Disclaimer: I know I don't own Naruto or any other characters related! Man! You just keep pushing now, don't you?
Sasuke and Naruto picked on each other's brain on the remaining travel to the Academy, even on escape route number six. To those among you, ignorant, who don't know yet what is escape route number six, let me explain. Sigh.
Those who bothered to read the "Ninja's manual of stealth against fangirls" know that after a while, conventional roads are all under watch, same for the rooftops and, for the more persistent, the sewers. At this point, you have to get creative. The escape route number six is through a building. For the Brothers, knowing the surrounding of the Academy is to know who lives there too. They were currently crossing a living room, with Henges of stray cats on, talking quietly. The woman staying there was half senile already so having her tell someone about a couple of talking stray cats in her house… let's just assume the nurse will suggest the radio was playing.
"They are almost as challenging as the Anbu, neh?" Naruto said.
"Which is quite insulting to the Anbu. Go tell one he's as skilled as a fangirl," answered Sasuke.
Ever wanted to see a cat rolling on the ground laughing? Look just over there…
"Good one. I'll try and send a 'Henge Bushin' do that!"
"You and your pranks... One of theses days, someone is going to figure out who does them."
"Funny how nobody's suspecting the one with the fox inside. A fox of all thing, dammit!"
"Don't you dare blame the fox on this one!"
"Yeah… Why don't you choose a girl yet so that the other give up?" asked the blond slyly.
"Why don't you?"countered Sasuke.
Sasuke and Naruto answered to that in perfect harmony.
"No time!"
"Lets keep the cat coat a little longer, but shut up for once," said Sasuke.
"Hai, hai, Aniki…"
Two kitten jumped out the window and raced to the Academy. They got back to normal once on the roof. From there it was not a problem to get to class. The girls were still looking for them outside. They sat near a window, just so that their stalkers were not too late for class, waiting for them in the street. They didn't have to wait long for them to run in the building, but at least the fangirls kept themselves in check a bit more in the classroom.
"So…" mumbled Sasuke, "...what will happen to the lucky girl today?"
"I've got a real treat for her!" quietly whispered Naruto. "If they haven't understood yet, they never will. Remember the time with the hedgehog and the pincushion?"
"Yeah…"
"Well that's even better…"
"Now you got me interested."
Each days, the fangirls fought for the seat. Each day, something happened to the winner. If she's lucky, all the screws from her chair and desk will have been removed, resulting in a classic but spectacular fall. They always put it on the back of some nameless jealous fangirls. After all, Naruto always helped them get up. They never realized it was on these days their kunai pouch went missing and was found back on the neighbor guard dog's pet house. If they were unlucky… lets just not go there.
Today, it was a cute petite girl with long wavy brown hair. Even if Naruto was not interested in a romance right now and living alone with another guy, he was not gay. That girl was true eye candy. He almost regretted what was about to happen. Almost. But still he thanked mentally all those exercises they went through that results in a profusion of hot females bodies. No wonder why kunoichi were so deadly…
The girl tentatively sat up and did not fall on the floor. She opened the desk and no unwanted flora or animals jumped at her. She let out a breath she wasn't sure when she started holding. Maybe it was her lucky day! She turned toward Naruto… to find out she wasn't in the right seat. They were four rows in front of her! They didn't sit there usually, do they? She got up, almost ran at the right seat before some other girls got there first and turn to look at the two hottest rebels of Konoha. From his seat, Sasuke snorted. The girl didn't see that, her Sasuke looking out the windows, unmoving, except when the wind played in his spiky hair and while the sparkling ray of the sunlight shone in his eyes…
Okay. Maybe Naruto went a little far with the genjutsu. What was unexpected was that another fangirl took the original place the first girl left, which was the good one. She, too, looked around, got up, and sat beside the first fangirl. Not understanding, all of them, except Sakura, who was frowning, and Hinata, who had her eyebrow almost in her hair, fell for the genjutsu taking effect on the chair beside Naruto.
