Uzumaki Nagato
During lunch, I decided to eat in the cafeteria with a friend of mine, Nagato. He was new to this school, and I was assigned to show him around. I helped him out. We quickly developed a friendship which was a surprise to both of us due to being unliked by others. Nagato was a great guy despite him telling me about how he would at times get into fights at his old school.
During lunch in the cafeteria, students came up to us. They picked on Nagato by calling him emo and then me. They called us gay, faggots, nerds, anything. I felt terrible for Nagato. He had told me he was susceptible. Just like me, but unlike me, he has a short temper. So I tried to get these kids away from us before they made Nagato go ballistic.
"Please, let us be." I tried negotiating. They weren't listening to me.
"He's your boyfriend?"
"Fucking faggots!"
"Emo boys!"
Nagato got fed up. He threw his tray onto the ground and walked away in anger. I stood up, I wanted to get him, but I had milk poured onto my head. "Hey!" I was getting impatient. I needed to get to Nagato, but I couldn't now with the milk flowing down my hair into my eyes and nose.
It then got worse when a group started throwing food at me. They all threw apples, oranges, bananas, anything. It did hurt, but what hurt the most was watching Sasuke influence more students to do it. After they stopped their assault, some kid pulled my pants down in front of half the school. They were all laughing. Some start throwing fruit again as they try to aim for my crotch. Someone shoves me to the floor as I pull my pants up. I hit the ground hard, face first. I pull myself up; I turn back and see Sasuke.
My eyes feel hot. I quickly got up and stormed out of there. Suddenly tears spill out, and blood comes out of my nose. I cover my face with my long sleeve as I run behind a gym and put my back against a wall. I sat down and started sobbing. I try to calm myself. I try figuring out why I'm crying. I never cried this much in my life. What was wrong with me? I figured it was the bullying. But Sasuke was part of it too. I guess it got to me.
My crying wouldn't stop. I tried stopping it, but it kept going harder than before. I couldn't seem to close my mouth. Instead, my teeth chattered. I couldn't stop the noises coming from my throat. I was getting mad at myself for sobbing like a child.
The tears I shed could not be contaminated. My crying went on for the rest of the lunch period. It soon seized down. I got up and dragged myself to the bathroom. I still remember the milk on my head and the food stains on my clothes and book bag.
When I looked in the mirror, I saw my eyes were red. I haven't seen my eyes like that for a long time. I washed my face and damp hair. I then took off my vest. Unfortunately, my pants were stained but not so much. The stains of my book bag wouldn't come off. I had a few aches here and there, but it wasn't so bad.
Unfortunately, I couldn't find Nagato anywhere.
Being home and seeing Sasuke after what had happened and what he’d done was rough. Dinner was different and never the same after that. Every time I looked at him, I felt my heart ache. But I was able to compose myself. I couldn't start a conversation. My mind was empty. Mother had asked me a question, but I didn't hear her. I must've been eyeing my dinner too hard.
"Earth to Itachi"
"Yes?"
"How did you do on your exam?"
"I did well, Mother."
"Anything on your mind? A girl, maybe?" Of course, Mother can see through anyone or maybe I was readable at that moment.
"No...there's nothing." My lips turned into a fake smile.
"Sasuke?" It was like she read my mind. I was deep into my head and thought she was asking me about him. My head pounded. I felt my heart ache. "He's fine, Mom! He's fine!" I quickly tell her, not wanting to tell her anything about today's incident. She gave me a look of confusion and concern. I quickly looked away because my eyes burned, and my face felt hot. It felt as if I could feel Sasuke's eyes looking at me with the same look as my mother with the hint of earlier's look. Those eyes he gave me. A touch of disgust. I took a shakey breath in and out. I cannot cry. Not here, not now.
"Itachi, look at me, dear."
"Can I be excused" It wasn't a question. It was a demand. If I looked into her eyes, I knew I would break. "Please. Thank you for dinner" My throat was closing. It hurt to swallow. I walked off upstairs. My composure had shattered. I close my bedroom door, and I sit down on my bed. I cover my face with my hands and feel the tears spill. My nose starts to run. I wipe my nose with my shirt sleeve, I'm too busy even to care. I keep my crying silent.
