"Iruka sensei is tough, but he's not against you." Mizuki sat beside Naruto.

"Then why? Why only me? Lin sensei is never that tough on me!" Naruto fiddled with his goggles as a scowl appeared on his face.

"He just wants you to be strong, but that will never happen if he goes easy on you." Mizuki leaned back on his hands.

Naruto stopped playing with his goggles and slumped forward.

"He's like you, you know?" Naruto looked to the third sensei of the academy. "No parents…no family…"

"But…this time I really wanted to graduate." Naruto let his head fall and his chin touch his chest. He heard Mizuki chuckle.

"Then I guess I have to tell you." Naruto looked up to Mizuki again. "It's a secret…but I'm gunna let you in on it."

Naruto stared with wide eyes. 'A secret?'

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

"Lin sensei, wake up!" Lin shot up in bed. Yoruichi groaned and re-settled onto the bed.

"Lin sensei!" Another call through the door. The young woman removed herself from the bed and answered the door. "Mizuki sensei, what is it?"

"You need to come to Lord Hokage's right away. It's Naruto, he stole the sacred scroll."

Lin had been told about this 'scroll' she knew it was very important. "The scroll of sealing you mean!? Damn it!" She snapped the door shut behind her.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Naruto sat in a secluded area far from the main areas of the village. A large scroll sat in his lap.

"Let's see…the first one iiiisss….multi-shadow clone jutsu. Aww! Not this again!" He slapped the side of his head.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Many ninja were gathered outside the Hokage's home. (I know he lives in that building!)

"Lord Hokage," started one man, "this is not just a prank! This is a serious crime!"

"That scroll contains secrets that were sealed by the first Hokage. Secrets known only to our village!" Another spoke up.

The Hokage regarded them calmly. "Alright, bring Naruto here at once." The ninja disappeared.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Lin heaved deep breaths as she scouted her surrounding area. 'Where would he go? Come on Lin, think!'

She saw Iruka rush by in the opposite direction. She could have followed. But she decided to trust her instincts. She dashed off towards the woods.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Naruto sat on the grass almost completely exhausted. He looked up at the sound of soft footsteps. He looked up to find…"Lin sensei!"

"What in the world are you doing Naruto?" She gave him a small smirk with slightly sad eyes. He would be punished. She would not enjoy seeing it.

Naruto scratched the back of his head and chuckled. "Got me already pretty good sensei! I only had time to learn one technique."

Lin's smile widened. He had been practicing. She finally noticed at the dirt marks on his orange outfit.

"Listen sensei! I'm gunna show you this amazing technique then your gunna let me graduate and everything will be okay! That's how it works right?"

Lin raised an eyebrow. "Meaning?"

"Uhh…anyone who learns a jutsu from this scroll can graduate, right?" Naruto looked at her with confusion. Wouldn't she know about it?

"Where the hell did you get that idea from?" She crossed her arms and waited for his answer.

"Mizuki sensei told me about it!" The blonde's arms flew out beside him and then pulled them into his chest. "Believe it!"

"Mizuki sensei?" Lin's eyes narrowed. The dust was beginning to clear, she started to see what was really going on.

"He told me where to find the scroll!" Naruto turned and showed her the object fully. "a-and…this place" Naruto dropped his arms when he saw Lin's face.

She was staring at him with confusion and mixed shock. She turned her head to the side at a soft whistling sound. She pushed Naruto out of the way.

She was pelted to the wall of the old shed she found Naruto in front of by very sharp kunai.

"I see you've found our little hiding spot." Mizuki's cold voice floated down from nearby trees.

"So that's how it is, eh?" Lin smirked and removed one of the kunai in her left arm.

"Naruto! Give me the scroll, now." Mizuki stood up straight on the tree branch he had settled on.

"Wait a minute…what's going on here?" The boy looked from Mizuki to his injured teacher.

Lin pulled another kunai out of her leg. "Don't. He wants it for himself. For his own power, do not give it to him." She threw the knife down.

"She's just trying to scare you because she doesn't want you to have the scroll." Naruto crouched and glowered at him.

"He's lying, don't let him trick you." Lin remained calm about the situation.

