Chapter Text
Tetsu no Kuni - the Land of Iron is known for his white landscape and harsh winter. This blank canvas was soon to be painted by the colors of spring. The end of the cold was marked by the birth of Haruno Haruki. His arrival was accompanied by the start of the bloom, symbol of renewal and vitality even in the harshest of environments.
The boy was born with striking pink hair that connoted well the time of his birth and the family he was born into, the Haruno, meaning spring field or meadow. His parents didn’t know what to name him at first. His colors evoked Sakura for the cherry blossom, but he was a male. So, Haruki, meaning spring tree. His colors and his name set him apart from the start.
After his birth Haruki’s family wanted to move from Tetsu no Kuni - the Land of Iron. The Haruno family were a civilian clan that prevailed as merchants. Haruki’s parents had a desire of recognition and wanted to move to a hub, somewhere they could tie relationship between other merchant clans.
Haruki’s grandmother has already moved some years prior to Konoha because of her health. The village hidden in the leaves was in Hi no Kuni - the Land of Fire and has milder winters.
Konoha is situated near its capital, with a network of bustling trade routes crisscrossing Hi no Kuni and converge to the village. It became a hub for commerce, attracting traders from various regions. Drawn by the promise of opportunities and a chance to make a name for themselves, the Haruno family settled in this vibrant ninja village.
Konoha was indeed full of life, activities, and a multitude of people. The Haruno didn’t strike as odd and started to blend well with the rest of the civilian population. But one thing that was noteworthy about Konoha was her other inhabitants. The shinobi.
Haruki’s parents weren’t sure what to think of them. While acknowledging their usefulness in facilitating trade and ensuring safe travels, the dynamics of coexistence within the village felt peculiar and uncomfortable. The noticeable gap between the shinobi and the civilian population in Konoha contributed to an overall sense of awkwardness.
Kizashi and Mebuki Haruno choose to not delve on it. They didn’t need to have any relationship with shinobi, just to know the laws and business opportunities. Despite this, the couple did not choose to restrain information about shinobi from their son. Haruki was living in Konoha, he will eventually know about them. Their decision stemmed from a lack of concern about potential influences.
The relationship between the three of them was formal and detached. Haruki’s parents were more focused on their merchant carrier and concentrated more on the pragmatic aspects of life – numbers, profits, and gains. The Haruno household could provide for all of Haruki's material needs but lacked warmth. Haruki’s didn’t have a profonde and emotional connection with his parents.
Kizashi and Mebuki needed to move a lot for their activities. They often asked Kizashi’s mother to take care of Haruki in their absence. Haruno Kikyō was too from Tetsu no Kuni – the Land of Iron.
Haruno Kikyō married to the Haruno but came from a samurai clan the Hayabusa. Her father has helped her choose a husband who had enough money to provide for her, and a good reputation that limited any risk for her. Kikyō had loved her husband and after his death she felt ill, and the cold of Tetsu no Kuni didn’t help with her health. She had friends that proposed her to come to Konohagakure no Sato. They described the village as safe, and with good season all along. She moved soon after.
Older now, she didn’t have a lot of family. When her son Kizashi started writing to her about moving as a merchant, she began to plan. She described to him her life in Konoha and bought a house for him and his family. Now a civilian from Konoha, she is happy to take care of her grandson.
The first time Kikyō saw her grandson’s tuft of hair she almost cried. That was her father’s hair. Haruki’s has inherited the silky and fine hair from her part of the family. The pink was funnily from the Hayabusa. The samurai clan has history of farmer and laborers from where they got the color, as most samurai family were less eye-catching. Some even said they had mix heritage from all over the five nations.
Her own son has a mix of blush pink and brown. It didn’t stand out as much because it seemed like a trick of the light. She herself has a shade of mauve now washed with gray. So many memories come to her in seeing her grandson. She started doting on him, it gave Haruki all the love he needed.
Haruki's parents didn't invest much thought into his education. Had he been born a girl, Mebuki would have meticulously orchestrated every detail to ensure her daughter became the epitome of a perfect wife.
However, since Haruki was born a boy, the intricate planning required for an elaborate wedding was deemed unnecessary. Kizashi let the education to his wife who then let it to Kikyō.
