Ch 2: Day at the Academy

After meeting with the Hokage, Naruto, having nothing to do with his time (pranking no longer being an option as he really wanted that special gift from the Hokage), decided to work on controlling his new jutsu. Naruto first started to try getting the leaf to cut one branch, easier said than done. All he could manage to do was get the leaf to completely destroy the branch, and no matter how hard he concentrated the result was always the same. He never liked the idea of immense blood and gore that this attack would surely cause, so he needed a cleaner attack method.

Then, the thought occurred to him: What if the medium was heavier, then it might have a less erratic flight path. Following this train of thought, he infused his shuriken with his chakra and felt the object become like a part of himself. While spinning the four pointed blade he was finally able to guide the lethal metal to the tree, and cut the branch cleanly. In celebration, Naruto put all the chakra he could into a leaf. This gave the leaf a light blue glow. Then, it sped off into the forest. A few seconds later, Naruto was relieved of his nervous energy, and his secret training ground doubled in size.

A certain dog masked ANBU, transformed to hide the pink of his clothes, smiled warmly under his cold, hard, ANBU mask. Although he dyed his uniform pink, his sensei's son was growing by leaps and bounds. He already mastered the basic three: Kawarimi, Henge,and Bunshin, somehow finding a way to control his massive ocean of chakra. And just now, creating a shurikenjutsu in three minutes. The kid was amazing, no doubt about it.

"Naruto, happy birthday!" Said the Hokage, voice full of glee. He had his warm grandfatherly smile his robes were on and only one thing was missing.

"Where is your hat grandpa?" Naruto wondered.

"Remember that special gift that I told you about a few months ago?" Naruto nodded "Well, since you did so well these past months..." The Fire Shadow opened the drawer and he pulled something out

"I get the HAT?"

"Yes Naruto, I have deemed you worthy of the title Hokage, and the entire village has gathered to congratulate you." Naruto's smile shone with the intensity of a thousand suns. The village finally recognized him as more than a demon brat, and he had finally gotten the Hokage hat. At last his life was going right.

As he approached the balcony these were some of the thoughts that were going through his mind, and when he reached his foot out to his adoring people he quickly realized that there was no balcony. As he fell to his certain demise with wind whipping through his hair, he woke up. After assessing his situation, he found himself on the ground next to his bed with the sunlight shining through the window.

*Sigh* "Just another stupid dream." Naruto muttered under his breath. Then the former prankster king began his second day of being restricted from pranks.

A gentle breeze picked up in the village, and it was just the beginning of spring. A small, prank deprived boy finally found time to relax and reflect upon the beauty of nature. The light wind lifted up his spirits,flowed through him, and gave him energy, and the melody of the bird's serenade brought peace to his heart. Despite the disappointing morning, Naruto felt that it would be a good day.

"Hey Sakura-chan, can I walk with you?"

"Sure, Naruto-kun." said the cute little girl with pink hair, a warm smile missing a couple teeth graced her features. As they walked to the academy they talked of recent happenings. "The Hokage did what!"

"It's not so bad." The little genius replied "Now I have more time for training" He said with a grin. The two talked and talked and before they knew it they arrived at the academy building.

Umi and Mai started chanting "Naruto and Sakura sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G, first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage" Sakura blushed, Naruto face palmed

"There is something seriously wrong with that song" thought Naruto bitterly

"I hope that happens someday" thought Sakura wistfully " I better do something or Naruto-kun might get the wrong idea" Sakura, taking a page from her other self's book, launched a lightning quick hook into Umi's jaw, forcing Umi's head to crash into Mai's taking both out in one blow.

"What a girl!" Naruto thought, amazed at the ferocity and power exhibited by the normally sweet girl in front of him.

"SETTLE DOWN!" the rambunctious classroom was silenced immediately. Everyone was still while Iruka announced the day's plan. " Today we will hold a Taijutsu tournament to gauge the skills that you have retained over the break." A series of cheers erupted from the class, but a hard glare from Iruka once again stilled them. "Now go to the dressing room to get your pads on."

"The rules of sparring are as follows: no ninjutsu or genjutsu, no chakra enhanced strikes, and no permanent injury is allowed. A point is won when you get a solid hit on an opponent, three points are necessary for a win" Iruka repeated robotically. It was the twenty ninth and final match of the day, and Iruka was starting to get really bored watching children trying to hit each other. On the other hand, it would be Naruto and Sasuke fighting. "Mizuki." Iruka said, his voice deathly serious. "Get some popcorn please."

"Sure, this oughta be good."

"Begin!"

Naruto rushed in with a fist at he ready "I'm gonna wipe that cocky smirk off your face pretty boy."

"I'd like to see you try " Sasuke smirked as he deflected his punch, driving it toward the ground. Naruto used the momentum of the missed punch to jump into a flying axe kick. Sasuke, pivoting to barely escape the blow. The blonde landed softly and jumped a good distance away form his opponent.

"You've improved teme."

"Likewise, idiot." In a burst of speed he dashed at Naruto and disappeared.

"Where'd he go?" Out of the corner of his eye he saw Sasuke launching a kick from the ground on the left side. In a flash the blonde was at Sasuke's side, The skyward kick leaving him open, Naruto planted a palm strike in Sasuke's sternum, driving him to the ground. Quickly cartwheeling away Naruto got into a fighting stance.

"Poimmf Maruto" Iruka announced, mouth full of popcorn. The rest of the fight passed much like the first portion. That is, until Sasuke got frustrated.

"Goukakkyu no jutsu." In an attempt to protect himself, Naruto vented an obscene amount of chakra at the fiery sphere. Flames filled the entire stadium leaving Naruto nowhere to be seen.

Sasuke is so cool thought the fangirls

"SASUKE, WHAT THE HELL!" screamed Iruka. As Naruto was carried to the hospital by the burn unit Naruto was thinking

"Thanks for the jutsu idea teme. When I heal, your butt is mine."

Goukakkyu no Jutsu: Fireball Technique

Kawarimi: Substitution

Bunshin: Clone

Henge: Transformation