with ideas he can do to it, his mind completely forgetting the dead pretty blue eyes. He is in the middle of his idea of chains when he felt pain on his foot. He glared at Kiba and Kiba just grinned.

Iruka watched as his class welcomes Naruto, his adoptive son. He watches as Naruto answers them with few words he knows is programmed to the blonde. And his heart clenched as Naruto execute the well-drilled words. He is flawlessly in action that you'll never think that beyond those one word answers and actions is just that: programmed and engineered. Until to this day, he still refuses to accept the hard truth that the others had accepted. He can't, he don't want to. But no matter how he can't and don't want, he MUST. For Naruto. For Minato-sensei, for Kushina-san, for Kurama-kun. He'd been trying for years to slowly accept that the smile he used to adore will now only be a memory he can recall whenever he looks at the blonde boy in front of him. But no matter how hard and how he must, he still cannot. Because even though it had been years, Iruka still believes that one day, Naruto will smile again. And he will wait patiently for that day. Even if it will take a life time.

"But you see, when I saw your Father, I saw my future. I saw myself in our wedding day. I saw him waiting for me down the aisle with the face of a happy man. Then I saw us playing with our children. It was fast-forward for me, and to your Father too. That was how I knew that Minato, your Father, was, is and will always be the one for me."  Long red hair fluttered in the wind as Mother hugged the small boy with blonde hair and the older boy with long red hair.

"I don't think I understand, Mother." The boy said afterwards. His brother laughed again.

"Someday, little Naruto, someday you will." Kurama said and held little Naruto's hand as their Mother nudged them forwards.

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AN: Ah, there it is. Please tell me what you think of this sappy chapter, okay? :D Thanks.

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