Summary: "You! Hey you! Creepy-eyes! Over here!"
Golden orbs narrowed. "... What?"
"Be my teacher!"
Chapter 1:
His legs were bound, held firm at his ankles with a seal of restriction, binding them in place with chains of ink and moulded chakra. His arms were the same, trapped and pulled high above his head, securely fastened to the edge to the table. On his waist and chest, straps of padded leather were stretched across his body, pinning him flat and immobile against the cold stone surface. He was completely bare.
His age was forty three. He was five foot seven, and approximately 70 kilos. He was in fairly good health and at the optimum mass for his height. His blood count was average, both red and white, blood sugar normal, cholesterol levels normal. He had no history of significant illness, and or life threatening injuries. His mental state was deemed stable and veritably sane. His name - was irrelevant.
A needle was pressed into his neck, glass delving into flesh in one smooth motion. Within moments, he awoke, weak at first before the adrenaline kicked in, fear acting quickly to drive the drowsiness away. It took him mere seconds to realize his situation, and uselessly, he began struggling against the restraints, pulling and twisting as hard as he could before collapsing back onto the stone, screaming as he did so.
Watching him, Orochimaru stepped forward, smiling serenely as he regarded the subject. Upon seeing him, the man blanched, and almost instantly began begging for his life, tears streaming down his cheeks, his words a blubbering mess. How ironic. A murderer and a rapist pleading for mercy. Pathetic.
Orochimaru stayed his position, waiting ever so patiently like the snakes that he bid for the solution to take effect. He had already simultaneously administered the sample when he had awoken the man from his unconscious state, and it should have started working by now.
It was a prototype DNA-modification serum, intended to allow for easier alteration of the nucleic acids within the body, and increase the chances of success when transferring a Kekkei-Genkai from one individual to another. He had already perfected the immuno suppressant formula that would prevent the body's immune system from consuming and destroying the newly introduced DNA. All he needed now was a way to safely and efficiently jigsaw the strands together without damaging the subject's genetic design, and this solution, if it worked, would allow him to do exactly that - the possibilities, near endless in their numbers.
A hiss came from the door behind him. "Lord Orochimaru, the Hokage is here to see you." Kabuto spoke, stepping into the chamber.
Orochimaru glanced towards him. "I see. Send him in then."
"Understood." Kabuto nodded, before retreating back through the door. Moments later, his former teacher made his entrance, stepping up from behind him to stand at his side, features impassive as he observed the subject still bound to the table. For a while, neither of them spoke a word, simply standing by and watching as the bound man began to rot in places all across his body, black spots and oozing pustules erupting across his form. Orochimaru clicked his tongue. Another failure it seemed, how disappointing.
As expected, Sarutobi turned away first, shifting his attention from the still impressively conscious man before him, to Orochimaru himself, the other's cries for aid echoing loudly throughout the room. The Old Man must be trying so hard not to show his disgust. It was such a shame really, that he simply couldn't understand that it was all for the sake of progress. Without breaking his gaze upon his experiment Orochimaru spoke, "Shall I retrieve the report?"
Sarutobi nodded. "Please, if you would."
Orochimaru stepped away, striding forward towards one of the other work stations spread evenly across the room. He had been expecting the older man to show up sometime today, and as such had had the forethought to prepare the documents he would need in advance.
It was time for his monthly report, and like always he was contract bound to provide the village with a copy of all the experiments he had conducted over the past several weeks. It was an exceedingly tedious affair, particularly since Sarutobi had made it a habit to pick up Orochimaru's reports in person instead of sending someone else, and then questioning him on his findings.
Spotting the dossier, Orochimaru grabbed it, absently skimming through the pages before making his way back. He handed it to his former teacher. "Thank you." Sarutobi spoke, graciously accepting the file. "I must... commend you Orochimaru. As much as I disapprove of your 'research', I cannot deny that it is not with merit. Those Enhancement seals you recently developed have proven to be quite beneficial to our Shinobi out in the field, and have saved countless lives since their deployment. For that, I must thank you."
The Sannin raised a brow. He knew where this was going. "However," The Hokage continued. "Despite their overwhelming success in the battlefield, their relatively high mortality rate after use, is most disconcerting. We've lost quite a number of good men to those seals, and I would like to ensure that we lose no more. If you could, would you be able to fix that?"
"Hmm, make them less fatal? Of course I could, but know that if I do, the subsequent power the seals will be able to provide will be significantly decreased along with effectiveness."
"Still, please do."
