The Way of Heroes
Disclaimer: This story is intended for pure, free entertainment. I don't own any of the characters, concepts, or properties created by/maintained/owned by Eiichiro Oda, Viz Media, Funimation Studios, Masashi Kishimoto, or TV Tokyo. During this epic story I will attempt to bridge the gap between these two awesome tales, while still maintaining the integrity of the original masterpieces which I hold deep respect and love for both so I encourage you to buy the original material and not pirate over the internet. Now, after accomplishing the fact that I will not be sued during this production, here's the work in all it's glory!
Here's the edited version of the first chapter! Now as the Sagas have names, the Page Breaks will be changed to 'Enter the Ninja World'
A1: E1./1. To be the Pirate King and the Next Hokage
"Twelve years ago, a Nine-Tailed Fox suddenly appeared; its tails lashed out smashing mountains and sending tidal waves crashing to the shore. Ninja rose up to defend the village," An old man recalled and looked at his listener who picked his nose and readjusted his straw hat. The elder had a gray beard on his chin and spiked hair on his scalp. Scratching his facial hair, the man smoothed his white robe as he remembered that fateful night.
Wind rushed through the trees as dozens of ninja charged the beast. Without so much as wincing, the gigantic scarlet vulpine pounced onto the forest. One shinobi ordered, "Hold it right here and wait for the Fourth Hokage!" A titanic frog of equal proportion to the Fox smoked out of a pipe, it wore a robe and a man stood on top of it.
"One shinobi fought the Nine-Tailed Fox in mortal combat. He sacrificed his life to capture the beast. Using all his energy, he sealed the Fox into a single child, dying for this village - This hero was known as the Fourth Hokage." The elder completed the tale, staring at the child before him. Every other person who had ever been told that story had been awestruck, but this kid seemed to care less. "So uh, cool story Old Man but why are you telling me?"
In reply the guru sighed, "Because I believed that you were smart enough to understand. I thought you would care. But I suppose I was wrong." "It's not that I don't care Old Man, it's just that I'm on a mission," The boy explained. Taken aback, the elder asked, "And what would that be Luffy?" "I'm gonna be find the One Piece and become King of the Pirates." Luffy answered and the old man smiled slightly and thought to himself, This boy has a lot ahead of him.
Enter the Ninja World
Outside in the village center a short blonde ran off with a bucket of paint in his hand, his orange jacket tied around his waist. A good four feet behind him, a pair of ninja in green flak jackets gave chase to the cackling preteen. One threatened, "Naruto when I get my hands on you..." Then the trio took the pursuit to the rooftops, leaping superhumanly while going higher and higher. Behind them an enormous monument etched into a mountain revealed the cause of the chase: four human faces had been desecrated with multicolored graffiti. Naruto laughed heartily, "Give it up! You're just mad because you don't have the guts to do what I do! Losers! Wannabes!"
Enter the Ninja World
Within the old man's office, Luffy sat cross-legged on the floor as the elder spoke to him, "So why did you come here?" But the odd duo's discussion was interrupted by a shinobi who charged in shouting, "Lord Hokage it's an emergency!" Angrily scowling at the ninja, the Hokage growled, "I hope you aren't bothering me with something trivial. And don't tell me it's Naruto again." The ninja stammered, "But - it is Naruto sir. He drew graffiti all over the Hokage." "Whoever this Naruto guy is I can take him Old Man," Luffy puffed, but the Hokage shook his head. Sighing with tiredness, the old man plopped a pipe into his mouth.
Meanwhile the great ninja chase was still on, right before Naruto used a canvas that conveniently matched the fence behind him as camouflage, concealing him from his search party. Making an adjustment to the green goggles on his head, Naruto snickered, "That was too easy!" From behind him a man with brown hair and tan skin with a bandage on his nose screeched, "OH yeah Naruto?!" This man had the same gear as the shinobi that had chased the blonde before.