Overcome with joy in her grandson presence Kikyō did everything to share the culture and history of Tetsu no Kuni with him. For the first 5 years of his life, Haruki dreamed of a land of snow, iron, and falcons. Haruno Kikyō was an avid reader.
She came in Konoha with a collection of books and scrolls from Iron, and she expanded her library with some from Konoha, Hi no Kuni - the land of fire and its capital.
Haruki's love for reading and his calm, collected demeanor were cultivated by his grandmother. He spent his days leaning on words. He was more literate than any children his age. Haruki's grandmother's library became a sanctuary for him, a realm of endless possibilities and knowledge. Haruki’s developed his mind, his imagination, and his curiosity.
Kikyō came to understand that her grandson was smart and with a good memory. She took the matter to her son who redirected her to Mebuki. Haruki's mother, initially hesitant about pursuing further education for her son, was uncertain about its benefits. However, Kikyō argued that it would not only help him make friends but also encourage him to socialize and venture outdoors. The turning point in Mebuki's perspective came when Kikyō emphasized the valuable "connections" he could develop with other children from merchant families.
Haruno Haruki was enrolled in the civilian academy at 5 years old.
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Haruki’s was not sure what to make of the academy. The other children were chaotic, loud and didn’t know a thing about books. He wanted to cry and go back to his Obāsan. He kept to himself until the end of the day.
When he saw his grandmother waiting at the gate of the academy, Haruki run to her and cried “Baachan! I missed you!”.
Kikyō, initially taken aback by the outburst, knelt down to meet him at eye level and asked with concern, "What's the matter, my petal?"
“I don’t like the academy! It’s too loud, and nobody know how to read or write! I don’t understand why I need to go there” Haruki started ranting about all the little things he found uncomfortable.
Kikyō touched gently his cheek to make him pay attention to her and say softly “Little one, did you remember, the academy is not for you comfort but to learn.”
But Haruki wasn’t having it. He didn’t see the point. He already knew to how read and write and had started learning numbers with his father after asking him about his life as a merchant.
Kikyō took his little hand in hers and asked him about his day. They continued to talk on the road to home and Kikyō started to think on how to make her little petal more involved in his class, or more interested in his classmates. When back, she took out a scroll her father gave her years ago.
She made Haruki sit and unrolled the scroll in front of him. “Look little petal, this is the code of Bushido, the Way of the Warrior. The core philosophy followed by samurai are honor, loyalty, and moral integrity. Samurai need to follow discipline, physical and mental discipline. Samurai value wisdom, knowledge, and self-control.”
Kikyō turned to her grandson. “And you my little petal need to understand and absorb all those qualities. Even if this academy is not fun, learn. Look at the other, observe and understand what they value in life. Control yourself and do not falter when it is hard to be in a new environment you do not know or like.”
Kikyō eyes turned sharp “Haruki, you need to discipline yourself and aim to be better. I know that is hard for you, you’re used to comfort and have all you need at home. But little one, life is not always about comfort. Sometimes, we must face challenges, learn from them, and emerge stronger. “
Haruki looked as his Obāsan with interest. He has never faced any obstacle or challenge before. He didn’t know about hardship. He heard from stories his Obāsan told him, but never lived it. With a newfound determination he took an ink brush and one his paper he used to train his calligraphy.
“What do I write Baachan? What it is important that I learn from today?” he asked her, brush in hand.
Kikyō eyes crinkled with her smile. “Start with a sketch of the academy. Then of your classroom. Name each of your teachers and each classmate and where they are seated. It will help you with memorization. Then I want you to note all your observation. Note what new things you saw.”
Kikyō told her grandson how to write simple observation of the environment, the appearance of people and their interaction.
She thought that they would start easy since Haruki was so young. Unbeknownst to her what she saw as simple was already quite advanced for his age. But Kikyō didn’t know other 5 years old, her vision of the development of her little flower was skewed.
Haruki started to write his observation each day. He keenly observed his classmates, striving to understand their interactions. It unnerved some of them.
To other, Haruki calm demeanor, soft feature, and his soft pink hair and light green eyes made him more feminine. To other, Haruki was a girl. He didn’t see the problem since male or female he received the same education as everyone else in his class.
