Sorry for the wait... I'm just doing other stuff right now. Thank you all who reviewed. If you haven't yet, try now! ...After you've read the chapter of course. By the way, who likes the little key down there? I loved making it.
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Warning: Mild text/language.
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"U!" --Human Speech
'Zi!' --Human Thinking
'Ma!' --Demon Thinking
"Ki!" --Demon Speech
Naruto Rendan --Jutsu
"" also emphasized words.
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"It's not my fault he died. After all, I don't know any medical jutsu. Do you?"
'I'm going to kill him.' Naruto thought as he stared angrily at the man. "What are you talking about?"
"Like I said, 'It's not my fault he died.'"
"You did nothing while my sensei died!" Naruto yelled, his rage suddenly skyrocketing up.
"As long as you're alive, I've done my job." Rayn said coldly.
"What's that supposed to mean? I just met you."
"Well get used to me, kid." Naruto heard as Rayn hit him in a pressure point before he even realized it. "See ya when you wake up." he heard as the voice faded away.
--
"Naruto, wake up... Err... I mean open your eyes... I mean..." Naruto heard as he shook his head and looked over to Kyuubi. "Great, now come over here." Kyuubi said.
"Huh?" Naruto mumbled. "How did I get her-" he asked before suddenly remembering what had happened. "Iruka-sensei... he's... he's really..." Naruto trailed off as he slowly stood up. "And I killed Mizuki-sen... I-I killed Mizuki." Kyuubi looked at the boy knowing that she could do nothing while the seal was currently in place.
'It won't be good if I can't get him over this...' Kyuubi thought before calling out to him again.
"Naruto." she called out softly. "Come over here."
--
Rayn sped through the forest as he neared Konoha, easily carrying the three bodies. 'Maybe it wasn't wise to allow him time with the fox... Nah, I'm sure nothing will happen.'
--
"Kyuubi?" Naruto asked as he slowly walked over to her cage. "What do I do now? Iruka's dead! I killed a guy! Now there's some guy out there doing who knows what!"
"Naruto, calm down." Kyuubi consoled. "You avenged Iruka in self-defense. There's no need to worry about it. The guy you met is taking us toward Konoha, so forget about that." Kyuubi explained.
"How can I!? Did you see him knock me out? It was like I was nothing to him!" Naruto yelled, clearly frustrated.
"Why does that bother you so much?"
"If I was as strong as him, I wouldn't have needed his help at all! Iruka would still be alive!"
"So... you want more power?"
Naruto's hair covered his eyes as he looked away, thinking over his answer. "Lots more." he said, a determined look etched into his face.
Kyuubi smirked inside as she thanked Rayn for being Naruto's catalyst. "Then you know what to do." she said before motioning to the seal.
"Right." Naruto said with a nod. "So just yank it off?" he asked, receiving a nod in reply. "Ok then. Here I go." he said before literally vanishing.
"...No... No... NO!" Kyuubi yelled as a wave of curses erupted from her cage.
--
Naruto was thrown to a chair in the Hokage's room, causing him to wake up right before he could release the seal. Looking around, he saw the Hokage at his desk and Rayn leaning on a wall.(1) "What was that for?" Naruto growled.
"I'm sorry Naruto." the Hokage said. "Rayn-kun was a bit rough, but I'm glad to see you're safe."
"...Rayn-kun?" Naruto repeated. "RAYN-KUN? What the hell old man!? While I was fighting Mizuki, he was eating a friggen sandwich! Iruka DIED because 'Rayn-kun' wouldn't lift a finger to help."
"Excuse me?" Rayn said as he pushed away from the wall and walked over to the desk. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it your fault Iruka died?"
"How dare you?" Naruto whispered, his eyes burning with rage. "I was the only one that gave a damn about his life out there!"
"As I recall, you learned a technique from the forbidden scroll."
"Don't try and change the subject! I tried to use it to help in the fight."
"Tell me Naruto." Rayn said with a smirk. "Do you think that was the best way to waste time before Mizuki found you?"
"What?"
"I was watching you learn the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu. One that isn't so easily learned... normally."
"What's your point?"
"Instead of learning a combat move that you don't even know how to use properly, was there another move you could've learned?"
"...I don't know what you mean."
"Remember? 'I don't know any medical jutsu. Do you?'"
