Naruto's POV

Reika-san's been really protective over me lately. I mean, I'm not complaining that she's trying to be nice, but I wish she could tell me about her past a bit. Right now, Reika and I were walking around the village a bit.

"Hey, Reika-san," I said, getting her attention. She looked at me. "Why were you hugging me yesterday? Were you upset?" I asked her. "It was just something I felt like doing." She said quietly. I raised a brow at her as we continued to walk around the village.

Reika-san lifted her head slightly and sniffed the air like a cat or dog would. "Reika-san?" I asked. She spotted a dango shop and went over to it, ordering a few of them. "Reika-san, what are you-"

"Hold this." Reika-san interrupted me as she handed me the bag of dangos. I did as she said as she sniffed the air again. "What do you smell?" I asked. "Sweets." She answered and headed to another store.

I followed her inside and saw her looking at different types of manga. "I didn't know you liked manga." I said. "That's what their called? I thought you look at them as just books." Reika-san said as she picked out a manga with a title that read, DRAMAtical Murder. (Show of hands. Who also likes that anime?)

She bought the manga, then went to another store that sold sweet stuff. After that, Reika-san and I walked back to my house. Once we settled in, I took out leftover pizza from my fridge, heated it up, and gave some to Reika-san.

"Here, eat this if you're hungry." I said, giving it to her. Reika-san took off her hood and mask before she looked at the pizza, sniffing it. "What's the matter?" I asked her.

"What is this?" She asked. "It's pizza." I answered as I sat next to her. "Pizza?" Reika-san repeated. 

"Yeah, you never tried pizza before?"

"No, I've never had it."

"Never had it?"

"No. Hey, tell me what you call this thing," Reika-san held up a dango stick.

"That's a dango stick." I answered. "And this?" She held up some candy. 

"Candy."

"What about these?" Reika-san pointed at the small box of doughnuts. "Those are doughnuts." I explained. "They are? I've never seen them in a different shape before." Reika-san said. "Doughnuts don't always come in the same shape, Reika-san." I explained.

"How come?" She asked. "I don't know. That's just how they make them." I said with a shrug. I paused for a moment. "Reika-san, why'd you get all of this stuff when you don't know what they are?" I asked her. 

One of Reika-san's ears twitched before answering, "I got a little interested in them because they smelled sweet. I've tried sweet stuff before."

"Okay, what do you usually eat?" I asked her. "Mainly just fish and some sushi." Reika-san answered. "You mean, you've never tried anything else?!" I asked, shocked. "No, does it matter?" She asked with a frown. 

I can't believe Reika-san hasn't tried any of this stuff. That's when I got an idea. "Reika-san, how about if I teach you some stuff?" I suggested. "What do you mean?" Reika-san asked as she ate her pizza. "Like, how about I teach you the things you don't know?" I retaliated.

"Are you calling me stupid?" Reika-san asked with a small frown. "What? No way! I was only trying to see if I could help you!" I said quickly. "You were basically calling me stupid before." Reika said bluntly. "I was not!" I said. 

The reason why I was a bit panicked at the moment is because I was scared what Reika might do when she got angry. I still remember what she did in the preliminary round, how she killed that boy without any mercy. I gulped at the thought of it.

"Are you saying I'm not smart, Naruto?" Reika-san asked, finishing her pizza. "Of course not! I was only suggesting if I could help you out on things that you aren't so sure about!" I said.  

"Like what?"

"Uh... well... You don't know what pizza is, and you don't know about sweet food either."

Reika-san frowned at me before leaning towards me. Before I knew it, Reika kissed me. My face went red and I pulled back. "Wh-What the hell was that, Reika-san?!" I somewhat yelled at her. "Hmm? I only kissed you." She stated casually.

"I know, but why?!" I said, my face still red. Reika-san tilted her head a bit, confused. "It's not normal for teammates to kiss each other!" I told her. "Are you sure? I think it's normal." Reika said calmly. "Of course, I'm sure!" I said.

"That Gaara guy kissed me earlier. So, I'd thought it'd be normal if kissed you." Reika-san explained. "That doesn't-!" That's when it hit me. Because Reika-san doesn't know abou certain things, such as, well, kissing, she probably doesn't know what love is. 

I sighed before speaking. "Listen, Reika-san. You're my teammate and I want to be able to help you. But I can't unless you tell me about yourself." I said. "I don't feel comfortable talking about my past." Reika said in a bit of sad tone, her ear flattening.

I sighed. "Train." Reika-san spoke. "Come again?" I asked. "I'll train you for the finals." Reika said. "But I already have Pervy Sage training me." I said. "Do you really want that closet pervert training you?" Reika asked bluntly.

