"Everyone has talent. What is rare is the courage to follow the talent to the dark place where it leads." Erica Jong…

"DIE DEMON!" He threw the shuriken at the blonde jinchuuriki. Naruto fell on his back, frozen in fear of his impending death. That is, if Iruka hadn't thrown his own body in front of Naruto as a shield. The weapon implanted itself in his back, hitting the red spiral crest dead in the center.

"Why…?" the blonde whispered.

"Because, we're the same Naruto. When I lost my parents, I had no one, people ignored me. So, I became the class clown just like you did; I just wanted attention. I know how you feel. You feel lonely, both of you. I'm sorry… I'm sorry for not being there for you, nobody deserves to be alone." Tears running down his scared face, he kept whispering how sorry he was.

'He's right, you know. He's telling the truth Nii-san.' She looked at him, feeling how guilty he was. Naruto kept thinking of everything that was said and came to a conclusion.

'Menma!'

'Yeah?'

'Code #6.'

Menma was confused 'Why that one?'

'Just do it, Dattebayo!'

She smirked and whispered "Hai." She started running in Naruto's direction. When she reached him, she pulled a smoke bomb out and threw it to the ground.

"WHAT?!" Both chuunin exclaimed, looking intently at the smoke.

'How did those demons do that so fast?' Mizuki could not believe it. Those useless, good for nothing, pieces of shit tricked him!

Iruka slowly and painfully got up and took the weapon out of his back. He threw the shuriken at Mizuki.

It was silent in the forest; the only light was the moon shining down on the ninjas below. Hours passed, running away from Mizuki, fighting through betrayal, and thinking 'How could they do this?' Mizuki did all this just because he was jealous of Iruka.

"I was going to finish you later Iruka, but you've convinced me to move up my schedule." The white haired man's lips curled in excitement and satisfaction at the sight of Iruka, powerlessly backed against a tree. He was about to kill his ex-comrade...

'So this is it, ha-ha, I thought I would die in the battlefield or saving a comrade, not like this… Weak. I'm weak.' Iruka thought bitterly to himself. He closed his eyes and waited for death.

That is, if a specific blonde haired jinchuuriki did not get involved. Naruto pushed Mizuki to stop the weapon, but he had already thrown it.

If it wasn't for Menma catching the shuriken, their beloved Sensei would have died.

"If you ever lay a hand on my sensei, I'll kill you!" If his eyes were a weapon, the piercing look in them could have caused serious destruction; Mizuki could feel his glare burning its mark into his head, but he ignored it.

"Oh! Such big words for a dobe. I'm a chuunin; I can completely destroy you with a single move." He smirked, clearly believing he is superior to every one else. Naruto clenched his fist, until his knuckles started turning white.

All the lies, rumors, the emotional pain, the hours of crying, the millions of little rivers and streams always racing down his sister's face, and all he could ask was why?

'Calm down, Nii-san.' she started humming, as she always did when Naruto was angry or, as he was right

now, in a rage. But, he refused to listen to reason; he was going to make Mizuki pay.

Naruto grinned and made a ram seal. "I want to test this new jutsu I learned. Menma, test your paper on

Iruka-sensei."

Menma smiled at him "Nii-san that angers me, don't do it again. I will prove to you that seals are more than just paper. Oh! And Naruto? Give him hell." She continued with her eerie smile. She turned to Iruka, ignoring his pale face.

'Note to self, never anger Menma.' The chuunin thought.

"Yes, I will get him back a thousand times over. Kage Bunshin!"

A big cloud of smoke appeared, and underneath it were a thousand of Naruto. He charged to attack Mizuki.

Menma kneeled in front of Iruka and gently placed a piece of paper against his chest.

"What are you doing?" He questioned.

"Healing you. This will either accelerate your healing...or make it worse." Her hands formed the tiger seal. Iruka twitched nervously.

"Hey, you don't have to-" She ignored his protesting.

"Akutibunisuru!" (activate)

Iruka could feel his injury healing, feel his tissue muscle closing.

"I-Impossible- I-I have never seen this- what is this?" he was stupefied, as to be expected with the emotional impact of this experience.

"Fuinjutsu." There was something in her voice that made Iruka look at her face. What he saw were her eyes dancing with an emotion he couldn't quite place.

'Wait a minute, she finds this funny!' Now that stunned him

"You find my reaction funny?"

"Not quite funny, but amusing." She smiled playfully. He couldn't believe this.

They turned around at the sound of whimpering, to see Mizuki on the floor, completely covered in bruises, and Naruto walking towards them laughing. He smiled cheekily "Sorry! I got carried away."

Iruka smiled softly "Naruto come here for a minute. I've got something to give you."

Naruto was confused, but complied with Iruka's wishes.

"Good! Now close your eyes."

Curious, the blonde closed his blue eyes.

When Menma saw what her sensei was doing, she gave her brother a proud smile. The blonde just couldn't stay still so he asked. "How much longer?"

The scarred chuunin chuckled softly. "You can open you eyes now."

The forest started shining a beautiful orange red color. The wind rusted the leaves on the ground, and Naruto became a ninja.

"Congratulation Naruto and Menma Uzumaki, you graduated."

Naruto gave him the biggest grin he has ever seen. He jumped at Iruka, hugging him like there was no tomorrow.

"H-hey Naruto I'm still recovering. Menma when we get back I'll give you your headband, so let's go get some ramen. My treat."