Hi guys! Here's the next installment!

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I'm Not My Father

Chapter Three: An Outcast's Graduation

"Faster!" yelled Anko as she put Naruto, once again, on the defensive. She twisted and bent as she struck, moving just like a serpent as she attacked while he put his entire focus on her strikes in hopes of dodging or deflecting them. "HAH!" she cried, palm striking his chest with a flick of her arm.

Grunting and coughing out air, he was pushed back and fell to the ground hard. She lowered her stance as he panted hard to try and refill his lungs. "D…Dammit…" he gasped out. "You're too…too fast…senpai…"

"Of course I am, gaki," she stated with a smirk. "I'm Jonin level while you're Genin level. The difference is obvious."

"I know," he sighed as he sat up from the ground. "I just feel like I'm not really going anywhere."

"Oh yea?" She then flicked a kunai with half of her strength and her smirk grew when she saw him react instinctively. He rolled away from the flying knife and pulled out his own, taking on the stance for the Coiling Snake. "What about that?" she asked in challenge.

Putting away his knife, he gave her a bashful look. "Okay, I've gotten a lot better thanks to you."

"Damn right."

"But whenever I face you, I feel like all of that training isn't enough."

The violette woman rolled her eyes and bopped her student on the head. "Baka, of course it won't. Again, I'm leagues ahead of you so that means that I'll be that much more of a challenge. You won't be able to beat every threat out there; remember that."

He nodded. "Right. So, what will we work on today?"

She crossed her arms and hummed thoughtfully with her eyes closed. She had been training Naruto for the past year whenever she had time, and throughout that time he had improved greatly under her guidance. While a part of his growth was because of his natural flexibility and affinity for the taijutsu style, he still needed someone more experienced to guide him.

Along with that were the snake related jutsu that she had instructed him in. However, there was something that neither of them had accounted for.

"Alright gaki, this next jutsu is meant for adjusting the bones and skeletal structure in your limbs to allow for more serpentine movements. It's a very crucial component of the advanced katas of the Coiling Snake style," informed Anko as she showed him the jutsu and how her arm was able to twist and coil unnaturally.

"So, it affects the arms and legs… What about other limbs, like the neck?"

"Orochimaru was able to do that, but not at first from what I can remember. He created this technique mainly for the arms and legs; everything else came after countless trials." Her face became marred by a frown. "I vaguely remember him saying something about self-experimentation."

Naruto frowned as well at that. "So…he didn't just do that to others… Why would he do that to himself, though?"

"His greatest ambition was to learn everything related to chakra and jutsu. Anything that would help with that – even messing with his natural body – was a viable option in his eyes." She sighed and shook her head. "But we're not here to talk about him. Go ahead and give it a try, gaki."

He nodded before forming the snake handseal and focusing on his legs. With his eyes closed in concentration, he was unaware of his legs twisting into one another and forming a white snake tail that was as long as his natural height. Anko did, and her eyes widened in shock.

"Naruto, open your eyes!" she exclaimed, making him open them and she gasped softly as his eyes had become a serpent-like amber with slit pupils.

"Senpai? What's wrong?" he asked before he felt his body brushing against the dirt beneath him. Looking down, he saw his new tail and freaked out. "AAAHHHH! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO ME?!"

Needless to say, that day was a real eye-opener for the two of them. Anko had a theory as to how Naruto was able to do what he did, but she couldn't prove it at the present time. However, what really confused, and slightly worried her, were how his eyes had changed. After he had dropped the jutsu, his eyes had returned to their normal violet, which made her wonder if she was seeing things at first.

Dropping her thoughts and opening her eyes, she said, "Well, you've got the taijutsu forms down to an above average degree. All that's left are the advanced katas, but I'd rather wait until you've graduated before we get into those."

"Alright," he said with a nod. "So, what will we do now?"

Instead of a vocal answer, she bit her thumb and went through a few handseals before putting her bloody hand flat on the ground. After a plume of smoke, a blue snake with violet diamond markings was seen with a scroll being wrapped by its long body.