But the teachers decided to test him.
Mebuki was called to the academy. The teachers proposed make Haruki attend classes from a level or 2 higher. She didn’t see the problem. She thought that he will learn faster the trade this way.
At 6 years old, Haruno Haruki was with children 3 years his seniors. 9 years old made more fuss about gender differences. Civilian children already prepared for adult life and set roles. Little Haruki was so much younger and looked like a girl. He attracted the attention of the boys and the ire from the girls. He didn’t understand why.
He wrote it all in the new journal his Baachan had given him. With crayons that didn’t need to dry. He saw some differences between boys and girls. The way they played, talked, and dressed differently. He gave his observations to his grandmother.
Baachan looked at him with keen eyes “What are your analysis little petal?”.
“Analysis…?” asked Haruki “What does that mean?”
His Baachan thought for a moment, then explained to Haruki, "Well, little petal, 'analysis' is when you write your observations and then start to try to understand what is happening and why it is happening. What are the differences, and why there is differences?”
Haruki looked at his Baachan in awe. He looked at his notes and started to think. Little boy and girl weren’t divided. But older boy and girls started to make groups and be different. Some say they wanted to do like their parents. So maybe it was because of them. But why would they act different between men and women?
Seeing his little one in thought, Kikyō smiled. It will be a good experience for him. But she knew that he should take this sort of questions to her instead of his mother. She didn’t want Mebuki to rot the little one’s mind in forcing him in to act like the other little boys.
Haruki started more and more observations and analysis. It developed even more his mind.
He knew that the other children though he was a girl. He didn’t try to correct them because it was easier to pass as a calm girl, than a boy with weird hair. He had some bad experiences from older children and adult before. When someone older understood that he was a boy instead of a girl, they looked at him weirdly and made bad comments. Hi baachan never let him listen, but he remembered those interactions.
His parents, preoccupied with the intricacies of trade, may not have fully grasped the nuances of Haruki's experiences. However, his grandmother, with her understanding heart, provided the support and encouragement he needed.
One of Haruki's teachers perceived the little boy as something else—a kind of little genius who used his classmates as subjects for experiments. This teacher harbored disdain for such practices. He contemplated rejecting Haruki from the civilian academy but needed a good reason too.
He made Haruki’s life at the academy harder, asking harder and harder questions. But the little petal already knew the curriculum and didn’t mind answering. When that didn’t work, he started ignoring him. But it just made Haruki’s life easier. The boy smile irritated the teacher.
Seeing the other inhabitants of the village sparked an idea in his mind. The teacher asked to see Haruno Mebuki.
Mebuki arrived at the academy a bit worried. It was the second time they wanted to see her. The teacher told her that her boy was some sort of genius that needed more stimulation. She considered that he could start to learn the trade and help them. But the teacher said that it will be better to enroll him to the Ninja academy.
Mebuki was appalled at the prospect. The teacher cajoled her and said that Haruki just needed to go some years, until he learns more about the land. The program at the Ninja academy offered more information about other villages than the civilian one, it will help to his future as a merchant.
Sold, Mebuki took Haruki out of the civilian academy and enrolled him to the next year of the Ninja one. He would have to start from the start and do an entrance exam. Haruki and this teacher never saw each other again.
Kikyō was mad that her daughter in law did all of this without asked her or Haruki first. But after calming herself she saw it as an opportunity. Haruki will have classmates almost his age, a year younger. And children from ninja family could be more open-minded about Haruki. It was not a bad idea.
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Haruki was excited at the prospect of learning new things. He prepared for his entrance exam by reading the entirety of the civilian academy program. He took the writing exam and aced it. But he wasn’t good in the physical part of the exam and couldn’t say a thing about chakra when asked.
He vowed to learn more about it. He asked his grandmother to buy diagram that he took the bedroom he has at his baachan house. His walls were covered by paper on chakra theory. But he had only access to the simplest information since he was still a civilian.
Starting the academy, he remarked that some other children from civilian families also joined the Ninja academy, Haruki thought that maybe he could make new friends. The boys didn’t seem interested in the same hobbies as him, so he tried to talk to the girls.
