And here is the rewritten chapter of '| 02 | Graduation: Complete! |'
Hhhh I was just reading through some of the comments and such left on the previous chapter and I'm-- I'm so happy to know that my writing has improved!! Not too keen on the dying from laughter parts, but I'm glad I could make you guys laugh! ; v ;
WARNING: Foul Language.
DISCLAIMER: I, LeTiffany, do not own the manga/anime Naruto or its characters. I only own the story plot and the Original Characters (OC) I create. All credits towards Naruto should go to Masashi Kishimoto.
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> K'velen: (Yiddish) to beam with joy, burst with pride, glow with pride and happiness. (Particularly when boasting about the achievements of a family member.) <
| ⊰ ➴ ⊱ | Music: No Current Music For This Scene | Effects: Birds Chirping (Faintly) |
"Hey, Naruto-kun."
A dissatisfied groan.
"Naruto-kun."
"Ughh...mm?"
"It's, like, nearly midday--"
"--WHAT?!"
"--And we're going to be late."
"AHHH! WHY DIDN'T YOU WAKE ME UP EARLIER-TTEBAYO?!"
"Well, I did try to, but--"
"Nevermind that! Crap, crap, crap! Gotta hurry, hurry, hurry!"
| ⊰ ➴ ⊱ | Opening Theme: Bell The Cat by LM.C | Music: Naruto OST Album 2: Afternoon of Konoha | Effects: Students Talking | Graduation: Complete! ; 卒業：完了! |
A longwinded sigh passed your lips as you allowed yourself to depressively slump down into your seat, [e/c] optics closing and brows furrowing as you internally groaned.
'Can this day get any longer? Ugh, what the hell is Naruto doing?! Iruka's already gone out to find him and has been out for ten minutes straight! I just want this class to end, already! Damn it! What the fuck is even going on? I should've watched more of the anime!'
The thought of perfunctorily slamming your head down onto your desk flashed through your mind for what you were sure was the fifth time this morning, but you quickly willed the idea of doing so away before you could give in to your urges; doing so would only draw the class' attention to you, something you most definitely did not want.
It was the sound of the door being slammed open that made you slowly lift your head up from its lowered position, but it was the sight of a tied up Naruto being thrown into the classroom (an angry Iruka soon following suit...well, save for the 'tied up' and 'thrown into the classroom' bit) that actually made you straighten up from your dejected pose.
'????'
[E/c] orbs zoomed in on the cerulean-eyed youth, who was struggling to sit up from the recumbent position being thrown into the room left him in, before they turned to fix themselves on the older brunet, who was 'patiently' waiting for the kid's attention to turn to him.
"Listen, Naruto," Iruka began once he realised that getting the other's attention without calling out to him would be near impossible, "you failed the last graduation test, and the one before that."
Naruto, upon becoming aware of the fact that his teacher was actually talking to him, defiantly turned his head away from the older man.
"Hey! This is no time to be goofing off, you idiot!"
You couldn't help but amusedly snort when Naruto 'hmph'ed in a manner that said, 'I don't care', before he once again turned his head away Iruka, and it was as though the boy was saying that he would drink battery acid and like it before he'd take his teacher's words seriously (which was, in this case, probably true). You gave a roll of your eyes when you spotted the throbbing vein pulsating on the top of the aforementioned teacher's forehead.
"Fine, then! Class, we will have a retest of the Transformation Jutsu! Even those who have already passed it will take it!"
"EHHH?!"
"HUUHH?!"
Pink lips marginally parted to release another sigh of exasperation, a sigh that was soon followed by the action of you standing up from your seat.
'Goddamnit...'
Following the others -- who were now begrudgingly walking down the stairs so slowly it actually made you think, for a second there, that they were all physically ailed or something -- you expelled another small sigh, closed your eyes, and pocketed your hands.
'Gaah, I don't wanna do this...heck, I don't even know how to do the Transformation Jutsu!'
Wait. There was-- there was something very wrong with that thought.
'OH, FUCK--' It was then that realisation hit you, 'I don't even know how to do the FUCKING TRANSFORMATION JUTSU, SHIT--'
Complexion visibly paling, you gulped and stopped in your tracks, and you would've stayed in that spot for all eternity, too, if it wasn't for Kiba gently pushing you forward from behind. As the class lined up in single file, you hurriedly made your way to the back of that single file, small beads of sweat breaking out on your brow when you realised just how pointless being in the back of the line would be because of your stupid last name (the last name you had idiotically chosen on a whim).
