Naruto: The Beast Within

The sun finally rises.

The golden light spills over the training field, casting long shadows. The air is still thick with exhaustion, the scent of sweat and dirt clinging to their clothes. Birds chirp somewhere in the distance—mocking them.

Raimu lies face-down in the dirt, unmoving.

Takuma is curled up on his back, breathing like he just climbed an entire mountain. His limbs feel like they belong to someone else—someone dead.

Iruka stands above them, arms crossed. He doesn't even look winded.

"Alright. Get up."

Takuma lets out a noise that sounds like a dying cat. "No. No, I physically cannot. I refuse."

Raimu, who has made no attempt to move, hums. "Mm. Neither can I. We should sleep here. Live here. Become one with the ground."

Iruka's eye twitches.

"You have school."

Raimu sighs dreamily. "Then I shall learn from the earth. Become wise. An enlightened being."

Takuma snorts. "You're just making excuses to nap."

Neither of them move.

Iruka doesn't argue. Instead—

A chakra-infused chalkboard eraser comes flying out of nowhere, slamming into Takuma's stomach like a kunai.

"Gah—!"

Raimu only barely tilts his head before a second eraser barely misses him. He hums, unimpressed.

Iruka raises a slow, threatening eyebrow. "Up. Now."

With an exaggerated groan, Raimu finally sits up. His movements are slow, deliberate, like the weight of the universe is dragging him back down. He pulls his hood up, eyes still half-lidded as he exhales through his nose. "…Fine."

Takuma rolls onto his side, clutching his stomach. "I think he broke me... Are those... my ancestors..." He says as a tear falls down his eyes looking up to the sky.

Raimu laughs. "How dramatic."

Iruka doesn't even acknowledge that. Instead, he steps closer, looking down at them. "Before I send you to class, I have one more task for each of you."

Silence.

Takuma groans. "No."

Raimu yawns. "That's cute. You think I'll do it."

Iruka just smiles. And that's never a good sign.

Iruka turns to Takuma first.

"You will complete the rest of the school day without using your hands."

Takuma freezes. "…What?"

Iruka smirks. "Your arms are sore, right? Then you'll learn how to manage without them. Eat, write, carry books—everything. No hands."

Takuma looks horrified. "That's—how do I—?! That's actually evil!"

Iruka ignores him. His gaze shifts to Raimu.

A long, tense pause.

Then—

"Raimu, you are not allowed to eat any desserts for the entire day."

Silence.

The world stops.

Birds stop chirping.

Wind stops blowing.

The very fabric of reality trembles.

Takuma, who knows Raimu better than anyone, at least thats what he thinks. Immediately whirls around to look at him.

Raimu is frozen. His golden eyes, always half-lidded and dreamy, are now wide. Unfocused.

His mouth parts slightly, but no words come out.

Iruka, as if delivering the final blow, adds calmly—

"If you break this rule, we restart training tomorrow at 3 a.m."

Silence.

Takuma whispers. "Raimu?"

No response.

Takuma leans in. "Raimu, blink twice if you're still with us."

Still nothing.

Takuma gasps. "Oh my god, he's in shock."

"Raimu!!" He yells shaking him.

Iruka nods, satisfied. "Good. You both have your tasks. Now go."

And just like that, he walks away.

The moment he's gone—

Raimu physically wobbles. His knees buckle.

Takuma catches him. "Hey! Hey! Stay with me!"

Raimu finally speaks—

"No… desserts…?"

His voice is barely above a whisper. Shattered.

Takuma grins, shaking him. "Bro. This is actually hilarious. I've never seen you like this."

Raimu slowly lifts his head, staring at Takuma. His expression is unreadable. His voice, however—dead serious.

"Takuma."

Takuma blinks. "Uh. Yeah?"

Raimu clutches his hoodie tighter, eyes dull.

"If I die today, tell my desserts… I loved them."

Takuma bursts out laughing.

__

The walk to the academy is a disaster.

Takuma, now having to function without hands, is already struggling.

"HOW DO I OPEN THIS DOOR?!"

Raimu, despite his inner suffering, lazily reaches out and opens it for him.

