Disclaimer - See chapter 1

The chapter is unbeta-ed, but I read and reread multiple of times while adding corrections and changes. If I have missed anything that needs to be changed, please let me know.

"Did you get all the supplies?" Konoha's resident blond-haired prankster asked.

"After all the pranks we pull, why do continuously doubt me? A baffled black-hair prankster asks as he gives Naruto a deadpan glare.

"It does not hurt to check, you big baby. Yeesh." Naruto looks away to avoid Sasuke deadpan glare.

"I'm just pulling your leg, no need to get your panties twisted, anyways, my ends completed, how's your side? Did you finish everything on your end?" His raven-haired friend asked back.

"But, of course, my sets of supplies are way easier to gather than yours." Naruto answers as he pulls out a map. "Remember, you're here at this building, and I'm here at this one." Naruto simultaneously points at the two builds across from one another. "Teachers decorated these buildings here." Naruto points at four more buildings. "Stadium's going to be here." Naruto points at the stadium on the map. "Audience will be sitting here, and students will be here. Everything starts at six, we need to be ready to start by five."

"Naruto, I remember the plan. You don't have to repeat it again." Sasuke tells him as he rolls his eyes.

"In the famous words of Leonard Snart, "Make the plan. Execute the plan. Expect the plan to go off the rails. Throw away the plan."

"Who is this Leonard Snart to be giving you such ridiculous quotes!?" Sasuke questions with a raised eyebrow.

"Some character from some comics I have seen from earlier this year when I was searching for Ayame's okaasan."

"You're an oddball, do you know that Naruto?" Sasuke blandly tells him.

"Yes, but I'm fun." Naruto replies with the same tone.

"Yes, yes, but still an oddball, but back to the plan."

"Right, the plans, Ayame will be in this line here, when there is two people in front of her, the moment that first person is called, we cut the banner straps then we light em up, exactly right after we light them and we cheer, we cheer like hell, we cheer like our lives depended on it. We cheer till we turn blue and faint, or till she acknowledges us, either or works for me. What do you think?" Naruto explains.

"You know if this backfires, you're probably going to get a couple of new lumps in that thick skull of yours, right?"

"I'd probably get a couple of lumps regardless, so Sasuke, how about we go out with a bang!" Naruto gave a fox-like grin.

Sasuke fiercely returns the very same grin and answers to his best friend. "We're going to be in so much trouble."

Giving a nod of confirmation, Naruto replies a simple statement. "No shit!"

Exactly five pm the next day, Naruto and Sasuke met up at their designated points. Two dual-story buildings roughly sixty feet apart. Each carrying two different set of supplies. Naruto carried a bow and arrows, a rolled-up banner, couple of poles, and rope. One could never have enough rope, while Sasuke brought only a large wooden board and a pole.

"Ready?" Naruto asks as he held out his fist while staring at the buildings in front of them.

"Let's get wild." Sasuke replies as he pounds his fist into Naruto and stares at Naruto's opposite building.

Splitting off into each other's building, Naruto and Sasuke quickly rush their way to the stairs and up to the rooftops. Naruto's took a few minutes longer due to the supplies he's carrying. Once Naruto reached the top, Naruto notices that Sasuke is already setting his wooden board up. He notices Sasuke's supplies was also set up from the previous day, all set up and ready to be used. Naruto places his stuff on the ground, rolls out the end of banner and took the bow off his shoulder then ties a part of the banner to rope which is also tied to the arrow.

Naruto took his bow and took aim. He looks through the tip of the arrow and let his grip go as his arrow flies over to the wooden board. The arrow tied with the rope which held onto the banner made its way over to Sasuke and hit the board with a thump.

Over on Sasuke's end, Sasuke quickly takes the rope's end to pull so he could get his side of the banner onto his building. Sasuke watches Naruto gives him a thumb up before tying his end of the banner on to the pole. They both lay the banner down in its socket and get ready for the next phase of Naruto's ingenious plan.

Sasuke looks off the rooftop and notices all the people gathering for the ceremony. People were taking their seats as it quickly begins to get full. He sees Naruto realigning his supplies from the previous day. He should be doing the same.

Naruto looks at the equipment in front of him, then at the crowd. Students were already starting to line up as the parents were taking their seats.

He quickly grabs the lighter from his pockets and gets into position. He looks at Sasuke, Sasuke looks at him back. Each giving one another a grin and a thumbs up. "It's go time." Naruto mouths before looking back forward to the crowd.

"Families of Konoha, Welcome!" Hiruzen's voice roars. "Today, Konoha Academy welcome's you all!" Hiruzen scans the audiences. "For the latest graduation of Konohagakure. Every year, we come to celebrate the latest students into adulthood. Unlike ninjas who receives a hitai-ate at twelve, stating that are now officially adults in the eyes of the village, we present a degree for those of the civilian life. While most of you adults know, children of the civilian life go to the academy for an extra year, just so they could be a little more equipped in a ninja filled world. Please, let us congratulate these new young adults!"

Everyone in the audience's cheers, alongside the children who are all about to graduate.

"As I call your name, please, step up and get your degree."

Naruto and Sasuke has be quick, they quickly had to find Ayame in the group of adults so they could be ready to set their next plan into motion.

