Naruto: Dreams Unraveled

Up Close and Personal

Later that night, after training with Kisuka all day and a boring night at the hospital, I came home to hear about Naruto's training exhibition with Konohamaru... Boy, I was going to get an earful from the Hokage later. But knowing that Konohamaru just might have learned what it meant to take the road to becoming Hokage, probably meant it was a good thing. Naruto was a good influence, just probably not the best role model... Was there even a difference between the two?

    I had just eaten the last of the beef skewers, which I had cooked up, before Naruto continued, "So are you ready for tomorrow?! We get put into our teams! And I'll be one step closer to becoming Hokage!" All I could do was smile. He was really excited now that he would have a little more chance to prove himself worthy to the world around him. "What happens if we're not on the same team?" I asked out of curiosity.

    In all reality I had run a request by the Hokage to keep Naruto and I on the same team, seeing as that we're, "one in the same" and, "almost helpless without the other" and, "all each other has". Needless to say, he agreed, knowing it was probably best if Naruto was beside me at all times (for now). That and I was probably best at containing the Nine-tails, if it should make an appearance.

    At this I could tell Naruto's eyes got watery, "No... They have to put us on the same team... We're like the broth and noodles of ramen... You can't have one without the other; otherwise it wouldn't even be ramen!" At that comment I had busted out laughing. Only Naruto would make a simile like that. Upon my laugher I could sense Naruto smile just a little bit. It was hard to get me going into all out joyous laughter. He and Shika were usually the only two that could do so... I could laugh joyously if I could see Uchiha get blown up by my paper bomb acts but I could not see. I did get a kick out of it though.

"What's so funny?" Naruto chuckled, unable to suppress his happiness. "Is ramen all you ever think about?" I giggled. "I don't think about ramen all the time!" He protested, light heartedly of course. I just laughed. "Even if we don't end up on the same team, we'll still be together... always. And we'll still make our dreams a reality," Naruto pledged. I had eased my laughing to seriousness with a smile. "Yeah."

    After we washed the dishes, we got ready for bed and fell asleep, only to find that morning wasn't too far away. Luckily for me, Naruto had woken himself up and had gotten ready. I got ready soon after, as Naruto made breakfast... which would consist of ramen and milk for him and an apple and water for me. Once out of the shower and all ready to go, Naruto noticed we were going to be late. So I had to eat breakfast on the go. But something about Naruto's breath seemed... sour? I really hoped my nose was wrong.

    Once at the academy Naruto went on to class as I went to find Iruka. I needed to thank him for being there for Naruto the other day. Luckily, he wasn't too hard to find as he was talking to the new sensei, who was taking Mizuki's job. Iruka turned to notice me, "Oh, hey there, Holota. Is something wrong?" I just smiled, "No, sensei, I just wanted to thank you for being there for Naruto the other night. It meant a lot to him. He really looks up to you, ya know." He replied in a cheerful voice back, "Of course. Naruto may be a knucklehead, but I'd just about do anything for him and the rest of my students. You should be proud of him, Holota." I just nodded, "I am. I'll see you in class, sensei." And with that I turned around, walked out of the classroom, went across the hall, and into our classroom.

    When I walked in I could feel the excitement of taking the next step in our ninja journey. Naruto had already chosen a seat and was so excited that he could hardly contain his joy. "Hey, Naruto," It was Shika, who sounded lazy as ever, "What are you doing here? Only those who passed are supposed to be here." He wasn't being rude, and he surely wasn't being observant. "Can't you see the head band?" Naruto chuckled. Before Shika could reply with his shock, I heard a voice I didn't want to hear this early in the morning, "Hey, will you let me through?" It was Sakura.