When Iruka got in the class, almost all the girl were seated in a line… at his desk, looking out the window.
"What the heck is happening here?"
That was enough to dispel the light genjutsu and send the young girls, blushing, to their places. They blamed Sakura, since she was the only one still at her place, with Hinata, but the Hyuga was too freaking shy to do anything of the like.
"Okay class. Today is the Genins exam. You're all gonna pass a simple physical and then come back here for a ninjutsu test. Yes, it's the bushin. Now hurry up! The soonest you go, the fastest you pass! Naruto, somebody's at the door for you."
"Who?"
"Somebody you don't leave waiting," answered Iruka simply.
Naruto got up to meet his visitor while the other students went to the first part of the test. The blond turned the corner only to be faced by a white-grey yukata. He didn't even have to raise his head to recognize it.
"Hiashi-sama. What a surprise."
"Naruto-kun. Konichiwa. How are you today?" asked the Hyuga clan's head.
" Me? Well… I… am waiting to get to my physical in order to become Genin so… no stress. Anyway, I'll be at the back of the line by now."
"Yes. Sorry about that. You are starting to be a very hard little man to track," said Hiashi, grinning a little.
Naruto hated to be called 'little'. Yes, he was a little smaller than most other guys his age. But he liked to think he was broader. In which he was right.
"So… The Genin Exam. I remember mine very well."
"Fascinating, Hiashi-san. Now if you could kindly offer me to join your clan so I can refuse, I would like to go pointlessly wait in a line. Somehow, it look like less of a waste of time to me."
"Naruto…I don't understand your anger toward me," said Hiashi with sad eyes.
"I hold you partly responsible for the death of my father. Didn't you realize that yet? The others I blame for this is my father himself to even propose his own sacrifice and leaving two sons behind. The others are in that Cloud's nins clan. By the way, how are the relations with Lightning country? Good I hope?"
"We are pretty much in open hostilities with them and you know it," answered Hiashi, finally showing irritation.
"This will teach you something about politic then. No good alliance will ever come out of human sacrifice."
Naruto walked past him before his emotions get the best of him.
"Naruto. You will become a ninja today. You know that our clan have facilities to help training and a well garnished library. You could have your own tutor. Many Hyugas became Anbu, you know."
Naruto stopped at that. It was too much. Now it got personal. He mentally apologized to Sasuke. What he was about to do could leave nothing but trouble. They worked so hard to get their progress a secret… By the time he got back in front of Hiashi, he made up his mind.
'Sasuke is more important than anything I would want to prove to Hiashi, as tempting it is. I've got to reign it in. I can't tell,' he though.
"So now you resort to trying to buy me in, is that it Hiashi-sama? said Naruto in a low voice.
"No, it's not…"
"I forgot. You already started. From the day you refused to teach the secret of the chakra disrupting touch of the Gentle fist to … how was it? Ha! Yes! Somebody out of the family. One who's name is not 'Hyuga'."
"Naruto…"
"So now what? You'll forbid me to walk freely in the Hyuga compound until I've got some cheap tattoo somewhere on me?"
"Your brother miss you."
"Cheap shot! I don't fall for that. I saw Neji at the Academy for a good while before he became a Genin. Hinata's in my class and we even may end up in the same team. The only thing stopping her to talk to me is her how shyness."
"I don't know what to say."
"Meaning that you got your last argument out? If this is it, I will go now. The line must have thinned out already."
Naruto turned his back once again on the most powerful clan leader of Konoha. Just before turning a corner, he spoke low, just loud enough to be heard by an unmoving Hiashi.
"I wish you a good day… uncle."
Sasuke watched as Naruto came to the exam room, being the last left waiting.
"So?" he simply asked.
"The usual," Naruto answered, shrugging.
"What did you let out?"
"Nothing. But it came close. He gave the 'Neji' argument out."
"Cheap shot."