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Flashback
Naruto grinned as he crawled over to the scroll, reading through the information until coming to a jutsu. "Chikatsu Saisei no Jutsu." Naruto read out loud. Looking further, he found a description. "An advanced medical jutsu used to heal wounds. The user's hand begins to glow green as the chakra blah, blah, blah." Naruto yawned. "Who cares about some stupid medic technique anyway? It's not like a medic has ever been Hokage... Besides, when am I ever going to need that?"
End Flashback
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"No." Naruto gasped, a shocked expression written on his face.
"Yes." Rayn said triumphantly. "You didn't care about helping people. You just wanted a 'super cool jutsu'."
"If... If I knew what was gonna happen, I would've learned anything to save Iruka!"
"But it's too late for that. You're so quick to blame me, yet so slow to take responsibility for your own selfish actions."
"That's not true! I would've done anything to help Iruka!"
"Well what can you do now? He's already d-" Rayn was about to finish before flinching and suddenly looking over to the Hokage. "...Forgive me, Hokage-sama." he said before bowing and going back to the wall he was at earlier.
"I'm sorry for that Naruto-kun. You went through a lot and I'm sure you could use some rest." Sarutobi said with a wrinkled smile.
"...Thanks." Naruto said.
"We'll talk about your status as a fresh genin and compensation for stopping Mizuki tomorrow morning."
"Wha?"
"Rayn told me about Iruka's new graduation exam terms and technically, you passed."
"WHA!?"
'Oh yes, let's forget about aiding a criminal, learning from the forbidden scroll, and the unlawful killing of a Konoha criminal. Let's give him money!' Rayn thought bitterly.
"Welcome to Konoha's ranks, Naruto-kun... Naruto-kun?" Sarutobi asked.
"...He fainted from the shock." Rayn said as he examined Naruto. "Wuss."
"Rayn-kun, can you tell me more about what happened in the forest?" Sarutobi asked, his demeanor suddenly changing into a more serious one.
"Yes, Hokage-sama. It appears as though he's come into contact with the Kyuubi."
"...I see." the Hokage said as he sucked on his unlit pipe. "I want you to continue watching over him and report back to me on what happens."
"Understood, Hokage-sama." Rayn said as he lifted Naruto and prepared to leave.
"Oh, and Rayn-kun. About both of the examiners dieing."
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-The next morning
"Naruto."
"Kyuubi?" Naruto asked as he woke up with a start. Calming down, he realized he was in his own bed. "Where are you?"
"I'm still inside the cage." Kyuubi said, a small amount of anger flowing through her words. "You fainted from shock yesterday. I didn't bring you back because any more mental stress wouldn't have helped."
"So... you're not free?"
"Correct." Kyuubi said, more anger evident in her words.
"So... Do I do it now?"
"No. That man is most likely watching from somewhere. If he were to detect anything, he'd stop it just like before." Kyuubi explained. 'And I can not have freedom dangled in front of me and snatched away... Not again.'
"So Kyu-"
"Naruto! Did you hear what I just said?" Kyuubi scolded. "Rayn could be watching! If you need to contact me, just think."
'...Like this?'
"Precisely."
'Ok... So what now?'
"Do what you'd normally do."
"...What was it I was supposed to do today?"Naruto asked out loud, more to himself than to Kyuubi. "Oh! I need to go to the academy... I have to get my headband and a team... I need to get my headband..." he said again. Tears welled up in Naruto's eyes as he thought about his former sensei. "Thank you, Iruka-sensei." he said as he unconsciously clenched a fist.
"...Don't forget to meet with the Hokage before that." Rayn said from a hidden location, breaking Naruto's moment.
--
"Good morning, Naruto-kun." Sarutobi said cheerfully.
"Hey. I'm here about that thing from yesterday." Naruto said while he scratched the back of his head.
"Oh yes, your compensation for stopping Mizuki. How does some new ninja equipment sound?" Sarutobi asked as he held up a bag full of basic ninja gear. "There are shuriken, kunai, some scrolls, a few explosive tags... Please be careful with the explosive tags, Naruto-kun."
"Sure! Thanks for all this stuff." Naruto said cheerfully, a huge smile adorning his face.
"No problem Naruto, it's the least I can do."
"Do I get a headband too?"
"The last class starts in seven minutes." Naruto heard before a few leafs swirled around the room.
"I gotta go, but I'll see ya around." Naruto said as he rushed to the door.
"Naruto, wait." Sarutobi said as the the door opened. "How about I treat you to ramen next time?"
