Soz, super late update… 34 days to be precise. I didn't mean to take that long really! I only meant to take like one week, but school fucked me. So whatever, hope this makes up for it lmao.
I maybe super late but I'm also supa-fly.
Chapter 2
(Four years later – Hokage tower)
"Jii-chan!"
Hiruzen stopped the conversation he was having with one of his council members to turn around and watch a small mop of blonde hair run through the corridor. The Hokage bent at the knee and opened his arms wide for the child to come barrelling into his midriff. Hiruzen laughed lightly, wrapping his arms around the child. "Naruto my boy," pulling out of the hug Hiruzen held Naruto at arm's length. "Where's your brother's?"
The small boy looked up to the elderly man and smiled, happiness exuding off his small form, "Konohamaru is with Asuma-Niisan, waiting for you," the small boy replied, stepping away from the Hokage's hold on his shoulders Naruto finished. "Asuma-Niisan said it was important."
"Important huh? Go and tell Asuma I'll be there soon ok?" Hiruzen said, smiling down at the young boy. "Alright Jii-chan!" Naruto said before turning around and running off in the direction he had come from, Hiruzen stood from his kneeling position and turned around to his council member, continuing on with his conversation.
OoO
(Some time later – Outside the Hokage office)
"No."
"Why're you so stubborn. I just need your consent!"
"I will not allow my son to be connected to such activities."
Naruto sat outside listening in on the argument that was occurring between his uncle and grandfather. He wasn't old enough to understand what was being argued over, he was only four, and his birthday was just last month. He was meant to start his ninja training next year, which was only months away, but his dad had already started him on training, little exercises here and there, but he was supposed to start his 'real training' next year in the academy.
His father had tried to start him early on, teaching him the basics of what goes into chakra and the end result of using it was, at first he had tried to teach him the written part, but that never caught on as Naruto was a hands on type of learner and as such, his father stepped it up, teaching him how to mould and control chakra, but even that failed as his father has said his reserves were too 'large' for him to control at this stage. Ever since then, Naruto and his father trained in only conditioning his body, the training was never too strenuous as he had an extremely high amount of energy and we was usually only left winded.
Ever since his mother had died, his father had never really acted the same. Last year he had lost his mother after Konohamaru was brought into the world and at the start of the new year his father had started trying to train him, trying to make him stronger and he felt obliged to follow what his father said during training and not just because he was his father. The death of his mother had triggered something in him, he didn't know what, but he knew it was powerful, and in turn, he felt the need to get stronger.
He heard the soft cry from beside him, turning his head to face the noise and saw his little brother asleep in his cot, eyebrows scrunched up as if he was forcing himself to sleep. At that moment Naruto remembered a very interesting memory of his father and grandfather and the strange things they had said at the time, the most memorable thing that was said though was 'protect those close to you' the reason it was strange was they had made him swear it as if it was an oath to never be broken and he had promised, gave his word that he would protect Konohamaru, Asuma, his grandfather, his father and the village as a whole.
And he never went back on his word.
The door to the Hokage office swung open and a scowl ridden Asuma exited the office storming toward Konohamaru, picking him and his cot up and began walking in a huff. "Come on Naruto lets go, we're going to get something to eat!"
OoO
(The next day, late at night – Training ground 7)
"Anything?"
"No, Hokage-sama. Asuma displaced his scent, threw my hounds of his trail. I'm sorry."
The Hokage thrummed his throat in thought before speaking. "No, I'm sorry; it was a wasted effort…"
"The entire operation wasn't all for nothing though Hokage-sama as we do have his planned destination, based on the way he was moving. On your word, we can track him down." The shadow spoke, showing no sign of movement as these operatives we're trained to do. Hiruzen narrowed his eyes slightly and spoke in a low tone of voice. "Where…"
"Toward the capitol."
