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The door clicked closed behind the girls as they left the Hokage's office. Sarutobi and Kakashi watched the two leave before bringing up a much need topic.

"Whose team have you assigned Naruto to Lord Third?" He questioned the Hokage. Sarutobi took a deep breath on his pipe, blowing out the smoke in a heavy breath.

"I'm still trying to decide who will be best suited to hand him with his unique problem. I don't think many people would take him voluntarily." He sighed and turned his chair to the window looking out over the village hidden in the leaves.

"If possible I'd like to request him on my team." After a moment Sarutobi looked back to Kakashi, "You would? As I recall you still have yet to pass a team with your test." Sarutobi paused for a minute thinking it over. "Will you be able to handle him if another episode occurs? I know very well that you are a capable Shinobi Kakashi but are you able to handle the possibility of something like that endangering you and your genin?"

Kakashi rubbed the back of his neck while the Hokage stared intently waiting for the man's response.

"I am very capable of stopping him before it gets as far as it did today." Kakashi said calmly obviously believing what he said.

"And if you can't what will you do then?" The Hokage waited sucking on his pipe.

"I would have to kill him." Kakashi said this with a serious expression "but I will die trying before I let him go into a full rampage."

Sarutobi held a thoughtful expression before replying "I see, I will have him placed on your team, but that leads us to another problem. Who do we put on his team I want Naruto have the full experience as maturing shinobi."

"Well we have two who already know, and putting them on another team is bound to spread the information even further. We both know how that would turn out if we want Naruto have a fighting chance."

Sarutobi thought for a moment before continuing, "Your sharingan would help in containing him if things went sour, but would that be enough even for you Kakashi?" The silver haired ninja smiled, "Not just me, you saw for yourself his reaction to Sakura."

Sarutobi closed his eyes and took another puff on his pipe. "That would work, I suppose, and I myself planned to appoint Sasuke Uchiha to your team since soon enough he will unlock his own sharingan and you would be a useful teacher." Now it was Kakashi who chuckled, "I did think about requesting him to my team but after today that has changed."

"Who do you have in mind?" The Third Hokage questioned. "Ino Yakamana. According to her account she made some contact with the kyuubi before the rampage. That could help him grow as a jinchuriki if he could bring it under control. I think it is best Naruto if he was ever to find out what has been sealed within him" Kakashi let that fact settle.

"I wasn't planning on telling him until much later, I believe he is too young to understand what it really means to be a container for the fox." He older man voiced his opinion looking very tired.

Kakashi smiled under his mask. "I believe you are underestimating him Lord Third."

Sarutobi smiled as this "maybe you are right Kakashi but let me think it over before we make any final arrangements"

Kakashi nodded his head in agreement as his thoughts wondered to an old memory

The image of a young boy with a blue outfit, about Naruto's age, with goggles. Shouting the words that echoed in Kakashi's head "One day I'm going to become Hokage!" Now he pictured Naruto as he said the same words wanting nothing more than for the world to respect him as a person.

'I'm going to become Hokage!'

Sarutobi looked to an old picture of the previous Hokage on the wall and sighed. "I made a promise that I would make sure no one knew about Naruto being the jinchuriki, but it would seem that ship has already sailed hopefully it won't sink. I have faith in Ino and Sakura to help it stay afloat." He looked down at his desk and emptied his pipe onto a tray. "He told me that one day Naruto would need to know how to use the power bestowed to him before he died. At least I can fulfill one of those requests."

Kakashi knew he was thinking about what had happened 12 years ago in the attack, all of the events that had happened that night, ultimately leading to the death of the beloved fourth Hokage. "I'll accept your team Kakashi, even though I'll get an earful from those three for breaking up their children but I can manage. Asuma should like training the heir of the Uchiha clan after all it's a good ego buster for my cocky son." Sarutobi burst out into laughter at the thought of his son dealing with this new team. "Those three boys will be enough trouble to last him a life time."

