naruto took the folder and looked at the name, ''i'm gonna guess that there was one extra graduate'' he said as he looked up at the raikage. '' that is correct, he also got rookie of the year, however, we're putting second place on a team and giving him to you, so, what do you think... do you accept?'' he asked. naruto looked down and smiled.
'' I do, and I promise he'll grow up strong'' naruto answered and bowed. ' lets see... according to this I have 3 hours until the sensei's are supposed to come. maybe I'll have a little fun' he made his way to the academy, then used a henge to turn into a fly. He flew into the classroom and found his new student. loud, brash, nice, but also calm and collective. ' kinda like how i was' he thought. The boy wore black pants with an aqua colored shirt. He had blonde hair and eyes the same color as his shirt, though he was a little on the short side, but it was nothing he wouldn't grow out of.
After a couple minuets of buzzing around the classroom, he noticed that his new student had fan girls. ' ha, guess you can't get rid of 'em' he chuckled to himself. The sensei walked in and called for quiet, and naruto made his way over to a ledge, away from students who could 'squish' him. He watched the sensei give them a lecture about the duties and responsibilities of being a shinobi. finally, he got to the part with the new sensei's. he listed off the students and their teachers. he noticed that kumiko and inaru were both sensei's for teams 3 and 6. ' cool' he thought to himself,' we'll probably do missions together with the teams.' he thought.
Naruto's student stood up, looking confused. '' sensei, you didn't call my name'' he said. Another boy with black hair and eyes started laughing. '' ha, i knew you couldn't be better than me. they've finally seen you for the dobe you are, dead last. haha. actually, the real dead last got a team and you didn't hahaha. '' naruto scowled at the boy. ' he's a lot like sasuke' he thought angrily to himself.
the sensei shrugged the remarks off. '' well, Kenji, the raikage and I have decided that you are not at the level of genin,'' everyone laughed at this, and kenji looked down at the floor, ' i got rookie of the year, how can i not make genin?' he thought sadly. '' actually, you're above the rank of genin, but you can't be promoted straight to chuunin, so we're giving you the title of special genin, and as to why you're not on a team? Since you're above their level it would hold you back, so you are being assigned to be an apprentice of an elite jounin, namikaze naruto is his name. your sensei's should be here shortly, within 5 minuets. make sure you are ready.'' then he walked out. naruto decided to fly up to the front of the room and make his appearance.
Half of the class screamed when he appeared out of nowhere, others however thought it was just a shunshin. '' hello, i'm namikaze naruto and i'm here for ... '' he looked at the name in the folder, '' Nazukuchi Kenji.'' he finished. kenji stood up and made his way down to naruto. '' hello naruto sensei, it's a pleasure to be your apprentice.'' he said happily as the two made their way out the door.
'' before you become a real genin, you have to pass a test of my choice.'' naruto said as they were walking. '' the other teams do this too, but it usually centers around them using team work, so yours will be a little different. first, tell me about yourself, name, likes, dislikes, hobbies... and reasons for wanting to be a shinobi.'' he finished.
kenji thought about it for a second, '' why don't you start'' he said. naruto sighed and began. '' I am namikaze naruto, i like to train and meet new people, i dislike konoha and people who are ignorant and judge, i have alot of hobbies... like training and eating ramen, and i am a shinobi because i want to protect the people that are precious to me.'' he finished. '' your turn.
''kenji nodded and began. '' i am nazukuchi kenji, i like to train and play shougi, i dislike fan girls and rude people. my hobbies are playing shougi and hanging out with friends, and i want to be a shinobi because, i feel it is my duty to keep the people close to me safe. i never want to see bad things happen to them, so i need to become stronger so i can keep them from harm.'' he said with determination in his eye. naruto smiled.
