Chapter 1
The village of Konoha, one of the five Great Ninja Villages that dot the Elemental Nations, is situated within the Land of Fire. This village has been home to many legendary Ninja. Such as the four Hokage who has led the village at one time; Hashirama Senju, one of the two founders of Konoha who could create entire forests due to his unique bloodline Wood Release. Tobirama Senju, the younger brother of Hashirama who's control over the Water element, allowed him to form Water Jutsu from the moisture in the air, Hiruzen Sarutobi, a student of both Hashirama and Tobirama who could control each of the five primary elements Fire, Wind, Lightning, Earth and Water. Finally, Minato Namikaze who's natural speed, along with his mastery of the Space/Time Jutsu Hirashin, allowed him to defeat entire armies during the third Ninja War and earn the moniker Yellow Flash.
Of course, these four are not the only legends to have emerged from this village; there's also; Madara Uchiha, the second founder of Konoha and the strongest Uchiha to have ever lived, the Sannin; Orochimaru, Jiraiya and Tsunade students of Hiruzen, the three accomplished great things individually, but it's their accomplishments as a team that propelled them to legends, Sakumo Hatake Konoha's White Fang who was said to be stronger than the three Sanna combined, Kakashi Hatake known as Sharingan Kakashi or Copy Ninja Kakashi.
These are just some of the Legends that Konoha has produced; however, our story will focus on the rise of a new legend that will surpass all who came before. This is the Legend of Team Thirteen.
(X X X)
Our story begins in a most appropriate place, for where better for a story about the rise of Legends to begin than an academy? And not just any academy but Konoha's Ninja Academy, where students train to become Ninja to serve their village. In one of the classrooms, one of the instructors is giving a lecture about the history of Konoha; this instructor is named Iruka Umino, a young man of twenty-two who is of average height and build, he has brown hair that he keeps in a ponytail and a scar across the bridge of his nose. His attire consists of Konoha's standard Ninja attire; a blue full bodysuit, a forehead protector with the village symbol in the middle, sandals and a green flak jacket.
Facing across from Iruka is a class of around thirty students, each aged at about eleven years old; some are focused on their teacher's lesson proving themselves to be diligent students, others are pretending to be focused on their teacher's words, but unfortunately, their teacher while trying his best, cannot enrapture his student's attention with such a boring subject, and of course, there are those students who aren't even bothering to pretend, letting the fact that their attention is focused elsewhere show openly.
"...And so it came to pass that the Uchiha and Senju Clans ceased their centuries of hostilities to found the village of Konoha." Iruka drones on, even sounding bored with his lesson.
A blonde-haired student with whisker-like marks on his cheeks yawns out loud his name Naruto Uzumaki; most would assume that this young man was one of the students openly showcasing that he wasn't paying attention; however, the young man had enough respect for Iruka to at least pretend to pay attention.
Unfortunately, though Naruto had disrupted the lesson with his yawn, Iruka must respond as an unbiased teacher.
"I'm sorry, Naruto, are we keeping you up?" Iruka asks, sounding much more lively than when he had been teaching.
Naruto's blue eyes snap to Iruka, who is looking none too pleased.
"Ah sorry Iruka-Sensei." Naruto stands up, bowing in apology, showing his neon orange and blue jumpsuit.
Most of the class laughed at Naruto getting scolded, it was an all to common occurrence in the academy, as Naruto wasn't the most gifted student ranking as the lowest student in his class, making the other students call him Dead Last or Dobe.
Naruto seeing his classmates laugh at him once again, lowers his head, letting his bangs shadow his eyes, hoping to hide the pain he is feeling from showing in his eyes.
"Alright, that's enough from you all." Iruka says, attempting to quiet the class down.
A few students mutter Dobe and Dead Last Loser at Naruto before shifting their focus back to Iruka, who sighs having heard the remarks aimed at Naruto by those students, Iruka then glances at the clock and notices that it's nearly time for the final bell.
"Okay, class, it's nearly time for the final bell, but before I can let you go, I have an announcement." Iruka states getting all the classes attention, even those who weren't paying attention.
"Tomorrow is the annual graduation exam, and I need to know which of you feel confident to attempt to take it. Of course, it is a year earlier than when you'd be expected to take the exam, however, the Hokage believes that should you feel that you're ready for the exam, then you should be able to take it. So which of you feel that you are ready?" Iruka asks, letting his eyes sweep across his students.
"I do, Sensei." Comes the instant reply of one Naruto Uzumaki, a foxy grin plastered across his face.
Iruka writes down Naruto's name, while many of the students scoff at Naruto's declaration, they didn't feel confident in their knowledge to attempt early graduation, so the idea of the Dead Last feeling confident to do so was laughable.
"Didn't you try for early graduation last year and fail?" A girl with purple hair and brown eyes asks mockingly; her name is Ami Uzuki.
"Yeah, but this time I'll know what to expect, so I'll be sure to pass this time." Naruto answers, his grin never leaving his face.
"Naruto, I doubt that the test is the same this year as it was last year." A girl with long pink hair, green eyes and a larger than normal forehead says logically, her name is Sakura Haruno.
"And even if it was, you probably forgot everything anyway, Dobe." A feral looking boy with brown hair, black eyes with a vertical slit in them, pronounced canines and red triangle markings on his cheeks states mockingly; his name is Kiba Inuzuka.
Naruto snaps his head to glare at Kiba for his comment, and opens his mouth to retort.
As the two argue with more students joining in against Naruto, another student stares hard at the chalkboard, deep in thought.
'Why don't I attempt early graduation? It's not like there's anything more useful to learn here. Plus, I can finally be free of those fangirls.' A boy with long spiky black hair with a blue tint and black eyes thinks to himself; his name is Sasuke Uchiha.
