Next chapter of Shinobi of Destiny. Naruto and Hanbei take the Genin test in hopes of becoming closer to fulfilling their goal. And a jutsu from the Seal of Scrolls that Naruto gets might be a clue as to who Hanbei's mother and father are.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Naruto and Hanbei stood outside the gates of the academy the now twelve year olds looking at the building. Each was just hours away from an important step of their lives. The past two times they had taken it they didn't pass and each hoped that third time would be the charm for them.
The blond and black haired boys had relied on each other with aid coming from them from Iruka who was a teacher now at the academy. They had worked together and strived to prove themselves to the village that looked down upon them.
The orange wearing boy looked at his best friend. Hanbei had worked with him studying and making sure he did do his work as Hanbei was pretty smart and skillful and good with test scores. He wasn't as smart as some of the other students but he was up there and was no idiot. Naruto had struggled at times but Hanbei made sure he did his work and helped him with problems. Naruto was lower than he was at the grading scale for scores but only around the middle area.
They had worked on their strength, speed, and stamina. Working in secret at night when no one was around to bother them or make degrading comments towards them. Practicing the jutsus they needed to learn in order to pass the test.
Hanbei weared a purple outfit similar to his but with white in place of the blue that was on Naruto's. Although they weren't exactly ideal ninja uniforms or colors they had been the only clothing they could afford as the stores charged them outrageously. So instead of complaining about it they decided to make the best with what they had. Maybe when they had some extra money on hand they get better clothes.
It was early and not yet time for them to enter the building. They still had some time before they needed to be in the classroom.
"You ready Naruto-san?" Hanbei asked him and the blond nodded at him.
The two then entered the academy and headed to the room.
Iruka was seated at his chair in the room and saw the door open and a smile showed on his face as he saw his favorite students enter. Although that didn't mean he gave them special treatment as he was like an older brother to the two ever since he met them five years ago.
"Good morning Naruto, Hanbei. You're a bit early today" He said with a smile and the two boys smiled at him and took their seat.
"Good morning Iruka-sensei." The boys said to him politely.
Iruka cared deeply about the boys. In a way they reminded him of himself when he was younger. Losing their parents when they were young and wanting to prove themselves. Naruto was a bit of a prankster at times and Hanbei was more serious as the two were inseparable. This was the third time they took the exam. The first time they got disqualified as Hanbei was caught giving Naruto the answers and he had expressed his disappointment in them afterwards as they were better than that. The second time they took it they failed the Jutsu part of the exam.
He had a feeling this time would be different.
The door opened and they saw a woman dragging her son in by the ear.
"Ow! Ow! Ow! Mom quit!" The boy complained as he was shoved into the room.
"Get your butt in there and I'll be making sure you don't try to get disqualified or fail on purpose young man!" The woman said and slammed the door shut.
The boy grumbled and went and took his seat and plopped his head down muttering about troublesome women. Naruto and Hanbei snickered at Shikamaru's antics as he took a nap.
Gradually the room started to fill up as those who would take the exam entered the room.
Naruto and Hanbei watched as the room filled and saw a person enter the room which was followed by a loud squeal from many girls and both boys looked in disgust at who entered the room.
Sasuke Uchiha, the last survivor of the Uchiha clan and the top student of them all entered the room full of confidence and arrogance as if he didn't need to be here in both boys' eyes.
Sure he was the top male student but that didn't mean he automatically deserved the heaps of praise that was put upon him as if he was God's gift to Konoha. He was treated with respect and had the finest teachers and many fangirls. This got on Naruto and Hanbei's nerves as they thought he didn't deserve it just because he was the last Uchiha.
Of course saying that out loud would get you castrated by the villagers, or worse. Everyone always talked about the tragedy he had suffered and how brave and noble he was to become a ninja after what he experienced. It was enough to make Naruto sick. They had lived for the past twelve years without anyone except for Iruka and each other and no one ever gave them any sympathy or pity that was heaped upon him.
As he walked past him Naruto gave him a friendly smile and Sasuke didn't bother to look at him and turned his nose up at him. That got him a glare from Hanbei at his actions.
Behind the two boys where a couple of girls gossiping excitedly about the Uchiha. Hanbei rolled his eyes. Fangirls, that's what they were. They weren't ninja they were just dumb lovestruck girls with a stupid crush on the Uchiha who fawn over everything he does even if he picked up a pencil.