'' you pass.'' he said happily. kenji looked at him. '' what do you mean?''
naruto laughed again. '' the test was the answer to the last question, i wanted to make sure you had a good reason for becoming a shinobi, not some petty reason like revenge or impressing people. shinobi have to be level headed and keep a clear mind during battle, but infatuation and revenge can cloud your judgment and result in the death of a comrade. '' kenji looked up at naruto with a new respect.
'' okay, we start your training tomorrow, 8 o'clock sharp, bring all of your weapons and get a lot of sleep tonight.'' naruto told him.
back in konoha
Naturally, the council had found out about team seven meeting naruto in the woods, and to say the least, they were not happy about it. Tsunade had been called to a meeting with the council regarding and 'what should be done'
'' what do you mean 'what should be done'? there's nothing we can do! he's a shinobi of another village now, far out of your filthy grasp.'' she huffed angrily. the council members whispered to themselves until one of them looked at Tsunade.
'' we believe he should be put into the bingo books, s-rank shinobi of kumo, flee on sight orders. '' he said, '' if he can defeat two of our best nins and one of our best medic nins so easily, he is not one to be tampered with... I just want to know when he became so powerful. He showed no signs of being anything above a normal jounin.'' he said to her.
'' he kept much of his power secret, not wanting to show his full potential until he claimed his heritage. I taught him medic jutsu's, thats why he was able to use that technique on kakashi, sasuke, and sakura. I also gave him all of the scrolls his father left for him when he turned 15, just as the fourth had requested, and he learned the hirashin and mastered it in a little more than 9 months. He's always been far more powerful than the Uchiha, that is why sasuke left all those years ago.'' she huffed, '' and if you really want him added to the bingo books, then I'll do it, but he won't attack unless provoked, i know this.''
after she said that, she got up and left the room, ignoring the protesting council members. When she was back in her office she called for the ANBU captain to send his team to retrieve every chuunin and jounin in the village for a special meeting.
15 minuets later she gazed at the faces of all of her top shinobi. '' well, the details of a recent mission have been brought to the councils eye, and as such, the council has called for Namikaze Naruto to be listed in the bingo books as an S-rank Kumo shinobi, flee on sight orders have been put into affect, no one is to engage him in combat, he has every one of his fathers jutsu at his disposal, and has improved upon many. The council suggest that you not attack him unless you are in a group of 6 or more.'' she huffed.
kakashi stepped forward, '' i have seen the hirashin numerous times, and sensei(fourth hokage) could take out fifty or more men, six or twenty, it won't make a difference.''
sasuke looked uninterested. '' ha, that dobe? s rank? i could take him.'' he said arrogantly. '' yeah, thats why he beat you, sakura, and kakashi, all at once right sasuke?'' shikamaru said sarcastically. '' i don't think naruto would attack any of us unless he was on direct orders, and we don't exactly have a good relationship with kumo, but we're not at war or anything, so i don't think we really have much to worry about.'' he finished lazily.
''well,'' tsunade said, '' thats all i called you here for, that and, remember, the chuunin exams are coming up, i want to know who will be participating. they'll be held in kumo this year, and we will be going.''
back in kumo
kenji awoke early, about an hour before he needed to be at the training grounds. He showered and got his things together in about a half and hour, then he made his way to the training grounds. When he arrived, he saw his sensei practicing, and it was a pretty devastating jutsu, ' woah' he thought, his jaw practically on the floor. Naruto was using his rasengan and adding both wind and fire elements to it, making a swirling ball of wind and fire. When he hit the tree with it, a huge dome of fiery wind surrounded the area, leaving nothing but destruction in it's wake.
'' wow sensei! that was awesome!'' he yelled, naruto immediately turned around, he laughed sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head. '' aw, it was nothing... really. '' kenji just looked at him, '' don't lie to yourself sensei! that was amazing'' naruto stopped laughing and looked at his pupil. '' alright, did you come here to watch me, or get yourself stronger?'' kenji wasted no time in replying.
'' i came to get stronger sensei!'' he said happily.