"What are you doing here Iruka-sensei?"
"No what are you doing here? You're supposed to be in class!"
Enter the Ninja World
In the Hokage's small office, Luffy waited impatiently for his host to return. Curiously looking around, the straw hat kid explored the room with his eyes. From his seated position he could see the leader's desk and a shelf of books to the left of it. Other than that and the Leaf flag on the wall behind the desk next to the window, the room was quite simple and plain. But to Luffy it had a homey feel, especially as the smell of roast beef reached his nostrils. "MEAT!" He screamed as the Hokage brought in a platter of roasted beef slices covered in gravy. Luffy grabbed at it, but the old man pulled away faster than the gangly youth could reach. Lord Hokage smiled, knowing he had the boy beat, "Not until we finish talking young man. And show some respect, take your hat off."
"But..." Luffy said as he awkwardly fingered his hat, as if he had never been without it on his head. The Hokage teased the meat toward his victim's face and Luffy gave in, taking off his hat to reveal his raven hair. "Now why are you in this village?" Hokage asked, Luffy quickly answered as he eyed the platter, "Because I wanna be King of the Pirates!" "What does that have to do with the Leaf? Pirates almost never go this far inland. " The Hokage wondered but Luffy was finished. He screamed, "No more questions!" And dove into the heavenly meat that melted onto his taste buds. Quickly half of the platter had been downed, and with a full mouth Luffy explained,"Thish ish where Gold Roger fought hish lasht battle." Now understanding, the Hokage nodded, "I see..." Luffy's lips smacked together between chews, and he grinned to himself as he felt his scar.
Recalling the final battle of the Pirate King, the Hokage scratched his beard. He said, "Gol D. Roger attempted to use this peaceful place as refuge from the marines, making the Leaf Village a battleground between pirates and the Blue Government*. My people were put in grave danger; I refuse to allow anymore pirates into my midst." Luffy responded in surprise, "So I can go right?" Jumping with excitement, the pirate prepared to leave when he was stopped by the old man's orders, "Stop now boy. You cannot leave my village without permission. You do not have a home correct?"
"Uh I live on my boat."
"Then as the Third Hokage of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, I declare you, Monkey D. Luffy citizen of the Land of Fire. Thus you are under my governing and jurisdiction."
Luffy yawned at the Fire Shadow's declaration, "You know I'm a pirate right? I don't follow your stupid rules! Idiot!" Luffy laughed now, getting ready to leave the Hokage and the Leaf behind. Yet again, the pirate was halted by the ninja lord's words.
"I cannot believe you you brat! My shinobi saved your life from starvation by giving you a place to stay and food to eat after you wandered into the village. You will return our favor!" The Hokage steamed, rage creeping into his eyes. It was several moments before Luffy said anything, his face went cold from lack of emotion. "I guess I wasn't ready Shanks... If it hadn't been for these ninja I would've died. A real pirate can battle dozens of enemies at a time without being scared, but I couldn't even last a few days without food." The pirate boy was near tears as he whispered to his straw hat, though his headwear granted him no comfort. The Third Hokage got up from his desk, and patted the boy on the shoulder, "It's okay, we just need your service. In return for your living quarters and food you will be working."
"Working how?"
"Graduation Exams will be held soon. The next generation of ninja will soon be selected; fitting times for a powerful pirate like you to arrive. I personally will prepare you for what is to come."
Enter the Ninja World
"I'm at the end of my rope with you Naruto!" Iruka snapped, "You failed the Graduation Test the last time and the time before that. Tomorrow you've got another chance, and you're messing up again!" The tanned teacher had Naruto tied with rope and the kid was rebelliously squirming to look away from his sensei. Iruka remembered the times Naruto had taken the test before. He was eight months older than his classmates, allowing him to take the Graduation Exams earlier than most. But he had failed the first time, luckily it was a biannual event which allowed Naruto to try again, but as a rule a student was only given three shots to pass the test, and this was Naruto's last chance. Now Iruka called out to the class, "But because you missed it Naruto, everyone will review the Transformation Jutsu."
