Title: Ninja Days

Rating: T

Things to Know: This is a slight AU, but I put in important events, change some scenes, and add my own twists to some things. Flames are ok, just please don't be too harsh. I'm mostly looking for constructive criticism. If this ain't your cup of tea; DON'T READ IT THEN.

Summary: Naruto gets convinced by Iruka to go to the academy so that he can fulfill his dream of becoming Hokage. In the process of his "exploration", he will make many friends, enemies, and allies. Naruto will leave to become stronger so that he can bring back a lost friend. His friends and allies will stand behind him the entire way in order for him to reach his dreams. Tobi will also kill everyone's internet.

Chapter 1 – First Day at the Ninja Academy

It was bright and sunny out, and there were many people wandering in the market streets of Konoha: the Leaf Village. Suddenly, there is a blur of orange running through the crowds and a man yelling.

"Naruto! Get back here to clean up this mess!" a man shouted to the orange blur in the busy market streets. The young boy doesn't respond, but just picks up his pace darting past people, trying not to get caught. Most people stopped what they were doing to watch the daily spectacle of Naruto getting chased by the local teacher, Iruka.

Somehow, Naruto shakes Iruka from his trail and makes it to the apartment where he lives by himself. As he closes his door behind him, he trips and falls on all of the junk that litters his floor. All that can be seen as he lays in the trash is a head of spiky blonde hair. He slowly gets up, dusting off his orange jumpsuit. He is a newly-turned 7-year-old that has proud sapphire eyes and cat like whiskers on his pale face.

"I still have to clean this place up," he grumbled, "But, I should eat some instant ramen first." With this decided he proceeded to his relatively normal sized kitchen where he started to boil some water and got out a cup of instant noodles from one of his cabinets. As he ate, he thought back on the events that had just occurred.

Flashback

He had just found some leftover paint near a dumpster; it looked like no one wanted it, so he took it. He formed the dumbest plan in his head, and headed for the Hokage Mountain. Once he managed to climb all the way up there, he started to paint on the rocky surfaces of the mountainside Hokage images. A teacher, Iruka, had seen him doing this as he was leaving from the academy after school. Naruto clambered down the mountain and darted through the crowd, hoping to lose him; he only managed since Iruka had incidentally run into some random villager that happened to be in the market that day. He had gotten really lucky.

End Flashback

After he finished eating, Naruto began to clean up his home, throwing away random paper, love letters, wrappers, bottles, and other things into his trash can. He also went to clean his bathroom with cleaner that smelled like lavender flowers.

Meanwhile…

A knock sounded on the door.

"Enter," boomed a powerful voice. "What brings you here, Iruka?"

"Hokage-sama, it seems that Naruto has potential to become a great ninja, along with the fact that he has a dream to become the next Hokage," Iruka stated promptly. The Sandaime Hokage nodded his head signaling that he had heard what the other man had said.

"I value your judgment and Minato told me to watch over him, too. I shall arrange it so he may enter the ninja academy starting next Monday. Understood?" the Hokage asked.

"Hai," Iruka affirmed, disappearing immediately with a puff of smoke. The Hokage, pleased, continued with his paperwork, and started thinking about retiring; and the fact that retiring wasn't possible.

With Iruka…

Iruka casually walked down the busy streets. It was now about noon, and he had to go and convince Naruto to show up to the academy on Monday; it was currently Friday. Shaking his head, he headed toward the Uchiha compound, knowing that Naruto lived right next door in a fancy apartment that he didn't usually clean. Iruka sighed, and walked up the stairs to the second level of apartments. Reaching Naruto's door, he knocked loud enough for the young boy to hear over whatever he was doing; which, in most cases, probably wasn't much.

Iruka waited a few moments, and from behind the door popped out a bright head of blonde hair. Naruto greeted Iruka and invited him in, his eyes full of curiosity, since the elder man didn't usually come over to visit.

"Naruto, the Hokage wants you to go to a new school," Iruka proposed.

