Apophenia

Examination

"Calm down. Breathe in, breathe out, slowly. Slower. Even slower. That's more like it. Remember, breathe out just a little longer than you breathe in. I don't want you hyperventilating, understand?"

The young blond nodded, not disrupting his breathing rhythm with speech. The old and retired Sandaime Hokage looked down at the boy with a smile. Getting Namikaze Naruto to sit down and stay calm was something that had taken quite some time to achieve. Hiruzen agreed with Minato's idea: ever since the manifestation of the Kyuubi, Naruto had gotten an excess of energy which caused troublesome behavior. The hyperactivity of the little troublemaker had gone completely off the charts since that moment.

Excess chakra made the boy's life as an academy student hard. Even for the famous 'professor', it had been an exceedingly difficult task to get the boy to master the Bunshin no Jutsu. Normally, children barely had any chakra and had to train to increase their reserves. After some time, normal shinobi would get enough chakra for it to become cumbersome, at which point they needed to learn chakra control exercises. Usually that was around the point when they became genin.

Some, with lower reserves, retained their chakra control and only needed to train for it later. They faced an issue which was harder to overcome: expanding one's chakra reserves required hard work. With chakra being a mixture of physical and spiritual energy, it followed that one had to train the body and the mind.

Normal rules, however, did not really apply to Naruto, nor Fu, for that matter. The young girl had more discipline and control than Naruto, which wasn't exactly a difficult feat. Still, while Fu was rather impulsive, her harsh life had taught her how to listen to a superior or a teacher. As she was gloomy and distant, Hiruzen often chose to respect her need to keep her distance when they were practicing chakra control. By contrast, Naruto was much more labor-intensive for a teacher.

Sure, he could do the basics that the academy demanded- Hiruzen still wondered how those standards had been lowered that much during his reign- but he was extremely wasteful when performing a jutsu. Fu was relatively efficient, but she already wasted amounts of chakra which could put a decent chunin's reserves to shame. Naruto was worse, way worse.

In the present, Hiruzen sighed. "Good, now maintain your focus while generating only a small amount of chakra to execute the Bunshin no Jutsu."

A nod was his answer. A ram, snake, and tiger hand seal followed. "Bunshin no Jutsu!" The exuberant way in which the boy announced the jutsu almost made Hiruzen sigh. But Fu had less restraint, and loudly smacked her palm to her face, and an audible "idiot" followed after it.

Needless to say, Naruto got overexcited again, and the clone was overcharged. The result was a feeble and sickly-looking copy of the boy himself.

"Again?!"

"I did tell you to maintain your focus," Hiruzen strained to keep himself calm. Part of him wanted to bob the child on the head, but the old man had a hunch... a hunch which was confirmed by a laughing little fox.

"Could you please refrain from destabilizing his control, Kurama?"

"My jinchuriki isn't going to be some ignorant weakling," the tiny form of the Kyuubi chuckled. "I'm only raising the bar for him."

"HEY!"

"Shut it, brat. Think of it as a challenge: if you can do the jutsu while I'm messing with your control, you will be even stronger when I'm not messing around."

Naruto pouted. "It still isn't fair."

"Life isn't fair," if the fox could be bothered to shrug, he would've done it. Lying on the cool grass was too comfortable, especially shortly after eating. It made the fox lazy. That laziness also made the creature rather grumpy. "But last time I checked, you at least had the guts to face a challenge. Or do you want to tell me that your sole redeeming quality was flushed down the toilet?"

Hiruzen wondered whether it was grumpiness or just sheer malice that drove the fox to 'train' the boy.

"You will soon be facing the exams, Naruto," Hiruzen decided to intervene before the boy got riled up even more. "The finer aspects of chakra control are still beyond your grasp. At this rate you will not be able to effectively battle with, or against, genjutsu. While your teammates may cover that weakness for you, you should still strive to be as all-round as you can. Remember-"

"-a team is only as strong as its weakest member," Naruto droned, having heard the line countless times. "I wish I had fancy eyes like Sasuke's clan, or the byakugan like Hinata-chan," he muttered.

"It would be wiser to focus on what you can, rather than on what you cannot. You must understand and acknowledge your weaknesses to overcome them, but it will be hard work."

"I can work hard," Naruto plopped down on the ground, visibly dejected. "But what good would it do for me?"

"What do you mean?"

"People expect me to be Tou-san, not myself. I'm a disappointment…"

"Last I checked you were set to be top of your class."

