Chapter 3: The Dreams of Children Part I

Chapter 3: The Dreams of Children Part I

Hours later, the little celebration went off without a hitch. We may have been in the same academy class for, I don’t know how many years, but we seemed to barely know each other. Apparently, Shino wanted to be a teacher just like Iruka. It was one of the things that caught us off guard.

“Wait, really?” Ino said letting go of Sasuke. We sat at a large table that fit all ten of us in a circle. There was a wide assortment of food sitting in the center so we could pick and choose what we wanted. Five years of savings gone just like that. Sakura and Ino obviously sat on opposite sides of Sasuke, who continued to give me a dirty look that I thought he only reserved for Itachi. I think he just put me on his kill list.

“Yes… Is it that surprising?” Shino said, looking as if he sunk even deeper into his tall jacket.

“No. I think it’s really cool man.” Kiba said, swallowing his pork cutlet. I actually have dreams of my own. Isn’t that right, Akamaru.” There was a happy bark in response. Kiba sat next to Shino and Hinata while Akamaru hung about in his jacket.

I was surprised they even let dogs into the shop. Then again… I stared at Shino, who seemed to take the meat and stuff it into his jacket one second, and the bone would come out the next. Well, I guess if insects were allowed, so were dogs. Then a voice boomed next to me, filled with excitement as if she was drunk. They didn’t sell sake to children here, so she couldn’t have been. At least I hoped she wasn’t.

“We all have dreams Kiba. Shino told us his, now you tell us yours. Unless…” Sui paused to build suspense then a smile filled with mischief spread across her face. “You’re a scaredy-cat.”

“I’m no cat! I just think that shouting out your dreams without working towards them makes it pointless.” Kiba’s eyes darted around, bouncing to each of us as his face turned red.

“Ah, I get it. You want to be more bite than bark. I can respect that… Chicken.” Sui started clucking, making us laugh especially since no one expected the eye patch girl to be so childish. Even I was surprised by how she seemed to open up to everyone.

A bark came from Akamaru. “Not you too buddy… Fine.” Kiba wolfed down his water… that better be water! I can’t afford anything else! “I want to be Hokage, god damnit!” Kiba leaned back in his seat, defeated. I was sure he expected us to laugh at him as we did with Naruto, but surprisingly Hinata spoke up first.

“I… I think… I think it’s cool you want to be Hokage.” Hinata hadn’t said a word the entire time but hearing her speak up seemed to shock everyone. Even I didn’t have a comment to make. Sui had always told me that as the heir to their clan, Hinata was unsuited for the task. She was just too soft.

When Hinata noticed everyone went quiet, she started to panic until Akamaru jumped out of Kiba’s jacket and licked her.

“Thanks, Hinata. You’re all right.” Kiba said, the color returning to his face.

“Well, I guess I’m next.” Ino stood up. “Unless you want to go, Hinata.”

Hinata shook her head with a blush as she continued to pet Akamaru.

“I want to design clothing. Since ninja should be able to look deadly and stylish.” Ino struck a cute pose with a kunai twirling in her finger.

I looked at her and then at everyone else and took note of our styles. Considering we all wore some form of a jacket with shorts while she wore a two-piece blouse and skirt along with bandages to cover herself up. It was clear Ino was the only one who thought about her looks. Besides me, of course. She even had her forehead protector tied around her waist like a belt instead of the usual on your forehead style.

“And if that doesn’t work out, I can just stick to designing bouquets.” Ino sat back down and looked at Sasuke. All eyes were on him.

“We can just skip to Sakura.” I said, trying to save Sasuke. “Since this isn’t usually Sasuke’s thing.”

“I don’t need you to cover for me.” Sasuke looked at me with cold eyes. You could feel the tension in the air. I had a bad feeling, but Ino and Sakura continued to stare at Sasuke with hearts in their eyes. I decided to let it go. They needed to see him for a change.

Sasuke folded his hands together. “What I have is not a dream. Because I will make it a reality. I am going to restore my clan. And kill the one who destroyed it.”

The room grew quiet, and even Sakura, holding onto him, let go. It was an understatement to say he killed the mood, but… I couldn’t think of anything better to say.

