Seven Years and 364 days after the Kuuybi Attack and Naruto's Birth
Tum ta-tum ta-tum ta-tum ta-tum...
The child exhaled slowly, eyes lazily watching the clouds drift by.
Hmm...that one kind of looks like a ramen bowl.
His stomach grumbled, drawing an annoyed yip from the head lying there. "Sorry, Kiki. I guess I'm a bit hungry." The fox laid her head back down, and promptly fell back to sleep.
It was peaceful mornings like this that Nato loved. The heavy fog floating down from the mountains, the gentle breeze ruffling the leaves of ancient trees, the soft grass cool with dew. No chores to be done (yet), no nagging teachers until sunhigh-
Nato shot up, disturbing Kiki, his gaze focused on the sky overhead. The sun was just past its highest point.
Shoot.
"Come on, uua! We're late!" They ran for the forest, bare feet padding softly on the hard ground. Nato couldn't believe the time slipped by so quickly! It seemed like it was only a few minutes ago when he left with Kiki after finishing his morning chores. Had he fallen asleep again? He leapt over a log. "Zirq'caa Meira is going to kill me!"
Nato ran faster, the thought painted hauntingly in his mind. Then, the fox and the human reached the edges of the camp. The child hesitated, placing his hand on a tree beside him. He received a message.
"Bright Soul, tei narcuu cora, get your butt over here or I'll-"
He pulled his hand away, wincing.
Yup, I'm dead.
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With steps as quiet as humanly possible, Nato snuck up to the three-sided tent, and peered in carefully. Seeing his teacher's turned back, he ducked in quickly, taking a seat on the rug covered ground, ignoring the curious and amused glances from the Yaunkur outside.
He sat there, still and quiet, barely even breathing, trying his best to pay attention to the lesson and act natural. Last time he was late, it resulted in loads of extra schoolwork, and that was something Nato liked to avoid. If it were more work from one of his other lessons, say talbone training, he would be more than fine with it. However, an assignment from Zirq'caa Meira was rarely fun. It usually involved lots of writing, and even more sitting still.
"Don't think I didn't notice your late entrance, Bright Soul."
He froze, very aware of the sweat trickling down his forehead.
Zirq'caa Meira definitely isn't happy if she's pulling out the formal names.
Giving him a stern look, the young teacher frowned. "We'll talk about it after the lesson, so don't go making an early exit too, Nato."
"Ro, Zirq'caa."
The teacher went back to the review, gesturing to the large map on the floor as her circle of students leaned in closer to see. "Now as I was saying, the elemental continent is comprised of many different lands, countries, and nations, each ruled by a King and or a Queen. Their heir, who is typically their eldest son, becomes the next ruler of the Kingdom when they die, or step down. As you know, the land that we are currently in, the Land of Fire-"
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People of the Land
FanficThe Yaunkur were a strange people. They sang as they worked, danced rather than walked, and smiled more than the Sun Himself. But in them Hinata finally found the family she always wished for, along with her oldest friend, who looked far too much li...