However, he soon realized that the civilian girls in the academy were enrolled with a different motive – to try and secure husbands from shinobi clans. As they grew older, some of them became mean-spirited. One girl in particular, Ami, decided to target Haruki. She made fun of his distinctive hair and appearance that linked him to girls.
The teachers didn’t do anything because they said that aspirant shinobi needed to learn to defend themselves. But Ami wasn’t alone. She has 3 other girls helping her bully him. Haruki let it be. He learned to dodge their little fist and keep his hair short so that they couldn’t grab it. He never cried and complained. He thought about the Samurai, self-control, and discipline. And to that he added the ninja saying to endure, finding strength in resilience.
Haruki, curious to learn more about shinobi, initially turned to his grandmother for insight, but she couldn't provide the information he sought. Undeterred, he took matters into his own hands and began frequenting the academy library.
Delving into the books, he absorbed knowledge about various shinobi clans, their histories, and the intricate concept of chakra. As he explored the pages recounting tales of wars and conflicts, Haruki found the world of shinobi to be both intimidating and fascinating.
The more he learned, the more he realized the complexity of the shinobi lifestyle. While finding their skills and abilities somewhat scary, he couldn't help but be captivated by the depth and diversity within the world of shinobi.
Haruki grew more and more curious about shinobi lifestyle. He starter observing older students in their physical training and looking more and more at older shinobi in the walk to home. His Baachan helped him learn more about samurai on the side, but she didn’t have any formal training. With her own insights she explained how shinobi relied not only on physical prowess but also on strategic thinking and adaptability.
Since he didn’t want to be caught by older students, some of them were mean and weren’t afraid to kick him, he learned to be more and more stealthy. He skills became good enough, that recently graduated genin couldn’t detect him anymore. But his academy instructors always found him on way or another. Some gave him a pat on the back, encouraging him to continue. Haruki was proud. But he knew that he needed to train more.
As Haruki progress in the academy, the lessons began to shift towards more physically demanding training, weeding out those less inclined towards the rigorous path of a shinobi. The civilian children, unaccustomed to the intense physical requirements, gradually dropped out, leaving behind a cohort dominated by those with shinobi lineage.
Classes with less students started to merge. That’s how Haruki met his first friend.
The persistent attempts of Ami and her friends to bully him became a recurring annoyance. He didn’t mind it much anymore. But some days were harder than others. This day, two weeks after the start of the new year, was one of them. Ami was mocking his hair with the same unoriginal words. As he tried not to yawn, something changed from the routine.
Someone told them to “stop bullying her!”. A girl, with soft blond hair, and pupilless cerulean eyes, reminiscent of the color of the sky at midday. She positioned herself in front of him and looked down to Ami and her friends.
“Leave her alone, or you'll deal with me!” Shouted the blond.
Haruki was in awe. He always saw the girl with a lot of friends before, she seemed so charismatic. And she was here helping him. Lost in his mind he didn’t notice the other girls living.
The blond turned to look at Haruki. She presented herself as Yamanaka Ino. He has learned about the Yamanaka clan, and knew they were prominent in Konoha.
He didn’t want to appear rude, so he bowed “Thank you Yamanaka-sama”.
The blond blinked at him “You can call me Ino. That’s how my friends call me.”
“Friends?!” he spluttered. “But you already have a lot of friends!” He became a bit red when he realized how he had talked to her.
Yamanaka-san smiled “One never have enough girl friends.”
Ah. Yes, he did hear earlier when she called “her”. He forgot to correct her. “Sorry Yamanaka-sama, but I’m a boy”. He started to feel apprehension at her reaction to this truth.
The blond taken aback said. “But you look so soft and feminine”. She seemed to come to herself. “Sorry.”
Haruki smiled “No, it’s nothing. I’m used to it. I don’t mind.” He looked at her and say blushing “I just didn’t want to lie to you.” It was true, she had helped him and if she really wanted to be his friend, he couldn’t lie to her like that.
The blond smiled herself. “You know I was serious about you calling me Ino.” She then looked him up and down. “I don’t mind a boy as a friend, and your appearance can be useful.”
