A/N: So now ends the Academy arc in these next couple of chapters. Not sure if I should just end the story with that and start up a sequel, or if I should just continue it all in one story. Food for thought.

Chapter 13: The Unavoidable Failure

"I've told you about sneaking around my office, Naruto." The Third Hokage sighed while outstretching a hand to the air. His fingers dug into it, tearing away an illusion that reveal the blond Uzumaki grinning like a little loon.

"Oh dear, how did I get here? What time is it? Have I taken my pills yet?" Naruto pretended to be confused, but Sarutobi was already frowning at him.

"If I've told you once… I've told you a thousand times. This building and especially my office are not playgrounds for you to test the effectiveness of your stealth abilities. If I were a different man, you've have been killed on the spot as soon as you entered the building under that flimsy little illusion of invisibility." Sarutobi sat behind his desk and brought his hands together.

Naruto scratched his head through his hair in a casual manner. "I don't know. I think I'd survive long enough to prove I'm a friendly."

Sarutobi arched an eyebrow in challenge before raising his right hand.

Then he snapped his fingers.

Naruto was quickly pinned to the floor of the Hokage's office by seven ANBU operatives, each with a sword or kunai to his neck.

"Whoa, old man! Hold on!" Naruto's eyes were wide.

The Hokage's expression was one of stone. "Execute him."

"Wait—!"

Only one blade left his neck to swing back down and through him in a quick fashion. The blood spurted from the open wound as Naruto's head went rolling.

Then his eyes popped open while he was gasping for air. Naruto looked around to see that he was still standing in front the Hokage's desk. There were no ANBU Black Ops. There were no swords or kunai. There was no blood. No headless corpse.

His headless corpse.

Naruto pouted.

"Well, that was a cheap trick. It's not fair." He crossed his arms tightly.

Sarutobi laughed cruelly at the young blond's expense. "All is fair when brats like you need to be taught a lesson. An illusion for an illusion. An equally ironic and yet satisfying punishment, I'd say."

"I just saw myself dead. Head rolling on the floor and everything." Naruto was unconsciously rubbing his neck. "That was wholly different from Killing Intent or Spiritual Paralysis or my Bent Light technique. It was cruel and unusual on so many levels, Old Man."

Sarutobi nodded his head while bringing his hands together. "A fairly good technique you've recreated from those comic books of yours, young Naruto. It uses the same principles that are in affect when light bounces off mirrors to reflect the environment. This makes it reflect whatever should be behind you and covers you in the same illusion without disrupting the environment. However, I easily saw through this as my office is a space I am immensely familiar with, and the subtle shift in air your very presence introduced was all I needed to know you were here."

"Well damn, and here I thought I was being so sneaky." Naruto kicked at an imaginary rock just to be childish.

Sarutobi allowed himself a small smile. "At least it gave me the chance to practice the technique you demonstrated to me last week. I happen to find the name of Curtain Stripping to be very appropriate."

Naruto chuckled lightly as he crossed his arms. "Yeah, and you've already mastered it."

The elder male shrugged. "I was not nicknamed the Professor for nothing. There is no technique is this whole village I cannot learn comprehend, and far fewer that I could not comprehend academically. Barring secret clan techniques, I have mastered them all to some extent."

Naruto rubbed at the back of his neck nervously. "Geez, Old Man Saru… You really are something scary…"

The Third Hokage looked Naruto squarely in the eyes as he noticed that the blond was settling into a more serious mood.

Naruto quickly cleared his throat. "Eh hem… You wanted to see me, Head-Captain." Naruto stood up straight and presented himself professionally.

"Yes, I did, Captain Uzumaki." Sarutobi turned his chair to the large window he had in his office which overlooked the village. "I am aware you may not pass the Graduation Exams… and that you are refusing aid in correcting this problem."

"I've already wasted enough of everyone's time on my problems. I can't hold the others back any more by allowing them to focus on it any longer."

"There is a jutsu—"

Naruto interrupted as he bowed at the waist. "With all due respect, Head-Captain… I already know about the technique you are referring to."

That made the old man's eyes widen. "You do?"

Naruto nodded. "Yes. It was mentioned a few times in the notes of sealing expert, Mito Uzumaki and the letters sent by my godfather. But as they both referenced, the technique is forbidden."

It was Sarutobi's turn to nod. "Yes… you are correct. I must apologize for my moment of personal weakness." Sarutobi got out of his chair and stood fully in front the window, looking down at the Academy below as the children went through outdoor training.