“And wasting time here. Listening to supposed ninja talk about things that don’t matter. Will not help with that.” Sasuke jumped out of his seat, away from us. “Tch. I knew coming here was a waste of time.” And like that, he was gone.

“Wow, and I thought Yuki was a dick.” Kiba said with a laugh.

I stood up from my seat. “Sorry, but I have to go check up on him.” I threw Shikamaru my wallet. Who caught it even though he tried to look as if he wasn’t awake. “That should be enough. I’m counting on you Shikamaru.”

“Sigh… Sounds like a drag Yuki.”

“Yeah I know, but brothers. What can you do?” I said, trying to make light of the situation. “I’m sorry it ended this way, but I’d like you guys to know I had a great time. Maybe we should do this again sometime.” I didn’t wait to hear their responses before running out of the restaurant. Though I did hear Shikamaru say something about there not being enough money. Blame Chōji for that.

2

Outside of the restaurant, I stared up at the night sky, looking to the roofs of the building. I already knew where Sasuke would end up, so catching up to him would be easy. Except… Ino, Sakura, and Sui had all come out to join me.

“Why are you guys here? You can continue to have fun without us.” Besides Sui, they would only slow me down. I doubt they could even rooftop run, so having them tag along would be a waste of time.

“I want to apologize to Sasuke. It’s my fault for turning it into a game in the first place.” Sui looked at me, and all the cheeriness she had earlier was gone. Some first date. Maybe we really aren’t cut out for this.

“I know why you’re here. I was referring to the other two.” I glared at Sakura and Ino. Were they really that dense? There’s no way, right?

“We came to check on Sasuke.” Sakura spoke with such confidence that I almost felt sorry for her. It was even the first time I had ever seen Ino and Sakura agree on something as Ino nodded next to her.

“Check on Sasuke? Do you even know Sasuke?” I stared at them, and they looked at each other only to nod with a determined gaze.

“We know him enough to know he needs to be comforted.” Ino said, sharing Sakura’s confidence.

I walked past Sui, who tried to stop me with a simple monotone. “Don’t.”

I ignored her warning. I activated my Sharingan. The world slowed down. My bones chilled to the point I was sure if I spoke, I’d be able to see a cloud form. It didn’t even feel as if I was alive anymore. Their eyes widened.

“Is that the Sharingan…”

“Yes, it is. Since I was seven years old, I've had them ever since my entire clan died. So yes, you’re right; Sasuke does need some kind of comfort. He needs comfort knowing the monsters who did that aren’t alive. But you two can’t see that.”

I stared into their innocent eyes clouded by their fantasies of a perfect world. I could show them it: My memories and watch as that hopeful light faded. I could lose control again, but… what would be the point. I sighed, deciding it wasn’t worth it.

“Your eyes can barely see one foot in front of the other. Let alone Sasuke.” I started to turn away from them. I needed to grab ahold of myself, but I saw her movement. A quick step into a slap. That if it was any other time, I would have let it land, but we weren’t academy students anymore. We were ninja.

Ino’s hand moved in slow motion; afterimages of herself showed me everything. I simply grabbed her wrist and stared at her. “Really?”

“You know I didn’t think you could be any more of a jerk today.” Ino said with glistening eyes. I might have gotten through to her. I looked over at Sakura, who still seemed shocked but not exactly sad. She still didn’t get it.

I reached into my pocket and felt the four wired kunai. One for each of their legs. I let go of Ino, sweeping her off her feet with my leg. I flicked out the kunai watching as they clanged against each other, wrapping the wires around both Ino’s and Sakura’s legs. I pulled the wires wrapped around my fingers back, tightening the two together. Once the wires were tied, I cut them away from my hands with a kunai.

Sakura and Ino, now cocooned together, struggled to move as I backed away from them. I relaxed my eyes and smiled. “Sorry ladies, but I can’t have you trying to follow us. And don’t worry, once I’m gone, I’ll free you.”

“Wait! H-how did you do that!” Ino said, trying to pull herself away from Sakura’s feet. “We haven’t even learned how to do things like this yet.”

“Being a ninja is more than just what the academy teaches you.” I jumped onto one of the nearby roofs. “And Ino. I look forward to seeing what new outfits you come up with.” Staring down at them, I threw another wired kunai, flicking my hand up as it was about to pierce them. It sliced through the wires freeing them, and like that, I was gone.