The rest of the week passed in a blur for Naruto, his training having kicked into high gear now he wasn't required to 'waste' a few hours a day at the academy. He'd gotten much more used to keeping his senses constantly enhanced with chakra adding to the minor enhancement Kyuubi gave him anyway, he wouldn't be able to outperform a Inuzuka but he could give one at least something resembling a challenge. His chakra control, too, had risen nosing low Jōnin levels, although with Naruto's reserves in excess of Kage it appeared to most observers that he had merely low Chûnin control, he and Kyuubi since run through the meagre handful of techniques they knew and had taken to adapting those slightly to create something new to push his control just that little higher. Outside of training he'd spent some more time with Ino, seeing the blonde twice more over the week and much more time with Hinata, training with her most days, finally, though it went without saying, he and Kyuubi had a lot of time to themselves, the kitsune reminding her host and lover that now they were going out to take missions he'd definitely need to remember to use his Gijime. In fact she'd gone far enough to devote one entire training session to ensuring activating the illusion of a bloodline was almost automatic when he charged into combat, if he performed a technique he hadn't seen she wasn't foolish enough to believe his Jōnin instructor would overlook it.


Bouncing into the old classroom Naruto was walking on air, even the insults and looks that normally would puncture his good moods before they could take root bounced off him today, there was almost no need for his mask but it was firmly in place out of force of habit. This week had been great! He'd been a little suspicious of the former Sasuke fangirl at first but Ino-chan seemed to really liked him and she knew all this amazing stuff about flowers! He was keen to see if she knew anything practical, he'd seen some stuff about poisons and heard it mentioned in some lectures and they sounded really useful he also seemed to recall his favourite brand of itching powder was mostly herb based so if he could make his own? His eyes sparkled. Likewise Hinata-chan and Kyuubi-chan were too good for him and he revelled in every moment they spent together, Hinata had seemed a little down since his date with Ino for some reason so he'd redoubled his efforts to make her happy to make up for whatever was upsetting her. However what was, mostly, responsible for the spring in his step was the fact today he was getting his team, he feverantly wished to be with Hinata, but his mind was more on who would be his Jōnin teacher, whoever it was he'd get some more techniques! And maybe some jutsu! Kyuubi-chan had been annoyingly tight lipped with the few human jutsu she professed to know, and Naruto still couldn't produce clones in numbers less than dozens but he had practiced his henge, chakra strings, and kawarimi between his other chakra training attempts.

Spotting Hinata in her normal spot he grinned just a little wider, his eyes lighting up slightly, his smile no less ear splitting but less toothy, something the meek girl recognised as her crush's true smile. "Hey Hinata-chan!" he greeted, vaulting over some desks to cut a corner, the movement far more fluid and graceful than he had been capable of being before his training.

Blushing softly at his greeting and the smile he was sending her Hinata averted her gaze for a moment to compose herself a little "G..g..good morning Naruto-kun." she replied softly. The training had done the meek girl some good and slowly, but surely, her stutter was receding, likewise she was finding it easier and easier to talk to her boyfriend although it was doubtful his smiles and kisses would ever not make her face light up.

Watching Naruto approach the shy heir whispers and rumours spread around the class, the girls whose parents had prodded them to pursue Naruto muttering about why she got the blonde and how they were better and others still wondering why the skank was trying to steal him away from Ino when they'd seen those two out on a few dates in the past few weeks, those girls sure that when the blonde heir turned up fireworks would fly and, though none of them admitted it, all looking forward to it. Thankfully with almost 60% of the class having failed to become genin the whispering and gossiping was significantly less prevalent than it had been.

Hinata quailed under the, angry, jealous, gazes of her piers. That little voice inside that Naruto had dedicated much time to developing just daring the hussies to make a move on her man. She knew she had to share him in the CRA but she still didn't like that fact, she tolerated Ino and put on a smile only because she was sure if she asked Naruto would leave the other blonde in a heartbeat and since she knew he had no choice in the matter either.

