Project Neko 49

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"HELP!" Hinata reached for him as he reached for her. "Naruto!" She screamed as someone pulled him away beating on him. Naruto looked back at her, beaten, as they held him down.

"Hinata!" He screamed as she was taken away into the darkness.

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Two Weeks Ago...

A girl ran down the street. Black hair that when in the light looked almost blue. Her eyes shined silver so clear and beautiful like clear waters only scene in paintings. She seemed to have something like cat ears, and a cat tail. But what he noticed most was that she was scared. She was running from something and she continued to check behind her. He opened his window to see better. He wanted to help her, but he couldn't speak out. He was petrified.

Naruto flew up in bed falling out and landing on the floor. "Ow..." He rubbed the newly developed bump on his head. "Man...I hate dreams like that." His alarm clock went off and he groaned shutting it off. He looked out the window at the busy street outside. "Screw that. I hate Monday!" He said. First day of school for the week. Then he had to go through 4 more days after that as well. He sighed getting dressed in his school uniform and managing to brush his teeth at the same time.

He left the empty house without eating breakfast and joined the people on the busy street. Walking down he looked in every store window, one had a large TV in it. Like in those movies. It was on the news, something he just found both boring and depressing. He walked on still looking. He wasn't looking for anything at all. He just liked looking. Besides, he was a very curious person.

He reached his school and almost ran away, but he'd already skipped to many days, and anymore he'd eventually get kicked out. His grades were already bad enough, but he really couldn't afford to get kicked out. He entered the school and walked to class. Even though he'd be showing up early, he wouldn't care. He walked in the room and took his seat. Since he was a bit of a loudmouth troublemaker, Iruka-sensai made him sit in the very front right by his desk. Shikamaru, who was at the same table as him, looked...asleep.

"Wake up Shika-chan!" He yelled in his ear making Shikamaru jump in his seat. "Heh heh. Sorry." He said to get the glare he was now receiving from his friend to go away. It didn't work, but he chose to believe it did. He sat down and opened his book to a random page. "What?! We haven't talked about that yet!"

"That was last chapter, Naruto." Shikamaru corrected rolling his eyes. "Pay attention in class will you?"

"Nah. It isn't worth it." Shikamaru didn't reply, just shrugged and laid back down on his books. People filled in the room and soon the bell rang and Iruka wasn't there yet. "I think we should all throw a party!" Naruto suggested to his fellow classmates.

"On what occasion?" Kiba asked.

"Um...Anyone got an idea?"

"You suck." Sasuke suggested.

"Ha! Good one teme!" Iruka walked in the room before any further conversation could be made. "Aw. You had to show up right before we could throw a party. Eh, teach?"

"Um..." Naruto looked at the door where the small noise had come from. The girl standing there was the same girl he'd dreamt about last night, only without the cat ears and tail. "I am sorry to intrude..." She walked to the front and handed Iruka a note. "But I'm new here, and this is my first hour class." She said shyly.

"Oh...yes." He replied. "Everyone, this is Hinata Hyuuga, she is a transfer student from Kai Academy, so make her feel welcome." Kai Academy was the smart rich school. Not that all smart rich people went there, it was just sort of a way for parents to show off their child's skills.

"Welcome." Kiba said to her.

She smiled shyly at him. "Thank you." She was soft spoken, but her voice sounded like a beautiful symphony. Naruto was struck by her beauty. All of it. He was so struck that for once he couldn't talk.

"There is an open seat over by Shino." Iruka mentioned pointing at the empty seat behind Naruto. She held a grateful smile to Iruka before going to take her seat next to Shino. Shino had a weird hobby, but who didn't. He collected bugs, and constantly talked about them. It is rumored that he has a spider for a pet. Of course he refutes this saying that "spiders are not bugs."

"Hello. I'm Shino Aburame." She shook his hand.

"Hinata Hyuuga." She replied. "Um...I am sorry, but could you tell me where the gymnasium is? I have...Physical Education next class period." She talked in a very polite manner. Naruto turned around.