'' alright, well first, your training regiment. On monday, we will work on your taijutsu, making you faster and stronger. On Tuesday, we will play shougi to develop your strategic skills. On Wednesday, we will work on your ninjutsu, wasting less chakra, and eventually performing lower rank jutsu without hand seals. On Thursday, we'll work on kenjutsu, it's handy for when you are running low on chakra, or out matched in ninjutsu. On Friday we'll work on genjutsu, I'll teach you how to do lower level genjutsu and dis spell them, but I'm really no good at genjutsu.'' he said. '' and every morning, before we do our training, you will do your warm up. 25 laps around the training area, 75 push ups, and 300 sit ups. Then I want 100 punches and kicks with each arm and leg to the training stump. After that we'll get breakfast, then start your training.'' he reached down into the bag he brought out and grabbed two bracelets, and two anklets. '' put these on, i can add chakra to them to increase the weight, for now, they are 10 pounds each, and as you get stronger, i will add more and more weight. Chuunin exams are in 6 months, and I will be signing you up, so you better be ready.'' he smiled as he handed kenji the weights.
kenji put them on, even though he was kind of worried about his training, he knew it needed to be done. ' no one gets strong over night, everyone has to work at it.' he said to himself.
He was nearly dead after he finished his warm up. '' this is a '' pant pant '' warm up?'' he said, exhaustion evident in his voice. '' yep, and eventually, you'll be able to do this without breaking a sweat'' naruto finished, '' now, come on, lets go get some breakfast, you like ramen?'' he smiled. kenji nodded and him and naruto left for a ramen bar naruto found, it reminded him of old man ichiraku's, one of the few people he missed from konoha.
The months seemed to fly by, and naruto could see why this boy was the number one rookie. He picked things up with an ease that seemed almost un natural. The chuunin exams were less than a month away, and naruto had full confidence in his apprentice. Ninjutsu seemed to come easy for kenji, he had already picked up many of the katon and doton jutsu that he taught him, and was showing promise suiton, he hadn't started teaching kenji raiton and fuuton jutsu yet, as they are usually harder to master. It would seem that he was just as lousy as naruto when it came to genjutsu though, so he learned the basics and left it at that. He was rather good at shougi, and it showed on the battle field, he could think of stratagies in seconds, and they almost always worked. His kenjutsu was fairly good as well, he was learning with broadswords, like the one's naruto carried. He picked up 7 or the 15 katas and was able to use them in battle. His taijutsu soared. He was faster and stronger than all of the other genin, along with being able to read his opponents attacks based on how they moved their bodies.
He had also started something of a relationship with kumiko, the two of them had been seeing more and more of each other, and he had finally built up the courage to ask her on a date, which was set up for the coming Saturday.
All in all, naruto was positive that kenji would make chuunin. The raikage called all of the jounins to a meeting later that day. '' as you all know, the chuunin exams are starting in a few weeks, I need to know how many kumo teams will be taking part in the exam. step forward if you believe your teams are ready. All of the rookie instructors stepped forward, including naruto.
'' I, Namikaze Naruto, nominate Nazukuchi Kenji for the chuunin examination, and I believe he can handle the exams without a being part of a team.'' he said to the raikage.
'' alright, I trust your judgment naruto, here is the paperwork , tell kenji good luck for me.'' he told naruto. after the rest of the jounin instructors stepped forward, the raikage looked around the room. '' as you all know, i am getting old. I cannot protect the village as i once have. I will be announcing my replacement at the chuunin exam finals. '' all the jounin were shocked. ' i wonder who it'll be?' they all thought simultaneously.
the next day, when kenji arrived he saw naruto sitting in a tree staring at the clouds. '' hey sensei.. what are you doing?'' he asked out loud. Naruto looked down at him and smiled. '' oh, just thinking. I have something for you kenji.'' he said as he hopped down and took out a sheet of paper, '' you need to be at room 401 in two weeks for the chuunin exams. are you ready?'' he asked, knowing the answer. Kenji was ecstatic. '' i'll make chuunin for sure!'' he yelled out. naruto just smiled.