Naruto scans for his Ayame, he sees her about twenty-five students in line behind the first child. He holds up two fingers on one hand and five on the other, to show Sasuke, what positions she is in. Just to make sure he knows as well.

Sasuke scans the line up to twenty students, as other names were called and see Ayame, gave Naruto a nod before getting into position, each grabbing one of the poles they previously tied their banner to.

Ayame is nervous, like the first date, sweaty palms nervous. For one, she hasn't see Naruto or Sasuke all day. Which scares her, a lot.

A day without seeing Naruto is a day for disasters, the Prank brothers, and some people calls them. Of course, Naruto is the one making all the ridiculous plans and Sasuke attacks those plans with such effect. She remembers when Naruto explained to her about how Sasuke helped with the Hokage monument. Took days to clean off all the paint. She felt bad for the group of genin that and to scrub the three Hokage on Hokage monuments.

As she moves closer up the line towards the Sandaime, she felt even more nervous. Her legs got shaky, she felt her stomach drop, got harder to breathe. 'Great, I'm having a nervous breakdown.' She quickly tries to controls her breathing, but she became as stiff as a rock. Until she took a step and her pendant bounces back on to her chest.

While stiff as a rock, she moves her hands up to her chest and fiddles with the birthday pendant Naruto got for her a few months back. Thinking about how sweet the situation was and how she now has a clearer picture of her mother once again, allowed herself to calm down faster than before.

Quickly, Ayame relaxes as she straightens out her sky-blue dress, she readjusts the white bow tie in her hair. She looks up into the sky, warmly smiles and wonders. 'Kushina-sama, okaasan, are you proud of me?'

The light seems to twinkle through the clouds as if it is answering her.

'Just three more people. I can do this!' Ayame thought with a face of full determination.

'Two more people.' Naruto and Sasuke thought as he watches the line. They both stood up and rushes up to the rope in between the buildings. Quickly they cut the rope that held the banner bundled up, and let the banner roll. As the banner rolls to the ground, it uncovers the two kanji symbols, 'Congratulations Ayame!' Quickly following the next step is Naruto using the lighter, Naruto lit the eight fireworks in front of him, watching as the spark burn the flint that eventually flows its way into its firework. Shooting off into the sky as Ayame's name is about to be called with perfect timing. Naruto took his last step as he grabbed a flagpole set previously by Sasuke and waved the white flag with the Kanji symbol 'Congratulations' in the air as he screams out Ayame's name.

"Ayame!" Naruto screamed into the megaphone also previously set up by Sasuke, Naruto was so glad Sasuke figure out a better way to amplify his voice.

As soon as Sasuke cut his wire to let the single banner roll to the ground with Naruto, Sasuke quickly ran to his set of fireworks and did a katon no jutsu without inhaling his breath all the way in. He lightly blew out a small steady stream and whips his head in one direction to light every single flint. Satisfied with his jutsu, he rushes to grab his white flag with the Kanji for Ayame and waves it, just as Naruto did his.

"Ayame!" Screaming into his megaphone also previously set up by him. He gave himself a mental pat on the back as he thought up a better idea than Naruto for a change.

Ayame stood in line. Her name is about to be called next. She watches as one of her classmates just accept his degree.

"Ayame!" She hears in the background.

She turns to her right and she immediately became dumbfounded, her eyes became wide, her mouth gape, her shoulder slumped. "How do you two keep doing this!" she whispers to herself.

"Ayame!" Hiruzen calls her name as he amusedly watched the entire situation happening. From the moment, they stood up on the rooftop, he saw everything, the bow and arrow, the banner cutting/rolling, and even the fireworks going off.

She shyly walks up to the Sandaime and just before she grazes the degree in his hands, she stops, only to hear fireworks going off. "Ayame!" The boys call out. Everyone turns their heads as the fire goes off only to see the two boys waving their hard-white flags with Kanji.

Everyone who turned their heads started to cheer alongside the boys. As if the energy from Naruto and Sasuke flowed into them. With the heavy number of fireworks going off and the center banner, and they flag waving. They only thing they could do is cheer louder.

"Ayame!" Naruto and Sasuke call out in unison, while the audience cheers with a passion. Teuchi also in the crowd also tries his hardest to cheer for his daughter. If someone looked at him, they would have seen tear rivers flowing down his eyes. Teuchi's so proud to have such an amazing daughter.

Ayame couldn't help but give a smile, regardless if she is shy, stunned or embarrassed about the entire situation.

"They're a fun bunch, aren't they?" Sandaime asks her as she graciously accepts her degree.

Giving her Hokage a happy nod of her head, she turns with a smile. She jumps and throws out her hand into a sweet winning pose and waves happily to the boys.

The day's ceremony ends with Ayame taking photos with her friends, hugs, lots of hellos and goodbyes. Her favorite photo of the day was when she took one with Naruto and Sasuke. They stood to each other's back. Sasuke's right arm stretched out giving the victory pose while Naruto stood to his back with his left arm stretched out as well giving his victory sign. Both boys gave a very large accomplished grin with closed eyes while Ayame held her elbows on top of their heads and chin resting in the palms of her hands giving a wide smile with closed eyes.

