Know that this has been said MANY times already but sorry for such a long time between updates. The holidays and other side projects have contributed in delaying a new chapter. Disclaimer, I don't own Naruto.


Chapter 7
Graduate

"Come on. Let's go." In their family's backyard, Naruto and Haku went at one another, each with kunai in hand. The brothers fought, their attempts being blocked or avoided on most occasions. This would continue until they called a halt to the scuffle. "You've gotten better. You almost got me a few times."

"Too bad I can't say the same." Rubbing his arm, Naruto saw that there were a couple welts. "Good thing we're using dull kunais. Otherwise I would be in worst shape. Can see why you did so well in the academy as you did."

"Starting a year earlier then you helped." Haku playfully countered. "I might've graduated as the top of my class, that doesn't really mean that much." The humor that he had previously was gone and became a bit more serious. "I've made mistakes since being a genin and I'll likely make more. Same goes for you." Haku noticed that what he was saying was depressing his brother, he shifted things.

"That's another day. Want to have another go before we call it a day?" That did the trick as Naruto's attitude improved. While the brothers resumed training they unknowingly were being observed.

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Days Later…

"Okay class. Time that you've all been working for has arrived. You're graduation exam is today." Various reactions were given by the students. Some were excited, others were nervous and there were those who showed no reaction.

"The exam will comprise of two parts. First you'll be tested in what you've mentally attained and you'll have to perform a jutsu that you won't be told until moments before. Results from both parts will determine whether you pass or fail." Going to the desk, Iruka picked up a stack of test paper. "Let's begin."

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"Thank goodness that's over." exclaimed a very relieved Naruto. "I can't stand written tests. Never have, never will."

"Oh, that's too bad." Kiba falsely sympathized. "Need a moment alone?" The taunts were in good humor and held no actual malice. "Don't see why you're worried. I'm sure that you'll get lucky and get a decent score."

"Thanks for the comforting words." Naruto sarcastically thanked. "Don't you have to mark your territory on a tree somewhere?" The back and forth banter wouldn't go any further as someone suddenly pressed themselves against the back of the blond. Not bothering to look back he knew who the person was. "Hello Ino."

"Oh, you ruined my surprise." pouted the Yamanaka. "How did you know it was me?"

"Maybe because you do that every chance you get." answered Hinata in a not so friendly tone. She sat across from the scene and by the look that was being given she wasn't amused by the scene. "Can't you stop acting like a child?"

The not so subtle remark instantly got a reaction from Ino as she let go of Naruto and glared at the Hyuga. "What did you say?"

"Do you need me to repeat it?" Hinata calmly stated. Following the blonde's lead, she gave a glare of her own. "I believe I was quite clear."

Both girls continued to glare at one another and the chances of them getting physical were likely. "All right you two. That's enough." Fortunately that defused the situation but the hostility between the two girls still resided.

Shortly after, Iruka announced the start of the second half of the graduation exam. Unlike the first part this took longer as each student had to be tested individually. One by one the testing was done and there were signs of them passing or failing. Hinata and Kiba were some of those who had passed. Soon there were only a handful of those that hadn't been tested yet.

Finally Naruto's name was called and he made his way into the secluded room that the second part of the exam was being done. Beside him, the only other people there were his instructors, Iruka and Mizuki. There was a slight tension in the room as neither said anything.

Taking the lead, Iruka spoke up. "Okay Naruto. The jutsu that we want you to do is the clone jutsu."

"We would like you to do four of them." interrupted Mizuki before his surprised colleague could elaborate further.

"Four? All right then." Doing a hand sign, Naruto focused his chakra. Moment later three clouds of smoke appeared with two appearing on both sides of him. The smoke cleared and revealed that were four identical copies of Naruto. "Well?"

Neither instructor said anything as their surprise was evident. Once again it was Iruka who broke the silence. "Uh…you pass." He then handed him his Konoha headband. It wasn't until Naruto left the room did he bring something to attention. "What was that about, Mizuki?"

"Whatever do you mean?" asked Mizuki as if he didn't have a clue.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. Why did you have him do four clones?" Iruka was holding back in his suspicion. "It was previously agreed that the requirement was to do only one."