'Shit! Why the hell did I choose the surname 'Akiyama'?! Ack-- I've gotta figure this out, quickly!'
Your eyes widened when you heard Iruka call out the name of a student -- not yours, thankfully -- and you let out a sigh of relief. (Thank the Lord you weren't the first person on the roll, am I right?)
You 'unnoticeably' moved forward and 'inconspicuously' eyed the female's hands as she performed the hand seals needed for the jutsu before releasing a 'henge!' and transforming into your instructor, wide smile gracing your lips once you got those seals noted down in your head.
'Okay, got it! Dog, boar, then ram.'
You sucked in a sharp breath as you waited for your teacher to call you up for the short test.
'Okay, okay...um, chakra...yeah, I need chakra control...um...'
"[Name] Akiyama!"
Releasing that breath you had inhaled just moments ago, you slowly made your way over to the front of the line, keeping your hands in your pockets in a sad attempt to garner a more 'casual' and 'confident' look (it must have worked, because you swore you heard some girl squeal in the background). Once you arrived at your destination, you pulled your hands out of your pockets, shot your classmates a fleeting glance, before you weaved your fingers into the different hand seals you had seen the female before you perform.
'Please work, please work, please work...'
You drew another sharp breath as you closed your eyes and imagined yourself in the body of your teacher, who seemed mightily shocked by the fact you even knew the jutsu -- you did seem pretty new with the 'ninjutsu' (and 'taijutsu' and 'genjutsu') concept. It was at that split moment when you felt some unfamiliar (yet oddly warm) substance course through your veins, and you could only hope that such a thing was chakra (if not, then fuck, did you get an infection or something--). The image of your body being in that of Iruka's shape hardened in your mind.
"Henge! [1]"
Poof!
You coughed and waved your hands about in front of you as the smoke that had suddenly appeared upon you (successfully, you hoped) performing the jutsu dissipated and cleared away, only to reveal the smiling face of Iruka.
"Good job, [Name]."
At his encouraging words, you let out a breath you didn't know you were holding. Morphing back into your normal self with another 'poof!', you stuck your hands back into your pockets and swiftly walked away.
"Kyaaa~! [Name]-kun's so cool!"
"So cool!!"
You refrained from growling and instead suited for grunting.
'Didn't I openly confirm that I was a girl, like, two weeks ago?!' You couldn't help but let out another vexed sigh at this fact.
Somewhere in the background, you heard a certain pinkette shout out: "Sakura Haruno. Here I go! Henge!"
Leaning back on the table behind you, you exhaled, closed your eyes, relaxed your shoulders, and allowed your head to flop back in what one could call a 'laid-back' manner (a perfect target for passionate fangirls-- I mean what).
Poof!
"I did it! Sasuke-kun, [Name]-kun, did you see that?!" Came Sakura's enlivened voice.
You hummed. 'Might as well play along.'
Since you didn't exactly like the idea of being associated with the prissy assbutt-- uh-- pretty boy-- wait, that wasn't right-- bastard, who was being all silent and emo-like, you opened your [e/c] optics and shot the pinkette an encouraging (albeit slightly forced) smile.
"Yeah. Good job, Haruno," the 'casual' averting of eyes, the 'subtle' raising of an extremity to rub the back of a neck, and the issuing of an 'unabashed' chuckle after the expelling of your unnaturally warm words.
"Kyaaa!" Oh Gods, they were squealing again-- "[Name]-kun's so cute!"
"He's so sweet, too~!"
'Cute? Sweet??' You inwardly winced as you reran their words through your head, 'Jesus Christ, I shouldn't have said anything...'
"Next, Sasuke Uchiha."
"Hm."
The urge to roll your eyes suddenly became very compelling when you heard and saw the elaborate, (perhaps even exaggerated) manner in which the girls swooned over him as they watched him perform the jutsu, that urge only becoming stronger when he, for absolutely no reason at all, smirked at you.
'Did he just...taunt me?' (Your left eye gave a twitch at this notion.)
"Next...Naruto Uzumaki."
You immediately turned your attention to the mentioned blond upon hearing his name, brows furrowing once you caught sight (and sound) of the small conversation a few of your classmates had pulled him into.
"Ugh. Why do we have to do this, again? It's all your fault." Suddenly, the urge to roll your eyes was replaced with the urge to punch the guy who just spoke in the face.
