Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Little Things In Life ❯ Explosive Alarm Clocks ( Chapter 11 )

Hey guys, okay okay, I know that this update might be a tad late, but…um…there was…an elephant! Yeah! An elephant crushed my computer, so I had to buy a new computer and fish my old hard drive out from between its tusks. Ahh, good times. Now, to start chapter eleven!

 

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On another brilliant morning in Konoha, the sun beat happily down upon its inhabitants, the birds were chirping happy melodies and the flowers were blooming…happily. A certain orange-clad ninja, however, lay face down on his bed, his window blinds blocking the impending gayness occurring outside. After the long journey home, the dispatch of 10 perverted criminals, and a rather unexpected offer of a date with Sakura, Naruto had been left completely burned out. His body heaved steadily up and down, nothing but the soft sound of his snoring to fill the room. That is why when Kakashi Hatake appeared at his window, the silver-haired man couldn't help but use a most unethical way to rouse his pupil; namely an explosive tag under his bed. Having returned safely to his perch on the window, Kakashi triggered the explosive. With a muffled, but nonetheless loud BOOM, a terrified, fully awake Naruto shot out of his bed.

 

“Wh-what's going on?!? The village is under attack!!! Quick, tell Granny Tsunade!!!” taking a minute to catch his breath, Naruto finally noticed his sensei sniggering on his window. Kakashi merely shrugged.

 

“Sorry Naruto, Sakura told me that you were a heavy sleeper.” Naruto's eye twitched, a vein bulging visibly in his forehead.

 

“NOT THAT HEAVY!!!” Kakashi merely chuckled at his student. If he had learned one thing having Naruto as his pupil, it was not to take his long-winded rants seriously. Turning on his heels, Kakashi motioned for Naruto to follow him. When all he received was a raised eyebrow, Kakashi added;

 

“You may have been gone awhile, but that doesn't mean you don't still have to train.” The Jonin didn't wait for his student's reply, leaping casually off the window ceil onto the busy street bellow. Naruto sighed before getting ready for his day of training. He really would have to get Kakashi back for this.

 

Following his sensei through the crowded streets of Konoha, Naruto breathed deeply. Not that he didn't like being in the hot, dry, hot, sunny, hot dessert, but it was good to be home. As he and Kakashi passed Ichiraku's, Naruto childishly tugged at his sensei's shirt. Turning back to face his student, the Jonin looked between the pouty look now plastered on Naruto's face and the noodle stand a few yards away.

 

“No.” he replied plainly, not even needing to hear what Naruto was about to ask. Naruto's expression darkened. Folding his arms, Naruto grumbled.

 

“You didn't even let me ask…” Kakashi simply shrugged, giving his blonde pupil and eye smile.

 

“Why wouldn't I just give you the answer when I already know what you were going to ask in the first place?” He retorted smugly.

 

“You woke me up with an explosiveand you won't buy me breakfast?” Kakashi shook his head, still eye smiling at his pupil. Kakashi turned back around to resume their walk, motioning for Naruto to follow. His feet stuck firmly in place, the blonde genin racked his brain for any bit of leverage he could use to sway his sensei's iron will. Finally, the inspiration came, and a devious smile dawned upon Naruto's features. “You know,” he began, the sadistic grin never leaving his whiskered face, “it would be a real shame if the ending of Ero-Sennin's new book just happened to slip out during training. After all, I can't really be responsible for my actions when I'm so weakened by hunger…” Naruto emphasized his last word by rubbing his stomach dramatically.

 

Now, however steadfast Kakashi was in his duties as a teacher; he was, above all else, a man of principles. And while he couldn't deny that the training of a new generation of leaf shinobi was indeed important, nothing trumped the genius of the Icha Icha saga. Slowing his current pace to a stop, the silver haired Jonin sighed. Well, at least this time I'll actually have a reason for being late to training. Kakashi, now resigned to his fate, began to walk grudgingly towards the infamous ramen stand.

