Iruka was downright nervous. He rubbed his eyes along with his face, "Aw, come on Iruka," his friend, Mizuki, said, "Shouldn't you be happy? The rest of your kids are graduating and Neji is off training with…who was it?"
"Gai-san," Iruka said deadpanned.
Mizuki sweat dropped, "Okay, so…other than that," he said, "You should be happy."
"That's just it, Mizuki," Iruka said, "I am happy, but I'm nervous as all get at. Naruto…" an aura of sadness engulfed the teacher.
Mizuki sighed, "Well, we can't keep them out there," he stated.
Iruka sighed, but nodded and started calling names. Finally, they had gotten to the point, "Sasuke!" Iruka called.
Sasuke ran in and all, but slammed the door closed. Iruka raised an eyebrow, "Girls…" he mumbled, "Gaara could only hold them back for so long."
Iruka chuckled, "Alright," he said, "Show us at least three clones and Mizuki will tell you whether you pass or fail since it would be unfair if I did."
"Hai," Sasuke said and stood in front of the two teachers.
Iruka took in a deep breath through his nose and nodded to the boy, smiling. Sasuke smiled slightly back and did several hand seals, "Bunshin no Jutsu," he said and in a puff of smoke three clones of Sasuke were there.
"Pass," Mizuki said easily.
Iruka grabbed and forehead protector and gave it to Sasuke, "Congratulations Sasuke," he said smiling.
Sasuke took the protector, smiling, "Don't worry about Naruto," he stated.
Iruka sighed, "I have a right to worry, you know," he stated.
Sasuke just nodded and left room, "Kiba!" Iruka called.
Sasuke went up to his panicking brother, "Oi," he said deadpanned, "Would you calm down?"
"No!" Naruto hissed, "Because I still can't do the stupid Clone Technique!"
Sasuke sighed and looked at Gaara, who shook his head, "Didn't you practice with Neji last night until you both passed out?" Sasuke asked.
Naruto just nodded. Sasuke was silent, "Look," Sasuke said, "No matter what happens, Sensei isn't going to hate you."
"I know," Naruto said, "It's not that I'm worried about. I'm afraid of the disappointment he'll have."
Sasuke sighed and put his hand on Naruto's shoulder, "Just calm down," he stated, "Chakra control isn't your strong suit, but you can do it if you train more."
Naruto smiled slightly, "Sakura!" Iruka called.
Sasuke flinched at the name. That was the name of one of the worse of the fangirls, "You're over that crush on her, right?" Sasuke asked as the pink haired girl disappeared into the room.
"Yeah," Naruto stated, "I think."
Sasuke gave him a look, "What?" Naruto asked, "She's pretty, but she annoys you, what do you want me to do?"
Sasuke sighed then turned, "Hey, Hinata," he said.
Hinata smiled at them, "Hinata!" Hinata turned as her name was called.
"Good luck," Naruto said smiling.
Hinata smiled, a small blush on her cheeks and walked into the room. Hinata stood in front of Iruka and Mizuki, "Alright, Hinata," Iruka said, "We need at least three clones."
Hinata nodded and shifted slightly on her feet before doing the hand seals and created three clones with a puff of smoke. Hinata smiled brightly and the clones disappeared, "Pass," Mizuki said.
Hinata jumped up and down happily before taking the forehead protector from Iruka, "Way to go Hinata," Iruka said, "See? I told you that you could do it."
Hinata suddenly hugged her father figure. Iruka went back slightly, but smiled and hugged her back, "Okay, we've got others to test," Iruka said.
Hinata pulled away and smiled at him before running out of the room. Iruka watched as Hinata pounced on Neji, who had come to see how his family was fairing, in a hug. Neji toppled over, not expecting Hinata to jump on him. Naruto, Sasuke, and Gaara laughed. Iruka smiled, "Gaara!" he called.
Gaara stopped his chuckle and stood up. He walked into the room and closed the door with his foot, "Okay Gaara," Iruka said, "We need at least three clones."
Gaara nodded and did the hand seals. He may have been born in Suna, but he wanted to learn the Konoha basics along with the Suna basics forced on him by his father. In a puff of smoke, Gaara had four clones around him. Iruka smiled, "Pass," Mizuki said nodding, "Those aren't sand clones, right?"
Gaara crossed his arms and smirked lightly, "Guess you'll never know," he said as the clones disappeared.
