Alrighty... This is my first fanfic about the knucklehead with the orange jumpsuit, which I actually think is kinda cool. Anyway, I'm going to try and write an update once a week and make the chapters longer than I usually do (Which really is freakin' short). This is really the first time I'm actually writing a story just for the sake of writing a story. If you don't want to write a review because you're too lazy, no prob. I feel the same way. However, I do find reviews to be great stimuli, so I would really appreciate some. (I'll also add some polls just for that reason. As a matter of fact, I'll let you influence quite a big part of the storyline, under my influence of course, but hey). Anyway, you probably have enough of my blabbering by now but I still want two add two more things. One, I don't know too many fancy Japanese words, so I have no idea what I'm going to do once a jutsu is used, I'll probably switch between Japanese and English. The second and last thing is:

Disclaimer: I don't own any knuckleheads, pink-haired fangirls, brooding emo-brats or other Naruto characters and I never will.

This version of the Naruto story starts with the first day of Naruto's second-last year at the academy. He is now ten years old and very much like the Naruto everyone know. No differences there. But the event that makes my version different occurs on this day with ...something just a tad cliché. You'll see.

Chapter one: A general introduction

Jumping from street-tile to street-tile on one leg, Naruto got closer and closer to the academy. He was already late, kinda'. About two hours. It didn't really matter. Anyone who was late was in for punishment, which he was anyway with him being Naruto. Just three yards away from his destination, Naruto heard a bell, signaling the break. He lowered his leg and started walking normally. School sucked, the teachers sucked, most of his teammates sucked and life sucked in general as well... But break was okay.

Once inside the academy compound, Naruto sought out his usual spot in the bushes. People generally left him alone there. He then proceeded to take out some rice balls and ate them. Food always tasted better during an official break.

He'd just finished his last one when the bell rang. He sighed melancholic-ally and made his way towards his class. Most of the kids were more enthusiastic and he was the last to enter. He trudged towards his seat, but stopped when he noticed that someone was already in it.

"Who are you?" The birthmark face asked confusedly.

The boy in his seat looked up. (AN: I forgot to mention, I find it easier to describe people from the toes up, so that's what I'll be doing all throughout the story whenever a new character or a character with a new outfit shows up. Also, you might have noticed that we've already reached the cliché part. A new classmate!!) He had heavy, beige shoes which were probably made for either walking long distances or kicking people so they would break bones. His pants were black, wide and heavy with a lot of pockets, seemingly empty. A loose, bright red shirt with a skull and two crossed bones on it hung loosely on his torso, covered with a flack jacket that was as brightly orange as Naruto's jumpsuit. This outfit was topped off with a red cap. (AN: Yep, this is what I usually wear) His brown/blond hair was about two inches long and could be seen peeking out from under the cap. He was tall and strongly built, but not muscular. Finally his face. As the boy looked up at Naruto, the prankster saw his own confusion reflected in the other's eyes, which were brown. The boy looked like he hadn't slept in a couple of days. It wasn't that he had bags under his eyes or that his eyelids kept drooping. It was more in the way he looked at you, like sleeping for seven days straight wouldn't make him less sleepy.

After a couple of seconds of confused staring, the boy blinked and took on a concentrating frown. After a couple more seconds of this, his eyes suddenly sprang all the way open and he said: "I'm Zarran Dashimaru. Pleasure to meecha!" The confused and sleepy look on his face was replaced with a happy, confident and wide awake smile that took Naruto by surprise.

The surprise didn't last long, though, Naruto being Naruto and being able to adapt quickly. He flashed his smile before proclaiming: "I'm Uzumaki Naruto, future hokage." Naruto looked like he was sure of himself, but inside was different. Waiting for the rejection, for when yet another kid would reject him for no reason at all. The boy, however, just nodded and laid back, pulling his cap over his eyes to shield them from light. All that he said was "Kay".

Naruto's grin didn't falter as he looked around for another seat. This was hard. His entire three person bench was usually empty because no one wanted to sit next to him. Now, however, all three were filled. In the middle seat, on the left from the now sleeping kid sat another boy, and on the other free spot was a girl.

The middle boy, in contrast to the sleeper, was rather short. Shorter than Naruto himself, which made the blonde's smile even more pronounced. The boy had black ninja sandals under army-style three-quarter pants. His legs were a bit skinny, but not unhealthily so. He had a dark, grey sweater with a hood, which was currently resting in his neck. His hair was only half an inch long and he had a stupid grin on his face. A chord around his neck was also visible, but the pendant was hidden under his sweater.

The girl, who seemed to be literally bouncing with excess energy, was wearing a black one-piece (like the one the chick in Underworld is wearing, or the chick in Matrix, if you haven't seen underworld. If you've seen neither of these, you really need to lower the amount of anime you're watching) She had blond hair, like Naruto, and dark green eyes.

They both grinned at him for a second, and then returned their attention to the front of the class, where the teacher had just entered. Naruto also turned that way, and saw a teacher he did not recognize. Must be a new guy he thought. The teacher's eyes swung to him, the only one who was not yet seated, and they narrowed with annoyance, not with hatred, like Naruto had expected.

"You must be Uzumaki Naruto. Tell me, why weren't you attending class this morning?" The teacher asked.

Naruto scratched the back of his head and gave his "I know I'm in trouble but I'm pretending I don't" grin, which the teacher didn't buy.

"Well?"

"I... Uhhh... I kinda' lost my way." Naruto knew he was screwed, but was infinitely surprised with the reply.

"Yeesss." Naruto could see the teacher wasn't believing him. "Well, you're getting away with it this time, but there better not be a second time. Got that? Good, now sit down... somewhere." The teacher looked around with a frown on his face, pronouncing the scar above his nose. (AN: you should know who the teacher is by now) He scratched the back of his head in thought before he shrugged his shoulders and waved his hand at the door in a vague matter. "Go get a spare chair from someone and you can just join a group.

Naruto happily obliged, thinking along the way that this year might just turn out okay. He had a teacher who didn't seem to hate him on first sight, and three kids who didn't seem to mind him. Running along, Naruto loudly punched the air, "Yeah."

The next two years went well for the knucklehead. The teacher, Iruka, continued to be civil with him, unless Naruto pulled a prank or did something stupid. The three new Kids (Zarran Dashimaru, Mairu Iba and the girl, who was called Iyuno Yuko), Naruto got along with amazingly well. Plus, because he had friends, other kids weren't avoiding him as much as they used to, and he became close to those as well. All in all, things had taken a turn for the better for Naruto.

Well, this was the first chapter/prologue kind of thing. Hope you liked it. If you want the story to go in a specific direction, put it in a review and I will definitely take it into consideration. Also, I know this chapter isn't really that long, but it really was a prologue and I felt I needed to stop here. Ehm, I think that is about all I was going to say.

Anyway, here's the first poll.

Pairings, here are your options:

1. Naruto x Tenten

2. Naruto x Temari

3. Naruto x Ino

4. Naruto x Yugito

5. Naruto x OC

6. Naruto x Yuko

Other pairings are open for all suggestions. Just put them in your review, hehehe.

As for Naruto's weapon:

1. Spear

2. Blade-spear

3. Double sai

4. Big over-sized sword like Zabuza's

5. Crossbow (sniper style)

6. No weapon

That's it. Remember, any ideas for another poll, storyline, pairings or other are welcome. Just put them in a review, alongside your vote for my poll.