He flushed under the attention of Yama… Ino.
After that someone called her, and she excused herself. Haruki felt great and smiled the rest of the day.
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The day after, Haruki thought Ino would have forgot about him, but she came. She started to talk to him about her day and what she did with her father after school. She was helping at his flower shop. Ino knew so much about flower, their names, signification and uses. He was admirative.
Ino seemed pleased by that. And since Haruki loved to learn new thing, the conversation was not dull or one-sided. He asked her a lot of about her life, hobbies, and about her specialty, flowers. Ino loved teaching him about it.
In return, she asked about his family, and his civilian background. She was astonished that he managed to go far in the civilian academy before starting the Ninja one. Haruki didn’t see it as a big deal, but Ino looked at him with keen eyes and told him to not belittle himself.
She was also interested in the fact that his family was from Tetsu no Kuni. He then gave her some scrolls with painting of his family homeland. Ino’s smile blinded him. He was happy.
As their friendship blossomed, Ino started to share more about what she learned with her father. When the academy instructors told them one day that the girls needed to start kunoichi classes, Ino turned to him with a mischievous smile. He liked Ino, but at this moment when a cold shiver ran down his back, he felt that his friend could be scary too.
Ino made him come to the Kunoichi classes with her. He learned what “kunoichi” really meant. He started to learn about flower arrangement and was doubtful about its usefulness. He was proved wrong in the other lessons. Some flowers and plants they collected were poisonous. They were learning to recognize them.
Ino helped him further his education in poison with scrolls about their mixes and dosages. She invited him to practice with her and her father. It was intimidating to meet Yamanaka Inoichi at first. He is the clan head. But he is kind and soft, and he found that, Ino plans, to take Haruki with her to kunoichi classes, were quite funny.
“You need to learn these sorts of skill if you want to survive as a shinobi. It should not be exclusive to kunoichi.” Said the clan head when helping them recognize what plant was best for a slow active poison.
Haruki was apprehensive at first to lie to the academy instructors. But Ino told him that it was part of learning to be shinobi and kunoichi. And if they can't read a file, it isn't his fault. This comment and the instructions from Ino’s father encouraged him to continue.
He and Ino created a code composed of the language of flower. He learned about manipulation of information, pretending to be someone else and seduction. All this he wouldn't know without Ino. She said it was a good training, and gave examples of her own clan training that goes with it.
Without realizing it, Ino and he became the best of friends.
He started physical conditioning a bit late, but he has learned the necessity of obstacles and overcoming them. The problem was that he didn’t have access to any training ground or weaponry. And Ino already helped him a lot. So, he didn’t ask her to use her family training ground. He was fit physically compared to most girls but was at the bottom at the barrel compared to the boys.
He tended to showcase more his intelligence. And aced academically. This seemed too irate one of his new classmates. The class having shuffled once more, new faces appeared at the start of the new academy year. One of them was this kid who frowned constantly.
Haruki thought that he needed to smile more and almost said it to him. But he remembers his grandmother teaching to not be rude and after thinking about it those words felt mean. Haruki himself didn’t like to smile all the time, especially after having a bad day.
He learned later That the boy was named Uchiha Sasuke and that he lost the entirely of his clan almost 2 years prior. That night he cried in his Baachan arms. He was sad for the little boy without a family, scared that it could happen to his grandma and horrified about how he had judged him. His Baachan comforted him, saying that she was still here, and she loved him.
He then promised to himself to never judge someone to his facial expression again in the future.
After that Haruki tried to not enter in conflict with Uchiha-san. But the dark eyed boy seemed a bit frustrated that Haruki bested him academically. The day he realized the lack of physical prowess Haruki was demonstrating, he gave him a smirk and proceeded to best him in every physical exam. Haruki secretly smiled at that.
Uchiha-san appeared more and more in his life, not because they had any relationship but because Ino had a crush. She kept squealing about him, and how cute he was, and how cool he sounded.
“But I never heard him talk” he said.
“Oh! Hush you! You wouldn’t understand you’re a boy” she said lightly. But for him It was startling.
“What do you mean?” He turned to look at Ino.
“You are a boy so you would look at girls. You like girls, don’t you?” When he didn’t respond she stared at him.
