Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ This Little Game ❯ Chapter Two ( Chapter 2 )

Rating: PG13 for language and later contents.

Pairings: You'll see.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

"Blah" Speech

You will see some scenes taken from the manga. This is just a little warning so people don't freak on me

THIS LITTLE GAME

Chapter Two

Stepping into the small stall, the smell of ramen noodles invaded our senses. I loved ramen, as well as Christina, and when we saw the Ichiraku Ramen stall, we just couldn't resist. There appeared to be only two other customers in the little restaurant other than us. Three guesses who. The older of the two, seemingly the only one who had noticed our arrival, turned to us and smiled, giving us a small nod.

"Konban wa, you two staying out of trouble, I hope." He greeted, gesturing for us to take a seat. We grinned, sitting down beside each other on the two empty stools next to the orange clad blonde. I noticed the blonde stiffen slightly, though never turning from his bowl of ramen. It was understandable, the entire village hated him for something that wasn't his fault, and he probably expected us to insult him. Well, Christina might, but not because of what he harbored, simply because she found him too loud and stupid.

"Konban wa, Iruka-sensei, Naruto-kun." I said cheerfully, turning to the old man - never did catch his name - that ran the diner. Naruto practically dropped his chopsticks, even Iruka seemed surprised at the added suffix to the blonde's name. I ignored it, smiling at the chef. "Um, two chicken ramens, please."

"I want two beef ramens." Christina offered, beaming. She leaned back slightly so she could see Naruto and smirked. "Hey Blondie, I heard you were terrorizing the Hokage monuments."

I glanced at Naruto as well, smiling. "Yeah, heard it only took you like thirty minutes to get all four heads!"

"That's so cool dude, I wish I had been there to see it!" she cried, giving him the thumbs up. Naruto seemed to be somewhere between disbelief and sheer bliss. Iruka was smiling softly down at us, and I would have missed it, had he not spoken up.

"You two better not cause any more trouble, one Naruto is enough, but three…" he trailed off, shaking his head. His words held no real threat, he seemed too happy by the fact that someone was treating Naruto with something other than hate and criticism.

I shrugged, smiling. "Anyway, you better pass those finals, Naruto-kun. I heard you get put into three-man groups. I want all three of us to be in the same team! It'll be so much fun!" if possible, Naruto's smile seemed to grow. This was a real smile, not like all his other ones, this smile was the one he got whenever he talked about being Hokage.

Iruka frowned at that. "You better cross your fingers then, `cause the students are placed in groups in a way that balances out your different strengths."

"Oh well," Christina said, pulling her fresh bowl of ramen closer to her. "We can still hang out after missions."

"Yeah," I exclaimed, patting him on the back before turning to face my own steaming bowl of noodles. "I know you'll pass the exam! And even if we don't get placed in the same teams, we can still hang out!" I snapped my chopsticks apart, glancing at Christina for a second before grinning. "Ready, Chr-Yura?"

She smirked. "Muah! Prepare to meet your maker, Riku!" she cried, holding the chopsticks in one hand. "Ready… set…. GO!" that was all the warning anyone got before the two of us attacked our food, nearly inhaling the noodles and broth itself. The two bowls went by in less than a minute, although I was still hungry for more.

"Cool!" Naruto exclaimed, grinning at us. I smiled back, giving a content sigh.

"Hey Naruto-kun, wanna see who can finish ten bowls the fastest out of the three of us? My treat." I asked, already knowing the answer. I had never seen the blond give up the chance for free ramen.

"Oh no." I heard Iruka mumble, mostly to himself. He cleared his throat before Naruto could say anything, smiling apologetically to the blond. "Why don't you take a rain check Naruto? Besides, Yura, Riku, I don't want you two getting sick the day before the finals. And, I'll treat you all to ramen instead if you do pass. How does that sound?"

Naruto and Yura groaned, the two probably having been looking forward to the free meal, before nodding and mumbling a low, "Hai."

"Good, now come on. I'll walk you all home." Iruka said, causing both Yura and I to realize we had no idea where we were going to stay. I had to think of something quick. I'm pretty sure Iruka would find it a little more than strange that his two students had no idea where they lived.

I nodded stiffly, pulling out my wallet and paying for our meal, Iruka doing the same for himself and Naruto. and followed the Chunnin our into the street. I hadn't noticed it before, but it had already begun to get late, the sky becoming a tangy orange, giving the village a reddish hue.

"Come on, Iruka-sensei, we're not little kids. We can get home ourselves." Naruto whined, pouting at the dark haired man.

"That may be, but I know you three. And I want to make sure you get home without causing a disturbance." Iruka replied, smiling.

