Surviving Konoha High

Chapter 4

It was a Monday.

My first day at Konoha High.

After freshening up, changing my bandages, and throwing on a black button-up and pants, I made my way downstairs to the kitchen where a wave of nausea hit me.

Deciding against breakfast, I left to walk to school after texting Jiraiya, who I assumed was tired after fussing over my injuries last night and scolding me about spatial awareness.

The walk to school was calm and the area was beautiful. I may have not noticed it last night -between getting lost and robbed- but I couldn't wait to draw and take pictures of the place. Since I never had any friends when we traveled it had become a hobby of mine, to draw and take pictures of places that would occupy my mind instead of my thoughts.

After walking for about 15 minutes I arrived. The school looked amazing and I could tell I already stood out.

The front entrance was filled with SUV's and cars that just scream rich. Almost everyone my age wore business clothing or fashionable casual wear.

Even though I was uncomfortable with how much I stood out, I couldn't help standing there gaping like an idiot and being mesmerized by the huge modern building that was practically covered with plants. I also noticed that the school wasn't too far away from the mall where I met void eyes. A small part of me secretly hoped we'd both get along if we were in the same school.

"Naruto?", I heard a familiar voice behind me. Swiftly turning around I was met by the one and only-

"Kakashi!!" I practically shouted as my face lit up.

"Woah, what a surprise I haven't seen you since you were...", he trailed off and I assumed he didn't want to bring up the times before my parent's death.

"You're all grown up now aren't you, you look just like your father now. Minato would be so proud of you.", Kakashi shot me a grin and chuckled as he ruffled my hair as he used to when I was younger.

After that, he formally introduced himself to me as the Vice-principal, which I found hard to believe. I mean there was no way the perverted Kakashi I knew was now vice-principal.

Vice or not, he let me miss my first lesson to take me on a tour around the campus and explain the school rules and events, etc. We also caught up quite a bit since we hadn't seen each other for so long. It was quite refreshing to have a conversation with someone other than Jiraiya.

Once the tour was done, Kakashi showed me to my locker and gave me my school timetable. The bell rang indicating the start of my second lesson and we both parted ways.

He left and I started putting my books in my locker and reciting my rules to myself inside my head. Mentally hyping myself up as I did so.

'Don't go to the spotlight'

'Don't talk back'

'Don't st-

"I must be seeing things today"

I heard yet another familiar voice. But it couldn't be him. He couldn't have possibly-

"Mini Yellow flash of the leaf"

I whipped my head towards the voice and standing there was Shikamaru Nara. A huge toothy grin spread across my face as I stared at my long lost friend.

Unable to contain my happiness I ran over to him and leaped into his arms engulfing him in a bone-crushing hug. Which I later regretted as my wound reopened. I winced but still continued to pester him.

"Shikamaru!!!!" I said with much delight.

"Long time no see huh?" he replied while laughing after we pulled away from the hug. A huge grin was plastered on his face.

The whole corridor was practically staring at us now and my face went red with embarrassment from the scene I had just created.

Shikamaru didn't seem to care though. He swang his arm over my good shoulder and brought his face closer to take a look at my timetable in my hands.

"Great we have most of our lessons together," he said as he led me back to my locker to get everything I needed.

I quietly told him about my injury and he opted to miss his second lesson to take me to the nurse. The whole way we just talked about dumb stuff we did when we were kids. The air was free as we reminisced about our childhood. I had so many questions that I wanted to ask him but Shikamaru had a different one in mind.

"Naruto, do you still have your necklace?"

"Of courseeee Shikamaru, what do you take me for?", I punched his shoulder jokingly. In reality, I was quite happy he asked about them. They always remind me of the history we shared together.

When we met as kids it was in Kirigakure, the first town me and Jiraiya moved to after the massacre of Uzushiogakure, my hometown.

Shikamaru was learning stuff about his dad's company on a 3-month business trip. We became friends because he was the only person in my middle school that would talk to me. Everyone including the teachers would usually ignore me.

However, Shikamaru and I became practically inseparable in that short time and we would always be seen together. He'd beat me in chess and board games while I'd obliterate him in anything sports or martial arts. We were a perfect balance and our parent's also got along quite well. They'd constantly be joking about joint adoption because of how many sleepovers we had.

When Shikamaru had to leave, it was after we went to a festival and he gave me a necklace with a black fox pendant while he wore one with a red fox. He said the black fox represented him and 'the shadows he could control', while the red fox just reminded him of my whisker birthmarks. I bet he just said that to cheer me up at the time.

The necklaces were supposed to signify that we would never forget each other. Once Shikamaru left Kirigakure I never made another friend after that. Everything went back to how it was before with people ignoring me and life moved on.

I was happier with Shikamaru around but after a while, I accepted I couldn't change reality and dreamt of the day I would be able to see my best friend again.

I would have never guessed today would be the day my dream became a reality.

I proudly held out my black fox as he held out his red one, we laughed remembering how much we cried the day we were separated.

But here we are now. After years of dreaming, we're finally reunited.