Chapter 7
Rei stirred from her slumber, her eyes fluttering open to the soft glow of dawn creeping in through her window. Her gaze landed on the clock, still intact on the desk. A small smile graced her lips as she glanced at the mischievous furball curled up next to her, her soft purring filling the silence of the room. Yuri, the usual suspect behind the destruction of her clock, was sleeping peacefully.
'Off to a good start, Rei,' she mused, gingerly extracting herself from the bed to avoid disturbing Yuri. She dressed in her usual outfit, pausing to examine her reflection in the mirror. 'Good thing I opted for short hair.'
Her fingers deftly styled her hair, brushing through the dark brown locks that she had inherited from her father. Her touch lingered on the solitary streak of white hair – a remnant of her mother's lineage. She thought of her mother and older sister, their wild, spiky white hair that mirrored the ferocity of the second Hokage. Her sister had always wished for more manageable hair, content with the color but yearning for calmness.
Rei shook off the memories, her gaze hardening as she reminded herself of the day's importance. 'I'm a ninja now. I must be ready for anything.' She planted a soft kiss on Yuri's head, receiving a small lick in return before heading out, locking the door behind her.
As she neared the academy, Naruto's familiar figure came into view. He was sitting there with his infectious grin, his energy palpable even from a distance. "Hey, Rei!" he greeted, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Wow, you're early. That's a first!"
Rei rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress her own grin. "Ah, shut it! This is only the beginning!" She retorted, sliding next to him on the bench. 'I won't always be late. Not anymore.'
The sound of Shikamaru's voice pulled her from her thoughts. "What are you doing here, Naruto?" he asked, his tone laced with confusion. "This isn't for dropouts. You can't be here unless you graduate."
Naruto's voice echoed through the room with an infectious excitement that could only be his own, "Just look at it, Shikamaru! This isn't just any headband, it's an official regulation one!" He gestured animatedly towards the metal plate embedded in his headband that rested against his forehead, his blue eyes sparkling with pride.
Rei sat in the corner, observing the scene with a gentle smile, her heart warmed by Naruto's fervor. Her gaze drifted, landing on Sasuke who was seated next to the window, his dark eyes reflecting the sunlight that filtered through. 'He always seems so far away, just like a cat, silent and mysterious,' she mused, a twinge of anxiety creeping in. 'I hope he doesn't mind me sitting here today...'
Sasuke, the dark-haired enigma, sat quietly, his gaze inadvertently falling on Rei. 'She has always been there, yet so far away,' he thought, his eyes narrowing slightly, 'I hope she doesn't try to engage in any unnecessary conversation today.' With that, he shifted his gaze back to the world outside the window, his mind lost in thoughts.
Rei's thoughts were interrupted by Sakura's voice, "Hey Rei!" she said, her voice as sweet as a cherry blossom. Rei turned, her eyebrows raised in curiosity. 'What could Sakura want?' she thought. Sakura, with her rosy cheeks and bright green eyes, was always a bundle of energy and her requests were often unpredictable.
Sakura's request turned out to be a plea for Rei's seat. "Please Rei, I want to sit next to Sasuke today. I'm sure Naruto wouldn't mind if you switch seats with him."
Before Rei could respond, Ino, another classmate, jumped in, "Back off, Sakura! I'm sitting next to Sasuke. Rei, switch with me!"
The pleas turned into a cacophony of voices, each girl wanting the coveted spot next to Sasuke. Rei sighed, her eyes filled with disappointment. 'Why can't they understand that being a ninja isn't about impressing boys, it's about making yourself stronger,' she thought, stealing a glance at Sasuke. He sat still, his eyes focused outside, yet Rei could tell he was uncomfortable.
Rei decided to spare Sasuke the torment, a small smile playing on her lips. 'I suppose I can show some mercy and stay put,' she thought, her heart empathizing with Sasuke's predicament.
Suddenly, a commotion at the front of the room drew Rei's attention. Naruto was standing up, his eyes locked with Sasuke's in an intense stare. Sakura was frantically trying to get Naruto to stop glaring at Sasuke, her voice a mix of frustration and desperation.
Rei couldn't help but chuckle at the ridiculous spectacle. Her laughter grew louder when Naruto, after being bumped by a classmate, stumbled towards Sasuke resulting in an accidental kiss. Tears of laughter streamed down her face as she pointed at the two boys, their faces red with embarrassment. "I wish I had a camera!" she exclaimed between fits of laughter.