"This is so troublesome." Aaaand that desire to punch the person speaking just became more powerful.
"Hmph. Shut up. It's not like I actually care or anything-ttebayo," was Naruto's snappy retort, and you applauded and commended him on his fantastic ability to dismiss his classmates' words without physically hurting them.
"Henge!"
Shooting the two guys who dared to insult the blond whilst in your presence one last menacing glare, you then decided to return your gaze and attention to Naruto, mouth opening to offer him a few words of encouragement.
...Well, that was what you wanted to do, but that opened mouth was closed as soon as you fixed your eyes on him (something you sorely, sorely regretted allowing). [E/c] hues widened as the cloud of smoke that had appeared upon Naruto performing his jutsu dissipated, those hues merely widening even further once they caught sight of a very exposed, bare female.
"OH GODS--" Came your very perturbed shriek, "COME ON NARUTO, LET'S NOT DO THIS--"
It was at that split moment of cognitive awareness when Iruka's nose decided to unhealthily vomit and spew out all of its contained blood onto the ground with such a force and velocity that it actually made him arch backwards. The only thing that left his lips at that point was a very horrified yelp, something that was completely understandable to you because you were in an identical state of complete and utter nonplus.
Poof! "How was that?!" The blue-eyed boy laughed boisterously, "I call that my Oiroke no Jutsu [2], dattebayo!"
"YOU GODDAMN IDIOT!" Iruka, who had managed to miraculously recover from that short period of massive blood loss, screamed with a red face, "STOP MAKING UP SUCH DUMB TECHNIQUES!"
| ⊰ ➴ ⊱ | Music: No Current Music For This Scene | Effects: Clattering Of Plates, Ramen Being Slurped |
"Oi, Naruto-kun."
"Mm?" He almost immediately lifted his head up from his bowl of ramen.
"Do you have any scrolls that could possibly help me for the graduation test that is taking place tomorrow?"
Shaking his head up and down in what you identified as a nod, he raised an arm, directed your gaze to his room with a point of his finger, before turning back to you and 'saying': "Mm mmm mm mmmf! Mmmmf mmm mm mm mmmf?!"
A bead of sweat appeared on the back of your head at this. 'Sorry bro, but I didn't get a single word of that.'
"A-ah, yeah!" You offered him a shaky smile, "Thanks, man!"
You hurriedly turned on your heel and walked towards your destination (that is, Naruto's bedroom) before he could reply.
"Rui! Are you okay with the TV?" You asked upon passing by the living room, a concerned query that was responded to with a flippant wave of your brother's tiny hand (something you found extremely endearing because aww, look at how mature the little bugger looked--)
You then disappeared into Naruto's room, not noticing (or simply not caring) the aforementioned boy's intent gaze that was fixed on your back.
Upon realising that you probably weren't going to come back out anytime soon, he turned his attention back to his ramen bowl, swallowed the mouthful of noodles he had in his cakehole, and heaved a quiet, albeit longwinded, sigh. He figured you couldn't understand him. He just wanted to ask you about what happened today in class, about how all the girls thought you were a guy (again) and whatnot.
But now that he thought about it, he supposed the idea of asking you 'what's up with that?' was pretty stupid. After all, you were a female, and it wasn't like a bunch of girls' beliefs could change it...
...Right? You had...you had confirmed it yourself! You were, inside and out, a girl! And yet, all the girls in your class were falling for you. His sun-kissed complexion visibly paled.
| ⊰ ➴ ⊱ | Music: Naruto OST Album 2: Fooling Mode | Effects: No Current Effects |
Though you admittedly found Naruto's spazzing out more amusing than anything, you couldn't help but stare at his panicked form (a state of which he had entered when Iruka told you exactly what this graduation test was testing you on) with pitying rue, large bead of sweat appearing on the back of your head when the sound of him slamming his head down onto his table for what seemed like the hundredth time today reached your ears.
'The Bunshin no Jutsu [3], eh? Hm. I think I practised it last night...?' You inwardly frowned, 'Ah, but there's a great chance that that was the Kawarimi no Jutsu [4] I was practising...in that case, I'm fucked.'
A low hum passed your pursed lips. 'Ahh, whatever. I guess some last-minute training's better than none at all.'
