Storms brewing
Looking at the wrinkled paper held between his hands, he resisted the urge to crush it in his fingers. The big 0 marked in blaring red at the top contrasted greatly with the yellowing white of the parchment. As if announcing his failure to the world.
He thought he’d done well on this test. Thought he’d at least gotten a passing grade. It seems like most things in his life, he was wrong. One more thing to add to the long list of things he couldn’t comprehend.
Rocking slightly so as to stop the swing’s back and forth, he steadied himself with the rope as a shadow fell over his perch. He didn’t look up though, giving them any kind of glare only served to make things worse. Keeping his head down, he braced himself for the inevitable sneers, jeering and mockery.
“Tangerine?”
The soft word caught him off guard. The first thing that draws his attention when he looks up is the shiny red apple held in between thin fingers. Following the digits up to their owner, he was surprised to see it was the Nara kid. The same one from the park, all those weeks ago. Although, he now knew him as the quiet, lazy kid who sits two rows in front of him in class.
When his mouth failed to fabricate any articulate thoughts, the boy spoke up once more. His voice morphed into a slow drawl as he nudged the apple towards him again.
“Well, it’s an apple but you get the sentiment, right?” He could feel his mouth water just looking at it, and he did his best to quell the trembling of his fingers as he finally willed his body to move. Tentatively reaching for it, hesitant to believe this wasn’t just some cruel elaborate joke his classmates were pulling on him once again.
However, to his rising surprise, the fruit was not maliciously snatched away from him, and he soon found himself with a handful of shinny goodness. Remembering their first interaction, he wasted no time putting in the strengths in order to cut the treat in half. Offering it to the Nara with a small none-smile. “T-Tangerine?” He joked hesitantly, sensing his shoulders hunch in on themselves as he outstretched half of the offering back to its previous owner, feeling more than a little silly.
The Nara’s response was to plop down onto the dirt, and bite into it lazily. He could feel some of his earlier gloominess start to lift the longer they ate in peaceful company.
That was until the boy chose to break the silence.
“How come you never went back to the park?”
“A-ah…” He fumbled for an explanation, one that didn’t involve him getting beaten half to death in an alleyway. “I wasn’t feeling all that well.”
The boy hummed, eyes narrowing slightly but seemingly content to let the matter go. For now. “So, why do you still have the test? Sensei gave it back to us hours ago.”
“Oh, I was just trying to figure out what I did wrong.” He admitted softly, feeling his grip tighten around the rumpled paper.
“Want me to take a look?” The boy offered, straightening his posture a little.
Looking down at the Nara, he did his best to hide his skepticism. Wasn’t he the one that got a barely passing grade? A perfect 50?
He figured it was still way better than he did. “Sure, if you don’t mind. Just-“He faltered. “Just don’t laugh, alright?”
Hearing the rustle of paper and the feeling of emptiness in his grip, he did his best to keep himself distracted. Avoid looking at the grimace that was surely etching itself onto the Nara’s features the longer he looked at the abomination he called a test.
When the silence seemed to stretch, he started wishing for the bell to ring and relieve him of the impending humiliation.
However, the boy did not laugh at him, nor did he mock him for his idiocy. Instead, the dark haired clan heir levelled him with an entirely out of character stare. Eyes dark and serious as they regarded him, a new glint in his gaze.
“W-what?” He asked, wanting to break whatever haze had taken over his classmate’s mind. “What’s wrong? Is it that bad?”
That seemed to pull him out of his momentary reverie.
“No, no. just- I think Sensei made a few mistakes while correcting this” His eyes were averted, thoughts probably going a mile a minute with how far away his gaze seemed to be.
“A- a mistake?”
“I’ll explain later I promise, I just need to make sure of something first.” Being kept in the dark never settled well with him, however, he figured that it wouldn’t hurt to be patient.
Later that day, as the last bell rang and the students finally were allowed to go home, he watched as the small Nara stayed back. His exam held lightly in his grip as the boy marched towards Sensei’s desk.
From the safety of his hiding place behind the classroom door, he watched the man lay a gentle hand on the boy’s head, patting it with a smile as he spoke.
“Don’t worry about it, Shikamaru-kun. The kid got the grade he deserved.” He said pleasantly, making something twist in Naruto’s gut. “Go on now, your parents will be worried if you take too long.”
Ducking behind an alcove, he waited for the man’s footsteps to fade. Sighing in relief he stepped out of hiding, coming directly face to face with Shikamaru’s grave expression.
“S-See, there’s no mistake, I’m just failing the class.” That only seemed to make the boy’s mood darker.
“Yeah, there wasn’t any mistake.” The Nara said softly. “Because he did it on purpose.”
And suddenly Naruto all too well what had happened.
______________________________
“See here, that’s the only mistake you did, you mistook that for a fire sign but it was supposed to be wind.” Shikamaru explained with fervor. “You almost aced the test, your grade is all wrong.”
Meticulously examining the test paper, comparing his answers to the correct ones. It didn't take long for him to discover the glaring discrepancies. Naruto had indeed answered all the questions correctly, and yet, the teacher had marked him unfairly.