"With determination."

Takuma glares. "I hate you."

As they enter, other students immediately notice.

"Why is Takuma carrying his books with his elbows?"

"Raimu look like he just got told his entire family died."

"What did Iruka Sensei do to them..." They all say in unison.

Then—

A student pulls out a cookie.

Raimu's eyes lock onto it instantly.

The student, oblivious, takes a bite. The sound of the crunch echoes.

Raimu's body shudders.

Takuma leans in, grinning. 

"Oh, you're already suffering, huh?"

Raimu doesn't respond. He just keeps staring at the cookie.

Takuma laughs. "You look like a starving stray dog. This is incredible."

Then—Takuma's eyes sparkle with evil.

He whispers, teasingly—

"Mm… imagine… a warm, fresh dorayaki… fluffy, soft… the perfect sweetness… melts in your mouth…—"

Raimu physically GRABS Takuma's face.

His golden eyes, usually dreamy, are now glowing with rage.

"Takuma."

Takuma grins, muffled through Raimu's hand. "Mmm?"

Raimu slowly, dangerously whispers—

"If I suffer, you suffer."

Takuma pales. "W-Wait, let's talk about this—!"

Raimu grabs Takuma's lunchbox.

And THROWS IT.

Class hasn't even started. And they're already at war.

The moment the lunchbox flies through the air, students scramble out of the way, shouting in surprise. Takuma's eyes widen in horror as his lunch—his carefully prepared lunch—is now sailing toward its untimely doom. He screams in slow motion, his voice cracking. "MY SANDWICH—!"

Raimu's golden eyes don't even flicker as he watches the lunchbox explode upon impact with the wall. The contents spill out like a tragic scene from a drama, sending a whole handmade sandwich crashing to the floor.

Takuma's eyes practically start watering. "YOU ABSOLUTE MONSTER!"

But Raimu, who has officially entered his personal hell, just blinks slowly. His fingers twitch. "Mmmm. That actually wasn't a bad throw. I'll give you credit for that."

Takuma looks like he's been struck by lightning. His jaw is slack as he stares at his now ruined lunch. "Raimu! That was my lunch!" His voice wavers between anger and disbelief, but Raimu just shrugs lazily.

"Well… I was kind of hungry too."

Takuma throws up his hands in defeat. "What am I supposed to do now?!"

Raimu, still half-asleep, doesn't answer right away. He just sighs, turning around and leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets. He looks like he's about to collapse into a nap right there in the hallway.

"Get the school lunch."

__

The classroom is eerily quiet as the history teacher, Iwana, stands at the front, his voice steady as he begins to lecture. His usual energy is muted today, replaced by a solemn tone. The history of ninjas is a topic that's been covered countless times, but to Raimu, it feels like he's hearing it all for the first time.

"The origin of ninjas dates back to the Warring States period," Iwana begins, his eyes scanning the room. "Ninjas were initially used as spies, assassins, and mercenaries. They didn't come from the powerful clans we know today, but rather from commoners who learned to use tactics, stealth, and subterfuge to survive."

Raimu's golden eyes glaze over, the monotony of the lecture slowly lulling him into a half-sleepy state. "Ninjas often blended into society, performing espionage in villages, gathering intelligence, and sometimes even working for the highest bidder in exchange for money. It was only later that the larger villages began to form, and ninjas started working for the leaders of those villages, ultimately forming the hidden villages we know today."

Raimu's mind drifts as Iwana continues, his voice blending with the background noise of the other students scribbling notes.

He watches the dust particles floating in the sunlight, the room feeling more like a prison than a classroom. His eyes grow heavier with each passing minute, though he tries to stay alert. The thought of sweets is still lingering in the back of his mind. It's torture just knowing that dessert is within his reach but forbidden.

Iwana's voice cuts through his daydreaming. "As the shinobi world evolved, so did their roles. From simple spies to some of the most powerful individuals on the planet, the ninja became not only warriors but protectors of their villages."

Raimu barely registers the words, his mind wandering to the idea of cake. The thought of a slice of rich, soft cake, covered in thick cream, makes his stomach ache.

