Hey guys this is Thallion! This is my first ever fic Naruto or otherwise. I hope you guys enjoy leave any comments, criticisms, or concerns in the comments section.
What if Naruto had a twin brother who was just a few seconds older than the famed child of prophecy? What if this boy also happened to have the yin half of the Nine-tailed Fox sealed within him? How will this change our story?
I plan to take this fic from the start of the anime to the end of Shippuden. This will not be a harem fic; however, I do plan to do pairings.
The pairings are as follows, so far: Naruto, Hinata; OC, Ino; Sakura, Sasuke; Shikamaru, Temari; TenTen, Lee; Kiba, OC; Shino, OC; Choji, Karui
Comment any questions and I'll get back to you
"Normal Speaking" of most characters
"Normal Thinking" of most characters
"Jutsu" for everyone
"Kurama Talking"
"Kurama Thinking"
I have never written creatively before and I hope to do the show justice.
Warning: There will be some mild Sasuke, maybe Kakashi, bashing as this work progresses. Rated M for mild violence, language, and some possible lemons later in the story.
Disclaimer: I do not own or profit from the popular anime or manga Naruto or any of its' affiliated works.
Hope you guys enjoy! UPDATED!
Chapter 1: Enter Naruto and Natsu Uzumaki: Jinchuriki of the Leaf!
The wind blew softly through the trees as the moon hung high and full above Hi no Kuni illuminating the forest below. Here we find Konohagakure: The Village Hidden in the Leaves. To the east of the village in a cave surrounded by rock walls and a powerful sealing barrier we find several medical-ninja; Biwako Sarutobi, the wife of the Sandaime Hokage; and finally, the young and ready to give birth Kushina Uzumaki along with her husband Minato Namikaze, the great Yondaime Hokage. The cavern was lit by torches along the wall giving light to the scattered medic-nin hurriedly finalizing the preparations for the birth.
Kushina was laying back on a stone table surrounded by sealing arrays, deep within Kushina the Kyuubi no kitsune lay chained and shackled to a pedestal unable to move. As Kushina began to scream, her dilation reaching optimal width.
"AAAAHHHHH!" she cried out as the child began to crown.
Kushina grunted in effort, sweat beading down her face from the immense strain, until finally
"Waaaaahhh!" cried the newborn child as he was craddled by a smiling Biwako while Kushina fell back in exhaustion
The medical-ninja quickly cut the child' umbilical cord and passed the baby boy along to one of the nurses standing by. The nurses then washed him and checked his vitals.
The newborn had red spiky hair atop his head. As the nurses finished their check-up on the red-haired boy Kushina suddenly convulsed again as a second child began to crown.
Biwako' eyes widened when she saw the second child crowning, having not expected it so soon. She rushed over and began assisting in the birth of the Yondaime' second child and before long
"Waaaaaah!" the second born cried, both his parents smiling down at the child, one in extreme exhaustion the other with a nearly broken hand
The nurses quickly got to work on the newborn washing him and checking his vitals.
Unlike his fraternal twin the second born had spiky yellow hair across his head and was much louder than his older brother. While there was no obvious difference between the two newborns, aside from their hair color, this boy seemed special.
Kushina and Minato each held one of their children smiling, Kushina still exhausted from childbirth but feeling more complete and content than she had ever felt. One of the nurses walked over to the couple and asked, "So what will you name them Lord Hokage, Lady Kushina?"
"We already agreed that we would name one of them Naruto after the hero in my sensei's first novel," stated Minato" However what do you want to name our other son my love?"
"I like the name Natsu, for our little redhead and we can name our little blonde Naruto" Kushina wheezed slightly, still tired from giving birth
"Alright, my love, we shall name our firstborn son Natsu. And our second born son Naruto." cheered Minato
"Great!" chirped the nurse an uplifting smile on her face.
A pair of medical-ninja then took babies Natsu and Naruto for a final check after allowing the parents to hold their children.
"Everything went off without a hitch," Biwako said warmly as she walked back over from the check-up station a beaming smile across her aging face
Suddenly Minato's head shot up and he shouted," Who's there!?" towards the mouth of the cave.
From the mouth of the cave came a figure cloaked in shadow. As the figure walked toward the couple he became more defined. He wore a black cloak, leg warmers and sandals. With each step, more and more of him became visible until the light reached where his face should be.
Covering the man' face was a white mask two semicircle lines along the top half and three along the bottom with two lines along the center cutting across from the left side and circling around a single eye hole on the left side.
The eye that shown through the mask was blood red with three black tomoe surrounding the pupil of the eye. Before anyone could react to the stranger he rushed toward the two nurses and Lady Biwako who were checking the new born children of the Yondaime Hokage, and slit their throats with a single motion before grabbing the new born twins. The three fell to the ground with a thud while the infants whaled in their captors arm
Minato flinched toward the figure but before he could throw his kunai the figure barked out, "Take one step and I'll kill your children as well, Namikaze!"