"I am. I think. Sasuke is close but… well; it doesn't really matter for either of us. He's never good enough, always compared to Itachi, stuck in another's shadow just like how I'm stuck in Tou-san's shadow."

"I'm sure both your parents would have some firm words if they heard you say this," Hiruzen smiled kindly. "But you should know that neither of them started out as strong as they are now either. Your Kaa-san had pretty much the same issues which you are facing: too much chakra to control it properly, and too little patience to bother learning proper control. Minato, on the other hand… well, he was a prodigy, much like Itachi-san, but even he had to work hard to climb to the top. When he had just left the academy, Minato still had to work hard to expand his chakra reserves. And I think that even now, he still does not have nearly as much chakra as you will have."

"Eh?"

"Minato is extremely efficient when it comes to using chakra, to a degree that even I cannot even compare," Hiruzen chuckled. "And people nicknamed me 'the professor', so that's quite an achievement. But compared to you, neither Minato nor I can hold a candle to you in terms of chakra reserves. Minato may be unrivaled in speed and accuracy, but you will become a different sort of shinobi. And not just because there is a bijuu sealed within you. Remember: never before has there been a jinchuriki like you, Naruto."

"But Tou-san-"

"-Had to work very hard to get as strong as he is now, and study even harder to master the art of fuinjutsu," the old Sarutobi assured the youngster. Well, both youngsters, as Fu was listening intently even though she acted like she didn't. He guessed that she'd rather drop dead from the tree she was attempting to climb than ever admit that she could agree with some of the doubts which Naruto had.

They were jinchuriki, super-weapons, and yet she never felt 'super' in any sense of the word. Hiruzen might tell her that she had plenty of time to improve, but Fu remained skeptical. At the very least, she had no idea of how long she could remain in this peaceful village. If- when- she returned to Takigakure without having become stronger, she would be seen as a failure. Jinchuriki who were regarded as failures ended up having their bijuu extracted from them. The process meant death, although that fate turned out to be less unavoidable than she originally thought. Kushina's survival was nothing less than a miracle.

But if Fu knew one thing, it would be that miracles always happened to others.

Her less-than-positive mood soured even further when she saw a boulder slowly move towards Naruto and Hiruzen. He had definitely improved on coloring the thing, but the shape was still awkward. There weren't any rectangular rocks like that. Especially not those with two holes poked in them, to see through.

"Naruto-niichan!" Yes, it was another 'surprise' attack from their teacher's grandson. Konohamaru was stubborn as a mule. And twice as annoying, in Fu's opinion.

'He is Naruto, just the regular Naruto I've always known and admired,' that's what she had tried to convince herself. But every time Ino looked at him, even while he was writing his written exam right now, she saw the monstrous form, with bloodied, torn flesh, and bones growing out of places where they did not belong.

Demon.

She had never understood why some people called him like that, although they never spoke like that when he could hear it, but now she could. Yamanaka Ino wasn't foolish enough to think that he was like that simply because he was a jinchuriki, though. He was one, however, due to the bloodline ability he had.

'How many years has it been since I first saw him? He is a boy treated like a prince, a boy I'd have treat properly, according to mother, a boy who has an interest in flowers. How could I not have developed feelings for him? He is perfect, a prince! What girl wouldn't fall for a prince? Sure, he is rather goofy and mischievous, but I don't mind that. It is part of the reason why he is cute.'

Bones weren't cute, though. 'Am I that superficial?' she asked herself. Her brain said no. Her heart repeated the same argument over and over again: the horrid sight of Naruto fighting against those Uchiha.

She silently berated herself: this was not the time to think about that. First, she'd have to finish this written exam, after that the ninjutsu examination, then tomorrow the taijutsu examination. After that, if she passed (when she passed, she didn't doubt her ability considering how she ranked in the top of their class,) she'd be assigned a team. The team would probably one with Shikamaru and Choji, but… 'What if they failed the exams? What if father managed to change their customs, like I asked, and basically begged, of him?' …could she end up in a team with Namikaze Naruto?

"It's a pity I can't look after the kid myself."

"I'm sure you would've loved taking in his team, sensei. But there are more important things at this time. I can't withdraw you from your current activities."

"I know, Minato," the white-haired man sighed deeply. "But the kid's still my godson."

"And I'm sure he would have loved you as his sensei," Minato agreed. "But the matter of Akatsuki is more pressing. He warned us for a reason."