"I'll show ya." Naruto said. She looked at the blonde haired blue eyed boy before her. "They sorta hid the gym when this place was built so it's hard to find." He explained. Shino nodded in agreement. "Besides, I have PE next hour to, so I won't be late if I show you."

A light blush found its way to her cheeks. "Thank you...uh...?"

"Naruto Uzumaki." He answered.

"Thank you Uzumaki-san."

"Turn around Uzumaki and we'll start class."

"Does that mean if I refuse to turn around we'd have a free period?" He mumbled turning around. Hinata giggled quietly to herself. She didn't know people like this at her last school. Especially like Naruto, he was different. However, was that really a good thing?

Naruto walked with her to class. He'd also looked at her schedule. Apparently, they had all their classes together and he vowed to walk with her all day. They had to go down two different hallways, then outside to get to the gym. "Told ya it was hard to find." He commented.

"Yes. You were right Uzumaki-san."

"Just call me Naruto. I hate suffixes."

"Naruto-san?...Naruto-kun?...I am sorry."

"We'll you must've been brought up like that. Let loose!"

"Eh? Okay...um...Naruto-kun." He gave up than, he could live with it. She went straight to the PE teacher. "Hello..."

"Oi! You're Hinata...?"

"Yes, I..."

"Here is your uniform, my name is Anko, and we're going outside to run the track today, kay?"

"Uh...yes!" Hinata walked away from her new PE teacher than. She'd have to get used to these teachers...and students for that matter. After changing in silence, even though all the other girls were talking, she joined the rest of the class as they walked outside. Running...that was something she could do. However, she decided to hold back, not wanting to overdue everything. They boys ran first, and as soon as they were a few meters ahead, Anko signaled for the girls to go.

Even though she was holding back she passed the other girls easily. She passed all the boys easily as well. She could feel their eyes watching her, and even see a few of them out the corner of her eye. She was used to this. They would never be able to catch her. They had to run a full mile; she would be able to finish 4 by the time they'd get done. 10 if she wasn't holding back. But, they were normal, and she wasn't.

"Having fun?" A voice asked beside her. She looked over to see Naruto keeping up with her. "You're fast." He said.

"I like to run." She said. That was true, she always ran. It was a great way to clear absolutely everything from her mind.

"I can see." She noticed that he hadn't even broken a sweat yet.

"You are very fast as well." She commented.

"I like running to. Most times." He replied. "Besides, this is me holding back. I can go a lot faster than this." He winked. She turned and looked ahead of her. She didn't reply, just took off faster. He was stunned for a moment, but caught up with her again soon enough. She continued to go faster and he continued to keep up. She could hear the people gasping as they lapped them. It most have seemed to them like they were sprinting, but to the two, this felt like a jog. Finally they finished their mile and slowed to a stop. "Well, that's it for the day. Energy gone." He joked, breathing heavy.

"I am sorry." She said.

He laughed. "You don't have to apologize!"

"Huh? If I had not have sped up, you would not have pushed yourself so far."

"Well then I'd still be running." He replied smiling at her. She blushed again. She realized her cheeks felt unnaturally warm. She wasn't used to human emotions like this. She actually wasn't sure which one this was. She'd have to ask her "therapist" later. Really, he was more like an acting coach. He was supposed to teach her how to interact with humans. But he was a nice person, and the only human she's ever trusted.

"Alright time to go in!" Anko yelled to her students and they all jogged inside even Naruto and Hinata jogged with the group. She changed fast and met Naruto outside the locker room waiting to walk her to her next class. She couldn't think of the right word for it. She felt this urge to be with him. But she couldn't think of what to call it.

The day went by like that, and at lunch Naruto invited her to join his table. "We are a group of misfits!" He announced to her. "So if you're not wanting to get pegged for life, you don't have to sit with us." Misfits...that sounded like her.

"No, it is alright. I will sit with you."

"Just out of curiosity, why do you talk like that?"

"Eh?"