Minato froze in his tracks only for an instant. He lunged forward and, with his god like speed, grabbed both of his children from the arms of the assailant. The figure smirked behind his mask and while Minato made sure his sons were safe.
The cloaked Uchiha dashed over and took Kushina from the stone table before looking up at Minato. The Uchiha' eye began to spin until it had transformed now closely resembling a pinwheel before the space around him and Kushina began to spiral the masked man escaping the cave in a swirling vortex of space with Kushina trapped in his grip.
~Outside the Cave~
Once outside the cave the figure reached down to Kushina' abdomen and destroyed the seal keeping the Nine-Tails trapped within Kushina.
"AARRGGGHHH!" Kushina screamed as her eyes rolled back, wide as saucers, from the excruciating pain of the Nine-Tails escaping her body
Seconds later Minato ran out of the cave children in hand. He raced over to the barely conscious Kushina and, using his "Hiraishin no Jutsu", transported the four of them back to his and Kushina' home.
He laid his family down within his bed saying, "Rest now my love I'll be back as soon as I can. I love you all so much," and with that he teleported away.
"My precious children," Kushina said weakly, childbirth and the breaking of the seal taking their tole, "We love you both so much Naruto, Natsu, grow strong." Kushina said holding her children close as she began to hum a soothing lullaby.
~With Minato~
Meanwhile Minato had arrived back in the forest where the masked man had released the Nine-Tails, which now stood behind the figure, it' eyes no longer large slits but mimicking the Sharringan of the Uchiha
"Why are you doing this? Who are you!?" Minato shouted outrage clear in his voice and a look of utter disbelief across his face
"I am Madara Uchiha, and I want to rule this world but in order to accomplish that I must acquire the tailed beasts and their immense power!" Stated the figure his tone as cold as ice his sharringan eye still in that strange pinwheel form
"Madara Uchiha?" Minato pondered "No, that should be impossible he must have died by now like the other shinobi of his time. But that strength, that cunning, and a sharingan eye strong enough to subdue the Nine-Tails, who else could it be?" Minato was thrown from his reverie by a kunai whizzing past the side of his head.
"Are you gonna stand around all day or are you gonna fight me?" The man who claimed to be Madara asked in his deep monotone
With his mind focused, Minato raised a three-pronged custom made kunai and rushed at the masked shinobi. Minato tried to stab his kunai knife into the faux Madara' face; however, it seemed as though the kunai just went through the assailant' head.
As it phased through the masked assailant Minato teleported to it grabbing it and using it to slash at the masked Uchiha only for the kunai to again phase through the man
Minato continued to strike at the rogue ninja but to no avail. He then did a flip over the masked ninja releasing a length of wire mid flip trying to ensnare the foe. The wire went straight through the masked shinobi who laughed and said, "Those cheap tricks won't work on me you fool!"
Minato growled and lunged at the figure only to have the wind knocked out of him and find himself launched into a tree with a punch to the stomach. "You can't win. I have grown strong since last we met much stronger than you," his voice was even with a light taunting tone. The masked figure looked up to where the Yondaime hit the tree only to see a fading ring of dust.
"What? Where did he go!?" the figure asked panic causing his voice to crack ever so slightly
"Right behind you." Minato growled as he hit the masked figure with a swirling ball of chakra in the side Minato shouted, "Rasengan!"
The rogue Uchiha was sent spiraling into a tree with his cloak tattered his side revealed to be a starch white with a spiral of damage where the attack had landed. What was really astonishing was the lack of blood from the wound
"That was a full force Rasengan, to be able to stand is astonishing but to do so with no external damage or blood is unheard of," Minato thought his eyes wide, "Who is this guy and where have I fought him before? I don't remember fighting with many Uchiha,"
The masked shinobi stood up and while glaring at Minato said, "You have won this day but mark my words. I shall rule this world, the Nine-Tails and all the other tailed beasts shall be mine,"
With that the figure began to fade out like a mirage. His body spiraling and compressing into the space where his eye was. Laughing maniacally the masked ninja said, "You have won this battle, but what of your village and family?"
Minato turned, his senses tuning to his surroundings. His eyes widened in shock and apprehension as he saw the Demon fox tearing apart the forest surrounding the village inching closer with every second. Minato heard the cries of shinobi as one after another they were killed or sent flying by the great fox spirit.
While Minato fought against the masked shinobi he had lost focus of the nearby village which fell prey to the now hypnotized and enraged Nine-tailed fox spirit.
