Start Arc One: The Academy: Making the Grade
Start Chapter One
I believed in the dream of becoming a Hokage. The dream of being the leader of the village, but after the war I couldn't bring myself to pursue the position. I looked back at all the things I had to do in order to earn my place in the ranks and couldn't live with what I'd done. I killed hundreds and wounded many more. I probably ended the dreams of many young shinobi, destroyed the fabric of many families, and caused countless amounts of harm to people I had nothing against. I had nothing, but the whims of the Hokage driving me to do the horrible things I did. Of course now that I have fully realized the dark details of being a ninja I'm on a different path. I'm a teacher on the art of death and destruction. Although I don't really have a particular student at this time I wonder when one will come along…
Closing his journal and placing his pen in the binding the Jounin stows away his written work. He takes a long look down at the village from atop of the Fourth Hokage's stone visage and sighs, "When will you appear?" A commotion from down below the Hokage Mountain draws his attention, "What's going on down there?" Taking a look down he sees that Naruto kid with a paint brush in hand making marks all over the faces of the former Hokages. The young blonde has a look of concentration on his face as he finishes the last detail in his artwork. Nodding as he looks over the work he's done Naruto slowly lowers himself onto the platform before taking off down the mountain into the city. A group of angry Chuunin and Jounin come looking bewildered by the act of blatant vandalism. They yell obscenities and question that someone would do such a disrespectful thing and then they come to the conclusion that it must be Naruto Uzumaki again. Nodding to one another the group of ninja leaves the area on a hunt for the young blonde boy, "Hmm… Maybe Uzumaki is the answer to my question." The man continues to watch the ninja searching for the young boy and disappears in a cloud of smoke.
Later That Day
Naruto sits before the Hokage with a defiant look on his face, "You know the drill Naruto. You're going to clean up the mess you made and spend time with your instructor after the academy in detention." The man from before comes into the Hokage's office through the window, "Ah Iruka how have you been?" Smiling the unfamiliar man looks at Naruto, "This one is the artist who made a fine addition to the Hokage Mountain."
Iruka looks at the blonde, "I know I saw him as he was adding his finishing touches, but I decided to let him be." Naruto looks confused, "Yes, I could have caught you there, but I wanted to see how long it would take them to catch you." The Jounin pauses, "I must say I'm impressed by your ability to get away. It takes a lot of skill to be able to ward off a group of Chuunin and Jounin for several hours." Sarutobi looks at the Jounin wondering where he's going with this, "It definitely caught my eye and I'm considering taking you under my wing." The aged Hokage sits back in his chair before lighting his tobacco pipe and taking a long drag, "Of course the Hokage would have to approve of me doing this. Especially considering the fact you're still in the academy for another two years or so." The blonde scoffs at the Jounin's offer mumbling something about not knowing what he's doing. Iruka feels slightly annoyed at the child's brat-like attitude, but squashes that in favor of trying to gain Naruto's favor. Remembering the blonde's wild claims about being Hokage, "Well I guess you don't really want to become Hokage then."
Sarutobi takes another drag before saying "Iruka was one of my best ninja when he was out in the field. I considered him to become Hokage at one point, but he just wanted to be a teacher because he felt it suited him better." Naruto makes a farting noise with his mouth, "Seriously Iruka completed hundreds of missions for us, never lost a teammate, and is extremely powerful even though he doesn't seem like it." Iruka laughs at the last comment realizing the Hokage is joking, "I think he would be a great teacher for you if you give him the chance. He was a lot like you growing up actually; you think you were the only one to paint Hokage Mountain?" Iruka turns red at that statement recalling his childhood antics, "I'd say his artwork was a lot better actually and most of the time the only way we could find him was in school the next day if he showed up of course." Sarutobi smiles, "Of course to his defense he didn't exactly have anyone to make sure he got to school growing up. However, that didn't stop him from becoming the great ninja he is today." The Hokage takes one last puff from his pipe; "So I'd be careful Naruto because you could lose one of the greatest teacher's in our village's interest if you keep acting this way."
