Disclaimer: I don't own the work of Kishimoto or Naruto. If I met him, I'd congratulate him for making such a good series, and maybe warn him to tone down Duck-butt a bit. Otherwise, thumbs up. Don't sue me. I'll ignore it.

The next day, Naruto was back to throwing sticks at a tree. Although, today, he was throwing something different.

Thunk.

Sliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide.

Plink.

The rusty kunai hit, almost sinking in....

And fell to the ground.

Again.

For what seemed like the thousandth time.

He'd found it in the forest, while searching for more sticks.

It was almost night-time.

Once! At least once! PUT THE DAMN THING INTO THE TREE!

Kyuubi was shouting inside Naruto's head, loudly enough that Naruto had to wince.

It was also making Naruto angry, as he was frustrated as well.

He growled deeply, walking forward. He scooped up the rusty kunai.

With an uncharacteristic roar, he thrust it into the tree.

The kunai began to fracture, but he continued stabbing with it. Ignoring the metal splinters entering his skin in his rage and frustration.

Eventually, only his fist was left, the kunai disintegrating with repeated contacts.

He still pounded his fist in the tree. He stopped when he noticed that he was leaving blood on the bark. He leaned against the tree, breath catching.

He body racked itself with sobs, as his continuous failures came crashing down on him.

"I can't.......... I can't even throw a kunai into a tree. " He cradled his fist, which was in serious pain. But pain was a constant companion. Sometimes the word barely held any meaning to him.

The ground gave a soft tink as one of the metal splinters forced itself out of his hand, and landed on a piece of the broken kunai.

"Even.... even.... even some of the kids that are younger than me can do that. Most of them."

He slammed his other hand into the tree, fresh waves of pain hitting his nerves.

"Not once."

"NOT EVEN ONCE!" He screamed out.

He stopped hitting the tree, then he pushed off it.

"I.... can't even be a ninja if I can't do this. Its like a fish not being able to swim. If you can't throw a kunai, you won't pass the tests, if you can't past the tests, you can't be a ninja. And if I can't be a ninja..... I have nothing else. Nothing. I'm just... useless. Just..... nothing. Worthless."

He turned, and began to walk away.

A quiet voice stopped him in his tracks, and reminded him he was not alone.

"Is that it?"

He froze in med-step.

"What?" He asked.

I said, is that it? By which I meant, are you done whining?"

"Whining? What... what do you mean whining?"

"I mean, sniveling, blubbering, whimpering, wallowing in self-pity, take your pick."

"I'm not whining, I ... I just can't do it.'

"Words of a coward. I didn't think you were like that, kit."

"I'm not... I can't do it."

"Who are you, boy?"

"I'm... Naruto Uzumaki..... an academy student."

"And what do you wish to be?"

"Naruto Uzumaki, Hokage."

"And tell me, kit, do you think the Hokage got there by giving up? Did he snivel his way into his position?"

"No.. he was chosen by Niidame, for his bravery."

And are you going to get here by sniveling?

Well... no...

Are you going to slink your way into the heights of power, like a rat sneaking in under the cover of night?

No....

Will you cry and weep your way into your goals? Like a loud child given a toy just to shut him up? Hmm?

"Stop mocking me!" The kid was getting angry.

"Good! Remember that anger, and use it. Erase those feelings of self-pity. Those are for weaklings, and cowards. For humans.

"But, I'm human, aren't I?"

Do the others acknowledge you as human?

No.

Are you human to most of them?

No.

Then use that. Become a beast, a monster.

"But, a monster is a bad thing, right?"

Kit, what is a monster?"

"Something evil, and scary?"

"Sometimes, but what humans consider a monster is not specifically that. A monster, is anything not human, or even humans who display traits that are not human.

And think on this. What traits that have we seen so far are human?"

He counted off, slowly.

First, the villagers;

They displayed hate, fear, loathing, anger. They attacked you, for no other reason than fear. Human, to the very core.

Second, the students.

They were indifferent. Then you fought against their best. For a reason the rest didn't concern themselves with. And when you stood up before he did, what did you find?

They were the same. Fear, loathing. They shunned you. You were an abnormality. A freak. You weren't one of the group.

But, let us be fair. Third, you have.... well..... the Third.

He is a kind old man. He took care of you, gives you an allowance. He has an interest in your development. He gave you a place to live. It seems he honestly likes you.