"They'll target the jinchuriki," Jiraiya nodded. Seated in the office of his student, the older man looked out of the window, gazing over the deceptively peaceful village. People enjoyed the prosperity and sanctuary of Konohagakure, amidst a world filled with tensions. But to those who looked underneath the underneath, it was obvious that even Konoha suffered from tensions hidden beneath the surface. "How are the Uchiha?"

"Placated, for now."

"For now?"

"Some grudges go too deep for me to deal with them. It takes time for them to heal, time which I need to buy by keeping both the village and their clan calm."

"Incidents like those idiots that attacked Fu and Naruto didn't help."

"No, that it didn't," Minato wondered why his sensei stated the obvious. "But things seem calm right now."

"Don't you think that there are a few too many of these sorts of incidents?" Jiraiya saw the quizzical look of the Yondaime Hokage. "I know that they serve as Konoha's military police force, but… some of their excesses were too public. At the same time, there were at least two cases that I've heard of that sounded like traps: situations where the Uchiha involved could never do the right thing because it was already too late to truly salvage the situation. The unrest is only increasing, not that we can blame Fugaku for not trying to keep his clan calm, but it feels like he is fighting an uphill battle. Individually, these incidents mean nothing. But, being away from Konoha for most of the time, I usually read about these things only once in a while. Perhaps I'm paranoid, but there seems to be a pattern…"

"I've considered the possibility of someone deliberately trying to undermine the Uchiha, sensei," Minato sighed wearily. "But what can I do? Fugaku is already paranoid enough, to the point where he barely has any contact with his eldest son because he thinks Itachi sided with the village. While he tries to hide it, I also know that he had several conflicts with senior members of his clan, those who are turning to a more extremist way of thinking in response to the way their clan is mistrusted. If I were to tell him that there is someone, or some organization, that might be trying to trick his clan… things would only become worse. Fugaku is trying to balance things, and I'm afraid that telling him will do more harm than good. He is paranoid enough as it is. Not that I am ignore the matter, mind you, but so far I haven't found a single thing that incriminates anyone."

"You know… I'm so darn glad that I refused when sensei asked me to succeed him," Jiraiya laughed mirthlessly. "I will keep my eyes open for any news. As far as I know, Akatsuki has no ties in Konoha yet, so I think it is some third party. I've not heard of rebellious factions within the Uchiha clan, but I'll take a look at that too."

"Inoichi couldn't find a thing in the minds of the captured Uchiha who attacked Naruto. It might be due to some powerful genjutsu, which would, again, point at the Uchiha clan, but there are also other options- like those who'd use the clan everyone already suspects in order to hide their own actions."

"Iwa?"

"Iwagakure still has a grudge against Konoha, and me specifically," Minato nodded. "If the Uchiha would rebel, and a civil war was to unfold, then they would have the perfect opportunity to strike."

"So would Kumogakure," Jiraiya shrugged. "Kumo has been hoarding power for quite some time now. The way they target ninjutsu… the sharingan would be a dream come true to them. And let's not forget that Akatsuki is steadily recruiting more members too. Why do times of peace complicate the situation so much more? Ugh, I'll get back into the field."

"I'm sorry, sensei. In different times I would gladly have appointed you as my son's sensei, I know how much you'd like to settle down, but right now…"

"I know, Minato, I know. Say hi to Kushina and the brats for me, will you? Especially the girl, at least she knows how to respect a shinobi of my stature."

The world was an odd place. All the firmly ingrained values which had been taught to her seemed irrelevant here. In Takigakure, a girl who still stuttered out of shyness wouldn't last long. Here, in Konohagakure, she deftly defeated her opponent in a taijutsu spar. The forms were all tested now – the individual part of the exams- but now the sparring part had started.

Iruka, their teacher, had made things a little more 'fun' by making a little tournament out of it. A shy person like Hyuga Hinata would've been amongst the first whom Fu expected to drop out, but instead… instead, she mopped the floor with pretty much everyone, with seemingly minimal difficulty.

"Seems like her dad taught her well," Naruto remarked- him being amongst the few who was still in the tournament. "He's a cold bastard, but I suppose he isn't completely bad as a teacher."

Tenten smacked him on the head. "That's a clan head you're talking about."

"So what? An asshole is an asshole, regardless of his rank or social position," Naruto scowled. Fu looked away. She didn't know why her fellow jinchuriki hated the man, or why it was any of his business. Then again, when the Uchiha tried to arrest her, it hadn't been any of his business either.