"Yeah."
"Don't worry, Aniki. Anything else?"
"Almost nothing, you know. Just the fighting style, a limitless access to their library and an Anbu tutor."
Sasuke opened his eyes wide.
"Holy shit."
"Yeah."
Sasuke checked around to be sure they were alone and that no one was spying from afar.
"You…You know, right? I don't have to say it… right?"
"Say what?"
Naruto had that false naïve face Sasuke damned the most. He just felt he owed it to Naruto. To turn down such an offer…
"You know… that fluffy stuff. That I'm proud to be your brother and that I'm happy you're there with me… and stuff."
Naruto smiled and punched Sasuke lightly on the arm.
"Yeah, I know, Aniki. 'Cause I feel the same. Still good to hear it once in a while, right?"
An embarrassed Sasuke nodded without looking at him. And some girl said it was easier to be a guy… right!
The physical went well, even for the weight test. They had to keep their bracelets on for the mobility exam and target practice so it looked like they were giving their all… and take them off without them realizing before getting on the scale. They managed, somehow, to fool the forty year old Genin that had the job to test them. Now that they think about it, it should have been harder!
Then it was the moment of truth. Sasuke went in. Less than thirty seconds later, he was out, a little smirk on his face.
"Your turn."
Naruto walked in. Iruka let him take place in front of Mizuki and him.
"Okay Naruto. Give us three Bushins and you're outta here with this nice Konoha forehead protector," with an info commercial presentation voice.
"If I call in the next twenty second, can I have a second one free?" said Naruto with a falsely astonished face.
Iruka laughed out loud while Naruto put the seals together.
"Bushin no jutsu."
Three nice Bushin stood there imitating Naruto's every moves. He started a tap dance of victory, giving quite a show as the Bushins following his lead.
"Haha! I'm proud of you Naruto. Ramen on me tonight!"
"Thanks you Iruka-sensei! I will take you on that offer but not tonight. I've got something planned with Sasuke."
"Alright. Don't party too late! We give out team listing tomorrow. Don't worry, you've got nothing to fear. Usually, the strongest goes with the weakest to help balancing the teams, but you already have a good team player with you."
"Thank you Iruka. That means a lot."
"Naruto, wait for me outside, I want a word with you alone," said his second teacher.
"No problem Mizuki-sensei."
Naruto waved Iruka goodbye and then got out to find Sasuke waiting.
"Show off."
"So what?"
"Humpf. Go and see what Mizuki want. It's not the only evaluation we've got today, you know."
"I know. It's going to be a busy evening."
How much, he didn't even know yet.
Naruto ran in the forest toward a cabin with a scroll tied on his back. To steal it from the Hokage office with Genin techniques have been… disturbingly easy.
"You have to know, Naruto, that creating three Bushin is an excuse of a test for those who can't even do that," told him Mizuki after the exam.
"Really?" Naruto said, taken aback. It was the first time he heard of this.
"Yes. The real test is now. If you manage to steal the scroll of Forbidden Jutsu in the Hokage office and get to the lost cabin in training area eight, you pass."
So, Naruto canceled the 'evaluation' with Sasuke that they did, once a month, to check their progress and adjust their training accordingly. He watched the Chunin patrol led by a Jonin. He passed over the simple layer trap. He got in, took the scroll, and got out. Now that he got to the cabin, he only had to land and wait. He landed. He waited. But not very long. Iruka seemed to have catch up to him, following his trail. Shit. That would not go well. Where the heck was Mizuki?
"Iruka-sensei! What a surprise! What are you doing here?"
"NAAARUUUTOOOO! What the hell do you think you're doing!"
"Passing my exam, sensei."
"Huh?"
"Well, yeah! Mizuki-sensei told me to steal the scroll as a mission! That would make me truly pass my Genin exam! But really, is there enough Forbidden Scroll for every Genin of our class?"
The stupid question from a usually bright student should have tipped him off, but he got busy playing human shield over Naruto.