“Oh.” He uttered softly
“Oh, is that all you’re going to say!” Shikamaru responded in an unexpected burst. Complexly out of character for the usually quiet, composed boy. “We need to do something about this, he can’t keep treating you like that!”
“Its okay, Shikamaru, I don’t care, at least now I know that I’ve been understanding the curriculum well.” He wasn’t a stranger to biased teachers after all. Snape despite the revelations they’d had after his death, hadn’t been the best teacher in terms of fairness.
“That’s not the point, Naruto!” Shikamaru replied, hands flailing in incredulity. “You deserve to get a grade that reflects your efforts, you deserve to be treated fairly.”
“Just drop it, alright?”
Fine, shikamaru thought bitterly, if he wasn’t going to do anything about it, then he would. But first, he needed to gather evidence. Stashing the paper into his bag, he resigned himself to observation and collection during the coming weeks.
The boy’s interest had been peaked, and an angry Nara was never an easy one to deal with.
____________________________
Shikamaru had been quietly observing Naruto's struggles for weeks, meticulously documenting instances of unfair treatment by Jiro-sensei. He felt a growing sense of frustration and determination to bring an end to Naruto's suffering. Each day brought new examples of neglect, from Naruto being ignored during exercises to being unjustly blamed for class disruptions.
One evening, as twilight bathed the village in a soft orange glow, Shikamaru decided he had enough evidence to take action. He knew he had to tread carefully when approaching his father, Shikaku, who had no inkling of what was happening with Naruto. Shikamaru chose his moment carefully, waiting until the family was gathered for dinner.
"Dad," he began, his voice low but firm, "I have to show you something. It about Naruto."
Shikaku, raising an eyebrow, put down his chopsticks and looked at his son intently. "Naruto? As in Uzumaki Naruto?"
Shikamaru proceeded to explain Naruto's plight and Jiro-sensei's mistreatment. He shared the detailed log of evidence he had gathered, recounting each instance of unfairness, making sure to convey the gravity of the situation.
Shikaku's expression darkened as he reviewed the evidence. As a father, he felt a protective surge of anger and concern for Naruto. "This is unacceptable," he muttered under his breath. "We can't let this continue. We need to bring this to the Hokage's attention."
Later that evening, after having finally convinced his son to stay home, Shikaku stood before the Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, who appeared weary and frustrated as he listened to his account.
"I had suspected something like this was happening, but I didn't expect it to be so blatant. Very well, I will address this issue personally and ensure that Naruto gets the fair treatment he deserves." Hiruzen admitted softly, suddenly looking older to the Jonin.
It wasn’t until a week later, however, that Shikamaru saw the fruits of his efforts. They’d been sitting in class, waiting for the sensei to arrive when the door opened.
Walking in, however, wasn’t Jiro-sensei. Instead, a young man, obviously still in his early twenties shuffled into the room. His eyes roamed across the students before settling on Naruto himself, visibly gulping.
Naruto and Shikamaru, initially apprehensive, expected more of the same mistreatment. They watched as Iruka took charge, not showing any immediate kindness.
Iruka's initial interactions with Naruto were marked by stern discipline, but something was different. With every class, Naruto’s hope at having a new teacher were slowly dwindling, the man wasn’t outright ignoring him, and yet, he could see it, the look of fear and hatred in the man’s eyes.
What had he done to deserve such contempt? It made his blood boil.
However, one prominent difference was that Iruka, for all his obvious derision, still treated him fairly well. He answered when Naruto asked questions and let him participate in class activities like any other student.
It was honestly more than he ever expected to get in this academy.
The deciding factor came in the form of a quiz they’d taken that same evening.
The paper held in between his trembling fingers slowly grew stained as a couple of tears dripped onto its surface.
In the silence of the yard next to the school. Naruto clutched the paper lightly, blinking as if to dispel the illusion. In red marker, full marks had been etched into the parchment. Marking his test, a success.
Whatever hatred Iruka-sensei harbored towards him, he was a better teacher then his predecessor.
_______________________________________
Meanwhile, Itachi Uchiha, through ninja gossip and conversations had overheard between the Nara and Akimichi clan heads speaking.
He’d been on his way back from an anbu mission, Mask and attire safely sealed in a storage scroll. Naruto’s name had drawn his attention and he listened intently as the Jonin discuss the situation between themselves. Feeling his temper shift with each passing phrase, he turned around and headed for his new-found destination.
Something in his chest constricted as he realized that in his effort to keep up with his new schedule and the expectation of both his clan and the village, he’d overlooked the well-being of those he cared about.
As the crescent moon hung in the sky, bathing the old, crumbling building in a soft blue light, Itachi climbed the stairs to Naruto's apartment.
Knocking softly on the boy’s door, he was surprised to find the kid’s door unlocked. The wooden frame slid with a creek, opening the way into the blonde’s kitchen.
Entering through the open threshold, he found Naruto sitting at the table, his gaze fixed on a flickering candle.