We stopped by Naruto's home first, which wasn't to far from the ramen bar itself, though that wasn't much of a surprise. He bid us a loud goodnight before skipping up the stairs and making his way to his apartment. Iruka then lead us down a few blocks, talking all the while of things that had been going on in the academy, or starting mundane conversations over senseless things, like the weather, and upcoming events. He final stopped before an average looking, one-story house, turning to us and smiling.

"I'll see you tomorrow girls." He said, about to walk off when a sudden thought hit him. "Oh, Riku, you're staying with the Himura's right? I heard your mother was out on a mission."

I blinked. "I… um…. guess." Iruka nodded, taking off in the direction of what was probably his own home.

"Uh…" Christina stared at the door, then finally raising her hand and knocking on the wooden door.

"What are you doing?!" I hissed, jerking her hand away from the door. I was about to pull her away, but it was too late, the door had already opened. I stared in shock at the woman who had opened the door, my jaw dropping as I realized who it was.

"Mom?!" Christina asked skeptically, staring at the almost exact replica of her mother. Except for the hitai-ate tied around as a bandana, with the Konoha symbol facing off to the right, and a Chunnin outfit, much like Iruka's, she looked identical to Christina's mother. She smiled down at us, stepping aside to let us in.

"Hey, you guys are late. Dinner's already getting cold." She said, walking towards what looked to be a kitchen. She turned back, her eyes landing on me, and smiled. "I got your clothes and other stuff I though you might need while you're staying with us." She explained, nodding to the small duffel bag that lay off to the right, beside the small couch. "If there's anything I forgot, just go home and get it, kiddo."

I was silent for a moment, staring at the bag before turning back to Christina's mother. "You know where I live?" I asked. It was a stupid question, but I really needed to know.

The woman blinked. "Well, I'm not that old. And seeing as though you've lived across the street from us all your life, it's kind of hard not to remember."

I laughed nervously, rubbing the back of my head with my hand in the same fashion Naruto did. "Yeah, I was just joking around."

"Right, well I'll be in my room if you freaks need me." She called affectionately, turning around and disappearing down the hall.

Christina's house looked almost the same as her real home, if not bigger, and a few additions here and there. There was a wall to the left that separated the small kitchen from the front door, leaving it a little cramped. Just across them was the family room where two ocher couches were situated around the old teak coffee table. There was a wide-screen TV near the hallway, which formed a sort of T shape; the left side leading to presumably Christina's room, since I had seen her mother head into the room just across from it. Everything looked the same, from the large collection of games and DVD's, and the two different games systems - PS2 and GC.

I sighed, breaking the silence. "I can't believe I have to stay with you."

Christina huffed, feigning hurt. "What's wrong with that?" she placed her hands on her hips, scowling. The effect was ruined when she broke out into a smile, scowling nonetheless. I crossed my arms over my chest smugly, glaring at her playfully.

"Who'd want to stay with you?" I asked sarcastically. She rolled her eyes and headed for the kitchen, making her way to the fridge. "Get me a soda, will ya." I asked, walking towards the nearest couch and crashing onto it torpidly.

"Get it yourself, you lazy moron!" I heard Christina call from the kitchen. I didn't have to think twice about it. Like hell was I gonna get up just to get a soda, I was comfortable.

I sighed again, closing my eyes and snuggling further into the cushions; just going to rest my eyes for a while.

z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z .z.z.z.z.z

Cool gray clouds loomed over the horizon, a foretaste of the upcoming rain. Frigid winds, and impetuous shocks of lightning, followed by the anticipated roar of thunder, resonated just beyond the sturdy glass of the classroom window. Arms crossed over the cool wood of the desk, head slung in ennuyé, forming a slouching position.

"This sucks ass!" came an acrimonious whisper to her right. A slight shifting of her head in her friends' direction to show she was listening, though never removing her steady brown eyes from the window.

"Yeah." Came her monotonous reply, as well as a small shrug of indifference. A diminutive smirk flitted across her lips at the other girls' irritated growl. Turning her full attention towards the red-head beside her she frowned, casting a brief glance towards the instructor speaking before the class. "What are we doing?"

The other girl blinked, then rolled her eyes, sighing dramatically. "Moron. I can't believe you're not paying attention."

She huffed, crossing her arms and leaning back in her chair. "To this snore `fest?!" she asked in an incredulous whisper. "Just tell me."

No response.

"Che, you don't know, do you?" she glowered in mock anger, smirking.

"Shut up." The red-head growled, glaring at her.

"Why don't you both shut up?"

