The Runaway Refugee
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, unfortunately.
"The world had teeth and it could bite you with them anytime it wanted." - Stephen King
Chapter 2
Merely an hour went by before Naruto had a decent grasp on Shadow Clones. It really wasn't a difficult technique; only a single hand seal was required. For the duration of his training session, he had been dying to peek at some of the other jutsu, but he knew an Anbu was watching.
'Anbu don't seem that special,' Naruto thought, trying to locate his overseer to no avail. 'I mean, they could barely keep up with me when I would get chased after a prank, so maybe I can take a tiny peek.'
Suddenly, Naruto had a clever idea. Channeling his chakra, he created as many Shadow Clones, each with their own forbidden scroll, as he could – around 75 – and had them huddle together like a colony of penguins.
The Anbu's eyes widened. Previously, Naruto had only created a few clones at a time. But now, a sea of orange stood before him and he was clueless as to whether Naruto was looking at other jutsu or not.
'There, that should keep him busy for a couple minutes,' Naruto thought as he subtly flipped through the pages while hiding in the crowd of clones.
'The Great Clone Explosion.' Naruto traced the words with his fingers as he read the technique's description.
This jutsu works in conjunction with the Shadow Clone Jutsu. Upon creating a Shadow Clone, you may designate it as a glorified suicide bomber. It will only explode when you, as the original, remotely detonate it.
Hand Seals Used: You must use the seal of confrontation before using the hand seal needed for the Shadow Clone Jutsu. To detonate, you must again use the seal of confrontation and the command 'Katsu.'
Shinobi credited with creation: Itachi Uchiha
The necessary hand seals seemed rather simple. Though, Naruto would have to learn what exactly the seal of confrontation is. He closed the scroll, dispelled his clones, and sprinted back to the Hokage's office.
"Sorry Naruto, I'm not going to help you. That wasn't part of the deal," the Old Hokage said as Naruto opened the door with an infectious smile.
Letting out a small chuckle, Naruto creating 10 copies of himself and grinned at Hiruzen's incredulous look.
"Don't worry old man, I already did it," the copies said in unison.
"Impossible," he said, hearing a gasp from one of his hidden anbu.
"It's not impossible for the future Hokage!" Naruto's eyes narrowed. "So…do I get a bonus for learning it so quickly?"
"If you want Ramen, you can always just ask."
"What are you doing here? You're interrupting my training," Sasuke said, obviously annoyed.
"Just watch this," Naruto said rather smugly.
He was finally getting the hang of the Great Clone Explosion Jutsu. He could still only produce incredibly small explosions, almost visually indistinguishable from the regular poof that accompanies the dispelling of his Shadow Clone, but he was ecstatic nonetheless.
Suddenly, with a single hand seal, a copy of Naruto appeared.
Sasuke's brows furrowed. "This isn't a regular clone."
"Yeah, it's a Shadow Clone. The Hokage showed it to me since I can't do the regular one. It takes a lot more chakra because they're solid copies that can think for themselves. See?" Naruto gestured towards his clone and stuck up his middle finger.
"Do it again and I'll take that finger as a souvenir," the clone said aggressively.
He dispelled the clone, this time creating another one using different hand seals.
"You used different hand seals. What's the difference?"
"Look closer," Naruto said, barely concealing his grin.
As Sasuke approached, Naruto, with a single hand seal, detonated the clone but it did nothing more than startle the Uchiha.
"You can make them explode?"
"Yeah, and I'm trying to make the explosions bigger!"
Sasuke imagined a hundred Naruto clones converging on enemies, all simultaneously exploding and leaving barren landscape in their wake. He winced inwardly at the potential destruction Naruto held.
"But make sure you don't tell anybody I can do it. I kinda wasn't supposed to learn it," he said, timidly rubbing the back of his head.
"Then why did you tell me?" Sasuke asked, genuinely confused.
"Well, you're kinda my only friend."
Sasuke's eyed widened slightly. He knew Naruto was lonely, but he figured he had at least a couple friends; everybody had a friend or two. Naruto struggled befriending others; Sasuke chose not to.
"We've only trained together a few times, mostly to fix your stances, and you've always despised me. How are we friends?"
"That's still more help than I've ever gotten before, and it'll help me become a shinobi."