A low growl rolled from Naruto's lips, his eyes narrowing as he spun to shout at the girls he'd heard one or two calling Hinata a hussy, amongst other things. Nobody. Nobody! Was allowed to talk about his precious people like that! Halting his walk up to his new seat, next to his girlfriend, he made to turn around when a delicate hand on his shoulder caught his attention "Hinata?" he asked, glancing over his shoulder to the young Hyuuga.

Shaking her head softly she smiled warmly, it always made her feel warm how readily and eagerly Naruto sprang to her defence. "Don't." she spoke softly, not really knowing what he was planning, a prank or insult, most likely but whatever he had in mind she was sure he'd get in trouble for it.

Naruto's fists clenched for a moment with the desire to make the others pay for insulting Hinata before he sighed and let them fall to his side, limp. "Ok." he agreed, reluctance written across his features and voice, "You're too kinda Hinata-chan." he murmured as he sank into his seat shooting her a grin and leaning over to peck her cheek

Cheeks reddening further from his kiss her face, for a moment, resembled her older blushes before the blonde jinchuuriki had sunk his claws into her. "Y...y..nar.. you're kind..kinder Naruto-kun." she replied stuttering back to full force as his kisses usually did to her

Naruto shook his head softly, whilst the boy easily and readily forgave slights against himself he was far less forgiving of those against his precious people. Kyuubi and Hinata had been slowly peeling away his willingness to forgive or forget personal slights too, Hinata perhaps unknowingly but Kyuubi was actively trying to mould Naruto into someone who would destroy his enemies and repay every slight in kind. "So what were you doing yesterday? I was expecting you to come and join me in training." they'd never made any agreement so his tone wasn't accusing, merely curious.

"Ah!" Hinata gasped, cutely in Naruto's opinion, averting her gaze a little "S..sorry Naruto-kun" she apologized "I spent th..the day with Han.. Hanabi-chan."

"Hanabi?" Naruto echoed softly, brow creasing in confusion for a moment "Ah! Right! Your sister, sorry." he chuckled embarrassed with himself for forgetting Hinata's sister's name.

Hinata shook her head softly forgiving Naruto instantly, she and Hanabi really didn't see eye-to-eye very often and rarely spent much time together, despite effort on her part. That meant she'd only really mentioned the girl to Naruto once or twice when she'd vented on the blonde boy. "Hey Naruto-kun." another voice chimed in causing the pair to look up, both of them knowing who it was.

"Ino-chan!" Naruto smiled as he waved "Morning." he seemed ignorant to the moment Hinata and Ino's eyes met, both girls frowning softly as lightning sparked between them for a moment.

"H..h...hello Ino-san." Hinata greeted, her quiet voice colder than it usually was, the classroom going silent as the students seemed to sense the tension every eye swivelling to watch the unfolding drama with badly hidden eagerness

"Hinata-chan." Ino replied softly her gaze slipping to Naruto as she moved up, an extra, seductive, swing to her hips to try and catch the boy's eyes. Kyuubi was better at it, having had years of practice, and her figure was much more full than Ino's, naturally. So whilst Naruto did enjoy the sight he wasn't struck dumb as many of the other nearby boys were, much to Ino's annoyance and Hinata's secret pleasure.

Since there were only two desks in each row she had to sit across the corridor from Naruto but she still shot him a smile "How was your weekend?" she asked as she smoothed out her dress

"Good." he replied chuckling "I got some good training done." he grinned as Ino shook her head softly

"Why am I not surprised." she sighed "Don't you do anything other than train?"

"Of course I do!" Naruto protested "I spend time with you and Hinata-chan." he claimed, ignoring the rather loud whispers his proclamation caused, his classmates wondering which one was his girlfriend whilst the boys, well most of them, grumbled at how lucky he was.