"...That'd be great." Naruto said with a smile.
--
Naruto walked into his old classroom, barely making it on time as the rest of the students talked about finally being genin. "Hey, Naruto. What are you doing here?" Kiba asked as Naruto sat in his usual seat.
"Naruto?" Sasuke asked while glancing at him. "Didn't you fail?"
"No. I'm here for the same reason you're all here, I passed."
"Well then let's see a headband." Kiba said with a smirk as he flicked his own.
"I haven't gotten it yet."
"Yeah, 'cause you haven't passed yet."
"How about I show you how I passed." Naruto said as he got up from his seat.
"I don't know about that Naruto." Kiba said arrogantly. "What can a civilian do?"
"I'll show you want a civilian can do. " Naruto said before he was interrupted by a familiar voice.
"Good morning class; you may call me Rayn-sensei. I'll be your substitute for today." Rayn said. His face was emotionless but he was taking pleasure from Naruto's shocked expression.
"What the hell is this!?" Naruto yelled as he pointed at Rayn. "Why are you here?"
"Huh? You know that guy?" Kiba asked.
"Yeah! He's been stalking me since yesterday!"
"...Our new sensei's a pedophile?" Kiba asked.
"No. I am not a pedophile, nor a stalker." Rayn said calmly. "Naruto, could you come over here for a moment."
"...Why?"
"I need to issue you your headband." Rayn said. Naruto cautiously made his way to Rayn and took the headband before rushing off back to his desk. "Let's continue with team assignments now." Rayn said as he listed the teams and their members.
After Rayn finished naming the teams, Naruto could barely contain his anger. "What the hell!? You didn't even call my name! And who's Aryn and why is he in Sakura-chan's team!?"
"Well... Because we were one kid off from a full team, Aryn was placed in the slot." Rayn said as he motioned to the door. A new genin walked into the classroom and stood beside Rayn.
"Hello." he greeted.
"I'm here now! I deserve that slot!"
"Says the boy who just now got his forehead protector." Rayn dead-panned. "But don't worry, I'll be acting as your sensei for the time being."
"The hell you are! If there's only one spot left, I'm going to get it!" Naruto shouted. "I challenge you to a fight!" he yelled while pointing to Aryn. "Winner gets to be with Sakura-chan; loser goes to the pedophile!"
"You're on!" Aryn said, suddenly getting into the spirit.
"...I am not a pedophile."
--
"Begin!" Rayn yelled, starting the match that would decide it all.
"Rayn-sensei, are you sure this is ok?" Shikamaru asked. "Aren't there procedures for things like this?"
"...Yeah..." Rayn answered. "But someone's ass is getting kicked for calling me a pedophile." he said under his breath.
"This fight will be over in two hits." Naruto bragged. "I hit you, you hit the ground."
"You won't even land a hit."
"Prepare to meet my fist!" Naruto yelled before he ran toward Aryn, jumped in the air, and kicked at his head. Catching it, Aryn spun around and hurled Naruto. He landed safely but was still disoriented when Aryn landed a kick to his mid-section, forcing him to bend forward. Naruto received an elbow to the back of the head and collided with the ground.
"Ow... My head." Naruto complained, his face still in the dirt. As he pushed himself back up, Aryn ran towards him. Blocking a punch to the face, Naruto was met with a kick to the gut that him launched backwards and into a tree. 'How can he be this good? He only looks like he's a year older than me.' Naruto thought, frustrated by their differences in skill.
Naruto jumped down and dashed toward Aryn again, determined not to lose the fight. He swung a fist and missed before Aryn kicked him in the side. Continuing his assault, Aryn threw a barrage of punches and kicks before Naruto could recover. Landing one last punch, Aryn kicked Naruto in the face before he went down.
"That was easier than I thought." Aryn mocked as he dusted of his pants.
"...D-Don't run away y-yet..." Naruto said as he slowly got back up.
"...Are you serious?" Aryn asked as he stepped closer to a barely standing Naruto.
"I'll never give up... Even if it kills me!"
"...You're an idiot." Aryn said as he got back into stance.
"Heh... I'm Uzimaki Naruto."(2)
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(1) The two bodies were already taken care of.
(2)The original fight had a bunch of DBZ crap in it here... I laughed really hard when I reread it.
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That's all for this chapter, sorry for the drop in length. I really like the cliffhanger though... sorry. Please review and tell me what was good, bad, and whatever. Later.