"Very well." The Sannin nodded languidly, turning his attention back to the subject still bound to the table. He was liquefying now, blood and other fluids flowing out across the table in dark brackish rivulets and down onto the floor. What a mess. Oh well, at least he didn't explode like some of the others did before him, so he was pretty sure Kabuto wouldn't complain that much when he had him clean it up.
He turned back towards the Hokage. "Is that all?"
Sarutobi nodded, openly avoiding the less than pleasant sight of human entrails now spilling out onto stone. "For now. However, I will not be leaving just yet." His lips quirked. "You and I have some very important business to attend to after this, namely about a certain blonde-headed brat."
Suddenly recalling a recent batch of ruined prototype chems and experimental drugs, Orochimaru felt his eye twitch. "Ah, yes. The Namikaze boy." He ground out. He was still massively annoyed at having to remake all of those solutions, and he wasn't about to let the boy off the hook anytime soon.
"Now, now, his name is Naruto. You've known him for almost a year now and you still refuse to call him by name?"
The Sannin didn't answer, instead, he simply turned on his heels and headed straight through the door, the Hokage following close behind. "Anyway," Sarutobi began. "As I assume you are already aware, today is Exam day at the Academy, and as Naruto will be part of the graduating class this year, I figured I'd throw the boy a little get together as congratulations. Nothing big really, just a simple outing at Ichiraku's."
"Ah. No. I'm not going."
A sigh. "Would you at least consider it?"
"I'd rather swallow one of Jiraiya's toads. Besides, I am already behind schedule as it is for the rest of my experiments. I still have well over a dozen more to attend to for the rest of the day, several of which run hours long. I do not have the time, nor the patience, to stand there like a fool and socialize with people."
Sarutobi shook his head. Oh well, at least he had tried. At that point, they had reached the foyer of the building, Orochimaru having apparently decided to walk the older man out. "Now, if you would excuse me. I have other matters to attend to." And with a nod, he turned himself away, starting forward just as the doors to the building suddenly swung open.
Grinning wide, Naruto swaggered in, hands on the back of his head and Iruka at his side. He blinked. "Huh, what are you doing here Old man?"
Sarutobi raised a brow. "I could say the same to you Naruto. After all last I checked, this building was off limits to civilians, particularly children."
"Hey! Who you calling a kid you old coot? I'm a ninja now so you had better start showing me some respect!"
"My, a ninja you say? Is that so?" Sarutobi glanced towards Iruka, the other man looking about as proud as can be.
Naruto puffed up his chest. "Yeah. That's right and here's the proof." He then upturned the collar of his jacket to reveal a signature leaf headband wrapped snugly around his neck. "What do you think now huh?"
"That even despite graduating you're still as naive as ever." Orochimaru cut in, causing Naruto to visibly deflate. "Don't get cocky brat, you've still got a long way to go." Then he left, striding down the hall, before vanishing down a turn.
Watching him go, Iruka piped up. "Well, that was... kind of rude." He placed a hand on the Naruto's shoulder. "You okay Naruto?"
The blonde snorted in response. "Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?" He said, completely unfazed. He was already pretty used to it after all. Creepy-eyes just loved to shove reality back into his face. He rolled his eyes. "So what are you doing here for anyway Old man? Come to grab your report?"
Sarutobi nodded, flashing the dossier he held in his hand. "Yes, that and to ask whether you would prefer Miso or Tonkotsu for your ramen, my treat. You as well Iruka."
"Wait. You mean... Ichiraku's?" Naruto asked.
The Hokage chuckled. "Do you have another place in mind?"
Naruto grinned. "Awesome! When can we go?"
Sarutobi turned towards Iruka, who in gave a nod in response. "How about now?" He asked.
"Sweet!"
"So, how was your exam Naruto?" Sarutobi asked, watching in morbid fascination and not so slight distaste as the blonde quickly wolfed down his fifth bowl of noodles. Seriously, just where did the boy put it all? It was completely confounding to the older ninja.
"Walk in the park." The blonde grinned, setting down his bowl and letting out a satisfied hum. "Even came in last like you and Creepy-eyes told me to, which I still don't totally get by the way. But I appreciated the challenge at least."
"Now Naruto, you know why we had to ask you to keep your proper skills hidden. If anyone in the village found out you've been training with, well," and at that Sarutobi lowered his voice. "Orochimaru. There would be a legitimate riot in the village, and the council would most definitely bar you from ever stepping foot in the lab again."