The elder man sighed, having expected this to be the outcome; he turned to face the shadow within the shadow and smirked slightly. "You can come out now… Kakashi." The shadow walked out into the moonlight and removed his mask. His care free expression was contrasted by his strikingly spiky hair. "You can call the rest of your team back in. Tell them they can have the rest of this week off. Same goes for you Kakashi, you should socialise with your old classmates more." The Hokage said, smiling.
"Thank you Hokage-sama." Kakashi spoke before disappearing in a blur, leaving Hiruzen to himself, to think of the change of event that had happened, but at the forefront of his mind, Hiruzen could only think of how he was going to break the news to Naruto.
OoO
(One year later – Ninja academy)
"So, Naruto, you ready for this?"
"I think so…"
"You'll do just fine, I promise." Takeshi assured his adoptive son, standing from his crouched position he spun Naruto around to have a look around at all the parents and children getting ready for the entrance ceremony. His searching eyes stopped their wondering as they spotted a rather spiky head of black hair. Pulling away from his father Naruto ran across small field to go meet the other child, who happened to be resting against a tree. "Oi! Shika!" The half-asleep child was suddenly shaken awake by a shill and loud voice.
"Oh… Naruto, what do you want?" The boy said, disgruntled by his awakening. "I was almost asleep…"
"Oh come on don't be like that Shika," Naruto said, sitting down next to his friend. "Where's everyone?"
"Chouji is with his dad." The boy said turning his body away from the blonde boy.
"And…?" Naruto asked, poking Shikamaru in the side. "And what?" The blonde sighed, "Everyone else!"
"Sakura is with her parents and Ino is Kami knows where, probably with Sakura… You figure it out." The boy said yawning. "Man, how could you sleep on a day like this? We're basically becoming Ninja! I can barely contain myself!" The blonde said, standing to his feet, punching and kicking the air.
"We're not Ninja for a while; all this is just work that I could use doing something productive." The spiky haired boy said, changing his position to a sitting one. "Like what?"
"Sleeping…"
OoO
(Some time later – Inside the academy)
"Today, you take on the challenge of becoming Ninja… Some of you may fail, few of you will succeed. But I can see that the will of fire that will light the future burns bright within you… All of you. Good luck." The third Hokage spoke before exiting the room and throwing one last glance around the room that was packed with students.
"Was that your grandfather?" The voice of another student spoke in a whisper into Naruto's ear.
"Yeah, why?" The blonde boy answered. "Damn, that must be so cool, to see the Hokage every day."
"I guess." Naruto answered, unsure as to what was cool about seeing the old man work behind a desk all day, but if it made him more popular than whatever, seeing the old man was the highlight if his days.
"Alright, listen up kids, when you hear your name, I want you to stand from your seats and stay standing until I say." A tall man with black hair said, lifting up a clip board to his face, reading off the names listed. Naruto tuned out the list of names the man began calling out and began to look around the room till he caught the eyes of his father who was staring right at him, eyebrows lifted. Naruto looked to the ground where he started to fiddle with his fingers for the next 20 minutes, before finally, "Sarutobi Naruto!" Jumping from his seat, Naruto yelled, "here!"
"Alright, would all of you please follow Iruka-sensei here to your class rooms and you guys can get acquainted" As Naruto made his way to the brown haired teacher, he noticed the other people also making their way over to the smiling teacher.
"Shika, Ino, Chouji, Sakura?" Naruto questioned, looking to the group before looking at the other students as well. "Sasuke, Kiba, Shino & Hinata as well…"
"Seems we're all in the same class huh…" Shikamaru stated, "And looks like we have some new friends as well."
"Oh I can see this will be a great time…" Naruto spoke with layers of sarcasm coating his words, looking toward the smiling Uchiha, "I'm stuck with this duckbutt…"
OoO
(One year later – Atop the Hokage Monument)
Naruto stared at the large stone, eyes wandering the list of names engraved onto it. Looking around, Naruto only saw close friends of his father and some other royal, stuck up clan heads looking toward the grave stone as if they had better things to do whilst his grandfather and some family members stood beside him. In his short year at the academy Naruto learnt that these things happened frequently and on a day-to-day basis, but rarely do people ever get a funeral to grieve the dead, his mother didn't get one, but for some reason… His father did.
