Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Ephemera ❯ First Impression ( Chapter 1 )

 

 

The moment he opened his eyes, Uzumaki Naruto knew there was going to be trouble.

 

`Maybe I should just skip classes today…' he mused sleepily, not at all liking the strange feeling of impending doom. Unfortunately for him, the world had other plans.

 

“Naruto, wake up or you're gonna miss breakfast!” his younger cousin Konohamaru yelled from outside the door. He pounded on the door for a good 3 minutes before the blond finally got fed up.

 

“All right already! Keep your pants on I'm going. Jeez.”

 

“Well hurry it up, I'm dying of hunger out here!” came the reply.

 

Naruto got out of bed and wandered over to his dresser. `Hmm what to wear…' He was in the process of deciding which of his identical orange t-shirts would look better when he heard a crash and turned around to find an irate Konohamaru glaring at him from the doorway.

 

“For fuck's sake Naruto, I wanna eat already!” he whined.

 

“Fine, then go ahead without me. Make sure to save me a seat though.” Konohamaru gave an exasperated sigh and left without another word.

 

“Now then,” he asked the mirror when he had finally chosen a shirt, “Which pair of shorts make me look sexier?”

 

-

 

Ten minutes later found a fully-clothed (he had opted for the second orange shirt and a pair of navy blue shorts with a single white stripe on the left leg), fully alert, and completely starving Naruto on his way to the cafeteria for breakfast.

 

`Shit! I've gotta get my meds too.' he remembered in the entrance hall and turned towards the infirmary.

 

“Good morning Shizune! How is- OUCH!” the blond yelped in pain as a fist crashed down over his head.

 

“Not so loud brat!” his attacker screamed, causing herself to wince in pain.

 

“Damn Tsunade, what the hell did you hit me so hard for? And where's Shizune? I thought you never came in before you've had a chance to sleep it off.” he asked, referring to the older woman's obvious (and expected) hangover.

 

“Shizune's car broke down, so I had to come in early today.” the doctor answered, massaging her temples slowly.

 

“Oh. Well can I get my meds? I'm starving here and I ran out yesterday.”

 

“What? Oh yeah medicine…” She crossed the room and unlocked the cabinet where all the various drugs and medications used at the school were stored. “Clonezapam (1) right?”

 

“Yep.”

 

She tossed a bottle full of pills at the boy and locked the cabinet. The blond caught and opened the bottle, removing a single blue pill and popping it into his mouth without a moment's hesitation.

 

“You really should take those with water you know.” Tsunade informed him for what seemed to be the hundredth time. “Anyway, you know the drill. One pill every morning and come back for more in a month.”

 

“Right. Thanks Tsunade.” Naruto waved, dashing from the medical office towards the cafeteria. He was passing through the lobby again when he heard screams erupt from the door.

 

“Let me go you fucking bastards! I don't want to be here! I'll fucking kill you all un!”

 

Naruto turned to see another blond being restrained by two of the medical staff.

 

`Must be a new student.' he realized. Without another thought he passed through the double doors to the dining hall ignoring the newcomer's screams and Tsunade shouting at the orderlies to sedate him. After all, it was just business as usual.

 

-

 

“What took you so long Naruto?” Konohamaru asked when the blond plopped down beside him, complete with loaded food tray.

 

“New student.” Naruto mumbled before digging into his meal. Konohamaru watched in disgust and slight awe as the overstuffed plate disappeared in 5 minutes flat.

 

“Dude, that's seriously not normal.”

 

Naruto grinned at him sheepishly in between gulps of orange juice.

 

“Heh, well you're forgetting that I'm eating for two (2).” he replied offhandedly, failing to notice his cousin grow pale.

 

Suddenly, the bell signaling the start of classes rang, causing general panic, as usual, among those still in the dining hall.

 

“Shit! We're gonna have to run for it again `Maru!” Naruto cried, grabbing his bag and slinging it over his shoulder.

 

“Right behind ya boss!”

 

-

 

“You two are late! Again!” Mr. Iruka berated the boys when they finally arrived at his English class.

 

“But Iruka-sensei, we're only four minutes late this time! You're not gonna give us detention for that are you?” Naruto pleaded. He gave the man his best `wounded puppy' look for safe measure.