Iruka chuckled and held a forehead protector out to Gaara, "Gaara," he said, "Congrats. You're a Leaf Ninja."
Gaara smiled and took the protector. Iruka nodded at him. Gaara nodded back before leaving. Iruka looked down at the paper and gulped softly, "Naruto!" he called.
"Well don't look so confident in the boy," Mizuki said sarcastically.
Iruka took a deep breath as Naruto came in. Naruto closed the door and stood in front of them. Iruka smiled gently at Naruto, "Try your best Naruto," he said.
Naruto nodded. He took a deep breath and did the hand seals, "Bunshin no Jutsu!" he yelled.
Smoke engulfed the room. Iruka and Mizuki coughed. Iruka sighed when what seemed like a dead clone on the floor. Naruto sighed. Iruka stood up and walked over to Naruto, "You'll get it," he said, "It'll just take more training. We'll work on it, okay?"
Naruto nodded and left. Iruka sighed, but sat back down and called the next student.
Neji, Sasuke, Hinata, and Gaara all walked up to Naruto, who was on a roof, "Naruto-kun…" Hinata said softly.
"I'm fine guys," Naruto said, "I knew I wouldn't be able to do it."
"And you never will if you keep talking like that," Neji stated.
Naruto sighed, "Hey kids," the five turned.
"Mizuki-sensei," Naruto said, "What are you doing here?"
Mizuki smiled, "I just thought you kids would want to help Naruto graduate," he said.
"But…I failed," Naruto said.
"Yeah," Sasuke said, "There's no getting around it. No offense, Naruto."
Naruto just shook his head, "What if I said there was a scroll?" Mizuki asked, a small smirk on his face.
Neji narrowed his eyes, "A…scroll?" he asked slowly.
Mizuki nodded, "I'm sure if Naruto can do one of those skills…" he trailed off.
The five looked at each other, "I don't know…" Neji said slowly.
The five looked at each other before nodding, "Where is it?" Sasuke asked.
"We are going to be in so much trouble if Sensei finds out," Neji stated.
Naruto opened the scroll, "Hey look," he said, "This is like the Clone Technique."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes, "Naruto-"
"I'm gonna try it," Naruto stated standing up.
"Naruto-kun…" Hinata whispered.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
Half an hour later, Naruto was panting while Hinata, Sasuke, Neji, and Gaara were shocked. Naruto smirked lightly. Suddenly, Iruka was in front of them, "Shit…" Sasuke muttered.
"What were you thinking?!" Iruka yelled.
"…I'm guessing by the tone in your voice that this is worse than we were told?" Gaara stated.
Iruka blinked, "Told?" he asked.
"Mizuki-sensei said if we got this scroll and Naruto-kun learned a technique that he could graduate…" Hinata said quietly.
"Mizuki?" Iruka asked shocked.
"Yeah," Naruto said, "…is that bad?"
Neji tensed and activated his Byakugan, "Get down!" he yelled.
Everyone did so just as a giant shuriken flew over their heads, "Mizuki!" Iruka yelled.
Mizuki smirked, "Your kids come in very handy, Iruka," he stated.
Iruka glared, "Teme!" Naruto yelled.
Gaara sent his sand at him, but Mizuki easily dodged it and sent regular shuriken at him. Sand protected Gaara instantly, but Gaara was pushed back some. Iruka threw kunai at his former friend, but Mizuki dodged. The ground opened up under Gaara, "Gaara!" Naruto and Sasuke grabbed their redheaded brother.
Gaara panted slightly as he was pulled up, "Are you okay?" Hinata asked bending down to him.
Gaara nodded, "You kids need to get out of here," Iruka stated.
"But Sensei-"
"Don't argue, Neji," Iruka said, "Please. Go."
Neji hesitated, but nodded. Naruto and Sasuke helped Gaara stand up, "I'm fine," Gaara said, "Thank you."
Metal clashed as Iruka and Mizuki fought. Mizuki laughed, "I still can't believe you, Iruka!" he said, "Keeping those two!"
"Shut up!" Iruka yelled just barely missing Mizuki, but got kicked by Mizuki, "Ah!"
"Iruka-sensei!" the five children yelled.
Mizuki laughed, "Do you two know why the village hates you?" he asked Naruto and Gaara.
"Mizuki!" Iruka yelled, charging at him, "Kids, run! Now!"
Hinata bit her lip, "W-why does the village hate Naruto-kun and Gaara-kun?" she asked.
