Naruto looked at the Chunin exam forms sitting on the table. Kakashi-sensei just gave them out to Team Seven and if Naruto was to be honest, he felt that they were not ready. At all. The only person that was remotely ready was Sasuke and only because Kakashi was training him. Sakura and Naruto were not getting any training at all. Naruto had to resort to self-training or training with Papa, Da, Iruka-nii, Kotetsu-nii and Izumo-nii.
"Naruto! Dinner!" Well think of the devil and they shall call.
"Coming Papa!" Naruto hollered back and bolted downstairs before Kotetsu-nii and Izumo-nii decided to eat it. Naruto ran into the dining room only to slide on the hardwood and fall flat on his face when he tried to stop.
"Smooth Naruto. Real shinobi like," Kotetsu deadpanned while Izumo and Iruka snorted into their grilled fish.
"Shut up!" Naruto snapped as he army crawled over.
"Get off the floor Naruto; you're not a caterpillar," Naruto looked up into the amused eyes of his Papa, Genma Shiranui.
"Why can't I be a caterpillar?" Naruto asked sarcastically as he started to get off the floor; causing everyone in the room to start laughing.
"Cause you're a better ninja than a caterpillar." Genma said back watching with a raised eyebrow as Naruto froze. Naruto looked down at the floor with his bangs covering his face.
"Naruto? What wrong?" Izumo asked as Genma crouched down to get a better look at Narutos' face.
"My team got the Chunin exam forms today," Naruto croaked out as he fought back salty tears.
"That's a good thing though," Iruka said softly as a tear slowly curled down Narutos face.
"None of us are ready. Sasuke is still focused on gaining power for revenge, Sakura is not ready at all and I'm not even close. Kakashi-sensei has only taught Sasuke jutsu and I can guarantee that they are a danger to him and everyone around him. I've been training by myself but Sakura hasn't and that puts her at a disadvantage in all counts. I don't know what to do!" Naruto ranted while more tears fell down his face. At that point, everyone had a good idea about what Naruto was really afraid of. He was afraid of losing his team. Losing Sasuke to the need of power and revenge. Losing Sakura because of a lack of training. Very real fears.
No one noticed the front door open than close again or the four pair of padded footsteps make their way to the dining room. Iruka jumped when a hand gently touched his shoulder. He whipped his head around to look into the concerned eyes of the man that became his dad, Maito Gai.
"What's going on?" He asks as he takes in the scene that is playing out.
"Narutos team got the Chunin forms and he's afraid that he will lose his team to so many things. Revenge, lack of training. I think he is also pissed at Kakashi," Iruka replied as Kotetsu abandoned his food in favour of hugging Naruto.
Kotetsu never abandoned his food. That just showed how dedicated he was to his brothers.
Gai trotted over and tapped Genma on the shoulder. Genma gently pulled himself out of the impromptu group huddle on the floor and let his boyfriend take his place.
"Naru-chan?" Gai called out softly as he smoothly relocated the sobbing boy into his lap and started to run his fingers through the blonde locks. Naruto had grown his hair out and hid it under a wig so the Civilian Council would not suspect a thing. Naruto looked up; watery Persian blue orbs peering up into concerned black-brown eyes.
"Kakashi was ordered to train Sasuke at all costs, you and Sakura included. He tried to send material to you through the mail but it kept getting intercepted and destroyed. It is not your fault or his. If anything, you should blame the Civilian Council. I'm tired of seeing them control Team Seven and I think you should strike back Hime. Show them the power of the son of Kushina Uzumaki, Minato Namikaze, Genma Shiranui and Maito Gai."
All eyes in the room focused on him. Narutos eyes were blown wide and his mouth dropped open. Genma eyed Gai; trying to decide whether or not if his boyfriend had finally lost it or was smarter than the village gave him credit for. He turned and saw the exact same shell-shocked expression gracing all of the faces in the room.
Yep.
A hidden genius.
A click brought his attention back towards the two on the floor. Naruto finally closed his jaw and wriggled out of Gais' lap. A determined look had entered into those Persian blues and Naruto scrubbed at his face to get rid of the tear tracks, "You're right Dad. I'm the son of the four most powerful shinobi in the village and I am done taking the Councils crap. Start dinner without me, I'm going to change," Naruto declared as he marched towards the stairs. He was half way up the stairs when he realized who was here, "Hi Lee! Hi TenTen! Hi Neji!" He hollered down. Everyone in the room chuckled.
"Love, you are either secretly a genius or finally lost it," Genma stated as he ambled forward and pressed his lips to Gai's own.
"I vote option two," Neji stated as he snatched a plate and quickly loaded some food onto it. TenTen shook her head as she copied Neji.
Lee however had a very different and very obvious opinion.
"Gai-sensei! That was so YOUTHFUL!" He bellowed as he jumped around. Kotetsu and Izumo made the mistake of trying to follow his movements with their eyes. The poor buggers got dizzy quickly, "Calm down Lee." Iruka ordered as he got Lee a plateful of food and put it away from Neji. Neji had developed the 'steal from plates other than his own' habit.
"How do I look?" All the heads in the room swirled towards the voice and couldn't help but stare. Naruto had changed alright. He wore an orange to gray silky brocade high collar dress that had a split in the fabric on both sides and tree branch with leaves embroidery. His hair was finally out of that wig and was placed into a braided bun that every person knew contained a variety of shinobi tools. He had silent but comfortable black flats on. In his hand was his hitai-ate and a belt that had a total of six scrolls on it; three on each side. His nails were painted a dark orange. Naruto went towards the food, turning his back and showing a fox tattoo that took up most of the space on his back with the tail circling the kanji for nine. He sat down at the table and started to eat.
"Might as well let Kakashi know that he can stop favouring Sasuke," Gai said as he joined Genma beside him at the table and everyone settled down. Iruka nodded with a fish tail sticking out of his mouth.
Kotetsu and Izumo spotted that and snorted into their food, "Hey Iruka, you do realize you are committing cannibalism by eating fish?" Izumo said with a straight face. Iruka looked up, showing the table the fish tail hanging out. Lee, Kotetsu and TenTen giggled and Genma raised an eyebrow at the scene.
"Did you know that a dolphin's main diet is fish? He's just following natural instinct," All eyes looked over to Naruto, who stuck a noodle in his mouth. A twinkle of mischief lit up his eyes as he took in the shocked expression. Kotetsu, TenTen and Lee broke down into fits of laughter at the gobsmacked faces of Iruka and Izumo. Gai joined them and all four fell to the floor. Neji chuckled and resumed eating, utterly ignoring the four maniacs on the floor. Naruto looked at Genma, who was trying not to laugh and was failing, epically.
"Well, I think I broke them Papa. Sorry."
"That's ok Naruto. Not your fault. It was bound to happen sooner or later," Genma said as the laughter died down. Naruto grinned as dinner continued on. He knew he was going to be fine. Believe it.
Sorry about that. I was looking over my work when I realized that I done did goofed on my grammar so I'm going a check. Sorry.