back in konoha
Tsunade called all of the jounins into her office. '' The chuunin exams will be held in Kumo, participating teams will be heading out in 3 days time, those of you who believe your teams are ready, step forward. sasuke, sakura, lee, and shikamaru all stepped forward. Tsunade smiled. '' okay, you four will leave with your teams shortly. I will be meeting up with you towards the end, and from what I hear, the raikage will be announcing the next raikage during the finals. '' she smirked, '' you will all be on your best behavior, understand?'' she said as she looked them each in the eye. they nodded and left to inform their teams.
back in kumo, 1 week later.
The exams were in one week and teams from all over were arriving. Naruto and kenji had just finished their training and naruto had to go get ready for his big date. kenji wished him good luck, but before he went, naruto stopped him. '' remember kenji, you are representing kumo, don't let the genin of the other hidden villages disrespect you, or your home.'' and with that, naruto shunshined to his apartment.
kenji was walking to the dango shop when he ran into three academy students, '' oh, hello tsuki, genma, souta, how are you three today?'' he smiled. tsuki looked up and him and beamed, '' we're playing ninja! wanna play with us?'' kenji laughed, '' sorry tsuki-chan, but i can't, i have to prepare for the chuunin exams. '' genma looked up and whined. '' please! just for a little bit!'' kenji sighed. '' okay, but only for an hour. then i have to go.'' they all squealed and started running to go hide. kenji had been following them at a leisurely pace when he heard tsuki scream. ' kuso,' he thought, ' what did those gaki's do?' when he rounded the corner, he found tsuki being held by her foot by a genin from another village. he looked at the hita-ite and scowled. ' konoha genin' he thought furiously, ' i can see why sensei hates konoha so much, they seem like a bunch of idiots.'
'' hey, put the academy student down. she's no where near your level, it's cowardly to pick on people smaller than you.'' he said.
the konoha genin looked up and smirked. '' she ran into me, so i thought i'd teach her a lesson. '' the black haired boy sneered. Kenji was starting to get angry. '' look here kid, you are a guest in our village, you will be respectful of our citizens. put her down, or i will force you to.'' he said as he sank into a taijutsu stance. the boy smirked again, and tossed her to the side, one of his team mates caught her and set her down gently, whispering an apology for her team mates attitude. '' i'll take you out, right here, right now.'' the konoha genin sneered. kenji straightened up. '' i no longer have a reason to fight with you, so please be on your way, and refrain from harassing anymore citizens, or i'll have to report you to the raikage.'' he turned around with the three and left. Before the boy could do anything, sasuke showed up and put a hand on his shoulder. '' you will listen to that boy, we are representing konoha, and you will not embarrass our village.'' he said coldly.
On the other side of town, naruto had just arrived at kumiko's door. He was wearing black slacks, with a blue button up shirt the same color as his eyes. When she came out, naruto's jaw fell to the ground. ' she looks breathtaking!' he thought to himself. she wore an emerald kimono with purple butterflies with a purple obi and an emerald ribbon in her hair. She had some eye liner and mascara on, which made her eyes stand out more than normal. '' you look.. stunning'' he whispered to her. '' you don't look too bad yourself.'' she smirked as she looked him up and down. ' i can see the outline of his muscle under that shirt...' she thought to herself. He took her to a nice restaurant in town, and after the two ate, they went to the park to look at the stars. naruto had brought a blanket with him, and the two just laid down by one another, looking at the stars, and eventually, naruto had put his arm around her and she had snuggled up onto his chest. after a few hours of talking and star gazing, naruto walked her home.
'' well, uh.. i had a good time... did you?'' naruto asked her.
