Purpose
Dodging a kick aimed at his head, he crouched and sprung backward a few steps. Huffing out a sharp breath,, he barely missed the fist aimed at his stomach.
He knew that Itachi was going easy on him, knew that he was in no way close to seeing the boy's full strength or speed. However, as he sidestepped a blow and leaned in to deliver one of his own, he couldn't help but feel proud of his progress. A few weeks ago, he wouldn't have even lasted thirty seconds.
“You’re instincts are sharp.” Shisui would later say, when Naruto was finally given a break to catch his breath and rest for a few minutes. It was a Sunday, and the three of them were training in one of the fields hidden behind the forest near Naruto's apartment.
Twirling a kunai in between his fingers, he continued. “It’s like you already have the experience but lack the technical knowledge to fight.” Naruto sweat-dropped at the statement, knowing full well why that was. If Naruto had one thing in abundance, it would be experience. He shuddered, suppressing the memories that rose to the forefront of his mind. He'd fought in a war and led comrades into battle. Different, they may have been, but they were battles nonetheless.
"He's right," Itachi spoke quietly, sitting on top of a boulder a couple of paces above them. “Most people have to fight for years before they can hone good battle instincts.”
“W-well, most people aren’t randomly attacked while going home, you know.” He inwardly winced, knowing that mentioning incidents like that made the other two tense, yet he couldn’t find another way to justify himself.
“I suppose that’s true.” Itachi answered after a moment, eyes intense.
They were one month into his newly instated training. Naruto had learned more in the last few weeks than he had in his five years of life.
“Hey guys,” He started, gaining both their attentions. “Why did you decide to be Shinobi?" The question had been circling in his mind for a while now. He knew that he didn't really have a choice in his future profession. The Sandaime had made that very clear in their last conversation. But he also didn’t want to follow orders blindly. Wanted to find his own reason to go down the ninja road.
Having already fought and lived through one war, Naruto hadn’t been particularly enthusiastic to jump right back into fighting. A Shinobi’s journey was, after all, filled with even more bloodshed and violence. Not unlike that of an Auror, it was plagued with death and destruction at every turn.
However, he also knew, that despite his best efforts, he could never stay away from trouble. As Hermione would always say, he had something of a hero complex. His, as she referred to it, ‘Saving people thing’ would mean that he would eventually find himself drawn to conflict either way.
“My father is the head of the Uchiha clan.” Itachi began slowly. “I was meant to follow in his footsteps from the very start.”
“Was that your only reason?” Naruto asked tentatively, feeling like he was treading a very fine line.
“No, it was not.” When Naruto made no move to interrupt him, he continued. “When I was five, I’d seen enough bloodshed to know that I wanted to be strong enough to, hopefully, one day put a stop to it. I want to bring peace to this world.” Suddenly, he felt like he understood the boy in front of him more. Even with his limited knowledge on the inner workings of a Shinobi village, Naruto could already tell that the Uchiha, at only eleven, was already well on his way to becoming Jonin. A very skilled and talented one at that.
"I believe in you." He blurted out abruptly, louder than he intended. He meant every word.
“Thank you Naruto-kun.” The ninja replied warmly.
“W-what about you Shisui-san?”
“My reason isn’t as cool as Itachi’s.” The boy started, shooting a mock glare at his friend. “I looked up to my father a lot when I was a kid. I wanted to be just like him, so I joined the academy like everyone else in the clan.” He spoke quietly, his voice softer than he’s ever heard it before. “I wanted to be strong so that I could help protect my family and my village, just like he did.”
It seemed he’d met really amazing people, Naruto concluded.
“I think you’re pretty cool too, Shisui-san.”
“H-hey!” flustered under the attention, the boy exclaimed, “What did I say about the Shisui-san crap, drop the honorifics already, we're not that much older than you, you know."
“Hn.” Itachi hummed his agreement.
“A-alright.”
“Well, come on.” Shisui suddenly declared, getting to his feet gracefully. “Let’s go eat, I’m starving.”
“We haven’t finished sparring yet. He needs more-” Itachi started only to be interrupted. Shisui’s arm coming to over his shoulders.
“Come on –Tachi, we won’t have time to go later, we both have missions and Sasuke will go looking for you after for sure. We can’t bail on Sunday lunches!”
Naruto who had been in the process of joining Itachi in his protest closed his mouth, letting his voice die down at the new information. He’d grown used to hanging around the two, more comfortable and open.
