Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
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The third Hokage folded his hands as he looked at the four chuunin. "There have been several robberies in the village lately, probably by the same band of thieves. Your mission is to patrol an area of the village. If there is a robbery, bring the thief or thieves in for questioning. This should be the most effective way to find out who their leader is and where he's hiding" The Hokage paused, waiting for any questions or objections. When none came, he continued. "Kasumi, you will patrol the north, Iruka the east, Ryuu south, and Satomo west."
All four bowed their heads briefly and left.
Iruka walked the streets in the eastern part of Konohagakure. It was the day after he had been given this mission, and so far everything was peaceful.
"Iruka sensei!"
Iruka turned to see a blur of yellow and orange come hurtling towards him. At the last second it stopped. "I'm going to help you patrol!" Naruto announced, grinning.
Iruka looked at the boy in front of him. "The Hokage sent you?"
"Well... no. But I'm going to catch those thieves! Then everyone will finally have some respect for me!"
Iruka sighed. "Naruto, you can't just-"
Screams cut through Iruka's lecture, forcing him to abandon his words and run towards the sound.
Two ninjas in black, their faces covered, were just making their escape when Iruka found them.
Naruto stood nearby, watching them begin to fight. 'Alright! I'll make my move soon,' he thought, and then another voice intruded his mind. 'I can help'
Naruto heard it, and succumbed to its power. He moved towards one of the masked people with more speed than he had ever possessed before. He ripped through the disguise. The terrified face behind it couldn't have belonged to anyone older than 10. But that didn't matter. He shredded that face, then ripped through the boy's chest. Licking the blood from his fingers, Naruto looked to the next thief. He could see by the height and stance that this one was older. He probably had a name, a home, a job. All that he was to Naruto was a living thing with blood waiting to be spilled.
Naruto snarled. The thief pulled out a shuriken, but it was too late. The blond haired boy that had killed him smiled as the lifeless body crumpled to the ground, but still did not feel entirely satisfied. He still wanted to kill.
His eyes fell on Iruka. Without thinking, he lunged, running claws through the throat of the one who had once been his teacher.
Naruto jerked back so suddenly he fell, hitting the street at the same time as Iruka.
"I-Iruka sensei?" Naruto asked softly, his voice starting to choke up. He crawled over to the person who had noticed him, accepted him, when he had thought no one cared, the only one who truly understood him. Naruto looked into Iruka's empty eyes, and at the pool of blood flowing outwards, reaching to him. Naruto jumped up, vomiting onto the concrete. He staggered then ran, away from the body.
Tears flowed down his face as his feet carried him to the forest, to the exact place where Iruka had declared Naruto to be a citizen of Konoha, not the demon fox. His foot collided with a rock, sending him to the ground.
"Iruka," Naruto sobbed, no strength or will left to get back on his feet. "Iruka..."