Chapter 2: The Honoured Grandson
Teuchi stirred the pot of broth, eyes constantly darting between the clock on the wall and the window, where he could see the street as the first people started milling about. He was worried. Deeply so. Already, three ninjas, one of them a rather intimidating member of the masked ANBU, had come by. They had asked about Naruto and his whereabouts, without telling why that was suddenly important. Anxiety gripped his heart.
"Dad, I think the broth has been stirred enough," Ayame said, as she entered the kitchen.
"What? Oh, right. Yes, I should get ready to skim," the ramen chef noted.
His daughter tilted her head. "You sure you don't need a break?"
"No. The first breakfast orders have already come in," Teuchi noted, as he began skimming the broth. "I was just... You heard anything?"
"No. I asked a few guests. Though I couldn't help but notice that none of them were ninja, as far as I know," Ayame commented. She frowned. "Do you think he did something?"
"I know he's rambunctious and quite the troublemaker. But something that could stir up the village like this..." Teuchi frowned. "Can't imagine what it would be."
"I'm home!" came Naruto's voice from the living room. Only Ayame's quick reflexes prevented the broth from falling to the floor, as Teuchi suddenly spun around. She adjusted it on the stove, before hurrying after her father.
The two of them rushed into the living room and paused. Naruto was there, accompanied by Iruka and, judging from his supply bag, a medic. The blond teen was dirty, with twigs and leaves in his hair, though that didn't grab the two's attention nearly as much as the limping Iruka's wounded leg and bloodied combat vest.
"There, we're here," the medical aide said, a slight hint of annoyance in his voice. "Now will you let me tend to your wound?"
"Yeah, sorry," Iruka replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "Hey, Teuchi. Ayame. Sorry 'bout barging in. Is it okay if I sit here and get my wounds fixed? I would have gone to the hospital, but I wanted to make sure Naruto got home first."
"Of course," Ayame quickly said and pulled out a chair, which Iruka sat down on in reverse, revealing the gaping gash on his back. She couldn't help but gasp at the sight.
"Six Paths, Iruka, what happened to you?"
"Ah, it looks worse than it is," the young teacher tried to insist.
"I'll be the judge of that," the medic said, kneeling down to inspect the wound. He rubbed his chin contemplatively. "Hmm, this will definitely need stitching. I'll rub in some sterilizing agents and something to numb the pain. But it will probably still be a bit uncomfortable."
"I'll live," Iruka noted, before hissing as the medic began his work.
"What happened to the two of you?" Teuchi asked. "What about you, Naruto? Are you hurt?"
"No. I was lucky enough that Iruka took the attack meant for me," he replied. "Twice."
"Did we get invaded?" Ayame asked, watching as the medic began rubbing paste into the wound. "Was it hostile ninja?"
"I mean... I guess he was pretty hostile," the blond teenager noted.
"Naruto failed athe test," Iruka explained. "Mizuki told him that if he could steal the Scroll of Sealing and learn a technique from it, he would automatically become a ninja."
Ayame blinked, before turning to Naruto. "And you believed him?"
"Hey, he was my teacher. I'm told nearly every day to do what they say," the blond replied defensively.
"Right lesson, wrong time," Teuchi commented.
"So Naruto actually managed to steal the scroll," Iruka said, pausing as he felt the faint sting of the medic's expert stitching. "I found him first. Then Mizuki showed up, tried to kill him." Iruka paused, looking downcast.
"I'm sorry to hear that," Teuchi offered. "I know the two of you were friends for the longest time. Was it because...?"
"I think so. Though we won't know until the interrogation team is done with him," the young teacher noted. "I guess it just hit me that you can know someone for decades and they might still surprise you. In the worst way possible." He paused, briefly lost in thoughts. "Anyway, I managed to stop him from hurting Naruto. Then he tried to kill me. That's when Naruto demonstrated that he had learned the Multi-Shadowclone jutsu from the scroll. Beat Mizuki so badly I doubt he could tell what was up and down. Had to get him incarcerated and deliver the scroll back before we could drop in." He paused. "I decided to make Naruto a ninja. He demonstrated real progress out there."
The medic focused for a moment and slowly let two of his fingers slide across the stitched wound, a faint glow shining as the skin mended. "There we go," he said and got up. "I would still advice you stop by the hospital for a full check-up later. Also, no strenuous physical activity for the next week, or your risk the wound reopening. It needs time to heal."
"That's okay," Iruka said. "I'll go to the hospital when I'm done here."
"Very well. Then I must be on my way. Good day to you all," the medic noted and left the room.
"So you're a ninja now," Ayame noted happily. "I should have guessed you'd find the most roundabout way to become a ninja." She noticed that Naruto tried to smile, but it looked kinda off. "Something wrong?"
