Chapter 3: Love Set Ablaze
Alright! So, we experienced Haru's new friend and new threat, and he was left 4 1/2 years old...but now, we come to where he gets a bit older, and you guessed it from the title, meets his edgy boyfriend.
As Haru grew a bit older, he needed education, and so attended the Land of Waters ninja academy, supervised by both Fuyumaru and his mother. Fuyumaru now acted as his sensei. However...there were many things with the school that neither of them agreed with, and eventually, Haru left the school to be trained and schooled under them instead. Not only was the Land of Waters school principles unreasonable, so were the students...
Whenever Fuyumaru or Yoko turned their backs or weren't looking, Haru was horribly abused and harassed by other students for his voice being too "feminine", when in reality his vocal cords are just weak. This caused Haru to hate his voice over time, and gradually begin to refuse to speak, at all.
Once at age eleven, he was a registered Genin.
He received his headband, and ninja gear.
His outfit consisted of a half light grey, half dark grey shirt, baggy dark grey pants, knee-high black socks, fingerless black gloves, black arm warmers, and a black jacket tied around his waist (he never wears shoes, he hates them). His headband was in the form of a grey bandanna around his neck. His hair was now just at shoulder length, and his ears tall and tufted. His tail was much fluffier and a bit longer now.
He also was in progress of mastering his Kekkei Genkai...along with many of it's jutsu.
He was a strong ninja, but it only laid within his abilities. His physical strength and amount of chakra were his downfalls.
Today however, was special for Haru. Ninja from all over were heading to the Leaf Village's Chunin exams. With some talking with the Hokage from Fuyumaru, he was accepted as a one man team. Haru had certain advantages that let him in alone. It was an extremely rare occasion...
But never the less, it was time to pack and head out.
Only he and Fuyumaru were to head to the Leaf Village, and get settled into a temporary home so that they could wait the week until the exams started.
It would be a very long time until they'd be able to see their beloved home in the snow, and Yoko...but Haru was excited for this little "adventure". Yoko gave him a kiss on the head and a big hug before his departure on the boats to the Land of Fire. Luckily enough, neither got sea sick the whole trip there. The boats eventually boarded, and they now had to travel on foot to the village. It was an easy journey, as they didn't run into any trouble along the way. Sure enough, they came to the front gate.
Fuyumaru was carrying Haru on his back as they entered the village. The two gate keeper ninja who were guarding it sat up from their chairs inside a booth-like stand. "...You're...you're Fuyumaru, right?" One said to him as Fuyumaru then walked over to the stand. "Yes, and when exactly did the Chunin exams start?" He asked.
"Oh, well they start in a week." The other guard said.
"Thank you." He nodded in thanks. "We should head to the house we're renting right away." Fuyumaru said with a smile, and they continued until they came across the small apartment building that sat next to others. It was small, but not too small. Two bedroom, one bathroom, one main room, and a kitchen. Unlike their previous house, it had electricity. While Fuyumaru was acquainted with electricity, it was completely foreign to Haru. As the two got settled in, Fuyumaru went to meet with the Hokage...but soon after he left, Haru locked up the apartment ran to get him just because he wanted to go as well.
Fuyumaru allowed Haru to travel along with him, riding on his back.
However, as they were about to enter the Hokages room... "...Haru it'd be best for you to wait out here, okay? You can rest on that seat over there." He smiled whispering to Haru, gesturing the bench near the window. Haru nodded, Fuyumaru going ahead into the room, leaving Haru to himself in the hall before he went to lazily sit down and look outside. The village was so huge...
...Sure enough, Haru fell asleep with his head leaning against the window, waiting on Fuyumaru.
After about an hour or two, Fuyumaru returned from his meeting.
"Wake up little wolf...come on." Haru giggled quietly as he woke up to the wolf's nuzzling, opened his eyes. The two soon exited the building."We'll only be staying here temporarily, for the Chunin exams and for a little while longer to get you some missions. After that, we will return home for awhile..." Fuyumaru explained, walking along the street to their apartment. "...But when we all three return, we will stay here." He looked back at Haru with a smile. Haru gasped a bit as he was shocked. He had a very strong attachment to the tatami house...but he figured that they couldn't have just stayed there forever, and that staying in a village would be safer. He nodded slowly, but his sadness was apparent...until something caught his attention.
His ears quickly perked into a certain direction, and his face now looked of a mix of concern and concentration. ...A fight? He thought.
"...? Haru? Ha-" Fuyumaru looked back to him as he stopped at their doorstep, but he stopped as Haru suddenly jumped off of him and ran off. "HARU!" Fuyumaru growled, but bit his tongue with a slight growl. "...Don't get in trouble, little wolf." He whispered to himself, heading into the house to unpack Haru's things and clean the house a little. Haru continued his fast pace through the village, looking around for where the chakra was coming from.