~Meanwhile in Konoha(Villager POV)~
It was a calm and peaceful night in Konohagakure. The moon sat high and bright above the village with not a cloud in the sky.
The only odd thing that night was that no one could find the Yondaime Hokage or his wife anywhere in the Hokage' compound.
Suddenly the winds begin to pick up going from a gentle autumn breeze to an intense gale throwing dust and debris everywhere. The very ground began to shake beneath the village as the monstrous demon fox appeared.
This was the Nine-Tailed fox of local legend, a beast whose very name brought fear to all shinobi within Hi no Kuni. Its' chakra was said to be comprised of pure malice and hatred. The fox was the size of a mountain and had nine powerful, whip-like tails of equal length. It' fur was as deep and red as a blood orange, its' eyes were a dark scalding red with three black tomoe surrounding the pupil.
To the untrained eyes of the civilians and most Chunin and Genin the fox' eyes were of no consequence but simply full of hatred and anger.
To those better trained shinobi, the Sharringan on the face of the demon fox rose hundreds of red flags. The Jonin, especially those from larger clans, would have wondered what it meant had they not been inches from death and that of their comrades.
The villagers of Konohagakure fought valiantly to secure their homes and protect their friends and comrades; however, against a foe such as this, the most powerful of the tailed beasts, they were no more than flies buzzing around the beast.
Only one man could hope to stand a chance against the beast, Minato Namikaze, better known as the Yondaime Hokage but as of then he was nowhere to be found.
~With Minato~
Minato's mind raced at a mile a minute. "I have to get over there! I have to save them and protect my family!"
Minato teleported himself to the gates of the village where he was greeted with cheers of relief. He bit his right thumb drawing some blood and then began to weave together a set of hand signs muttering something before he slammed his right hand down onto the ground in front of him shouting, "Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"
Where the Yondaime stood a moment ago, now towered the giant Chief toad Gamabunta.
Gamabunta took in his surrounding, including the feeling of the Yondaime Hokage standing atop his head, and the wave of killer intent rolling over him. Standing there its' tails waving in the air was the vicious Nine-Tailed fox.
The chief toads' eyes widened when he saw the demon fox and he said coolly, "So, you finally summon me again and you expect me to keep up against the fucking fox!"
"Yeah, I know and I am sorry but I really need your help to delay him for a moment," apologized Minato
Gamabunta smirked, "Well let's do it then!" he shouted as they rushed at the Nine-Tails
Together Gamabunta and the Yondaime subdued the beast, for the most part, using the Water Style: Syrup Trap Jutsu enhanced by Minato' Raiton chakra giving a light paralyzing effect
"Can you wait here for me?" Minato asked the giant toad
"Yeah, you got about fifteen minutes, tops," Gamabunta grumbled before he jumped up and landed on the giant demon fox
"Thanks, old friend," Minato said with a grin before he disappeared in a yellow flash
"Whatever," Gamabunta muttered, a troubled look on his face
~Minato' House~
Kushina lied in her' and Minato' bed completely exhausted with a content smile on her face as her newborn children held close to her while she hummed a soothing lullaby to them both
"Kushina…," Minato said softly
Kushina turned her head to look at him understanding in her eyes before he even spoke
"You don't have much time and the trap I used to stop the Nine-tails won't last long," Minato said, his face becoming more serious as he spoke,
"We need to seal the Nine-Tails again," Minato said looking down at his sons with a smile.
Kushina looked from him to the children worry etched into her features, "We can't put such a burden on our children!" she cried.
"If not our children, then Whose? Minato countered
"…" Kushina was silent at that, "The life of a jinchuriki is just so lonely, I don't want that for them." She reasoned
"I understand that but I believe that our children will be able to master this power and change the world with it!" Minato said with a reassuring smile, "Besides if we do this right they will always have each other,"
Kushina was too weak and couldn't think of another counter argument so she relented and sighed, "Fine but how will we seal the Nine-Tails into them both?"
"I'll seal the Yin half in Natsu and the Yang half into Naruto." Minato said flatly as though the solution was obvious.
"But if you seal all of the Nine-tails Yin Chakra into Natsu won't it harm him?" Kushina asked worry clear in her tired face
"Not with the new Eight Trigrams Seal I've created," Minato said proudly "The design allows some of the chakra to seep through the seal and merge with the theirs as they grow up, I promise neither of them will be harmed by the chakra and if they should perish the Nine-Tails will die with them permanently sealed."
Kushina gave up and smiled at her husband saying, "You really believe in them that much already, huh?"
"Of course, they're my sons, aren't they?" Minato said smiling softly before he wrapped his family in a tight hug and teleported the four of them to where he and Gamabunta had trapped the Nine-Tailed fox.
When they arrived, they found the fox still there and trying to free itself roaring in frustration as he struggled within both the syrup trap and the weight of Gamabunta.
