Gerimis

Sasuke smirked at the sight of Naruko bundled in blankets on her train bed, she was reading something which she took great care to hide from everyone. Sasuke saw her mouthing something from the book but couldn’t quite catch what it was. He wanted to activate his Mangekyo, but couldn’t. His eyes were also starting to itch as his medication had finished with their unscheduled stay at Iwa. Shizune had warned him to not to use his modified eyes unless there’s a dire circumstance warranting it. He continued watching Naruko who was so deep into reading her book that she hadn’t even noticed him eyeing her intensely for the past five minutes. Her position slightly backing him was also a cause as to why she remained ignorant of the dark eyed boy.

Sasuke sighed inwardly for this girl was being one tough nut to crack though she had shown him some positive feedbacks a few times. But, she had also acted icy on some moments, Sasuke wondered why. Maybe it was like how Sai had told Sasuke in front of Ino that one time, that women were complexer emotionally compared to men. Ino had then added, saying that women especially the normal human ones were much more complexer than any female CHUNIN and ROOT combined, and they all had laughed at that little commentary.

However this was no laughing matter despite how mundane and how relaxed this mission was. This was Sasuke’s first mission in dealing with humans without the involvement of force not that he was allowed to use his new modified eyes anyway. He thought that he was failing in some aspects at the persuading part he was still optimist at his mission’s target, he will bring this prospective Jinchuuriki without any force.

Sasuke closed his eyes when he saw Naruko looking at him, she must have felt his piercing gaze boring on her face moments ago. He continued breathing slowly like he was sleeping. Then he heard the shuffling of something moving and the pats of footsteps gently moving on the floor. A little while later it was silence, still Sasuke kept listening and then he heard a few more soft steps until he could feel a presence in front of him. There was something blocking the air conditioning from blowing onto his face and he knew who it was.

Opening his eyes Sasuke decided to scare the girl a little.

“Boo!”

“Aaaaahhhhh!”

And she fell slumped on the floor surprised.

Sasuke chuckled and proceeded to spring from his bed towards the fallen girl.

“It’s about time. You have been busy reading all night long.”

Naruko crept away from him, “Some people had other better things to do than pretending to be sleep and scaring people.”

Sasuke offered a hand to Naruko which was hesitantly taken. He lifted her to her feet and she began smoothing her clothes like she needed to be presentable in the middle of the night.

“What were you reading?” Sasuke asked.

“Notes. I just received email that the college entrance exam will open on September.”

“So that’s your future plan?”

“One of it. Now, where’s Ino and Sai?”

Sasuke didn’t press further about the exam thing, he had other pressing matter to worry her.

“Still at the tv room I assume, they wanted to watch the movie marathon about ancient spies.”

“The Leaf Nin Trilogy, ooh I’ve watched that,” Naruko said excitedly but then fell into her earlier serious mode. “Well I think that was enough reading for a night,” she said while scratching her head. I need to sleep now.”

“Ok, But can you accompany me to the cafe? I am hungry.”

“Why didn’t you go earlier?”

“Eating alone is no fun,” and that was not a lie. Sasuke found that he liked eating with his comrades, his friends and Naruko was one.

“Ok, it’s no use being friends if we let our friends eat alone right?” Naruko smiled and grabbed for her jacket. “Well, let’s go Mr Peeping Tom, ladies first.”

Sasuke let the shorter blonde led the way as he grabbed for his own leather jacket. He was relieved that the girl was thinking of him as friend, Finally, from her own lips.

Karin had been one of Sasuke fangirls since she was inducted into CHUNIN at fourteen. She guessed that if Sasuke ever went to a normal high school he would have a million fangirls by now, maybe even had some fan accounts on media social pages and several restraining orders. She knew he had several admirers among his same aged Chunin peers, plus a few  among the seniors known as Jounins. Rin and Shizune were fans but since they were older they did not pursue him like she did, if they did it would be paedophile. Karin snickered at her thoughts.

Unlike the CHUNIN who grew up within the military body, Karin was originally an outsider. Karin, Suigetsu were genetically modified humans who were only discovered when Orochimaru’s hidden quarter was brought down. The military when they discovered the trio, had wanted to bring them to their labs for their scientists to dissect but Danzo had swooped in the moment he knew of their existence. ROOT grabbed them and had appropriately contained them and now they were proudly part of CHUNIN, though the only ones on active outdoor duty were Karin and Suigetsu. Juugo did not trust himself enough to be in the outside world and so was assigned to work with the animal unit along with Kiba and Shino.

