Nothing really to say here other than I rather dislike currently (and will not be posting here often, more as a way to promote Ao3), and can be found on www,archiveofourown,org aka Ao3. I will not be responding to reviews or PMs here, so if you'd like to criticise/approve of this work, you can find this story, same name, on Ao3.

Updates here will not be regular (not that the story has a regular update timeframe...)

Anyhow, off to the story!

DarkEclipse | Kossetsu Suru

SUMMARY

The shinobi world is full of deceit. Lies and treachery command the unstable relationships between both people and nations. But, when "Looking under the underneath" isn't enough, where do you turn? When the life you've been living, the only life you've ever known has completely been a lie, where do you go? Who can you trust to actually be who they say? When the rookie twelve find out some dark truth about life, they start learning some darker truths about themselves. How can they cope when the world as they know is crumbling down around them? Who can they really trust? Themselves, even? Surely not.

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"Narutoooooo!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed heavily before pulling out another paper from the large stack sitting on the left side of his down wearily at it, he skimmed over the details and sighed again. 'Another attempt by the council to control Naruto-kun...' He set the paper to the side, marking it with an "Approval Denied." He picked up the next paper - a request for grain import by a large merchant. He looked over it more thoroughly before signing his approval and setting it into a separate, much smaller pile on the right side of his desk.

"Don't let him get away!"
"Come back here, brat!"
"He'll pay for defacing our preciou-"

"Hokage-sama?" Hiruzen's head turned back towards his doorway, to where his secretary was poking her head in the door.
"My apologies, Hira-san. Did you need something?" He glanced back at the pile of papers to his left, before his eye started twitching. The pile was noticeably larger than it was before he looked away.
"Asuma-san is here to see you."
"Please, send him in." 'I need a distraction from these papers anyway...' She nodded courteously before ducking back outside.

Asuma stepped through the doorway, unlit cigarette hanging from his mouth, as he dipped his head respectfully. "Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen waved his son off before glancing down at his papers again, which had grown again, and letting off a heavy sigh. "What can I do for you Asuma?"
Asuma let off a small chuckle at his father's behavior, and the ever growing stack of papers to be signed. "Well," he paused, working up his courage to speak. "I was hoping I could convince you to change my team around for tomorrow."
"Change your team? I thought you wanted the new Ino-Shika-Cho trio. Didn't you personally request them just the other day?"
Asuma sighed heavily. "Yes, but I don't think that they will be as successful as their fathers."
"Not as successful? Any reason why you think so?"
"They don't have the same dynamic. Ino dislikes both Choji and Shikamaru, Choji is too passive to get Shikamaru to do anything, and Shikamaru is far lazier than his father will ever hope to be."
"Hmm... That does seem to be an issue. What would you suggest then?"
"Well I think I would like to have..."

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A group of 3 shinobi sprinted down an alleyway, before coming to an intersection, looking every direction, and sprinting down the right path. A few seconds later, a section of the wall dropped, revealing a grinning blond, wearing a bright orange jumpsuit.
"HA! That'll teach them to try and find me." He stuck out his tongue down the alley before turning around to sneak back to class, only to find his shinobi instructor standing directly in front of him. "Ehehehe. How are ya Iruka-sensei?"
"Naruto... Was that you who painted the Hokage monument?" Iruka pointed at the mountain slightly behind him and to his right.
The boisterous blond, grin faltering slightly, looked up at his sensei still chuckling nervously, "Yeah! It was my greatest prank yet!"
Iruka's glare intensified before he grabbed the back of Naruto's jacket and dragged him off. "You'll be coming back to finish class now, and afterwards, you'll be cleaning off the mess you made of the Hokage Monument." Naruto just grumbled quietly under his breath, arms crossed and an irritated frown on his face.

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The Hokage sat behind his desk, looking out his window at Naruto, who was dutifully scrubbing his "art" off the monument in the dying light. After a few more minutes of watching Naruto clean, he turned back to the room's other occupant and spoke. "So, Iruka, do you think he will have a chance of passing this year?"
"Honestly, Hokage-sama? No. From what he has shown in class, he will not be able to pass with his bunshin."
"That's unfortunate. How is the situation with Mizuki?"
"I have a feeling he will be making his move this time around. He's been harsher than ever before on Naruto, to the point of putting Genjutsu on his previous written exam."
"Very well. I will have an ANBU tail him at all times then. Now onto your current class of genin-to-be. I will be handing out team assignment to the jounin tomorrow morning. I have had personal requests for Sasuke, Shikamaru, and Hinata. Will there be any problem with these three passing the exam?"
Iruka shook his head, somewhat expecting those three to be personally requested. "I have no doubt in them. Shikamaru will pass, if only just. Are they the only ones requested by name Hokage-sama?"
"No. The full list is Sasuke, Shikamaru, Hinata, Shino, Kiba, Sakura, Ino, Choji, and Naruto."
"Naruto, Hokage-sama? And if he doesn't pass?"
The old Hokage chuckled to himself for a moment. "I have no doubt he will pass one way, or another."
"Hokage-sama?" Hiruzen waved him off. "Now go see to Naruto-kun, since you promised him ramen, and without a doubt he'll find you sooner or later."
"Hai, Hokage-sama."