"There is one more thing," Iruka noted, as he turned around to sit on the chair properly. "Wanted to wait until the medic was gone. Figured that would be easier. When Mizuki tried to kill Naruto he also told him... Well, everything. About the fox."
"Oh," Ayame muttered and looked to her adopted brother.
"You both knew?" he quietly asked.
"Had to," Teuchi quietly said. "We were to keep an eye on you, in case something went wrong. I thank the Sage every day that nothing ever happened."
"He told me... That the fox killed so many people. Iruka's parents. Your... Your wife." Tears manifested in the edges of Naruto's eyes, as he looked up. "Do you... Do you hate me?"
Teuchi stood still as a stone for a moment. Then he swiftly crossed the floor, kneeled down and enveloped the blond teenager in a hug. "Never," he quietly said. "I've never, for even a single moment of a single day, blamed you for our loss. You are Naruto. My son. And that's all that matters to me."
Naruto opened his mouth, as if to reply, before he returned the hug, clinging to the man while sobbing loudly.
Ayame walked over, kneeled down and embraced them both. The trio stayed like that for a moment.
"Ehm... I'm sorry, I should probably go," Iruka noted and got up. "It's been a long night and I need to drop by the hospital before I go write my report."
Teuchi let go of Naruto and walked over to the young teacher, before grasping his hand with both of his. "Thank you," he said warmly.
"Oh. Really, I was just doing the right thing," Iruka insisted.
"No. Thank you for always being there. For supporting him when so many others won't," Teuchi insisted. "You will always be welcome in my house, Iruka. Never forget that."
"And now I'm blushing," Iruka noted, a red tint indeed manifesting on his face. "I really don't know what to say."
"Nothing needs to be said," Ayame noted, an arm still around Naruto's shoulder, while the blond youth was busy rubbing tears out of his eyes. "But if you could be less shy and reserved about visiting us, that would be nice."
"I'll try," Iruka chuckled, before wincing. "Aw. Definitely need to drop by the hospital. Anyway, Naruto needs to get a photo for his ID. Could you remind him to get that done tomorrow? I'll probably be busy resting."
"It's okay. We'll remind him," Teuchi replied. "And thanks again."
Ayame sniffed the air. "Dad, I think the broth is about too become too well done."
"Oh no!" the ramen cook exclaimed, as he leapt back out into the kitchen.
"Yeah, I'll leave you all to do your work. See you around," the young teacher noted as he opened the door.
"I-Iruka," Naruto sniffled.
"Hm?"
A smile manifested on the blond's face. "Thanks for saving me."
The young teacher smiled back. "Likewise. You take it easy now, Naruto. You've had a long day." Then he closed the door.
...
Early the next day, Ayame yawned as she stepped into the living room, a bowl of soup in her hand. She noted that Naruto was already there, chewing down on a piece of bread. "So, you remember that you have to go get photographed today, right?" she asked as she sat down with her breakfast.
"Hm? Ohfrorse," the blond teenager replied, mouth full of half-chewed breakfast. He swallowed and asked. "By the way, Sis, can I borrow some of your make-up?"
"My what?" Ayame asked. "Make-up? What, want to make sure your eyelashes look good on the picture?"
"Nah, I had something different in mind," Naruto replied, arms folded and a grin on his face. "I'm gonna make sure I have the best ninja ID ever. Believe it. I know just what I want but... Well, I don't really have a lot of make-up. Actually, I don't have any. So, can I?"
"Sure," Ayame replied with a shrug. "I barely use it anyway. And whatever you come up with is bound to be interesting"
"Thanks Sis," he replied, before he began scoffing down his breakfast. He chugged his glass of milk and charged upstairs with an excited giggle.
"Was that Naruto?" Teuchi asked, sticking his head into the living room.
"Yep," his daughter replied.
"How's he holding up?"
"Full of energy and antics," she responded. "You know how he is. Nothing can keep him down for long."
"I know. Still, after yesterday, I worried." Teuchi frowned. "That he even felt like he had to ask... It's all those people. Treating him like that."
"Yeah. Well, he seems better now. He's getting ready to go get photographed," Ayame noted.
"Well, it's nice to see him take it seriously," the ramen cook noted proudly. "That'll make a good first impression."
"I'm sure it will make an impression," Ayame noted mirthfully. "He's borrowing my make-up."
"Your... Make-up?" Teuchi repeated, confused. "I mean... Okay then. For what?"
"No clue. But he had some idea of how he wanted it to look and he needed my make-up for that."
"Huh. Okay then," the ramen cook replied in a slightly confused tone, before returning to the kitchen.
As Ayame finished the last bit of soup, she heard rapid footsteps down the stairs, followed by Naruto excitedly proclaiming: "Alright, I'm done."
The brunette looked up and immediately had to grasp her mouth to stifle her own laughter.