Among these three, which do you think is more human? The students and villagers, or the kind old man?

The villagers and students, are the humans, of course. That is the truth. The old man displays traits that are unlike other humans, so what does this make him?"

A monster. They just don't call him that.

But if he is a monster, why do they like him? Why do they respect him?

Because, sometimes, humans admire inhuman traits.

"So, being a monster, can be good?"

Yes. It can.

The Kyuubi enjoyed this. Human logic was so easy to manipulate.

And self pity is also a tool used by humans. Have you ever seen a squirrel whine about not being able to find nuts?

"No, but I don't think I could understand the squirrel if it whined..."

It doesn't matter, beast and monsters don't feel self-pity. Why? Because it doesn't help. It holds you back. Get rid of it. Never invoke the feeling again. If you have a goal, work toward it. Don't ignore just to feel sorry for yourself.

"But, I always fail. The others are better than me. They handed the test papers back today, and even the guy who slept after a few minutes, and didn't even finish the test, got a higher score than me. I'm stupid, everyone avoids me, and..... I'm scared. Is this how its always going to be? Should I just quit now?"

They Kyuubi paused, then responded.

"Yes, you are. But, my son is not a weak, sniveling coward. If you are stupid, study. If you are weak, grow strong. If you feel scared, fight anyway. Don't blindly accept what you are given by life. Fight for something better. Improve. Be something better than what you are.

Naruto sat down, mulling on Kyuubi's words for a few minutes.

"So, what you are saying is, I should work to be better? I shouldn't whine, I should just...... not give up?"

Exactly, kit. That is the gist of what I was saying. Not quite as elaborate, but it should do just fine.

"So, now what should I do?"

Well, I do believe it is time for you to go home. I think we'll stop with such depressing training for the time being. Tomorrow, let's try studying. Maybe we can get you to answer at least a few questions right on the next test.

"Okay, okay. You can stop mocking me about that soon."

Oh, I don't think so. It'll take a while for you to live that one down. "What does a dog eat?" Why, grass, of course!

"Hey! That's just 'cause I saw that little white dog eating grass one time."

Yes, but its not what they eat all the time!

"I've never seen them eat anything else. Those..... Inuz.... Inuzu....... beast guys won't let me get near them!"

Naruto began walking back into town, the two teasing each other.


Hinata had fallen asleep watching Naruto train. The sharp snap of a stick woke her up, and she blearily watched Naruto leave.

She yawned, and stood up. It was late, and she had to be home soon. She left as well, keeping out of sight.


Iruka watched the two from up in the trees, keeping perfectly silent.

He was unsettled.

The boy he had followed this night was a different one than he had seen in school.

Gone was the ever-happy attitude.

Missing were the determined look, and unceasing grin.

They were replaced with a completely different attitude, and concerning actions.

Naruto displayed loneliness, and despair, even going so far as talking to thin air.

And from what he had seen, thin-air was talking back.

He watched as the boy held a full conversation with someone, Iruka himself only hearing half of it.

It was a troubling thing, perhaps a sign of insanity.

That, however, was a thing he could not deal with. He was not a therapist. Many ninja's talked to themselves.

It was a lonely job.

He was concerned about the training that night.

The boy had found a rusted kunai, and attempted to sink it into a tree. He failed every time.

Iruka was a bit puzzled at that. Some of the throws were accurate enough to sink in. All were strong enough.

He'd also been puzzled by why the Hyuuga heiress had followed the boy, but again, he was no therapist.

He began to consider trying it though. It was annoying not being able to guess motives for such situations.

When the boy began talking to himself, he had been quick to let a sleeping gas filter down and put the girl to sleep. He'd woken up he up later, by breaking a stick sharply above her. Still in a sleepy state, she didn't question who broke the stick, assuming it to be Naruto.

He jumped down when he was sure they were gone. He walked over to the tree, and drew one of his own kunais.

He thrust it into the tree.

It didn't go in more than half an inch.

Curious, and intriguing.

He brought out an all-purpose manual, which he was required to carry as a teacher.

In it was listed all the tree types of Konoha. He flipped page after page, until he found an entry that matched the tree's description.

He looked back and forth between the tree and the book.

"Heh, hah," It started with a small chuckle.

Then he burst out laughing. He brought a hand to his forehead, and looked at the tree.