Enter the Ninja World
Now the Hokage and Luffy stood on the roof of the Fire Shadow's building, each taking up a combat stance. In the sizzling heat, the Third Hokage had put his red and white broad hat on to avoid the Sun's angry rays. Luffy wore his hat, and he scratched his hair through it. The Third Hokage focused and sucked in air, holding it for a second. As he released it, a series of odd signs were made with his hands and a spout of crimson fire shot out of his mouth. When the torrent ended, the old man smiled, "Fire Style - Fire Dragon Bullet." Gawking in awe, Luffy excitedly asked, "Where'd you get that awesome hat Old Man?"
Enter the Ninja World
At the Academy, a pinkette with red clothes and a scarlet bow made her presence known. In front of the class, the girl cried, "Alright, Sakura here! Transform!" Following a quick hand sign and a puff of magic white smoke, Sakura had gone but in her place was Iruka. A nod and a smile from the real Iruka as he jotted down notes onto his clip board made Sakura cheer while she reverted back to her true form. "I did it!" She cried, and within her mind another voice shouted, YEAH! I kicked butt!
A dark haired boy with a blue jacket strode forward as Sakura left, making a hand sign and silently transforming. One puff of smoke later and he was a spitting image of Iruka. The latter approved, "Good Sasuke." With another plume of white smoke, the jutsu had been undone. Iruka called, "Next, Naruto Uzumaki!" As the blonde got up from his place in line, two people at Naruto's sides complained. The first was on his left, a boy with dark hair and a light jacket with brown pants. His was a calm warning, "This is a waste of time Naruto." A blonde girl at Naruto's right wore purple, sighing, "Here we go again. We always have to pay for your screw ups!"
Naruto tried to ignore the two but their words got to him. He grumbled, "I don't care." An awkward and pale girl with dark blue hair and white eyes blushed as she watched Naruto and thought to herself, Do your best. The girl had a gray sweatshirt that seemed two sizes too big as she uncomfortably shuffled around in place. Focusing his energy, blue bolts of energy crackled around Naruto as he made a hand sign. "Transform!" Naruto cried out, and the smoke signified that something had happened. In his place there was not a copy of his teacher. Rather, a naked blonde girl whose pig tails' size was only rivaled by the gigantism of her... Chest. Steam covered her more private parts from view. She blew a kiss to Iruka, whose nose immediately bled, causing his bandage to fall off. Reappearing via smoke, Naruto cackled,"Gotcha! That was my Sexy Jutsu! Hahahaha!" Iruka angrily charged at him, screaming into the blonde ninja's face, "Cut the stupid tricks! This is your last warning!"
Enter the Ninja World
Luffy and the Third Hokage were in his office again, and discussed Luffy's future. "I will train you Luffy, but you must stay in the Leaf Village until I give you permission to leave. You are a citizen now, but unfortunately you cannot become a ninja. You seem to have no Chakra, and no training." The future Pirate King snorted, "Why would I want to become a ninja? I'm a pirate and I don't need any Chakra, whatever that is. I ate the Gum Gum Fruit and I trained for 8 years, I can do anything a ninja can!"
Enter the Ninja World
Iruka sat on a bench, watching as Naruto scrubbed at the defaced visages of the Hokage Monument. Iruka shouted up to the boy, "We're not leaving until you clean off every last drop of paint." Naruto angrily replied, "So what? It's not like there's anyone waiting at home for me!" But the rebellious boy continued cleaning the faces. Iruka got up, crossing his arms in thought. An idea suddenly came to mind. "Naruto?" Iruka asked.
"What do you want now Sensei?"
"I was just thinking... Maybe after you finish cleaning this all up I could take you out for some ramen."
"Now that's some serious motivation!"