Flash Forward

The years flew by quickly but faster for many of the younger generations. Naruto and Sasuke were luckily enough to join the same class once again since the beginning of their ninja school year. Six years ago, Naruto and Sasuke joined the academy, but four years ago Naruto joined the ninja program with Sasuke still by his side. At the start of the ninja program, Naruto and Sasuke got the chance to meet many of the clan's heir and heiress. Hiashi's daughter Hinata, Inuzuka's heir, Kiba, Ino-shika-cho's heir(s) and heiress(es), Ino, Shikamaru, and Chouji and a few others.

Even though Naruto and Sasuke joined the ninja program early; the Sandaime did not allow anyone to graduate until after they are at least twelve years of age. Apparently, there were too many issues with children graduating early and having early psychological issues, Sasuke's brother, Itachi being the biggest example.

Today's exam day, Naruto and Sasuke are now twelve years old. They are now old enough to graduate and become shinobis at least Sasuke is. Sasuke can wake up in time for class while Naruto ended up oversleeping and waking up a bit late for school just like most of his school days.

After Ayame graduated and is no longer going to the academy while working full time with her father, she no longer takes walks with Naruto to class, which still makes Naruto slightly sad. Normally Ayame wakes Naruto up in case if he ever sleeps in; guess he misses waking up to seeing her smiling face, sometimes angry depending on the time of the month. At least there's still every day after school that he could see her wonderful face.

Today, Naruto strolls into class and notices that many students were already in their seats from the start of the year. He notices Sasuke sitting in the front with two free spots to the right of him which Naruto assumes one is saved just for him. He looks around the classroom and sees a few of the classmates. A pineapple head shape boy, Shikamaru, a boy with weird marking on his face and a dog, Kiba, purple-haired female with eyes pupil-less eyes, Hinata, and many others.

He watches everyone eye him as he walks over to Sasuke in the front.

"How the hell you sleep in? We didn't do any training yesterday." Sasuke asks him as he watches Naruto takes a seat next to him.

"You know as well as I do that Ayame normally wakes me up in case I oversleep." Naruto grumbles as he lays his head on the desk.

"She's gonna wooden spoon you for all your tardiness like last year." Sasuke tells him as he leans back with his arms behind his head.

"You know, I wonder, how come we never try to run from her when she's mad?" Naruto asks as he doesn't even bother to lift his head off the desk.

"We did try, we both got our lumps quadrupled by the next morning."

Naruto groans in memories of his lumped head. "Instead of being a civilian, Ayame could command a great spy network. Eyes and ears all throughout Konoha, there's no use in hiding from her." Sasuke could only nod in agreement as he still held his eyes closed while leaned back with his arms behind his head.

"Sup fellas." Kiba calls out as he walks up to them.

Sasuke opened one of his eyes to look at the boy while Naruto turns his head to his left cheek to look at the boy as well.

"Inuzuka" Sasuke asks.

"Sup Kiba." Naruto groans from the desk.

"Hey, I heard a rumor that it was you two that pulled off that amazing fireworks and banner prank during the civilian graduation a few years back."

Naruto grins without even looking up. "I don't recall what you are talking about."

"Sure you do, the timing was supposedly amazing and how did you manage to get fireworks at that age?" He answers.

"No one denies an Uchiha." Sasuke answers as he closes his one eye basically confirming Kiba's rumor.

Naruto quickly jabs Sasuke's right side. "Don't get cocky, lord Uchiha and thanks for giving out information, lord Uchiha." Naruto mockingly tells him.

Sasuke jumps at the jab, quickly rubbing his side from the immediate pain. "I mean, I don't know what you're talking about." Sasuke corrects himself as he narrows his eyes at Naruto.

Suddenly, the pencils on top of the desks started shaking. Random things start to fall off the desk and on to the floor.

"Aye, you feel that?" Kiba asks

"Aww shit, here they come." Naruto tells them as he sits up and leans back like Sasuke.

"I'm sitting with him!" calls out a voice.

"No, I am!" Calls out another voice.

"And here they are, Ino and Sakura." The pineapple haired boy said.

"He's mine!" the pink haired girl screams as she rushes through the door.

"NO, he's MINE!" the purple clothed, blond haired girl replies as she walks past her.

Both girls' notices Naruto sitting in their spot. "Move Naruto!" they yell together.

"For what Sakura-chan?" Completely ignoring Ino.

"I'm going to sit next to Sasuke-kun today." Sakura says matter-of-factly as she clasps her hands together and gains hearts for eyes.

"No, I am!" Ino says as she turns towards Sakura.

Naruto looks at the girls, then to Sasuke, then to his seat position. "Ladies, Ladies. Calm your tempers and let's resolve this like the adults we're about to be."

Warning bells immediately went off inside Sasuke's head, he did not like that tone coming from Naruto.

Naruto quickly stood up and pulled Sasuke's seat cushion towards the center. "There! A seat on either side!"

Sasuke evilly looks at Naruto. "You're a complete dick!" Sasuke calls out as Ino and Sakura each took a seat on either side of Sasuke.

Naruto only gives a Cheshire cat-like smile before working his way to the top row for the other extra seat.

"Sasuke-kun, let's go on a date!" Sakura asks him.

"What's a date?" Naruto asks as he turns around towards Sakura.

"A date is something when two people go out to eat and do stuff together." Sakura says. "With their bodies." Ino finishes as she squirms with both girls having hearts for eyeballs.

"If that's all a date is, Sasuke and I have dates all the time."

