School of elites

Chapter 21

Naruto's POV

Waking up first in the morning, I had to prepare myself for the morning class. Swinging by the cafeteria to have something light, when I had a brief look at my old wrist watch, I noticed I don't have much time left. Taking the packet of sandwich, I rushed to the classroom. When the teacher was looking away, I gobbled up the hold sandwich.

Kakashi took a break until the trip is over and that's why I didn't see him much after the exam. Of course I couldn't bargain for more because he's tutoring me for free and he's doing a great job at it. The class was soon over and looking down at the notebook I bought, I saw it was now full with the notes I took from teacher's valuable lecture.

After the arts class was over, Hinata suggested,"Naruto, would you like to go near the forest?" I tell her ,"But that's forbidden." I got a small flashback of the day when I and Sasuke went to the small cottage in the middle of the forest and was told to keep it a secret. Of course I didn't dare to slip a word.

She says,"We won't go inside it passing the barricades. I heard there is a small lake." I muttered so slowly that couldn't be hearable,"Bullshit." I didn't have any excuses left to refuse her. Then I decided to just go along with her.

One our way, Hinata kept being the talker. She says curiously,"I heard there's a house inside." I flinched. Masking my reaction as fast as I could I asked,"Who told you that?" Hinata answered simple mindedly,"Brother Neji. He didn't tell me directly. I heard him talking long ago. I wonder how it looks like."

I caught a glimpse of her dreaming about actually going through the forest to see that cottage. It's like a regular small house nothing else. But what's the point of building it in a place like that? And only the council has the right to know about it and use it to the fullest. That's such a waste, nothing else.

After passing by the lake inside the walls of the school, we went near the forest. The barricade isn't something that is hard to avoid. Anyone can just go inside it. But nobody wishes or dares to go inside because of the rumours of dangerous animals residing inside it. I didn't have to face something like that thanks to God.

Hinata asks closing his eyes and doing a weird posture,"Can you hear the sound of water?" Naruto responds,"No.." Hinata looked annoyed. She says,"How can you not? I bet that's a waterfall." I trailed off,"It's not as you are thinking..." Hinata says with a visible scowl on her face,"You are talking as if you explored the whole forest." I pursed my lips immediately. I really did that with that infamous president.

Then we heard sound of the the leaves as if some kind of animal is walking around right here. We both took a step back subconsciously. Hinata tugged on my shirt bringing herself behind me as if I'm going to be used as a shield. I bet I can run faster than her, or not?

Hinata whispers,"What's that Naruto?" I also whispered back,"I don't know." She says,"We should head back Naruto. I guess there is no lake here." I replied,"Took you long to realise that." Before we could turn our heels, we hear a husky but cheerful voice. Hello, my elite students." My heart was about to jump out of my throat and now beating crazily.

But the man is familiar. The man who was at the sight of the horse riding, the master. Hinata takes a deep breath and then sighs. She says,"Ohh this is Mr. Jiraiya." Jiraiya chuckles enjoying the scared look of the two. He says,"Did you think I am the monster they say that they saw in here?"

I replied,"Almost thought like that." Jiraiya says laughing out loud,"No worries. I'm just here collect something." Hinata asks,"What is it sensei?" Jiraiya answered,"Nothing that can interest you." Then the clip clop noise also starts to become clearer. Before I and Hinata can be anymore scared, Jiraiya assured us,"Ohh that's Lucky, my new hoarse."

"Ohh my, it's eyes are beautiful." Hinata says as she pats it's head. But the horse shakes it's head vigorously. Jiraiya says chuckling,"My horse is isn't fond of touch of others." Then he whispers bringing his face near us,"And he is hard to tame." Hinata says smiling nervously,"Pretty much understandable."

Then Jiraiya comes back to his senses. He asks,"And students, why are you near this forest? Isn't it prohibited?" I gulp out of nervousness. But Hinata answers for me,"We just were sight seeing, wasn't intending to trespass." Jiraiya says casually,"I'm not that kind of teacher to always scold you or tell you not to do this or that. Actually this forest has no blood thirsty monster, whatever animal reside inside it, are harmless. But still I suggest you to not go there. I'll get going." Saying that he gets pass to us with his horse. Hinata mumbles,"Such a nice man." I nod.

"Naruto, so we have no reason to not go inside, right?" Hinata suggests. But I refuse this time telling her,"No, I think we should head back." Hinata whines,"But why?" Naruto says,"It doesn't really seem interesting to me." Without listening to her reasonings, I turn to the other way. Eventually Hinata followed me too.

My usual routine is to come to the library in the evening and going back after having dinner in the cafeteria. This time this place is always silent because most of the students tend to stay in their room at this hour to self study or do other things. But the smell of books inspires me to study more and helps to relax. But I didn't know that I would have to meet Sasuke who was actually waiting for me at my regular seat.

"You are here?" I asked subconsciously. Sasuke didn't look surprised and his poker face never fails to bother me. Sasuke whose arms are folded is sitting on the chair with his legs resting on the table. This is rude and disrespecting the rules that should be followed in a place like library. This is no less than a sanctuary.

I request him,"Could you please sit properly?" He raises his eyebrow but didn't even move from his place. I sigh. I know I'm talking to a brick wall. I ask him again,"Why are you here?" Sasuke answers this time,"I do have a reason this time. I don't like how much you are involving yourself in my life." A frown appears on my face hearing that statement. I ask him,"What does that mean?"

Sasuke says,"I know you are not that oblivious." I speak,"Please say directly what's inside your mind. I refuse to waste time to hear your bullshits." Sasuke gets up and I take a step back with that. He heads toward me with such speed that I didn't even have enough time to make any move. He grabs me by my collar pinning me against one of the bookshelves. He says gritting his teeth,"All of you have something against me, because I gave you a reason to hold grudges against me. But teaming up with my brother, I can't tolerate such behaviour."

I ask him,"Who gave you the idea that I'm doing that?" Sasuke says coldly,"I know everything. This whole place actually belongs to me. Nothing can move out of place without my permission." I cringed at that statement. Sasuke asks,"You think this is a joke? Do you want to see a glimpse of my power?"

I'm trying to hold my tongue here while he's giving me death stare. I don't remember teaming up with his brother, where did he hear this from? I speak politely,"Could you please explain me about whatever you heard?" He lets go of me. Sasuke says,"How poor you are that you don't have money to go to the tour our school is arranging?"

Not giving me the time to say anything, he says,"For some money, you are taking offers from my brother. How cheap." I protest,"No I didn't!" Sasuke raises his voice,"I know! But you will, eventually." I say confidently,"No, I would never do that." Sasuke speaks,"If you actually thought about working with him, it would be like selling you soul to the devil." I mumble,"Aren't you the same?" Sasuke answers,"You saw who I am."

I take a deep breath. This is enough humiliating. But I tell him,"I assure you that I won't involve myself with him. I won't even stoop so low. And the big reason is, both of you don't interest me. I just want to finish studying peacefully." A smirk appears on his face. He asks,"Is that so?" I stand still confidently in front of him.

He says,"That's good. Well I put your name on the list of students who will be going on this tour." I ended up shouting,"What! I don't have money, where do you think I'll get money from!" Sasuke says with that prideful smirk of him,"You don't need to think about that. You shouldn't miss the chance to witness interesting things." I kept looking at his face, which has that devilish smile on. That interesting thing won't be interesting for us, I know. Something like this happened before, like a deja vu.