TSoL Chapter 11 - Realization

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WARNING: For those who have already read.

(A missing paragraph has been added at the end of the chapter, I apologize for my oversight.)

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Entering his classroom, Naruto was quickly spotted by one white-eyed girl.

"G-good morning, Naruto-kun!"

Looking towards the voice, Naruto smiled, and with a wave of his hand replied:

"Oh, good morning, Hinata-chan. I hope the teachers weren't angry because I wasn't there?"

Shaking her head, Hinata replied with a sweet smile.

"Not really. A-almost all of the teachers didn't mind. Unless Mizuki-sensei showed some displeasure," Hinata tried very hard to maintain clear communication with Naruto, and inwardly was glad that she was doing better and better every time.

Nodding, Naruto said:

"Well, Mizuki-sensei is not a very good teacher, so I don't care about him. The main thing is that Iruka-sensei doesn't get angry. I would not want to upset him."

"T-then try your best in class, Naruto-kun." Hinata blushed a little, but still expressed her support for him.

"Yeap! I'll give it my best, believe it!" Naruto smiled brightly, showing her a thumb.

At that moment, Kiba noticed the blond and shouted from across the class.

"Oi, Naruto! You came again, I hope you're ready, because this time I'm definitely going to kick your butt!"

His scream attracted the attention of the students again, and everyone looked at the beginning of another dispute between the main sources of noise in the class. Although many had to admit that there has been no noise from Naruto lately.

Hearing Kiba's words, Naruto was slightly surprised, and with a carefree smile, he headed towards the loud guy, while slyly raising an eyebrow, and replied:

"Oh, I'm always ready. But where does your confidence come from this time?"

With a wild and self-confident grin, Kiba stated:

"I finally found out how you did that trick with the tree!"

Kiba's words interested many students, including Sasuke, who began to listen much more attentively to their conversation. As the students began to whisper, Kiba continued to speak: "To be honest, I'm surprised you started learning such an advanced technique so early. But now that I've started to train it too, you can no longer take me by surprise," Kiba's words were filled with unshakable confidence.

Seeing that his opponent was also getting stronger, Naruto nodded happily and calmly replied:

"Great, I'm looking forward to our new sparring, tebayo."

Once again, everyone is wondering where the always annoying and loud Naruto has gone. Such a sharp change caused only doubts and fears among the surrounding students, which did not go unnoticed by Naruto himself.

Looking around and noticing those strange looks, Naruto just sighed and headed towards his seat. By this point, Sasuke had already realized that he would no longer hear any useful information, so he just continued his ignorance of everything and everyone.

Passing by Ino, Naruto greeted her like the last couple of days:

"Good morning, Ino-chan."

"Oh, yes, good morning," Ino replied with a little bewilderment.

This feeling came from the fact that she was standing next to Sakura, but Naruto only greeted her, and left only a small nod for Sakura. It was too strange and suspicious, since she knew for sure that he has a crush on her for a long time.

Ino still remembered how Naruto carried a suspiciously large case with unknown contents, and under a bunch of doubts inspired by her pink-haired friend, she more and more plunged into the abyss of misunderstandings that made her always watch the calm blonde.

For a couple of days already, she notices his strange route, which led not in the direction of his apartments, but in a completely different direction. In addition, every time she returned home after a walk with friends, she constantly saw him, at the same time, return from that direction, but with this strange case on his back. Moreover, this happened in the days when Naruto did not attend the Academy at all, which aroused even more suspicion.

That is why, she finally decided to warn her family that she would be late so that she could wait for Naruto to appear with his case, and follow him to find out what and where he was carrying, and what he was up to.

While she was thinking about this, Iruka had already entered the classroom, and after checking the presence of all students, announced that today's sparring was postponed to another day, since it was time to study a new topic that every shinobi should know.

Upon learning of this, many students were upset as they expected to see Naruto and Kiba clash again, expecting a good show.

"Damn, you're in luck today, Naruto!" Kiba said irritably after finishing class.

Seeing his indignation, Naruto replied:

"It can't be helped, we'll do it another time," Naruto replied calmly, packing up his things with a carefree smile.

Kiba thought for a moment, and suddenly smiling, he said:

"Hey, nothing prevents us from sparring outside of school, right?"

These words again attracted the attention of the other students, who were about to leave, but stopped, waiting for the blond's answer.

Looking at him, Naruto thought for a second:

"Come to think of it, it might be a good way to befriend him."

"Of course, I don't mind, but not today, since I have a lot to do. We can do it any other day you want."