I frowned, thinking about it. Reika-san might have a point. That Pervy Sage will probably go off, being pervert and ditch me. "Yeah, okay. I'll let you train me." I said. Reika-san stood to her feet, ruffled my head before putting on her hood.

"Meet me near the lake in a half hour." Reika instructed before vanishing. Hold on. Did she say Gaara kissed her? Why? Why would he kiss her? What did he kiss her for?

(Half Hour Later) Reika's POV

"Are you ready to start your training?" I asked Naruto. "Ready when you are, Reika-san," Naruto replied. "Wait, don't you need to train for the finals too?"

"I don't need training. Trust me." I said. "Hmm.... Okay. So, what are we going to be doing?" Naruto asked. "I'm going to teach you how to walk on water. I know you suck at it, so that's why I'm going to help you." I explained.

"You didn't have to be so blunt about it, Reika-san." Naruto said in a whining voice. I frowned and tugged his cheek. "Pay attention!" I ordered. "Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow! Okay, okay!" Naruto said. I let go of his cheek and sighed.

"All right. Let's get started. First, focus the chakra at your feet." I ordered. Naruto did as I said and concentrated. After he got the amount of chakra he needed, he walked towards the lake and fell in the minute he stepped in.

"Again." I ordered, my arms crossed over my chest. Naruto grumbled before climbing out of the lake and trying again. Like last time, he fell inside the lake. I sighed and ordered, "Again!" He tried again, but he failed once again.

I sat down, cross-legged with my arms still crossed over my chest, as Naruto kept trying to walk on the water. I sighed because this was taking forever, and lowered my head as I closed my eyes. "There's no point in wearing this if I'm just going to get soaked again." Naruto said.

I opened my eyes, seeing that he'd taken off his shirt and pants, but kept his boxers on. I rolled my eyes and stood up before walking over to him. I looked at his face as his eyes were closed, focused on his task. Naruto... how are you making me change?

Why do I always let my guard down around you and only you? Just... what kind of a person are you? I looked down at his stomach when a mark appeared on his skin. What the hell is that? Wait a second. I know that seal.

That's the Five Pronged Seal. "Orochimaru, you bastard." I murmured. No wonder Naruto keeps falling into the water. Half of his chakra is sealed off. I poked the seal with my finger. I should be able to get this thing unsealed.

Orochimaru did teach me the seal, after all. I looked at Naruto's face when he began to chuckle quietly. "Hey, that tickles, Reika-san." Naruto laughed slightly. I smirked and flicked his nose. "Naruto, close your eyes and raise your hands above your head for a second." I instructed as my hand went behind my back, preparing the Five Pronged Unseal.

"What for, Reika-san?" He asked. "Don't ask questions and do as I say." I ordered. He sighed and put his hands in the air. "Good, now stay just like that." I ordered. I smirked. "Five Pronged Unseal!" I slammed my fingers into Naruto's stomach, making him lose balance and fall on the ground.

"Ow, what was that for, Reika-san? That hurt." Naruto whined. "I just wanted to check something out," I grabbed his hand and pulled him to his feet. "Now, go near the lake and try again." I ordered, pointing towards the lake.

"What for? I'm just going to fall into the water again." Naruto stated bluntly. "Would you rather have me gouge your eyes out?" I asked, my voice just as blunt. "Hehe, you're kidding, right?" He asked with a chuckle.

I raised my hand up and made my nails grow so they looked like claws. "You really want to test me?" I challenged. He gulped and said, "Okay, okay! I believe you!" Naruto walked over to the lake, actually walking on it.

But he didn't know it because he was babbling away on how he would just fall in again. "Oi, Naruto," I called. He hummed in response as he looked at me. "Look at what you're doing." I pointed at his feet. He looked at my pointed finger and gasped in realization.

"I did it! I'm doing it! Reika-san, I did it!" Naruto cheered as he jumped up and down. I smiled, then looked down at my collar, noticing the pendant was glowing. "Naruto, go home and practice on your chakra control. I have somewhere to be right now." I said.

"Aye, aye, Reika-san." Naruto saluted me. I smiled again before heading over to the woods. Once I was there, I saw Orochimaru resting against a tree. "Lord Orochimaru," I kneeled down and bowed my head to him.

"My sweet Reika." Orochimaru said as he petted my head. "We're getting very close to our plan. Are you ready?" He asked me. "Yes, sir. I am more than ready." I said with confidence. Orochimaru chuckled as he scratched behind my ear, making me purr in content.