Kakashi nodded, "Thank you Hokage, now if you will excuse me I have some reading to do." Third raised an eyebrow, "You don't mean Jariya's new book do you?" He looked intrigued at the thought but didn't go into deeper thought. "Good bye Lord Third." Kakashi said as he made a slightly shameless exit out of the office.

Again the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, looked out over the village he had sworn to protect many years ago. He watched as the sunset on the barely light sky, remembering the end of the last Great Ninja War and this new era of peace. He would do his best to keep it tame, but nothing would remain this peaceful for long. He had just hoped that the young ninja of the new generation would be prepared for what was to come, for the will of fire will live on.

Ino fixed the arrangement of flowers in front of her family's flower shop. Moving stems and smelling flowers, she was lost in a world of bright colors and sweet smells. She was busy working until she heard a loud crash at her feet startling her back into reality. Looking down a pot had shattered by her feet, the same pot she was holding a moment ago. It had fallen from her hands as she was trying to hang it on a hook, losing her focus on the world had caused it to slip without her noticing.

She sighed and began to pick up the pieces, piling the soil together for an easier clean up, her mind started to fog. The images in her brain had not dulled a single bit since the incident in the forest, if anything they had gotten worse making them even more haunting.

'That was Naruto. That monster was him.'

It had been a few days since then and she was helping out at her family shop, or at least she was supposed to be helping but at this rate she would only end up being more of a burden. "Mom could I go now?" she called into the house. "I understand, go inside and rest if that is still bothering you." Her mother responded with a pleasant tone.

Ino wasn't really in shock anymore but she just felt out of it. She didn't know what to do after learning something like that. Naruto the loser the drop out the dead last was a monster or at least had a monster sealed within him. She had been around that thing for most her life not knowing how dangerous it was even if it was sealed.

The Third Hokage had not told her parents exactly what had happened, but only mentioned that she had gone through a traumatic experience and that she would need time and space to heal. He hoped that they would understand and they even allowed her time off from school.

Ino headed back inside after cleaning up her mess, deciding what to do next. She could head inside to take a nap, but she didn't want any more nightmares like the ones she had for the past three nights. Reliving the terror, waking up in the middle of the night in cold sweats, sometimes more than once.

She knew that being a shinobi had its Philological effect hell her clan was all about using the enemy's mind but it never occurred her it would be like this, and she had to ask herself if she was really cut out for this.

Opening the closet reaching her sandals, she threw her hair back as she planned to head out and take a breather around the marketplace, cooling her head off. Finding no need to try to look good, thou she had a nagging feeling she'd regret it later, but she found no energy to prepare in any sort of fashion.

She hurried to the market taking a shortcut through some back alleys, she eventually made her way there. She felt some comfort as she spotting a familiar face amongst the crowd. Sakura's pink hair stood out of the crowd, and Ino quickly made her where she stood.

The display of fruits looked fresh, but Sakura had yet to buy anything she only seemed to be browsing looking for something to buy, or at least that's what it looked like. She held a small basket for shopping around in the market. Ino glanced inside not finding anything to interesting just a few odds and ends, a couple of spices.

Normally Sakura would have noticed her by now, but Ino went unnoticed by the long haired girl. Sakura seemed to be thinking more about recent events instead of the local produce, obviously not finding what she was looking for.

"Hey Sakura." No response.

"Sakura, hey." Ino grabbed her shoulder, shocking her back into reality. Ino gave her a rare concerned glance.

Sakura dropped the apple she had been inspecting back into the basket with the rest of the fruit.

"Oh hello Ino-pig, what are you doing here?" Her expression still looked half asleep. Ino shrugged, ignoring the nickname.

"Had to get some fresh air I don't think I could stand that stuffy shop another minute. What are you doing? Shopping?"

Sakura looked into her basket, "Something like that." Both of them knew what was really on their minds. Ino decided to change the dreary mood. She made a small bounce on her toes and broke into a smile. Slapping Sakura's shoulder much to Sakura's annoyance.

"Aw come on, perk up Sakura! What if Sasuke walked by and saw you like this? Then he'd definitely love me more, sorry Forehead he just wants a real woman?" Ino said this with a smirk, twirling her hair between her fingers obviously think it was sexy.