"Thank you for guarding him, Gamabunta," Minato said as he unsealed a small altar from a scroll in his pocket Minato and Kushina quickly set up the altar and placed both Natsu and Naruto upon it.
Kushina made the Ram seal and shouted, "Adamantine Chains: Sealing Technique,"
Twelve ethereal yellow chains grew from Kushina' hair before they flew forward to secure the Nine-Tails so he couldn't escape halfway through the ritual. The chains wrapped around each of his tails and his limbs. Once the fox was secure Kushina turned to Minato and nodded before creating more chains around them erecting a huge barrier to keep back any interlopers.
Unbeknownst to them the Fox' eyes had begun to shift from the Sharringan back to their original black slits
Minato then made the iconic hand sign for the Shadow Clone Jutsu creating a single clone that began weaving hand signs together with him and building their chakra again. As they finished the hand signs their eyes suddenly opened and they shouted, "Death Reaper Sealing Jutsu!" with that a figure in a pure white robe appeared behind Minato.
The figure had long layered dark gray hair, his skin was a light lavender with black markings along its' left arm, it had sharp fangs and held there between it' teeth was a small single edged blade with snow white wrappings on the hilt, in his left hand were red prayer beads.
The figure raised its' left arm and slowly pushed it through Minato, who gurgled in pain. As it reached through Minato and his clone' bodies it' arm morphed as it came out their stomachs, composed completely of chakra, the strange black markings now decorating the electric blue appendage. The arms snaked their' way toward the Nine-Tails, who fully regained control of himself at that moment the effects of the masked ninja' Sharingan Genjutsu finally subsiding.
The Nine-Tails suddenly realized what was happening around him his senses returning. "Ugh what happened to me?"
The Nine-Tails thought as he noticed the shinobi standing below him realizing what they were about to do, "No, No, No not again! You won't seal me again especially not into a couple of brats like that!" the Nine-Tails thought/Roared.
The ethereal hands of the reaper laced themselves through the twin boys, who each shuddered in their sleep, before it continued towards the great Demon Fox
The Nine-Tails began to struggle more fiercely not knowing that the hand of the Death Reaper was slowly coming closer. The great fox managed to free one clawed hand from the syrup trap as the Reaper finally made it to the target. Upon contact with the reaper the Nine-tails' eyes widened as the visage of the Shinigami himself appeared his hands holding firm on the fox.
The Shinigami began to pull the fox Bijuu in two directions separating the Nine-Tails, using the tanto in it' mouth, into it' Yin and Yang halves. The two halves were pulled from the trap and pulled toward the newborn children the Yang half being pulled into Naruto and the Yin half was pulled into Natsu a spiral with an eight-point star composed of tall symbols appearing on the infants' stomachs.
With that Minato exhaled a breath he had not realized he was holding while his clone disappeared. He then looked at his two sons panting from the exertion of both the Shadow Clone and Death Reaper Sealing Jutsu.
"We did it Kushina! The jutsu worked!" cheered Minato looking over at his wife who smiled back, "Now there's just one more thing we need to do" stated Minato
"What's that?" asked Kushina a quizzical look gracing her tired yet content features
"We have to leave them a message before we pass on." stated Minato who was now trying to think of what to tell his sons
"I-I wish we could be here to watch you both grow up and become the men we know you will be," Kushina said as she began to cry, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes'.
"I know you will be strong, and brave, and that you will change this world," Minato said as he too teared up, "I know your life will be hard and that you boys may be hated for what I have done tonight, but I know you will rise above the hatred and change it into something positive and powerful. I know deep down that the two of you are the child of prophecy my master once took me for. The two of you will change this world full of hate and destruction and make it into a world of acceptance and creation of peace and unity between the nations of the world." He sniveled pride evident in his voice as he spoke tears running down his smiling face.
Kushina choked back her tears and said, "The life of a Jinchuriki is a tough one…"
"… but are necessary for maintaining the current balance of power within the five-elemental nation" interjected Minato
"… Right and I understand that" Kushina said, "it's still incredibly difficult for anyone to endure I wish it didn't have to be you my beautiful children, but like your father, I believe you can overcome the hardships and become stronger because of it," Kushina said with a teary-eyed smile
"Never give them a real reason to hate you boys," Minato said "The villagers may not understand now but one day I'm sure they'll see you as you and not the Demon that destroyed them."
"Smile lots and help whenever you can," Kushina said as the couple' time began to run out.