It might have been for his bravery before his death or because he was a significant face among the people or it could have been that it was because he was the damn Hokage's son. But it didn't make a difference to Naruto because his father was still dead.
The man that had tried so hard to take care of him, to raise him and Konohamaru. The man that had defended and protected him at every turn, the person Naruto himself was trying to mould himself to be like, his aspiration and inspiration… Was dead.
The whole day he was holding himself back, trying to keep up a strong façade in front of Konohamaru and his grandfather. Two days ago when he had heard the news, he made a promise to himself that he would not cry, under no circumstances would he cry. But it seemed he would not be able to keep that promise.
He felt a hand being placed on his shoulder and he looked to see his grandfather looking down at him, smiling before Naruto grabbed onto his pant-leg and began to cry.
OoO
(Two years later – In the yard of the academy)
"Why is it that I always get paired up with you?"
"What's wrong with me?"
"You're you. That's what's wrong."
"I don't follow…"
"Forget it… Can you just, ya' know, get up a fight me?"
"I don't see the point."
"Oh for the love of…"
"I'm calling the fight if you don't stand up Shikamaru."
"Goo-"
"If you don't get up Shika I'm telling your mum!" Ino yelled from the small gathering of children.
That was a rather convincing point; he'd rather take a punch to the face than take a verbal beating from his mother any day. Slowly standing from his position on the ground, Shikamaru looked toward a scowling Naruto before performing a 'come hither' and saw his scowl turn into a grin. "Can you hurry up and start the match?"
Iruka sighed before nonchalantly swiping his hand through the air and speaking, "Hajime…"
Neither boy moved a muscle, Naruto's grin slowly fading into a frown, "I'm not fighting unless he fights…"
"Just punch him!" A voice yelled from the small gathering of his class surrounding the both of them. "I can't! He won't mov-"his sentence being cut off as he felt a poke in his side.
"I win…" Shikamaru said, walking back into the small crowd of children.
"What…" Naruto spoke, dumbfounded.
"Shikamaru is the winner; Kiba and Sasuke please come forward…"
"Oh that's so much bull!" Naruto yelled, storming off to the side following Shikamaru.
"That wasn't nice Shika…" Choji said, as both Naruto and Shikamaru arrived next to the chubby boy. "Who said it had to be nice?"
"I would have kicked your ass and you know it Shika!"
"Is that why you lost?" Shikamaru remarked, a small grin playing at the corners of his mouth, very rarely did he get to one up Naruto and he was going to take whatever he could. Shikamaru: 1 Naruto: 0
"I'm hungry; you guys want to get something to eat?" Choji said looking between Shikamaru and Naruto. Both grinning and brooding respectively.
"Yeah whatever, as long as pineapple head is the one paying…"Naruto: 1 Shikamaru: 1
OoO
(A few hours later – Hokage office)
"His grades and attentiveness is beginning to decline Hokage-sama… I'm afraid if he keeps to the way he's going, he will be in danger of not passing through the academy…"
"I'm aware…"
Iruka narrowed his eyes ever so slightly, lifting his head toward his heralded leader; he spoke again, "Something has to change! That boy… He's got something special… And I don't mean the Kyuubi; I mean something, genuinely unique." The Hokage stood from his chair, turning to face the large windows that allowed viewing of the village. "I'm also aware of that… And I do agree, something must change, but it all comes down to him, and his own desire to improve. I can't force this on the boy. He needs to learn to let go."