Karin raked a finger through her auburn hair as she grimaced at her bitter past. She had found similar minds among her follow CHUNIN especially among her same aged peers. She had found her family amongst them, but not without a year of intensive psychology treatment to unlearn her previous thoughts and actions regarding her worth and role in as a human and as a member of CHUNIN and society.

“What do you think about Sasuke?” Karin asked Sakura, who was busy shining her black combat boots.

“Instead of thinking about him, why don't you think about your obviously eternal foe as a love interest?”

Karin pouted and rolled her eyes. “I don't want to talk about what’s in my mind, I am interested in what is on your mind.”

“Do I need to be honest here, what do I get from it?” Sakura asked. Hinata then waltzed into the room and plunked on Sakura’s bed with a spoon in her closed mouth and a tub of ice cream on her hand. Tenten followed soon behind, pushing Karin aside to make place for herself. Temari walked in and leaned against the door.

“Temari, why are you here?” Sakura asked while smiling happily.

“Why are you keeping tabs on Sakura’s interest, or are you still interested in pursuing Sasuke?”

“Yes I am still interested in him, but I am not making progress after two years, though I have also interest in a certain white haired person. No, don't ask about Mr liquid. So I would like to know who might be his prospective bride be,” Karin grinned.

“It's a waste of time to hope. Just ask him yourself Karin, I did ask Neji myself. I don't know why but suddenly one fine week I had nothing against him and then another week I was suddenly acting silly around him. He asked me what was wrong with me and I denied it for another month and look at we, we aren't the most romantic couple but we are there now.”

“Lucky for you Neji isn't one asshole of a guy,” Hinata suddenly chimed in happily.

Sakura just rolled her eyes and said, “I'd rather you ask me how I feel about Itachi.”

Karin laughed out loud and leaned back heavily on Tenten who just pushed the auburn haired girl forward. “That one is far out of reach, like how Kimmimaro and Kakashi are.”

“What, you mean they don't look at the likes of us?” Tenten asked.

“They might not look at you because of Neji, well that's obvious but those elitists don't have time for girls.”

Sakura set her shiny boots aside and said, “That's why I look at them, they are far more entertaining to fantasize about rather than your own, brother in comrade.”

“You see Sasuke as your own brother?” Karin snapped at Sakura.

“He did look at me like a sister.”

“Did he say that?” Temari walked across the room and sat beside Hinata.

“I assumed,” Sakura said. “ It’s better if we left those childish aspiration aside and deal.with what we can have.

“How do you think about Shikamaru?” Karin suddenly asked Temari.

“More than a brother.” Temari smiled and added, “I'm here to ask one of you to take me around the base, I'll be here for the remainder of the year and next year.”

“You CHUNIN now?”

“Yes, but I am also overseeing Gaara’s transition here under my father’s order.”

“Ooh,” the other three girls answered in unison. They had heard of the JInchuuriki program but weren't permitted to ask until the unveilment which was expected soon.

“Now, have you gone to first base with-Shika?” Karin asked. She knew that's the only thing they can talk about now.

“Yes,” Temari said.

Tenten tried to look uninterested but her gleaming eyes betrayed her stony face.

“At my house when he was there with Gai and Danzo to propose to my father about the Jinchuuriki program.”

“Ahh,” Karin said and then turned to Sakura, “See, Temari is much more straightforward than you.”

Sakura ignored Karin and grabbed for her towel, ever since Ino was emancipated, she had to bear Karin’s presence along with her annoying questions. She wishes she could get a new roommate somehow though that was impossible. Then she remembered and turned around, “Who are you rooming with-Temari?”

“I am rooming in with Gaara. So you’re still left with no roommates?”

“Nope.”

Temari smiled and stood, “I better get to my brother now. We are having a virtual meeting with my father in an hour.”

Sakura waved a hand at Temari and turned to Karin, “My love life is non existent. If you want to know wait until Sasuke’s back or if you want ask Itachi if he would consider dating me.”

Karin gaped at Itachi’s name and fell on the bed like she was fainting. Tenten and Hinata moved on to other topics while Sakura proceeded to her bathroom.

Sakura hadn't thought about her feelings towards Sasuke at all, she just used Itachi as a distraction because like she had mentioned he was among the elite Jounins in CHUNINS. Untouchable, only to be seen from afar.

After twenty minutes of mundane topics filled with tea sipping and cake munching, Sasuke decided to be upfront.

“So what is it with you and Sora?” Sasuke decided to be straight to the point.