As if on cue the young Uchiha had strolled by causing the two to stop and stare, the alluring red and white crest drawing their eyes. In return, he gave them not a single glance walking by them as if they were just ghost.

Ino looked at Sakura and exclaimed, "Damn it Sakura, he didn't even look at this sexy body because of your bad posture scared him off!"

This changed Sakura's mood very quickly, getting an angry response.

"My fault? He probably saw you and you're pig face and didn't want to be scarred for life!" She crossed her arms and looked away from Ino.

"Yeah right forehead girl!"

"Ino-pig!"

"Forehead!"

"Hm!" They turned away from each other, half way to parting ways. Soon they glanced back to each other checking their actions, noticing they were mirroring one another. Since Sasuke had left their flaming tempers and competitive spirits had died down, only a little just enough for them to look at each other again.

"You didn't even get yourself ready to go out today Ino, something must be bothering you."

A sigh came out in response, "I guess you could say that..."

It was rare for the two have a conversation like this, to be so concerned for the other without being at each other's throats and Ino had to admit she missed it.

Again they were back to the unavoidable topic that was causing the both of them grief, a tacit agreement passing between the two. No matter how much they wanted to talk about their separate experiences that afternoon it was still too early, none of them uttering a word.

"How about we go chase after Sasuke and see what he is up to?" Ino offered trying her best to end the sullen mood. At least one thing they could agree on was their love of the Uchiha, and now the secret of the blonde haired boy in their academy class.

Today was the day! The final exams. Naruto had failed the past three academy graduation exams which made him the laughing stock of the class. He refused to be the dead last, he was going to pass and rub it in their faces especially Sasuke's

This was the year that Naruto had decided that he would pass the exam no matter what, he would finally perfect his clone jutsu and prove to everyone that he was not a loser, not even the voices of the village could change his mind. Nothing would dampen his spirits not even their hateful stares.

He had been practicing infusing his chakra all week, training with shuriken and studying the written material for once. He did not mean to spill ramen in his text book. That was a mistake he wasn't going to make ever again! The scolding he got from Iruka-sensei was bad enough to remind him of that.

The shuriken practice did pay off while most of his jutsu were above a passing mark, he felt confident that he could pass the test this time.

He was going to pass, proving that Sasuke wasn't all that impressive. He wasn't as great as everyone made him out to be. He would prove it when he became a legend despite his everyday hiccups. At least that was what he thought until he heard what jutsu his sensei was testing for today's final exam.

The clone jutsu.

This technique was the only one he had not worked on, his worst jutsu of them all the one he hated the most. He thought had a chance to pass even if it was only barely but now everything seemed to fall apart for the blonde haired student.

Naruto stepped out of his desk with an oddly confident smile on his face, heading to the testing room as Iruka called his name. He walked into the barren room the only piece of furniture was a single desk, he watched nervously his eyes wondering from Iruka and then, a teacher from the other class Mizuki-sensei. He swallowed the lump in his throat as they shuffled papers preparing to grade him on the exam.

Mizuki had longer white hair that laid down to his shoulders, and green eyes. His eyes watched Naruto making him uncomfortable but he quickly smiled giving Naruto back his confidence.

Hopefully his training had paid off, now that this was the time for him to prove to everyone that he would surpass all of the Hokages of the village. The thought put determination in his eyes giving him the confidence to try his best at the jutsu, and pass the graduation exam!

Naruto took a deep breath before shouting, "CLONE JUTSU!"

A cloud appeared in the room surrounding the blonde student, slowly dissipating to reveal the boy still standing there in the correct stance, with a scribbled colorless limp clone lying on the ground.

Naruto stared in disbelief a dud. Naruto had failed yet again. Despite everything it was all for nothing.

He had trained every day in the woods for the past two weeks, working his body and brain to the max. It didn't matter how hard he had pushed himself for the joy that would shoot through his body when he passed.

But he didn't pass.

