Naruto couldn't believe it. This day had been crazy. Almost unbelievably so.
First he failed to graduate from the academy for the third time. Then he was told by Mizuki that stealing the forbidden scroll of seals was an extra test for graduating. Not only had he actually taken the scroll , and beaten the hokage with his newest and best jutsu, he had proven that he could still get away from anyone and everyone. But then Iruka showed up and revealed it was all a lie… which Mizuka then admitted to, just before attacking him. If Iruka hadn't taken those shuriken for him… Or had been there to help convince him he wasn't the fox. He didn't know what would have happened.
Now he knelt before his teacher who was bloodied, hurt, and tired sitting in front of a tree. Mizuki was left in a broken bloodied heap behind him courtesy of hundreds of shadow clones. "Hey teach? Are you okay?" He asked worried for his precious person. The man that had always been there for him.
"Yeah I am. Don't worry about me. I'm so proud of you." Iruka responded with a bloody smile. "Hey Naruto, close your eyes. I have something I want to give you."
Naruto excitedly did just that. He wondered just what his teacher could have for him. At the same time he figured they had to hurry this up. Iruka really needed to get to the hospital.
The sound of cloth moving met his ears. That was curious. Then there was a sharp pinch in his neck. Then he knew no more.
Years of work and planning almost ruined because of one wannabe lackey that got too big for his breeches. He was going to tear into his chief spy for this.
However it hadn't been all bad. The idiot was dead, and he was now in possession of two very large prizes. Granted due to his rank he had already had access to the scroll and learned several jutsu's from it. However having it on hand would prove to be a large boon, and would deprive the village of the scroll and the powerful jutsu's hidden within.
No the true prize was the blonde currently stored in one of two scrolls being carried off. One Naruto Uzumaki. The container for the nine tailed demon fox, the Kyuubi. Oh yes. This had been something he had waited years for. five years of careful preparation, sabotage, and charm. He had to both destroy the boy and build him up. Stunt his growth mentally and emotionally yet make him grow attached to him. A task that had proven absurdly simple with the right disguise.
And Iruka Umino had been at the right place at the right time saying all the right things. At least to his point of view.
The young Chuunin had been with a small team heading home when the man had crossed paths with them. Well they hadn't known he was there, but that was besides the point. The point was was, the man didn't know what to do about this team. Then the one called Iruka started to speak and mentioned that he was thinking of becoming an academy teacher.
Normally such a comment would go unnoticed, or maybe warrant a snort. However this time it caused the man's brain to buzz and work. He had been a teacher once. Of a genin team. The young minds had been so easy to manipulate. To mold and shape. What if he had access to more minds? Younger minds? For longer? Yes, yes that would do.
He waited then. Waited for this Iruka to separate from the rest of the camp. It was late in the night when he finally did so. Probably feeling nature's call. Once the man was far enough away from the others and the call had been answered, the man struck. However he felt a wave of chakra wash over him and a second later every instinct told him to back off. He listened to those instincts dn stopped his charge and leaped back. Not a second too soon either as where he was about to step became enveloped with a barrier jutsu. A very powerful one from what he could tell. He looked at his prey with calculating eyes. The man had somehow sensed him and knew barrier jutsu. Though if the chunin's panting form was anything to go by, it had taken a fair chunk out of him. It was still impressive though.
It made him want Iruka more. The said man opened his mouth, whether it was to call out ot his comrades, or set up a jutsu was to never be revealed as The man struck again. He quickly covered the younger man's mouth with his hand and slammed him into a tree. Then with a mere flick of his wrist he knocked his victim out, and with the use of his favorite technique he stole the man's life, face, skills, mind, and body.
After that it had been easy to infiltrate and integrate into the group, to sign into the village gates, and give his report to the Hokage. So pitifully easy. But hell he was a genius and his techniques and plans were perfect. So it was to be expected. Next step was to get accustomed to his new life and his job at the academy. It had been a little difficult at first to dumb himself down and play the role right. However nothing he couldn't handle.
And the prizes before him were worth it. In the class he was to teach for the next several years had been the heirs of the major clans of Konoha. Including an Uchiha. Each one wa sa prize in themselves. And with the next several years with which to mold and make them see a certain way… well he was looking forward to it.
However than he saw him. The demon container. And boy was he an idiot. Craving attention, and proclaiming he would be hokage. Wearing that disgusting jumpsuit. He was reminded of a pervert he knew. However again his mind raced. Especially after that first day, when he noticed the kind of life Naruto was likely living. Outcasted and looked down upon by almost everyone. It was perfect. And the fact that he was an idiot worked in the man's favor too.
It was so very easy to mold him. The boy was impressionable. A few kind words, many many bowls of ramen, and enough attention and they boy was eating out of his hands. A few slightly wrong handouts, and bad advice made it so the boy's control and test scores were terrible. Why would he do this? Why would he weaken a possible weapon? Because a house of cards was much easier to destroy and build upon than any other kind of house or castle.
Physically though the boy was an amazing specimen. He grew strong and had incredible stamina and regeneration abilities when it came to both chakra and injury. His reserves were massive and only getting bigger as he got older. On top of that his stealth was almost second to none when it came to those in the village. And even though the man had done what he could to stunt the kid's mental growth, the blonde had a quick mind when it came to schemes and jutsu. There was so much potential. He just had to wait before he could bend it fully to his will.
He had also used Naruto to help manipulate the other students. He became enough of a challenge to Sasuke that the Uchiha struggled long and hard to stay several steps ahead even as the Uzumaki made little to no progress. He became a motivation to the Hyuga and helped her try and reach her own potential. He became friends with the Inuzuka, Nara, and Akimichi. He drove many other's crazy. While many seemed immune to his charms, the boy seemed to know the right things to say and do to motivate others. Even if it was only on an unconscious level and he didn't know what he was doing. With work that could become a great manipulation tool.
As the years went by and the boy got closer and closer to the man pretending to be Iruka things fell into place. Then graduation happened. He had planned to talk to the boy after he had failed and start manipulating him further. Train him in subtle ways. However Mizuki got to him first and then this whole mess happened. Now he had to change things. Instead of slowly manipulating and molding the boy, he was going to have to take Naruto out of Konoha, and do things the quick and dirty way. His favorite way. It would also give him plenty of chances to try out some experiments he had been meaning to do personally.
The distance between his chosen lab and Konoha would make keeping his disguise a little difficult. Though Shadow clones have and would likely continue to help alleviate it somewhat. But it would be worth it. Already his plans were bearing fruit. And that fruit would guarantee that when it came time for his weapon to return to Konoha, and the village's final hour struck, he would have a small task force already deep with in it ready to strike.
Until then he had experiments to run and a weapon to rebuild. Oh how happy he was.
Orochimaru of the Sannin was a very happy man as he sat in the forest waiting for the Anbu to arrive. All the weapons that punctured his body still in place. Miles away his clone was running west to a fully stocked lab just waiting for its newest subject to be placed inside. His newest balancing act was ready to be performed. And it would all be worth it when his masterwork was complete.