I Believe in You.Young NarutoXYoung Reader Part 2

       “Iruka Sensei, I'm exhausted and hungry.” Naruto whined, lagging behind the rest of the class. “I don't know why you wouldn't let us bring a snack. It's like, it's like you wanted us too all starve out here or something.” Iruka was obviously annoyed by Naruto's constant whining, but said nothing, “You aren't even denying it. It's true, we're all going to die.”

You slowed down your pace, just enough so Naruto could catch up to you. “Naruto, be quiet, you're making Sensei mad. He's really scary when he's angry.” The image of Iruka's face last time Naruto upset him appeared in your mind, causing you to shiver. “B-besides, there's no way he'd let us starve. I'm sure he has a plan.” You gave Naruto's shoulder a little pat, then grabbed his hand. “Now come on, you're walking way too slow.”

Naruto stumbled as you tried to pull him towards the group. “I can't walk any faster, I can't walk at all. You should just leave me here to die.”

“Fine.” You let go of his hand and began stomping off. “But you're never going to be Hokage when you give up that easily. I'm a girl and I'm not tired or hungry.” Letting out a little snort, you turned back around and grinned at him, hand on your hip. “Maybe I should try to be Hokage. I bet I'd be pretty good at it.”

“What? No way.” Jumping to his feet, Naruto ran past the rest of the class and continued down the trail Iruka had marked earlier. Everyone else, including you, continued down at a comfortable pace. A few moments later you saw Naruto, resting on a large stone. “What took you all so long? I thought you all got lost or something.”

“Don't get cocky Naruto, you were ready to die not five minutes ago.” Iruka reached into a small backpack he'd been carrying and removed a stack of papers. “We're going to be foraging today for edible mushrooms and grasses. Everyone come get a guide so you won't pick anything harmful.” He passed out the papers, then let everyone scatter to begin their foraging.

“You should stick with me, just to be safe.” Naruto grabbed your hand and ran off towards a small creek. “I bet we can pick more mushrooms than anyone if we work together.” His stomach made a loud gurgling sound as you reached the water. “At least, I really hope we can, I'm starving.”

“Then lets get to work. I think I see some over there.” You pointed out a few bright orange and white mushrooms sprouting close to a large rock. “We should make sure they aren't poisonous though.” You took the guide from your pocket, locating the mushroom that best resembled the one in front of you. “Oh, we can't eat tho- Naruto, what are you doing?” His mouth was already full of the fungi. “Spit that out, you're going to die!”

“W-what? How can something so delicious kill me?” Naruto quickly spit out the food and began brushing off his tongue. “I can't die yet, I haven't even lived.” He fell to his knees, dramatizing every movement. “Why Iruka Sensei, why would you sabotage me like this?”

“Naruto, he didn't. This was your fault for not looking at the guide first.” You sighed. “Now stop acting like that and come on. We need to find Iruka and tell him what you did.”

“I can't, I feel the poison, rushing through my body.” Naruto fell into the grassy earth beneath him. “It's too late for me, I'm done for.” He began coughing dramatically. “Go on without me, live my dream for me.” Slowly he reached his arm up towards you. “Don't forget about me.”

“You're pathetic sometimes.” Knowing he was lying about his current state, you grabbed his hands, dragging him through the grass. “Sorry about having to drag you like this, you're probably eating a lot of dirt.” You giggled. “But if you would just walk, I wouldn't have to drag you.”

“What's going on here?” A worried, knowing look appeared on Iruka's face. “He didn't pass out or something, did he?”

“Nope, he ate some of this.” Thinking ahead, you'd grabbed one of the mushrooms to show Iruka. “He's going to be okay, right? I mean, he really didn't eat that much and I made him spit out what he was eating.”

Iruka let out a quiet chuckle. “He's going to be just fine. That isn't poisonous, per say.” Giving your head a pat, he lifted Naruto off of the ground and placed him on his lap. “Those particular mushrooms won't kill you, they just mess with your brain, make you see things that aren’t there.” He gave a very flaccid Naruto a good shaking. “You can stop acting now, you're fine.” Naruto didn't move or even respond. “Would you cut it out?”

“A-are you sure he isn't dead?” You began sniffling. “He looks dead.” With Naruto still not moving, you started crying. “Don't be dead. You can't be dead. If you die who's going to walk me home after school, or catch frogs with me?” You hugged Naruto tightly, now crying uncontrollably.

“Gee, you don't have to go and start crying. I was only sleeping.” Naruto awkwardly shoved you away. “You worry too much about stuff.”

“You're alive.” You hugged Naruto again, not letting go no matter how hard he tried to push you away. “I thought you died, you scared me.” Rubbing your face in his side, you cleaned away the tears that stained your cheeks only seconds earlier.

“Well sorry, I really didn't mean to. Those mushrooms just made me really tired and dizzy, so I couldn't help falling asleep.” Naruto rubbed the back of his head, scooting off of Iruka's lap. “But I promise I'll try not to scare you anymore. You just promise me you won't cry, okay?”

You nodded enthusiastic, making an x over your chest with your forefinger. “I promise.”

Naruto let out a loud sigh of relief. “Well I'm glad that's all settled. I can't have my best friend crying now can I?” He smiled happily at you and took your hand into his. “Now let's find something to eat. I'm still hungry.”

“Me too, but this time, I think it would be a lot better if you actually used the guide. Or maybe, maybe you should just sit somewhere and let me do the foraging.” You couldn't help but let out a little giggle. “I really don't want to have to drag you back to Iruka Sensei. You're a lot heavier than I thought you'd be.”

“You know what?” Naruto stopped walking and looked towards Iruka's backpack. “I'm pretty sure Iruka has some raisins and pretzels in there. We should just take them while he's not looking.” He smiled wide, already sure you'd help him. “You be the distraction, I'll get the snacks!” Without another word, Naruto started creeping towards the abandoned backpack.

“B-but Naruto.” You called after him, but he was already too far away to hear. With a little snort you began making you way to Iruka. “Why do I always have to be the distraction?”