A/N: Man you all are awesome ^-^ Much thanks everyone! Just to let you all know, I am making a speedy recovery! I'm feeling a lot better, but I feel I am slowly losing inspiration for this story...I definitely won't abandon this story, I'd feel awful if I did so... soo this means that updates will likely be once a week, maybe twice if I feel inspired like I am right now. So yeah...that's about it for now...enjoy the new chapter!

Key:

"Speech"
'Thoughts'
Demon/Deity
Demon/Deity thoughts
"Sign Language/ANBU coded signing"

Chapter 10: The Consequences

Minato, still feeling the rush of adrenaline running through his veins, made his way to the Academy in record time. He was both excited and mortified about the idea of telling Lee and his other fast-friends of what had happened. Lee would undoubtedly be ecstatic for him donning his hitei-ate but he couldn't say the same for Shikamaru, Chouji, or Kiba. Shikamaru would be compelled by his Nara-mind to find out everything he can to explain why he had even bothered to show up the first day if he was simply going straight into the Genin test. Kiba, being a male Inuzuka, would probably react with anger, frustration, or the like when he explains. Chouji... he really didn't know how he'd react. Out of the three, Chouji, he felt, would react neutrally.

So really, all he had to worry was not anger Kiba too much else wise he would make a rival, and sate as much of Shikamaru's curiosity before he brought what he found out to his father. He knew that Shikaku would probably ask his son to bring him to the Nara Compound one day, if only to "get to know" him. Meaning a not so subtle interrogation.

There was also the risk of making enemies/rivals once other kids found out his knew standing. Say like that Hyuuga he had seen talking down to Lee when they first met. Or basically to anyone who had a superiority complex.

Life was not going to be easy these next few years...

When the Academy came into view, he heard the bell ring throughout the halls that insinuated the fact that classes were over for the day. He waited with trepidation by the gates, hoping to catch his friends before they all left for their homes.

Lee, being the quickster he was, was the first person to come out of the Academy and caught sight of Minato almost immediately.

"Naruto!" the green clad boy exclaimed, "My youthful friend, how was your test?! Are you alright? Do you need medical attention?"

Minato smiled warmly at his friend, happy that he had made such a wonderful friend. "I'm fine, Lee." He said happily. "I passed! See look!" He tapped the metal on his headband and grinned happily. It really was nice to have the headband on his forehead again, he couldn't deny he felt a little naked without it.

"Wow! Amazing, Naruto!" Lee exclaimed ecstatic for his friend. "I will train twenty times harder to catch up to you, Naruto!" he finished with visible fires in his eyes that Minato simply could not explain.

"Hey, Naruto!" another voice broke their conversation. Turning to see behind his slightly taller friend, Minato saw Kiba, Chouji, and Shikamaru walking toward them, though Kiba was slightly jogging to meet up with the duo first.

"Why weren't you here at class today?" he asked, noticing something was different about the blonde, but simply couldn't place what.

While Chouji was devouring the contents of a potato chip bag, Shikamaru narrowed his eyes at the headband he wore on his forehead. "Naruto, is that your hitei-ate?" he asked, his interest peaked.

Minato took in a small breath, knowing that this was the confrontation he was dreading. "Yeah." he said in a less happy-go-lucky attitude that most were used to. "I've actually been training for years and Sensei thought I should take the test, even though Hokage-jiji wanted me to stay in the Academy for a few years."

"Wait...so your already a Genin!" Kiba exclaimed, calling forth a small crowd to wonder who made Genin just after the Academy started rather than when it ended months ago. Minato internally groaned. He did not want everyone to know! That would make word spread like wildfire with all the old-gossips that littered the streets! Not to mention Naruto was not looked upon with a good light...civilians would probably demand that he be stripped of his rank and say it was all "the demons work" or something of equal nonsense.

"Yeah, I made Genin today." Minato nodded, "I had the test with Kakashi-sensei and the ANBU Weasel." When he had said 'Weasel' Minato consciously noticed that a small black haired, pale faced boy, eyes widened. He remembered the face of one Sasuke Uchiha, younger brother to Itachi. The subtle expression change basically confirmed his theory that the ANBU was in fact none other than Itachi Uchiha since Sasuke didn't react to Kakashi's name, which was much more notable than an ANBU, already claiming the title of the Copy-cat Nin. "But I'm not on a team or anything, Hokage-jiji said I'm going to be paired up with a lot of different teams until a spot opens up or something."