"EHHH!" The whole classroom screams out as they jump back in shock, some face faults in disgust.

"What? We eat every day after school and we train our bodies. Is that what you people do not consider a date?" Naruto asks out loud as he is completely confused.

"Baka…" Sasuke calls out. "A date is generally between a male and female." Sasuke explains. "Generally…"

"Ah! That makes more sense, you two should have explained it better." Naruto tells Sakura and Ino. "Aye Sakura-chan, let's go on a date." Naruto asks with a smile.

"Eww no! Why would I go out with someone clan less orphan like you when I could have someone like Sasuke-kun." Sakura says as she turns to Sasuke with hearts in her eyes.

Naruto looks at her for a second. "That was harsh, Sakura-chan. You could have just said no. No needed to be a bitch about it." Naruto sighed as he continued to walk up the stairs towards the purple haired Hyuga.

"Sasuke-kun, let's go on a date, yea?" Sakura asks with still hearts in her eyes.

Sasuke looks at her for a moment, a little-pissed off. "Why would I go on a date with a clanless girl like you? You're pathetic, attacking Naruto just because he's an orphan. You forget I'm an orphan as well." Sasuke tells her as he turns forward, clasps his hands together and leans into them as he tries to calm himself down.

Sakura could only whimper on how harsh it sounded coming from Sasuke.

Ino looks at Sakura from behind Sasuke. "You messed up badly forehead." She whispers to her as she cups her lips with her hand, hoping Sasuke wouldn't hear her. "You know Sasuke and Naruto are extremely close friends, and by insulting Naruto, you insult Sasuke too. You better go apologie to Naruto later." Ino explains.

"Good morning Hinata." Naruto greets her as she felt a little annoyed.

"Good morning Naruto-kun, are you feeling ok?" Hinata quietly whispers as she turns slightly pink from the interaction with Naruto.

"I'm ok." Naruto asks her as he takes a seat next to her to lean back and shuts his eyes to think.

"That was a bit harsh coming from Haruno-san, why did you even ask her out on a date, I don't see you holding any sort of romantic interest in her?" Hinata asks in slight confusion.

"Oh, is that what a date is for?" Naruto opens his eyes to looks at Hinata in shock.

Hinata looks at Naruto and gives a small, shy nod.

"Are you ready for this exam?" Naruto asks her to change the mood.

"As ready as I'll ever be." She tells him with some determination.

Just before Naruto decides to start another conversation, Naruto notices Iruka-sensei walks in through the classroom door with Mizuki-sensei to explain what will be on the exam and how the procedure will be going on.

"Greeting students, everyone here today will be taking the final exam separately. Mizuki-sensei and I will be watching you, students, one by one." Iruka looks at everyone's faces before continuing. "Mizuki is now handing out envelopes, you are not to talk about it to your classmates. This is your own personal mission. You will be evaluated on how you perform these tasks. If we catch wind that you shared it with your classmate, you will automatically fail."

Naruto watches Iruka-sensei sternly tells everyone.

"Follow your mission to the best of your ability. You have until the end of the class day. You are to begin of your choosing. Good luck and make Konoha proud." With that Iruka and Mizuki walked out the classroom once missions were all passed out.

"Good luck Hinata!" Naruto tells her as he stands up and walks down the steps to Sasuke.

"You too, Naruto-kun." She answers back.

Naruto slowly walks down to Sasuke. He holds out a fist at him. Sasuke pounds the first right back. "Let's get wild!" Gives Naruto an equally shared grin. "Let's meet up at Ayame's at the end of the day."

"Of course, got to break it to Ayame that we're adults!" Naruto tells him.

Ino and Sakura look at each other. 'Who's this Ayame?' They both separately thought.

"Naruto, I want to apologize for what I said earlier." Sakura tells him as she stands up to give a slight apologizing bow.

"No worries Sakura-chan. Water under the bridge." Naruto tells her as he waves it off. "Good luck with your exam Sakura-chan." Naruto calls out as he walks up to the window and jumps.

Naruto quickly runs outside towards Ichiraku for a quick bowl of ramen before starting his mission. Naruto notices that Ayame and Teuchi just started their prepping for the day.

"Ayame!" Naruto calls out as he enters the bar.

"Oh morning Naruto, aren't you supposed to be doing your exam right now? You're not skipping out are you!?" Ayame questions.

"No, I just got my mission for the exam. Everyone's given something different. I figured I get something to eat before looking at it to start." Naruto explains as he takes a seat on the bar stool.

"That's very adult-like of you Naruto." Ayame tells him as she reaches over and pinches his cheek.

"Aww stop it." He weakly swats her hand away as he tries to hide the pink under his cheeks from her compliment.

Quickly whipping up a bowl for him, she watches as Naruto opens his envelope up to read his mission.

Sneak into Hokage Tower

Find and retrieve forbidden scroll without getting caught.

Meet up at South forest to be evaluated.

Requirements, must use Henge, Kawarimi and bunshin no jutsu at least once.

"Forbidden scroll huh, that sounds fishy." Ayame asks as she stood behind him with a bowl of tonkotsu ramen.

"Ayame." He whines. "You're not supposed to know about it."

"Oh? And why not?" She asks as she places a hand on her hip and looks at him, telling him to explain.

