[Naruto fanfic] Shino: No Love
Title: Shino: No Love
Author:
dame_batsie
Rating: G
Word count: 857
Summary: Shino reflects on why he's not popular.
Author's notes: I wrote this in January 2005, so some things may be outdated.
Shino: No Love
I, Aburame Shino, am one whom nobody notices. I like to keep a low profile. It was once said that it is better to be silent and appear a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. Seeing how idiotic Naruto is, I’m convinced it’s the best way.
It all started when I was 6. I was in the playground during recess, letting my bugs get some fresh air. This girl looked over in my direction and screamed. I screamed too, thinking there was a huge bird around me trying to eat my bugs. I looked all around, but saw no bird. The girl continued screaming. The teacher told me to keep my bugs hidden during school. I guess my bugs weren’t ready to interact with other people’s bugs. My dad told me that I should always keep a low profile because people wouldn’t like us.
However, I’m beginning to think that my profile is a little too low. I’m a terrific ninja, but people don’t see that. My team was one of the first to complete the survival part of the Chuunin Exam. But nobody noticed that.
I barely get any airtime on the show. I know that it’s supposed to focus on Naruto and his team, but even Kiba has had more appearances. During the Chuunin Exam finals, I don’t know what compelled me to follow Sasuke. I suppose I was itching to show off my skills. My battles usually took place in one episode, but other battles took longer. That’s probably why I have such minimal airtime. However, I don’t see that as a bad thing. It shows that I am a competent ninja who can take out his enemies swiftly and efficiently. But does anybody see this? No.
I’m also disappointed that people don’t know my name. I remember the first time my teammates and I met Kurenai. She looked at Hinata and said, “Ah, you must be Hyuuga Hinata.” She saw Kiba and Akamaru and said, “You’re Inuzuka Kiba and….um…Akamaru, right?” When she came to me, she had a puzzled look on her face and could not remember my name. If it was me, I would have done research on my students beforehand, but obviously, she didn’t.
Also, I don’t like being referred to as the “other teammate.” That was precisely what Hyuuga Neji did during the preliminaries. How dare he not know my name, especially since we’ve passed by each other numerous times at Hinata’s house! Oh well. My bugs tell me that he has issues. People with internal issues should either seek help or quit being a ninja. After all, no one wants to be around people with problems.
And there’s the Chuunin thing. It was completely unfair that Shikamaru got promoted and I didn’t. If Kankurou hadn’t forfeited, I would have easily become Chuunin. It’s his fault. His. I defeated him in the forest with skill and strategy (in one episode), but, as always, nobody noticed.
Later, my dad took me on a mission with him. He said he wanted me to gain experience, but I think he just felt sorry for me. That nobody saw me fight in the Chuunin exam finals. When I came back from the mission, I heard that not only was Shikamaru promoted, but also that he took Chouji, Neji, Naruto, AND Kiba on a mission. I shouldn’t have gone with my dad. Everyone was in the hospital because I wasn’t there. I could have defeated their enemies in one episode. Either the enemies were really strong, or the team was really weak. I’m inclined to think that it is the latter.
It’s also in the manga where I get the shaft. For instance, I am the only genin who did not receive his or her own cover. That girl from Neji’s team got a cover. How is she important? Even Akamaru received front-page attention. I will not tolerate this kind of blasphemy.
There must be a conspiracy against me. Take the popularity polls. I’ve failed to make the top 15 in the first two polls. But I finally got recognition in the next poll where I placed 12th. I was in the group picture that time. Standing near Uchiha Itachi and Neji, I have never felt so short in my life. But it was nice to be acknowledged. When the 4th poll results came out, I was utterly shocked. I fell to number 25. Even dead people beat me (Haku, Hayate, The Fourth Hokage)! So I told myself that I would train harder so I could place higher in the next poll and be in the group picture. The poll came out recently. I moved up only four spots. Again, I was beaten by Haku and Hayate. Why are they still popular?! Maybe I have to die to move up in the polls.
What do I, Aburame Shino, have to do to be recognized? After all, without me, there would be no shinobi. Literally. I put the ‘Shino’ in ‘Shinobi.’ That’s how important I ought to be. Still, no one seems to like me.
Maybe it’s the sunglasses…