"Alright, then!" Upon hearing your teacher's voice again, you quickly snapped out of your thoughts and focussed your attention on him, "We will start the test by calling out your names. When your name is called out, you may proceed to the next classroom -- that is, the one I am now just about to enter."
'Well, isn't that just fan-fucking-tastic? They're gonna test us in alphabetical order again. I'll be second. Again.'
You expelled a quiet sigh as you watched the first female, whose name was called out almost immediately after Iruka had explained how the test was going to go, stand up from her seat before she followed him into the next classroom, giving you all one last wave of her hand whilst she was at it.
It was at that second when you realised that though all of your classmates were somewhat acquainted with you (or at least knew of you), you weren't at all acquainted with anyone except Kiba and Naruto! Jesus Christ, how sad was that?!
"Hey, Kiba-kun?" You began, turning to face the brunet with the hope that you would be able to rid your mind of such a disheartening fact by talking to him burgeoning within your soul.
"H-huh?" The said boy hurriedly averted his eyes from your face before you could fully face him (thus seeing that he was spending most of his class time staring at you). "I mean-- yeah?"
"Do 'ya have any idea where you're gonna wear your headband?" You tilted your head to the right in an inquisitive manner, "Uh, provided that you get one, that is."
Blinking, he shrugged and opened his mouth to say something but was almost immediately cut off by your excited prating about what part of your body you could and would put your headband on.
"Yo man, I could put it around my neck! Or even on my thigh! Or maybe around my forearm! Or should I just put it around my forehead like normal people do? Or maybe I should actually wear it as a headband?" A pause, then a shake of a [h/c]-coloured head, "Nah, that's Sakura's style. I don't even think it'll look good on me! I could maybe--" On and on you prattled, pointing to the various body parts you could possibly tie your headband around.
But to be quite honest, Kiba wasn't really interested in what you were saying; rather, his attention was solely focussed on your lips as they moved to enunciate each and every word that left your mouth. God, they just looked so soft...totally unlike that rough, boyish mien you had put on yesterday and every other day. Why did you put on such an appearance, anyway? You were absolutely perfect-- uh-- fine as a girl, so why--?
"K-Kiba?" Came your unexpectedly meek voice.
Snapping out of his stupor, the mentioned brunet blinked before stiffening, suddenly (more like finally) becoming very aware as to how close his face was to yours.
"Ah..." As this moment of realisation passed, a string of profuse apologies left his lips in a less than confident manner, and he hurriedly pulled his visage away from yours once he saw exactly just how red your face had gotten. "I-I'm so sorry!"
[E/c] hues closed and a nervous laugh was issued from roseate lips. "N-no, it's--"
"[Name] Akiyama!"
'THANK THE GODS, SAVED BY THE TEST--' (Jesus Christ, how wrong did that sentence sound?)
You swiftly stood up from your seat and shot the thoroughly embarrassed Kiba a quiet 'good luck' before you hurriedly bounded down the stairs and practically sprinted into the next room, giving your other friend -- the hyperactive blond -- a wish of good luck whilst you were at it.
| ⊰ ➴ ⊱ | Music: No Current Music For This Scene | Effects: No Current Effects |
"Alright!" Was the first word that left Iruka's lips once you were finally inside the room, and he paused for a moment to shoot you an encouraging smile before speaking again: "You just need to do the Bunshin no Jutsu, okay?"
[E/c] hues darted over to the white-haired man beside the brunet's seated form before they were swiftly and smoothly redirected to your teacher. "Yeah, understood."
"Listen, [Name]. Don't push yourself, okay? You've only been here for two weeks, so don't be disappointed if you don't pass this test. To be honest, we don't expect you to pass this test that quickly, either."
'Well, isn't that reassuring...'
"Besides, if you don't pass it today, then you can always try again next year!"
'Yeah. I can always try again next year. Totes. Haha. Getting held back for a year. Fun.'
Biting down on your lower lip and swallowing the almost irresistible impulse to snarkily riposte to your teacher, you sucked in a quick, sharp breath before bringing your hands together, eyes closing as you interlaced your fingers to form the required hand seals: Ram, Snake, and Tiger. As you executed the mentioned movements, you exhaled, summoned (with minimum difficulty -- thank the Lord) the chakra needed for the jutsu, and expelled it from your body.
"Bunshin no Jutsu!"
Five simultaneous poofs resounded through the room once the magic locution passed your lips, and though you were tempted to open your eyes upon hearing such sounds, what really prompted you to do so was the quiet query that hesitantly left your teacher's mouth: "...What...?"