Enter the Ninja World
Night had fallen onto the Leaf Village and Naruto cheerily slurped up his ramen. His jacket was on but his goggles were on the table. Iruka looked at his student wondering, "Naruto, why would you do that to the Hokage faces? You do know who the Hokage are right?" Teacher and student were sitting at the counter of the noodle shop, and Naruto swallowed his mouthful before answering, "Of course I do. Everyone knows, they were the greatest shinobi of their time right? The best of the best, undisputed ninja champs. And the Fourth Hokage was the one who saved the village from the Nine Tailed Fox, he was the most amazing." This just confused his sensei even more, and Iruka questioned, "Then why would you -"
"Because I'm gonna be greater than all of them. Me, Naruto, the next Hokage! A ninja legend, then everyone will stop disrespecting me and start treating me like I'm somebody, somebody important. Everyone will look up to me, believe it!"
Naruto ranted, interrupting his mentor. Iruka slurped a noodle that was hanging out of his mouth. Suddenly a new face came through the door, a boy with a red shirt and a straw hat. "Believe what?" Luffy asked, and Naruto answered, "That I'm gonna be the Hokage someday, the best ninja ever!" Grinning brightly, Luffy declared, "Great! You and I are not so different then."
"What?"
"Well ya see... I'm Monkey D. Luffy and I'm gonna be King of the Pirates!"
Having been distracted, Luffy had temporarily forgotten about his current goal. His stomach ached and the pirate asked, "Do either of you know where I can find some meat?" Iruka spoke up for the first time since Luffy had come in, "The deli is around the corner, but you're welcome to eat with us..." Luffy asked, "What are you eating?" "Ramen, good stuff." Naruto answered, and Luffy sat next to the blonde kindred spirit. "So what kind of meat is ramen?" Luffy wondered before Iruka ordered into the kitchen, "One chicken ramen special please!"
When Luffy got his bowl, he eagerly scarfed two mouthfuls before he tasted the food. But when he did, he swallowed like a boy forced to take medication. Luffy's skin went green and he ran out the door. Iruka shook his head, "He's a weird one isn't he?" A large man in an apron washed a bowl with a rag, looking at Iruka. "I'll pay for him too." The man nodded but explained, "I can't take this kind of money, looks like Belis. We only take Ryou here." Several crumpled bills were in the big man's hand, which he gave to Iruka. The Sensei thought to himself, Definitely weird. Not from around here either. Only the Blue Kingdoms use that kind of money. Naruto smiled uncharacteristically sweetly at his teacher, "Iruka-sensei? I want a favor..."
"You want another bowl?"
"No -"
"What is it?"
"I... wanna try on your headband. Come on please!"
Naruto prayed with his hands, clearly willing to beg his mentor. Iruka coolly adjusted his headband, a Leaf symbol on its metal front, "OH this? You can only wear the Leaf headband once you've graduated the Academy and become a ninja." With his bandage gone, Iruka's scar was revealed, a single clean slash across the middle of his nose and just reaching where his eyes would be if they were lower. "You gotta pass the test tomorrow," Iruka reminded encouragingly.
"This is so uncool!"
"That's why you took off your goggles isn't it?"
"Uh I want another bowl!"
The Way of Heroes
The next day at the Academy, all of the ninja hopefuls sat at their desks, ready and confident. Luffy and the Third Hokage stood in the doorway watching. Iruka read from a piece of paper, "We will now start the Final Exam. When your name is called please come to the testing area. The test will be on, the Clone Jutsu." Iruka looked at the Third Hokage, who nodded his approval. Lord Hokage had been smart, giving Luffy an oddly large turkey leg to eat as they watched the exams. Luffy ravenously dug into the meat with hungry teeth. Suddenly, Naruto was terrified; his face twisted in agony. Clone Jutsu? Great, that's my worst technique. I'm never gonna pass!
