Enemies

.6

"For today's afternoon activity, you will all be randomly selected to commence a brawl."

The kids circled up together, leaving the center empty as that's where the brawling is going to be in. This was the day where there were two split emotions, one being excited, and the other anxious.

Naruto grasped onto Shikamaru's upper arm with one hand while the other was being bitten on by his teeth. He wasn't necessarily weak but if he gets his butt kicked in front of everyone, he will feel a new level of embarrassment.

"Naruto, your grip on me is too tight."

"I'm very nervous about this, let me use you as a stress ball."

Shikamaru glanced at him with one eyebrow raised. Naruto sighed out dejectedly, leaning against Shikamaru for support and wrapping his arms around his.

"Everyone is going to watch each other get beat up, I'm going to get humiliated! Almost everyone here is after my head!" Naruto cried out quietly, his legs tipping down lower until he was fully seated on the ground.

Shikamaru just watched as he does so, raising one of his hands out of his pocket and ruffled around Naruto's hair.

"Don't worry, if anything gets out of hand, Iruka-sensei is here. If it ends up getting too much then he'll definitely stop it. He's been your protector whenever he sees you in trouble."

At this point, Naruto was fully squatted down, now hugging onto Shikamaru's leg while sulking. Shikamaru let him as he continued on giving him comforting pats, his focus on listening to Iruka.

"First up, Aburame Shino and Yamanaka Ino."

"What a weird combo." Shikamaru mumbled, watching the two go inside the circle and standing face to face. Naruto nodded his head in agreement.

Ino and Shino nodded at each other in acknowledgment before shaking hands and stood in position. Iruka raised one arm up into the air, similar to a flag, glancing at the two before beginning it.

"Begin!" he shouted while flinging his raised arm downwards.

And it went on just like that. There wasn't necessarily a winner or loser as this was just a "friendly" fight, getting used to fighting others and learning different skills while in action.

Naruto's eyes followed along with each step and swing the fighters were throwing at each other, curious on how their clan taught them how to fight and use their techniques.

It's not like he's in a disadvantage, he believes that he's capable of handling a brawl for a while since he's been on active-training. Having the Hokage, alongside a Sannin being his trainers he knows that he's in good hands.

However, he's worried about something that could really hurt someone.

The more names Iruka called out, the more Naruto's heart drops. He took several deep breathes as he watched each of his classmates get pummeled down.

He tried distracting himself by thinking random, and unnecessary thoughts like how each person's hair flowed and how they swung at each other. Questioning why curse words, are considered bad words. If we learn and improve from our mistakes, then why are we so afraid to make mistakes? Why do we hit our hands together when we like something?

"Shikamaru."

"Hm?"

"If you're trying to fail and you succeed, did you fail or did you succeed?"

.         .        .

"Naruto..."

"Sorry."