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Iruka walked up to the base of the monument, to a sweating Naruto who had his jacket tied around his waist, revealing his black shinobi undershirt. Raising a hand in greeting he called out, "Hey, Naruto!"
Naruto glanced over and a huge grin flashed onto his face. "Hey Iruka-sensei. I just finished cleaning."
"I can see. How about we go get some ramen, my treat."
Naruto's face lit up. "Ramen? Let's go!"
Iruka sweat dropped at his student's eagerness to go get some ramen, but bolted after him once he realized Naruto was already gone. "Only a few bowls, okay?"

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Naruto closed the door to his apartment slowly, the ever-present grin sliding off his face. His hand snaked out to the door frame and touched a lightly engraved pattern, that when examined closer, snaked around the entirety of the doorway. Channeling a bit of chakra, the engravings glowed a faint blue, before returning to normal.
He glanced around the messy apartment and rubbed his right shoulder. After taking his jacket off, carefully because his shoulder was on fire, he crashed onto his lumpy couch and let out a satisfied groan at the prospect of relaxing. "Cleaning that monument off was death to my shoulders. And arms. And back. Screw it, I just ache." He complained out loud, to no one in particular.
After a few minutes of just lying on his couch and enjoying the ability to lie down, he pushed himself upright and padded off to his room. Once there, he checked his window, to make sure no one broke in while he was away, and then reached underneath his bed to a stash of scrolls. Pulling out three of them for the moment, and putting one back, he nodded to himself and moved back out to his couch.
Setting the first one he pulled out to the side for the moment, he unrolled the second, looking for his previous spot in the writing.
He sat there reading for a few minutes, squinting at the scroll before coming across a familiar passage:

"-To take the over half-twist room binding seal to the double over twist room protection seal first requires the study of an overarching multi-facet even seal array. The most common seal used in the room protection seal array, is the twelve-prong triple helix master seal. The triple helix allows an even combination and master seal, while allowing the user to alter and modify the entire seal using both even and odd seals. Each branch of the triple helix-"

Naruto sighed. He was still missing the basics of a seal array and how to set one up. Maybe his next prank he could sneak back into the library...
He shook his head to clear that thought away. 'I'm already cutting it close enough. The last time someone nearly caught me copying the information out of those scrolls from the jounin section.' He tossed the scroll down onto the table and went to make himself some food.

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The Hokage sat with three of his Jounin instructors-to-be before him, a collection of papers scattered across his desk and lit pipe in hand. He took a long drag before speaking up, having left the Jounin in silence before him for nearly 5 minutes now. "It is difficult to decide who I should consider for having the team they chose." He got three confused looks in return.

The only woman there, Kurenai, spoke up first. "What do you mean, Hokage-sama?"
Hiruzen took another drag on his pipe, clouding the air with sickly-sweet smoke. "What I mean, is that each of you requested genin that one of the others had also requested. Now I have to decide which of you gets the team you originally chose, and which genin the other two get."

A brief look of surprise crossed each of their faces. "Might I ask who what the conflicting requests were, Hokage-sama?" This time it was Kakashi, minus his ever present book, who spoke up.
The Hokage glanced down at the papers and cleared his throat. "Haruno Sakura." This brought another brief look of surprise from the three Jounin. Kakashi was about to speak up again, but Hiruzen stopped him with a hand motion. "Let me finish, Kakashi, before you make any more comments. Uzumaki Naruto was also requested by each of you." This brought looks of shock to each of their faces, each not expecting any other to have wanted the Kyuubi carrier.

"Now, I will start with Kakashi and whom he requested. I will give each of you a chance to convince me that your request is the best choice for these Genin. Kakashi, you requested Haruno Sakura, Uzumaki Naruto, and Uchiha Sasuke. First of all, do you still want these three?"
"Hai, Hokage-sama." came the prompt reply.
"Very well. Why did you choose these genin?"
"The Uchiha for obvious reasons, Hokage-sama. Uzumaki as a close rival and potential friend, and Haruno to round out the group, as well as break her of her obsession with the Uchiha."

