Game of Shadows by Adrian King1

CHAPTER 9

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto nor The Gamer. I own nothing, really.

Chapter 9

"Damnit!" My fist impacted with the scratched wall. Naruto's apartment laid in front of me looking like a tornado had passed right through it. There was nothing left unscathed. Everything was either broken or torn to pieces. Graffities covered the walls slandering my blond friend.

And I had to watch it. I had to watch the damage and my first friend going through the remains in search of something, anything that could be salvaged.

"It's safe!" The owner of the thrashed apartment shouted excited as he lifted something from in between some broken pieces of wood that could have been a shelf. It was a bowl of ramen. Even through my anger and sadness, that sight brought a tiny smile to my face.

"I know you like ramen, Naruto. But you should check your priorities." I commented in a tired voice. The ANBU remained silent just out the door.

"It's not that." Replied a sheepish Naruto as he held the bowl in an embrace. "It's… It's the bowl where you put the first batch of ramen you prepared for me." He explained looking at the trash covered floor and I could help but stare at him as a simple thought took place firmly inside my mind: 'Whoever did this better pray I don't find them.'

"Is there something else?" I asked trying to keep my voice as normal as was possible with an emotive lump on my throat. When he went back to searching, I turned towards the ANBU. "Is there a suspect for… this?" I asked evenly.

The ninja regarded me in silence for a long time, as if deciding if he should even bother answering my question. I understood. I was a nobody, a clanless orphan. The only thing distancing myself from a beggar was my place in the Academy as a student, but that made little difference, really.

"It's been investigated." He said after a while and I was just surprised he answered at all. Still, I nodded in acknowledgement. I prayed to every god I knew that the culprit would suffer.

"I'm done." I turned towards Naruto. He had the bowl and his toad-shaped wallet. That was it. I felt my blood boiling once more but I controlled myself. I needed to be here for Naruto now.

The ANBU placed his hands on our shoulders and I braced myself. In other circumstances, I would crack a joke or simply complain like the child I was about how awful side-along shunshin apparently was. It felt like being in a super powered rollercoaster. As it was though, I kept my mouth shut because I knew that if talked too much I would start ranting about the injustice of the stupid village.

A moment later, the three of us stood inside the Hokage office. There didn't seem to be anyone else inside, although I was sure there were ANBU guards somewhere. The village leader looked entirely unaffected by the events of the night and I was just about to tell him something about it when I froze. His eyes told me a different story. He was just as angry as I was. Good.

"Was that everything you could get, Naruto?" He asked, his tone was completely neutral. The blond boy beside me nodded weakly looking down. With a nod of his own, the Hokage dismissed the ANBU, who instantly vanished. "You could have left the bowl there. I'll provide you with new things in regards to that." He said turning back to us.

"It's important." Naruto said while shaking his head. When he didn't explain further before the elder man spoke again.

"I see." And after that silence permeated the room for long minutes before he proceeded: "I'll provide you with a new place to stay, Naruto. Is there anything you would like in your new home?" He asked and if he was of the same mind as me, he would provide just about anything that Naruto asked.