"What?" Naruto asked. He had painted every visible part of his skin white and used lipstick to mark a swirling spiral trail of red lines across his face and hands, obviously emulating the design of certain deific figures.
"No, it's fine," Ayame replied, still suppressing her laughter. "You just surprised me. I bet there's not gonna be a single ID like yours with that getup."
"You really think so? Awesome," Naruto proclaimed happily. "Then I better get going."
"Oh, you're ready... To go," Teuchi slowly finished, as he peeked back into the room. "Ehm..."
"See ya both later. Bye," Naruto called, as he ran out the door.
Teuchi continued to stare for a moment. "Was that... Was that Naruto?"
"Yep," Ayame replied. "Something tells me I don't have a lot of make-up left."
"Is he... Going to get photographed like that?" the ramen cook continued flabbergasted.
"That seems to be the plan. Said he wanted the best ninja ID ever."
Teuchi nodded slowly. "They're going to ask him to have it retaken, aren't they?"
"Of course they will. But hey, it will make for a nice picture," Ayame replied with a grin. "We should show our support and get a framed version. Hang it up somewhere. Perhaps out in the front?"
"Well, we might as well advertise to our customers that we've completely lost it," Teuchi commented, as he returned to the kitchen.
...
Naruto sat on the stool, trying to keep his excitement in check. His grin was as wide as it could be and his legs constantly tapped against the metal legs beneath him. Here he was, sitting in the Hokage's office. It was a spacious round room, with many broad windows that allowed a fantastic view of the village. Bookcases full of pages took up the walls and in one end was a massive desk, the man himself sitting in a chair behind it, scrutinizing the ID that Naruto had handed him. It wasn't that Naruto hadn't met the current Hokage before. Their leader made a point of walking the streets and interacting with the villagers when he had the time. He had occasionally even visited Ichiraku, where Naruto had attempted to ask him as many questions he could before his father decided to give the Hokage some space and ordered the blond to help out in the kitchen.
But Naruto felt this was different. This moment changed everything. The Hokage always personally met with everyone who became a ninja, as a way of showing respect for their accomplishments and to keep in touch with their forces. To be here meant that he was taking another step. That the village leader himself was acknowledging him.
The Hokage was a man of low stature. His skin had darkened from exposure to the elements and wrinkled from his advance age. His hair had long since turned white, including his goatee and the notably thick hair on the back of his hands. He wore the traditional uniform of the Hokage, a red kimono with a white haori over it and a flat, conical red hat with the kanji for fire on it, the white cloth hanging from it obscuring most of his head. Small puffs of smoke rose from his pipe, as he scanned the ID one more time, before putting it down.
Naruto gripped the edges of his seat. He felt as if his entire life had been building up to this moment.
"You'll need a new picture," the Hokage informed him.
The blond froze as the situation seemed to deflate. "Wait, what? Hokage, I mean, Third Lord, I mean..."
"Call me Hiruzen," the elderly man informed him. "This is an informal occasion."
"Oh. Okay. Right. But I really put a lot of effort into that picture," Naruto tried desperately.
"I can see that. It is a nice picture," Hiruzen noted. "But a ninja's ID must reflect them as closely as possible for security reasons. You'd have to get a new one if you got a scar in battle or even just got a notable haircut. So as you might imagine, we really can't accept one were you're smeared in make-up, good looking or not."
Naruto raised a finger, before sighing in defeat. "I'll get a new picture."
"Good. Now, with that out of the way, how are you holding up?" the old man asked, gesturing with his pipe. "I heard what happened with Mizuki."
"Yeah. It was a real mess," the blond noted. "Sorry about stealing the scroll."
"No, I'm the one who should apologise," Hiruzen insisted. "As a ninja of Konohagakure, Mizuki served under me, even as an instructor. That he'd abuse your trust like that means he should never have been in that position to begin with. That was a grave mistake on our part and as leader of this village, I owe you an apology."
"Wow, that's not necessary at all," Naruto said, holding up his hands. "Really, I'm fine. And nobody got hurt. Uhm, well, actually..." He paused. "I guess Mizuki got hurt. And Iruka. But it wasn't that bad. Well, except when Iruka-Sensei got hit by that big shuriken. That was bad. Ehm..." He paused. "Sorry, I'm rambling."
"It's okay," the Hokage noted and stuck his pipe back into his mouth. "Now then, has Iruka informed you that teams will be formed a week from now?"
"No. But then again, he's kinda been resting," Naruto noted.
"Understandable. Do not worry. Everything indicates he will make a full recovery and be back to work days before you'll be assigned to a team," Hiruzen noted and picked up a stack of papers. "And then we will have you all assigned to a jonin who can teach you. We have several highly qualified ninjas available for the position this year. Let's see how many actually make it."