"You do not hyphenate words or anything along that line. You sound so very prim and proper." He said, mocking her polite tone.

"I..." He laughed again and led her to the table.

"Oi, everyone, this is Hinata, the new student; she is sittin with us, so make room!" He said, sitting down and gesturing next to him for her to sit. "Alright, Hinata, this is...Kiba." He pointed next to him. "Past Kiba is Shino, who you already know, across from Shino is Choji, and next to Choji in front of Kiba is Shikamaru. In front of me, and next to Shikamaru is Sasuke. Next to Sasuke is Sakura. Next to Sakura is Ino, next to Ino is Tenten, across from Tenten is Temari. And that is it. What a mouthful!" He said leaning back in his chair. "No one else is worthy enough to sit with us freaks." He said.

"You're the freak no one wants to sit with." Sakura said.

"You're mean." Naruto wined back. Hinata was looking about the table making note of everyone's names, faces, and actions. Hio (her therapist) had told her that was a good way to get to know somebody, and know how to talk to them. But she sat quietly at the table, everyone was sorta weird. She wasn't used to that kind of people. So she stayed quiet. "Hinata!" She jumped at her name from the blond. "What do you think about baseball?"

"Not this again." Sakura said slightly annoyed.

"Baseball?" She asked. She'd heard of it before, but wasn't really known for her knowledge in the real world. "What is that?"

"What?!" Naruto jumped out of his seat. "Baseball is like the best sport in the world!" Sasuke threw a chip at him, and Naruto slumped back in his seat. "You shouldn't throw things!" He said throwing the chip back at him. Sasuke just dodged it and sat back quietly. "Bad teme." He said before turning back to Hinata. "You really don't know what Baseball is?" He asked.

"No I do not. So it is a sport..." She thought about that.

"Y'know what...you need to like, go to the baseball game after school tomorrow. It is Konoha vs. Suna. I'm playing." Naruto threw in the last bit.

"I will see if I am allowed to go." She answered.

"If you do go, you should sit with us." Sakura said. "Ino, Temari, Tenten, and I are going to watch as well. All the boys here are actually on the team."

"Yea!" Naruto said. "Baseball is amazing! I'm their best player!" He announced with a smile. Hinata couldn't help herself; she blushed, smiled and laughed at him.

"I bet you are." She replied.

"Heh heh."

"So...see ya tomorrow." Naruto said. "But, I have to get going. I walk home." He said walking past her.

"Yes. I will see you tomorrow." She replied.

"No...See ya tomorrow. ya. ya. Say it with me...ya."

"Hee hee. I will see y-ya tomorrow."

"Kay!" He walked off the school grounds and left waving back to her. She could only laugh again. Finally an expensive black car stopped before her. Her schoolmate's reaction was unusual to her. This was why they'd kept her in the rich schools all her life. She just quietly opened the door and sat inside.

"Hello Hinata. How was your day? Did you find it yet?" Maya asked.

"No." She lied. "Nothing of interest yet."

"I thought as much. You were always a waste of time." She replied.

"Ma'am..." Hio's voice came from the front seat as he drove the car. "You should give her some more time. It was only the first day here. She'll be able to find the key soon enough."

"'her?' 'She' pfft. Hinata isn't that. 'Thing' suits it better." She replied with a discussed tone. Hinata didn't even blink at her words. She just stared ahead watching the road as it moved under the car.

"I'm sorry Ma'am, but as long as she has girly parts...I'll refer to her as a girl." He replied. He would get it later for saying that, and Hinata always wandered why he said things like that to her, when he knew it wouldn't end well for him. He like Hinata, was nothing more than a prisoner. But he could get out whenever he wanted to. She couldn't. She was their creation. Project Neko 49.

Naruto: *spins in circles* Wee! This is fun!

NearKunn: *watches intently as he gets dizzy and falls to floor*

Sasuke: *laughs at stupidity*

NearKunn: Alright...let's get serious. Okay, so review if you want, I really don't care with this one, it's just fun to write. ^_^