After my sobbing, I went to study for my club to see what book the freshmen were reading this year. A knock on my door interrupted my thoughts. "Yes?"
"May I come in?" It was Mother.
"Sure"
She sat down on my bed. I turn my desk chair to look at her.
"Is there something bothering you?" She asks. I didn't know what to say. If I said no, it wouldn't make any sense why I left the dinner table in a hurry. But if I say yes, it'll make sense and wouldn't be a lie.
"...Yes, I'm sorry for leaving in a rush."
"You don't need to apologize. Tell me, did someone hurt you?" It was as if she saw through me.
"No. Not me. You see, I met a friend new to the school, and I feel so bad that they're being picked on." My hands felt sweaty. "I was upset about him storming out. What's worse is I couldn't find him."
"Oh dear, I'm so sorry to hear that" She took her hand in mine and lifted my face to look at her. I know my eyes were glossy, but I refused to shed tears.
"If anything's going on, you'll need to tell me. I can't have you being quiet all the time." She kissed my forehead.
The next day, already, I had my head slammed against a metal locker.
"Move, nerd!"
This is what I get for reading while walking. I was reading the new list of students who were going to be in my club this semester because I wanted to avoid eye contact completely. Oh man, they gave me troublemakers again.
I bump into someone. I looked to see who it was.
"Nagato"
"We need to talk," is what he tells me.
We sit down on a bench outside the gym. "What is it?" I ask. Nagato asked me if bullying was always the case in this school. I understood the reason why he asked me. Konoha High is supposed to be a great high school due to the city being full of great people. Who am I to lie to him? I was honest and told him that it is, it's common for popular students to treat anyone with disrespect.
Nagato looked angry. I don't know what to do when someone has an angry expression and I wonder about something, I was curious about his disappearance and asked him, "I wanted to go get you but couldn't find you anywhere. Where were you?"
"I left"
"You left the school?" I was surprised.
"Yeah. I just hopped the fence and got out of here."
I was shocked. I didn't know Nagato that well.
"So? You don't leave?" He asked me and I knew why, he's seen my fair share of trouble. "No," I tell him honestly. I am not the type of guy to just leave the whole school, I find that scandalous.
"You let them bully you?" His voice sounded stern.
"They're kids, Nagato. They don't know any better. Soon they'll get over it."
"That's no excuse! They should respect us since we're their elders. We're not going to let these youngsters bully us."
"It's like a trend Nagato. They do it to get recognition from the juniors or seniors. It's just their way of getting acknowledged." I tried reasoning with him. I was not trying to excuse my pitiful self.
"Yeah, and soon those freshmen will be the bullies of the entire school! They'll then pick on anyone and soon end up shoving them into the girl's locker room."
I scoffed at that. I had memories. Nagato was right, however.
"You find it funny, Tach?"
He mocked my name. "No. It's not that. It's because it happened to me. I got locked in with the girls." As I told him about that time, Nagato became anxious. "I take it, it happened to you?" I had to ask. It's easy talking to him and he's the type to open up about anything.
"...Yeah. They stripped me and dumped me with the girls. They screamed, and I tried to open the door and flee, but it was useless. They've locked me in there. Did they do the same with you?"
"Not exactly. You had it worse than me. They managed to get a hold of me and dump me in the girl's restroom."
"I bet the teachers didn't do anything about it."
"I didn't report it. But there had been instances where students had reported such abuse"
"School system here is also dogshit."
This was when I noticed Nagato's attitude toward the school was cold, just like Sasuke's. The difference is, that Nagato will do something about it, unlike Sasuke. That is how he managed to get expelled from his old school in Ame.
Silence fell between us until Nagato broke it, "You know, you're a walking target. You're like a magnet to the others. I noticed you have no friends besides me. I know why and you know it too. I understand because I used to be a magnet as well."
As I said before, we both have our similarities and differences. A wolf in sheep's clothing is what Nagato said he was. That is how he described himself. I'll always remember that. I understood now. He's capable of anything.
"You're the type to satisfy others abandoning your desires," Nagato had told me. I'm not as self-aware as I thought.