Before Naruto could ask what that meant, the doors to the office were kicked open. The blond teen whipped his head around to see what was happening, as Hiruzen continued to study the list. In the opening stood a young kid, no more than ten years old. He wore grey shorts and a yellow shirt with a red Konohagakure symbol on it. Around his neck he wore a long blue scarf and a brown, furry belt around his waist. The visible skin on his arms and legs were notably hairy for somebody that young and his head was crowned with a fuzzy top of brown hair. "OLD MAN!" he yelled, pointing at the Hokage. "I CHALLENGE YOU FOR THE TITLE OF HOKAGE!" Then he charged into the room with what was probably supposed to be a fierce battle cry, though it sounded more like an angry puppy trying to imitate a full-grown hound. He made it halfway across the room, before his feet got tangled in his scarf and he fell to the floor with a yelp, smashing his forehead into the wooden planks. He lay there for a moment, clutching his head with a whimpering: "Ow."
Naruto blinked. "What?"
"Hello, Konohamaru," Hiruzen noted, still going through the list of names. "How's your day been?"
"I... I tripped," the kid said, rubbing his sore forehead. He looked around angrily, before noticing Naruto. "YOU!" he called and pointed his finger. "YOU TRIPPED ME UP!"
"A what?" Naruto replied, a tinge of annoyance in his voice. "Listen here, kid, I did no such thing."
"Hah. A likely story," Konohamaru replied defiantly. "Don't think I haven't seen through your lame tricks. You tripped me because..."
Naruto grabbed his shirt and yanked him closer. "Listen here, squirt, don't blame me just because you're stumbling over you own feet," he angrily told him. "So cut it out."
Hiruzen sighed and put down the papers, as he watched the unfolding spectacle.
That's when another ninja appeared in the doorway, having apparently run up there the moment he heard the noise. He was thin and tall, giving him a build like a stick figure. He wore the common uniform, sans combat vest, and his eyes were hidden behind a pair of dark shades. His black hair was almost completely hidden by the bandanna he wore instead of a headband. He looked like he was about to say something, but halted at the sight of the scene, before almost shrieking: "WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THE HONOURED GRANDSON!?"
"Honourable what now?" Naruto replied confused.
"The Honoured Grandson! The kid you're mishandling!" the man repeated, sounding ready to explode. "Have you no idea who he is?"
Naruto looked back and forth between Konohamaru and the newcomer, before asking: "Should I?"
"Don't you know? The Hokage is my grandfather. So you better let me go," the kid said, a cocky smile on his face.
The blond paused for a moment, then released him.
"Ha," Konohamaru said triumphantly. "I knew you would never dare to lay a hand on the..."
Naruto's flattened hand collided with the top of his head, proving him wrong and sending him stumbling to one side.
"I DON'T CARE IF HE'S YOUR GRANDMOTHER!" Naruto yelled, jumping off the stool. "I DID NOT TRIP YOU!"
The thin ninja exclaimed a gargled cry of shock and disbelief as he watched Konohamaru clutch his head.
"If you two are going to keep fighting, could you go outside?" Hiruzen asked, as he began looking at another pile of papers.
"Honoured Grandson!" the newcomer called, as he jumped over and began inspecting him. "Are you hurt? Are you okay."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine, Ebisu. Really," Konohamaru replied, rubbing his head.
"That's good," the thin ninja said and sighed in relief. "Listen, Honoured Grandson, you can't just run of like that. And interrupting your grandfather while he is working is unbecoming. You must show more discipline and good behaviour."
Naruto stared for a moment, before turning to Hiruzen. "Can I go now?"
"Hm? Yes, of course," the Hokage replied and handed him back his ID. "Just remember to get your photograph updated before you get assigned to your team."
"I will," Naruto said and headed out, Konohamaru's eyes following him as he exited.
"As your instructor, it is my job to help prepare you for your future duties as a ninja," Ebisu continued. "I know it can be hard going over the theory, but you need to understand these things. They are quite necessary and you will regret sneaking out in the future. So, shall we return?" The ninja instructor paused and looked around. "Ehm... Honored Grandson?"
"He headed out while you were talking," Hiruzen noted. "I think he's following Naruto."
"That delinquent!" Ebisu exclaimed. "Oh no, I gotta stop him!" And then he charged out of the room again.
The Hokage briefly took the pipe from his mouth and stared out the door. "Seems like today's going to be busy for everyone," he mumbled.
...
Naruto walked down the street, taking another look at the rejected ID. "Whatever," he mumbled. "I'll keep this one at home then. At least Sis thinks it looks good." He suddenly paused, noticing a shuffling sound behind him. He whipped around and quickly scanned the almost empty road. Not far from him was a piece of grey-coloured cloth, obviously trying to obscure a small person by badly imitating a rock. The blond stared in disbelief, before continuing on down the street. He heard the shuffling again and spun around. This time, the nearby fence had a notable bulge, as somebody was trying to hide there. Except the cloth was turned on the side, so the now horizontal lines completely ruined the disguise.