"Sensei!"
Hopefully, the kunaïs were destined for Naruto's heart and head. The way Iruka moved, it got in his shoulder and leg. Funny how we discard such wounds when they hurt so freaking much!
"Well now, what have we here…" said a voice from behind a tree.
"Mizuki-sensei! Why are you doing this? I got the scroll without Iruka's help!" plead Naruto.
"You don't get it, do you, demon brat…"said Mizuki in a low voice.
Naruto shot a quick look to Iruka meaning 'shut the hell up'. He turned toward Mizuki, once again with a confused face.
"What? What did I miss?"
"Stupid brat! Thinking I wanted the Forbidden Scroll to give you a nice Genin diploma? Wrong! I will kill you, kill the injured Iruka here and take the scroll to master Orochimaru. How do you feel now, traitor who stole the scroll?" he finished mockingly.
"Pretty good, thanks."
"Huh?"
That's the moment the Hokage chose to get out of the cabin and that the camouflaged Anbu surrounded him.
"WHAT?"
Even Iruka seemed surprised. Probably because he was.
"Do you really think I'm that naive? The old man is the first I went to see. That way was the best to know your real motive. The mental torture you're undergoing right now is so much sweeter anyway," said the grinning blond.
Mizuki shouted at being had, by a Genin none the less, right before he was knocked out cold. A medic Anbu took care of Iruka's wounds while Naruto turned to talk with the Hokage.
"Thank you Naruto," said the old man, bowing his head. "You stopped what could have been a disaster. Come and take tea with me some time. I miss those days when you barged in my office with Sasuke in tow, demanding a new jutsu to learn that would blow up a mountain with two or three seals."
Naruto chuckled at that.
"Beware of what you ask, old man. Now, for your end of the deal."
"Haaa. Yes. You can choose a technique in the scroll of Forbidden Jutsu, and so does Sasuke. Just…"
"Be wary. Be careful. Do not overestimate yourself. Don't strain your mind, deplete your chakra, cut a limb or drink milk passed the due date. Yeah. As if I would do any of these. Why don't you help us then? You would be sure we got it right!"
"Why now, that's a rich idea!" answered Sarutobi, delighted.
'Getting a forbidden jutsu to learn, trained by the Hokage named 'The Professor'. I must... not... droll,' Naruto though.
Iruka, once healed but still having soft spots from his injuries, gave the teams orders, first thing in the morning. Naruto and Sasuke were particularly glad for some reason. The fangirls though that the 'cat that just ate the canary' look was quite hot on Sasuke. Many of them wished they had been that canary.
"Team Seven: Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura."
There. They were with a fangirl. That wasn't really fair to say since the only way not to be with one would have been to be paired with Hinata. Too bad. Naruto would have liked to be with his cousin. On the other side, this was safer, for her. The Jonins Instructors came and went, gathering their students. Now happened what every child liked the least in a day care center. They were the last being picked up.
'Damn' though Sakura, 'Where is he? Doesn't he, whoever he is, know he have to come here?'
She resumed her favorite hobby: looking at Sasuke. He was currently whispering to Naruto. Naruto actually made a pretty good background.
'Oh my god! I still can't believe I am teamed up with the two hottest boy of the class! Look at those two! They… Did they look at me? Yes they did! Sasuke did! Oh my god. He's walking this way. Oh my god! He's going to speak to me!'
Their masked Jonin chose that moment to enter the classroom. Sasuke turned around and sat back aside of Naruto.
'No. No! NOOOOOO! My romance! My ninja summer love!'
In an excess of frustration, Sakura took a chalkboard eraser and threw it right at the source of the disturbance. Square in the face of the disturbance in fact, making the Jonin look like a Noh actor.
"My, my. My first impression of you all is…"
The tall Jonin lift his head in contemplation a moment, then turned toward them and gave them the finger. Yes, you got it. Not the thumb.