Legacy [ Naruto Reader-Insert ]

Menial

Then again acting too paranoid will rouse suspicion. Maybe it's a form of training you'd be able to do when you have more experience in the field. That and that she doesn't seem bothered by the talks that the three of you have at night ("NO. It's not like a sleepover," Ataru says when you mention to him what you thought about the situation, "We're on a mission, And we're strategizing. Discussing mission perimeters." "Wait, what do you do at sleepovers? My family never allows sleepovers. Says it tarnishes the Hyuga name." Yawaraka chimes in and it just makes Ataru shake his head).

Ataru has a small desk lamp on, a reading light illuminating the pages of the novel he somehow got his hands on. He's lying on his stomach and using his pillow as a chin rest as he flips to the next page. His fingers dancing on the top of his collar bone where his necklace rests as his eyes scan the complicated looking kanji in his book.

"I nicked it off one of the other gate keepers when he wasn't looking." Ataru says when he notices your curious glance at the book in his hands, "The days get rather boring if there's nothing to read."

You turn over so you're laying on your stomach and slide your arms under your own pillow, resting your head on it to mirror him, "I didn't say anything."

Ataru grunts in response, his fingers going back to fiddling around with the fangs on his neck.

"Do your parents love you?" You ask him, your voice soft, an almost whisper, "Do they show you affection all the time?"

"I'm adopted. My parents are dead. I hope you're not trying anything, Yamanaka," Ataru's hand stops mid page-turn and he looks at you with a dark look in his eyes, magnified by the low silver light, "Or so help me." It's hard to look scary when one is laying on his stomach with his head propped on a pillow but he manages to do it.

The cavern in your chest aches a little but you don't let the threat phase you, "I meant your current family, the one that adopted you."

Ataru narrows his eyes slightly before turning back to his book, letting out a soft sigh, "Yeah. I suppose. Yeah, they do love me. We spend time together as a family every weekend when we can. Why?" His tone morphs into something of suspicion at the end.

Your eyebrows knit together in deep thought, "That's nice. I envy you." You intended your voice to come out smooth like butter, unaffected. Like you're trying to say something casual. It doesn't come out that way.

All you can do now is slam your face onto the surface of your pillow and lie still as a deep sense of shame washes over you. Which you do.

Ataru stares wordlessly at you as dawning realization ripples across his features like a budding flower. You can't see him right now, but you know for sure it's something along those lines. He's smart. Like all Nara men are. He'll figure it out soon enough.

The door slides open slowly and you don't know whether to feel relieved or otherwise.

"Finally got the nasty shits out of my eyes," Yawaraka groans, dropping his voice into a low whine, stepping gingerly into the room with careful steps as he pads his way to his futon, "What did I miss?"