"I've seen you," Naruto said, slightly annoyed. "You can drop the disguise."
There was a giggle from behind the cloth, before Konohamaru dropped it to the ground. "So, you saw through my disguise. I knew it. You're good," he declared.
"Uh huh," the blond teenager noted. "Listen, kid, if this is about that whole tripping thing..."
"What? Oh no, no, no," the kid hurriedly said. "I tripped. My fault. No, I need you. Because you're different."
"I'm... Different. What are you on about?" Naruto asked, scratching his head.
Konohamaru sighed. "It's Ebisu. He's apparently this really elite ninja instructor and he's assisting me with my training so that I can become a ninja."
"And?"
"And he's so boring!" Konohamaru exclaimed. "And I don't get anything of what he is teaching. You'd think with an elite trainer, I'd be far ahead of my class. But I'm not. It's not working. So I need a new teacher."
"A new teacher, huh." Naruto rubbed his chin. "Well, Iruka's a good teacher. He's given me plenty of help. But he's recovering right now, so that probably won't work."
"No, I need you," Konohamaru insisted. "You're... Obviously skilled. I heard you took down Mizuki and stuff. You even saw through my expertly crafted disguises when I was tailing you."
"Really? Me?" Naruto replied uncertainly. "I've never trained anyone before."
"Please, Boss. I really need the help," the kid pleaded.
"Boss? Heh, I like that," the blond noted with a grin. "Alright, kid, I'll give it a shot."
"Oh thank you, thank you!" Konohamaru exclaimed excitedly, jumping from one leg to the other. "So, what do we start with?"
"Ehm.. Give me a moment to think about this," Naruto admitted. "It's not like I've prepared a lesson plan or something. Hmm. Let's go for a walk while I try to figure this out."
"Sure thing, Boss," Konohamaru said and ran up to him, as the two began walking.
Naruto eyed the kid. "Okay, I gotta ask. What's with the belt?"
"Huh. The belt?" the kid replied. "Oh, you mean this?" What had seemed to be a belt unfurled. "That's my tail," he said, pointing at the hairy appendage.
Naruto blinked. "You have a tail?"
"Yeah. Grandfather has one too," Konohamaru noted, wrapping the appendage back around his waist. "Though it's always hidden under that kimono, so I guess you wouldn't see it much. Uncle Azuma has one too."
"Right. Okay, next question. Why do you have a tail?" the blond inquired.
"Grandfather says it's because of our family's close bond with the monkeys," the kid explained. "Like with the Inuzuka clan and their dogs. It's apparently something that happens. I asked Ebisu why. Didn't understand a word he said."
"Huh. Inuzuka. That's the clan Kiba's from. I guess I never really thought about why he looked like that, you know, with those teeth and so on," Naruto remarked. "That's cool."
...
Konohamaru wasn't sure how long they had walked through the village in what was most certainly a random pattern, but he was beginning to think it was taking a bit too long. "You ready to teach me anything now, Boss?" he finally asked.
"Ah, I don't know. What would Iruka do?" Naruto replied, sounding rather frustrated at his own lack of progress. "Maybe... I don't know... Maybe we should start with what you already know. If I spot any holes, we could start there."
"Well, I'm familiar with the basic theory," the kid informed him. "Ninjas work with chakra, which is an energy generated by every cell in our body. By focusing it in different ways, we create different effects. Such techniques are known as jutsus."
"Yeah, that sounds about right," Naruto mumbled. "Hmm... Well, have you learnt any jutsus yet?"
"A little. I'm not very good with any of it," Konohamaru admitted, looking a bit embarrassed.
"Ah, that's okay. Well, Iruka insisted that transformation was necessary," the blond youth said, obviously getting excited. "So, can you transform?"
"Ehm... A bit," he replied, looking uncertain. "What should I transform into?"
Naruto grasped his chin contemplatively. "Good question. What should you transform into? Hmm."
"Hello there, Konohamaru," came a feminine voice, shaking the two boys out of their contemplation. A woman dressed in a blue kimono and with her red-brown hair tied in a pony tail had approached them. "I thought you would be training with Ebisu by now?"
"Eh, Naruto here is helping me out," Konohamaru replied evasively, trying to avoid looking her in the eyes.
"Oh. You're Naruto," the woman commented, turning her attention to the blond. "I've heard about you."
"Well, I'm kinda infamous," Naruto said with a grin. "So, you and Konohamaru know each other."
"That's Itami. Ebisu's wife," Konohamaru explained. "She's nice."
"Aw, thank you," the woman commented while beaming.
"That gives me an idea. Try transforming into her," Naruto suggested.
