Summary: Mizuki tricks Naruto a year earlier and Iruka is inspired to make a few experimental changes to the last year at the Academy. The butterfly effect ensues.
This is a no pairing story – Naruto team friendship centric
If I get any bits wrong and they are not integral to the story I will go back and make the necessary changes. If it's wrong and integral to the story... well let's just call those bits AU.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with Naruto.
Warning – I get most of my info from fan fiction because I've only seen a few episodes. After the time skip I get kind of sketchy, so while I might use something learned from that part of the show it otherwise doesn't exist.
Prologue
Iruka stared wonderingly at Naruto. This boy who was dead last in his class had managed to steal a scroll from the Hokage himself and learn a forbidden jutsu in only a few hours. This child who was barely scraping by in class was a natural in the field, using a barely learned skill to take out a chunin. A strong chunin. Perhaps he would manage to become the greatest Hokage as he claimed. I should honor Mizuki's challenge and allow him to graduate.
As Iruka shifted to stand and follow through on his thought he let out a groan as his wounds let their presence be felt once more. His mind once again shifted to Naruto to distract himself.
Where would the boy be now if the Academy taught using mock missions such as the one Naruto thought he was doing?
Iruka froze in place having only managed to get to one knee. His face blanked as his mind raced through the possibilities. The council had added two years onto the Academy education without really adding material to be taught. It would be usurping some of what a jonin instructor would teach, but he could argue that it would be following their desire for the students to be better prepared for the reality of ninja life.
He was shaken from his thoughts by Naruto touching his shoulder. He looked up into concerned blue eyes.
"Sensei are you alright?"
Iruka nodded slowly. "I'll be alright Naruto. I just had an idea I need to speak with the Hokage about. I think next year will be an interesting one for my students. I think... it would probably be a good idea to brush up on your sign language skills. If I get my way it will be a very important part of your training next year."
He finished standing and wrapped an arm around Naruto leaning on him slightly. He used his other hand to tip Naruto's face up to his own and give him the most serious and solemn look he could manage.
"I think now that you know the truth it is time for you to take your classes more seriously. No more pranks Naruto."
"Yes, sensei." Naruto's expression mirrored his own before he glanced away and spoke so softly that Iruka wasn't sure if he was meant to hear it or not. "I want people to see me as you see me."
Even softer still. "I've only ever wanted to be seen."
"I am sure that you will fight to become the most skilled ninja in Konoha and everyone will see you Naruto."
This made Naruto look up with confusion. "Skilled?"
"Yes, skilled. For the strength of a ninja is measured in how well he has mastered all the skills of the shinobi." This brought a very thoughtful look to Naruto's face.
Iruka waited a moment before giving him a shake and a squeeze lightening the moment. "Come on then, let's go. We need to report to the Hokage and get fixed up, then I will take you to Ichiraku's for ramen."
Naruto's dazzling smile was true to form but his exhaustion was apparent as he failed to leap about as he normally would at such an offer.
As they moved off with the sun rising behind them to light a beautiful day Iruka was busy plotting. Plans within plans each with sub-plotting between the lines. If he could pull this off it would be a prank on everyone who was against Naruto in Konoha and none of them would ever see it coming.
Author's Notes: I like to think that I'm taking this in a new direction. (I may be deluding myself.) While some events in the Naruto verse will still happen Naruto's involvement in them will have much larger changes. I have a few things that I want to see in a fic so that's what I'm writing. The Naruto world has so many characters with such potential for growth it hurts to see it squandered. There will be no pairings because I am against it for pre or barely teen kids and at the end of this story they will only be 13 or 14 tops. If this fic reaches 100,000 words I will be massively surprised but as I am forcing myself not to take shortcuts in telling the story I want to tell I have no idea how long this will be. Chapter 1 will probably be up within a few hours.