Turning to Anko, the snake asked, "You summoned me, Anko-san?" The son of the White Snake noted how much the serpent stressed the "s" sounds of his words.

"Yea, I did. I'm gonna have the gaki here sign the scroll," answered the woman.

The snake turned to the Academy Student, tasting the air with his tongue before his body tensed. "His scent… It's the same as the one who left with Manda."

Before Naruto could respond, Anko cut him off with a look. Turning back to the snake, she explained, "This is his son, Naruto. He's not going to end up like Orochimaru; you have my word."

"And if he does?" challenged the snake.

Naruto frowned and stepped forward. "I won't," he said with conviction. "But…if it makes you feel any better, then Anko-senpai will stop me if I do; even if…" he clenched his fists, "even if she has to kill me. I'd rather it be her that does it if I do end up like him."

The Special Jonin looked to him in surprise at the amount of trust he was placing in her. They had known each other for just over a month, and yet…

'And yet he trusts me enough to stop him,' she finished in her mind, nodding to the snake. "If it comes down to that…I'll stop him."

The snake stared at them both before nodding and unwrapping his body from the scroll, making it fall and roll open. The last name on the scroll was Anko's while the one just before it was Orochimaru's. "To sign, you must do so with your blood and place a handprint in blood of your dominant arm."

The teen nodded and bent down over the scroll before he went through the process of signing it. Anko watched the whole time, and her eyes dimmed at seeing the surname he placed for himself. 'No one should ever have to be called that…'

"There," he said as he finished. "All signed."

"Excellent," the snake said, rolling back up the scroll. "I'll be taking my leave. I trust you will teach him the necessary steps, Anko-san."

After he left, the Special Jonin instructed, "Alright gaki, watch the seals correctly. We'll have you get them down without chakra first so that you can get a better feel for them."

The student nodded and the two people with cruel connections to the traitor Sannin resumed Naruto's training.

"He's learning at an impressive rate," Kushina commented after Minato stopped the broadcast from the crystal ball. "To think he's already going to learn summoning with the Academy ending this week."

The Hokage nodded with a concerned look. "Yes, it is impressive, but I can't help but think that his growth is too impressive. Based on the reports from Iruka, he shows himself to be the upper-middle tier in the class when his lessons with Anko show that he should be in the top tier. Why would he hold himself back in the Academy?"

Kushina hummed thoughtfully at the question. "Well…what if Anko told him to do so?"

The man blinked in slight confusion. "What do you mean?"

She rolled her eyes and teased, "And people say you're this genius Hokage." After he gave her a mock offended look, she continued, "Anko has been known for having people underestimate her so that she could surprise them in a fight. Maybe she's having Naruto do the same?"

"It's a possibility… I can see where you're coming from with that notion, but it still concerns me."

Kushina smiled and put a hand over her husband's, squeezing it gently. "Sweetheart, I know that. But you can't become a hypocrite with your own advice towards others. He's not his father…"

He squeezed her hand in return. "I know… But he still reminds me of the man who stole from you." His eyes looked into her own, and she saw anxiety in them. "Do you think it's possible…that Naruto was made with your eggs?"

Her eyes widened in surprise at the idea. "I… I don't know… I mean, it could have happened…but I…" She shook her head with her eyes closed. "I don't know what to say about that…"

Minato brought her into a comforting embrace. "I shouldn't have asked that. Forgive me…"

"No," she assured him. "It wasn't your fault. It's a legitimate notion…"

"Should we check?"

"…No, not right now." At his concerned look, she elaborated, "If he was made from my eggs, I don't want to spring this on him. Let me try and connect with him first. Whether or not he's…my son, I want to try and help him; both with fuinjutsu and as a person."

He sighed and nodded. "Alright, I'll let you handle this."

She smiled and kissed his cheek. "Thank you. Now, I should get home and get dinner started."

After she left, Minato frowned and spoke up, "Dog."

Said ANBU appeared on one knee with their head down. "Yes, Hokage-sama?"

"I need you to check some records for me," began the blonde with a serious visage.