"Only that kid.... only Naruto! Only he, haha, would find one of six ironwood trees, in a forest of a thousand different trees. Hehahah haha, and then try to use it for target practice!"

He eventually stopped laughing, and followed Naruto, though a slight chuckle played across his lips.


He felt a phantom presence settle comfortably around his shoulders and back, as the Kyuubi curled a mental tail around him in a hug.

Anyway, good job tonight. I think a nice cup of that noodle-stuff is in order.

"Its called Ramen."

Call it whatever you want. I can't taste it, but you sure like the taste. Go wild.

"Thanks, I'm feeling better now, I can't wait to have that stuff agai-"

Kit, duck!

A bottle sailed forth from an alleyway, and nearly grazed his head. It would have smashed against it, if Naruto had not ducked.

Forward!

Naruto rolled forward, another bottle smashed whizzed through the air where his head had been.

Jump!

Naruto jumped into the air.

Another bottle that was aimed for his head flew toward him.

And bounced off his tailbone.

"MODDERPOCK!!"

Naruto yelled out, as he landed on the ground. He rubbed his backside.

"That really hurt!"

He ran to a building, and began to climb up it, narrowly dodging other bottles

He finally got to the top, and was safe.

He gingerly rubbed his tailbone.

"When you said to jump, I assumed it would mean I would dodge it." He said sourly.

............ I meant jump higher.

Naruto looked around, and stretched. He began walking on the rooftops, and walked towards his home.


Iruka looked silently at the three men gathering in the alley. He stood on the roof, and listened to them curse not hitting the boy properly.

Although, they did congratulate the one that hit him in the tailbone

"Good shot!" One of them called out.

"Yeah, too bad you didn't kill him!"

Iruka eye narrowed in cold, hard, hate.

They clapped each other on the shoulder, and strolled toward the end of the alley.

Iruka appeared behind them, and knocked all three to the ground, with three precisely placed strikes.

Unnecessarily painful ones, of course.

"I don't have the authority to kill you, since I'm a mere chunin. But I can and will make your life VERY PAINFUL."

He dragged them to the wall and leaned them against it.

He drew a permanent marker.

"Normally, if you were just drunk, and yelled out some inappropriate comments, I'd draw on your face. Its customary."

He uncapped it.

"But you're not that drunk. And you were trying to deliberately hurt that kid."

He leaned down, and held open the lid of the man's eye.

The man was unconscious.

"So what I'm going to do, is make your life a nightmare for the next week, as your body absorbs the ink."

He drew carefully on the inside of the man's eyelid, covering the entire inside. He did this for all the men.

"You'll have to keep your eyes open all the time, if you don't want to feel the excruciating pain as the acidic ink interacts with your eyes. But, eventually, you'll have to blink. Then, I think you are going to scream. Loudly."

He jumped up, and landed on the rooftop, and ran along after Naruto.

And agonizing screams followed him, as the first man woke up.


All throughout the next hour, Naruto ranged around Konoha, receiving the same, cold stares whenever he bumped into someone. Once again, under the advisement of the Kyuubi, he attempted to enter some of the equipment stores that were open late.

And once again, he was rebuffed. Sometimes with things thrown at him. Some were deadly, some were..... disgusting. And some were oilcloths........... on fire.

That was one weapon-maintenance shop he wouldn't visit again anytime soon.

Several more things were thrown at him, but mostly, people just avoided him.

Sometimes, his sharp hearing picked out indistinct whispers, said barely after he was out of eye-sight.

He finished his rounds of Konoha, and went back to his house. Kyuubi told him to pick up one of the logs of firewood outside the house, and bring it in. He grabbed it, and went inside.


Iruka shook his head, and silently cursed. Damn, damn, damn. I thought I knew some of these people.

There was Tom, who worked at the weapon repair shop, he and Iruka had known each other for a few years, and he considered Tom an acquaintance, close to a friend.

Tom, who just threw an oily rag, at one of his students, he even took the time to reach into his pocket and light the damn thing.

Then there was Komara, who ran the clothes store that served ninjas.

She chased him out with a needle that could be classified as a deadly weapon, being nine inches long.

And Yemira, and Hafisa, the list went on.

Even Steve, Konoha's only mime, picked up the vibe and stayed away from him.

Dammit, he had to work with some of these people on a daily basis!

