Here's the next one. There's no action now. So it's really boring. But I promise I'll try to speed it up a little… Otherwise just read to refresh. And, again, I might have to shift a few things around and use a bit of 'poetic license'. And I don't remember Konohamaru appearing in the early episodes, so if you've only watched the anime, you might even enjoy a small cliffhanger!
Note: And if you read it, please leave a review. If I don't get more than 11 reviews on my fourth chapter, I'm going to think about abandoning this fanfic because to me it shows that not enough people are interested. A review is like money, sort of. It's like the 'admission is donation' thing. Review'Money'Happy Writer. Remember That.
Flashback
"…" Kyuubi speaking
"…" Thinking/thoughts
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. I wish.
Chapter III: To Pass or Not to Pass
Naruto walked back to his apartment, feeling perplexed. This was the moment to choose: To pass the exam would be very easy on his part. And simple. Not to mention suspicious. To not pass the exam, this is what would happen: Talk to Mizuki, steal scroll, meet Iruka-sensei, face learning about the Kyuubi again, protect Iruka-sensei, get a hitai-ate. Naruto lay on his bed, and as he started to space off, he found himself in front of the cage of the Kyuubi. The demon fox was curled up as much as he could, and as Naruto rattled the bars, the fox opened an eyelid.
"What."
Naruto stared at the Kyuubi. "I never see you sleep in you cage."
"There's a lot you don't know about me, kit. Tell me your business and get out of here."
"Well," Naruto began. "What should I do for tomorrow? Pass the test with flying colors, which if I am correct involves making three replicas, or fail, and go through the whole thing over again."
The Kyuubi answered with a non-committal grunt.
"Hey fox, answer me! I'm asking you for advice!" Naruto shouted, glaring at the demon fox.
"Well, maybe you should just pass. Now, kindly leave me in peace. Remember that whatever you do affects the future, and this time-traveling jutsu takes up a lot of energy."
And with that, Naruto was back on his bed, sweating, his heart pounding.
"I'm just going to pass." And he thought no more.
--
Flashback
"Naruto!" The old Sakura pouted. "Why can't you be more like Sasuke-kun?"
"Hn," came Sasuke, who smirked.
Sakura squealed, hearts in her eyes. "He's so cute, handsome, talented, and smart!"
Flashback
Naruto woke up steadily, as if he was just resting. The new Sakura was so much better, more sure of herself, more caring, not and infatuated, defenseless, useless, Uchiha fangirl kunoichi. He knew that he himself would not be so blind this time, and that he would just leave Sakura and her 'love'.
Flashback
"Damn!" Naruto cringed. "I can't eat ramen with my left hand…"
Sakura's eyes soften as she looked at Naruto.
"Guess I'll help you. Give me your chopsticks."
Flashback
Naruto smiled at the memory. He loved the new Sakura. She was more tender, caring, and so many other things...then finally he drifted off to sleep again.
--
Iruka walked into the room, stealing glances at Naruto.
Naruto was sweating, his fists clenched on the desk.
Iruka looked at Naruto again, and announced, "Now for the graduation exam, you will do the Bunshin No Jutsu and divide into at least three!
Naruto looked pale face, and his eyes were concentrating on his hands. But it was all a trick. All planned. Of course Iruka didn't know that.
When his name was called, Naruto walked into the examination room. He formed the jutsu, and yelled, "Bunshin No Jutsu!"
Poof
Two other Narutos were there, laughing at each other. After a while of laughing and no talking, they went poof again, and Iruka's face split into a wide grin. Mizuki tilted back in his chair and smiled.
"PASS!"
Naruto grinned to himself, and made a mental note to see when Mizuki did turn bad, and do a crime.
"Maybe he'll live to be a normal ninja anyway," he thought hopefully.
"Nah. The seeds of evil are still in him…Naruto."
"I don't remember what happened next. Do you?I think I got my picture taken, but what face did I use? And I have to meet Konohamaru when I'm with the Hokage, so…"
After a while of restless fumbling around and flashbacks, the Kyuubi interrupted, growling.
"Stop worrying. I need my sleep. I want my sleep. So sleep, kit! Geez!"
But Naruto was already asleep.
The Kyuubi was grumbling as he positioned himself in his cage.
"Interesting host I got. Hehe, what an interesting kid."
--
CLICK!
The photographer clicked the button, and Naruto's picture came out, a regular old 'Naruto foxy smile'. The cameraman gave Naruto a Ninja registration form, and Naruto put in his intro in the box.
"My name is Uzumaki Naruto. My hobby is troublemaking. Mischief is my forte. People know me for my great ramen likeness, especially miso ramen."
Remembering vaguely what he wrote a long time ago, Naruto filled out the other information and handed it to the Third Hokage in the next room.
Sarutobi sighed. The village was so quiet, it was like Naruto was taking the job of becoming a ninja seriously, almost too seriously.
"Where's your headplate?" Sarutobi asked curiously.
Naruto sat up straight and said proudly, a little awkwardly, "I'm saving it for the ceremony…er, I didn't want to damage it…"
Suddenly, the door creaked open, and a boy with a helmet and a scarf jumped out.
"OLD MAN! FIGHT ME!"
--
Author's Note: What a bad cliffhanger…oh well. I'm bad at making suspension. I hoped I described Konohamaru accurately enough. But nothing special is happening yet, sadly. Please review.