Optics fluttering open to reveal the surprised faces of Iruka and Mizuki, you blinked, raised an eyebrow, and confusedly directed your gaze elsewhere -- namely, to the right and left of you. What you saw did not disappoint you.
Five identical [Name] clones, all of whom were either laughing at your puzzled face or trying very hard not to, stared back at you, wide grins plastered on their faces and hands glued to their hips. It was a sight you would have jumped at if not for your incredible ability to handle shell-shocking situations like this with amazing moderation.
"..." Turning back to face Iruka and Mizuki (who were, for some odd reason, staring at what seemed to be your clone's shadows [5]), you canted your head to the left and asked what any normal pupil finishing off their assessment or oral presentation would ask. "So...did I pass?"
There was a momentous silence, a quietude that was hastily broken by your brunet mentor.
"A-ah," a weak laugh was forced out of his mouth, "very good, [Name]...! Yes, you did pass! Congratulations!" Another sheepish chuckle, before a barely coherent mumble: "You really didn't have to force yourself, though..."
With a smile that was as wide and bright as your doppelgangers', you breathed out a quiet (albeit zealous) 'yes!', clones dispersing as you, with a very noticeable spring in your step, walked up to the table where the two teachers were seated at, helped yourself to one of the headbands placed upon the board, and, in an oh so very casual manner, sauntered out of the room.
'!!!'
| ⊰ ➴ ⊱ | Music: No Current Music For This Scene | Effects: Leaves Rustling, Chatter, Laughter |
Upon taking a few steps out of the Academy doors, you drew a deep, sharp breath and looked down to gaze at the band in your left hand, eyes crinkling with elation and curled lips pursing in an attempt to contain the mirth and excitement bubbling within the depths of your chest as you did so. That self-restraint, however, crumbled as quickly as it was formed.
"FUCK YEAH!" You were too filled with joie de vivre to notice (much less care about) the glares of disapproval the parents surrounding you shot at you, "I actually graduated! I did it! Phew!" You wiped away the nonexistent sweat on your forehead with your left hand in an exceedingly overt fashion. "I didn't think I could actually do it, since I just spent one night studying n' all..."
Ignoring the seething, glowering parents and their curious, inquisitive children, you heaved a lengthy sigh of relief and leant your head forward before loosely tying the headband in your grasp around your neck. 'Ahhh, so happy, so happy!' You then turned around and fixed your attention and eyes on the set of doors behind you, broad smile accenting your lips widening as your classmates and other students started coming out of them like a steady river. You were still very giddy and overwhelmingly blithe about the fact that you managed to pass the test -- [e/c] hues sparkled with merriment, short [h/c] hair shifted and swayed as you bounced about on the spot, and your thoughts revolved around nothing but graduation, graduation, and graduation!
(In fact, you were so caught up in your blissful rapture that as soon as you spotted your good friend Kiba, you ran up to him, took a glance at the band grasped in his hand, grabbed his cheeks, and planted a kiss right on his lips. He blushed so hard that he actually fainted! People hurriedly gathered around his fallen form to help him.)
It was only when you caught sight of a certain blond sitting on the nearby swing with a hanging head that your smile disappeared.
Brows furrowing and eyes narrowing, you swiftly perambulated towards him, foot falls quick, yet soft. Even so though, it seemed that he could still hear you coming; for as you approached him, he released a sigh and lifted his head up, revealing uncharacteristically dull optics and an even more atypical countenance.
"Congratulations, [Name]." A strained smile rose to his lips, "I'm glad you got your headband." A hollow laugh left those very same fleshy protrusions. "You should go and celebrate with everyone else...no need for 'em to see you talking with a loser like me."
"Hey," the word was firm, yet gentle -- strict, yet clement, "Don't say that, man. You are so not a loser. You're, like, the coolest person ever! I really don't think I would be able to celebrate this achievement of mine with anyone else but you, since everyone else is so much lamer." Smiling once more, you walked over to his side, lowered your behind down onto the swing, and comfortingly wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "And did you forget, or something? If I hadn't met you in the Hokage's Office that day, I would probably be out on the streets right now, starving and half-naked with an equally as famished little bugger leeching off my back."
Naruto laughed, and your smile grew. "You're going to be the best ninja this world will ever see, Naruto! Dattebayo!" The addendum was expelled with a giggle.