Naruko’s eyes bulges at the question, but decided that in the middle of the night honesty is much more appreciated.

“We don't have anything, friends maybe? I am not sure how close if a friend we are.”

“So I am your friend?” Sasuke asked. Cake finished, tea cup empty.

“Let me refill that for you.” Naruko quickly fetched his cup and headed to the coffee and tea counter for some more tea.

“You are mine, and I don't have a lot.” Sasuke’s voice sounded earnest.

“Hmmm. You, Ino and Sai might be the closest friend I have right now.” Her admission was accompanied by a slight blush in her cheeks.

Sasuke leaned back on his chair, “ thanks for the refill.”

“No problemo.”

“Tell me, apart from the cinema, where do you often spend your time.”

“After Iruka, my housemate and mentor left, I spend it mostly at home. Sometimes I spend with Ino and some colleague from the cinema.”

“So, you don't spend much time outside.”

“No, I am saving up for college.”

“Where are you thinking of going to?” Sasuke asked.

Naruko thought for a bit, “Maybe Konoha Community College. I heard that they have an excellent program for full time workers. I might be able to afford their fees.”

Sasuke had done a few surveys of his own. Community colleges were the most affordable and accredited with Fire Country board of education. It also had weekend classes and night classes for working adults. He could see Naruko excelling in her studies if she managed to get inside there.

“I am also a full time student and working too.” In his mind he added, In fact I am working right now.

“You don't look at all like a student.”

“Looks can be deceiving.”

“Why are you suddenly nice to me?” Naruko suddenly asked.

Sasuke frowned, “Aren’t we friends?”

“Yeah.” Naruko got tired of stating the obvious. She decided not to bring up Sasuke’s hot and cold treatment of her. She wasn’t going to meet him anytime soon anyway.  

Sasuke wiped some coffee stains on the table and said, “I saw you reading textbooks and doing some studying. I know that college life involved a lot of money and dedication, but by being a full time worker and studying part time you are stretching yourself thin. So, I have a proposal for you.”

Naruko looked suspiciously at Sasuke and then at her empty tea cup. She looked at a faraway point and frowned.

“Do you want a refill?” Sasuke asked this time.

“I’m fine,” she said.

Ignoring her, Sasuke took her cup and went to the coffee and tea counter to refill the girl’s drink. He returned to the table and the girl eyed him carefully.

“You and I are going to see a lot of each other after this if you accept my proposal.”

“Why would I want that?”

“Because I study there too, Sai and Ino were my seniors.”

Naruko paused and sipped on her drink. She wiped her mouth and added a sachet of sugar in her drink, Sasuke had refilled tea without sugar for her.

“Are the people there as nice as you?”

Sasuke smirked, and replied. “I am the worst there, so don’t worry.”

“Tell me what do I get if I go to whatever this place that you have?”

Sasuke smiled but deep down inside he felt silly for talking cryptically like that. He wasn't sure how Naruko would take to joining a secret military organization which was aiming to experiment on her. He felt guilty that maybe her dreams to enter college and study for whatever degree she wanted to pursue wouldn't materialize. He was sure that the CHUNIN wouldn’t leave her uneducated, but she would lead a regimented life. He wasn't sure how the Jinchuuriki program was run but he would bet all his savings which was almost a million now he assumed that it wasn't that different from his.

“First of all there is no entrance exam, all expenses paid, it’s a scholarship program based on your semester performance. The fee for first semester is free and the next depends on your performance. You even get allowances when you perform tasks which are age appropriate, like cleaning the living quarters, help in the kitchen and other daily and weekly tasks.”

“Sounds fair.” Naruko then blinked her sleepy eyes at Sasuke.

“You are sleepy already, I’ll tell you later.”

Yawning, Naruko stretched and blinked at Sasuke. “No, I’m good. So what are the courses available there?”

“There’s communication, technical stuff, sports science, martial arts and laboratory studies but that one is not recommended for you. You’ll burst your brain thinking about formula and science stuff. There’s also minor interests like visual art, performing arts and maybe accounting if you want the skill.

Naruko shot Sasuke a glare at that jab at her ability to comprehend certain subjects. But she was interested at the prospect of learning a combination of so many things available under one roof. Sasuke had implied that it was free, but she thought that it sounded too good to be true.

“Can I have a tour of some kind or is there a website to visit. What’s the name of this place?”

“The place’s name is CHUNIN, short for Children Unit Intelligence. It is a private organization where children from six months old to twenty one can realize the best of their ability.”

“Hmm, it isn’t a decision which I can make overnight,” Naruko groaned.