 

“Let's go, you little blackmailing…” Kakashi grumbled under his breath. Naruto happily fell in tow behind his sensei. Nothing did taste quite as good as free ramen in the morning…or free ramen at any other time of the day, for that matter. As the two entered the stand, Teuchi and Ayame looked up from their tasks, only to see their long lost best customer.

 

“Naruto! You're back!” Ayame squealed happily, running out from behind the counter and locking the blonde in a friendly embrace. Naruto's face turned a tinge of pink, partially from embarrassment, and partially from lack of oxygen, a result of the perhaps too enthusiastic hug.

 

“I-it's… (gasp) nice to see you too, (pant) Ayame.” Naruto replied with much difficulty. The ramen girl finally released the blonde from her death grip as her father came to join her on the other side of the counter, a broad smile on his face.

 

“As you can tell, we missed you here, kid.” He greeted, patting the panting Naruto on the back. Naruto gave the two a big smile as he massaged his ribs.

 

“Thanks old man, I missed you guys too. And man did I miss your ramen!” the two chuckled as they returned to their posts behind the stand, grabbing the necessary ingredients.

 

“I'm glad to hear that,” Teuchi replied, placing raw noodles into a pot. “Tell you what; to celebrate your coming home, both your breakfasts are on the house today!” In the background, Kakashi silently thanked every god he could think of; paying for Naruto's so called “meals” was an expensive venture. As the two sat down, Ayame leaned over onto the counter, resting her elbows on the surface.

 

“So,” she began, staring intently at the blonde before her, “what exactly were you up to, Naruto Uzumaki?” Kakashi's visible eye focused on his pupil also; he hadn't heard the full story either. Looking between the two interested adults, Naruto sighed.

 

“Well, it all started one day after training…”

 

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Meanwhile, Sakura and Sasuke stood in wait for their teammate and teacher. While they had both come to expect their teacher's tardiness, they would never had expected Naruto to be late. Sakura paced worriedly back and forth, occasionally brushing a stray lock of pink hair from her face. Sasuke, with his back propped against a tree trunk, grunted at his `girlfriend's' foolish behavior.

 

“You're going to get wrinkles if you keep freaking out.” he chided, eyes closed. Sakura momentarily stopped her pacing to face her raven-haired teammate.

 

“Well excuse me for caring, Sasuke! Wrinkles sure as hell beat not caring about anything at all!” Sasuke simply turned away from her, folding his arms across his chest.

 

“Whatever, it's not like Kakashi isn't late every day.” Sakura's glare intensified at her boyfriend as she raised an accusatory finger at him.

 

“I'm not worried about Kakashi, smartass! I'm worried about Naruto!” at this, a small smirk crawled across the Uchiha's face.

 

“What's a matter, Sakura? You think Naruto's going to run away from you again?” no sooner had the words passed his lips, Sasuke raised his eyebrows in surprise as the pink haired Kunoichi grabbed him by the shirt collar and hoisted him into the air. He had to suppress a shudder from the killer look she was now directing at him.

 

“Don't you ever say that again, or I'll tear you a new one, got it?” though he knew he was still a considerable amount stronger than her, Sasuke figured it wise to cease his teasing for the time being. Grunting and looking away, he said nothing more. Sakura dropped him roughly back onto the ground still giving him her piercing glare. With a dismissive snort of her own, Sakura turned away from her so called boyfriend, and looked again towards town. Naruto wouldn't run away again, would he? Sakura shook her head violently, flushing the thought from her brain. No, he couldn't run away again, because she wouldn't let him. She leaned against a tree and absently brushed a strand of hair from her face. After all the years of abuse and neglect, Sakura knew that now was the time to start fixing her mistake and treat Naruto with the respect he deserved…speaking of respect, Sakura was on her last leg with a certain Uchiha who had been a little less than respectful, or bearable for that matter. Glancing backward, She saw Sasuke, still leaning on a tree, looking completely uninterested in everything around him. His girlfriend was a mere six feet away, and he was acting no different than if he were the only person on the planet. Strangely, Sakura felt no bitterness, no anger…no nothing.