Sasuke, choosing not to object any further, returned to his training. Naruto, however, discontent with Sasuke's silence, jumped at Sasuke, initiating a spar. Sasuke could still trounce Naruto easily, but his clones had added a new element to their rare spars. Sasuke had a lot of trouble dealing with so many opponents, and only had a couple area of effect ninjutsus capable of dispatching large numbers of clones. He could only use his Fireball Jutsu so many times before tiring, while Naruto could produce a seemingly endless number of clones.
Graduation exams had finally rolled around, and Naruto was excited to finally pass. Failing twice was demoralizing, even though he had been younger than his classmates who passed.
Naruto's ears perked up instinctively as Sasuke's name was called into the exam room. He would've wished him good luck, but he knew Sasuke didn't need it.
'Hmm, I guess I could mess with the proctors a little. They've never seen me do Shadow Clones.'
As Naruto stood up to the sound of his name, he briefly looked around. His classmates wore smiles that mocked Naruto. It was almost as if they couldn't wait for him to fail.
He stood in front of the instructors who had failed him twice before, Iruka and Mizuki. Iruka had a wishful look on his face, as if he really hoped Naruto would pass. Mizuki, however, looked disinterested, seemingly confident that Naruto would mess up the clone technique. Naruto was eager to quell any doubts of his abilities.
Grinning, Naruto performed the other two basic ninjutsu flawlessly.
"Alright, Naruto, attempt to make a clone," Mizuki said in a condescending manner.
Inwardly chuckling as his choice of words, which almost implied he would fail, Naruto formed a single hand seal.
Iruka actually yelped in surprise, leaving everyone, even those still in the classroom awaiting the test, wondering what had happened.
"Is this enough clones?" a hundred Naruto clones, enough to completely fill the room, shouted simultaneously.
"N—Naruto…" Iruka whispered, stammering.
"How did you go from being completely inept to this?" Mizuki asked.
"I had some help training," he said through a fit of laughter.
"You pass. Come grab a headband. Congratulations, you are now a shinobi of Konoha and will be expected to serve with dignity and extend the will of fire to others."
Snatching a headband excitedly, Naruto quickly tied it around his head as he walked to the room holding those who passed. He had dreamed of earning a headband for years, and a tear was brought to his eye as he reflected on the past few months. Sasuke had helped him improve substantially, and they even befriended each other in the process. Naruto was anxious for what the future held, but he knew he could overcome any challenge tossed at him.
There were a few peers with surprised looks as Naruto walked into the room. He had graduated fourth in the class, but other still seemed to view him as an idiotic dead last.
"What, of course I passed!"
"Surprisingly," Sakura whispered.
"He graduated above you," Shikamaru said with his eyes closed.
"And you, so go back to sleep and be quiet."
"Alright, your team assignments will occur tomorrow at 8 o'clock in this very room. Don't be late," Iruka said as he vanished.
"I wonder who our teammates will be," Naruto said, as he followed Sasuke out of the room. Ideally, Naruto preferred to be on Sasuke's team. They had become pretty good friends, at least in Naruto's opinion, and Naruto didn't fancy his odds at being able to befriend new people. He also hoped he could be with Sakura, but he wasn't as infatuated with her as he had been. His newfound work ethic naturally distracted him from his interest in Sakura.
Iruka, equipped with his clipboard that held the futures of many, walked into a room full of antsy genin. Placing the clipboard on his desk, he cleared his throat as the noise abruptly stopped.
"I will now read the team assignments. Please group up after all names have been read."
Naruto listened attentively and glanced around the room, picking out those he had no interest in teaming with. He realized that he'd only be happy working with a few of his classmates, but expected to be disappointed. 27 genin had passed, after all. What are the odds he gets the exact teammates he wants?
"…Team 7; Sakura Haruno, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sasuke Uchiha."
The three new teammates had very similar reactions. Sakura, being infatuated with Sasuke, merely stared at Sasuke in delight. Naruto and Sasuke however, both wide eyed, exchanged small smiles as the remaining teams were announced.
"The teams have been finalized. Please wait for your Jonin sensei to arrive and follow their directions. Good luck."
Hours later, in sauntered a tired looking gray-haired man with his gaze locked on a small orange book.
As he stepped inside, a dirty eraser fell on his head, filling his hair with chalk. Kakashi had seen it, but decided to let his students have their moment.
Before any of the genin could interrogate him about his tardiness, or ask how a Jonin couldn't evade such a simple prank, Kakashi spoke. "Meet me on the roof now."
