Sharp Edge

Different but the Same

"I'm gonna pull him to school to make up to him."

Iruka shook his head with an amused smile. "It was his fault anyway."

Naruto looked behind him and barked, "Pulling me won't gain you anything!"

She shook her head with her finger in a no-no motion. She stopped and beamed at him. "Happiness!"

His annoyed expression turned to a frown. At least, I get to make her happy. He felt hands snaking around his waist. The next second he felt something choking him and heard Akane's muffled laugh.

There was a rope around his neck, acting like a dog collar. It was the one he kept on his waist to keep him from falling from the Homage mountain. He frowned deeper. "I'm not a dog!"

Akane laughed. "Maybe if I bring you like this to school, you'll be closer to the guy with the dog! You adorable fluffball need more friends!"

Iruka smiled at Akane. He felt relieved that Naruto was making friends. Naruto blushed. Iruka started going to the academy and Akane quickly followed. Naruto's eyes widen as he felt his self being lifted. "Wait I'm not-!"

He choked as Akane tugged on the rope around his neck and and wrists.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

They burst through the door, leaving a lot of dust clouds in their wake. She let go of his ropes as she turned around to laugh at him. He coughed violently and took quick gulps of much appreciated air as soon as they stopped.

Iruka came walking through the door calmly and closed it without even looking. He gestured her to remove Naruto's restraints. She smiled as she did so. After doing so, she quickly bounded to a seat beside Hinata.

Iruka scolded her, "Go to your proper seat, Akane!"

She furiously shook her head as she held on to the female Hyuuga's arm, causing said girl to blush. "No! I wanna sit near Hinata-chan!"

Iruka sighed. "Go sit back on your proper seat."

The girl glanced back to her former seat. She saw Naruto slightly frowning while rubbing one of his hands on his neck. She probably doesn't actually want to sit with me.

She turned her gaze to the other boy seating beside her former seat, Sasuke. He seemed indifferent, staring in front of class. There was something in his eyes though-- something that told her he wasn't really indifferent about everything.

She looked down and hid a smile. She let go of Hinata's arm and raise both of her hands in a defeated manner with that smile on her lips. Hinata looked at her with a questioning gaze. "Okay, okay! Moving back now!" She chirped.

She pushed herself off her desk and skipped to her seat. She quietly plopped down on her proper seat. Still, her smile not making any signs of leaving.

Hinata's gaze followed the black haired girl. To her, Akane's smile that she hid was ominous. She didn't know why but it really seemed that way. What does that mean? She waved it off.

The black haired girl suddenly hung her arms around Naruto's neck. "Besides, I love Naruto-kun too!" She proclaimed as she rubbed her cheek with his.

The blonde boy blushed as the other's mouth hung agape. "We'll be going out more often." She pondered as she placed her finger beneath her lips and looked up.

Naruto stuck his palms open in front of him while blushing redder by the minute. "We-We're not even..!" He stuttered at a loss for words. He looked for help. "Akane-chan!"