'He's probably just a meddler, thinking he can get away with everything because he's the son of the Hokage.'

"Or he does those things because he thinks it's the right thing to do," Chomei suggested.

Fu had trouble believing him. Chomei seemed too insistent on having her like him. Was it part of their bet? Chomei had wagered that Fu would come to like the foolish boy, but she continued to fail to see how that was supposed to happen. She'd seen him fight and beat his sister last round, and knew him from their joint training under the supervision of Sarutobi Hiruzen, knew he wasn't a pushover in direct combat. But… well, in the world of shinobi where there wasn't often such a clear distinction between friend and foe, a shinobi usually fought from the shadows.

Naruto was too naïve, according to Fu's view on the world, as was the vast majority of the children in this class. 'Well, Tenten seems to have a functional brain, and that one orphan boy who is fighting for his chances in this class filled with clan heirs seemed to have the right mindset as well. That boy knows the real face of a hidden village, growing up in the same part of town as Tenten has, much unlike our pampered classmates.'

"Uchiha Sasuke and Fu," Iruka announced the match-ups of the semi-finals. Fu heard Naruto mumble something about having to fight against the Juken. Apparently, he had not really fought in hand-to-hand combat against any of the other children before Fu arrived. So, it wasn't much of a surprise that this day seemed like a big party to Naruto, although he was rated more for his ability to restrain himself than for his ability to fight. Less amused was Hinata, who seemed rather worried after noticing Naruto's enthusiastic smile.

"Careful Fufu-chan, the Uchiha isn't an opponent to take lightly," Chomei advised.

As if that wasn't obvious, Fu internally scoffed. While she thought him to be a tad arrogant, he was undeniably skilled. Where Naruto seemed to embody brute strength, the Uchiha was far more fluid and precise. He was not as much as the Hyuga, mind you, but rather a balance between the two extremes.'I know. He's fast, agile, and has a good sense of timing. I saw that in his previous matches.'

Fu still couldn't be too worried. Unlike the Inuzuka or the Akimichi, Fu was an actual shinobi. Of the lot of them, she was the only one who was already a genin- a Takigakure genin, that is. This time at Konoha's academy has still been valuable, considering how Takigakure's training was rather inferior in comparison. 'But I'm faster and far stronger. Unlike him, I don't have to worry about my defenses as much. There's no way in hell he's going to get me to admit defeat,' Fu's expression sank into a dark glare. Not that she was angry at the Uchiha, but she was looking forward to setting things straight with Naruto. Taking down Naruto's best friend seemed to be a good first step.

"Yugao!"

"Yes, Kushina-sama?"

"One of these days, I'm going to kick your ass for that 'sama' stuff," Kushina glared at the teasing Anbu.

The young woman sighed. "I know you're on edge because Naruto is doing his exams right now, but-"

"On edge? I'm not stressed at all!"

"You're acting like a chipmunk on coffee," Yugao stared impassively at the red-haired woman. "And it's not like I don't want to know how my little brother did either, but we've got another job to focus on."

"Ugh. I wish I still had my chakra. I can't even properly spy on him."

"But what does your feeling tell you?" the unmasked Anbu smiled softly at the dejected expression of the person who was practically her mother- or older sister. She knew that Kushina could feel the boy's emotions to some extent. The mother and son, bound by blood but also by burden, they were truly a unique case. After all, no other person had ever survived the extraction of a bijuu before. Former and current jinchuriki had a bond beyond that of normal mother and son.

"He feels happy," Kushina admitted. Yugao nodded, and continued the preparations. That Naruto and Tenten would succeed was something no one had even doubted. But, whether it was expected or not, it would still be a celebration within the Namikaze household.

"Those two…"

"Don't be so jealous," Tenten smirked. "You honestly expected something different?"

"Hn."

"Uchiha are sore losers, Pandagirl."

"Stop laughing, Kyuubi."

"And stop calling me Pandagirl," Tenten agreed with Sasuke. "Though I do think Hinata should've made it more difficult for him."

"You know how she is around Naruto," Sasuke grumbled.

"Oh, stop pouting around. Fu was stronger and beat you, so what?"

"I should've won."

"Why?" Kurama smirked. He was having a field day. Seeing an Uchiha lose was perfect entertainment. Hearing that same Uchiha mope after his loss only made things even better! "Minty beat you fair and square."