"Let go… of what?" Iruka asked, confused as to what the Hokage meant, unsure if it was another strange insinuation telling him to leave it alone, or if it was honestly something Naruto needed to learn…
"The past… The boy may appear to be happy, but it goes much deeper than that…"
"Is this about Asuma-san leaving? Is that what's the problem here? If so then-"
"It's about much more than that… There are something's that you are unaware about Iruka, Things about this family of ours." And Iruka knew he wasn't going to learn what those things were. Sighing he stood from the small chair, and bowed his head low. "Thank you for your time, Hokage-sama." He spoke, turning to walk toward the door. "Iruka."
The teacher stopped, hand on the handle of the door. "Do not worry for Naruto."
"It's the only thing I can do for him."
OoO
(Two years later – The gates of Konoha)
The place had changed drastically, at least it had to him… and he never felt happier to be home. Six years of travelling and promiscuity can have that effect on you… He was so unsure about himself at the moment, not sure where he was supposed to go… He didn't feel like he belonged here.
He could go and surprise his nephew's or see his father. He didn't really want to confront his family after being away for six-and-a-half years, he knows of the happenings that had come to pass in the village thanks to his father, who, still unknown to him, knew exactly where he had gone after their falling out. He knows of his brothers passing as well as the struggles his nephew was going through… And the recent mass murder of the Uchiha.
He passed the two shinobi standing guard along the sides of the gate, nodding to them as he passed, giving the two a once-over, he noticed the mint condition of the flak jacket they wore, and could only assume that was the new customary Chunin look. They seemed to have no idea who he was, but noticed the sash tied around his waist and seemed to recognise him as a guardian who had nearly all passage to any part of the Land of fire, Konoha included.
Stopping at the entry of the village, he could feel he was already being watched… Did he really look that unfamiliar that even the ANBU didn't know it was him? Well, six years was quite a lengthy amount of time, and just about anyone could have been promoted to the rank, so it was safe to assume that they were new. Taking his first steps in six years back into his home, and instantly, there was a mask blankly staring at him.
This person was scarily-familiar to him, the lazy posture, the hand resting on his side, and the hair all seemed eerily familiar to him…
The masked man waved his hand through the air, the chakra that he had sensed before was disappearing and reappearing a distance away. "Asuma Sarutobi." That voice! He knew this man, the name was right there in front of him, he just couldn't place it. "If you would follow me, your presence has been requested."
"Well, the old man's senses are still sharp as always huh? Let's go." It seems any surprise visits were off the table then. Following the ANBU in front of him, speeding up his walk Asuma caught up with masked man. "Hey, I just want to know… Do I know you?"
"Please do not speak." The masked man spoke in finality.
"Well, could you tell me where we're going? I may have been gone for a long time but this isn't the way to the old man's office." Asuma questioned with a raised eyebrow, he waited for an answer only to have silence as his reply. He was talking to himself it seemed, why were ANBU so up-tight? "Anti-social bores, the lot of them!"
OoO
(A few minutes later – Hokage Residence)
"Oh fuck…" Asuma spoke, staring up at the large building unsure as to how he should feel…
He was going to see his old man after six years, of course he was nervous. But there was no two ways around it, him being in the village meant that he would have to see the man before too late, and it seemed he would see him sooner than he liked.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the ANBU that he was stuck with for last half-hour walk past him and toward the steps, "Follow."
"Yeah, on second thought, I don't think I'm ready for this just yet… Sorry." Turning to walk the other way, Asuma was spooked by the emotionless mask that was less than an inch away from his face, "Up the steps." Turning back around, Asuma walked toward the steps without so much of a protest as those masks we're just plain freaky and he wasn't willing to fight a mask. "Yeah, yeah… So pushy."
Reaching the door, he turned toward the ANBU noticing he was going to speak again, "Let me guess, 'open the door'" going for the handle, Asuma was surprised that the door was already open, on the other side another ANBU. "Great, more friends…"
Entering the great building, the darkness that had enveloped the room was suddenly flushed out by the light and was filled with people that AsumaActually recognised. "Kurenai, Guy… What are you guys doing here?"