The two worst where Ino Yamanaka and Sakura Haruno. They had no business being here, they weren't cut out for being ninja. Maybe Ino had a chance due to her clan's jutsu but Sakura despite being the smartest female in the class were a weakling and despite mastering basics had nothing going for her.
Iruka watched as the students formed in. Hopefuls from the Hyuga clan, The Aburame clan, The Akimichi clan, as well as others took their seat. He looked at the clock and noticed it was time to start and got their attention.
"Alright class you know what today is as it's an important day for you all. This is the day where we decide if you have what it takes to become a Genin. First we will be doing a written test and then afterwards we will call you back to the back room and see if you can perform the basic Jutsus." He said and picked up a stack of papers and walked forward. "Cheating is not allowed and any who does will be automatically disqualified. Is that clear?" He asked and then dropped the stack of heavy papers on Shikamaru's desk waking him up. The students nodded at him.
"Good, you will have one hour and you may begin when I hand you the tests." He said and handed them out to them all.
Naruto and Hanbei received the tests and immediately went to work as they did the written part. Each boy had been studying for this for a while and they knew most of the answers.
After fifteen minutes had passed Hanbei turned his paper in and took his seat. He watched as Naruto struggled with it a bit as he would erase and recheck his answers to make sure everything was right. Written exams weren't exactly his strongest area.
After half an hour had passed he managed to get done and handed in his paper and wiped the sweat off his brow. Iruka smirked at him and gave him a knowing look letting him know that everything was going to be alright if he just believed in himself as he graded the papers.
After an hour had passed he mentioned the results of the exam. To pass and take the other part you needed at least seventy percent. Any lower and you failed.
"Okay let's see, Sakura Haruno, ninety one percent." He said and the pink haired girl gave a laugh at her blonde rival who scowled at him. "Kiba Inuzuka, seventy one percent. Shikamaru Nara, ninety five percent. Sasuke Uchiha, ninety three percent," At that there was a loud cheer from the fan girls much to his annoyance as he gave out more test scores.
"Hanbei, eighty seven percent." He said and Hanbei smiled as he had passed. Naruto looked on as he gave more names. "Hinata Hyuga, eighty four percent. Ino Yamanaka, seventy six percent." He said and went on.
"And Naruto Uzumaki…seventy four percent. Congratulations to all who passed the written exam!" He said and smiled at the two boys.
After those who failed the written exam had left Iruka looked at the remaining students. "Alright then, now is the Jutsu part of the exam. We're going to take one of you at a time and you have to do a series of jutsus. You must do three out of the four correctly to pass and be granted the title of Genin. First up, Hanbei."
Hanbei looked a bit surprised that he was called first. Hesitantly he made his way up front and went with Iruka to the back room. Naruto watched him go into the back room.
Hanbei was a bit hesitant as he was hoping Naruto would go before him. In secret the reason he failed last year was because Naruto did. He didn't want to leave him behind as he could do most of the jutsus already so he had messed up the jutsus on purpose after learning he failed. Now he had no choice but to do them correctly.
"Alright then Hanbei, now then you need to perform these correctly in order to pass. Understand?" Iruka asked him and in the room where two others and one of them was Mizuki. Mizuki and Iruka where still friends although their friendship had been strained over the past years.
"First perform a bushin jutsu." He said and Hanbei did the symbols and produced a series of clones that looked like him. Iruka looked at them and nodded. "Alright, you pass that one. Now then perform a henge. Do it on me if you can."
Hanbei again performed the hand symbols and soon a poof of smoke and he was replaced with a co[y of Iruka. The three looked at him and scanned him and he hoped he got it right. Iruka looked at him closely and smiled as everything was perfect
"Excellent! Now then if you get this one right you will pass. All you need to do is a Kawirami correctly." Iruka said smiling. Hanbei smiled and performed it flawlessly.
"Well done Hanbei! You have passed and are hereby a Genin of Konoha. Congratulations!" Iruka said smiling and gave him a hitai-ate that had the Leaf symbol on it.
"Thank you Iruka-sensei. Is it alright if I stay here until Naruto takes his turn?"
"I don't see any harm. Just don't cause any trouble." He said to him and Hanbei left.