"So cute. You are dismissed." He said. I gave a nod and headed to my house. I lied on the couch as Zoey hopped on my stomach and meowed. I glanced at her and stroked the fur on her back. "Good kitty." I said before staring at my ceiling.

"Big brother..." I whispered.

(Flashback)

"You idiot!" Takeru yelled as he smashed a plate near my feet, causing me to jump in fear. "I... I'm sorry, Takeru." I said softly. "Do you know what could've happened if they saw your ears!" He yelled at me, furiously.

"I... I was only playing." I explained in a small voice. Takeru slapped me across the face, making a red mark appear on my cheek. "Do you want to end up like Mom and Dad! Huh! Is that it?!" He yelled angrily as he grabbed my shoulders roughly.

I quickly shook my head. "Unless you want to end up like our parents, stay away from the humans! They're our enemies!" Takeru yelled. "But... some of them aren't so bad. T-They actually seem nice." I said, stuttering a bit.

"You damn fool." Takeru's grip on my shoulders began to tighten, causing me to wince in pain. "If you die, who else will be by my side? I'll have no one in my family left if you die, Reika! Do you understand me?" Takeru demanded, gripping my shoulders even tighter.

"Ta... Takeru... you're hurting... me." I said as my eyes closed tightly, trying to endure the pain. He let go of my shoulders, then drove his knee into my stomach. My eyes went wide as I fell to my knees and began to cough, one hand holding my stomach.

"Reika, if I catch you with another human, a kick to the stomach won't be the only thing you receive as a punishment. Do I make myself clear?" Takeru demanded coldly. I weakly nodded my head as I continued to hold my stomach while my other hand was on the ground to keep from falling.

"Get up, Reika. Now!" He ordered. I shakily stood to my feet, facing my brother. I flinched when he gently petted my head. "Go take a shower, then get ready for bed." He ordered. "Yes.... My brother." I replied in a small voice.

He walked off as I gazed at the floor. After standing there for a minute, I went to the bathroom and began to take a shower. As the water from the showerhead rained down on me, I stared at the floor, in a daze.

All I did today was play with a human. I liked that human and I think he liked me. I want to see him again. But... I'm afraid I might get caught by Takeru. I gulped at the thought of being caught. After my shower, I got dressed in my pajamas and headed down the hall, to my brother's room.

"Bi... Big brother." I said softly as I opened his door. "What is it?" He demanded as he got dressed out of his dirty shirt. I turned my head so I wouldn't see him get undressed. "I-I... I'm sorry." I said, my voice shaky.

"I don't want to hear your pathetic apologies. Go to bed." Takeru ordered, his voice much colder this time. "Big brother... please don't be mad at me. I'm sorry for being with the human today." I said.

"I said, go to bed, Reika. Now, or do I have to force you to go to sleep." Takeru said, glancing at me with a glare. I gulped and turned around to head to my room. "Tch. Come over here, Reika." He instructed. I faced him, then walked over to him.

Once I was close enough, he embraced me in a hug. "It really pisses me off when you disobey me like that, y'know that? But the reason why I'm so hard on you is because I want you to learn your lesson so you'll know how to act in the future," He whispered gently.

"I don't want anything to happen to you, Reika, do you understand? If I can't protect you, then what kind of brother am I? No... I can't even call myself a brother if I were to let anything happen to you. I wouldn't even be a Takuma." He said.

My cat ears went flat as my eyes softened. "I'm sorry." I said softly. Takeru sighed as he kissed the top of my head. I buried my face in his chest and gave a small sigh. "Get some sleep, Reika. We need picked up where we left off in your training in the morning." Takeru said.

I gave a nod while saying, "Yes, sir." I got in the bed with Takeru and curled up near his chest while closing my eyes. "I love you, Reika." Takeru said before closing his eyes. He fell asleep after two minutes passed. I closed my eyes and whispered, "I love you, too, Big brother."

(End of Flashback)

"But... I can't help but wonder if you were lying to me, Big brother. How do I know you didn't just say that just so you could make me feel better? I wonder... if that was all a lie." I said as I stroked Zoey's fur. She purred before sitting up and stretching.

"Zoey," I picked her up and held her in my hands, staring into her eyes. "Are you aware that cats have nine lives?" I asked. "At least, that's what they say. The Leaf Village is going to need more than nine lives for what we have planned for them." I smirked.

"Meow?" I chuckled, set her back on my chest, and closed my eyes. "I don't expect you to understand what I'm saying. But I expect you to stay by my side when the Leaf falls." I said, stroking her fur. But a part of me wanted me to keep Naruto safe.

But I know I shouldn't be thinking that. He's a human. Therefore, he must fall with the rest of the humans in the Leaf Village.