“I’ll give you a week before I go back there. I won’t be seeing you for three months after this.”

“Yeah whatever,” Naruko rolled her eyes.

Sasuke stood and picked up his cup and plate and placed them on a container for dirty dishes.

“You leaving?”

“Nope, not exactly. I am thinking of joining Ino and Sai.”

“Well, I’ll head back to bed.” Naruko said. There it is again, Sasuke being ignorant of her. Naruko thought he was not acting like a gentleman at all.

“Hmmm.”

Naruko was disappointed when Sasuke did not accompany her back to their sleeping coaches. She wondered if he would even be there for her if she entered this CHUNIN academy.

She lay on her bed thinking of reading another chapter on Additional Mathematics, but in five minutes she was down.

When Sasuke came back from the TV room, he was alone as Ino and Sai had fallen asleep at the comfortable bean bags they have over there. He smiled when he saw Naruko lying with the opened book on her chest. He gently removed the book and covered her with a blanket which was already covering her from the waist down. Afterwards he lay on his bed and quickly let himself fall asleep. They will arrive in another three hours and he wanted to be ready for when Naruko woke up.

Naruko woke up when the train entered Konoha, but it would be twenty minutes more before the train would arrive at Konoha Station. She quickly got up and made her way to the wash room to wash her face and gather her things. She noticed that Ino and Sai were still sleeping, they looked really good even when they were unconscious. Naruko sighed as she wiped her drool on her face towel.

When she finished washing her face, Naruko wiped her face while walking from the wash room to their quarters. Sasuke was already awake and smiled at her. Naruko stared confusingly at his sunny disposition, when he had been broody and only a little warm during the mornings at Iwa.

Naruko ignored and began gathering her text book, toiletries and towel into her bag. She was just about to grab for her phone and check on her emails or text messages when Sasuke handed her a brochure.

“Here’s all you need to know about CHUNIN.”

“Thank you.” she said and glanced at him. Sasuke smiled again. Naruko turned around and continuing grabbing for her phone. She thought about asking Ino and Sai later when Sasuke is not around. She did not feel like sharing her qualms with Sasuke yet. They were still new at this friendship thing and Sasuke would probably fire her worries down, especially when she would whine about leaving her current comfortable situation for something unknown.

Ino and Sai soon woke up and they all waited until they reach Konoha. Naruko had packed her stuff into her bag and all the souvenier in another carry bag. Sasuke had only a bag since he did not stock on souvenier as much as Ino and Sai. Ino and Sai even had some flower saplings with them which they will fetch later from the baggage carriage.

They all bundled into a single taxi and they sent Naruko to her house first. Naruko was suddenly apprehensive about being left alone. Earlier, she had declined Ino’s offer at bunking at her apartment as Ino knew that the trip might make Naruko averse at being alone again. They had been inseparable for almost a week and Naruko had liked it. But life must go on, so Naruko had intended to spend some time alone in the hopes of getting back to her regular tempo in Konoha. She had work tomorrow and Ino had mentioned that she and Sai had some work to do later, so she might as well be on her now.

Naruko was so deep in thought that she had not noticed that she was searching for her house keys at the front of the door with Sasuke standing beside her. She was poking the wrong key twice into the keyhole when Sasuke commented.

“Thinking of another holiday already?”

Surprised, Naruko looked at him and said, “Eh, what? Why are you here. Oh, yes.”

Naruko remembered vaguely that Ino had asked Sasuke to accompany her to the door but she wasn’t even aware that the boy had been following her from behing. She quickly checked her keys for the right one and opened the door. Sasuke helped haul Naruko’s beg inside her house but he didn’t enter.

“So, see you next time,” Naruko said awkwardly.

“Sure.” That was all Sasuke said.

Naruko had nothing at home, no food nor drink and Sasuke hadn’t forced his way into her house so she reckoned that it would be ok to not ask him if he wanted to come in. But before she could think further suddenly she felt Sasuke’s hand cupping her cheek for a moment and letting it go. Without any further word, he left her. Naruko was left breathless with that single act. She quickly closed her doors and throw herself onto her red sofa bed.

Naruko caressed her cheek where Sasuke had touched and grinned like crazy. She thought she might be fifty percent agreeing with the accepting the CHUNIN already, seeing Sasuke constantly was not such a bad idea.

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Author’s Note : I thought how sixteen years old can be so moody and emotional, and inconsistent since they are easily affected by the things beside her. Well, Naruko had a long way to mature anyway. Reviews, but please don’t kill me.å√