"But...but I didn't get my headband," he retorted, and you had to stop yourself from groaning at how pathetic his argument sounded.
"Oh, puh-lease! You're going to get one very soon!" Although you knew it wasn't exactly a good idea to apprise him of such information, you couldn't help yourself! He was your best friend, for God's sake! If foreshowing him something that would happen in the very near future was the only way you were going to be able to console him, then to hell with...with...!
You inwardly sighed. You just...you didn't want him looking so...so crestfallen.
"Hah, you think so?" He questioned, grinning this time, "Thanks, [Name]! You're the best!" He flashed you a thumbs-up of approval and released an impish titter. "Now go and celebrate! I'll just stay here for a bit longer, then I'll catch up with you."
You chuckled. "Alright, then. Take your time, Naruto-kun!" You pulled him into an embrace that lasted for about three seconds before withdrawing and standing up to join the others.
The said blond dreamily sighed as he stared at your retreating back. Whenever you were around him, he always felt so much...better. Happier. Yeah, a lot happier. He adored you. In fact, he had adored you ever since that fateful day in the Hokage's Office. You were so...well, for a lack of better words, cool -- totally unlike that stupid Sasuke. You were nice, strong, pretty, funny...you were nothing but perfect. You didn't insult, discourage, or put him down like everyone else. You were a lot like Iruka-sensei, accepting him for who he was, not what he was (whatever that meant. He really didn't understand why everyone would hate an amazing kid like himself).
"Hey, Naruto," a familiar voice said, off to the side.
The pupil turned around, eyes widening once he realised exactly who had called out to him. "Mizuki-sensei!"
The white-haired man smiled softly, "If you want, I can tell you how to become a ninja."
| ⊰ ➴ ⊱ | Music: Naruto OST Album 1: Evening | Effects: No Current Effects |
Once you tucked your sleeping brother into bed (an action that was a lot harder than it sounded because he just couldn't seem to let go of your shirt), silently wished him a goodnight and kissed his little forehead, you slowly stood up and exited the room, leaving the door slightly ajar whilst you were at it.
Your thoughts then turned to Naruto: the hyperactive kid who had made a great show of promising that he would see you again. What a fucking joke, you mused as you advanced towards one of the apartment's open windows -- you hadn't even seen him at Ichiraku Ramen's, much less anywhere else. Where was the dude? Though you couldn't really remember anything about what happened (more like what would happen) after the graduation test, you weren't really bothered by that; the only thing that worried you was the fact that you had absolutely no idea as to where he was.
'Tch...' A bit irked at the notion of you panicking and flipping your shit over someone other than you or your brother's ass, you let a quiet growl rip loose from your throat. 'Goddamnit, Naruto...'
Clambering up onto the windowsill before you, you seated yourself down onto the ledge, closed your eyes, and hummed. 'Okay, [Name], calm down, calm down. If I was a hyperactive dork who had just failed a test that could possibly change my life for the better, where would I go?'
An image of the Hokage's Office boarded your train of thought, but it almost immediately departed from it when you shook your head. "No, I don't think so..."
Well, how about the Rock Faces? Maybe he was mucking around there...? Nah, probably not. How about the Academy? Highly unlikely. Besides, why would he even be there? He wasn't exactly a studious person, so...
'Somewhere private, isolated, and peaceful...'
It was only when your [e/c] optics locked onto the large woodland on the horizon that realisation hit you.
"Ah."
Releasing a disgruntled huff, you jumped down from the slab of stone you were not so long ago positioned upon, wincing ever so slightly when your feet met the hard, solid surface of a roof's tiled spine. The shrinking movement was more of a conditioned reflex than an expression of pain.
Drawing a long, deep breath, you began making your way towards the forest in the distance, confusion overtaking your determination for a brief moment when you caught sight of other ninja -- jounins, you deduced from their height and their skilful, almost elegant style of jumping -- hopping and running along rooftops with you.
'Huh. Wonder what's going on?' The thought was followed by a light shrug, which was quickly followed by a shake of a [h/c]-coloured head. 'Ah, well. Whatever.'
| ⊰ ➴ ⊱ | Music: No Current Music For This Scene | Effects: Leaves Rustling, Weapons Being Thrown |
Examining the blood, shuriken, and kunai painted on the walls of the building before you with a careful, scrupulous gaze, you leant back in your position and raised an eyebrow, before turning your meticulous eyes towards the trail of what you assumed were blood splatters to the right of you. You knelt down and allowed your fingers to graze over the small crimson pools, frowning when you noticed that they were still wet. The blood (and scene) was fresh: a most troubling fact.