"Oh... Okay. I'll give it a try," the kid said, folding his hands and focusing. His entire form bloated and warped as he transformed.
Itami blinked a couple of times upon seeing the result, before breaking out in loud laughter.
"Ehm..." Naruto slowly said, staring in horror. "I mean... The clothes are pretty spot on... I guess."
Konohamaru's imitation was misshapen and bulgy in a way no human form was meant to be. His cheeks had expanded like a pair of balloons and his lips was a perfectly round fleshy doughnut. His eyes were far too small, staring out from between the folds of skin. He quivered, before snapping back into his real form. "Sorry, Boss," he gasped, exhausted. "I think I need some more training."
"Yes well... Maybe we... Miss Itami, are you okay?" Naruto asked concerned.
"Oh no... My stomach," she laughed, having to support herself against the building. "I'm... I'm actually... Crying." It took a moment for her hysterical laughter to subside. "Sorry about that," she said, drying her eyes. "That probably wasn't very nice of me."
"Eh, it's okay," Konohamaru noted. "At least it was a funny mistake."
"Yeah, definitely found something to work on," Naruto mumbled. "Okay, let's go teach you something. I definitely have an idea of what to do to teach you."
"Bye, Itami," Konohamaru called, as they left her behind. He turned to the blond. "So, what's the plan, Boss?"
"Obviously, you need to learn some more about how women look. I know just the research material," he replied excitedly.
Seconds later, he had dragged Konohamaru into a nearby kiosk.
"Tadaah," Naruto said, gesturing to a shelf. "Your research material."
The research material in question were several stacks of magazines featuring lightly dressed men and women in tantalizing poses.
"Oh. Grandpa has magazine like these in his desk," Konohamaru noted.
"Wait, really? Huh," the blond commented. "I guess I... Shouldn't be surprised, but... Man, that just seems weird." He scratched his head. "Well, whatever. This one looks good." He reached out to pick one up, when a duster slammed against the shelf right in front of his fingers, causing Naruto to instantly retract his arm with a yelp.
"So, trying to get some reading done, Naruto?" came the stern voice of the one wielding the duster. He was a tall and lean man, his wrinkles giving him an emaciated look. His wild, dark hair was tied in a puffy knot and his eyes glared from behind a set of spectacles.
"No, no, Mr. Akuyama, I was gonna buy this one. Honest," Naruto replied quickly.
"Really? This is adults only. I'll need to see your ID," the kiosk owner replied sternly.
The blond quickly fished the requested item out of his pocket and handed it over.
Akuyama stared at it. "Who's this clown?" he asked, pointing at the picture of Naruto in full make-up.
"Wha... That's me," Naruto insisted. "Come on, can't you see that?"
"What I see is a kabuki actor with cramps," the kiosk owner replied and handed it back. "Come back when you have a valid ID."
"Ah, dammit," Naruto mumbled and pocketed it. "Should just have gone for a normal photo. Fine, but I'll be back with a better photo and then you better let me buy what I want."
"Of course," the man said, as he returned to his desk. "Until then, hands off the merchandise or I'll be cross. You know I won't accept you reading my magazines unless you intend to buy them."
"That happens a lot?" Konohamaru inquired.
"Ehm... It's happened... Once or twice," Naruto tried casually.
"An almost weekly occurrence," Akuyama mumbled.
"Yes, yes, enough about me. Let's go try something else," the blond grumpily stated and dragged Konohamaru out.
...
Ebisu charged through the streets of Konoha, halting only to ask passerbys: "Have you seen the Honoured Grandson? No? Okay thanks," before charging off again. He made a couple of leaps up a building and landed on the roof, giving him a good vantage point. "Where is he?" he asked nobody, as he scanned the city. "Where did that brat take him? I swear by the Sage, if that delinquent is getting the Honoured Grandson into trouble, then... Then..." He sighed frustratedly.
He heard the sound of feet landing on the roof and turned to face the people who had decided to join him.
One of them was a man with his shiny black hair arranged in a bowl-cut. Two remarkably thick eyebrows framed his eyes and instead of wearing the normal uniform under his combat vest, he instead wore a green jumpsuit with orange leg warmers. He didn't wear a headband, the Konohagakure sigil instead fastened to his belt.
The other had a curtain of brown hair flowing from underneath his bandanna. He wore the standard uniform, hands stuffed in its pockets, and chewed in his mouth on a type of long needle called a senbon.
"Guy. Genma," Ebisu addressed them as a greeting.
"Hey there. We noticed that you were running all over the place and decided to investigate," Guy said enthusiastically and walked over to him. "Getting in that afternoon exercise I see. Very good."
"Actually, I was supposed to be teaching the Honoured Grandson right now," Ebisu noted. "But he's run off with that Naruto kid and now I can't find either of them."
"Hmm, that's the kid we all had to go hunting for the other day," Genma noted, rubbing his chin. "Because of Mizuki."