"Woah... then how come you came yesterday? And why didn't you let us know? I needed tons of help on my homework!" Kiba exclaimed, pulling his face slightly down with the palms of his hands as he remembered the horror that was homework.

"Sorry, Kiba, Shikamaru, Chouji..." Minato said honestly. "I didn't think I would be tested, and I wasn't really sure how to tell you guys."

Shikamaru looked thoughtful before he spoke up. "Maa, so troublesome. You barely knew us a day, it's not like we expect you to tell us everything about you."

"Yeah," Chouji said through bites of his chips. "It's cool," munch, "that you made," munch, "Genin, though."

Minato smiled happily at the two's proclamation. He couldn't help but feel happy for his friends, they had such wonderful sons, after all.

"Eh... yeah I guess we can't expect you to tell us everything." Kiba lamented. "But you have to help me with my homework! I can't fail! Mom will skin me if I do!" he exclaimed, a visible shudder running down his body as he thought of the pain his mother would bring upon him if he was at the bottom of his class.

Minato laughed wholeheartedly, remembering how vindictive Tsume could be when it came to certain things. His laughter was joined in my his other friends, and eventually the group of people that had not so subtly gathered around, had slightly departed, losing interest with their conversation. Sasuke, a pink haired girl, and another blonde he recognized as Ino, had stayed a little longer, but went on their way shortly after the rest.

"I just wanted to let you guys know, and I'll definitely help you guys if you need it. We'll become the greatest shinobi Konoha has ever seen!" Minato exclaimed confidently.

The four in front of him grinned at his confidence, and couldn't help but believe they would, one day, become great shinobi in their own right. Shikamaru was still looking a bit curious to know more about the circumstances of his training and just who was his Sensei since he had not mentioned it earlier

"I have to get home." Shikamaru said to his friends. "Tou-san isprobably wondering what's taking me so long. He wanted me to train in the clan techniques today and I want to miss kaa-san before she forces food down my throat. Troublesome women..." he said, muttering the last part.

"I should get home too." Kiba said. "Kaa-san wants me to help with the pups today. I won't get my partner for a few more years, but I can learn how to really take care of him when I do!" With that said, Kiba took to running home. "I'll see you guys tomorrow! Naruto! Come by my house sometime! I'll make sure to let you in!"

"Bye!" the four remaining people said to the Inuzuka.

"I have to get home too." Chouji said crushing the now empty potato chip bag with his hands. " I have to help kaa-chan with stuff and get my homework done before dinner. Bye, Naruto, Shika, Lee."

"Goodbye my youthful friend!" Lee exclaimed happily.

"Later you guys." Shikamaru mumbled before leaving too.

"So, Lee," Minato began. "want to go train?"

Getting another visible fire in the green clad boy's eyes, he said, "Yosh! Let us go!" before running toward their usual training ground with a trail of dust in his wake. Minato laughed before chasing after his friend. At least he didn't lose any friends today.

Sasuke walked home, avoiding a certain pink-haired girl and blonde blue-eyed girl as best as he could. Only two days and there was already a steadily growing fan-club in his name. His brother, Itachi, had told him of the possibility of having a fan-club during his Academy years. Being an Uchiha was one thing, but as a son of the Clan head, he shouldn't be surprised for people trying to idolize him in hopes of one day becoming "Mrs. Uchiha."

At the time, he snorted at his brother. He was seven. He didn't think anything of girls other than they were annoying. A fan-club? That was just plain stupid.

But once again, his brother had been proven right.

He would be frustrated had he not been used to it. After so many years of being proven wrong by his brother, he should have already come to realize that everything he said should be considered truth.

Regardless of the pitiful fan-club, Sasuke was determined to confront his brother today. No matter what, he wouldn't take "not now" or "later" for an answer, and he definitely wouldn't let him poke his forehead. That always marked the end of a conversation.

What he needed to know from his brother was why he hadn't told him he was testing a kid his age for the Genin test. Nearly everyone knew that Itachi was the Weasel ANBU. When Itachi had come home with the news, his father had practically screamed it to the heavens, no doubt proud of his sons accomplishment.

Sasuke could never get that kind of acknowledgment from his father. No matter how hard he tried, or how hard he trained, he was just not at Itachi's level. He knew, if he didn't activate the Sharingan soon, he would forever remain in his brothers shadow and simply be the "younger disappointing son" of Fugaku Uchiha. No doubt useless in his fathers eyes.

Now that there was another boy...the same age as him that isn't even a part of a clan, made Genin... his father would be even more disappointed with him.