"I can't use forbidden power to pass an Academy graduation exam, Head-Captain." Naruto stated firmly. "If I did… what would that say about me. My fellow students. About our Academy. Our standards. Your leadership! I'll not put all that in jeopardy just to become a ninja. Some things just aren't worth it, and a career in the shinobi program falls in that category. Besides," Naruto smiled. "I'm already a full-time member of the Konoha Divisions. I don't wanna overwork myself, ya know?"

Sarutobi saw another face in the window. A pale young boy with amber eyes who wanted to know everything at any cost.

"I am relieved to hear you say such things, Naruto…" The Third Hokage sighed despite himself. Then he became very serious as he turned back to the young blond. "However, there was another reason for my calling you to meet with me. I have an Academy problem of my own that I need your help dealing with. One that has recently come to our attention."

Naruto lifted his chin a little higher. "What are your orders, Head-Captain?"

Sarutobi nodded grimly as he began to inform Naruto of the problem, watching all the while the boy's eyes grew larger and wider.

As the group waited to be called in for their part in the graduation exam of the Academy, they talked amongst themselves for a while.

Then everyone fell silent as Shino came walking up the hall in order to enter the exam room.

"Good luck, Aburame-san." Naruto said, pulling out his little paper fan. Shino stopped to converse with him. "For someone of your skills, this exam is probably nothing more than a formality."

Shino nodded, his stance firm but approachable. "Indeed. But it puts me forward on the path to justice. And where there is justice in my sight, the path is made all the clearer."

With that said, Shino entered the room while Naruto whistled lowly.

"Is it just me, or did Shino get like ten times cooler having said that?" the blond asked, looking around to see a few of the others nodding.

"Yeah, but I could still hear that crawling sound… like he has an army of bugs inside his jacket or something…" Kiba said with a shiver.

Naruto kicked back with his hands behind his head. He was eyeing the badge wrapped tightly around Kiba's left bicep.

"Hmph, I still can't believe you became Sasuke's lieutenant, Kiba… and here I thought you had some standards…"

Sasuke's eyes were closed, but they twitched in annoyance. "You are one to talk. One would think you could not afford socks to wear with those sandals on your feet."

Ino pouted with her arms crossed while Naruto pretended to be stabbed in the heart by Sasuke's comment. "I want an assistant of my own. Someone to rub my feet. Bring me a magazine when I'm bored. Get me dango so I don't have to wait in line around lunch."

Sakura gave her friend a flat stare. "So you basically want a servant."

Ino blinked. "Are they not the same thing?" Shino exited the room, telling Hinata and Kiba of his success before moving on.

Kiba shot Ino a dark look as Shino walked past them while Choji entered the exam room. "I sure as hell ain't some man slave. I became Captain Uchiha's second in order to get stronger! I ain't run no errands for him."

Sasuke turned his nose up. "As if I would need you do such things. There are entire crowds of people who would love the honor of fetching me anything my heart should desire."

Naruto chuckled darkly behind his little fan. "If only you had a heart, Uchiha-san."

Sasuke opened his eyes to glare at the blond. "Watch your words, Captain Uzumaki. Less they cause your mysterious demise."

The blond swordsman chuckled nervously at that as Choji came from having his exam take place. "Duly noted, Sasuke… Ha, ha… No need to go all dark and murderous on me. It was only a joke."

Shikamaru turned to Choji who smiled with a thumbs-up. "I passed."

The Nara heir smiled back at his friend. "There was never any doubt."

Naruto shook his head lightly. "I'm still under the impression Kiba has been replaced by some sort of imposter. The real Kiba wanted to punch Sasuke's face in as much as I do."

Kiba smirked, showing off his fangs a bit. "And I still do. This is a way to get on that path. By learning my enemy, I better my chances of beating him."

Naruto shrugged. "Or you can just do like me and become stronger."

"Some of us can't shrug off and heal from training overnight, you know." Kiba made a face. "In fact, you are literally the only one of us that can do that. The rest of us need, at least, a few days whereas you just pop back up after a few hours."

"Get on my level then, scrub." Naruto said, putting his nose high in the air while crossing his arms.

Kiba growled at him, taking a step forward. His hand gripped his sword handle. "What was that, Uzumaki?"

Naruto smirked himself, looking straight at Kiba. "That's Captain Uzumaki to you, lowly little lieutenant."

"Why I oughta!"

