Naruto sat outside of the testing room, watching the other pupils go in one at a time until he was the only one left. He tapped his foot nervously and played through all the things that could go wrong today, and pictured the disapproving, disappointed frown of his father if he failed again. He'd tried to squeeze some extra practice on the training grounds behind the academy right before class - the whole reason for his late and embarrassing entry - and hoped beyond hope that the clone jutsu was not a requirement to pass. He never seemed to be able to get that one right.
The un-oiled squeal of the door being opened revealed Iruka-sensei standing in the doorway of the waiting room, who emotionlessly called him forth. "Naruto."
He stood defiantly, and with his head held high marched into the testing room. It was mostly empty, with just one of the other teachers, Mizuki-sensei, sitting at the judging table. Iruka took the seat beside him.
"We'll now begin the exam."
It was surprisingly easier than he expected, all physical testing he passed effortlessly, suppressing chakra and hiding in plain sight, basic skills, and his confidence peaked as the test progressed without so much as a hitch.
He grinned confidently as Iruka announced the final test requirement.
"All right Naruto, so far so good," he scribbled on his score sheet, "make three Bunshins, and we're all done."
Naruto's smile faded. Three? He could barely manage one, he'd only on occasion made one that was actually functional, but there was always a clear physical difference between himself and the clone. His heart sank.
He took a deep breath, formed the seals, closed his eyes and channeled as much chakra as he could into the technique. There was an explosion of light and smoke at its completion which when it cleared revealed two very defective Naruto clones sprawled on the ground and a third, wobbly, holding an offensive pose.
At least one of them was standing he thought, and looked hopefully at the testers sitting across the room. He could already picture the disapproval on his father's face at the news, and neither of his sensei revealed anything in their expression, except maybe utter contempt.
Iruka eyed him distastefully, before making a note on his sheet and pushing his chair back to stand. "Thank you Naruto that will be all."
"But what about-"
"Your results will be sent to your parents."
Naruto cringed at that as Iruka moved to open the door and let him back out into the hallway. He shuffled out resentfully, hands in pocket, jumping only a little when the door was promptly closed behind him at his exit. He sighed and ran his hand through his hair, ruffling it a bit before heading back outside.
-o0O*O0o-
The school was deserted now, he'd been the last to test today, and it was surprisingly later than he expected. No one else was still around on the school grounds and he found himself drifting over to the old tree swing where distant, dust covered memories of where he sat alone watching other children with their families came to mind. He knew he'd have to face his father sooner or later, and taking a seat on the swing, opted for later. He'd never graduate from the academy it seemed, and he was trying hard not to be a disappointment and a failure to the only family he'd ever known. He'd have to find a way to convince Iruka to let him retake the test without letting his father know, and somehow, do the clone jutsu right. Somehow.
"Stupid clone jutsu." He kicked at a stray pebble, "why do I have to suck at ninjutsu."
He stood from the swing, having gathered enough courage to go home in his shame and take his inevitable punishment. Although he was sure that no punishment could make him feel any worse about being incapable of completing such simple techniques, but he was sure his father would try.
Sighing, he moved away from the academy, carefully choosing to go down less populated streets, he didn't want to chance running into anyone on his way home, and have to embarrassingly admit to failing the exam again, everyone would find out soon enough, but again he opted for later.
There was a sudden soft clank on pavement behind him, and Naruto whirled around in time to see a shadowy figure dart along one of the darkened alley ways. He squinted; the shadow was a familiar shape, but moved erratic and suspiciously. He wasn't sure why, but he was compelled to follow.
Naruto managed to stay hidden while trailing them, suppressing his energy so as not to be detected. He tried to observe them, and figure out why they seemed so familiar. Whoever they were definitely could be up to no good, and Naruto noticed that the person clutched a package to their chest, a rather large package. When the figured disappeared into the forest on the out shirts of the village, Naruto decided he'd had enough. He approached quietly as they slowed near a clearing.
"You there!"
With a startled turn the figure stumbled backward, dropping their parcel, pale eyes staring in disbelief.
"Na..na…naruto-sama." She stuttered.
