OBSESSION

Part 2


The bell, the time marker of the end of the school session, has ringed. Everyone packed his or her books inside the bag and cheerfully leaving the class. Naruto did the same, but he was somehow deep in thoughts. He walked through his friends and made his way out the door, making suspicious gazes seeped out from his friends. But, it was not more than just 10 seconds he poked his face at the door again and smiled sheepishly.
“Nee Kiba, do you have your motorcycle with you?” He smiled awkwardly to Kiba while rubbing his hair and leaning on the doorframe.
“What is it this time? Aren’t you used to walking home?” Kiba sat on his desk somehow feeling very strange not only to Naruto's request but also to a certain newcomer that has been sitting on his seat all the time as if he was observing everything.
‘Why didn’t that strange bastard just go home and sleep?’
“Ow come on! Take me home! I have some errands to do and I’ll be late if you don’t gimme a ride –” Naruto stopped, looking at someone who have found the trigger to pissed him so much, “Why are you still here bastard? Why didn’t you go home and give your mama a kiss?” Naruto thought of finally having his payback now. He wasn’t going to lose to some arrogant newbie, not in a million years.
“I thought you were supposed to give me a hand on the subjects?” Sasuke looked sharply at Naruto not minding the others that were nearby.
“Bah! You wouldn’t get anything from me! It would be a waste of time so you had better find someone else to help. Like I would help you anyway… Come on Kiba, I’m going to be late!” Naruto averted his gaze to Kiba and pleaded to him.
“Tch! You’re an ass! I’m not bringing my motor anyway so you just waste your time. We all going to ride on Neji’s car.”
“I’ll take you home Naruto. Shino and Shika will tag along too so it would be a bit crowded.”
“Why didn’t you say it from the first? Damn you dog-ass! You intended to do that don’t you?”
“Heh, where does that sweetie pouting Naru-chan go?” He said teasingly.
“I am so going to kill you Kiba!”
“Come on guys, my mom will lecture me if I’m late again!” Shika opened his voice to make the group move faster.
“It’s not my fault anyway! Blame it on that dog-ass Kiba, he was the one who pulled the prank!”
“So you’re planning on sneaking out from your task? Do you think Yamato sensei will let you off again this time?” Sasuke broke the radiating friendship from the group.
Everyone suddenly stopped moving and turned their face toward the speaking person behind them. “What?” Neji asked stridently.
“Gee okay! Do you want to be busied by listening to me that much? I’ll grant your wish! Just set the time and the place and I’ll come. Now if you don’t mind I really have to go back.”
Sasuke focused his eyes on Naruto and then suddenly stood up and walked past him.
“Tomorrow, after school, my place!” with that he left the building.
…
“Here you are!”
“Thanks guys! I’ll see you tomorrow!”
“Want me to pick you up tomorrow?”
“Nah, I’ll be fine!”
“Nee, Neji how come you keep on spoiling him that much? You never offered any of us that kind of treat… Is it because Naru-chan is so cute and pouty?”
“Shut up Kiba! You’re making me irritated! See you!” Naruto walked in to the apartment building and the black Range Rover speed up again.
“I think it’s strange!” Shino suddenly spoke up, making everybody a bit creepy.
“Yeah me too!” Shika voiced his agreement.
“Hee? About what?” Kiba asked stupidly.
“He would normally fight back, ignoring whomever he has to deal with. I almost couldn’t believe that he would retreat easily.” Neji joined the conversation.
“He’s so troublesome…”
“My God! The three of you must have some sort of psychic connection! Gee, you’re creeping me out… But, you people made a point. He’s a bit weird today. He was about to walk out without saying anything when the class was over.”
“What might have happen?” Shino asked.
Neji turned the stirring wheel to the left, heading toward Shino’s house.
“He was already weird when he came to school.”
“You can tell that too Shika?” Neji stopped at the red light.
“Well, he was so easy you know!”
“Yeah, he was just too predictable…” Kiba followed.
“Or maybe not. Who could’ve guessed anyway?”
“Mendokuse…”

…

The stair was dark; the wall surrounding it was stained with brown shade here and there. There can only be two conclusions taken from that appearance; either the apartment was old or shabby. Fortunately, truth was kind with Naruto. The apartment was okay although it is an old building with damages here and there, and it comes at a fairly cheap price (for Naruto this is the only option he has with the very small amount of money). He forced his leg to walk up on the stair slowly with his hand lean on the wall. It seemed like eternity when he finally got to the hallway which means he was only few feet away from his room.