Sasuke raises his hand, catching Iruka's attention and most of the classes.
"I would like to try for early graduation Sensei." Sasuke announces ending the argument between Naruto and the others.
As Iruka writes down Sasuke's name, the contrast between his declaration and Naruto's becomes obvious.
"Of course you'd take early graduation, Sasuke." Ami says, trying to sound admiring.
"I'm sure you'll pass easily." Sakura states sounding confident in her assessment.
"Maybe once you graduate, we can go on a date." A blonde girl with teal eyes says seductively, her name is Ino Yamanaka.
Ino's words make all the girls save for one, begin arguing over who Sasuke should date, much to the chagrin of all the boys, especially Sasuke.
'Damn that bastard, why's he got to try for early graduation too?' Naruto thinks to himself, frustrated that Sasuke was also taking early graduation and stealing his thunder.
"Does anyone else want to try for early graduation?" Iruka asks, a little annoyed at the constant arguing between his students.
Sasuke's declaration of wanting to graduate early seems to break the damn, as nearly all of his fangirls sign up to attempt to graduate early, including Ami, Sakura and Ino. Much to Iruka's annoyance, who knows why they're attempting it, yet cannot deny them. Soon after, the bell rings, signalling the end of classes.
"Be here tomorrow at nine, those of you who are taking the exam." Iruka calls out to his retreating students.
After leaving the academy, we find one Naruto Uzumaki walking through the village while thinking about tomorrows exam.
'There's no way I'll fail tomorrow, especially with my secret weapon.' Naruto thinks to himself, confident.
As Naruto walks through the village, an odd occurrence makes itself apparent, adults young and old would glare hatefully at the young Ninja to be, and mutter to each other about the young blonde, some even pulling their children away from him and telling them to avoid him at all costs. A common word spouted by these villagers is the word demon. Why would the people hate a young man like Naruto and call him a demon? Not even he knows the answer to this question.
'Why do they do keep doing this?" Naruto asks himself as he keeps walking through the village, careful never to let his foxy grin leave his face.
Eventually, Naruto stops in front of a ramen stand called Ichiraku Ramen; the grin on his face growing exponentially, he enters the stand.
"Hey old man, hey Ayame." Naruto greets the two stand owners, a father and daughter duo; the father is Teuchi Ichiraku, a man of forty-two, while the daughter Ayame is a sixteen-year-old girl with long brown hair and black eyes and has a slender build.
Both smile warmly at Naruto being among the few who don't hate the young man.
"Hello, Naruto. What can I serve you today?" Teuchi asks in a pleasant tone, happy to see his favourite customer.
"The usual." Naruto answers.
"Coming right up," Teuchi says, preparing Naruto's usual ramen order.
"So, Naruto, how was the academy today?" Ayame asks cheerfully.
"Oh, you know the usual." Naruto answers just as cheerfully.
"Boring, huh?" Ayame states, giggling.
"Yep, but after tomorrow I won't have to suffer there anymore." Naruto declares with confidence.
"Oh, why is that?" Ayame asks curiously.
"Because tomorrow I'll have graduated and be one step closer to becoming the greatest Hokage ever." Naruto declares proudly.
Yes, you heard that right; despite the treatment he has received from the majority of the villagers, Naruto wishes to become Hokage one day, which will entail leading and protecting the village.
"So you're attempting early graduation again." Ayame states.
"Yep, and thanks to my attempt last year, I've been able to focus on the necessary subjects required to pass." Naruto declares, confident that he will pass this time around.
"Well, I wish you luck." Ayame says, ruffling Narutos spiky hair, making him pout.
(X X X)
"Here's the list of those attempting early graduation from my class." Iruka states, handing over the list.
Currently, he is in the principles office along with some other academy instructors, each having handed over their respective lists.
"I see that 'boy' is attempting early graduation again." The principal states with an almost growl upon noticing Naruto's name.
A few of the other instructors grimace and frown at the idea of Naruto graduating and becoming a Ninja. Iruka also frowns for a different reason; after all, he is another of the few who holds no hate for Naruto, but knowing not to bang his head against a brick wall holds his tongue.
"The Uchiha heir is also going to attempt for early graduation." The principal states with a much more positive tone this time.
The instructors who had been previously unhappy about Naruto attempting early graduation are now chatting happily about how great Sasuke will become upon becoming a Ninja.
"Iruka, what's with the rest of these names?" The principal asks, stunned by the number of names on Iruka's list.
"Once Sasuke declared his desire to take the exam, his fan club decided to also go for it." Iruka answers sheepishly.
"Well, at least the boy will have options when it comes time to rebuild his clan." The principal eventually responds with a sweatdrop.
A number of the male instructors giggle pervertedly, wishing they had the same amount of female attention, causing their female counterparts to glare at them heatedly.
"Okay, you are all dismissed, except for you, Mizuki." The principal declares waiting for the rest of the instructors to leave before speaking with Mizuki.
"You know what to do. Make sure that boy doesn't graduate." The principal says once the final instructor has left.
Mizuki, a man of twenty-six, with blue hair and green eyes and wearing the standard Ninja attire, grins in response.
"Of course, sir, I'll make sure the damn demon doesn't graduate." Mizuki states with a slightly malicious smile.
The principal nods and dismisses Mizuki before looking out of his office window.
'We've never needed to rely on Jinchuriki in the past, and I see no reason why we need one now.' The principal thinks to himself, knowing full well that the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, will be greatly disappointed in Naruto not becoming a Ninja, along with a few of the more militant members of the council.
(Chapter Ends)