Naruto:- The PARANOID Fellow

CHAPTER WORDS -1373

AN:- FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF CHAPTERS, THERE ARE MOSTLY FILLER SINCE THE PLOT HASN'T TRUELY STARTED YET. IT IS JUST CHARACTER INTERACTIONS FOR NOW, SO PLEASE DO WAIT UNTIL THE PLOT THICKENS.

Chapter 5: Ignore The Wannabe Killer

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Natsuki Matao walked into the classroom, feeling a familiar sense of tension as he spotted Ruri Uchiha sitting at her desk. He deliberately avoided making eye contact with her, knowing that any interaction could lead to unwanted trouble. After her attempt on his life, he had no intention of approaching her again. 

Instead, he turned to his deskmate, Ayane, who smiled at him as she settled in. "Good morning, Natsuki! Ready for another day of classes?" 

Natsuki returned the smile, grateful for her friendly demeanor. "Yeah, I'm ready. Let's just get through it."

As the school bell rang, the first class began—a lecture on the "Will of Fire." Natsuki pulled out his copy of *The First Hokage and the Will of Fire*, preparing himself for what he knew would be a tedious lesson. He forced himself to appear attentive, knowing it was vital to blend in and not draw attention. 

During the lecture, he felt a poke on his right arm. He turned slightly, and saw Ruri, pretending to focus on the teacher, sliding him a small note that read: "Why are you hiding your strength?"

What is wrong with this girl?

Natuski decides to ignore her completely. She pokes him again, trying to show a note, but Natsuki doesn't even turn. She decides that she has done enough and turns to look at the teacher, ignoring Natusuki, which Natsuki was perfectly content with doing.

The only reason he could be confident right now is assuming that Ruri won't attack him IN Class currently. He felt a poke on his right arm. He turned slightly, but it wasn't Ruri—it was Ayane, handing him a note.

"Are you okay?" the note read. "You seem to be ignoring Ruri today."

Natsuki quickly scribbled back, "I'm fine! I just don't want to talk to her." He hoped to maintain a normal appearance while keeping his mind off Ruri, who sat next to him. Ayane looks at Natsuki, then at Ruri, but decides not to talk about this anymore.

After class, Natsuki headed to the training grounds behind the school, determined to practice his techniques with wooden stakes. As he trained, he focused on improving his speed and strength, his mind clear of distractions. He didn't want to think about Ruri or any other complications that came with school life.

Later that evening, he finished dinner and made his way to the forest clearing, ready for more training. However, just as he was about to start, he felt an unsettling presence behind him. He turned to find Ruri stepping out of the shadows, her expression unreadable.

Without a word, Natsuki's heart raced as he recalled their previous encounter. He instinctively took a step back, keeping his distance. He took out his training Kunai, ready to dodge an attack if needed.

"Why are you avoiding me?" Ruri's voice cut through the silence. 

Natsuki narrowed his eyes, refusing to engage. He didn't want to talk to her—not after she tried to kill him. Instead, he silently turned away and resumed his practice, determined to ignore her presence.

Ruri, sensing his dismissal, crossed her arms, looking both irritated and curious. "You're hiding your strength, Matao. I know you are."

He didn't respond, focusing on his strikes against the wooden stakes. He didn't want to give her the satisfaction of a reaction, nor did he want to reveal anything about himself. After a moment, Ruri scoffed, her patience wearing thin. "Fine. Stay in your little bubble. But don't think I won't figure you out."

Natsuki didn't turn around, waiting for her to leave. He was relieved when she finally did, disappearing back into the shadows. He let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, feeling the tension ease as he returned to his training. Keeping his distance from Ruri was crucial for his peace of mind, and he resolved to stay vigilant in the days ahead.

As Natsuki continued his training in the clearing, the lingering tension from Ruri's presence slowly faded away. He focused on the rhythm of his movements, throwing punches and kicks against the wooden stakes, his mind clearing with each strike. This was his escape—his sanctuary away from the complexities of the village and the intrigues surrounding him.

However, he couldn't shake off the feeling that he needed to be cautious. Knowing the history of Konoha and the Uchiha clan, he was aware of the potential danger Ruri posed. He had read enough about the world he was now a part of to understand that alliances could shift in an instant, and the wrong person could become a deadly threat.

After a particularly exhausting session, Natsuki collapsed onto the grass, panting slightly. The stars above began to twinkle as night approached, and he took a moment to catch his breath. He gazed up at the sky, pondering his situation.

The next day at school, he tried to maintain a sense of normalcy. He engaged in casual conversations with Ayane, ignoring Ruri completely as she attempted to draw his attention. During lunch, the three of them—Natsuki, Ayane, and Ruri—sat at the same table, but Natsuki kept his distance from Ruri, focusing instead on Ayane.

"Have you tried the new ramen shop?" Ayane asked, leaning forward with enthusiasm.

Natsuki replied with a grin. "You Mean Ichiraku? Yeah. It's awesome." Whoever knows Naruto NEEDS to Visit Ichiraku, that place is a Must for anyone.

Ruri, sitting across from them, scoffed. "Ramen this, Ramen That. Everyone is talking about Useless things." She looks at HIm, daring Him to say something. Natsuki rolled his eyes but didn't respond. Ruri's insistence irritated him, but he remained focused on his conversation with Ayane.

Ayane's eyes lit up as she spoke "but their ramen is delicious. We should go after school."

"Sure," Natsuki replied, eager to keep things casual. He didn't understand it at first, but Ayane is also Inviting Ruri.

"What about you Ruri?" Ayane grins at her, somehow already getting inside Ruri's comfort Zone. Ruri Looks at her in annoyance, but then at Natsuki before looking back at her in contemplation-

Are you kidding? Natsuki feels anxious, and it seems she figured it out as-

"Whatever," she replied nonchalantly, and Natsuki knew this might be a huge headache, it didn't ease his anxiety about the evening.

Ichiraku Ramen was a new ramen shop in the village, and although business was still slow, Natsuki had been captivated by the food since his first visit. He was certain it wouldn't take long for it to gain popularity.

The orders were quickly placed, and the shop owner, a man in his thirties, began bringing out steaming bowls of ramen. His young son, Teuchi, The G.O.A.T helped out with the service.

Natsuki dug into the ramen with gusto, the flavors tantalizing his taste buds. He finished two large bowls and then turned to Ruri, who was content with just one. He doesn't understand what to do right now, while Ruri wants him to reveal his strength to her, he doesn't know WHY.

Then, his gaze shifted to Ayane. His eyes widened in disbelief.

How many bowls had she eaten? One, two, four, seven, nine—thirteen?!

And she still looked ready for more.Natsuki felt a stab of panic at the sight. This is similar to Hinata in so many ways it's not funny.

Seeing the bewildered expressions on both Ruri's and Natsuki's faces, Ayane flushed, momentarily pausing her feast. "Um, actually, my appetite is only a little bigger than average..."

Natsuki almost choked on his ramen. If not for the pile of empty bowls surrounding her, he might have believed her. He couldn't shake the thought of how much food she consumed. He found himself worrying about her future partner. If this was her appetite now, who could afford to feed her later?

Who will be her Naruto?

THE END

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AN:- HOPE YOU GUYS LIKE THIS CHAPTER. IT WAS A LITTLE BORING IN MY OPINION, BUT THE PLOT WILL THICKEN SOON.