The next second fought Kiba and Naruto tied up in white bandages from mouth to toe. Holding the end of those bandages were Shikamaru and Hinata.

"Geez, Kiba, you shouldn't let Naruto goad you into this stuff every day." Shikamaru grumbled.

Hinata, meanwhile, was shooting a cute little stern look at Naruto. "And you, Naruto, should not belittle Kiba-kun for his decision. He wants to get stronger in his own way, and should be encouraged for that."

They all froze as a shadow dropped down next to them. It was Sai, grinning his fake smile as he took in all their tightened expressions.

"Well now, don't everyone hug me all at once, ya know." Sai said as he moved closer to the group. "And after I came all this way from my place to wish you luck in your graduation exams."

"An exam," Ino sneered, "That you are not taking when clearly you are our age. You have skills comparable to our own, and you don't wear the Konoha headband."

Sakura was also glaring his way. "One would think you a spy in the village, Sai. You know what happens to spies, right?"

Sai was not intimidated by their antics in the least. He wagged a finger at Sakura as though he were entertaining a mere child. "Now, now, Miss Haruno. Only bad spies get caught. And Sai is a good boy. He does as he's told and brushes his teeth after every meal."

Ino crossed her arms under her budding breasts. "Well, you better just stay squeaky clean, little boy. In fact, I think Sai needs to be forced into the adjutant role."

"I second that." Sakura said readily. Sai grinned sharply at her.

"My, my… Such big talk from a girl who was so afraid to speak when she and I first joined the Divisions. Why have you turned against so much, Sakura-chan?"

She glared at him in disgust. "Because you are way too creepy!"

Shikamaru sighed as he released Kiba. "That does bring up a point. If we are going to be a real organization, much less the village's version of the Soul Society, we will eventually need adjutants and subordinates."

Naruto was already out of his binds as though he had never been captured. Hinata looked back and forth between him and the empty bandages on the floor as if he had done magic. She was sure she had made them extra secure that time.

"I don't see the point." Naruto shrugged as Sakura stepped forward to explain.

"A hierarchy of power and ranks needs to be established," she said as they others gave her their full attention, "This is so there isn't any chaos or many political plays and grabs for power between the members of any given society. First there must be rules, and then comes those who would enforce those rules. And so follows everything else."

Seeing that it was her turn to take the exam, Sakura politely excused herself while the others returned to the conversation.

Sai only smiled bigger. "My goodness, you all sure do talk a lot."

The others ignored the dark-haired pale boy as Choji rubbed his own chin in thought. "Counting both Sai and Sakura, I think we only have nine real members right now. Even with Tenten that only brings the number up to ten. I guess you could count the Head-Captain, but that would still only be eleven members. The number is far too low for us to go out and seek lieutenants."

"Well, I know what I want to be," Sai said, making the others turn to him. "I want to be a Captain."

The others rolled their eyes, but were tense as he walked over to Hinata. Sai put a hand on her head and rubbed her hair as an adult would do a child. Kiba rolled his eyes as Sakura exited the room, and he was called in for his turn.

"Let me know how this all plays out, will ya?" he said to Shikamaru, who only shrugged.

"And I know exactly who I'd want as my adjutant." Sai said, leaning in to Hinata, who was paralyzed with fear and shock. She found Sai to be the creepiest person she had ever encountered. He was like a snake, coiled precisely to attack and kill anyone who had the displeasure of crossing his path. He was poised to strike should they show even a moment of genuine hostility toward him. Or even a single fraction of weakness.

Naruto, however, came to her rescue and defused her rising fright. He knocked Sai's hand off her head and got between her and the inky-black boy.

Naruto stare was hard and determined. "I would never leave Hinata with the likes of you."

Sai was not offended, however, by the harshness in Naruto's tone. In fact, the boy seemed to take it as a joke between old friends as he mockingly grabbed at his heart. "Oh my, how cold of you, Captain. You've hurt me. That wasn't very nice of you."

"Yeah, yeah. Blow it out your nose." Naruto waved him off dismissively as he instead turned to Hinata. He brushed the hair from her face behind her ear as he took her hand in both of his.

"I'm not going to let that creep steal you away from me. What do you say, Hinata? Will you be mine? Please say yes." Naruto asked with his face very close to Hinata's own.

The girl nearly fainted right there on the spot as she would have in the old days. But now, she only dropped to the floor with her face cherry red as she mumbled incoherently.