Mizuki had a bit of a scowl on his face as he exited the room.
Naruto smiled as he saw Hanbei walk out of the room with a Leaf hitai-ate. He was happy as his best friend had passed and took a seat next to him as the next person was called in. Naruto was happy and hoped he would pass as well.
Hanbei smiled at him although he hoped Naruto would pass as well. If he didn't then the two would be separated since Naruto would still only be a student while he would be a Genin.
Soon enough Naruto's name was called and the boy stood up and walked to the room a eager bounce in his step hoping to pass.
The girl he walked past weared a pair of pants and a large coat and she took a seat near Hanbei and she let out a sigh as she head a leaf headband as well. Hanbei looked at her as she had also passed.
The girl the heiress of the Hyuga clan Hinata opened her eyes and saw him looking at him and turned her head and looked away. He stared at her strangely at that as she was devastatingly shy. She was one of the few people nice to him and Naruto although she was mostly quiet and had a thing with twiddling her fingers.
Hanbei turned his attention from her and back at the door where Naruto was at.
Inside the room Naruto was breathing hard. He had messed up the clone jutsu doing the wrong symbols and unable to fix it before it was too late as he failed that part. He had managed to get the henge one correctly and now needed to do the Kawirami in order to keep going and take the fourth one.
Doing the symbols he was replaced by the log and felt satisfaction go up inside him as he had done it.
"Good Naruto! Now then for the fourth you-" Iruka started to say but Mizuki interrupted him.
"Pardon me Iruka but let me handle this." He said and stood up. Naruto watched him as he didn't like the man and he walked forward to him and produced two coins. "Flip these into the air boy, let's test your dexterity as a key skill for any ninja is how he can grasp his items and keep a hold of them."
Naruto looked at him and at Iruka who shrugged. He flipped the coins in the air and caught them easily enough. Mizuki smirked and produced two more and ordered him to do it again. He did so and caught them two in each hand.
"Let's increase the amount." He said and produced four more gold coins and handed them to Naruto. "Catch them boy, don't let one hit the ground or it's back to the academy for another year!" He said with a dark smirk on his face.
Naruto flipped them up into the air and timing it moved his hands and caught them holding four in each hand.
Mizuki not impressed gave him six more and ordered him to do it again. Naruto flipped the fourteen coins into the air and watching and timing it carefully caught the coins seven in each hand.
"Impressive, it took me a couple attempts to do that many." Iruka said a smile on his face.
"This is my test Iruka-san if you please?" Mizuki said to him and produced six more coins. "Catch all twenty boy; Itachi Uchiha was able to do this when he was half your age. Catch all of them and you will be a Genin." He said and he doubted he could catch that many.
Iruka looked at the scene wondering why now Mizuki was doing this. He hadn't done anything when the others tried the fourth jutsu. Why now was he doing this? He didn't like Naruto's chances to be certain to pull this off.
Naruto took a deep breath and flipped all twenty coins into the air. Some went higher than others and he caught the lower ones first. The higher ones didn't look like they would be coming down the way he planned them though.
Thinking quickly he did a series of quick hand movements going back and forth and making sure to keep the coins he had on his hand. One started to go past him towards the floor when he made a swipe at it.
Too late, the coin fell to the floor and hit the ground. And with it Naruto's chances.
"Oh, tough luck. Better luck next year kid." Mizuki said to him and took back his money.
Naruto looked upset that he had failed. "Naruto!" Iruka said to him standing up. "You can still take the fourth jutsu. You shouldn't have had to have done this. No one else-"
"That's alright Iruka-san." Naruto said his voice devoid of emotion and a pained smile on his face. "I failed, I tried to do something and I failed to do it. I'd probably fail the jutsu as well. There's…There's always next year. It will be a bit of a bummer to see that Hanbei gets to go on missions though, but hey it's just another year" He said and although he looked on the verge of crying he turned and exited the room.
Mizuki watched him go a smirk on his face. 'Lousy brat almost had me there for a second. He came pretty close. He'll be easy to get him to get me the scroll.' He thought to himself as he watched the boy go.
Hanbei when he saw his painful smile on his face knew he had failed. Pain went through him as while he had passed Naruto had failed and would be left behind for another year. "Naruto." He called out to him. "Are you okay? I'm sorry you didn't-"
"It's alright Hanbei-san, these kind of things happen. …If you don't mind, I wanna be by myself for a little bit." Naruto said and left the room and Hanbei could only watch him go.
