I Do Not Own Naruto or Ninja Scroll

A/N Had this idea while watching the movie "Ninja Scroll". I only took one aspect of the movie out, Jubei's sword. There's a couple changes to that, but not many. Also, Naruto is one year older, has no bloodlines, and will be replacing Lee on Team Gai, as Lee will be replacing him on Team 7. Lee is still a Taijutsu specialist, and that will be explained. I've also changed to format of the graduation exam. Long enough note, on to the story.

"Thoughts"

"Speaking"

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A blond boy walked to the academy. He wore a black shirt, black pants, and had a silver bracelet that fit tight on his right hand. He was carrying a Katana over his back with his left hand, and had a Tanto strung along the small of his back, the handle pointing of to the right.. Every once and a while you could seed a glint along his waistline, but most people dismissed it.

The boy thought back into his days at the academy, "Man, it's been hard. The teachers wanted me out the moment I came in. Thank Kami that kid in next year's class can't use Ninjutsu or Genjutsu. Because of that they had to keep me in."

"It took them a full year to notice," the boy chuckled, "Man, Iruka-sensei's long lectures were good for something at least."

The boy saw the door approaching to the academy approaching, "It was the guy's first year teaching, I can give him that," the boy shuddered, "A full year on theory and history. I think I just slept most of the year."

The boy opened the door and walked quietly in.

"On time today, Naruto?" the teacher asked.

"Of course, Iruka-sensei!" Naruto smiled cheerily at his teacher.

Iruka smiled at Naruto and nodded for him to sit down. Naruto took his seat at the front of the class. When the classes had other teachers, Naruto would usually sit in the back because he tended to be singled out.

Iruka was different. He always looked at the other students to test the others. He never singled out Naruto and he was always fair.

The class slowly filed in and soon everybody was there.

Iruka cleared his throat, hoping to quiet the students. When it didn't work, he did so again. Finally, "Shut the hell up!" he yelled at the class making them quiet down immediately.

"All right, class. It is now the final examination. First you will take this written test, then you will have a Jutsu examination. Naruto due to your condition, you have been excused from that exam," Naruto's head dropped at the comment, "After that we will head down to Training Area Eight to have your ranged examination. Then you will have spars with the class under you to test your overall ability while we watch and grade. Here is your written exam."

After one hour, Naruto felt like his head wanted to explode. He always hated the written test. Naruto never really retained the knowledge by listening or by reading. He learned by doing. So when the written test came due, he was thanking Kami.

"All right, class," Iruka called to the students, "Please come to the front a due three jutsu..."

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Naruto sighed as he watched the students due the jutsu. He wished that he could do jutsu, at times. And then...

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING?!" Iruka screamed at a boy who had turned into a nude woman, "YOU FAIL!"

...There were times that he was glad he couldn't.

He thought back on when he found out he couldn't do jutsu, when he found out that he couldn't use Chakra at all, "I sat there practising for hours trying to get that Henge no Jutsu down. Iruka-sensei even said that he would tutor me for it. After it didn't work out, he went to talk to the Hokage. He came back and said that I should see a doctor."

Naruto thought fondly on the old man who had helped him through the occasional beating he received, "He told me, after checking me out, that I had a choice. I could either quit being a Ninja, or I could make my own way as a Ninja. That was an obvious choice. I'm thankful that he said that I would still probably do the exercise. In fact, he told me that if I can, I should practice. That might help my condition."

Naruto chuckled. He was snapped out of his thoughts by Iruka, "Everyone, meet at Training Area Eight. Please make your way quickly, and quietly."

Naruto made his way quietly when a pale eyed boy with long black hair fell into step with him, "Hey, Neji."

"Uzumaki-san," Neji nodded.

The two made their way quietly down to the training area, neither speaking a word. As they walked into the training area, Naruto finally asked, "Which underclassmen do you think you will fight?"

"I hope for the Uchiha," Neji said, "But given every time we spar he is put up against you, I find it unlikely. I will probably be up against the Inuzuka."

"I'm sorry, Neji," Naruto said quietly. It was true. Every time they had a spar, Naruto was always put up against the Uchiha, everybody knew that the teachers had something against Naruto.

It created a bit of a rivalry between the classes. Naruto's own class was mixed, mostly because a lot wanted a chance at the Uchiha, but it never happened. The Uchiha's class hated Naruto's guts. Naruto had never lost a spar against the Uchiha.

