Tools of a Ninja
"Hey Dead Last! Ready to go down?!" The Inuzaka called out from the stadium floor.
Naruto closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm himself.
Dead Last.
To some people, it's not much of an insult. Last place in something, consecutively. A harmless term for someone last on a list. To Naruto however. It was a reminder of everything wrong with his life.
Born to someone who offered him up to the Fourth Shadow. The 'Old Man', the current Shadow of the Leaf, had told him a bit about his parents. Died the day his was born, but apparently loved him dearly. Hard to love a kid they only had known for a few hours.
Having grown up without parents led to a life of, difficulty. The Village hidden in the Leaves had only a single orphanage. A single orphanage that took on a lot of new additions on a single, fateful night. The cause was most assuredly do to collateral damage caused by a battle between the Fourth Shadow, and the rampaging Nine-tailed Demon Fox.
Many of the children he grew up with were orphans because of the Demon contained within him. Many families broken up, for reasons he had nothing to do with. Naruto could say he couldn't ever really remember being abused. It was small things over the years that he looked back on that painted a clearer picture.
Smaller portions compared to other children, less clothes, older small blankets used for years to long. The looks upon the faces of the various matrons. A look between pity and distain. When couples came to adopt children throughout the years, he saw the same look. Poor little demon. A shame about his parents, a shame that demon survived instead of them.
As he got older the children learnt more about their own families. Brave Ninja who gave theirs lives in various forms of service. Many of which learning of their parent's deaths during the Ramage of the Nine-tails. The day Naruto was born. Now the children of course didn't know od Naruto's patronage, or about the Demon contained within him. Unfortunately, children are often the cruelest form of human. After all someone born on the same day so many died on must have been bad luck. The adults treated him differently, so why shouldn't they? Naruto was never a fan of the shoving game.
It wasn't long before the Third Shadow removed him from the orphanage, and gave him an apartment of his own. At the tender age of six. This led to further ostracizing by his peers. Then the ignoring came. Parents would guide their children away from his presence, shop owners would turn his business away. The Uchiha police were called often just for his attempts to enter some market stalls.
By the time Naruto had entered the Academy he was almost not even known by most the other students. Some were polite. The Nara heir, and his friend the Akimichi. The Uchiha, when his older brother had been around…now not so much. But that didn't matter. He had his teacher Iruka, the occasion visits of the Third Shadow, the one Ramen stand seller and his nice daughter. But to others, he may as well be a ghost. A whispered warning to leave him alone, and not interact with the boy.
This seemed to be a compounded effect. Naruto was determined to be a Ninja. A Ninja, with no known Blood-Line trait. No special clan training, no friends to spar with. It left Naruto…lacking. All because the Fourth put a demon in him.
-0-0-0-
Despite all of this. Despite every road block put in his way Naruto worked his way through his classes. Until of course, the clone technique. Known as the simplest E-ranked technique, it requires constant controlled release chakra while mentally maintaining the form.
This is simple, however not inherently easy. Easier for someone like the class' ace Sauske, who's excessively talented older brother had helped him train, as well as other clan members. Or even Sakura; even coming from a civilian family had an easier time with the technique. Granted Naruto had more chakra than her in his little finger nail. It's like trying to control a grain of rice, with small pair of pliers. Versus Naruto's trying to control a million grains of rice, with the same pair of pliers. Hardly the same task.
The size of Naruto's chakra reserves alone made the clone technique require a razer's edge precision of chakra control.
While Naruto failed in the Genin exam (multiple times) due solely to his natural inability to use the clone technique, he mastered two other fundamental basic techniques. The Transformation Technique, and the Substitution Technique.
Naruto mastered these techniques as only a hellion brat, ignored by the common villager could. By causing trouble. Naruto's reliance on them became paramount to dodging the various Chunin patrols sent for him after a well-executed prank.
The night he broke into the office of the Shadow and stole the Forbidden Scroll Naruto was under the orders to learn at least one technique in order to pass the Genin exam. However, the traitor Mizuki never said 'only' one technique. It was common knowledge to the Jounin that he had managed to master the Shadow Clone Technique.