The boy sighs, "Well how do I know I can trust him?" Naruto recalls the last time he let someone in besides the Hokage, "The last time I did that it didn't end to well." The memory of the old lady comes rushing back to him…
"Naruto you're such a sweet boy." A middle-aged woman says to him while cutting into the young boy's skin and it almost instantly heals, "It's almost like you didn't kill my son all those years ago." She makes another deeper slash at the small child's skin, once again healing extremely quickly, "I guess you really can't die… Well this should be fun." Tears are at the azure eyes of the young blonde as he cries in pain gagged by a cloth as the woman draws out a kunai dripping with a green liquid. As she's about to plunge it into his skin several kunai sink deep into her skin and Naruto sees a dolphin-masked ANBU appear out of nowhere and unbind him. Embracing the heart-broken boy the brown-haired man sighs telling him it will be all right. Even though he knows it won't necessarily be…
Iruka recalls that day, but decides to keep his mouth shut and lets the Hokage talk instead, "Well you don't have to worry about that, we'll have people watching you and him around the clock." The Jounin knows this is a necessary step to gain the boy's trust and agrees to the conditions, "Does that make you feel a bit better?" Naruto nods still a little numb from that terrible memory of his, but the boy quickly shakes it off, "Alright then effective immediately Naruto Uzumaki will be under the tutelage of Iruka Umino for the next several years." The Hokage smiles, "Good then Iruka you can take Naruto to carry out his punishment." Naruto scowls as Iruka gets an iron grip on his wrist and in a swirl of leaves they depart. Sarutobi looks up at the more colorful version of the Fourth Hokage, "Minato… I think Naruto will be just fine with Iruka." A warm breeze blows in an open window comforting the Hokage…
Around Dusk that Day
Naruto scrubs vigorously trying to remove the last of the paint off of the Fourth Hokage's face, "Hey you missed a spot." The Jounin jokes with blonde and the boy grunts, "Just kidding, good job cleaning up kid." Slowly getting down the young boy reaches the platform before waiting for further instruction, "What are you standing there for?" The boy shrugs and begins to walk off, "Hey!" Naruto stops and turns around, "I'm willing to teach you some good stuff, but you have to do some things for me." Walking back to Iruka the young boy waits, "First of all, the pranks have to stop. You don't need to draw any more attention to yourself. It just makes you look bad and plus it's wasting your time." Naruto nods understanding that part, "Next you need to go to school every day, do your work, and show a good amount of effort to improve your grades and yourself before I teach you anything." The boy groans wondering if this is even worth it anymore, "Also… The jumpsuit has to go." That was the deal breaker for Naruto and he turns around before walking away. Iruka thinks quickly of something to say, "Okay be a quitter, see how far that gets you! I bet Sasuke Uchiha is a better student anyways."
The blonde stops on a dime hearing that, "You want to teach Sasuke instead of me?" Naruto says indignantly before scowling, "That loser doesn't know a thing! I'll show him and everyone I can be a Hokage!" Iruka smiles knowing he's won over the boy now, "But back to the jumpsuit thing… I can't exactly get anything else. I don't really have the money." Naruto looks sheepish, "And going to school sucks… It's so boring and I can't pay attention. Every time we do something I wind up getting distracted by something else." He looks frustrated at this point, "I've tried to learn, but it just gets so boring." The Jounin sympathizes with the young child and tries to think of a way to make it seem worth it.
"What's your favorite thing to eat?" Naruto replies with Ichiraku Ramen and Iruka smiles knowing that place all too well, "If you go to all your classes and do everything else I ask you to." The Jounin pauses, "I'll take you to Ichiraku every Friday night and it's an all you can eat." The blonde smiles at that and Iruka extends his hand for a handshake, "But if you don't there will be no ramen, and I won't teach you. In addition, you have to keep up your attendance and grades if I'm going to keep teaching you." The boy takes the brown-haired man's hand and shakes, "Don't think I won't check up on you, I work at the academy and I will check every day if you're doing what you're supposed to be doing." Naruto smiles excitedly, "I'll bring you your new clothes tomorrow and if you do everything well this week I might even get you some new ninja supplies." The boy is shaking with excitement, "You know what? After you go to detention, meet me at Ichiraku we can talk more there." Naruto's azure eyes sparkle with happiness; "Alright I'll see you tomorrow." In a swirl of leaves the Jounin leaves the young boy and Naruto walks away feeling better than he has in a long time.