Shocked, the quarreling duo snapped their heads forwards in the direction of the voice, yelping in surprise at the sight of their infuriated sensei, stumbling back and off their seats in an attempt to get away. Laughter erupted throughout the classroom as the two girls literally shrunk away from the man hovering over them.

"Since you two seem to think you know everything I have to teach, why don't you show the class the proper way to perform a Bunshin?" he inquired, though it was more or less a statement than an actual question.

"H-hai." They chorused, shuffling onto their feet and making their way towards the front of the class, before it hit them. Turning around simultaneously, they frowned. "Ano, Iruka-sensei, we don't know how to do a Bunshin."

One could actually see the vein on the mans' forehead pulsing in unison to the twitching eye; his face an enraged shade of red. "Then shut up and listen, you morons!!!!"

With a nervous laugh, the to trekked back to their seats, making faces towards their sniggering peers. Iruka walked back to the front of the classroom, clearing his throat to get everyone's attention, which surprisingly worked for once. "As I was saying, Bunshin's are some of the most basic of Jutsu's you'll learn. Only ten percent of your chakra is needed to perform this illusion. If you were listening," he gave a quick glare in the direction of the two girls. "you should know the correct hand seals needed for this genjutsu, because I won't be repeating myself. Find your partners and go out to the fields to practice. Go!" he shouted, settling himself down on his chair behind his desk, beginning his inevitable task of grading. Students filtered out of the room, murmuring with their friends.

Gulping, the red-head turned to her friend with a semi-panicked expression. "Um, Riku? Do you know… what to do?"

Said girl sighed, leaning back so that her head rested on the desk of the person behind her, grabbing her pencil, she jabbed it into the seemingly sleeping forms' arm. "Hey Shika, what are the hand seals for a Bunshin."

"Ugh… dog, horse." Came the muffled response of the lazy Nara. With a smirk, Riku gave him a small pat on the back and stood from her seat.

"Arigatou, Shika-kun." she called, giving the red-head the thumbs-up. "Come on Yura. Let's go."

Iruka chose that moment to look up from his paper, frowning at the girls. "Oh no you don't. If I let you too work together there's bound to be mayhem." He said, raising a hand to stop any arguments from the two. "No, Yura, you will be working with Uzamaki. Riku, you'll be with…" he sighed, snatching a board eraser and hurtling it towards the sleeping boy. "Nara. Go. Now."

Riku looked horrified. "But…but…Shikamaru's lazy, he won't do anything. This isn't fair!" she shouted, pointing an accusing finger at the oblivious boy.

"And why do I get stuck with -"

"No arguments! Now!"

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It was six o'clock in the morning. No, let me rephrase that. It was six o'clock in the morning, and I was awake. And if that wasn't bad enough, I had just learned that Christina's mother apparently thought that I was too young to drink coffee.

There was blood to be paid. Heads would roll!

But enough about that, let's get on to the real reason I'm even up at this godforsaken hour. Ah, yes. School. Well, no actually, I don't really know what it is, but for now I'll refer to it as such. Whoever in their fucked up mind reasoned that kids had to wake up at six o'clock in the fuckin' morning to go to school needs to die. No, that would be too easy! If I wasn't so damn tired right now, I'd think of something better - really! I would - but as it is, I'm a fuckin' zombie!

Then there's that weird dream from last night, actually, it didn't really seem like a dream, more a…memory. Well, whatever. I have other things to worry about. Like the test today…wait…yeah, today. What was it on again, oh yeah, Bunshin's.

Pause.

Bunshin's. Didn't my dream have something to do with Bunshin's? Never mind. Yawning, I trudged to my duffel bag, pulling out - coincidentally - the same outfit as yesterday, with another yawn, I walked back to the bathroom. I came back out, fully dressed and fully awake after having nearly fallen asleep in the shower stall, which was not at all comfortable. I stuck out my tongue at nothing in particular, my eyes trailing to Christina's - or Yura, maybe I should call her that instead - still sleeping form. Eye twitching slightly, I jabbed her none-too-gently in the ribs with my toe.

"Wake up, if I don't get to sleep, neither do you!" I snapped irritably, nudging her once more simply for my own sadistic amusement. She groaned, somnolently slapping my foot away. "Come on, you freak, we're gonna be late." I muttered exasperatedly, letting out a heavy sigh.

"Fo' what?" she mumbled back drowsily.

"School."

"Says who?"

"Yo mama."

A half-hearted glare was sent my way as Christina sat up, rubbing her eyes groggily. "Bitch." Was all she said, standing up and heading for her room. I rolled my eyes and shrugged slothfully, torpidly making my way to the kitchen to find any sort of drink with caffeine. A lot of caffeine.