After all of the other students had been tested and passed, Naruto was finally called in. Iruka and a silver haired man with his own headband say and scrutinized Naruto as he got into his stance. Rows of headbands with the Leaf symbol on the forehead proctor lined a table that the proctors sat behind, gleaming in Naruto's eyes.
Trying to ignore the sounds of Luffy's lips smacking on the juicy rack of ribs the Third Hokage had given him, Naruto breathed in and out. BBQed air filled the room and the proctors' and Naruto's senses. It was no wonder the Third Hokage had left. Sitting next to the silver haired examiner, Luffy hadn't had a care in the world.
Making a hand sign, Naruto's navy energy surged as he called, "Clone Jutsu!" White smoke erupted from the student blocking the proctors' senses. Even Luffy stopped what he was doing and held his breath.
Underwhelmingly, next to Naruto was a sickly and unsaturated clone lying on the floor dumbly. As dim as ever Luffy got back to gorging on his meat. Naruto knew he'd lost. He darkly scowled at the ground, angry at himself. When Iruka yelled, "You failed!" It hit Naruto like a wicked hammer. The silver haired proctor looked at his fellow supervisor, "Iruka-sensei, he was off on the stance but his moves weren't bad and he did hang in there and replicate. Maybe we could cut him a break..."
"We can't do that Mizuki-sensei. The other students were able to produce at least three effective clones. Naruto could only make one and look at it, it's pitiful."
"But this is his last try..."
"No Mizuki. He failed."
Naruto pouted, "If he hadn't been eating the whole time and distracting me, I would've passed!" The blonde angrily pointed at Luffy. Luffy fell backwards out of his seat from laughing so hard, "You're so stupid! Hahaha what an idiot!" Naruto rushed him, jumping over the table and landing on top of the pirate. Grabbing him by the collar, Naruto pulled him up, their noses nearly touching and his whiskers brushing Luffy's face.
Naruto eyed Luffy's scar as if seeing it for the first time, it was right under his eye and Luffy burned him with anger right before punching him in the head. Naruto fell down, he'd been distracted by the scar to react fast enough. The table fell on top of the failed shinobi, headbands raining down on him. Iruka leapt up, yelling, "Stop it you two!" Luffy walked away and snorted, "You aren't worth it. I bled for my dream!" He pointed to his scar and screamed, "What did you give up? I trained for eight years! You just painted on some statues of famous people!"
Enter the Ninja World
Later, outside of the Academy all of the newly graduated ninja celebrated with each other and their parents, the Third Hokage and Luffy stood next to Iruka as they congratulated various students. Naruto sat on a swing set, alone and melancholic.
He looked at the students who were met by their parents, friends, and even siblings. Naruto had none of that. He heard someone talk about him in the crowd. "It's that boy... He didn't graduate." A woman whispered when she noticed that unlike his entire class, Naruto was without a headband. Another replied to her friend, "Serves him right. Can you imagine if he became a ninja? He's the boy who..." "Shhh! We aren't allowed to talk about that. Remember the decree?" The first woman became silent, and her friend nodded.
Near tears, Naruto sniffed and rubbed his eyes. To his surprise Mizuki stood behind him, smiling. On the outside of the crowd, the Third Hokage whispered to Iruka, "There's something we need to talk about." Then both ninja noticed that the blonde had left the swing set and Mizuki was nowhere to be found.
Enter the Ninja World
On the balcony of a house, Mizuki sat next to Naruto, whose legs were dangling off the side. The orange tiles were hard on Naruto's butt, but the boy was too distraught to notice at the moment. On the wall of the house they occupied, a painting of the red symbol of the Leaf shone proudly, as if taunting Naruto about the world that he couldn't be a part of now. "Iruka is tough, but he's not against you," Mizuki soothed, but it had no effect. Naruto asked, "Then why? Why only me?"
"He wants you to be strong with all his heart, but that will never happen if he goes easy on you."
"He doesn't understand."
"He does, more than anyone. He is just like you ya know, no parents, no family."