"We're here to see you! Asuma-san, it's good to have you back!" Guy spoke loudly, smiling. Hearing the door close behind him, "Yeah, same here."
"Kakashi! I knew I recognised you, when the hell did you become ANBU?"
"Little over thirteen years ago."
Asuma stared blankly at the spiky haired man, "No seriously…"
"I'm not lying." The masked man seemed to smile with his eye; somehow it seemed amusing to Kakashi that Asuma didn't believe him. Who would believe that someone entered the ANBU at the young age of thirteen? Obviously not Asuma.
"Whatever, so where's the old man?"
"I'm here, and I'll have you that I'm not that old." The aged man spoke from another part of the residence, walking down a flight of stairs. "You can't justify that with the speed that you're walking down those stairs…"
"I'm tired…"
"Heh, you, uh look good?" Asuma spoke awkwardly to the man he had been dreading to meet over the small amount of time he had been back in Konoha. "So do you… Now I will see you in my office within the next hour, catch up with your friends, and then come see me. I need to ask something of you."
"Sure…"
OoO
(An hour later – Hokage office)
"Dad?"
"Enter."
Pushing the door open, Asuma looked around warily, "You didn't do much to the place since I left…" Taking a seat in the spare chair in the room, he looked to his father to see a face set in stone. His father wasn't messing about right now and having dealt with this type of behaviour when he was younger, instantly turned serious himself.
"I haven't called you here to talk formalities Asuma. Yes it is a pleasure to have you returned but there is something more pressing that I must ask of you. It has to do with Naruto…" The aged but powerful leader spoke, reaching down into one of the drawers, "Naruto… Why, what's happened to him?"
Placing a folder on to the table, Hiruzen spun it and pushed it toward Asuma. "I want you to read this." Asuma's eyes narrowed slightly, opening the folder to the first page he began to read the contents, "What is this?"
"Those are Naruto's statistics from five years ago to now." The Hokage said, hands coming to lock in front of him, "There just getting worse and worse…"
"Iruka pointed this out to me, and it's not getting any better… Here, these are his most recent stats." Hiruzen placed the single sheet of paper on the table for Asuma to see, "His physical attributes are higher than any I've ever seen before, but the rest is just terrible… He won't make it through the program like this…" He said placing the sheet back on the table, unsure as to why this concerned him, but still feared for his nephew's progression through the academy. "I know that…"
"Then why haven't you done anything?" Asuma questioned, a little harsher than he would have liked, although his tone of voice was instantly forgotten as his father chuckled, "That's where you're supposed to come in… You'll be training Naruto for the next year and a half, right up till he graduates."
"You want me to train Naruto? I've been gone for six years and you want me to train him. I haven't even seen him yet."
"Well you get to see him sooner than you would have liked then. Good, treat it as your punishment for disobeying me."
OoO
(A few hours later – outside the academy)
"Hey, Naruto want to come over to my house?" Shikamaru said jogging up to the blonde. "Choji's coming."
"I don't know, last time I went your mum lectured me as to why you're lazy…" The boy replied scratching the top of his head, "And your dad said I was too loud? What's with that?"
"Yeah, I remember that… But don't worry my dad's out on a mission."
"Uh, maybe, if I come, I come I guess…"
The lazy boy placed his hands behind his head, narrowing his eyes slightly, "Alright sure, but uh… Who's that with your brother?"
"What, where?" The blonde said looking around to all the families walking around with their children till he spotted his little brother next to a man that looked familiar to him. "I don't know who that is… I'll see you later Shika." Naruto said, walking toward the familiar person.
Asuma looked at the boy walking toward him with widened eyes, he had grown so much in six years, it was expected obviously but it was still a so shocking to see the change from a little innocent boy that he was, into a boy that was soon to enter his teenage years. The look on Naruto's face was one of confusion, what he was confused about Asuma didn't know. "Hey kid…"
Naruto stared at Asuma with his eyebrows raised in question, "Who are you?" Blinking, Asuma was shocked to hear that his own nephew, his family didn't recognise him… "Why're you with my brother?"