"Oh I'll tell you who's really lying!" Mizuki held out his hand to Lin but kept his yes on Naruto.

"Don't…your forbidden to tell him." Lin glared at him while thinking of ways to get out Naruto out safely.

"They've been lying to you your whole life. Since the decree twelve years ago." Mizuki smirked widely.

"Wh-what decree?"

"Everyone knows except you. Lin is trying to hide it from you right now. She'd do anything to shut me up!"

"What?" This was just getting more confusing for him! He looked to his teacher. She remained silent. 'What is this decree? Why does everybody else know about it?"

Lin still did not speak. Mizuki laughed. "The decree is no one can tell you the nine-tailed fox is inside you!"

Naruto stared up at the traitorous man. "What?"

"The demon that killed Iruka's parents and destroyed the village….you are the nine-tailed fox!" Mizuki smirk widened even more.

Naruto stared at his teacher. She continued to stay silent.

She offered him no words of comfort, nothing kind at all. She just stood leaning against the wall with her eyes to the ground.

"Didn't you think it was odd the way they treated you? Like dirt, like they hated you for just being alive!"

"No…it's not true." Naruto started to grow angry.

"That's right! Even your beloved sensei hates your guts! Don't you Lin!?" He laughed like a mad man while staring at the chakra swirling around Naruto.

Lin finally looked over to the boy. Naruto had his eyes closed now. "Naruto."

"Die Naruto!" Mizuki threw a large shuriken at the boy. Lin jumped into action then. "NARUTO GET DOWN!!"

The blonde did as he was told on instinct, but tried to crawl away as well. He stopped when he felt himself being pushed to the ground.

Looking up he saw Lin leaning over him…the large kunai imbedded in her back. "S-sensei!!"

"I'm sorry Naruto." The boy looked confused. Her eyes were darkened, but she turned her head up to look at him. She was crying.

"I'm sorry. I know nobody pays any attention to you. I know you don't show it but your hurting inside. I knew…yet I did nothing to really help. So I'm sorry."

"Lin…sensei?" Naruto didn't blink as a tear tapped down on his cheek.

"I know you just want people to see you, to acknowledge you exist. I notice you Naruto, and so does Yoruichi, and Iruka, and even the Hokage. We all see you."

Naruto was starting to tear up himself. She didn't have to say these things to him.

"So you don't have to act out. You don't need to show off. We all see you, your not hated! Please see that!"

Mizuki scoffed. "Don't make me laugh! She's always hated you! Since the moment she saw you! She'd rather take revenge for all her new friends than teach you and be your friend!"

Naruto looked hurt and uncertain. So he did the only thing left to get as far from them as possible.

"Naruto!!" Lin reached for the running boy. "Wait…"

Mizuki jumped down behind her laughing. "You know…he's going to use the scroll to take revenge on the village. Those eyes he had were the ones of a beast."

Lin removed the weapon from her back and slung it at the man. He dodged it easily.

"As soon as I finish off Naruto and get the scroll, I'll be back for you." He disappeared from her sight.

"Damn! That sneaking bastard!" Lin crouched from the wound on her leg. It stung like crazy.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Lin spotted Naruto jumping through the trees before her. "Naruto!"

The boy looked back. "Everything Mizuki said to you was a lie!" She tried to get closer to the blonde.

"Give me the scroll, hurry! He's coming after you to take it away!"

Naruto planted his feet firmly on the branch and launched himself at her. He jabbed her hard in the stomach.

Lin fell back and thudded to the ground. Naruto skidded to a halt and watched her. Lin got onto her knees. "How did you know?" She growled.

Naruto smirked when Mizuki's jutsu canceled and he looked like himself again. "How did you know it wasn't Lin?"

Naruto's smirk widened, there was a large puff pf smoke and Lin appeared. "Because I am."

Mizuki sucked his teeth and placed his hands on his hips. "Why are you protecting that freak!?"

Lin simply smiled. "He's the one that killed Iruka's family and destroyed half the village!"

"I don't care what you say, your not getting your hands on that scroll."

"Don't you get it? Naruto is just like me!" Both adults were completely unaware that the boy and scroll where sitting at the trunk of a nearby tree.