Hiruzen thought about it for a moment while smoking his pipe. "I, personally do not think that would work as well as intended Kakashi."
"Hokage-sama?" came the startled reply.
"Naruto-kun does not, nor ever will as I see it, think of the Uchiha as a rival. Not only that, but putting Haruno Sakura so close to her obsession will only worsen the situation. Kurenai."
"Hai."
"You chose Haruno Sakura, Hyuuga Hinata, and Uzumaki Naruto."
"Hai, Hokage-sama. I believe Sakura will make an excellent Genjutsu user, Hinata is like a younger sister to me, and I believe that Naruto could help break Hinata out of her shy personality."
"That seems logical and well thought out. Asuma, you chose Nara Shikamaru, Uzumaki Naruto, and Inuzuka Kiba."
"Hai, Hokage-sama. I have been watching Naruto and he seems to have a very strong wind affinity. I also believe that Naruto could help get Shikamaru motivated, and Kiba to round out the team to make them a hunter squad."
"That is also very well thought out. I can see both situations being beneficial to Konoha, but how do you know that Naruto has a wind affinity right now?"
"Naruto is not as dim-witted as he would have others believe, Hokage-sama..."

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Naruto sat on top of the Yondaime Hokage's head, the wind blowing his hair in the bright moonlight. His thoughts kept turning back to one certain scroll he kept stashed underneath his bed. He had only read it once, much of it not making sense, except that the Bijuu, Kyuubi included, could not be truly killed. That, and the fact that more often than not, the Bijuu were sealed inside of people, known as Jinchuuriki, the power of human sacrifice.

He had tried to push such thoughts from his head, but he kept returning to one point: if Kyuubi couldn't be killed, where was it now? He had read that more often than not, Jinchuuriki were despised inside their homes, seen as little more than weapons to be used, if not the Bijuu themselves.

Naruto swallowed hard. Wouldn't his childhood in the village be considered close to one that Jinchuuriki lived? He wasn't hated or beat, per se, but he was neglected, ignored. The villagers chose not to see him when he was around. This thought made his heart pound and his mouth dry. What if he was a Jinchuuriki, or worse, if he was the Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi itself, the most despised of the Bijuu!

Him! A Jinchuuriki!

But, the more logical part of his brain, desperate for reason, grasping at straws, told him, 'If you were actually a Jinchuuriki, wouldn't it be obvious that there was a Bijuu sealed inside you? A seal, definite markings, something!'

This one thought calmed his racing heart and took the edge off of the sheer terror he was feeling at the moment. If he really was a Jinchuuriki he had to have a seal somewhere on his body, and he was fairly sure he had never seen one yet.

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"-ruto."
"Mmm, ramen"
"Naruto."
"Ughh just lemme sleep five more minutes."
"NARUTO!" Naruto leapt straight up from his seat, wide awake, with an irate Iruka-sensei in his face. The rest of the class was stifling laughs at the blond.
"Ah! Iruka-sensei. Uhhh, is there a problem?"
"It's your turn. Come with me." Iruka turned and walked into the Instructor's office at the front of the class. Naruto stood, rubbing his eyes and sleepily following suit."

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"I'm sorry Naruto, but you fail again." The blonde's ever present grin faltered ever so slightly, before it came back full force.
"There's always next year Sensei! I'm sure I'll pass next time!" He gave Iruka a full grin, full of promise.
Iruka returned his smile and waved him out. "Tell Ino she needs to come in now."
"Hai, Sensei."

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The blonde had his head down on his desk, feigning sleep, even though class had ended nearly an hour earlier and no one was even left in the building besides himself. His thoughts were jumbled, chaotic, filled with doubt at his ability to become a shinobi. He hated feeling like this, but he just couldn't learn the damn bunshin.

Naruto kept his head down as the door to the class room slid open. He heard footsteps make their way over to in front of his desk, but he kept up his charade of sleeping, as he had for the past hour. A hand came down on his shoulder and shook him - an obvious attempt to wake him. He sat up blinking sleepily and smacking his lips. "Mizuki-sensei! Am I in trouble or something?" Naruto asked with a surprised look on his face.
"No, no, no, Naruto. Nothing of the sort." His lip curled upwards in something of a sinister grin. "I just wanted you to know there was another test for Genin that have failed for multiple years in a row."
"There is? Tell me Mizuki-sensei!"

"Well, Naruto, this test is only available to certain Genin. An instructor has to feel they're ready to pass, and they have to have failed the normal test only due to one jutsu for a number of years."
"What do you mean, Sensei?" Naruto had a look of genuine confusion on his face. Mizuki hated him, but was helping him find a way to pass.
"I went and looked up some old Konoha laws. If a Genin has failed three or more years in a row due to missing one of the 3 crucial academy jutsu, and an instructor supports their promotion, said Genin can take an alternate test to pass!"
Naruto's face lit up with excitement. "Does that mean I have a chance, Sensei?"
"Indeed, Naruto. Now would you like to take the alternate test? The only rule is, that you cannot tell anyone else about your mission. Understood?"
"Hai, Sensei! Now what do I need to do?"
"Well, you need to..."