"Iruka-sensei says, and I quote "you are not to talk about it to your classmates. This is your own personal mission.""

"Naruto, I am not your classmate, that makes me an exception to the rule." Ayame grins at him with shut eyes.

Naruto looks at her in shock as he thought about it. "You are so smart, Ayame!"

She quickly gives a smiling nod as she takes a seat next to him. "I'd go ask Sandaime about that one. I recall some older shinobis mentioning about how the forbidden scroll contains many dangerous jutsus. It's especially dangerous if it falls into the wrong hands."

After a few minutes of talking and inhaling his ramen, he pulls out one thousand yen and places it on the counter. "I'm off to Hokage tower." He tells her as she jumps off the stool. Ayame got off hers as well and gives him a warm hug. "Good luck Naruto." Naruto couldn't tell but Ayame slightly blushes at the interaction.

Naruto notices how much they grew in the last four years. He's now four ft seven while she's standing at five foot two at the age of seventeen. "I'll come back soon." Naruto tells her as he lets go and rushes out the bar towards Hokage tower.

"Ahem!" Teuchi coughs into his hand.

"Otousan, how long you been standing there?" Ayame nervously asked as sweat drops quickly came down her forehead to her chin.

"Long enough, get back to work!" Teuchi commands her.

Naruto walks right past all the guards at the tower, and up the staircase "Jiji, I have a problem!" Naruto yells from the stairwell into the chamber.

"Naruto, I'm old, not deaf. So, lower your voice before you give me a heart attack." Hiruzen blandly tells him as he stamps a scroll. "What seems to be the problem?" Hiruzen asks as he rolls up the scroll to grab another scroll.

"Hypothetically speaking, what would you do if the forbidden scroll would suddenly disappear?"

Hiruzen immediately looks up at Naruto with a serious face and answers in a more serious tone than Naruto is used to. "Hypothetically answering, I'd find out who did it and charge them with treason."

"So what could treason be consisted of?" Naruto shyly asks as he looks away and scratches his arm.

"Banishment, execution, varies on what's been done exactly. Now you want to tell me what is going on Naruto."

"You know about the genin exam right?" Naruto asks as he walks up to take a seat.

"Yes, Iruka is doing things a bit different these past few years. This year I recall him sending out each student doing their own type of genin missions. Where are you going with this?" Hiruzen asks.

"So, do you think he would do something as treachery as sending an academy student to go steal the forbidden scroll do you?" Naruto wonders.

Hiruzen looks at Naruto for a moment before leaning back into his seat to take a puff from his tobacco pipe. "Iruka wouldn't scheme something to this degree, he's a loyal Konoha through and through, but someone else could be. Is the forbidden scroll your mission Naruto?"

"Mhmm, Ayame saw my mission list and suggested I talked to you about this first. Especially, if I decide to follow through with the exam." Naruto explains as he hands the envelope to the Sandaime.

"Ayame has a good head on her shoulders." Hiruzen states as he looks over the envelope. "You do what your exam states Naruto, I'll take care of the rest." Hiruzen tells him as he hands back the envelope while standing up to grab a scroll. "Here you go, one fake forbidden scroll." Hiruzen rummages around till he finds a similar three-foot scroll to give to Naruto.

"Where exactly are you to meet for delivery?" Hiruzen asks.

"Unclear, the note only said somewhere south forest." Naruto answers.

"I see, well, get going. You don't want to let your examiner wait too long." Hiruzen tells Naruto as he rushes Naruto out the door.

"Thanks Jiji!" Naruto tells him as he runs out the chamber as he ties the scroll to his back.

Once Naruto was out of sight, Hiruzen snaps his fingers, four ninjas, each wearing a different animal shape porcelain masks appears in a puff of smoke. "Sir!" All four ninja answers as they kneeled to the ground.

"Follow him and keep him safe, I want whomever it is captured and brought in for questioning. Allow no harm to Naruto!" Hiruzen commands. "Also stay out of Naruto's view and review his abilities."

"Hai!" All four answers as they disappear in a puff of smoke.

Naruto rushes along the rooftops with a large green and white scroll tied to his back. Slightly curious about the entire situation. 'I wonder what Jiji has planned." Naruto thinks to himself as he continues his route towards the south forest. Completely missing the four ninjas following him.

Hiruzen walks out of Hokage tower and calls his armed forces with a burst of his chakra.

"Sir!" answers an estimated fifteen of Hiruzen's shinobi force appears.

"Uzumaki Naruto has stolen the forbidden scroll. I want him found and brought in for questioning! He is not to be harm! Is that clear!" Hiruzen commands with a thunderous voice.

"Hai!" answered the shinobi before disappearing in a wave of smoke.

Five miles outside the south village gate deeper towards the forest, Naruto sits down and waits for his examiner, curiously looking at the scroll. 'I wonder what exactly is written in here.' Naruto thinks to himself.

"No, I should not look!"

'But it can't hurt. It is a fake scroll.'

"Oh joy, I'm talking to myself!"

'Just open the damn thing!'

"Well, I convinced myself!" Naruto calls out into the wild before opening the scroll. "Let's see, hey there's a note."

"Naruto!" a voice calls out before Naruto could open the note.

"Iruka-sensei?" Naruto answers.

In a puff of smoke, Iruka appears in front of Naruto, looking down at the boy. "Why did you steal the forbidden scroll?"