So, putting on his best puppy dog eyes, he made sure to make his voice as small as possible. “Come on Itachi, you can’t break tradition.”
“Alright.” The boy mumbled, turning his head to look away from the blue eyes staring into his soul. Matching smiles turned at his words, excited to have broken his resolve.
“Hey, Itachi?” Naruto asked tentatively, as they made their way back to the main streets. The chunin in question turned to face him. Giving him his full attention, their steps never faltering as they walked. “W-who’s Sasuke?”
The eleven-year-old's eyes widened considerably, a look mirrored by the fourteen-year-old next to him. "Wait, we never told you about him?" Shisui asked, shock clear in his voice. “Itachi usually never stops talking about him!”
Perplexed and more than a little curious now, Naruto shook his head.
“Sasuke is my little brother," Itachi answered finally. “Like you, he’s going to be joining the academy this year.”
“You have a brother that’s my age! How come you never mentioned him before?” He prodded, feeling bolder than usual.
“I supposed that the subject has never come up until now.”
“Aw man, I bet Sasuke-chan would get pretty mad if he found out you were training someone other than him.”
“That’s exactly why he won’t.” Itachi declared, sending a heated glare at the Jonin marching next to them.
“Shouldn’t we stop, then?” The words tasted bitter on his tongue, having to physically force himself to utter them. When two pairs of dark eyes turned to look at him, he hurried to explain. “I mean, I wouldn’t want you to get in trouble. If your brother would-“
“Don’t worry Naruto-kun.” Itachi interrupted gently. “I can do both.”
“Yeah.” Shisui agreed, “Besides, Sasuke-kun has plenty of people he could go to for training.” Whereas Naruto, on the other hand, only had them, went unspoken.
“I-if you’re sure.” He said, feeling relieved beyond measure. It was then that a familiar smell wafted through the air. Ichiraku’s ramen shop was like a beacon, Naruto decided. Somehow, it always managed to attract him like moth to a flame. Perhaps Naruto was being a little dramatic but he couldn’t help but yearn for the food again. Last time he’d tasted it was during his hospital stay. He wondered if it would taste different if it were fresh out of the kitchen.
He didn’t notice himself pausing, eyes trained on the shack. At least not until a face blocked his vision. Shisui’s eyes were squinted in an understanding smile.
“Wanna eat out today, Naru-chan?”
“Uhm n-no” He fumbled to respond, dread pooling in his guts, making his hunger suddenly disappear. “Let’s just go ho-“
“Hey wait!” A hand latched onto his shoulder, halting his retreat. “I saw how you looked at the place, Naruto. So why don’t you tell me the real reason you’re so suddenly against the idea.” The older boy’s voice was hard as he spoke, regarding him seriously but patiently.
Itachi stared at both of them silently. A knowing glint in his eyes that didn't fail to make something in Naruto's chest twist.
“Look, you should already know this by now,” He started, gaze drifting to look at the ground, studying a particularly interesting pebble. “But most people don’t like it when I’m around. If we go in, I’ll probably get kicked out or get yelled at.” He continued, wishing the ground would suddenly open up and swallow him down. “It’s just not worth it, okay?” And after a moment, he added. “But if you want to go, I won’t stop you. I’ll just wait for you outside.”
"I hope you know how messed up this is." The dark tone in his friend's voice made him look up. His ocean-blue eyes met something akin to liquid anger, swimming in those dark orbs.
“Yeah, well.” He shrugged, stuffing his hands in his pockets, suddenly feeling really small.
“We should go in, anyway.” Shisui spoke up as if the entire previous conversation hadn’t happened.
“What, but you just-“
“I know, but this place is different okay? The owner here is a good man, he won’t be anything but kind.”
“He’s right, Naruto-kun.” Their eyes were both trained on him, leaving the decision up to him. Their gazes held his own, as if urging him to trust them on this.
“F-fine, but if he does anything, I’m not sticking around for a lecture.”
“Yosh!” A hand suddenly clutched at his smaller one, dragging him into the small shack. Itachi followed dutifully behind at a slower pace. The curtains blocking the entrance were pulled out of the way as they stepped in.
Warmth seemed to radiate from the very wood encasing the place. As if cocooning them in a comfortable, peaceful atmosphere.
Two men were seated in front of the counter. Enjoying a meal while they conversed quietly. One of the two glanced their way nonchalantly but paused as he spotted the five-year-old. Naruto could pinpoint the moment the man's eyes zeroed in on his whisker marks. The exact second he recognized just who it was that interrupted his meal.