"Yes. That is of course regrettable," the ninja instructor noted, pushing his sunglasses up the bridge of his nose. "I certainly do not approve of such behaviour. But I'd rather the Honoured Grandson didn't associate with him."
"Hm? Why?" Guy asked, sounding surprised.
"The kid is a delinquent. You saw what he did the other day," Ebisu said, gesturing to the hokage monument. "All of them, smeared in paint. Such disrespect. What if he starts teaching the Honoured Grandson such behaviour? It would be completely scandalous."
Genma chewed on the needle for a moment, before asking: "So is that because you don't want the Honoured Grandson to turn into a punk or is it because you have enough trouble with him as it is?"
Ebisu seemed to deflate slightly at the question. "I don't know," he admitted. "When I got this job I was excited. It seemed like such an opportunity. But no matter what I do, it just doesn't seem to be working. Recently, he's been vanishing from class whenever I take my eyes off him. Usually to go challenge the Hokage to some sort of ridiculous game. And now he's run off with Naruto. I'm at my wits end here."
Guy exclaimed a mighty laugh, before wrapping his arm around Ebisu's shoulders and pulling him in closer. "That's the hard beginning," he said with gusto, gesturing to the horizon. "The rocky road where the bond between master and student is forged in the fires of youth. You have yet to cross the threshold, but do not give up my friend. Let your passion guide you and you will find your way."
"Yes, well, before I go find my way, I'll have to find the Honoured Grandson," Ebisu noted and slipped out of his friend's grasp. "If either of you see him, tell him I'm looking for him."
"Will do. You take care, Ebisu," Genma noted, as the ninja instructor leapt off the roof to resume his search.
...
Naruto groaned as Konohamaru transformed again. He had led the kid to his favored training spot out in the woods and attempted to guide his transformations by constantly telling him what to change. But it still wasn't right. This time, the woman's limbs were way too long, making him look more like some creature that should be stalking people in the dead of night than a friendly neighbor.
"Can we... Take a break, Boss?" the Hokage's grandson exhaustedly asked, as he retook his own shape. "I'm beat."
"Yeah, probably for the best. Here, I got us some soda." Naruto handed him a cold can, as the two of them sat down on a log.
Konohamaru gulped down half the content and noted with satisfaction: "That hit the spot."
"We should probably head back soon. It's getting late," Naruto noted. He took a gulp and asked: "So why did you want me to teach you? I know I'm good, but still..."
"It's because... Hmm," the kid mumbled. "You're different."
"Yeah, you've told me so a couple of times now," Naruto remarked. "What do you mean?"
"When Ebisu told you I was the Hokage's grandson, you let me go. And I thought that you were like everyone else. But then you got angry. And then it hit me."
"My hand?" Naruto asked.
"No. I mean, yes, but that's not what I'm talking about. That's when I knew you were different," Konohamaru insisted. He sighed. "Everyone calls me the Honoured Grandson."
"Yeah?" the blond asked.
"Well, my parents named me after the city. I guess they thought it meant something. But nobody else seems to think so," Konohamaru murmured. "It's like... Nobody notices me. When they see me, it's Honoured Grandson this and that. I mean, I have a name. But everything is about my grandfather. It feels like I'm not even there. And then they bow and scrape and walk about me in a big circle like I'm... Some fragile vase. Even Ebisu is like that."
"What about Itami? She called you by your name," Naruto noted.
"Yeah, but she's from the outside. She's different," Konohamaru noted. "But most villagers are like that. But not you." He looked at Naruto. "You just treated me like you would anyone else. That's why I needed you as my teacher."
"Oh. That sucks," Naruto commented and took a sip. "Sorry to hear that. Didn't imagine being the Hokage's grandson was that annoying."
"Yeah, well, it is. And that's why I'll become Hokage," he declared triumphantly. "Then everyone will have to respect me."
Naruto nearly choked on his soda.
"You okay, Boss?" Konohamaru asked worried, as the blond coughed.
"Yes, I'm fine," Naruto croaked. "Just a little surprised." He cleared his throat. "Man, this is awkward."
"What is it, Boss?"
"Well, I hope you don't mind waiting, squirt." Naruto gestured to himself with his thumb, an almost feral grin manifesting on his face. "'Cause I'm going to become Hokage first. Believe it."
"Hmph. We'll see about that," Konohamaru mumbled and took a sip.
"Oh yeah?" Naruto asked and jumped up, pointing at him. "Well, at least I can transform."
"Hey so can I," Konohamaru replied as he also jumped up.
"Yeah, into a freak."
"I can do it right," the kid insisted. "Just you watch." He folded his hands and focused.
Naruto stared as the Hokage's grandson shifted into an imitation of Itami. "That's..." Naruto started, surprised. A smile broke out on his face and he held his thumb up. "You did it, Konohamaru. That transformation is dead on."