For all his accomplishments, he was crowned the Dead Last of his class.
-0-0-0-
Naruto eyed his opponent who casually waited for him at the first stage floor of the Chunin Exams, Kiba Inuzuka. His cocky grin did little for Naruto's mood.
"Did ya hear me? I asked if you were ready to go down, Dead Last!" that cocky asshole shouted out.
Naruto made the descent in silence, going over his plan in head. He ignored the hushed whispers of 'Dead Last, and the muttered threat from Sakura about better not being the only loser on their team. He carried a simple wrapped bottle with him, containing what he was sure only he knew was some rather high-quality sake. As he reached the stadium floor, he signaled for the proctor's attention.
"Competitor Uzumaki?" the proctor coughed lightly.
"Yea I got a question or two about the rules." Uzumaki admitted with a sheepish grin.
Kiba face palmed as he heard the statement. "Of course, you do, Dead Last. Can't you pay attention the first time like everyone else?"
"What questions do you have Competitor Uzumaki? Please try to make them brief as you are not the last match."
"Don't worry! I just wanted to know. Seeing as I am facing an Inuzuka, I guess I'll be facing his partner as well, right? Naruto asked with a seemingly nervous chuckle.
"Of course! Akamaru and I are a team! Are you just wasting ti-" Kiba's answer was cut off by a meaningful cough from the proctor.
"What I mean is, 'If' I manage to say knock Kiba here out, and Akamaru is still up and about; Do I then have to fight Akamaru? Like do I have to beat both of them to win the match?" Naruto asked with a gesture to each of his opponents.
"A fair question. No, in the event than Competitor Inuzuka is rendered unable to continue, his partner -Will- cease all hostile actions as well." The answer verbally while verbally given to Naruto, was punctuated by an expectant look at the pair of competitors.
"Awesome! Last question. Since he is allowed a partner, am I allowed to summon my own?" Naruto's grin was unrepentingly mischievous.
The proctor along with many others raised eyebrows at this question. He spared a glance to the assembled Shadows. Getting a silent nod in reply, he shrugged and looked back to the orange clothed boy.
"So long as the summon is containable, in that you do not destroy the arena by summoning something so large it wouldn't fit. It is within the rules."
Naruto nodded his understanding.
"What are you trying to pull Dead Last, you don't have a summon! Just hurry this up so me and Akamaru can knock you on your ass!" Kiba's jeer did little to stifle the curious atmosphere surrounding Naruto.
After setting the bottle down next to him, he turned to face Kiba. "I'm ready, believe it." Naruto's grin was a tad more on sadistic side as he eyed Kiba.
"If both Competitors are ready…" The proctor received a nod from each. "Then let the seventh preliminary match of the Chunin Exams…Begin!" He called out as he jumped back away from the competitors.
"Hey Akamaru, let's show this guy why he's still the Dead Last of the village!" A happy bark sounded as the tiny nin-dog jumped from his perch atop Kiba's head to the stadium floor.
"Shadow clone technique!" Three perfect Naruto replicas appeared before Naruto.
"Ha, A clone technique? So, you finally managed to use an E-rank technique, good for you Dead Last!" Kiba started with a slow clap. "They're nothing more than an illusion, everyone knows that. So stupid."
"One, Two, keep him busy. Three, get ready to summon." Naruto muttered quietly as he reached behind his back to his tool pouch, stealthily removing a Kunai, and a single smoke pellet.
With an overzealous shout One and Two charged Kiba, who looked unbothered. "Uh, Naruto…that's an academy technique, it's not going to do anyth-" Kiba was cut off by a warning bark from Akamaru. This caused him to jump back and dodge a heel drop from one of the clones.
"Wha-?!" He threw up a hasty guard with both forearms catching a solid connection from the second clone's shin. "They're solid!"
"You bet we are, and we're gonna kick your ass mutt!" the clones called out as they pressed the quick advantage.
-0-0-0-
Having Kiba distracted for a moment allowed Naruto to ready his next attack. After a show of biting his thumb Naruto slammed his open palm to the ground in an overextended flourish as he called out loudly. "Summoning technique!"