"Well everyone, this is it," Iruka said as he handed them all their written tests. "The start of your final exams. Try your best and show me that you're ready to become a ninja of this village."

Naruto, in his regular spot, boredly turned over the test and looked over the questions. 'This is pathetic,' he mentally commented. 'Why the hell would we need to know that the First Hokage had the Wood Release? Wouldn't it be better to know that it was because of him that the major villages all have a Jinchuriki?'

Hanabi, having been sitting next to him since her first day, noted how her rival looked positively annoyed at the test. She gave it a glance and saw why; it was far too easy. When Iruka wasn't looking, she nudged him and whispered, "This test is kind of sad, isn't it?"

"Definitely, but it's something we need to do; no matter how easy…"

After the test, Iruka brought them all outside to the sparring rings. It was explained to the potential Genin that they would be sparring with only taijutsu against him or his assistant, who Naruto didn't hear the name of. At one time, the assistant was Mizuki, but he was revealed to be a traitor who was trying to report to Orochimaru by Anko.

He shuddered when he remembered how elated she felt the day after during his training. She seemed to get a thrill out of her job.

"Hello, Naruto-san," greeted a soft-spoken female voice, making him turn to see that it was the Kurama Clan heiress, Yakumo.

He gave her a polite smile and returned the greeting. While Hanabi was definitely his rival, Yakumo was a fellow enthusiast of the unappreciated ninja arts. Where he leaned towards the sealing arts, she leaned towards the illusionistic and healing ones. As a result of this kindred want to make these fields more respected, they had become studying partners and then friends.

"Nervous?" he asked, knowing that taijutsu wasn't her forte.

"A little, but that book on physical conditioning you gave me really helped. Thank you for that."

"It wasn't a problem. I had finished that book, so I figured you could use it more than me."

Hanabi, who was standing on Naruto's other side, fought back a frown at seeing him be so friendly with the once frail heiress. As her rival, she didn't like how he would sacrifice his own time to get better by helping someone else. It was because of him helping Yakumo that he had fallen behind on their spars. Her win count was currently three ahead of him with a total of eight versus his five.

When it was Yakumo's turn, Naruto wished her luck and watched her spar with Iruka. "Why do you help her so much?" questioned Hanabi, making him turn to her.

"Is there a problem with me helping a fellow classmate and friend?" he asked back with a raised brow.

"When it prevents you yourself from improving, I would think so. How will you catch up to me at this rate?"

He chuckled at her reasoning. "Hanabi, while I appreciate the rivalry we have and how it motivates me to get better, I'd rather help someone else improve than leave them in the dust; especially if that person could become a friend to me." He gave her a blank look as he finished, "Or have you forgotten how difficult it is for me to do just that?"

She flinched at the question. "I didn't," she said, her tone becoming faintly defensive. "It's just… This rivalry we have… It's the closest thing that I've ever had to a friendship. I…I don't wish to lose that."

He was touched at the sincerity in her words, and he gave her a grateful smile. "And you won't. Just because I'm helping Yakumo doesn't mean I'm dropping what we have. You're not just a rival, Hanabi; you're my friend…my best friend."

Her eyes widened slightly at that, but she was unable to say anything since she was called up to face the assistant while Naruto was called to face Iruka. Yakumo had done well in her spar and earned a passing grade for lasting the allotted time and getting a clean hit. Naruto smiled at the pleased look on her face before he assumed the Academy taijutsu stance and faced down his teacher.

"Naruto," began Iruka, "while I commend you for still learning the style we instructed you on, please don't think I can't handle whatever else you learned." He gave the teen a kind smile and finished, "Show me exactly what you're capable of."

Naruto raised a brow at that and feigned ignorance. "I don't know what you mean, sensei. Can I just do my test, please?"

The man sighed at that before he took the lead and began the spar. Throughout it all, he saw Naruto pull off textbook maneuvers and he scored a few clean hits on the instructor before the time ran out. Before he could say a word, Naruto gave him the seal of friendship, one that Iruka had taught the students to use in their spars, and returned to the crowd of students.