Ino bonked Naruto atop his head. "Godammit, you still come on too strong for Little Hinata-chan…"

"Ow, I'm sorry…" Naruto whined as Kiba came back out of the exam room with a giant grin on his face.

Ino turned to point a dramatic finger at Shikamaru while Hinata excused herself to go take the exam. "Well I for one say that good-for-nothing loafer needs to be made a Captain as well, if only so he'll stop being so lazy."

Before the Nara clan heir could even sputter out in his defense, the others were already nodding in agreement.

"Sorry, Shika, but its for your own good." Choji said, patting his shoulder as Shikamaru looked pained. "You know, I think can be a Captain as well, but I just don't feel like I'd have earned the title. Naruto and Sasuke are hands down the strongest of us with you, Ino, being only a few steps behind them do to their raw power. Shikamaru is without a doubt the smartest of our group, so making him a Captain is a no-brainer. Ino has always been a Captain and surely can back up the rank, so there's no need to change that. And Sai could be a Captain if he toned down the creepiness due to his obvious skill as a ninja."

Choji smiled and rubbed the back of his neck. "I just want to feel like I've earned the title of Captain. I know I'm no slouch, but compared to you guys I think I'd have to go the Kiba route. I'll try my hand at being Shikamaru's Lieutenant for a while. I'm probably the best at all four types of Kido right now, but I'm not as natural with it as Naruto, and he's not that far behind me at all. Even Sakura is about to surpass me in the healing arts of Kido, and while that's wonderful its also a little disheartening. It's just kind of intimidating with so many of us being so good at this stuff."

"Choji, there's no need to feel worried about any of that," Hinata said as she came out of the exam room. "You are amazing at all the skills we've learned over the last few years. I can't compete with your level of Kido, and I can only barely keep up with your Shunpo. Plus, I take pointers from you in Zanjutsu practice."

Choji smiled even as Shikamaru took his leave to complete the graduation exam. "Yes, but your Hakuda is leagues above my own. In fact, you are our best in the field of hand-to-hand combat followed closely by Ino, Naruto, and Sasuke."

Hinata blushed at the compliment. "You should take pride in your skills, Choji. We all have room for improvement. It is why we train ourselves as hard as we do. We must be the pillars upon which rest our wonderful society. Our very own Konoha."

Naruto and Kiba began to clap loudly with manly tears in their eyes as Hinata shook her head at them with a small smile.

"Wonderfully said, Miss Hyuga!" Naruto had his little paper fan out again as he fanned himself liberally. "Such stirring words to the beauty of our society. Why, if only the Head-Captain could have heard such a speech."

"It was nothing… Really…" Hinata said modestly.

"And such modesty!" Kiba clapped even louder. "Why she is the very picture of a model individual! A prime example of the greatest of our Konoha! Bravo, little Hinata! Bravo!"

Shikamaru came out of the exams with a small shrug of his shoulders, but the small smile on his face said everything they needed to know. He had passed.

One by one the other students and their members went in.

For Sasuke and Ino, the exam was a breeze that no one had doubted they would pass with flying colors.

But with each passing student, the others began to send nervous glances at Naruto more and more. As time wore on, Naruto's expression went from a carefree one to the look of sober acceptance. The blond had put on his straw hat, using it to obscure his eyes as he waited his turn. Every year he was called in last.

Every year had been the same.

The others desperately hoped it would be different this time.

Unlike with all the other examinees, Iruka came to the doorway personally with a somber look on his face.

"Naruto… it's time…" was all he said before heading back into the room.

Naruto followed him into the room in silence.

The others, even Sasuke, silently prayed for him.

Sai stood by smiling without a care in the world the entire time.

Naruto stood in front of Iruka and Mizuki. He was a little nervous as the exact replica of him stood beside him.

It was unmoving. Unblinking.

That was not a good sign.

Iruka gave a weary sigh.

"I want to pass you Naruto…" he gestured to the clone. "It is by far the best clone you've made in years. But I saw how you made it. Every step of its process was bare to my eyes. And it took entirely too many steps to create something even that costly."

Iruka looked helplessly at Naruto, "I'm so sorry Naruto, but your performance is just too low in this aspect and your written performance. While everything else was perfect, these two areas have dragged your perfects scores down tremendously. I am truly sorry, but for that I cannot pass you. Naruto… you fail… I am so sorry."

Naruto looked up at Iruka with tears brimming in his eyes. He took the hat that was hanging off his back by string and pulled it over head to hide his eyes from view.