"If I had the sharingan…"

Stretching, the boy rubbed over the few spots on his arms that were still sore. Juken was truly annoying to fight against at close quarters. Still, judging by Iruka's surprise, he wasn't supposed to be able to just reopen the tenketsu which Hinata had closed. It only took a little of Kurama's chakra and the problem had been fixed: Naruto really didn't see what the big deal was.

But now he'd have a fight where he wouldn't need to pull his punches. At least, not as much as with everyone else. One last little spar and the exams were over!

'Only need to go shopping for the pile of raw meat I promised Kurama,' Naruto smiled at the thought of how he had bribed the bijuu. He wasn't going to risk messing up the ninjutsu parts of the exams, simply because Kurama thought it to be 'a good training' for him to mess up his chakra control. Well, not during the exams: it would cost quite some ryo to purchase the promised amount, but Naruto would get it done.

Better losing some ryo than flunking the exam!

Looking at the little fox- Kurama was still enjoying himself by riling up Sasuke- Naruto wondered if this would end up with another feud between Kurama and Chomei. The two bijuu had a bad habit of acting like two quarreling children, except that these children each had enough chakra to flatten the entire village.

Oh, and Fu still disliked him for some reason.

Naruto couldn't tell why, but it was obvious enough that his fellow jinchuriki disliked him. Why? Tenten theorized that it was jealousy, as Fu didn't have the family or life that Naruto had. Sasuke agreed, but for different reasons: he argued that Fu envied Naruto for being stronger. Naruto wondered why Sasuke always thought everything revolved around the power someone had. Kurama mostly remained silent, apart from the occasional remark that Chomei was jealous because he had less tails. All in all, Naruto really did not understand the situation, as he could not believe Fu was petty enough to let herself be led by such emotions.

"Ready?" Iruka asked the two. Fu and Naruto merely nodded, both too focused to speak up. "Okay: begin!"

Fu took the initiative. The immediately launched herself at Naruto, fist aiming for his chin. He sidestepped, but before he could launch a counterattack Fu's foot hit Naruto against the head. Skidding over the ground, Naruto was actually dazed for a moment. Still, he stood up. Spitting out some blood, as well as one of his molars.

"Damn, that actually hurt," he frowned. "This is just a spar!"

"For a true shinobi there isn't something as silly as 'just a spar'."

"What's your problem?"

"What is your problem?" Fu glared at him. "Can't deal with the real life of a shinobi?"

One can say a lot of things about Namikaze Naruto, but patience wasn't exactly a virtue that he embodied. As he was hotheaded and rash, Tenten often had to act as a voice of reason that stopped him from doing something stupid. Tenten wasn't around this time, though. He tried to restrain himself, though, knowing how she'd berate him if he lost his cool now.

It wasn't like Fu had done that much damage with that cheap shot. Regrowing the molar he had just lost was easy enough- he silently thanked the gift of Shikotsumyaku. And whatever rupture in his cheek it was that had caused him to taste his blood had already closed. But looking into the challenging, almost mocking, orange eyes of his opponent was something that made him lose his calm.

'If she wants to piss me off, then so be it! I've played nice long enough, tried to be friendly, understanding, and all,' he stood straight, and everyone watching saw a faint shimmer of chakra around him, if only it lasted but a second. Fu saw it too.

Well, she had used her bijuu's chakra first, so she couldn't complain. She could complain, however, when he suddenly moved. He moved far faster now. A furious exchange of fists and kicks followed, one in which Fu had to push herself to her limits. The longer it continued, the more she struggled. The more she had to struggle, the more irate she became.

Iruka and the other genin-prospects backed away when Fu spouted two wings of pure chakra. This was an examination for those who wanted to become genin, yet the chakra that was emitted was more appropriate for exams for jonin.

Strengthened or not, the fist she intended to plant in Naruto's stomach was still stopped, clenched in his iron grip. There was no time to be startled; Fu already saw his slit crimson eyes. She growled out in frustration, and tried to gather even more of Chomei's chakra.

"If this is how far you want to take this," Naruto growled. "Then FINE!"

This time it wasn't a faint shimmer of chakra. This time it was a dense layer of orange chakra, bubbling as if it was boiling. She tried to stop the bone-encased fist, but failed. Right now, there was nothing about the boy that she could label as goofy or childish- not that Fu could see him.

She blacked out when his fist harshly plummeted into her stomach.