Itachi cleared his throat softly, not wanting to startle the boy. "Naruto," he began gently, "there have been rumors about what happened at the academy. I've heard things, and I wanted to make sure you're okay."
Naruto turned to look at Itachi, his expression guarded. "Rumors? I don't know what you're talking about, Itachi."
Itachi regarded Naruto with a knowing gaze. He didn't press further, giving Naruto an opening to share if he wished. "I see," he said calmly, leaving the door open for Naruto to confide in him.
Naruto hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Well, you know how rumors can be, right? They're often blown out of proportion."
Itachi nodded, not giving away his knowledge just yet. "That's true, Naruto. But sometimes, it's better to talk about what's bothering us, rather than carrying it alone."
Naruto shifted uncomfortably. He knew that Itachi was offering him an opportunity to open up, but the fear of judgment held him back. He decided to change the subject. "So, how has your training been going, Itachi?"
Itachi maintained his calm demeanor but decided it was time to be honest with Naruto. "Naruto, I want you to know that I already have an idea of what's been happening at the academy. You don't have to pretend like nothing's wrong.
Naruto's eyes widened, caught in the lie but feeling strangely relieved. He swallowed hard before responding, "You... you know?"
Itachi nodded and moved closer to Naruto, sitting down beside him. "Yes, Naruto. I know. And I'm here to listen and help, not to judge."
Naruto's eyes welled up with emotion, and he finally let his guard down. "I didn't want to worry anyone, and I didn't know what to do. I thought I could handle it on my own."
Itachi placed a comforting hand on Naruto's shoulder. "You don't have to carry this burden alone, Naruto. Keeping secrets like this can be harmful. We're your friends, and we care about you. It's okay to ask for help when you need it."
Naruto nodded, a tear escaping his eye. "I understand, Itachi. I just didn't want to be a bother to anyone."
Itachi smiled gently and wiped away Naruto's tear. "You're not a bother, Naruto. You’re anything but.”
Feeling the weight of the past month lift off his shoulder, he returned the teen’s smile tentatively. “The new teacher is better, I don’t think he likes me very much, but I’m finally passing my tests and getting to train with the others.”
Humming, Itachi settled back into his seat. “Well, if he ever acts on his feelings or shows any hint of mistreatment towards you, I need you to tell me, or shisui.” Itachi speaks slowly, wanting the boy to understand the urgency of his request. “That goes for anyone. I will repeat it as many times as you need to hear it, but you deserve kindness, Naruto. Don’t let anyone make you believe otherwise.”
“Okay, Itachi-ni, I will.” Feeling his cheeks heat up, he spoke once more, wanting to at least reassure his friend of one thing. “I think I made a friend.”
“Really?” Itachi’s voice remained soft but his eyes seemed to light up at the quiet admission. “Tell me about them.” He wondered if perhaps his little brother had listened to his advice.
“His name is Shikamaru, he’s from the Nara clan.” Naruto answered, negating his previous thought. “He was the one who told people about Jiro-sensei. He helped me a lot.”
“I see…” Itachi whispered, a small smile stretching his features, wrinkling his eyes. “I’m glad.”
They spent the rest of the night catching up, it had been a while since they’d seen each other in more than a passing interaction. Naruto had missed the older boy.
Sadly, Itachi’s duties would only get harder as time went on.
___________________________________
Later, after Itachi had left, he met up with Shisui. Watching the older teen stroll up to where Itachi was waiting. Shisui had a friendly smile on his face, and his eyes sparkled with a sense of curiosity. He greeted Itachi with a playful nudge.
"Hey, Itachi! What's the word on the street?" Shisui asked, his voice filled with a cheerful tone.
Itachi returned the smile but with a hint of seriousness. "Shisui, I've got something important to discuss. It's about Naruto and what's been going on at the academy."
Shisui's expression shifted from cheerful curiosity to concern as he registered the change in Itachi's demeanor. "Naruto? What's been happening?"
Itachi began to recount the situation, explaining how he had overheard conversations and discovered Naruto's mistreatment by his previous teacher, the chunin know as Jiro Takeda. He highlighted the need for support and vigilance to ensure Naruto's well-being.
Shisui listened intently, his usual cheerfulness giving way to a more thoughtful expression. "Wow, that's tough. We can't let him go through something like that again, -tachi."
Itachi nodded in agreement. "Exactly. I've assured Naruto that we're here for him. But we need to watch out for him." Looking to the side, falling quiet for a moment, he continued. “Shisui… He didn’t think he deserved help, it was like he expected that kind of treatment.”
“Can you really blame him? It’s all he’s ever known.” Shisui replied, just as solemn.
“We need to try and make him understand otherwise.”
Shisui's cheerful spirit began to reemerge as he said, "Right on, Itachi! We should also make sure he knows he's part of our family, and that we've got his back."
Itachi smiled, appreciating Shisui's unwavering support and positive attitude. They’d find a way to help him feel valued and accepted. That, he promised.
Little did they know, they wouldn’t have the opportunity.
As dark forces seemed to converge on the village. Their life as they’ve gotten used to live it, would soon take a turn for the worst.
Chapter 10 and 11 already posted, link in bio