"I did my best…" Naruto grinned sadly, "I suppose I will have to hand over the Stealth Force to Ino after all it seems… God help us all, heh…"

Naruto turned away from Iruka and Mizuki as he headed for the door.

"You know, Iruka-sempai…" Mizuki started timidly, "Maybe we could just pass Naruto."

Naruto stopped in his tracks, but did not dare to turn back.

"Between us, we know him best, right? Naruto is a bright kid, and he has worlds of potential in him. His attitude change, alone, over the last few years could be grounds for the decision as he's inspired several of his peer group to change for the better." Mizuki glanced at Naruto's still back. "He might dress like a comic book warrior, but he takes his training seriously and has made others do the same. Heck, he even got Sakura Haruno to develop in her Taijutsu where you and I have failed to accommodate her."

Mizuki bowed his head to Iruka. "I'm just saying we shouldn't stifle him now. Not while he's this close. Please, let us reconsider the boy, Iruka-senpai. I beg of you."

Iruka's expression was stern and unforgiving. "I do not make the rules, Mizuki. You know this. You think I like failing Naruto? Better he fails and try again next year than be killed out there by what we know is an unforgiving world of cutthroat shinobi! If he cannot create a simple clone to divert the enemy's attention, then he will surely be struck down! He will become a liability to his team! To his unit! To his clients and mission objectives! Naruto will certainly lose his life if we sent him out there now! I will not have that for him! I WILL NOT!"

Mizuki looked up into the teary and angry face of Iruka.

"Iruka-sempai…"

With his back still to his teachers, Naruto spoke for them to hear. "For years, Iruka-sensei, I waited and waited hoping that I would get a sensei who would really help me, and actually train me. All my other sensei at the academy ignored me, or sent me out of class all the time because they thought my very presence was a disruption to their lessons."

"But you were different to me, Iruka-sensei. You let me stay in class… you listened when I had questions… And yet, even when I try harder than every single person in this school to pass this one DAMN test, you still never helped me figure out why I couldn't do it!"

"Naruto…" Iruka's eyes widened.

"Everyone else has a family to go home to, to help them, and I go home to an empty apartment every day, knowing that I never get any help! You criticize me and tell me that I need to try harder in class! I stopped skipping class years ago. I devoted all my time to passing this test! I try so hard to be a ninja, Iruka-sensei! But no one ever helps me!"

After his tirade, Naruto left the room in tears, but Iruka got up to chase after him almost as soon as he got out of the door. Mizuki was left in the doorway with Naruto's friends as they were all wide-eyed, probably having heard Naruto's heartfelt rant. Ino, Hinata, and Sakura were standing there crying silent tears for the blind boy. The boys were looking at the ground in deep sadness.

Sai was not even smiling his fake smile after all of that.

"Shall we… go after him?" Sai asked meekly, not sure what to do with the others looking so emotional.

It was all so foreign to him. He felt very much out of his depth.

"No," Sasuke said, collecting himself in a single deep sigh. "We cannot share the blame for Naruto's failure. This falls squarely on his shoulders."

Kiba looked at Sasuke with a small amount of contempt. "How can you say such a thing, Sasuke?"

Sasuke leveled Kiba with a piercing stare. "Because as the one who understands him best, I can attest to the fact that Naruto does not blame any of us for this. He is too upstanding to pin the blame on anything but his own shoulders. He bears that burden alone, and despite his outburst, I am sure I have not misjudged him."

Shikamaru sighed, and figured emotional stuff like this was why people picked up smoking as a bad habit. He was only thirteen years-old, and was itching for a cigarette. Or anything really to make the pit of his stomach stop feeling like someone had dropped a block of cold lead into it.

"We should still find him, at least." Ino put forward. "If not to cheer him up, then to at least be sure he's okay."

"I agree," Hinata nodded, "Though I do think we should give him a few hours before we approach him. Naruto needs his space right now."

Mizuki spoke up, reminding them that he was still there. "I say you give the search party an hour or two. Iruka might be back by then. I have some work to do, so just give Naruto a large block of space for the moment. I don't want him exploding on one of you kids as his emotions are misguided right now."

The kids nodded and Mizuki headed back into the exam room.

He shut the door behind himself. They were unaware of the malicious smirk on his face.

"Okay then… I have about three hours before they find the fox-faced brat. How can I best go about this little plan of mine to gain power while finally being rid of the fox demon once and for all?"

And now we all wait for the other shoe to drop! There you have it! Another new chapter by Yours Truly!