'' i did, naruto-kun.'' she smiled warmly, and before he knew what was happening, she had kissed him. he turned as red as strawberry, his blue eyes open in shock. she laughed at him, then gave him one last hug before going into her house. naruto was walking on air on his way home, happier than he had been in a very long time.
naruto saw the scowl on kenji's face when he ran into him after his date. '' oi, kenji'' he yelled out. kenji looked over and saw naruto. '' hey, sensei.'' he said, his voiced laced with annoyance. naruto looked at him, '' what happened kenji?'' kenji told naruto what happened with the konoha nins, '' now i know why you hate them so much, they're all a bunch of bullies, I mean honestly, picking on an academy student, how low can you get?!'' he yelled in frustration. naruto scowled. '' you'll have your chance to set them straight in the exams, but i am proud of how you handled the problem. '' naruto said. kenji smiled at him. '' how was your date, sensei?'' he asked. naruto explained the entire night to him, and kenji smiled warmly. he smirked when he heard the part about the kiss. '' damn sensei, you work fast.'' he joked, '' i'll see you tomorrow at the training grounds.'' he said then headed home. naruto nodded and headed home himself.
The next day, naruto woke up earlier than usual so he could get some training in. He had been at the grounds for about an hour practicing the hirashin when heard someone coming. He turned around and saw none other than uchiha sasuke and haruno sakura and scowled. '' you don't have permission to be here, these are private grounds for kumo nin only, leave now or i will escort you out.'' he growled. sakura was taken aback. '' don't talk to us like that naruto-baka! we came here to train ourselves and wait for our teams. '' she screeched.
'' this is where i train my apprentice, and like i said before, these are private grounds, go find some public ones.'' they didn't move. naruto was starting to get angry. ' god damn them' he thought. '' i said to leave, now'' he said angrily.
sasuke just smirked. '' and if we don't?'' he sneered.
'' have it your way.'' he said. he threw a couple normal kunai along with is three pronged ones at sakura and sasuke, and before they had time to react he was in front of them, and had punched them both in the face. '' i should kill you for your disrespect'' he spat at them as they struggled to stand. '' now get out of my face before i decided to do so.'' he turned around, but sasuke wasn't finished yet. he sped through some hand signs and yelled out, '' katon: housenka no jutsu!'' and 20 or so medium sized fire balls flew at naruto, before they hit however, 5 water dragons rose from the ground and put out all the fire, the charged for sasuke. '' suiton: saryuudan no jutsu!'' naruto said as the dragons made their way for sasuke. He let the fall before they made contact however. '' you can't win, now leave before i get serious. '' as soon as he said this, kenji showed up, along with sasuke's team.
kenji looked over and scowled. '' hey! your that stupid kid from yesterday! the one who picks on academy students!'' naruto saw kenji and smiled. '' hello kenji, have a nice sleep?'' he asked. '' hai, sensei. who are they?'' he asked, pointing to sasuke and sakura. '' they're my old team mates, the ones from konoha, '' he replied.
'' well sasuke-teme, it looks like you're teaching your students to be just as cowardly as you are, attacking an academy student, you should be ashamed of the way you've taught these kids. '' he sneered. '' i'll give you one more chance to leave, these grounds are private, and i hate to think what baa-chan would do if i told her how much of a disgrace her apprentice and the traitor are to konoha.'' sasuke scowled, but left, he knew Tsunade disliked him, and even if naruto left the leaf, she would still take naruto's word over his own. '' find dobe, have fun on your 'private grounds' '' he mocked as him and sakura, followed by his team, turned around and left. '' I don't like those people.'' kenji said as they walked away. '' neither do i.'' naruto answered. kenji looked back up at him. '' hey, who's baa-chan?'' he asked. '' oh, thats the hokage of the leaf, she's always been sort of a mother figure to me, i was always the only one who could get away with not calling her hokage-sama. haha. '' he laughed.
naruto had given kenji the next few days off, to study and rest up, and before he knew it, it was time for him to go to the academy for the first exam.