'Someone was here.'
Rising from your lowered position, you turned to inspect the earth and grass surrounding the site. Both telluric qualities were disturbed, and it looked as though someone had rolled or been forcefully pushed along the ground (which, in this case, was probably what happened). A small slip of paper lay within the midst of the earthen chaos -- most likely a ripped remnant from a scroll, or something akin to that of a scroll.
'Wait. No, two people were here.'
On impulse, you turned your gaze upwards to the trees above you, frown deepening when you realised that no one was there and that you had looked up for nothing. In spite of that, however, you kept your eyes fixed on the overhead branches, waiting, just waiting, for someone or something to show up. It was...weird. It was like, even though your mind told you turn away, you just...you couldn't. It felt as though someone was here, but not actually here with you. It was like...you could sense some of their lingering presence and / or aura, or something. Did that even make sense?
It was whilst you were absorbed in these self-doubting thoughts of yours when you suddenly felt something warm, something even warmer than your usual spurt of chakra, trickle into your system and course through your veins.
'--?!'
And then suddenly, you conceived something odd, something that was even odder than what you were previously sensing. Three people stood somewhere in the not so far distance to your left, all of whom were unmoving and situated a few metres away from one another.
'Wha-- what is this--?!
It was...it was as if you could feel their chakra presence, or something. The figure further away from you, the smallest one, seemed to be hiding behind something larger than he was (since the other two weren't paying him any heed), and he had his arms wrapped around something relatively big and log-like -- a scroll, most probably. The two bigger ones seemed to be discoursing with each other. You weren't sure, but they were closer to each other than they were to the smaller person, and none of them were moving.
Straitened optics narrowing even further, you hurriedly turned on your heel and began making your quiet approach towards them, hoping and praying to the Gods you didn't even believe in that one of them was the person you were searching for. You couldn't even question how and why you could suddenly sense their chakra presences or whatever -- you just needed to find Naruto.
Too engrossed in your thoughts and musings for your own good, you didn't even notice that you had already arrived at your destination. You only became very aware of this when you, like every other protagonist of a cliché horror story out there, stepped on a fucking twig.
Snap!
You froze as the two larger figures snapped their heads over to face you, eyes widening and jaw dropping when you found yourself staring at the faces of a bloodied, battered Iruka and a most unexpected--
"--Mizuki?!" You were too shocked to even add the customary '-sensei' honourific to his name.
You had to mentally restrain yourself from taking a step back when the said conniving man shot you a wicked, devilish smirk.
"Oh? And who do we have here?" He drawled, snickering when he saw your wide eyes. "A witness? Well then," He slowly, tauntingly detached the large shuriken attached to his back from his, well, back, viridian eyes gleaming with an indiscernible emotion as he did so, "I suppose I should kill you first before I kill the others."
Psshing.
The weapon's blades scintillated in the moonlight, a sight that prompted you to gulp and give in to your urge to take a step back.
"NO! MIZUKI, DON'T!" Iruka cried.
'MOVE, [NAME]! COME ON, MOVE! FUCKING SHIT-- DON'T FAIL ME NOW, LEGS--!'
"Hehe. Die!"
'FUUUUUCK!!'
| Music: Naruto OST Album 1: Naruto's Main Theme | Effects: No Current Effects |
Sucking in what you considered as your last breath, you silently cursed under your breath and closed your eyes, Mizuki twirling his weapon around with two of his fingers being what you thought was the last thing you were ever going to see.
'FUCKFUCKFUCKFUCK--'
A gasp left your trembling lips when you unexpectedly felt someone pick you up bridal-style, and it wasn't a moment later before they rushed off to the side to dodge the incoming shuriken, your unmoving body in tow.
"[Name]-chan!"
That unprecedented feeling of having someone's arms wrap around your shoulders and legs disappeared with a distinct 'poof!' and before you knew it, you were sitting on the ground, your blessed saviour nowhere in sight. Of course, you already knew who had saved you from that life-threatening predicament.
"Naruto!" The name reflexively left your mouth when your eyes landed upon the face of the person the appellation belonged to.
"Damn you..." He turned around to face Mizuki and snarled, ignoring (or perhaps he simply didn't hear it?) the relieved call of his name. "Don't you dare lay a finger on Iruka-sensei and [Name]-chan."