"Make lots of friends and master this power, I know you can do both my sons." Minato said
"Don't be picky eaters boys eat all you can and eat lots of fruits and vegetables!" Kushina said "Keep yourselves clean and make sure to clean up after yourselves and…"
"That's enough Kushina, don't want to be a nag on day one. Our time is almost up. Boys if nothing else, know that we are so proud of you and will always love you even if we are not there to tell you or show you" said Minato
"Yes and we will always be here watching over you from across the veil. We love you both so much Natsu and Naruto, Heroes of the Leaf" Kushina said with a smile
It was at that moment that the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, ran up to the group his summons, Monkey King: Enma in his adamantine staff form, in hand along with a small group of Anbu Black Ops following him.
The Sandaime and his Anbu had been blocked in their path by Kushina' Adamantine chains but had seen and heard everything the couple said, their chests aching from the helplessness they felt.
Hiruzen came up to Minato and Kushina, who had fallen to their knees above their children, and with their dying breathes said, "Watch over our children keep them safe and happy in our stead please, Sarutobi Sensei." with those final words Minato and Kushina fell back, peaceful smiles adorning their faces
Hiruzen fell to his knees looking at the bodies of his fallen comrades, "I will protect these boys like they were my own my friends. I will protect them and keep them safe until I too pass on and join you in the next world", Hiruzen said/thought tears in his eyes when suddenly from nowhere he heard Kushina's voice say, "Thank you Hiruzen…"
Hiruzen walked over to the pedestal next to the bodies of his fallen friends and picked up the twin boys holding them in his arms trying to comfort them as they cried for their parents. He looked down and saw so much of their parents in them.
The Sandaime then turned to the group of Anbu and was puzzled by the arrival of the member of the legendary Sannin, Jiraiya, who looked from the body of his prized student, Minato Namikaze, to that of his wife, Kushina Uzumaki-Namikaze beside him, tears welled in the sage' eyes but he dared not let them fall.
The hokage stood, the boys still held tightly in his arms, and said, "Jiraiya, Anbu, I decree that from this point on anyone who mentions the status of these two boys Naruto", holding up the younger blonde child, "and Natsu", holding up the slightly older red-haired child, "shall be severely punished. The events of this night are now an S ranked village secret. None of the children of the next generation, especially these two boys, may know that within these children sleeps the Nine-Tailed fox. It shall be written that on this day Minato Namikaze, the Great Yondaime Hokage, and his wife, Kushina Uzumaki-Namikaze, died defending the village from the Nine-Tails killing the beast. These boys shall keep their mothers last name for their own protection and shall be looked after by myself and those I seek out. From this moment forward the origins of Natsu and Naruto Uzumaki shall be classified at the highest level. Now Go forth and spread this message to those who have survived and make sure they don't know the identities of the children' parents!" Shouted the Third Hokage.
With that the surrounding Anbu dispersed themselves to relay the proclamation of the former, now temporary, Hokage. Jiraiya then walked up to Sarutobi and said, "These boys are in for a tough life."
"Yes, they are indeed." Replied Hiruzen, "Will you stay to help look after them, my former student?"
"No, that's too much work for a drifter like me!" Jiraiya yelped "Besides having to care for these kids will cut into my research, HaHaHa! Besides if they're around they'll remind me too much of Minato and Kushina." Jiraiya said thinking the end.
"Fine but at least promise me one thing." Stated the third
"And what would that be, Sarutobi Sensei?" Jiraiya asked
"When they come of age and require guidance, will you train them?" asked Sarutobi a stern look on his face
"I'll think about it." Jiraiya said flatly
"That's all I ask." Hiruzen sighed holding back his tears while he rocked the infants in his arms
"These boys deserve to be kings in this village, that will likely not be the case, so I will find some way to make their lives better, somehow," Enma thought his eye fixed on the boys from his standing position behind Hiruzen before he disappeared in a cloud of smoke
~Time skip 12 years later~
Twelve years have passed since the night of the Nine-Tails massacre. The village has healed physically, buildings have been rebuilt and trees replanted; however, while the physical wounds of that night have since faded the emotional scars still cut deep through the hearts of every villager who survived that night.
The Uzumaki brothers had grown since that night as well. The two twelve year olds are both about 1 meter tall and while physically fit they were quite small for their age. They each had the iconic fox whisker marks on their faces, three on each cheek.
Natsu had piercing but kind steel blue eyes with shoulder length red hair, the spiky mop he held as an infant having grown straight and long. He wore a bright red T-Shirt with a black leaf village insignia across the back and on left breast, over that he had a steel blue hoodie vest with black knee length cargo shorts with a pocket on each thigh, and finally he finished the outfit with a pair of black shinobi sandals.
Naruto wore a similar outfit with a navy-blue T-Shirt that had the village symbol in white on the back and left breast, he had a bright orange hoodie vest and grey knee length cargo shorts with pockets on each thigh, and blue shinobi sandals.