Eyes narrowing considerably, he nudged his partner, urging him to turn around.
Shisui’s hand tightened around Naruto’s own as the second civilian suddenly stood up, outraged. “Come on, I’m not eating anywhere near It.”
Heart plummeting to his stomach, Naruto turned to leave. He knew this would happen. Why the hell would he go in, he should know better by now.
Shisui was shouting something at the retreating figures but all Naruto could focus on was his feet. Wishing he would just disappear. He hated that this was happening, hated that the two were there to see it. Maybe now, they would realize just what kind of freak he was, and they would stop being the exception to the rule.
“What can I get you fine gentlemen today?” A voice interrupted his spiraling thoughts, startling him. Looking up, he was met with kind, wrinkled eyes. It was the same man he’d seen wiping the counter all those nights ago.
“S-sorry, they just-“
“Don’t fret, young one, People like that aren't welcome here.” He took one step back before, “If they hadn’t left, I would have kicked them out myself.” His eyes widened, was this real?
“Yeah, the nerve on some people.” A girl, who he hadn’t noticed until now, spoke up next to the old man. Her hands drying a bowl with a towel.
Shisui, whose grin was now back at full force, stepped forward, trailing Naruto behind him toward one of the stools in front of the counter. Itachi taking the one on Naruto’s other side.
“You sure I can-“
“Sit down, kiddo. You like ramen don’t you?”
He nodded, suddenly feeling numb, not really understanding what was happening. “I’m Teuchi Ichiraku, and this is my daughter Ayame. It’s nice to meet you, Naruto-chan.” They- they knew his name? “I hope you know that you will always be welcome here, my boy.”
Looking at Itachi and Shisui, he got mirrored encouraging nods, as if to confirm that this was all really happening. “T-thank you.” He mumbled, cheeks heating under all the positive attention.
“Three large bowls of miso ramen for us, Teuchi-san," Shisui ordered, the grin still stretched across his features, lighting up his face.
“Coming right up.” And just like that, the two turned back to their work, leaving them to their relative privacy.
The two boys sitting on either side of him seemed to instinctively know to keep quiet. Probably realizing that Naruto needed some time to digest the last few minute's events.
“Thank you.” He whispered after a few minutes. Wanting to convey how much he appreciated them. He never would’ve had the guts to come here or meet these new people without them.
Matching soft smiles were directed at him in response.
Three bowls of steaming hot ramen were suddenly placed in front of them, drawing their attention. His eyes were instantly drawn to the Naruto fish cake swimming in his own.
Thanking the old man for the meal, they didn’t waste any time digging in.
As he expected, the food tasted so much better now. Every bite felt heavenly on his tongue. Ramen was officially his new favorite food, he decided.
He also figured that the company helped to make it taste even better.
__________________________________
After lunch, separating from his two companions, he went back to the forest, intent on finishing his training for the day.
He ran through his usual stretches and Katas, going through the motions methodically. The movements were engraved into his memory by now.
Once he was done, he picked up the kunai Itachi had given him to practice with. Going through the repetitive action of throwing them into a tree again and again until his aim got sharper and more accurate.
By the time he was done, the sun was beginning to set and his arms ached with a satisfying sharpness, proof of the day’s efforts.
Flopping onto the ground unceremoniously, he closed his eyes, trying to focus on the dormant power within him.
Unsurprisingly, his magic was unresponsive to his coaxing. He must have substantial chakra reserves, he concluded, for it to block out the flow to his core so thoroughly. The book Itachi had given him on Chakra and fine control explained that the more chakra you had, the harder it would be to control.
Frustrated, he huffed, opening his eyes once more. He couldn’t wait to start his academy classes. Maybe then, he’d get to learn how to control his chakra enough to access his powers.
The issue of his missing wand would then pose an entirely different problem. Wandless magic, while not impossible, takes years to perform. It had taken him until his sixth year at Hogwarts to even attempt it.
Sighing loudly, he pushed himself to his feet, body sluggish from exhaustion as he made his way back home.
His empty apartment after a long day seemed extra daunting. The lights flicker in the hallway as he finally reached his floor. Having thankfully made his way home before it got dark.
New markings were tagged onto the wall next to his door and he resigned himself to a night of cleaning.
At least, he muses as he takes hold of an old rag and a bucket of water, he met new people who were exceptions to the rules, today.
Smiling softly despite the red, harsh words painted in front of him, he got to work.
Chapter 7 already posted in the link on my bio