"But this was my last chance to become a ninja..."
"Well then I guess I'll have to tell you..."
"Tell me what?"
"It's a secret but I'm gonna let you in on it."
Enter the Ninja World
Iruka was lying on his bed, thinking about his conversation with the Third Hokage. He looked around the room, it was simple and everything but the mattress he slept on was made of wood. On a desk next to him he saw a picture of his parents. Tears welled up in his eyes, and Iruka quickly tried to think of something else.
"Iruka, I know how you feel, you are just like Naruto." The Third Hokage had said, and Iruka nodded. Lord Hokage continued, "Neither of you can feel the love of a father or the warmth of a mother. No family, few friends. You and I both know how hard Naruto tried to make friends, and we tried to make his life as normal as possible. Unfortunately Naruto saw through the weak smiles the villagers wore in front of him, and whispers were still spoken, all because of that one day, that one moment in his past."
Then Iruka remembered the day that the Nine Tails attacked, all those years ago. The monster had taken his family that dreadful night. A ninja had taken Iruka off the battlefield who screamed, "No my mom and dad are still fighting back there!"
Iruka was thundered out of his remembrance by a pounding on his door. He went to it, surprised to see Mizuki. The silver haired sensei looked worried, he explained, "You need to come to Lord Hokage's right away. It's Naruto!" "What did he do?" Iruka asked, and Mizuki replied, "He stole the Sacred Scroll."
Enter the Ninja World
Calmly reading from a scroll as tall as him, Naruto sat and read, "Let's see... The first jutsu is the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu. Not this again! It's my worst jutsu!" His skin and hair had a thin layer of sweat on them, as Mizuki had told Naruto to get to the designated location, any place in the forest that the blonde chose. Naruto had suggested it, the place where Naruto would hang around in his youth. He and Iruka would hang around there throughout a good deal of Naruto's childhood, so many happy memories with his Sensei, pushing Naruto's desire to make him proud. This was the playhouse where Naruto would not only become a ninja, but also where he had become a real kid with hopes and dreams. All had been through Iruka.
Enter the Ninja World
Mizuki and Iruka both stood in front of the Hokage, alone with the leader. Iruka asked, "Lord Hokage, where are the search parties?" The Hokage explained, "Iruka we don't need to jump to any conclusions. While the scroll is extremely dangerous, we don't want to provoke the villagers or Naruto by making this into a disaster. This could lead to a tragedy if we do not keep this quiet, just you and Mizuki will search for him." Now where did that idiot kid say the playhouse was? Damn - The one time he says something important! Mizuki thought as he raced off across balcony and roof and wall. Stealthily, Luffy had overheard everything. The Old Man had been fooled into thinking that Luffy had gone to sleep, but the future King of the Pirates doesn't need to sleep! That guy stole a powerful scroll huh? Maybe he could join my crew...
Enter the Ninja World
With worry in his eyes and speed in his body, Iruka thought to himself, Where would Naruto go? He has to be somewhere that he feels safe. That's familiar to him... "That's it!" Iruka cried into the night, and rushed into the forest towards an old spot that he had fond memories of. Don't worry Naruto I won't let anything bad happen to you. I promised you.
On the other side of the village Mizuki grinned sadistically, As soon as I find that little brat I'll kill him, and I'll say he was going berserk, almost letting it out. Of course I'll keep the scroll to myself and the villagers will call me a hero for killing the demon. Mizuki jumped from rooftop to rooftop and as he entered the forest, he patted his huge shuriken holstered on his back.
Enter the Ninja World
Naruto sat on the ground, dirty and panting. Trying to catch his breath, he was surprised when Iruka said, "It's all over!" Iruka looked tired, as the playhouse was a good distance from the Village. Grinning, Naruto scratched his head, "You got me Iruka-sensei! But not before I learned the new technique!" Iruka was confused, He's been practicing out here? Why? "Listen Iruka-sensei I got this cool new jutsu, I just need to show it to you then you're gonna let me graduate and everything'll be okay! That's the way it works right? Anyone who learns a jutsu from this scroll passes."