The kid shifted back, excitement on his face. "See. I knew I could."
"That's awesome," Naruto replied, equally excited.
"That was an almost perfect transformation," came a stunned third voice. The two boys turned and noticed Ebisu standing on a branch in a nearby tree. He jumped down and slowly walked over towards the Hokage's grandson.
"Hey, what do you mean almost perfect?" Naruto asked in a miffed tone.
"Small flaws. Hard to spot, but I am trained in educating high level ninjas," Ebisu noted, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "It's not a critique, merely an observation. But still..." He paused, observing Konohamaru. "How did you learn that?"
"It's all thanks to Naruto," the kid insisted, pointing to the blond.
"Really? You managed to teach him that?" Ebisu asked, looking to the person in question.
Naruto raised an eyebrow and folded his arms. "Yeah. So?"
"Well... It's just that you... I mean, when looking at your grades..." Ebisu tried, scratching his neck.
"Just say it. I'm not very smart," Naruto flatly noted.
"I wouldn't put it like that. It's more that you are... Academically challenged," the ninja instructor tried. "But despite that, you managed to teach him a full body transformation. Something I couldn't even do. And I'm supposed to be his teacher."
"Well, how'd you go about it?" Naruto asked.
"Oh, we started with a thorough examination of the theory behind it," Ebisu noted. "You see, the application of chakra through every cell allows the user through jutsus to remodel the cellular structure of their body and shift its basic form, even to the point of converting chakra into additional mass. These alterations then add up to such a complete change of the user's body that they can effectively imitate a different person. These shifts are not permanent and if not maintained with a constant supply of chakra, the user returns back to their original form. This effect is called the Magimi Principle, after the scholar Takaoka Magimi who studied transformation jutsus, although it is more commonly called the rubber-band effect by people. This theoretical framework gives us a starting point to understand the link between effort and effect."
"Ehm, what?" Naruto asked. "What did all that mean?"
"What do you mean by what did it mean?" Ebisu asked, slightly annoyed. "I made perfect sense."
"Yeah. To yourself," the blond noted. "And maybe if you had been speaking with Sakura or Shikamaru, they'd have understood it. But me? I have no clue."
"Well, I'm not surprised," the instructor replied. "You haven't shown much aptitude for academics."
"Yeah, well, I still managed to teach Konohamaru, despite being 'academically challenged'," Naruto echoed.
"Ehm, yes, but..."
"But what? I don't think Konohamaru failed at learning. I think you failed at teaching."
Ebisu gasped at the accusation. "I will have you know," he started. "That I'm a highly trained and educated instructor and that I've been allowed to teach some of our most prominent ninjas."
"And I'm sure they're all a bunch of brainiacs who perfectly understand all that gobbledygook you just spouted," the blond fired back. "But I doubt Konohamaru can. So how can he learn anything from you? At least he can understand what I say."
Ebisu raised a finger as if to protest, but paused, lowering his hand. Then he did it again, before seemingly deflating. "I find myself... Unable to argue the point," he sighed.
"I'm forced to admit that you're right. My teaching style has probably been too advanced for Konohamaru." He looked kinda glum. "I just wanted to be the best teacher possible, but I guess in my excitement, I forgot to consider who my pupil was." He paused. "You'll get a couple of weeks off," he noted, turning to Konohamaru. "I'll need to revise my... Well, everything. Is that okay, Honoured Grandson?"
"Yeah, well..." Konohamaru rubbed the back of his head. "Could you maybe... Stop calling me that?"
"Hm? Why?" the instructor asked, confused.
"Because... I don't like it," the kid admitted. "It makes me feel like people only care about me because of Grandfather."
"Oh. Oh my," Ebisu said, holding a hand to his mouth. "I'm so sorry, Ho... I mean, Konohamaru. I did not mean to make you feel like that at all."
"It's okay. Just call me Konohamaru from now on," the kid said.
"Right. Well, I must be off then. Don't stay out too late. And Naruto... I'm sorry. I've gravely misjudged you." And with those words he leapt off into the treetops.
The two boys stood there for a moment.
"Well, guess you aren't my teacher anymore, Boss," Konohamaru noted, folding his hands behind his head.
"No. Ah well, it was fun while it lasted," Naruto replied. "But if you need a hand, come to me. If I can't teach you, I can probably convince Iruka to give you a hand." He began walking off. "Well, my stomach's rumbling. See ya around, squirt."
Konohamaru paused. "Hey, Naruto."
"Yeah?" the blond teen asked, looking over his shoulder.
"I'm going to become hokage before you do," he declared.
"Hah. I'll take that as a challenge," he replied with an excited grin. "Best of luck, kid."
"You too," Konohamaru said, as they went their separate ways.