The final part of the test was the ninjutsu portion. The students were instructed to perform the three Academy jutsu and were allowed to perform a fourth for extra credit. One by one, the students were called in alphabetical order based on their surname. When it was Naruto's turn, both Hanabi and Yakumo – who had taken the seat on the other side of him – wished him luck; even though all three of them knew how easy these jutsu were.

Once inside the separate room, Naruto saw Iruka and his assistant teacher seated at a table across from him. "Alright Naruto, I want you to start with the Transformation technique."

The teen complied and performed the jutsu, changing himself into the Fourth Hokage's image perfectly, right down to the flaming coat he wore.

"Good. Now, perform the Replacement technique."

Again, Naruto did so and replaced himself with some chalk near the chalkboard behind the two instructors. They turned around to see him still looking like Minato and standing behind them calmly.

"Excellent usage," praised the assistant. "You even kept up your Transformation while doing so."

"Alright, lastly I want you to perform the basic Clone technique."

Naruto rolled his eyes and held up a half ram seal, producing five illusionary copies of himself that walked right out of his body and stood in a perfect line with him, making it look like there were six Hokage. "Anything else?" he asked, using chakra to make it seem like his voice echoed.

"Well, if you want, you can perform a fourth jutsu for extra credit?" suggested Iruka.

"No thanks," he replied as he dropped all of the jutsu and stood in front of the two instructors. "So, do I pass or not?"

Sighing, Iruka pulled out a Hidden Leaf plate and choices for cloth color. Naruto chose red and wrapped his new band around his left arm, letting his blue-gray robe sleeve covering it from sight. After that, he stepped back into the classroom and went back to his seat.

"Congratulations, Naruto-san," praised Yakumo with a kind smile.

"I knew you'd pass," Hanabi added before frowning. "This test is almost a joke."

"I know," agreed Naruto while Yakumo nodded with her own small frown. "But, whatever. I passed, and that's all that matters. Now, you two need to just breeze through this last test."

Not even an hour later, all of the students had finished their last portion of the test. Like Naruto had said, both Yakumo and Hanabi had breezed through and when they walked out, they didn't show smiles of accomplishment. Instead, they had looks of slight annoyance.

"Well, for those who failed, better luck next time. For those who passed, congrats and come back tomorrow for your teams," Iruka informed before dismissing them all.

Yakumo bid her friend and Hanabi goodbye before she left with a fellow clan member. Hanabi spotted her father and turned to Naruto. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yep. Hopefully we're on the same team," he replied with a smirk.

She returned it as she left, stepping up to her father with Hinata. "Father," she greeted alongside her sister.

He nodded in greeting before he gave Naruto a glance and left with his daughters. Naturally, he'd be against his daughter associating with Naruto, considering who his father was and the reputation being bad for his clan's image. But, after a stern talking to from his wife, Hitomi, he had said nothing against it. In fact, the benefits of the rivalry she had with the boy only proved that his association with her improved her skills as both a Hyuuga and a kunoichi.

Back with Naruto, he had stopped by the dango stand that Anko had taken him to when they first started their new leaf. He grabbed two orders and thanked the kind woman before he made his way to the fence surrounding the Forest of Death. "Senpai?" he called out.

"You called?" she asked from right behind him, but she pouted when he didn't jump in surprise like he used to.

Turning around, he offered her one of the orders with a smile. "I passed," he said simply.

"Naturally," she replied just as simply, though she was smirking. "You had me teaching you, after all."

"I know, and thanks for that. I appreciate it all and I can't wait to learn more from you."

The smile he gave her made her feel a bit lighter. Throughout the training year, she had eased into connecting with him. It was a bit of a struggle since old habits were hard to kill, but she was glad that she did for she had slowly come to see the teen before her as a younger sibling.

Ruffling his hair with a grin, she replied, "Don't mention it, squirt. So, now that you're a Genin, we'll start going through the advanced katas. But not today."

"Why not?" he asked, his eagerness deflating.

"I got some people to interrogate today and besides, you meet your team tomorrow. Best to not wear yourself out the day before, y'know?"