Naruto rolled his eyes, but just as he was about to speak, Sarutobi cut him off. "And I mean it brat. I may be Hokage, but the Council represents the people here in the village and tragically in most cases, what the people want, the people get. Sneaking in would be impossible, ANBU would be assigned to watch for you specifically and monitor your movement."
"But that's so bullshit!"
"It is. But you're a smart boy Naruto. You know why they act the way they do towards you." Sarutobi stated, features growing somber, mirrored by Iruka sat at Naruto's other side. "At least, now you do."
Drawing into himself ever so slightly, Naruto scowled at the unfairness of it all. The Nine Tails was trapped in his belly, and just because of that, everyone in the village treated him like shit, like a freak. Like a monster. But Naruto knew now what real monsters were like, real demons that didn't think twice about stepping on a child or beating on the downtrodden. He could hear and see plenty even now, from where he sat, his training with Creepy-eyes allowing him to better utilize his senses.
Those that whispered about him from the stall across the street, that sneered at the beggars as they walked by. Those that hid beneath a veneer of good intentions only to manipulate and harm and abandone when they had nothing more to gain. Naruto shook his head. He hated it. Hated these people, hated these rules that bound him in nearly every sense. He hated this village for making him the scapegoat for every horrible things that's ever happened.
Softly, he felt a hand rest upon his own, old and yet firm, and the old Hokage smiled at him ever so sadly. After a moment, Iruka spoke up from his side, smiling as well one finger outstretched towards Ichiraku. "Two bowls of Ramen for the squirt here. One miso and one tonkatsu, think you can handle that kid?" The chunin grinned.
Seeing the act for what it was, Naruto rubbed a hand across his eyes, warmth blooming inside his chest. With a smirk, he turned towards Iruka. "Hah! Just watch me," and stretched out his hand. From the center of his palm, a mote of blue energy began to manifest, hovering for just the briefest of moments, before shifting into the form of yet another hand, borne of solid condensed chakra. Then with a gesture, the blonde sent the hand forward, zooming towards Ichiraku.
With a yelp, the man staggered back in surprise, before glowering over towards Naruto with an annoyed yet fond expression. Without preamble, the chef placed the first of two bowls of freshly made ramen into the waiting projection's grasp and walked the other back personally. With a clink and a gleam in his eye the man set down the bowl atop the counter. "Consider it on the house, seeing at it's been such a big day for our resident troublemaker here." He laughed, watching then as Naruto let out a whoop and promptly dug in.
The boy ate both bowls simultaneously. One in his own pair of physical hands, the other with a second projected pair hovering just in front. To be honest, it was beyond impressive Sarutobi had to admit, seeing just far how Naruto had come after only a years worth of training. It was legitimately astounding. The boy was using Chakra projections, Sarutobi had never met a ninja anywhere near as proficient in the technique as Naruto was. Let alone one capable of holding and manipulating projections as easily and effectively.
Chakra projection, though simple in concept, was an incredibly precise and dangerous Jutsu. In essence Chakra projection was the formation of solid object forged from pure Chakra, shaped into the form of whatever the user willed them to be, and capable of all associated uses. A bridge to cross a river, a wall to shield against an attack. A blade to strike down upon one's foes.
However, the Jutsu required massive amount of pure Chakra to manifest the projections, and control over said energy so fine and precise, that even the slightest miscalculation could result in the projection dissipating at best, and exploding at worst. He knew and heard of many a shinobi who had driven themselves to the point of Chakra exhaustion trying to master the projection jutsu, and yet none had done it in less time than Naruto. Nine months. If that wasn't the boy's Namikaze blood in him, Sarutobi would eat his own sandal.
Orochimaru really had outdone himself in selecting the particular technique. The Uzumaki's naturally excessive levels of Chakra, and the boy's skyrocketing levels of Chakra control made the perfect combination for the Projection jutsu. His only complaint really, would be the fact that the Sannin chose to start with the S Class jutsu first, as in before any other jutsu at all.
The boy could have died. Easily. Though, to be fair, knowing Orochimaru, that was probably the point of introducing the jutsu to Naruto in the first place.
With a soft chuckle, Sarutobi watched as the blonde set down his last bowl of noodles, looking very well sated. Slowly, the older man slipped himself off of the stool that he sat upon and moved to stand at the younger man's side. "Alright you two, I do believe it's time for me to head back to my office. I've been gone long enough and if i'm not back soon, i'm fairly sure my assistant will have an aneurysm."
"Awwww, already? But I haven't even gotten to show you all the cool new moves i've come up with."