"Who are you trying to kid? We both know that doing a single clone would be easy for him to perform. The requirement needed to be altered to provide a legitimate challenge."

"Provide a challenge?" repeated Iruka. "Then if that's the case then why did you ask Sasuke, who is around the same level, to do only two?"

"The Uchiha might be gifted, but he's different." While there was truth to what Mizuki said, Iruka couldn't help but feel like there was some alternative reasoning.

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"Congratulations." Although embarrassed, Naruto let his mom hug him in front of the academy. "I'm proud of you. Both of you." Kushina was referring to Hinata. Since her mother had sadly passed away, Kushina had become somewhat of a surrogate mother to the girl. "Graduating top of your class is a real accomplishment. We should celebrate. You're welcome to join us Hinata. I'm sure that your father will be okay with it."

As the conversation went on, they saw that standing away from them was Sasuke. He just stared surly at them for a few moments before walking off in the opposite direction. "Still not friendly with one another, are you son?"

"Sasuke was always in the running for number one student for our class. Naruto kept him from getting it." Hinata explained. "Guess it didn't sit well for him."

"If he wants it so much he can have it." Naruto offered offhandedly. "The rank holds no real merit in the real world."

"Good to see that you haven't allowed it to make you forget that you still have limitations. Let's go." Following Kushina, the three of them left.

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Days Later…

"I'm bored. I'm so bored." In the backyard of his home, Naruto was laying down on the ground, looking at the nighttime sky. "There's got to be something to do."

"Aren't you perhaps over exaggerating?" asked Hinata who was sitting beside the blond. "It's a good idea to take it easy. Once the team assignments are announced we won't have many days like this."

What Hinata said was true. Those who had graduated would be placed into teams judging by how well they did in the academy. Since the Hokage had final say in team arrangements, Naruto tried to get his father to tell him what the pairings were but he never got clues on what the final decision was.

Unfortunately the decision would have to wait as Minato had to left for official business. He wasn't the only one from the Namikaze clan that was gone as Kushina left to focus on training now that it was determined that she could return to active duty as a shinobi. As for Haku, he was away on a mission with his team.

The absence of his family was one of the reasons for Naruto's case of boredom. Hinata had kindly come over and keep him company and while it was appreciated, it didn't keep the previous problem from resurfacing.

"I'm not asking much. Just want something exciting to happen." Less than a minute later the two of them saw their former instructors Iruka and Mizuki. Not much would've been made by it but something felt off. "Hinata, could you take a closer look at what they're doing?" Obliging, she used her Byakugan to better observe the situation.

"Mizuki is apparently carrying some kind of large scroll. Never see one like it before but it appears as though there's a seal on it that says 'Forbidden'." Although Hinata didn't know what to make of it, Naruto was already to putting it together.

"Shit. We've got to follow." Not bothering to elaborate, Naruto hurried after the two departing figures. Getting over the unexpected move, Hinata followed.

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"You should've stayed out of this Iruka." Leaning against a tree was an injured Iruka as he had a large gash on his back and a slightly smaller one on his right shoulder. The one responsible was standing a few feet away, holding a large shuriken with trails of blood on it. "Otherwise you wouldn't be in the predicament that you're in."

"Stop this Mizuki." Iruka said as he tried to holdback the pain that his body was feeling. With the condition that his body was in all he could really do was keep himself from blacking out due to the blood lost that he sustained. "You still could end this before it gets worst."

"I'll end this all right." Gripping the shuriken tightly, Mizuki prepared to for another attack. "I've wasted enough time here. I got more pressing matters to attend to." Showing no hesitation he threw the shuriken at his former friend, intending to kill him. Unable to move fast enough, Iruka could do nothing but wait for the end.

Just before the shuriken could hit its target, it was intercepted by someone getting in the way. "Now what do we have here?" wondered Naruto as he casually spun the giant shuirken in his hand. "It looked as though you were trying to kill Iruka. Am I mistaken Mizuki?" No dispute was made by man in question as the unexpected arrival caught him by surprise. "How's he doing, Hinata?"