Iruka-sensei sighed, marking a space on his grading paper.

"I'm sorry Naruto, you failed." he spoke sternly, Naruto was still staring at his useless clone. Mizuki-sensei sat there quietly looked at Iruka.

"He did get all of the forms correct." he commented. Iruka who seemed a little tired, simply shook his head.

"I understand that but you know the rules Mizuki, with what we just saw here..." he motioned to the clone on the ground. "That does not receive a passing score. It's pathetic. I'm sorry Naruto maybe next time."

Iruka's tone seemed slightly disappointed, weighing heavily on Naruto's shoulders. Despite the words Iruka had used to counter Mizuki's point it seemed he genuinely wanted Naruto to pass the exam.

The clone dispelled as Naruto was allowed out of the testing room his head hanging in shame. He started to walk back down the hall to his classroom to wait for everyone else to finish their tests but behind him a voice came.

"Hey, Naruto, do you have a minute?"

The boy turned to see Mizuki-sensei. Naruto grumbled a bit the man had come back to rub it in.

"What do you want sensei?" Naruto said annoyed trying to end the conversation.

The warm expression on the man's face seemed to make Naruto relax.

"I saw how hard you tried to pass your exam. You really stuck me with your determination, that look reminded me of a true hidden leaf ninja." Mizuki praised Naruto.

Naruto felt his face light up, but quickly remembered why he didn't have a head band, "I still failed again though."

A sigh escaped Mizuki's lips, "Yeah, Iruka is just trying to help you be the great ninja he knows you can be. He can't do that by going easy on you all the time. It's just a little tough love Naruto."

Naruto thought about that for a minute, the thought bouncing around in his mind. That could explain a few reasons for Iruka-sensei always pointing out Naruto's mistakes but stilling willing to take him out for ramen at Ichiraku's after a harsh punishment.

"Don't worry Naruto!" Mizuki said in an upbeat tone. "I know how much you want to pass so I'll let you in on a secret if you can do it they'll have to let you become a ninja." That caught Naruto's attention.

He could still pass! The blonde student looked up excitedly at his teacher, "Really!?"

"Yes really, now lend me your ear for a moment Naruto."

School was over, all the kids excitedly wearing their new forehead protectors engraved with the symbol of the leaf village. Sakura held it in her hands looking at her reflection, tuning out the chatter of the kids around her.

Even though she had passed her final exam she did not feel any joy, like the other kids around her. She glanced around, being wary of Naruto's whereabouts. After she confirmed that he was nowhere around since he did not pass the tension in her shoulders loosened bit.

In class when everyone had finished their testing and Iruka-sensei handed out headbands, everyone noticed that Naruto did not receive one. Causing most of the class to laugh over his repeated failure of the graduation exam. Normally Sakura might have joined in thinking him of as a loser along with the rest of the class, but this time she was quiet not even looking in the boy's direction.

There was no reason to make fun of Naruto anymore, she had seen it for herself, his true power. Even after the Hokage explained everything to her she was still confused but if there was one think she knew it was that she never wanted to see that again.

Sakura didn't laugh at Naruto, not because of respect but fear, as did Ino considering that she silent during the class outburst.

Sakura left the academy entrance not even looking for Sasuke. She found the path that lead back to her house, she would have been half way down it if Ino hadn't come up behind her.

"Sakura do you have a minute?" Ino's expression was a mirror of her own, she was not basking in the joy of graduating either. "I want to talk about something." the words were quiet, just audible above the chatter of the other kids nearby.

Sakura nodded, "Sure, let's go to the park down the street. It's pretty quiet there."

'And empty' Sakura add silently, she had the feeling this wasn't something other people should over hear.

The pair ended up sitting on a wooden bench. The barren playground gave off a faint shadow still too early for the sun to set.

"Sakura..." Ino started, "About that day last week...I wanted to say thank you, for saving me." Sakura gave a faint smile,

"It's okay, I wouldn't let you die like that. Not when I have to take Sasuke from you." That caused the both of them to giggle a bit before it faded away with the passing sunlight.