The laughter was short-lived as the room filled with an ominous silence. The girls who had been clamoring for Sasuke's attention were now glaring daggers at Naruto. "Naruto, you're so dead," Sakura hissed, her fists clenched by her side.
Rei, seeing her friend in danger, stepped forward. Her eyes narrowed, a pink hue tinting her pupils. "Back off, all of you!" she snapped, her voice echoing through the silent room. She positioned herself protectively in front of Naruto, her fists clenched. "Or do you want to see what happens when I really get angry?" she threatened, her canines gleaming ominously.
The room fell silent, the girls taken aback by Rei's fierce protectiveness. Only Sasuke remained unfazed, his dark eyes meeting Rei's, a silent acknowledgement passing between them.
Naruto's thoughts raced, his heart pounding, 'Rei is genuinely terrifying when she's like this! I don't want to be on the receiving end of her wrath!' The girls, their faces pale with fear, retreated to their original seats, as Rei settled back next to Naruto, a triumphant smile on her face. 'Finally, some peace and quiet without the constant chatter of Sasuke's fangirls,' she thought, satisfaction coursing through her veins.
Moments later, Iruka Sensei entered the room, his presence casting a serious atmosphere. "Starting today, you are all officially Genin, first-level ninjas. The hardships you've faced so far are nothing compared to what lies ahead. To tackle this, you will be grouped into three or four-man squads, each led by a Jounin, an elite ninja," he announced, his voice steady and authoritative. The news of the squads sent a wave of anticipation through the room.
Ino piped up, her voice filled with curiosity and a hint of anxiety, "I wonder who will be in Sasuke's group." Sakura was equally curious, her heart pounding in her chest. 'I just have to be with Sasuke. Stay away, Ino!' Inner Sakura raged, her competitive spirit ignited.
Rei, on the other hand, was nervous. 'Who will I be grouped with? Naruto? Kiba? Hinata? Or maybe Shikamaru and Choji?' She thought, her mind running through the possibilities.
Sasuke and Naruto were equally anxious. Sasuke was dreading the prospect of being slowed down by a group, while Naruto was torn between wanting Sakura and Rei in his group, as long as it didn't include Sasuke.
Iruka Sensei began announcing the squads. Rei's heart pounded in her chest as she heard her name announced alongside Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke. 'I'm with Naruto and...Sasuke? Oh, this is going to be interesting,' she thought, a sarcastic smile creeping onto her face.
Sakura, on the other hand, was ecstatic to be in the same group as Sasuke. Ino, seething with jealousy, demanded to know how Sakura ended up in Sasuke's group. 'Victory! Love conquers all!' Inner Sakura celebrated, a triumphant grin on her face. 'But I need to keep an eye on Rei,' she added, her gaze shifting to Rei.
Naruto's excited voice filled the room, "Iruka Sensei, why do I have to be in the same group as Sasuke?" Iruka Sensei calmly explained the reasoning behind the grouping, further frustrating Naruto.
As lunchtime approached, Naruto and Rei decided to have lunch together, hoping to get to know Sakura better. However, Sakura brushed them off, leaving Rei and Naruto alone. Naruto also ran off to do something else leaving her alone.
Feeling dejected, Rei decided to join Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino for lunch. 'At least they are acting like a normal team,' she thought, a hint of bitterness in her heart. As she walked towards them, she couldn't help but hope that her team would eventually learn to work together.
Rei joined Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino on the tranquil rooftop, the panoramic view of the village providing a serene backdrop for their lunch. As they nestled into the quiet atmosphere, Rei broke the silence, her voice heavy with concern.
"I'm deeply worried about the dynamics of our team," she confessed, her words echoing her apprehension. "Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, and I... we're not meshing well together. If this rift continues, it could endanger us during missions."
Her friends listened attentively, their faces mirroring the gravity of the situation. Shikamaru, his gaze focused on the distant figure of Sasuke sitting alone in the building across them, remarked dryly, "I'm not surprised. You guys are a volatile mix."
Rei sighed, her heart heavy with worry. "I get along well with Naruto. We've always been close. But Sasuke..." she trailed off, her mind drifting back to their childhood. "We were friends when we were younger. But after the massacre of his clan, he pushed me away. I'm not sure he'll let anyone get close now."