He needed Itachi to train him personally if he was ever going to make his dad proud of him. He needed to do something to show his father that he was worth something!

With a determined intake of breath, Sasuke made his way into his home. "I'm home." he said softly, knowing that only his mother would answer him, and that was only if she wasn't busy with something.

"Welcome home, little brother." Itachi's voice came in. He half expected his brother to still be in his ANBU uniform, donning his mask and all. Instead, Itachi stood in front of him wearing normal shinobi attire. Without the uniform, he looked so much more approachable, and it brought another spark of determination in Sasuke.

"Nii-san." he said with a small nod. "Can you please teach me today? I need to get better if I'm going to graduate early." he finished.

The only change in expression was Itachi slighlty widening his eyes. "Why do you want to graduate early?" he asked curious.

"Because, you know a clanless boy made Genin today! I have to be better. I have to be the best. Rookie of the Year means nothing if I graduate early and become a better Genin than that dobe is."

Itachi looked down at his brother, slightly disheartened by his younger brothers reasons. Because their father had pushed him, Sasuke was forced to always play catch-up and be compared to him, who had graduated at seven, and made Chunin and ANBU not long after. Still, he had hoped to stop Sasuke from wanting their father's approval...it wasn't something they needed. Their father was not the same man he remembered years ago. The man wasn't even a shadow of the man he once was...constantly pushing him into things he didn't want. Into things he could never take back.

"Sasuke.." Itachi began, "Don't speak so ill of others. He has trained harshly for years while you have not."

"Because you and Father never train me!" the young boy nearly screamed. "Train me! I need to get better."

Shaking his head, Itachi poked two of his fingers on Sasuke's forehead. "Maybe another time, little brother. I need to go to the Hokage." Without another word, Itachi brushed aside his brother and exited the head house, leaving a frustrated Sasuke in his wake.

No matter what he did, Itachi would always brush him off. His father didn't even bother with him. With a huff, Sasuke left the house and ran to the Clan training ground, determined to get better on his own if no one was going to help him. He had done it since he was little, and he could continue to do so.

He'd prove them all wrong.

He'd be the best shinobi Konoha would ever see.

Better than the Yondaime.

Better than his brother.

Better than the blonde dobe who graduated.

He'd make sure of it.

"I take it Fugaku-san did not take well to the news." Sarutobi stated grimly after he asked Itachi to take down the henge that hid his darkening bruises.

Itachi didn't need to nod or shake his head in reply, the answer was clear on his face and body. When he had arrived home to tell his father, as per his order, about his new assignment and his dropping of ANBU status, he had taken the news badly. Fugaku was, simply put, furious with the news, demanding that he go back to the Hokage and refuse the assignment and retake his rank in ANBU. He knew he was well on his way to being Captain, a few more missions and the position would undoubtedly be given to him.

For Itachi to give it up to train with a child, brought his blood-pressure levels to new heights.

In his anger, he had beaten Itachi as he usually had. Nothing permanent, nothing too painful...just a reminder of just who he was: Fugaku's son. Anything he said, went. He said to jump, Itachi would have to ask how high.

"You will see a medic-nin to heal those." The Hokage commanded softly. "Now, you know everything that is to be done, yes?"

"Yes, Hokage-sama. I will be partnered with Naruto Uzumaki until such a time comes when he will be ready for the Chunin exams. I will observe all his D-rank missions, and accompany him on every C-rank from then on. I am to train with Naruto each day save the time when we are on missions."

"Yes." Sarutobi said with a small smile. He hoped that together, the two boys would become more open, and help each other heal the scars that had regretfully marred their skin. "You are also to check on his living quarters ever so often, he is young and living alone and will most probably need a bit of help with certain things."

Nodding, Itachi said, "Of course, Hokage-sama."

"Good." Hiruzen smiled a grandfatherly smile, "You begin training and if you'd like, D-ranks tomorrow. This is Naruto's address." he said passing him a slip of paper which Itachi looked at before pocketing it.

"I will meet him today to let him know of what is to happen from now on." Itachi said nodding to his Hokage. "Am I dismissed, Hokage-sama?"

"You are dismissed, Itachi. I look forward to seeing how this partnership goes." he said honestly.

Nodding once more, Itachi made his way to leave, but not before thinking, 'Me too, Hokage-sama. I look forward to it too.'

A/N: Yeah...boring-ish. I know... BUUUUT~ next chapter is...!

Chapter 11: Confrontations

Guess what that'll be all about? :D