"What the Third Hokage said, about Naruto. I know he told us about the fox but what did you see? I want to know what happened Ino." Sakura fixed her gaze on the empty swings, making the place feel even emptier.

Ino's face became serious. The events replayed in her mind, every breaking branch and drop of blood. Seeing him again today helped ease her mind at least somewhat.

The blonde boy that couldn't do a clone jutsu was Naruto, who failed the graduation exam three times was Naruto. So was the one who was training with shuriken in the forest, that monster was not Naruto.

Naruto was not a monster hiding in the academy Naruto was a screw up not a mastermind.

"I was really mad at Naruto for ruining my hair I mean look!" Ino showed Sakura the burnt ends of the small ends of her hair. "Normally I wouldn't have been mad enough to get back at him right away." Ino started getting louder, her voice filling with anger. "But the fact that he burned my hair right in front of Sasuke was unforgivable!" Her hand clenched tight as her eyes burned.

"Damn it Naruto, I could have gotten Sasuke to eat my lunch if you hadn't gotten in the way!" A small vein popped out of Sakura's head. "Who said that he would have taken your lunch Ino? I was there too you know." The two butted heads as they continued to argue over who the Uchiha boy more.

Soon enough they remembered why they were there, getting back on topic. Ino straightened her hair after almost throwing down with Sakura over last weeks lunch.

"I had planned to use the Mind Transfer Jutsu to get him in trouble by going in the girl's bathroom, but that didn't happen. I was still mad at what he did that I didn't realize how far from everyone I was following him."

Sakura sat listening intently to Ino's side of the story, throwing in small words of acknowledgement to show she was in fact paying attention. Ino continued after a short pause.

"I came out into the open, scaring the life out of him," Ino let out a short laugh. "since he starting backing away from me into a tree. It was funny, I had a hard time no laughing because I thought that would be better. Everything was going how I wanted it to until I actually used the jutsu."

Ino watched the parks shadows grow as the sun was setting the bright colors gave the park a nastagic feeling. She could remember days like this with Sakura years ago.

"It was going smoothly since I had taken control of his body but a second later I had lost it and a voice echoed in Naruto's mind that did not belong to him there was no way it could have. It was too deep to be his, too evil. It said something about taking over Naruto's body, and killing me right after. My jutsu was broken, that is when Naruto turned into that thing. It was terrifying I honestly thought I was going to die."

"That red coat thing around him?"

"Yeah, he chased me in that form through the woods until I ran into those ninja that helped me. Even they lost, but you showed up Sakura, you somehow stopped him long enough for the Hokage to show up. Thank you Sakura."

After letting that out, both the girls felt a huge weight lift off their shoulders now that they both knew how the other felt. This wasn't just a burden for them to carry alone, it was something for them to share, something to bring them closer.

"Naruto...I don't get why he would do something like that." Sakura clenched her fist tightly. "That is just evil." Ino quickly replied to Sakura's growing hatred.

"That wasn't Naruto, I was in his head I would tell if he was able to push me out. I don't think it's"

Ino pictured the fox from 12 years ago inside of that boy's body, sleeping, waiting for a chance to take over like before. Escape and destruction were what it wanted no matter the cost. It was fed of of anger and hatred

"Even if he ruined my hair I got back at him in class. Just like Lord Hokage said Sakura, we should hate the fox, not Naruto."

Sakura looked down to her hands, staring at her palms. A giant demon fox is trapped inside that small blonde boy? It seemed so unrealistic that it couldn't possibly be true, for the kid who couldn't pass the graduation exam.

Ino got off of the bench now that it was sundown. "Let's go home Sakura," she said. "We get assigned to our teams in a week, now that we ourselves are ninja, and I just know I'm going to get paired up with Sasuke!" Ino winked at Sakura playfully.

Sakura's dark mood shifted almost immediately, "You get paired up with him? In your dreams, we all know that Sasuke is going to be on my team since true love conquers all!"

"Is that so forehead-girl?"

"Ino-pig!"