Hearing his answer, Kiba's face turned a little sour. His main goal was to show off in front of other students and girls, and while everyone is looking at him with Naruto, and as long as everyone is interested in this fight, this is the perfect moment for him. But if he agrees to spar on another day, then even if he wins, no one will see it.

Dropping his shoulders, Kiba responded dejectedly:

"Forget it, it's easier to wait for the next training sparring. I'm out," After saying that, Kiba headed out of the classroom.

Naruto glanced at him, not realizing what was wrong with sparring the other day, but shrugging his shoulders, he also headed for the exit, under the gaze of another person.

Ino, who became obsessed with the idea of finding out his alleged plans, even for a second ignored a group of girls along with Sakura, who followed the frowning Uchiha leaving the academy, but quickly realizing this, Ino shook her head and caught up with the fan ring of girls to keep everything under control.... But, even when she was next to one boy, Ino kept thinking about another, even if in a slightly bad direction.

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Ten minutes later, Naruto entered Haji's shop and saw his son Naoki at the counter concentrating on sanding a block of wood that would appear to be part of some kind of instrument. Naruto had already met him during his visits to this place, so with a smile, he said:

"Hello Naoki-san. Is Haji-sensei at home?"

Distracted from work, and glancing at the blond who arrived, the man replied:

"Oh, it's you, kid. Yeah, father is at home. By the way, I heard it's your last lesson today, huh?"

"Yes, I've already learned almost everything I can, but even after that, I will sometimes come and visit you and Haji-sensei," Naruto replied with a smile as he walked up to Naoki.

"Huh, I still don't understand how you memorize everything so quickly. It's just incomprehensible to the mind," after rubbing with sandpaper for the last time, he put the block aside, and added, "it's a pity that you are not interested in other musical instruments, this is a great loss for the world of music. But there is nothing to be done about it. Okay, come on inside, my father is already waiting for you."

"Okay, good luck with your work, Naoki-san." With a wave of his hand, the smiling blond went inside, and proceeded to the room where Haji usually teaches him.

Entering the right room, Haji immediately called out to him:

"Oh, Naruto-kun, you're just in time. Come on, come in." the old man warmly invited the boy to sit opposite him, and then said, "Since you have already learned almost everything that I know about playing the guitar, and about music in general, today's lesson will be our last."

Sitting across from him, Naruto nodded and replied:

"Yes, Haji-san, but I'm still going to come to you from time to time to show my progress. I almost finished my first song already." Naruto clearly looked proud as he talked about it.

"Hoo? Then I look forward to hearing your creation," Haji was really glad that Naruto would not stop visiting him after graduation.

Glancing at his watch, the old man said:

"Time is running out, are you ready to start?"

"Yes!" with these words, Naruto took the scroll and took out the guitar with a case sealed in it.

Seeing this, Haji said with admiration:

"Oh, how many times I see it, and every time I am amazed. By the way, why don't you use those scrolls of yours on the way back?" the old man really didn't understand why he didn't use such a convenient thing in both directions.

After scratching his head in embarrassment, Naruto replied:

"Well... You see, I have not yet learned how to make prints with the help of chakra, and to write a new one you need a brush, sheets and more. I prefer to save materials to practice at home. So I only seal the guitar during practice. Anyway, it's not difficult for me to carry it on my back, plus I feel cool when I carry such a large instrument," Naruto said the last part with an embarrassed smile.

Laughing warmly, Haji replied:

"Hehe, young people never change. Okay Naruto-kun. Let's get started.

"Hai!" the blond's face shone with joy from another music lesson.

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Three hours later, Naruto left Haji's music store and headed towards the meeting with Tenten.

At some point, walking the streets of Konoha, Naruto did not notice how he had a pursuer in the form of one blonde Yamanaka, who was determined to reveal his bad deeds.

Naruto, on the other hand, walked carelessly, whistling a random melody, eliciting surprised looks from the residents, due to the unusual positive look of the blonde that he has been showing lately.

Finally, Naruto got to the right place, and without noticing Tenten, he sat down under a tree, and removed the guitar case from his back, placing it next to him.

Ino, who followed him, hid behind one of the nearby trees, which was surrounded by bushes to help conceal her. She carefully looked at the guy, trying to understand what he was doing here.

At some point, Naruto took a deep breath, and suddenly thinking about something with a smile, he began to open his case, and took out a guitar, which he immediately took in the correct grip, and began to pluck the strings, while humming something softly.