"It's not your fault, Uzumaki-san," Neji said as they approached their teacher, "It is what fate has decided."

Naruto growled at the mention of fate but said nothing.

All of the other students arrived, "Class," Iruka began, "You will have to use the Kunai and Shuriken I give you."

Everybody lined up and soon it was Naruto's turn, Iruka watched with a smile, "Kunai eight of ten all vitals."

Naruto threw the Shuriken, "Shuriken ten of ten, nine vitals."

Iruka watched the last of the students go, and saw the other class had arrived with their teacher, Mizuki.

"Hello, Mizuki," Iruka's voice took on a slightly colder edge, "Are you ready for the spars?"

"Of course," Mizuki said in a sadistic tone.

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Neji, unfortunately, had been right. It was obvious that these spars were not random as they were supposed to be, and nobody had done anything.

Currently Naruto was in a stare down with the Uchiha, "Neji, could you hold my scabbard for me?" Naruto asked quietly as he drew his blade.

Neji nodded.

"Now," Iruka called over the top of Sasuke's fan club, "No killing blows at all, boys. Keep this friendly."

Naruto nodded, while the Uchiha glared at Naruto.

"Spar between Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke, Begin!"

Naruto took a defensive stance as Sasuke charged at Naruto, "Just like the first time," Naruto thought as the other boy charged in, "The fool hasn't learned what it really is to be a ninja."

Sasuke smirked as he approached Naruto, and went in low, intent on making the first blow the last blow. He was stopped short when the butt of the handle connected in the back of his head.

Ignoring the pain, Sasuke jumped back, as did Naruto. Again Sasuke charged in, but this time with a plan.

As he approached Naruto, he stopped short, before flipping back, kicking Naruto's katana out of his hands and into the trees. It made several odd clicks as it flew off.

"Too easy," Sasuke smirked as he charged Naruto one more time, "You're just a one trick pony!"

He swung at Naruto's face, and Naruto spinned sideways, bringing his right arm wide around Sasuke's head and pulled back.

Sasuke felt the wire close around his neck, cutting off his breathing. He heard a small click behind him.

"Don't move, Sasuke," Naruto said coldly from behind him, "One false move will cut your head clean off."

Sasuke tried to turn toward Naruto, and felt the wire cut into his neck. Angrily, he complied.

Iruka worried slightly as he saw a drop of blood travel down the nearly invisible wire, dropping onto the ground, "Winner Uzumaki Naruto."

Naruto took a step forward, letting the wire loose around Sasuke's neck. Sasuke glared at Naruto, noting him sheathing the Tanto on his back, and then he stormed off to be on his own. His fan club followed him, with a blond girl and a pink haired girl throwing him dirty looks before going off to check on their 'Sasuke-kun'.

"Thanks Neji," Naruto smiled brightly when Neji offered the scabbard back.

Naruto took the scabbard and gave a hard tug on the wire, and he could hear his sword coming closer. When it felt loose, he gave it a quick tug, and heard a series of clicks that got louder, finally snapping out of the brush, and into Naruto's hand.

Naruto sheathed his blade, making a note to clean it when he got home. Quietly, Naruto's class made it back to the academy.

"Naruto," Neji asked, "Why did you let him disarm you?"

"He forgot the basic rule of the ninja," Naruto said, "We don't charge into a fight. We are not soldiers. We are assassins."

"True," Neji said with a smirk.

"Naruto?" Iruka's voice came up behind them, "Why did you do that to Sasuke?"

"He didn't think as he fighting, Iruka-sensei," Naruto laughed as he remembered the fight, "I didn't do a mortal blows, and I warned him of what the next attack might do if he wasn't careful."

Iruka growled, "We're not ever going to hear the end of this, Naruto. That brat is going to demand more attention so he can get better."

"Losing does his ego good," Naruto said chuckling.

Iruka sighed, admitting defeat in his lecture, "Just don't do anything to him on your off time."

Naruto smiled at Iruka, "Why would I do that?"

Shortly the students made it back to the academy, "When your name is called," Iruka began, "Come here a pick up Hiate-ate."

Several people came up and received their Hiate-ate, Neji included. Then it came to the U's.

"Uzumaki Naruto," Iruka called.

Everybody who had received a Hiate-ate sat down, "Congratulations on passing your exam. Please report here tomorrow to receive your team assignments."