There! He thought as he saw Sand Genin and a young Leaf preschooler. Upon spotting the scene from his perch on a building, his gaze turned into a glare. Such confrontations made him angry...it reminded him of the times he was treated the same way. He readied himself to interfere, until he saw a figure jump into the tree next to the building. It was a Leaf Genin, who held a stone in his hand, aiming at one of the Sand ninja. He decided to wait and see what happens, and see if the Genin was going to help or not...
Sure enough, as the Sand Genin was about to hurt the preschooler, the Leaf Genin threw the stone. A direct hit to his hand, causing him to drop the boy and grunt in pain. Haru then took his chance, rushing in with great speed to grab the preschooler before he hit the ground, setting him down with two others who seemed to be his friends before stepping back.
"Woah...um...thank you!" The kid said, amazed, then turned back to the others.
"Wha...hey you were pretty quick!" Another Genin of the Leaf said, looking at Haru with a big grin. Haru smiled sheepishly, but both of their attention was drawn to the other Leaf ninja. "You're a long way from home, and you're way out of your league." He said from the trees shadows, holding another stone.
Haru's eyes squinted a little, recognizing that look anywhere. Sasuke, Sasuke Uchiha...I'm impressed. Haru smiled a bit. He's heard of the last Uchiha...but his thoughts were paused as his ears flinched to the high pitched squeal from the other Leaf Genin by the other. He guessed it must've been a fangirl...quite typical for someone like Sasuke. He does seem like that heartthrob type of guy.
Taking yet another chance to now slip away and watch, Haru jumped away and into the tree Sasuke was in, but on another branch on the other side.
"Oh great another wimp to tick me off..." The Sand ninja growled, holding his bruised wrist. "Get lost." Sasuke said darkly, crumbling the rock he held in his palm to dust. As things continued to progress, Haru couldn't quite tell if it was getting better or worse, until he saw the Sand ninja bring out his weapon.
Oh dear...this is going to turn into a fight...should I do something? He thought, concerned. He put a hand to his chin in thought, his brows furrowed. He wanted to keep a low profile but at the same time wanted to stop the fight. Soon caught into his thoughts, he was suddenly scared nearly out of his skin.
"Kankuro. Back off." A raspy, cold voice said from beside him out of nowhere.
Haru jumped back, ending up falling off of the branch and into a bush behind a fence. He sat up in the bush, rubbing the back of his head. Thankfully the bush broke his fall, but...he was shocked that someone snuck up on he like that, and so close. He looked up, and his heart skipped a beat.
It was another Sand Genin, but this red-headed little fellow...Haru fancied his looks quite a bit.
...He even looked a bit familiar though...those sea green eyes...
Haru pursed his lips tightly shut, his cheeks flaring up with blush and he quickly sunk into the bush before getting up and running off.
Wh-What am I doing! He's another Genin...an enemy! I-I can't feel like that towards him! And i-it's a guy...again...agh why do I do this to myse- He ranted to himself in his mind, but stopped as he gasped, Fuyumaru coming out from a corner, Haru ending up running into him.
"Haru! I was wondering where you we-" Fuyumaru started, but was a bit shocked as Haru quickly moved away from his leg with his head down, his stance all straight and tensed up. Fuyumaru cocked his head, wondering what was up with him. Once he leaned his head down a bit to see Haru's face for a second before Haru quickly turned away, he figured it out. A smile came across his mouth. "Another crush, hm?" He chuckled, lifting his head back up. "I knew you would find someone who would catch your eye here..." Fuyumaru smiled, nudging Haru to start walking so they could go home. He already knew about Haru's preference in gender, but he wasn't sure what type of person he liked yet.
He was quite curious...but kept quiet until they got home.
Once they returned home, Haru hurried into his room to unpack and change clothes while Fuyumaru shut the door and locked it for the the evening, since no one was going out for the rest of the day. As Haru came back downstairs in his casual clothing of a white shirt and baggy black pants, Fuyumaru walked over with a small smile. Haru plopped down onto the couch and turned on the TV since he had the chance to watch regular television, which he never grew up with. He still seemed to be flustered, or at least tense. He knew Fuyumaru was going to eventually ask questions...
It was quiet as Fuyumaru sat quietly behind the couch...buuuuut...
"...So who was it that caught your eye?" Fuyumaru glanced down at Haru, who groaned in annoyance and shoved his face into a pillow. Fuyumaru only laughed, shaking his head before walking around the couch, and laying down in front of it. It was a long, but nice day...
He smiled, eager to see how Haru will do in the exams.
He hoped he will do well...
Soon enough, both fell asleep, the TV still on.
My little child is getting gayer by the second *tears up* that's my boy! Review please, and stay tuned!