"Don't ever compare Naruto to yourself." Lin warned in a low voice.

"He wants the scroll for his own power and his own vengeance, that's how beasts are." Mizuki smirked at his clever use of words.

"Shut up."

"He'll pour all his rage into the scroll and destroy everything!"

"Your right." Lin smiled and closed her eyes.

Naruto hid his gasp and lowered his head to the scroll. 'So it's true. Lin sensei never believed in me. She thinks I'm some…freak!' He made sure to be unheard in his whispers.

"That is how beasts are." Lin continued. Naruto looked up in shock. "But that's not what Naruto is."

"Tsk! Give me a break!"

"Naruto may mess up sometimes, and everyone gets on him about it. But I know all the suffering he's been through will make him stronger." Lin smiled happily.

Naruto tightened his lips. "That's what makes him different from beasts. So your very wrong. He's nothing like the nine-tail."

Mizuki was loosing his patience. She was just to stubborn!

"He's Naruto Uzumaki, of the village of Konoha!" Lin smiled confidently.

Naruto was in tears. Lin sensei was to nice of a person. She was smart…and his teacher. He really appreciated her then.

"That's bull! You're finished!" He took the shuriken from his back and charged her.

Lin looked up at a single footstep then a loud thud and groan of pain from Mizuki.

The shuriken flew off. Naruto skidded to a halt and removed the scroll from his back as Mizuki sat up. "Not bad for a little punk!"

Naruto glared at him with a darkened expression. "If you ever lay a hand on my sensei…I'll kill you!" His voice stopped shaking on the last part.

"Big words. I can destroy you with a single move!"

Naruto growled. "Give it your best shot fool!"

Mizuki glowered and made a dash at the blonde.

"HEY!!" The man looked up as a foot caught him in the face. He flew back and was grabbed by two ninja from the Hokage's personal guard.

Naruto looked around to the person that had helped him. "Yoruichi sensei!"

The violet haired woman grinned and nodded to him. "Good job of holding him off for us Naruto!"

"Heh-heh. No problem sensei! He was a total weakling!" He scratched the back of his neck.

Yoruichi rolled her eyes and looked to Lin. She moved to her side quickly. "Are you alright? Your not hurt are you?"

"Do you not see my injured arm and leg?" Lin gave her a bemused expression.

Yoruichi chuckled. "Sorry, but are you ok other than that. Those will be easy to heal."

"I'm fine other than that, yes." Lin nodded.

"Good. I was really worried when I found out you had gone after Mizuki." Yoruichi touched Lin's hand.

"Why worry? He's no match for me."

"Says the woman with two sliced limbs." Yoruichi gripped Lin's hand tightly. "Promise you won't go looking for trouble if I'm not around to help?"

"I promise." Lin smiled and returned the grip Yoruichi had on her hand.

"…Hey? What's going on here?" Naruto walked up to them. He didn't understand what was going on between them.

"Nothing." They didn't take their hands apart as they both answered.

"Alright! Let's go then!" Naruto grinned happily.

"Ahh…Naruto. Come down here for a sec." Lin waved him down and finally released Yoruichi's hand.

"Huh? What is it sensei?" He kneeled down beside her like Yoruichi.

"Close your eyes." Naruto did as he was told. "I have a present for you."

Naruto's brow furrowed when he felt Lin's hands slip by his neck. He thought she was giving him a hug, but there was no pressure of another body.

"Okay…open them." Naruto, again did as he was told, he saw that Lin's head band was gone.

Lin smiled widely at him. "Congratulations! You passed!"

Naruto stared…then smiled widely. "Lin sensei!!" He launched himself on her in a tight hug.

"Agh! That hurts!" Lin tried to pry him off and hug him at the same time.

Yoruichi just laughed and sat back to watch until they were done.

BLEACHNARUTOBLEACHNARUTOBLEACHNARUTOBLEACHNARUTOBLEACHNARUTO

Sorry it's taken so long to update. I've been very busy. and my sister just left today so i finally had time to type!

This chapter literally took me all day to type up! so be happy and i'm sorry for any mistakes. Please leave nice reviews.