He opened the door knob with half of his body leaning to the door frame. Once he opened it, he dragged his foot to his nearby bed and sat there as he opened his shoes. His breathing was a bit short and there were sweats on his temple.
“Shit!” he spat.
“Ouch… I never thought that it was this bad.” He said while pulling the end of his pants above his knee to se the wound. He grimaced at his every moved, but he didn’t seem to mind the trails of blood in his leg. The wound was pretty deep. There was a moderately long gash where the source of blood flew from up his knee until down. He knew it pretty well since there was a cut on his pants as well, and he thanked God for all his oblivious friends who didn’t pay enough attention on his lower side. The area surrounding the wound was turning the shades of dark blue and the pain just won’t get away. He almost couldn’t believe that he could run a distance with this kind of wound on his knee. The power of not wanting to be late and to get another wrath from Yamato sensei can be very overwhelming as to beat all the pain and agony he felt on his knee at that time.

“Oh man! Don’t tell me that this thing needs stitches?! Shit!” he spat again, still grimacing from the pain at all times. He went silence for a while then decided that the best thing that he could do for now was to clean the wound and wrapped it well until he got the money needed for a proper treatment. So, he made the effort to go to his kitchen and boiled some water. He still stood there with his good leg, waiting for the water. He wouldn’t want to have to make the effort to stand up and walk again. It didn’t take long for the water to boil and soon he placed it and grabbed his small towel. Then he headed back to his bed again, walking limply.
‘I guess it’s not that bad. If I have wrapped this thing tight then maybe the pain will subside.’ Naruto thought as he scowled at the pain. He knew he had the option to make the pain disappear very soon. All he had to do was just to make a call. Kiba, Shika, Neji or even Shino would gladly help him at this very moment. It wasn’t pride or something that snobbish that prevented him from doing so. It’s just that it didn’t feel right. He couldn’t find the reason why, but maybe the condition of him being too independent and alone contributed to the dogma.

Though he didn’t wrapped his wound as good as trained nurse in the hospital did, the pain ceased a bit and he could almost walk properly. And suddenly he felt so tired. He took a glance at his alarm, ‘Well, I guess I still have some spare time!’ then lay on his bed still with full clothes.

…
Sasuke took the phone on his desk and dialed. It didn’t take long for the person on the other line to answer, “Yes?”
“Kabuto, I want you to do something.” He sounded firm and unyielding.
“Anything Sasuke!”
“Get all information of a boy named Uzumaki Naruto. I want every detail tonight.”
“As you please.”
He put down the phone and stared out at the orange sunset from his apartment where he did all his work. Many people would think that he’s too young to be the owner of Uchiha company, but he handled the business better than anyone could think of. Everything in his life had been very much pleasing for him, or at least he had made everything pleasing for him. He had no idea how come a simple boy with bright blue eyes could stir his insides so much. It was as if he was relived once again. It was as if the animal instinct within him had started to resurge and made the desire to hunt his prey down at all costs. This time his prey was very much interesting, like a koma* dancing on the board. He always got what he wants, and this will not be an exception.
…
The sound of the mad alarm pierced through his ears. He was instantly pulled from the lulled sleep he had been having and the first thing he realized when he opened his eyes was the staggering pain that perforate his knee. “Argh… shit!” he muttered while wincing his eyes and holding to his hurt knee. After taking a few deep breaths he braced himself to look at his knee and saw a pool of red soaking the bandages he had put on to stop the bleeding. He sat on the side of his bed and took his time to open the soaked bandage slowly. He grimaced every time he unwrapped each layers and the pain was getting worse and worse as the wound was soon be left to the open air.

