I don't own Naruto, I never have and very likely never will.
"Speaking"
'Thoughts'
"Demon/summon speaking"
I looked around the classroom at all the excited wannabe genins. They were all talking about what they were going to do after they pass the test; how they were going to become famous ninja. I shook my head at them. How naïve. The test wasn't very hard true, but there was a secondary test that two thirds of those that pass today will fail.
Who am I? The name's Erik. No surname, well no known surname. I grew up in the orphanage with my friends, Tenten (who also didn't have a surname) and Naruto Uzumaki, until it got so bad for him the Hokage moved him into his own apartment. Shortly after that Tenten got adopted, leaving me. I didn't mind too much because they never left me alone long enough to be lonely.
I looked over to where they were sitting in the front row waiting for Iruka, our instructor, to enter and start the tests. Their heated discussion went in circles as neither wanted to lose the argument but neither had a point strong enough to force the other to concede. I shook my head at them, the argument was about if long range weapons were better than fists in a fight and had been going on for the better part of the last year we had been together. I personally believed the argument was also for them to show the other how special they are because they both had crushes on the other but were too afraid of the possible fallout of telling and finding out the other didn't feel the same way to tell the other. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the situation but had decided to let them find out on their own.
We were known as Konoha's prank squad. I am the architect, with Tenten being our material gatherer as she was adopted by a blacksmith and most of the necessities were readily available for her, and Naruto being the executer. The extent to which he could go with a prank constantly astounded everyone. Even Tenten and myself. Painting the Hokage monument? That was only planed for one face, but then he goes and paints all four without being noticed until he desides he's done. Then he goes and leads the Anbu black-opps on a merry four hour chase before giving them the slip, only to be caught by Iruka of all people. His endurance was amazing and totally unheard of. I constantly teased Tenten about her crush for him, and reminded her that his endurance could transfer to bedroom activities. She never managed to think of a comeback (normally she passes out of a nosebleed or blushes a color of red that would do Hinata proud).
Iruka opened the door and entered the room, going to his desk, making sure everything was ready for the exams.
'Finally showing up, I wonder what kept you. Or should I ask who.'
For those who were observant Anko showed an abnormal (for her) amount of caring for the teacher, as he is one of the few how looked past the fact she was the pupil of a rouge ninja.
He turned around and attempted to quiet the class. Once, twice, and what do you know third time really is a charm, especially when the infamous Deamon Head Jutsu is used.
"Shut the hell up!" Instantly silence reigned.
"Now class, as you all know today is the day you may become genin. The exam you will be taking is split up into three parts. The first part, which you will be taking shortly, will be a written test…"
I zoned out as I had heard this particular speech before. It's the same as the one he gave last year and the year before. Naruto and I were taking the test for the third time and this was Tenten's second. We had all failed the clone technique, and were sent back to final year, again. Tenten, with the use of a seal had managed to get her chakra control high enough to make a clone. Naruto had all his fingers and toes crossed that the clone would not be part of this year's exam despite the fact it was on the test at least two years running. My plan was do what Lee did last year. Excel in one area to a chunin skill level. Except where he picked taijutsu, I was going for sword mastery. Last year I found out that when I had been left at the orphanage, a scroll had been left with me with instructions saying to give it to me when I turned fourteen. Turns out it was a sword style my brother had made (the author of the scroll claimed to be my brother, you'd think that it would be a parent to leave someone at the orphanage but maybe not) called maelstrom (it also had an accompanying taijutsu style in case you didn't have a weapon). It was all about hitting hard, hitting fast, and leaving the enemy no room to attack. Otherwise saying, perfect for me, as it fit the way I like to fight. One hard hit placed right will end a fight before it starts.
I looked down at the test before me and answered the questions surprised by how easy they were this time around. Then again, everything was easy for me this time. The last two years, I had contended with Naruto for title of dead last, but this year something clicked and everything made sense. I was now contending with Sasuke Uchiha for the Top Rookie spot, something his legion of fan girls were not happy about. That was one of the perks of being an orphan; no one could give a rats ass about you. Except for old man Hokage, Naruto's and my special title for him. He cares for everyone in the village.