Nagato had the idea of us being away from each other for the reason of not getting into trouble with the students. Being apart was for Nagato's sake. I was fine with it. We both understood it was for our safety.
The cafeteria incident replayed constantly in my head. I didn't notice it bothered me so much that I began slacking in my classes. My mother was the one to notice. She had heard about the exam that I had failed.
I was called to the principal's office. Mr. Namikaze has a liking to me. He knows I'm an intelligent student and personally knows my family.
He had me sit down and spoke to me, "I've called you here because your mother was concerned about you."
"No need to worry about me, Mr. Namikaze. I don't want to take away your time. You must be busy."
"It's all right. I don't mind speaking with you. It is my duty, after all, to check on my students and keep them safe. Now, is something bothering you?"
I wanted to tell him about the bullying but Nagato was right about teachers and staff not doing anything. Also, if I were to admit it, I know Sasuke would be suspected, and I don't want to ruin his first year. It's barely the first semester.
"No, sir. Nothing's bothering me. I've just been worried about my brother, that's all."
"Is there something going on with Sasuke?"
"No, I've been watching him, and he's been doing well."
I watched as principle Minato typed in his computer. To my suspicions, he had searched Sasuke's student profile. "Hmm, his grades are doing okay. He has A's, B's, and one C. He's been skipping his classes. That's not good."
"What?" I was concerned about him.
"He's absent in one class and present in another. If this keeps on going parents will eventually be notified. How about this, I trust you to motivate Sasuke to get his grades going, I believe you're the only one who can help him. What do you think? Will you be able to save Sasuke the trouble with your parents?"
He smiled at me. Mr Namikaze knows well. "Of course, sir"
He patted me on the shoulder and let me go.
As I walked out I saw Nagato. We both gave each other a grin.
I had to stay after school for my book club. My students were Deidara. He's not much of a bully, but I know he hates me and I think I know the reason, it's all due to the reason of an art project. Deidara's sculpture had been placed 2nd while my art project was put in 1st place. He is known for having a strong liking for fireworks. I had the super seniors again, Hidan and Juugo. Juugo could be nice sometimes, but he gets frustrated when he has trouble comprehending. I wonder how he befriended Sasuke. Hidan is the worst out of everyone I had. He complains and whines when working with him. He had threatened me before and shoved me in a trashcan when I refused to do his work for him. I always did his work but somehow he still ends up in my club. The rest of the students were new, and I hoped they were fine. Considering the familiar faces, I knew things wouldn't go so well. And I was right.
"What do you think Holden Caulfield's motives were? Anyone? Deidara?"
"I don't know! Don't ask me!"
"Hidan...?" I picked him because he has read this book for years now and thought maybe he would give me an answer for once.
"The fuck do I care!"
"Language Hidan"
After the end of the book club, I was followed by Hidan.
"Hey, emo! Do my homework for me!"
"I won't. You need to do it yourself this time."
He grabbed onto the collar of my vest. "You're doing it!"
"I apologize if I offended you. Doing your work isn't enough, considering you've been held back. You don't want to stay at this school any longer, so you must do your work yourself."
"You talk so damn slow! I'll just teach you something. I'll throw you in that trashcan again! Know your place, nerd!"
"Hidan!" Nagato shouts. It seems he was spying on me. I watched as Nagato approached us. "He's not doing your work. Let him go."
"Why should I? This nerd needs to know their place! C'mon! Help me throw him away!"
"You need to let him go. He's not worth the trouble"
"Nagato! You don't know this guy, we gotta teach him something!" Hidan laughed.
"I do. Now let him go, or you'll suffer the consequences."
I watched Nagato approach him slowly. I was afraid that he'd end up hurt.
"...All right." Hidan was unusually calm. He unclenched his fist from my vest collar. "I'm only doing this favor once since I'm only cool with you, but next time it won't be that easy," and with that, Hidan was gone.
"You okay?" Nagato asks.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"You need to start being sterner about this. Don't let them get their way with you."
"I tried negotiating this time, Nagato."
"Sorry, but you sucked. Less talking, more action."
"I had a hunch you were watching me"
“I’m doing you a favor, Itachi. That’s what friends are for” He smiled at me.