As he vanished in a cloud of smoke, Naruto and Sasuke raced out of the room with Sakura lagging behind. Bounding up the stairs, Naruto created a few Shadow Clones to hold Sasuke back long enough for Naruto to reach the rooftop first.
He stepped out of the door smugly, but was hanging upside down before he had blinked.
"Ah! What the...?"
"Two can play at that game," Kakashi said calmly with a smile.
"How the hell did you set that up so quickly? Let me go!"
Sasuke and Sakura, both letting small smiles emerge, sat around the suspended Naruto.
"Alright, let's start with introductions. The prankster can go first."
"Hey, let me down first!" Naruto shouted as his face was becoming purple.
"Meh, that's too much work."
As Sasuke got up to help his teammate out, Kakashi intervened.
"I appreciate the sentiment, but just let him hang out for now."
"That's what you think!" Naruto said as he created a clone to untie him. "Ha!"
"I suppose I'll have to bind your hands next time," Kakashi said, impressed that his student had already learned such an advanced technique.
"If there even is a next time," Naruto muttered. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki, future greatest Hokage!"
"That's cute. Well, meet me at training ground 15 tomorrow at 6 AM."
"What about the introductions? And why do we have to train so early?" Sakura asked.
"I already know everything about you, and it's not training. It's the real graduation exam. Don't be late!" he said snidely as he vanished.
"Don't be late? Ironic coming from him," Sakura finally said.
"Wait, the real graduation test? Didn't we just pass it?" Sakura said.
"Evidently not," Sasuke said as turned to leave with Naruto following.
"Sasuke-kun, I was wondering if we could train together,"
Sasuke turned to Naruto, as if to consult him. Naruto's eyes seemed to urge him to accept her request, despite Sasuke's apparent disdain for Sakura.
Deciding his new team should probably train together, however, he simply muttered, "fine," before turning to jump towards a training field.
"Tired already? We just started, and Naruto hasn't even used his clones yet."
"Clones… What are illusions… supposed to do?" Sakura said between pants.
They had been sparring for nearly an hour now, though it had mostly evolved into a rivalrous battle between Naruto and Sasuke.
"Illusions? Naruto, show her," he said, nodding to Naruto.
Suddenly, upwards of a hundred of him appeared, filling the clearance they were in.
"…I think I've seen this before… in a nightmare," Sakura said as she punched a Naruto, only for him to burst into a cloud of smoke.
"Shadow Clones," Sasuke clarified. "They're solid, autonomous beings, unlike a regular clone."
"There's a reason I graduated 4th in the class, ya know. I'm not as stupid as you think."
Naruto internally cheered at Sakura's look of disbelief. 'Finally! I impressed Sakura! All it took was learning a super dangerous Jonin level jutsu. Maybe she'll finally go on a date with me, or even be nice to me for once."
"Yeah, because Sasuke trained you," she finally concluded.
"What?" Naruto said as he broke away from his internal victory dance.
"You only graduated 4th because Sasuke helped you, I'm sure."
"Ignorant. You don't know what initially held Naruto back, so it isn't your place to comment. Mizuki intentionally taught Naruto incorrectly; I merely taught him exactly what you learned."
Sakura, stunned at Sasuke's defense of Naruto, silenced herself. Instead of sympathizing with Naruto and wondering why he was taught incorrectly, she instead worried about Sasuke. 'It seems all I do is enrage Sasuke. Why doesn't he like me? I mean, how can someone like Naruto more than me?'
"You claim that this man was running into the southwest border of the Land of Water? And you swiftly knocked him out without further injuring him?"
"Yes, Mizukage-san."
"Am I'm supposed to believe that someone so emaciated and drenched in blood ran 30 miles from the nearest island? I'm sure you can see my hesitance to believe your account of what happened."
"Yes, Mizukage-san, but I have no reason to lie."
"All right. You are dismissed."
Daisuke, a member of the esteemed Hozuki clan, left the Mizukage's office and finally exhaled. He was always nervous talking to Yagura. Being in the presence of a Jinchuuriki, especially one who was responsible for his village's nickname – 'The Bloody Mist' – always unsettled him.
'Whatever, I guess I should return to my post,' Daisuke thought as he coughed into the fold of his arm.
A/N: We're finally starting to get into the meat of the story, so it'll get increasingly interesting. Hope you enjoyed! Leave a review so I can improve.