"Because this is my mission exam, is it not?" Naruto questions his teacher.

"No, your mission should have been something as simple as henging into Ayame and bring me a bowl of her special ramen. Or even transforming yourself into a different clan heir and stealing their undergarments."

Naruto immediately looks at his sensei with a raised eyebrow. "Iruka-sensei, are you a closet pervert." Naruto laughs as he points.

"No, but it would have made the mission that more serious, who in their right mind would not be embarrassed about stealing undergarments? If they would have been caught, that would have been dangerous on both ends." Iruka explains

"Hmm." Naruto thought as he closes his eyes to think. "That actually makes sense."

"But not everyone would have got these types of mission. It all varies as E-rank missions."

"I just followed my envelope, Iruka-sensei." Naruto tells his sensei as he pulls out the envelope and hands it to him.

Iruka immediately looks at the card and finds out that Naruto isn't lying. "Mizuki!" Iruka dangerously voice.

"Correct! I knew I could trust you to find Naruto, Iruka!" Mizuki calls out, "You always seem to easily find the boy during every prank session." Mizuki tells them. "Good job Naruto! I knew you would have been able to steal the scroll!" Mizuki calls out as he jumps on to one of the larger branches.

"Eh? Why me? Out of every heir and heiress, why pick me?" Naruto questions as he straps the scroll on his back before standing next to Iruka.

"Because everyone ignores you. No one gives a shit about you. I knew very well you would be able to bypass the tower's security and guards. All due to the Kyuubi."

"The Kyuubi?" Naruto asks as he crosses his arms and tilts his head.

"Quiet Mizuki!" Iruka dangerously threatens.

"Have you never wondered why everyone avoids you Naruto? No one likes you Naruto nor do they care for you. It's impossible to destroy such a powerful entity, which is why people rather just avoid you, just because you are the Kyuubi reincarnated!" Mizuki tells him stunning the boy in his place.

Iruka pulls out a kunai as Mizuki slowly reaches towards his back for a larger shuriken.

"Naruto, you are not the Kyuubi. Do not listen to him." Iruka tells him as he jumps in front of the boy. Iruka quickly notices that the life inside of Naruto's eyes turn dull and pale.

"You don't have the time to be worrying about the Kyuubi Iruka." Mizuki yells as he jumps to Iruka.

"Naruto, snap out of it!" Iruka screams as he shouts at Naruto.

Inside Naruto's mind, he began recalling all the events throughout his entire life. Every time he walked somewhere, asked for help, in the stores. They all ignored him like he wasn't even alive. 'If you ignore something long enough, maybe it'll disappear.'

Naruto notices people walk past him. When they bumped into him, they don't even look in his direction. Children see him but don't even come up to him. They back away and move in the opposite direction.

Ayame felt something wrong. Her chest felt heavy as her heart felt like it dropped. She needed to be near Naruto, for something. "Something is wrong otousan." She voices out as she looks out the bar and gazes into the distance. "I never felt this way before."

"Whatever is going on with Naruto, it'll be ok. Have faith in him Ayame, and stay busy to keep your mind occupied." Teuchi tells her as he continues the evening prep work.

"Ok otousan." She tells him as she gets back to work. "Be careful Naruto." She whispers.

As Iruka is currently fighting Mizuki, Naruto is busy internally fighting with himself. He's currently sitting on the floor inside his empty mind. Clutching his knees as the little boy in him shrank little by little.

It's his fault Iruka's parents died, it's his fault many of the villager's families died, it's his fault everyone's sad, it's his fault for everything. Everyone fears him to the point everyone would avoid him. Naruto latched out as he grew up, hoping to get some sort of acknowledgment. To be heard, to be known, to be seen… Seen as a child, seen as a person, seen as a human.

"Naruto, snap out of it!" Naruto slightly hears in the distance.

"Naruto, I know you are hurting, but snap out of it and move!" The voice calls out again.

"It's no use, Iruka!" Mizuki tells him. "The Kyuubi will die for all its sins!" Mizuki says as he punches Iruka in the stomach. Bruise and battered, Iruka falls forward in pain as he loses all the air in his body.

Mizuki is not in any better shape. He groans as he slowly creeps up towards Naruto. He doesn't notice Iruka trying to push himself off the floor. Both men are low on chakra, unable to do any types of jutsus.

"First, I'll kill you, you damn fox, and then I'll kill that ramen girl you seemed to be attached to." Mizuki evilly laughs.

"I'll kill that ramen girl you seemed to be attached to." a different voice echoes inside his head.

Naruto looks above him and calls out her name. "Ayame!" Naruto let go of his knees and pushes him off the floor, Naruto rages at the threat. Naruto closes his eyes and takes a deep breath with his small body.

Immediately upon opening them, his real body begins to regain the life back in his eyes. "You threaten my Ayame! I'm going to have to hurt you now!" He looks over to Iruka. "Hundred folds!"

Mizuki looks at him and evilly laughs as he covers his eyes with one hand. "I would love to see you try!"

Naruto bends forward just a little as he quickly dashes towards Mizuki. Quickly running through a couple of hand seals, he sets up a jutsu. "Bunshin no jutsu." A puff of smoke appears to have his body split in two. While one bunshin lays on the floor, dying.