The boys had enrolled in the Konohagakure Ninja academy two years ago, when they turned ten, and had since been shown even more hatred and had even more people looking down on them or trying more fiercely to kill them.
Today, as the boys walked from their modest one room one bath apartment to the academy, the villagers stared down at them glaring with malice at the children for having the simple dream of becoming Shinobi.
The boys saw the cold glares and could feel the collective hatred and Killing Intent(KI) of the villagers along their route to school and, like every other day, they kept walking ignoring the cold glares and heading toward the academy. They didn't understand why the village hated them. Why the villagers seemed so cold to them.
But today was different. Unlike every other day of their lives today was the day of a final exam and they planned to ace it and graduate the academy early.
They had found a rule in the school' honor code that allowed a student to participate in the graduation exam early if they had the written consent of a Jonin or above shinobi, which they did.
The week before had been spent begging their 'Hokage Jiji' to allow them to take the exam and try to prove themselves to Jiji and the village. He was completely against it at first, but when Natsu mentioned that it could also be used as a way to test their skills and figure out what they still needed to work on, and a double dose of their patented, "Sexy Jutsu!", he finally conceded under the condition that they would take it after school so as not to disrupt the normal graduation exam.
This was their first chance to become shinobi and prove the villagers wrong, that they could become great ninja maybe even become Hokage. They felt so distanced from the village but at least they had each other and the Old Man was nice to them giving them money for food and necessities, letting them live in their apartment for free, and just for smiling at them when the world decided that they were less than trash.
Before long they had arrived at a large building which housed the Ninja Academy, where young children were trained to withstand and succeed in the harsh world of the Shinobi.
The Uzumaki brothers walked inside and through the wood floored, white walled hallways until they came to room 201 for Iruka-Sensei' class. The room was lively with idle chatter between the different students ignoring the two new arrivals.
A man with brown hair tied into a spiked-ponytail on top of his head, a green flak jacket with a red spiral on the back and multiple pockets on the front, and a blue regulation chunin jumpsuit. This was Irukaa-Sensei one of the few villagers who tried to teach the boys and who did not glare at them. He and the Hokage were also the only ones who ever smiled at the boys or reprimanded them fairly and the teacher assigned to administer their Graduation test later that day, after the normal classes.
"All right, settle down everyone!" Iruka-Sensei called only for the chatter to continue, Iruka sighed before making the Ram sign activating his patented, 'Big Head Jutsu' before shouting "Quiet!" Which caused the room to turn silent as the children became aware of their teachers' presence.
"Ugh, this is such a drag" said one Shikamaru Nara. The young boy wore a grey shirt with blue accents on the cuffs of the sleeves and a yellow circle with orange wave like markings in it and grey shorts. He had a spikey black ponytail on top of his head tied with an olive-green band and had a sulking tired look on his face like he had been roused from sleep to early and was still grumpy about it.
"Oh, come on Shikamaru, it's not that bad." said Choji Akamichi a chubby kid with a deep love of food. The boy wore a green jacket with an off-white band around the shoulders and neck are and tan shorts. He had spiky brown hair that went back in an upward diagonal. He had spiral markings on his cheeks and was munching on some barbeque potato chips. "and besides Shikamaru if you pass you can become a ninja and get your laid back average life."
"Your right but it's still a drag." said Shikamaru with a smirk
"All right now that we're all done talking and catching up how about we get started with today' history lesson" Iruka said with a wide grin receiving a collective sigh from the students.
"Aaaaahhh, I hate these boring classes" grumbled Naruto as he began to run his fingers through his hair angrily.
"Hmph, I know that the lectures are boring but if you think of what was done it becomes amazing like the founding of Konoha, the Battle of the End, the Three Great Ninja Wars," said Natsu with sparkles in his eyes, "I could explain if you get stuck or bored?"
"I guess you're right big bro and thanks sounds helpful" said Naruto a little more focused now that his brother was going to help explain the dry material
~Time skip: After Classes~
"All right everybody that's it for today see you the same time tomorrow" Iruka said with a kind smile "Naruto, Natsu, please stay after class we have to discuss your' test,"
The rest of the class looked back snickering at the brothers who were forced to stay behind wondering what they had done to be held after and how badly they had done on some test
"Yes, Iruka-Sensei!" the brothers said simultaneously while the rest of the class filed out of the room still chuckling
"What do we need to discuss?" Naruto asked hoping something hadn't happened
"Nothing, I just can't proctor your' exam today so I am having Mizuki-sensei proctor it in my place," Iruka said kindly before he noticed the looks on the brothers' faces
"What's wrong?" Iruka asked worried
"Nothing, Iruka-sensei, it's just…" Naruto began
"Just, what?" Iruka asked
"It's just that whenever we are around Mizuki-sensei we get this weird feeling and chills down our spines or nausea," Natsu said looking sick from the memory
"I see well then you have a choice you can decide to not take the exam early or you can take it with Mizuki-sensei as your' proctor," Iruka said with a serious look
"But that's not fair, Sensei!" Naruto shouted
"In the ninja world, you will be put into situations very similar to this so consider it extra credit," Iruka said with a kind smile
"I guess you have a point, Sensei," Natsu said before turning to his brother, who nodded
"I guess we'll work with Mizuki-sensei," Natsu said with a begrudging look on his face
"Good, he is waiting for you in our office with the written test," Iruka said smiling at the two Uzumaki who were a bit worried
~Time Skip: Chunin Sensei Office~
The brothers entered the office while mentally reviewing every fact they had in their minds until they came face to face with Mizuki who glared down at them before it turned into a small smile. The transition was so fast the brothers almost missed it, almost.