 

“Just take your seats.” the brunette sighed wearily, silently cursing Naruto's personality. No matter how hard the man tried, he just couldn't stay mad at the blond.

 

“Arigatou!” the cousins chorused and headed to their seats in the back row of the classroom.

 

“Nice one Naru.” a spiky-haired brunette complimented when the pair sat down. Said brunette happened to be one Inuzuka Kiba, Naruto's best friend and partner in crime.

 

“Heh, thanks. Iruka-sensei is such cake though.”

 

“Yeah.” Kiba agreed. “It's too bad Kurenai isn't more like him. I'd think she was hot if she wasn't so strict all the time.”

 

“Hey you three, stop talking and pay attention!” Iruka yelled from the front of the room, interrupting their little discussion. “As I was saying, we have a new student joining us this week.” He paused awkwardly before continuing. “He had a little trouble earlier, but he should be here sometime in the next few days. I expect you all to make him feel welcome when he arrives.”

 

The students all looked at each other knowingly; many of them having had a bit of “trouble” themselves at one point.

 

“I wonder what the newbie did.” Kiba snickered under his breath.

 

“Naruto saw it, ask him.” Konohamaru offered, rummaging through his bag for something.

 

Kiba turned and looked expectantly at his blond friend and was disappointed to find that Naruto was ignoring him in favor of watching a fly buzz around the room. When Iruka turned his back for a moment to write down the day's assignment, Kiba chucked his pen at Naruto's head, hitting him in the ear. He received an annoyed glare from the blond as a reward for his precision.

 

“What was that for you ass?”

 

“You were ignoring me idiot! I wanna know what the new kid did.”

 

“Oh, that. Well - hey how did you know I saw what happened?”

 

Kiba let out a groan at Naruto's thick-headedness sometimes and muttered something that sounded suspiciously like a “dumb blond” comment. “Just tell me already!”

 

“Alright fine, calm down. God, what is with everyone today? Yeah so anyway, I was talking to the cafeteria after getting my new meds and I saw them drag the kid in kicking and screaming. He was threatening to kill people, hitting the orderlies, trying to break free; the works.”

 

Kiba rolled his eyes. “Big surprise there. Was he worse than Uchiha?”

 

“Oh hell no. No one's ever gonna top that emo bastard.” Naruto shuddered at the mere mention of the day Sasuke had arrived at the school. Not only had the dark-haired boy threatened to kill everyone, but he had taken another student as hostage and attempted to escape. It had taken a well-placed kick to the groin, courtesy of Dr. Tsunade, to finally bring the deranged boy down. Now he was heavily medicated to suppress his homicidal urges, but that didn't stop him from treating all of the other students like trash. He had a particularly strong hatred of Kiba, a hatred which the brunette happily returned.

 

“I wish that fucking prick would live up to the stereotype and cut his wrists already!” Kiba said, sending a glare in said boy's direction for good measure.

 

“Eh, don't say things like that Kiba. I know he's a bastard and all, but it's not like he can really help it after what happened to his family. That'd fuck anyone up.”

 

“He's got a point.” Naruto agreed.

 

“Well he's still a prick!” Kiba shot back.

 

“Another point.

 

“So are you though Kiba.” Konohamaru counted. “When you want to be anyway.” he added as an afterthought.

 

“Ooooh he's got you there Kiba. Game, set, and match. Nice one `Maru.” He gave his cousin the thumbs up and snickered at the defeated Inuzuka. “Don't feel bad dog-boy, he did learn from the best after all.”

 

“Nah, this is all me today boss. Besides you aren't the best and we all know it.”

 

“Che…some apprentice you are. You're supposed to respect your teacher and all that.” Naruto pouted.

 

“I agree, it's just too bad you don't practice what you preach.” Iruka said calmly from his position behind the three boys.

 

“Sensei! How long have you been there?” Kiba asked, dreading the answer.

 

“Since I called on you a minute ago and noticed you three goofing off…again.” the teacher replied, still far too calm for the trio's liking.

 

“Um…”

 

“Kiba stay here, Konohamaru switch places with Shino, and Naruto move to that empty seat next to Sasuke.” the man ordered, already walking away and leaving no room for argument.