While catching Mizuki off guard, the one Naruto that jumps over Mizuki quickly lifts the scroll from his back, twists his body in midair and pummels Mizuki with the scroll. Following the motion as Mizuki bends forward, Naruto flips his body to heel kick Mizuki on the back of the head, immediate dropping him to the floor.

As Naruto lands on the ground with his two feet. "Take that!" Naruto shouts as he turns around to help Iruka. After about a step, a hand grabs on to his shoulder and spins him around. Mizuki quickly uppercuts Naruto on the chin. Making him fly backward landing towards Iruka.

"If that's all you got, then you really should die, Kyuubi." Mizuki calls out.

Naruto quickly sits up and spits out the blood-forming inside his mouth. "If that's all you got, you really should quit being a ninja. Ayame hits harder than you." Naruto tells him as he wipes the blood coming out his mouth to his chin.

Naruto stands up and dashes towards Mizuki again, forming new hand seals.

"I will not fall for it twice!" Mizuki screams as he lunges at Naruto.

"Kawarimi! Che…" Mizuki notices as he felt his punch connect with the scroll.

Flying out from a puff of smoke, a deformed Naruto flies towards Mizuki. He throws a kunai at him effectively splitting into two. Mizuki ducks forward while keeping his eyes on the bunshin only to turn around to hear another puff of smoke behind him. As Mizuki turns around, Naruto uppercuts him right in the jaw. Using the momentum of the uppercut, and while Mizuki's head is stuck upward, Naruto uses his left fist to launch forward to weakly hit Mizuki's face once again.

Mizuki stood his ground as his arms dangle in front of him, while Naruto lands on the ground gasping for air. Naruto notices that his attacks are barely phasing Mizuki.

"Now you really done it. I'm pissed!" Mizuki shouts.

"I'm curious about how you'll feel after I kick your ass as an academy student." Naruto mumbles as he continues to gasp for air.

Unknown to Mizuki, while he was battling Naruto, Iruka was catching his breath and restoring his chakra. Hoping it would have given them the advantage. Constant attacks should stop Mizuki from restoring any chakra.

Naruto felt a hand again grab his shoulder. Not taking a chance this time he quickly spins around and punches the body behind him. Making Iruka fall over and groan in pain.

"What the hell Naruto, I'm on your side." Iruka groans out.

"Heh, sorry Iruka-sensei!" Naruto bashfully apologizes as he scratches the back of his head as he looks at his sensei.

Mizuki notices the situation and quickly took advantage and quickly rushes to give Naruto a right hook Naruto while kicking Iruka in the face making him flip backward towards Naruto.

"Two for the price of one. I love a great deal!" Mizuki mockingly shouts at them as he creates the cross ram hand seals. "Kage bunshin no Jutsu!" out poofs two more Mizuki(s).

Iruka stood up to eye the disadvantage and ends up creating the same hand seals. Iruka pushes some decent amount of chakra into the seals and one more of Iruka stood next to him.

"Three on three. Naruto, this is a kage bunshin, one effective hit should dispel them." Iruka calmly tells his student.

"The jutsu looks simple enough to do, let me try!" Naruto tells them as he does the two cross ram symbol and pours his entire chakra into the seal. "Kage bunshin no jutsu!"

Immediately upon creation, Iruka and Mizuki are stun at the creation of the jutsu. Out poofs over a hundreds of Naruto spread out among the forest. Each one in a different position as they look over at the two adults.

"Oh, you're so screwed." Everyone of Naruto's bunshin voices together and equally grinning.

Screams were heard throughout the village as Naruto pummels Mizuki as he begged for mercy.

Naruto and Iruka slowly walked towards the south gate as they equally dragged a beaten up, bruised face Mizuki towards the village as the sun is setting. Giving the two heroes a warm welcome back towards the village.

"Great job Naruto!" Naruto hears his Jiji tell him as he is greeted by his Hokage. "Great job to you too, Iruka." With a snap of his fingers, Hiruzen summons four of his ninjas. Take Mizuki to T&I chambers to see Ibuki. Naruto, go see Ayame, she's waiting for you at your place. I'll take it from here." Hiruzen commands.

"Thanks, Jiji." Naruto exhaustingly tells him as he slowly heads in the direction of his apartment.

Hiruzen waits until Naruto is out of hearing distance before calling out the team of ninja that were supposed to protect him. With a snap of his fingers, four ninjas in porcelain masks appeared knelt to the ground.

"Report!" Hiruzen commands.

"Uzumaki Naruto is fit to become a genin. He showed basic taijutsu, along with a high chakra usage upon creating the kage bunshin, effectively summoning a little over three hundred kage bunshins. Naruto also used three academy jutsu at least once, kawarimi, bunshin and henge. Basic strategy for its usage. I strongly recommend him to pass the academy exam." The team leader of the four ninjas call out.

"I second that vote."

"I third that vote."

"I fourth that vote."

"Iruka?" Hiruzen looks at the teacher.

"I agree with the votes."

"Effective tomorrow, Naruto is to graduate the academy." Hiruzen tells Iruka.

"Sandaime-sama, you didn't you tell me Naruto had four ANBU ninjas follow him? Was he ever in any real danger?" Iruka weakly asks.