Behind Naruto his friend was working was trying to tend to the injured Iruka. "He's already given the circumstances." Hinata had a hand with green chakra hovering over one of the wounded instructor's injuries. "I can stop the bleeding but since I'm not proficient enough to anything else."

"Do what you can." Having that being dealt with for the moment, Naruto focused on the problem before them. "How are we going to do this, Mizuki?"

Surprised by the unexpected arrivals the former instructor regained his composure. "The two of you shouldn't have come here. Neither of you realize what you're getting yourself into."

"You stole the Forbidden Scroll and you were trying to flee the village but Iruka discovered what you were doing. Forget anything?" Naruto stated as fact. "Being the son of the Hokage allows me to know certain things. Question is who are you stealing the scroll for?" Considering the options he had, Mizuki decided to leave. Without thinking twice, Naruto followed. Hinata would've gone as well but had to stay behind to continue tending to Iruka.

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The game of chase went on for a while and the two of them had gotten a good distance away. Unable to continue with the pace set, Mizuki had to stop which let his pursuer get ahead of him. "What's wrong? Don't tell me you're afraid of a kid."

Getting mocked didn't sit well with Mizuki. He would like nothing more to teach the blond a lesson but he wasted enough time. "The scroll being taken must've already been noticed and the ANBU are likely searching for the culprits and I rather be got before they show up. Just need to deal with this brat and I'll be home free." Several ideas went through Mizuki's head before one finally came to him.

"You probably think that if you returned with this scroll the people of the village will see you as some kind of hero. That'll be the furthest thing from the truth. Everyone in Konoha despises you and do you know why that is? It's because-"

"Because I have the nine-tailed fox sealed within me." Naruto revealed. The surprise was evident on Mizuki's face. "I learned about it quite a while ago and have come to terms with it. In time I hope that those of the village will one day understand as well. So you hoping that revelation will unsettle me won't work."

That idea turning out to be a failure, Mizuki went with a different course of action. "You're a fool to believe that such a thing will happen. You'll be seen as nothing more than the demon in human form. I bet that even your friend will feel the same if knew the truth. Perhaps we should ask her."

The suggestion got a reaction out of Naruto as he gave him a hard stare. "I would advice against that. It's time for you to be put down." Making a hand sign, puffs of smoke appeared and when cleared there were several identical Narutos.

"This trick won't work. These are nothing more than illusions." Mizuki tried demonstrating the claim by throwing a kunai at one of the clones but surprisingly the clone caught the oncoming weapon.

"Whoever said that they were mere illusions?" questioned Naruto with a slight smirk. "As I said before, being the son of the Hokage allows for certain advantages. One of them is having the opportunity to peak at what's inside of the Forbidden Scroll." What Naruto was alluding to was starting to dawn on Mizuki as his eyes began to widen. "Let me show you the shadow clone jutsu." All at once Naruto and his clones swarmed on the traitor. His screams echoed into the night.

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"Did you have to be so rough?" After incapacitating Mizuki, Naruto carried him until dropping him off where Hinata and Iruka were. Cautiously the Hyuga did a quick examination on the fallen individual. "He's barely conscious."

"He'll live." Naruto brushed off. "He deserved worst for betraying the village. You're all right, Iruka?"

"I'll be fine." Bracing himself against a tree and with Hinata's assistance he got to his feet. "Thank you, both of you. You saved my life."

"Thanks aren't necessary. We were just doing what we were taught to do." Creating more shadow clones he had two of them pick up Mizuki, another two assisting Iruka while the real him picked up the Forbidden Scroll. "We should get go. The village will be wanting this back." Not arguing the group left.

"Is everything all right, Naruto?" Reason for Hinata's question was that noticed the pensive expression on Naruto's face. "Did something happen with Mizuki?"

"No, it's nothing." assured Naruto. While that was the case for the most part, in the back of his mind what Mizuki had said repeated itself. "Nothing at all."


Know that the whole Mizuki being a traitor has been done in numerous stories. Decided to do it and have it be as it was in this story was to show how Naruto is dealing with knowing that he has nine-tailed fox inside him. He's come to term with it for the most part but still a somewhat sore subject. Will try updating again early next month but with my track record it might be later on. But I'll really try in following through with that plan. Until next time, see ya.