The Next Day at the Academy
Naruto sits in class trying to stay focused on the instructor's droning voice. He writes down the main points of his lecture on the Fourth Hokage, but feels himself zoning out. Looking around he sees Iruka outside the door through the little window giving him the "I'm watching you" hand motion. Snapping back into reality the blond begins to take notes again motivated by his teacher's presence and the thought of Ichiraku. The teacher concludes his lecture before asking if anyone has questions. Naruto raises his hand wondering about how the Fourth Hokage's Flying Thunder God Jutsu worked, "Well the jutsu you're asking about was only known to the Fourth Hokage and it involved him using a special type of kunai marked with seals. The kunai didn't let him do the teleporting though; they just acted as points for him to warp to. Nobody, but him really knows how it truly worked, but that's a very good question Naruto." Looking over his class the older instructor says, "That question might be extra credit on the next test, so I'd make sure I remembered that if I were you guys." Everyone else finishes taking down their notes before the final bell of the day rings, "Alright everyone, class dismissed." The blonde stays seated, "Well this is a nice change of pace. I don't have to hunt you down for once. Are you okay Naruto?" The old ninja says chuckling dryly as the boy nods "I heard Iruka is taking you under his wing. Is this true?" Naruto nods, "Well that's great to hear Iruka's a real good guy, I taught him back in the day." Smiling nostalgically the older man sighs happily, "I'm sure the Hokage told you this, but you two are a lot alike."
The blonde nods, "What was he like?" The elderly instructor looks up before going into a story about some of Iruka's antics as a kid at the academy. Naruto listens closely about the brown-haired Jounin and sees where they share a lot in common. The blonde boy continues to listen and eventually at a pause he asks, "So do you know anything about Iruka as a ninja after he graduated?"
"Oh yes, he did well once he got out of here and got his act together." He passed his first Chuunin exam with flying colors, blew through the Jounin test, and after a while I think he joined the ANBU. I heard stories about him there and I'll tell you this." He pauses slightly to take a breath, "He's a legend there; he never lost a teammate, never failed a mission, and never left any trace he was ever there. The man was one of the most revered ANBU out there next to a couple others." Looking at the clock, "But that's not my place to tell you, he'll just have to let you in on his stories. You need to run along now." Naruto thanks his teacher before leaving for the day, "Iruka, if anyone can turn him around I know it's you." Sitting down and taking out some papers the instructor begins grade some homework.
At Ichiraku Ramen
Naruto devours his last bowl of ramen within his pile of empty bowls and Iruka finishes his first, "You know if you ate slower you might get more out of your food? If you just gobble everything down you get sick and your body can't absorb the nutrients properly." Belching the blonde looks over before smiling contently, "Ichiraku can I get the check please." Iruka feels slightly nervous as he looks at the total. He sighs and pays the astronomical bill, "Also we won't be able to do all you can eat every week with the volume you can consume. I only get paid, so much." Naruto crosses his arms muttering something about we shook on it, "Oh well, I saw you in class today doing well. Can I see your notes?" Naruto nods before handing the Jounin his notebook. Opening up to the current date Iruka is impressed by the boy's notes, "Good job, keep this up and you might learn something from me." Naruto huffs, "We shook on it remember?" The blonde drops his head in defeat, "Anyways, I have something for you." Handing the boy a bag, he opens it to see a black jumpsuit, a green flak vest, along with some combat boots. Pulling out the last item, which is a black half mask, "Try it on when you get home, it should all fit fine."
Naruto feel speechless, and smiles before embracing Iruka, "Thank you so much, nobody has ever done this kind of thing for me." The blonde lets go, "Hey I need to go grocery shopping would you be willing to help me with that? The Hokage always says my diet sucks." Iruka feels nervous, but agrees to do so, "Alright then! Let's go!" Naruto takes the man's hand and they say goodbye before heading towards a nearby grocery store. Once they enter Iruka begins to lead the blonde around selecting healthy foods that boy groans at, "I don't know how to cook any of this stuff." Iruka sighs before noting to pick up a cooking for dummies book in the magazine isle. Once they get through their adventure in the grocery store they head to the cashier and pay for their items. Iruka grabs some of the bags and Naruto takes some of the others. They head towards the young boy apartment. Speaking about little thing here and there about cooking and general food prep they continue on their way. Once inside the complex ascend up a flight of stairs before going down a hallway. Grabbing his keys the blonde opens up his room revealing a small, but comfortable living space, Storing the food in its proper place they sit down on Naruto's couch for a bit, "Hey Iruka, what did you do while you were in the ANBU?"
The Jounin sighs coming up with a suitable answer, "A lot reconnaissance missions, some retrieval, and a few assassinations; really just stuff everyone does." By a few assassinations he means a hundred or so, but Naruto doesn't need to hear that. He takes a look at the clock and says, "It's getting late I'm going to head home now, so get some rest. Keep up the good work kid and stay out of trouble." In a puff of smoke Iruka leaves the blonde to his nightly rituals. Naruto sits there for a second before yawning and deciding to prepare for bed.
End Chapter One