"Heh..." The older man straightened up from his crouched position.
"I'll kill you if you do!!"
"Talk while you can, brat. I'll finish a kid like you in a flash!"
"Just try it, jerk. I'll return the pain a thousand times!"
"Why don't you try it, you monster fox!"
One blink. Two blinks. 'Uhh, okay, did I miss something, or...?'
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu! [6]"
'!!!!'
Almost immediately after the boy shouted the words out, multiple 'poofs!' resounded through the air, and three pairs of eyes widened once the smoke that had appeared with the muted sounds dissipated, revealing what must have been hundreds of broadly grinning Narutos.
'Holy...holy shit.'
Mizuki, who had fallen back onto his rump, shared your shock, but not your awe. "Wh-what?!"
"What's the matter?!" The Narutos chorused mischievously, "Come and get me! Come on!"
"I-I-I--"
"If you're not coming, then we're going!"
"W-WAIT--!"
"HERE WE GO!"
"AUGHH!!"
| ⊰ ➴ ⊱ | Music: No Current Music For This Scene | Effects: No Current Effects |
You eyed the prostrate, beaten, and thrashed Mizuki with a hint of distaste and amusement, before you made a show of nudging the side of his head with your foot. "Heh," you mumbled, "serves you right."
It was Naruto's nervous laugh that made you turn your eyes and attention away from the despicable man.
"Ehehe," he lifted a hand up to scratch the back of his neck, "maybe I hurt him too much..." A pause. "Um-- anyway, Iruka-sensei, [Name]-chan, are you guys okay?"
You shot him a smile and a thumbs-up, one that was not dissimilar to the one he had given you a few hours ago. "Yeah! Thanks a bunch, man!"
"Yeah. We're...we're fine..." The brunet trailed off for a moment before speaking again: "Hey, Naruto, come here for a second. I want to give you something."
"Ah? What is it, what is it?!"
Your teacher couldn't help but chuckle when Naruto eagerly zipped over towards him, skin around his eyes crinkling and lips curling upwards once he stifled his laughter.
"Close your eyes."
You watched, gaze edged with pride and mirth, as Naruto did what he was told. The skin around your own eyes crinkled when you saw Iruka untie the headband around his forehead, and you directed your eyes elsewhere to let them have their moment.
'So...Naruto does graduate, after all.'
"Hey, hey, Iruka-sensei, are you done yet?"
"Alright, open your eyes."
(A short silence.)
"Congratulations. You pass."
(Another silence, one that was longer than the previous.)
"Alright, then! Let's celebrate! I'll treat you to ramen!"
(A relatively small pause.)
"Iruka-sensei!"
"Oof! Ow, ow, ow! Get off, Naruto, that hurts!"
'Welp!' Shaking your head, you suppressed a laugh, 'All's well that ends well!'
| ⊰ ➴ ⊱ | Ending Theme: I Apologise To You by Gumi Megpoid | Music: Naruto OST Album 2 // Song - Fooling Mode |
"Uwah! [Name] has actually graduated! What'll happen, now?!"
"Team Seven: Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha, and [Name] Akiyama."
"Ah! It's you! The man with the talking dog!"
"So we're going to do some survival training."
"You fail!"
"WHAT?!"
"Join us next time in 'Dérive': | 04 | Equipaggio |!"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] = "Transform!"
[2] = "Sexy Jutsu."
[3] = 'Clone Jutsu.'
[4] = 'Transformation Jutsu.'
[5] = If you haven't noticed, normal clones don't have shadows since they're just illusions used to confuse (rather than attack) enemies. They're not actually solid, so they can't perform any simple actions like kicking up grass, disturbing the earth, etc. etc. So it's pretty easy to discern the clones from the user. Shadow clones however, do have shadows and they can perform simple (and even complex) actions, since the user has to give the same amount of chakra to each clone. The reason why Iruka and Mizuki were staring at [Name]'s clone's shadows is because even though [Name] clearly said 'Clone Jutsu', she made Shadow Clones (but she doesn't know that).
[6] = "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Wow! So here it finally is: the rewritten version of '| 02 | Graduation: Complete! |'! Jesus Christ, this took a really long time to finish, and I sincerely apologise for the delay;;;
Anyway, I'd really like to thank you all for your patience and hope that this chapter satisfies you!