There was silence between them. Haruki felt ashamed, he lowered his head and used his hairs to hide his eyes.
“Oh… Haruki.” Ino took his chin to make him look at her. She then looked determined, took his hand, and started to walk.
“Wha… what are you doing?!” he asked flustered, almost loosing his footing when trying to maintain the same pace as Ino.
“You will come home with me. I will tell dad to tell your Obaasan you will spend the week-end with us.” Ino made this face that dared him to say otherwise. He just nodded and kept walking with her.
When they arrived to Ino’s place, she just asked her father if Haruki could stay and to warn his grandmother. She then made him tea and gave him cookies.
She took his hand and said “you know Haruki, you are my best friend. I don’t care if you are a boy or a girl. I don’t care if you are from a clan or a civilian. And I even care less who you are in love with.”
He smiled and squeezed her hand. “But why this intervention then?”
She looked him in the eyes “As a kunoichi I don’t care. As a clan heir I have responsibilities, but I can still love who I want if I plan well. You are civilian born. You have a different education and need to learn that shinobi are different than civilian. Active shinobi have numerous relationships with same sex partner older or younger. Some even use this on mission…” Ino started fumbling.
“What I think Ino is trying to say is, that shinobi are more open about it.” Inoichi startled them. Ino gave him a glare and he continued with a smile. “And since you are not part of a clan, or clan heir you have less responsibilities. You can love who you want Haruki.” His eyes were so soft and kind, Haruki almost cried.
Ino squeezed his hand “And if you do not feel accepted, I will always be there, and you can come see me anytime.”
He felt so relieved. Some tears flowed on his cheeks. Inoichi gave him a tissue and he thanked him. He spent the weekend with the Yamanaka. Ino kept talking about Sasuke and she asked about his type. He said that he didn’t know yet and wasn’t looking right now.
In the morning light, when he woke up before Ino, he looked at her face, the fluster of her eyelashes, and the colors of her hair. Right then he loved his friend. She was beautiful, and so comprehensive. He though that nothing could take this friendship away, he wouldn’t let anyone, or anything make him think otherwise.
“You know, if you didn’t cry about loving boys, I would have thought you had a crush on me” said Ino with one eye open. He blushed, then with a smile attacked her. “Ah! No, you don’t” In the midst of laughter he though, it’s good to have a friend.
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Haruki continued his academy life with Ino. He tried to better himself in training, but it was not his forte. The academy style was not convenient for him, but he didn’t know any other style. The rest of the lessons were not bad. He loved learning at the Ninja academy. He loved his kunoichi lessons with Ino. He didn’t mind that much the glare from Uchiha-san when he excelled academically. It was good.
The class shuffled once more. The academy instructors said that it was for the last time. This class will be the same for the last 2 years. This year he met the boisterous Uzumaki Naruto and the shy Hyūga Hinata.
Uzumaki-san was impossible to not notice. He presented himself to everyone. Haruki has heard of him before in the civilian district. He was some sort of prankster and not well liked. But Haruki heard some kind of strange and dark rumors. Some people in the civilian district talked about Naruto like a curse and linked him to the demon fox.
Since the Haruno immigrated before Haruki was a year old. They were there October 10th when the Kyūbi – nine tails attack happened. Mebuki almost convinced Kizashi to move elsewhere. But their home was not touched. And they still made profit of the population that needed new household items.
Haruki had heard his own parents talk badly about the boy. He thought that it was because he made them loose some profit with his pranks. But after hearing the civilian gossip he was not so sure.
Haruki didn’t understand how Naruto was linked to the Kyūbi. Maybe the words saying that he resembled the fox came from the whiskers on his cheeks. He wondered what came first, his pranks or the curses and rumors against him. Perhaps he needed to do more research about it.
It’s how Haruki met Hyūga Hinata. He kept his habits of taking notes. But he picked up from Inoichi to not leave a trace of his observation. He looked and stocked in his mind what he was seeing to analyse later. He was trying more and more to analyse what was happening in front of him and make direct comparison to the stocked information he has memorized before.
He was observing Uzumaki-san when he noted that someone else was doing the same thing. Intrigued he accosted them. Hyūga-sama jumped.