She paused, her eyes clouding over with a mix of concern and frustration. "And Sakura... she's so consumed with her obsession for Sasuke that she won't consider anyone or anything else. It feels like we're all pulling in different directions."
The truth of her words hung in the air, a stark reminder of the challenges her team was facing. Suddenly, their attention was drawn to Naruto, who was attempting to ambush Sasuke through an open window. The resulting scuffle was audible even from their distance as the group watched “sasuke”exit the window afterwards.
Shikamaru chuckled, "What did Naruto expect? Sasuke isn't one to be easily ambushed."
"I need to check on Naruto," Rei announced, rising from her seat. With a swift goodbye to her friends, she headed towards the building where Sasuke was.
Upon entering, she found Sasuke tied up, a sight that elicited a surprised giggle from her. The Sasuke that had left was actually Naruto in disguise. "This is quite a twist," she mused, her lips curving into a smile.
Despite his embarrassment, Sasuke accepted Rei's help to cut him loose. They quickly set off to find Naruto, their mission serving as a forced but necessary bonding experience for the two distant friends.
The atmosphere was still as Sasuke Uchiha, his voice barely above a whisper, asked, "Hey...you up for a spar later?" His usually stern onyx eyes softened as he glanced at Rei, his question hanging in the air between them.
Rei, taken aback by his sudden invitation, blinked in surprise. "A little sparring session? Sounds like a good idea," she replied, her heart fluttering in her chest. 'Is this it? Is he finally reaching out?' she thought, a wave of excitement washing over her. She felt a thrill of happiness at the prospect of her old friend, the usually reserved Sasuke, wanting to engage in combat with her.
They ambled along in companionable silence, Sasuke's aloofness no longer a bother to Rei. Her mind was consumed with anticipation and a hint of worry about her friend Naruto's whereabouts. As a realization hit her, her eyes widened. 'Could Naruto have tied up Sasuke and morphed into him to get close to Sakura? That's a terrible way to win a girl over, Naruto! I'll have to set him straight!' With that, she broke into a sprint, leaving a bewildered Sasuke behind, staring at her retreating figure.
Meanwhile, Sakura Haruno was lost in her daydreams, sitting idly on a park bench.
"Sakura," said a low, enchanting voice, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was Sasuke, his voice a seductive whisper. "Your forehead...it's wide and alluring. It makes me want to...kiss it."
Sakura could hardly believe what she was hearing, her cheeks flushing a bright crimson. "Well, there's plenty of room up there," she managed to stammer out, her heart pounding in her chest.
Before she could dwell on the fantasy, reality came crashing back. She chided herself, "Grow up, Sakura. That's just a fairytale. Fairytales don't come true." However, just as she uttered those words, Sasuke's voice echoed in her ears, mirroring her fantasy. "Sakura, your forehead...it's wide and alluring."
Her heart skipped a beat as Sasuke appeared before her. 'Could it be? Is my fairytale becoming reality?' Sakura thought, her inner self cheering.
"Just kidding," Sasuke abruptly shattered the illusion, his tone flat. "That's the kind of silly thing Naruto would say." He sat down beside her, his eyes serious. "I want to ask you something. What do you think of Naruto and Rei?"
Sakura hesitated before finally speaking, her words laced with frustration. "Naruto is always meddling, trying to undermine my feelings. He doesn't understand me at all. He's just...annoying." As for Rei, Sakura found her habits and interests a bit strange, which added to her irritation.
As she vented her feelings, Sasuke watched her silently, his expression unreadable. Sakura then confessed her feelings to Sasuke, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. She leaned in closer to him, her heart pounding in anticipation.
But as she neared his lips, Sasuke abruptly stood up, clutching his stomach. "I...I'll be right back!" he stammered, before dashing towards the academy building.
Left alone, Sakura could only blink in surprise, her cheeks still tinged with a blush. "I didn't realize Sasuke was so shy," she murmured to herself.
In the academy bathroom, Naruto Uzumaki dropped his Sasuke disguise, sighing in relief. His plan to get close to Sakura by transforming into Sasuke had backfired horribly. 'I'm annoying. That's what she thinks of me,' he thought dejectedly. But then an idea hit him. 'If I make Sasuke sound obnoxious, she'll dislike him more than me,' he mused, a devilish grin spreading across his face.
Rei and Sasuke were in the middle of their search for Naruto when they stumbled upon Sakura. Rei, still processing Sakura's earlier harsh words about her and Naruto, was not prepared for this encounter.