 

The cousins picked up their things and complied, resigning themselves to the overwhelming tyranny of a teacher in a classroom. Needless to say, the rest of the lesson found the three friends paying a lot more attention than they had previously.

 

-

 

“Man Sasuke is creepy to be around!” Naruto whined to his friends after the class was over. “He kept staring at me and inching closer when he thought I wasn't looking.”

 

“Maybe he likes you.” Konohamaru suggested offhand, stopping the blond cold in his tracks. Kiba burst into a fit of laughter a moment later.

 

“Hey, what's so funny about that? It's disgusting! Hello Kiba! Friend in need here, stuck in awkward situation, laughter not helping!” Naruto seethed.

 

“I'm ha sorry haha, but the look on your face was priceless!” Kiba apologized. He managed to keep a straight face for all of 10 seconds before erupting into another bout of raucous laughter at the blonde's expense.

 

“Oh fuck you Kiba!” Naruto yelled and stormed off towards his room.

 

“Hey wait boss; we've still got Art before we're done for the day!” Konohamaru called after him.

 

“Correction, the two of you have Art, I on the other hand am done for the day because I finished my project last Friday.”

 

“What!?” Kiba face-vaulted, all mirth gone. It was no secret among the trio that he despised the class and only managed to pass thanks to Naruto's help.

 

“You heard me. Ciao `Maru, have fun messing up a simple stick figure dog-breath!” He waved to the stunned brunette and disappeared around the corner.

 

“Damnit I'm never going to finish if he isn't there to help me!” Kiba groaned loudly, head in his hands. Konohamaru just sighed and dragged the older boy off to class.

 

-

 

`That's funny, I don't remember locking my door this morning.' Naruto thought, fishing the key out of his pocket. He opened the door and almost screamed; there, sound asleep on a newly delivered bed and surrounded by a pile of luggage, lay the new student he had seen earlier at breakfast.

 

Sighing, he closed the door and started to put away the things of his that had been moved to make space for his new roommate.

 

`Note to self; start trusting random, ominous warnings. Especially on Mondays.'

 

-

 

It was almost dinnertime when the new student finally started to stir.

 

“Finally waking up are we? Man, they must have really pumped you full of tranquilizers.” His words were not lost on the newcomer.

 

Quick as a flash the other blond leapt off his bed and started looking around warily. His one visible eye eventually came to rest on Naruto, who was sprawled across his bed reading a magazine. “Who the fuck are you and where the hell are we?” he ground out after a moment of awkward staring.

 

Naruto glanced up at the new boy, giving him a quick once-over. The other blond wore his bangs down low, to the point where the entire right side of his face was covered by them. The rest of his hair was gathered into a high ponytail that ran down his back. He wore a black shirt with a single red cloud emblazoned on the chest and pair of plain black jeans that were stained with many blotches of paint. `Something we have in common then.' Naruto noted appreciatively. He couldn't resist cracking a slight smile when the other boy started fidgeting under his appraising gaze. “Do you really wanna know? I mean, its pretty obvious what type of place this is, isn't it?”

 

“I don't know, just tell me!”

 

“Guess.”

 

“What? I'm not going to guess! Just fucking tell me or I'll hurt you shorty.”

 

“You're more than welcome to try newbie. You should know that fighting is part of the reason I'm here. I doubt you would win if we got serious.” He grinned evilly at his new roommate for dramatic effect and was pleased when the other boy sat back down on the bed.

 

“Fine, I'll play your little game. But only because it isn't worth my time to kick your ass. Is it some sort of hospital?”

 

“Heh, you keep telling yourself that buddy and no, this is not a hospital. Close though.” he added as an afterthought.

 

“A prison?”

 

“Nope. It can feel like one sometimes though.”

 

“Can you just fucking tell me already?!”

 

“Alright already, if it will stop you from yelling I'll tell you. Damn drama queen.” He raised a hand to his chin and a thoughtful expression crossed his face. “Hey, what's your name anyway?” he asked, putting the magazine down and sitting up.

 

“Deidara.”