"In due time Naruto, in due time. Congratulations again brat, you've jumped past your first big hurdle, but remember the path of the Shinobi is long and filled with hardships. You had better be ready to work hard, if you want be Hokage." The older man grinned, not at all noticing the subtle loss of enthusiasm in Naruto's demeanor. Then with a small wave, the Hokage bid his goodbyes and disappeared into the crowd.
From his seat beside the blonde, Iruka nudged an elbow against the other. "So you haven't told him yet?"
Shaking his head slowly, Naruto responded. "No. Soon though."
"Well, take your time. It's a pretty big change for you. Took me by surprise as well, but I guess considering the stuff we've been through this past year, it makes sense."
Naruto didn't want to be Hokage anymore.
After bidding goodbye to Iruka, Naruto began his trek homeward, taking to the rooftops as per usual to cut through the streets and avoid any unnecessary interaction with the villagers down below. With ease, he leapt from building to building, pooling explosive chakra at the base of his feet to propel him forward, further and faster. As he moved, he allowed his mind to wander, thoughts moving back to the conversation he had had with the old man, specifically the older ninja's parting comment.
Him. Hokage. A little over a year ago today, that dream had been his everything. He would be Hokage. He would be the best Ninja the village had ever seen, and then, they would finally accept him as one of their own. With laughs and smiles and warm embraces. He couldn't help but let out as scoff, as he bounded over another building.
Shit. He really was such a ignorant kid back then, though to be fair, he was also so mired denial at the time that he was practically drowning in it. He just hadn't wanted to accept the reality of his situation, hadn't wanted to face the truth and hear the music. The villagers had made it more than clear, looking back now, long before Creepy-eyes had ever come into the picture, that they didn't want him. Hadn't ever wanted him.
And just because he became a Ninja, even a splendid one, that didn't mean that was ever going to change. After all, if they could hate a kid for no better reason than the fact that he was associated with something he couldn't even control, they likely weren't going to be changing their tune just because he was supposed to be protecting them now. God, Creepy-eyes was right, he had been so stupid.
But Naruto knew better now. Saw things so much clearer. After the attack on Iruka, after the way these people had just looked on while he had cried for help, the illusion was broken. There was no love in this village for him, never had been, never will be. And he was fine with that, there was no love in him either now for the village in turn. It had shrivelled up and died, a sad and silent death, six months ago and Naruto was all the better for it.
The blonde scowled deeply, landing with a soft tap along the walkway to his apartment, digging almost angrily in his pocket for his keys. He hated this village. Unlocking the door, he turned the knob and pushed his way into the darkened apartment. What he found however, placed just before the entryway into the home, gave him pause. It was a box, plain brown and of a decent size, with a note stuck on the top. Closing the door behind him, Naruto went for the lights, using a projected hand to flick the switch as he moved towards package.
Picking up the missive, Naruto tore into the letter without preamble. Inside it, a note containing the haphazardly spaced scrawls of at least a half a dozen people. Reading through it, he couldn't help the smile that bloomed across his features, warmth seeping across his chest as he rapidly discarded his sandals and ran the message, box and all to his room, his body vibrating with excitement, and dare he say it: joy.
Moments later, sitting giddy amidst a scattered mess of kunai, senbon, ramen and a brand new set of combat gear, Naruto recalled the reason why he decided to continue on in his pursuit to become a ninja. Not for fame, nor for recognition and least of all not for some silly dream of being accepted by others. No, he had chosen to become a ninja, because he had already been accepted: by Iruka, by the old Hokage, and by everyone down at the lab, though one of them would never admit it. And Naruto was going to do his damndest to ensure that nothing bad ever happened to any of them, ever again.
He would learn. He would get stronger, stronger than anyone else, so that when the time inevitably came, he'd be the one to do the protecting this time around. And without realizing, he clutched the letter tighter against his chest.
"Congratulations on your Graduation Naruto. We knew you could do it." - Kimimaro
"Congratulations Naruto, sorry we couldn't be there, but hopefully the gifts help. We'll see you soon." - Jugo
"Hey kiddo, heard you're gonna be a ninja now. Well, in that case you're gonna need some ninja gear. Try not to hurt yourself okay." - Guren
"Apologies for not being able to celebrate your big day Naruto. The lab was quite busy today, however I do hope these will help cheer you up. See you tomorrow." - Kabuto
"Do try not to die anytime soon. It would be such a massive waste of my personal investments." - O
A/N: Hey guys, reposting this story after like two years haha. Hope you guys liked it and please let me know what you think.