Asuma attempted to speak but was stopped by the small voice of Konohamaru "Nii-san its Asuma-nii. He's back!" The eyes of Naruto widened, looking up to the older man, his eyes began to water as he held his arms out for what seemed like a hug. Smiling at this show of affection from Naruto, Asuma leant down to pull the boy into a hug but was stopped as he began coughing and hacking, grabbing onto his throat he looked to Naruto with wide eyes. The boy's fist was closed, his body shaking. "Why're you here?"
Rubbing his throat, Asuma gulped. "For you."
"Fuck off."
OoO
(A few minutes later – Hokage office)
Looking between the two, the Hokage could safely say that Naruto was a lot quicker than Asuma, judging by the dirt and sweat covering Asuma and the cleanliness that was Naruto. "So…" The Hokage started.
"Good to see you two have finally reunited, but that's not what we're here for now is it?" The elder man said, trying to force the smile off of his face. "What's this about me training with this guy Jii-chan! I now it's a lie, you know I don't need training." Naruto said arms crossed.
"Unfortunately Naruto, you do, you've been failing your classes Naruto. Come graduation you will fail
… Luckily Asuma is here to make sure that doesn't happen."
"This is a load of bull 'ttebayo!"
"Anything you'd like to say Asuma?" Hiruzen asked his son, who had his head down, looking toward the floor. "Nothing? Alright, I guess that's it. Naruto, I want you to go home and rest. Your training starts tomorrow." Naruto stood before exiting the room quickly. "He hates me, dad…"
"He doesn't hate you…" Hiruzen said standing from his seat behind the large desk, walking around to place a hand onto Asuma's shoulder. "He's just angry… Give him time."
OoO
(Three weeks later – Sarutobi compound, Indoor training room)
"You just need to concentrate…"
"I am concentrating…"
"Can you feel it?"
"Kind of…"
"Explain it to me."
"It's like a never ending rainfall…" Naruto said, legs crossed, eyebrows knitted together and a small trail of sweat down the side of his face, "It feels like I'm on fire, but I'm not being burnt…"
"Stay with that feeling Naruto, hold it for as long as you can…" Asuma spoke in the same position as Naruto, watching him. 'Come on Naruto…'
"Shit!" Having a lapse in concentration, Naruto yelled, "I couldn't hold it… This is the fifth time we've tried this and I'm not getting any better!" He said, standing before walking over to the large punching bag and kicking it. "You can't keep training on your fighting Naruto; you have chakra for a reason…"
"Watch me," he said, punching the bag as hard as he could. "What happens when you come up against one of your friends, Shikamaru or Ino?"
"I'll stomp a mudhole into Shika," proceeding to kick and punch the hanging bag. "And I don't hit girls…"
"You won't be stomping anybody if he can catch you with that shadow technique of his first. Look Naruto, you have chakra and a lot of it, trust me, you'll want to learn to control it with the Jutsu I want to teach you." The bearded ninja said, "I know it's hard but that's what being a ninja means."
"Yeah, and you're supposed to know everything huh…" Naruto said quietly to himself. "Did you say something Naruto?"
"No… How 'bout we just stop there…" Naruto said walking toward the sliding door to exit the training room, leaving the room to Asuma, smacking his lips is thought.
"That kid is annoying…"
Man, this was a bitch to write, only cause of the time restrictions I had before I actually could finish it. I actually cut it short sooner than I wanted, and a lot of parts I wanted to expand on more, but adding anymore just seemed wrong and if you couldn't already tell, I am rushing it a bit with the time skips. I'm trying to keep in relevant events in here… please. ("Trying" I'm just lazy)
Oh man seriously, listening to the Naruto openings, endings, themes whatever, it just gets you writing; well it does for me. No Boy No Cry just hypes me up man, oh, the memories…
Well, whatever, have a good read.
Grimmaced – Signing out.