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Naruto was sneaking up the side of the Hokage tower, via a rope and pulley system he had set up earlier in the day to scare the Hokage. He had carefully been watching the ANBU forces patrolling the area, and had drawn them off using his trusty camo sheet and a good prank. He snickered quietly to himself. He probably wouldn't be able to top that prank for quite some time.

As he pulled open the window, having unlocked it with a long, thin piece of metal, a strong gust of wind picked up the board he was sitting on and started carrying him sideways, away from his target. He dove at the window as his board smashed against the side of the building and broke. As rotten as it was, he had expected that while he was on it painting the monument the day prior. His feet scratched against the rock surface of the tower, looking for purchase so he could haul himself inside. Nearly slipping and falling twice, he finally managed to pull himself in and froze when he heard footsteps outside the door. Footsteps sounding very much like the Sandaime's.

He dove underneath the desk as the door was pulled open and a light shone around inside. He heard the Hokage mumbling about hearing noises and getting old before the door shut again. Naruto wiped his brow of sweat before slowly peering over the desk. The office was incredibly different at night. Picking himself up, he moved slowly towards the wall Mizuki told him about and moved the large picture of the Sandaime and his family aside. Just as Mizuki said, there was a safe there, but the more Naruto thought about it, the more he felt something was off with this 'mission.'

He rubbed his shoulder nervously before setting about picking the lock on the safe. It was just as Mizuki described. A series of chained alarm seals and lock seals, of various types. If one seal was unlocked even slightly off of perfect, everyone in the nearby portion of Konoha would know. All he would have to do...

'Hide'

Naruto whipped around, searching for the source of the voice he had just clearly heard. Shaking his head he turned back to the safe, his hands shaking nervously.

'HIDE'

He froze this time, hearing footsteps running towards the office. Diving underneath the desk again, Naruto made himself as small as he could, lowering his breathing down to the shallowest of breaths he could manage. The door to the office slammed open not five seconds later, bright light streaming in from a multitude of lamps.
"Someone has gotten into the safe! ANBU! Find the intruder at all costs!" came the shout of the old Hokage.
"HAI!" came the chorused reply, as dozens of people moved across the room and out the windows.
"Neko."
"Hai, Hokage-sama."
Take my guard and search the tower for anything out of place. Search every crevice. I will determine what the intruder has stolen. Send one of yours to raise the lockdown alarms. I want no one getting in or out until we have found this shinobi," came the stern command from the Hokage.
"HAI!" Naruto heard another 5 or so people move quickly away from the office. He was starting to panic underneath the Hokage's desk. This was no "alternate test" as Mizuki put it. This was serious! And now, by his own stupidity, he was in the middle of it.

Naruto heard the Hokage muttering quietly to himself before he heard the creak of the safe opening, and scrolls being pulled aside and sorted through quickly. The Hokage sighed loudly in relief before putting all the scrolls back and standing up. "NEKO!" He called out loudly. Getting no reply, he moved to the doorway and then out. Naruto peeked out from his hiding spot and noticed the safe still standing open, with dozens of scrolls inside.

He immediately identified the scroll Mizuki-sensei had described. Large, much larger than any other inside the safe. He contemplated the thought of grabbing it for a few seconds before bolting to the safe and gently pulling it from its spot. He marveled at the age of the scroll before quickly shutting the safe and diving back underneath the desk. Naruto may not have thought of this as much of a test anymore, but it was his only chance at becoming a Genin, and he would take it, consequences be damned!

The Hokage and another that Naruto assumed was the ANBU 'Neko' walked back into the office. "There was nothing taken from the safe, so either the intruder was far more incompetent than we thought, or they underestimated the security I would put around the Shiki Fujin Scroll as well as the Scroll of Sealing."
"So I am to call off the ANBU sir?"
"No, Neko. I want this intruder found, but do it quietly."
"Hai." Naruto heard her quickly move out the window behind the desk. "I'm getting too old for this job." the Hokage lamented. He turned and shuffled out of the office, extinguishing the lamps on his way out.

Left in darkness once again, Naruto waited nearly an hour before he dared to move out from his place under the desk. He crept quietly over to the window and looked out to see dozens of shadows leaping across the rooftops all around the village. He cursed under his breath while quickly thinking up a way to escape from the office unseen. He strapped the scroll to his back, and leaned out the window while looking up. Seeing a portion of his rope still hanging there, he grabbed for it and climbed onto the window sill. He pulled on it, checking its ability to hold his weight, before quickly and quietly scaling the outside of the tower to the roof.

From the roof, he jumped into the trees below, hoping his safety net was still there. Barely catching it on his way down, he cursed as his shoulder was dislocated and he dropped the rest of the way to the ground. He hissed in pain as he forced his shoulder back into the socket, almost screaming, but biting his tongue to resist.

Holding his aching shoulder, he staggered into the woods behind the Hokage mansion, and into the night.

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