Just sorry.

If Sasuke kept using people as tools instead of people Sakura thought, sooner or later people would just stop giving a damn about the Uchiha orphan. Sakura couldn't fathom living without any friends, especially those like Naruto…

 

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“And now, I'm back here, and I learned a lot of new jutsu!” the adults around him gave him approving glances, proud of his “initiative”. Naruto had chosen to leave out the actual premise of his abrupt departure from Konoha, due to its personal nature. Instead, he had chosen to tell them what he had told Tsunade when he had gotten back; that he had decided to go on a training expedition to the Hidden Sand Village. He had gotten the urge to add a dramatic confession from Sasuke professing his undying love for men, but decided against it; his story was believable enough as it was. Ayame leaned forward, stars in her eyes.

 

“Wow Naruto, you learned Sand jutsu like Gaara?! That's amazing!” Naruto rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, unused to so much praise.

 

“Aw it was nothing really…” Kakashi, who at some point had finished his meal without anyone noticing, set his chopsticks down next to his empty bowl and began to stand.

 

“Well I'm sure that Naruto has a lot more to tell us about his trip, but we've really got to get-”

 

“Hey Naruto, you're back!” Kakashi rolled his visible eye as Ino and Shikamaru burst into the ramen shop, making a B-line straight toward Naruto. Ino took an empty seat next to him while Shikamaru opted to stand between the two of them. “We were so worried about you Naruto!” Ino chided as Naruto turned to face her nervously.

 

“Oh, sorry Ino, I didn't mean to freak you guys out…” Naruto looked around the shop once or twice before asking. “Where's Choji? Doesn't he usually come to food places with you guys?” At this, Shikamaru's cheeks turned the slightest tinge of red.

 

“Yeah, well, Naruto…Choji isn't here because…” he was cut off as Ino wrapped herself around him, beaming.

 

“Because me and Shika here are on a date!” despite looking a bit annoyed at the use of Ino's pet name for him, Shikamaru nodded in agreement. For about 10 seconds, Naruto's expression was one of shock. Soon, however, his face quickly melted into a sinister grin.

“Women are troublesome, huh Shikamaru?” The shadow ninja crossed his arms in contempt.

 

“You're one to talk; you've got one of them all… MMPH!” Before he could finish, Ino slapped her hand over his mouth. For a genius, sometimes he could say some stupid things.

 

“Well look at the time, we've got to get going! We'll see you soon Naruto!” Ino hastily dragged her boyfriend out of the ramen stand, leaving Naruto somewhat confused. Scratching his head, Naruto looked after the two of them. For the first time in awhile, the Demon fox spoke up from within Naruto.

 

You humans are all so odd, you know that right? Naruto nodded. What on earth had Shikamaru been talking about? He didn't have a girlfriend…

On the other side of the bar, Kakashi saw what would no doubt develop into a full blown “lets solve the angsty love problem with a thought sequence” look on Naruto's face. Wanting nothing more than to finally get to training, Kakashi quickly formulated the only sure fire way to get Naruto off the dangerous path he was now on.

 

“You know Naruto,” he began, getting up from his seat. “I bet Sasuke would never expect you to have learned sand jutsu. Boy, he sure would be caught by surprise if you used it on him…” Kakashi eye smiled, Naruto's stool now empty. God that kid was easy. Kakashi waved goodbye to Teuchi and Ayame and began his walk towards the training grounds. He was sure that by walking there, Naruto and the rest of the team would give him crap for being later than usual, but hey, he had an image to uphold.

 

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A.N. well, that's chapter eleven. Sorry it's shorter that 10, but I just had to get it out. and look on the bright side, all the delicious ass kicking is jam packed in CHAPTER 12!!!! Again sorry for that hiatus, life and what not. Next chapter, CONFRONTATION with a side of VIOLENCE!