Konoha Academy: Chapter 1
'Tis here!!! :D I finally got off my lazy arse and decided to write this, hehe.
I only have four more days until school starts, so I gotta bust out Chapter 1 and 2 of this fic, and two more chapters on my Wattpad.
Ugh, SO MUCH WORK! *sob sob*
Ah, nvm that-- let's get on with it, shall we?
Chapter 1, LET'S GOOOO!
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THE MOST (UN)INTERESTING MAN IN THE WORLD
As usual, Uzimaki Naruto was running late. He had barely wriggled into sime clothes that had been lef tin the corber of his room, before charging downstairs. Luckily, Iruka-san wasn't there to notice his ysual bad habit of being late, or else he'd surely get another lecture. Walking into the kitchen, Naurot picked up a banana, noticing the a not laying on the table, with money folded setting beside it. Picking up both items, he read the note to read its contents:
Naruto,
I had some business to take care of at the shop, so I can't see you off. Hopefully you're up on time, but if you're reading this past eight thirty, then YOU ARE RUNNING LATE.
Use the money for cab and train fare; call a cab as soon as you're done reading this. Make sure to get to the train on time. Use the remainder of the money for food-- NO candy or junk, ACTUAL FOOD.
Have a good time at the school. Do your best in your studies, eat properly, and NO causing trouble. I'll see you soon; the year will be up before you know it.
--Iruka
Smirking, Naruto stuffed the note in his pocket as he went pulled out his cell phone to call for a cab. Surely he thought the note would contain a page long lecture about keeping up good appearances, being respectful to his peers, and whatever else Iruka-san could spare. Funny how yesterday he had gotten a lecture on his "lazy behavior" in packing his suitcase. Iruka-san rambled with irratation as he folded up his everyday clothes and uniform into the suitcase, as Naruto grudgingly watched.
"But I don't know why it should even matter," said Naruto in an offhand way. "I don't even wanna go to that stupid boarding school, anyway. It's a waste of time--" He was interrupted by a sharp smack upside his head.
"Idiot, don't say those things so lightly!" Iruka-san barked. "Do you know how much that tuition costs? I had to use the shop for a loan. Even then I couldn't pay the full amount for your year--"
"It's not like I asked you to!" Naruto retorted. "That place isn't somewhere I wanna go. It's bad enough at that rat hole up the street, but a boarding school? It's full of nothing but posh assholes who brag about their mansions and how many islands their dads have while getting their rocks off in the school stairwell!"
"Seriously, how can you act so ungrateful? You're incomprehensible!"
"Who cares what you think I am? I don't want to go!"
"Ugh, for the love of--!" Sighing, Iruka-san said in a calmer but still upset voice, "This school will do you a lot of good, so I need you to be compliant." Of course, it wasn't in Naruto's nature to simply go along with whatever someone said. Still fuming, he snapped,
"What's so good about Konoha Academy? It'll be no different from that high school, only this time I can't go home..." Folding his arms across his chest and glaring at the ground, he mumbled, "I cause you so much trouble, right? Is that why you wanna be rid of me?" Iruka-san, seeing the dejected look that was displayed on the headstrong boy's face, let go some of his irritation immediately. All in all, Naruto was still a vulnerable kid who made himself tough or the class clown to shield all that hurt. It reminded Iruka-san of himself.
"No, that's no it. I want what's best for you, Naruto, and you can't get that here in the city. You've been in so many fights. You're always here, up in your room on the fire escape, taking care of those plants. It's like they're your only friends. I want you to be able to get along with people, have friends. I want you to have that good experience." Iruka-san finished his speech as he tucked away the last of Naruto's things in the suitcase. Naruto said nothing still, but his look softened considerably.
"I get it," he muttered after a while. "I'll go. But-- it's only because you used those flowery words on me!" As much as Naruto hated to admit, he was nervous of the idea of being so far away from home. Not scared, however, for he was never scared. He felt an odd feeling in the pit of his stomach as the cab pulled up a little after nine. He had to be at the train station before ten, since the next wouldn't come until after three. As the cab cruised through the non-busy smaller streets to avoid the morning traffic, Naruto took a good look at the city scape, the sidewalks just teeming with people. Funny how not too long before, he was on those sidewalks, running around with his not-very-much friends. That night, he came home so late, which angered his guardian. After a while of staring, he thought: maybe a fresh start was good; he'd go to a place where no one would know him. He wouldn't have two strikes against him as soon as he entered a classroom. He could probably even make some decent friends.
"Just think positive," he told himself as the cab pulled in front of the station.
What's the worst that could happen?