Later Naruto sat on a bench in the park. Thinking about what just happened. He had failed…it was as simple as that in his mind. Hanbei would get to be a Genin and be assigned to a team and go on missions. He'd have to wait a year before he could.
If he managed to pass the test…
A lone tear slowly fell out of his eye and went down his face as he had let him down.
He heard footsteps and thought it was going to be Hanbei or Iruka. To his surprise it was Mizuki.
"Tough break there kid, you was so close." He said to him a smirk on his face. "Well there's always next year, it's just a shame you and that other brat won't be ninjas together this year." He said and Naruto looked down as he felt pain go throughout his body breaking his spirit.
"I guess there's nothing you can really do, unless nah you wouldn't be interested." He said and that got his attention.
"Interested in what?" Naruto asked him.
"Ah, it's nothing you wouldn't care."
"What is it?" Naruto said and got up. Mizuki smirked at him.
"Well there is a scroll that can help you. It's something a lot of would be ninjas study. If you managed to get it you would be able to do the jutsus easier." He said stroking his chin.
"Where is it?" Naruto asked him and he smirked at him.
"I can lead you to it, but you'll have to get it boy."
Naruto looked at him not exactly sure if he should trust him. He then made his decision. "Alright… can you lead me to it so I can get it?"
Mizuki smirked darkly. "No problem at all kid."
Later that day Hanbei was looking for Naruto throughout as he hadn't seen him since earlier in the day. He wondered how he was handling it as he knew he was hurting after failing. He wished he hadn't passed as well as he didn't want to leave him behind.
Walking through the woods he heard a voice and soon found the source of it.
"Naruto?" He asked him and saw the orange wearing boy. He was training and Hanbei saw a scroll on a log. "What are you doing?"
"Hey Hanbei, I'm just doing some training."
"Where you'd get this?" Hanbei asked him picking the scroll up.
"Oh that? Mizuki helped me get it, I know I shouldn't really trust him but he said it would help me with the jutsus I need to learn." He said and walked to him.
Hanbei looked at it. He didn't really understand it. It seemed advanced to him.
"I managed to learn one of them, it's this one." Naruto said to him. "I can teach you it." He said and performed the hand symbols teaching him. Hanbei wasn't able to learn it fully and glanced at the scroll looking at the jutsus it contained. Another one caught his eye and he saw the symbols for it that it required him to do.
"Naruto! Hanbei! There you are!" A voice shouted and they turned and saw Iruka approaching them and he appeared upset. "It's true, you do have the scroll. Quick give it back to me."
"What are you talking about Iruka-san?" Naruto asked him.
"That's the scroll of seals!" He said to them loudly. "It contains forbidden jutsu! I never thought you would do such a thing. Sarutobi has sent ANBU to look after you and get it back. Many are upset that you stole it!"
"But this is just a genin scroll." Naruto said as he and Hanbei were confused. "Mizuki said that it would help me."
Iruka looked at the boys. "You don't know what that scroll possesses Naruto, give it back quick! You don't know what AAH!" He shouted as he was suddenly attacked from behind and was sent into a tree and hit hard.
"Give me that!" His attacker shouted and Iruka saw his attacker.
"Mizuki?!" He shouted in disbelief. His former friend smirked at him.
"Sorry Iruka but our friendship is over. I need that scroll and I'd like it very much if these stupid brats didn't try anything dumb like disobey me!" He said with a snarl to the two boys.
"What do you want with this?" Naruto said to him.
"Stupid boy, that contains powerful jutsu. It's too good for the likes of you. Give me that now or else." He said warningly. "I can't believe you would believe me. You're stupider than I thought."
Naruto and Hanbei backed away from him refusing to give it up.
"Stupid kids die!" He shouted and reached for the Shuriken on his back when he was suddenly tackled by Iruka to the ground.
"I won't let you harm either of them!" Iruka shouted at him and got kicked him off.
"Why do you protect these brats Iruka?" Mizuki shouted at him getting up. "That blond one contains the Kyuubi and he killed your parents!"