"Iruka-sensei, I don't even like school, let alone am I currently attending one!" Naruto adamantly protested.

"What's your dream, Naruto?" Iruka asked the boy, hoping to get him from a different angle.

"My dream? Why are you asking me, silly? Haven't I told you many times?" Naruto questioned Iruka. "You know that my dream is to become the next Hokage. You know that, so why do you ask me?"

"I ask you so that I can tell you that going to the academy is good. It's the school that I teach at. If you go, it will help you fulfill your dream of becoming Hokage," Iruka answered. After a few moments of silence, and Iruka watching Naruto's facial expressions change as he thought about the offer, the boy spoke.

"I'll take your offer; when do I start?"

Glad that he was able to convince the child, Iruka responded, "You start on this coming Monday."

"What? Why didn't you tell me sooner? I hardly have any time left to prepare myself. It's only 2 days before then!" Naruto yelled holding up 3 fingers.

"Your holding up 3 fingers, Naruto," Iruka pointed out.

A few hours later…

"Yay! I'm all prepared for school on Monday, all thanks to you, Iruka-sensei!" Naruto cheered. The obnoxious child had somehow roped the teacher into helping him find everything that he would need for school. In all actuality, he only needed a lunch.

"Yea, no problem, Naruto. Later," a weary Iruka stated as he left Naruto's apartment with a wave.

On Monday…

Naruto woke up around 5:30, just to make sure he had everything and so he wouldn't be late. It never made a good impression if he showed up late. School started around 7, so he had time to eat his breakfast and walk to the academy. At about 6:53, Naruto arrived and saw that there were many kids standing around with smiles lighting up their faces as they stood next to their parents. When he walked closer to the building, the children stopped smiling as the adults started to glare at him. He didn't know why they didn't like him, but he felt it wasn't fair, so he backed away next to a tree and waited for the bell to ring.

The bell rang and Iruka-sensei ushered the kids inside. He told the class that Naruto was the new kid in the class, and everyone wanted to know why he was starting a month into the academy's school year. They thought that he shouldn't have been there: that he didn't deserve to be there. He was told to sit in between two people named Choji Akimichi and Hinata Hyuuga. Choji was a chubby boy with brown hair that constantly ate snacks, but he got really upset if anyone called him fat. Hinata was a really shy girl with purple hair and white eyes since she had a blood line limit called Byakugan. Naruto started to form a crush on her as the day progressed.

In his class Naruto found out there was Sakura Haruno, Kiba Inuzuka, Sasuke Uchiha, Shino Aburame, Shikamaru Nara, and Ino Yamanaka. These six kids were all really good friends with Choji and Hinata, and they invited Naruto to eat lunch with them. Naruto sat with Sasuke on his left side and Sakura on his right. Next to Sasuke sat Kiba, then Hinata, Shino, Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino next to Sakura; this completed their circle.

"Ne, Sasuke, you smell like my bathroom," Naruto stated once everyone had finished eating.

"What did you just say, Dobe?" Sasuke asked, angered by what Naruto had just said.

"Nothing, Teme," the blonde replied coolly.

"Dobe,"

"Teme,"

"Dobe!"

"Teme!"

"Sasuke, stop fighting with Naruto, he's our new friend; don't treat him harshly," Sakura broke in, effectively ending the boys' argument over nothing. It was apparent to everyone but Naruto that Sakura had a crush on said boy. Everyone sighed, glad that the atmosphere wasn't as tense anymore. Hinata was blushing and pushing her fingers together as she stole glances at Kiba. This time, everyone but Kiba and Naruto knew how Hinata felt. On the inside, Sasuke was depressed, since Sakura was protecting Naruto and not him. No one knew about his crush on her. If anyone found out, he would be beyond embarrassed.

At the end of the day, back at Naruto's apartment…

Naruto felt that his first day had gone very well considering that he had made 8 new friends and had just formed a crush. Plus, Naruto discovered that Sasuke lived right next door to him, so he could walk to and from school with him. Things seemed to take a turn for the better.

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