Pale eyes stared up at him from beneath Indigo tresses. Naruto was surprised and bewildered all at the same time.
"A Hyuuga?" He struggled to remember her name, "Hinata?" and moved closer to pick up her dropped goods. It was a scroll.
"Hinata, are you crazy? What're you doing out here?"
She backed further away from him, fear growing more evident in her eyes. He could understand that, as Hyuuga head she wasn't allowed to go anywhere or do much without express permission from the Hokage, and Naruto knew she'd be in severe trouble for simply standing where she was right now and carrying - he glanced down – The Scroll of Seals?
"What… is this?" He looked at her quizzically forgetting instantly the Hyuuga's nervous and suspicious behavior,al though she'd always seemed to be a nervous girl.
"Where did you get this from?"
She was visibly shaking now, and Naruto unrolled the scroll just to verify what it was. He skimmed it quickly and groaned inwardly at the first entry, why was it always the clone Jutsu?
He read it anyway.
Hinata stood there watching him, unsure of what she should do next. It had been a long time since she'd seen him and she was glad to see that he was still the same old, easily distracted, noble minded Naruto. She took in his golden tresses and vibrant blue eyes, and could feel her face becoming flushed.
She was glad that he'd found a family who could take care of him but her smile faded as she thought of them. The ones who suppressed her own clan and she was slightly surprised to see the tiny red, blue and white crest stitched into his shirt cuff, the symbol that marked him as theirs. As much as she was glad to see him, it was very bad that he was here. She knew because of who he was, he'd insist that she go back to the village with him, and she would have to go. But she was certain that the clan would be made to pay for her mistake, and that was something she could not allow. She watched him, his cerulean eyes moving across the page, as he read and re-read the beginning of the scroll. She knew he would never hurt her, but inched slowly backward away from him regardless, trying to ignore the quickened pace of her heart.
"Hinata, do you know what this is?" She froze silently watching him fearfully, and gave a slow nod, "it's the answer to my prayers!" She was startled at his exclamation. "I think I just figured out why I could never get my clone jutsu to work!"
Hinata looked confused at first, then gave him a soft smile, "Narut –" her words were cut off as several kunai whizzed by their heads. One imbedding itself in her shoulder and leaving several near miss scratches on her skin. She collapsed to her knees in pain.
"Hinata!" Naruto dove to shield her purely on reflex, and glared in the direction of the source.
Laughter erupted from the darkness.
"You really are useless, Hyuuga." Naruto's eyes widen in surprise at the familiarity of the voice as the tall white haired figure stepped out.
"Mizuki-sensei?" Naruto stood in confusion.
"Tsk tsk tsk," The white haired-nin shook his head disappointedly, "I give you one simple task;" He sneered at the injured girl, moving closer, "to get the scroll and meet me here and you can't even do that. " He stood towering over her. "You manage to get followed by the Hokage's pet of all people, the worst ninja in the village." Tears began to well up in her eyes and Naruto's glare deepened.
Naruto looked back and forth in confusion at the both of them, trying to figure out the situation.
"I don't know what's going on here but you shouldn't say such terrible things to Hinata-chan, Mizuki-sensei."
The older ninja scoffed again, turning his full attention to the blond boy.
"The Uchiha's fool demon pet and the useless clan head." His laughter thickened and filled the tension. "You're both worthless." His foot connected to Hinata's side and there was a sickening crack as her ribs collapsed under the impact.
"Hinata!" Naruto ran forward moving defensively, to stand between the bleeding Hinata and the dropped Scroll of Seals.
"Get out of the way and give me the scroll, demon fox."
Naruto grit his teeth, "No!"
Mizuki pulled several more kunai and moved into fighting stance, "I said move Demon."
"Stop it! Stop calling me that!"
The professor laughed, "I can only call you by what you are, Demon brat."
Naruto clenched his fist as Mizuki's malevolent laughter filled the air. "Didn't you know?" A conniving grin stretched his face malevolently.
"You boy, are the vicious nine tailed demon fox, Naruto."
Everything was still for a moment.
"What," Naruto paused, "what are you talking about," confusion filled his voice; "Everyone knows that the Fourth Hokage defeated the Demon Fox," he forced conviction into his voice, "so you're just a liar!"