"Sasuke, you're back!" Sakura exclaimed, her cheeks turning a rosy hue at the sight of him. Her eyes briefly landed on Rei, shooting her a glare filled with confusion and irritation as she wondered why Rei was accompanying Sasuke.
Turning her attention back to Sasuke, she flirtatiously teased, "Don't be so shy, you bad boy! Are you mentally prepared now? Because I am! I'm raring to go!" Her words were directed solely at Sasuke, completely ignoring Rei's presence.
Undeterred by Sakura's flirtation, Sasuke asked stoically, "Where's Naruto?"
Sakura huffed, annoyed by Sasuke's dismissal. "Oh, there you go changing the subject again," she grumbled. Seizing the opportunity to voice her grievances, she launched into a tirade about Naruto. "Naruto is always picking fights with you, Sasuke. You know why he's so annoying? It's because he wasn't raised right. He doesn't have parents to guide him, to teach him right from wrong. He's just a loose cannon, doing whatever comes to his mind."
She then turned her criticism towards Rei, "And Rei, she's always late, always getting dragged into whatever mess Naruto creates. If I were to behave like that, my parents would be furious. But of course, I don't behave like that. If you don't have parents to guide you, how would you know any better? He's selfish, he's a brat, and he's all alone."
Rei flinched at Sakura's words, her heart aching at the reminder of their shared pain – the absence of parents.
"Alone...isolated," Sasuke muttered, his voice barely audible.
"Huh?" Sakura blinked, caught off guard by Sasuke's interjection.
"It's not about your parents scolding you, Sakura," Sasuke retorted, his voice hardened with a cold edge. "You have no idea what it feels like to be alone."
Sakura stumbled back, taken aback by his sharp words. "Wh-why are you saying that?" she stammered, her eyes wide with surprise.
Sasuke fixed her with a piercing gaze, his face devoid of any emotion. "Because you're annoying," he stated icily.
Rei, despite the sting of Sakura's words, felt a strange sense of comfort. Sasuke, in his characteristic aloof manner, had stood up for her and Naruto. He understood their pain, having experienced a similar loss himself. It was a subtle act of solidarity, one that spoke volumes to Rei.
Elsewhere, Naruto Uzumaki had just emerged from the academy bathroom, his mischievous plan to impersonate Sasuke still fresh in his mind.
"That's a brilliant plan," he said to himself, a grin plastered across his face. His excitement was cut short as he sprinted into Sasuke. "Sasuke! How did you get here?! How did you get loose?!" Naruto's words came out in a rush, his eyes wide with surprise.
Before Sasuke could respond, a familiar voice chimed in, "I helped him out, Naruto." Naruto froze at the sound of Rei's voice, his face turning a shade paler.
"Why'd you transform into me, Naruto?" Sasuke asked, his tone flat and unamused.
"I thought it would be fun to test my moves on you!" Naruto quickly replied, trying to defuse the situation.
"Naruto, that wasn't nice!" Rei scolded, even though a part of her thought that Sasuke had had it coming.
In response, Naruto activated his Shadow Clone Jutsu again. But before he could do anything else, a sudden pain in his stomach stopped him in his tracks. Naruto and his clones raced back into the bathroom, each clone arguing about who should go first. The sight of this left Rei and Sasuke simply staring at the spectacle.
Against her better judgment, Rei burst out laughing. "Naruto!" she said between fits of laughter, clutching her stomach.
Sasuke simply rolled his eyes and muttered, "Loser." Yet, he couldn't help but steal a glance at Rei, her laughter infectious. He then quietly slipped away, leaving Rei alone.
Rei's laughter eventually subsided, replaced by a soft smile. 'He must've eaten something bad... Poor Naruto,' she thought. Deciding to wait for Naruto, she was soon rewarded by his dramatic exit from the bathroom.
"Rei, I'm scared! Am I gonna spend the rest of my life on the toilet?! Am I gonna die in there?!" Naruto wailed, his face pale.
Rei couldn't help but burst into laughter again. "Naruto, it's not that serious!" she managed to say between fits of laughter. "I've never heard of someone dying on the toilet!"
Naruto could only stare at her in disbelief, his dramatic predicament adding to Rei's amusement. "It's not funny, Rei!" he protested, but his words only fueled Rei's laughter further.