"Winner… Namikaze Naruto," Iruka announced, although rather weakly. This hadn't been something he had anticipated. Sure, Fu distanced herself from most others, but for her to lash out against Naruto like this… no, he hadn't seen this coming- especially not that Naruto would snap and answer with equal force.

"Well, Minty had that coming to her," Kurama calmly remarked. "You might want to bring her to a hospital though. Perhaps I allowed the meatbag to use a little too much of my chakra."

"Kurama," Tenten groaned. "Why?"

"She used Chomei's," the fox scoffed. "She should've known that my meatbag's seal is superior. That I am superior. No seven-tailed loser is going to best me."

"Childish," Sasuke muttered. It was rather hypocritical in Tenten's opinion, considering how the Uchiha was at least as focused on measuring strength.

"You heard her. She saw it as a serious fight. My little contribution only pushed the brat to give her what she wanted," Kurama stretched lazily before walking to Naruto. "That wasn't completely bad," he allowed, as for a change, he complimented the boy. Well, he didn't insult him. That was probably as much as the boy could possibly get at this point. "Let's go shopping."

"You sure you're not a nine-tailed wolverine?" Naruto joked impassively. The wide berth the other students gave him, that look they all gave him, both reminded him too much of the way Ino had acted ever since that incident. Perhaps people were right, when thinking he was out of earshot, calling him a monster. Worse, the person who seemed to dislike him most was someone who should be able to understand his position far better than practically everyone else.

So, he was a failure to some, as he couldn't compete against the shadow of his father, and a monster to others, both because he had a bijuu sealed within him and due to the kekkei genkai he had gained due to Kurama. They were not exactly things he could be too happy about. But, at least he wasn't alone. Kurama took his place atop Naruto's head, and Tenten hurried to his side. It was family. If not for his family, and even Kurama himself, Naruto didn't know how he'd be right now. Oh, and then there were his friends.

"Where's Sasuke?"

"Went home. You know how he is after a loss," Tenten shrugged. "But why did Fu do that, Naruto?"

"I guess she really dislikes me," he sighed. "Not sure why. Ever since the first day she joined school, she seemed to have something against me. During training at Jii-san's place she never said much, especially not to me directly. Still… I'm not sure what I did wrong."

"Perhaps the problem isn't you, but her," Kurama suggested. Knowing that the rather slow-working mind of his jinchuriki needed clarification, he explained it further. "If she had something against you before you ever met her, it would mean that it isn't you who did something wrong, but rather that she has the wrong idea about you. Perhaps she had certain expectations of who you were?"

"It's because I'm nothing like Tou-san, isn't it?"

"I don't think Fu cares about that," Tenten frowned pensively. "Rather, I think it is because of the burden you two share. From what little she spoke about Takigakure, I get the idea that she was treated rather badly there."

"She was," Kurama knew. Chomei had told him enough of Takigakure, especially when talking about how life in Konoha was so much better in comparison. The two bijuu did more than just bickering, although neither had told their jinchuriki too much. They wouldn't share the same interests and ideals anyway. Whatever they were: these children had lived only a little more than a decade, whereas Kurama and Chomei had lived for centuries.

"That's no reason to act up like this, is it?"

"Ask her," Kurama proposed. "The only way to find out is from the source, from her." Kurama wasn't blind. He saw the girl looking at them, when Naruto and his friends didn't notice it. If Fu truly despised the Konoha way of life, she wouldn't want to see it either. No, she had her dreams… and had walked the painful path of accepting the harsh nature of the world.

Kurama had seen it. The girl was jealous of his jinchuriki, jealous of how he lived, jealous of his innocence and naivety. It was a jealousy… that even Kurama felt at times, not that he'd ever admit it. Ever.

While Tenten, Kurama, and Naruto walked to their home, Uchiha Sasuke went on his way in relative silence. Sure, there were others of their class heading the same way, excitedly talking about the exams, bragging on how they had performed, but also confused by the final match.

They were scared. Sasuke could hear it in their voices. Then again, between two jinchuriki, how did normal humans compare? Yes, they were right: that realization was demotivating, infuriating. And yet… being close to Naruto, Sasuke knew how hard his classmate, his friend and rival, had to work for it. He did get lucky with the Shikotsumyaku kekkei genkai, but it took a great deal of training for him to get it on the level he was at now.