"Hinata! Run!" Iruka yelled, but was hit by several shuriken, "Ah!"
"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto yelled.
Mizuki laughed, "You are such a mean person, Iruka," he said as Iruka panted, "Actually making Naruto and Gaara believe you actually care about them…"
Iruka couldn't talk; he was breathing too heavily, "Quit talking lies!" Sasuke yelled, "Sensei cares about all of us!"
Mizuki laughed, "You kids are aware of the day Konoha was attacked by the Nine Tails, right?" he asked, "And when the One Tail was given to Suna."
"What's that got to do with anything?!" Neji yelled.
Mizuki laughed, "The fox is what killed Iruka's parents," he stated, "The fox was sealed by the Fourth before he died. The fox-"
"Mizuki!" Iruka yelled in anger.
"-Is sealed within you, Naruto," Naruto went wide eyed along with the others, "And the Ichibi within you, Gaara."
Gaara and Naruto fell to the ground and Neji, Hinata, and Sasuke looked at them in shock, "Y-you're lying," Naruto stuttered.
Gaara grabbed handfuls of dirt as his hands shook. Mizuki laughed, "Why else would both villages hate you, huh?" he yelled, "You monsters are going to die now," Mizuki threw his giant shuriken at them.
"No!" Neji, Sasuke, and Hinata yelled.
Naruto and Gaara shut their eyes, "Sensei!" their eyes snapped open and looked above them to see Iruka protecting them.
"Iruka…sensei…" Naruto whispered.
Gaara went wide eyed, "Sensei!" Neji, Hinata, and Sasuke hurried over, "Sensei, are you okay?!"
Iruka ignored those three and pulled Gaara and Naruto to him in a hug, "…Never let anyone tell you I don't love you…" Iruka whispered then looked at his other children, "Any of you…"
Naruto closed his eyes before opening them in a heated glare towards Mizuki. Naruto stood up, "What's the matter brat?" Mizuki asked, "Did I hurt your daddy?"
Slowly, Gaara, Neji, Hinata, and Sasuke joined Naruto. All glaring. Naruto did a hand seal, "Nobody hurts Iruka-sensei," he said dangerously, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" Iruka went wide eyed when at least 50 Naruto's appeared.
The Narutos attacked Mizuki. Naruto panted slightly after Mizuki was beaten to a pulp, "Naruto…" Iruka said softly.
"Are you okay, Iruka-sensei?" Naruto asked.
"We're sorry," Hinata said, "We didn't mean to cause trouble…we just wanted to help Naruto-kun."
Iruka smiled softly, "Iruka-sensei…" Naruto said, "Are…did Mizuki-sensei tell the truth? Are Gaara and I…"
Iruka didn't say anything for a while. Finally he sighed, "Yes," he said, "It's an S-Rank secret. Hokage-sama didn't want…he didn't want you two to hate yourselves. Jinchuuriki are normally used as weapons by the village they're a part of. Gaara, that's what I saved you from in Suna. They wanted to just use your power, but you couldn't control it well. They were-" Iruka shook his head, "We didn't want you two to know. We didn't want any children to know, but…adults didn't understand that their hatred would pass to their children…I'm sorry I couldn't do anything-"
Naruto and Gaara hugged Iruka. Iruka was shocked when he felt tears on both sides of his neck, "Thank you," they whispered.
Neji, Hinata, and Sasuke soon joined the hug. Iruka smiled and, unknown to all of them, so did Hiruzen. The family pulled away, "Alright, listen," Iruka said, "None of you can breathe a word of what you heard. Your teachers will probably learn that you know, but do not let your teammates know. Again, this is an S-Rank secret."
"No worries," Sasuke said, "We can keep our mouths shut for the protection of Naruto and Gaara."
"I don't think I really have anything to worry about," Naruto said.
"Oh, no you don't," Iruka smirked and took his forehead protector off, "You do realize that you created over 50 clones. Real clones. You've earned this, Naruto."
Everyone brighten, "But don't ever do something this stupid again!" Iruka stated before Naruto could take the protector.
"Hai!" the five said smiling.
Iruka smiled back and put the protector on Naruto himself. Naruto hugged Iruka again, "Okay!" Iruka yelled, "Very much in pain now!"
Everyone laughed slightly before helping their father figure to the hospital.
A/N And Naruto has begun! I hope you all enjoyed it. Please leave a review. I own nothing. Thanks for reading!