"Okay, you two are taking the exam early today, congrats on getting permission," Mizuki said with a small smile, "These demon brats have truly brainwashed the Hokage if they got him to allow them to take the test early with their grades as they are,"
Mizuki then showed the boys to a small table with two chairs and two test forms and pencils, "Now, you may begin whenever you're ready you have one hour from now to complete it though,"
The brothers dashed into the seats and began the test. It was pretty simple five, scenario based questions; some basic trajectory questions; some history; and a true or false question. Natsu went through the questions a little more quickly than Naruto but they were both struggling on the trajectory and the specific history dates.
Natsu might like the stories themselves and know the order in which they went but the specific years always got super jumbled for him and even more so for Naruto.
~One hour Later~
"Time!" Mizuki called as he grabbed the two tests off the table and began looking them over his eyes widening for a moment before a sinister smirk crossed his features, "They did pretty well, for two kids trying for early graduation, but with a few 'minor corrections' these two will fail the written exam,"
"Did we do okay, Mizuki-sensei?" Naruto asked with an innocent and worried voice
Natsu suddenly felt a chill down his spine when Mizuki heard Naruto' question. The feeling remained as Mizuki turned but when Natsu saw the Chunin-sensei' face he was baffled. Rather than the scowl he expected he saw Mizuki with a 'Genuine Smile'
"How can he have such a real looking smile while he is giving off so much hatred? And why hasn't Naruto noticed?" Natsu wondered but was brought back, out of his thoughts, by Mizuki' answer
"Yes, you passed the test, but just barely, your' math was off in a few places and you got confused in the history questions it would seem," Mizuki said scrutinizing the test forms
"Sweet! We passed!" Naruto shouted, which made another wave of negative emotions roll off of Mizuki
"Yeah we did!" Natsu said high fiving his brother
"Don't get ahead of yourselves," Mizuki said dryly, "You still have to pass the Ninjutsu portion of the test and the Taijutsu portion,"
The brothers paled for a second remembering their difficulty with the damned clone jutsu
"Right, Nnjutsu, well at least there isn't a Genjutsu portion to the test," Naruto said with a sigh
"Kai!" Natsu shouted while his fingers were in the Ram seal, "Yeah, there wasn't one"
"Why did you do that?" shouted a startled Naruto
"Just in case we had been put under a Genjutsu while taking or handing in the test," Natsu explained earning an 'ah ha' look from Naruto and a light scowl from Mizuki
"Anyway, time for the Jutsu test so start with the Henge no Jutsu," Mizuki said looking at the boys with scrutiny while he held up a clipboard
Naruto and Natsu turned to each other before nodding and running through a few hand seals and transforming into the Hokage until Mizuki said to stop
Mizuki put down the clipboard and began clapping slowly before patting Naruto on the back, "Good work on the Henge no Jutsu now let's try the Kawarimi no Jutsu,"
As he said that and patted his back Natsu could feel some positive emotions coming from him, almost like the feeling of a successful prank, but more.
The boys once again went through hand seals and channeled their chakra into the jutsu and while Natsu switched with a pencil on the table Naruto remained in the same place still trying to use the Kawarimi. Natsu looked at him and began to feel his anguish wash over him and his anger at himself for his inability
"Agh, I can't do it!" Naruto growled trying again and again
"Well Naruto, I'm sorry but if you can't do all three Jutsu then you can't pass, but don't worry this just means you should work on your' Ninjutsu and Taijutsu since we didn't get to that part of the test before you failed miserably" Mizuki said with a 'reassuring' smile
"Natsu, however, can still go ahead with the clone Jutsu and try to pass the Taijutsu portion," Mizuki said with a less reassuring and more strained smile
Naruto looked over at his brother with shame on his face. He was worried his brother might leave him in the hell of their academy lives, alone. Sensing Naruto's sadness and fear, Natsu walked over to him and pulled him into a hug saying, "It's okay if you didn't pass we'll try again next year."