...
Platform six was where the train heading to Konoha would be, going westbound. Large amounts of people crowded tye platform, waiting to board. As Naruto tried to move through the hoarde, he glanced around, looking for other people around his age with luggage such as him. When the train doors opened, Naruto rushed into one of the cars, squeezing through the gradient of people beginning to board the train. Most pf the compartments were filled with rowdy people, so he went searching until he found a compartment with only one person inside, staring out the window. He looked roughly the same age as Naruto, and had a large duffle bag at his feet. Could he maybe go to Konoha Academy, too? Naruto thought.
As soon as he opened the sliding glass door, the person said, "If you're one of those hippie idiots that's gonna make a bunch of noise, then buzz off."
"Uh, no; I'm a student going to Konoha, so..." The guy turned his head to glance at him, giving him a neutral stare. He had his scruffy, unkempt hair in a ponytail, and he wore a graphic t-shirt.
"Well, whaddaya know? It's not everyday you see a city kid going to Konoha Academy." He stretched his arms and legs, sighing, "Man, when is this train taking off? Such a drag just sitting here..." Naruto awkwardly stood at the threshold of the compartment as the guy turned his attention back to the window.
"So it's cool if I sit here?" he asked.
"Yeah, do what you want..." Closing the glass door behind him, Naruto sat across from the nonchalant stranger, pushing his suitcase beneath the seat. They sat in silence for a long while, as the train finally blew its whistle and took off.
"I'm Uzimaki Naruto," he said after the silence began to bore him.
"Nara Shikamaru," the guy answered flatly. Another moment passes without either speaking.
"So, Nara-kun, what year are you in?"
"Second year."
"Ah, so same then..." Yet another brief silence. "How'd you get into Konoha Academy? It's a buttload in tuition. Work-study?"
"Academic scholarship."
"How is it there?"
"It's alright."
"And how about the students and teachers?"
"Also fine."
"...do you think you could say more than two words?"
"Absolutely not." Another stretch of quiet, as the security comes around to check both of their tickets.
"Ne, Nara-kun?" Sighing, Shikamaru turns his attention to Naruto, answering,
"Okay, what?"
"You don't seem like the social type."
"Aren't you observant..."
"Hey, look, you said more than two words!" exclaimed Naruto. Shikamaru could only stare at him in disbelief. Honestly, he never felt so baffled by a naïve, oblivious fool.
"Okay, I'll bite: what is it that you want from me?" Thinking about it, what exactly did Naruto want from that guy? If anything, Shikamaru's non-caring attitude should piss him off, yet Naruto could tell Shikamaru was way more than the unresponsive burnouts at his school who wouldn't bat an eye to anything. He seemed like a cool, laid back, but still usually serious person.
"I dunno," he said after a while. "I guess... well, I'm new, and I wanna know some people going in. I had no friends at me old school, since I hated everyone. I wanna try making some friends here." Shikamaru cocked an eyebrow at Naruto's casual talk. Honestly, they just met, barely talked, and right then he wanted to be friends?
"What makes you think I'm interested in that?" Shikamaru asked incredulously. "Let's say we do know more of each other; what makes you think we'll be compatible for a friendship?" He watched as the blue-eyed boy cocked his head to one side, thinking. Such a dog's personality, he couldn't help but think.
"Who knows?" Naruto answered. "But who's to say we have to be 'compatible'? All we have to do is tolerate each other; we're not dating. Unless you're into that kind of thing, but then I wouldn't judge so..." Shikamaru couldn't help but shoot a look thay practically said "what the fuck?"; who was this kid, saying such embarrassing things?
"Well, we're already failing in that department," he struggled to say through his annoyance.
"Haha, you're saying you can't tolerate me?"
"It really isn't a laughing matter." Standing up, Shikamaru opened the glass door and trudged down the corridor with Naruto at his heels.
"Where are you going?" Naruto asked as he walked beside his taciturn peer.
"Snack bar," he simply said.
"Wah, really? Awesome~! This really is a luxury train..." As Naruto rambled on and on while they got their snacks and headed back to the compartment, Shikamaru thought how this excitable goofball would be the death of him. More than anything, he had a strong feeling that no matter how much he'll write that kid off, he'll still come back to plague Shikamaru's solace.
"Hey, is it okay if I call you Shikamaru-kun?"
"...do what you want."
Slowly but surely, this Uzimaki is tearing down the walls of solitude.
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Ne, thoughts? Opinions?
Did I capture the personality of the characters right?
Come on, I need feedback!
Chapter 2 will be up friday.
'Til next time! :D