The Different One (Naruto Fan Fiction)

Chapter 26: Finally the Day

I don't know where I walked to, but when I woke up I was in a forest. The ground was several feet below me, telling me I was in a tree.

I slid out of the tree and fell to the ground with a loud thump.

I didn't say anything, just continued to lay there. The sky shone through the leaves of the tree and I couldn't help but think about what Lord Third had said.

"Other people, huh?" I muttered to myself. "Haku-chan lived for Zabuza-Sensei. He even gave his life for his. I should have got revenge for Sensei so he wouldn't have died. I guess I'm not doing a very good job at living."

I sat up with a jerk. "Wait a sec..." I counted my days of training and time off before gasping at my realization.

"Today's the Chunin Exams!" I stood up and ran towards the Hyuga grounds, then stopped in my tracks.

They wouldn't want me there. I better go to someone else's place...

I turned the other way and ran as quickly as I could. Who knew how much time I had before the final exam started. I stayed in a tree last night, so I probably looked some scary monster a kid might see in their nightmares.

I turned another corner and sighed with relief when I saw the run-down building.

I pushed open the door without bothering to greet the old woman at the desk and ran up several flights of stairs. I skid to a stop in front of his door and knocked on it frantically.

I felt a little anxious as I waited for him to open the door and when he finally did I got a whiff of ramen.

"Hibiki?" Naruto rubbed his eyes and looked up at me. "What're you doing here? And why are there twigs in your hair?"

"No time to explain. The last stage for the exams are today and I need to use your shower."

"The last stage..." He jerked and looked around frantically. "What time is it?!"

I shook my head. "I don't know! Just let me in, okay?" I pushed past him and made my way into his small apartment.

"Why don't you go to your house?"

"I don't think that's the best idea." I took off my swords and headbands, throwing them on his bed and walking towards his bathroom.

"And how do you even know where I live?!" I sighed and rubbed a hand down my face.

"You told me where you lived after the forest of death incident. You said I could come if I needed to. Thanks, by the way."

I opened the door to his bathroom and stepped in. Before closing the door, I looked out and smiled at him.

"You're a good friend. Reason five." I shut the door behind me and pulled off the rest of my clothes before hopping into the shower. Lord Hokage was right, people are my reason for living. Even if I want to leave, leaving would hurt my friends. I'll bear their burdens for them.

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It turns out that we still had an hour before the exams. Naruto got lucky since he probably would have been late if I hadn't woke him up. So instead of having to wear my dirty clothes from last night, we went shopping.

I bought a white short sleeve shirt that fit my figure and put a black crop-top on over it. I bought some regular black shorts then wrapped bandages up my thigh. I kept my gloves on so no one would see the small mark on my arm.

Tying my hooded cape tightly around my neck, I walked beside Naruto towards the arena the last stage was to be held at.

"Here we go." I said with a small sigh.