I finished the test and handed it in to Iruka who looked at me with pride. Naruto and I had been pet projects for him. He poured his life into us these last few years, helping us with everything. I smiled at him in thanks, before walking towards the door. I stopped in front of where Naruto and Tenten were sitting and after tapping on the table to get their attention; I smiled encouragingly at them, then turned and left the room. As I was leaving I noticed Naruto reach forward to grab the front edge of the desk as if to pull the answers from the desk. Really he was covering the note I had left them with answers on it to help them pass.
'Like I would leave my friends behind. Sorry Iruka, but ninja cheat.'
I smiled as I headed out to the field where the next part of the exam would take place.
I was jerked awake by Tenten's voice whispering in my ear, "Thanks for the answers Erik-kun."
"Like I would leave you on your own. Hey, maybe with a perfect test score Naruto will be able to pass without the clone! After all blondes need all the help they can get."
Tenten giggled at my prod at Naruto while he scowled. "Your one to talk blond."
We continued our discussion of the test while Mizuki droned on about how we were going to spar against our classmates, and how the teachers would deside if we passed on how well we fought. Been there, done that, wiped the floor with the competition two years running. The only one who could beat me was Naruto, and only on a good day for him.
"Tenten verses Sakura Haruno." Iruka called out. As she headed to the ring we called out encouragements.
"Kick her ass!"
"Show her what being a ninja is really about!"
"Tie her up with that pink wig she calls hair!" (None of us believed hair could be that color naturally.)
She waved at us as she entered the ring and after Mizuki called the start of the match, Tenten had Sakura gagged and her ankles and wrists lashed together in all of ten seconds.
Our encouragements turned to congratulations even though we knew there a snowball's chance in hell a fan girl could beat Tenten.
Tenten, come back here and untie Sakura." Shouted Mizuki, furious that the student he had favored had been destroyed by a girl he considered worse than dirt.
"Why should I? Get Sasuke to do it."
"Why should I untie her?" Sasuke asked, not really caring for an answer, just trying to get rid of a few fan girls. Not that I blame him, I would only wish fan girls on my worst enemies, and even then not in the numbers the Uchiha has.
"Because she's a lady in trouble and you're a kind gentleman. Otherwise saying, she's your fan girl."
He didn't really have a come back to that, and after searching for another excuse he came up empty handed and was forced to untie her to protect the Uchiha name.
Several more matches fallowed before Naruto was called to fight Kiba. An easy match except for one thing. It was two on one, and that sort of tilted the playing field back to level for the Inuzuka. Some but not enough to change the outcome. Naruto won like we knew he would.
It was getting close to noon when they called the final match.
"Now boys and girls, the moment you have all been waiting for, the top two members of your class will have the final spar. Sasuke Uchiha with a 98.4 final average." Cheers were raised for the last Uchiha, partially because such a high final grade was rare.
"He will be facing Erik who has a 98.5 final." Two voices raised cheers that almost rivaled Sasuke's cheer in volume. Everyone else was thinking; He had a better score than Sasuke! (His fan girls added, he must have cheated, funny thing is they were right, but again ninja aren't above anything, even cheating off allies.)
"How dare you get a better score than me, I am an Uchiha!" He shouted while charging at me.
"We know you're an Uchiha, the whole village won't stop kissing your ass." I returned dodging a sloppy punch.
Enraged he yelled at me as he lashed out sideways at me with his foot.
'Finally a chance to show this bastard that names mean nothing'.
Smirking I slid to my right catching the back of his ankle in my left hand while bringing my right hand around, driving the heal of my hand into his knee.
CRACK
The field was silent other than the cheers of Naruto and Tenten, and the amazingly high pitched scream of Sasuke. I flinched as his scream hurt my ears, so, covering them, I walked over to were his head was and delivered a kick to his temple to shut him up.
"Men don't scream with a voice like that unless they've been punched in the balls." I commented as I left the ring ignoring the banshee yells from the fan girls about how dare I show up Sasuke-kun.
I let the congratulations of my friends' sooth my nerves as I mentally prepared for the ninjutsu part of the exam.
Tenten passed her exam, big surprise. The clone tripped both Naruto and me up. However my skills with a sword got me my forehead protector.