Clone three focused solely on the Third Shadow, and preformed the substitution technique. The instant he felt the technique grab hold, Naruto slammed a Kunai into his clone dispelling it.
With a surprised gasp the Third was pulled from his throne like chair, and into the stadium. Replaced with the smoke of a recently dispelled clone. With timing alone, Naruto had seemed to summon the Third Shadow himself.
"Hehehe" The third chuckled lightly. "Well well well, it seems as though I have been summoned."
The smoke from the 'summoning' or rather the smoke pellet faded revealing the standing form of the Third Shadow.
The proctor coughed lightly, eyeing the Third up and down. The plan was clever, and not…exactly against the rules. Any Jounin could have seen through the rouse, but to a Genin. It really looked as if Naruto had somehow summoned the Third Shadow to fight for him.
He eyed the chuckling Third as Naruto completed the rouse.
"I brought Sake! And 'cause I summoned you, you have to do as I say. That's the rules!" Naruto looked overly proud of himself.
"My boy, I am not sure that is how summoning contracts work." The Third was pleased with a plan, very crafty and worthy of a Ninja. The Sake chosen was an exceptional selection. What could it hurt to play along?
"Well I summoned you, and that means I have to pay for your time. Kiba isn't much of a threat to you, so I think I over paid. But that's okay don't even really have to fight him!" Naruto grinned and turned to Kiba who had finished dispelling the two summoned clones.
"Oi Kiba! Better give up, I got a Shadow as my Partner!"
"P-p-proctor! That can't be fair! Naruto can't just summon a Shadow!" Kiba felt a twinge of terror at the prospect of having his ass handed to him by the older and quite literally most powerful Ninja in the village.
The proctor coughed lightly, gathering his thoughts. "Well, he did perform a summoning technique, and as you see the Third Shadow did appear. So, it would seem that he can indeed. The match will continue."
"Unless you want to give up that is!" Naruto called out 'helpfully'. He shifted into a fighting stance, as if to press the point over. "Hey Old Man, all you gotta do is look intimidating and we got this." He muttered quietly.
The Third made a show of removing his hat. "Very well." He started genially, "If we are to come to blows, I wish you the best of luck, Inuzuka, and to you as well Akamaru." With that said the room's temperature seemed to swell in an instant as the Third's Killing Intent leaked out.
"I-I-I Give up!" Kiba yelled falling to his knees, hiding his face in a mix of fear and shame. Just as soon as it started, it stopped.
"Winner, by forfeit Uzumaki." The proctor called out.
"Thanks a bunch, Old Man! I don't really know how to un-summon yet so…" Naruto trailed off, hoping that the Third would cover for his unfinished rouse.
The Third turned to Naruto with a kind smile as he placed his hat back upon his head. "Well played Naruto, unpredictable as always." With a Body Flicker technique, the Third was once again atop his chair, in the company of his summoning 'payment'. The affect having a similar visual to a finished summoning technique.
-0-0-0-
"That…was not what I expected of the match with the Boy." The Wind Shadow turned to the Third. "That was no summoning technique, why play into the farce?"
The Third merely smiled as Naruto raced up the stairs to proclaim his victory to his Teacher and present team mate. "He demonstrated strategy, forethought, out of the box thinking, and a mastery of an albeit limited arsenal of Techniques. It was simple, clever, and outside the norm. Exactly what I expect a good ninja to be."
"Though he'll have to think of something different in the coming matches. I expect many Genin will be asking how to Summon a Shadow tonight." The Third settled into his chair with a contented smile, ready for the final match of the preliminaries.
AN: I was reading a story I forgot the name of, in which Naruto points out that for Ninja they fight more like Samurai. He then precedes to trick Danzo into a trap leading to the Old Guy's quick beheading. Naruto himself isn't a 'bad' ninja, it was pointed out many times that control over his vast reserves was his main issue. When Naruto steals the scroll he mentions learning the one. But doesn't say he didn't read about any others. I thought it was a little crafty of a prankster to immolate the effects to make himself seem more than he is. Ergo faking to summon a Kage level ninja...I really need to start looking for beta(s)...