Naruto's eyes widened and Mizuki smirked at him. "Oh, was I not suppose to tell you that? It's true, wanna know why people hate you Naruto? It's because you contain the fox demon inside of him. The Kyuubi that attacked twelve years ago on the day both of you miserable brats where born!" Both boys looked at one another in shock. "You stupid fools really believe the people here will accept you after all you done? Ha! You must have rocks for brains. You are a monster Naruto, and as for you I don't know about you but you must be some kind of freak as well." He said as he spat at Hanbei.
"That's not true!" Iruka said. "What happened was a horrible accident and my parents did die that day. But I don't blame you, either of you for what happened. I know it was an accident. No one meant for that tragedy to happen. You two are my closest students and I have learned to forgive you Naruto for being the vessel of Kyuubi." He said to them and both boys looked at him knowing his words to be true.
"Stupid fool move out of my way Iruka!" Mizuki shouted as he stood between them.
Suddenly a fist hit Mizuki sending him backwards surprisingly.
"N-Naruto?!" Iruka said in surprise.
The blonde had a look of determination on his face. "I won't let you hurt Iruka or Hanbei! Taju Kage Bushin no Jutsu!" He shouted doing hand symbols. Suddenly hundreds of clones appeared throughout the area as Naruto successfully did the jutsu to the shock of all.
"What? Impossible!" Mizuki shouted.
"Get him!" The clones shouted and charged and overpowered and pummeled him. Mizuki was soon defeated and unconscious.
Iruka soon binded him and rolled up the scroll of seals and put a lock jutsu on it to prevent anyone from opening it.
"Naruto, Hanbei. Are you two okay?" He asked and checked them to see if they were hurt. "I was surprised to see you learn that jutsu Naruto. You have shown that you told the truth."
"Iruka, Hanbei, since I'm the vessel for this fox demon. Does that mean you are going to hate me now?" He asked them.
"Of course not Naruto, I don't hate you. I moved past what has happened. I'm sure Hanbei doesn't hate you either." He said and looked at him who nodded.
"Then, I guess I don't have any problem with it if my true friends don't care about it. It's fine with me!" He said with his trademark smile.
Iruka smiled as well and remembered something. "Here Naruto this is for you." He said and reached into his back pocket. "You successfully did a bushin jutsu, and since the day is still going on you have earned this." He said and strapped onto Naruto's head a leaf hitai-ate to his surprise.
"Y-You mean it? I'm a Genin now?" He asked him and Iruka smiled.
"That's right so you won't have to spend another year practicing. Both of you have earned the title of ninja of Konoha." He said to them and they smiled. "It won't be easy but I'm certain you will be able to handle it." He said as he put his arms on them letting them know how proud he was.
The two friends smiled at one another and then at him.
Later that night however Hanbei was unable to sleep, he was glad that they were both Genin but he had wanted to try something. He had during his brief time looking at the seal of scrolls learned a Jutsu. Not the one Naruto had learned as he wasn't able to get that one.
Instead it was a different jutsu, one he had saw and quickly studied and learned before Iruka had come by and took the scroll back.
Wanting to know what it did he got out of bed and sat on the floor and slowly did the hand symbols required for it and whispered the name of it.
"Yukue Fumei Ai Ichi No Jutsu." (Missing Loved Ones No Jutsu) He said and suddenly the room became filled with smoke. He looked around and saw two different colors of smoke. One was a light green color and the other was a dark purple one. Both smokes circled around him. He looked a bit confused wondering what was happening.
Suddenly the smoke began to take shape. The purple one formed on his left and the green one formed on his right and seemed to be taking the shape of a human it looked like. A male and a female. He couldn't make out the full features of them as the male on his left and the woman on his right formed around him and seemingly looked like they wrapped their arms around him.
Hanbei was uncertain of this as it looked like they were giving him a hug. It felt like it too. He didn't know who these two clouds of people where but they seemed to be hugging him. He slowly brought his hands up and wrapped an arm around both of them as they hold him.
He looked at them, he couldn't fully tell their features but he noticed that the purple one had long hair and the green one was shaped like a female and hair in a bow. The two wrapped their arms around the child and he wasn't sure what to make of this. Somehow they seemed familiar to him although he had never seen the people before. Did these two forms represent the two people who he longed to find?
"Mom…Dad?" He asked himself as he hugged the two clouds of smoke.
A/N: That's it for this chapter. Review please.