"Raimu!" Takuma's voice snaps him out of his daze, causing him to jerk back to reality. His golden eyes are bleary, barely able to focus.

"Huh?" Raimu mumbles, blinking rapidly. He turns to see Takuma grinning at him, clearly having caught him zoning out.

"Did you even hear what Iwana-sensei just said?" Takuma teases, leaning in. "You've got to stop spacing out, man."

"We only have one class together, and you just can't ever stop annoying me, can you?" Raimu asks.

Takuma just stares at him, silently asking for an answer.

Raimu groans, trying to shake off the foggy sleepiness. "Yeah, yeah, I heard it. Something about ninjas and wars or whatever…"

Takuma chuckles, shaking his head, while Iwana looks sternly at the two of them. "Raimu, Takuma, stay focused."

Before he begins struggling, trying to take hold of his pencil with his elbows.

__

Finally, the bell rings, signaling the end of the lecture. Students jump out of their seats, chatting excitedly as they head for the door. The thought of food immediately hits Raimu.

"Finally," he murmurs under his breath, a small sigh of relief escaping his lips. "Time to eat." He stands up sluggishly, stretching his arms above his head, feeling the familiar ache in his muscles from the morning's training.

Takuma nudges him, but Raimu doesn't respond right away. His gaze is already focused on the cafeteria ahead. He moves toward the food line, walking with a tired yet determined pace. But his eyes aren't on the food — they're fixed on the dessert section. The cakes, cookies, and puddings are all neatly displayed behind a glass case, gleaming under the fluorescent lights.

Raimu's hands instinctively hover over the glass, his fingers twitching. His stomach growls, urging him to give in. The soft layers of cake call to him, the whipped cream beckoning him like a siren's song. But the memory of Iruka's punishment is still fresh in his mind, and a shiver runs down his spine. No dessert, no sweets, nothing today.

"I can't… I can't do it…" Raimu mutters under his breath. He stands there for a moment, torn between the temptation and the punishment that looms over him. The more he stares, the harder it becomes to resist.

Raimu's eyes flicker around, his golden gaze sharp despite the fog of exhaustion clouding his thoughts. The cafeteria is bustling with students, but no one is paying attention to him. Iruka-sensei isn't around. Maybe, just maybe, he could sneak a small bite. A quick slice of cake wouldn't hurt anyone, right?

Raimu's hand slowly reaches for the dessert. Just as his fingers are about to touch the glass, he hears a familiar voice.

"Stop!! Do you want us to go through that torture again?" Takuma's voice rings out from behind him, loud and clear. As he's running straight for him.

Before Raimu can react, he feels Takuma's entire weight slam into him, tackling him to the ground. Raimu yelps, his body hitting the cold cafeteria floor with a thud.

The students around them start to gather, their curious whispers turning into loud chatter as they crowd around, forming a circle. They're all convinced that Raimu and Takuma are fighting again. Takuma straddles Raimu, holding him in place with his arms wrapped tightly around Raimu's chest.

Raimu, lying flat on his back, grunts in frustration. "I just need a slice of cake!" He struggles beneath Takuma's weight, his arms flailing.

"How can you even run if you're so sore?"

Raimu shoves Takuma off of him with a sudden burst of energy, the students gasping in shock. He stands up and brushes off his clothes, a tired sigh escaping his lips as he turns to walk toward the cafeteria exit.

"We can't do it! Don't break the rules!" Takuma yells.

Raimu doesn't respond. He just walks out, shoulders slumped and eyes tired. The bell rings again, signaling the end of lunch.

Takuma watches him go, relieved that Raimu didn't go rogue and break the rule. The students who were circling the two of them begin to drift back to their seats, muttering to each other in disappointment.

"Man, I really thought they were gonna fight, again."

Takuma turns to face them, his hands in his pockets. "Nah. You don't want to know what Iruka-sensei might do to us again."

As Raimu walks away from the cafeteria, he feels the familiar ache of unfulfilled desire gnawing at him. He's not even sure why he didn't just grab the cake—maybe it's the shame of breaking the rule, or maybe it's just the weight of the day finally hitting him.