Hinata looked down at her lap, she understood that Naruto really had no other hobbies, the villagers wouldn't have allowed him to take up much else so this was all he had, it made her sad for him but at the same time galvanised her resolve to make sure he got to experience everything life had to offer. She wanted him happy and she was sure he needed more to his life than training. Meanwhile Ino just scrunched her nose "Just us? What about your other friends?" she knew Naruto was pretty much a loner in class, hanging out with Kiba, Shikamaru, and Choji from time to time, but as an incredibly social person she just couldn't comprehend that outside of class he was by himself, he must have someone!

Hinata shot Ino a warning look, this was dangerous ground for Naruto, she knew he was alone and in those unguarded moments she'd seen the shades of loneliness hanging around him still, it was one of the reasons she tried her best to train with him whenever she could. Naruto however had his mask in place and her question just made him laugh "Bah! I'm too awesome for anyone else to hang out with me! Besides they'd get me caught before I could set up my pranks."

The coldness of his past loneliness still hung heavy of Naruto but with his mask it was easy to hide, it was one of the emotions he hid best after all. However with Hinata, Kyuubi, and now Ino he didn't feel alone any more, though with Kyuubi he never really was. His smile warmed a little as he felt a warmth pulse through him, unsure how he knew but he just felt as if Kyuubi was trying to hug him 'Love you Kyuubi-chan.' he sent her

'I love you too Naruto-kun, you know I'm always here for you if you need me' she replied warmly having felt the spectre of loneliness she was happy that her mate wasn't feeling that any more.

Hinata was still in awe of Naruto's acting ability she knew him well, she even fancied that she knew the most about him from anyone in the village, but even she'd of believed him if she hadn't been sure it wasn't the truth. In some small way she even felt oddly pleased with the fact he was lying to Ino about this rather than being truthful like he was with her.

Ino meanwhile just blinked at the answer and sighed shaking her head but before she could press Naruto for more details on how he could function without a good circle of friends the door to the classroom opened up once more and Iruka walked into the room "Alright everyone!" he called out "Settle down!" normally it would take some effort, and maybe a minor genjutsu or two, to get himself heard over the class but with so many members missing he barely needed to shout at all, it was a wonderful feeling.

Slowly but surely the conversation in the room died down, the last few pockets of whispered talk remained but Iruka had been teaching for too long to believe he would ever manage to get utter silence so once the room was quiet enough for someone talking normally to be heard he allowed a small smile to flit across his face and launched into his speech. "Congratulations all of you, today you leave my class as shinobi of my village." he let his gaze sweep across his class meeting each of their eyes, he would miss them, he always did. "Today you become adults in the eyes of the village and our society, I hope we have given you the tools you need to succeed and excel in the world, and I know that if.." it was at this point Naruto turned off again and tuned the man out, he did sort of like Iruka-sensei, he'd never shown much discrimination against him, just a little at the start of the year that Naruto suspected was caused by gossip from his former teachers and his, by then well established, reputation as a prankster, but by god the man droned on. 'Kyuuuu-chan!' he whined mentally as he relaxed in his chair 'I'm bored! Entertain me.' he demanded like a petulant child, knowing full well that was what he was doing.

A sultry giggle replied to his acting ringing through his head and sending shivers down his spine 'Well' she purred 'I'm sure I can think of something we could be doing to pass the time.' though she couldn't see it she was sure that Naruto's face was turning quite the adorable shade of red, this tone usually did that to him, and indeed it was Naruto able to keep his blush under some control but unable to prevent his cheeks from colouring at the sheer sexuality the fox demon could pour into her words.

'In class?!' he managed to sputter back, the idea of sex still embarrassing the boy immensely but with a perverted fox-girl living in his head he'd quickly had to grow used to her straight up seduction attempts. Still... in his classroom?! 'Besides I want our first time to be perfect.' he declared, Kyuubi had been, and still was, vocal about her wish to sleep with him and whilst Naruto possessed a normal, healthy, libido he was still adapting to even casual physical affection and that coupled with the normal fears that he'd be horrible at sex meant he was putting it off, though since Naruto had always been quick to adapt it was fast becoming more of the latter than the former.