He sighed and nodded before smiling. "Alright. You gotta go now?"

She nodded. "Yea, duty calls. I'll see you later this week. Congrats on earning your headband, Naruto. You deserve it."

He was surprised to hear her use his name instead of a nickname, and it made his smile brighten. "Thanks, Anko-nee…"

It was her turn to be surprised, but she turned around so that he wouldn't see the embarrassment on her face. Taking off, she allowed the smile to show on her face. 'Damn brat…making me feel like this.'

"Well, now that we know the graduates, it's time we distribute them into teams," Minato stated. The assembled Jonin, along with his wife, all waited for him as he started to go over the first teams. "Team 7… Kakashi, you will take my son, Sasuke Uchiha, and Hinata Hyuuga. They will be trained as an assault team."

"I look forward to working with them, sensei," the man replied with his famous eye smile.

"Team 8 will be led by Kurenai. You'll take Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame, and Sakura Haruno. You'll be a tracking team with Sakura taking genjutsu lessons from you since there was a note Iruka made about her exceptional chakra control."

Kurenai nodded, though she fought a frown at not getting Yakumo. The girl was a genjutsu prodigy and she would've loved to have a chance to help her grow into the art.

"Team 9 is still active under Gai, so Team 10 will have the new Ino-Shika-Cho, and they will be led by Asuma," continued Minato, before he offered a warning. "Tradition is important, Asuma, but try to help them branch out their skills."

"Will do, sir," Asuma replied with a firm nod.

Going through two more teams, Minato then turned to his wife. "Kushina, you'll take Team 13. Your students will be Hanabi Hyuuga, Yakumo Kurama, and Naruto Fuyōna. I want them to be an infiltration and trap team."

"Got it, ttebane," she replied with a pleased grin. Two skilled girls and the boy she wanted to take under her wing for sealing. It was a good team in her eyes.

"You'll meet your teams tomorrow, so for now you're dismissed." The assembled Jonin all left while Kushina remained. "What do you think of the teams?"

"Well, they're all good, though I'm surprised you put the Kurama girl with me instead of Kurenai. Why is that?"

"Iruka noted how well she had bonded and grown with Naruto as her friend. Along with that is Hanabi's growth due to being his rival. The way I see it, the three of them will only help one another get better and you'll be there to help them even further."

"I see," she said with an understanding nod. "Well, I can't wait to meet them."

Naruto yawned as he sat in his seat, flanked by his two friends. "Does he ever shut up?" he murmured quietly to Hanabi as they listened to Iruka go through a farewell speech.

"I believe that he may enjoy hearing himself talk," she replied just as quietly, making him smirk at the joke while Yakumo giggled quietly.

"So, without further ado," continued Iruka, "it's time to meet your sensei."

At that, Jonin began to file into the room and take their teams. Hanabi noted that her sister was blushing quite brightly when she was announced to be on Bolt's team. While she rolled her eyes, she still smiled for her twin's good fortune.

"Alright, ttebane!" called out a woman's voice. "I need Hanabi Hyuuga, Yakumo Kurama, and Naruto Fuyōna to come with me!" The three Genin took in the presence of Kushina Uzumaki as she grinned confidently. "I'll be your sensei and we'll be Team 13! Meet me at Ichiraku Ramen!"

As soon as she finished, she vanished in a swirl of leaves while the Genin team looked to each other. Standing up, Naruto asked unsurely, "I guess we shouldn't keep her waiting…?"

Hanabi shrugged while Yakumo gave an unsure laugh as she followed him and Hanabi out the door, all of them wondering about their new, excitable sensei.

And there you have it! Chapter Three is now up for you all! Tell me what you think of it!

As you noticed, Naruto's eyes change when he uses snake jutsu that Orochimaru was known for. Also, he can naturally do what Orochimaru had to experiment on his body for (i.e. making his legs change into a snake's body). The reason will come later, but I'm sure you guys can figure it out!

As for Kushina, she believes Naruto being made from her eggs is possible, but she's holding off on finding out for sure. But…is Minato fine with holding off?

Until next time!

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