Already, the list of stores he wasn't going to shop at had increased by half.

Still, seeing this, I'm amazed. Why hasn't the boy cracked yet? This is some pretty shitty treatment, half the people I know would have just moved by now.

Ah, and there lies one problem. Konoha can't afford to let him go.

But if people keep treating him like this....

Bad things are going to happen.

Still it was refreshing to see at least one Konoha ninja with some sense.

While some other stuff was being thrown at Naruto, Genma Shiranui, one of the chunin exam proctors, used senbon to deflect the objects off their course, making them miss Naruto.

Iruka decided that tomorrow, Naruto would receive some help. He'd make sure the ticking time-bomb that was Naruto was successfully defused. It was his duty as a Konohagure Ninja

And if it happened to go along with his own personal desire, that was just a bonus, wasn't it?

He scurried off to buy some things from stores that wouldn't leave a bad taste in his mouth.


Naruto sat in his bed, and looked at the wall. Then turned back to the log Kyuubi had him bring in.

"So, what do you want me to do with this?"

I want you to visualize your chakra, and reach out and touch it.

"Chakra?"

Oh....Aughh. Nobody has explained this to you yet, have they?

"Nope."

Okay....

Chakra.... is basically life-force. It is energy which comes from your spirit and body. The body and spirit energy mixes to create chakra. Everyone has it. What we are going to do is work on your ability to release it. I need you to visualize your chakra reaching out, and touching the log.

"What does it look like?"

It looks like energy does, of course.

"Energy? What does that look like?"

What? You don't know what energy looks like? It looks like electricity, I believe.

"Electricity?"

Gah. Ummm... Let's say it looks like flame. Liquid flame.

"And what color is it?"

Ummmmm.... Chakra is a different color for everyone.

"Alright, then, mine is orange!"

No! Orange is my chakra's color. Your color is something else.

"Ahhhhh, why can't my color by orange? Its my favorit-"

NO! MY COLOR!

"Damn. Alright, then.... blue, I bet my chakra's blue."

Maybe, maybe not. Just imagine it, you're getting tired, bedtime soon.

Naruto concentrated, and imagine a blue fire reaching out from his hands to touch the log.

He opened his eyes.

Nothing.

"Its not working."

He closed his eyes, and slid into bed.

"I'm going to bed." He announced.

Alright, goodnight, kit. The Kyuubi called back, as Naruto slipped into dream land.

The fox chuckled as the boy lost consciousness, and dreamt.

For a second, just one second, a small, blue spot of chakra had crept hesitantly out of Naruto's hand, before vanishing back into the boy's hand.

Sleep, kit, sleep well. Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life, and interesting times are sure to follow!


Incessant tapping filled the silence in Fate's office.

Fate looked up from his desk, and stares at the fingers of his secretary.

"Will you stop that?" He asked.

"Sorry sir, its just that I'm confused, and my fingers tap when I'm stumped." The secretary replied, and stopped tapping her fingers.

"And what are you confused about?" Fate asked.

"In the world we looked up a few days ago, you slipped an idea into the mind of a powerful creature, but the idea is not having the effect that I predicted. The creature should be trying to corrupt the boy, not train him."

Fate looked wearily at his assistant.

"Destiny, your province is making a pre-determined set of events that people will most likely follow, or are forced to. Some people may defy that. Mine job as Fate is to know what will happen. It is every mortal's fate to die, but their destiny is malleable. This boy was chosen for both a great destiny, and a deserving fate. He may choose to defy his destiny, but his fate is what it shall be. The fox will attempt to corrupt the boy through a tactic as old as pure corruption. He will attempt make the boy love him as a father, and then turn him against the village. That is his sweetest revenge. He will attempt to make the boy his own, and he might succeed in that goal. I cannot say more."

Destiny looked squarely at him. "Why not, if you know his fate, why not tell me?

Fate looked around a tad nervously. "There are outside forces at work that even I answer to, that prevent me from doing that. Suffice to say, that Naruto will do great things."

Destiny squinted at him. "Terrible things?"

Fate non-committedly replied.

"Great things."


Yay, another chapter.

Sorry. I'm quite tired right now, but I've made a firm decision to type at least a hundred words a day for the next chapter.

Should be done..... well... when it gets done.

In the meantime, enjoy, and if possible, review.