"Where'd you get that idea from?"
"Mizuki-sensei! Believe it, he told me to get the scroll and to bring it to this place..."
Dozens of shuriken flew from the shadowy trees around them, and Iruka screeched, "Look out!" Shoving Naruto aside, the teacher was forced to take all of the blades. Sweat gleamed on Iruka's forehead as he yanked two of the piercing weapons out of his skin. Luckily they weren't deep, so they didn't bleed much, though they stung like the most angry of venomous wasps. "I see you found our little hideaway Iruka," Mizuki's sinister voice snickered from the trees. Both ninja-wannabe and Chunin instructor looked into the top of a tree, only to see the evil Mizuki poised to strike.
The Silver-haired Sensei called, "Naruto, give me the scroll now!" "Don't let Mizuki get the scroll! It contains forbidden jutsu that could put this village in grave danger! He wants to use the scroll for himself, for his own power." "Naruto, Iruka is just trying to scare you because he doesn't want you to have the scroll," Mizuki explained in a slightly mocking tone. Confused, Naruto looked at his teacher.
Iruka locked eyes with his student, but called out his former ally, "Stop lying Mizuki! You're just trying to trick Naruto!" Cackling, the silver haired man shook his head, "Oh I'll tell you who is really lying, ever since the decree 12 years ago. Everyone knows except you, Iruka is lying to you about it even now. He'd do anything to shut me up!" "What is this decree?" Naruto asked, now concerned.
"Don't tell him it's forbidden!" Iruka howled in a last stitch attempt to silence his traitorous comrade. Sneering, Mizuki continued to spite the tan teacher, "The decree is: no one is allowed to tell you the Nine-Tailed Fox is inside you!" Eyes wide, Naruto gasped at this sudden and surprising revelation. "The Fox Spirit that destroyed the village and killed Iruka's parents, the reason everyone secretly hates you, why they pretended to like you. So you didn't destroy them with your evil powers! It has taken over your body; you are the Nine-Tailed Fox!"
Suddenly everything clicked with Naruto. Everything about his life made sense. The mysterious gifts on his doorstep, the fake smiles everyone wore around him, the whispers. Everything clicked at once. They pretended to like him in an attempt to keep him happy, all out of fear. Iruka, Lord Hokage, they had all pretended to like his company, all because they were afraid of what he could do. I'm a monster... With tears in his eyes, Naruto screamed, "NO! NO no no no!" Blue energy circled his crouched form, teeth bared like an animal.
"That's why you'll never be accepted by this village, even your beloved sensei pretended to like you, when he actually hates your guts!" Mizuki stabbed vocally, twisting a metaphorical knife into Naruto's gut. His words burned like a charcoal that Naruto was forced to accept and swallow. Iruka groaned again feeling the sting of the shuriken as he pulled two more out, slumping against the wall of the play house. He never felt the love of a father, the care of a mother. He feels shut out from everything and he doesn't know why. He feels that everyone is pretending to enjoy his company, and most are. He just wants to be geuinely cared for, that's why he gets into trouble, to know that his friends and the village care. He's always thinking about the family he doesn't have. Iruka remembered the Hokage's words as he gritted his teeth and pulled out three more of the pesky blades.
"What? That's ridiculous! Why would I hate Naruto for having a fox in him? I just think he's an idiot!" Luffy's voice laughed heartily beneath Mizuki's branch, and the future Pirate King grinned as he locked eyes with Naruto. Focusing his strength, Luffy called, "He might be a Fox Ninja, but I'm a Rubber Pirate! Gum Gum Pistol!" Launching his arm into Mizuki's branch, the powerful elongated punch smashed through the wooden obstacle. Falling ungracefully into the ground, Mizuki lied there for a second, as Luffy cheered at his own strength.