Had Fu remained levelheaded, she could've searched for a weakness in his defenses. He was careless, impetuously attacking while trusting his innate defenses to keep him safe. She had the speed and the brute strength to match Naruto, and Sasuke was convinced that she could have won, yet her anger made her fight inefficiently. In that contrast, she had performed better in the match against him, even though she had held back, Sasuke begrudgingly admitted.

"Well done."

"Nii-san?" Sasuke let his kunai down. Startled by his elder brother, he had reflexively grabbed and aimed the weapon before he had even realized that it had been Itachi. "Why do you always have to do this?" Idly, he noted that his classmates were already gone. Had he, lost in thought as he was, gotten this close to the compound already? Or was there some sort of genjutsu that had led them away?

"You and Shisui sound too much alike," Itachi smiled softly. Yes, the seasoned Anbu was rather stoic and distant, but to his little brother he hadn't changed all that much. Unfortunately, Itachi still gave Sasuke the usual poke he always gave when he didn't have time for his little brother…

"Perhaps we wouldn't react that way if you didn't constantly sneak up on others."

"You're a shinobi now," Itachi shrugged. "A shinobi should be perceptive, keeping a close eye at his surroundings at all times."

"I know…"

"Yet, you were so lost in thought that you didn't even notice the signs of my presence that I deliberately left," the older brother scolded the younger. "If this had been a mission, you could have been injured or worse- not to mention that you'd be a liability to the rest of your team."

"Yeah, yeah," Sasuke pouted. Pouted! Most of his class would tumble over in surprise to see Uchiha Sasuke with this childish expression.

"Let's go, Sasuke," Itachi laughed. "We've got to celebrate your promotion."

"But I haven't even officially been promoted yet!"

"Yeah, you can celebrate it at home tomorrow. I can't attend that party. Mission stuff." Well, he could, but he didn't want to. Itachi and Fugaku would likely start another argument, and Itachi didn't want to ruin Sasuke's moment. Besides, his little brother was always eager when he got an opportunity to spend some time alone with his big brother. That aspect about Sasuke had never changed. and Itachi hoped it never would- despite all the things that had yet to come.

A yellow, blinding flash stopped Naruto and Tenten in their tracks, shortly before they reached their house. Before they realized what was going on, hands reached out to a shoulder of each, and they were already gone.

"SURPRISE!"

Both kids blinked, still blinded by the flash of chakra- their father's chakra, obviously. Kurama's utter lack of reaction was enough for Naruto to know that this wasn't some shady kidnapping. It was not that Kurama wasn't blinded- he was annoyed enough to make an attempt at biting Minato on his ankle.

"Kaa-chan?" Naruto was the first to recover his eyesight, and the crimson hair of his mother nearly immediately covered his eyes, as she drew both children into a hug. When she let go, Naruto saw the wide proud smile on her face.

"Congratulations," she ruffled through his hair.

"But the scores-"

"-are published tomorrow," Minato finished, "but as Hokage, I just happened to get the paperwork first. My job has some perks too, you know. Of course, it was also a valid excuse to call it a day."

Only after Tenten gasped did Naruto realize where he had taken them. The gentle glow of the sun illuminated the village, the entire village. In one glance, Naruto saw the entire village. It was a view worthy of a kage indeed. They sat atop the Hokage Monument. Minato, Kushina, and Yugao had brought food and drinks, plus blankets to sit upon. They were celebrating their promotion to genin (even if it wasn't official yet) in the most beautiful place in town.

Seeing the glistering blue eyes of his son, Minato pulled Naruto into a hug of his own. Naruto was glad that Yugao distracted Tenten, wanting to hear every detail on their exams, so none of the others saw his tears.

This view, this village, this was what he was doing it for. Never before had he realized it so clearly. Genin was but the first step on the road, but not the last. At that moment, Namikaze Naruto swore to protect Konoha to his last bone. Even if some of the people of Konoha thought of him as a monster, he would endure. No enemy would lay hands on the sanctity of Konohagakure no Sato. This was what the Hokage protected, safeguarded from all the terrors that were looming out in this vast world. One day, he'd make his parents proud, and make this his responsibility.

He still knew so little about their world…

Author's notes:

Is it envy? Disdain? Or simply rivalry? Fu definitely has her issues with other people, with trusting anyone. To see the one person she thought would be similar to her instead be like all the others… I can't imagine that to be an easy thing to accept.

Make me and my beta Illuminated happy, and leave a review! One last question: who should become Naruto's sensei?

-Z-