“I’m so sorry Hyūga-sama, I didn’t want to startle you”. He looked at her and asked, “Are you observing Uzumaki-san too?”
The Hyūga heir started to blush, and stutter.
Haruki didn’t want her to feel bad, so he started rambling “I’m trying to train my observation skill. I noticed that Uzumaki-san is know in the civilian district and I was intrigued. I understand that some are irked by it, but silently observing is a good skill for shinobi and Kunoichi…”
Ino appeared at his side “Breath Haruki. I think she understands.” She laughed at him. “And I don’t think that Hinata is doing the same sort of observation as yours”. At that Hyūga-sama started to blush even more.
That’s how, with Ino help, he spends more time with Hyūga-sama “please call me Hinata, Haruno-san”, “Call me Haruki then”. Haruki didn’t pry about Hinata observations, and she seemed thankful for that.
Ino was not so lenient. She kept pestering her. Haruki was not sure if it was her curiosity and the need to make Hinata blush. With a bout of compassion, Haruki redirected the conversation and told that he himself liked boys but didn’t have anyone in mind. If Hinata was surprised by that she didn’t let it show on her face. Be he saw her little smile at the redirection. This day he made a new friend.
Hinata joined them in the kunoichi lessons. Ino was overjoyed to have one more friend to talk about boys with. They began training together too. He learned so much about tenketsu and chakra pathway thanks to Hinata. He gave her some scrolls with painting too. Hinata loved them.
With the new faces came all the clan heirs. Haruki realized that his class was meant to succeed and achieve the status of shinobi. He felt a mix of pride and dread. He needed to learn more, and train more. Thanks to Hinata, and her tips in taijutsu, he was better. But still middle ranked compared to the other boys.
One day Ino took him to 2 boys. “This is Nara Shikamaru he is a sort of lazy rock and not fun to play with, and that is Akimichi Choji. He is sweet, and if you are hungry and ask kindly, he has snack to share.” Ino talked about them like they weren’t just in front of him. Haruki felt a bit flustered.
He bowed “pleasure to meet you Nara-sama, Akimichi-sama.”
The one with his hair tied closed his eyes and said “what a drag. Call me Shikamaru, there is to much Nara in Konoha.” His friend following his example said “and you can call me Choji. But I’m not sure if I have enough snacks to share with you.”
Ino and he didn't spend much time with them, but she did clarify about the Ino-Shika-Cho tradition within their families, meaning that they would be part of the same genin team, so Haruki needed to familiarize himself with them. They started having lunch with them. Kunoichi classes and afternoon were spent with Hinata.
What was interesting was that, with Haruki attending kunoichi classes, most people hadn't realized that he wasn't a girl. Ino found it amusing.
Until one day at lunch. A certain Inuzuka boy came to him “Hey flower boy! Why do you go to the kunoichi lessons?”
At that Shikamaru opened his eyes from his nap and turned to Inuzuka-san “What are you talking about, Haruki is a girl.”
Inuzuka-san touched his nose and say, “nah he does smell flowery because of his lessons, but he is indeed a boy.”
Startled Shikamaru and Choji turned to him. Ino looking smug said “I knew you would have never found out by yourself. Haruki here train his impersonation and information gathering skills. It’s been years and nobody knew his real gender but Me and Hinata. And now you 3.”
Shikamaru and Choji were wide eyed. But Inuzuka-san seemed like he understands it. “That’s cool. Hey, you can call me Kiba” He extended his hand. Then pointed to a little white pup “and this is Akamaru.”
He then looked apologetic “Sorry to have blown you cover”. Haruki blushed and told him it was nothing.
When Kiba left, Haruki looked after him. Ino wide eyed said “Oh no! You have a crush on Kiba?!” He blushed even more. Ino spend the rest of the day lamenting about it.
The crush lasted a week. In a taijutsu training Kiba choose him as a partner. He lost so bad that Kiba laughed. He told him to do less kunoichi training and more conditioning. Maybe it was lighthearted from him, but it still crushed Haruki’s heart. Ino declared him her enemy. Haruki was touched and he forgot about it.