"Never, we would have been able to stop any sort of life-threatening situation. Sandaime-sama asked us to watch, review and deal with the situation as needed. Naruto and you had everything handled." The leader tells them.

"What about the scroll?" Iruka wonders.

"It's a fake forbidden scroll Iruka, Naruto came to me after Ayame saw his mission list and notice something that was amiss." Hiruzen explains. "I told the forces that Naruto stole the scroll just to catch the traitor off guard."

"I see." Iruka softly smiles.

"Sandaime-sama, your orders?"

Hiruzen looks at the group of four. "Dismiss." Instantly, the four kneeling ninja's disperses in a puff of smoke.

"Iruka, how do you feel about the situation?"

"Naruto effectively delayed long enough for me to regain some strength when battling Mizuki. His skill set is poor but that possibile due to our lack of teaching. I feel as if he would quickly soak up any sort abilities once taught." Iruka explains.

"You may be right. Good work Iruka. Go get yourself checked out at the ward." Hiruzen tells him as he turns away leaving the area, leaving Iruka to his own thoughts.

Naruto stood in front of his door as the evening wind blew. Naruto wanted to knock on his door instead of rushing in, even though it's his own home.

After a few minutes of contemplating, Naruto turns the doorknob and opens his way in. Immediately, before getting his body through the door, a hand reached out and pulls him into a hug. "Welcome home Naruto!" She tells him.

Naruto quickly latches his arms around her, not wanting to let her go.

"How did you know I was outside the door?" Naruto confusedly asked.

"I heard you walk up the stairs, so I waited at the door. I told Lord third I would be here waiting for you, so I waited until you were ready to come inside. I'm glad you're safe." Ayame warmly tells him as she tears up into his hair.

"I'm only ok because of you Ayame!" Naruto whispers as he rubs his face into her stomach as he held her tighter.

As she let go of the hug, "Are you hungry?" she softly asks. Naruto immediately shook his head, so instead, she led him towards his bathroom. "Let's get you washed up then Naruto. You must be exhausted, I know I am." She tells him as she leads him into the bathroom.

Naruto glances as their connecting hands and blushes. Naruto, then quickly gives her an eye as he looks her up and down. Out of work clothes and into pajamas, noticing the cute little ramen symbols and ingredients.

Standing outside his bathroom as she leans against the door frame, Ayame patiently waits for Naruto to be done with his shower. She thought about the day, as she thinks about what Lord Third tells her in two very short words.

"Naruto knows."

Coming out the bathroom, completely clean and ready for bed, wearing his plain white striped pajamas. Naruto stretches his arms as he walks out the door. He notices quietly Ayame waiting.

"Sorry for taking so long." He apologizes.

"It's ok Naruto." She tells him as she takes his hand and leads him to bed.

Naruto looks at her in complete confusion. "I think I'll just take the couch." He suggests as she fixes the pillows.

"Be quiet and get into bed." Ayame commands as she lays on the inner bed closer towards the wall.

Naruto lays down beside her very close to the edge of the bed. Nervous about what is going on. 'Ayame never slept over before.' He thinks to himself.

Ayame grabs a hold of him and turns him around before pulling him into her. She slides an arm under his head while her other arm strokes his head. "I heard you know."

Naruto softly nods his head as he quietly breathes into her chest and softly places his arm around her waist. He realizes the situation now and understands what is going on.

There is an awkward silence. The only sounds are her ruffling his head and the two of them breathing.

"Did you always know?" Naruto quietly whispers.

"Mhmm."

"Did it ever worry you?" He softly mumbles.

"Never."

"Was you scared?" He quietly asks.

"Nope."

"Did you care?"

"About?"

"Me being the Kyuubi." Naruto grips Ayame tighter.

"Naruto, you are NOT the Kyuubi."

"How do you know?"

"I believed in your parents abilities." She quietly answers.

Naruto throws his head back to look at her in the face, his expression is in complete shock.

"You knew my parents!? Who are they!?" He slightly shouts.

She instantly pulls his head back towards her chest. "As of right now you are not ready to learn who they are. You cannot carry the responsibility of that knowledge just yet, I will tell you that they love you dearly."

"How can you say that!? All my life I been wondering who my parents are." Naruto tells her as tears begun to flow down his eyes.

"Naruto, do you trust me?" She seriously asks him as she continues to stroke the back of his head.

There's another awkward silence before Naruto answers her. "With my life!"

"Then trust me when I say when you are ready, you will know." She clearly tells him as she feels as he starts to slowly calm down.

Naruto quietly says "ok" before slowly falling asleep in her arms, clutching her like a lifeline.

"Ayame."

"Hmm?"

"Thank you, for everything." Naruto finally tells her as he slowly falls into a much-needed sleep.

"Mhmm." She sounds out as they both pass out into the night.

Author's Notes

Thus ends the background story. Pretty sure my fight scene sucked. I don't care too much for fight scenes anymore especially after I rewrote it a few times. Maybe the Ayame / Naruto interaction could add a little bit of work but I'm happy how it turned out, only took a couple of tries.

I could have expanded on the four years at the academy but I can't imagine much happening while Ayame works full time while Naruto sees her after school. I could only do Ayame, pranks and training for so long. Moving it along this way helps out.

I have a few ideas on how I want the story to flow now that Naruto is a genin and becoming of age.

Read / Critique / Review please!