Vision of Truth I: Cat and Fox (Naruto)

Tricky Fox

Chapter 4: Tricky Fox

I was eight-years-old again, answering the door to find my perky classmate inviting me to hang out at the park with her and her friends. Before I could tell her I would love to join them, my dad said "Katsumi is very busy" and slammed the door in her face.

"But I want to play!" I complained.

"You have training to do," my dad snapped.

I followed him as he trudged through the house. "I'm always training. I never get to play with my friends."

"Good. They will not be your friends for long, remember. Eventually, you will have to leave them behind."

"But I-"

"It is not good for a ninja to become too attached to others. You do not belong to yourself, Katsumi. You exist for the good of the village. You must be willing to cut all ties that do not lead to your goal."

"No!" I shouted. "That can't be right!"

My father turned around, and to my horror, his face had contorted to that of a monster's. "You will be a ninja." He grew larger and larger as he moved closer to me. "You will obey. You will-"

I awoke with a gasp. Dreams like that came to me at least once a week since my arrival in the ninja world. I just wanted to forget my past, but it seemed my mind had nothing else to occupy it. I pushed the memories away as I got up and got ready for the day.

It was was my first day in my new class, the last level at the academy. Part of me was glad it would all soon be over with, but the other part was not super excited about becoming a ninja. Still, it was not like I had anything better to do with my life. Survival was my only option.

The room was crowded when I arrived. Naruto shouted my name and waved his arms, but I ignored him and, instead, started for the front of the room, where I handed the teacher my transfer slip. To my great annoyance, he wanted me to explain to everyone who I was and where I was from. At least it would stave off future questions.

I waited until the students had quieted down and all eyes were on me. "Hi, I'm the new student," I said. "My name is Katsumi Nishioko. I came here from another world that doesn't have ninjas through a portal because my family is cursed by a jutsu." 

The kids stared at me blankly. "Thank you, Katsumi," said the teacher (I think he said his name was Iruka). "Please take a seat."

Of course, the only empty seat was in the back directly to the right of Naruto. "You never told me you came from another world," he whispered loudly as soon as I sat down.

"I don't owe you anything," I said.

"How can the world not  have any ninjas?"

"That's none of your concern. Now be quiet!"

Naruto did not keep quiet, however. He continued to pester me with questions as I got out my sketchbook to draw, which helped me to focus in class. Eventually, his questions migrated from the portal to my drawings. After refusing to show him the cat I drew, I quickly sketched a scene in annoyance: a crude picture of a cat attacking a stick figure. I tilted the sketchbook to show him.

"Hey!" Naruto exclaimed. "Is that supposed to be me?"

He was immediately reprimanded by Iruka, and I smirked. Maybe that would keep him off my back. I turned to another page and resumed my casual drawing. Almost unconsciously, I drew the cat and fox I had been recently preoccupied with.

"Wow, that's really good."

I jumped at the voice right behind me. Somehow I had not noticed Naruto scoot his chair closer to me so he could peer over my shoulder at the picture.