We sat outside in the shade of a cherry tree talking about how we could convince Iruka to pass Naruto, when Mizuki walked up to us.
"Naruto could I talk to you in private real quick?"
"Ah, sure, I guess." He said getting up and walking off a ways with Mizuki. I motioned Tenten to be silent as I tilted my head to hear what was said (it pays off to have abnormally strong hearing).
"…there is another way to pass, right?" I smiled at this, and at my smile Tenten smiled.
"Really? Tell me!"
Mizuki smiled at him, "All you have to do is sneak into the Hokage tower, steal the forbidden scroll, and learn a jutsu out of it. Meat Iruka in the clearing by the old woodcutter's hut in the forest to show him the jutsu at two tomorrow morning. Remember, you can't tell anyone about this or you won't be allowed to become a ninja ever."
Naruto snapped off a salute, "Will do, sir." Then he turned around and walked over to us.
"Well?" Tenten asked, seeing his smile.
"I will pass yet."
Upon seeing his conviction I pushed aside my uneasy fealling about this. 'After all we could always just say that Mizuki used Naruto.'
"Why don't we get some ramen to celebrate?"
Instantly I found myself being dragged along as Naruto headed to Ichiraku's Ramen stand.
'Naruto you never change.' I shook my head as I checked my wallet when we got there.
"Only two bowls, okay Naruto." Tenten said after checking her wallet. Tenten and I usually paid when we went out as a group as Naruto had to pay for clothes, gear, and his apartment from the small stipend the Hokage gave him.
He nodded before shouting, "Hey Old Man, two miso ramen please."
"What will you two be having?"
"One shrimp ramen please."
"One pork," I said, sliding into the seat on Naruto's right side, while Tenten sat on his left. Their chatter rolled of me as I sat there thinking about Mizuki. I was half tempted to turn him in, but for all I knew there was an advanced clone in the forbidden scroll that could pass Naruto.
I was dragged out of my thoughts by a question directed my way by Ayame.
"Sorry, what was that? My mind was elsewhere."
Ayame giggled then asked again, "Don't you think Naruto-kun and Tenten-chan would make a cute couple?"
"They would make a very cute couple, especially if they weren't so blind as to see they both like each other."
Silence reigned over the little restaurant as the three looked at me. Luckily I was saved from explaining myself as the ramen arrived and we all dug in.
After dinner we left and the other two took up conversation again, carefully avoiding talking about my comment. I was thankful at the lack of descusion on that topic, as I wasn't sure I liked the idea of my best friends dating each other. I guided us to Naruto's place first. Enough beatings had happened that we always walked Naruto home. Tenten's dad had made us swear that if we were ever out after dark we would escort her home and I was planning to use the time in between to talk to her about Naruto's mission assigned to him by Mizuki. As we said our good nights Tenten suddenly grabbed Naruto in a hug and kissed him on the cheek before darting out into the night. I gave him a wave and left him standing in his doorway stunned by her actions. I chuckled as I jogged to catch up to Tenten.
"How long did you know?" She asked as I started walking beside her.
"Halfway through last year."
"Was it that obvious?"
"To those who really know you, not really."
"Do you mind?"
"Not really. You two were made for each other. However your love life isn't what I wanted to talk about."
"Oh really, what then."
"Mizuki. He told Naruto that he could pass if he stole the forbidden scroll and learned a jutsu from it."
"But that's forbidden!" she said agast.
"No duh, why do you think it's called the forbidden scroll."
"Because the techniques in there are dangerous to the user."
I rolled my eyes at her response, "You think way too linearly. Anyway, when's the soonest you can sneak out?"
"Why, are we going to go pranking?"
"You could say that."
She thought for a bit before responding, "Around midnight."
"I'll be waiting. Bring your gear."
She grinned before walking up to her house and waving a good night she left me to my thoughts. Smiling I walked off singing, "Blue eyed boy meets brown eyed girl.."(1)
(1) Sweetest Thing by U2
I will probably update this story more often than my other, but I will try to update both at least once every two weeks, school work alowing.
The more reviews I get the better the story will be. So please review.