Seeing this, Ino was truly amazed. She did not expect that it would actually be a musical instrument, albeit unfamiliar to her.

Looking at the guy fingering the strings, Ino suddenly noticed how a girl approached him and spoke:

"Room for one more?"

Looking around, Naruto saw his friend and answered with a gentle smile:

"Always."

"Who is this? His friend, or maybe even someone more?" Ino became more and more embarrassed, not understanding what was happening.She thought that Naruto was a bully who was plotting something with the book she borrowed, then he was wearing a suspicious case, which turned out to be exactly what it should have been. And now a girl who is completely unfamiliar to Ino has sat down with him, while she thought that this guy had no friends. But the most shocking thing started further.

"What are you playing?" Tenten asked with genuine interest.

Hearing her question, Naruto looked at the guitar in his hands with a melancholic smile and thoughtfully replied:

"I had an idea. Well, a song idea - but, also an idea idea."

Hearing such an answer, Tenten blinked her eyes and said:

"Sounds interesting, will you play it?"

"Of course," with a slight smile, Naruto returned the guitar to a normal grip and closed his eyes, preparing to start playing.

At this time, hiding behind a tree Ino, realizing that this time she was mistaken, and was about to leave, but as soon as Naruto began to sing, she stopped abruptly.

~ I don't need you to respect me, I respect me.

~ I don't need you to love me, I love me.

~ But I want you to know you could know me,

~ If you change your mi-i-i-i-i-i-ind,

~ If you change your mi-i-i-i-i-i-ind,

~ If you change your mind…

While Naruto sang his song, Tenten listened with closed eyes and a warm smile on her face. Considering what Naruto had told her about people's attitude towards him, she could understand what the song was about.

On the other hand, Ino sat behind a tree with a confused look, gradually dropping her head lower.

At that moment, Naruto began a new verse:

~ You think I'm no good, don't you?

~ Just admit it, just admit it.

~ And it gets to me sometimes,

~ When I let it, when I let it.

~ It's easy... to let it,

~ It's easy to forget -

~ I don't need you to respect me, I respect me.

~ I don't need you to love me, I love me.

~ But I want you to know you could know me,

~ If you change your mi-i-i-i-i-i-ind,

~ If you change your mi-i-i-i-i-i-ind,

~ If you change your mi-i-i-i-i-i-ind,

~ Change your mi-i-i-i-i-i-ind!

(A.N. Original song: Steven Universe - Change your mind)

After finishing the song, Naruto slowly opened his eyes and asked:

"What do you think? This is my first attempt at writing a song."

Hearing his question, Tenten opened her eyes, said:

"I think it was beautiful, but these lyrics…" with a slight sad smile she asked, "It's about you, right?"

Ino, hiding behind a tree, sat with her head lowered and her eyes hidden behind her bangs, and it was not clear what she was thinking. But when she heard the girl's question, her head twitched a little, and she carefully began to wait for Naruto's words.

Smiling bitterly, Naruto replied:

"Yes, as I said earlier, many people in the village hate me. Previously, I did not understand why, and due to the absence of parents, and suffering from constant loneliness and contempt of others, I thought that maybe I had done something bad? There must be a reason everyone hates me, right?"

After receiving a confused and sad look from Tenten and then her nod, Naruto continued:

"But now, after I found out the truth, I kind of found my inner peace. Finally, I don't need to try to turn myself inside out in order to attract someone's attention, now I simply don't need it." Naruto smiled brightly "Now I will try to change other people's misunderstandings by just being myself. Hopefully I can rid everyone of bias and prejudice, and also show who I really am, tebayo!"

Naruto finished his speech by pointing his thumb at himself and smiling brightly at the girl next to him.

At the moment, listening to his speech, Ino clenched her fists more and more in anger. Realizing that in fact, all this time she treated Naruto exactly as he said - the most biased and unreasonable. Because of this, Ino reproached and was angry with herself. Realizing that she was still sitting and eavesdropping on him, the blond-haired Yamanaka whispered softly:

"What the hell am I doing... I'm such a…" shaking her head, she slowly got up, and silently left this place with her head down.

It was precisely the day when her opinion about this person irrevocably changed, and she herself vowed not to judge people only by what was on the surface.

At the same time, Naruto created a clone who took the guitar and carried it home while the original looked at Tenten and said:

"Well, let's start our first friendly activity?"

"Yes!" Tenten nodded happily.

After that, they went towards the city, along the way discussing what to do.

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Author's note:

Hello folks, here's a new chapter.

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