He almost swore again when he saw the red of his own flesh in between the cut. He knew that he needed his wound to be treated soon, but that would mean he had to subside his meals again and he already ate twice a day. ‘Well, I guess this means that I will have to eat once a day. Everything will be fine.’ He thought. He knew he still could rely on the help of Neji’s or Kiba’s bento box at noon, that way he will only have to eat at night. He was deep in his thought of trying to survive when his cell phone rang.
“Naruto here!”
“Yo, where are you? Its 7 o’clock, don’t you think you’re supposed to be somewhere else by this time?” Said Kiba.
“What? Oh shit! I set up my alarm at 6, I must’ve missed that. Shit!”
“Well, Orochimaru sama is already here so you better get your silly ass here ASAP.”
“Will do!” Naruto instantly took other bandages from his cabinet and wrapped his knee carelessly. He ignored every pain stabbing his knee in the process. Once he finished wrapping his knee he took black cargo pants and a black jumper from his drawer and immediately wore them on. He didn’t want to be late. He hated to be late. ‘Please God, this time – only this time – spare me from being late….’ He wished inside.
…
“I see… an orphan who had been living on his own ever since he could remember… that must be interesting.” Sasuke said mockingly.
“Yes, apparently so. But there’s something more interesting, he gets some allowance money every month from Jiraiya sama. I believe you’re familiar with that name.”
Sasuke flinched his eyebrows, “Jiraiya? Are you talking about the retired owner of the publisher and bookstore chain?”
“Well there’s only one Jiraiya with a huge amount of money and shares in publishing business. A bit of puzzlement I believe. Don’t you think so Sasuke?” Sasuke’s eyes widen in disbelieve.
“Make me understand that!”
“I want to understand that as much as you do but I can not provide you any detail regarding this matter. One thing I do know is that he had never withdrawn the money in his bank account and to support his life he apparently work from place to place, and now he worked at the very famous Orochimaru’s club – Snakes.”
“He worked at Snakes?”
“From the information I gained, yes. He’s a bartender there. He used to work at some shabby clubs as a bartender as well but about 2 years ago he quitted and worked at Snakes. That’s quite an improvement – from shabby to Snakes.”
“Two years ago? He enrolled high school two years ago. Konoha Private senior high school was a prestigious one.”
“Maybe that would explain why he now worked at Snakes. Big money, big risks. I don’t think he would have enough sleep at night or maybe no sleep at all. It was a very fine club after all.”
“Well he always sleeps at school.” The sound on the other line laughed.
“So tell me Sasuke, why would you be interested in this boy? I know that judging from his background he have quite an interesting life. But why?”
“Let’s just say that I have found something exciting.”
“And knowing you I don’t think you would let this boy escape that easily, wouldn’t you?”
Sasuke didn’t answer; he put down his phone and got his jacket. Somehow, he had some funny urge to visit Snakes tonight.
…
Naruto tried as fast as he could to arrived at Snakes on time but he was still 30 minutes late. His knee had slowed him down and now he cursed whoever was driving the limo or whoever behind that damned chauffeur’s seat.
“Hey Kiba!” Naruto shouted, “Did he know I’m late?” Kiba who was just about to enter the toilet dashed back to where Naruto was standing.
“You’re doomed Naruto! He wants you in his office as soon as you get here.”
“Shit!” Naruto spat.
“You better get in now, you wouldn’t want to make him angrier would you?”
“Okay, I’ll see you later Kiba.”
“Good luck dude!”
Naruto walked toward the office on a deeper part of Snakes. He had never loved to walk down this path. He despised it. He would give anything to turn back the time and set his alarm an hour earlier. And yet, there he was – right in front of the doomed door. He knocked twice and heard a displeasing sound telling him to come in.
“Well well well, what do we have here?” Orochimaru said.
“I’m sorry sir, I’m late.” Naruto stared directly at Orochimaru who gave his weird smile to Naruto. Naruto would really give anything in his possession to get out of this sick place now. And as Orochimaru advancing toward him, he prayed harder for someone to rescue him.
“You knew better not to be late, don’t you?” Orochimaru said as he was just a few feet away from Naruto.
Naruto clenched his fists and took steps back to make a distance with the man in front of him. But as long as he couldn’t walk through the wall then he’s stuck there with nowhere to go. “You also knew that I always love to give you punishment for your disobedience.” Orochimaru said as he closed the distance between him and Naruto and instantly grabbed Naruto’s hands and crushed his lips into Naruto’s forcefully.
“Hnn… st – Stop! Stop it!” Naruto tried to break free. But the efforts he made was futile, he knew that Orochimaru was stronger than him. Orochimaru laughed at Naruto’s pointless efforts. He pulled Naruto and threw him to the floor. Naruto was too taken aback with the overwhelming pain on his knee to know that Orochimaru was already on top of him, securing both his hands.
“Now, what kind of punishment should this bad bad boy have?” Without being able to protest, Orochimaru again forced his lips into Naruto and determined to do more than that tonight.