Iruka had a late night at work, cleaning up the classroom, once he had finished his duties he locked his door and headed home. Ready for a nice relaxing night at home. The moon had already risen just slightly as he saw a figure dart through an alley headed towards the village gate. It was only out of the corner of his eye but he knew it was there. He had to follow them just to make sure everything was safe in the village.

He might be a teacher but that doesn't mean he wasn't a shionbi. Iruka quickly left his things back at his home, before darting for the main gate.

Iruka was a good distance behind however the suspicious figure must have been playing it safe, not wanting to get caught making them even more suspicious. Iruka could see them look around the gate for guards before rushing out into the night.

The figure wasn't very fast, allowing for Iruka to get closer allowing him to get a better look at the culprit. He caught glimpse of a large scroll on their back, it was still too dark to tell but he thought he saw the shape of someone small, possibly a child. What would someone that young want with a scroll?

The figure stopped and headed for a small shack in the trees, a hard to find place if you didn't know what you were looking for. Iruka sat in a tree branch to observe before deciding what course of action to take. He prepared himself to jump in if called for watching as the moon rose higher in the night, just above the clouds allowing a beam of moonlight to enter the clearing revealing who had taken the scroll.

Naruto!

Not only was it his student but the scroll that he held was not something someone like Naruto should have. It was a very important item that held many of the village's secrets. If it fell into the wrong hands it could be a very big issue in the futureIt was a forbidden scroll that was supposed to be on watch in the Hokage's mansion.

The young boy unrolled the first section of the scroll and read what it said. "Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu? Gah but I suck at clones!" Either way he started to practice the hand signs.

Iruka was just a thought away from confronting Naruto on his behavior until he noticed the boy make a successful clone, on his first try at this new jutsu. Iruka couldn't believe his eyes as his student, who hours earlier couldn't produce even a single simple clone, deployed a living shadow clone. It made a small amount of pride swell up in his chest he knew he saw potential in Naruto and to night was proof of what he had thought for years.

This was astonishing progress that he had never seen before. The academy teacher was blown away, but quickly got his mind back on track realizing the depth of the situation. Naruto had snuck into the Hokage Mansion and stolen the Scroll of Seals, leaving the village with it and looking into it. Something had to be done about the situation despite the boy's efforts. This was obviously a criminal act.

Iruka leaped off of his branch and landed in front of Naruto a couple yards away. "Naruto! What do you think you are doing out here?" The startled Naruto fell backwards before rubbing the back of his neck and laughing, "Got me already? Not bad, you're quick sensei." he said nervously scared at being caught so early.

"What are you doing with that scroll Naruto?" Iruka questioned. Naruto's face seemed to light up to Iruka's confusion.

"Trying graduate of course!" Naruto shouted happily.

"Graduate?" Iruka asked confused by the boys explaintion

"Yeah! Mizuki-sensei told me about it, anyone who learns a jutsu from this scroll gets to graduate from the academy. Isn't that right sensei?" Naruto was now bouncing on his feet, the excitement to much to hold still.

Iruka suddenly understood what was going, all of it being linked to Mizuki. He told that lie to Naruto so he would steal the scroll, allowing himself to take the scroll from Naruto right afterward for his own benefit. A sudden thought struck Iruka, Mizuki wasn't going to allow any eye witnesses. Iruka was glad he had followed Naruto if he hadn't there might not have been a Naruto to see the next morning.

"Naruto..." Iruka said, "There is something I need to tell you about Mizuki-sensei." The boy looked confused. "What are you talking about sensei?"

Iruka suspected that Mizuki would head to this place soon, after causing some other distraction in the village to sneak away. He couldn't stop him by himself but he might be able to win with an ambush since Naruto was here like Mizuki wanted, but Naruto isn't strong enough to stand up to Mizuki at all right now and using him as bait is even worse. Iruka had an idea, since he couldn't afford to let Mizuki get away.

"Naruto, in ten minutes you are going to master that jutsu you just learned okay? Now let me tell you the plan."

Thank you for reading ^.^