Mizuki only sneered, inching ever closer, "Am I?"
Hinata's breathing came in raspy gasps, but she struggled to stand up regardless.
"This is just precious, you never even suspected."
Mizuki circled them predatorily, eyeing the scroll as he continued to talk.
"Didn't you think it was suspicious that the Uchiha would take in a nobody like you?"
Naruto teetered on the indecision of wanting to hear more about what Mizuki was saying and protecting Hinata and the scroll. He knew he shouldn't but he couldn't help himself. He realized it was probably just a lie or a trick to throw him off guard somehow; but deep down, Naruto wanted to hear what it was that he had to say. The part of him who always wondered, wanted to hear something, even if it was an outrageous lie.
He held his breath unconsciously.
"You're their secret weapon," Mizuki hissed with pleasure, as he reveled in Naruto's disbelief and turmoil.
"What do you mean… I'm their weapon?"
"You're such a fool Naruto, you struggle so hard to please the clan and fall into line, and it only helps to sell their case. To have you always with them, living under the "Hokage's" roof," He made the last statement mockingly, "your very existence has been the silent threat that they can release the demon at any time."
He was standing inches from Naruto now, "It's what keeps everyone else in line."
Naruto's mind was racing, he wasn't sure he even understood it completely but could any of this be true? It didn't make any sense. Why should he doubt what he's seen with his own eyes, and believe the crazed musings of a clearly dishonest, ninja Rogue. Thoughts of the situation at hand drifted from his mind and he turned his thought instead to the understanding and gentle Mikoto; his mother. She had never once been unkind to him, and she treated him like he thought a mother would treat her own son. He thought about his little sister, who he'd do anything to protect, and how when she first learned to walk she followed him everywhere. He thought about his father, a strict and hard man, but he just assumed that's the way he always was. It would certainly explain why Sasuke had been such an excellent student; and he thought about the fact that living up to the standards of the missing prodigy was something he always struggled with.
He knew he wasn't supposed to be a replacement for their still lost son, and that's something he would never try to be, but he never once felt like he wasn't part of the family. Though that was mainly due, he had to admit, to Mikoto. She'd never forced him to call her Mom or insist he spoke to her informally, but even so had wept and hugged him the first time he did.
He could feel the tears well up in his eyes and he began to shake visibly, what this man was saying, had to be a lie.
"You're a liar!" He grit out the words and Naruto felt the back side of the older man's hand across his face. He went flying backward away from the scroll and the still crumpled Hinata. He braced himself as his back connected solidly with a rather large tree.
Mizuki bent to pick up the scroll he spit on the Hyuuga heiress. "Worthless brat," he kicked her again, "I lost a lot of time because of you."
Naruto was up in an instant, fury boiling up. He launched himself before he could think, moving faster than his body was accustomed and knocking back the white haired man who dropped the scroll in surprise. Naruto grabbed it, in one swift motion and strapped it onto his back.
"Why you little…" Mizuki stood angrily after wiping Naruto's shoe mark from his face.
Naruto glared for a moment before dashing into the forest, going deeper into the woods with the scroll in tow and Mizuki in pursuit.
Hinata sat there for a minute in disbelief. Parts of the meaning of Mizuki's speech about Naruto sinking in, and also in amazement at Naruto. Was he trying to protect her by leading their assailant away? She had to help him somehow. But to do that she would have to reveal her part in the whole situation, and she was sure that her clan would be made to suffer, and she would be made to watch. There was only one person she could think of who would help her, and keep her involvement out of any reports. She struggled quickly to stand ignoring the pain, and wincing only slightly when she coughed up blood. First she'd have to find her cousin, and hope that everything else would work.
Naruto's life depended on it.
-o0O*O0o-
Fugaku paced the Main hallway as the sun disappeared beyond the trees. Naruto had not returned. The Kyuubi container was more trouble than he was worth, but on some level the self appointed Hokage felt worried for completely different reasons than he was supposed to.
He straightened into an authoritative posture as one of his Uchiha subordinates approached. His wife hung back in the entryway, listening silently.