✤✤✤✤✤
Haruki’s parents returned from 3 long months of travels. Haruki was happy to see them. He stared babbling about his new friend Hinata, the time spend between him Ino and Hinata. His mother seemed pleased, until he let it slip about Kiba.
His mother face lost any warmth. Haruki was apprehensive, he didn’t want them to find out like that, he didn’t want them to fount out at all. Then the worst happened. “You don’t like girls, do you?” at his silence Mebuki continued “Seeing that you spent time with heiress to clan I was happy, but I should have known. You are too feminine. You look like a girl. And now you crush on boys. I knew shinobi were a bad influence.” Mebuki made a sneer and say harshly “I should take you out of the academy right now”.
Haruki was horrified. She wouldn’t. He turned to his father to see his reaction, but Kizashi face was closed off. Haruki felt cold.
His mom took his arm. He didn’t want to worsen the situation, so he let her, even if he was so much stronger than her. Mebuki made him prepare to go out. He tried to plaid his cause, but the couple didn’t listen. The trio walked to the academy in silence.
Mebuki took them to the instructors’ lounge. “Hi, Can I talk to the teacher of Haruno Haruki”. At that Iruka-sensei raised his head. Mebuki then asked, “I want to take Haruki out of the academy”.
Iruka-sensei looked at her “Why is that? Haruki is a good student with some of the best grades in his year.”
Mebuki relented “Shinobi are a bad influence, look at him, he doesn’t act like a man. And we want him to help us in the trade…”
Iruka-sensei stopped her “If there is nothing wrong with Haruki’s health and you don’t plan to move from Konoha, your son need to end the academy, become a genin are repaid the village as one of it’s shinobi. Unless you are ready to compensate Konoha for all the study, training and equipment used all these years.”
At this Mebuki turn red with rage. She opened her mouth, then closed it. After a second, she stormed out, Kizashi running after her. Haruki turned to his sensei and bowed. “Thank you.”
Iruka-sensei smiled “It’s nothing Haruki it happens from time to time.” He squeezed his shoulder to reassure him.
Haruki looked up at his eyes “But how did you know I was a boy? What about the kunoichi classes?”
At that the academy instructor winked and said, “It’s good training, isn’t it?”
Haruki nodded with a smile. He thanked he sensei one more time and took his leave.
He spotted his parents outside. Mebuki turned to him “come we will take you to your grandmother”. He never saw his mother made this face before, a sort of cold determination.
Haruki didn’t remember the walk, or him entering his baachan home, but he did remember hearing his parents talking about letting him live permanently with his grandmother.
After hearing it, he had a sort of buzz in his ears. He understood that his parents didn’t want to take responsibility of him anymore. He didn’t mind, all his belongings were already there, and he spend more time with his Baachan than his parents. But then he heard the couple talking about letting him go from the family and maybe having a new kid. He felt dread. He didn’t want to loose his family name and his link to his grandmother.
At that his Baachan turned into a dragon and chased them from her home. She said to the couple to not come to her house anymore. She kept screaming until Haruki couldn’t see the couple anymore. His Baachan could be scary like that.
She then turned to him and with a sad smile took him in her arms. She told Haruki that he will still be a Haruno and they are still family. He didn’t need to worry.
He wasn’t worried. He didn’t feel that sad that they left him. He never had a good relationship with his parents, and they were never there. It will change nothing to his habits. And if his cheeks were warm and wet, it didn’t mean anything.
That night he spent it in his grandmother bed. She told him stories after stories, of a cold land, honorable warriors, and humble farmers. Haruki slept well.
The rest of the week he spent it to the Yamanaka compound with Ino and her family. Ino was the best. She comforted him the first day, but after that didn’t talk about them anymore. She gossiped about her cousins and made Haruki laugh. He felt warmer after leaving his friend.
Two weeks later, Haruki woke up and thought, I will be a great shinobi. I will be useful and strong. With a newfound determination he opened his academy scrolls.
Haruno Kikyō had been worried for her grandson. But when she saw him this morning scribing notes from his scroll with fervor, she smiled.
A year later Haruno Haruki passed his genin exam. He became genin at 13. Ino and Hinata became genin too at 12.
He was ready to start his life as a shinobi.