 

“Well Deidara,” Naruto stood up and crossed the room, offering a hand to the other blond. “Welcome to Konoha Academy for Mentally Disturbed Boys. Also known as the nuthouse, the loony bin, Hell, and well you get my drift right?” he said, the bright smile on his face a mirror opposite of Deidara's.

 

“ No…Nonononononono. NO!” Deidara screamed, slapping Naruto's hand away and getting up. “I don't belong here! There's got to be some mistake, I didn't do anything wrong! I'm just an artist un!” He turned to glare at Naruto. “You! You show me the way out right now! I don't want to be here!” He grabbed Naruto's shirt and tried to pull the shorter boy towards the door impatiently.

 

Naruto stood his ground determinedly, rather enjoying the whole scene. He'd heard about situations like this from other students, but he'd never seen one for himself. `I wonder if I was like him when I first got here…' he thought, sympathy starting to get the better of him.

 

“Hey!” Deidara screamed, snapping Naruto back to reality. “You have to help me escape!

 

“There is no escape Deidara. Everyone and I mean everyone here has tried, myself included. All of the exits are electronically locked at all times unless there's an emergency. Normally the only way in and out is the main entrance and there's security there 24/7. And even if we did manage to sneak outside, there's no way we could get past the wall.”

 

During Naruto's explanation the desperate hope in Deidara's visible eye had faded slowly until he slumped down against the wall, trying to take in his new situation.

 

“It's not so bad here Deidara, really. You get a first-rate education and full medical coverage. And they have some good activities and stuff to keep everyone busy. There's a pool, a full gym, tennis courts, the works. Oh, and a huge cafeteria with tons of variety!” he concluded, as if good food fixed everything.

 

“I want to go home.” Deidara shuddered, dangerously close to tears.

 

“Well you can't. You'll just have to make the best of things here.” Naruto sighed, crouching in front of the other boy.

 

“I don't know anyone here. I want to go home…”

 

“Hey now, that's not true. You know me!” Naruto countered, suddenly overcome with an urge to make the other boy feel better.

 

“I don't even know your name.”

 

“Oh right, I forgot sorry.” Naruto chuckled embarrassedly, rubbing the back of his neck with one hand. “Well my name is Uzumaki Naruto, but most people just call me Naru. Or psycho. But mostly Naru.”

 

“Why do they call you psycho?” Deidara asked, looking up from his knees.

 

“Because I'm crazy of course!” Naruto chuckled happily. “But it's more fun that way.” he winked and offered his hand to the other blond

 

Deidara cracked a small smile at Naruto's cheerfulness and accepted the hand up. The two stood staring at each other once again when Naruto's stomach started rumbling loudly, startling both of them.

 

“Oh that's right, I haven't eaten since breakfast! Hey Deidara, you hungry? It's just about dinnertime and I for one, am starving.”

 

“I haven't eaten anything today. My parent's kind of just left me here and then the next thing I knew I was here talking to you.” Deidara answered sadly.

 

“Well don't worry we can fix that! You're going to love the food here, they literally have everything. Even ramen!”

 

“What's ramen? Deidara asked, a clueless expression written on his face.

 

Naruto gasped and took a step back, trembling all over. “What's…ramen?!? BLASPHEMY!” Without warning he grabbed Deidara's hand and started dragging the other boy out of the room and towards the cafeteria, babbling about deprived children and crimes against humanity.

 

Deidara for his part let Naruto drag him along, a small smile on his face. This boy was very friendly…perhaps he could trust him? He'd never really gotten along with other people before, but maybe this time would be different. `Well, it could be worse I guess…'

 

 

Clonezapam is a highly potent anticonvulsant, amnestic, and anxiolytic and is more commonly known as Klonopin. It can do a lot of things, but in Naruto's case it is used as an anti-anxiety drug and helps to balance him out. You won't find out what's wrong with Naruto for awhile, but it's pretty easy to figure out if you can find the foreshadowing.

 

Just keep this in mind for now…

 

 

Well there we go, that's the first chapter. A note on Deidara: he may seem OOC right now but just wait, we'll see his true nature soon enough. Hope you liked it and please review. And if you skipped the foreword, either go back and read it or don't bother reading future chapters; it contains key information to understanding this story