"Sir," he bowed quickly, " Iruka- Sensei said that young master Naruto had left the school hours ago, but he wouldn't be surprised if the boy was hiding." He paused and spoke hesitantly, "considering the results of today's testing. Sir."
Fugaku grit his teeth and a disapproving growl erupted from his chest.
Mikoto said nothing.
"Should we send a small team…?" the subordinate let the question hang in the air, and disappeared hastily in a puff of smoke at the tiny approving nod.
Fugaku turned to head back in the house, unsurprised by Mikoto's hovering.
"Don't be too hard on him when he gets home." She laid a placating hand on his shoulder.
"Humph," he brushed past her, "it's to be expected. Just let me know the moment he is brought in." He gruffed, before disappearing into the hall.
-o0O*O0o-
Naruto sat panting in his shadow shrouded hiding place, still clutching the forbidden parchment tighter as he heard the older Nin approach closer.
"Naruto!"
A flurry of dust whipped up as Mizuki landed in the clearing just meters away from the place Naruto crouched, his heart pounding with fear and determination.
"You know deep inside what I'm telling you is the truth!" The older man turned in the clearing, searching carefully for movement in the trees, his quick eyes scanning as he tried to goad Naruto forward.
" The decree that you not be told that you were the demon fox, was an old order," he continued, "by the previous Hokage, It was the Third's wish that you not know what you really are." His voice carried and echoed into the darkness of the forests.
"Maybe he thought that you knowing would trigger the release of the true beast somehow," He shrugged nonchalantly moving more carefully to poke at bushes and peer around trees. The young blonde shrunk deeper into his hole.
"But I know you haven't forgotten what it was like before the Uchiha took you in," he stealthily unsheathed a kunai, "as expertly as they have kept up the charade I know they couldn't have clouded out all those memories of the villagers shunning you and ignoring you." He was speaking more quietly now, no longer throwing his voice into the dark.
A sneer, "It was because everyone knew what you are."
Naruto didn't know why but he could feel his chest constrict and his breathing became irregular as he fought the liquid cascade threatening to erupt from his eyes. He could never forget that time. The feeling of being so alone and misunderstood, of wanting to belong and he did belong - He was trembling now and he glanced down at the red and white tiny stitched insignia on his sleeves – didn't he?
"The Uchiha aren't foolish, they needed a way to solidify their power without contest, and they capitalized on that fear." Mizuki was standing just a mere few feet away
"The truth is Naruto, Everyone's been lying to you."
A sinister grin crawled across his face as the blonde haired blue eyed boy; with tear stained, whiskered cheeks stood up, and faced his relentless pursuer.
"I can help show you the truth, if you give me the scroll."
Naruto stood watching Mizuki's outstretched hand, his sinister grin spreading wider as Naruto walked listlessly forward, almost dejectedly; half heartedly. He ran the words over and over in his head, and he felt like the molecules of the air were a viscous fluid slowing his movements. There was so much right with what Mizuki was saying, but it was also wrong.
Maybe they were lying, and maybe they weren't but he couldn't bring himself to doubt after all these years that they didn't care anything for him. Even if the adults didn't – and he found it hard to think of Mikoto that way – he knew the same could not be said of Hitomi. She was his sister, blood be damned and he would do anything to protect her with his life. He chose to have faith in his family. He had nothing else if not faith. He would never let anyone change his mind he decided, they were his family no matter what anyone said.
He found his hands moving effortlessly through the seals that he'd only just run over in his mind, the technique and instruction from the scroll filling up the blanks. He glared angrily at Mizuki, his chakra spilling forth.
He saw his opponent grin mockingly as he recognized the seals Naruto's hands flew through, it only fueled his resolve.
"Kage Bunshin, no jutsu."
The clearing was instantly covered in clones, of orange and blue and gold, smoke swirling all around them. Naruto himself began to grin as he saw Mizuki's arrogant stance and expression changed from coy superiority, to surprised disbelief, his mouth hanging open at the shock.
"I won't let you hurt any of my family."
Mizuki stumbled backward, the sheer number of clones over whelming him, his head whipping around, escape being his ultimate goal.