All in all, it took at least forty-five minutes to get ready, wake up, and then another thirty minutes to get to the academy. We were late, yeah. But at least we got there. I slumped down on the empty seat beside Naruto absently, Christina situating herself in the other empty seat beside him, both of us oblivious to the stares we were receiving.

"Ohayo Naruto-kun." I mumbled incoherently, my head knocking against the desk. I closed my eyes, feeling the prickly sensation, proof of my lack of sleep, and the fact that I was definitely not a morning person.

"Oi Naruto-kun." Christina muttered, mimicking my previous actions.

"Ohayo!" Naruto called loudly, earning him a glare from both of us. He laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head. "Gomen ne." he said, a little quieter than before. I smiled softly, sticking my tongue out at him playfully. The sound of the sliding doors to the class room and the familiar energy alerted me to the fact that Iruka had entered the room, which was strange because I had no idea how, or even if it was possible to sense someone's `energy.' I opened a single eye, confirming the fact that it had been Iruka who'd just entered the room. He paused, glancing in our direction, a fleeting smile flickering across his lips. The students hushed down somewhat, enough for the Chunnin to speak.

"Ohayo minna. We will begin with the graduation test right away, once we're done, you are free to leave." He began, snatching his clipboard from his desk, flipping over a few pages before addressing the class once again. "Now, for your final exam, you must each generate a dopple ganger." He explained, slowly beginning his trek towards the door, all the while talking. "Wait here until you name is called, and then come next door."

I didn't miss the panicked expression that crossed the blondes' features. Sighing, I gave him a small pat on the shoulder and a reassuring smile, knowing full well there was nothing I could do to change the outcome of the upcoming event. "Don't worry so much, Naruto-kun. It'll be alright."

He gave a nervous chuckled, never turning to face either of us, burying his face in his hands. "Demo, I suck at creating Bunshin. It's my worst technique!" he grumbled dejectedly.

"Himura Yura."

Christina groaned, standing from her seat sluggishly and making her way out the classroom at a leisure pace. I sat quietly, idly watching the clock tick away, ignoring the conversations commencing about the room. Minutes passed by, before Christina finally stepped back into the room, grumbling.

"So?" I drawled lazily, catching her eye as she slumped back into her seat.

"I made three Bunshin, nut they came out semi-retarded." She replied, resting her head on her desk and closing her eyes, I barely caught sight of the metal plate peering out from behind her jacket, the hitai-ate tied around her neck.

"Hanasaki Riku."

I groaned. "Guess I'm up." Sighing, I walked out of the classroom to the room next door, vaguely realizing I was beginning to act like a certain Nara. Iruka and a silver-haired man sat in wait behind a plain desk, several hitai-ate's placed in neat row along its surface. Giving me a small nod after I had slid the door closed behind me, they motioned for me to step forward. I trudged over, sending Mizuki a weak glare, causing him to blink in confusion.

"Riku-san, you know what to do, ne?" Iruka muttered, now nearly more than half way done with the list of the twenty-seven students in his class, the man thoroughly exhausted and on the verge of a migraine. I nodded, yawning, absently performing the seals I remembered from my dream, converting thirty percent of my chakra to create three different clones, my hands moving on their own accord…

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Hands moving quickly to perform seals long since memorized, she converted ten percent of her chakra to create a single dopple ganger; now all she needed to do was practice on her chakra control, and she'd be able to pass next years finals with flying colors. A smirk came across her lips as the smoke cleared, revealing an exact replica of herself…

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A loud crack resonated throughout the room, and glancing on either side, I found three other versions of myself, identical in almost every way, if not for the few flaws in the facial appearance.

Handing me a dark blue headband, the Konoha Leaf symbol engraved into the metal plate, Iruka smiled.

"Congratulations. Pass."

Me: Well… that was pointless. Anyway, thanks to my only reviewer *sadly wipes tear* . About the whole dream thing, it's never happened to me, so I never thought I could happen. Oh well, I don't feel like changing it, and lets just say my person in ignorant, I mean, I seriously doubt many peoples know you can actually be in pain. But thanks for reviewing, it means a lot. Oh, and the Himura thing, I did ask Christina and she told me about lil' Kenshin. I don't personally watch the show, so I didn't know. Thanks though, it's good to know some people read my stories.

Yura: Yeah, but you haven't been working on your other stories, moron.

Me: I know that! I have an awesome idea for both stories, I just can't seem to put it into words, so until then, I'll entertain myself with this!!

Yura: *rolls eyes* Whatever…