Iruka gaped in awe at the newcomer's strength and power, and smiled at his honesty towards his student. Luffy, huh? Looks like Naruto has finally found a good friend, someone who can relate to him. Choji, Shikamaru and Kiba all liked Naruto well enough, but none of them really understood him. Luffy can. Getting up, Mizuki yowled, "Eat this Rubber Boy!" Throwing down a lit bomb, Luffy shouted, "You think you can runaway with a smoke bomb?" But this was no regular smoke, the purple fumes covered Luffy, and the foreign material entered his lungs and burnt his eyes. After a coughing fit, the smoke dissipated, and Mizuki grinned, "No but this Paralysis Bomb should keep you out of this."
Whipping out and spinning his huge fuma shuriken, Mizuki lobbed the huge blade at Naruto, who was paralyzed with fear. Closing his eyes, Naruto screamed as he heard the metal enter flesh in a painful collision. With his eyes open, Naruto saw that he had once again been saved, but this time at the expense of his sensei's back. Blood dripped onto Naruto's forehead as Iruka spoke.
"I know how you feel. When my parents died, no one seemed to care... So I became a class clown! I just wanted the attention, and when that went away I went to further extremes, and I felt worse. I needed a friend, so I became a ninja, and a teacher. I was always your friend, a lot of the villagers are scared of you, yes, but that's because they were scared of the Fox. They don't understand. I always did, and you have real friends. Kiba, Shikamaru, Choji, the Third Hokage, me, Luffy. We all care about you. Not because of some stupid demon inside you, but because of who you are. We all love you Naruto." Iruka said, wholeheartedly, he coughed and fell off his student. Away from them, Luffy stubbornly tried to agree despite his paralysis, "Yesh you idit!"
Mizuki had to ruin the moment however, "Wow Iruka that was so touching, I think I'll save killing you for last. Unfortunately I ran out of Paralysis Smoke so just sit still." Walking calmly over to the student-teacher pair, Mizuki harshly yanked his shuriken out of Iruka's back and kicked him over, making him lie next to Naruto, face down. That was a mistake.
Naruto's blue energy shot up, as did he, and his eyes gleamed with cold blue hatred. "If you ever lay a hand on my sensei, I'll kill you!" Baring his teeth again, Naruto shouted to the heavens, "I'm going to be the next Hokage! Believe it!" Luffy agreed, shouting something that Naruto didn't quite understand, "Go! Beat thish bashteard!" Mizuki grinned, whispering, "Show me what you can do Nine-Tailed Fox!" Naruto put his hands together, forming a cross-like symbol, shouting, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Out of mystical white smoke, dozens upon dozens of duplicates of Naruto grinned at Mizuki. Luffy tried to scowl and make growling noises too but the whole paralysis thing didn't make the fifteen year old pirate anymore intimidating. Swarming the former teacher, Mizuki was left as a bloody pulp as the Sun crested the horizon, rising slowly along with a new day, and a new friendship for both Luffy and Naruto.
Crouching next to Iruka, Naruto grabbed his hand, "Iruka-sensei? Are you alright?" Iruka shrugged, "Don't worry about me, this is nothing just take this headband. You're a ninja now; you made me so proud."
"But you're bleeding Sensei!"
"How are you feeling Naruto? Are you happy?"
"Of course but..."
"Then I've never felt better."
AN:
*This does mean that the Ninja Nations are allied with the 'Blue Government' a group protected by marines and headed by the 'Blue Nobles'. Thus, Pirates and Ninja are enemies.
I hope to address and fix all the mistakes or flaws of the original series with this Fic, so anyone with complaints about the series should vent their frustrations to me via PM. Thank you.
Thanks in advance for all the feedback, and I hope I don't disappoint with next week, because I think it's much better than this chapter.
Thanks for the view and remember, to read, review and get your game on!
AN: I decided to skip the Introduction and go right into the Land of Waves.