"I'll kill you first." It was a snarl, and the white haired ninja found himself surrounded and bombarded from all sides with kicks and punches as Naruto's angry voice roared.
The beating was quick and surprisingly easy, and Naruto didn't know why he had run from the man in the first place. He looked around at all of his clones, a little bit in amazement himself at having actually completed the jutsu successfully, and on such a grand scale. He rubbed his nose smugly at his accomplishment.
"Take that Iruka-sensei," he grinned to himself.
A sharp gasp sounded somewhere on his left, and his clones disappeared in a startled puff as he tried to catch his breath, feeling slightly exerted. He turned toward the noise feeling considerably weary of any more surprise attacks or tricks from his opponent; but was surprised to see instead that it was another one of his professors. For a moment, he wondered if Iruka was going to try and attack him too, maybe they had been working together and Naruto had foiled their plans to steal the scroll and escape the village. He moved subconsciously into a defensive position.
Iruka stood at the furthest edge of the clearing, looking out of breath himself, like he'd used all of his energy to rush there. Iruka's eyes swept over the expanse of the clearing, taking in the sight of the beat up looking Naruto and the bleeding unconscious Mizuki on the ground in the center. The Scroll of Seals lay a short distance away and the area was clearing of the smoke left behind by the dispersed clones.
"Naruto…" There was astonishment in his voice, and a wild-eyed look of wonderment as he approached him tentatively.
"Naruto… that technique." Naruto relaxed instantly and completly forgot about the traitor lying smushed in the small crater he created behind him, and grinned widely scratching the back of his head in an almost embarrassed manner.
"Did you see it Iruka-sensei?" He was barely restrained energy and happiness, "the bunshin technique I did it!"
Iruka was speechless for a moment, nodding absentmindedly in response to Naruto's excitedly shouted question before falling again on the crumpled form, behind the blonde boy, and astonishment was instantly replaced by unconcealed suspicion.
"What happened here?" There was a seriousness in his tone that brought Naruto back to his current situation and the blonde wasn't even sure where to begin. He looked away hesitantly, his brow furrowing with worry as he thought about the Hyuuga heiress he'd left lying in the forest bleeding and the trouble she could be in.
He heard Iruka shift and kneel to bring himself onto the same eye level as the boy, and Naruto was surprised by the gentle hand encouragingly placed on his shoulder. Though he still didn't look up, his eyes darted warily to the spot on his shoulder where his teacher's hand rested, and thought of how tonight seemed to be a night of confusing inconsistencies and truth revelations because he'd never known Iruka have ever shown anything but contempt toward him.
"It's alright you can trust me," his smile was soft and encouraging, and Naruto realized that this was the way he usually looked at and talked to the other students when they were at school, it was almost kind of strange to actually be on the receiving end of his calm and kindness, and it actually did make him feel a little better.
"You won't get into any trouble, I promise."
There was the briefest of pauses.
"He attacked me sensei."
H e recounted the details that led up to battle, following Hinata, finding her with the scroll, even Mizuki's speech about the Uchiha and the demon fox – even though he'd wanted to, he chose not to ask if any of it was the truth – how he led Mizuki away so Hinata coul escape and finished his story right until Iruka himself showed up.
The Older man's face had grown more and more serious with every passing word. The reassuring hand on his shoulder, now a tightened grip.
Naruto scanned his face worriedly.
"Sensei?" Iruka seemed to be deep in thought his mind racing in calculation, Naruto tried again.
"Sensei, Mizuki is a traitor we have to take him in." He gestured to the still twitching form behind them on the ground, to push his point and Iruka finally noticing sighed audibly.
"And do we pick up Lady Hinata on the way as well?"
Naruto looked genuinely confused, "What does Hinata have to do with anything? She's not the traitor Mizu-"
"And who do you think was bringing him the scroll Naruto? One of the village's treasures, stolen from its pedestal and vaults." Iruka caught his eyes and gave him a level look.
"What do you think will happen to her if you tell them about Hinata."