With that Naruto looked at his brother tears in his eyes and said, "But you still haven't taken the Taijutsu exam Big Bro you could still pass! Why aren't you gonna try!?" asked Naruto
"Because becoming a ninja in this harsh world isn't worth it if to do so I must leave you behind." Natsu said a sad smile on his face causing Mizuki to have a disgusted look on his face
"I forfeit Mizuki-Sensei," Natsu said "let's go back home I'll get something special for dinner and then we'll start training even harder, how does that sound?" Natsu asked patting his brother on the head
"I accept your' forfeit and will write it up in my report," Mizuki said with a neutral face
"Thanks, big bro." Naruto sniveled as the brothers left the room to head home Mizuki had a wide smile on his face
"This will be easy to exploit," Mizuki said his grin widening until it bordered on mad
~Outside the Academy~
As the two began to leave the room Natsu noticed a strange tag attached to the back of his brothers' hoodie vest. "Hey, what's that on your back Naruto?" asked Natsu
"I'm not sure." Naruto said as he reached back and grabbed it
One of the Chunin teachers, who had been walking to the shared office, came over hearing the discovery of the tag
"Do you know what this is?" asked the brothers
"Looks like a smoke paper bomb that never went off." said the Chunin teacher "Ha great job Mizuki with this tag the little brat couldn't have controlled his chakra at all let alone to cast a jutsu!" Thought the sensei
"I'll take this off your hands and make sure it's disposed of properly" the sensei told the boys a smile on his face "Serves you right demon brats!" the smile turning slightly malicious as he reached for the tag
"No that's fine Sensei I'll hold on to it," said Natsu who after seeing that smile on the Sensei' face became suspicious "Who knows it might come in handy,"
"Fine then." The Chunin grumbled
"Hey Naruto, why don't you head home and work on your meditation exercises while I go to the store and meet you back at the apartment in a couple hours?" Natsu asked with a kind-hearted smile
"Okay, Big Bro, I guess it can't hurt," Naruto said still a little sad. Naruto then hugged his brother goodbye and said, "Thanks again for not leaving me behind."
"Of course little bro I'd never do that." Stated Natsu with sincerity
As Natsu watched his brother leave he looked down at the tag still in his hand. "I don't think this is a smoke bomb or a normal paper bomb, but What is this thing?" Natsu thought saying the last part aloud
It was then that a pair of chunin passed by one noticed the tag in young Natsu' hand and snickered quietly to his co-worker, "Hey dude, check it out, one of the demon brats has a chakra inhibiting tag." his friend looked over and laughed as they passed by into the office
"So, that's what this is!?" Natsu thought, "Is there nothing these people won't do to impede us? Can we ever get a fair shake in this damned village!?" Natsu roared within his own mind before his eyes widened in realization
"This must be why I sensed that feeling of victory from Mizuki-sensei between the Henge and the Kawarimi," Natsu thought his eyes darkening before he realized something else
"He was trying to separate us and even worse if I'm right he has been sabotaging our Taijutsu and Shurikenjutsu one way or another for two years now!" Natsu thought
He remembered all the 'corrections' Mizuki made to their stances when Iruka-sensei wasn't looking or the Kunai set Mizuki gave the brothers when they started saying that since they were orphans the school was supposed to donate the equipment to them so they could practice outside of class
Natsu looked down at the tag in his hands. His first instinct was to rip the tag to pieces but instead he stowed it in his pouch and decided to use it to prank Mizuki-sensei later.
Natsu ran off into the forest not wanting anyone to see him throw a tantrum. Not wanting to give these asshole villagers the satisfaction of knowing that they got to him that they made him cry and hurt without touching him, for once.
He ran until he came to an unoccupied training ground. The training ground had a small pond with white-gray stones and clear water, a forest surrounded the clearing which had almost no grass but was lined with lush and thick shrubbery.
Natsu walked into the underbrush toward a tree far from the clearing where he thought no one would see him or hear him. Once deep enough in Natsu began punching a tree questioning the events of today and his life in general
"Why" he growled punching the tree in front of him "Why do they hate us"
"Wwwwwhhhhhhhyyyyyyy!?" Natsu roared to the heavens before punching a small hole in the tree and dropping to his knees as he began to sob his anger ebbing into sadness.
"Why do they hate us so much? What did we do to deserve this?" Natsu asked to any who would answer. Then Natsu began to hear a low murmuring laugh coming from nowhere and yet he could hear it all around him.
"Who's there?" Natsu asked a little worried
"I am," growled a voice filled with hatred
Wow! I didn't think I could write this long. This fic weighs in at just under 5600 words and is again my first ever fic and use of creative writing. Anything you want to know or ask me about goes in the comments section. Thanks for reading!