Naruto furrowed his brow trying hard to think, "I'm sure if we explained that it was a trick of some kind and that she hadn't wanted to do it, I'm sure-"
"You're sure that what? She would be pardoned? That everything would be okay and she wouldn't be punished?" Iruka was sounding just a little bit irritated. "Even if she was misled into doing it, that doesn't change the fact that she stole the scroll, that she lied, and escaped the Hyuuga compound and broke curfew and aligned herself with a traitor!"
"I…" Naruto paused hesitation and doubt rising.
"You know they'll have to punish her Naruto," Iruka remained adamant in his argument, " She is her clan head, they might punish her whole clan."
"What? Her clan why -"
"Because they would be blamed for letting her escape and do as she pleased, a mere incompetent child of twelve getting the better of them."
Naruto's mood grew darker and darker the more Iruka spoke.
"Everything you've just told me about what's happened here tonight is dangerous for all of them." Iruka gave him a moment to let it all sink in, "The Fifth will not be lenient, he will have to punish them all."
Naruto's resolve returned at the mention of the hokage. "No! He won't I'll talk to my father, he will listen to me if I explain it."
Iruka gave him a doubtful look, and Mizuki's words rose in his mind.
There was a long pause, his shoulder's drooped under the weight of his decision.
"I… cant' lie to them," He seemed pained to even be considering it, even just a little.
"I can't lie to my family."
Iruka nodded in sad understanding, "Then don't. Just don't mention Hinata." Iruka's hand squeezed his shoulder again, and Mizuki moaned painfully behind them.
"But-"
"Just tell them what you told me, tell them that he attacked you, tell them about what he said, about you being the demon fox, and they will just think that he wanted to kill you for that."
Naruto looked even more hesitant and torn, his eyes down cast, he would've liked to think that talking things out and explaining the situation would've worked, but doubt grew and spawned and sank in his stomach. A sense of dread filled him. The blonde nodded his head dejectedly, and wondered absentmindedly if Iruka realized that leaving Hinata out meant there was practically no story to tell.
His head snapped up suddenly remembering, "Hinata! I left her in a clearing further back in the woods!" He paused at the look Iruka gave him.
Turmoil roiled inside him.
"Hinata, was never here."
Iruka gave a satisfied nod and stood. He pulled a small scroll from his weapons pouched attached to his leg and moved to pick up the Scroll of Seals. His hands quickly performing the jutsu to transport it away, and it vanished in a puff of smoke.
"I'll make sure that this is returned to where it belongs," he patted the smaller scroll that the Scroll of Seals was now sealed inside of, "I'm sure no one's even noticed it's been missing since everyone's been looking for you."
Naruto was visibly startled by the comment.
"Everyone's… worried?"
Mizuki's sinister words faded just a little in his mind, though his smile ebbed into a cringed at the thought of explaining why he'd failed the exam, again.
Iruka smiled softly as though sensing his apprehension. "Naruto, I wouldn't worry about the exam, I can honestly say – GET DOWN!"
Naruto found himself pushed roughly to the side as Iruka hastily pulled and threw two kunai over his shoulder. The blonde froze on the ground, and looked hesitantly over his shoulder. Standing there, just teetering with several shuriken in hand was the white haired Mizuki in the midst of a throw, and now two kunai in his chest.
Blood gurgled from his gasping lips as Naruto sat in shocked horror. The body falling forward with a disquieting thump.
There was a rustling behind Iruka and several other Ninja burst into the clearing.
"Naruto! Finally! Hokage-sama is very upset with you where have you -"
"What the hell happened here?"
Iruka glanced at Naruto and stood, and the small Uchiha platoon looked between the two ninja and the dead body on the floor. There was a long moment's hesitation, as Naruto got his trembling under control and his breathing regulated before he spoke. He hoped that they thought that his shaky voice was from his fear of having almost nearly died, and not because his lie would be obvious.
He didn't look at Iruka before he muttered softly.
"Mizuki-sensei attacked me… "
Surprised looks were exchanged between the men, and Naruto clenched his fist in determination. Even though they quickly covered up their apprehension and gave him supportive pats on the back then quickly escorted him home - with Iruka trailing languidly behind - he was sure with their concerned glances and forced reassuring smiles, that they all knew he was lying.